Editing Guide:Multiclassing Guide by Phantomsplit

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==== Making a spellsword or "gish" character ====  
==== Making a spellsword or "gish" character ====  
BG3 does not include the Hexblade subclass, which is overtuned at first level and has become a staple of "gish" builds. This is because the hexblade subclass allows you to use Charisma as both your spellcasting ability and your ability to determine accuracy and damage with weapon attacks. BG3 also does not seem to include the "SCAG" cantrips of booming blade or green flame blade. These spells help casters that don't have extra attack keep up in melee combat with martial characters that do have extra attack. It is a bit trickier to make gish characters without these options, but still doable. Single class options exist such as [[Eldritch Knight]] {{Class|fighter}}, [[Arcane Trickster]] {{Class|rogue}}, {{Class|ranger}}, {{Class|paladin}}, {{Class|warlock}} (pact of the blade at level 3, thirsting blade at level 5), swords {{Class|bard}}, and valour {{Class|bard}} are viable options. But if you want to make a multiclassed gish, then you will want to get to extra attack as soon as you can. Ideally level 5, though level 6 is doable. If you are at level 7 and playing in melee without extra attack or the SCAG cantrips, you're going to have a bad time.
BG3 does not include the Hexblade subclass, which is overtuned at first level and has become a staple of "gish" builds. This is because the hexblade subclass allows you to use Charisma as both your spellcasting ability and your ability to determine accuracy and damage with weapon attacks. BG3 also does not seem to include the "SCAG" cantrips of booming blade or green flame blade. These spells help casters that don't have extra attack keep up in melee combat with martial characters that do have extra attack. It is a bit trickier to make gish characters without these options, but still doable. Single class options exist such as [[Eldritch Knight]] {{Class|fighter}}, [[Arcane Trickster]] {{Class|rogue}}, {{Class|ranger}}, {{Class|paladin}}, {{Class|warlock}} (pact of the blade at level 3, thirsting blade at level 5), swords {{Class|bard}}, and valor {{Class|bard}} are viable options. But if you want to make a multiclassed gish, then you will want to get to extra attack as soon as you can. Ideally level 5, though level 6 is doable. If you are at level 7 and playing in melee without extra attack or the SCAG cantrips, you're going to have a bad time.




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==== Bardadin - Paladin X/Bard Y ====
==== Bardadin - Paladin X/Bard Y ====
This is very similar to the Sorcadin above, except {{Class|bard}} instead of sorcerer. You can make a caster heavy focused baradin or a melee focused one, just like the sorcadin. However unlike Sorcadin, the bard has the valour and swords bard subclass. This means a melee focused Bardadin will focus on swords or valour bard for the first 6 levels to get extra attack and then 2 levels in paladin to unlock [[Divine Smite|divine smite]], and then the rest can go in bard. But starting as a bard and multiclassing into Paladin means you do not get heavy armor proficiency, so you'll want to be dex based if you go this route.
This is very similar to the Sorcadin above, except {{Class|bard}} instead of sorcerer. You can make a caster heavy focused baradin or a melee focused one, just like the sorcadin. However unlike Sorcadin, the bard has the valor and swords bard subclass. This means a melee focused Bardadin will focus on swords or valor bard for the first 6 levels to get extra attack and then 2 levels in paladin to unlock [[Divine Smite|divine smite]], and then the rest can go in bard. But starting as a bard and multiclassing into Paladin means you do not get heavy armor proficiency, so you'll want to be dex based if you go this route.


This build will do a similar amount of damage as the melee sorcadin since you don't have metamagic to make more spell slots, but you also have more spell slots available and at higher levels due to all your bard levels. Sorcadin probably wins on damage if you are using metamagic to quicken cast buff spells. But Paladin already has a ton of damage potential, and you are supplementing it with your bard spell slots so Bardadin damage is nothing to scoff at whatsoever. However you will be better at out-of-combat support through extra skill proficiencies, jack of all trades, and bardic inspiration than a sorcadin would be. I would play a bardadin over a sorcadin any day thanks to this utility. Weigh the opportunity cost.
This build will do a similar amount of damage as the melee sorcadin since you don't have metamagic to make more spell slots, but you also have more spell slots available and at higher levels due to all your bard levels. Sorcadin probably wins on damage if you are using metamagic to quicken cast buff spells. But Paladin already has a ton of damage potential, and you are supplementing it with your bard spell slots so Bardadin damage is nothing to scoff at whatsoever. However you will be better at out-of-combat support through extra skill proficiencies, jack of all trades, and bardic inspiration than a sorcadin would be. I would play a bardadin over a sorcadin any day thanks to this utility. Weigh the opportunity cost.
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One of {{Class|Bard}}'s greatest down sides is a lack of a good damage source. But they are [[Charisma]] casters, {{Class|warlocks}} are charisma casters, warlocks get eldritch blast which is a decent damage [[Spells|cantrip]], but made into a great damage cantrip with the warlock's agonizing blast [[Eldritch Invocation|eldritch invocation]] at second level. So the build usually goes taking 2 levels in warlock, the rest in bard.
One of {{Class|Bard}}'s greatest down sides is a lack of a good damage source. But they are [[Charisma]] casters, {{Class|warlocks}} are charisma casters, warlocks get eldritch blast which is a decent damage [[Spells|cantrip]], but made into a great damage cantrip with the warlock's agonizing blast [[Eldritch Invocation|eldritch invocation]] at second level. So the build usually goes taking 2 levels in warlock, the rest in bard.


But now that Larian is changing Pact of the Blade to use Cha on weapon attack and damage rolls, it becomes tempting to take 5 levels in warlock and then go into bard (likely lore subclass, but you can argue valour or swords) to make a spellsword character. Weigh the opportunity cost.
But now that Larian is changing Pact of the Blade to use Cha on weapon attack and damage rolls, it becomes tempting to take 5 levels in warlock and then go into bard (likely lore subclass, but you can argue valor or swords) to make a spellsword character. Weigh the opportunity cost.




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