If I were to play a Bladesinger in D&D 5e today, this is how I would build them. A combination of burst damage, sustained DPR, and strong spellcasting :).
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Intro/Character Concept:(0:00)
dScryb (Sponsor):(9:00)
Level 1:(11:17)
Levels 2-6:(18:26)
Levels 7-9:(35:28)
Levels 10-13:(43:19)
Levels 14-17:(48:43)
Final Thoughts:(56:28)
Outtakes:(59:16)
Math/Graph for this episode:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17-hMrCjBx2K7oAT71UG3-Q5Ft8jj-j5GODQXgtfG_N0/edit?usp=sharing
Master Nova Damage Comparison (4 tabs):
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YkQl4xJHk26zLAh-S0Uh-eW1f3rnKVrWkHaeuN9oCK0/edit?usp=sharing
Thanks to LudicSavant for the amazing DPR calculator! https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?582779-Comprehensive-DPR-Calculator-(v2-0))
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I have an idea for a Zoroastrian Middle Eastern type of religious sect that uses the "Eternal Fire" (working title) as a purifier. Their chosen being able to wield it on their weapons, doing radiant dmg on undead & fiends and maybe regular fire on anything else??? Would them being resistant to fire be too much or maybe this type of fire ? Subrace maybe or just those who follow the belief? Flavor for some spells like sending is you speak into a flame and use it as a curtain into the receivers mind, you use the flame as a focus?
I’m playing a Githyanki (the OG gish) Bladesinger 2.0 now, and am lvl 5. Very excited because my character concept and leveling plan is exactly what you laid out! So nice to hear I wasn’t being dumb by planning to go tighter.
I have a party member who likes to cast firewall, and my DM won’t let me dive through it with Absorb Elements and deal the extra damage on the same turn. RAW says “on your next turn”. I’m so sad she won’t let me do it! But it’s okay. I just have to wait an extra round.
I LOVE Tensors Transformation. I don't care if a little suboptimal vs other options like Animate Object. It is awesome and powerful. Fits this build and theme 100%
I want a new category : Round 1 Nova. How much damage can you do without any preparation rounds.
I don't know about others, but my friends and I (regardless of who is DMing) all ignore the multiclass requirements of classes.
The thing about relying on a familiar to grant you Advantage is that your Owl has AC 11 and 1 HP. He is instantly killed by any enemy that wants to (remember enemies can hold actions too).. and why wouldn't they want to?
Blademaster tripping also has the problem that it has a STR saving throw which is the second worst stat to target at Mid CRs making it also unreliable. So in the end you likely won't have advantage and therefore use of Eleven accuracy in any sustained way. if you hold your familiar back for the Nova round, you'll have Advantage on the first attack, but your trip only has about a 50% chance of working each time you try it.
Query: doesn't the rule for bonus action casting require that all other spells cast that turn only be cantrips? The reaction casting would still be in the same turn, so you couldn't cast Absorb Elements and Shadow Blade in the same turn. I have been unable to find anything refuting this, and a J. Craw tweet confirming. Am I missing something?
Question, and I'm honestly curious, don't you only get the Blade singer bonuses if you are only welding one weapon? Again, honest confusion on my side.
You're the kindest human I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. Much love, and keep up the great work!
You go ahead and cast Tensor's Colby, you have no reason to be ashamed. My bladesinger won't and at least one of our wizards will be capable of casting spells.
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Technically, I don't think using your reaction to cast Absorb Elements and then casting Shadow Blade as a bonus action on the same turn actually works RAW. The rule states that if you cast a spell with your Bonus Action, you can't cast any other spells on that turn unless they are cantrips. Since the reaction is happening on your turn, I think that would come into play.
I am curious… Would echo knight fighter be more effective in later levels? It does cost a bonus action to proc, but it last until dismissed or destroyed. Could be done before combat easily. Instead of the two weapon fighting, superior technique to get that trip attack.
Could you please build a character based on attacking and don't get attack back? Example, Rabbit Hop form Harengon, or Nimble Escape from Globin + Booming Blade. Or.. my best ideia soo far, Eldritch Adept + Devil Sight + Darkness!!! Imagine, you can walk among your blind enimes spreading fear and damage with advantage and not been hit, like a ghost in the darkness!! Cool, isn't it? I just need the numbers to see if that is sustainable. Thanks.
Probably reducing the damage but lorewise speaking, I think Scorge Aasimar would fit the penitent theme perfectly (taking even more dpr and splashing radiant damage around them)
Wouldn't the high elf one give you a free wizard cantrip?
You look like you're related to Liam O'brien.
So in the rules you can prepare a spell to use it as a reaction so you can have shadowblade ready to use as a reaction as per PHB page 193. Also Jermey Crawford did tweet that you can use green flame blade with shadowblade , and to back that there is a section for spell casting cost for spells cast which implies that shadow blade would actually cost of 10 to 50 gold as that spell casting as a service section in PHB page 159.
