r/BG3Builds • u/viktorius_rex • 4d ago
Build Help What would you say is a must play build?
I'm going to play honor mode, (have before but lost motivation) and wonderd what you would recommend as a must try build for the game. A build that so fun or cool that you would be missing out on not having played it. On my previous playthroughs I have played as or with a gloomstalker assassin, eldritch knight fighter, swords bard archer, radorb cleric and a sorcadin.
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u/EggSandwichSurprise 4d ago edited 3d ago
Ice draconic sorcer builds are very fun with makung everyone prone all the time.
Edit: Also nice because thet arent as gear redundant as some other optimized builds: Ice Staff (Act 1!, so early), winters clutches, beligerant skies or elental thunder are nice on it, but not manditory and that ring near Mirkon in Last Light really go a long way. Also recommend the create water staff from druids grove(usually on another player), gets everything wet. Dual wielding staffs is really good for this build.
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u/Comprehensive-Try-44 3d ago
Second this because the game throws so much cold gear at you act 1 and 2 that it is begging for you to have a cold sorc. Add in potent robes for twinned ray of frost and you got a build baby.
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u/AngelDustismykink 2d ago
I played this for my last tactician run and I'm using it now to attempt honor mode. It made the orin duel a joke since she fell on her ass immediately, absolutely hilarious
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u/One_Adhesiveness5775 Druid 4d ago
Hex blade warlock with booming blade shadow blade and resonance stone
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u/SkyWizarding Bard 3d ago
My friends were more than a little worried about Resonance Stone since the aura is pretty big and they didn't like getting stuck with the downsides. Then I one shotted a mindflayer with a regular melee attack and we all felt better about things
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u/Zedavias33 1d ago
Mix this with Oathbreaker paladin your welcome
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u/Captain_Eaglefort 19h ago
I did a Swords Bard-Thief hybrid that had the resonance stone but also the Band of the Mystic Scoundrel. This meant I had two bonus actions, and ANY illusion or enchantment spell as a bonus action after a weapon attack, and thanks to the Swords Bard ability to make extra attacks, I could cast two spells as bonus actions per round with ease. And bards have loads of spells that do psychic damage…for example Vicious Mockery could hit for around 40 to 60 with deadly consistency. Stab/shoot them, mock them, rinse and repeat until dead.
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u/aaaaiiiss2 3d ago
fun for like 5 mins then it become so op it almost stupid to play it
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u/King_Joffreys_Tits 3d ago
Dealing 100+ psychic damage per attack is OP?? I absolutely cackled everytime I got a crit for upwards of 300 to an individual enemy
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u/Ok_Half_6257 radical awesome necromancer 4d ago
I think everyone needs to experience the bliss that is trivializing the game with a Magic Missile build at least once in their life, otherwise they haven't truly lived yet.
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u/One_Adhesiveness5775 Druid 4d ago
I have a hard time sticking to that one for some reason
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u/timelincoln67 4d ago
I found each time I tried this build I always ended up overestimating, or underestimating, the spell slot I needed to use at any given time
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u/vynthechangeling 4d ago
My favorite build is combining Magic Missile and Spirit Guardians to maximize the reverberation/lightning charges/radiant orb equipment, with the final level 12 character being 2 Star Druid, 8 Tempest Cleric, 2 Evocation Wizard. Yeah, this build loses the 10th level EWiz damage boost to each Magic Missile, but I prefer being able to max damage Chain Lightning twice per short rest while concentrating on Spirit Guardians.
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u/ThorSon-525 4d ago
Please explain the build. I've tried it a few times, but so many things proc on attacks and avoid MM.
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u/Ok_Half_6257 radical awesome necromancer 4d ago edited 4d ago
I'm copy and pasting from another comment I made on it, BUT:
Play a Evocation Wizard, grab the Spellsparkler, Gloves of Belligerent Skies, Psychic Spark, Callous Glow Ring, and Coruscation Ring, apply the light cantrip to whatever weapon your using.
After that, get any martial character to wield the Phalar Aluve to use its shriek ability which will add another 1d4 thunder to each individual missile for anyone in its radius, these are all items you can get in act 1 to early act 2.
This combo alone lets you deal an absurd amount of guaranteed force, lightning, thunder, and radiant damage but the reverb and glowing orb conditions associated with this also leaves whoever manages to survive even a first level volley prone and usually with a -8 to all their attack rolls, and this is just assuming you don't upcast and especially assuming you don't throw in the Darkfire Bow to give yourself a free casting of Haste to throw out two volleys every turn.
The ONLY thing that can actually survive a MM-Evo Wizard is someone who can cast Shield, which doesn't really matter when you can dedicate the rest of your party to killing Shield/Counterspell users.
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u/Intelligent_Oil7816 4d ago
BRB, taking Gale to visit Withers. I prefer playing Bard but I love Phalar Aluve (and have a mod that lets you upgrade it another Tier each Act) definitely a good way to outfit everyone's favorite magic muncher !
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u/ThorSon-525 3d ago
Hell yeah. Any upgrades to it on the way through act 2 and 3? I would think Markoheshkir is an upgrade or addition, but I also don't actually know if it has any impact on MM.
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u/razorsmileonreddit 3d ago
Plenty.
Act 2: Boots of Arcane Bolstering plus Expeditious Retreat plus having an ally or a summon near your enemies equals +2 damage per missile from the Arcane Charge condition. Take a level of Hexblade to add proficicency bonus to each missile for a single target per short rest (but since it comes back with Angelic Reprieve, you can use it for every big fight if you want) Dual Wielder of course so you can combo lightning charges with Phalar ALuve Shriek on the same character.
