Their 1st level feature, Reaper, allows them to twin a necromancy cantrip if two enemies are within 5 feet of each other, and picking up chill touch or sapping sting as cleric cantrips alongside toll the dead allows you to cast two cantrips and make one weapon attack, which gets an additional 2d8 necrotic damage on a hit, as part of the same action. This complete guide to the Bladesinger will answer all your questions and more. Though the Bladesinger is undoubtedly a fun class to play, it is not the most powerful. Youll rarely be disappointed with the outcome. All this can be yours for the low, low price of a single attack action! , which completely negates all attacks of opportunity that would otherwise result from it flying away from enemies. A friend of mine knew this, so was compelled to rush over to my house one day, clutching a copy ofSword Coast Adventurers Guide. The quintessential Gish feat. I really think it's an underrated Wizard subclass. While those who get Potent Spellcasting at 8th level can get something out of following their boosted cantrips up with a weapon attack, it is the clerics with Divine Strike that benefit the most. (See next points). You should be good with light armor and letting the bladesong make up the difference, but a College of Valor bard has the additional option of strapping on a shield if theyre out of bladesong uses. Once, in a campaign with another wizard that had also taken Minor Illusion, we managed to distract an entire town of people by staging a mock fight, throwing illusionary Fire Bolts at each other until our rogue had robbed the crowd blind. you can shoot and use mage hand to interact with the battlefield (moving a torch, get the cape of the enemy before his eyes, shake his bow etc. If you're a bladesinger surrounded by enemies you're fucking up. When you said:Zannan has proficiency in the following skills and tools, did you mean Dram, since it was his description? Hit points are a big problem for Bladesingers. Wearing a gratuitous grin, he thrust it at me, telling me to turn to page 141, only cryptically adding, Your prayers have been answered.. With another strike from the blade and a blast of thunderous magic that reverberated throughout the alleyway, both thugs were down on the ground. Fury of the Smallgrants the ability to cause more damage to any target of a larger size than you (which is practically everything). Why would anyone take True Strike as a cantrip? And if you dual wield, then Mobile would have you with 3 attacks that could help prevent getting opportunity attacked (and they don't need to hit), instead of just 1 from Shocking Grasp that would need to hit to get that benefit. His investigation into smokepowder thieves bearing the symbol of the phoenix was inspired by a line in the Baldurs Gate: Descent into Avernus Gazetteer, and could very well be the setup for an epic showdown of guns versus swords in the grimy streets of the Gate! For a Bladesinger, its godlike. If you want to play a bard who pairs their spellcasting with weapon attacks, there are options in the colleges of Swords and Valor, and both of these can benefit to some extent from the option of casting a cantrip in place of one of their attacks. However, Bladesingers seek out combat and thus require more hitpoints. With a little imagination, this spell pays dividends, albeit at the cost of two spell slots. For extra points, try getting your hands on aSun Blade. The Bladesinger isn't expending their action to cast the cantrip, they are expending an available attack to cast their cantrip. Seconded. A Goblin Bladesinger might be a little too unorthodox for some tables, so check with your group if you plan on using one. This feature essentially acts as a panic button, negating damage that you might not be able to take otherwise. Wizards have great combat cantrips, but clerics also bring something to the table. Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, their respective logos, and all Wizards titles and characters are property of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the U.S.A. and other countries. Wait until they get a load of this. If you decide to forgo the benefits of your bladesong, your armor and shield proficiencies will allow you to reduce or even dump Dexterity, but you will then need to make up for it with Strength for better melee attacks unless you find a way to get shillelagh. After all, we cant let the bard have all the fun. Like with all Wizards, the most crucial ability score for you will be intelligence. You can choose to cast the cantrip either first or second, opening up some crazy combinations. In the situation where you cannot benefit from Reaper, using one of the blade cantrips allows you a second chance to land your attack for Divine Strike damage just like the other domains. They are a great choice for the Bladesinger, not just because of the aforementioned ability placement but also the bonus feat. Not as effective at spellcasting as other Wizard subclasses. If you're willing to wait a while then any Bard at level 10 can grab find greater steed. At range, replacing one of your attacks with a cantrip will allow you to use crossbows more effectively without having to pick up Crossbow Expert to ignore the Loading property. Anyways, Lightning Lure can work well to "add" 10 ft. to your attacks or for some Scorpion thematics. Use Chill Touch to halt regeneration while still getting attacks in. Dram has spent the past several weeks caring for his beloved, but is eager to bring these gunslingers to justice with the merciless crescendo of