D&D 5E Unarmored melee character

[MacConnell]

I do miss the Oriental Adventure's kensai.

 

[BookBarbarian]

I am looking to play an unarmored melee character. I like multiclassing and am just thinking about some interesting options.

I was kinda thinking of:

Sorcerer paladin
Barbarian
Monk fighter
Barbarian Druid monk

Just looking for some ideas, thanks in advance!


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So what do want in the character beyond "no armor"? The answer will greatly influence any advice I try to give.

 

[Satyrn]

You don't even need to have monk/barbarian/sorcerer levels. Just take the Magic Initiate feat, choose mage armour as your 1st level spell (it lasts for eight hours!) and you can still choose an attack cantrip and prestidigitation to make sure you always look (and smell) good!

That is so tempting! I've been considering taking Magic Initiate for my gnome battlemaster, with an eye to using the cantrips to emulate alchemical attacks (so I don't have to track vials of acid or flasks of alchemist's fire). Mage armor would be a nifty way to get my swashbuckler unarmored. I don't know why I never thought of it.

 

[Phazonfish]

One thing to consider: The Barbarian's Unarmored Defense allows you to wear a shield, while the Monk's one does not.

 

[Guest 6801328]

The character I really want to play, but stopped trying because I never get high enough to get to the fun part, is the Shadow Monk/Rogue.

 

[MacConnell]

The character I really want to play, but stopped trying because I never get high enough to get to the fun part, is the Shadow Monk/Rogue.

I concur, but I keep getting vetoed on any attempt to create such.

 

[CTurbo]

I play an unarmored Bear totem Barb in one campaign and an unarmored Wood Elf Monk in another, and both of them are awesomely OP in melee. Granted I rolled stats for them and started with a 20 in their attack stats. They would still be great without the super stats though. Of the two of them, the Barb has the edge in defense and the Monk has the edge in DPR. The Monk is harder to hit, but the Barb can soak up the damage like it's nothing.