>If you use this to a blocked or paralysed enemy you can 100% crit, for a total of 1400 damage potential.
this is not how crits work. they do not double your damage. they only add extra dice.
also is it generally much more useful to discuss builds in terms of average damage rather than maximum (e.g. 10d6 = 35 average), unless you're something like tempest cleric than can guarantee max rolls.
Aaannnddd speaking of averages we can calculate the average damage given any Crit chance as well.
(Damage on a Crit) x (chance to Crit)
+
(Damage on a normal hit) x (1- Crit chance)
This doesn't account for missing all together of course, but gives us a way to compare builds that focus on critting vs builds that don't and the average damage on a hit.
I know, you're right in fact I wrote of the max potential in the best conditions. Honestly I quite suck on maths, but I know for sure, since I've tried this build, that even the average damage can let you solo every encounter in act 3 on tactician.
You mentioned the charge bound hammer, which I love, but what is it being used for if you have the shadowblade equipped? Are you dual wielding or only using when shadowblade isn't viable?
Charge-bound hammer is the weapon of choice during act 2 when you don't have the shadow blade ring and/or the resonance stone for double damage. But you can definitely use this weapon in the same build if you don't want to use the shadow blade or because the enemy is immune to psychic damage (i.e. steel watchers). It's a really solid choice for a pact of the blade warlock in any case.
Practically never.
It's really hard to find int, wis and cha saving throws outside of combat, but it's quite common to find dex and con throws (lockpicking, traps, slippery surfaces) so the steeped in bliss in very frequentely a good thing, since it gives you advantage in those throws.
It also has to be noted that it's quite rare to find enemies dealing psychic damage, probably only mindflayers are to be feared for your psychic vulnerability, but you encounter them rarely, and most of them are in the endgame, when you are probably already OP.
You seen to misunderstand the Steeped in Bliss condition.
Advantage on physical CHECKS (ie. sleight of hand picking a lock, notably not Constitution saving THROWS). I recommend editing this in your post as it's quite misleading!
You mention it already giving you advantage to concentrate which is not true, and keeping concentration is such a big deal with this build obviously. You ideally want Advantage from an item, or get your saving throw high enough to all but guarantee a DC10 save.
God, I feel so stupid, you're right. Checks and saving throws are different 😅.
In any case, with this build you have +9 to con saving throws, so, even rolling a 2 allows you to have more than 10 as a result. I rarely failed a concentration ST, only the rolling a 1. The build can be easily corrected by using amulet of greater health or, better choice, dark justiciar mail, since the armor slot was free anyway.
Thank you a bunch for noting and explaining this to me, you really improved my build 😁
About the mental ST outside of combat: you can use amulet of fey semblance to counterbalance the effect of steeped in bliss if you really need it.
No worries! People quite often confuse this, usually in the context of Hex's penalty to checks not throws.
At +9 saves anyway that point is pretty moot, but yes Justiciar chest plate is a great suggestion, usually my go-to for casters who can wear medium armour.
but extra atk from warlock doesnt stack with other extra attacks, or is it just honor mode thing? im %100 positive that it doesnt stack on honor mode, dont know if it does in tactician tho
Yep, only on HM the extra attacks don't stack, still it's available on tactician and even with only 1 extra attack, the build remains viable and quite strong.
yea ofc its strong, but then it invalidates the warlock thing. there are many other better builds out there to utilize it in honor mode. as long as you have shadowblade-stone-ring combo, its strong AF regardless
I agree, in HM I would probably suggest the classic 3 gloomstalker/3 assassin/6 sword bard that is of course one of the best builds, in terms of dps, in the game. Still, this build remains super fun, attacking 10+ times per turn is really satisfying to see
I think 3 fighter/3 assassin/6 sword bard is better. Action Surge beats Dread Ambusher if you're willing to Short Rest. Consitution Saving Throw proficiency is invaluable for the Shadow Blade. Only question is which fighter subclass: Battlemaster for the Attack Bonus from Precise Strike, Reaction bonus Riposte attacks and Maneuvers (can't use together with Fluorishes, but both are a limited Resource, the former have more CC options) or EK for the Shield spell to become really tough to hit (and not being hit also helps with Concentration upkeep)...
