Originally posted by MightyThokk:

[h=4]6 Multi-classing and Builds[/h]

Some sample build ideas.

Human Demon Hunter. Trained to find evil wherever it hides. A swirling cloak and the snap of a crossbow are last images of a Demon Hunter’s target. The Demon Hunter can stand shoulder to shoulder in the front lines, or move around the battlefield taking out high value targets.

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[sblock]Race Variant Human; Class Fighter; Background Acolyte
Level 1 Attributes Str 8; Dex 16; Con 14; Int 12; Wis 15; Cha 8
Skill proficiencies: Stealth, Insight, Religion, Acrobatics, Perception
Starting AC 17 , Leather, shield, Dex. Starting HP 12
Progression:
1 Crossbow Expert
4 +2 Dex
6 Sharpshooter
8 +2 Dex
12 Resilient Wisdom
14 Shield Master

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Human Battlefield Sniper: Battle hardened Archer, excels at ambushes and hit and runs.
Race Variant Human; Class Fighter; Background Soldier

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[sblock]Level 1 Attributes; Str 10; Dex 16; Con 12; Int 10; Wis 13 Cha 14
Skill Proficiencies: Stealth, Acrobatics, Perception, Athletics, Intimidation
Starting AC 15 Leather, Dex ;Starting HP 11
Progression:
1 Sharpshooter
4 Magic Initiate (Hex)
6 and 8 +2 Dex each
12 Skulker
14 Resilient Wisdom

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Half-Elf Ranger: A quiet rustle of the bushes and a flash of Red hair. The last things many an outlaw or goblin ever saw when they ventured into the protected woods.
Race Half-Elf, Class Fighter, Background Outlander

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[sblock]Level 1 Attributes: Str 8; Dex 16; Con 12; Int 14; Wis 14; Cha 10
Starting AC 15 Leather, Dex ;Starting HP 11
Skill Proficiencies; Athletics, Survival, Perception, Insight, Stealth, Nature
4rth Sharpshooter
6 +2 Dex
8 Magic Initiate (Hex)
12 +2 Dex
14 Skulker
16 Resilient Wisdom

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Halfling Tunnel Fighter: Recruited from the orphans of the city to clear sewer jams, hunt rats, and report on anything lurking below the city streets.
Race Lightfoot Halfling, Class Fighter, Background Urchin

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[sblock]Level 1 Attributes Str 8; Dex 16; Con 14; Int 13; Wis 14; Cha 10
Starting AC 15 Leather, Dex ;add shield at lvl 4; Starting HP 12
Skill proficiencies: Sleight of Hand, Stealth, Perception, Acrobatics
4 Crossbow Expert
6 +2 dex
8 +2 Dex
12 Sharpshooter
14 Resilient Wisdom
16 Shield Master

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MultiClassing Notes:

Barbarian, Paladin – remember that 8 Strength we talked about?
Warlock, Wizard, Sorcerer – If you want to be a spellcaster, this is not the guide you’re looking for.
Ranger, Monk – I guess. Not sure what you’re getting here, but if you feel you must.
Bard, Cleric, Druid – Sure, dip Cleric or Druid to get guidance. I can see that. Bard for skill monkey or utility concepts.
War Cleric - See comments below
Rogue – Yep. More for Sharpshooter builds. Crossbow Expert doesn’t get much from Cunning action since the bonus action is being used, but if DPR is your thing Assasin builds are the way to go. See comments below.

Couple things to consider when Multi classing. When, what, and how many.

When: For purposes of this guide I'm presuming at least Fighter -11. Fighter-13 if you want Haste. 12, 14, 16, 19 are Ability Score levels. Really its all about Haste. If you're multi-classing into something that is going to give you a DPS boosting Concentration spell or you've picked up Hex via a feat, jump at 11 (12 if you need that one more stat boost/feat).

What: This gets more complex. I'm breaking it down based on what you want to boost or what your secondary party role is.

