More melee oriented build with magic options and variety

[Arthmoon]

Hello,
I would like to ask you for build with HIGH char (1st playthrough):
- mixed magic and melee but more emphasis on melee comat
- some defensive spells, control spells, mobility spells even solid offensive if it is possible.
- prefer heavy armor for fashion (but medium might be ok)
- does not have to be OP, gonna play on normal difficulty - but I would like good damage for my main character and not utilizing only the same one-click strategy over and over for high damage (spamming only smite seems to be boring...) - more options are always welcomed!
- needs to be fun and solid for most of the playthrough (dont want to wait many hours till the build comes online). Respec is ok for me.

My ideas:
- Sword bard (with dual swords or 1h/shield)- seems like it might be mixture of good damage and spells. But I am affraid meele damage is gonna be lacluster compared to different martial classes. What do you think? Any idea?
- pure warlock with blade (or multiclass with fighter for action surge?) I might have a lot of spells from warlock list but only big limited number of spells per short rest which I am affraid of to be honest.
- Paladin 6/Sorcerer 6 = not sure how this might work. Ehm lets say I would not want to spam only smite but also to use some different sorcerer spells. Would here be a place for that? or is it mostly about maximizing smite damage with haste and buffs?
- Any other FUN ideas are most than welcomed!

[Reaver79]

Last game i had Minthara do a Pal6/Cleric6 build.
Board and mace duelist build.
Running around with the (cant recall it's name, lev 3 spell aoe aura either necrotic or radiant dmg) as a concentration spell, the illuminated armour for doing radiant orb wave when dealing radiant dmg, mace also dealing radiant dmg = loads of debuffing and a decent ammount of dmg output.
Nothing game breaking, but quite fun.

[PK_Thunder]

That sounds like a Paladin/Warlock combo to me.

Oath breaker 7 Warlock 5. You want Aura of Hate so you can double dip charisma for damage. I'd level this with Paladin 3 then Warlock 2, then however you'd like from there.

I personally like to use the Darkness and Devil Sight combo for effectively permanent advantage.

Any fighting style works here. Two hander with the feat lets you reroll damage dice, dual wield gives more attacks for charisma stacking, and shield is very tanky.

[Reaver79]

There's a rapier where you can add your caster stat to dmg or something like that yet again, might be worth it for that combo.

[deadsanta]

Originally posted by Reaver79:

There's a rapier where you can add your caster stat to dmg or something like that yet again, might be worth it for that combo.

That's like 3 missions before the finale, not worth building a whole char around, but a shield/rapier is a great mix of damage and tankiness, esp with a +1 shield from act 2 and the AC boost from cleric concentration spell.

[Kernest]

Originally posted by Reaver79:

There's a rapier where you can add your caster stat to dmg or something like that yet again, might be worth it for that combo.

Harmonic Dueller?

Unfortunately you only get it in Act 3, and it's a +1 enchantment otherwise, so you're going to miss +1 or +2 to hit chance using that weapon, for +3 damage over a +3 enchantment weapon (assuming 20 CHA)

[Argonaut]

Originally posted by Reaver79:

Last game i had Minthara do a Pal6/Cleric6 build.
Board and mace duelist build.
Running around with the (cant recall it's name, lev 3 spell aoe aura either necrotic or radiant dmg) as a concentration spell, the illuminated armour for doing radiant orb wave when dealing radiant dmg, mace also dealing radiant dmg = loads of debuffing and a decent ammount of dmg output.
Nothing game breaking, but quite fun.

Radiant orb stacking is probably the most OP mechanic in the game at the moment and the easiest way to make tactician difficulty completely meaningless. It is extremely gamebreaking as you can debuff enemies with anything from -10 to -20 to attack rolls in a single round while dealing a large amount of radiant damage from a character that otherwise just stacks AC and you don't need anything other than a level 3 divine spell to do it.

Originally posted by Arthmoon:

Hello,
I would like to ask you for build with HIGH char (1st playthrough):
- mixed magic and melee but more emphasis on melee comat
- some defensive spells, control spells, mobility spells even solid offensive if it is possible.
- prefer heavy armor for fashion (but medium might be ok)
- does not have to be OP, gonna play on normal difficulty - but I would like good damage for my main character and not utilizing only the same one-click strategy over and over for high damage (spamming only smite seems to be boring...) - more options are always welcomed!
- needs to be fun and solid for most of the playthrough (dont want to wait many hours till the build comes online). Respec is ok for me.

I want you to keep in mind that unless otherwise specified I'm talking about the strength of classes for normal diffculty.

