How good is an eldritch knight at later levels from a 5e perspective?

[A]

It seems underwhelming in just 5 levels, but later on if taken with 12 levels or with multiclassing, how good is it and what role does it play?

Should I dump int to 8 or 10 and assuming the ogre headband will remain where it is during release then just pick it up for 17 int?

Does it get mirror image? Or are there better defensive buffs for it? I've thought about how fun gish builds might be, but I see them as relying on self-buffs for survivability which brings me to a concern: Are they played melee and if so, how will you be managing the greater risk of concentration checks to maintain them being closer to danger?

Is spellcasting an issue for them with fullplate?

[FunkyMonkey]

I really like eldritch knights and usually don't care about their intelligence at all. 2-handed weapon with shield spell is great. Use your other spell choices for utility (jump, longstrider etc) and they are great. Eldritch knights should get access to mirror image when they get 2nd level spells and it's a good pick. I also like blur at 2nd level for concentration spell on eldritch knights. Other good one situationally is enlarge/reduce. And at 3rd level haste is amazing for eldritch knights.

[Aldain]

I'm by no means an expert, but here goes an attempt point-by-point answering things.

My only experience with a class similar to it is in Solasta, and I found it perfectly serviceable if less magically potent than a full caster.

The role it plays is mostly the same as other Fighters, but with a few tricks up its sleeve for certain situations, for example I found myself taking Grease as a spell when playing BG3 using EK because it's pretty much always useful to some extent as crowd control, Magic Missile can also be a reliable method of breaking a ranged unit's concentration since it can't miss and there are some self-buffs iirc that can help you be more self sufficient (I think Mirror image is an option for one of the EK's level up free picks, but I could be wrong).

One other advantage is that aside from Rogue's subclass and Wizard, it is one of the only classes that actually uses Intelligence, meaning that with an appropriate background it can actually help pass those skill checks if you're not running a Wizard and benefit from the stats at the same time.

I would advise against using the Int dump stat strategy because you never know when you might find yourself bereft of your gear, itemization might have also changed so we don't fully know the extent of options we might have.

Spellcasting has no issues as long as you're proficient with the armor you're wearing, and since Fighters can use every armor type, it can cast in Heavy Armor.

Note that Shields or Dual Wielding can cause a rub depending on if they require you to have War Caster for somatic components in the full release, this isn't an issue if you're using a 2 hand weapon, though War Caster always helps with concentration and Shields boost AC to help maintain that too.

As for the Concentration checks, as long as you have some solid Con you shouldn't have as much of an issue since your AC will also be higher because you're likely to use Heavy Armor meaning you get hit less.

Overall it's a very reasonable pick and often underestimated in my opinion, your stats might be a bit more spread thin at the start but Fighters get additional ASIs so don't let that be a deal breaker.

[WeenerTuck813]

In TT EK stinks especially later on.

[larhtas]

Originally posted by A:

It seems underwhelming in just 5 levels, but later on if taken with 12 levels or with multiclassing, how good is it and what role does it play?

Multiclassing eldritch knight can work out if you multiclass it with a wizard. I will probably do eldritch knight (7) + abjurator (5)

Originally posted by A:

Should I dump int to 8 or 10 and assuming the ogre headband will remain where it is during release then just pick it up for 17 int?

You could do that, i intend to put a 16 in int at creation and leave it like that. "Sage background" can be great for an intelligent eldritch knight.

Originally posted by A:

Does it get mirror image? Or are there better defensive buffs for it? I've thought about how fun gish builds might be, but I see them as relying on self-buffs for survivability which brings me to a concern: Are they played melee and if so, how will you be managing the greater risk of concentration checks to maintain them being closer to danger?

Eldritch knight, mostly, have evocation and abjuration spells. At level 12 they have:
- 4 level 1 slots.
- 3 level 2 slots.
I personally will get more than that as i will multiclass my character. The feat "warcaster" is mandatory for your eldritch knight. It gives you advantage on concentration check, you can use your shield and cast spells (you already can in EA but as they are adding this feat in the full release i suppose you cannot do it anymore) and at last you can use cantrip as opportunity attacks.

Originally posted by A:

Is spellcasting an issue for them with fullplate?

There is no problem with casting spells with an armor you are proficient with, and eldritch knight is giving you all armor proficiency at level 1 fighter.

[Angarvin]

Originally posted by A:

how will you be managing the greater risk of concentration checks to maintain them being closer to danger?

EK as fighters get constitution save proficiency. so they have easier time maintaining concentration than any other spellcaster. having access to heavy armor you can further ease this process by grabbing heavy armor mastery feat thus reducing difficulty of most checks. or alternatively taking war caster to gain advantage in these saves.

