D&D 5E (2024) Building A Mage Hunter Squad of Bad Guys

[Reynard]

ETA: Just to be clear, I am looking for NPC/monster statblocks and additional abilities. I do not have the time or inclination to create complete PC types.

In my current 5E 2024 campaign, the BBEG has wrested control of the mage community (think Palpatine vs Jedi) and has mage hunting enforcers searching for "illegal" mages.

A couple sessions ago, the PCs had some downtime and the party wizard purchased some scrolls to add to his spellbook. One of the complications that came up from doing so was that the wizard drew the attention of the mage hunters. The PCs have been warned by an ally, and they want to turn the tables on the hunters. That is all awesome and fun.

What I need is a good build for a party of mage hunting NPCs. I am looking for suggestions on both what the composition and size of the overall mage hunting party should be, and what the lead inspector should look like, mechanically.

The party is 4th level but is well equipped and generally hit way above their weight class, and there are 6 of them. The party has a reasonably good plan for drawing the hunters out and ambushing them (they want to capture the lead inspector in order to learn where other "rebel" wizards are being held).

So what would you use? How many fighter types vs sneaks vs casters? What does the lead inspector look like (diviner, maybe?)?

Feel free to ask clarifying questions and such.

 

[mellored]

Beserker Barbarian with Mage Slayer. The muscle. When you need to disrupt concentration.
Ancient Paladin, Detect Magic. The charmer. Talks to towns folk and attempts to sus out targets. Then immobilize them.
Beastmaster Ranger, the Tracker. In case they try and run.
Thief Rogue, expertise in Arcana, will try and steal spell books and other such stuff.

 

[bedir than]

If you have Strixhaven, look into the Oriq and Mage Hunter (it's a monstrosity)

An Eldritch Knight hasn't been mentioned yet, but building one around Shield, Dispel Magic and Counterspell seems vital.
I'd like a Clockwork Sorc, as Restore Balance and Bastion of Law (lev 6) can limit magic's impact

and I'll pitch my anti-magic Rogue subclass, the Society of Veil and Shadows, which hides people from magic.

 

[Reynard]

Beserker Barbarian with Mage Slayer. The muscle. When you need to disrupt concentration.
Ancient Paladin, Detect Magic. The charmer. Talks to towns folk and attempts to sus out targets. Then immobilize them.
Beastmaster Ranger, the Tracker. In case they try and run.
Thief Rogue, expertise in Arcana, will try and steal spell books and other such stuff.

I should have specified: I want to use NPC/monster stats. I am happy to modify them, thought, including using pertinent class features. But I am not going to build whole PCs.

 

[mellored]

I should have specified: I want to use NPC/monster stats. I am happy to modify them, thought, including using pertinent class features. But I am not going to build whole PCs.

Brute: deals 1 big hit, disadvantage on concentration saves. Waits for others to pick the target than charges in.
The Face: good Charisma and Insight well armored. Detect magic and propaganda.
Tracker: good at tracking, long range, Ensnaring shot. Tends to stand back and watch the back door in case someone tries to run.
Tracker's pet: also good at tracking. Can smell magic components.
Sneak: stealth, disguises self. Steals components, and checks pockets for evidence. Gets advantage if the Face has them distracted.

 

[Reynard]

Bumpity bump.

 

[THEMNGMNT]

I'd reskin the stats for githyanki and githzerai. The githyanki are well-designed warrior/wizards who hit hard. Thematically, that feels to me like a mage hunter. Githzerai are unarmed...so they might be infiltrator assassins who scout for a githyanki strike team.