Context: My DM is letting me respec my character for an ongoing campaign (long story why) - there are some factors I've had to consider:
1. Race: I must remain human. (So variant human it is!)
2. Class: I must be a hexblade warlock. (My story revolves around this).
3. Tough to Maneuver: There is a lot of verticality (we're using a 3d program called Talespire, and there's A LOT of verticality)
4. Shadow Blade: I'm very very very invested to make a Shadow Blade build, for reasons below.
5. Custom rules: 2024 True Strike is allowed, and blade cantrips/true strike are ruled to work on Shadow Blade, as well as 2024 versions of agonizing and repelling blast are allowed (meaning true strike is a valid option for this).
Slow combats (lots of verticality, enemies run and hide, and enemies make death saving throws.)
Only 1 combat encounter a day so far. (Not as a rule, just the DM's style. So more value on long rests, and utility is good to have).
6. Leveling: Build needs to be functional at level 4, and competent by level 5 - though I might get to level 6+, I can't guarantee how long it will take.
NOTE: I'm about to get to level 4.
Variant Human: Warcaster
Background: Strixhaven - Quandrix Initiate
Str: 8 (-1)
Dex: 14 (+2)
Con: 16 (+3)
Int: 8 (-1)
Wis: 10 (0)
Cha: 18 (+4)
Divine Soul Sorcerer 2/Hexblade 1
Scale Mail + shield
Longsword, whip, longbow
Cantrips:
Background: Guidance, Mage Hand
1.Sorcerer: Mind sliver, Minor Illusion, Sword Burst, Green Flame Blade
2.Warlock: Booming Blade, True strike (2024)
Spells:
Background: Shield (Free once per day)
1.Sorcerer: Guiding bolt, Magic Missile, Command, Healing Word (from alignment).
2.Warlock: Arms of Hadar, Armor of Agathys ---- Plan: Lvl 4: Sorcerer 3 - quickened spell/twin spell, take shadow blade/misty step (swap out magic Missile) --- Combo: Quicken true strike+shadow blade.
lvl 5: Hexblade 2 - agonizing blast (true strike 2024), pact of the chain. Lvl 6: Sorcerer 4 - Metamagic adept or ASI? ----
Thoughts on how I can better fine tune this or be a more consistent melee build with these items? Anything I can shave off? I thought about taking meta magic adept for my V.human feat to turn on the quickened combo more often, maybe go sorce 2/hexblade 2 to get invocations sooner.
Honestly, I'd be questioning hard what the sorcerer gets you. Single-classing warlock gets you your primary features faster, and makes your spells better. You lose the quickened spell trick, but you get two attacks natively at level 5. You can handle some of the vertical opponent problems with either eldritch blast or by taking improved pact weapon and manifesting a bow or throwing the shadow blade. (Using true strike either way.)
Levitate seems to be the main thing you'd want out of sorcerer, and I think ranged attacks are a better deal. (You can also grab Fly at 5th.)
Other than that, you have too many weapon cantrips -- the situational benefits of the other two are not worth the cantrip slots that could be used for utility spells or ranged attacks.
I've felt severely limited by the two spell slots for warlock, since there is more sustained combat and less combats per day - as well as shadowblade w/true strike seems far more damaging on paper than just normal extra attack as there's no way to get extra attack with a shadowblade via a mono warlock as thirsting blade only works with a bonded weapon. (and I am not a fan of eldritch blast cannons - its to me rather bland and am actively trying to do something different.)
I see what you're saying about taking all three blade cantrips - I suppose I'm not sure which ones I want, I'm greedy XD But in this case, it will probably only ever be true strike (but booming blade seems fun as a reaction, and green flame is cool to use when fighting multiple enemies.)
For levitate, it does seem like it'd conflict shadowblade, if that was the build I went with due to concentration.
I think I an drop the two blade cantrips for shape water and eldritch blast, probably still right to have eldritch blast even if I don't want to lean on it.
But yes I was debating what would be more powerful: AB+true strike with shadow blade (2d8+8 until level 5 which would be 2d8+d6+8), or AB+BB/GFB (1d8+8 maybe d8+4/+8 ---> level 5 1d8+d8+8 maybe 2d8+4/1d8+8)
It would certainty be smoother NOT to go for true strike/shadowblade - but is it as strong or stronger? Is it as cool? lol
I've felt severely limited by the two spell slots for warlock, since there is more sustained combat and less combats per day
But if you're a melee fighter, that's likely what you're doing most of the time, I'd think. And also, those spell slots rapidly get outranked by the ever-improving warlock slots.
