This build is inspired by Itachi Uchiha, the infamous character from Naruto. The combination of Oath of Conquest Paladin and Way of the Long Death Monk emphasizes Itachi’s mastery in combat, his stoic demeanor, and his ruthless efficiency in battle. His story, filled with loss, discipline, and an overwhelming sense of duty, mirrors the tenets of the Oath of Conquest, while his eerie calmness, speed, and resilience align with the monk's philosophy.
In Naruto, Itachi is an incredibly skilled and tactical shinobi, known for:
Mastery in hand-to-hand combat and weaponry.
Strategic intelligence and the ability to manipulate others through his presence.
Genjutsu (illusion magic) to control or overwhelm opponents.
Physical and psychological durability, including significant mental strength.
In D&D terms, this translates into:
Combat proficiency (martial weapons, unarmed strikes, and high attack damage).
Psychological warfare (fear, control, and manipulation).
Survival and defense (with high AC, resistance, and healing).
Speed and mobility (ability to control positioning and attack quickly).
Build Breakdown: Oath of Conquest Paladin / Way of the Long Death Monk (11 Paladin / 9 Monk)
This build focuses on an Oath of Conquest Paladin for overwhelming presence and battlefield control, combined with the Way of the Long Death Monk for agility, extra attacks, and thematic "deathly" powers. Here’s how this build compares with others commonly seen online:
Strengths of This Build:
Psychological Control (Aura of Conquest + Conquering Presence):
Oath of Conquest provides an aura of fear and psychic damage when enemies are within your aura. This reflects Itachi’s ability to psychologically dominate his foes through sheer presence. Conquering Presence forces creatures to make a Wisdom saving throw or be frightened, which fits with Itachi’s genjutsu abilities (the power to instill fear without direct combat).
Scornful Rebuke allows you to deal radiant damage to any creature that hits you, mimicking Itachi’s ability to retaliate against attackers with devastating precision.
Increased Damage Output (Divine Smite + Flurry of Blows):
The Paladin’s Divine Smite (at higher levels) adds radiant damage to your attacks, turning your already powerful melee combat into something akin to Itachi’s chakra-based attacks, especially when used in tandem with Flurry of Blows from the Monk. This offers a robust offensive presence.
Durability and Tanking (Aura of Protection + Unarmored Defense):
With Aura of Protection, you grant yourself and nearby allies extra protection against all saving throws. This combined with Unarmored Defense from the Monk (where your AC is based on Dexterity and Wisdom) means you become a highly resilient tank in combat. Itachi's ability to endure through tough situations and still outwit his enemies is reflected here, especially with the high durability that this build offers.
Speed & Mobility (Extra Attack + Ki Abilities):
You gain Extra Attack from both Paladin and Monk, allowing you to hit multiple times per turn. The Monk's Flurry of Blows gives you even more attacks, and Step of the Wind increases your mobility, letting you dash or disengage as a bonus action. Itachi is known for his speed and ability to outmaneuver opponents—this build gives you that same agility.
Thematic Feel (Touch of Death):
The Way of the Long Death gives you Touch of Death, where you can add necrotic damage to your unarmed strikes. This feels appropriate for Itachi, who often kills with a single strike, usually dealing some sort of life-ending or soul-crushing blow. This ability really embodies his lethal combat style.
Comparison to Other Itachi Builds
Itachi Build #1: Monk (Way of the Open Hand) / Sorcerer (Shadow Magic)
Monk (Way of the Open Hand) focuses on raw martial arts combat, with powerful unarmed strikes and the ability to push, knock prone, or stun enemies with your attacks. Sorcerer (Shadow Magic) provides darkness-based spells, illusionary powers, and mobility-based abilities that can emulate Itachi's use of Genjutsu and his control over shadows.
Pros: Strong unarmed combat, high mobility with Step of the Wind, and Shadow Magic fits well with Itachi’s use of illusionary tactics. Quicken Spell allows you to cast spells and act in the same turn, which fits the fast-paced combat style of Itachi.
Cons: Lacks the Aura of Conquest and Divine Smite—meaning less raw damage potential and less of a psychological presence. The build also lacks the tankiness of the Paladin and would struggle in terms of durability and physical resilience.
Comparison: The Monk / Sorcerer build leans more heavily into speed and illusions, with an emphasis on Genjutsu-like mechanics (via Shadow Magic and spells), but it sacrifices physical tanking and battlefield control. The Paladin/Monk build is much more robust in terms of durability and control, especially with the Aura of Conquest and Divine Smite.
Itachi Build #2: Warlock (Hexblade) / Monk (Way of the Open Hand or Kensei)
Warlock (Hexblade) gives you martial weapon proficiency, spells, and the ability to use Charisma for your attacks and damage. Combining it with Monk (Way of the Open Hand or Kensei) allows you to leverage Extra Attack and mobility.
