Ill now go through each Warlock subclass to list ideas for multiclassing. Mask of Many Faces is popular for trickster characters. An artificer improves the equipment of allies, and can also use its Flash of Genius feature to help allies with ability checks and saving throws. With this synergy, youll be dishing out Bardic Inspiration and setting up Emboldening Bond within the same turn to get the support going. Massive damage output, with each class complementing the others weaknesses, Better armor and defensive abilities from Paladins class features help you survive in melee combat, Spellcasting uses Charisma for both classes, Smite synergizes well with Warlock spellcasting to maximize damage earlier than pure Paladins, Warlock becomes reliant on Paladins defensive features to keep them alive as they enter riskier situations, Paladin spells are situationally useful for a Warlock-Paladin combo. EB get's the biggest benefit at character level 5 when you get 2 rays, but bard 5 is also a big boost. Wide variety of spells, including high-output damage, strong defense, and lifesaving utility. However, there are some perks that might make a quick dip useful. As one of the classes most effective for simple, martial combat, the fighter is a good choice for any multiclass that wants to increase its mettle. This build focuses mostly on being a successful Hexblade while investing half of your levels in strong multiclass supplements. Extra Attack. So, it didnt make sense to take more than a few levels in Sorcerer. Pretend your core class has something different about it that is justified by multiclassing. Spike Growth becomes available to a Dao Genie Warlock, so you can still use fun battlefield control tactics while knocking enemies around Eldritch Blast. It specializes in using cold damage to deal massive damage with Eldritch Blast and Spirit Shroud spells. Warlock features at level six arent worth it, but at level five you get the invocation for Pact of the Blade to essentially get Extra Attack. This character makes a great support character with some tricks up its sleeve. We should make the most of those features, and the Glamour Bard has a unique way to do so. Jared King is a writer and content creator with extensive experience in the fields of gaming and entertainment and now writes as a contributor to CBR. Summary of subclass features: Gain a few spell options that Warlocks cant normally learn, but you dont automatically learn them. Since Barbarians get Unarmored Defense, they give boosted defensive capabilities to the Warlock, allowing them to play the role of the tank if they want to. This is bonkers . Im imagining The Devil Went Down to Georgia for the backstory. Barbarians are difficult to multiclass with spellcasters for obvious reasons: they cannot cast or concentrate on spells while using their Rage. Bards are full spellcasters, but they fail to compete with Warlocks and Sorcerers for multiclass dips. Extra Attack. You might even stick around for Level 10 Bard when you can pick up spells from any class. Its a cool combination that wont be immediately obvious to the casual player, but its a fun option for those who want to interact with animals at will. Further, Sorcerers have magic in their bloodlines, while Warlocks draw upon the power of ancient beings like Fey nobles, Hags, or even Aliens. Published Dec 2, 2021 Some D&D multiclass builds can feel as like they were destined to merge two classes into an overpowered monster, like the Bard/Rogue build. RELATED: 10 Best Feats For Fighters In D&D 5e, Ranked. Thank you to reader Scott for this multiclass concept! Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Now, this can be a little bit hard to understand since theres a little bit of obfuscation when it comes to the rules; theyre intentionally made vague so they can be easily extrapolated and applied to new situations in future and independent publications. Okay, so I was wrong, the first goblin muttered bitterly. Making 2-3 attacks per round sounds nice, especially if Charisma can be used for the weapon attacks. After level 5 or so, anything that doesn't actively clash will . Hold Person/Monster, Banishment, and Mental Prison are great examples of spells that can really benefit from the feature. Just because youre not sticking with a single class doesnt mean you should feel more excessively burdened than other characters to narrate your characters progress. Making use of most of the druid's features requires either a high Wisdom score or many levels in druid, both of which undermine the effectiveness of the bard part of the multiclass. Youre a fantastic support character who can also deal big damage and defend yourself. . Any foes depending on non-reach melee weapons will be unable to hit you unless they switch to ranged attacks. Now you call upon a patron to grant you sinister power. Theyll