DEX based Draconic Sorcerer would be my favourite martial Sorcerer build I guess. You rely a lot on GFB, even quicken it to get something like Extra Attack. Since you mainly focus on DEX and on CHA only second you won't be taking save or suck spells and rather rely on spells that reliably deal damage or buffs. Ashardalon's Stride and Dragon's Breath for example.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I've never encountered a forum where I got this many "talking to a wall" impressions as this one...
As SFpanzer said draconic is the best for straight sorceror. For a multiclass, I prefer ranger/sorceror. You get additional spells from the ranger along with the weapons armour and combat abilities from the ranger. Air and fire genasi might be good races as you get additional spells and resistance to lightning or fire damage.
As others have said, for a straight Sorcerer I would go Draconic. For a multiclass I would suggest 1 level in Warlock for Hexblade to get you Hex Warrior and the curse, and 2 levels in Paladin for Divine Smite. Between those features and the Sorcerer’s ability to swap around spell slots when necessary, you should do well.
My suggestion would be: Githyanki to get medium armour and some weapon prof's combined with either Shadow Sorcerer origin for some darkness spell shennanigans or Runechild from the Tal Dorai reborn setting as It lets you choose a transmutation or abjuration spell from the sorcerer, warlock or wizard spell lists so anyone for potentially casting a 9th level Armour of Agathys and wading into battle?.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
* Need a character idea? Search for "Rob76's Unused" in the Story and Lore section.
I actually think that Divine soul is best for melee
You get Bless, which is going to make you (and your party) so much better at hitting and saving. Spiritual weapon will keep your damage up to par even when you run out of points and cant throw around quicken spell Spirit guardians, for a character that is going into melee is just good. And you get guidance
The favored by the gods on a short rest is going to make sure you save when it matter most, and a lot of the time that is going to do more for you than the AC/HP from draconic, especially if you combine it with Hobgoblin.
Hobgoblin/Gith/Mtn Dwarf for armor, Or what ever you want if you Hexblade multiclass.
Draconic is good, but for defense you are more reliant on your lv 1 defense reactions too keep you from taking damage than anything else. Absorb elements, shield, silvery barbs, and the fact that you can convert spell points as needed to make sure you always have them.
-Another fun way of doing it is go Aberrant Mind, with war caster; Boomig blade, quicken dissonant whispers, booming blade reaction.
-Also, just using booming blade, and if it hits using quicken create bonfire is kind of funny way of actually making bonfire kind of useful.
Regarding multiclass, Warlock is an amazing option. I use my pact slots almost exclusively on sorcery points and get them back on a short rest. This gives you more sorcery points to quicken offensive spells like Green Flame Blade.
I am baffled no one's mentioned clockwork soul yet!
You just need weapon proficiencies from some other source and it's a great spellsword!
Now why? Well at level 2, you can replace one of your clockwork spells with Armor of Agathys and use Font of Magic to create a high level spell slot, then cast Armor of Agathys with that spell slot. Now, AC doesn't really matter too much, since melee enemies won't want to attack you, and you can run in, spam booming blade/green flame blade to profit!
--------------------------------------
In general though, sorcerers if built right can be decent spellswords. I'm also surprised no one has mentioned quickened mirror image, which is great for defense!
Hexblade is the obvious multiclass choice, but other warlock subclasses can be great as well, such as Fathomless for BA usage and control. Paladin is another obvious multiclass since you can smite with sorcerer spell slots. Undead warlock is great for frightening, as well as being tankier. For a bit bigger of an investment, Swords Bard and Battlemaster are alright too
Basically with a few key spells any sorcerer can hit like a tank in melee. You just need to overcome the low AC.
How you do that is up to you, but there are lots of options like races or one level dips in other classes that can get you into the high teens in no time.
I played a shadow sorcerer with one teeny tiny level dip into fighter, and boy was it fun.
my go to choice is fighter/draconic sorcerer. My two oldest PCs are both Bronze Draconic. My first one for Adventurers League is a Chultan born Waterdeep noble with the two weapon fighting style 11th lvl Bronze Draconic sorcerer at 8th lvl Arcane Archer at 3rd
Paladin's probably the best choice for multi-classing since, not only does it own spells run off of CHA, but it's stuff just really helps out all around and the two spell lists compliment each other a lot. That's not to say other melee multiclasses won't work by any means, but I feel Paladin compliments sorcerer the most. Just be sure you take the paladin levels FIRST because, otherwise, you can run into issues.
