I'm still confused. Please put a Y or N with the numbers 1. On my turn I can cast booming blade and attack with a rapier 2. Cast Shadow Blade wait for next round then attack 3. I can cast Shadow Blade and cast booming blade for attack 4. Level 6 cast Shadow Blade and cast booming blade x 2 5. Level 6 cast Shadow Blade and cast booming blade then 2nd attack shadow blade 6. Level 6 cast Shadow blade and attack x2 7. Level 6 cast Shadow blade and cast booming blade on attack
@@Charles-ij1ow 1Y, 2Y (though you don't have to wait), 3N, 4N, 5Y (you need to have a real weapon such as a rapier or scimitar in one hand, and then conjure shadow blade in the other; there's no rule that says you have to use the same weapon both times when you have the extra attack feature), 6Y, 7Y (and you'd still be able to take one more weapon attack) I hope that clarifies things for you. The most important thing to remember is that you can't use shadow blade for the attack you make as part of casting the booming blade spell, but you can freely use shadow blade to make other attacks. The one disadvantage to this is that you won't be able to cast Shield, since you lack a free hand (one holding your regular weapon, one holding shadow blade) Another thing to note: At level 6+, if you're wielding a light weapon in one hand (such as a scimitar or short sword, but NOT a rapier) and you've already cast shadow blade in the other hand on a previous round of combat, then on subsequent rounds of combat, you can take the attack action to attack once with the scimitar and also cast booming blade using the scimitar, and then use two-weapon fighting to attack with shadow blade as a bonus action (assuming you're still holding it). This becomes less useful as you level up, though. When you get to level 9, it's far better to use your concentration and bonus action on a spell like "Animate Objects".
I'm still confused. Please put a Y or N with the numbers 1. On my turn I can cast booming blade and attack with a rapier 2. Cast Shadow Blade wait for next round then attack 3. I can cast Shadow Blade and cast booming blade for attack 4. Level 6 cast Shadow Blade and cast booming blade x 2 5. Level 6 cast Shadow Blade and cast booming blade then 2nd attack shadow blade 6. Level 6 cast Shadow blade and attack x2 7. Level 6 cast Shadow blade and cast booming blade on attack
My decision to play an Order of Scribes wizard was almost entirely for the rest of the party's reaction to my character talking to their dissertation notes and having it go from being a monologue to a dialogue.
This is actually the second "subclass" where I've heard mention of the Spell "Manifest Mind", the other being the Artificer-Archivist subclass. Though with that one, it allowed for telepathic communication between every person that held one of your artifact infusions (IE magic item creations), plus the Archivist version of Manifest Mind allows for the spell/skill of "Infoportation", a spell that turns you *into* information that can be transported instantly to wherever your Manifest Mind, or one of your infused magic items, are located. I'm actually now curious; are there other subclasses that have their own versions of the "Manifest Mind" spell? Don't suppose the Dungeon Dudes would be willing to make a video about "unique familiar/homunculus/mind" spells explaining and offering advice about whether or not it is worth playing a particular class/subclass *just* to play around with these "unique" spells and their effects, would they?
@@EvilGuy52 The Archivist Artificer was actually the original Unearthed Arcana version of the Order of the Scribes Wizard. They changed it because people thought it made more sense for the Spellbook dependent Wizard to have the Super-Spellbook Subclass.
@@yueffstueff6542 Thanks to the magical quill, Order of Scribes is also great for making elaborate (and color-coded!) plans and schemes all over the walls and floor of the local inn room. It's the D&D version of the movie/TV "conspiracy-tracking board with all the pictures and red string" -- and it's erasable so you don't end up owing the innkeeper all your money.
Correction on the 1st Order of Scribes ability; it no longer halves the time and gold cost to put spells in your spell book, but instead changes the amount of time needed to copy a spell into your spell book to 2 minutes per level of the spell, meaning in theory you could write 3 9th level spells into your spell book over the course of a short rest. The UA version of the subclass had the halved time and gold cost, but they altered upon fully releasing it.
