I want to create a character that is essentially a ninja, using only the official content (everything up to Eberron, plus the Critical Role content). Some key points about the ninja: 1) Very fast and stealthy, 2) Attack quickly without being seen, 3) Use illusion and/or enchantment magic (maybe evocations too, if I go into a Naruto-style ninja).
I need ideas for race, class or classes, background and any feats that might help. No matter what I decide, this character will be level 10.
In all honesty the Monk with the Shadow subclass is the ninja of DnD at this point, you could probably make a good rogue monk multiclass if you chose to but a lot of ninja flavor is baked into that specific class. Probably that with assassin rogue would be a stellar ninja
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"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
Thanks for the input; would you suggest a specific race or background? I know someone with a dex bonus would be ideal (elves, Tabaxi, kenku, warforged), but any other thoughts?
Feral Tiefling has some handy racial features for a budding ninja. As for Backgrounds that is really super preferential, use that part more for your backstory development. Depending on what kind of ninja you want to be (like evil vs good) you can take criminal or charlatan. But really anything will do well, acrobatics and Stealth will be two skills that are invaluable but just find something that sounds fun to you and do it.
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"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
Using official content, I'd probably go Rogue 4 (assassin)/Monk 6 (shadow). Warlocks have some appealing ninja-esque features, but if you want some Monk in there as well, that ends up spreading the ability scores pretty thin.
You could also go pure Shadow Monk, and take the prodigy feat to get stealth expertise.
Not precisely a ninja, but in my current game I'm playing a Changling Valor Bard Rogue Scout. With message and minor illusion cantrips to handle the clothing issue when changing form and keeping in touch with the group when scouting ahead. Though to be fair I was and am building less a ninja and more a spy Able to get in and out unseen even when seen. Spell list is all utility invisibility major illusion etc. Ends up being 10 levels Valor bard and 10 Rogue Scout. Asi depending on rolls otherwise alert and mobile lucky feats
Shadow sorcerer is also an interesting magical ninja, and warlock gets you the whole darkness/devil's sight combo, but it's honestly best to just go pure shadow monk if you want a traditional ninja.
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"Halt your wagging and wag your halters, for I am mastercryomancer!"
So for the Naruto ninja stuff, Shadow Monk+Devil Sight Warlock Invocation and possibly a bit of Arcane Trickster Rogue (the spells are meant to be the Jutsus).
For an actual ninja like what was actually prevalent in history with a bit of a Naruto flare to it (to reference how people believed Ninja were actually mystic in nature), Changeling Thief Rogue with a Pact Of The Blade Hexblade Warlock with the Beguiling Influence and Mask Of Many Faces invocations (now you are effectively a walking and talking disguise kit.)
Oh and if you roll stats, highest stats should be Charisma and Dexterity. With the +1 to any ability to Dexterity.
For Cantrips, Prestidigitation (for tiny effects to clean you up), minor illusion (basic and tiny Genjutsus) and then something simple and supportive like True Strike or Blade Ward
For spells, Distort Value, Hex (to make your target have disadvantage on all the Investigation checks to see through your disguises), Invisibility, Mirror Image (Bushin No Jutsu) and Spider Climb (Tanuki Gakure No Jutsu)
Proficiency in Athletics, Perception, Stealth and Sleight Of Hand. With your Changeling instincts in Insight and Intimidation.
Expertises in Stealth, Thieves Tools, Deception and Persuasion. With some feats in terms of Skulker, Sharpshooter, Linguist (to make those ciphers that you can teach your party like how Ninja had their special ciphers and codes) and Skilled (Grab Acrobatics, Forging Kit and Investigation.
Along with that, get the Criminal/Spy Background for proficiency in History (so you know who your targets) and any other skill proficiency of your choice.
Gaming set of (in my personal opinion) Playing Cards so you can do a bit of sleight of hand in order to con people out of money. For your tool set proficiency, Calligraphy Kit so if you need to forge a person's handwriting you have two avenues to do so.
Now you're probably wondering, "Why Hexblade Warlock?" Hexblade Warlocks give you proficiency in Martial Weapons, which means your hex weapons can be ranged weapons like Longbows, Crossbows and Heavy Crossbows. Which means that those can be our Pact Weapon as well. Which means that you can literally snipe people from 600 feet away with a Pact Weapon Longbow.
Just grab a Bag Of Holding (to serve as a way to carry a lot while maintaining a light load) and maybe an Eversmoking Bottle (a way to act as a Torinoko smoke bomb)
Also get a shitload of caltrops and ball bearings in order to manipulate the area so you have the best case scenario of getting the job done and getting out before you get caught.
And if you need to assassinate someone? You have the ability to make a shortsword and merc someone off with 1d6+5 (magical) slashing damage and 8d6 sneak attack damage. And you can make the murder weapon vanish without a trace, clean yourself up with Prestidigitation and hide your movements with a dose of Eversmoking Bottle Torinoko.