The problem with Paladin/sorceror is that you have to decide early and then stay with that decision- are you a sorceror that took Paladin for the armor and weapons? Or are you a Paladin that took sorceror for the spell slots to smite with? Trying to do both isn’t really effective (Pal6/sorceror 6 at L12). Now any martial multiclass dos pretty much have to go to martial 5/sorceror X to get the 2 attacks (L3-Subclass benefits, L4 ASI, L5 2 attacks) but you can stop there fairly easily and easily focus on sorceror the rest of the way (Martial 5/Sorceror 15 instead of Paladin 10/Sorceror 10).
Whilst puzzelling over this one I hit upon the following single class ideas (backgrounds omitted as they have no bearing on the idea for the builds):
Option 1) Drow, Storm Sorcerer. Take Drow High Magic at 4th level, spam Detect Magic (which you can cast at will without using spell slots thanks to Drow High Magic) to activate Tempestuous Magic to get into or out of melee without provoking Oppotunity Attacks and you could quicken spell it as needed. Use Booming Blade or Shocking Grasp for cantrip damage and maybe take Transmute Spell to switch damage for non LIghtening/Thunder based spells to activate the higher level abilities more consistently. You're probably going to need to rely on a HIgh Dex + Mage Armour for this one.
Option 2) Tortle, Draconic Sorcerer. Take Tough at 4th Level to combine with Draconic Sorcere to get +3hp per level +whatever Cons mod you have and a natural High AC due to tortle shell. I'd flavour the Dragon side being more Dragon Turtle but use Red or Gold Dragon for determining abilities. Probably focus more using the Dragons Breath Spell but in a Dragon Turtle blast of steam fashion. I thought about using Hill Dwarf instead of Turtle but I think the High AC from Tortle might be more useful than the extra HP from HIll Dwarf.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
* Need a character idea? Search for "Rob76's Unused" in the Story and Lore section.
I believe that the turtle AC and the draconic AC don’t add - you can use one or the other but not both together. The Drow sorceror is interesting but the 10’ distance isn’t much for foes to close so your basically wasting a casting opportunity you would need to be able cast twice in a round for it to be really decent.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
One build without multiclass if there is, and one with multiclass. No UA, so no stone sorcerer.
Btw, how powerful is stone sorcery?
DEX based Draconic Sorcerer would be my favourite martial Sorcerer build I guess. You rely a lot on GFB, even quicken it to get something like Extra Attack. Since you mainly focus on DEX and on CHA only second you won't be taking save or suck spells and rather rely on spells that reliably deal damage or buffs. Ashardalon's Stride and Dragon's Breath for example.
I've never encountered a forum where I got this many "talking to a wall" impressions as this one...
As SFpanzer said draconic is the best for straight sorceror. For a multiclass, I prefer ranger/sorceror. You get additional spells from the ranger along with the weapons armour and combat abilities from the ranger. Air and fire genasi might be good races as you get additional spells and resistance to lightning or fire damage.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
As others have said, for a straight Sorcerer I would go Draconic. For a multiclass I would suggest 1 level in Warlock for Hexblade to get you Hex Warrior and the curse, and 2 levels in Paladin for Divine Smite. Between those features and the Sorcerer’s ability to swap around spell slots when necessary, you should do well.
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Epic Boons on DDB
My suggestion would be: Githyanki to get medium armour and some weapon prof's combined with either Shadow Sorcerer origin for some darkness spell shennanigans or Runechild from the Tal Dorai reborn setting as It lets you choose a transmutation or abjuration spell from the sorcerer, warlock or wizard spell lists so anyone for potentially casting a 9th level Armour of Agathys and wading into battle?.
I actually think that Divine soul is best for melee
You get Bless, which is going to make you (and your party) so much better at hitting and saving.
Spiritual weapon will keep your damage up to par even when you run out of points and cant throw around quicken spell
Spirit guardians, for a character that is going into melee is just good.
And you get guidance
The favored by the gods on a short rest is going to make sure you save when it matter most, and a lot of the time that is going to do more for you than the AC/HP from draconic, especially if you combine it with Hobgoblin.
Hobgoblin/Gith/Mtn Dwarf for armor, Or what ever you want if you Hexblade multiclass.
Draconic is good, but for defense you are more reliant on your lv 1 defense reactions too keep you from taking damage than anything else. Absorb elements, shield, silvery barbs, and the fact that you can convert spell points as needed to make sure you always have them.
