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[[Category:Guides]]
[[Category:Guide]]
{{community article}}
 
*Work in Progress*
*Work in Progress*


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There are a couple of different ways you can build a Gish, or a Spellblade, or a Hexblade, whatever you want to call it, which I will go over later.  There are two main distinctions between Gish builds, whether you want to do damage, or whether you want to be useful.  Not that doing damage isn't useful, but you get the idea.  The distinction between damage and utility is important, because different builds will focus on different aspects of a Spellblade's kit, considering things like Eldritch Strike, Shield, or Defensive Flourish as possible options.  Whichever roll you want your Gish to fill, you will need to know ahead of time, and prepare for.  Obviously, you can have a Gish that does both, but not ''all'' Gish will be able to do both, if that makes sense.
There are a couple of different ways you can build a Gish, or a Spellblade, or a Hexblade, whatever you want to call it, which I will go over later.  There are two main distinctions between Gish builds, whether you want to do damage, or whether you want to be useful.  Not that doing damage isn't useful, but you get the idea.  The distinction between damage and utility is important, because different builds will focus on different aspects of a Spellblade's kit, considering things like Eldritch Strike, Shield, or Defensive Flourish as possible options.  Whichever roll you want your Gish to fill, you will need to know ahead of time, and prepare for.  Obviously, you can have a Gish that does both, but not ''all'' Gish will be able to do both, if that makes sense.


As a note, for strength builds in particular, Spellblades can benefit from items like Elixir of Cloud Giant Strength especially well, given that they will be dependent on multiple ability scores to be maximally effective.  This will allow you to commit fully to your spellcasting modifier while still having better-than-usual hit rates with your melee attacks.
Likewise, I'm not going to include every Gish build I can think of, because there are a lot of bad one's.  This will hopefully be a list of builds that I think are actually worth trying, and not just a list of every striker class with spell slots (looking at you, Ranger).
 
As a further addendum to that, I'm not going to spend a lot of time on builds that largely just use synergistic items to create a Spellblade character.  The items exist, use them if you'd like.  Instead, I want to focus on character builds that do interesting things, with items as an extra bonus.  I will mention things like Eldritch Knight when it provides an interesting use case, but there are a lot of Gish builds that don't have any real advantage over any other build, so I won't mention them.


=Some Build Ideas=
=Some Build Ideas=
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**Beguiling Influence is really good for party faces.
**Beguiling Influence is really good for party faces.


==Wisdom as your main Spellcasting modifier.==
==Wisdom as your main Spellcasting modifier==
Somewhat uniquely to Wisdom builds, you can substitute any Fighter levels for equal Ranger levels, which will still give you Extra Attack at level 5 and a fighting style, but will give you more spell slots in the process.  I'm going to include Ranger as the default, but keep in mind that for all of these builds that Fighter is a worthwhile alternative, even if I don't call it out specifically.  In case you needed reminding, of course; I think most people know how strong Fighter is at this point.
Wisdom builds (Cleric/Monk/Druid)
 
Likewise, Shillelagh allows you to use your wisdom modifier for attack rolls, but does seem to significantly limit the amount of damage you do, restricting damage rolls to 1d8, instead of whatever modifiers it would normally have.  It can be a nice option to have in a pinch, especially if you have other additive, on-hit effects, but it's going to pale in comparison to more focused weapon or MAD builds, especially anything with '''Great Weapon Master.'''  I wouldn't lean on Shillelagh if you don't have to.  That being said, most AoE spells work off of Spell Saves rather than Attack Rolls, so you can still hit relatively consistently even with less than optimal Wisdom investment.  Not always ideal, but something to think about.
*'''11 Monk + 1 Druid:''' To give a quick example of what I'm talking about here, '''Way of the Four Elements''' Monk often feels a bit clunky, or overly reliant on its spells to kill things quickly.  Shillelagh gives you the ability to kill stuff with whatever weapon you have equipped, which can make finishing off low health enemies less of a chore.  Since '''Way of the Four Elements''' Monks get pretty sizable improvements to their spells at level 9 and level 11, you don't want to spend a lot of levels in other classes.
 


