The Spellsword: D&D 5e Character Build

Рет қаралды 53,579

Күн бұрын

"A punishing lockdown tank, Eldritch Knight build, that manifests its weapons and armor." We take the Eldritch Knight and multiclass with Wizard to make one of the most versatile, well rounded melee characters in D&D 5e. This build can do it all: out damage the classic GWM builds, out stealth the rogues, out tank the barbarians, and has enough in its bag of tricks to handle any and all situations outside of combat.
If you like what I do, and would like to support the channel: / cmccbuilds
Check out LudicSavant's write up of the build here: forums.giantitp.com/showsingl...
If you want to support LudicSavant, check out: / ludicsavant
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
2:25 Level 1-4
8:35 Level 5-11
13:00 Level 12-14
16:20 Level 15-20
Music Credits:
www.bensound.com
Angevin B Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
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Lord of the Land Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
Celtic Impulse - Celtic by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/
Master of the Feast by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/
#dnd #fighter #wizard #bladesinger #warmagic #warwizard #multiclass #characterbuilding #play #dungeonsanddragons #dnd5e

Пікірлер: 120

@emulationemperor8924 15 күн бұрын

I know you said the damage scales, but I would like to point out to anyone discovering this video a few years later that shadow blade gains a d8 of damage when cast with a 3rd and then 5th level spell slot. I love this specific build because it combines the best of both worlds. Normally wizards would want to be concentrating on something more potent than shadow blade, and pure Eldritch Knights wouldn't gain 5th level spell slots. So even though you're giving up some higher level features, the benefits of the combination really shine.

@arunoc7208 2 жыл бұрын

Aw man, that hint to a Batman build makes me so hyped. Batman seems like a hard guy to make in DnD, so I'm excited to see what you do with him.

@cmccbuilds8229 2 жыл бұрын

I’m just waiting to see the new movie. A reviewer buddy of mine saw it a few weeks ago and immediately told me to make the build :)

@ericpeterson8732 2 жыл бұрын

@@cmccbuilds8229 I concur. The hardest part for Batman is the same as Spiderman. The zip line. (For Spidey, it was the webs) you could go old school Batman and use a grappling hook with a rope and increase your climbing speed, but most Batmans these days have grappling guns which double as lassos to grab someone and pull them towards you. Anything that changes your movement method is difficult to replicate in D&D. Tarzan would be hard to make in D&D because of the vine swing (or that jungle parkour the Disney Tarzan does) and your swarm=webs kinda worked, but not perfectly.

@aalanavery4663 Жыл бұрын

Everyone i know calls the dread stalker ranger the batman class.

@cmccbuilds8229 Жыл бұрын

Gloomstalker? The Batman build is up on the channel :)

@cmccbuilds8229 Жыл бұрын

Fey touched doesn’t give a cantrip

@xenosayain1506 Жыл бұрын

Very much something I'm looking for. Only been through one dnd campaign but love it. Couldn't really find a spellsword class and am unfamiliar with multiclassing. That and I'm on an elden ring kick right now. I've been wanting to make a build similar to the carian knight in game. This is perfect.

@LittleKing49 2 жыл бұрын

Love your builds man! Always so good!

@sammywilcox3171 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks man gave me a great idea for my next character!! Keep it up dude awesome vid

@RedJackz 2 жыл бұрын

Just to let you know. On the attack of opportunity part for your war caster, your AoO will hit before your booming blade procs from moving. That means that if on your main turn you have already applied the booming blade, the enemy will first be hit by another booming blade effect before it's move trigger will go off which then get's it's effect overwritten by the new booming blade. The reason behind this is because the AoO is triggered when the enemy WANTS to move and they get hit BEFORE they move. After the attack has been made, then movement has occurred which will then trigger the boom damage. EDIT: Also remember to check the damage die on booming blade. At lv 1 it does no damage on hit but 1d8 on moving and this scales on each side by 1 after each tier: lv 5 1d8 on hit and 2d8 on move, lv 11 2d8 on hit and 3d8 on move, lv 17 3d8 on hit and 4d8 on move. Edit2: 11:15 Wording of the advantage clause of the shadowblade. Your position does not matter whether you are in dim light or darkness. It is your target that has to be in those light sources for the advantage to work.