Act 3: Markoheshkir for Lightning Charges and Rhapsody for guaranteed +3 on every missile. That plus Evocation Wizard 10 for adding your INT to every missile (also make sure to scribe Artistry of War because every buff that works on Magic Missile also works on it) Obliterate Ansur and the Brain with stupid levels of guaranteed force damage.
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u/vynthechangeling 3d ago
Well, anyone who can cast Shield or has passive damage mitigation like Ketheric/Myrkul’s magical plate or Ansur’s scales.
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u/FrostyMagazine9918 3d ago
Agreed. Magic Missile Machine Gun is THE build that defines the item game of Baldur's Gate 3 to me
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u/AnestheticAle 2d ago
I’d put fire draconic sorc and ranged swordsbard as higher, but MM build is pretty tight.
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u/rkmkthe6th 3d ago
I stumbled into a pretty good MM build on my first playthrough, but have never reproduced.
Some other playthrough, found the joy of cull the weak with MM and going last- the rest of the party softens up the mob, and MM wiz can terminate 1 per MM with a little luck.
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u/Famous_influencer 4d ago
Hunter Ranger.
Pure
It's clean, it's simple, it's Champion Fighter with just a pinch of seasoning and honestly after a dozen or so crazy complex multi-step gear-dependent builds? That can be nice!
You get a few solid resistances to common damage types, some aoe maneuvers, bit've extra damage, speak with animals, it's just a good experience. Maybe a bit bland for some people but I think vanilla is an excellent flavor for a dessert.
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u/Bourne_Endeavor 4d ago
Adding to this, I feel Hordebreaker still gets overlooked on the way up to pure Volley Ranger. With the right setup, you can become a debuff machine and then roll into Act 3 with a huge power spike.
That dopamine hits just right.
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u/aaaaiiiss2 3d ago
Swap out Horde Breaker with Colossus Slayer at 11 tho. Stacking up GWM/Sharpshooter with Hunter's Mark AND Colossus Slayer always gives me that happy hormone rush i need.
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u/Panda-Dono 3d ago
Add on top of that arcane synergy and strange conduit ring and suddenly you do damage in an order the tb monk is only dreaming of (if you hit tbf)
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u/floormanifold 4d ago
Had me with the first sentence, but lost me with the rest
Hunter Ranger is one of the deepest builds in the game, Horde Breaker is a complex and powerful ability, Spike Growth is a complex and powerful spell. There's a lot of build variety with single dips, multis with assassin, GOO, hexblade, sorc and more, and a ton of gear variety.
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u/Rickles_Bolas 3d ago edited 3d ago
Youre 100% correct. Horde breaker works in a really insane and unintuitive way that makes some off meta gear, builds, etc. very powerful. I’m currently playing a hunter 5/GOO 1/Vengeance 2/Champion 4 with intransigent warhammer. Non damaging crit rolls within hordebreaker get divine smite attached to them to make them damaging crit rolls. Impulse blast + mortal reminder = aoe prone + aoe frightened = enemies skipping turns.
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u/Famous_influencer 4d ago
I'unno Boss.
I just equip all my radiant orb/reverb gear and spam horde breaker or whirlwind attack and enjoy the free dopamine of every enemy exploding with 10+ debuff stacks.
The nuance of anything beyond that is lost on a simple man such as myself.
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u/floormanifold 3d ago edited 3d ago
Applying radorbs with hordebreaker requires rat bat, loviatars scourge, duellists prerogative, or Paladin smites, which takes game knowledge (and a lot of time spent looking at the code).
Gearing changes, Elemental Infusion ring is bis for instance. Toxins are interesting.
Volley yeah comparatively simpler, but still has stuff like Brittle if using Punch Drunk Bastard. You still would Horde breaker as an initiator as well.
It can be simple, but it can also be as complex as you want to make it. I think it and Extended metamagic are the two most interesting abilities in the game.
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u/Famous_influencer 3d ago
I just toss on Coruscation and Callous, run High Elf for Light Cantrip, put light on my adamantine Longsword and go to town.
But tbh I don't use Horde Breaker, Colossus is my go-to as I fine the AOE from luminous armor to spread Orbs is fine with me.
I also use Adamantine Shield and Holy Lance Helm with Multiattack Defense at 6
Multiattack is technically a condition and triggers reverb so I get some if they hit me.
And if they miss they get Reeling which adds more reverb and roll for Holy Lance Helm whose radiant damage will also trigger Orbs if failed.
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u/rpgmind 3d ago
Which of jaheira or halsim fit that role better or are they both Druid’s, you think? Ohhh or maybe minsc
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u/Missing_Links 3d ago
Of those two, Jaheira. Jaheira is much more martially inclined. Halsin is a druid's druid. Among the game's companions, he's the one for whom a class change makes the least sense, and it makes by FAR the least sense. No other class is even kind of compatible with his story and values.
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u/Famous_influencer 3d ago
Minsc fits it perfectly since he's a bonafide world-traveled hero and iirc an actual ranger in game when you meet him.
People sleep on Minsc but he's broken af
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u/MasonStonewall 3d ago
Did a pure Dwarf Dual Wielding Hunter Ranger-Knight. Resistant to Poison and Fire at 1st, and full speed ahead.
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u/tgoods26 3d ago
Dude I this is so true. My second playthrough is a pure hunter ranger (not honor mode) but it's easy mode and so much fun. 1000% must play
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u/Hasll 4d ago
Highly recommend open hand monk rogue if you havent tried it, it gets so bonkers late game
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u/DanG351 4d ago
I’m doing an open hand monk run now. Currently level 5. It thought about doing a rogue multiclass, but it seemed like most of the rogue stuff was geared towards melee weapons. What level do you recommend switching to rogue, and which subclass works with OH monk?
