Build question for the experts:

I’m torn between the abilities of druids, clerics, and rangers. So I’m wracking my brain trying to figure out how to get all three in one and I k ow it’s probably impossible so-

• Would a 3/9 Circle of Land/Hunter do well?

I’d love to be relatively powerful with a bow and not completely tied down by spells, but I love the support role and moonbeam is virtually impossible to give up. Plus, the rp is good on this. Or…

• Would a 3/9 Circle of Land/Life Cleric do well?

It would suck to give up the bow, but in the event that the above build doesn’t work, is this a decent idea to fall back on? Seems a lot of utility, rp is solid still. Or…

Would a 3/9 Life Cleric/Ranger do well?

It keeps the Wisdom synergy like the aforementioned, allows for some pew pew, and also has some utility (bless, etc) or…

Would a 3/9 Circle of Land/Monk do well?

Basically, I’d like to keep three levels of Druid for moonbeam and the utility, but also have some sort of melee or ranged damage.

Without knowing the the ins-and-outs of the tabletop version, and trying to avoid pitfalls of bad ideas and such…. What advice would you give on these ideas?

(Disclaimer: Not interest in other classes at all right now, it’s just these: so no other dips- also, not into spores or light cleric either. Looking specifically to see how these would work out)

Thanks!

Hillock,

Non of your suggestions have any real synergy. You are mostly just giving up things and don't gain much of value in return.

For example Cleric/Druid makes no sense. You will have the same caster level as a single class Cleric or Druid but just won't have any known 6th level spells. You just gain a few additional known 1st and 2nd level spells. But considering Cleric and Druid spells overlap a fair bit, it won't even be that many.

Cleric 7/ Ranger 5 might be the best option. You still get the extra attack from the Ranger and get the Domain Spells Guardian of Faith + Death Ward. Your caster level would be 10. So still a lot of spell slots available. For leveling it kinda depends on the rest of your party but I would say the first 5 level go into Cleric, then you use Withers to respecc 5 into Ranger to gain the extra attack. Then put the rest in Cleric again. Any Bow build with a single attack will feel rather underwhelming. Yes you lose out on a feat but you are basically trading a feat for a 2nd bow attack. Cleric 8 for Radiant Strike would be pointless anyhow since it's melee only.

Druid 7/ Ranger 5 might work in a similar way. Espeically if you like Moonbeam you can still have a single 5th level Moonbeam. Going higher in Ranger would hurt your Caster level too much.

But again, you don't really gain any real advantage. For example Wizard 1/Cleric 11 is the same as Cleric 12 but you have access to all Wizard spells you can learn from scrolls including 6th level wizard spells. Or if you Mutliclass Ranger with Rogue to gain sneak attack, or with Fighter to gain action surge. That would give you some actual advantages.

Pratai,

Thanks for the info! I’m assuming Druid/monk doesn’t work either?

Hillock, (edited )

Monk 1/ Druid 11 works and is probably stronger than Druid 12. You gain Unarmored Defense and get to add your Wis modifier to your AC. That's the only way the combo really works. And it basically plays like a full Druid. Obviously doesn't work if you go down the Heavy Armor route.

Ranger 3 / Monk 9 works. You would take Gloomstalker and Way of the Shadow for some strong turn 1 shenanigans. If you go weapon Monk you even get to use Ensnaring Strike and Hunter's Mark otherwise you have a few support spells. But doesn't sound like the way you want to play.

Pratai,

If I were to go ranger/monk, I’d probably want to do Hunter if that would work. And definitely weapon. I like the quarterstaff.

pyrflie,

Spores 2/Open Hand 6/Gloomstalker or Hunter 4 is also a really potent combo.

pyrflie,

Go Land/Life with an Elf. You get 80% of what the Ranger lvls would have given you without impacting your spell progression. You just miss Archery FS and Horde Breaker.

If you really want all three for some roleplay reason Land 9/Ranger 2/Life 1 is probably your best bet as you only endup missing out on Horde Breaker and Channel Divinity.

Pratai,

Wouldn’t ranger 2 be fairly weak with a bow though? I thought more levels in ranger ups the dos with a bow.

The_Cleanup_Batter,

Against higher AC enemies, it’s hard to pass up a free +2 to attack rolls. You will hit significantly more often.

Pratai,

The +2 comes from two levels in Ranger?

The_Cleanup_Batter,

Archery fighting style

pyrflie,

Unless you plan to invest in Sharpshooter and go for Extra Attack from Ranger 5 the bow isn’t going to matter much mid to late game. Recast Call Lightning and even Thorn Whip/Conjure Flame will outpace Horde Breaker.

Pratai,

Kinda seems pointless to use a bow in this game then to be honest. Seems it’s outclassed by anything

pyrflie,

Bow builds are some of the strongest in the game but require heavy investment; typically 5-7 lvls in a Martial or Gish class, Sharpshooter, and a Dex ASI to 18.

Pratai,

So that’s what I was originally thinking, which was why I suggested 9/3 Hunter/Druid. This would work?

pyrflie,

OHHH. You want to go 9 Hunter.

You would probably be better off with an 11/1 split or even just 12 Ranger. Volley is the signature Hunter ability and it’s going to be a lot stronger than Moonbeam, especially if you combine it with Sharpshooter and Tippler’s Rage.

Pratai,

Yeah, I’d rather not give up my druid utility. I like the find familiar and bow abilities of Hunter, but also the moveable AoE Moonbeam, shillelagh, heals and cantrips of Druid.

Basically, I’d like to run a Druid that does good bow damage.

pyrflie,

So lvl 6-10 are the weakest that Ranger get. Going by that build logic Ranger 5/Druid 7 would be a better split since it would at least net 4th lvl Druid spells. The Dryad summon is pretty darn good even if you will miss out on the Elementals. You will also want to get the Hag’s Hair it’s the only way you make 18 Dex/Wis and pick up Sharpshooter.

Pratai,

Quick additional question:

Does the Moonbeam spell scale it’s damage using caster level, or Druid level? Meaning: if I only go 3 levels in Druid, will it continually level up, or does it stay at the level three version.

pyrflie, (edited )

It scales by spell slot used to cast. With your lvl split (Hunter 9/Druid 3) it would get you up to a 5th lvl slot or 5d10(27.5 avg per proc).

Pratai,

Thanks!

BigWumbo,

3/9 anything is suboptimal because you’re missing out on a feat. The exception being 3dip into Theif because Fast Hands > almost every feat in the game.

pyrflie,

Unfortunately an 8/4 split here would mean no 5th lvl spells, which are kinda a big deal for Druids.

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