UngeheuerLich
Legend
Shield is literally on the hexblade spell list. The first entry.
D&D 5E Multi-Multi-classing
Shield is literally on the hexblade spell list. The first entry.
UngeheuerLich
Legend
Maybe try it for yourself. Multiclassing is not for power. It is for versality.
Blue
Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal
Yeah, I often find that few encounters per day hides many sins of multiclassed characters. Be it few spell slots, or something like having 3 rages and being able to count on rage in every combat.
Hexblade and Warlock 2-3 are the most multiclass friendly dips to take. CHR to a weapon, Shield spell, EB with invocations, etc.
Paladin 2-3 is also one, for smites and such. And Rogue or Bard 2 for skill monkey plus other bonuses. (Cleric 1 is also a great dip for proficiencies and spells like Bless.)
This speaks to taking the right classes that have great dips, not to triple-multiclassing in general. You built well - this is a high end triple classed character. Miss out on good dips (and play a good number of encounters per day as mentioned up top) and triple multiclassing shows it's weaknesses until your character level is in the teens.
Also, to delve deeper:
1. What class(es) had you picked at level 5? It's the lower levels where multiclassing really leaves characters behind other characters, missing out on ASI and the level 5 power bump. Was it all 5 levels of Paladin, or perhaps Warlock 2-3 and an EB focus while everything else came together?
2. Did you roll ability scores and do well? Because for a MAD character (wanting DEX, CHR, and decent CON), at 11th level you only have a single ASI really should hurt at this point.
EzekielRaiden
Follower of the Way
The poster explicitly said it was giving them the power to be as good as or better than everyone else.
UngeheuerLich
Legend
You probably missed the part where he said "all-around" and where he says he can't outdamage a barbarian.
First, Barbarian doesn't get any damage features worth mentioning after level 5.
I'm very surprised you aren't Paladin 6; cha to all saves in a 10' aura is crazy good. With Hexadin, you can even attack with Charisma, so it can be your high stat.
After you have Warlock 3/Paladin 6, you can have fun with extra stuff. Usually you'd want to go for spell slots, however, to fuel your smites better, or a more reliable source of advantage.
If you are an elf or half elf, then getting advantage plus a 19-20 crit range is very fun with that build; 27% crit rate per swing means you can deliver almost all of your smites on crits.
Rogue 3 is adding a bit of mobility to the build, but not much damage I suspect. I'd have gone AT for the +1 spell casting level (well, I'd first go Paladin 6 for cha-to-saves).
But those are just tweaks.
EzekielRaiden
Follower of the Way
Yeah, generally agreed. Hexblade 3/Paladin 8 would likely have been a more potent combo overall with minimal to zero loss of flexibility. I'm not really sure those Rogue levels are doing very much other than sneaky skills...which there are much less expensive methods to acquire (like...spending the feat you get at Paladin 4.) If you've a generous DM who lets you take a feat at first level, you could even do Con 16/Cha 15 and grab Elven Accuracy. The vast majority of Rogue skill benefits are front-loaded or massively back-loaded. Expertise in two skills (or one skill + Thieves' Tools) is actually quite a bit for a single-level dip, but 2nd level is literally just Cunning Action which is not worth a level in and of itself, and 3rd is subclass and Steady Aim.
I derped and forgot that they specified Swashbuckler. Fancy Footwork isn't bad per se, but isn't particularly great either; the real draw is the +Cha to Initiative, which makes the character very nearly SAD: Hexblade gives +Cha to attack, Swashbuckler gives +Cha to Initiative, and Paladin 6 (when it happens) will give +Cha to saves. Long as you have the Strength to wear heavy armor and acceptable Constitution for HP, this character will only care about Charisma going forward--which is still a bit of a bitter pill to swallow given the one ASI they've gotten thus far, but it's not the worst thing. Getting Warlock 4 (since Rogue 4 gives nothing but an ASI, while Warlock 4 gives that and a cantrip and another spell known) would finally bump that Cha up to 20...and you'd only be a level 13 character!
It's not the worst combo in the world. Rogue 1 is a great dip, Warlock 3 is a great dip, Paladin is a great class for multiclassing with Cha-based casters. Swashbuckler partially compensates for the otherwise-disappointing benefits of Rogue 2 and 3. I still think the poster above is in a situation where other factors are the major contributor (frankly, it sounds like their DM is, likely unintentionally, throwing softballs and shocked by the results; this isn't hard in 5e, because the line between "not actually giving the players a challenge" and "overwhelming the players" is all too often treacherously thin.)
And then went on to list how they're a better tank than anyone else in the party, doing excellent healing on par with or better than a dedicated healer, and dishing out Big Dong Damage novas sufficient to make the DM's eyes pop. Power is very clearly one of the goals here.
the Jester
Legend
I play a cleric/fighter/magic-user in a friend's campaign. I'm currently 3/1/3, so if I was single classed I would have 4th level spells. However, instead, I have a character who always has a reaction for enemy attacks, who may be limited to 2nd level spells but who can maximize the damage of my chromatic orb or shatter, and who has a bunch of bonus action options, allowing me to have really good action economy.
I have traded 4th level spells, or a fighter subclass features, for a very wide and versatile set of options (some custom/homebrewed) that let me focus on lightning, thunder, and action economy optimization. I'm a fairly tactical and analytical player, so having lots of options pays off for me. I am a good judge of when to e.g attack an enemy's AC vs. when to cast a spell against a given stat, I have a lot of ally-aiding things going on, and I am good at team work.
I definitely don't feel underpowered; comparing myself to the party's other level 7 members, I feel like I come in less specialized, but very good at what I do.
Every time I level up, I have a major debate over what class to take. Next time- coming probably after next session- I am leaning toward wizard, but I don't know... Action Surge is so amazing, I have to take fighter 2 at some point.
For the record, I am a storm priest/divination wizard, and I haven't decided what fighter subclass to eventually take.
UngeheuerLich
Legend
I read it different. Versality is power. Having the ability to nova once in a while is power.
Sustained damage is a different kind of power, which is porably the barbarian and the pure paladin´s expertise.
Warlock Hexblade (including the shield spell you seemed to be unaware of) is undoubtedly a very strong multiclass option combined with paladin, especially if you interpret the multiclass rules that you can power smites with warlock spells, which is not cristal clear, as multiclass rules only allow cross casting of spells between spellcasting and pact magic, and I tend to say, it was not designed that way (the first printing of the PHB explicitel spelled out paladin slots for smiting).
Similar Threads