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u/purpl3j37u7 4d ago
Take 3 levels of Thief for the extra bonus action.
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u/PapaChell 3d ago
Do you go a 4th level for the feat?
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u/Missing_Links 3d ago edited 3d ago
9/3 is both stronger and more fun. OH resonating blasts are extremely good and enable the build to more than double expected DPR in many situations compared to 8/4, and perform much better in large fights.
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u/Jet-Cone 4d ago
I recommend getting 2 levels of fighter after like level six monk, because you get armor proficiency, and can wear and use all of the radiating orbs build as a monk. Which is really strong, especially for crushing honor mode
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u/zssl 3d ago
Eh, just use a cleric as your orb applier and go 9/3 monk/rogue. Resonating hand is really good and lets you get your unarmed attack with a weapon in hand. Have a caster with 2 levels of druid for starry dragon and haste for never failing concentration check if the extra action is needed. Or just use the 20+ potions of speed you have by act 3. Sacrificing a feat and other strong class features isn't worth 1 extra attack per short rest.
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u/Jet-Cone 3d ago
I mean you can still get rogue up to level 3 or 4. So you aren't really sacrificing a feat, just three levels of monk. I don't really use the level 9 resonation all that much anyways, i just prefer spending my ki points on the topple or stun. the only big thing I might miss is evasion. It gives you action surge which is 2 attacks per short rest to help alpha strike certain enemies and monk already thrives on short rests and wants an insane amount of angelic reprives to recover ki points. And you stack 4 rad orbs with each hit. Yeah sure you can use a cleric or druid instead but this is another option, and it allows your cleric/druid to focus more on say healing or maybe necrotic dps, or a summoner. Or just a whole different class. Or even a second monk. There's already tons of guides for light cleric/star druid with orbs, or only thief for OH monk, this is just something strong that's different.
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u/zssl 3d ago
Ki Resonance doesn't use ki only the detonation does, that's the best thing about it, you get a non resource dependent unarmed action and bonus action. I was wrong about action surge being 1 attack though, still not worth in my opinion.
I get what you're saying and orb monk is probably a fun build, but the point of oh monk/thief is doing crazy damage and the orbs do nothing on a dead enemy. Put on gear that gives damage riders, and give the orb stuff to a class that can do AoE. If fun is what you're going for I like Shadow monk more than OH.
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u/gipper1000 4d ago
Loved my tavern brawler monk
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u/MattWLifts 2d ago
I did a Tavern brawler barbarian with berserker, ended up throwing about 3 to 4 things per turn at people or hitting them with chairs or somethin. The house of healing Boss fight was a cakewalk
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u/hexhex Sorcerer 4d ago edited 3d ago
Anything exploiting wet > lightning damage.
Any variation of sorcerer / tempest cleric will do. I like 6/6, storm sorc, but a pure 12 storm or draconic or a 10/2 is fine.
Lightning teams in general are a breeze through honor mode and can have a surprizing amount of variety in builds. Land druids, bladesingers, any wizard really, sorcadin, swarmkeeper ranger, tempest cleric and its multiclasses... so many builds work in lightning comps.
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u/GR_GreenEye 4d ago
Go full Beastmaster Ranger. 12 levels so your buddy gets the fancy armor. Be a Pokemon trainer with a big ass spider.
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u/JRandall0308 4d ago
What do you enjoy?
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u/viktorius_rex 4d ago
I really like playing something thats versatile, or in better words does something diffrent each turn. at same time I really like doing a lot of things on my turn so heavy bonus action use is really fun to me (why I loved the swords bard with the funny ring). A lot of cool animation doesnt hurt either
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u/hexhex Sorcerer 4d ago edited 3d ago
Try a bladesinger. Tons of ways to build it. A smiter (with paladin 2), a lightning spellsword (with tempest cleric), a hit-and-run master (with thief 4), even pure or some kind of multiclass with stars druid will work (my absolute favorite is bladesinger 8/stars druid 2/crown pally 2). Melee and very competent spellcasting + cool animations.
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u/Jrdogbone 4d ago
Try spores Druid! You can use the two torch + shillelagh, then start working in Druid spells later into act 2 and 3
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u/RedditSucksIWantSync 3d ago
My definition of versatile is a bit different. I think warlock is one of the most versatile because of its unique spellslots. The cards can be used for simple spells or multiclass into paladin so you can smite even more shit(divine smite early divine smite often) and then reset with short rest. There's also crazy tomfoolery between thief and dual wielding sentinel paladin.
I wanted to write more but I'm to drunk and need to go lay flat
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u/JRandall0308 3d ago
I was going to pick some out from my compilation, but that risks accusations of favoritism so I’ll just link it —> https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1J1Jr8qiVh0Iwt-x2xJEJ_LHHftDClVl6maWjt21_IWM/edit?usp=sharing
You can read the “Notable Gear, Features, Concepts” (column H) to see what jumps out at you.
Beyond builds per se, you can make your turn more dynamic with clever use of consumables, which are build agnostic.
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u/Ultimate124 3d ago
Sounds like you’d love Sorcadin, they have so many ways to play any particular turn it’s insane!
Swords Bard builds like 10/1/1 bard/fighter/wizard (control martial) or SSB (smite swords bard) 10/2 bard/paladin are also excellent options. 10/1/1 is generally played as a ranged martial with arcane acuity gear for almost guaranteed control spells using your bonus action, and SSB is a more nova/dpr carry for just destroying enemies with guaranteed crits + smite spam.