Originally posted by A:

Is spellcasting an issue for them with fullplate?

no. if you have proficiency with armor - you can cast in it. fighters get all armor proficiencies.

[Ephemerant]

An EK is what's known as a Gish in the D&D space. That basically means a build that mixes combat effectiveness with weapons and spells. Examples are Bladesingers, Swords Bards, Valor (kinda) Bards, EKs, Hexblade Warlocks, Swordmage, etc.

You can choose to favor one side over another, Weapon or Spells, or try to mix. My personal favorite is to use magic to better supplement being in Melee. Spells like Haste, Mirror Image, Blur, Shield, etc. Spells that don't require a high spellcasting Stat to use effectively.

The only consideration would be to have a good Constitution Score so you can succeed your Concentration checks. Warcaster also helps with Concentration checks.

So you need to decide if doing big spell attacks are what you want, or being a melee fighter with some support Spells.

[A]

Originally posted by Ephemerant:

An EK is what's known as a Gish in the D&D space. That basically means a build that mixes combat effectiveness with weapons and spells. Examples are Bladesingers, Swords Bards, Valor (kinda) Bards, EKs, Hexblade Warlocks, Swordmage, etc.

You can choose to favor one side over another, Weapon or Spells, or try to mix. My personal favorite is to use magic to better supplement being in Melee. Spells like Haste, Mirror Image, Blur, Shield, etc. Spells that don't require a high spellcasting Stat to use effectively.

The only consideration would be to have a good Constitution Score so you can succeed your Concentration checks. Warcaster also helps with Concentration checks.

So you need to decide if doing big spell attacks are what you want, or being a melee fighter with some support Spells.

On my first ever EA run, I turned Lae'zel into an EK for support spells. I do love explosive grease, but thinking about it. An EK seems underwhelming in terms of damage compared to a battlemaster--granted you have a lot of ranged options and support spells. I just wonder how it fares later on in terms of being a damage class.

I reckon part of their combat rotation is cantrip + normal attacks then? With the ability to react to changes in combat with spells vs getting stuck in melee and duking it out like a battlemaster?

[Kyutaru]

Gishes are some of the strongest builds in D&D normally. They can self-buff and make themselves into invincible juggernauts of doom while also having weapon mastery of a fighter. Older editions relied on Tenser's Transformation and similar buffs to make them strong. But with Eldritch Knight, you'll be strong right off the bat.

While other fighters do things like battle master maneuvers to enhance a blow, Eldritch Knights will do things like cast Jump and leap 50 feet into battle at the top of a cliff to kill the archers there. The utility is strong with this one and they play like the Jedi of D&D.

[A]

Originally posted by Kyutaru:

Gishes are some of the strongest builds in D&D normally. They can self-buff and make themselves into invincible juggernauts of doom while also having weapon mastery of a fighter. Older editions relied on Tenser's Transformation and similar buffs to make them strong. But with Eldritch Knight, you'll be strong right off the bat.

While other fighters do things like battle master maneuvers to enhance a blow, Eldritch Knights will do things like cast Jump and leap 50 feet into battle at the top of a cliff to kill the archers there. The utility is strong with this one and they play like the Jedi of D&D.

isn't that something a githyanki can do? The jumping part? But if you were to build an EK, it would be 15 str, 14 con, 15 int then ASI to str + int?

[GrandMajora]

It used to be a prestige class for arcane spell casters.

Now it's a subclass for Fighters.

If I'm going for melee build, I always take Shocking Grasp, in case I need to prevent the enemy from using reactions against another party member.

However, I am now considering how much synergy an Eldritch Knight could have with their magic and a focus in archery?

[Jinkaru]

Saving throws are a factor as well. Especially if you want to get up close and personal with creatures that can do psionic attacks.

[Jekko]

imo best build would be 8 eldritch knight 4 abjuration. Keep int at 14 and don't dump it since it's more important to have those helmets that give you immunity to critical hits

[A]

Originally posted by Jekko:

imo best build would be 8 eldritch knight 4 abjuration. Keep int at 14 and don't dump it since it's more important to have those helmets that give you immunity to critical hits

What's the expectation for the character here? Self-buffing frontliner with magical options for utility? I'm not familiar with abjuration spells lol.

[Jekko]

8 eldritch knight gives you 3 feats so you can max strength and get polearm master and allows you to cast a spell plus 1 attack. Abjuration gives you a self buff that adds temporary hit points every time you use an abjuration spell, mainly shield and counterspell. Other useful spells protection from evil, bladeward, blur, misty step, haste. Build has lower damage compared to a pure champion but massive survivability