So in my current campaign, we recently reached level 5 and our DM gave us the option to multiclass. I was thinking I wouldn't do it at first, but I keep feeling like I really wanna try to multi as a Warlock.
Does anyone have helpful advice for doing this? Strong reasons for or against?
She's an assassin archetype, thief background half-elf (drow), with some serious trust issues, though she's just starting to trust some of her traveling companions. One of the other players is a necromancer, so I don't see warlock being an issue among the group as far as moral alignment goes. She does struggle a bit with her drow heritage, and what that means for her. Taking warlock as a second class would, to me, require her to become a bit more comfortable with that side of herself.
I'm gonna bring it up to my DM and see what she thinks, but I figured it won't hurt to have more input.
Mechanically, it's a solid combo for sure. Cunning action trait to bonus action disengage from problems getting in your face, then eldritch blast. Your spells won't get sneak-attack damage (iirc it's just for dex based attacks), but some charms or illusions can greatly benefit rogues.
Plus, you have some really good flavor/character development reasons behind the decision. Going off the drow comfort thing, the archfey pact could be very on theme, given elves' fey ancestry (which I'm pretty sure they do have I think).
Mehanically you can also get the darkness devil sight combo so you can stab folks who can only attack back at disadvantage. Or put it on the group of archers and fire back while they can't shoot anywhere.
Another thing worth noting for warlocks is possibly grabbing a weapon cantrip from SCAG instead of EB. Obviously EB is considered the best offensive ranged cantrip (For good reason), but as a rogue who doesn't have extra attack, the weapon cantrips do a lot for you. Plus they scale nicely and booming blade is especially good if you have someone with dissonant whispers (One of my favourite first level offensive spells, and potentially easily the strongest).
One of the abilities that looked particularly attractive was the summonable weapon! I have a huge fear of losing my daggers, so I've been using my shortbow as a bit of a crutch and I think that'd help. I also took the mobile feat last level up, which has been hella. I'm extremely tempted by the pact that lets you have a familiar, and iirc that can't be concurrent to the summonable weapon, so I'm a bit stuck between the two.
I've talked to my DM and she's supportive of it, so I've definitely decided to go for it! I'm excited for how this will impact my character.
I made a level 5 (3 Assassin/2 Hexblade) rogue for a campaign starting at level 5. Mechanically, you lose 1 sneak attack die, but you get 1d6 from hex right away, and 1d8 from booming blade. My character's primary attribute was charisma, which gave him a +10 to intimidation because of expertise. EB is nice, but if you want to make something different, then use Mask of Many faces to get your surprise attack in quite nicely. My character altered his appearance, including making his rapier look like an Ale tankard. A common ploy was to offer people a beer and stab them with the disguised rapier.
You get to use a shield, and you get to cast shield as a reaction, so you don't need to disengage if you don't want to.
Your second cantrip can still be EB, and you can get Agonising blast, and you'll get 2 beams at level 5. I really wanted to focus on the appearance of looking harmless, but then getting them when their guard was down. Mask of many Faces with +10 intimidation made for a very, very scary interrogator.
Late to give this advice since it's been nearly a year and you already have a background but if you do a build like this again and your DM allows Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica backgrounds I went Assassin Rogue and dropped 3 levels into Warlock going Pact of the Blade with the Dimir Operative background.
3 levels in Warlock gives you 2nd level spell slots
Eldritch invocations:
Mask of many faces: Disguise Self at will
Improved Pact Weapon:
You can use any weapon you summon with your Pact of the Blade feature as a spellcasting focus for your warlock spells.
In addition, the weapon gains a +1 bonus to its attack and damage rolls, unless it is a magic weapon that already has a bonus to those rolls.
Finally, the weapon you conjure can be a shortbow, longbow, light crossbow, or heavy crossbow.
Dimir Operative adds Pass Without Trace to your spell list giving your Rogue with stealth expertise another +10
Rest of Levels are dumped into Rogue for boost to Sneak Attack
3 levels into warlock would be good with darkness and devil sight
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Well met, strangers! I’m Kwilgok-once a dinosaur racer, now the best guide in Port Nyanzaru. I’ve traveled up the River Soshenstar to the Aldani Basin and back. I’ve visited so many corners of Chult and can tell you there’s no land more beautiful and dangerous. This is my ankylosaurus, Deadly Treasure. Quite a prize isn’t she? Follows me everywhere. We cost 6 gold pieces a day, with payment for 30 days upfront. Very expensive, yes, but worth it, I promise you.
