Goal: combining spell casting and combat in a cool way.
5e has many spell casting combat classes. Paladin is a strong option, and hexblade is nice too. Then there are valor bards and bladesingers. However, it seems to me that most of these don't actually really combine combat and spell casting, but instead alternate between them. Valor bards have their battle magic, but it comes online quite late, and because bard spell list doesn't really help them with combat, they are mostly better off just sticking to their role as primary caster. Same is true for the bladesinger: their spell casting far outshines their combat potential.
I was wondering if you could make a multiclass of warlock and eldritch knight work. Eldritch knight gets warmagic at 7th level, allowing them to both attack and cast cantrips at the same turn. Improved warmagic at 18th level is even better, but their the spell casting is so limited that the benefit is quite limited. And cantrips are probably enough to get the theme right.
So, what does warlock bring to the build?
- short rest spell slots - 5th level spell casting - more combat spells like Armor of Agathys and - possibility to have good spell casting dc, opening up spell selection - smites - the best combat cantrip in the game
Eldritch knight brings:
- War magic - 3 attacks per round - disposable spell slots for shield - fighting style - profiencies - magic missile
So, I'm thinking maybe something like hexblade 9/ek 11. This gives you both 5th level spells and 3 attacks, with enough ASI to get Dex 14, Cha 20, Con 20 + two feats. Because fighter levels give you armor profiency, I would like to also consider other patrons, but it would be super MAD. Regular EK gets away with low intelligence by avoiding spells that rely on DC or attack roll, but not needing to do that is one of the main draws of this build. Also, you want to be hitting with Eldritch blast. So, hexblade is unfortunately almost mandatory. And it has other perks too, like 5th level magic missile+hexblades curse.
Starting with fighter would be more optimal for higher levels (con profiency), but level 1 fighter with mediocre Dex and dumped Str doesn't sound very fun. So you pretty much need to start with hexblade if you start at first level. Figuring out how to fit the classes together seems pretty tricky in general: minimum level you need for the build to come online is 9, because you need both war magic and agonizing blast. Delaying ASI or extra attack is not nice, but you have to choose between that and postponing the build. Doing ek 8 first and taking warlock 2 after that would feel better, but the stats don't permit that. So, probably warlock 2, then ek8? Levels 4-6 are going to feel a little underpowered because of the delayed progression. Using EB and BB might alleviate it a little bit though.
So,
Level 1-2: hexblade. Sword and board, EB and BB. Hex, shield and armor of agathys. Agonizing blast and some other invocation.
So, variant human with warcaster, starting with hexblade. You melee with booming blade and use EB for ranged attacks. This gives you immediately the right feel. Third level you get a fighting style from fighter. You still mostly fight with cantrips . 4th level you gain action surge. 5th level you become eldritch knight and cantrip damage goes up. 6th level ASI to charisma. 7th level you finally get an extra attack and don't have to rely on cantrips all the time. 8th level ASI charisma to 20. 9th level you get war magic. You now can shoot two eldritch blasts and make 1 attack, essentially having 3 attacks.
Then you have to decide which class to take forward first. If you go EK first, 10th level you get ASI to spend on constitution or a feat. 11th level gives you indomitable, 12th level has eldritch strike. With your casting stat at 20, you are very likely to land a spell that requires a save. However, your warlock spell slots are still level 1, so it's probably just cause fear. You might be tempted to jump to warlock at this point to get that sweet hold person and pact weapon, but level 13 gives you third attack. After that you return to warlock.
Alternatively, you can go warlock at level 10. You get improved pact weapon and second level spells that use your charisma. Shadow blade would be tempting, but unfortunately you can't use it as your pact weapon. Hold person might be the best pick. Level 11 is ASI, level 12 gives you 3rd level spells and extra invocation to spend on eldritch smite.
...
It's not terribly powerful, but seems like it might be fun to play.
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Goal: combining spell casting and combat in a cool way.