'''5-6 Ranger or Fighter + 5-6 Cleric + 0-1 Druid:''' Use your bonus actions to heal yourself and just start swinging.  This is a really interesting build, because it feels more like just... a really tanky fighter?  There are just enough spells from the Cleric spell list that can be cast as bonus actions to feel meaningful, but you're mostly going to be relying on weapon attacks to fill the vast majority of your action economy.  Still, it's a very effective build in a straight up brawl.  Ranger will offer different utility compared to Fighter.
*Druid is not at all necessary if you choose to invest in Strength or Dexterity, or if you use an Elixir of Hill/Cloud Giant Strength.  However, if you do want to use Shillelagh and invest in Wisdom for better healing, Ironwood Club and Ironvine Shield can be a really interesting way of bolstering your damage with a single handed weapon, while still benefiting from the extra AC of a shield.
*This build in particular pairs well with '''Broodmother's Revenge''' for even more bonus damage, or '''Shattered Flail / Sword of Chaos''' for extra healing.
'''6 Druid + 6 Monk:''' As a martial class, Monk gains extra attack at level 5.  '''Circle of Spores''' Druid gives you temporary hit points and bonus damage on melee hits.  In addition, you can use a reaction to do spell damage or raise a corpse. While you can definitely run '''Way of the Four Elements''' for spells, I find that '''Way of the Open Fist''' is just better (big surprise), and the Druid component gives you enough options to feel like more than just a pure striker class.
*While its almost obligatory to mention a single fighter level, I do feel like the bonuses you get from that sixth level of Monk is more useful.
'''5 Monk + 3 Rogue + 2 Druid + 2 Fighter:''' This is basically a pure striker in all but name only, but I wanted to mention it anyway.  Extra Attack + Fast Hands + Symbiotic Entity + Action Surge combines persistent on-hit damage with multiple attacks per turn.  Use your reaction to ping an enemy with '''Halo of Spores.'''  I don't know if it's good, but it's a build.  Just don't get hit, I guess.


==Intelligence as your main Spellcasting modifier==
==Intelligence as your main Spellcasting modifier==
'''1. 11 Fighter + 1 Wizard / 5-7 Fighter + 5-7 Wizard:''' Almost certainly the two versions of Eldritch Knight that I've had the most success with, you have two main distinctions here.  Taking 11 Fighter levels gives you a 3rd attack per action, while splitting your levels between Fighter and Wizard will give you much more spell slots.  As of making this list, a single level of Wizard is enough to learn spells from scrolls for ''any'' level spell slot.
'''1. 11 Fighter + 1 Wizard / 5-7 Fighter + 5-7 Wizard:'''
*[[Eldritch Knight]] gains it's maximum spell slots at level 10, capping out at 4 level 1 spell slots and 3 level 2 spell slots. The single level of Wizard will not be enough to grant you access to level 3 spells, unfortunately. You could drop to 10 levels of Fighter, but you'd lose out on your third attack, which doesn't feel worth it for this build specifically. HOWEVER, the big advantage this version of the build has is [[Eldritch Strike]], which can be ''extremely'' strong.
*At +- 6 Fighter and 6 Wizard, you will have up to 2 level 4 spell slots, which I would argue is enough to feel worth it, plus whatever bonuses from your Wizard subclass, like [[Enchantment]].  Since you lose out on [[Eldritch Strike]], you'll lean more on [[Arcane Acuity (Condition)]] to land your big spells, but you will have more of them per long rest due to the aforementioned spell slots.


 
'''2. 8 Rogue + 3 Bard + 1 Wizard / 10 Rogue + 2 Wizard / 9 Rogue + 1-2 Wizard + 1-2 Fighter:''' This is my attempt to make an Arcane Trickster that actually made sense, I made this.  Is it good?  I have no idea.  9 Rogue gives you '''Magical Ambush,''' which feels like the only reason you would take '''Arcane Trickster''' in the first place.  The Bard levels are mostly for '''Defensive Flourish,''' but without '''Improved Bardic Inspiration''' you are really lacking combat options over the course of multiple battles.  Still, with a strong enough alpha strike, maybe it doesn't matter.
'''2. 8 Rogue + 1-4 Wizard + 0-3 Bard / 10 Rogue + 2 Wizard / 9 Rogue + 1-2 Wizard + 1-2 Fighter:''' This is my attempt to make an Arcane Trickster that actually made sense.  I made this.  Is it good?  I have no idea.  9 Rogue gives you '''Magical Ambush,''' which feels like the only reason you would take '''Arcane Trickster''' in the first place.   
*2 levels of Wizard give you access to either the Abjuration or Divination subclass.  Alternatively, you can take Evocation and use Cunning Action: Hide multiple time throughout a fight to nuke groups of enemies.
*2 levels of Wizard give you access to either the Abjuration or Divination subclass.  Alternatively, you can take Evocation and use [[Cunning Action: Hide]] multiple time throughout a fight to nuke groups of enemies.
*2 levels of Fighter gives you Action Surge.  You know this.
*2 levels of Fighter gives you Action Surge.  You know this.


