My plans for a 2024 main are a 1 fighter/19 celestial warlock (pact of the blade) build. No, i don’t expect to make it to 20; it’s just so i can level down as needed for oneshot campaigns. Right now my weapon mastery is just going to my 3 default weapons: longbow, scimitar and shortsword.
Of course, I’m likely going to be using agonizing blast, so I don’t really need a longbow expertise. In addition, dueling appears to be closer to the damage of two-handing weaponry than two weapon fighting, so I likely will only be using either the shortsword or the scimitar. I’m not really sure which one is better for me either.
I can only pick my weapon mastery once, as I do not level up in fighter. So I want to pick the right ones. Which 3 weapons should I choose to have mastery in for my fighter ability?
Firstly, and most importantly, you can change your masteries at the end of a long rest. The pick is not forever.
If you’re going to be one-handed, my first thought is are you planning to use hex? Because then a nick weapon that will allow extra attacks more easily would probably be a good choice, to maximize the hex benefits.
But if you’re a fighter, why are you sticking to simple weapons. Why mot something like a longsword or warhammer or whatever?
Now, aim reading this again, I’m wondering if you mean fighting style and not mastery?
Wow! I didn’t even think about nick stacking with hex! It kinda gives me a new question though. The only feat (not counting epic boons) i was going to take was war caster for the +1 to charisma to even it out, casting with a shield, spell opportunity attacks and concentration boost. If Hex is so good, should I go back to Fey Touched instead?
My build is currently 8 strength, 14 dexterity, 16 constitution, 8 intelligence, 10 wisdom and 17 charisma with background/species/old racial ability boosts, so I’m not strong enough to use most of the weapons. Should I consider switching my strength and dexterity, or are there some dexterity based weapons to consider? If going strength based, which of those weapons should I consider?
I think two weapon fighting as your fighting style instead of would be good. It would allow you to use something such as a longsword and scimitar, so you would get an average of 12.5 excluding ability score mods (2d8 + 1d6) slashing damage if you choose nick weapon mastery, (longsword attack, nick attack part of action, longsword bonus action; I think you could do the bonus action attack with the longsword but I'm not sure) and sap could help with applying disadvantage for future attacks, perhaps to make up for the lack of a shield. The longsword thing, however, is assuming you get the Dual Wielder feat, which you could get if you replace your current race with variant human (2014). Without it, you'd still get a good 10.5 average damage with them. If you apply hex, however, the three attacks' damage increases by another 10.5 (3.5 average damage per attack), doubling it. So my recommended weapon expertise would be scimitar, mace/longsword, and shortsword.
Interesting, but part of me feels like it’s cheating to use the old variant human when there is a new model for it. Then again, I’m using an old race and background myself. You definitely helped to explain it a bit more though! Just so I am sure though, nick does an extra 1d6 like hex does, but also stacks with hex?
Say I use a shortsword and scimitar with two weapon fighting with devouring blade: do i get 3 shortsword attacks (each applying vex) and one bonus scimitar attack with nick?
Nick actually isn't what I think you think it is. It allows you, when you use two weapon fighting, to make one of the attacks as part of the attack on your turn, freeing up the bonus action. Therefore, you can use your bonus action to use the standard bonus action two weapon fighting attack to attack again. So it isn't extra damage: it's just an extra attack.
I see. I plan on using my bonus attack whenever possible for healing abilities, so maybe I should stick to the scimitar and dueling. Unless… does vex happen each time you hit with a shortsword? It doesn’t give a limit. Then again, if you have to use the nick weapon as your primary attack to get the “non-bonus bonus” attack… well… I’m not sure which would be better.
You can activate multiple weapon masteries on one turn, unless it explicitly says you can't. I don't think any weapon masteries say "you cannot use any more weapon masteries per turn". So if you attacked with the shortsword, it would apply advantage on the next attack made against that enemy. You could technically make that next attack with the nick weapon and get advantage.
Ah ok. I think I understand. So two attacks with vex and one with nick, plus the option of a bonus attack? I’m not sure whether or not I will need it with healing options, but then again I’m not sure if a different fighting style would fit, would it?
As for the thirsting blade, your attack would go something like this:
One normal attack
Two attacks because of Devouring Blade
One extra attack because of nick
And then (I'm not sure about this part) you use your bonus action to make yet another attack with the two weapon fighting feature.
If you use the Nick mastery to get your TWF attack as part of the Attack action you cannot use your BA to make the TWF attack again (says so in the Nick mastery). Unless you have the duel wielder feat which then I think you can.
I did some more thinking on this and am leaning towards either heavy weapons or sword and board.
