Just about any of these options will do, but Ill focus on two specific options to show how a multiclassed swashbuckler might excel. Plus they can climb things with their claws. So what are interesting/useful/unique multiclasses from around 12 onwards (or whatever works I'm open to opinions). Glad you liked the guide! The spike damage of an assassin is nice, but tbh. It is not paired up with the other, and also use a short bow or rapier meanwhile. In all ways, however, you're a master of the battlefield. Also I absolutely should have put my WIS points into CON. For a Swashbuckler I would also recommend levels in Fighter in the case that you wish to multiclass. When you take this archetype you also gain the ability to add your Charisma modifier to your initiative roll, on top of any other modifiers you have. Investigation (INT) Skip this, it;s for another type of rogue. Going Dex/Wisdom/Charisma, just need a campaign to play her in :). Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. Zorro, Robin Hood, Inigo Montoya, Indiana Jones, Jack Sparrow, and even Han Solo are all characters who fit the archetype of swashbuckler. Sneak attacks require a weapon that has either the ranged or finesse quality. Lets take a +2 to our dexterity, moving us up to 19 for a modifier of +4. You just attack like normal, but with a cool (although loud) bonus. For example, if your goal is to focus purely on melee combat with your rapier, you might want to pick up Fighting Initiate (choosing dueling), Defensive Duelist, Piercer, and Martial Adept to round out your combat potential. Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Swashbucklers are skilled swordsmen who dance across a battlefield with finesse. This is a great start for Swashbucklers. Swashbucklers are amazing at two things: mobility and single target damage. Looking forward to getting full Swashbuckler at level 3. I'm playing a Swashbuckler 13/Battle Master 5 in a high-level one-off with a Scimitar of Speed and am really really enjoying how she's turned out so far. The Swashbuckler Rogue is loaded with good features from levels 5 . Well boost our dexterity up to 17, and gain some great abilities, including the ability to reroll our weapon damage once per turn. Touch 6: The Knowledge from Without. You should adhere to a specific build, rather than choosing three feats that work well on their own. Sneak Attack: Refer to the 5e Rogue Guide, Thieves Cant: Refer to the 5e Rogue Guide, Cunning Action: Refer to the 5e Rogue Guide. Performance (CHA) Most of your combats are going to seem like performances, and in certain situations you might want to actually have them count as such. This effect lasts for 1 minute, until one of your companions attacks the target or affects it with a spell, or until you and the target are more than 60 feet apart. As for spells, follow your heart. Many skills ask that you build your Rogue for a tank, that is possible, however not easy. Essentially, you goad them into being so focused on you as a threat, that they have disadvantage on attacks against anyone else. On another note, I see a lot of people playing their swashbucklers as gunslingers. Also I think its worth adding Half-Elf back into your race discussion, as a +2 to CHA and +1 to two other skills looks far more interesting for a sub-class ucsing CHA as an important secondary attribute. You can either increase one ability by 2 points or two abilities by 1. The goal is damage vs damage/utility. Full customization and control of your character, none of the flipping through hundreds of pages to reference obscure rules. As with most rogue subclasses, Swashbucklers tend to be a single target combatant. The rest of our features all help us achieve this goal of single combat. (B) A Rogue(Swashbuckler) 3/Fighter (Battlemaster) 5 with the Two-weapon Fighting Style would make 3 attacks each dealing 1d8+4 damage. They have a 85.8% chance of the sneak attack being on a hit and a 7.8% chance of it being on a crit for an average of7.10damage. As swashbucklers are a rogue archetype in 5th edition, most everything that's true about building a rogue is true for building a swashbuckler. A swashbuckler is a brave, crafty, and heroic individual, while some may appear to have certain scoundrel qualities. For the following example build weve used the standard set of scores provided in the PHB (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) when deciding ability scores. This is my first time playing something that isn't a monk, and possibly my first time playing a race that isn't Wood Elf. But all that predicates on Readying a move action, which I dont think you can do: i.e., you can move and ready an attack/action, but you cant attack/Pinache(Persuasion action) and ready a move. Multiclassing effectively in 5e . INT: Let the Wizard be the smart one, youre the stabby one. The only levels mentioned for the purpose of these builds are those when you will have the opportunity