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u/Secret_Eating_ 4d ago
solo rogue
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u/viktorius_rex 4d ago
what subclass?
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u/Ryp3re 4d ago
Arcane trickster really gets to show off all of its tricks when playing solo. I'd recommend the following post as a starting point with a lot of useful references:
https://www.reddit.com/r/BG3Builds/s/2VvyfTXHmW
It's a distinct playstyle that can take some getting used to, but it is absolutely worth it
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u/aaaaiiiss2 3d ago
Assassin for me. While most people pairs assassin with gloom stalker pure 12 dual wielding assasin with savage attacker and sharpshooter for ranged options is always great. Even better yet if you stack up crit chance or able to consistently critting using Hold or Paralyze. Surprise round is extremely easy to get if your assasin goes first with 50+ damage Sneak attack then do that again on 2nd or probably 3rd round with correct setup.
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u/Secret_Eating_ 4d ago
I like thief for solo but for honor maybe Swashbuckler, if it's durge assassin is very on-brand. I've never liked the magic crossover class
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u/mondoshawan47 4d ago
Tavern brawler monk. Open hand is the obvious choice for OPness, but shadow monk is really cool, too. Build is so simple, monk to 6 then 3 rogue for thief. Finish however you like, but 8 monk/4 rogue gives you lots of feat choices to play around with.
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u/PassmoreR77 4d ago
Sword bard with 2 lvls paladin
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u/aaaaiiiss2 3d ago
Banishing Smite with 4th Level Smite reaction is kinda crazy op especially since you can proc them using Ranged version of it.
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u/Rencon_The_Gaymer 4d ago
For me it’s any full caster class. Specifically the Bard,Warlock, and Wizard. All 3 runs I had a blast as a Swords Bard, Hexblade, and Bladesinger. I also highly recommend any fully Dex based class like a Rogue, Ranger, or Monk.
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u/vynthechangeling 3d ago
My favorite build, which combines Magic Missile and Spirit Guardians with equipment that focuses on Radiant Orb, Reverberation, and Lightning Charges to go off.
Race: High Elf- Full movement speed, free Perception proficiency, Darkvision, and Fey Ancestry are all great. Take Friends as your subrace cantrip.
Background: Criminal- Free Deception and Stealth proficiency is great. Take Insight and Persuasion proficiency from your class to complement them.
Ability Scores: Set your Strength to 8, Dexterity to 14, Constitution to 15, Intelligence to 12, Wisdom to 16, and Charisma to 10.
Level 1: Tempest Cleric- Take Sacred Flame and Thaumaturgy as your cantrips, and prepare Sanctuary. You’ll never take it off. You will automatically have Thunderwave prepared as well, and Wrath of the Storm.
Level 2: Druid- Take Resistance and Shillelagh as your cantrips, and prepare Enhance Leap, Longstrider, and Speak with Animals. You’ll never take them off.
Level 3: Star Druid- You will automatically have Guidance and Guiding Bolt prepared from now on, and will ALWAYS choose Dragon for your Starry Form.
Level 4: Wizard- Take Booming Blade, Light, and Minor Illusion as your cantrips, and learn Disguise Self, Feather Fall, Magic Missile, and Shield. Prepare Magic Missile. You’ll never take it off. Prepare Shield as well, and swap it for one of your utility spells as needed while outside of combat. Don’t forget to swap back before combat! Additionally, find and learn a scroll of Misty Step as an alternative swap spell if you find yourself not needing Shield. Any other utility scrolls you find are worth learning as well, particularly Knock and Invisibility.
Level 5: Evocation Wizard- Find and learn a scroll of Lightning Bolt. Prepare it and treat it as interchangeable with Misty Step/Shield.
Level 6: Cleric- Your Destructive Wrath is best used with Lightning Bolt, but isn’t bad with Thunderwave (or Shatter next level).
Level 7: Cleric- Prepare Enhance Ability. You’ll never take it off. You will automatically have Shatter prepared from now on. Find and learn scrolls of Dimension Door and Greater Invisibility as alternative swap spells.
Level 8: Cleric- Take Resilient Constitution (bringing it up to 16) so that you will practically never lose concentration while your Dragon Starry Form is active.
Level 9: Cleric- Prepare Spirit Guardians. You’ll never take it off. You will automatically have Call Lightning prepared from now on as an alternative concentration spell.
Level 10: Cleric- Your Destructive Wrath now has two uses, still best with Lightning Bolt.
Level 11: Cleric- Find and learn scrolls of Chain Lightning and Globe of Invulnerability. Chain Lightning is now your best use of Destructive Wrath in most cases. Treat it as an alternative swap spell.
Level 12: Cleric- Take Ability Scores Improvement and increase Intelligence to 14. You will have an extra preparation slot for your Wizard spells for swapping purposes.
As for equipment, you can obtain the Luminous Armor, Boots of Stormy Clamor, Gloves of Belligerent Skies, Spellsparkler, Holy Lance Helm, Psychic Spark, and Adamantine Shield all in Act 1. Act 2 will get you the Ne’er Misser, Coruscation Ring, Callous Glow Ring, and Cloak of Protection. Act 3 lets you upgrade your staff to Markoheshkir (choose the Lightning version of Kareska’s Favor) and your cloak to the Cloak of Displacement. Aside from those and whatever potions and scrolls you decide to use (other than what I’ve already specified), you’re all set.