Do yourself a favor and play a 6/6 sorcadin. Paladin of devotion 6 / draconic sorcerer 6. You get the best of both words and your melee and spellcasting compliment each other with almost perfectly efficiency and cover the weaknesses of each other. You will have multi target damage spells and AoE and access to the best buffs and debuffs in the game(sanctuary / bless / shield for early game and haste/slow/hold person for late game). I'd easily put it as one of the strongest and most fun builds to play.

My ideas:
- Sword bard (with dual swords or 1h/shield)- seems like it might be mixture of good damage and spells. But I am affraid meele damage is gonna be lacluster compared to different martial classes. What do you think? Any idea?

For melee damage pretty much all gish classes want to use two handed weapons for raw damage especially since most gish take advantage of paladin levels for smites. Sword and board is pretty mediocre outside of tactician difficulty where you need to stack AC. You would be better of dual wielding although you will need to dip at least 1 level for two weapon fighting and the game lacks strong one handed weapons with good raw damage bonuses for the main hand and good offhand weapons that apply debuffs.

- pure warlock with blade (or multiclass with fighter for action surge?) I might have a lot of spells from warlock list but only big limited number of spells per short rest which I am affraid of to be honest.

Two levels of fighter for action surge and great weapon fighting is beautiful even on a straight 10 pact lock. You will however be inferior to an eldritch blast lock and you will underperform in melee compared to dipping 2 levels into paladin or going straight 12 levels into fighter. Warlocks also have extremely limited spellcasting slots even thought they recharge on short rests so sooner or later you will find lock10/fighter2 lackluster as you either run out of spells too fast to keep up or you just get outperformed by straight martial classes in melee.

- Paladin 6/Sorcerer 6 = not sure how this might work. Ehm lets say I would not want to spam only smite but also to use some different sorcerer spells. Would here be a place for that? or is it mostly about maximizing smite damage with haste and buffs?
- Any other FUN ideas are most than welcomed!

This is known as a sorcadin and it has been one of the most fun and strongest fighter/mage builds since it first became possible. You get multiple attacks and more than enough spell slots as well as using charisma + strength for your melee weapons and charisma added onto your spell casting. Generally with this combo you will go draconic sorcerer since it gives you a lot of things a melee fighter wants(free AC / resistance to an element) and the divine spells you get compliment the arcane spells you get extremely strong(cast hold person on 2 targets and then sanctuary on yourself and its impossible to break your concentration until you are ready to take free crits on those targets).

Don't flinch from concepts because they sound like they are optimized. I promise you that even on difficulty if you use a half baked multiclass you will start to lag behind straight classes and your main character will feel weak and less effective. Multi classing efficiently does give you a big power creep but it's the nature of the game.

[Consoomer]

I hear Paladin 7 / Blade Warlock 5 still gets 2 extra attacks. And can dump STR for CHA. The Darkness/Devil's Sight combo is a thing too, as someone mentioned above.

[Arthmoon]

as far as sorcadin is concerned. When the build will come "online"? And what would be the best levelling route?

[Argonaut]

Originally posted by Arthmoon:

as far as sorcadin is concerned. When the build will come "online"? And what would be the best levelling route?

The build comes online at level 2 of paladin when you get smites and divine spellcasting.
LvL 4 Paladin - First feat
Lvl 5 Paladin - Extra attack
Lvl 1 Sorcerer - Draconic bloodline(free AC + free resistance to a damage type)
Lvl 2 Sorcerer - Metamagic
Lvl 4 Sorcerer - Feat + Metamagic + Level 2 spells
Lvl 6 Sorcerer - Charisma added onto spells of your draconic element + metamagic + level 3 spells(strongest buffs and debuffs in the game)

At level 11 you will peak the strength of the build and level 12 just gives you additional defenses.

If you want faster access to spells go paladin 2 / Warlock 3 but it will cripple your spell casting and smiting in the long run.

[talemore]

Bardbarian

[The1Kobra]

I tried Paladin/Sorcerer, it was pretty good but not the greatest I think. You do have some nice options like twinned haste but ultimately I think other combos turn out better.

2/10 Paladin/Bard (College of Swords) is probably what you're looking for. Almost full casting and smites, and full proficiencies. Can also cover the necessary skill proficiencies, and Jack of all trades means you can cover a lot of skills too. Personally I'd go DEX based here over STR based, but you can make it work with STR based. Very flexible.

7/5 Paladin/Warlock does get 3 APR so it's a good combo for sure. Decent number of options from both Paladin and Warlock spellslots. CHA from weapon bond for pact of the blade means this build should be CHA based. Could go 5/7 instead but I think after 5 Warlock you get more out of the additional paladin levels, especially those auras.