Actually, they DOWNGRADED it. A 9th level spell takes 18 HOURS to be copied; so, if you are a member of the Order of Scribes, it takes you 17 hours 42 minutes, and 450GP, so not much of a benefit, really. Otherwise the subclass would get the a benefit all the others get for ONE school of magic.
Correction, the 2nd point of Awakened Spellbook feature states that "The latter spell must be of the same level as the spell slot you expend." which means that if you cast Fireball with a 3rd level spell slot you cannot select Force or Psychic damage cause there is no spells of 3rd level that a wizard could obtain with those damage types, but if you upcast the same Fireball with 4th or 5th spell slot you could choose Psychic if you have Phantasmal Killer or Force if you have Bigby's Hand, respectively.
Also Pulse Wave from Explores guide to wildmount does exist and is a 3rd level wizard Spell that does Force so you can also use that one to cast a 3rd level Forceball
@@BanditLyfe2471 Arguably that is still the spell dealing damage but fortunately that question is entirely irrelevant. “When you cast a wizard spell with a spell slot, you can temporarily replace its damage type with a *type that _appears_ in another spell in your spellbook*, which magically alters the spell's formula for this casting only. The latter spell must be of the same level as the spell slot you expend.” Force damage certainly “appears in” the spell Summon Fey, regardless of whether it “deals” it. The spell you cast must actually deal damage. The second spell that you use for a replacement has a much looser requirement.
I would like to request a "How to play a Bladesinger Wizard" Video. Since you already did such a Video for the Hexblade and the Eldritch Knight the Bladesinger would be the last one missing.
Over here: ruclips.net/video/q9SllHUtz2o/видео.html Wow, a whole bunch of channels made 5E Bladesinger Wizard optimization videos ... ruclips.net/user/results?search_query=how+to+play+a+bladesinger
Playing a bladesinger? You really want at least 3 levels of artificer, either armorer or battlesmith, to gain the ability to use intelligence for weapon attacks.
I play Adventurer's League and have multiple characters. I love both and play either depending on which I would rather be at the time. I am now trying a monk kensi. What do people rank that versus Hexblade or Bladesinger.
Hexblade, totally. Besides being kinda broken, Bladesong is limited, and because the class is more squishy, it ends up not fullfilling its primary function (magical melee damage) as good as the Hexblade, who has better armor, higher HP, more consistant damage and don't have to spread the stats. Bladesinger is more versatile, while Hexblade is better on what it focuses in. :/
Hexblade leans into the sword better than the Bladesinger. Bladesinger leans into the magic better than the Hexblade. So which do you more highly value?
I have one lined up for a character, one of the most goofy combos I am pretty stoked for is using awakened mind to drop a conjure greater demon into a locked room, from the awakened mind, then just dropping concentration and just letting them go ape mode
I agree on Bladesinger: "A" when compared to other Wizard subclasses for trying to be a Wizard. I think it's "S" for trying to be the gish that everyone wanted Eldritch Knight to be (no spell restrictions, more spell slots etc.). It's in its own class in a lot of ways.
A blade singer with 20 dex and int can have a 29AC without any magic items, just studded leather, haste, and shield. You could potentially throw stuff like defensive duelist in as well and make it absolutely obscene
@Rob Mayer A Bladesinger made using point buy or the average array will not reach ability scores like that until Tier 4 play, and will not be able to take many feats. So there is a trade off for that 29 AC. We think it's important to take a measured consideration that ability scores that high are only achievable for either high level characters (where a 29 AC is great, but not entirely insurmountable for endgame monsters) or when extremely generous ability score methods are used to create characters.
Hexblade capitalises the BLADE where Bladesinger is much more focused on elegant spell casting with melee flavour. Two very different styles of gish and both with their merits and weaknesses.