love it! Heavy armor will be better than the usual Hexblade medium armor, plus you get a shield. (Probably not.) Paladin oaths must not be broken, but you broke yours when you died. Wizards of the Coast LLC.Use, modification, and distribution of Wizards of the Coast's content is under theOpen Game License v 1.0aCopyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.Flutes Loot Privacy Policy. The Forge Clerics defenses and spells are fantastic additions to the Bards powers. Many Warlock quirks turn into bonkers-good combos when mixed with other classes. #2. Sorcerers benefit from any class that improves the characters armor proficiencies. The versatility and variability of bards makes them one of the more open classes to play, and this extends to their multiclassing. Multiclassing a Bard with a Druid gives your character access to their entire spell list after only one level. Use Bardic Inspiration as a bonus action to give a creature disadvantage on its next saving throw before your next turn. Multiclassing is daunting for new players, but rewarding for experienced players. If you wish to invest three additional levels into Bard, youll gain the Mantle of Majesty feature; with it, you can charm someone specifically and get them alone to cast Command on them over and over again as you slay or steal from them. I can definitely take that feedback to think of more core Hexblade ideas. Cast a spell of 6th level of lower with a casting time of one action without components once per 1d4 long rests. Multiclassing is a process wherein a character of one class starts taking levels in one (or more - people can get a little nuts about this stuff) additional classes. A druid doesn't have much use for a bard's abilities, and the bard doesn't get much out of Wild Shape. Your email address will not be published. I love the idea of a character who sets up a telepathic link while using that brain whisper to use Words of Terror (Bard). Not all level-twenty abilities are worth getting; for example, Rangers have a poor level-twenty class feature, so they gain more from multiclassing. Most players dont foreshadow or roleplay their core class features anyway, so why should it be so difficult to justify what you gain from multiclassing? Sorcerer has an even worse hit die than Warlock (d6). Multiclassing is a popular way for D&D players to customize their characters and provide counterbalances for their characters in-game weaknesses. When the character uses alchemist tools to cast a fire spell, theyll add their Intelligence and Charisma modifiers to the damage roll, and add 1d8 from the Druid levels. If you are tired of slinging spells and want to start cleaving orcs in half, multiclassing is the way to go! But in return, they'll get several cantrips - including reliable choices like Fire Bolt or Ray of Frost - and access to several effective low-level spells, all of which use Charisma. Couple this with the fact that you're going to want two levels for . What multiclass would you suggest for a teithling bard who is male but dresses feminine and even wears makeup, also his background is far traveler. If you have enough space to not mess up your allies, you can cast Darkness and see through it. It has the Paladins armor and aura defenses paired with the 1d10 saving throw bonus and damage resistance of choice from the Warlock. There arent many feasible multiclass options for the Death Domain (others do it better), but this combination is ok if it fits your flavor. Extra armor and weapon proficiencies, a Fighting Style, and the ever-useful Action Surge are all helpful for a bard. Finally, Monk and Rogue are very mobile and like getting up in enemies faces, but are best when you dump a lot of levels into themotherwise, they are just squishy, which does not benefit an already vulnerable Warlock. Summary of subclass features: Gain a few spell options that Warlocks cant normally learn, but you dont automatically learn them. If you dont want to do the usual Hexblade dip, you might go with the Great Old One. Could be fun. The most important part of any game is that you have fun. This character is a know-it-all, sporting plenty of skill proficiencies, heaps of Expertise, and a Channel Divinity to instantly gain proficiency in something theyre not already skilled with. Use an action and commit concentration to charm or frighten a creature for one minute as it becomes lost in an illusory reality. Cleric subclasses often gain heavy armor as a subclass feature, including the Twilight Domain. In part, this is due to complementary spellcasting. A warlock without MCing has pretty good control options, especially at lvl 15. The same goes for Eldritch Blast. Makes creatures magically understand your language as you speak. The Eloquence Bard is very powerful as a support role, and the Life Clerics armor and healing bonuses can only help. Skip