(I know you said this needed to be a 10th Level build, but I helped you by giving you a path for level 20. 16 levels of Thief, 4 levels of Warlock)
A new option that occurred to me is a bit weird. Shadow Monk,/Alchemist Artificer. Downsides are its a bit MAD with int Wis and dex being important. Githzerai as the race for wisdom and int boosts and the couple fun bonus spells. With the artificer side of things you can make yourself some nifty infusions, boots of elvenkind, cloak of elvenkind for ultimate stealthiness. Boots of the winding path for some nifty attack and retreat options. Drop on someone to attack and tsleport back up to you perch (15 ft range). Kinda has a few options for many situations, the magical armor of strength and depending even the enhanced arcane focus can be of use.
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"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
Shadow monk with criminal/spy background to get thieves tool proficiency is what I'd probably go with.
If your DM allows tashas optional rules you could go any race and swap asis around, otherwise feral tiefling, elf, human or half elf could all get you some dex bonus in one way or another along with other options.
Aside from shadow monk, there's always assassin as well if you want less magic/kung fu and more stabby stabby. There are a lot of ways you could do it really depending on if you want a more grounded ninja or a more Naruto esque fantasy/magic ninja etc.
Probably this post has already been abandoned since it's been a few years since the last post, but I did not fail to notice that there was talk abut ninja.
Following the official content, I would recommend a mix between shadow monk and a rogue arcane trickster or an arcane trickster with at least 2 levels of Wizard: Bladesinging. Even a pure rogue arcane trickster can be interesting.
But since I recently created a ninja Homebrew I would like to try to propose it, I would also like to receive some criticism for improvement if possible.
the gaijin goomba video is a good take on the ninja archtype in D&D 5E.
I have a couple of takes on a ninja
1. Rogue (Assassin or Scout) 4/ Fighter (Echo Knight) 12/ Ranger (GloomStalker) 4, you can flavor the echoes as a shadow clone like in naruto
2. Rogue (Assassin or Scout) 8/ Ranger (Gloomstalker) 12, this one is more of the sneaky assassin type. if you prefer more rogue over ranger just swap to rogue 12/ranger 8
Personally, I went with 7 levels in Arcane Trickster and 3 levels in Shadow Monk for Unarmored Defense, extra speed, and free Darkness and Minor Illusion spells. I also took the Mobile feat for even more speed and ignoring difficult terrain, and the fire bolt, poison spray, illusory script, disguise self, silent image, fog cloud, mirror image, invisibility, and spider climb spells.
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Hey all,
I want to create a character that is essentially a ninja, using only the official content (everything up to Eberron, plus the Critical Role content). Some key points about the ninja: 1) Very fast and stealthy, 2) Attack quickly without being seen, 3) Use illusion and/or enchantment magic (maybe evocations too, if I go into a Naruto-style ninja).
I need ideas for race, class or classes, background and any feats that might help. No matter what I decide, this character will be level 10.
In all honesty the Monk with the Shadow subclass is the ninja of DnD at this point, you could probably make a good rogue monk multiclass if you chose to but a lot of ninja flavor is baked into that specific class. Probably that with assassin rogue would be a stellar ninja
"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
Thanks for the input; would you suggest a specific race or background? I know someone with a dex bonus would be ideal (elves, Tabaxi, kenku, warforged), but any other thoughts?
Feral Tiefling has some handy racial features for a budding ninja. As for Backgrounds that is really super preferential, use that part more for your backstory development. Depending on what kind of ninja you want to be (like evil vs good) you can take criminal or charlatan. But really anything will do well, acrobatics and Stealth will be two skills that are invaluable but just find something that sounds fun to you and do it.
"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
I know you said official content, but I'll go ahead and throw my Ninja homebrew out there:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/dungeons-dragons-discussion/homebrew-house-rules/9719-monastic-tradition-way-of-the-ninja
Using official content, I'd probably go Rogue 4 (assassin)/Monk 6 (shadow). Warlocks have some appealing ninja-esque features, but if you want some Monk in there as well, that ends up spreading the ability scores pretty thin.
You could also go pure Shadow Monk, and take the prodigy feat to get stealth expertise.
bard college of swords
Jesus Saves!... Everyone else takes damage.
Not precisely a ninja, but in my current game I'm playing a Changling Valor Bard Rogue Scout. With message and minor illusion cantrips to handle the clothing issue when changing form and keeping in touch with the group when scouting ahead. Though to be fair I was and am building less a ninja and more a spy Able to get in and out unseen even when seen. Spell list is all utility invisibility major illusion etc. Ends up being 10 levels Valor bard and 10 Rogue Scout. Asi depending on rolls otherwise alert and mobile lucky feats
3 levels of Ranger to get Gloom Stalker for the darkvision invisibility (along with other benefits). Goes well with shadow monk.
Shadow sorcerer is also an interesting magical ninja, and warlock gets you the whole darkness/devil's sight combo, but it's honestly best to just go pure shadow monk if you want a traditional ninja.
"Halt your wagging and wag your halters, for I am mastercryomancer!"
Check out my Expanded Signature
So for the Naruto ninja stuff, Shadow Monk+Devil Sight Warlock Invocation and possibly a bit of Arcane Trickster Rogue (the spells are meant to be the Jutsus).