Pros: Hexblade's Curse allows for extra damage on a cursed target, and the Monk levels give you mobility and unarmored defense. Invocations can be used for thematic utility, such as Devil’s Sight for darkvision and Agonizing Blast for ranged attacks.
Cons: This build doesn’t have Divine Smite or the psychic damage capabilities of the Oath of Conquest. It also lacks the defensive aura and does not have the same degree of control over enemies as the Paladin/Monk build. It’s more about focused damage and flexibility.
Comparison: The Warlock/Monk build is more versatile, especially if you want to focus on ranged combat and magic. However, it lacks the psychological warfare and tankiness offered by the Paladin subclass. It’s less thematic to Itachi's character overall, as it’s less about dominating enemies through presence and more about eliminating enemies efficiently.
A hybrid between Fighter (Battle Master) for tactical combat maneuvers and Wizard (Necromancy or Illusion) to mimic Itachi’s Genjutsu and more psychological abilities.
Pros: Battle Master adds maneuverability, control, and extra attack options. The Wizard subclass allows for spells like Hypnotic Pattern, Mirror Image, and Phantasmal Force, which emulate Itachi’s Genjutsu and control over enemies. Necromancy adds thematic damage and vitality-draining abilities.
Cons: Lacks the survivability and divine smiting power of the Paladin/Monk build. The Fighter/Wizard build can be squishier and more focused on spells and tactical maneuvers, while Itachi is known for blending both combat and mental control seamlessly.
Comparison: This build is more spellcasting and tactical combat focused, which doesn’t match Itachi’s usual approach of being a fast, mobile, and physically dominating presence on the battlefield. While it provides thematic Genjutsu-like abilities, it lacks the divine presence and tankiness that the Paladin/Monk build offers, especially the ability to dominate enemies both physically and psychologically.
So, to really make the build work - You want to take the tavern brawler feat, so that unarmed attacks can benefit from Divine smite. And the blindfighting fighting style, since Itachi was going blind but still fought very well. The Oath of Conquest fear locking people in place simulates Tsukiyomi. The Divine Smite addition to attacks simulates Amaterasu. You can run along walls and surfaces, you have some added movement speed, you hit hard with burst damage, and you "feel" like Itachi's presence with his intimidating aura and dominating of people's minds, and causing psychic damage all the time.
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This build is inspired by Itachi Uchiha, the infamous character from Naruto. The combination of Oath of Conquest Paladin and Way of the Long Death Monk emphasizes Itachi’s mastery in combat, his stoic demeanor, and his ruthless efficiency in battle. His story, filled with loss, discipline, and an overwhelming sense of duty, mirrors the tenets of the Oath of Conquest, while his eerie calmness, speed, and resilience align with the monk's philosophy.
In Naruto, Itachi is an incredibly skilled and tactical shinobi, known for:
Mastery in hand-to-hand combat and weaponry.
Strategic intelligence and the ability to manipulate others through his presence.
Genjutsu (illusion magic) to control or overwhelm opponents.
Physical and psychological durability, including significant mental strength.
In D&D terms, this translates into:
Combat proficiency (martial weapons, unarmed strikes, and high attack damage).
Psychological warfare (fear, control, and manipulation).
Survival and defense (with high AC, resistance, and healing).
Speed and mobility (ability to control positioning and attack quickly).
Build Breakdown: Oath of Conquest Paladin / Way of the Long Death Monk (11 Paladin / 9 Monk)
This build focuses on an Oath of Conquest Paladin for overwhelming presence and battlefield control, combined with the Way of the Long Death Monk for agility, extra attacks, and thematic "deathly" powers. Here’s how this build compares with others commonly seen online:
Strengths of This Build:
Psychological Control (Aura of Conquest + Conquering Presence):
Oath of Conquest provides an aura of fear and psychic damage when enemies are within your aura. This reflects Itachi’s ability to psychologically dominate his foes through sheer presence. Conquering Presence forces creatures to make a Wisdom saving throw or be frightened, which fits with Itachi’s genjutsu abilities (the power to instill fear without direct combat).
Scornful Rebuke allows you to deal radiant damage to any creature that hits you, mimicking Itachi’s ability to retaliate against attackers with devastating precision.
Increased Damage Output (Divine Smite + Flurry of Blows):
The Paladin’s Divine Smite (at higher levels) adds radiant damage to your attacks, turning your already powerful melee combat into something akin to Itachi’s chakra-based attacks, especially when used in tandem with Flurry of Blows from the Monk. This offers a robust offensive presence.
Durability and Tanking (Aura of Protection + Unarmored Defense):
With Aura of Protection, you grant yourself and nearby allies extra protection against all saving throws. This combined with Unarmored Defense from the Monk (where your AC is based on Dexterity and Wisdom) means you become a highly resilient tank in combat. Itachi's ability to endure through tough situations and still outwit his enemies is reflected here, especially with the high durability that this build offers.
