I’m planning on optimizing a Swashbuckler Rogue to be a beast in combat. The main thing I’m curious in is cheating out Fancy Footwork: how can I attack a lot of people at once (using an attack roll not forcing a save) so Fancy Footwork operates on all of them and I can move wherever’s strategic?
Dual wielding and a fighter or ranger multiclass, fighters gain a lot of attacks and a hunter ranger can attack everyone within 5 feet of them at 11th level.
Swashbucklers aren't really made for fighting lots of enemies but rather for daring one on one duels. That said, dualwielding would probably be your best best. Just carry a second weapon (you don't always have to use it) and attack (you don't have to hit) the second foe with it if needs be. Except for that the only real way to gain extra attacks is to multiclass into something that has extra attacks.
Swashbucklers aren't really made for fighting lots of enemies but rather for daring one on one duels. That said, dualwielding would probably be your best best. Just carry a second weapon (you don't always have to use it) and attack (you don't have to hit) the second foe with it if needs be. Except for that the only real way to gain extra attacks is to multiclass into something that has extra attacks.
Sorry, I didn’t explain this. I want to do this for the exact purpose of skirmishing - to be able to get into the back with squishies. Thank you for the advice
Swashbucklers aren't really made for fighting lots of enemies but rather for daring one on one duels. That said, dualwielding would probably be your best best. Just carry a second weapon (you don't always have to use it) and attack (you don't have to hit) the second foe with it if needs be. Except for that the only real way to gain extra attacks is to multiclass into something that has extra attacks.
Sorry, I didn’t explain this. I want to do this for the exact purpose of skirmishing - to be able to get into the back with squishies. Thank you for the advice
If you want to go for a very mobile build you might want to consider a few levels of Kensei monk. A bit MAD but Rogue want good Wisdom anyways (and you get an extra ASI for being a rogue) and you'll get an Extra Attack as well. Pick a Finesse weapon or two for your Kensei weapons, run around to the squishy targets, attack and then run away. :)
Playing a Tabaxi will also help with movement speed. Tabaxi Monk Swashbuckler. There are also a few feats that can increase movement speed. Mobility is the name of the game when playing a swashbuckler in my opinion. Run in attack the enemy of your choosing and run away. If you can run to a spot where the enemy has to move to attack you and possibly provoke an attack of opportunity if they run by an ally in the process of chasing you around the battlefield.
IMO one of the greatest aspects of swashbuckler is their ability to move around the battlefield and target different enemies. They have a very good ability at kiting. I have played a swashbuckler and the greatest thing I did was pick up booming. lt adds damage to your attack, you can still use sneak attack on top of booming blade, and with a free disengage you can get out of melee with your target. If the target moves then they take additional damage. I took it through Sorcerer Magic initiate and you gain another cantrip on top of bomming blade. Message and Friends would be helpful. And a once per day level 1 spell I picked shield. I had a player I DMed also go down this route but instead of magic initiate they went Hexblade Warlock X and Swashbuckler Rogue 5.
Remember a Sweashbuckler can use Cunning Action to disengage as a bonus action, effectively not provoking any opportunity attacks for a round. It comes at the cost of a dash, but a swashbuckler can do this out of the box.
If that is still not good enough you could go 2 levels of ranger or to pick up the Zephyr strike spell.
As for build, I think a straight up Battlemaster 11/Swashbuckler 9 sounds like a plan, and spend a feat on magic initiate to pick up booming blade (and possibly Find Familiar). Or play a high elf for the free cantrip.
Hello,
I’m planning on optimizing a Swashbuckler Rogue to be a beast in combat. The main thing I’m curious in is cheating out Fancy Footwork: how can I attack a lot of people at once (using an attack roll not forcing a save) so Fancy Footwork operates on all of them and I can move wherever’s strategic?
Dual wielding and a fighter or ranger multiclass, fighters gain a lot of attacks and a hunter ranger can attack everyone within 5 feet of them at 11th level.
Swashbucklers aren't really made for fighting lots of enemies but rather for daring one on one duels. That said, dualwielding would probably be your best best. Just carry a second weapon (you don't always have to use it) and attack (you don't have to hit) the second foe with it if needs be. Except for that the only real way to gain extra attacks is to multiclass into something that has extra attacks.
Sorry, I didn’t explain this. I want to do this for the exact purpose of skirmishing - to be able to get into the back with squishies. Thank you for the advice
If you want to go for a very mobile build you might want to consider a few levels of Kensei monk. A bit MAD but Rogue want good Wisdom anyways (and you get an extra ASI for being a rogue) and you'll get an Extra Attack as well. Pick a Finesse weapon or two for your Kensei weapons, run around to the squishy targets, attack and then run away. :)
Playing a Tabaxi will also help with movement speed. Tabaxi Monk Swashbuckler. There are also a few feats that can increase movement speed. Mobility is the name of the game when playing a swashbuckler in my opinion. Run in attack the enemy of your choosing and run away. If you can run to a spot where the enemy has to move to attack you and possibly provoke an attack of opportunity if they run by an ally in the process of chasing you around the battlefield.
IMO one of the greatest aspects of swashbuckler is their ability to move around the battlefield and target different enemies. They have a very good ability at kiting. I have played a swashbuckler and the greatest thing I did was pick up booming. lt adds damage to your attack, you can still use sneak attack on top of booming blade, and with a free disengage you can get out of melee with your target. If the target moves then they take additional damage. I took it through Sorcerer Magic initiate and you gain another cantrip on top of bomming blade. Message and Friends would be helpful. And a once per day level 1 spell I picked shield. I had a player I DMed also go down this route but instead of magic initiate they went Hexblade Warlock X and Swashbuckler Rogue 5.
Your secret is safe with my indifference - Percy
Remember a Sweashbuckler can use Cunning Action to disengage as a bonus action, effectively not provoking any opportunity attacks for a round. It comes at the cost of a dash, but a swashbuckler can do this out of the box.
If that is still not good enough you could go 2 levels of ranger or to pick up the Zephyr strike spell.
As for build, I think a straight up Battlemaster 11/Swashbuckler 9 sounds like a plan, and spend a feat on magic initiate to pick up booming blade (and possibly Find Familiar). Or play a high elf for the free cantrip.