Party Face / Charisma or Skill Monkey

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[sblock]So you've started out with some social skills from Race or background, and you've got a decent Charisma, possibly even splashed Int. If you feel okay with your non-combat abilities
Rogue-3
Assasin gets you all kinds of goodies. Pick up Stealth if you don't already have it. For multiclassing Rogue Gladiuslegis covers it in far more detail than I'm going to. Check out his Dealing Death Handbook (x) His guide is Battlemaster not Eldrich Knight, but the Multiclassing advice for Rogue levels is still very applicable.

Bard - 3 college of lore if you're looking to pick up non-combat abilities. Expertise, more skill proficiences, Bardic Insperation, and caster levels. You've just become the teams skill monkey and non-combat go to character.

Obviously going to 4 and 8 in either gets you another Ability boost.
Bard-5, 7 or 9, for spell caster levels if you've been boosting Charisma, and combo's very well with the EK's 10th level ability. Otherwise 3 levels of Bard gets you all you need and you should consider more Figher or Rogue levels.

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Wisdom Secondary stat

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From Koga305's The Art of War:A Fighters Guide (x)

Finieous wrote:
When you get to Multiclassing, look at War Cleric 9/EK 11. Hold Person, Bestow Curse, Contagion (even errata'd) and Hold Monster are good options. This is the most synergistic EK build I've found. War Cleric levels give you spellcasting and fighting abilities (War Priest, Guided Strike, War God's Blessing, Divine Strike). EK gives you Extra Attacks x2, spells like Shield, Blur, Bigby's Hand, etc., PLUS 1/3 spell slots (12th level caster at level 18). Int is a dump stat -- you have terrific cleric attack spells, no Int requirement for multiclassing. Bless + Guided Strike + Divine Strike + Great Weapon Fighting + Great Weapon Master = Fun.

That is the single most useful thing to do with Eldritch Strike I've seen. Pick up your 11 Fighter levels first then jump over to Cleric for at least 7 levels for Hold Monster. Level 19 and 20 either go EK two more levels or Cleric two more levels or split the difference. EK 12 gets you another caster level, and another stat advance, EK 13 of course gets you Hasten but you've got Divine Favor to compete withfor your concentration. Cleric 8 gets you another stat advance, Divine Strike and caster levels, Cleric 9 gets you 5th level spells. Or go one of each, get two more stat advances, count as a 12th level caster for spell slots and Divine Strike. Pretty much comes down to Hasten vs 5th Level Cleric spells. IMO 5th Level Cleric spells win out over Hasten when you've got
Divine Favor .

Starting Stats go something like

Race Variant Human;
Level 1 Attributes Str 8; Dex 16; Con 14; Int 10; Wis 16; Cha 8
Advancement
1 Crossbow Expert
F4 and F6 +2 dex
F8 Sharpshooter
C4 +2 Wis
C8 or F12 +2 Wis

Divine Favor plus lots of attacks = good stuff. Fighter 11/Cleric 9 or Fighter13/Cleric7.

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DPR

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[sblock]So you just want to boost DPR? Rogue is the answer and again, covered in far more detail here (x).

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Spellcasting

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[sblock]Want to boost your spellcasting? Depends on what off stats you went with at Character gen.

Charisma 16+ Bard-9 -Lore College best option for non-combat utility. Better than the Sorcerer or Warlock IMO due to class features.
Charisma 16+
Warlock
- Eldritch Blast Ahoy! Pact of the Blade is Melee only, so no Lifedrinker for you! But Eldritch Blast is solid, more spells, and good clean fun with War Caster OAs and multi-zot pushes. Hex becomes your default concentration spell.
Wisdom 16+ Cleric-9 - War Cleric, best option for controls and moderate DPR boosts.
Int 16+ Wizard-9 - you've already got several Wizard spell options. You're essentially trading Stat boosts and HP for Caster Levels. Cleric or Bard get you the same Caster Levels and roughly equal control spells, but they also add either to DPR or Utility more so than Wizard.

In general adding damaging spells doesn't get a ranged character much. Your Multi-attack feature should always be the strongest choice for damage output. You're a much stronger character if you're adding abilities you don't have, and you've got ranged damage already covered by Figher - 11. Your spell choices should focus on boosting your Attack damage Divne Favor , control effects Hypnotic Pattern , or utility spells Invisibility .

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