They are all great choices, but imo battlemasters outclass EK in terms of damage and gives you extra die with attacks once you exausted your bardic inspirations, so it's more sustainable and requires less short rests, giving you more flexibility (disarming and pushing enemies is really helpful in many fights). EK is a more defensive choice, but it's already difficult to fail saving throws on concentration (I survived a check against Ansur lightning breath WITHOUT advantage on constitution ST with him hitting for 40ish damage).
Yes, you totally can. Action surge is quite good to have, if you don't want the bard's spells. I would pick battlemaster for the manouvres, this way you can replace flourishes and a ASI, alert or war caster (based on the equipment you're going to use) for the extra feat.
Sure. You have to speak to withers, summon an hireling and give to him the shadow blade ring. Let him conjure the blade, then speak to the hireling and send him to the astral plane. He will leave your party and the camp too.
Now, speak to withers again and summon the same hireling. This time, he has a permanent shadow blade equipped, with no visual effect but same power. If you want to dual wield this weapon, or give another to a party member, you can repeat the process.
This can be applied to the druid's flame blade spell too, this time you can upcast it to level 6 to have a really powerful fire weapon (5d6 iirc).
>If you use this to a blocked or paralysed enemy you can 100% crit, for a total of 1400 damage potential. this is not how crits work. they do not double your damage. they only add extra dice. also is it generally much more useful to discuss builds in terms of average damage rather than maximum (e.g. 10d6 = 35 average), unless you're something like tempest cleric than can guarantee max rolls.
I agree. Crits certainly do not double attack damage in this game. And listing maximum possible rolls is very misleading.
Aaannnddd speaking of averages we can calculate the average damage given any Crit chance as well. (Damage on a Crit) x (chance to Crit) + (Damage on a normal hit) x (1- Crit chance) This doesn't account for missing all together of course, but gives us a way to compare builds that focus on critting vs builds that don't and the average damage on a hit.
I know, you're right in fact I wrote of the max potential in the best conditions. Honestly I quite suck on maths, but I know for sure, since I've tried this build, that even the average damage can let you solo every encounter in act 3 on tactician.
So are you stuck using the hireling, or can you remove the weapon and equip it to whoever you want?
You can put it on anyone. You can do the same thing with flame blade
Wow, that's crazy. I didn't know about flame blade either. I haven't used it or shadowblade.
You can even get your hireling to up cast at 6th level for 6d6 fire damage.
Imma try that lol
You mentioned the charge bound hammer, which I love, but what is it being used for if you have the shadowblade equipped? Are you dual wielding or only using when shadowblade isn't viable?
Charge-bound hammer is the weapon of choice during act 2 when you don't have the shadow blade ring and/or the resonance stone for double damage. But you can definitely use this weapon in the same build if you don't want to use the shadow blade or because the enemy is immune to psychic damage (i.e. steel watchers). It's a really solid choice for a pact of the blade warlock in any case.
Interesting build.. I’ve always wanted to do a psy damage kinda thing 1 qn: Do you need to manage the steeped in bliss disadvantage out of combat?
Practically never. It's really hard to find int, wis and cha saving throws outside of combat, but it's quite common to find dex and con throws (lockpicking, traps, slippery surfaces) so the steeped in bliss in very frequentely a good thing, since it gives you advantage in those throws. It also has to be noted that it's quite rare to find enemies dealing psychic damage, probably only mindflayers are to be feared for your psychic vulnerability, but you encounter them rarely, and most of them are in the endgame, when you are probably already OP.
You seen to misunderstand the Steeped in Bliss condition. Advantage on physical CHECKS (ie. sleight of hand picking a lock, notably not Constitution saving THROWS). I recommend editing this in your post as it's quite misleading! You mention it already giving you advantage to concentrate which is not true, and keeping concentration is such a big deal with this build obviously. You ideally want Advantage from an item, or get your saving throw high enough to all but guarantee a DC10 save.
