Hi! I want to make a character who is a kind of monster hunter sword fighter who shifts into animals to sneak around and scout the area... a mysterious cat who stalks the roofs and jumps down to transform back into his humans shape and strike the werewolf down with his silver sword... something like that :-)
I was thinking monster slayer ranger with some levels of druid? But I am not sure where to start :-) probably an dex/wis focussed build?
so mainly I require a sword, a way to use some out of combat shape shifting into animals and he must be good against monsters/demons/ghosts...
If you want the wildshape, you'll need two levels of druid at a minimum -- I'd recommend going Circle of the Moon, to up the CR of your wildshape even if you only take 2 levels. Also, you can still concentrate on a spell you cast before you transform, so you can cast hunter's mark, transform, and apply that damage to your attacks. If you choose to take 4 levels in druid to avoid losing an ASI, you'd also get to add in animals that have a swim speed (but not a flying speed). 2 vs 4 levels really comes down to how much you think the Feral Senses ability to see invisible creatures will come in handy if you're really sure your campaign (unless it's a 20th-level oneshot) will make it to level 20.
For Ranger, it sounds like you want the Monster Slayer subclass. Pretty much all of the Class Variant UA works pretty well for this subclass, but of course that's up to your DM if it's allowed. But Monster Slayer on its own is pretty good, though (not as great as Horizon Walker, but that works less well with your story setup). You get Protection From Evil and Good, Zone of Truth, Magic Circle, Banishment, and Hold Monster, as well as the ability to identify creatures' damage immunities, resistances, or vulnerabilities.
You'll want to make DEX your highest, and go for a dex-based weapon and take the dueling or two-weapon fighting style. With the Monster Slayer subclass, getting a high WIS is pretty useful but you have some time, as it really kicks in at 11th level.
If you only take 2 levels druid and are not focusing on wildshape for combat, it doesn't matter which circle you take. Just take whichever has a level 2 feature you like.
For ranger, you may also want to consider gloom stalker if getting am ambush is your plan of action. Monster Hunter is equally good.
If UA is on the table, the cleric twilight domain is very much an order of monster hunters that has a lot of features great for this concept. Even if UA is not an option, 8 levels of cleric for divine strike plus some very handy spells may be of use.
It doesn't matter what class you start as for weapon and armor proficiency, so start with whichever class has the saves or starting equipment you want.
Depending on how you work the armor with the shifting, you may want to consider either Shillelagh or Primal Savagery as one of your cantrips. This would give you a reliable melee attack if you're ambushed away from your gear and you don't want to use another wild shape charge. It's much less important if your shape incorporates the gear.
i hadn’t thought about being caught off guard and without wild shapes and gear... are there other must have spells to keep on standby? (We are going to ravenloft :-))
Druids have a pretty limited number of attack cantrips, and rangers get no cantrips at all. I really like magic stone because you can also give the stones to your fighter or barbarian, who has no magic to attack the creature who's immune to non-magical bludgeoning/piercing/slashing or what have you. Also a quarterstaff can be taken from you, but you can often find stones on the ground. It's also ranged, if you're looking at ranged vs melee. Produce flame is also a nice ranged spell that has utility as well. If you're looking more for melee, I do really like primal savagery. And I'm pretty sure acid resistance is less common than most of the other damage type options you get from druid cantrips.
If you're going to Ravenloft, the ranger monster slayer ability Hunter's Sense goes up in importance, as does the protection from evil and good spell you get at 3rd level. Pass without trace will also probably be really helpful.
Hi! I want to make a character who is a kind of monster hunter sword fighter who shifts into animals to sneak around and scout the area... a mysterious cat who stalks the roofs and jumps down to transform back into his humans shape and strike the werewolf down with his silver sword... something like that :-)
I was thinking monster slayer ranger with some levels of druid? But I am not sure where to start :-) probably an dex/wis focussed build?
so mainly I require a sword, a way to use some out of combat shape shifting into animals and he must be good against monsters/demons/ghosts...
what could you advise?
If you want the wildshape, you'll need two levels of druid at a minimum -- I'd recommend going Circle of the Moon, to up the CR of your wildshape even if you only take 2 levels. Also, you can still concentrate on a spell you cast before you transform, so you can cast hunter's mark, transform, and apply that damage to your attacks. If you choose to take 4 levels in druid to avoid losing an ASI, you'd also get to add in animals that have a swim speed (but not a flying speed). 2 vs 4 levels really comes down to how much you think the Feral Senses ability to see invisible creatures will come in handy if you're really sure your campaign (unless it's a 20th-level oneshot) will make it to level 20.
For Ranger, it sounds like you want the Monster Slayer subclass. Pretty much all of the Class Variant UA works pretty well for this subclass, but of course that's up to your DM if it's allowed. But Monster Slayer on its own is pretty good, though (not as great as Horizon Walker, but that works less well with your story setup). You get Protection From Evil and Good, Zone of Truth, Magic Circle, Banishment, and Hold Monster, as well as the ability to identify creatures' damage immunities, resistances, or vulnerabilities.
You'll want to make DEX your highest, and go for a dex-based weapon and take the dueling or two-weapon fighting style. With the Monster Slayer subclass, getting a high WIS is pretty useful but you have some time, as it really kicks in at 11th level.
Birgit | Shifter | Sorcerer | Dragonlords
Shayone | Hobgoblin | Sorcerer | Netherdeep
If you only take 2 levels druid and are not focusing on wildshape for combat, it doesn't matter which circle you take. Just take whichever has a level 2 feature you like.
For ranger, you may also want to consider gloom stalker if getting am ambush is your plan of action. Monster Hunter is equally good.
If UA is on the table, the cleric twilight domain is very much an order of monster hunters that has a lot of features great for this concept. Even if UA is not an option, 8 levels of cleric for divine strike plus some very handy spells may be of use.
It doesn't matter what class you start as for weapon and armor proficiency, so start with whichever class has the saves or starting equipment you want.
Depending on how you work the armor with the shifting, you may want to consider either Shillelagh or Primal Savagery as one of your cantrips. This would give you a reliable melee attack if you're ambushed away from your gear and you don't want to use another wild shape charge. It's much less important if your shape incorporates the gear.
Thanks everybody! there is some good advice here!
i hadn’t thought about being caught off guard and without wild shapes and gear... are there other must have spells to keep on standby? (We are going to ravenloft :-))
Druids have a pretty limited number of attack cantrips, and rangers get no cantrips at all. I really like magic stone because you can also give the stones to your fighter or barbarian, who has no magic to attack the creature who's immune to non-magical bludgeoning/piercing/slashing or what have you. Also a quarterstaff can be taken from you, but you can often find stones on the ground. It's also ranged, if you're looking at ranged vs melee. Produce flame is also a nice ranged spell that has utility as well. If you're looking more for melee, I do really like primal savagery. And I'm pretty sure acid resistance is less common than most of the other damage type options you get from druid cantrips.
If you're going to Ravenloft, the ranger monster slayer ability Hunter's Sense goes up in importance, as does the protection from evil and good spell you get at 3rd level. Pass without trace will also probably be really helpful.
Birgit | Shifter | Sorcerer | Dragonlords
Shayone | Hobgoblin | Sorcerer | Netherdeep