-Another fun way of doing it is go Aberrant Mind, with war caster;
Boomig blade, quicken dissonant whispers, booming blade reaction.
-Also, just using booming blade, and if it hits using quicken create bonfire is kind of funny way of actually making bonfire kind of useful.
Regarding multiclass, Warlock is an amazing option. I use my pact slots almost exclusively on sorcery points and get them back on a short rest. This gives you more sorcery points to quicken offensive spells like Green Flame Blade.
I am baffled no one's mentioned clockwork soul yet!
You just need weapon proficiencies from some other source and it's a great spellsword!
Now why? Well at level 2, you can replace one of your clockwork spells with Armor of Agathys and use Font of Magic to create a high level spell slot, then cast Armor of Agathys with that spell slot. Now, AC doesn't really matter too much, since melee enemies won't want to attack you, and you can run in, spam booming blade/green flame blade to profit!
--------------------------------------
In general though, sorcerers if built right can be decent spellswords. I'm also surprised no one has mentioned quickened mirror image, which is great for defense!
Hexblade is the obvious multiclass choice, but other warlock subclasses can be great as well, such as Fathomless for BA usage and control. Paladin is another obvious multiclass since you can smite with sorcerer spell slots. Undead warlock is great for frightening, as well as being tankier. For a bit bigger of an investment, Swords Bard and Battlemaster are alright too
Basically with a few key spells any sorcerer can hit like a tank in melee. You just need to overcome the low AC.
How you do that is up to you, but there are lots of options like races or one level dips in other classes that can get you into the high teens in no time.
I played a shadow sorcerer with one teeny tiny level dip into fighter, and boy was it fun.
my go to choice is fighter/draconic sorcerer. My two oldest PCs are both Bronze Draconic. My first one for Adventurers League is a Chultan born Waterdeep noble with the two weapon fighting style 11th lvl Bronze Draconic sorcerer at 8th lvl Arcane Archer at 3rd
Paladin's probably the best choice for multi-classing since, not only does it own spells run off of CHA, but it's stuff just really helps out all around and the two spell lists compliment each other a lot. That's not to say other melee multiclasses won't work by any means, but I feel Paladin compliments sorcerer the most. Just be sure you take the paladin levels FIRST because, otherwise, you can run into issues.
The problem with Paladin/sorceror is that you have to decide early and then stay with that decision- are you a sorceror that took Paladin for the armor and weapons? Or are you a Paladin that took sorceror for the spell slots to smite with? Trying to do both isn’t really effective (Pal6/sorceror 6 at L12). Now any martial multiclass dos pretty much have to go to martial 5/sorceror X to get the 2 attacks (L3-Subclass benefits, L4 ASI, L5 2 attacks) but you can stop there fairly easily and easily focus on sorceror the rest of the way (Martial 5/Sorceror 15 instead of Paladin 10/Sorceror 10).
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
Whilst puzzelling over this one I hit upon the following single class ideas (backgrounds omitted as they have no bearing on the idea for the builds):
Option 1) Drow, Storm Sorcerer. Take Drow High Magic at 4th level, spam Detect Magic (which you can cast at will without using spell slots thanks to Drow High Magic) to activate Tempestuous Magic to get into or out of melee without provoking Oppotunity Attacks and you could quicken spell it as needed. Use Booming Blade or Shocking Grasp for cantrip damage and maybe take Transmute Spell to switch damage for non LIghtening/Thunder based spells to activate the higher level abilities more consistently. You're probably going to need to rely on a HIgh Dex + Mage Armour for this one.
Option 2) Tortle, Draconic Sorcerer. Take Tough at 4th Level to combine with Draconic Sorcere to get +3hp per level +whatever Cons mod you have and a natural High AC due to tortle shell. I'd flavour the Dragon side being more Dragon Turtle but use Red or Gold Dragon for determining abilities. Probably focus more using the Dragons Breath Spell but in a Dragon Turtle blast of steam fashion. I thought about using Hill Dwarf instead of Turtle but I think the High AC from Tortle might be more useful than the extra HP from HIll Dwarf.
I believe that the turtle AC and the draconic AC don’t add - you can use one or the other but not both together. The Drow sorceror is interesting but the 10’ distance isn’t much for foes to close so your basically wasting a casting opportunity you would need to be able cast twice in a round for it to be really decent.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.