5e has many spell casting combat classes. Paladin is a strong option, and hexblade is nice too. Then there are valor bards and bladesingers. However, it seems to me that most of these don't actually really combine combat and spell casting, but instead alternate between them. Valor bards have their battle magic, but it comes online quite late, and because bard spell list doesn't really help them with combat, they are mostly better off just sticking to their role as primary caster. Same is true for the bladesinger: their spell casting far outshines their combat potential.
I was wondering if you could make a multiclass of warlock and eldritch knight work. Eldritch knight gets warmagic at 7th level, allowing them to both attack and cast cantrips at the same turn. Improved warmagic at 18th level is even better, but their the spell casting is so limited that the benefit is quite limited. And cantrips are probably enough to get the theme right.
So, what does warlock bring to the build?
- short rest spell slots
- 5th level spell casting
- more combat spells like Armor of Agathys and
- possibility to have good spell casting dc, opening up spell selection
- smites
- the best combat cantrip in the game
Eldritch knight brings:
- War magic
- 3 attacks per round
- disposable spell slots for shield
- fighting style
- profiencies
- magic missile
So, I'm thinking maybe something like hexblade 9/ek 11. This gives you both 5th level spells and 3 attacks, with enough ASI to get Dex 14, Cha 20, Con 20 + two feats. Because fighter levels give you armor profiency, I would like to also consider other patrons, but it would be super MAD. Regular EK gets away with low intelligence by avoiding spells that rely on DC or attack roll, but not needing to do that is one of the main draws of this build. Also, you want to be hitting with Eldritch blast. So, hexblade is unfortunately almost mandatory. And it has other perks too, like 5th level magic missile+hexblades curse.
Starting with fighter would be more optimal for higher levels (con profiency), but level 1 fighter with mediocre Dex and dumped Str doesn't sound very fun. So you pretty much need to start with hexblade if you start at first level. Figuring out how to fit the classes together seems pretty tricky in general: minimum level you need for the build to come online is 9, because you need both war magic and agonizing blast. Delaying ASI or extra attack is not nice, but you have to choose between that and postponing the build. Doing ek 8 first and taking warlock 2 after that would feel better, but the stats don't permit that. So, probably warlock 2, then ek8? Levels 4-6 are going to feel a little underpowered because of the delayed progression. Using EB and BB might alleviate it a little bit though.
So,
Level 1-2: hexblade. Sword and board, EB and BB. Hex, shield and armor of agathys. Agonizing blast and some other invocation.
Levels 3-10: EK. Maximize Cha and get warcaster.
So, variant human with warcaster, starting with hexblade. You melee with booming blade and use EB for ranged attacks. This gives you immediately the right feel. Third level you get a fighting style from fighter. You still mostly fight with cantrips . 4th level you gain action surge. 5th level you become eldritch knight and cantrip damage goes up. 6th level ASI to charisma. 7th level you finally get an extra attack and don't have to rely on cantrips all the time. 8th level ASI charisma to 20. 9th level you get war magic. You now can shoot two eldritch blasts and make 1 attack, essentially having 3 attacks.
Then you have to decide which class to take forward first. If you go EK first, 10th level you get ASI to spend on constitution or a feat. 11th level gives you indomitable, 12th level has eldritch strike. With your casting stat at 20, you are very likely to land a spell that requires a save. However, your warlock spell slots are still level 1, so it's probably just cause fear. You might be tempted to jump to warlock at this point to get that sweet hold person and pact weapon, but level 13 gives you third attack. After that you return to warlock.
Alternatively, you can go warlock at level 10. You get improved pact weapon and second level spells that use your charisma. Shadow blade would be tempting, but unfortunately you can't use it as your pact weapon. Hold person might be the best pick. Level 11 is ASI, level 12 gives you 3rd level spells and extra invocation to spend on eldritch smite.
...
It's not terribly powerful, but seems like it might be fun to play.