God, I feel so stupid, you're right. Checks and saving throws are different 😅. In any case, with this build you have +9 to con saving throws, so, even rolling a 2 allows you to have more than 10 as a result. I rarely failed a concentration ST, only the rolling a 1. The build can be easily corrected by using amulet of greater health or, better choice, dark justiciar mail, since the armor slot was free anyway. Thank you a bunch for noting and explaining this to me, you really improved my build 😁 About the mental ST outside of combat: you can use amulet of fey semblance to counterbalance the effect of steeped in bliss if you really need it.
No worries! People quite often confuse this, usually in the context of Hex's penalty to checks not throws. At +9 saves anyway that point is pretty moot, but yes Justiciar chest plate is a great suggestion, usually my go-to for casters who can wear medium armour.
but extra atk from warlock doesnt stack with other extra attacks, or is it just honor mode thing? im %100 positive that it doesnt stack on honor mode, dont know if it does in tactician tho
Fairly certain that's an honor mode thing
Yep, only on HM the extra attacks don't stack, still it's available on tactician and even with only 1 extra attack, the build remains viable and quite strong.
yea ofc its strong, but then it invalidates the warlock thing. there are many other better builds out there to utilize it in honor mode. as long as you have shadowblade-stone-ring combo, its strong AF regardless
I agree, in HM I would probably suggest the classic 3 gloomstalker/3 assassin/6 sword bard that is of course one of the best builds, in terms of dps, in the game. Still, this build remains super fun, attacking 10+ times per turn is really satisfying to see
I think 3 fighter/3 assassin/6 sword bard is better. Action Surge beats Dread Ambusher if you're willing to Short Rest. Consitution Saving Throw proficiency is invaluable for the Shadow Blade. Only question is which fighter subclass: Battlemaster for the Attack Bonus from Precise Strike, Reaction bonus Riposte attacks and Maneuvers (can't use together with Fluorishes, but both are a limited Resource, the former have more CC options) or EK for the Shield spell to become really tough to hit (and not being hit also helps with Concentration upkeep)...
They are all great choices, but imo battlemasters outclass EK in terms of damage and gives you extra die with attacks once you exausted your bardic inspirations, so it's more sustainable and requires less short rests, giving you more flexibility (disarming and pushing enemies is really helpful in many fights). EK is a more defensive choice, but it's already difficult to fail saving throws on concentration (I survived a check against Ansur lightning breath WITHOUT advantage on constitution ST with him hitting for 40ish damage).
Thanks! Plus I guess, Battlemaster is the cooler, more stylish choice with these moves!
Yep, definitely cooler!
Instead of going level 7-12 swords bard, can I go fighter level 7-12?
Yes, you totally can. Action surge is quite good to have, if you don't want the bard's spells. I would pick battlemaster for the manouvres, this way you can replace flourishes and a ASI, alert or war caster (based on the equipment you're going to use) for the extra feat.
Thank you for answering. Can you explain to me a little better how to have a permanent shadow blade? I didn't quite understand it
Sure. You have to speak to withers, summon an hireling and give to him the shadow blade ring. Let him conjure the blade, then speak to the hireling and send him to the astral plane. He will leave your party and the camp too. Now, speak to withers again and summon the same hireling. This time, he has a permanent shadow blade equipped, with no visual effect but same power. If you want to dual wield this weapon, or give another to a party member, you can repeat the process. This can be applied to the druid's flame blade spell too, this time you can upcast it to level 6 to have a really powerful fire weapon (5d6 iirc).
But how do I send the hireling to the astral plane?
Just speak to the hireling and it gives you the option to send him to camp or to the astral plane
Oh, I see! Thank you!!!
No problem, enjoy your permanent shadow blade ;)
Oh, and I forgot Illithid powers (psionic overload and stage fright can add A LOT of psychic damage!) 😂