u/Notturnno

Hi!

I'm trying to optimize a Paladin 1 / Undead Warlock X. The build was inspired by the Celestial Generalist (Bladelock Edition), but adapted for the Undead Patron.

Character level 6

Warforged

Paladin 1 / Undead Warlock 5

Campaign expected to end around level 13

Stats with background bonus and ASI level 4

STR 15 (14 + GWM)

DEX 10

CON 16

INT 8

WIS 10

CHA 18

Origin Feat

Magic Initiate (Wizard)

Shield

Minor Illusion

Mage Hand

Level 4 Feat

Great Weapon Master

Invocations

Pact of the Blade

Thirsting Blade

Eldritch Smite

Eldritch Mind

One with Shadows

I intentionally skipped Pact of the Chain because I wanted to maximize combat performance.

Uncommon Magic Item

Cloak of Protection

Weapons

Using two pact weapons depending on the encounter.

Greataxe

Maximum burst damage

Better synergy with Dreaded Necrosis at Warlock 6 (character level 7), since Pact of the Blade lets me convert weapon damage to Necrotic.

Lance

Reach

Topple mastery

Better battlefield control

Since Pact of the Blade lets me conjure any martial melee weapon as a Bonus Action, I plan to swap between them depending on the fight.

Combat Plan

Typical fight:

Activate Form of Dread

Use Greataxe against priority targets for burst

Use Lance when Reach and Topple provide better control

Save Eldritch Smite for crits or dangerous enemies

Maintain concentration with Eldritch Mind instead of taking War Caster later, if necessary.

Divine favor on turn 2, for more DMG.

Current ASI plan:

Warlock 4: Great Weapon Master

Warlock 8: +2 CHA (20)

Warlock 12: Probably Resilient (CON), but I'm open to suggestions.

Questions

Would you change any of the invocations?

Would you take Pact of the Chain over One with Shadows or Eldritch Mind?

Do you think Greataxe/Lance is the best weapon combination, or is there a stronger option?

Is Cloak of Protection the best uncommon item, or is there something with better overall value?

Any optimization opportunities I'm overlooking?

I'm looking for RAW optimization and mechanical efficiency.

Thanks!

Hello everyone

My previous character just died in our Descent into Avernus campaign, so I am rejoining the party at level 4 with a new concept: an Arcane magic gun user, Inquisitor of Mystra.

I’m using the latest Arcana Domain UA (planning to update to the official Arcana Unleashed release this September).

Repeating shot (pistol) is an uncommon magic item allowed by the DM, and is very important to the character. The DM granted me proficiency with the Pistol as a signature weapon.

Species/Background: Human, Sage.

Origin Feats: Magic Initiate: Wizard (picking Shield, Blade Ward and utility cantrip) & Spellfire Spark.

Divine Order: Thaumaturge.

Attributes (32 Point Buy + War Caster): STR 8 | DEX 14 | CON 16 | INT 10 | WIS 19 | CHA 10.

Defense: Half-Plate + Shield = Base AC 19

Pre-Combat Defense: The DM allows casting Blade Ward before combat

Arcane Initiate (Subclass Feature): This gives me Expertise in Arcana and two Wizard cantrips that count as Cleric spells. I chose True Strike and Mind Sliver here.

For hard control, I can use the Arcana Domain's Tenacious Spell Channel Divinity to impose a -1d6 penalty on an enemy's saving throw. If I have a turn to set it up, I can stack it with Mind Sliver for an additional -1d4 penalty.

Level 5: Pick up Spirit Guardians and position myself at 15ft to avoid melee disadvantage with the pistol while melting enemies in the aura.

Level 7: With Potent Spellcasting (from Blessed Strikes), my True Strike + Pistol will do 1d10 + 1d6 + 8 Radiant damage, plus another 2d8 + 4 from the BA Sacred Flame, from Spellfire spark.

Level 8: Take Spellfire Adept to round up WIS to 20, adding thematic flavor and an extra 2d8 damage to the initial cast of Spirit Guardians.