For an actual ninja like what was actually prevalent in history with a bit of a Naruto flare to it (to reference how people believed Ninja were actually mystic in nature), Changeling Thief Rogue with a Pact Of The Blade Hexblade Warlock with the Beguiling Influence and Mask Of Many Faces invocations (now you are effectively a walking and talking disguise kit.)
Oh and if you roll stats, highest stats should be Charisma and Dexterity. With the +1 to any ability to Dexterity.
For Cantrips, Prestidigitation (for tiny effects to clean you up), minor illusion (basic and tiny Genjutsus) and then something simple and supportive like True Strike or Blade Ward
For spells, Distort Value, Hex (to make your target have disadvantage on all the Investigation checks to see through your disguises), Invisibility, Mirror Image (Bushin No Jutsu) and Spider Climb (Tanuki Gakure No Jutsu)
Proficiency in Athletics, Perception, Stealth and Sleight Of Hand. With your Changeling instincts in Insight and Intimidation.
Expertises in Stealth, Thieves Tools, Deception and Persuasion. With some feats in terms of Skulker, Sharpshooter, Linguist (to make those ciphers that you can teach your party like how Ninja had their special ciphers and codes) and Skilled (Grab Acrobatics, Forging Kit and Investigation.
Along with that, get the Criminal/Spy Background for proficiency in History (so you know who your targets) and any other skill proficiency of your choice.
Gaming set of (in my personal opinion) Playing Cards so you can do a bit of sleight of hand in order to con people out of money. For your tool set proficiency, Calligraphy Kit so if you need to forge a person's handwriting you have two avenues to do so.
Now you're probably wondering, "Why Hexblade Warlock?" Hexblade Warlocks give you proficiency in Martial Weapons, which means your hex weapons can be ranged weapons like Longbows, Crossbows and Heavy Crossbows. Which means that those can be our Pact Weapon as well. Which means that you can literally snipe people from 600 feet away with a Pact Weapon Longbow.
Just grab a Bag Of Holding (to serve as a way to carry a lot while maintaining a light load) and maybe an Eversmoking Bottle (a way to act as a Torinoko smoke bomb)
Also get a shitload of caltrops and ball bearings in order to manipulate the area so you have the best case scenario of getting the job done and getting out before you get caught.
And if you need to assassinate someone? You have the ability to make a shortsword and merc someone off with 1d6+5 (magical) slashing damage and 8d6 sneak attack damage. And you can make the murder weapon vanish without a trace, clean yourself up with Prestidigitation and hide your movements with a dose of Eversmoking Bottle Torinoko.
(I know you said this needed to be a 10th Level build, but I helped you by giving you a path for level 20. 16 levels of Thief, 4 levels of Warlock)
I'll roll to see how fun this is. Oh look at that. Natural 20
Shadow monk6/gloomstalker3/assassin11
https://youtu.be/XIRRoprnYG8
A new option that occurred to me is a bit weird. Shadow Monk,/Alchemist Artificer. Downsides are its a bit MAD with int Wis and dex being important. Githzerai as the race for wisdom and int boosts and the couple fun bonus spells. With the artificer side of things you can make yourself some nifty infusions, boots of elvenkind, cloak of elvenkind for ultimate stealthiness. Boots of the winding path for some nifty attack and retreat options. Drop on someone to attack and tsleport back up to you perch (15 ft range). Kinda has a few options for many situations, the magical armor of strength and depending even the enhanced arcane focus can be of use.
"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
Shadow monk with criminal/spy background to get thieves tool proficiency is what I'd probably go with.
If your DM allows tashas optional rules you could go any race and swap asis around, otherwise feral tiefling, elf, human or half elf could all get you some dex bonus in one way or another along with other options.
Aside from shadow monk, there's always assassin as well if you want less magic/kung fu and more stabby stabby. There are a lot of ways you could do it really depending on if you want a more grounded ninja or a more Naruto esque fantasy/magic ninja etc.
Even a pure rogue arcane trickster can be interesting.
What about Hexblade Warlock with Spy background for shadow ninja
How to Build a REAL Ninja in Dungeons & Dragons! – Which Ninja
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIRRoprnYG8
the gaijin goomba video is a good take on the ninja archtype in D&D 5E.
I have a couple of takes on a ninja
1. Rogue (Assassin or Scout) 4/ Fighter (Echo Knight) 12/ Ranger (GloomStalker) 4, you can flavor the echoes as a shadow clone like in naruto
2. Rogue (Assassin or Scout) 8/ Ranger (Gloomstalker) 12, this one is more of the sneaky assassin type. if you prefer more rogue over ranger just swap to rogue 12/ranger 8
ninja
#1 shadow monk and gloom stalker stealth with a alpha strike
#2 shadow monk and battle master Melee Combat focus
#3 shadow monk and rogue (soul knife, assassin, scout and arcane trickster )
#4 shadow monk and cleric of trickery
Personally, I went with 7 levels in Arcane Trickster and 3 levels in Shadow Monk for Unarmored Defense, extra speed, and free Darkness and Minor Illusion spells. I also took the Mobile feat for even more speed and ignoring difficult terrain, and the fire bolt, poison spray, illusory script, disguise self, silent image, fog cloud, mirror image, invisibility, and spider climb spells.