ahead to the portion of the article that interests you most by clicking the link below: Warlock Multiclassing Principles Archfey Celestial Fathomless Fiend Great Old One Genie Hexblade Undead Undying. Use a reaction when an ally succeeds with your Bardic Inspiration to give another ally a use of Bardic Inspiration (which does not expend your uses of BI). Communicate telepathically with nearby creatures. I cant say I recommend this build, but its kinda funny. For example, if you want to play an artificer and multiclass into fighter, you will need 13 Intelligence and either 13 Strength or Dexterity. RELATED: D&D: 5 Must-Have Spells For Level 1 Bards (& 5 To Avoid). One of the worst parts of being an Assassin is dealing with the lackluster subclass features Infiltration Expertise and Infiltrator. At Level 2, you also get a decent-sized pool for Lay on Hands, which youll mostly use for emergencies anyways. Animate an object with its own custom statblock. You also get extra Expertise from three levels of Bard. Making the best use of monk features requires Dexterity and Wisdom, as well as benefitting from a high Constitution. To explain the rules in the most detailed and clear way possible, players with more than one spellcasting class get spell slots from each class independently based on class level. This is when your Bardic Inspiration die upgrades to a d8, and you start regaining those Inspirations on a short rest. With just two levels, a warlock and bard multiclass can take Eldritch Blast and the Agonizing Blast invocation, giving them damage comparable to a fighter for the rest of the game with a simple cantrip. This can save you the trouble of taking the Devils Sight Invocation if thats the only reason youd pick it. Builds on Warlocks existing capabilities as the partys face with Expertise and a free skill proficiency. The exception would be if I have a fun concept or I want to focus on lower levels of play; after all, most campaigns end by level ten. Bards have much to gain from other Charisma-based spellcasters, Sorcerers and Warlocks. Lets review which combinations get enough value from dipping and dont require extensive multiclassing. Id probably go for Pact of the Blade while gaining Eldritch Blast Invocations for ranged options. I typically shy away from recommending multiclass if theyre a characters core class. Celestial Warlock is more of a secondary healer taking, well, how restricted Pact Magic is into consideration, after all. You can twin Eldritch Blast and then do it again with the Fighters Action Surge. You get expertise from being a bard, get it again from being a rogue, and cunning action gets you even more mobility so that you can always have something to do in the middle of a combat. The Hexblade thus benefits most from multiclassing into Paladin. Flutes is a seasoned DM and improvisational performer. Then finish the build with the remainder of your Warlock levels and youre golden (pun totally unintended).. Getting Sorcerer Metamagic will allow you to cast Booming Blade as a bonus action and an action to double up dealing big damage for a nova round. Consider: College of Swords and Soulknife This combination will give you a Dexterity based melee combatant that can dish out the damage while remaining versatile in other situations. Become immune to mind reading and resistant to psychic damage. Youre a fantastic support character who can also deal big damage and defend yourself. through Sorcerer and cast them using your Warlock spellslots, while at the same time you can focus on healing spells of Celestial Warlock and cast them using your Sorcerer slots should your Healing Light pool go dry. Three levels of Warlock and selecting Pact of the Tome will meet the prerequisite for the Aspect of the Moon Invocation. Being the face means having proficiency in skills, and expertise in the crucial ones. If thats your kind of campaign, the low supply of Bardic Inspiration wont matter much. Im imagining The Devil Went Down to Georgia for the backstory. A notable Sorcerer subclass for dipping is the Divine Soul; it can fortify its saving throws with 2d4 and grab Cleric spells. Premium support spells and, depending on your subclass, top-tier damage spells fill the gaps in Warlocks spell list. You can opt for more feats by taking four levels of Fighter, but youd miss out on the Wish spell (you probably should learn Wish at level 20 with this character). Soon, youll be able to picture in your head what kind of character you want to build and what classes will jive best with that character. The idea here is to become a master manipulator. You may have noticed that the characters stats are going to be ridiculously spread thin. You eventually gain another transformation that causes enemies to make Charisma saves to succeed in attacking you; those who succeed on the save have disadvantage to save against