It's mostly a matter of commitment. If you try to be both a caster and a melee fighter, you'll be poor at both.
- as well as shadowblade w/true strike seems far more damaging on paper than just normal extra attack as there's no way to get extra attack with a shadowblade via a mono warlock as thirsting blade only works with a bonded weapon. (and I am not a fan of eldritch blast cannons - its to me rather bland and am actively trying to do something different.)
I admit I forgot about the blade pact non-interaction. (I assume your GM has nixed it, since they're willing to tinker.)
However, consider this one:
Light pact weapon and two-weapon fighting rules. At level 5, you can get two attacks with the pact weapon and one with the shadow blade.
Is it better than the true strike plan? Dunno. And, ultimately, the important question is not "which is 'best'?", but "what will you have fun playing?" But you probably haven't considered it.
Since you want to be competent at level 5 let's do some comparisons:
Hexblade Warlock -5 : Shadow Blade deals 3d8 + DEX with True Strike + AB is 3d8+1d6+2*CHA for a DPR of 25 -> if you can get off HBC on turn 2 this increases to 27 DPR over 4 rounds Hexblade Warlock -5 : Rapier Hex weapon deals 2d8+2*CHA with Hex is 4d8+2*CHA for a DPR of 26 -> if you can get off HBC on turn 2, this increases to 30 DPR over 4 rounds Hexblade Warlock -5 : EB + AB with Hex is 2d10+2*CHA for 28 DPR Sorcerer-3 Hexblade-2 : Shadow Blade deals 2d8 + DEX with True Strike + AB is 2d8+1d6+2*CHA you can quicken it on turn 2 and 4, for DPR of 28 over 4 rounds Sorcerer-3 Hexblade-2 : EB + AB with Hex is 2d10+2*CHA, you can quicken it on turn 2 and 4, for DPR of 42 over 4 rounds
It all depends what you want though. If you want to deal the maximum damage in combat you should go the Eldritch Blast + Hex route because it eliminates the problem of verticality you're having and deals the max damage. If you want to be a melee character then the Shadow Blade Sorlock can keep up assuming you can get into melee on every turn without using Misty Step, however, if you need to use misty step to get into melee you'd be better off with a rapier at level 5.
However, Shadow Blade certainly wins from a "cool" factor.
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Context: My DM is letting me respec my character for an ongoing campaign (long story why) - there are some factors I've had to consider:
1. Race: I must remain human. (So variant human it is!)
2. Class: I must be a hexblade warlock. (My story revolves around this).
3. Tough to Maneuver: There is a lot of verticality (we're using a 3d program called Talespire, and there's A LOT of verticality)
4. Shadow Blade: I'm very very very invested to make a Shadow Blade build, for reasons below.
5. Custom rules: 2024 True Strike is allowed, and blade cantrips/true strike are ruled to work on Shadow Blade, as well as 2024 versions of agonizing and repelling blast are allowed (meaning true strike is a valid option for this).
Slow combats (lots of verticality, enemies run and hide, and enemies make death saving throws.)
Only 1 combat encounter a day so far. (Not as a rule, just the DM's style. So more value on long rests, and utility is good to have).
6. Leveling: Build needs to be functional at level 4, and competent by level 5 - though I might get to level 6+, I can't guarantee how long it will take.
NOTE: I'm about to get to level 4.
Variant Human: Warcaster
Background: Strixhaven - Quandrix Initiate
Str: 8 (-1)
Dex: 14 (+2)
Con: 16 (+3)
Int: 8 (-1)
Wis: 10 (0)
Cha: 18 (+4)
Divine Soul Sorcerer 2/Hexblade 1
Scale Mail + shield
Longsword, whip, longbow
Cantrips:
Background: Guidance, Mage Hand
1.Sorcerer: Mind sliver, Minor Illusion, Sword Burst, Green Flame Blade
2.Warlock: Booming Blade, True strike (2024)
Spells:
Background: Shield (Free once per day)
1.Sorcerer: Guiding bolt, Magic Missile, Command, Healing Word (from alignment).
2.Warlock: Arms of Hadar, Armor of Agathys
----
Plan:
Lvl 4: Sorcerer 3 - quickened spell/twin spell, take shadow blade/misty step (swap out magic Missile) --- Combo: Quicken true strike+shadow blade.
lvl 5: Hexblade 2 - agonizing blast (true strike 2024), pact of the chain.
