NOTE: This class setup is only good in certain campaigns, but other than that it's mediocre.
THIS IS A 6TH LEVEL CHARACTER ( but can be leveled up with no harm)
Ok, so i just found out something amazing,
I know that wIth a rouge's sneak attack ability, you get an extra D6 damage if you have advantige on the roll (with some exeptions), so basicly if I have advantige on an attack I get extra damage.
Also, when you have the archtype Gloom Stalker for a ranger, you basicly get invisability if the opponent requires darkvision to see you. And invisibility gives you advantige.
And advantiige lets you do a sneak attack.
So if you multiclass rouge and ranger and have both at level 3 (at least) then you can sneak attack every turn with your bow, not to mention the extra attack at level 4.
And did I mention you get invisisibility?
Te thing with thiss class is that it's really only good if you're in a cave or something, but when you are... WHOO you're one hot blasting rocket. What im trying to say is that use this only if your campaign has a lot of darkness.
TLDR: Multiclass ranger and rouge to level three with gloomstalker as your ranger archtype and a rouge archtype of your choice.
That only works if it's dark enough for a creature to need darkvision. Any time the ambient light level is high enough that they don't, this tactic won't work.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
It's not a bad combo. But I'd say it's neither over-powered nor even near the most over-powered setup there is. A Wood Elf Shadow Monk Assassin With Elven Accuracy, for example, can bonus action teleport, roll three dice for the attack and get sneak attack on top of that. :)
Lots o ways to get sneak attack, you dont need advantage. If your target is engaged in Melee & you are using a Ranged or finesse weapon for example. 2 rogues teaming up against the same target (in melee) gives them BOTH sneak attack if they're wielding short swords or rapiers, & remember that sneak attack is once per Turn, not once per round, so it can be applied to reaction attacks, sentinel strikes, etc.
If you prefer advantage there's lots of ways to get that too. Try knocking 'em to the ground & kicking 'em when they're down....
I've found Horizon Walker to be a better build. After hunter's mark is cast you can still use a bonus action to get the extra d8 force on a shot so if you hit with both arrows you get 3d8+2d6+dex mod. Add in sharp shooter for the +10 per if whatever you are going for doesn't have too high an AC and you are really stacking up the damage. But yeah, that build is far from OP as it assumes everyone in the party has dark vision as well as whatever you are attacking and there is no ambient light whatsoever. Really any rogue with crossbow mastery would be better served to not multiclass into ranger.
I mean, if all you want is to be able to reliably do sneak attack, you could do it with a beastmaster ranger as well... Pet goes in for melee, and you stay back and shoot arrows.
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WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
I'm currently playing a Tabaxi Gloomstalker(5), and just took my first level of Rogue. It fit for what just happened in game. I'm in a Tomb of Annihilation campaign, and I've had plenty of opportunities to use darkness to my advantage. I'm a dual wielding melee ranger with a lot of movement. I get in, hit hard, and get away. If I'm not in darkness, I use Zephyr Strike for additional maneuverability. I'm looking forward to throwing out some extra sneak attack damage. Also, I'm leaning toward's the Scout sub-class if I keep going Rogue because it fits my character.
She may not be the most optimal build, but she's a lot of fun to play.
I'm contemplating either Mobile or Alert for my next ASI/Feat level.
Another option is either adding levels of warlock or shadow sorcerer. I think that hexblade could be very effective, however. Anyway, at level 3, both these classes can cast darkness, and both of them have ways to see while in it. Generally, Warlock will be better for just having 3 levels, and sorcerer If you want to be playing a dedicated caster.
Seeing that you are focusing on sneak attack damage, warlock seems more effective.
At level two, warlocks can get the invocation devil's sight, which allows them to see in both magical and non-magical darkness as if they are in bright light, meaning that you can activate darkness, and just camp inside your little semisphere of darkness, pew pew arrows out with advantage, and hence, sneak damage, and anyone who comes in (excluding demons and monsters with blindsight) would be effectively blinded, and you can just assault them with your rapier, shortsword, or dagger. So you can effectively play a similar version of this build if You aren't in a campaign with lots of darkness and shadow.
However, this version of the build has it's downsides. Demons will be able to see through your magical darkness, drastically limiting your potency. In addition, Creatures with blindsight will see you too.
One benefit, however, is the ability to use charisma for weapons created with the blade pact boon, and other weapons you wield in one hand. Meaning, you can make weapons at level 3.
Of course, You have the option to pick chain instead, But I personally would pick blade, which is far better. Improved pact weapon guarantees that you can have a magic weapon at such a low level. The +1 bonus could be the difference between missing and loosing an encounter and hitting and winning.
If you want to dedicate more casting, going 15 levels of warlock may also be beneficial, due to the boon shroud of shadow, that allows you to cast invisibility at will, guaranteeing you have invisibility everywhere and anywhere.
Needless to say, with so many levels in warlock, you virtually make 5 levels in rogue redundant. The sneak damage will be too low to do any good in the first place.
Another option, that could actually be more beneficial is barbarian 2/ rogue 18. Barbarians get reckless attack allowing them to get advantage on an attack as long as they don't mind other people having advantage on attack rolls against them.
This can be dangerous, though, because rogues aren't damage sponges. Putting one more level in barbarian can get a primal path. choosing totem warrior (bear) will give you resistance to all damage but psychic while raging, which can mitigate for rogues lower hp. The fade away feat can help too.
Taking levels in most spellcasting class can give you the spell sleep which does the obvious. The easiest way to get advantage is to attack a dormant target. So the classic sleeping dragon won't be much of a problem for any rogue. My favorite is assasin/ bladesinger. However, this makes a more varied skill set different from the goal, so I won't go far into it.
The above can also be done by taking magic initiate into a class that gets sleep like bard or wizard. Taking arcane trickster gives you this spell still, but I think third casters are relatively bad compared to just focusing on one of the other things, unless they multiclass into wizard. Dimir Operative also gives you this spell along with a couple other cool spells.
The last other option on my mind is Paladin 3/ Rogue 17. Oath of vengeance paladins get vow of enmity, giving them advantage on attack rolls, using up their channel divinity. They only have one at low levels, so you can only use it once.
WAAAAY tl;dr: There are other options for advantage on attack rolls, however, they come with downsides. This build can be VERY Effective, and modifying it to fit your campaign will benefit your potency a lot. Maybe add enough levels in paladin or barbarian for extra attack.
NOTE: This class setup is only good in certain campaigns, but other than that it's mediocre.
THIS IS A 6TH LEVEL CHARACTER ( but can be leveled up with no harm)
Ok, so i just found out something amazing,
I know that wIth a rouge's sneak attack ability, you get an extra D6 damage if you have advantige on the roll (with some exeptions), so basicly if I have advantige on an attack I get extra damage.
Shoot didnt mean to post rn, writing the rest
Also, when you have the archtype Gloom Stalker for a ranger, you basicly get invisability if the opponent requires darkvision to see you. And invisibility gives you advantige.
And advantiige lets you do a sneak attack.
So if you multiclass rouge and ranger and have both at level 3 (at least) then you can sneak attack every turn with your bow, not to mention the extra attack at level 4.
And did I mention you get invisisibility?
Te thing with thiss class is that it's really only good if you're in a cave or something, but when you are... WHOO you're one hot blasting rocket. What im trying to say is that use this only if your campaign has a lot of darkness.
TLDR: Multiclass ranger and rouge to level three with gloomstalker as your ranger archtype and a rouge archtype of your choice.
That only works if it's dark enough for a creature to need darkvision. Any time the ambient light level is high enough that they don't, this tactic won't work.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
I think that that setup would be overpowered but only in certain scenarios. It's still a very good idea tho
It's not a bad combo. But I'd say it's neither over-powered nor even near the most over-powered setup there is. A Wood Elf Shadow Monk Assassin With Elven Accuracy, for example, can bonus action teleport, roll three dice for the attack and get sneak attack on top of that. :)
Yer classic ninja:
https://ddb.ac/characters/26139141/nLTeoC
Lots o ways to get sneak attack, you dont need advantage. If your target is engaged in Melee & you are using a Ranged or finesse weapon for example. 2 rogues teaming up against the same target (in melee) gives them BOTH sneak attack if they're wielding short swords or rapiers, & remember that sneak attack is once per Turn, not once per round, so it can be applied to reaction attacks, sentinel strikes, etc.
If you prefer advantage there's lots of ways to get that too. Try knocking 'em to the ground & kicking 'em when they're down....
