D&D 5E Bladesingers And The “Average” Game

[DND_Reborn]

Bladesingers where notoriously overpowered in 2e.

LOL wouldn't go that far. They had their upsides and downsides, like everything else.

 

[TarionzCousin]

I played a bladesinger in Out of the Abyss, mostly melee with focus on control. So that's what I voted.

But it appears I am the only one and atypical.

Being only able to use Bladesong twice before resting limited the number of times my character would wade into melee. Our group had a halfling paladin, so my front line combat skills weren't always necessary to keep the monsters away from our squishy ranger and bard.

 

[Zardnaar]

The 3 spells that basically enable the bladesinger to melee.

1. Flaming Sphere
2. Tenders Transformation
3. Shadow Blade or whatever it's called in Xanathars (lvl2)

Otherwise just use it as a dancing wizard.

Low level rapier, flaming sphere.

Cast fs use it to bump
Additional rounds raper cast gfb

Damage
1d8+ Dex plus int bonus
Plus 2d6 bumping with flaming sphere
Plus 2d6 if they're beside it.

If they're immune to fire go with shadow Blade.

 

[clearstream]

The 3 spells that basically enable the bladesinger to melee.

1. Flaming Sphere
2. Tenders Transformation
3. Shadow Blade or whatever it's called in Xanathars (lvl2)

Otherwise just use it as a dancing wizard.

Low level rapier, flaming sphere.

Cast fs use it to bump
Additional rounds raper cast gfb

Damage
1d8+ Dex plus int bonus
Plus 2d6 bumping with flaming sphere
Plus 2d6 if they're beside it.

If they're immune to fire go with shadow Blade.

Another approach is Blur or Greater Invisibility, with Shield available. Imposing disadvantage solves the problem of the 1:20 critical (becomes 1:400) and although the 'singer is burning a slot and using their concentration, over the adventuring day their party gets ahead. Which - of course - means that it matters how your table plays rests. For groups using one-encounter adventuring days (or close to that) then it would be better to use some other strategy.

I think the damage-dealing is only really important in tier-1. After that you're a full wizard... who can also tank amazingly efficiently as needed.

 

[Eric V]

The bladesinger in a high-level game I played in was basically a defensive wizard who sometimes used his rapier if the enemies managed to engage him...which wasn't often.

 

[Laurefindel]

The 3 spells that basically enable the bladesinger to melee.

1. Flaming Sphere
2. Tenders Transformation
3. Shadow Blade or whatever it's called in Xanathars (lvl2)

Otherwise just use it as a dancing wizard.

Low level rapier, flaming sphere.

Cast fs use it to bump
Additional rounds raper cast gfb

Damage
1d8+ Dex plus int bonus
Plus 2d6 bumping with flaming sphere
Plus 2d6 if they're beside it.

If they're immune to fire go with shadow Blade.

Eh eh... Tender Transformation. Ironic typo/autocorrect, or witty editorial on the spell?

 

[Esker]

I'm playing one now, but levels are split pretty much evenly with rogue. Uses shadow blade, primarily, does solid damage and is hard to hit. If not multiclassing though I'd probably not use a weapon much past tier 1. But then, I might just pick a different subclass (War Magic gives an AC and concentration buff too, as well as initiative, which is great for a control-focused wizard. But extra attack is a better 6th level feature, even if only used occasionally, than power surge, which is really bad)

 

[generic]

I've never seen one played.

 

[Ancalagon]

@Fradak plays one in a pbp game - a rogue (arcane trickster) 3/ bladesigner 5. Plays as a magic heavy rogue out of combat, high mobility skirmisher in combat. He runs around and disrupts things as much as possible, rather effectively. The party is a bit strange because our 2 main tank either dropped or didn't materialize - the main "tank" right now is another gish, my fighter/warlock.

 

[Charlaquin]

I’ve only seen one in play, and it was a melee-focused AC tank. Between his Bladesinging, Blur, and Shield, he was basically only ever hit by critical hits. Of course, with his d6 hit die, he couldn’t really take a crit. I feel like he would have done well to pick up the Lucky Feat.