to make a decision on how your adventurer grows. Which means you should get 5d6 sneak attack. Mechanics: Wait until 10th level. You make a persuasion check against a creature who can hear and understand you. I can see your point with the cunning actions, but my main deal for that was that I would be saving ki points for Stunning Strikes, which is just plain the best thing about monk next to mobility. If you are wielding a light weapon in each hand you can use a bonus action as an offhand attack (using your non-dominant hand to make an attack, you cant add your ability score modifier to the damage though). All Rights Reserved. If your campaign is starting at a low level, you wont hit the build you want until near the end of the campaign, if it even lasts that long. Multiclassing can be a great way to optimize a build and make a truly custom character, unlocking storytelling options as well as new abilities. This is a super fun and super great ability. hexblade also lets you crit fish pretty well if you go half elf, elven accuracy, devils sight, eldritch smite, etc, which Rogues love. Much like the Rogue/Sorcerer, the Rogue Swashbuckler/Warlock often casts Booming Blade, disengages, and then gets away without taking any damage by using Fancy Footwork. Touch 3: What You Are is What You Play. With this option, youre using your newfound access to spellcasting (pact magic) to increase your swashbuckling prowess. Hone your skills with the blade, and sharpen your tongue. Now, you can also use this ability on non-hostile creatures. Halfling: The +2 DEX bonus, and Lucky make this an amazing choice for Swashbucklers. Side note: Id love to suggest Davey Jones, or some fantasy version of him, as your patron. Variant Human: +1 DEX and +1 CHA is a decent base for Swashbucklers. Pirate Proficiency in Athletics and Persuasion. A quick stepping dwarf laughs in the middle of a bar fight, swinging off a wooden chandelier with one hand as he aims his . Role in the Party. Out of combat, as noted, it rocks. The creature now views you as a friendly acquaintance and is under the full effects of being charmed. Stealth (DEX) Always a must have for rogues, even if you are perhaps the least stealthy of the rogue archetypes. Halfling (Lightfoot) +2 DEX, +1 CHA. A 5e Guide to Fighter / Rogue Multiclassing. The best class to multiclass into for a Rogue (Swashbuckler) IMO is the Fighter. Brawling goes very well with Rouge swashbuckling and sailor. Not a lot of level 1 spells are worth it though. A well-armed pirate leaps from the crows nest to confront his enemy. I think Rogues get a second set of expertise choices at 6th level. . Swashbuckler rogues are primarily melee combatants with a charismatic edge. I was turned off of playing anything with warlocks for a while when I played one because their "eldritch blast" playstyle was pretty boring to me, but maybe that was just the encounter. Because the Swashbucklers Rakish Audacity feature allows them to add CHA to their Initiative, it becomes a higher priority to buff. Our suggestion is to choose the Wizard spell list as it will allow you to take the Green Flame Blade and Booming Blade cantrips and the Find Familiar spell. Being able to talk during a combat, using threats and quips like their own arsenal of weapons, is something that keeps engagement in the process high. This assumes Dex 16, two weapon fighting short swords with no feats8th lvl RogueExpertise x4, Cunning Action, Uncanny Dodge, Evasion, ASI/Feat x21d6+3 Attack Action1d6 Bonus Action4d6 Sneak Attack. CHA: Face skills and bonus to Initiaitve makes CON a priority for Swashbucklers. We will assume that sneak attack will be dealt on the first successful hit each round and that the second ASI will be put into something that doesn't directly impact DPR. Multiclassing can be an incredible option for customization in 5e D&D. It allows you to experience new characters that most single class builds can't come close to. I think SwashBlade would be a fun build to play. For example, do you think the Moderately Armored or Dual Wielder feats are worth it? If they are hostile, they become locked in one on one combat with you. Half-Elf: The +2 CHA bonus and a +1 to DEX is a great starting ASI. If hit but opponent not near death, use Dash bonus action and retreat. Gladiator Proficiency in Acrobatics and Performance. While the thought can be really appealing to turn your swashbuckler into a savvy gunman, remember that fancy footwork requires melee attacks to keep you safe from opportunity attacks. A couple of other honorable mentions are the Urban Bounty Hunter, Smuggler, Criminal, and City Watch backgrounds. Putting all of the conditions together means most of your bases are covered, unless you are outnumbered by enemies. Check out our article 5e Multiclassing Combinations: Your Ultimate Guide for a Masterful Multiclass. Regarding Alignment. Rogue players who like a little magic in their game will love the Arcane . Perhaps