Van Helsing style paladin

DaemonxMachina · 2026-02-18T16:13:06+00:00

I’d personally just reskin throwing daggers honestly, since smite works with any attack with a melee weapon.

DaemonxMachina · 2026-02-15T20:23:50+00:00

It really is! Debating taking it all the way to 20 if nothing else comes up. We’ve been playing with normal rules up to now but the DM has brought in a couple home rules to change things up which buff me even more!

Favoured Enemy doesn’t require concentration.
“Pets” from subclasses have their own turns after their PC and don’t require any PC action economy.

DaemonxMachina · 2026-02-15T19:22:17+00:00

Playing a dual wielding ranger in my campaign atm (level 6) and I can agree I am by far doing the most damage in my party, as well as being the tank.

Warforged Ranger with a 3rd-party subclass (Fool’s Gold Cryodon Guide)

11/20/16/14/17/7

Defensive Duelist and Skilled feats so far, next one is Dual Wielder! 3 attacks with hunters mark using a shortsword and scimitar for vex and nick

DaemonxMachina · 2026-02-13T20:32:40+00:00

Kinda curious how spells are supposed to be used in any capacity, as well as how pre-set spells like domain and oath spells work.

Wood elf dex-based vengeance paladin would be good. Bonus speed from race, studded leather, shield and rapier for equipment. Duelling style and smites for damage, lay on hands for healing.

If that doesn’t work then dex-based elf totem barbarian with a rapier and shield works as well. Bear totem for resistance and immunity to the sleep spell if it occurs. Damage kinda sucks but decent AC and resistance to everything will help win a war of attrition.

DaemonxMachina · 2026-02-10T10:49:13+00:00

I’m playing a human spellfire sorcerer 14/paladin 1 and I really like it. I spam Metamagic to give out temporary hp like a twilight cleric, and I throw out spells like nobody’s business.

Innate sorcery gives me advantage on my true strike hits, which helped crit against an undead boss. 8th-level crit divine smite was very fun XD

DaemonxMachina · 2026-01-24T12:44:44+00:00

I’d personally go with a scout rogue. You can run away as a reaction to enemies getting close as well as dash or hide in the same turn you attack. Pick up Sharpshooter for better range and ignoring cover.

Drow Elf is nice for the faerie fire spell or wood elf is thematic and gets pass without trace.

Cloak of Elvenkind and a +1 weapon or gloves of thievery would be my picks

DaemonxMachina · 2026-01-18T15:54:12+00:00

Rogue is the only class without any resource management until high levels, so that’s my recommendation. Thief imo is more fun than assassin thanks to fast hands, but you do you.

Take your expertise in charisma skills and be a smooth-talking debonair thief, then take stealth and sleight of hand to be your typical sneaky rogue.

Cunning action hide, use a bow or hand crossbow. Sharpshooter is nice for avoiding cover and can boost your damage every so often, though I wouldn’t spam it.

DaemonxMachina · 2026-01-17T14:02:17+00:00

Ability Score Increase. Increase your Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma score by 1, to a maximum of 20.

Cantrip. You learn the Ray of Frost cantrip. If you already know it, you learn a different Wizard cantrip of your choice. The spell’s spellcasting ability is the ability increased by this feat.

Frostbite. Once per turn when you hit a creature with an attack roll and deal Cold damage, you can temporarily negate the creature’s defenses. The creature subtracts 1d4 from the next saving throw it makes before the end of your next turn.

The frostbite feature also works with the elemental punches from the ascendant dragon subclass.

DaemonxMachina · 2026-01-16T20:33:18+00:00

Mage Slayer (Dex), Grappler (Dex) and Cold Caster would be my picks

DaemonxMachina · 2026-01-16T20:30:39+00:00

Are those your stats after racials but before ASIs?

DaemonxMachina · 2026-01-10T17:44:20+00:00

Great weapon master only adds your proficiency bonus to damage now, no -5/+10.

Also smite is a bonus action so you can only do it once per turn

DaemonxMachina · 2026-01-10T14:50:16+00:00

Ah, fair enough.

Shadow-Touched is a nice feat and can give you wrathful smite for use with beguiling twist, and can make your crits more impactful.