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So in my current campaign, we recently reached level 5 and our DM gave us the option to multiclass. I was thinking I wouldn't do it at first, but I keep feeling like I really wanna try to multi as a Warlock.
Does anyone have helpful advice for doing this? Strong reasons for or against?
She's an assassin archetype, thief background half-elf (drow), with some serious trust issues, though she's just starting to trust some of her traveling companions. One of the other players is a necromancer, so I don't see warlock being an issue among the group as far as moral alignment goes. She does struggle a bit with her drow heritage, and what that means for her. Taking warlock as a second class would, to me, require her to become a bit more comfortable with that side of herself.
I'm gonna bring it up to my DM and see what she thinks, but I figured it won't hurt to have more input.
Come back with your shield, or on it.
Nevermind- fixed the title lol.
Come back with your shield, or on it.
Mechanically, it's a solid combo for sure. Cunning action trait to bonus action disengage from problems getting in your face, then eldritch blast. Your spells won't get sneak-attack damage (iirc it's just for dex based attacks), but some charms or illusions can greatly benefit rogues.
Plus, you have some really good flavor/character development reasons behind the decision. Going off the drow comfort thing, the archfey pact could be very on theme, given elves' fey ancestry (which I'm pretty sure they do have I think).
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
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Mehanically you can also get the darkness devil sight combo so you can stab folks who can only attack back at disadvantage. Or put it on the group of archers and fire back while they can't shoot anywhere.
Another thing worth noting for warlocks is possibly grabbing a weapon cantrip from SCAG instead of EB. Obviously EB is considered the best offensive ranged cantrip (For good reason), but as a rogue who doesn't have extra attack, the weapon cantrips do a lot for you. Plus they scale nicely and booming blade is especially good if you have someone with dissonant whispers (One of my favourite first level offensive spells, and potentially easily the strongest).
One of the abilities that looked particularly attractive was the summonable weapon! I have a huge fear of losing my daggers, so I've been using my shortbow as a bit of a crutch and I think that'd help. I also took the mobile feat last level up, which has been hella. I'm extremely tempted by the pact that lets you have a familiar, and iirc that can't be concurrent to the summonable weapon, so I'm a bit stuck between the two.
I've talked to my DM and she's supportive of it, so I've definitely decided to go for it! I'm excited for how this will impact my character.
Come back with your shield, or on it.
I made a level 5 (3 Assassin/2 Hexblade) rogue for a campaign starting at level 5. Mechanically, you lose 1 sneak attack die, but you get 1d6 from hex right away, and 1d8 from booming blade. My character's primary attribute was charisma, which gave him a +10 to intimidation because of expertise. EB is nice, but if you want to make something different, then use Mask of Many faces to get your surprise attack in quite nicely. My character altered his appearance, including making his rapier look like an Ale tankard. A common ploy was to offer people a beer and stab them with the disguised rapier.
You get to use a shield, and you get to cast shield as a reaction, so you don't need to disengage if you don't want to.
Your second cantrip can still be EB, and you can get Agonising blast, and you'll get 2 beams at level 5. I really wanted to focus on the appearance of looking harmless, but then getting them when their guard was down. Mask of many Faces with +10 intimidation made for a very, very scary interrogator.
Late to give this advice since it's been nearly a year and you already have a background but if you do a build like this again and your DM allows Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica backgrounds I went Assassin Rogue and dropped 3 levels into Warlock going Pact of the Blade with the Dimir Operative background.
3 levels in Warlock gives you 2nd level spell slots
Eldritch invocations:
Mask of many faces: Disguise Self at will
Improved Pact Weapon:
You can use any weapon you summon with your Pact of the Blade feature as a spellcasting focus for your warlock spells.
In addition, the weapon gains a +1 bonus to its attack and damage rolls, unless it is a magic weapon that already has a bonus to those rolls.
Finally, the weapon you conjure can be a shortbow, longbow, light crossbow, or heavy crossbow.
Dimir Operative adds Pass Without Trace to your spell list giving your Rogue with stealth expertise another +10
Rest of Levels are dumped into Rogue for boost to Sneak Attack
3 levels into warlock would be good with darkness and devil sight
Well met, strangers! I’m Kwilgok-once a dinosaur racer, now the best guide in Port Nyanzaru. I’ve traveled up the River Soshenstar to the Aldani Basin and back. I’ve visited so many corners of Chult and can tell you there’s no land more beautiful and dangerous. This is my ankylosaurus, Deadly Treasure. Quite a prize isn’t she? Follows me everywhere. We cost 6 gold pieces a day, with payment for 30 days upfront. Very expensive, yes, but worth it, I promise you.