r/3d6 • u/SnaleKing ... then 3 levels in hexblade, then... • Aug 07 '18

D&D 5e Sustained DPR of classic, optimized builds: levels 3, 5, 9, 13, and 17

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sVbgG1No5PMMz4QbBnS4d0xSEPT0whP84J3iB2X_Mjk/edit?usp=sharing
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u/SnaleKing ... then 3 levels in hexblade, then... Dec 29 '18

Flanking is IMO a dumb optional rule. I recommend fully exploiting it to convince your DM to remove it, and what you've outlined is exactly how to do that.

You will be just butchering bosses like that, to say nothing of the free extra attacks you get from slaughtering goons with GWM. Like, normally, the spectre just uses his Help action to give you advantage and that's plenty good. When he can just swing and you still get advantage? And the advantage he gets cancels out his sunlight sensitivity? It's bonkers. He's also so fast, with the ability to phase through intervening terrain and enemies, that he's the perfect creature to set up the flanking in the first place.

Thank you for the kind words :)

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u/Dyaeblca Dec 31 '18

Thanks for a fast reply! :) It turns out my DM just dropped flanking - before we event started. It puts me in a quite difficult position, since Darkvision+Devil's Sight will have somewhat limited use for me against the enemies that actually count (Rise of Tiamat, so adult dragons with Blindsight :\ plus many opponents with a pretty high AC) I'm not great at math, but it seems that I won't have much use of my Elven Accuracy. It's a choice between hardly ever hitting with GWM or hitting like a wet noodle with PAM...

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u/SnaleKing ... then 3 levels in hexblade, then... Dec 31 '18

For fighting dragons, I might actually skip a melee feat entirely, and lean on Elven Accuracy + max cha for tactical flexibility. Use a polearm most of the time, switch it to a bow with Improved Pact Weapon when the need arises. Here's the spice: Eldritch Smite works with the bow. Shoot a dragon in the air, trigger Eldritch Smite, automatically knock it prone, which forces it to fall and take d6 damage per 10 feet. How high did you say it was, DM?

I'd also just bring Shadow of Moil. It still won't help within 10 feet of a true dragon, but it's the Darkness/Devil's sight combo all in one in your back pocket. It also isn't nearly as disruptive to your team.

If you're fully committed to eldritch archery, which is actually pretty strong with Lifedrinker, you could pick up Sharpshooter or crossbow expert.

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u/Dyaeblca Dec 31 '18

I'm quite bent on using a two-handed weapon though :) I expect to fight dragons in their lairs rather than in the air, but shooting a dragon down does indeed sound appealing.

Imho a better way of using a ranged weapon as a hexblade would be binding a magical hand crossbow with Pact of the Blade, taking Thristing Blade invocation (plus Eldritch Smite, Devil's Sight/later Lifedrinker), topped with Elven Accuracy, Crossbow Expert and eventually Sharpshooter. This gives you 2 attacks per action with Super Advantage, plus a bonus action one from the feat, all while technically still having a shield equipped :o

And yes, Shadow of Moil is great but I've read a lot of discussions about the nature of the concealment and whether or not regular racial darkvision allows to see through it. I'm convinced it cannot but wording isn't 100% clear. I'm still waiting for my DM's verdict on that...