D&D 5E (2024) Shillelagh Eldritch Knight+Hex Post Lorwyn

[Zardnaar]

I've been aware of the Shillelagh+true strike combo for a while. And often thought about putting hex on an EK via fae touched. Also depends on how DM enforces RAW around spellcasting but arcane focus and warcaster take care of that if theyre strict.

Weapon mastery prone, 14 dex use a bow of your choice. Fighters quite packed level 1-8 and I'm happy to play it 9+ ive seen them in action.

Lorwyn has a origin feat now granting hex at level 1. If youre going sword and board and shillelagh you will have a bonus action available. Depends on how DM handles letting you cast shillelagh out of combat. RAW you can do that.

Human.
Origin feats lorwyn in plus magic initiate druid. You can probably key everything off wisdom. This allows ranger splash as well if you want to skip hex and use hunters mark instead. Opens up non human.

You pick up true strike via Eldritch Knight. You miss out the weapon feats but gain extra d6 radiant, 1d6 necrotic and a 1 handed 1d10 weapon. Later you gain 2d6 radiant, 1d6 necrotic and 1 handed d12. Unlikely to go much further.

If you knock prone via weapon master action surge and cast another true strike lvl 7.

This is the basic idea. Assume custom origins are available its RAW.

Thoughts.
1. Worth doing?
2. How would you do it
3. To cute or complicated?
4. A bit does involve ask the DM. You can work around this eg warcaster feat.

Numbers look good even with a strict DM. Downside is opportunity cost as youre taking mental stat boosts but I kind of want to anyway eg resiliant: wisdom. Fighter with great wisdom save is appealing.

Otherwise EK GWM+polearm would be my go to. Thoughts?

 

[UngainlyTitan]

I've been aware of the Shillelagh+true strike combo for a while. And often thought about putting hex on an EK via fae touched. Also depends on how DM enforces RAW around spellcasting but arcane focus and warcaster take care of that if theyre strict.

Weapon mastery prone, 14 dex use a bow of your choice. Fighters quite packed level 1-8 and I'm happy to play it 9+ ive seen them in action.

Lorwyn has a origin feat now granting hex at level 1. If youre going sword and board and shillelagh you will have a bonus action available. Depends on how DM handles letting you cast shillelagh out of combat. RAW you can do that.

Human.
Origin feats lorwyn in plus magic initiate druid. You can probably key everything off wisdom. This allows ranger splash as well if you want to skip hex and use hunters mark instead. Opens up non human.

You pick up true strike via Eldritch Knight. You miss out the weapon feats but gain extra d6 radiant, 1d6 necrotic and a 1 handed 1d10 weapon. Later you gain 2d6 radiant, 1d6 necrotic and 1 handed d12. Unlikely to go much further.

If you knock prone via weapon master action surge and cast another true strike lvl 7.

This is the basic idea. Assume custom origins are available its RAW.

Thoughts.
1. Worth doing?
2. How would you do it
3. To cute or complicated?
4. A bit does involve ask the DM. You can work around this eg warcaster feat.

Numbers look good even with a strict DM. Downside is opportunity cost as youre taking mental stat boosts but I kind of want to anyway eg resiliant: wisdom. Fighter with great wisdom save is appealing.

Otherwise EK GWM+polearm would be my go to. Thoughts?

Why are you pushing Wis, the EK is an Int caster, why make it more MAD than it need to be. But that said, it seems reasonable.

 

[Zardnaar]

Why are you pushing Wis, the EK is an Int caster, why make it more MAD than it need to be. But that said, it seems reasonable.

Wisdoms a better save than intelligence.

If im boosting a mental attack stat to the moon may as well pick a good one.

But yes keying off intelligence is an option and makes more sense thematically.

I'll be picking feats that boost a mental stat. So looking at things like warcaster, fae touched etc.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

Wisdoms a better save than intelligence.

If im boosting a mental attack stat to the moon may as well pick a good one.

But yes keying off intelligence is an option and makes more sense thematically.

I'll be picking feats that boost a mental stat. So looking at things like warcaster, fae touched etc.

You are levelling as an EK, right? Seem silly to go with Wis, yes, it is a good save but why not pick up Mage Slayer later for the occasion where you really have to make a save. I think is you are going all out on cantrip attacks then do it on the casting stat you are levelling up on. To not do that you will really have to crunch the number across the expected play progression.

 

[Zardnaar]

You are levelling as an EK, right? Seem silly to go with Wis, yes, it is a good save but why not pick up Mage Slayer later for the occasion where you really have to make a save. I think is you are going all out on cantrip attacks then do it on the casting stat you are levelling up on. To not do that you will really have to crunch the number across the expected play progression.

Probably pure fighter. Theocratic but its what I wouldvplay if party needed a fighter.

I'm not looking at to many spells I care about intelligence. Shield, jump, absorb elements etc.

Im a big fan of good wisdom saves on melee fighters. I've seen monster stats as DM. Its vs control spels and things like fear.

Just a thought though. Pros and con.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

Probably pure fighter. Theocratic but its what I wouldvplay if party needed a fighter.

I'm not looking at to many spells I care about intelligence. Shield, jump, absorb elements etc.

Im a big fan of good wisdom saves on melee fighters. I've seen monster stats as DM. Its vs control spels and things like fear.

Just a thought though. Pros and con.

Well, I have seen the monster stats also, though not perhaps, the 2024 MM versions but if I was thinking along the lines you outlined I would be thinking of doing most of my thumping via cantrips and the casting stat.

 

[Zardnaar]

Well, I have seen the monster stats also, though not perhaps, the 2024 MM versions but if I was thinking along the lines you outlined I would be thinking of doing most of my thumping via cantrips and the casting stat.

Theyre independent of caster stats for the most part.

Starry wisp might be that ranged cantrip but its probably weaker than a bow level 5+.

14 dex and con, 17 casting stat. Wisdom also allows ranger dip. 14, 16, 16 is also doable.

 

[eclair~]

Why not take Lorwyn Elf? Then you get to have Shillelagh as a cantrip with whatever casting stat you want.

If you're going to chase the Powergamer Bait options, might as well go all the way.