The reason is with 13 strength I can achieve this on a fighter without the need for warcaster. (I’m only taking one feat; the rest are going to ability scores to max out my charisma and constitution for my celestial patron ability that revives me with half health). This way I can take fey touched and get a free hex as well as misty step.
So, the most damaging heavy weapons are greataxe, greatsword and maul, correct? Should I just take all three as weapon proficiencies?
Also, a bit off subject, but if I am so close to 15 strength anyway, do i go with a 15, 8, 15+1, 8, 8, 15+2 build to get heavy armor, do I go 13, 12, 15+1, 8, 8, 15+2 for just the heavy weapons, or am I really offtrack here and should go with the warcaster light weapon dual-wield build? Or do I go warcaster sword and board and either do damage that way or with eldritch blast and a shield?
Sorry for all the late questions. There are just so many possibilities!
There’s no perfect character. No matter what you do there will be times you made the perfect choice, and times when the other option would have been better. Just go with the one you think will be more fun for you.
If you do take the 13 str for heavy weapons, I’d say for a mastery maybe one heavy weapon and one-handed weapon to use with a shield. Switching mid-fight is tough with the shield, but you can have the options if you think you’ll need the extra offense or defense at different points in the day. And the third whichever you use more (2 hand vs 1 hand). Normally, I’d say ranged for the third, but EB will have that covered. And again, you switch in a long rest. Take what you like for now you can change later if/when you like.
Also, as a tip. I played a celestial through level 8. I quickly realized my little d6 heals were best used just to pick people up. Like a weaker healing word, really. So for lots of the fight, you’ll have that BA available.
I did some more thinking on this and am leaning towards either heavy weapons or sword and board.
The reason is with 13 strength I can achieve this on a fighter without the need for warcaster. (I’m only taking one feat; the rest are going to ability scores to max out my charisma and constitution for my celestial patron ability that revives me with half health). This way I can take fey touched and get a free hex as well as misty step.
So, the most damaging heavy weapons are greataxe, greatsword and maul, correct? Should I just take all three as weapon proficiencies?
Also, a bit off subject, but if I am so close to 15 strength anyway, do i go with a 15, 8, 15+1, 8, 8, 15+2 build to get heavy armor, do I go 13, 12, 15+1, 8, 8, 15+2 for just the heavy weapons, or am I really offtrack here and should go with the warcaster light weapon dual-wield build? Or do I go warcaster sword and board and either do damage that way or with eldritch blast and a shield?
Sorry for all the late questions. There are just so many possibilities!
If you are going 13 STR I suggest starting Paladin instead of Fighter. You lose the Fighting Style, and Second Wind while trading STR and CON saves for WIS and CHA. But you gain a couple of 1st level spell slots and powerful Paladin spells like Bless, Divine Favor and the various level 1 Smite spells which can be combined with Eldritch Smite for a glorious blow your entire load styles critical hit. You also get Lay on Hands which provides a tiny bit more healing or emergency poison removal.
I would need to go Warcaster to wield a sword and shield while using spells though, but not for a two-handed weapon, correct?
Honestly it may not hurt to have a ranged weapon in case there are antimagic fields. Unless I come across one though in loot of for sale though I would obviously just go with melee weapons.
Well said about the d6’s, but do I use as many as I can at once or just the one to revive them? Also, my favorite spell happens to be Crown of Stars, so that covers my bonus action for awhile, unless there is something else you would recommend.
Interesting idea with a level in Paladin, but in order to get heavy armor i need to start out that way, which leads to two problems for me. First, I have Mental Prison selected on my warlock and my fighter/warlock which is no longer available, so i couldn’t get that spell if I made a new character. Secondly, my combination of fighter, Verdan and celebrity adventurer scion lets me have all the Charisma skills (same as warlock), but Paladin denies me the ability of deception. Don’t get me wrong, I love and appreciate the idea or basically double smiting! I’m just not sure it fits with the playstyle I’m going for.
There is one other option I am considering. I don’t need to worry about a 15 strength or having warcaster for shields if it isn’t an option in the first place. Maybe I just go straight warlock, start with mostly gold and buy studded leather right out the gate. All I need then is a weapon, which I can create and use whichever one I want with Pact of the Blade and a strength of 13. With no need for 15, I can pump those 4 points into dexterity for 12, get extra in wisdom and charisma for being a warlock and pump the rest into 15’s for my constitution and charisma, leaving just my intellect truly vulnerable. Grant it, it’s just a +1 in strength and dexterity as opposed to a -1 in intellect, but you get my point.