his Bladesong. Good at everything. Drams Charisma and Dexterity scores are low, though Bladesonggrants him advantage on Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks. This means that no, you will not see a soul-singing sorcerer or a techno-bass-dropping artificer either. Save this spell for when youve run out of spells, or want to commit wholeheartedly to the frontlines. If you start as a wizard, you can also play a bladesinger whose talents got them recruited by a bardic college. First of all, this means that you do not take the Attack action, with all that it entails. So thats what Im going to do here: explore some of the great new things that other classes can do with six levels of Tashas Bladesinger. They can cast a cantrip in place of one of the attacks, which is another handy addition that the Tashas Cauldron of Everything version of this subclass instituted. But how does the Bladesinger work? This is the reason Wizards get Steel Wind Strike. I dont think so. Make it high. I recommend the rapier, as it boasts respectable damage. Wizards were powerful; I knew that, but I wished there was some way of building them without having to run away at the first sign of trouble. 8 Ways Tasha Made the Bladesinger Awesome for Multiclassing: Bards and Clerics, How to triple your fireball damage: The Cloaker. Speak with your DM about allowing a special weapon with these attributes if your heart is set on it. It's a coincidence, but maybe you should haveDram and Zannan meet Varog and Dirrian one day and be likedo we know you two? Superior Darkvisionis a great bonus too. Dram was fascinated by Zannan, and begged him to share the secrets of his sword artistry. Flying and Climbing allow you to stay out of reach from most enemies. This spell has Bladesinger written all over it. One possibility is a Warlock multiclass build - you can eldritch blast every turn and also attack, or attack with your familiar if you go Pact of the Chain. The most helpful of these is, funnily enough, thehelp action, which can be used to give yourself advantage on attacks. Bladesinger wizards can use their action to attack twice, or . This character is an intelligent fencer or noble, a class born of elves. you can also use light on an arrow and shoot it the same turn. Challenging but rewarding, the Bladesinger requires a keen understanding of both melee mechanics and wizard spellcasting, and enough experience to know how to balance the two. Tortles dont get to add their Dexterity to their Armor Class (AC). you can create a cover with mold earth and shoot an arrow the same round. The strongest spell in his arsenal is steel wind strike. I will tackle the particular MADness issues of each combination as I go over them. Enter the Bladesinger 5E. This repeats at the end of each of their turns. They will have a serious problem with their hit points, but if you keep this in mind, and maybe play with hit and run tactics, you shouldnt have any issues. A defensive spell that deals damage, granting resistance to either fire or cold, but also the ability to give that damage type back to anyone foolish enough to strike you in melee. If youre against two combatants in melee, this spell will allow you to damage them both, your initial target taking regular attack damage and the second taking fire damage. They are the perfect way to start your character. Check back next time, when we do our best not to feel bad when the bladesinger takes the lunch money from our other Extra Attack features with the fighter and monk. This probably isn't intended and I would definitely run it by the DM first, but if it's allowed then it could be useful in a party with a Battle Smith artificer. Coming in at #2 is dexterity. Stuns any creature that has 150 hit points or fewer. You could, of course, take most of your levels in wizard to get its high-level features, and instead dip out to 1-3 levels of something else that benefits from taking the Attack action (hello Sneak Attack, Planar Warrior, Colossus Slayer, Combat Superiority, Martial Arts, and two-weapon fighting), but the focus of this particular run-down is to explore what you get out of strapping specifically the 6th level Bladesinging feature - and the spellcasting you get on your way to it - onto another classs core chassis. Answer: They can, but its generally against their best interests. Adding an extra 10 feet to your movement and allowing you to move out of combat without an attack opportunity makes your character uniquely portable. The Deep Gnome might not seem like the obvious choice for a sword-wielding spell-slinger, but its +2 Intelligence and +1 Dexterity modifier might get you to think twice before putting this subrace aside. If your character is a street performer, put it in charisma. For Arcane Archer it's 2, for Battle Master it starts at 4. You can also pick an origin that gives weapon proficiencies like dwarf, elf or hobgoblin. At14th level, bladesingers can add their Intelligence modifier (at a minimum of +1) to the damage of their melee attacks while their Bladesong is active. Re: Breaking the Tasha's Bladesinger. A multifaceted debuff spell. aid other tabletop gamers in creating memorable characters, Press J to jump to the feed. As a subject for learning, it is absent from schools and guilds, with instruction only provided from a single master to a single student. But, then came revamped Bladesinger and Spirit Shroud. Through the Bladesinger option, you gain abilities such as light armor proficiency and extra attack, thus making you a formidable fighter as well. Clerics bring a lot of