==Charisma as your main Spellcasting modifier==
==Charisma as your main Spellcasting modifier==
'''1.''' '''8 Paladin + 4 Sorcerer / 6 Paladin + 6 Sorceror / 5 Paladin + 4 Sorceror + 3 Fighter:''' An evolution of the Divine Smite build listed earlier, the inclusion of Sorceror levels instead of Warlock levels reduces the number of attacks we can make in a single turn, but allows us to cast spells as a bonus action using '''Quicken Magic.''' 5 levels of Paladin give us two attacks per action, while 3 levels of Sorceror is mandatory for a single use of '''Quicken Magic''' per Long Rest, at baseline. Alternatively, 8 levels of Paladin give us another feat, as well as Auras depending on your Oath.  At level 6 Sorceror, we can use '''Quicken Magic''' twice per Long Rest at baseline. 2 levels of Fighter give '''Action Surge,''' while 3 levels of Fighter allow us to take '''Battlemaster''' or '''Champion''' for better Striking.   
'''1.''' '''8 Paladin + 4 Sorcerer / 6 Paladin + 6 Sorceror / 5 Paladin + 4 Sorceror + 3 Fighter:''' An evolution of the Divine Smite build listed earlier, the inclusion of Sorceror levels instead of Warlock levels reduces the number of attacks we can make in a single turn, but allows us to cast spells as a bonus action using '''Quicken Magic.''' 5 levels of Paladin give us two attacks per action, while 3 levels of Sorceror is mandatory for a single use of '''Quicken Magic''' per Long Rest. Alternatively, 8 levels of Paladin give us another feat, as well as Auras depending on your Oath.  At level 6 Sorceror, we can use '''Quicken Magic''' twice per Long Rest; I would not recommend going past 6 levels of Sorceror, unless you ''really'' want a cast of '''Twinned Spell''' or something. 2 levels of Fighter give '''Action Surge,''' while 3 levels of Fighter allow us to take '''Battlemaster''' or '''Champion''' for better Striking.   
*This build is very linear, but allows for enough spell slots to have meaningful choices in how we approach combat scenarios.  Typically you will want to spend your spell slots on Divine Smite or Hold Person for very reliable, self-sufficient damage, but you will have access to spells like Haste, Fireball, or Counterspell with 5 levels of Sorcerer or higher.  
*This build is very linear, but allows for enough spell slots to have meaningful choices in how we approach combat scenarios.  Typically you will want to spend your spell slots on Divine Smite or Hold Person for very reliable, self-sufficient damage, but you will have access to spells like Haste, Fireball, or Counterspell with 5 levels of Sorcerer or higher.  
*At 6 Paladin and 6 Sorcerer, you will have 4/3/3/3/1 spell slots, respectively.  
*At 6 Paladin and 6 Sorcerer, you will have 4/3/3/3/1 spell slots, respectively.  
*At 5 Paladin and 4 Sorcerer, you will have 4/3/3, but will have access to 3 Superiority Die through the Battlemaster subclass.
*At 5 Paladin and 4 Sorcerer, you will have 4/3/3, but will have access to 3 Superiority Die through the Battlemaster subclass.
*If you use '''Potion of Hill/Cloud Giant Strength,''' you can dump Strength as a stat and run something like '''14 Dex, 16 Con, 17 Cha''' at base.
*If you use '''Potion of Hill/Cloud Giant Strength,''' you can dump Strength as a stat and run '''14 Dex, 16 Con, 17 Cha''' at base.




