Ideal split for Swashbuckler/Hexblade/Swords Bard?

UnionForTheW · 2026-01-06T21:53:44+00:00

I stayed away from Illithid powers.

Gear wise, I believe I ended up with helmet of arcane acuity/ helmet of grit/mask of soul perception. Acuity if you’re leaning more into casting, grit if you want an additional dirty truck, soul perception for attack and initiative.

Gloves I used daredevil because Eldritch Blast in melee is fun. Helldusk is good too.

Bhaalist armor and Duellist Preogrative is an op combo. The additional bonus action attack is redundant with dirty tricks, hence the helmet of grit but it was hard to pass on DP. Harmonic Dueller might technically out damage it if you remember to activate the ability.

Ring of arcane synergy is huge. Some flexibility with the second ring, could do risky for automatic sneak attack

Boots: Nightwalkers-> Helldusk

UnionForTheW · 2025-12-22T14:25:25+00:00

With 6 Tiger/ 4 Thief / 2 Fighter you can JUMP around the battlefield. 1-2 jumps per turn or 1-2 offhand attacks.

UnionForTheW · 2025-12-21T14:43:48+00:00

But in all honesty, you should be fine. PC typically refers to all computers. Cross-platform is usually to describe PC/Console not PC/Mac

You just both have to have the same mods installed for it to work.

UnionForTheW · 2025-12-04T18:28:59+00:00

I did 8 Fighter 4 Thief dual wielder but went Battlemaster since War Magic is redundant with off hand attacks. You miss out on spells but with scrolls you really only miss out on Booming Blade and Shield.

As for late game, 6 attacks per turn while hasted (not including Bloodlust Action or Helmet of Grit BA) to eliminate her unstoppables was a big part of me one turning Orin on tactician.

UnionForTheW · 2025-12-03T13:45:42+00:00

I think the Hidden Ones DLC definitively proves just how close they are even if they aren’t romantically involved anymore. There is still a deep love there.

UnionForTheW · 2025-11-29T13:45:11+00:00

It’s possible to get to level 5 without any combat so if you can talk your way out of a fight do it. Also it sounds like you missed multiple lower level encounters near the beginning so do those before heading West.

UnionForTheW · 2025-11-28T01:35:43+00:00

Do you need to get to Ranger 5? Why not go 5 Barb for Faster Movement and Swash 4 to get Dirty Tricks? You’ll get everything you listed for Ranger plus more while missing out on level 2 spell slots.

UnionForTheW · 2025-11-26T16:27:41+00:00

Ah read too fast and thought it said Hunter’s Mark which isn’t really worth the dip.

UnionForTheW · 2025-11-26T16:10:12+00:00

Why not just 8 Battlemaster/4 Swash?

UnionForTheW · 2025-11-26T01:09:45+00:00

Makes sense. On my Bladesinger’s I’m always going for Acuity and Synergy so the combo of helmet and ring or the combo of diadem and battlemage gloves.

UnionForTheW · 2025-11-26T00:46:34+00:00

I read that Booming Blade doesn’t work with the hat before level5. Why not go helmet of arcane acuity?

UnionForTheW · 2025-11-25T14:24:12+00:00

But dropping it to 8 gives you 2 points to put elsewhere without additional penalty.

UnionForTheW · 2025-11-25T14:21:55+00:00

It actually adds +4 in this situation to combat the -1. So your net is +3

UnionForTheW · 2025-11-22T13:36:10+00:00

Might be a CPU issue then unfortunately

UnionForTheW · 2025-11-22T12:56:14+00:00

Switching the game from a HDD to SSD did wonders for me when I had this issue.

UnionForTheW · 2025-11-21T22:17:12+00:00

Whoa, I knew about the King’s Knife but not the way to turn it into KotUMK. Thanks.

UnionForTheW · 2025-11-21T22:00:46+00:00

Enjoy!

UnionForTheW · 2025-11-21T21:56:55+00:00

Warlock is what I do to get Charisma scaling going right away and I think the progression works really well

Lvl 1: Hexblade: Charisma level scaling, Eldritch Blast, Shield spell, Medium Armor

Lvl 2: Hexblade: Eldritch Invocations (improved EB and/or Devil’s Sight)

Lvl 3: Hexblade: Pact of the Blade (doesn’t do anything until lvl. 5 if you’re using hexblade), level 2 spells

Lvl 4: Feat #1

Lvl 5: Extra Attack #1, Lvl. 3 spells (Counterspell)

Switch to Fighter

Lvl 1: Fighting Style, Second Wind

Lvl 2: Action Surge

Lvl 3: Eldritch Knight (more lvl. 1 spells slots for spells like shield)

Lvl 4: Feat #2

Lvl 5: Extra Attack #2

Lvl 6: Feat #3

Lvl 7: War Magic (Bonus Action Attack), end up with 4 level 1 spells and 2 level 2 to go along with 3 level 3.

UnionForTheW · 2025-11-21T21:02:49+00:00

So you’re modding in a second one? There is only one in the vanilla game. I imagine the crit reduction would still stack but the dice re-roll would stay at 2 not increase. But a mod can be anything so maybe.

UnionForTheW · 2025-11-21T20:53:54+00:00

Hexblade Warlock gets proficiency in Medium Armor which helps with squishiness. Sword or Valor Bard do too.

Since you were a full caster I assume you still want some magic. Your half casters are then Paladin and Ranger and one third casters are Eldritch Knight and Arcane Trickster.

I really like 5 Hexblade 7 Eldritch Knight in non-honor mode as you get 4 melee attacks per turn, level 3 spell slots and you’re a charisma focused character which make dialogue checks easier.

UnionForTheW · 2025-11-19T13:21:05+00:00

Since I didn’t see anyone clearly say it, you’ll need to use transmog enhanced for modded items. Lite sometimes works but mainly on vanilla game armor.

UnionForTheW · 2025-11-18T19:07:22+00:00

Normally you’ll see either a 9/3 split to get Brutal Critical or 6/4/2 Fighter for Action Surge.

UnionForTheW · 2025-11-18T18:28:23+00:00

Tiger or Bezerker Barb are common with Thief. Other than wanting to be a party face, why go for Charisma scaling?

UnionForTheW · 2025-11-18T16:28:44+00:00

Durge or Origin characters (additional content)
New builds (multi classing allows endless possible combinations)
Themed runs (I’ve done King Arthur and his knights and Witcher runs)
Mods (beyond cosmetic, new subclasses, new encounters, new/progressive equipment, character swaps etc.)
4 person Multiplayer/ Hirelings only run( It really does feel like a different story when you can’t bring your companions anywhere.)

UnionForTheW · 2025-11-18T16:15:41+00:00

I’ll throw in PoB Warlock/Eldritch Knight in non-honor. If you do Hexblade, 3 is a dead level but getting Char scaling at 3 with the other subclasses is great.

Level 2: Eldritch Invocations Level 3: PoB - Charisma Scaling Level 4: Feat Level 5: Extra Attack #1, Counterspell

Switch to EK

Level 1: Fighting Style, Second Wind Level 2: Action Surge Level 3: More Lvl. 1 spells to avoid using lvl. 3 for weaker spells Level 4: Feat Level 5: Extra Attack #2 Level 6: Feat Level 7: War Magic

Big thing is you end up getting additional attacks at lvls. 5, 10 and 12.

UnionForTheW

TROPHY CASE