A hexblade absolutely does the spellsword thing better though if only bc of its ability scores being a lot more chill, plus it can amplify either trait even further with easy dips into paladin or sorcerer or bard
Updated tier list (regarding both The Dungeon Dudes and the users): S TIER - Path of the Totem Warrior (Barbarian) - College of Lore (Bard) - Life Domain (Cleric) - Circle of the Moon (Druid) - Battle Master (Fighter) - Echo Knight (Fighter) - Gloom Stalker Conclave (Ranger) - Divine Soul (Sorcerer) - The Hexblade (Warlock) - School of Divination (Wizard) A+ TIER - Armorer (Artificer) - Path of the Zealot (Barbarian) - Forge Domain (Cleric) - Tempest Domain (Cleric) - Oath of Vengeance (Paladin) - Arcane Trickster (Rogue) - Swashbuckler (Rogue) - The Fiend (Warlock) - Chronurgy Magic (Wizard) - Bladesinging (Wizard) A TIER - Artillerist (Artificer) - Battle Smith (Artificer) - Path of the Ancestral Guardian (Barbarian) - College of Eloquence (Bard) - Grave Domain (Cleric) - Light Domain (Cleric) - Circle of the Shepherd (Druid) - Eldritch Knight (Fighter) - Way of the Open Hand (Monk) - Way of Shadow (Monk) - Oath of the Ancients (Paladin) - Oath of Conquest (Paladin) - Oathbreaker (Paladin) - Beast Master Conclave (TCE) (Ranger) - Horizon Walker Conclave (Ranger) - Scout (Rogue) - Shadow Magic (Sorcerer) - School of Abjuration (Wizard) - School of Enchantment (Wizard) - Order of Scribes (Wizard) B+ TIER - Cavalier (Fighter) - Way of the Kensei (Monk) - Oath of Devotion (Paladin) - Oath of Redemption (Paladin) - Draconic Bloodline (Sorcerer) - Wild Magic (Sorcerer) - The Archfey (Warlock) - The Celestial (Warlock) - School of Evocation (Wizard) - School of Illusion (Wizard) - School of Necromancy (Wizard) B TIER - Alchemist (Artificer) - Path of the Storm Herald (Barbarian) - College of Glamour (Bard) - College of Valor (Bard) - Nature Domain (Cleric) - Order Domain (Cleric) - Trickery Domain (Cleric) - War Domain (Cleric) - Circle of the Land (Druid) - Circle of Dreams (Druid) - Champion (Fighter) - Samurai (Fighter) - Way of the Long Death (Monk) - Oath of Glory (Paladin) - Hunter Conclave (Ranger) - Assassin (Rogue) - Thief (Rogue) - Mastermind (Rogue) - The Great Old One (Warlock) - School of Conjuration (Wizard) C+ TIER - College of Swords (Bard) - College of Whispers (Bard) - Arcana Domain (Cleric) - Death Domain (Cleric) - Knowledge Domain (Cleric) - Circle of Spores (Druid) - Arcane Archer (Fighter) - Way of the Drunken Master (Monk) - Oath of the Crown (Paladin) - Monster Slayer Conclave (Ranger) - Inquisitive (Rogue) - Storm Sorcery (Sorcerer) - School of Transmutation (Wizard) - War Magic (Wizard) - Graviturgy Magic (Wizard) C TIER - Path of the Berserker (Barbarian) - Path of the Battlerager (Barbarian) - Way of the Sun Soul (Monk) D+ TIER - The Undying (Warlock) D TIER - Banneret/Purple Dragon Knight (Fighter) - Way of the Four Elements (Monk) - Beast Master Conclave (PHB) (Ranger)
Awesome work. I still scratch my head how the community voted lower for chronurgy than they did for divination, though. Chronurgy is potentially game breaking.
The Scribe Wizard is able to put spells in their spell book at such a staggering speed, 60 times faster than normal, that sacrificing several levels of bad spells with their high level ability becomes very viable.