Uses fire, prefers dual wielding swords, could send your lightning attack back at you, and has major self esteem issues (might we say they want to reclaim their honor)? So this is D&D Zuko?
I'm having great success with a similar build, my go to nova is bladesong -> greater invisibility -> action surge -> steel wind strike. With elven accuracy this gets pretty nuts so long as you have targets. Highly recommend greater invisibility on elven accuracy bladesingers.
Question- is there a rule I’m missing that lets you choose to put +2 into dex? All I see in DNDB is +2 CHA
Final magical weapon for this one I'd have a DM request/quest for a repurposed moonblade. Make your Own shadowblade! Half Elf fits too! Other hand vorpal (short) sword just because vorpal + elven accuracy head games.
I think I mentioned it before, but I give the bladesingers extra attack to all half casters. It makes Artificers and Rangers so happy to do more impactful combat decisions besides burning through spells early.
I also give the Bladesinger the option of wielding martial weapons at that level, just to have them not feel cheated
You can choose to use your bonus action first, cast Shadow Blade and then move in to engage in melee combat and use your attack action to make a melee attack. Or you could use your action to cast Haste. You should have already cast Mage Armor after you Long Rest, it lasts for 8 hours. Let the enemy close with you, after all, you have 10 rounds (1 minute) of Shadowblade use. After the 1st round you will have the ability to use your bonus action to cast Cantrips.
There might be some wiggle room but: when you cast a spell as a Bonus Action, then you can't cast other spells during the same turn, except for Cantrips with casting time of 1 Action. Wouldn't this also prohibit Reaction spells during your turn?
I’m not sure if you’ve talked about this yet but technically the dhampir, reborn, and hex-blood lineages can all get elven accuracy
Funny enough, I've played almost this exact build up to level 9 🤣 I didn't do the GFB trick though, just the typical BB and held a shadowblade in my off hand
I don't think I'd ever upcast Absorb Elements. Absorb at level 1. Mirror image or blur at level 2 slot. 3rd level to go crazy with AOE spells. Fun build, Colby!
I'd love a "cuttingroom floor" episode where you go through some of the concepts you tried to build around that never made it into a video, and what issues you encountered trying to make them work, perhaps why they got cut in the first place.
love the nale art in the back
I thought that dual wielding prevents you from casting somatic spells like absorb elements unless you have warcaster? (I’m sure you covered this somewhere, but I can’t find it.)
Hi Colby, my name is Patrick from Germany and I stumbled across your channel quite a while ago. Now I can't remember, if you did a build around the steel wind strike, like the real Nightcrawler from X-Men. In my opinion this spell is so cool thematically, that it deserves a build around. Maybe along with other teleportations and attacks. What do you think? Best regards Patrick
Video quality looked great!!! Alignment for Art on the wall was spot on! Thanks as always!
At 6th level damage report, on round 2, you cast Absorb Elements as a reaction and Shadow Blade as a bonus action. Isn't that breaking the rules for bonus actions? When you cast a bonus action spell, "You can’t cast another spell during the same turn, except for a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action."
With all these talks of magic items now i want a series of how you would make a build around various commonly "powerful" items. Not the bag of holding bombs, but legit builds
You should try spirit shroud with scimitar of speed)
Going to ask again for a crucible of Fate (pvp) character ,https://youtu.be/t70FvRMAmPM, this i think makes the build very different then traditional ones
“A spell cast with a bonus action is especially swift. You must use a bonus action on your turn to cast the spell, provided that you haven’t already taken a bonus action this turn. You can’t cast another spell during the same turn, except for a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action.” PH pg.202.
This means between 30:00 and 30:44 you can’t actually bonus action summon your shadow blade because even though Absorb Elements is a reaction it is a spell that happened “during the same turn” and it’s not a cantrip.
Hey im the food truck kid and i wanted to say hi and ask if you liked the sandwich lol i love your Psy-Claw build btw ❤
Wanted to point out the extra damage from level 5 and beyond for green flame blade is whatever number of d8's plus ur spell modifier… Adds a whole extra layer of risk! Spicy 😋
Completely unrelated but I thought of something to make monks have a little more umph. Would it be out of line to give them a second reaction at lvl 3? Two reactions is unique and flavorful to the monk and could be put to interesting use, without buffing the class too much to make it unbalanced. What do you think?
Pffft warcaster… my rapier is my focus! Takes attunement, that ruby of the war mage.
Could very well have a flame tongue? At level 9!? 5e assumes players generally don't have even a +1 weapon before 10th…
I was looking in your Tank Comparation, looking for the best non-magical tank. What would you think would be your best non-magical tank build? I was looking into it, and think it’s the Monk Tank. He is the only one who doesn’t have spells, I think. Would you agree? Thank you for your attention!
Colby, will you please be my bestest dnd buddy that I totally don't know? You seem like a genuinely good husband, dad, and all around dude, and I dig that about you! Play on my friend!
I love this build so much, I just wish you could get the CON proficiency when multi-classing to Fighter. Not getting that or Resilient CON hurts my soul.