What do you guys think? Cool concept? Any extra flavor ideas or optimization tips?

Hello!

My character died. We're playing Descent into Avernus, and I will rejoin the party with my new level 4 character.

The concept of the character is Arcane magic gun user inquisitor. Follower of Mystra.

Arcana Domain, last UA, and (if he survives, lol) I will update him later with the official release, I hope, in the Arcana Unleashed book. (September, I think?)

Repeating Shot (Pistol) is a must for the build, thematic and I can use shield with it. The plan is to use True Strike. The DM allowed proficiency with it, as a signature weapon from the character.

Human, Sage. Extra Origin Feat is Spellfire Spark.

Attributes, at level 4, after the Sage background and Warcaster (point buy 32 points):

STR 8, DEX 14, CON 16, INT 10, WIS 19, CHA 10

Divine Order: Thaumaturge

Medium armor half plate + shield, base AC 19.

DM allows to cast Blade Ward before combat, so I will take it as magic initiate wizard, along with another utility wizard cantrip and shield spell. I know, concentration, but having Blade Ward up is safe. I can just drop the concentration and cast another thing.

Wizard cantrips from Arcane initiate are True strike and Mind Sliver. Note that they count as Cleric cantrips / spells.

Outside doing what all clerics do, the plan is to shoot a lot with True Strike, using bonus action Sacred flame sometimes (Spellfire Spark).

Tenacious Spell can force one enemy to make a save with a strong 1d6 penalty, and mind sliver is there to add another d4 penalty. That needs 1 turn setup. Or just straight control spell with Tenacious for -1d6

At level 7, with Potent spellcasting, True Strike + Pistol is 1d10 + 1d6 + 8 DMG, with another 2d8+4 from bonus action sacred flame.

At level 8 I will round up WIS to 20 with Spellfire Adept or another feat. I really like the Spellfire theme to a Mystra Inquisitor, and extra 2D8 DMG to spiritual guardians initial cast DMG is good too.

What you guys think? Any optimization tips?

Hi!

I'm not sure if anyone noticed this, but I didn't find it anywhere.

It's about the Tenacious spell feature:

Level 3: Modify Magic

You can use your Channel Divinity to alter your spells as you cast them. When you cast a spell, you can expend one use of your Channel Divinity and change the spell in one of the following ways (no action required).

Fortifying Spell. (...)

*Tenacious Spell.* When you cast a spell that forces a creature to make a saving throw, *choose one target* of the spell you can see. Roll 1d6 and apply the number rolled as a penalty to the target’s saving throw.

RAW, the 1d6 penalty applies to all the saves the target makes against the spell?

For example, if the Arcana Cleric casts spiritual guardians, and modify it with the Tenacious Spell feature, one target should make the save with - 1d6 until the spell ends, all of them?

There isn't "against the initial saving throw" or "the first time it makes a saving throw" or "the next saving throw" in the text.

Reading only the text, there is nothing against that interpretation.

As I read it, the "to the target's saving throw" is not "saving throws" because it's only one target.

What you guys think?

Hi!

I'm not sure if anyone noticed this, but I didn't find it anywhere.

It's about the Tenacious spell feature:

Level 3: Modify Magic

You can use your Channel Divinity to alter your spells as you cast them. When you cast a spell, you can expend one use of your Channel Divinity and change the spell in one of the following ways (no action required).

Fortifying Spell. (...)

**Tenacious Spell.** When you cast a spell that forces a creature to make a saving throw, **choose one target** of the spell you can see. Roll 1d6 and apply the number rolled as a penalty to the target’s saving throw.

RAW, the 1d6 penalty applies to all the saves the target makes against the spell?

For example, if the Arcana Cleric casts spiritual guardians, and modify it with the Tenacious Spell feature, one target should make the save with - 1d6 until the spell ends, all of them?

There isn't "against the initial saving throw" or "the first time it makes a saving throw" or "the next saving throw" in the text.

Reading only the text, there is nothing against that interpretation.

As I read it, the "to the target's saving throw" is not "saving throws" because it's only one target.

What you guys think?