So yeah, I appreciate all your feedback on Fighters (and Paladins), but part of me thinks it might be simpler to go straight Warlock so there’s no delay in leveling it up. I realize it’s level 20 ability is trash with the new level 2 one, but most sites say it’s about as good as the other milticlass options… save for starting with fighter and adding bard surprisingly. Do you see my logic, or is going pure Warlock a mistake?
I used multiple d6’s a couple times, it is it wasn’t great. Giving someone 1d6 vs 3d6, usually didn’t matter. Either way, they were only going to take one hit. Better to spread them around a bit.
I would need to go Warcaster to wield a sword and shield while using spells though, but not for a two-handed weapon, correct?
Honestly it may not hurt to have a ranged weapon in case there are antimagic fields. Unless I come across one though in loot of for sale though I would obviously just go with melee weapons.
Well said about the d6’s, but do I use as many as I can at once or just the one to revive them? Also, my favorite spell happens to be Crown of Stars, so that covers my bonus action for awhile, unless there is something else you would recommend.
Interesting idea with a level in Paladin, but in order to get heavy armor i need to start out that way, which leads to two problems for me. First, I have Mental Prison selected on my warlock and my fighter/warlock which is no longer available, so i couldn’t get that spell if I made a new character. Secondly, my combination of fighter, Verdan and celebrity adventurer scion lets me have all the Charisma skills (same as warlock), but Paladin denies me the ability of deception. Don’t get me wrong, I love and appreciate the idea or basically double smiting! I’m just not sure it fits with the playstyle I’m going for.
There is one other option I am considering. I don’t need to worry about a 15 strength or having warcaster for shields if it isn’t an option in the first place. Maybe I just go straight warlock, start with mostly gold and buy studded leather right out the gate. All I need then is a weapon, which I can create and use whichever one I want with Pact of the Blade and a strength of 13. With no need for 15, I can pump those 4 points into dexterity for 12, get extra in wisdom and charisma for being a warlock and pump the rest into 15’s for my constitution and charisma, leaving just my intellect truly vulnerable. Grant it, it’s just a +1 in strength and dexterity as opposed to a -1 in intellect, but you get my point.
So yeah, I appreciate all your feedback on Fighters (and Paladins), but part of me thinks it might be simpler to go straight Warlock so there’s no delay in leveling it up. I realize it’s level 20 ability is trash with the new level 2 one, but most sites say it’s about as good as the other milticlass options… save for starting with fighter and adding bard surprisingly. Do you see my logic, or is going pure Warlock a mistake?
The biggest drawback of pure Blade Lock is your AC. With studded armor and 12 DEX you only have 13 AC, which is a pretty low number for a potential front liner.
By that logic, should I boost my strength to 15 and drop my dexterity to 8 to get heavy armor, or is medium armor and a 13 strength / 12 dexterity enough?
By that logic, should I boost my strength to 15 and drop my dexterity to 8 to get heavy armor, or is medium armor and a 13 strength / 12 dexterity enough?
Are you planning on taking the Great Weapon Master or the Polearm Master feats? If you plan on picking up one of them later on then a 14 STR start is more ideal. Or you could just stick with 13 STR and use chainmail with the Defense fighting style to get to a respectable 17 AC.
By that logic, should I boost my strength to 15 and drop my dexterity to 8 to get heavy armor, or is medium armor and a 13 strength / 12 dexterity enough?
Are you planning on taking the Great Weapon Master or the Polearm Master feats? If you plan on picking up one of them later on then a 14 STR start is more ideal. Or you could just stick with 13 STR and use chainmail with the Defense fighting style to get to a respectable 17 AC.
I wanted to focus on Charisma and Constitution, so I guess I’m going Strength 13 and Chain Mail, but if I’m planing on using one weapon anyway, would the dueling fighting style be better than a +1 to armor?
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My plans for a 2024 main are a 1 fighter/19 celestial warlock (pact of the blade) build. No, i don’t expect to make it to 20; it’s just so i can level down as needed for oneshot campaigns. Right now my weapon mastery is just going to my 3 default weapons: longbow, scimitar and shortsword.
Of course, I’m likely going to be using agonizing blast, so I don’t really need a longbow expertise. In addition, dueling appears to be closer to the damage of two-handing weaponry than two weapon fighting, so I likely will only be using either the shortsword or the scimitar. I’m not really sure which one is better for me either.
I can only pick my weapon mastery once, as I do not level up in fighter. So I want to pick the right ones. Which 3 weapons should I choose to have mastery in for my fighter ability?
Firstly, and most importantly, you can change your masteries at the end of a long rest. The pick is not forever.
