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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Benjamin Olson" data-source="post: 8059329" data-attributes="member: 6988941">The basic conundrum with Bladesinger is that, going straight Bladesinger you'll usually be more effective after low levels hanging back and being a wizard with an extra defensive buff rather than doing anything you can do in melee. You don't really want to hang in melee with a d6 hit die, and you have no special melee damage edge until level 14. Multiclassing changes the calculus a bit. If you really want to be a melee wizard I 100% advise multiclassing, if you are content to just be a fairly normal wizard who uses a rapier rather than cantrips when he finds himself in melee, then straight Bladesinger is probably best. Melee-damage wise these two options are comparable. One die of sneak attack vs. dueling fighting style damage bonus is basically a wash. You will almost always be able to get sneak attack as long as your familiar is alive, but almost always isn't always, and the dueling damage bonus just works. Eventually dueling fighting style will benefit from your Bladesinger 6 extra attack. Basically it's going to come down to how often your DM imposes disadvantage and how much they target your familiar.I personally consider Rogue the stronger choice, providing you quickly take a second level of it for cunning action. If you intend to be a d6 hit die person in melee you are going to need an angle for easily getting out, and you can only afford to misty step so many times. The synergy with the Booming Blade cantrip is, of course, powerful enough to build a whole character around. Cunning action dash is also pretty fun when you have gotten your movement up to 40 with the bladesong. A third level of Rogue (Arcane Trickster or Swashbuckler) is worthwhile. I don't think more than that makes sense unless you are going for a primary Rogue or an even split, because Uncanny Dodge and Evasion are just not that amazing for someone who can cast Shield and Absorb Elements. Starting with a level of Fighter means you'll be proficient in con saves and thus better at concentration checks, which is important to any Wizard but extra important to one who intends to hang out in melee with various buff spells. It's things like (upcast) Shadow Blade, Greater Invisibility, and Haste that really make a Bladesinger up to snuff in melee. Fighter 2 gives you Action Surge, which is great for a spellcaster and only gets better as their spells improve, but unlike with Rogue cunning action and a Booming Blade strategy there is no need to rush to get it.Thus, if you really are intending to just do a one level dip, or put off taking additional levels of dip until late I think Fighter is probably the stronger combat choice than Rogue. If you are willing to do another level fairly soon I think Rogue is the stronger choice. If you care about skills Rogue is clearly the stronger choice.In regard to feats, if you don't go Rogue and are still interested in making the most of the Booming Blade cantrip I'd recommend Mobile. If you don't start with Fighter I'd prioritize Resilience-Constitution and/or Warcaster. Elven Accuracy is great, especially for someone with a familiar and Shadow Blade, but I would make sure to have an uneven stat or another compatible half feat in mind for that. But really ASIs in INT are probably the most important thing for you as it will determine not only your spell save, spell attack, and number of spells prepared, but also determines the effectiveness of your Bladesong.</blockquote>

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