And it's completely in character for a Scribes wizard to hoard every spell they can get their hands on, whether they are aware they can "sacrifice" them later on or not. Witch Bolt becomes worth having in the book, and if they didn't have any way to deliver lightning damage with a first level spell slot before that, they do now. I can also imagine a Scribes wizard making a fortune trading spells with other wizards. Anywhere they go where a spell might just not have gained any popularity, they have a novel magical secret to trade.
Kind of a super important oversight, the scribe wizard's quill as printed in Tasha's does not give a gold discount for transcribing spells and the copy time is reduced to 2 minutes/spell level. Not half gold and half copy time.
As well, One With The Word doesn't permanently remove spells when used, but just for a few long rests. Given that your average roll will be 10-11, and that wizards are never going to refuse a chance to scribe yet another spell into their book, this is an insanely simple cost to this "get out of death free" card. With the shenanigans from Manifest Mind, I feel that this is serious S-class stuff.
I was under the impression (from previous editions) that a spell required one page per spell level in a spell book, so high level mages may have multiple spellbooks.
Hello Dungeon Dudes, your subclass playlist does NOT have part 2 of your wizard subclass video. Hopefully you will see this comment and fix it. Love the videos!
Other fun thing to do as a scribe wizard: Misty step cast through the drone is an insane range extension. Same with Dimension Door. And you can’t be counterspelled when you use it to escape.
Misty step reads "Briefly surrounded by silvery mist you teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space you can see" meaning you can't move more than 30 feet. So it sadly doesn't allow for a 330 feet misty step (but ask your DM anyways maybe they like it) however it does allow you to teleport when on darkness or to another room giving the mind isn't in darkness so that's cool
@@ekkeking I would agree, but Manifest Mind specifically states: "Whenever you cast a wizard spell on your turn, you can cast it as if you were in the spectral mind's space, instead of your own, using its senses" It's only 30 foot from the minds space, and you cast it as if you were standing in that space, which would allow that to happen. I would totally understand if a DM says no though.
@@ekkeking I would expect it to say something along the lines of "Spells targeting Self effect the manifested mind instead" Like I said, it's very weird and your DM might have other opinions.
@@MarcLucksch Personally I would not read it that way, it doesn't matter where you cast it from, your physical form would only move 30 feet is how I'd read it. That being said WOTC had a article up on D&D beyond where the author suggested it should work as you describe. The author had a couple other ruling type statements talking about the order of the scribes that I found suspect, but its still more official than me.
Actually the Scribes Wizard change of damage works based on the spell slot used, which means you can upcast for instance fireball, and because you have Flame Strike make a radiant fireball. It's a really interesting ability that comes in to spell selection.
18:38 "There's no 3rd level spell that does force damage." [Matt Mercer looks around guiltily, then slides Pulse Wave off the table while no-one is looking.]
Kelly and Monty, I want to personally say - "Thank you"! Too both of you. Im brand new DM, and I learned so much from you're show! And as you like to say "You guys are AMAZING" :D Also congratulations with Drakkenheim on kickstarter! ;)
I think that the Bladesinger indeed has the kneejerk reaction of being OP, but I think the Scribe Wizard actually has way more potential. It has so many ways in which it can break the game even without getting a lot of spells to scribe.
'Laughs in 24 AC w/shield spell at level 5'. Currently running one and can honestly say being a wizard that can still do wizard things and can still defend itself in melee if it comes down to it is crazy good.
summon greater demon has a 90ft range so summoning a greater demon from 390 ft of distance is pretty cool and you don't have to worry about the save each turn as you won't be present anyways
Bladesinging is the most fun I have had in DnD by far. Facetanking stuff with amazing AC while thunderwaving is just so much like the wizard from Diablo 3 it feels amazing!