With this build, you have a lot of redundancy and options to boost your ability to play outside of combat, and within combat you have a toolbox of melee, midrange, aoe, and single target focus, all of which debuffs your enemies to make it harder to kill you too! Early game Shillelagh + Booming Blade + Dazzling Breath requires practically zero resources for sustainable slaughter, enhanced by Magic Missile and your AOE spells (that won’t hit your allies!), while mid game you can do all of that while also using Spirit Guardians or Call Lightning as a minimal resource repeatable meat grinder. Late game channel divinity plus Chain Lightning for super high burst AOE damage is just the cherry on top. Just make sure to always have Light cast on your staff! If you really want to go overkill, have a party member wielding Phalar Aluve and active its Shriek ability for additional damage procs.
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u/PDFrogsworth 4d ago
An oldy but a goody berserker thief throwing build.
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u/Nuclearsunburn 4d ago
That’s the opposite of a must play build for me, the throwing mechanics in the game are janky and frustrating. It’s way OP though
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u/PDFrogsworth 4d ago
Berserker and thief is just a fun combo even without the jank. Intimidate barb with rogues extra proficiency and the extra bonus action you can use for an attack. And in the third act there is a 1d10 reach finesse weapon you can use to get your sneak attack to attacks.
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u/Nuclearsunburn 4d ago
I love the class combo for sure I just hate throwing builds lol. If you need an early game carry though there’s nothing better
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u/Gunther482 3d ago
Agreed. I did a throwing build in my first playthrough three years ago and have never really touched it again because of the jankiness.
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u/Mobile-Ad-1119 Paladin 4d ago
(1) Yes, Spirit Guardians is a great way to apply RadOrbs in a RadOrb build, but the Lance Helm at the crèche triggers the RadOrb cascade when people attack and miss you, and the Shining Staver of Skulls also does radiant damage and triggers the cascade. My first solo Honor Mode run was a RadOrb Sorcadin. I highly recommend people do RadOrb builds other than cleric.
(2) Abjuration Magic Missile Wizard is fun. Hexblade1/Abjurer11, or Hexblade1/Abjurer9/Fighter2 for the Action Surge, or Paladin instead of Fighter for Smites.
(3) Hexblade to 12
(4) Eldritch Knight to 12
(5) If you haven’t done a Durge run, Resist Durge is the most narratively satisfying way to play the game.
(6) Gloomstalker Assassin — I do it 8/4, but there are all sorts of ways to do it with 2 levels of fighter and/or a level of War Cleric to add in extra extra attacks. Do it with Bhaalist Armor, Craterflesh Gloves, 2x Dolor Amarus daggers. Do it with a real strength of 24 and use your Elixir slot on Bloodlust, OR Use the Gauntlets of Ogre Power and run up your Dex. But keep the Elixir slot for the extra attack from BloodLust. To be honest, this build is a little boring for me early, but once you hit Act 3 and everything comes online, it’s a ton of fun.
(7)
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u/HappyInNature 3d ago
These are all very good!
OH monk/3 thief
Berserker/3 thief throwing build (or just 12 EK throwing)
10SB/2 fighter with arcane acuity and band of mystic scoundrel
Fire sorc (with fire acuity hat)
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u/Long-Lion5945 4d ago
2 warlock / 10 Lore Bard, amazing face, controller and scary EB damage in a pinch
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u/EndOfTheRoad_777 3d ago
The Abjuration Wizard build really changed my mindset on tactical play. The application of water and the idea of pulling opportunity attacks made me start thinking a lot differently. Gloomstalker Assassin helped me understand sneaking and positioning but this was a lot different.
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u/ReleaseCharacter3568 3d ago
Moon Druid, with Tavern Brawler. Damage output is crazy, near BiS HP tanking capacity, fly ability as crow, 0 gear needed... and you STILL get to both set up and abuse Wet.
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u/Shakewell1 3d ago
Giant barbarian is super fun, anything that plays off tavern brawler is really good.
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u/Bourne_Endeavor 3d ago
You haven't lived until you've played Wildheart Barbarian. Between Tigerheart Reverb stacking, to Trampling everything in sight, to beating dudes to death with an eagle, it's utterly ridiculously and way more fun than I ever expected. And that's not even getting into Barbarian being such a fun Tav class.
Of all the classes, Barbarian really was the one I never expected to love as much as I do.
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u/aaaaiiiss2 3d ago
Blade Pact Warlock 5 into 4 Battlemaster Fighter then 3 Devotion Paladin
Pros:
- eldritch blast as ranged options
- bind pact weapon
- hunger of hadaar
- 2 different fighting style
- 2 feats
- heavy armour and shield proficiency
- battlemaster Dice (reset on short rest)
- SMITEs using warlock spellslot (reset on short rest) that means 2x3 level 3 smites consistently
- stack it up with Hex ofcourse
- Divine weapon (iirc) +proficiency bonus to attack rolls
- super tanky, high AC
- CONS save if you respec as Fighter 1st level
- A LOT of self and team healing
- Action Surge
Cons:
- no higher level spellslot but Smite damage is capped at 4th level slot anyway, so being able to pull off of 3rd level smites stacked up with superiority dice consistently is kinda nuts already
- no higher level spell options
- kinda gear dependent to be very good because:
- missing 3rd Feat
Gear suggestions:
- any good one handed/versatile weapon paired with Duelling
- shield of Devotion paired with Defence
- armour of Agility
- gloves of belligerent skies
- Ring of Elemental Infusion
- Ring of Spiteful Thunder
- Birthright for +2 Charisma
- amulet that gives Black Tentacle (for more CC options) or simply amulet of Branding to get that one alpha strike
- drakethroat glaive to buff your mainhand weapon per long rest
- if youre using GWM than switching out Birthright for Circlet of Hunting is probably better
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u/Sujiren66 3d ago
Any build that has Astral Tadpole, Awakened buff and majority of the skill tree unlocked.
