Multi-Class Character Builds in Dungeons & Dragons 5e (The Fighter)
Hello fellow Nerdarchests, Art here. I’m back with the third installment of my series Multi-Class Character Builds in Dungeons & Dragons 5e. If you missed my previous article on the Druid just click HERE.
Today we are going to march onto the battlefield with… The Fighter
First I’m going to take a some space and talk about the class as a whole. The Fighter is a very diverse and well thought out class in my honest opinion. Wizards of the Coast did a pretty good job with it as a base class and added a little bit of depth with the additions in The Sword Coast Adventure’s Guide with the addition of the Purple Dragon Knight. As far as scaling power levels go in reference to the higher level challenges, the Fighter scales quite nicely especially the Battle Master archetype.
OK let’s get started with the first build multi-class build up for grabs, and that is The Fighter Battle Master and Cleric of the War domain. This is a powerhouse build! At 4th level within the first few rounds of combat you can potentially deal a huge amount of damage. The Battle Master’s 1d8 addition to damage with certain of their “Combat Maneuvers” and the Cleric’s built in ability of “Divine Strike” add up to 2d8 more damage in a single attack as well as the bonus action attack from the Cleric of War’s ability “War Priest”.
Take into account a Great Sword’s 2d6 damage and it’s potentially with average rolls is insane. That being said, the ability to “Second Wind” as well as healing spells allows the character to be a huge support to allies in combat. Also take into account the character can wear heavy armor and has “Fighting Style” to add to their abilities can make a pretty overwhelming combat character.
The next multiclass build I want to address is Fighter Eldritch Knight and a class from the new Sword Coast Adventures Guide the Wizard Blade Singer. So many options with this build, however the build suffers from the racial limitations of being either an elf or half-elf. Taking eight levels of Blade Singer and twelve levels of Eldritch Knight gives you fighting styles extra attacks as well as the ability to cast higher levels of spells than the Eldritch Knight normally could cast.
Using the War Magic feature of the Eldritch Knight along with the Bladesong ability from the Blade Singer and having the War Mage feat can allow the character to deal quite a bit of damage as a bonus action especially with the new cantrips provided in the Sword Coast Adventures Guide such as Green-Flame Blade or Lightning Lure. With a Fighting Style like Dueling and Bladesong along the feat Duelist character will be quite a damage dealer and have the ability to augment their AC as needed.
The next multiclass Fighter build is straight out of the Sword Coast Adventures Guide. Here we are going to take sixteen levels of Fighter Purple Dragon Knight and add in four levels of Rogue Master Mind. “This sounds odd.” you say? Well here are the reasons behind it. As a Purple Dragon Knight (PDK for short), you can use the Inspiring Surge class feature along with the Master Mind’s ability Master of Tactics to aid an ally giving them advantage on a shove attack during your turn, so that when their turn or another ally’s turn come they will have advantage on attack rolls vs. a prone target.
Yes, this is quite situational but it will come in handy when teamed up with Barbarian Battleragers also in the Sword Coast Adventures Guide or any other rogue for sneak attacks. This build is also quite good at skill checks for RP situations so it’s quite well rounded also. So, the PDK can be a very underhanded and yet competent party leader if played correctly. The addition of a few Sneak Attack dice on advantageous attacks, doesn’t hurt either.
Well that’s all I have for you this time. Tune in next time “Same Bat Time! Same Bat Channel!’ when we will be taking a look at multiclass builds in the dojo with…the Monk!.
So until next time… Stay Nerdy!
Ola Jangbo
November 29, 2015 at 9:53 pmHi, may I ask what levels you recommend for the first build, Battlemaster+Warcleric. I guess you begin with Fighter? Could you please share your thought of progression for the build?
Ola Jangbo
December 2, 2015 at 4:03 pmHi, may I ask what levels you recommend for the first build, Battlemaster+Warcleric. I guess you begin with Fighter? Could you please share your thought of progression for the build?
Doc
August 11, 2017 at 8:25 amI’m planning on making this Vigilante Cowboy want to be. I’ve started with the fighter Gunslinger Homebrew who uses wisdom as his grit and crossing it with ranger deep stalker.
12 gunslinger, 8 deep stalker.