The thing I've found with Hexblades is that they do tend to be heavy hitters, usually using greatswords and glaives for high damage and spell slots are a sidenote. The Bladesinger presents quite an intriguing concept of an actual blade and magic combo, rather than magic used to maximize how hard to hit Quite intrigued by the versatility presented of a wizard that isn't hiding away at the back, and the wide range of options for wizard spells that can be used in two different ways!
Bladesingers could definitely be a great fit for the agile, caster-with-a-sword type who uses as much utility magic as combat magic to expand the tactical and adventuring options. (Now I want to play in a seafaring trio of a Bladesinger, a Swashbuckler, and an Oath of the Open Sea paladin. Everyone trying to out-ham everyone else, all the time...)
I'm playing a bladesinger in a low level campaign right now, and it's tons of fun! We just hit level 4 so I picked up Mobile, and now I've got an excellent skirmishing melee wizard. That said, a crit one-shots me, but that's also the only way for enemies of my level to hit me... I went for more line and melee spells (spells that come from me in the middle of combat), and concentration so I can do stuff while running in and attacking. I also used mage hand and catapult to one-shot the level 1 boss... Overall, it's tons of fun just being a melee wizard in a party with several fighters and having better AC than they do
Yeah let's face it, the hexblade, really the hexadin because everyone ends up taking that dip, they don't have spell slots, they have smite slots, combine that with the fact that neither class is a ritual caster and you have yourself a... Guy who hits hard... At which point you might as well play a fighter at least that way you can be a battle master, the coolest of the guys who hit stuff.
@@devin5201 You'd be surprised at the versatility of Warlocks. Not as much spell wise as Wizard, but the role play is excellent, and out of combat, spells like Invisibility are still great utility wise, and Invocations are hard to beat for customization. If you're just looking for straight mechanics, yeah fighter is good, but hexblades are still an excellent blend of heavy damage and you don't even have to tank
@@adamlawther6356 Don’t forget about the Rogue Arcane Trickster. The Rogue is considered a martial class, and the Arcane Trickster subclass gives it access to spellcasting.
I really like the Paladin 5/Sorcerer X multiclass at high levels (Extra Attack + Quicken Spell is a great combination, which is probably why we haven't seen a gish-y Sorcerous origin make it past the Unearthed Arcana stage). The problem is that it doesn't feel like a real Gish until you hit Paladin 5/Sorcerer 5. The same is true of any martial/magic multiclass, really.
I think the dudes underestimate any Gish concepts. They did the same with the swords bard. They overvalue one time use high level spells, and undervalue the Gish ability to take mid tier spells and get a lot of prolonged use and damage each turn with them. Yes, the individual spells are stronger for one fight, but you wouldn’t use those in all the fights pre-boss. Not to mention the versatility and turn by turn utility that a Gish can use and still maintain combat prowess in long fights on bonus actions and reactions is understated in these videos. That’s why the community is not of the opinion that bladesingers are “just high AC”.
Oh 100% agree! It's about resource management, maximizing concentration spells while still being able to put out damage better than a dagger with your rapier/shortsword and slinging cantrips. You can be in back while you're saving up but able to be up front when you want to mix it up or find a boss fight!
5:02 for fending off/escaping grapples it would be useful, also for acrobatic shenanigans mid combat, I love mid combat acrobatics so I can't not mention them.
What fun about Order of Scribes is that the damage types are only restricted by other spells you have, meaning you can use physical damage types if you so wish. Take Erupting Earth and Fireball, and you can turn Fireball into BOULDERBALL! it also works with Scorching Ray and Earthen Grasp to make Rock Rays! Also take the Crusher feat for added cromch!
If your campaign allows significant downtime, I believe the lower cost and time to create scrolls would boost this subclass into S tier when combined with the lower cost of inscribing spells into your book. The money savings could allow for a vast increase in spells in your book or non-attuned magic items. A bag of holding can hold a lot of scrolls!!