armor to the table, and certain domains also give martial weapon proficiencies. Two-handed ranged weapons interfere with Bladesinging, but hand crossbows are still an option for the domains with martial weapon proficiencies (or those who can get it from their origin). Swashbuckler is a good pick because you can run up to someone, Booming Blade them and then hit them again and then move away. To really get something out of your weapon attacks, the College of Swords still brings something to the table with Blade Flourishes despite the redundant 6th-level feature, and the powerful psychic blades from the College of Whispers now also have one more chance to hit each turn, dealing 5d6 psychic damage at level 10. DnDing.com is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. It also reduces that enemy's speed by 10 ft and prevents healing. This time around, Ill tackle the two full-caster combinations: the bard and the cleric. In any case, the artistic flavour of Bladesinging is a perfect roleplaying fit for any bard, so lets take a look at how this might work. With some luck (a moving target, or 2 . Scan this QR code to download the app now, current leaks on Tasha's Cauldron of Everything. Unfortunately, their +1 to wisdom does nothing for a Bladesinger build. Here is a list of feats you should consider for your Bladesinger. Answer: No. Because your Bladesinger should be using light finesse weapons, your dexterity will both count towards your weapon attacks and damage as well as your armor class, making dexterity a double whammy that you should put your next highest score in. Unless youre playing a Tortle, mostly disregard this stat. Alternatively, you can go the route of light armor, prioritizing Dexterity and Wisdom, with Intelligence giving a small boost to AC while Bladesinging. Itll also apply a temporary buff to your next melee attack, infusing it with the damage type of whichever element just hit you. From level 17, you can enjoy max-leveled cantrips and 9th-level spell slots on your way towards your 7th-level cleric spells and second Divine Strike die at levels 19 and 20. The most obvious one is you'll be 5-stat MAD, you need 13 str for paladin and if you want to use blade-sing and go in melee range to hit you need to invest in dex (or Tortle up, its a solution), and we're already short on ASIs to take the Mobile feat. Hand Crossbow 5e Guide For Everyone but Druids and Wizards. Falling to the ground with tears in his eyes, the old man helplessly watched as the crooks snatched his purse, eagerly removing its coins like ravenous hyenas. Also at 2nd level, bladesingers receive the key feature of their Arcane Tradition: Bladesong. At 10th level, bladesingers can absorb damage when their Bladesong is active by using a reaction to expend one spell slot. Similarly, this feat can push an ally out of harms way, as the push itself doesnt cause any outright damage, and the target can choose to fail the saving throw. It also gives you advantage on every attack you make with it in low light or darkness. Thats 3d20. With the release of Tashas Cauldron of Everything, the arcane tradition of Bladesinging was reprinted with two changes from its original version in the Sword Coast Adventurers Guide. Having at least 13 Intelligence is a prerequisite for even multiclassing into or out of wizard, and the more you plan on relying on your wizard spells and AC bonus from Bladesinging, the higher you should go there. 6 bladesinger, 11 fighter, 2 warlock hexblade, with the sorcerer metamagic feat for quicken metamagic will net you 12 blasts, and 4 attacks for a pretty fun burst combo. Answer: Yes, Bladesigner is 100% official. High elves, in particular, stand out because of their +1 intelligence and the traditional +2 dexterity awarded to all elves. The truth is, variant humans are a good choice for any class. Finally, the druid will get an honorable mention towards the end thanks to the Circle of Spores. Bladesinging is thesubclass for wizards who want swordplay to supplement their spells. Though undeniably powerful, the Bladesinger has many weaknesses that the player must be aware of and compensate for. This allows you to add your Intelligence modifier to your melee damage rolls while your bladesong is active. I hope this article helped you understand more of the Bladesinger, and I cant wait to see what you guys come up with. I would focus mainly on role-playing for these choices rather than optimal character building. Its the last part of this feat that stands out. This spread of abilities means they cant truly excel in any one area. Hitting someone with Booming Blade as they try to move past you means they either have to stop immediately or take a significant chunk of thunder damage. This opens up some weapon possibilities that wouldnt usually be viable for other Bladesingers. Dram can be a great ally in any campaign taking place in Baldur's Gate. 2023 Wizards. War Caster is a worthwhile feat for Bladesingers. -A 90/300 range weapon that uses your Int for attack rolls, does double your int in damage on top of the dice damage, and the dice themselves are 2d6 once per turn. Would it be Van RIchten's Guide to Ravenloft? When active, the Bladesong grants you bonuses designed to give you more survivability in melee encounters, with extra AC making you harder to hit, increased movement speed helping you get away from tough fights, and enhanced concentration allowing you to take damage without dropping spells. Whenever you take an attack that would hit you, instantly shove on an extra +5 AC, potentially making that attack