your spells on your next turn. Sorcerer and Warlock each have relatively few spells known at any given level, meaning fewer options than other multiclass combos. The Wizard levels also give you many first-level spells that are invaluable, such as Shield, Feather Fall, Absorb Elements, Mage Armor, Find Familiar, Fog Cloud, and more! You can eventually pass your curse between creatures when they die. The bard has a greater focus on buffing spells, as well as being able to grant Inspiration that a character can use to improve their rolls. The biggest benefit Warlocks get from Clerics is a diversified spell list. You dont need to eat, drink, or breathe. Fighter is great for DPS Hexblade Warlocks. Survive with one hitpoint when youd normally be reduced to zero hitpoints, gain a level of exhaustion, and deal necrotic damage to nearby creatures of your choice. Seeing as this is a multiclass guide, I will note that some classes give you more for just two levels dipped into them, making up for the loss of this feat. Freely add Bardic Inspiration to an ability check you make if you roll lower than youd like. Warlocks are a popular class for people who like to multiclass, but not every class jives well with the Warlock multiclass. Would undead warlock/death cleric be good? It might sound disappointing to not go for Hexblade in this build, but this concept has its own benefits. Dont forget that multiclassing requires minimum ability scores in both new and prior classes (as described on page 163 of the PHB, or page 54 of Eberron RftLW for Artificers). The Twilight Cleric is an example of this (heavy armor, martial weapons, super darkvision, advantage on Initiative). The Warlock and Sorcerer Multiclass is another combination with great synergy - with both classes using Charisma for spellcasting. Swim and breathe underwater. Bards are one of the most fun classes to play in Dungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition, with the ability to excel in all aspects of the game in a way that few others can match. You dont have to suddenly tell people that youre two classes. Choose your warlock and bard spells with Unsettling Words in mind. This character dips into useful Charisma classes that quickly gain their subclasses. With just one level in Warlock with The Hexblade patron, youll be able to attack with your finesse weapon using Charisma instead of Dexterity or Strength for your weapons attack and damage rolls. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. Just because youre not sticking with a single class doesnt mean you should feel more excessively burdened than other characters to narrate your characters progress. Sorcerers are your friends! Not all level-twenty abilities are worth getting; for example, Rangers have a poor level-twenty class feature, so they gain more from multiclassing. Concentration is much harder to maintain in melee combat when youre getting hit more, so a weapon Warlock can effortlessly keep these spells running to stay alive. Learn well their powers so you can multiclass to claim or enhance their powers. Both of these subclasses specialize in creation, so lets see what they can do together! All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. While many martial classes work well for this, one that's likely to underwhelm is the monk. Multiclassing is a powerful tool for character optimization. With almost a decade of D&D under my belt, Im excited to share my knowledge and help new people discover this incredible game! Aside from optimization, multiclassing allows you to bring unique characters to life with outside-the-box specialties. Get damage resistance and a bonus action to temporarily fly. Spirit Guardians is a great example! Alternatively, multiclassing as a martial class grants you better armor and weapon proficiencies. Warlocks need some of the best low-level spells, but Pact Magic doesnt work very well with them. Use the Frightened condition with your Form of Dread, and immobilize the scaredy cats with your Aura of Conquest. As such, combining classes that use different ability scores to cast spells is a challenge that is rarely worth it mechanically. However, since Bards are a half-melee, half-spellcaster, jack-of-all-trades class, you'll want to consider more than just the primary stat when trying to multiclass into Bard. High degree of customization through distinct Cleric subclasses. If Hexblades Curse isnt tempting, characters may consider the Fiend Warlock for its ability to gain temporary hitpoints after it kills creatures. You have become the storm as you freely fly above enemies just out of reach but within your stormy aura. Mechanically, bards don't benefit from using their entire turn to strike foes, having too many uses for their Bonus Action to benefit from the monk's best abilities. 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