D&D 5E Unarmored melee character

[Sacrosanct]

Also, the group I'm running right now, there is a bladesinger. When he pops shield, he's pretty much unhittable if also bladesinging.

 

[hawkeyefan]

I think Monk-Rogue would be a solid combo. Dexterity is the primary state for both, so you can focus on that and then Wisdom to get your AC as high as possible, and Wisdom also adds to perception and related skills, so that's good.

Adds a bit of punch with sneak attack, which fits nicely with the monk's mobility. Cunning action is also a nice option for the monk to have, although that does create choices for the monk given that they get the option to do an unarmed attack with a bonus action....so then they have to think about how to best spend their bonus action. But that's more a strength than a problem, really.

 

[Istbor]

*Shrug* If you are in melee, I don't see why you wouldn't want to go as a Barb. Dex + con both useful for someone in the thick of it. Additionally, you can pop Rage to halve most incoming damage. You can also dish out a good deal of damage in return.

 

[jaelis]

Doesn't look like anyone has mentioned Arcane Trickster with Mage Armor. That's a fine build if it fits your concept.

 

[SunGold]

*Shrug* If you are in melee, I don't see why you wouldn't want to go as a Barb. Dex + con both useful for someone in the thick of it. Additionally, you can pop Rage to halve most incoming damage. You can also dish out a good deal of damage in return.

This. I'm currently playing an unarmored dex/con barbarian and it's a lot of fun.

Here's a thread about that build.

 

[bid]

In terms of just AC it's better to go with CON than WIS.

CON is double dipping then in survivability. More HP and more miss chance for opponents.

Except pure barbarian rarely reaches Dex16.

Str20, Con20 and GWM usually leaves nothing for Dex. You have to wait until level 19 to reach unarmored AC17, which half-plate AC17 offers at level 5 or so.

The typical monk start with Dex16, Wis16 and Con14. That's unarmored AC16, just as good as draconic or mage armor, and every ASI increases your AC up to AC20.


If you roll your stats, you still need your 3rd results to be incredibly high.

 

[bid]

I think Monk-Rogue would be a solid combo. Dexterity is the primary state for both, so you can focus on that and then Wisdom to get your AC as high as possible, and Wisdom also adds to perception and related skills, so that's good.

Adds a bit of punch with sneak attack, which fits nicely with the monk's mobility. Cunning action is also a nice option for the monk to have, although that does create choices for the monk given that they get the option to do an unarmed attack with a bonus action....so then they have to think about how to best spend their bonus action. But that's more a strength than a problem, really.

And monk 5 gives extra attack and a second chance at SA.

Mobile or swashbuckler simplifies the CA problem too.

 

[AntiStateQuixote]

I'm playing an eldritch knight sword and board dexterity fighter (splash of warlock). At level 9 with mage armor, 20 dex, and shield AC = 20. He also has a ring of protection, so AC is 21.

Could easily accomplish the same with sorcerer or even straight fighter.

 

[Jacob Smith]

Except pure barbarian rarely reaches Dex16.


Str20, Con20 and GWM usually leaves nothing for Dex. You have to wait until level 19 to reach unarmored AC17, which half-plate AC17 offers at level 5 or so.


The typical monk start with Dex16, Wis16 and Con14. That's unarmored AC16, just as good as draconic or mage armor, and every ASI increases your AC up to AC20.




If you roll your stats, you still need your 3rd results to be incredibly high.

Really though, STR is just the vanilla way to play Barbarians, not the ONLY way. DEX based barbarians have the highest possible AC in the game because - unlike monks - you can use shields. You will also have a great pool of HP to boot. Especially if you are going the Totem Path really the only thing you are missing out on are the damage boost on rage and reckless attacks. Even if you want to multiclass later, just put 13 in STR and forget about it.


ex. Wood Elf Barbarian 1
STR [13] DEX [14] (+2) CON [15] INT [8] WIS [12] (+1) CHA [10] (Standard array + racial bonuses)


You will have a level 1 AC of 15 plus the extra speed of the Wood Elf. Furthermore, you will have a higher initiative modifier that goes really well with advantage on initiative rolls.



"I feel Wis is more important than Con, making monk the better unarmored class. If you don't plan on raising above Wis16, draconic and mage armor works too.

BTW, if you start barbarian, you'll never gain monk's unarmored defense. It's one or the other."

I have to disagree with you my friend. WIS is great only if you are using a class that focuses it, but the op simply wants ideas for armorless melee fighters. Obviously the biggest split here is Barbarian / Monk, because it is relatively pointless to multiclass here. Personally I feel that the CON is better, considering it affects your HP on leveling, resistance to poison, etc. Furthermore I feel that Barbarian does unarmored better simply because your rage resistance is amazing.

I love the monk class, but in this scope I feel Barbarian is better. The only downside to it is that, if you want to rage, spellcasting classes like sorceror are useless.


EDIT: sorry I forgot to quote the response

 

[GlassJaw]

I played a halfling barbarian who fought unarmored with a spear and shield. I took bear totem and shield mastery. Soooo much fun.

My goal was to make him unkillable - any damage he did was gravy.

The only thing he was susceptible to was will saves. Otherwise he would just soak damage and be super-annoying to the enemies.


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