Finally, on the divine magic side, 5/7 Ranger/Cleric(Life or Light Domain) isn't bad. Bit of extra damage, lots of skills, and improved warding flare is really nice from Light domain. Life domain has good healing. Probably not the best combo but it should be solid enough.
Could also go War Domain for the war priest charges, that gets 3 APR for as long as you have war priest charges.

[Argonaut]

Originally posted by The1Kobra:

I tried Paladin/Sorcerer, it was pretty good but not the greatest I think. You do have some nice options like twinned haste but ultimately I think other combos turn out better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD4cP_NL13M&t=4s

[kakita tatsumaru]

Originally posted by Arthmoon:

Hello,
I would like to ask you for build with HIGH char (1st playthrough):
- mixed magic and melee but more emphasis on melee comat
- some defensive spells, control spells, mobility spells even solid offensive if it is possible.
- prefer heavy armor for fashion (but medium might be ok)
- does not have to be OP, gonna play on normal difficulty - but I would like good damage for my main character and not utilizing only the same one-click strategy over and over for high damage (spamming only smite seems to be boring...) - more options are always welcomed!
- needs to be fun and solid for most of the playthrough (dont want to wait many hours till the build comes online). Respec is ok for me.

My ideas:
- Sword bard (with dual swords or 1h/shield)- seems like it might be mixture of good damage and spells. But I am affraid meele damage is gonna be lacluster compared to different martial classes. What do you think? Any idea?
- pure warlock with blade (or multiclass with fighter for action surge?) I might have a lot of spells from warlock list but only big limited number of spells per short rest which I am affraid of to be honest.
- Paladin 6/Sorcerer 6 = not sure how this might work. Ehm lets say I would not want to spam only smite but also to use some different sorcerer spells. Would here be a place for that? or is it mostly about maximizing smite damage with haste and buffs?
- Any other FUN ideas are most than welcomed!

Paladin 1
Warlock sword pact 5
Paladin 4
Warrior 2 (respec to put warrior first if you want better concentration)

[novafounder]

Try Bardlock with 1 level of cleric war domain.
8 levels of bard, 3 levels of warlock w pact of the blade, and 1 cleric.
Start with 6 levels of bard, grab college of swords and dueling for the +2 damage. Unless you pick human as race you'd need shield proficiency feat or 1 level of cleric war domain which imo is better. You'll get from the subclass at any level you take it heavy armor + shield proficiency.
With the bardic inspiration flourish + heavy armor + shield(+2 AC, there are some shields w a +3) you'll have 25+ AC. If you add the equipment boots, cloak, and ring you'd have around 29 AC making you a frontline tank. If you add shield of faith(cleric con spell) you can add +2 from Shadowheart or any cleric or from the level 1 war domain you take. From these 7 levels you'll be tanky and have great spells at your disposal for damage.
The 3 levels of Warlock for pact of the blade is so we can invest our feats in our Charisma and make our weapon do damage based off our Charisma. You'd have 22 if you grab the headgear that adds a +2. Also, you will have Eldritch Blast.
Cause of war domain ability, you can use your bonus action for an extra attack w a weapon being able to attack three times per turn.
Start w 6 levels of bard, then multi-class into war domain, then pick 3 levels of Warlock. The rest Bard. Once you pick the 3 levels of Warlock you'll be online.

TLDR. 8 Bard/1 Cleric War domain/3 Warlock, or 8 Bard/4Warlock but youll need to invest a feat for shield proficiency or pick human as race. You will be losing heavy armor proficiency tho. Pick the feats to increase your Charisma.
When you get Pact Of the Blade the build comes online, which depends when you want to pick that 1st level of cleric.

It's a fantastic build, I was never getting hit, and my hp was 87, never dying. High level AID spell from a cleric helps. You get access to Eldritch Blast, which hits hard, spells like Glyph of Warding, Hex, Scorching Ray, Shatter, Witch Bolt, Misty Step, and Cloud of daggers. For defensive spells you get Hold Person, Fear, Hypnotic Pattern, Plant Growth, Silence, Crown of Madness, and Blindness. Also, Mirror Image and with a ring you get in act 3, you can cast it to add even more AC after you do a melee attack. I was hitting 39-41 AC by level 10. Doing around 50-60 damage per turn. Don't forget to apply hex before you attack to add to the damage.

[JimmysTheBestCop]

Basic build

Fighter 2. Max wizard. Just upcast magic missile at everyone. Tank just fine in heavy plus shield. Any weapon you find.

If you are always long resting just cast all of your magic missiles. Like colt 45 they work every time.

More of a lulz build.