D&D 5E Make Your Most Broken Character

[Truename]

Are magic items really broken? Let's find out! Here's the challenge:

Using the October playtest rules, make the most broken level 5 character you can:

For abilities, use the standard array on page one of the Character Creation document.

For equipment, you get the following (in addition to what you get from character creation)*:

- 250 gold
- 11 common items
- 4 uncommon items
- 2 rare items
- 1 very rare item

Ignore the rule about an "item" being worth 1d2+2 consumables. We'll assume your character's been using his consumables in order to survive all those tough encounters. 1 item is 1 item, consumable or not.

So, who's the maximum munchkin?

*Item amounts are based on average treasure rolls, assuming your crafty munchkin has been seeking out (and winning!) nothing but tough encounters for five levels. It's actually a bit generous because you'll be lucky to find a very rare item by 5th level--there's only a 60% chance of that. See http://www.enworld.org/forum/new-ho...-magic-items-legend-wait-ary.html#post6029016 and http://www.enworld.org/forum/new-ho...-magic-items-legend-wait-ary.html#post6029033 for an explanation.

 

[ZombieRoboNinja]

Okay, so let's max out AC.

For this we'll need a mountain dwarf draconic sorcerer. (Why sorcerer? Because as far as I can tell the Shield spell stacks with an actual shield.)

plate AC 18
+ actual shield +1
+ dwarf +1
+ shield spell +2
= total AC 22 with nonmagical equipment.

Now, where we go from here depends on a rules clarification: can draconic sorcerers USE the greatsword that's part of their starting package? If so, the Defender would be a big boon. But I'm going to say no, so he's stuck with a normal shield.

So he might as well get +1 plate as his Very Rare item.
A rare Dusty Ioun Stone for another +1.

Total AC = 24.

...aaaand... that's all I can find, weirdly enough. There doesn't even seem to be a way to make a +1 shield.

Meanwhile, a wizard with 20 Dex, Bracers of Defense, and the Shield spell is already up to 20 AC. Toss in the ioun stone for another +1 and he's at 21 AC without using his Very Rare item.

A mountain dwarf fighter with a Defender, ioun stone, and normal plate will have a max AC of 23. Pretty damn good! And another Very Rare slot would bring him up to 24.

...so in other words, it seems like there's a bit of a clever scheme here with magic items. It's the same principle as Gauntlets of Ogre Might: it's relatively easy to make up for deficiencies in important stats (like a wizard's AC) but a lot tougher to go from great to stellar.

Can anyone else think of a way to get a character's AC above 24?

 

[Roger]

There's a couple of +1 shields in the Caves of Chaos, so I would say they're legit.

Also he can dodge for +4 to AC, and stand behind 3/4 cover for +5 to AC.



Cheers,
Roger

 

[Steely_Dan]

So, mountain dwarf in +3 plate, with a +3 shield, an Ioun Stone, a Ring of Protection, and a Shield spell is AC 30.

And +16 to hit (+4 fighter, +9 Str, +3 weapon).

 

[Truename]

So, mountain dwarf in +3 plate, with a +3 shield, an Ioun Stone, a Ring of Protection, and a Shield spell is AC 30.

And +16 to hit (+4 fighter, +9 Str, +3 weapon).

Sorry, pubished items only. The highest-rated armor I can find is +2 Efreeti Chain (and it's rare). Highest shield is +1.

Also, given that the Ioun Stone and Ring of Protection alone are both rares, I doubt you'd be able to have all these items together even if they did exist. Since +1 plate is very rare, +3 plate is going to be legendary at least. Similarly, the +3 weapons so far are very rare, which means you can't have that alongside even +1 plate.

I'm also not clear on what's granting the +9 Str.

The point here "what can you do within the rarity rules", not "what can you do with every artifact in existence."

 

[Steely_Dan]

1) Sorry, pubished items only. The highest-rated armor I can find is +2 Efreeti Chain (and it's rare). Highest shield is +1.

2) I'm also not clear on what's granting the +9 Str.