I also think that the Bestow Curse spell can be used to grant access to *all* damage types for 3rd level, since damage type alone is "no more powerful" than necrotic as long as it keeps to that 1d8 from the fourth bullet point. However, the spell does specify that this is "at the DM's choice," but it shouldn't require much convincing.
You miss an important part about being a bladesinger. The cantrip + attack means things like bladeward becomes *very* useful. And the fact melee attack plus cantrip is such a flatrate damage without expending a spellslot which makes resource management much better. So for multiple combats in a dungeon where you will want to save your bladesong, you can still use bladeward + attack for a defensive stance or cantrip+attack to help clear a room fast... All without expending resources... Which in a dungeon crawl is vital! Plus having reaction of absorb elements and shield just in case.
@@heyfell4301 You do not remember correctly. Tortle armor is natural armor and does not count as heavy armor. EDIT: And for proof Tortles cannot use the defensive fighting style because they do not count as wearing armor.
Yeah this would let you skip mage armor and dex. But your weapon attacks should you want to use them would be kinda whimpy. Still if all you are going for is buffs then yeah it gets you a high AC. A smart DM is just going to target you with saving throws more often though.
@@tinkerer3399 i went there to check, and i was commiting a bit of a mistake here. Because your Dexterity doesn't affect the AC, i thought it counted as heavy armor. Now i'm officially banning Tortles from all my games, i really don't want someone with Bladesong and the Shield spell gaining 27 AC before at least level 14. :'D
Really funny, how the Bladesinger is the most in your face/up close and personal Wizard subclass, and Scribe is the most I don't want to get my hands dirty/stay as far away as possible Wizard :)
witchbolt, darkvision, water walking, stoneskin, scrying, Drawmij's instant summons, dream of the blue veil, control weather, black blade of disaster... wonderful spells for the order of scribes (for chucking out of the book to stay alive)
Love my Order of the Scribes wizard. My DM doesn’t even know what he’s got into by letting my guy keep the money we found - my spell book has over 130 spells in it so far - just hit level 7.
I'm currently playing a Scribe Wizard "Indiana Jones"esque character. Being able to send the Manifested Mind ahead to scout out ruins (or to fight for me while I'm invisible) has proved invaluable for the party, and just all round enjoyable. As mentioned by others as well- the Wizard's Quill you summon doesn't just half the time of writing down spells (as it did in its UA version), it reduces the time to 2 minutes per spell level. So you could literally write down all the spells another Wizard has in their grimoire (provided you have the money) in the span of a short rest, which is insanely good (and is precisely what my character did with an NPC wizard that was travelling with the party)
I’m really really liking these tier list videos, I really would love to see “best of the archetype” once you’re done with the subclasses. Best gish, best tank, best healer, etc
I think that the most consistently underrated feature of the Scribes wizard is easily the ability to cast a ritual with its normal casting time once per long rest. There are a handful of really useful rituals that have interesting, creative use cases, especially ones like Gentle Repose or Unseen Servant that only take an action to cast with a spell slot, that you can now cast as an action without spending a spell slot or having it prepared. It's certainly niche, but if you're clever, and especially if your DM is open to a little bit of shenanigans, you can get a _lot_ of mileage out of it. For example, one of the first things I did playing as a Scribes wizard was to use an Unseen Servant to pick up a big stick and stick it in the spokes of a bandit group's wagon wheel, and the resulting crash killed several and seriously injured more (thanks Nikki, you're an awesome DM ^^). I could also see using Gentle Repose to stop a necromancer from raising a key target, or being able to spin up Detect Magic almost instantly in a key moment is great - all without wasting your precious preparation or slots on them.
So just imagine a level 17 Scribes Wizard with blade of disaster and Meteor Swarm now you have Force damage meteors or even at level 1 you can have a force damage chromatic orb I think just playing around with damage types intrigues me
@@ryanweaver3348 I think an evocation wizard with metamagic adept to take transmute would be great because you can point blank a thunder ball without worrying about collateral damage
I think, what gets a little overlooked, is that song of defense doesn't need a specific source of damage, like attacks or spells. It could be used against fall damage, traps and other things like that. As long as you take damage, you can use this, which makes it pretty versatile.
