I've never done a Hexblade Paladin before and I thought it would look fun. But with the new rules needing 3 levels to dip for subclasses, I was looking for some suggestions from people that have more experience. Initially I'm thinking 1 Pal then 3 to Warlock and then get Pal to 6. After that go for the rest in fighter. I am just starting with multiclassing so if possible, please explain your reasoning. Thanks so much in advance for your suggestions! :)
Honestly the build and levels would depend on precisely what you're trying to do. Personally, I would not use a 3 class multiclass. There's too much of a price to pay.
What do you get from a warlock subclass that you need to go to three on? Mostly, warlock dipping is to use charisma as your melee attack stat. That's not as good as it used to be, because you lose out on feat support or the bonuses you get to the stat from picking the feats that support melee. Paladin 6 makes sense; you're looking for the saving throw bonus.
The fact is, for most people, multiclassing is the wrong answer. MC should only be done with specific mechanical goals in mind, because it has a price. You give something to get something, and you have to be comfortable with the price you pay to get that thing you're picking up.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Hey! Thanks for your insight :). The levels in Warlock are tied to my characters background and I wanted 3 levels in it for Hexblade to attack with my charisma. My stats are 13, 10, 14, 8, 12, 18. I haven't done the math but I don't feel like i'm missing out with going this route. I know I will be late game when it comes to attacks but I have a weapon that will be doing basically 3d8+7 up until I get a second attack.
Hey! Thanks for your insight :). The levels in Warlock are tied to my characters background and I wanted 3 levels in it for Hexblade to attack with my charisma. My stats are 13, 10, 14, 8, 12, 18. I haven't done the math but I don't feel like i'm missing out with going this route. I know I will be late game when it comes to attacks but I have a weapon that will be doing basically 3d8+7 up until I get a second attack.
If you're using 2024 (as per title), then you no longer need hexblade to attack with Charisma, Pact of the Blade does this by itself now without having to use hex weapon. If that is all you're after then technically speaking you don't need to multiclass at all as Pact of the Blade has no perquisite. I've not been able to validate if dndbeyond's character builder supports that yet. I think I never brought Tasha's since I have access too it via characters I have being in a campaign with it being shared on dndbeyond and never realized I never brought it, currently getting material for another system that I host a campaign for, so not going to buy Tasha's just to confirm it myself.
Sticking to the original question tho, For a Charisma heavy build like this, Oath of Devotion is likely the best choice since Sacred Weapon is Charisma based too, to pair that with a Warlock Patron, I'd say Celestial works best with devotion. Lore wise, it's very hard (not impossible) to justify either Fiend or Great Old One but Archfey can work at a stretch, such as making a deal to perform services for an Archfey if they assist you in your holy mission for your deity. Overall, I'd suggest Celestial is the easiest to justify since Celestial beings are going to be more in-line with an oath of devotion. As class design currently goes, you'd need 3 levels in warlock for that Patron tho, at that point it's almost worth going in 5 levels to get Eldritch Smite since those 3rd level pact slots can be used for smiting and you can use your normal paladin spell slots for any warlock spells you pick up. That'd be a Paladin 15/warlock 5 build, or a 13/7 if you want 4th level spell casting from both.
I dunno why you want to bring fighter into the mix, I don't think it's adding very much, Action Surge is of course the main benefit and that is a 2 level dip, at a 3 level dip you can pick up a subclass like Champion or Battle Master, but I honestly don't think it's worth while. Sorcerer might actually be a better choice if really going for 3 class multiclass due too metamagics, you can use quickened spell to attack with a bonus action by casting a cantrip like true strike, green-flame blade or booming blade.
However the cost might not be worth the benefits of getting that 3rd class, Paladin gets Radiant Strikes at level 11, Warlock gets Lifedrinker at level 9 and Devouring Blade at 11. There is also spellcasting progression. Paladin 13 gets 4th level spells, warlock 5 gets 3rd level while warlock 7 gets 4th level. Oath of Devotion gets Smite of Protection at level 15, which looks pretty good, being able to effectively increase AC and dexterity saving throws for a turn is definitely going to help in a stickier situation.
Hey! Thanks for your insight :). The levels in Warlock are tied to my characters background and I wanted 3 levels in it for Hexblade to attack with my charisma. My stats are 13, 10, 14, 8, 12, 18. I haven't done the math but I don't feel like i'm missing out with going this route. I know I will be late game when it comes to attacks but I have a weapon that will be doing basically 3d8+7 up until I get a second attack.
