D&D (2024) Avenger of The Silver Flame build

[doctorbadwolf]

Okay so o have a character concept that is a changeling scribe and clergy of the Silver Flame.

They’re also a divine assassin of sorts, blessed by the Flame to kill supernatural evils. Right now the mechanical concept is a Paladin/Warlock, no armor, dual wielding daggers because they’re easy to hide, but also very good with a longbow, combining Paladin weapon mastery and fighting style and smite with Blade Warlock goodies and green flame blade and true strike. They do the offhand attack as part of the action, and they can replace an attack with GFB or TS. On a dual wielder Divine Favor becomes very good, so she will be using that a lot, and only using smite when she crits.

Warlock - Armor of Shadows, Pact of the Blade, Pact of The Tome, Archfey patron with heavy reflavoring. (Celestial is too much about healing tbh and Archfey gives a lot of mobility and utility)

Paladin - Oath of Vengeance. Obviously.

So, any thoughts on this build? Anyone ever play a silver flame ‘assassin’? If so, what did it look like?

 

[mellored]

Pact of the Blade only affects 1 weapon, not 2.
I don't see how your replacing an attack with GFB. Valor Bard, Eldritch Knight, and Bladesinger can do that, but it takes more than a dip.

Consider Dance Bard 3, which will give you expertise for stealth and Dex+Cha for AC. Extra spell slots for smite never hurts.

Dragon Sorcerer also gets Dex+Cha and can start with Mage Armor.

 

[Zardnaar]

Dex based Avenger paladin with appropriate back ground is how I would do it. Single level of rogue for skills optional.

Paladin or fighter 1 celestial Warlock 6+ is another option. Only 1 attack but you can stack triple your charisma modifier onto it.

You're gonna have some dead levels and true strikes meh later on without EK, Valor Bard or shillagh/Agonizing blast/celestial Warlock.

Dual Wielding Paladins good with divine favor.

No armor you're going to need mage armor.

Basically don't bother with cantrips later on once you get two attacks. Or build around the cantrip.

 

[kapars]

You want War Cleric + Rogue. Bonus Action sneak attack on your turn and then hold action to sneak attack off turn.

 

[Kurotowa]

Okay, so you very obviously have a clear character image in mind. That character image is also clearly not based on D&D mechanics, and thus fits them very poorly. So my advice, if you're dead set on bringing this character idea to life, is to talk to the DM about a custom tailored homebrew solution. That will work far better than a clumsy multiclass with conflicting features and super MAD priorities.

As a starting base, might I suggest the Noble Genie Paladin from the recent Forgotten Realms Subclasses UA. It's a subclass that's purpose built for a Dex based Paladin, and takes to Light armor and Dual Wielding very well. Tweak the elemental powers to be all fire based, and you're not too far off.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Pact of the Blade only affects 1 weapon, not 2.

I'm aware?

I don't see how your replacing an attack with GFB. Valor Bard, Eldritch Knight, and Bladesinger can do that, but it takes more than a dip.

The second attack of fighting with two light weapons doesn't require the attack action, it just requires attacking with your action, and thus works with attacking with GFB.

You want War Cleric + Rogue. Bonus Action sneak attack on your turn and then hold action to sneak attack off turn.

I don't want that, actually.

Okay, so you very obviously have a clear character image in mind. That character image is also clearly not based on D&D mechanics, and thus fits them very poorly. So my advice, if you're dead set on bringing this character idea to life, is to talk to the DM about a custom tailored homebrew solution. That will work far better than a clumsy multiclass with conflicting features and super MAD priorities.

As a starting base, might I suggest the Noble Genie Paladin from the recent Forgotten Realms Subclasses UA. It's a subclass that's purpose built for a Dex based Paladin, and takes to Light armor and Dual Wielding very well. Tweak the elemental powers to be all fire based, and you're not too far off.

There are like 17 different ways to make this character in dnd 5e. This is the one I'm currently working on, but many different combinations of rogue, ranger, paladin, warlock, sorcerer, or monk, could easily do it too.


ANyway, guys, I'm not really interested in completely different builds. Thank you for the thoughts though.

 

[mellored]

I'm aware?

Ok. Second attack can use Dex.

The second attack of fighting with two light weapons doesn't require the attack action, it just requires attacking with your action, and thus works with attacking with GFB.

Per the free rules...

Light
When you take the Attack action on your turn and attack with a Light weapon, you can make one extra attack as a Bonus Action later on the same turn.

 

[Kurotowa]

There are like 17 different ways to make this character in dnd 5e. This is the one I'm currently working on, but many different combinations of rogue, ranger, paladin, warlock, sorcerer, or monk, could easily do it too.

Alright, let me rephrase. The build you proposed is making a great many choices for flavor at the direct expense of power. Going double daggers instead of having a Vex main hand weapon. Going with no armor for aesthetic reasons, when the usual goal of a Paladin/Warlock multiclass is to take Heavy armor and focus on Cha. And more.

While I'm all for working within the constraints of a character concept, I never endorse characters that cripple their own effectiveness in the name of flavor. Better to either build around what the rules offer, or to negotiate a homebrew that enables the specific character fantasy desired. Coming to the table with a significantly understrength character is just a recipe for frustration and finger pointing.

Or at least, that's my philosophy. You do you.

 

[Zardnaar]

Alright, let me rephrase. The build you proposed is making a great many choices for flavor at the direct expense of power. Going double daggers instead of having a Vex main hand weapon. Going with no armor for aesthetic reasons, when the usual goal of a Paladin/Warlock multiclass is to take Heavy armor and focus on Cha. And more.

While I'm all for working within the constraints of a character concept, I never endorse characters that cripple their own effectiveness in the name of flavor. Better to either build around what the rules offer, or to negotiate a homebrew that enables the specific character fantasy desired. Coming to the table with a significantly understrength character is just a recipe for frustration and finger pointing.

Or at least, that's my philosophy. You do you.

Rules can kinda do it.

Dex based, magic initate (wizard) for mage armor. Probably start as a Rogue for skills.

Another option custom background 2014. This gives you floating ability scores pick whatever you want. Mage armor origin feat wizard. True Strike as well.

Warlock 2 invocations. Secrets of the first ones gives you skilled feat for 3 more skills. Dual Wielding doesn't play nice with true strike.

OP probably trying to many things specifically dual wielding and casting cantrips. You'll have to choose what to focus on or suck.

 

[Kurotowa]

Rules can kinda do it.

Most of the build is technically possible. Not the bit about combining a melee cantrip with TWF, as has been pointed out, but the rest is a legal build. That doesn't make it a good idea.

Like, I love off-brand and niche builds. But that's why I love unusual subclasses or creative feature combinations that enable those off-brand type characters. Because trying to do it without the features to back it up is just deliberately crippling yourself. And that's less cool in a group activity like D&D than it is in a single player RPG.