Bardadin build

[Nobby]

I've been thinking about which new build to use in my next playthrough. I wanted to check if this would be a good build or not. This will be for a custom game & not honour mode fyi. Just want to go around smashing some stuff with this next playthrough.

The goal here is to be a melee focussed smiting paladin. I think going bardadin is best suited for this build. Lockadin pact of the blade is quite tempting as well with that additional attack, but it's less smiting.

Weapon wise I'm still doubting if I should go massive 1H (like Duelist prerogative) or dual 1H (infernal rapier & crimson mischief/Bloodthirst for example). I'm planning on getting Bhaal's armor for the murder aura because I'll also be using a throw barb & a gloomstalker assassin, all doing piercing damage, which could lead to some fun synergies. Think using a massive 2H is less efficient then and it opens up another feat for me not having to take GWM.

As for feats I was thinking about going Alert & ASI or 2 ASI. Think once I get Hellrider longbow & 18 Dex there won't be many characters going before me, even without Alert.

I'm planning on using STR elixirs & the CON necklace with this char so I can focus on leveling DEX & charisma. I'll probably take the hair from aunty to go for charisma as well, so I should be able to end up with 18dex/20char or 20dex/20char (taking into account mirror) depending on which feats I go with....

Is this build viable at least or are there more area's for improvement that I can use to further optimize this build?

[PhuDizzle]

Hard to go wrong with bardadin. I assume you're gonna be in heavy armor at least so 20 dex may not be as useful if you're going to get Alert as well. If you're going with that medium armor that adds radiant orb when you do radiant damage you still wouldn't need that much dex. If you use radiant orb build the enemies have reduced attack rolls too so they'll likely miss more often.

Only your Str modifier is added to the weapon attack and the smite damage doesn't have modifiers so charisma would only be if you wanted to cast any other spells if you aren't in range to smack anyone and for dialogue.

The Deva Mace is a good 1h weapon to use with bardadin though since it has 4d8 radiant damage built in but you can only get it in act 3. https://bg3.wiki/wiki/Deva_Mace

The build I'm doing is 2 vengeance pld and 6 swords bard and 4 champion fighter (for the extra crit and 2nd feat) and it's working really well. I'm stacking crit on my gear because crits with the deva mace is pretty insane. You could go 10 bard but I believe the smites don't gain any more damage after level 4 slots. I would also recommend the savage attacker feat to make sure you do as much damage as possible especially when you land crits.

[Nobby]

Originally posted by PhuDizzle:

Hard to go wrong with bardadin. I assume you're gonna be in heavy armor at least so 20 dex may not be as useful if you're going to get Alert as well. If you're going with that medium armor that adds radiant orb when you do radiant damage you still wouldn't need that much dex. If you use radiant orb build the enemies have reduced attack rolls too so they'll likely miss more often.

Only your Str modifier is added to the weapon attack and the smite damage doesn't have modifiers so charisma would only be if you wanted to cast any other spells if you aren't in range to smack anyone and for dialogue.

The Deva Mace is a good 1h weapon to use with bardadin though since it has 4d8 radiant damage built in but you can only get it in act 3. https://bg3.wiki/wiki/Deva_Mace

The build I'm doing is 2 vengeance pld and 6 swords bard and 4 champion fighter (for the extra crit and 2nd feat) and it's working really well. I'm stacking crit on my gear because crits with the deva mace is pretty insane. You could go 10 bard but I believe the smites don't gain any more damage after level 4 slots. I would also recommend the savage attacker feat to make sure you do as much damage as possible especially when you land crits.

Thanks for the feedback. At first I'll be using heavy armor but in act 3 I'm going to be using the Bhaalist armor, which is a light armor so that's why I didn't want to play down my dex. He'll be the only character in the fight itself, so it makes sense to give it to him. I finished up an honour run doing the exact same with my Xbow bard character (got the Xbow feat for close range) and it performed extremely well. Everything melted before their turn.

Ah nice, yeah I wasn't sure which modifiers are added to smites. Spending so much on charisma seems a bit like a waste then though.... I could always go with STR and then not use the STR elixirs and use bloodlust elixirs instead. With the hair, ASI & mirror, should be able to reach 22 STR but another action so probably a better trade off for most fights with multiple enemies... Probably going to have to use the dex gloves then though to make sure I get 18 dex. Would other gloves make a huge difference you think for smiting?

The Deva mace is very interesting indeed, but I think with the Bhaalist armor combo & piercing damage it might perform better than the mace. Shame that a spiky mace doesn't do piercing damage :).

Savage attacker does seem very interesting. Might take that then combined with the ASI for STR. Fighter also seems very nice for the action surge.... Lots to think about :) cheers

[PhuDizzle]

Don't forget the potion that adds +2 Str permanently that you get at moonrise for having Astarion bite Araj Oblodra.

I'm using helldusk gloves for the extra 1d6 fire damage ttps:/bg3.wiki/wiki/Helldusk_Gloves

https://bg3.wiki/wiki/Wondrous_Gloves Are a good early option for that extra bard flourish as well.

Other than that I didn't see anything else notable in gloves except maybe Gauntlets of Hill Giant Str (Set Str to 23). The dex gloves are a good choice too.

I do remember seeing gear that is tied to smites but I can't remember what it is off the top of my head.... but it is a head piece.

[Nobby]

Originally posted by PhuDizzle:

Don't forget the potion that adds +2 Str permanently that you get at moonrise for having Astarion bite Araj Oblodra.

I'm using helldusk gloves for the extra 1d6 fire damage ttps:/bg3.wiki/wiki/Helldusk_Gloves

https://bg3.wiki/wiki/Wondrous_Gloves Are a good early option for that extra bard flourish as well.

Other than that I didn't see anything else notable in gloves except maybe Gauntlets of Hill Giant Str (Set Str to 23). The dex gloves are a good choice too.

I do remember seeing gear that is tied to smites but I can't remember what it is off the top of my head.... but it is a head piece.

Yeah I think you mean the helmet or the circlet of arcane acuity. Was planning to use either of those items. Probably the helmet

Ah yeah that's right forgot about the potion of STR. Think I'll go with the dex gloves then and STR focus for ability scores. Compared to the cloud giant potion I just miss out on 1 STR ability bonus then, so not too bad. And I can get enough Char then for convos as well