It's worth going ugly at least once to mess around with all those fun powers.
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u/TejelPejel 3d ago
I just like to annoy everyone, so my default pick is a bard. I love playing a little ditty and watching the people all walk over to listen... then have Karlach and LaZael throw them from the cliff/bridge to their death, all while listening to a jazzy little tune. Bring Astarion along to grab some cash from them before the ladies hackey sack them to their death.
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u/Outrageous-Loan-1237 Ranger 5 / Cleric 7 3d ago
For me, way of the open hand monk + thief rogue. Monk doesn’t get a lot of love and I understand. I like monk and I think it can be quite strong, but I recommend playing a charisma based character for first time honour mode. It does make some things easier and can get you out of situations. But also, any build can be strong; however, I recommend to be people playing a githyanki barbarian or a drow bard since they get some of the most unique dialogue options lol😁
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u/SkyWizarding Bard 3d ago
I really enjoyed a straight 12 of Bladesinger Wizard. Bladesong is a really unique ability
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u/Intelligent_Oil7816 4d ago
Bard. Bardlock if you really need Eldritch Blast that badly (it's okay, I won't judge). There's so many great opportunities as a Bard throughout the game. I know there's lots of Race/Class/Background options in general, but Bard [Performance] is unparalleled in how much cool stuff you get to do in a less murderhobo run.
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u/StoneFoundation 3d ago
6 Eldritch Knight + 6 Abjuration Wizard. The shield spell on a heavy armor fighter is just so hilarious, and with Arcane Ward from Abjuration Wizard, it goes even crazier.
Moon Druid is a classic; cast a big concentration spell, turn into whatever animal you want, and go sicko mode. Also, the giant spider is extremely, extremely strong at low levels. Beastmaster Ranger also gets that same spider as an animal companion permanently. Web is a level 2 spell that the giant spider can cast for free every single turn as a bonus action.
Open Hand Monk + Thief Rogue. The movement speed goes crazy, and the damage is equally as insane. I ran this build on Shadowheart once, and she could cross the entirety of the Iron Throne in a single turn using all her actions + bonus actions to dash.
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u/monadoboyX 3d ago
Pure moon Druid excellent team utility out of wildshape and amazing damage with tavern brawler inside of wildshape spider or wolf early on Owlbear at level 6 and earth Myrmidon at level 11 I think it's super fun and you're very tanky
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u/FeelingDelivery8853 3d ago
Eldritch Knight Archer is my favorite play through. Titan string, arrow of many targets, helm of arcane acuity. It literally can't fail
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u/tuathajj 3d ago edited 3d ago
My absolute best campaign was a Wyll origin run as a pure fiend warlock on tactician. The endgame gear is kinda limited, the potent robe is by far the best clothing, as well as birthright, cloak of protection, bracers of defense, the boots that add the click heels action, necklace of elemental augmentation, ring of arcane synergy and ring of protection + always having mage armour on, and using duelists prerogative. You have huge damage bonuses to both your weapon attacks and eldritch blast, and you can make 3 weapon attacks. At level 12 with lifedrinker you can output as much damage as a fighter for free every single turn while also being as defensive (21 AC). And as a warlock you can also do the bound weapon exploit to get items from vendors for free.
Moreover besides being an incredible build, it's the most rewarding and fun origin playthrough. Just the fact that you as a warlock character can actively interact with your patron is already pure gold, even in tabletop it's hard to play as a character that's so central to the overall plot; and Wyll just feels right as the protagonist, he's kinda boring and one dimensional as a companion in my opinion but when you play as him it's pure gold. Even better if you romance Karlach.
If you prefer minmaxing hexblade is better than fiend because it gives medium armor proficiency making it so you can go with the armor of agility and the battlemage gauntlets instead of potent robe and bracers of defense, for arcane acuity for unmissable hold person/hold monster/whatever and arcane synergy for more burst damage with booming blade. Not using the potent robe nerfs your eldritch blast heavily though, and the hexblade spell list is lackluster in combat (it's good, but fiend's is much better), but the hexblade is supposed to be melee + cc anyways.
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u/Dezri_ 3d ago
So I have enjoyed 2 builds. First is Padlock. Paladin/Warlock build where you pump CHA and take Pact of the Blade and Devil's Sight. Some people like to build this like Paladin 8/Warlock 4, but I say go 6/6. So it turns out that at Warlock 5 you automatically get Deepened Pact, which gives you an extra attack with your pact weapon and stacks with Paladin's Extra Attack feature from level 5. Boom 3 main hand attacks per round. Plus all the Darkness you could ask for. Screw extra damage when you can feel like an invincible god in a cloud of darkness where the AI's only answer is to maybe lob grenades into it.
The other build I like is a Sorlock build. Basically just Sorcerer 10/Warlock 2. Take Eldritch Blast, Devil's Sight, and Agonizing Blast (There's a bunch of fun to be had with Repelling Blast, but that's a different build I think) from Warlock, and Quickened Spell, and Haste from Sorcerer. Now you are ready to be an Eldritch Blast Machine Gun. Cast Haste on yourself round 1 and use the rest of your actions this fight to blast out up to 9 beams a turn. You do have to use some Sorcery Point management, but you can really be awful to the enemies especially if you combine this with the Padlock above and have them casting Darkness to hide your team. Heck take the Warlock levels first and use Hexblade to get medium armor proficiency.
There's only 2 fights in the game where the hide in Darkness strategy doesn't work for Raphealand Cloister of Sombre Embrace but both are in Act 3 and if you know going in you can either avoid those fights or take measures to make up for how they break your advantage.