Speed & Mobility (Extra Attack + Ki Abilities):
You gain Extra Attack from both Paladin and Monk, allowing you to hit multiple times per turn. The Monk's Flurry of Blows gives you even more attacks, and Step of the Wind increases your mobility, letting you dash or disengage as a bonus action. Itachi is known for his speed and ability to outmaneuver opponents—this build gives you that same agility.
Thematic Feel (Touch of Death):
The Way of the Long Death gives you Touch of Death, where you can add necrotic damage to your unarmed strikes. This feels appropriate for Itachi, who often kills with a single strike, usually dealing some sort of life-ending or soul-crushing blow. This ability really embodies his lethal combat style.
Comparison to Other Itachi Builds
Itachi Build #1: Monk (Way of the Open Hand) / Sorcerer (Shadow Magic)
Monk (Way of the Open Hand) focuses on raw martial arts combat, with powerful unarmed strikes and the ability to push, knock prone, or stun enemies with your attacks. Sorcerer (Shadow Magic) provides darkness-based spells, illusionary powers, and mobility-based abilities that can emulate Itachi's use of Genjutsu and his control over shadows.
Pros: Strong unarmed combat, high mobility with Step of the Wind, and Shadow Magic fits well with Itachi’s use of illusionary tactics. Quicken Spell allows you to cast spells and act in the same turn, which fits the fast-paced combat style of Itachi.
Cons: Lacks the Aura of Conquest and Divine Smite—meaning less raw damage potential and less of a psychological presence. The build also lacks the tankiness of the Paladin and would struggle in terms of durability and physical resilience.
Comparison: The Monk / Sorcerer build leans more heavily into speed and illusions, with an emphasis on Genjutsu-like mechanics (via Shadow Magic and spells), but it sacrifices physical tanking and battlefield control. The Paladin/Monk build is much more robust in terms of durability and control, especially with the Aura of Conquest and Divine Smite.
Itachi Build #2: Warlock (Hexblade) / Monk (Way of the Open Hand or Kensei)
Warlock (Hexblade) gives you martial weapon proficiency, spells, and the ability to use Charisma for your attacks and damage. Combining it with Monk (Way of the Open Hand or Kensei) allows you to leverage Extra Attack and mobility.
Pros: Hexblade's Curse allows for extra damage on a cursed target, and the Monk levels give you mobility and unarmored defense. Invocations can be used for thematic utility, such as Devil’s Sight for darkvision and Agonizing Blast for ranged attacks.
Cons: This build doesn’t have Divine Smite or the psychic damage capabilities of the Oath of Conquest. It also lacks the defensive aura and does not have the same degree of control over enemies as the Paladin/Monk build. It’s more about focused damage and flexibility.
Comparison: The Warlock/Monk build is more versatile, especially if you want to focus on ranged combat and magic. However, it lacks the psychological warfare and tankiness offered by the Paladin subclass. It’s less thematic to Itachi's character overall, as it’s less about dominating enemies through presence and more about eliminating enemies efficiently.
Itachi Build #3: Fighter (Battle Master) / Wizard (Necromancy or Illusion)
A hybrid between Fighter (Battle Master) for tactical combat maneuvers and Wizard (Necromancy or Illusion) to mimic Itachi’s Genjutsu and more psychological abilities.
Pros: Battle Master adds maneuverability, control, and extra attack options. The Wizard subclass allows for spells like Hypnotic Pattern, Mirror Image, and Phantasmal Force, which emulate Itachi’s Genjutsu and control over enemies. Necromancy adds thematic damage and vitality-draining abilities.
Cons: Lacks the survivability and divine smiting power of the Paladin/Monk build. The Fighter/Wizard build can be squishier and more focused on spells and tactical maneuvers, while Itachi is known for blending both combat and mental control seamlessly.
Comparison: This build is more spellcasting and tactical combat focused, which doesn’t match Itachi’s usual approach of being a fast, mobile, and physically dominating presence on the battlefield. While it provides thematic Genjutsu-like abilities, it lacks the divine presence and tankiness that the Paladin/Monk build offers, especially the ability to dominate enemies both physically and psychologically.
So, to really make the build work - You want to take the tavern brawler feat, so that unarmed attacks can benefit from Divine smite. And the blindfighting fighting style, since Itachi was going blind but still fought very well. The Oath of Conquest fear locking people in place simulates Tsukiyomi. The Divine Smite addition to attacks simulates Amaterasu. You can run along walls and surfaces, you have some added movement speed, you hit hard with burst damage, and you "feel" like Itachi's presence with his intimidating aura and dominating of people's minds, and causing psychic damage all the time.
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