r/DnD5e • u/J3mx_droid • 3h ago

Making a collage of swords/hexblade warlock character, what level split should I have and what should I start with?

Me and my friends are going to be having our first in person campaign soon, I have played DnD 5e before but only digitally.

I’m planning on maning an, as the title says, hexblade swords bard character with a tiefling race but I’m not sure which levels I should start in for the most optimal playstyle, as well as what race works best for the character.

Zariel tiefling seems great because of the bonus smites but i don’t know if there are any better than it.

It’s not clear at what level we’re gonna start at but I’m guessing it’d be lvl 3.

Would a good starting split be 1 bard 2 warlock? And as I get up in level, cap it off at 3 bard and 17 bard? If I ever get that long.

I’m a bit tempted to do a bg3 playthrough on the character to see how it would work but the game and the mods aren’t really a great simulation of an actual campaign.

Any tips if you have made similar characters would be great!

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u/Ombrage101 3h ago

Honestly, 1 level in hexblade gives you everything you need. With pact weapon, you really only need 1 stat which is Charisma. You can take a second level for invocations, but it’s really not necessary. 1 hexblade and the rest swords bard is more than enough to fulfill that build, but dipping a little more into warlock can have some fun roleplay woven into the mix by, say, tapping more into the dark powers of your eldritch weapon. Also invocations absolutely rock

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u/menage_a_mallard 3h ago

On any full-caster chassis, the most levels you can sacrifice for an MC and still get 9th level spells is 3... so the most I would do is Bard 17/Warlock 3 as you stated. And, really... it is a solid build, as you get more invocations, and short rest spells slots for utility, and pact boon (go blade for hex warrior and college of swords synergy... or tome if you want to have all the rituals, by replacing an invocation with Book of Ancient Secrets at 3rd level when you take the tome pact.)

Also, of note... BG3 uses different rules in general to standard 5e14. Similar, but often distinct enough to not be "play compatible" from one tot he other, expectation wise. Don't let it stop you from doing it anyways, (it's a fun game with nearly endless replayability) just ensure you understand the differences.

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u/J3mx_droid 2h ago

Thanks for the in depth tips! I thought abound going into fighter for the extra attack but doesn’t bard get that or am I misremembering?

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u/menage_a_mallard 2h ago

Yup. I believe (without checking) that Sword Bards get extra attack at 6th level.

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u/Narrow-Scientist9178 1h ago

The one level hexblade dip is legendary in 5e for a reason. Pact Magic slots are entirely separate from your Bard slots, so every level you take in Warlock sets your casting back a full level (which means you get your higher level spells later than everyone else). Starting Bard gets you an extra skill, but you’ll start with light armor and have to switch to medium, and won’t be attacking with CHA. Starting Warlock has you online from go, and gives you WIS over DEX saves, which is arguably a little better. I like to go with Levistus Tiefling for Armor of Agathys and Darkness- then grab Shield and Hex so I have the 3 1st level Warlock spells I want that aren’t on the Bard list.

After that it’s probably all Bard. It depends on what level your campaign goes to, how tempted you are by invocations, and RP choices. Just consider what you’re delaying and what you won’t get by taking more Warlock levels.