@cmccbuilds8229 2 жыл бұрын

“If the target willingly moves” is the language of booming blade. Was there confusion about the damage somehow? I’m clear on how it works, so hopefully that came through. Good point of clarity on shadow blade.

@RedJackz 2 жыл бұрын

@@cmccbuilds8229 I mean that if you hit the target already with a booming blade with your action and then attack with your war caster booming blade then you only get 1 trigger of the movement damage as the new effect is applied before movement is done. Also you mentioned that they took 2d8 on hit when it was a tier 2 booming blade in your sample of damage calculation. If you were adding your weapon attack to it at the same time then that was not entirely clear to me and would have been correct.

@cmccbuilds8229 2 жыл бұрын

Yes that includes the weapon attack. And I’m not stacking multiple booming blade hits. Good pt of clarification.

@CitanulsPumpkin 2 жыл бұрын

The good thing about the Ravnica backgrounds is they mesh so well with existing factions in the Forgotten Realms. Want to be a Boros soldiers in Faerun? The Baldur's Gate Flaming Fist is right there. Dimir spy? What background do you think the Harpers use?

@greygramarye7872 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve been playing this build in a Candlekeep Mysteries campaign. First - Great campaign for this build since Intelligence is very useful to have, and there’s a magic item I won’t spoil but which synergizes extremely well with the build. Because of that, I actually beat Ludic’s AC maximum. I’ve been playing it as a Tiefling which is less optimal for damage, but enabled me to pick up Infernal Constitution for some powerful resistances. That’s been very useful and I would recommend it for anyone looking for a tankier version of this.

@greygramarye7872 2 жыл бұрын

One other thing - I’ve taken to using Nets. Because of the way they work, they synergize decently with War Magic so you can attack with it as a bonus action rather than wasting an entire Attack action on it. The familiar can negate the disadvantage, as can a rolling Darkness spell (which is evocation, so easy to learn especially as a Tiefling).

@cmccbuilds8229 2 жыл бұрын

Where did you first hear of the build? GitP?

@somekindadragon3414 11 ай бұрын

11:02 my hat is off to you, being someone who often plays with other players who optimize far better than I, I appreciate you not always dominating.

@chrisragner3882 2 жыл бұрын

I see this build awesome for an NPC pirate captain of a Shadow Fleet! A great nemesis

@TheTdroid Жыл бұрын

This looks like a pretty good high level build, but I find that most campaigns rarely go above 12 at most. Which is also the level the system seem to be playtested up to (mostly). So for anyone looking to play a Spellsword in a more realistic level range (3-10 somewhere), I'd go Eldritch Knight 5 -> Wizard (Abjuration or Divination). You miss out on War Magic, but get a great deal of magic versatility from getting Wizard prepared casting.

@cmccbuilds8229 Жыл бұрын

Yeah if you’re doing half a build then the builds will certainly change. It’s important to note that this guild is powerful from level 1-20. No weak levels.

@TheTdroid Жыл бұрын

@@cmccbuilds8229 I don't doubt it, as I happen to think EKs are among the best designed martial classes in the game =) My point was that people who want to play a Fighter/Wizard multiclass should consider the levels they are playing at. If you want to play a hybrid melee/caster, then the straight EK might be a little bit too heavy on the martial side and too light on the caster side. So if your campaign ends around lvl 12 (which is very high in most published adventures) or earlier, I think going EK 5 -> Wizard will be an alternative to get that old school Gish feel. Worst case scenario, you can always pick the EK progression back up if the campaign gets extended.

@cmccbuilds8229 Жыл бұрын

Yup. We don’t disagree.

