My DM let’s me use UA (within reason) and I am a Monk 1/ Fighter 2 multi-class. I am currently using the Mariner Fighting Style as it fits well with Monk and AC is always useful...
However, I have been looking again at https://media.wizards.com/2019/dnd/downloads/UA-ClassFeatures.pdf and I was pondering if I should take the Superior Technique Fighting Style. I’d take this when I level up to Monk 1/ Fighter 3 (Eldritch Knight) and then probably go Fighter 4 for Warcaster (rather than Monk 2 as I originally intended). This would mean taking:
Menacing Attack
When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can expend one superiority die to attempt to frighten the target. You add the superiority die to the attack's damage roll, and the target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, it is frightened of you until the end of your next turn.
Is it worth it?
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D&D, Youth Work and the Priesthood sadly do not typically interact... I do what I can!
What are you hoping to accomplish with the menacing attack maneuver?
Ideally, the creature to leave base contact which would trigger Booming Blade and grant an Opportunity Attack... Which would mean a second Booming Blade after Warcaster is taken. I know that Frightened doesn't necessitate moving, but if they chose not to, then at-least it'll be at disadvantage.
The alternative is Pushing Attack... which pretty much guarantees that a melee creature takes Booming Blade damage or does nothing, but that does have a few problems:
the save for that is Strength not Wisdom (would be using this strategy for melee creatures)
It doesn't work on Huge or larger creatures
If I want to use Multiple Attacks, I need my last attack to hit, which it may not (Action Surge etc. not 'Extra Attack')
Frightened condition is helpful against everyone who is not immune to the condition (which is a weakness of Menacing Attack)
If I were to go for Pushing Attack I would take Polearm Master before Warcaster
Pushing attack wouldn’t trigger booming blade. It only goes off if the creature moves voluntarily.
Also, I’d say don’t do it. You only get one fighting style choice, it’s not worth it to spend that on something that’s a gimmick that you’ll only use in some situations. Much better is something like a permanent boost to ac or to hit you can get from other styles.
And booming blade is cool now, but FYI, it become less useful at higher levels. As a fighter you give up your extra attacks to use it. Casting booming blade is an action, so you only attack once in the round you use it; fighters extra attack come when you use the attack action, booming blade is the casting a spell action. So at 5th level fighter, you can attack once with booming blade or attack twice, you can’t attack twice and have one of those attack be booming blade. And you’re almost always better off attacking twice than attacking once and hoping the enemy moves so booming blade goes off.
If you really want to lock enemies down, go for sentinel.
Don't worry, I know all about how Booming Blade works, I've put a lot of thought into my character. But yeah it is hard to out damage straight Fighter... but a Monk Fighter dex spear build that focuses on Booming Blade can keep up whilst also being a bit more flexible because of Ki
Level 5
Fighter 5 with Polearm Master (obviously using strength rather than dex, so lets assume I have an 18 in strength - which can also mean 18ac with splint and +1 ac fighting style)
2d8+1d4+12 = 22 average | Opportunity Attack would be 1d8+4 = 8 average | Action Surge would add 2d8+8 = 16 average | If all occur in one turn could average 46 damage
No incentive to use Booming Blade as there is small change the enemy would trigger it and the 2d8+4 doesn't measure up to 2d8+8. Still using a Spear for this model...
Monk 1/ Fighter 4 with Warcaster (already get the BA attack from Monk)
1d8+1d4+8 = 14 average | Opportunity Attack would be 4d8+4 = 20 average | Action Surge, Booming Blade 4d8/2d8+4 = 20/12 average | If all occur in one turn could average 54 damage
More reliant on Booming Blade damage which would require targeting people who don't want to be in Base Contact... or using Maneuvers
Monk 2/ Fighter 3 with Ki which allows a Flurry (+6 damage average) or Disengage (Making Booming Blade much more attractive)
Booming Blade + Disengage - 4d8+4 = 20 average | But as I would have 2 ki could do this twice
My DM let’s me use UA (within reason) and I am a Monk 1/ Fighter 2 multi-class. I am currently using the Mariner Fighting Style as it fits well with Monk and AC is always useful...
However, I have been looking again at https://media.wizards.com/2019/dnd/downloads/UA-ClassFeatures.pdf and I was pondering if I should take the Superior Technique Fighting Style. I’d take this when I level up to Monk 1/ Fighter 3 (Eldritch Knight) and then probably go Fighter 4 for Warcaster (rather than Monk 2 as I originally intended). This would mean taking:
Menacing Attack
When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can expend one superiority die to attempt to frighten the target. You add the superiority die to the attack's damage roll, and the target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, it is frightened of you until the end of your next turn.
Is it worth it?
What are you hoping to accomplish with the menacing attack maneuver?
Ideally, the creature to leave base contact which would trigger Booming Blade and grant an Opportunity Attack... Which would mean a second Booming Blade after Warcaster is taken. I know that Frightened doesn't necessitate moving, but if they chose not to, then at-least it'll be at disadvantage.
The alternative is Pushing Attack... which pretty much guarantees that a melee creature takes Booming Blade damage or does nothing, but that does have a few problems:
If I were to go for Pushing Attack I would take Polearm Master before Warcaster
Pushing attack wouldn’t trigger booming blade. It only goes off if the creature moves voluntarily.
Also, I’d say don’t do it. You only get one fighting style choice, it’s not worth it to spend that on something that’s a gimmick that you’ll only use in some situations. Much better is something like a permanent boost to ac or to hit you can get from other styles.
And booming blade is cool now, but FYI, it become less useful at higher levels. As a fighter you give up your extra attacks to use it. Casting booming blade is an action, so you only attack once in the round you use it; fighters extra attack come when you use the attack action, booming blade is the casting a spell action. So at 5th level fighter, you can attack once with booming blade or attack twice, you can’t attack twice and have one of those attack be booming blade. And you’re almost always better off attacking twice than attacking once and hoping the enemy moves so booming blade goes off.
If you really want to lock enemies down, go for sentinel.
Don't worry, I know all about how Booming Blade works, I've put a lot of thought into my character. But yeah it is hard to out damage straight Fighter... but a Monk Fighter dex spear build that focuses on Booming Blade can keep up whilst also being a bit more flexible because of Ki
Level 5
Fighter 5 with Polearm Master (obviously using strength rather than dex, so lets assume I have an 18 in strength - which can also mean 18ac with splint and +1 ac fighting style)
2d8+1d4+12 = 22 average | Opportunity Attack would be 1d8+4 = 8 average | Action Surge would add 2d8+8 = 16 average | If all occur in one turn could average 46 damage
No incentive to use Booming Blade as there is small change the enemy would trigger it and the 2d8+4 doesn't measure up to 2d8+8. Still using a Spear for this model...
Monk 1/ Fighter 4 with Warcaster (already get the BA attack from Monk)
1d8+1d4+8 = 14 average | Opportunity Attack would be 4d8+4 = 20 average | Action Surge, Booming Blade 4d8/2d8+4 = 20/12 average | If all occur in one turn could average 54 damage
More reliant on Booming Blade damage which would require targeting people who don't want to be in Base Contact... or using Maneuvers
Monk 2/ Fighter 3 with Ki which allows a Flurry (+6 damage average) or Disengage (Making Booming Blade much more attractive)
Booming Blade + Disengage - 4d8+4 = 20 average | But as I would have 2 ki could do this twice
Flurry + Action Surge (1 Booming Blade) 3d8+2d4+16 = 32
Level 8
Fighter 8 Polearm Master, Warcaster & Mobile
Can Booming Blade, walk away and then AO Booming Blade for 8d8+8 = 40 average not resource cost
Or, using Tripping Attack and doing everything at Advantage... 8d8+1d6+1d4+24 (average 61) used Tripping Attack, used Action Surge
Monk 2 / Fighter 6 Polearm Master & Warcaster
Can Booming Blade, Disengage, and then AO Booming Blade for 8d8+8 = 40 average for 1 ki (out of 2)
Or 8d8+1d6+2d4+28 (average 67) If I took Menacing/Pushing Attack, used Action Surge & Flurry