1) I thought it stated magic weapons and armour can go to +3?

2) Belt of Storm Giant Strength (29).

 

[Truename]

2) Belt of Storm Giant Strength (29).

I think you missed an important part of the rules for this challenge.

For equipment, you get the following (in addition to what you get from character creation)*:

- 250 gold
- 11 common items
- 4 uncommon items
- 2 rare items
- 1 very rare item

Ignore the rule about an "item" being worth 1d2+2 consumables. We'll assume your character's been using his consumables in order to survive all those tough encounters. 1 item is 1 item, consumable or not.

The belt of storm giant strength is an artifact and even a fifth-level munchkin will have to be very very lucky to get one. Or have a bribe-able DM. Neither of which apply in this case.

 

[FireLance]

I think we can discount the common items because I have only been able to find two in the current playtest (WotC has also acknowledged that the list of common items is pretty sparse for now).

The following breakdown might be useful to those intending to have a go at this:
[SBLOCK=Magic Items By Rarity]Common
Potion of Climbing
Potion of Healing

Uncommon
Leather +1
Studded Leather +1
Ringmail +1
Chainmail +1
Glamoured Studded Leather
+1 Weapon
Mace of Disruption
Wand of Enemy Detection
Wand of Magic Missiles
Oil of Etherealness
Potion of Poison
Potion of Water Breathing
Ring of Water Walking
Spell Scroll
Bag of Holding
Boots of Elvenkind
Boots of Striding and Springing
Cloak of Elvenkind
Dust of Dryness
Gauntlets of Ogre Power
Hat of Disguise
Pearl of Power
Slippers of Spider Climbing

Rare
Displacer Beast Hide +1
Scale Mail +1
Banded +1
Splint +1
Black Dragon Scale of Resistance
Efreeti Chain
Spellguard Shield
Arrow of Dragon Slaying
Dagger of Venom
Dancing Sword
Flame Tongue Longsword
Javelin of Lightning
Keen Rapier
Staff of Charming
Staff of Striking
Wand of Binding
Potion of Delusion
Potion of Diminution
Potion of Heroism
Potion of Invisibility
Potion of Longevity
Potion of Mind Reading
Ring of Feather Falling
Ring of Protection
Scroll of Protection from Undead
Belt of Hill Giant Strength
Boots of Speed
Bracers of Defense
Horn of Blasting
Ioun Stone, Clear Spindle
Ioun Stone, Dusty Rose Prism
Ioun Stone, Dark Blue Rhomboid
Necklace of Fireballs
Portable Hole
Winged Boots

Very Rare
Mithral Chain +1
Dragon Scale +1
Plate +1
Elven Chain
Plate Mail of Etherealness
Defender
Dwarven Thrower
Frost Brand
Hammer of Thunderbolts
Oathbow
Potion of Flying
Potion of Speed
Ring of Mind Shielding
Ring of the Ram
Ring of Regeneration
Ring of Wizardry
Belt of Stone Giant Strength
Belt of Frost Giant Strength
Flying Carpet
Gem of Seeing
Ioun Stone, Deep Red Sphere
Ioun Stone, Incandescent Blue Sphere
Ioun Stone, Pale Blue Rhomboid
Ioun Stone, Pink Rhomboid
Ioun Stone, Pink and Green Sphere
Ioun Stone, Scarlet and Blue Sphere
Tome of the Stilled Tongue

Legendary
Holy Avenger
Vorpal Sword
Ring of Invisibility
Belt of Fire Giant Strength
Belt of Cloud Giant Strength
Cloak of Invisibility
Crystal Ball
Ioun Stone, Vibrant Purple Prism
Ioun Stone, Pale Lavender Ellipsoid
Ioun Stone, Pearly White Spindle
Ioun Stone, Pale Green Prism
Ioun Stone, Orange Prism
Ioun Stone, Lavender and Green Ellipsoid
Robe of the Archmagi
Rod of Absorption
Rod of Lordly Might

Artifact
Belt of Storm Giant Strength[/SBLOCK]