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General Tabletop Discussion
Character Builds & Optimization
Best gish (PHB only)
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<blockquote data-quote="Esker" data-source="post: 7588078" data-attributes="member: 6966824"><p>Here is an option a bit out of left field, insofar as it's not what people usually mean by "gish". Because you're asking for a low level range I'm prioritizing being a martial/caster hybrid right from level 1.</p><p></p><p>Variant Human Nature Cleric with War Caster as their 1st level feat</p><p></p><p>STR 13+1</p><p>DEX 12</p><p>CON 14</p><p>INT 8</p><p>WIS 15+1</p><p>CHA 10</p><p></p><p>There are most definitely builds that do more damage than this. And there are builds that are tankier than this. But let's look at what you get.</p><p></p><p>* You're a full caster</p><p>* You can mix up front line-ness and spells right from level 1. Paladins, eldritch knights, arcane tricksters don't get spells until later, and valor bards are just fragile casters for levels 1 and 2.</p><p>* You don't get martial weapons, but you can get shillelagh, which is strictly better than any one-handed martial weapon for a caster (and the main consideration for cleric subclass at low levels). That means at level 1 you'll have an AC of 18, you've got a 1d8+3 magic weapon with a to-hit mod as high as any martial melee character, you can Bless yourself, and you have all the war caster goodies (including the possibility of inflict wounds on an OA), plus your focus is on your shield so you have no restrictions at all on hands-full casting</p><p>* Starting at level 3, you can cast spiritual weapon, and at level 5, spirit guardians, both of which work well when you're up close</p><p>* At level 6 you have at will resistance to one source of elemental damage per round using your reaction</p><p>* At later levels you have some interesting combos like plant growth and freedom of movement over your spirit guardians</p><p>* If you play at level 8, you get to pick the damage type of your divine strike, which is helpful in avoiding enemy resistance</p><p></p><p>Anyway I make no claims that this is the "best" PHB gish for levels 1-8 by any particular definition (there's a lot of room for variation in roles even in the definition you gave). But I do think it's better at damage than the valor bard (and goes online faster), and the other gishes in the PHB aren't full casters or have to spend feats or multiclass to be comfortable up close.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Esker, post: 7588078, member: 6966824"] Here is an option a bit out of left field, insofar as it's not what people usually mean by "gish". Because you're asking for a low level range I'm prioritizing being a martial/caster hybrid right from level 1. Variant Human Nature Cleric with War Caster as their 1st level feat STR 13+1 DEX 12 CON 14 INT 8 WIS 15+1 CHA 10 There are most definitely builds that do more damage than this. And there are builds that are tankier than this. But let's look at what you get. * You're a full caster * You can mix up front line-ness and spells right from level 1. Paladins, eldritch knights, arcane tricksters don't get spells until later, and valor bards are just fragile casters for levels 1 and 2. * You don't get martial weapons, but you can get shillelagh, which is strictly better than any one-handed martial weapon for a caster (and the main consideration for cleric subclass at low levels). That means at level 1 you'll have an AC of 18, you've got a 1d8+3 magic weapon with a to-hit mod as high as any martial melee character, you can Bless yourself, and you have all the war caster goodies (including the possibility of inflict wounds on an OA), plus your focus is on your shield so you have no restrictions at all on hands-full casting * Starting at level 3, you can cast spiritual weapon, and at level 5, spirit guardians, both of which work well when you're up close * At level 6 you have at will resistance to one source of elemental damage per round using your reaction * At later levels you have some interesting combos like plant growth and freedom of movement over your spirit guardians * If you play at level 8, you get to pick the damage type of your divine strike, which is helpful in avoiding enemy resistance Anyway I make no claims that this is the "best" PHB gish for levels 1-8 by any particular definition (there's a lot of room for variation in roles even in the definition you gave). But I do think it's better at damage than the valor bard (and goes online faster), and the other gishes in the PHB aren't full casters or have to spend feats or multiclass to be comfortable up close. [/QUOTE]
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