If you’re going to be one-handed, my first thought is are you planning to use hex? Because then a nick weapon that will allow extra attacks more easily would probably be a good choice, to maximize the hex benefits.
But if you’re a fighter, why are you sticking to simple weapons. Why mot something like a longsword or warhammer or whatever?
Now, aim reading this again, I’m wondering if you mean fighting style and not mastery?
Wow! I didn’t even think about nick stacking with hex! It kinda gives me a new question though. The only feat (not counting epic boons) i was going to take was war caster for the +1 to charisma to even it out, casting with a shield, spell opportunity attacks and concentration boost. If Hex is so good, should I go back to Fey Touched instead?
My build is currently 8 strength, 14 dexterity, 16 constitution, 8 intelligence, 10 wisdom and 17 charisma with background/species/old racial ability boosts, so I’m not strong enough to use most of the weapons. Should I consider switching my strength and dexterity, or are there some dexterity based weapons to consider? If going strength based, which of those weapons should I consider?
I think two weapon fighting as your fighting style instead of would be good. It would allow you to use something such as a longsword and scimitar, so you would get an average of 12.5 excluding ability score mods (2d8 + 1d6) slashing damage if you choose nick weapon mastery, (longsword attack, nick attack part of action, longsword bonus action; I think you could do the bonus action attack with the longsword but I'm not sure) and sap could help with applying disadvantage for future attacks, perhaps to make up for the lack of a shield. The longsword thing, however, is assuming you get the Dual Wielder feat, which you could get if you replace your current race with variant human (2014). Without it, you'd still get a good 10.5 average damage with them. If you apply hex, however, the three attacks' damage increases by another 10.5 (3.5 average damage per attack), doubling it. So my recommended weapon expertise would be scimitar, mace/longsword, and shortsword.
Roll for Initiative: [roll]1d20+7[/roll]
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Interesting, but part of me feels like it’s cheating to use the old variant human when there is a new model for it. Then again, I’m using an old race and background myself.
You definitely helped to explain it a bit more though! Just so I am sure though, nick does an extra 1d6 like hex does, but also stacks with hex?
Say I use a shortsword and scimitar with two weapon fighting with devouring blade: do i get 3 shortsword attacks (each applying vex) and one bonus scimitar attack with nick?
Nick actually isn't what I think you think it is. It allows you, when you use two weapon fighting, to make one of the attacks as part of the attack on your turn, freeing up the bonus action. Therefore, you can use your bonus action to use the standard bonus action two weapon fighting attack to attack again. So it isn't extra damage: it's just an extra attack.
Roll for Initiative: [roll]1d20+7[/roll]
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As for the thirsting blade, your attack would go something like this:
One normal attack
Two attacks because of Devouring Blade
One extra attack because of nick
And then (I'm not sure about this part) you use your bonus action to make yet another attack with the two weapon fighting feature.
Roll for Initiative: [roll]1d20+7[/roll]
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Homebrew Races: HERE Homebrew Spells: HERE Homebrew Monsters: HERE
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I see. I plan on using my bonus attack whenever possible for healing abilities, so maybe I should stick to the scimitar and dueling. Unless… does vex happen each time you hit with a shortsword? It doesn’t give a limit. Then again, if you have to use the nick weapon as your primary attack to get the “non-bonus bonus” attack… well… I’m not sure which would be better.
You can activate multiple weapon masteries on one turn, unless it explicitly says you can't. I don't think any weapon masteries say "you cannot use any more weapon masteries per turn". So if you attacked with the shortsword, it would apply advantage on the next attack made against that enemy. You could technically make that next attack with the nick weapon and get advantage.
Roll for Initiative: [roll]1d20+7[/roll]
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Homebrew Races: HERE Homebrew Spells: HERE Homebrew Monsters: HERE
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Ah ok. I think I understand. So two attacks with vex and one with nick, plus the option of a bonus attack? I’m not sure whether or not I will need it with healing options, but then again I’m not sure if a different fighting style would fit, would it?
If you use the Nick mastery to get your TWF attack as part of the Attack action you cannot use your BA to make the TWF attack again (says so in the Nick mastery). Unless you have the duel wielder feat which then I think you can.
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I did some more thinking on this and am leaning towards either heavy weapons or sword and board.
The reason is with 13 strength I can achieve this on a fighter without the need for warcaster. (I’m only taking one feat; the rest are going to ability scores to max out my charisma and constitution for my celestial patron ability that revives me with half health). This way I can take fey touched and get a free hex as well as misty step.
So, the most damaging heavy weapons are greataxe, greatsword and maul, correct? Should I just take all three as weapon proficiencies?