@Plamkton Жыл бұрын

My only gripe is you dint get the 9th ievel spell

@andrewpaul8732 Жыл бұрын

This and echo knight blade singer are both good builds if you want to make a spellsword character

@JCinLapel Жыл бұрын

I find it interesting that when you get third level slots it is an easy one up to get an extra 1d8 to your shadow blade because aoe is hard to pull off when you and others are attacking in melee

@brannenpfister2579 4 ай бұрын

Super consistent build. Covers a lot of areas. Really well rounded. I still prefer STR based eldritch knights so I can concentrate on defensive or buff spells - using the good old PAM GWM as a core. I’ve tried to like shadow blade - but I like magic weapons more. I feel like the potential is higher, like finding a flame tongue glaive/halberd. Was really interested to see where you’d part from fighter - and I have to agree level 11 makes the most sense. That third attack is just way too good to wait for. Have you ever tried the PAM GWM on an EK? It surprised me. The added defenses on something that just outputs so much damage is really enticing. Variant Human with blind fighting lets you go all in on the pole arm feat combos. Fey touched for bless is also really underrated with the GWM. And then the fighter becomes the bless bot, letting the cleric or Paladin focus on more important spells. Pretty cool! Would love to see your spin on that.

@jnewgot Жыл бұрын

Finally, a build video that suggests the only race I play. 😂

@DNDNDumbness 7 ай бұрын

This build is amazing, but if I am allowed to roll my stats and get a a high roll that I can put into intellegence, I like to go Divination Wizard instead of War Magic or Blade Singer because the Portent ability is amazing for every situation where a dice roll is used. Combine it with the lucky feat and you have become a force to be reckoned with.

@frogmad13 2 жыл бұрын

My frist in d&d was an eldtrich knight.

@nickm9102 Жыл бұрын

The obvious resolution to a 14 INT is a head and if INT. It's not a 20 but the +4 mod will give extra preps and DCs. To cheese the system do a locate object on a headband and collect it.

@cmccbuilds8229 Жыл бұрын

I assume that’s supposed to be a “headband of intellect”. Def get that if you can :)

@nickm9102 Жыл бұрын

@@cmccbuilds8229 WOW gotta look at the stuff. Auto correct ain't always correct. Yes headband of intellect is what I thought I posted.

@chrimedina 2 жыл бұрын

Liked! Basic and uptomiced. What do you think it's better Fighter/Artificer Batlesmisth or Ranger Goomstalker 3/Artificer X? both with artillerist feat

@cmccbuilds8229 2 жыл бұрын

Fighter naturally multiclasses better with artificer since it only has 1 MC stat requirement. Levels? Subclasses?

@chrimedina 2 жыл бұрын

@@cmccbuilds8229 STR 11, DEX 16, CON 14, INT 16, WIS 14, CAR 12. Human Variant: +1 DEX, +1 INT Feat: Gunner (TCoE) +1 DEX. Will use Repeating Shot infusion later This results in: STR 11, DEX 18, CON 14, INT 17, WIS 14, CAR 12. Background: Urban bounty Hunter or Faction's Agent (SwCAG) Two build options: 1- Fighter (Battle Master or E.Knight) 3/Artificer (Armored or BattkeSmith). Archery Fighting Style, can tank with heavy armor and shields, then shoot with a gun like some Riot shield user task force and/or use his mecha companion. BM can shoot to disarm people, EK will never loose his favorite tool for the job (Weapond Bond) and can interchange later spells from Artificer to Wizard's spell lists for more tank, Battle control or damage options GOODS: Straightforward, tanky, fun to play with musket or guns. Feels Fireball as a grenade CONS: Less damage till later levels 2- Tashas's Revised Ranger (Gloomstalker or Beastmaster) 3/Artificer X (Armored or BS) Same as above, but uses Survival skills to track enemies or find food, use situational favored enemy and Hunter's Mark spell for extra damage. GOODS: More versatil and damage CONS: two different casting chart and slow progres, only uses Artificer spells

@cmccbuilds8229 2 жыл бұрын

what is the artillerist feat?

@chrimedina 2 жыл бұрын

@@cmccbuilds8229 Gunner feat, my bad. Sorry 😅

@cmccbuilds8229 2 жыл бұрын

It’ll be easier to optimize #1

@vengeful_lowky653 3 ай бұрын

So my version is Eldrich Knight 8 then Abjuration Wizard 8 and the last 4 levels, Conquest paladin. You hit like a truck, self heal with Arcane wards and can upcast Armor of Agathis that's protected by the ward that the spell actually just put hp back into.

@cmccbuilds8229 3 ай бұрын

Stats?

@vincenzo547 Жыл бұрын

WELP! I know my next campaign build.

@lukeamparo6586 8 ай бұрын

Would like to see your version of a Jedi build. Maybe between Psionic Warrior and Psionic Sorcerer?

@cmccbuilds8229 8 ай бұрын

Uhh. My first video on the channel is Luke skywalker. And I have obi wan ;)

@carlswan8005 Жыл бұрын

I think this build is much better off switching to Bladesinger starting at 8th level. Once you are EK7/BS6 you will be getting a Booming Blade, another attack, and then an additional attack on your bonus action.

@Blackwolf83ad 7 ай бұрын

You could take Bladeward for much hilarity. Two attacks and Resistance to S/B/P damage.

@brannenpfister2579 4 ай бұрын

RAW this doesn’t work. You are making the “attack action” when using Bladesingers special extra attack. War magic requires you to use your action to “cast a cantrip”. The language doesn’t match. It’s silly and I’m sure most tables would hand wave it - but it technically doesn’t work.

@kingmasterlord 8 ай бұрын

i just want Brandelgast's Blade, a cantrip plane of force that extends from two fingers and acts as a sword blade. I suppose I could re-flavor Shadow blade.

@jimmyreinstein9993 Жыл бұрын

Interesting video. Love the build. Who is this Ludik you keep mentioning? Where can I read about his insight?

@cmccbuilds8229 Жыл бұрын

He’s maybe the best optimizer in the community. LudicSavant. Google him or click the link in this vid.

@ericpeterson8732 2 жыл бұрын

Good build. War mage is a great multiclass subclass. My problem with these optimized builds is they usually come online in tier 3 and most games don't go that high. Also they're very similar to each other. Picking the same spells and same subclasses. Why not take illusion or adjuration? But no, it's always war mage or bladesinger. And maybe I missed the part where you're consistently getting advantage to take advantage of elven accuracy. All in all, a good build and very combat ready.

@ericpeterson8732 2 жыл бұрын

To be fair, I've only watched it once so far. Maybe something will jump out at me in my second or third viewing. 😁

@arunoc7208 2 жыл бұрын

Your Familiar can use the Help action to consistently give you advantage, or if you're in dim light or darkness with Shadow Blade, you get advantage as well.

@cmccbuilds8229 2 жыл бұрын

Shadow blade gives advantage in dim light or darkness and greater invisibility at higher levels and your familiar gives advantage on a single attack from level 3+. War mage is the much better option than illusion or abjuration for a melee build because of arcane deflection. I’ll also add that this build is fully functional right from 1-20. That’s why you don’t multiclass until 12

@jamesbaker2092 2 жыл бұрын

Abjuration is a horrible multiclass since ward scales on your wizard level

@CitanulsPumpkin 2 жыл бұрын

@@jamesbaker2092 Abjuration is a great subclass to multiclass with... so long as that multiclass is only one or two levels of warlock. Armor of agathys and armor of shadows let abjuration wizard break the game.

@PonyExMachina 6 ай бұрын

You mentioned at 18:32 you gain resistance to all damage. I might have missed something but what gives you resistance to all damage? How to do you gain such resistance?

@cmccbuilds8229 6 ай бұрын

Blessing of the Raven Queen

@PonyExMachina 6 ай бұрын

@@cmccbuilds8229 Oh alright, Thank you.

@Dead_head4565 Жыл бұрын

Hey if I’m looking at this build but want to do a dhampir is that also decent or should I stick to dark elf?

@cmccbuilds8229 Жыл бұрын

If you want to be a dhampir, you should. It is quite a bit worse than dark elf for this build. You lose elven accuracy, teleport, necrotic resistance and don’t gain much.

@highinquisitorvanwiller8904 Жыл бұрын

Yuan-ti pureblood is also a good choice.

@iamaperson.9471 Жыл бұрын

So dark elf would be Drow, right?

@zardok11 Жыл бұрын

I know this one is almost a year old now, but I'm hoping you see this.. I'm wondering how this build's progression would be affected by taking the first 2 levels of wizard at 9 and 10 instead of waiting till 12 and 13. Does that affect its scaling too much? I feel like that point is a good time to add tactical wit and arcane deflection to the build, but I'm not great at thinking through the various implications and affects that might have.

@cmccbuilds8229 Жыл бұрын

Level 11 gets you a 3rd attack with a very strong weapon. You don’t want to push that off too long.

@zardok11 Жыл бұрын

oh yes.. most of the builds I've played or looked at only get a second attack so I tend to forget how powerful a third attack is.. Thx 😀

@wittywolf5821 Жыл бұрын

I didn’t think booming blade added the 1d8 to the base hit till level 5

@cmccbuilds8229 Жыл бұрын

Yup. Do I say otherwise?

@July-gj1st Жыл бұрын

12:40 why does "your weapon does 2d8 + 7 per turn"? Are you considering booming blade in that damage? I thought extra attack wasn't compatible with booming blade since it used the "cast a spell" action and not the attack action.

@cmccbuilds8229 Жыл бұрын

Shadow Blade You weave together threads of shadow to create a sword of solidified gloom in your hand. This magic sword lasts until the spell ends. It counts as a simple melee weapon with which you are proficient. It deals 2d8 psychic damage on a hit and has the finesse, light, and thrown properties (range 20/60). In addition, when you use the sword to attack a target that is in dim light or darkness, you make the attack roll with advantage. If you drop the weapon or throw it, it dissipates at the end of the turn. Thereafter, while the spell persists, you can use a bonus action to cause the sword to reappear in your hand.

@July-gj1st Жыл бұрын

@@cmccbuilds8229 Ahhh thank you I was confuised. One last question at levels 5-6 once you get the extra attack and before War Magic what do you do with your bonus action?

@TroxDXLegacy Жыл бұрын

I hope you still read this comment after over a year :D What is your recommendation for an additional ASI in case your DM gives you a free Feat at Lv1? I'd take War Caster at Lv1, which frees up one if the other ASI's

@cmccbuilds8229 Жыл бұрын

On this build? Can’t do it because you take fighter at 1. Need spell casting for war caster - sadly

@TroxDXLegacy Жыл бұрын

@@cmccbuilds8229 Oh, you're right! So then I can just take one of the other feats at Lv1, still leaving open one extra ASI to fill

@AuraXars Жыл бұрын

@@TroxDXLegacyyou can take elven acc at lvl 1 and then from lvl 6 onwards just do the next thing!

@aidanhanrahan9336 Жыл бұрын

What character builder are you using?

@cmccbuilds8229 Жыл бұрын

I made a post about it - Dndbeyond

@prisma5849 Жыл бұрын

Curious why no Fly spell. Or are you assuming that a player will probably have a method to have their melee fighter fly at 14th level?

@cmccbuilds8229 Жыл бұрын

Unless I'm misremembering, this build doesn't have access to the Fly spell at 14. Earliest would be 16. At that point, someone else in the party should be able to cast fly for you, and if not, go ahead and take it. Don't forget you can throw the shadow blade in a pinch.

@prisma5849 Жыл бұрын

@@cmccbuilds8229 I could be wrong, but the way multiclass rules work would mean he has access to third level spells from 14 on. Add 4 levels from Eldritch Knight (12/3) and then 2 levels from Wizard puts him at Caster Level 6.

@cmccbuilds8229 Жыл бұрын

No. You don’t have access to spells like that. An 11th level EK has access to 2nd level spells. A 3rd level wizard has access to 2nd level spells. You don’t add anything. You’re thinking of spell slots. That 14th level character would have access to 3rd level slots.

@ThelronReaper 3 ай бұрын

Starting a new campaign/ side story with a goliath eldritch knight, multiclassed into wizard for maximum magic-fighter synergy. Hopefully he becomes an absolute menace to his enemies. Starting at level 1 with 20 strength also due to rqcial benfits and a perfect 18 starting roll, plus the second wind from fighter and a racial feat that allows me to reduce incoming damage once per rest, Goliaths are also resistant to cold damage right off the rip. For a level 1 character, my mans is an absolutr powerhouse

@arkham7033 Жыл бұрын

I would be careful with the Bladesinging choice due to the fighter taking medium armor. Bladesinging penalizes against using anything but light armor

@cmccbuilds8229 Жыл бұрын

This build doesn’t use armor

@arkham7033 Жыл бұрын

@@cmccbuilds8229 I get that the end goal is no armor, but I know that early you mentioned “scale and eventually breast plate” and I understand some people might forget. That’s all

@undeadred529 2 жыл бұрын

What did you use for the character sheet?

@cmccbuilds8229 2 жыл бұрын

Dndbeyond. They pay me a whopping -$5.00/month to say that too ;)

@undeadred529 2 жыл бұрын

That’s weird lol I looked at the races and couldn’t find the elf one you recommended

@cmccbuilds8229 2 жыл бұрын

Are you paying for the content?

@undeadred529 2 жыл бұрын

@@cmccbuilds8229 no I’m assuming that’s why I can’t see it

@cmccbuilds8229 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah that was the -$5 joke. They have different paid tiers and you have to pay for content too. But it’s usually worth it.

@CyclopsWasRight 2 жыл бұрын

MAM ftw fr.

@cmccbuilds8229 2 жыл бұрын

I know what FTW means! The other stuff, not so much :)

@CyclopsWasRight 2 жыл бұрын

@@cmccbuilds8229 Medium Armor Mastery ftw for real. 😂

@cmccbuilds8229 2 жыл бұрын

Mage armor does everything that the Medium Armor Master feat does without costing a feat, which is a huge cost.

@CyclopsWasRight 2 жыл бұрын

@@cmccbuilds8229 Except that you need a 20 Dex to compete. While a lvl 1 V. Human Artificer with point buy focusing Dex/Int getting 16 in both after racial bonuses, an AC of 19 with a shield. Once half plate comes in you're at 20, can stealth, and it can't be dispelled. Not to mention, I don't have to spend 2 ASI's on bumping Dex to 20. I can cap it at 16 and focus Int. Yeah, costs a feat, but 20 dex is gonna cost me 2.

@CyclopsWasRight 2 жыл бұрын

@@cmccbuilds8229 Oh, and it's requiring one of your precious spell slots every day and maybe 2 if a game's plot runs beyond the 8 hours duration. Even a wizard starting 2 Fighter dip would benefit from the feat. I honestly believe it's underrated.

@jeremyirons7367 5 ай бұрын

Or just go bladesinger and get your high level spells fast

@cmccbuilds8229 5 ай бұрын

That’s a very different build

@michaelhall5801 Жыл бұрын

+12 to initiative lmao

@cmccbuilds8229 Жыл бұрын

Initiative is awesome ;)

@yakisobanoodle 6 ай бұрын

How come not using strength for attacks, rather than dex? Init? That's a good reason, but making this guy a strength fighter means shove becomes an option, and graple and all those athletics checks.

@cmccbuilds8229 6 ай бұрын

Dex is much better than strength for a number of reasons

@yakisobanoodle 6 ай бұрын

@@cmccbuilds8229 mostly i agree. Stealth, init, dex skills. Just seems kind of cool to be strong and smart. in character for this character.