My bigest problem with the Bladesinger isn't actually the subclass itself. I fucking love it, and really enjoyed playing a character with it. The problem is when you introduce multliclassing, because that 2 level dip into Bladesinger wizard is insanely powerful. Smack that on top of a Battle Smith or Armorer Artificer or Eldritch Knight or Arcane Archer Fighter, you have a nightmare of a character to deal with.
I would be tempted to sell my spellbook. Just keep a ton of dusty old tomes on hand (blank pages, of course). Sell the active spellbook. Skip town. Transcribe a new spell book!
Bladesinger Wizard's dual wielding is honestly one of the most fun things to do. Having the Mobile feat, you can literally dance through combat and make it part of the character. One of the other fun things you can do is if you're wielding a light weapon, you can dual wield with Shadow Blade due to it's properties, which can also be something to add flavor to the character. Of course if you'd prefer to use something like Haste, that is also an option to use if you'd simply like to dual wield or use a single weapon, like a rapier. I've seen a lot of people playing Bladesinger just as a buff to their casting, which is why when I created mine, the character story is more about his lack of certain magic abilities, one of the most notable is that he does not know Fire Bolt or Fireball, or spells of that nature. He is more about mobility spells and buffs. It honestly made me get really creative with the character and his backstory, and he is now my identifying character according to my friends.
i feel people treat the bladesinger as a wizard that can melee from time to time, instead of a melee character that can wizard. are you going to be more effective if you pop bladesong and just spam fireball? Yes, 100%, but at that point are you even playing a bladesinger?
Both are great subclasses with really fun flavor to play as. I think the change to the scribe time adjustment makes it A+/S tier and would love to play either and could very well be top choices along with chronurgy/enchantment/divination wizards. Love the show and can’t wait to see book when it comes out!
My 12-year-old son plays as a Divination wizard and the portent dice is a literal life saver! Being able to control the outcome of a battle that directly is insane.
Two tips I learned for playing and DM'ing for a Scribe: 1) You'll need to keep track of even your unprepared spells for purposes of damage-type switching. For instance, D&D Beyond's UI isn't really set up to do this smoothly. Highly recommend writing out a cheat sheet prior to your sessions. 2) Unlike a familiar, you cannot see through the manifest mind's eyes. It just describes to you psychically what it sees. Lots of GM discretion there, with room to decide what it thinks it sees, or what its personality is, etc.
Love it guys! Though I’m reverse on your quandary. I think scribes might be S-tier, and bladesinger might be B. Singer get’s high AC sure, but nothing else helps you be exceptional at what you’re already good at; casting spells. While the scribes ability to find, cast, and survive long enough to cast that exceptional spell is unparalleled except by chronurgy. Great list though! Love the videos!
I've played a bit of the old Bladesinger from Sword Coast and I loved it, but you hit the nail right on the head. Now, granted, we started the campaign as level 5's and I went with 4 Wizard / 1 Fighting w/ Dueling Fighting Style, deciding what ASI to go for was tough. I actually ended up going for the Mobile Feat haha. There's just something really funny about a Longstrider'd Hasted Wizard running around with 100 ft of movement. As for the Ability Scores, they weren't that great with 16 Dex, 14 Con and 16 Int and because I multiclassed, I had to wait another level to get Extra Attack. Not being locked to the Elf race does sound neat, though I must admit that Eladrin Elf was pretty nice (free Misty Step and Dark Vision never hurts!). The race's pretty rare I feel though... As for the Scribe, as amazing as it sounds to change damage types, I can't think of many moments where it comes without meta gaming or, you know, you being sad because no Force Ball. :( 6th level ability sounds amazing though! Great video as always. :)
If you look at the spells in Explorers Guide to Wildemount, I'm pretty there is a 3rd level spell that deals force damage. It's the one that shoves a load of enemies using a conical blast.
