D&D 5E Best Non-GWM, Non-SS, Non-PM, Non-CE Damagers

[Caliban]

A warlock 1/rogue 2 can do decently.

Hit with booming blade and disengage.
2d8+2d6+3 = 19 *0.5 = 9.5 DPR. (move)
1d8+2d6+3 = 14.5 *0.5 = 7.25 (don't move)

In fact, it's probably the highest damage possible at level 3.

It increases at level 5 to
4d8+2d6+3 = 28 * 0.5 = 14 (moves)
2d8+2d6+3 = 19 * 0.5 = 9.5 (don't move)

Which isn't too much behind a 2-handed fighter. (at 6, with 20 Str).
4d6+8 = 22 * .6 = 13.2 (+ action surge, precision strike).

Then it really takes off at level 9.
It also comes with the other walock goodies. Including 5 invocations (at-will disguise self). Though I'm really torn between chain (invisible familiar fits so well with invisible master) and tome...

You don't even need to be a warlock.

Variant Human lvl 3 Rogue Swashbuckler - bonus feat is Magic Initiate (Warlock) - Booming Blade as one of your cantrips, plus Hex as your 1st level spell.

1d8+2d6 (sneak)+1d6(Hex) (doesn't move)
1d8+2d6 (sneak)+1d6 (Hex) +1d8 thunder (moves).

As you level up you increase both sneak attack and cantrip damage.

Although in the long run, taking Magic Initate (Wizard) and going Booming Blade and Find Familiar may net you more damage, simply because an owl can give you advantage on your one attack a round, making your attacks land more often.

 

[Greg Benage]

A warlock 1/rogue 2 can do decently.

Hit with booming blade and disengage.
2d8+2d6+3 = 19 *0.5 = 9.5 DPR. (move)
1d8+2d6+3 = 14.5 *0.5 = 7.25 (don't move)

In fact, it's probably the highest damage possible at level 3.

I don't follow this. The rogue with an owl and booming blade does more. Compared to the rogue, you're losing advantage and replacing 1d6 sneak attack with 1d6 hex that eats bonus actions, depends on concentration, and can only be cast 1/short rest (albeit with the potential for multiple fights per casting). It gets cool things later, but warlock 1 doesn't seem to be doing much here, unless I'm missing something.

 

[Mistwell]

You don't even need to be a warlock.

Variant Human lvl 3 Rogue Swashbuckler - bonus feat is Magic Initiate (Warlock) - Booming Blade as one of your cantrips, plus Hex as your 1st level spell.

1d8+2d6 (sneak)+1d6(Hex) (doesn't move)
1d8+2d6 (sneak)+1d6 (Hex) +1d8 thunder (moves).

As you level up you increase both sneak attack and cantrip damage.

Although in the long run, taking Magic Initate (Wizard) and going Booming Blade and Find Familiar may net you more damage, simply because an owl can give you advantage on your one attack a round, making your attacks land more often.

Hex only lasts an hour.

I don't follow this. The rogue with an owl and booming blade does more. Compared to the rogue, you're losing advantage and replacing 1d6 sneak attack with 1d6 hex that eats bonus actions, depends on concentration, and can only be cast 1/short rest (albeit with the potential for multiple fights per casting). It gets cool things later, but warlock 1 doesn't seem to be doing much here, unless I'm missing something.

You don't get your first level spell back with magic initiate after a short rest. It's after a long rest. So once a day, for one hour, if your concentration isn't broken during that hour. Find Familiar is a better choice.

 

[Caliban]

Hex only lasts an hour.

Yes...and?

 

[Mistwell]

Yes...and?

So once a day you get a single hour long concentration spell? Not a good strategy to build around. [Or are you advocating Warlock 1, not magic initiate? If so nevermind then]

 

[Caliban]

So once a day you get a single hour long concentration spell? Not a good strategy to build around.

A) that would be a tactic, not a strategy.

B) Why on earth do you think I'm building around Hex? The whole point is Booming Blade+Swasbuckler. ie. Hit them and move away without provoking, forcing them to chase you (and thus trigger the extra booming damage) or attack someone else. Hex is just a bonus for a big fight, or when you think you will have several fights in a row (dungeon crawl mode).

I even pointed out that in the long run, taking Find Familiar instead of Hex would net you more overall damage.

 

[Mistwell]

A) that would be a tactic, not a strategy.

If it's a build theme before you ever even have a single combat, it's a strategy not a tactic.

B) Why on earth do you think I'm building around Hex? The whole point is Booming Blade+Swasbuckler. ie. Hit them and move away without provoking, forcing them to chase you (and thus trigger the extra booming damage) or attack someone else. Hex is just a bonus for a big fight, or when you think you will have several fights in a row (dungeon crawl mode).

Because your text listed Hex with every single attack, in the analysis for how much damage you're doing at-will. It's not at-will if it's only one combat a day, or even one hour a day provided your concentration is never broken. Find Familiar gets you more for longer.

 

[Caliban]

If it's a build theme before you ever even have a single combat, it's a strategy not a tactic.



Because your text listed Hex with every single attack, in the analysis for how much damage you're doing at-will. It's not at-will if it's only one combat a day, or even one hour a day provided your concentration is never broken.

*shrug* Sorry you misunderstood what I was saying.

 

[Greg Benage]

Hex only lasts an hour.



You don't get your first level spell back with magic initiate after a short rest. It's after a long rest. So once a day, for one hour, if your concentration isn't broken during that hour. Find Familiar is a better choice.

I was responding to mellored's warlock 1/rogue 2!

 

[mellored]

Although in the long run, taking Magic Initate (Wizard) and going Booming Blade and Find Familiar may net you more damage, simply because an owl can give you advantage on your one attack a round, making your attacks land more often.

I don't follow this. The rogue with an owl and booming blade does more. Compared to the rogue, you're losing advantage and replacing 1d6 sneak attack with 1d6 hex that eats bonus actions, depends on concentration, and can only be cast 1/short rest (albeit with the potential for multiple fights per casting). It gets cool things later, but warlock 1 doesn't seem to be doing much here, unless I'm missing something.

Fair

So warlock1/rogue 2 is close to the top.


But my main point was that warlock 7/rogue 2 doesn't suck while leveling.
It can also pull off the familiar trick at warlock 3/rogue 2.