Hey guys, so I have been looking to build a sneaky rogue like character that isn’t your typical rogue for AL in season 9. I was initially looking to build some sort of shadow monk because I love the at will teleport, but I wanted some more out of combat utility. I love rogues, but I wanted some more interesting things to do in fights. After a lot of thought (and looking at shadow monk/gloomstalker, shadow monk/warlock, Shadow monk/assassin, etc) I came up with the idea of multiclassing shadow monk with inquisitive rogue. I think there is a lot of synergy here, and I want to make sure I am not missing anything.
I am not looking for the absolute broken game best build, but the one that gives me the most fun things to do.
The character would be a bit like the Robert Downey Jr version of Sherlock Holmes, perhaps mixed with some batman or the shadow. He would be an investigator type who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty in a brawl, and doesn’t expend much effort on social graces. Kind of an A-hole who sees things others don’t.
Would likely be a wood elf because the stats are just too perfect for it, but some other race would probably fit the theme better if I can find one that would work. It is just that Dex, Wisdom and darkvision are pretty important, and elven accuracy would be amazing.
Starting stats would be:
Str 8
Con 12
Dex 17 (+2 from wood elf)
Int 13
Wis 16 (+1 from wood elf)
Cha 8
Out of combat, you have expertise on Perception, Insight, Investigation, and one more (maybe Stealth or Slight of Hand) along with shadow monk teleporting and minor illusion, making you great at sneaking in and getting information, as well as a great interrogator and investigator. Should be a lot of fun and give me plenty to do out of combat.
In combat, I would be concentrating on Melee, though a longbow is valid in a pinch. First round I would be teleporting in next to a mage or ranged character in the back, which gives me triple advantage on that first attack. That attack would hopefully land, allowing me to stunning strike, giving me triple advantage on the extra attack as well, and landing sneak attack. Subsequent rounds I could use insightful fighting to gain my sneak attack even though I may not be near friends. Flurry of blows can be used for extra hits, though I know they will not proc sneak attack. Cunning action, ki spells, perception/investigation checks in combat, you have a ton of uses for bonus actions, which could be a weak point of the build but I think they are spread out between different use cases that they won’t overlap all the time.
ASI wise, I would probably pick up Elven Accuracy (dex to 18,) Dex +2, Mage slayer (sweet reaction sneak attacks against our primary target,) Observant (Passive perception through the roof and round out int) and wisdom to 18.
Weapons would probably be a pair of shortswords and a longbow, or one shortsword if the DM is a stickler for having a bare hand for martial arts.
So what does this get me over just straight inquisitive rogue?
-At will teleport that grants advantage
-Extra attack for landing sneak damage
-Higher defence, at least till + armors
-Stunning strike
-Extra bonus damage if I have already landed sneak and don’t have another need for bonus action
-extra Run speed
-Minor illusion and shadow art spells
So, the big questions:
-What order do I build in? Rogue 3 and Monk 6 gives me the key features (inquisitive and teleport.)
-Does this all work like I think it does, or am I missing something?
-Will this be as fun as it sounds?
-Are there any other viable races than wood elf? Keep in mind AL rules, so PHB or Xanathars.
-What can I change to improve it?
-Why don’t I see this build all over the internet?
I don't even think you really need to multi class to get RDJ Holmes, insightful fighting basically gets you there. Unless you absolutely *have* to have the unarmed fighting. But I'll point out, sneak attack only goes off with a finesse weapon, and a monk's unarmed strike is not technically finesse, so you'd have to either hand wave that rule (requiring DM permission), or just beat people with a cane.
Another thing to be wary of is your bonus action. The Inquisitive rogue uses a lot of bonus action abilities, and the monk class uses a lot of bonus action abilities, so you wanna make sure your two classes aren't fighting each other and actually losing effectiveness.
Hey guys, so I have been looking to build a sneaky rogue like character that isn’t your typical rogue for AL in season 9. I was initially looking to build some sort of shadow monk because I love the at will teleport, but I wanted some more out of combat utility. I love rogues, but I wanted some more interesting things to do in fights. After a lot of thought (and looking at shadow monk/gloomstalker, shadow monk/warlock, Shadow monk/assassin, etc) I came up with the idea of multiclassing shadow monk with inquisitive rogue. I think there is a lot of synergy here, and I want to make sure I am not missing anything.
I am not looking for the absolute broken game best build, but the one that gives me the most fun things to do.
The character would be a bit like the Robert Downey Jr version of Sherlock Holmes, perhaps mixed with some batman or the shadow. He would be an investigator type who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty in a brawl, and doesn’t expend much effort on social graces. Kind of an A-hole who sees things others don’t.
Would likely be a wood elf because the stats are just too perfect for it, but some other race would probably fit the theme better if I can find one that would work. It is just that Dex, Wisdom and darkvision are pretty important, and elven accuracy would be amazing.
Starting stats would be:
Str 8
Con 12
Dex 17 (+2 from wood elf)
Int 13
Wis 16 (+1 from wood elf)
Cha 8
Out of combat, you have expertise on Perception, Insight, Investigation, and one more (maybe Stealth or Slight of Hand) along with shadow monk teleporting and minor illusion, making you great at sneaking in and getting information, as well as a great interrogator and investigator. Should be a lot of fun and give me plenty to do out of combat.
In combat, I would be concentrating on Melee, though a longbow is valid in a pinch. First round I would be teleporting in next to a mage or ranged character in the back, which gives me triple advantage on that first attack. That attack would hopefully land, allowing me to stunning strike, giving me triple advantage on the extra attack as well, and landing sneak attack. Subsequent rounds I could use insightful fighting to gain my sneak attack even though I may not be near friends. Flurry of blows can be used for extra hits, though I know they will not proc sneak attack. Cunning action, ki spells, perception/investigation checks in combat, you have a ton of uses for bonus actions, which could be a weak point of the build but I think they are spread out between different use cases that they won’t overlap all the time.
ASI wise, I would probably pick up Elven Accuracy (dex to 18,) Dex +2, Mage slayer (sweet reaction sneak attacks against our primary target,) Observant (Passive perception through the roof and round out int) and wisdom to 18.
Weapons would probably be a pair of shortswords and a longbow, or one shortsword if the DM is a stickler for having a bare hand for martial arts.
So what does this get me over just straight inquisitive rogue?
-At will teleport that grants advantage
-Extra attack for landing sneak damage
-Higher defence, at least till + armors
-Stunning strike
-Extra bonus damage if I have already landed sneak and don’t have another need for bonus action
-extra Run speed
-Minor illusion and shadow art spells
So, the big questions:
-What order do I build in? Rogue 3 and Monk 6 gives me the key features (inquisitive and teleport.)
-Does this all work like I think it does, or am I missing something?
-Will this be as fun as it sounds?
-Are there any other viable races than wood elf? Keep in mind AL rules, so PHB or Xanathars.
-What can I change to improve it?
-Why don’t I see this build all over the internet?
Thanks for the help guys!
I don't even think you really need to multi class to get RDJ Holmes, insightful fighting basically gets you there. Unless you absolutely *have* to have the unarmed fighting. But I'll point out, sneak attack only goes off with a finesse weapon, and a monk's unarmed strike is not technically finesse, so you'd have to either hand wave that rule (requiring DM permission), or just beat people with a cane.
Another thing to be wary of is your bonus action. The Inquisitive rogue uses a lot of bonus action abilities, and the monk class uses a lot of bonus action abilities, so you wanna make sure your two classes aren't fighting each other and actually losing effectiveness.