Also, a bit off subject, but if I am so close to 15 strength anyway, do i go with a 15, 8, 15+1, 8, 8, 15+2 build to get heavy armor, do I go 13, 12, 15+1, 8, 8, 15+2 for just the heavy weapons, or am I really offtrack here and should go with the warcaster light weapon dual-wield build? Or do I go warcaster sword and board and either do damage that way or with eldritch blast and a shield?
Sorry for all the late questions. There are just so many possibilities!
There’s no perfect character. No matter what you do there will be times you made the perfect choice, and times when the other option would have been better. Just go with the one you think will be more fun for you.
If you do take the 13 str for heavy weapons, I’d say for a mastery maybe one heavy weapon and one-handed weapon to use with a shield. Switching mid-fight is tough with the shield, but you can have the options if you think you’ll need the extra offense or defense at different points in the day. And the third whichever you use more (2 hand vs 1 hand). Normally, I’d say ranged for the third, but EB will have that covered.
And again, you switch in a long rest. Take what you like for now you can change later if/when you like.
Also, as a tip. I played a celestial through level 8. I quickly realized my little d6 heals were best used just to pick people up. Like a weaker healing word, really. So for lots of the fight, you’ll have that BA available.
If you are going 13 STR I suggest starting Paladin instead of Fighter. You lose the Fighting Style, and Second Wind while trading STR and CON saves for WIS and CHA. But you gain a couple of 1st level spell slots and powerful Paladin spells like Bless, Divine Favor and the various level 1 Smite spells which can be combined with Eldritch Smite for a glorious blow your entire load styles critical hit. You also get Lay on Hands which provides a tiny bit more healing or emergency poison removal.
I would need to go Warcaster to wield a sword and shield while using spells though, but not for a two-handed weapon, correct?
Honestly it may not hurt to have a ranged weapon in case there are antimagic fields. Unless I come across one though in loot of for sale though I would obviously just go with melee weapons.
Well said about the d6’s, but do I use as many as I can at once or just the one to revive them? Also, my favorite spell happens to be Crown of Stars, so that covers my bonus action for awhile, unless there is something else you would recommend.
Interesting idea with a level in Paladin, but in order to get heavy armor i need to start out that way, which leads to two problems for me. First, I have Mental Prison selected on my warlock and my fighter/warlock which is no longer available, so i couldn’t get that spell if I made a new character. Secondly, my combination of fighter, Verdan and celebrity adventurer scion lets me have all the Charisma skills (same as warlock), but Paladin denies me the ability of deception. Don’t get me wrong, I love and appreciate the idea or basically double smiting! I’m just not sure it fits with the playstyle I’m going for.
There is one other option I am considering. I don’t need to worry about a 15 strength or having warcaster for shields if it isn’t an option in the first place. Maybe I just go straight warlock, start with mostly gold and buy studded leather right out the gate. All I need then is a weapon, which I can create and use whichever one I want with Pact of the Blade and a strength of 13. With no need for 15, I can pump those 4 points into dexterity for 12, get extra in wisdom and charisma for being a warlock and pump the rest into 15’s for my constitution and charisma, leaving just my intellect truly vulnerable. Grant it, it’s just a +1 in strength and dexterity as opposed to a -1 in intellect, but you get my point.
So yeah, I appreciate all your feedback on Fighters (and Paladins), but part of me thinks it might be simpler to go straight Warlock so there’s no delay in leveling it up. I realize it’s level 20 ability is trash with the new level 2 one, but most sites say it’s about as good as the other milticlass options… save for starting with fighter and adding bard surprisingly. Do you see my logic, or is going pure Warlock a mistake?
I used multiple d6’s a couple times, it is it wasn’t great. Giving someone 1d6 vs 3d6, usually didn’t matter. Either way, they were only going to take one hit. Better to spread them around a bit.
The biggest drawback of pure Blade Lock is your AC. With studded armor and 12 DEX you only have 13 AC, which is a pretty low number for a potential front liner.
I see. Alright, I won’t go that route.
By that logic, should I boost my strength to 15 and drop my dexterity to 8 to get heavy armor, or is medium armor and a 13 strength / 12 dexterity enough?
Are you planning on taking the Great Weapon Master or the Polearm Master feats? If you plan on picking up one of them later on then a 14 STR start is more ideal. Or you could just stick with 13 STR and use chainmail with the Defense fighting style to get to a respectable 17 AC.
I wanted to focus on Charisma and Constitution, so I guess I’m going Strength 13 and Chain Mail, but if I’m planing on using one weapon anyway, would the dueling fighting style be better than a +1 to armor?