Lvl 6: Sorcerer 4 - Metamagic adept or ASI?
----
Thoughts on how I can better fine tune this or be a more consistent melee build with these items? Anything I can shave off? I thought about taking meta magic adept for my V.human feat to turn on the quickened combo more often, maybe go sorce 2/hexblade 2 to get invocations sooner.
Appreciate the thoughts!
Honestly, I'd be questioning hard what the sorcerer gets you. Single-classing warlock gets you your primary features faster, and makes your spells better. You lose the quickened spell trick, but you get two attacks natively at level 5. You can handle some of the vertical opponent problems with either eldritch blast or by taking improved pact weapon and manifesting a bow or throwing the shadow blade. (Using true strike either way.)
Levitate seems to be the main thing you'd want out of sorcerer, and I think ranged attacks are a better deal. (You can also grab Fly at 5th.)
Other than that, you have too many weapon cantrips -- the situational benefits of the other two are not worth the cantrip slots that could be used for utility spells or ranged attacks.
I've felt severely limited by the two spell slots for warlock, since there is more sustained combat and less combats per day - as well as shadowblade w/true strike seems far more damaging on paper than just normal extra attack as there's no way to get extra attack with a shadowblade via a mono warlock as thirsting blade only works with a bonded weapon. (and I am not a fan of eldritch blast cannons - its to me rather bland and am actively trying to do something different.)
I see what you're saying about taking all three blade cantrips - I suppose I'm not sure which ones I want, I'm greedy XD But in this case, it will probably only ever be true strike (but booming blade seems fun as a reaction, and green flame is cool to use when fighting multiple enemies.)
For levitate, it does seem like it'd conflict shadowblade, if that was the build I went with due to concentration.
I think I an drop the two blade cantrips for shape water and eldritch blast, probably still right to have eldritch blast even if I don't want to lean on it.
But yes I was debating what would be more powerful: AB+true strike with shadow blade (2d8+8 until level 5 which would be 2d8+d6+8), or AB+BB/GFB (1d8+8 maybe d8+4/+8 ---> level 5 1d8+d8+8 maybe 2d8+4/1d8+8)
It would certainty be smoother NOT to go for true strike/shadowblade - but is it as strong or stronger? Is it as cool? lol
But if you're a melee fighter, that's likely what you're doing most of the time, I'd think. And also, those spell slots rapidly get outranked by the ever-improving warlock slots.
It's mostly a matter of commitment. If you try to be both a caster and a melee fighter, you'll be poor at both.
I admit I forgot about the blade pact non-interaction. (I assume your GM has nixed it, since they're willing to tinker.)
However, consider this one:
Light pact weapon and two-weapon fighting rules. At level 5, you can get two attacks with the pact weapon and one with the shadow blade.
Is it better than the true strike plan? Dunno. And, ultimately, the important question is not "which is 'best'?", but "what will you have fun playing?" But you probably haven't considered it.
I'll consider that too!
I appreciate your feedback! It's hard to settle on these things, there are so many possibilities.
Since you want to be competent at level 5 let's do some comparisons:
Hexblade Warlock -5 : Shadow Blade deals 3d8 + DEX with True Strike + AB is 3d8+1d6+2*CHA for a DPR of 25 -> if you can get off HBC on turn 2 this increases to 27 DPR over 4 rounds
Hexblade Warlock -5 : Rapier Hex weapon deals 2d8+2*CHA with Hex is 4d8+2*CHA for a DPR of 26 -> if you can get off HBC on turn 2, this increases to 30 DPR over 4 rounds
Hexblade Warlock -5 : EB + AB with Hex is 2d10+2*CHA for 28 DPR
Sorcerer-3 Hexblade-2 : Shadow Blade deals 2d8 + DEX with True Strike + AB is 2d8+1d6+2*CHA you can quicken it on turn 2 and 4, for DPR of 28 over 4 rounds
Sorcerer-3 Hexblade-2 : EB + AB with Hex is 2d10+2*CHA, you can quicken it on turn 2 and 4, for DPR of 42 over 4 rounds
It all depends what you want though. If you want to deal the maximum damage in combat you should go the Eldritch Blast + Hex route because it eliminates the problem of verticality you're having and deals the max damage. If you want to be a melee character then the Shadow Blade Sorlock can keep up assuming you can get into melee on every turn without using Misty Step, however, if you need to use misty step to get into melee you'd be better off with a rapier at level 5.
However, Shadow Blade certainly wins from a "cool" factor.