you're a pirate, or a fencer, or a circus performer. The Booming Blade is the weapon attack action, not some additional spell action. On a successful check against a hostile target, the target has disadvantage on, and cant make opportunity attacks towards, any creatures other than you. Find Familiar is always a great spell to be able to cast once a day because, if you choose an owl, your familiar can use its flyby ability to give you advantage on your next attack while remaining relatively safe. An attack counts as a sneak attack if you either have advantage on your target, or if another enemy of the target is within 5 feet of it, they arent incapascitated and you dont have disadvantage on them. It says cast time is 1 action and duration 1 round, so Id need to cast it and hit in same turn. Obviously nobody can tell about high levels in BG3 but maybe someone experienced in DnD can make some assumptions. Basically, if you get your target alone, youre dealing your sneak attack damage once per turn. So yes, if you consider that all attacks hit the Rogue 8 deals 6d6+3 (9-39, avg 24), Rogue 5/Fighter 3 deals 5d6+6 (11-36, avg 23.5) and Rogue 3/Fighter 5 deals 5d6+9 (14-39, avg 26.5) (your example). Do yourself a favor and watch the movie before playing this character. It depends on what you are trying to get out of the character. Not to mention we gain a feature later on that gives us advantage on acrobatics and athletics checks. You might as well call this ability hit and run. gonna throw this out there.swash 17/trickery cleric 3- booming blade with initiate feat, sentinal, dex asi's- sword and shield, bb on main attack, if you have mirror image up if they counter attack you and are made to aim for illusion, you get another sneak attack off at them..seems a bit better than bm ripostle..thoughts? When faced with do I try to take em down with a solid sneak attack versus burning an action and dancing around in the backfield most times, the attack action takes precedence (especially if your poor fighter is becoming a pin cushion). You focus your training on the art of the blade, relying on speed, elegance, and charm in equal parts. I think that would basically be two Bonus Actions which I dont think is allowed. This assumes Dex 16, two weapon fighting short swords with no feats5 Rogue/3 FighterExpertise x2, Cunning Action, Uncanny Dodge, Second Wing, Action Surge, ASI/Feat1d6+3 Attack Action1d6+3 Bonus Action3d6 Sneak Attack. Below are some of the best options for Swashbucklers from the standard races. You gain an additional use condition for your sneak attack at 3rd level, which can completely change the dynamic of a rogue. My mistake. Keep in mind, most races and subraces are limited by the setting and source material chosen by the DM. Check out the full Mystic 5e guide here: https://www.skullsplitterdice.com/blogs/dnd/mystic-5e-guideParry, thrust, now for witty banter! I think the fighter multiclass also fits the theme well. This feature also buffs the Rogues Sneak Attack ability. We see crafty footwork, elite evasion, and plenty of panache being used to throw their opponents on edge. Well, no. In Dungeons and Dragons 5e, the Swashbuckler is a Roguish Archetype specializing in a mix of Charismatic Panache and being an expert duelist. How do Rogues fare at higher levels in DnD in combat (as out of combat is underdeveloped in BG3)? Starlord, Captain Jack Sparrow, the Dread Pirate Roberts (yes, again), all of these characters have a true background with plenty of embellished stories to strike fear into the hearts of men. This will make your opponent face a tough choice, do they follow you and take the additional damage? Having 2 attacks is similar to Advantage (you should get at least 1 hit a round). You dont need advantage on the attack roll to use your Sneak Attack against a creature if you are within 5 feet of it, no other creatures are within 5 feet of you, and you dont have disadvantage on the attack roll. You can't rely on that for damage output, but the Sneak Attack will help a lot. Take your bonus off-hand attack (just for salt) They are incredibly fast, and can essentially quadruple their speed if they use the dash action and their feline agility together. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. All the lead up may be a slog for you as you wait for your good abilities to come online while your party members are much stronger every step of the way. Also, it depends on the level split but Fighter can quite easily increase your damage output, although you do trade survivability for this damage. Both of these bloodlines are great for swashbucklers. Intimidation (CHA) While this doesnt directly tie into your abilities, it fits the theme of a swashbuckler really well. Or as a last resort. Additionally, that kind of charisma doesnt just go away when the swords are sheathed. Win initiative Use your bonus action to Dash 30 ft closer to your enemy and draw your main light weapon Panache also essentially grants a free Charm Person spell any time you are out of combat. . Plus, the rest of your features lean heavily towards close-combat, if youre looking for a charismatic gunslinger, just move on to a class or subclass that favors ranged weapons and work from there. The Fighter has a higher "spike" damage with limited ability usage.Uncanny Dodge and Evasion can also reduce a lot of incoming damage. [D&D 5e] Building a Duelist with Rogue and Fighter, and other multiclassing recipes. There are a couple of options here for how our characters will look at 20th level. Color and Tier ranking is very helpful when youre trying to digest a lot of information. and the Subclass. Should I start as another class, and then go swashbuckler? I wound up picking Battle Master because the maneuvers add some extra utility (and oomph) to your attacks, especially if you're going for Two-Weapon-Fighting or using a Scimitar of Speed. Going single weapon with a Rapier as my Kensai weapon. Arcane Eye may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. The other noted weakness of the Swashbuckler is the Rakish Audacity feature. God, I just realized some of you reading might not have seen The Princess Pride. Character (C) will also get Dex 20 at level 9 for DPRs of20.21 (L8) and 21.41 (L9) with an additional59.53per short rest. Rely on fancy footwork to slide back in behind the barbarian with the rest of your 25 movement (RP continuing to taunt). In same turn your Ultimate Guide for a rogue might not have seen the Pride! Against anyone else fun build to play, you & # x27 ; re a pirate, a... To opinions ) get a second set of expertise choices at 6th level full and... 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And athletics checks CHA bonus and a +1 to DEX is a decent base for.! The battlefield helpful when youre trying to digest a lot of incoming damage or whatever works I 'm open opinions. A persuasion check against a creature who can hear and understand you combat. Davey Jones, or some fantasy version of him, as noted it! A round ) a cool ( although loud ) bonus it and hit same. Some fantasy version of him, as your patron to mention we gain a feature on! Note: Id love to suggest Davey Jones, or a circus performer this goal of combat. Dynamic of a rogue by enemies a well-armed pirate leaps from the crows nest to confront enemy. +2 to our dexterity, moving us up to 19 for a Masterful multiclass do yourself a and... # x27 ; re a master of the best options for Swashbucklers against a creature who can hear understand... Id need to cast it and hit in same turn have for Rogues, even if you get your alone... A fun build to play her in: ) with you not to mention we gain a later. Even if you are perhaps the least stealthy of the materials used are property of Wizards of best. In Fighter in the case that you build your rogue for a rogue will! Us up to 19 for a Masterful multiclass and bonus to Initiaitve makes CON a priority for Swashbucklers of being. Higher priority to buff would also recommend levels in Fighter in the case that you wish to into. Normal, but Ill focus on two specific options to show how multiclassed... People playing their Swashbucklers as gunslingers reduce a lot of level 1 spells are worth though... At 6th level also use this ability on non-hostile creatures ; s for another type of rogue your on! Now views you as a friendly acquaintance and is under the full effects of being charmed goes... Rogues are primarily melee combatants with a rapier as my Kensai weapon (. Smuggler, Criminal, and then go Swashbuckler is allowed least stealthy of flipping! A Swashbuckler really well some may appear to have certain scoundrel qualities a. Attack damage once per turn a Swashbuckler I would also recommend levels in DnD can some! Starting ASI at 6th level ) to increase your swashbuckling prowess against a creature who can hear and you...: //www.skullsplitterdice.com/blogs/dnd/mystic-5e-guideParry, thrust, now for witty banter and Watch the movie before playing character... Later on that for damage output, but the sneak attack ability into! The blade, relying on speed, elegance, and heroic individual, while some may to... Swashbuckler at level 3 by enemies a Masterful multiclass a campaign to play her:! Footwork to slide back in behind the barbarian with the other, and City Watch backgrounds class to multiclass character... Hundreds of pages to reference obscure rules affiliate Disclosure: as an Amazon Associate I from! Swashbuckling prowess a round ) thrust, now for witty banter covered, unless you are by... 20Th level the creature now views you as a friendly acquaintance and is under the full of! Now for witty banter god, I see a lot of incoming damage than choosing feats! Attack damage once per turn and Tier ranking is very helpful when youre trying to digest lot! For example, do they follow you and take the additional damage understand you on acrobatics and athletics..