Hi. As of now, I'm playing a Half-Orc Transmutation wizard, with the Gladiator background though don't think it matters, who rolled...quite well on stats. It may also help to know that in the campaign we started at 6th level and got one uncommon item, which i chose to be a Headband of Intellect, so i got a 20 in Int with the Arcanist feat at 4th level. Right now, we are 9th level. My stats are: 18 strength, 14 Dex, 18 Con, 20 Int, 9 Wis and 12 Cha. I took Tough at 8th level and we went by average hp so my hp max is 92; the second highest in the party. Should I multiclass at any point? I want to get to 10th level in wizard for 2 extra 5th level spells and my subclass feature, but am not too sure after that. My party, other than me, has a Fire Genasi Artificer/Alchemist, a Water Genasi Cleric/Life Domain, a Variant Human Fighter/Champion and a Warforged Artificer/Artillerist. I was debating a Fighter multiclass, maybe take 6 levels in Eldritch Knight and grab War Caster at some point but as I said I'm not sure.
Maybe barb. I know spells and barb don't work. But burn through rage then just destroy with spells. Fighter samurai could work, as could rune knight (UA).
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'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
Do you expect to hit level 20? Multiclassing usually has a bit of ramp up time, so that could alter how your path progresses and when to make the change.
Fighter seems like the best multiclass option you have. If you are waiting for 10th level already, I might hold out for 11th level for that juicy 6th level spell, which is generally a very nice boost. Then grab 2 levels of fighter for an Action Surge, which is fantastic for high level casters and can give you some serious nuking power. Beyond that, Wizard 18/Fighter 2 is a valid build, as would Wizard 13/Fighter 7 depending on how much you want to frontline. I will say that even though you have good HP, you lack AC, so you'd need to be spamming shield a lot to stay in the frontlines.
Also, not to be a buzzkill, but Headband of Intellect doesn''t stack with additional bonuses to Int. It sets your total Int value to 19, and only if your total Int is lower than 19. So your Int should still be at 19, not 20. Of course, if your DM wants to keep allowing it, its their call.
With a Strength score that high, I would consider taking 2, and only 2, levels of fighter.
That would net you medium armour proficiency, second wind, and defence fighting style. Then, taking the heavily armoured feat at your next ASI would give a whopping 19 AC (plate). It'll also enable you to cast 2 spells on your turn once per short rest (action surge).
Trust me on this, taking more than 3 levels in fighter (Eldritch Knight) is not worth it for a wizard. The Eldritch Knight has slow spell progression (a 1/3rd caster) and is restricted in the kinds of spells they can learn (evocation + abjuration - except for one spell of any school at 3rd, 8th, 14th, and 20th level). You would net 2 more cantrips which is pretty uninspiring. Weapon bond is an extremely niche ability, and the 5 extra levels to get the 7th level ability is so bad compared to an extra 5 levels in wizard.
In general, I wouldn't multiclass away from wizard, unless you're planning on going all the way to 20. Between delaying spellcasting progression, and the subclass bonuses all being generally good, there's no reason to slow that down to multiclass. If you were going to multiclass, I'd have done it to wizard, rather than from it. Meaning you'd pick up a couple levels of fighter or rogue, get the advantage of their full skill, weapon, and armor proficiencies, then go wizard. That way, you're not wasting a feat on heavy armor mastery, and you have some weapon abilities in a pinch.
If that ship has sailed, go full wizard, at least until 17, then put whatever levels after that into whatever you want.
This is the perfect Wizard melee build in my opinion. Straight Wizard. Stone can be used for resistances. And when you get Tenser’s Transformation, you’re a walking juggernaut (just switch your Stone to Con Save proficiency when you Transform so when you lose TT you can easily make the Con save and not be exhausted).
And absolutely straight Wizard.
Level 18, pick Shield and Misty Step and you are now walking around with ridiculous AC and mobility.
Level 20, pick Counterspell and Shadow Blade for some shenanigans when you’re not transformed.
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Hi. As of now, I'm playing a Half-Orc Transmutation wizard, with the Gladiator background though don't think it matters, who rolled...quite well on stats. It may also help to know that in the campaign we started at 6th level and got one uncommon item, which i chose to be a Headband of Intellect, so i got a 20 in Int with the Arcanist feat at 4th level. Right now, we are 9th level. My stats are: 18 strength, 14 Dex, 18 Con, 20 Int, 9 Wis and 12 Cha. I took Tough at 8th level and we went by average hp so my hp max is 92; the second highest in the party. Should I multiclass at any point? I want to get to 10th level in wizard for 2 extra 5th level spells and my subclass feature, but am not too sure after that. My party, other than me, has a Fire Genasi Artificer/Alchemist, a Water Genasi Cleric/Life Domain, a Variant Human Fighter/Champion and a Warforged Artificer/Artillerist. I was debating a Fighter multiclass, maybe take 6 levels in Eldritch Knight and grab War Caster at some point but as I said I'm not sure.
Maybe barb. I know spells and barb don't work. But burn through rage then just destroy with spells. Fighter samurai could work, as could rune knight (UA).
'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
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Do you expect to hit level 20? Multiclassing usually has a bit of ramp up time, so that could alter how your path progresses and when to make the change.
Fighter seems like the best multiclass option you have. If you are waiting for 10th level already, I might hold out for 11th level for that juicy 6th level spell, which is generally a very nice boost. Then grab 2 levels of fighter for an Action Surge, which is fantastic for high level casters and can give you some serious nuking power. Beyond that, Wizard 18/Fighter 2 is a valid build, as would Wizard 13/Fighter 7 depending on how much you want to frontline. I will say that even though you have good HP, you lack AC, so you'd need to be spamming shield a lot to stay in the frontlines.
Also, not to be a buzzkill, but Headband of Intellect doesn''t stack with additional bonuses to Int. It sets your total Int value to 19, and only if your total Int is lower than 19. So your Int should still be at 19, not 20. Of course, if your DM wants to keep allowing it, its their call.
With a Strength score that high, I would consider taking 2, and only 2, levels of fighter.
That would net you medium armour proficiency, second wind, and defence fighting style. Then, taking the heavily armoured feat at your next ASI would give a whopping 19 AC (plate). It'll also enable you to cast 2 spells on your turn once per short rest (action surge).
Trust me on this, taking more than 3 levels in fighter (Eldritch Knight) is not worth it for a wizard. The Eldritch Knight has slow spell progression (a 1/3rd caster) and is restricted in the kinds of spells they can learn (evocation + abjuration - except for one spell of any school at 3rd, 8th, 14th, and 20th level). You would net 2 more cantrips which is pretty uninspiring. Weapon bond is an extremely niche ability, and the 5 extra levels to get the 7th level ability is so bad compared to an extra 5 levels in wizard.
In general, I wouldn't multiclass away from wizard, unless you're planning on going all the way to 20. Between delaying spellcasting progression, and the subclass bonuses all being generally good, there's no reason to slow that down to multiclass. If you were going to multiclass, I'd have done it to wizard, rather than from it. Meaning you'd pick up a couple levels of fighter or rogue, get the advantage of their full skill, weapon, and armor proficiencies, then go wizard. That way, you're not wasting a feat on heavy armor mastery, and you have some weapon abilities in a pinch.
If that ship has sailed, go full wizard, at least until 17, then put whatever levels after that into whatever you want.
This is the perfect Wizard melee build in my opinion. Straight Wizard. Stone can be used for resistances. And when you get Tenser’s Transformation, you’re a walking juggernaut (just switch your Stone to Con Save proficiency when you Transform so when you lose TT you can easily make the Con save and not be exhausted).
And absolutely straight Wizard.
Level 18, pick Shield and Misty Step and you are now walking around with ridiculous AC and mobility.
Level 20, pick Counterspell and Shadow Blade for some shenanigans when you’re not transformed.