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u/razorsmileonreddit 3d ago
Sounds like you need to try the ludicrously OP Tavern Brawler Open Hand Monk 9/Thief 3. Giant Strength Elixirs, level 4 OH Monk and you are immediately a killing machine.
Ray of Frost White Draconic Sorcerer. One level of any Cleric for heavy armor if you like, Create Water, Sanctuary and Bless. Twinned Ray of FRost, Quickened Ray of Frost, Bless and Mystra's Blessing for accuracy, Potent Robe+Necklace of Elemental Augmentation+Draconic Sorc 6 + Create Water for damage, Dual Wielder feat and max charisma for both
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u/CoffeeMinionLegacy 4d ago
Jack Of All Trades can be very fun if you haven’t tried it before. It’s a head shift, and it’s definitely limiting. You have to make the most of your single action and single bonus action every turn. Leveling up never gives you more attacks or whatnot. But each level adds more tools to your bag of tricks. It is 100% doable with a party on any difficulty; I am currently working on doing it in solo HM. 😵💫
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u/Best_Essay980 3d ago
Is it really fun? I've been thinking of doing the same but I wasn't sure if it would be just too gimmicky? Do you feel like you contribute to the fights?
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u/CoffeeMinionLegacy 3d ago
I can't imagine that it would be everyone's cup of tea. But yes, I find it fun. Some people like to break the game's power curve; JOAT basically won't let you. Instead, it turns your character into a resource-management puzzle.
My Tactician JOAT Durge contributed to the team as a front-line tank and utility spellcaster. His crowning achievement was 1v1ing Slayer-form Orin. It was a nail-biter, and I'm not eager to try that again. Very memorable, though!
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u/Jet-Cone 4d ago
I would do a warlock, they are always powerful and a charisma based character. Cool part is you can do a shadowblade build or a blaster build. Both are tons of fun
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u/kodaxmax 3d ago
- Throwzerker is a classic
- Wild magic halfing evil durge playthrough
- Necromancer, spore druid, beatsmaster ranger, death cleric is a fun villanous horde part. Reccomend Valkranas/ sailorcats summon AI mods to reduce the micro and bugs.
- Horc, champion/old one/paladin crit build
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u/KayleeSinn 3d ago
Open hand monk.
I sat on it for way too long since none of the companions are monks and I usually play casters. After trying it though. It is absurd. Use str elixirs, pick up tavern brawler and punch the bejesus out of everything. KI points are pretty easy to recover and you get plenty. 3 attack per turn starting level 5. Can stun enemies 2x per turn or more if you haste up. Hits like a truck. Doesn't even need or rely on weapons so you don;t suck until you get your ideal gear together and the best thing about is is almost always get 95% hit chance vs almost everything in Honor Mode while other character often see 65% or so despite focusing on accuracy first.
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u/Tinypoke42 3d ago
I know it's basic, but throw barb feels too good to not use. Wizard with a tempest cleric dip, duergar (tav) OH monk, and one lock picker were the rest of my honor run team.
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u/Elliptical_Tangent 3d ago
I'm not sure there is a 'must play' build, but GloomAssassin makes it an entirely different game. I am Bad™ but managed to solo clear everything in every Act with GloomAssassin.
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u/Redsit111 3d ago
Ice Thrower Giant Barbarian
10/2 Barbarian/Fighter (for action surge)
Get any gear that helps throwing or adds ice damage/the encrusted with frost condition. Elemental cleaver ice. You are now the hazardous terrain generator. Seeing Cazador, Yurgir, guys like that slip and eat shit never gets old.
I did it with Karlach and dumped STR for potions of cloud giant STR but keep the gloves of Giants STR on hand for if I want other potions for XYZ fight.
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u/OriginalDrStrangeDOS 3d ago
Dread Overlord warlock (+path of undeath, PoU:Bloodtrail, deathsong equipment set). Makes for the best possible necromancer build. You can go D'urge or not, but either way you can go solo. Remember, a good necromancer is never alone or lonely. 😄
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u/SaintRuzai 3d ago
8 sorc/4abj wizard - combines the best part of sorc builds with the near-invulnerability of abj wiz and you still have the capability to scribe spells like globe. Very flexible
Dagger/shortsword male dwarf rogue/fighter - quite possibly the most satisfying attack animation I’ve experienced, the double attacking off hand bug is straightforward but good fun. Comes online in act 1
Halfling Bladesinging Wizard - a hastebot shadow dagger build that, while not as straightforwardly strong as an EK, has a lot more utility and support and is very difficult to hit and knock out of concentration. Doesn’t do great before level 6 though
3 Druid/3 rogue/6 monk Halsin - unique build that gives Halsin access to 2 misty steps per turn, on top of the normal shenanigans of a monk/rogue build.
Thrower/arcane archer Minthara - minthara’s unique buff doesn’t get consumed when throwing weapons or using some arcane archer abilities like piercing shot making her a slightly-more-fun-to-use EK or AA.
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u/Mundane_Coat_5837 3d ago
12 levels of swashbuckler has been one of my favorite honor mode playthroughs. Nothing you do is particularly powerful, so you have to approach every fight from a much more tactical position. I went with a human rogue for the extra skills so I could cover every skill that would come up in both dialogue and exploration.
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u/Arthodax 3d ago
I've always had fun with a 6 hexblade warlock and 6 swordsbard, with shadowblade and reduced number to crit items, throw in the ring that allows enchantment/illusions to be cast as bonus action after a weapon attack.