If you're using 2024 (as per title), then you no longer need hexblade to attack with Charisma, Pact of the Blade does this by itself now without having to use hex weapon. If that is all you're after then technically speaking you don't need to multiclass at all as Pact of the Blade has no perquisite. I've not been able to validate if dndbeyond's character builder supports that yet. I think I never brought Tasha's since I have access too it via characters I have being in a campaign with it being shared on dndbeyond and never realized I never brought it, currently getting material for another system that I host a campaign for, so not going to buy Tasha's just to confirm it myself.
Sticking to the original question tho, For a Charisma heavy build like this, Oath of Devotion is likely the best choice since Sacred Weapon is Charisma based too, to pair that with a Warlock Patron, I'd say Celestial works best with devotion. Lore wise, it's very hard (not impossible) to justify either Fiend or Great Old One but Archfey can work at a stretch, such as making a deal to perform services for an Archfey if they assist you in your holy mission for your deity. Overall, I'd suggest Celestial is the easiest to justify since Celestial beings are going to be more in-line with an oath of devotion. As class design currently goes, you'd need 3 levels in warlock for that Patron tho, at that point it's almost worth going in 5 levels to get Eldritch Smite since those 3rd level pact slots can be used for smiting and you can use your normal paladin spell slots for any warlock spells you pick up. That'd be a Paladin 15/warlock 5 build, or a 13/7 if you want 4th level spell casting from both.
I dunno why you want to bring fighter into the mix, I don't think it's adding very much, Action Surge is of course the main benefit and that is a 2 level dip, at a 3 level dip you can pick up a subclass like Champion or Battle Master, but I honestly don't think it's worth while. Sorcerer might actually be a better choice if really going for 3 class multiclass due too metamagics, you can use quickened spell to attack with a bonus action by casting a cantrip like true strike, green-flame blade or booming blade.
However the cost might not be worth the benefits of getting that 3rd class, Paladin gets Radiant Strikes at level 11, Warlock gets Lifedrinker at level 9 and Devouring Blade at 11. There is also spellcasting progression. Paladin 13 gets 4th level spells, warlock 5 gets 3rd level while warlock 7 gets 4th level. Oath of Devotion gets Smite of Protection at level 15, which looks pretty good, being able to effectively increase AC and dexterity saving throws for a turn is definitely going to help in a stickier situation.
Ah I think I am understanding but still not 100% sure. When I have my weapon equipped and selected as my pact weapon it does not change to give my CHA bonus. It still shows +3 to hit and 1d8+3. But if I have it selected as my Hex weapon, it shows +6 to hit and 1d8+6 damage. Is that just an issue with the interface?
I was contemplating bringing fighter in to get Eldritch Knight and being able to use a cantrip for BB, GFB, or TS and still being able to hit a second time that round. And 2 more times at lvl 11. I know that would put a damper on my spell slots but would that be a decent trade off? So just as an example. Pal6/War3? (if need Hexblade)/EK Fighter11. What would your thoughts be for that? Might not be optimal but does it make sense?
Are you actually going to get to level 20? Most campaigns wrap up between 10 and 12. And even if you do get to 20, consider how things will work along the way. Many people put together a m/c build with the idea of how it will look at some high level when it all comes together. They don’t consider needing to slog through a long stretch where it isn’t working yet and leaves them behind the rest of the party. And then when this does start to work at level 20, you’ve got, I don’t know 2-4 sessions at best before the campaign ends.
Like crzyhawk says, 3 class m/c rarely works. Honestly most 2 class m/c leaves you behind the curve. Of course, you might not care about that, and it will still be fun for you, and that’s great. It’s just something to consider.
it used to be that the feature that gave melee cha was called hex weapon IIRC. might be the same thing there.
something else to consider with your plan, is that going cha for your melee attacks will gut your feat support. if you take feats that buff melee, you're not raising your charisma. If you take feats that raise your charisma, you're not getting the advantage of melee feat support. I'm not trying to tell you to not do it, I'm just trying to make sure you know the price you're paying.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
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Hey y'all.
I've never done a Hexblade Paladin before and I thought it would look fun. But with the new rules needing 3 levels to dip for subclasses, I was looking for some suggestions from people that have more experience. Initially I'm thinking 1 Pal then 3 to Warlock and then get Pal to 6. After that go for the rest in fighter. I am just starting with multiclassing so if possible, please explain your reasoning. Thanks so much in advance for your suggestions! :)
(Starting at lvl 4 for build)
Honestly the build and levels would depend on precisely what you're trying to do. Personally, I would not use a 3 class multiclass. There's too much of a price to pay.
What do you get from a warlock subclass that you need to go to three on? Mostly, warlock dipping is to use charisma as your melee attack stat. That's not as good as it used to be, because you lose out on feat support or the bonuses you get to the stat from picking the feats that support melee. Paladin 6 makes sense; you're looking for the saving throw bonus.
