Can a Pact of the Blade Warlock multiclass anything?

[Inazuma]

More specifically any martial class, because you just pact weapon any weapon, become proficient with it and have the attack roll go with your charisma

So what's stopping you going an 8 Strength 17 Charisma Fighter/Warlock for instance?

[GrandMajora]

Lots of people seem to think Paladin / Warlock is an OP combo, because they are both Charisma based casters.

Bind your pact weapon, and nuke the enemy with SMITE!

[Inazuma]

Originally posted by GrandMajora:

Lots of people seem to think Paladin / Warlock is an OP combo, because they are both Charisma based casters.

Bind your pact weapon, and nuke the enemy with SMITE!

This is true and a go to for sure, but I can't see a reason to deny any strength based classes, maybe not Barbarian, as you can't use spells while raging

[アンジェル]

Originally posted by Inazuma:

Can a Pact of the Blade Warlock multiclass anything?
More specifically any martial class, because you just pact weapon any weapon, become proficient with it and have the attack roll go with your charisma

So what's stopping you going an 8 Strength 17 Charisma Fighter/Warlock for instance?

Nothing. That is what I also always recommend, especially since the extra attack from the pact can stack with others ( exception in Honour Mode).

[Zeel Ara]

Bards and paladins are the classics. Both combos are significantly stronger than pure warlock.

[paulxiep]

Originally posted by Inazuma:

This is true and a go to for sure, but I can't see a reason to deny any strength based classes, maybe not Barbarian, as you can't use spells while raging

Barbarian have little reason to go over level 8 in Barbarian level, so investing 3-4 levels in Warlock in a party-leader Barbarian isn't that bad a deal. In fact, I decided to have one of that.

[Mike Garrison]

If you invest 5 levels into Pact of the Blade, you can use any one weapon in the game, with your CHA proficiency. It's quite powerful.

But you do have to give up those 5 levels in some other class, so for instance you'll never reach 3 attacks per action as a fighter (playing under honor rules). And it only applies to one weapon. You can switch that weapon out of combat, but it does mean that if you want to try dual wielding you have some issues.

If you use the looser rules from other difficulties, you get your extra attack from PotB and also any extra attack you get from your other class, which is pretty damn OP.

[Thomas D.]

Yes you can Multi Class with any Melee class and yes Extra Attack will stack with Pact Blade (in non Honour Mode, in Honour Mode you can benefit from anything Pact Blade has but it won't stack with Extra Attack of Melee Classes).

Also you could go with Fighter, I am wondering what's the advantage over Paladin (Smites, Spells, Auras, some other minor stuff), Swords Bard (Blade Flourishes for example) and War Cleric (No traditional Extra Attack but it can attack an additional time on Bonus Action plus stuff like Spirit Guardians).

The main reasons to go fighter are action surge (still nice but only when you rest a lot), extra feat (don't think it's worth it) and 3 Attacks (which you basically will replace with Pactblade).

And if you want Action Surge you could go 5 Pala + 5 Pact blade + 2 Fighter (this way you would also gain that Fighter Healing Skill and another Fighting Style)

[アンジェル]

Originally posted by Thomas D.:

Yes you can Multi Class with any Melee class and yes Extra Attack will stack with Pact Blade (in non Honour Mode, in Honour Mode you can benefit from anything Pact Blade has but it won't stack with Extra Attack of Melee Classes).

Also you could go with Fighter, I am wondering what's the advantage over Paladin (Smites, Spells, Auras, some other minor stuff), Swords Bard (Blade Flourishes for example) and War Cleric (No traditional Extra Attack but it can attack an additional time on Bonus Action plus stuff like Spirit Guardians).

The main reasons to go fighter are action surge (still nice but only when you rest a lot), extra feat (don't think it's worth it) and 3 Attacks (which you basically will replace with Pactblade).

And if you want Action Surge you could go 5 Pala + 5 Pact blade + 2 Fighter (this way you would also gain that Fighter Healing Skill and another Fighting Style)

The (main) advantage has to do with the Warlock's spell slot recovery - which makes it easier for the Paladin to smite often as the Warlock's spell slots recover with short rests, unlike the Paladin's. And since parties with Warlock's benefit also from having a bard in a team a lot -thanks to the short rest spell- the Paladin/Warlock combination is quite popular as it is very easy to play.

CHA melee and Eldritch Blast for Distance/DEX weapons due to stat allocation which also allows first strikes builds, optional spells like Fireball but especially cheaper smites.

[Thomas D.]

I asked about the advantage of Fighter + Warlock over:
Paladin / Warlock or
Bard / Warlock or even
War Cleric / Warlock

Also it wasn't about what benefits the Paladin.