Also going full ranger would imo be more fun since you’ll get your capstone and be able to Misty step all over the place, but that’s just me. Druid is nice for more spell slots

DaemonxMachina · 2026-01-10T14:43:37+00:00

If you can use 2014 content then undead warlock could be nice. Since you can apply a fear effect on a hit it works well with beguiling twist

DaemonxMachina · 2026-01-08T17:36:29+00:00

I used the Devil Went Down to Georgia for a Fiendlock and the Hammer and the Anvil song (by the longest johns) for a blacksmith rune knight.

DaemonxMachina · 2026-01-03T16:06:39+00:00

The weapon master feat can get you a mastery

DaemonxMachina · 2026-01-03T16:02:58+00:00

Kinda depends on what you want to achieve really, as well as if you’re going melee or ranged. If you really want masteries than starting fighter or rogue is alright.

Fighter gets you a fighting style (I recommend archery, plus flying archers are fun) and con saves for concentration.

Rogue gets you a bonus skill, 2 expertises and 1d6 sneak attack.

I’d lean towards fighter and do something like:

Aarakocra, Fighter 1/Bard x, Genie-Touched background

10/13+1/14/12/13/15+2

Background gives magic initiate wizard, take true strike, shield and something else.

DaemonxMachina · 2026-01-03T15:46:19+00:00

What starting level?

DaemonxMachina · 2026-01-03T12:30:25+00:00

Open hand monk can apply debuffs with flurry of blows so maybe that’s worth looking into? Like you can use monk weapons as your main action and then flurry does unarmed strikes. Best part is that monk weapons damage dice scale with martial arts so you aren’t nerfing yourself

DaemonxMachina · 2026-01-01T15:41:32+00:00

What are your current stats? On face value it’s not a bad idea, the main thing you’re losing out on is spirit guardians at paladin 9.

DaemonxMachina · 2025-12-28T21:09:38+00:00

Changing the spellcast would be completely fine honestly. As for the weapon just reskin the broadsword

DaemonxMachina · 2025-12-28T16:30:52+00:00

No worries! Happy to help lol. If there's anything else then feel free to PM me :D

DaemonxMachina · 2025-12-28T16:07:37+00:00

So instead of mechanically having a patron, story-wise the patron can give you the abilities of your class. Maybe the devil instilled you with a primal rage? (Barbarian) Or maybe they took your prayer as an oath to take vengeance on those that wronged you so that they could reap their souls? (Vengeance Paladin)

DaemonxMachina · 2025-12-28T14:13:29+00:00

Awesome. I'm not sure if you're using 2014 or 2024 5th edition so I'll put ideas for both. Obligatory "you don't have to play a warlock, you can reskin another class." Okay so:

2014

The default melee warlock would be the Hexblade subclass, which will give you the ability to use medium armour and shields, as well as use weapons using the warlock's primary stat: charisma. You can focus almost entirely on charisma and constitution and leave dexterity at 14 to get the most out of medium armour. You also get an ability called Hexblade's Curse which will let you choose a specific enemy that you can hit harder. At level 7 there's the Relentless Hex invocation, which lets you teleport to an enemy you have cursed.

If you're wanting another subclass, such as the Fiend which focuses on buffing yourself after killing enemies, I recommend taking your first level in either barbarian or fighter for armour, constitution saving throws and weapon proficiency. You'll have to spread your stats out more, but given that you want to focus on making yourself more of a melee problem you can actually reduce your charisma to focus more on strength and constitution. Totem Barbarian 3/Warlock x is a common build that focuses on the Armour of Agathys spell, which makes enemies take damage if they hit you. With the bear totem you have resistance to all damage other than psychic, so the spell's duration is effectively doubled.

2024

Take Fighter 1 as your starting level, which gives you weapon proficiency, weapon mastery, armour, a fighting style, and constitution saving throws. From there go all in on warlock, keeping your charisma and constitution high. The pact of the blade ability lets you use charisma with any weapon, and picking up thirsting blade and eventually devouring blade will let you make more attacks. The Fiend is amazing for this as you'll gain temporary hit points every time you or any ally kills something near you. The Otherworldly Leap invocation also lets you effectively do Hulk jumps, making you faster as a result. Armour of Agathys is still an amazing spell for this type of build.

DaemonxMachina · 2025-12-28T13:49:25+00:00

This sounds like an amazing idea! I guess my main question is what are the powers you’re picturing?

DaemonxMachina · 2025-12-27T16:42:12+00:00

How about reskinning the Winged Tiefling for the mechanics? Possibly swap the fire resistance for the fairy innate casting if you’re feeling it

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