The fact is, for most people, multiclassing is the wrong answer. MC should only be done with specific mechanical goals in mind, because it has a price. You give something to get something, and you have to be comfortable with the price you pay to get that thing you're picking up.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
Hey! Thanks for your insight :). The levels in Warlock are tied to my characters background and I wanted 3 levels in it for Hexblade to attack with my charisma.
My stats are 13, 10, 14, 8, 12, 18. I haven't done the math but I don't feel like i'm missing out with going this route. I know I will be late game when it comes to attacks but I have a weapon that will be doing basically 3d8+7 up until I get a second attack.
If you're using 2024 (as per title), then you no longer need hexblade to attack with Charisma, Pact of the Blade does this by itself now without having to use hex weapon. If that is all you're after then technically speaking you don't need to multiclass at all as Pact of the Blade has no perquisite. I've not been able to validate if dndbeyond's character builder supports that yet. I think I never brought Tasha's since I have access too it via characters I have being in a campaign with it being shared on dndbeyond and never realized I never brought it, currently getting material for another system that I host a campaign for, so not going to buy Tasha's just to confirm it myself.
Sticking to the original question tho, For a Charisma heavy build like this, Oath of Devotion is likely the best choice since Sacred Weapon is Charisma based too, to pair that with a Warlock Patron, I'd say Celestial works best with devotion. Lore wise, it's very hard (not impossible) to justify either Fiend or Great Old One but Archfey can work at a stretch, such as making a deal to perform services for an Archfey if they assist you in your holy mission for your deity. Overall, I'd suggest Celestial is the easiest to justify since Celestial beings are going to be more in-line with an oath of devotion. As class design currently goes, you'd need 3 levels in warlock for that Patron tho, at that point it's almost worth going in 5 levels to get Eldritch Smite since those 3rd level pact slots can be used for smiting and you can use your normal paladin spell slots for any warlock spells you pick up. That'd be a Paladin 15/warlock 5 build, or a 13/7 if you want 4th level spell casting from both.
I dunno why you want to bring fighter into the mix, I don't think it's adding very much, Action Surge is of course the main benefit and that is a 2 level dip, at a 3 level dip you can pick up a subclass like Champion or Battle Master, but I honestly don't think it's worth while. Sorcerer might actually be a better choice if really going for 3 class multiclass due too metamagics, you can use quickened spell to attack with a bonus action by casting a cantrip like true strike, green-flame blade or booming blade.
However the cost might not be worth the benefits of getting that 3rd class, Paladin gets Radiant Strikes at level 11, Warlock gets Lifedrinker at level 9 and Devouring Blade at 11. There is also spellcasting progression. Paladin 13 gets 4th level spells, warlock 5 gets 3rd level while warlock 7 gets 4th level. Oath of Devotion gets Smite of Protection at level 15, which looks pretty good, being able to effectively increase AC and dexterity saving throws for a turn is definitely going to help in a stickier situation.
Ah I think I am understanding but still not 100% sure. When I have my weapon equipped and selected as my pact weapon it does not change to give my CHA bonus. It still shows +3 to hit and 1d8+3. But if I have it selected as my Hex weapon, it shows +6 to hit and 1d8+6 damage. Is that just an issue with the interface?
I was contemplating bringing fighter in to get Eldritch Knight and being able to use a cantrip for BB, GFB, or TS and still being able to hit a second time that round. And 2 more times at lvl 11. I know that would put a damper on my spell slots but would that be a decent trade off? So just as an example. Pal6/War3? (if need Hexblade)/EK Fighter11. What would your thoughts be for that? Might not be optimal but does it make sense?
Are you actually going to get to level 20? Most campaigns wrap up between 10 and 12.
And even if you do get to 20, consider how things will work along the way. Many people put together a m/c build with the idea of how it will look at some high level when it all comes together. They don’t consider needing to slog through a long stretch where it isn’t working yet and leaves them behind the rest of the party.
And then when this does start to work at level 20, you’ve got, I don’t know 2-4 sessions at best before the campaign ends.
Like crzyhawk says, 3 class m/c rarely works. Honestly most 2 class m/c leaves you behind the curve. Of course, you might not care about that, and it will still be fun for you, and that’s great. It’s just something to consider.
it used to be that the feature that gave melee cha was called hex weapon IIRC. might be the same thing there.
something else to consider with your plan, is that going cha for your melee attacks will gut your feat support. if you take feats that buff melee, you're not raising your charisma. If you take feats that raise your charisma, you're not getting the advantage of melee feat support. I'm not trying to tell you to not do it, I'm just trying to make sure you know the price you're paying.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha