sorry, this is a mystery solving campaign. There’s 0 combat.
womp womp.“
I am done arguing. For someone that claims a build is “broken” for AL and then comes back with a “mystery solving campaign” and “womp womp” as an attempt to refute and insult, you’re obviously moving the goalposts and I don’t have time to go down that rabbit hole.
There was a skill monkey min-max build early on in this thread. I'd like to go back to that. Here is my contribution:
Variant Human with Skilled Feat: 6 base skills (3 feat, 1 vhuman, 2 background) Start as Rogue, add 4 skills (and 2 expertise) To to Rogue 3 and pick Scout, add 2 skills (and 2 expertise) which can only be Nature/Survival Switch to Bard, add 1 skill Go to Bard 3, choose Lore, add 3 skills (and 2 expertise) Switch to Knowledge Cleric, get 2 skills (and 2 expertise) from Arcana/History/Religion
At this point the character is level 7 and is proficient in all skills. They also have eight expertise. With the Hermit background they also had five languages and three tool proficiencies, though the exact number of these will vary by background.
If you take this character to Rogue 6, Bard 10, Cleric 1, and pick up Prodigy then at level 17 they can have 13 expertises (plus some extra languages and tools).
Vengeance Paladin 11 and Hexblade 9 when you stack both smites on the same attack can get pretty broken, averaging ~150 damage on one attack, and maximum of ~250 damage, when hexed/hunter's mark and the attack is a critical hit.
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Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
How about this ultimate sniper build: Inquitisive Rogue with the Sharpshooter feat. Sharpshooter allows you to attack at long range (e.g. 600 ft for a Longbow) without getting disadvantage. The Inquisitive Rogue's Insightful Fighting lets you use Sneak Attack against "a creature you can see" by winning a contested skill check. Put them together and you get Sneak Attack at a 600ft range.
Maybe your DM says that the Rogue wouldn't be able to use Insightful Fighting from that far away. No problem, just take six levels of Eagle Totem Barbarian! Gain the ability to "see up to 1 mile away with no difficulty, able to discern even fine details as though looking at something no more than 100 feet away from you". Plus you get Longbow proficiency if you didn't already have it.
Granted, this is a weird build. However some Barbarians might consider a three level dip in Rogue. They're already dangerous in melee, this makes them deadly at range, plus they get a bunch of skills (Expertise in Athletics!) and a bonus action disengage.
I've never done this before (I don't like to min/max, it makes the game boring), but I had an idea of a fourth level Wood Elf rogue with a longbow and the sharpshooter feat. You get 600 ft. range and can dash every round. This makes you literally impossible to get hit as long as you have room to move.
Compared with some of these, mine isn’t very broken. Play an Aaracockra fighter, maybe Samurai for the advantage. Then use a halberd and take polearm master and great weapons fighter. This enables you to make the four attacks with advantage, with action surge, this increases to eight. With great weapons master you add +10 to each attack. If everything hits, thats 80 for the great weapon master, +40 (assuming you have +5 strength) +4d10 and 4d4, to an average damage of 148. In addition, the 10 feet range on the halberd means you can hover 10 feet above an opponent, and if they are using anything with a five feet range, so most melee weapons, they can’t hit you at all. Not particularly powerful but can be utilised at level 8
Just wanted to start with commending you guys on the build ideas. I love seeing people's creativity with the 5e system.
I have a broken build idea that's simple to use but sometimes hard for people to accept at the table. It is known as the infamous coffeelock build. The main idea is that you take at least 1 level of warlock and 2 levels of sorcerer if multiclassing is allowed at the table. Here's how it works: pact magic spell slots recharge on a short rest and we can convert pact magic spell slots into sorcery points by using font of magic from sorcerer. All you need to do is convert your warlock spell slots into sorcery points, convert those sorcery points into spell slots, and take a short rest. This can be done as part of any downtime or if you don't need a long rest you could take a series of short rests instead of a long rest to store up spell slots. These spell slots are sorcerer spell slots and disappear on a long rest so the game is to not take any of those.
Since Xanathar's guide released the added rules of skipping long rests results in a constitution save that leaves you with exhaustion if you fail (see XGtE page 78 for more details) so you can only stay awake for so long before that exhaustion becomes pretty bad.
As a result your character will have dozens of spell slots! How awesome! Since you can start doing this at lv 3 you can see how this may get out of hand if your DM gives you downtime and generally using a coffeelock is frowned upon but it can lead to some awesome combos!
Here's how I use the spell slots:
1 - take levels in paladin and use them on divine smite
2 - use reaction spells like shield, absorb elements, hellish rebuke, and counterspell
3 - use quickened spell to cast eldritch blast as a bonus action and action (better with agonizing blast and hex) and then use the spell slots to restore your sorcery points
4 - cast AoE spells like fireball on repeat
5 - after battle (or during by using healing word) spend lots of spell slots using healing spells so your group can keep going for longer without resting to restore HP
* to make the most of this combo take 9 levels in either divine soul sorcerer or celestial warlock and learn greater restoration
cast this spell once every 24 hours to stave off the exhaustion and you can potentially save up an unlimited amount of spell slots
the drawback to this is every cast of greater restoration consumes 100gp worth of diamonds and your character can quickly become somewhat addicted but in a situation where your character has lots of gold this is not a big problem
V human fighter, take Alert feat. get two 18s and two 15s (the other two don't matter) Make 19 Dex, and 19 Int, wis or cha; the other two 15 each. Go fighter 8 levels (archetype doesn't matter), then (not in this order): 4 lvls ranger, go gloom stalker; 4 lvls rogue, go swashbuckler; 4 lvls wizard, go chronurgy. Put all ASIs into maxing dex, int, wis, and cha to 20 each. You should have a character with a +25 to initiative. Get epic boons past lvl 20, max those four to 30 each, you get an unreal +45 to initiative. Crazy, right? You'll almost never be surprised ever again, and you'll always top the initiative list in every encounter. Insane.
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Rogue Shadow, the DM (and occasional) PC with schemes of inventive thinking
For all the coffeelockers play warforged and for my own build play a halfling mark of healing, rakdos performer, level 18 chronurgy wizard with Akmon, hammer of purpherous.
For all the coffeelockers play warforged and for my own build play a halfling mark of healing, rakdos performer, level 18 chronurgy wizard with Akmon, hammer of purpherous.
Sorry if i make a spelling error.
Pretty sure you cannot mix Eberron subraces with Ravnica backgrouns.
Persuasion, FYI the resilient feat can only be used once. The potion of giant strength can give up to 29 strength however
I am also not convinced a fighter buffed up by a group of wizards is broken as the wizards could do some pretty powerful things as an alternative.
How long does the character need to be "broken" for without the buffs he would die very quickly and I can not imagine a dm giving enough potions to keep your strength up for every combat.
A group of casters buffing the 1-2 melee fighters in the group is essentially every MMO ever. Sure, if the wizard can cast Haste on me AND throw Fireball then it's all good...but why not cast Haste on himself and cast TWO fireballs?
My group and I have done this in the past...they all cast buffs on my War Cleric and then he tanked the hallway while they fired past me and it worked really well but you can't rely on that ALL the time.
For all the coffeelockers play warforged and for my own build play a halfling mark of healing, rakdos performer, level 18 chronurgy wizard with Akmon, hammer of purpherous.
Sorry if i make a spelling error.
Pretty sure you cannot mix Eberron subraces with Ravnica backgrouns.
For all the coffeelockers play warforged and for my own build play a halfling mark of healing, rakdos performer, level 18 chronurgy wizard with Akmon, hammer of purpherous.
Sorry if i make a spelling error.
Pretty sure you cannot mix Eberron subraces with Ravnica backgrouns.
Why not?
I was going to ask that too, and actually had a post ready, then deleted it. It's generally people who think that you MUST use the lore that's presented EXACTLY without any flavoring or customization. I have a light cleric I wouldn't mind playing that I took the Rakdos Cultist background on, and would fluff it as a priest of Mystra. traditionally, Mystra grants some arcane spells to her priests, and the light cleric/rakdos better suits my vision for what I think one of those priests might look like. Much more than say, oh, the default arcana domain.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Yeah, but this is specifically about “broken min-max builds.” Since when has a little thing like “lore” ever stopped a munchkin?
We're not plating AL that is for darn sure ; )
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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."
Yeah, but this is specifically about “broken min-max builds.” Since when has a little thing like “lore” ever stopped a munchkin?
why not both?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
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sorry, this is a mystery solving campaign. There’s 0 combat.
womp womp.“
I am done arguing. For someone that claims a build is “broken” for AL and then comes back with a “mystery solving campaign” and “womp womp” as an attempt to refute and insult, you’re obviously moving the goalposts and I don’t have time to go down that rabbit hole.
yes please do stop arguing there is only one really broken build. the coffeelock and everyone knows it
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
it was meant to be lighthearted banter about powerful builds not an insult fest
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
There was a skill monkey min-max build early on in this thread. I'd like to go back to that. Here is my contribution:
Variant Human with Skilled Feat: 6 base skills (3 feat, 1 vhuman, 2 background)
Start as Rogue, add 4 skills (and 2 expertise)
To to Rogue 3 and pick Scout, add 2 skills (and 2 expertise) which can only be Nature/Survival
Switch to Bard, add 1 skill
Go to Bard 3, choose Lore, add 3 skills (and 2 expertise)
Switch to Knowledge Cleric, get 2 skills (and 2 expertise) from Arcana/History/Religion
At this point the character is level 7 and is proficient in all skills. They also have eight expertise. With the Hermit background they also had five languages and three tool proficiencies, though the exact number of these will vary by background.
If you take this character to Rogue 6, Bard 10, Cleric 1, and pick up Prodigy then at level 17 they can have 13 expertises (plus some extra languages and tools).
Why would you do this? Beats me. :)
Vengeance Paladin 11 and Hexblade 9 when you stack both smites on the same attack can get pretty broken, averaging ~150 damage on one attack, and maximum of ~250 damage, when hexed/hunter's mark and the attack is a critical hit.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
How about this ultimate sniper build: Inquitisive Rogue with the Sharpshooter feat. Sharpshooter allows you to attack at long range (e.g. 600 ft for a Longbow) without getting disadvantage. The Inquisitive Rogue's Insightful Fighting lets you use Sneak Attack against "a creature you can see" by winning a contested skill check. Put them together and you get Sneak Attack at a 600ft range.
Maybe your DM says that the Rogue wouldn't be able to use Insightful Fighting from that far away. No problem, just take six levels of Eagle Totem Barbarian! Gain the ability to "see up to 1 mile away with no difficulty, able to discern even fine details as though looking at something no more than 100 feet away from you". Plus you get Longbow proficiency if you didn't already have it.
Granted, this is a weird build. However some Barbarians might consider a three level dip in Rogue. They're already dangerous in melee, this makes them deadly at range, plus they get a bunch of skills (Expertise in Athletics!) and a bonus action disengage.
I've never done this before (I don't like to min/max, it makes the game boring), but I had an idea of a fourth level Wood Elf rogue with a longbow and the sharpshooter feat. You get 600 ft. range and can dash every round. This makes you literally impossible to get hit as long as you have room to move.
Compared with some of these, mine isn’t very broken. Play an Aaracockra fighter, maybe Samurai for the advantage. Then use a halberd and take polearm master and great weapons fighter. This enables you to make the four attacks with advantage, with action surge, this increases to eight. With great weapons master you add +10 to each attack. If everything hits, thats 80 for the great weapon master, +40 (assuming you have +5 strength) +4d10 and 4d4, to an average damage of 148. In addition, the 10 feet range on the halberd means you can hover 10 feet above an opponent, and if they are using anything with a five feet range, so most melee weapons, they can’t hit you at all. Not particularly powerful but can be utilised at level 8
Just wanted to start with commending you guys on the build ideas. I love seeing people's creativity with the 5e system.
I have a broken build idea that's simple to use but sometimes hard for people to accept at the table. It is known as the infamous coffeelock build. The main idea is that you take at least 1 level of warlock and 2 levels of sorcerer if multiclassing is allowed at the table. Here's how it works: pact magic spell slots recharge on a short rest and we can convert pact magic spell slots into sorcery points by using font of magic from sorcerer. All you need to do is convert your warlock spell slots into sorcery points, convert those sorcery points into spell slots, and take a short rest. This can be done as part of any downtime or if you don't need a long rest you could take a series of short rests instead of a long rest to store up spell slots. These spell slots are sorcerer spell slots and disappear on a long rest so the game is to not take any of those.
Since Xanathar's guide released the added rules of skipping long rests results in a constitution save that leaves you with exhaustion if you fail (see XGtE page 78 for more details) so you can only stay awake for so long before that exhaustion becomes pretty bad.
As a result your character will have dozens of spell slots! How awesome! Since you can start doing this at lv 3 you can see how this may get out of hand if your DM gives you downtime and generally using a coffeelock is frowned upon but it can lead to some awesome combos!
Here's how I use the spell slots:
1 - take levels in paladin and use them on divine smite
2 - use reaction spells like shield, absorb elements, hellish rebuke, and counterspell
3 - use quickened spell to cast eldritch blast as a bonus action and action (better with agonizing blast and hex) and then use the spell slots to restore your sorcery points
4 - cast AoE spells like fireball on repeat
5 - after battle (or during by using healing word) spend lots of spell slots using healing spells so your group can keep going for longer without resting to restore HP
* to make the most of this combo take 9 levels in either divine soul sorcerer or celestial warlock and learn greater restoration
cast this spell once every 24 hours to stave off the exhaustion and you can potentially save up an unlimited amount of spell slots
the drawback to this is every cast of greater restoration consumes 100gp worth of diamonds and your character can quickly become somewhat addicted but in a situation where your character has lots of gold this is not a big problem
here is another crazy one
V human fighter, take Alert feat. get two 18s and two 15s (the other two don't matter) Make 19 Dex, and 19 Int, wis or cha; the other two 15 each. Go fighter 8 levels (archetype doesn't matter), then (not in this order): 4 lvls ranger, go gloom stalker; 4 lvls rogue, go swashbuckler; 4 lvls wizard, go chronurgy. Put all ASIs into maxing dex, int, wis, and cha to 20 each. You should have a character with a +25 to initiative. Get epic boons past lvl 20, max those four to 30 each, you get an unreal +45 to initiative. Crazy, right? You'll almost never be surprised ever again, and you'll always top the initiative list in every encounter. Insane.
Rogue Shadow, the DM (and occasional) PC with schemes of inventive thinking
For all the coffeelockers play warforged and for my own build play a halfling mark of healing, rakdos performer, level 18 chronurgy wizard with Akmon, hammer of purpherous.
Sorry if i make a spelling error.
I am leader of the yep cult:https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/off-topic/adohands-kitchen/82135-yep-cult Pronouns are she/her
Pretty sure you cannot mix Eberron subraces with Ravnica backgrouns.
A group of casters buffing the 1-2 melee fighters in the group is essentially every MMO ever. Sure, if the wizard can cast Haste on me AND throw Fireball then it's all good...but why not cast Haste on himself and cast TWO fireballs?
My group and I have done this in the past...they all cast buffs on my War Cleric and then he tanked the hallway while they fired past me and it worked really well but you can't rely on that ALL the time.
Why not?
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
I was going to ask that too, and actually had a post ready, then deleted it. It's generally people who think that you MUST use the lore that's presented EXACTLY without any flavoring or customization. I have a light cleric I wouldn't mind playing that I took the Rakdos Cultist background on, and would fluff it as a priest of Mystra. traditionally, Mystra grants some arcane spells to her priests, and the light cleric/rakdos better suits my vision for what I think one of those priests might look like. Much more than say, oh, the default arcana domain.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
Yeah, but this is specifically about “broken min-max builds.” Since when has a little thing like “lore” ever stopped a munchkin?
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
We're not plating AL that is for darn sure ; )
"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."
“Munchkins gonna munch.” — Yurei1453
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
why not both?
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha