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Finally! Someone mentioned that samurai is not just subclass for weebs, but for all who wants to play a noble. I'm always playing some sort of knight in my RPG games, and samurai is perfect for me. Mix it with paladin - you get a proper knight, mix with rogue - a dArtagnan. Great video, keep up a good work!

I love the samurai. They make amazing archers with fighting spirit and sharpshooter.

Honestly another RP opportunity for Samurai is to lean into some Monk elements. The sort of person who trained their mind along with their body. To not just weild a blade, but a pen. Strong in body and spirit - hence, Fighting Spirit and Elgant Courtier. Perhaps they even trained in a monastry too, but that's less likely.

My Samurai is basically a Cowboy. Many online have pointed out them to be literary similar. But i always introduce my character as a Bounty Hunter first.

After you're done with these amazing fighter subclasses, go sorcerer please! Or honestly any other class I just really enjoy your analysis and recommendations and explaintions! 🥳🥳

My first character was based on “ Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon” I don’t think they are going to judge me more than they already are

As mentioned, many parties don't get into the higher levels. If they did, the Samurai would be the perfect base class for a 2-level dip. Sure, the additional attack at level 20 is nice, but to me, having 2 levels in Rogue or Ranger is better because it would add more versatility. Especially the Ranger with Hunter's Mark added to every attack. Even a dip into Cleric works since the Wisdom requirements don't clash and Clerics are very front-loaded.

When I first decided to start experimenting with frontline fighting (specialized in rangers and rogues, though more so rangers) I opted to go with a samurai fighter after reviewing the abilities. I became so enamored with it that I did so again with another character and am still very much loving this subclass. I get a ton out of it and it allows my party to have a frontliner that isn’t a paladin but still has a lot of strength with charisma AND wisdom. My party I joined the second time I chose this class….really needed it lol. To outline, it was a wizard, an artificer, a ranger, a monk, and a cleric. As you can see, this is not a strong wis party and definitely isn’t a strong cha party. Most aren’t even frontliners or should not be lone frontliners. The group needed a more dedicated tank, mechanically speaking (the rest I took care of too in terms of social dynamics and storytelling, no biggie). But yeah, I did excellently I like to think and my party adores this character. They fit right in and the monk and my samurai clicked instantly as friends, which makes them an unstoppable duo. This allowed our artificer and cleric to return to the back lines and support (armorer artificer) and gave our wizard and ranger more cover to lean on back there. Anyway! I just think it’s amazing and that wis save proficiency has saved my life (in game) soooo many times already, especially since one of the first enemies the party encountered when I joined (later addition is why) had charm abilities….yeah I was so glad for that wis save, you don’t understand lol. It helped me basically keep this enemy pinned while my party did their thing. I would love to be able to combine it with some battlemaster moves and I’m heavily considering picking up the feat for it. Even a few dice for that would make this a major upgrade while not diminishing its potential. I do agree though. The name samurai holds back the subclass. I think it conveys some of the sophisticated feel of it but also slots it into a social niche that have it passed over by those who would thrive in this subclass if only they could see past it. But yeah. For me I had my character take the sage background and since I was playing in the Exandria world, has them join the Cobalt Soul, basically cool librarians/researchers. The backstory I gave this character was they were part of a merchant family and then joined the cobalt soul. I would go into detail but basically it comes down to the magic sword they got and getting the notice of a god during said god’s festival. They joined the cobalt soul so they had the protection of the faction and the freedom to research and learn. They were even given a mentor by the faction. Anyway, yeah so that all put my character into contact with the party as 1) there is already a cobalt soul member there (researcher), and 2) my character was participating in a local excavation as a linguistics consultant/expert who was capable of holding their own in the dangerous environment there. Anyway, safe to say, the party and my join up when a mutual friend disappears and turns up kidnapped. I lean into the well off background of my character (successful merchant family) and also the advantage of being given over amble opportunities for education and also being educated in manners and other social skills (merchant family once again) which allow the charisma skills to make sense in story. Well that’s all. I just wanted to rave about the class a bit. Thanks for the video!

Honestly tho. Having extra proficiencies relating to politicking and ᵉˡᵉᵍᵃⁿᵗ ᶜᵒᵘʳᵗⁱᵉʳ really can make for an interesting and dynamic character. Works well as a particularly loyal and devoted knight too!

Samurai is indeed surprisingly strong. At first glance it doesn't seem so because Fighting Spirit uses are so limited. But I love how each subclass feature are cool and exciting to get. This subclass has no ribbon feature and is worth getting to level 18! Level 7 - Huge defense boost! Level 10 - Quality of Life improvement Level 15 - DPR increase that builds on 3rd level feature Level 18 - Epic feature with epic flavor

Barbarian-samurai multiclass works like a charm, it's a bit high-end oriented, but it still could work, the 15th level ability works magnificently for a barbarian reckless attack, the proficiency in wisdom saves is mostly perfect for a barbarian, plus you get action surge, you could be a zealot barbarian samurai if your really want to blast your opponent and become IMMORTAL! Yes you heard me right, revivify costs nothing, you can still get the 17th level feature, rage fits well with temp hp, it looks like a perfect match! I'd say to go about 7 levels in samurai then 3 in barbarian, then complete with samurai. I call this subclass the Jarl,or the Oni (depending on what vibe you want), you're more persuasive, strong, and survivable, only that you'd be going around with medium armor. What do you practically get from this Multiclass per level? 1-7/8: basic fighter/samurai stuff, I'd suggest to stop at this level to then go for the 3 barbarian levels. 7-10/8-11: 3 barbarian levels, I highly suggest either totem (bear or wolf mainly), zealot or beast path, hey give magnificent abilities for your combo, the first one I made was the zealot. 10/11-20 go fighter for the remainder, you'll get indomitable, the 3rd attack, 3 feats or ASI, more action surges, all the subclass abilities. Substantially you get to have 3 attacks at advantage, one of which becomes simply another attack, all raging, you deal relatively high damage per round, have a high armor class, are essentially immortal, proficiency in all the main saves (Constitution and wisdom, plus you can take Resilient in Dexterity). This is a strength build, therefore you can develop also into grapples and shoves, I'd request having expertise in Athletics by some means. For racial options there are no necessary standouts, maybe variant human or custom Lineage because… free feat, maybe a flying race because… flight is strong and it lies in the idea of the Oni. You can go sword & board, heavy weapon, polearm and you'd be still viable. And Great-weapon-master basically thrives also in this build… sadly.

my first fighter was a samurai, and he was so fun to play (dragonborn fighter)

I just started playing the vecna eve of ruin and I got to start at level 10 and I am playing a minatour samurai and I am loving it my DM finally let me play as a minatour and I am loving it. We don't I don't have any good loot yet but I did get the windfan as random as my common magic item.

I played an Ixalan Orc Samurai Fighter in a Campaign. His story is basically Kratos from the new GoW games. He spent the campaign trying to talk enemies and people from any physical conflict because he has seen too much bloodshed and the consequences of Wars. But he also was the one to win any battle he found himself in. I remember taking down a bandit leader in 1 turn at level 5 and then convincing the rest of the bandits to drop their arms as no other blood needth be spilled more. Those bandits now have honest jobs on the retired party's estate as guardsmen.

Currently playing a half elf Fey wanderer ranger. Elven accuracy as a feat at 4th level, misty step at 5th level. A dip into samurai fighter for the auto crits and the added social skills just makes sense.

I'm thinking about making a succubus samurai. the better persuasion is connected to her being a succubus, the better wisdom saves is her sheer will power to not be controlled, and her combat abilities is just a result of her really focusing on training.

I'm looking forward to seeing why you should play a Cavalier fighter

Samurai is awesome! Be an elf of any kind. Put 17 into Dex. Take elven accuracy (+1 Dex) at Level 4 so you are at 18 Dex and get super advantage with fighting spirit. Take sharpshooter at Level 6. With archery fighting style and power attack from sharpshooter you are at +4 to hit and 1d8 + 14 dmg with a longbow. Turn one pop fighting spirit and action surge and you‘ll destroy almost every enemie at this level. After this you could take 4 levels in ranger/gloom stalker and the turn one nova dmg is even stronger. I absolutely love this subclass!

Love these videos!

Question: When you trigger strength before death, you take a whole turn to yourself, yes? Action surge can only be used once per turn iirc... So, technically... You can deal 4 attacks... Action surge... Deal 4 attacks... then on the next initiative the monster takes you down to 0 hp... you immediately can do 4 attacks... And because it's a "new turn" you can use another action surge... and deal another 4 attacks... All before your next party member can do anything. 16 attacks in less than 5-6 seconds...? That's some epic anime stuff if that works.

Love this subclass. My Samurai Fighter is actually just a cowboy who has the Gunner feat, such fun.

Wow I was looking at this subclass yesterday for a character I was making.

This made me rethink the Samurai for sure

I'm currently playing a satyr bard like samurai fighter. I have noticed I don't use fighting spirit as often as I thought I would but it has come in and won the day a few times.

In my Dnd Campaign i'm playing in now, I am playing an Elvish Samurai (ronin technically) who's family served A human Lord, before the Human Lord they served under was overthrown. my character took the heir of the family and fled. I'm still new to Dungeons and Dragons, so i'm looking for tips to build the character properly. this video helped me to understand the class a bit more, so thanks! I'm glad I haven't gotten a to the level to multiclass yet, because I think I'll choose to go full samurai! Edit: I do have one thing to say about your rating on defense though, because I feel like it can be bumped up a bit higher in points if you take certain feats. sure, I might not have the defensive capabilities as one of my other party members (with an armor and shield the guy has a an AC of 19 or 20, I forget which, but it's crazy), But my role isn't to defend MYSEFLF, but my PARTY. if you take Gift of the Metallic dragon, which can let you make a shield for yourself or others that raises your AC, and then another feat which I forget the name of but essentially lets you defend a member of your party (that you're near) from an attack as a reaction, letting you reduce the damage they take and possibly saving their life. I've used them a few times and it makes me feel like a guardian protecting my party members from danger.

Awesome video! I have really been researching doing a Kensei monk/Samurai fighter/Gloomstalker ranger for a ninja take that focuses on using a bow for ranged attacking. Loved how your multiclassing included both of these other classes

Tiefling samurai fighter moon druid is so fun to play

What is the movie from the scenes playing in the background where it's medieval but it's got some martial artsy flare to it? Thanks.

I wonder of this subclasses main issue would be fixed with it moving to being short rest based or maybe getting uses based off PB like a lot of modern ones

Half elf samurai with elven accuracy feat 👍🏻

I played my 10th level samurai as more of a ronian wandering warrior type that served no one but themselves and fought only to protect the weak no matter the cost without all the honor talk

I'm one of THOSE guys that's always trying to do a dual wielding build... and now I'm thinking dual wielding samurai elf with Elven Accuracy sounds very nice.

I need some help, If i create a half orc samurai, how strength before death and relentless endurance Will work If my char goes to 0 lifepoints? Thx

Lots me multiclassing with kensei monk with the mounted combatant feat. I am hear to kill stuff near and far. We are playing in a setting where samurai are the norm and I'm messing thing up.

i think 1 level (maybe 2) in warcleric can pair very nicely, shadar-kai, sharpshooter, 16 wis, archery, bless, fighting spirit, elven accuracy... if only i was not the forever dm D:

I'm playing my first real game of DND soon, and I'm planning to play a martial character based off of Aztec warriors -- light armour, shield and their iconic Macuahuitl (a mace with shards of obsidian) - and I've been thinking of using the Samurai. For RP reasons, I've yet to ask my DM about, I also want the 3rd level Path of Zeal Barbarian feature, so do you think that makes sense? I was thinking either 3, just for the raising from death feature, or 4 levels in the PoZB and then the rest into Samurai. I'd love some feedback on this one guys, I've considered a Druid who shapeshifts into a Jaguar, a Warlock -- to be more occult, like we often see Aztec priests and magic -- or just go Cleric or Paladin. Basically... I'm having a hard time deciding. Cheers for the videos! :)

Magic initiate samurai with hex and booming blade at level 15 you can attack 9 times - 9D6 damage from hex+ 9D8 damage from booming blade+ 9d8 damag from your weapon. Its broken op.

Rapid strike forgoes adv on one roll which means that the second atk that you gets adv still.

The fighter is a good class. The samurai needs more. Maybe a re charge on a 4 or 5 or 6. Few more Fighting Styles. Let him have 3 or 4

Hey, is there a Ronin and/or Yojimbo subclass?

I like to rp as kensei from for honor

fie on players who cannot go the distance. a mix of Life(tm) and too-high expectations, is my guess.

Unless you added one more point without stating it was actually 78/100

Technically this class isn't samuraj but warrior who polished his skill to maximum

another little fact that makes ranger a good multi for samurai is that in reality samurai were horse archers for most of their history

I’ve run many players playing a samurai, have run DMPCs and my own PCs. The vast majority of them are not analogous to historical Japanese aristocratic warriors IRL. They have been played with a variety of D&D races and backgrounds and backstories - just like all other subclasses at our table. I have never experienced a name being such a negative bias in how one plays or designs the character. Strange.

I decide to flavor this class as more as a vagabond kind of mindset

What movie is this in 0:15

I'm making an orc samurai

Using this build for a antihero character my players will run into soon. Possibly ten strikes in one turn. They might cry.

How can Kensei+Samurai be good? Both has bonus action key features. If you are use one u are wasting the other.

The Shogun series will create more Japanese historical interest in the RPG community.

Any homebrew tips to buff samurai? Please reply below Personally think Fighting Spirit uses should either be equal or double the proficiency modifier. And regained upon a short rest. And Bows are considered Finesse. Rapid Strike should probably be bumped earlier to 7th level along with Elegant Courtier. 10th level Tireless Spirit buffed so you regain Fighting Spirit uses via d4 roll for each encounter. Gain dual wielder feat or any other weapon use feat (ie. Sharpshooter, Polearm Master, Great Weapon master, etc.) 15th level: Blind Sight up to 30ft, no stealth penalty wearing heavy armor, all weapons except heavy weapons are considered Finesse. Base extra attacks get doubled. 18th: Strength before death, Double Fighting Spirit Uses, All Weapons gain Crusher, Piercer, and Slasher feats. I could only give free feats to Samurai as a “buff”. Since they’re refined noble warriors. Maybe give them extra RP proficiencies like Intimidation, Deception, Investigation, etc. for each Subclass tier.

Fighting spirit is 5thp until level 10. Not 5 per level

you might be mixing utility and roleplaying alltogether

This sounds overpowered with bladesinging

For an alternative name to Samurai how does the name “Warrior” sound or is that too corny?

Lol weeb. Somebody had to do it.

I like your videos but you way over rated this subclass. If Fighting Spirit recharged on a short rest or it’s uses scaled prior to level 10 it’d easily be a top tier subclass. Unfortunately, 3 uses per long rest means that most of the adventuring day all you’re getting from your subclass is a single skill proficiency. To get perspective on just how bad that is, the DMG tells DMs the average average adventuring party should expect to face 6-8 combat encounters per day. That means a Samurai doesn’t get to use their subclass at all in more than half of the fights they get into in a given day. In your Arcane Archer video you rightly pointed out that the limit on Arcane Shots ruins the subclass. With a single short rest the Arcane Archer gets more uses of Arcane Shot than the Samurai’s Fighting Spirit, give them 2 short rests and the Arcane Archer gets to use their special ability twice as often as the Samurai. If an Arcane Archer is weak with 4-6 shorts then the Samurai’s static 3 is absolutely anemic. This subclass is an absolute flop.

Samurai is my first attempt at a crit fishing build. So much advantage.

Most of these guides might as well stop covering the classes after about level 12 lmao. Haven't been in a single campaign that's gone beyond that.