I've found Horizon Walker to be a better build. After hunter's mark is cast you can still use a bonus action to get the extra d8 force on a shot so if you hit with both arrows you get 3d8+2d6+dex mod. Add in sharp shooter for the +10 per if whatever you are going for doesn't have too high an AC and you are really stacking up the damage. But yeah, that build is far from OP as it assumes everyone in the party has dark vision as well as whatever you are attacking and there is no ambient light whatsoever. Really any rogue with crossbow mastery would be better served to not multiclass into ranger.
I mean, if all you want is to be able to reliably do sneak attack, you could do it with a beastmaster ranger as well... Pet goes in for melee, and you stay back and shoot arrows.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
I'm currently playing a Tabaxi Gloomstalker(5), and just took my first level of Rogue. It fit for what just happened in game. I'm in a Tomb of Annihilation campaign, and I've had plenty of opportunities to use darkness to my advantage. I'm a dual wielding melee ranger with a lot of movement. I get in, hit hard, and get away. If I'm not in darkness, I use Zephyr Strike for additional maneuverability. I'm looking forward to throwing out some extra sneak attack damage. Also, I'm leaning toward's the Scout sub-class if I keep going Rogue because it fits my character.
She may not be the most optimal build, but she's a lot of fun to play.
I'm contemplating either Mobile or Alert for my next ASI/Feat level.
Another option is either adding levels of warlock or shadow sorcerer. I think that hexblade could be very effective, however. Anyway, at level 3, both these classes can cast darkness, and both of them have ways to see while in it. Generally, Warlock will be better for just having 3 levels, and sorcerer If you want to be playing a dedicated caster.
Seeing that you are focusing on sneak attack damage, warlock seems more effective.
At level two, warlocks can get the invocation devil's sight, which allows them to see in both magical and non-magical darkness as if they are in bright light, meaning that you can activate darkness, and just camp inside your little semisphere of darkness, pew pew arrows out with advantage, and hence, sneak damage, and anyone who comes in (excluding demons and monsters with blindsight) would be effectively blinded, and you can just assault them with your rapier, shortsword, or dagger. So you can effectively play a similar version of this build if You aren't in a campaign with lots of darkness and shadow.
However, this version of the build has it's downsides. Demons will be able to see through your magical darkness, drastically limiting your potency. In addition, Creatures with blindsight will see you too.
One benefit, however, is the ability to use charisma for weapons created with the blade pact boon, and other weapons you wield in one hand. Meaning, you can make weapons at level 3.
Of course, You have the option to pick chain instead, But I personally would pick blade, which is far better. Improved pact weapon guarantees that you can have a magic weapon at such a low level. The +1 bonus could be the difference between missing and loosing an encounter and hitting and winning.
If you want to dedicate more casting, going 15 levels of warlock may also be beneficial, due to the boon shroud of shadow, that allows you to cast invisibility at will, guaranteeing you have invisibility everywhere and anywhere.
Needless to say, with so many levels in warlock, you virtually make 5 levels in rogue redundant. The sneak damage will be too low to do any good in the first place.
Another option, that could actually be more beneficial is barbarian 2/ rogue 18. Barbarians get reckless attack allowing them to get advantage on an attack as long as they don't mind other people having advantage on attack rolls against them.
This can be dangerous, though, because rogues aren't damage sponges. Putting one more level in barbarian can get a primal path. choosing totem warrior (bear) will give you resistance to all damage but psychic while raging, which can mitigate for rogues lower hp. The fade away feat can help too.
Taking levels in most spellcasting class can give you the spell sleep which does the obvious. The easiest way to get advantage is to attack a dormant target. So the classic sleeping dragon won't be much of a problem for any rogue. My favorite is assasin/ bladesinger. However, this makes a more varied skill set different from the goal, so I won't go far into it.
The above can also be done by taking magic initiate into a class that gets sleep like bard or wizard. Taking arcane trickster gives you this spell still, but I think third casters are relatively bad compared to just focusing on one of the other things, unless they multiclass into wizard. Dimir Operative also gives you this spell along with a couple other cool spells.
The last other option on my mind is Paladin 3/ Rogue 17. Oath of vengeance paladins get vow of enmity, giving them advantage on attack rolls, using up their channel divinity. They only have one at low levels, so you can only use it once.
WAAAAY tl;dr:
There are other options for advantage on attack rolls, however, they come with downsides. This build can be VERY Effective, and modifying it to fit your campaign will benefit your potency a lot. Maybe add enough levels in paladin or barbarian for extra attack.
ok the tl;dr became tl;dr so im done now.