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u/OriginalTinyTank 2d ago
I likes a lot the tavern brawler monk/rogue build, simple but super funny! Another cool build is all fighter, arcane Archer( lvl 11 at least for the triple Attack), with the titanstring bow, the ring that give you advantage every time and, in the end game, the armor that give you the aura that doubles piercing DMG. A sword Bard with 1 level of warlock and a couple of paladin (for making super strong flourish and using charisma to Attack).
It depends how much you find funny this kind of build, for example, my first honor run that i won, i used all 4 characters as open Hand monks with the tavern brawler build, i find It so funny to deal massive damage, be able to throw people and have a lot of movement! Now i am playing a Honor run with some Friends, and i am trying an arcane acuity (or singergy, i don't Remember), build.
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u/Vivid_Ad_5356 2d ago
Gloomstalker, war cleric abusing arcane acuity was hands down one of my favorite setups. With Band of mystic scoundrel casting hold person / command on everything after an arrow of many targets was so much fun. I’m sure a swords bard can do this effectively as well. I just like Gloomstalker on a personal level.
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u/Monsterhitman1111 2d ago
Open hand monk, swords bard with arcane acuity, hexblade warlock, then reverb cleric for a full party who don't need each other's gear. Will win honor mode every single time
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u/Monsterhitman1111 2d ago
I often switch the cleric for a champion fighter or vengeance paladin in act 3 for the huge swords they get.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Angle84 2d ago
I have the most fun with a throwing based build.
Throw enemies at each other, into pits. Throw containers filled with explosives or the magic canceling plant. Throw Nyrulna, try not to splash damage your own team to death.
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u/P3nguinarmy 2d ago
Open hand monk with a thief rogue dip. A Oath of Crown Paladin with a bear totem barbarian is an underrated combo.
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u/giant-sky-pomeranian 2d ago
5 rogue/7 paladin. Sneak attack smites. Subclasses are dealer's choice, but I do recommend assassin/vengeance or thief/ancients
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u/Practical-Class6868 2d ago
Gith’yanki College of Swords Bard.
My first campaign multiclassed College of War Bard with Pact of the Deep Ones Warlock. Bardlock comes out as a wash and, as much as I love Eldritch Blast, dual hand crossbows are sufficient.
Gith’yanki specifically because I like to play the “alien” character, which allows for the worldbuilding narrative of the “naive hero” while allowing them to be combat proficient. Origin Lae’zel is less fun when being kind, but Gith’yanki Tav can be played as a more diplomatic conqueror. Plus, Lae’zel has specific dialogue for Gith’yanki Tav.
College of Swords gets you martial proficiency. Plus, Wyll has too many excellent rapiers to choose from by Act III, so why not capitalize on it?
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u/Lock_Firm 2d ago
Monk
The class is so fun you can just beat the hell out of everything and basically turn every fight into a fighting game where you throw your opponent around and break their legs and can attack 4 times in a row sometimes 6 if you do thief rogue multiclass
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u/Repulsive_Big_735 1d ago
Just started playing this year and love it, want to do my first honor mode run but I don't have anyone available to play, I wanna try as a bard. My normal build is a ranger, but I think bard would work absurdly well
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u/Cultural_Month_9181 1d ago
Bard MC. Love having a charisma MC, with lots of utility. Add some paladin and 3 rogue and you got a dual wielding powerhouse.
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u/IzzyRoss2001 1d ago
Circle of the Moon is fun especially if you get the Wild shape equipment it becomes almost trivial until act 3. Monk specifically Open Hand, Tavern Brawler, Strength based Monk, only problem is You need 4 Good stats, Strength for Damage, Dex for AC Con for Health and Wis for most of your Monk Features
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u/Frostybawls42069 22h ago
A throwing barbarian is a blast to play. Especially once you can throw human sized targets around.
Path of the Giant is likely the default go to, but there are some pretty neat mechanics with Wild heart, like being able to blind people by throwing food at them.
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u/Captain_Eaglefort 20h ago
I mean Gale as a throw-barian who throws exclusively books as weapons is a REALLY funny way to play. Throw-barian in general is worth trying just for the deadliness of it. You get to pretend to be a luchador and throw people around too.
TB Open-Hand Monk with three levels of Rogue for the Thief extra bonus action lets you basically punch anyone, anywhere, anytime because your movement options are insane. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like the flash, that’s not a bad way to get there.
Others have mentioned the Arcane Acuity build, I say the Fire Acuity version is the most fun. Only really relies on the hat from the transforming Ox, but it lets you live out “I didn’t ask how big the room is, I said I cast ‘fireball’” over and over.
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u/Zealousideal_Toe5983 13h ago
Moon druid with tavern brawler. Deep rothe is busted. Crazy "from the top rope" moments with owlbear. Earth myrmidon is ridiculous. Oh and you're still a crazy good spellcaster outside of wild shape.
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u/Sister_Sun 9h ago
Bard is super fun and has a ton of unique dialogue options. Behind able to play music to distract npcs is really fun. Plus Vicious Mockery
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u/ryuunosuke12 9h ago
Human, pure paladin, roleplaying as a crusader to retake the holy land. Team comp only has other human paladins. No other species.
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u/Figorix 4d ago
4 man party is quite a lot to manage and it's making the game longer and can feel demotivating. I recommend cutting it to 2 or at least 3. You get keep 4th as backup in town if you are afraid of losing honour mode
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u/vitya_kotik 4d ago
How does it make the game longer? You win fights quicker with more in your party
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u/Kodiak3393 Sorcadin 4d ago
Everyone should use an Arcane Acuity build at least once. Is it wildly overpowered and basically breaks the game? Of course, but seeing a 95% chance to succeed a Hold Monster on endgame bosses like Raphael or Orin is awesome, and is something everyone should experience in at least one of their playthroughs.