miss completely. My favorite subclass in DnD. It does have one, admittedly situational, use. Being able to deal someone aFinger of Deathbecause they dared to move past you is ridiculously strong, but even a cantrip can be surprisingly useful here. The stat increases are excellent: +2 Dexterity and +1 Constitution. Spells, melee damage, and AC will all gain bonuses from this stat as you progress. Starting as a wizard, you need to pick the right one-handed melee weapon at level 2 to last you for the rest of the game, unless you plan on going Swords or Valor, which add scimitars and martial weapons, respectively. (Editors note, booming blade is also likely to make your DM very upset and whiney.) For an idea of how your stats should look, heres an example using a standard array: When you first take the Bladesinger subclass, you instantly gain proficiency in light armor and your choice of a one-handed melee weapon. Excellent for getting out of tight spots or past enemy formations. As a subject for learning, it is absent from schools and guilds, with instruction only provided from a single master to a single student. With it, you essentially get super-duper-advantage! -Con save proficiency. Artillerist 5/Bladesinger 4 AC: 17 in +1 studded leather, 22 while Bladesinging. This makes an (already appealing imo) Rogue dip much better. Those can be nice to get a bit more tanky. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. Better yet if you can get Illusionist's Bracers, you can do it for free without the feat and more often. Copyright 2023 Explore DnD | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme. Also, as you become higher level and are granted access to more powerful spells, most of the time you will find your spells would be more effective than your weapon. The capability to put your points in whatever ability you wish is a huge advantage. With the release of Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, the arcane tradition of Bladesinging was reprinted with two changes from its original version in the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. If you want to get something out of Bladesinging, youll need to have a high enough Dexterity to make do with light armor or mage armor. On the same idea, you may find a use to bladeward (it gives resistance to all physical damages). Spell Sniper is great at increasing the range of your spell attacks which is always advantageous. If youre only going to take a single feat, make it this one. Vanish before dealing massive damage to multiple targets, reappearing before them as they fall. They're full casters with splash of melee as backup. The information presented on this site about Dungeons and Dragons, both literal and graphical, is copyrighted by Wizards of the Coast. As mentioned, I generally assume that you begin as a wizard, or at least bee-line for wizard level 6 as quickly as you can if you have features or starting proficiencies you need from the other class. One D&D Paladin UA - Is this the dunk on Paladins we've been looking for?! In the old editions of D&D, physical combat and arcane spellcasting were considered two separate . Strike an enemy before you, then hit another with a Fire Bolt. If they never make the save, theyre stunned forever. For example, you will not be able to replace one of an 11th-level fighters three attacks with a cantrip. However, you can rely less on Intelligence by picking up mostly utility and buff spells from your wizard and still get the full experience of casting powerful spells as a bard. Are you able to get Sapping Sting as a Bladesinger? Wizards have always been a tricky class for me. There is a lot to choose from, and all have their strengths. Wood elves with their +2 to dexterity are a good way to go if you want to focus more on the sword fighting aspects of the Bladesinger. Though most familiar forms have their strengths, I strongly recommend theowl. Or 8 eldritch blast + 5 weapon attacks with action surge. However, this one lets you substitute one of these attacks for a cantrip. Considering that most wizards prioritize Intelligence as their highest ability score, this feature is the perfect chance to turn intellect into high damage output. This is likely to be a very MAD multiclass. Strong melee options include Booming Blade, Green Flame Blade, Shocking Grasp and Sword Burst, while ranged Bladesinger's can consider Chill Touch, Firebolt, Ray of Frost or Sapping Sting. If you like the idea of a Bladesinger, but cant bring yourself to part from a decent strength score, why not try out a Tortle? This means not reaching Extra Attack until level 7 or 8, but it will give you the experience of leveling as a very versatile support wizard until then. This combination gives you some of the goodness of playing a martial bard, while also getting the benefits of another bardic college. Stats have to be spread around several ability scores to be effective. For example, you could tie Tensers Transformation to your health, coming into effect when you take a particularly debilitating blow. I have been seeing a lot of speculation on this subreddit that some favourite subclasses like Hexblade and Bladesinger will reappear in the 2024 PHB. Now saddled with a tremendous amount of debt from his wizard college days, he sets forth to find his fortune, or mainly to just make his student loans payment. Nov 2, 2020 1.2K Dislike Share Save Rich Merry 4.07K subscribers The Bladesinger Wizard Subclass is getting a Rework in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything and in this video you can see all the.