Btw. I played one myself and found Eldritch Blast on a Paladin less useful later on, because the Melee Attack (Silversword with some Extra Damage from gear) was superior to Eldritch Blast and you couldn't do 1-2 swings with the melee and then use Eldritch for the second-third attack (which you could still do with a bow).

But if you aren't Vengeance you usually don't get Misty Step, but with Warlock you can get it with any Oath and cast it on your Bonus Action which removes one of Paladins biggest weaknesses (Mobility). This way you can attack enemys which are standing far apart, that's especially useful when you are Oneshotting enemies 🤣

[FunkyMonkey]

Originally posted by Thomas D.:

I asked about the advantage of Fighter + Warlock over:
Paladin / Warlock or
Bard / Warlock or even
War Cleric / Warlock

Also it wasn't about what benefits the Paladin.

Btw. I played one myself and found Eldritch Blast on a Paladin less useful later on, because the Melee Attack (Silversword with some Extra Damage from gear) was superior to Eldritch Blast and you couldn't do 1-2 swings with the melee and then use Eldritch for the second-third attack (which you could still do with a bow).

But if you aren't Vengeance you usually don't get Misty Step, but with Warlock you can get it with any Oath and cast it on your Bonus Action which removes one of Paladins biggest weaknesses (Mobility). This way you can attack enemys which are standing far apart, that's especially useful when you are Oneshotting enemies 🤣

How I see the differences between these three:
Fighter / Warlock = Highest burst damage thanks to Action surge
Paladin / Warlock = Best all-around character with high saves, great damage and versatile spells
Bard / Warlock = Most versatile character and best skills of these builds

[Thomas D.]

I would argue that a Paladin with 3 Attacks (+ Smite + stuff like Hatful Aura) will have similar burst potential as a Fighter with Action Surge and will be able to do almost the same damage the round afterwards.

Also you could do 5 Paladin + 5 Warlock + 2 Fighter = 3 Attacks + Action Surge + Smites + you could maybe do something better on your Bonus Acrion. That will definitely beat the burst of any other Fighter combination.

Bar / Warlock has also the benefit that his Melee Attacks can be AOE 😁 which situationally can even be more damage than anything Paladin.

[Mike Garrison]

I am currently running a sorcerer/bard and was able to get the single most important warlock ability via Lore bard. No, not eldritch blast. Hunger of Hadar. The BEST aoe control spell in the game.

[FunkyMonkey]

Originally posted by Thomas D.:

I would argue that a Paladin with 3 Attacks (+ Smite + stuff like Hatful Aura) will have similar burst potential as a Fighter with Action Surge and will be able to do almost the same damage the round afterwards.

Also you could do 5 Paladin + 5 Warlock + 2 Fighter = 3 Attacks + Action Surge + Smites + you could maybe do something better on your Bonus Acrion. That will definitely beat the burst of any other Fighter combination.

Bar / Warlock has also the benefit that his Melee Attacks can be AOE 😁 which situationally can even be more damage than anything Paladin.

Fighter / Warlock and Paladin / Warlock may be a lot closer in terms of damage, you're right. Of these I think Paladin 6 / Warlock 6 is the strongest build. Great balance of damage, spells and survivability (heavy armor, decent HP and sky high saves).

[Mike Garrison]

Originally posted by FunkyMonkey:

Originally posted by Thomas D.:

I would argue that a Paladin with 3 Attacks (+ Smite + stuff like Hatful Aura) will have similar burst potential as a Fighter with Action Surge and will be able to do almost the same damage the round afterwards.

Also you could do 5 Paladin + 5 Warlock + 2 Fighter = 3 Attacks + Action Surge + Smites + you could maybe do something better on your Bonus Acrion. That will definitely beat the burst of any other Fighter combination.

Bar / Warlock has also the benefit that his Melee Attacks can be AOE 😁 which situationally can even be more damage than anything Paladin.

Fighter / Warlock and Paladin / Warlock may be a lot closer in terms of damage, you're right. Of these I think Paladin 6 / Warlock 6 is the strongest build. Great balance of damage, spells and survivability (heavy armor, decent HP and sky high saves).

Only heavy armor if you start as a fighter or paladin.

[FunkyMonkey]

Originally posted by Mike Garrison:

Originally posted by FunkyMonkey:

Fighter / Warlock and Paladin / Warlock may be a lot closer in terms of damage, you're right. Of these I think Paladin 6 / Warlock 6 is the strongest build. Great balance of damage, spells and survivability (heavy armor, decent HP and sky high saves).

Only heavy armor if you start as a fighter or paladin.

That's true and honestly there is enough good medium armor in the game that it isn't as crucial for survivability, honestly.