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'''3. 6 Bard + 6 Sorcerer / 6 Bard + 4 Sorcerer + 2 Fighter / 6 Bard + 3 Sorcerer + 3 Fighter / 8 Bard + 4 Sorcerer:''' Bard can be substituted for Paladin in any Gish build I can think of, trading Divine Smite for, typically, Slashing Flourish.  Like the "Sorcadin," a, uh, "Sord" build allows you to combo flexible crowd control with good physical hits, usually through Hold Person, and so the same rules apply.  However, as noted in other parts of this guide, the extra level you need to gain extra attack as a Bard does limit your build flexibility. That being said, because both Bard and Sorcerer are full spellcasters, you will have significantly more spell slots, making spell combat a bigger part of your turn-by-turn strategy.  To help even out your physical options, 2 levels into Fighter will net you Action Surge or, if you want less Metamagic, you can take 3 levels of Fighter for Battlemaster maneuvers.  The specific breakdown for your character levels will change depending on how many feats you want.
'''3. 6 Bard + 6 Sorcerer / 6 Bard + 4 Sorcerer + 2 Fighter / 6 Bard + 3 Sorcerer + 3 Fighter / 8 Bard + 4 Sorcerer:''' Bard can be substituted for Paladin in any Gish build I can think of, trading Divine Smite for, typically, Slashing Flourish.  Like the "Sorcadin," a, uh, "Sord" build allows you to combo flexible crowd control with good physical hits, usually through Hold Person, and so the same rules apply.  However, as noted in other parts of this guide, the extra level you need to gain extra attack as a Bard does limit your build flexibility. However, because both Bard and Sorcerer are full spellcasters, you will have significantly more spell slots, making spell combat a bigger part of your turn-by-turn strategy.  To help even out your physical options, 2 levels into Fighter will net you Action Surge or, if you want less Metamagic, you can take 3 levels of Fighter for Battlemaster maneuvers.  The specific breakdown for your character levels will change depending on how many feats you want.
*Highly recommend to take 6 levels of Bard, at bare minimum, for the Extra Attack.  There's ''some'' niche for a 4-6 College of Lore Bard + 6-8 Sorcerer, just because of '''Cutting Words''', but that is much more of a pure support build, and doesn't really utilize weapon attacks at all.   
*Highly recommend to take 6 levels of Bard, at bare minimum, for the Extra Attack.  There's ''some'' niche for a 4-6 College of Lore Bard + 6-8 Sorcerer, just because of '''Cutting Words''', but that is much more of a pure support build, and doesn't really utilize weapon attacks at all.   


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*2 levels of Wizard gives you access to either Abjuration or Divination, both increase your survivability.  
*2 levels of Wizard gives you access to either Abjuration or Divination, both increase your survivability.  
*'''Thief''' is probably still the best Rogue subclass for this build, as usual.  A build that improves Arcane Trickster by not picking Arcane Trickster at all.  
*'''Thief''' is probably still the best Rogue subclass for this build, as usual.  A build that improves Arcane Trickster by not picking Arcane Trickster at all.  
*'''This is maybe my favorite Spellblade build out of this entire list, because it really allows you to play the game in a completely different way.'''




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=Equipment=
=Equipment=
===Helmets===
===Helmets===
* [[Diadem of Arcane Synergy]]
Diadem of Arcane Synergy
* [[Helmet of Arcane Acuity]]
 
* [[Browbeaten Circlet]]
Helmet of Arcane Acuity
* [[Hat of Fire Acuity]]
 
* [[Hat of Storm Scion's Power]]
Browbeaten Circlet
* [[The Lifebringer]]
 
* [[Warped Headband of Intellect]]
Hat of Fire Acuity  
* [[Diadem of Arcane Synergy]]
 
* [[Pyroquickness Hat]]
Hat of Storm Scion's Power
* [[Coldbrim Hat]]
 
The Lifebringer  
 
Warped Headband of Intellect  
 
Diadem of Arcane Synergy
 
Pyroquickness Hat
 
Helm of Arcane Acuity
 
===Capes===


===Gloves===
===Gloves===


* [[Gloves of Battlemage's Power]]
Gloves of Battlemage's Power


===Armor===
===Armor===
* [[Bided Time]]


===Boots===
===Boots===


* [[Boots of Arcane Bolstering]]
Boots of Arcane Bolstering


===Accessories===
===Accessories===


* [[Ring of Arcane Synergy]]
Ring of Arcane Synergy
 
===Cloaks===
* [[Vivacious Cloak]]


===Weapons (and Shields)===
===Weapons (and Shields)===
* [[Ironwood Club]]
* [[Ironvine Shield]]
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