I have done run one game with a Blade-singer Wizard. It was using the original version from Sword Coast Adventure guide, and the PC's had uncommonly high stats. I tend to gravitate towards singular large combat encounters and story based conflict. This meant that the blade-singer never ran out of spell songs. He ran head-long into a orc fortress taking three rounds of shots from all the archers they could put on the walls... and dispatched most of the orcs before his party caught up. He won every duel he was ever a part of, and generally had more resilience than the Bear-totem barbarian... at least while his spells lasted. There is something to be said for the ability to bring a wizards powers to the frontline, with the defense needed to stay there for a time! Not something that would have been possible with more reasonable stats, but a memorable character regardless.
Please Note: Shadow Blade does not work in conjunction with Booming Blade or Green-Flame Blade any longer due to the errata. Both cantrips require a weapon with a value of at least 1 silver piece. Shadow Blades are made of shadow and cannot be traded. They have no value.
Would pact of the blade warlocks not be able to use them until they bond with a real weapon, since their base weapon is conjured and therefore worth no money? That errata is stupid.
@@SkellyHertz Good question with no answer. Find a +1 magic weapon quickly and bond it. Problem is then solved. EDIT: Up to the DM. I'd rule that a summoned weapon is a metal weapon of appropriate value and would qualify for the spell even if it disappears when more than 5 ft away from you for 1 minute or more. Perhaps you summon the blade from the closest armory and it returns there after you dispel it or when its out of reach for the appropriate amount of time.
@@SkellyHertz That errata was to fix the issue of using Booming Blade without an actual weapon, which was even more stupid. The Shadow Blade issue is just an unexpected side effect. Jeremy Crawford even said that while it's true RAW that you can't use Shadow Blade for Booming Blade, he personally would allow it at his table.
The advantage on dexterity acrobatics check for bladesingers is useful to escape grapples if you don't have spell slots for misty step or something like that.
Yes! It's the perfect crit reaction. No nonsense damage reduction of any kind vs a hit that's probably going to hurt. Sure there are other less expensive reactions, but not many against getting spanked on the frontlines.
So I’m playtesting Swordsinging with an Owlkin. The dex save bonus is extremely useful with your flight requiring specifically a dex save to recover on fall. Your flightspeed increases to 40ft as well, and with your extra AC, you can really dance along the skys, weaving in and out in a sort of divebombing style.
What I like about these subclasses is that they're practically exemplary of certain playstyles. The Bladesinger is the best mix of martial and magic, and the Scribes Wizard is the Wizard cranked up to eleven. Also, one point about the Bladesinger. It takes one of the strongest classes in the game and not only covers one of its most glaring weaknesses, its AC, it turns it into a strength that even classes that focus on that strength wish they could reach. It's also incredibly mobile, and while _Counterspell_ can replace Song of Defense where magic is concerned, if your AC is somehow surpassed by physical attacks, well, now you've got something for that.
I have an Order of Scribes player who does exactly as you say, he hangs back, taking notes on the battle, while using his Manifested Mind as bait and casting spells through it.
And the original lore of the subclass. I have no issues with it being available to other races, but I also wouldn’t have any issue with my DM having it only be available to elves in a specific setting, including a Forgotten Realms game.
One of my munchkin players: -Can I play Variant Human bladesinger? -Sure, if you want to be hunted down by elves. A wonderful addition to your story. -But... Ok, I'll play as a Drow Bladesinger :( Leaving subclass exclusive to certain race feels right.
@@vladimirserpov6773 I would gladly take a nice combo along with a cool roleplay bonus. Would fit a paranoia flaw, with arcane lock, alarm, and nondetection being spells commonly used by the character. A REAL munchkin would custom lineage elf.
@@vladimirserpov6773 He didn't want to be hunted by elves... so he picked drow instead... something isn't quite clicking here... All the drow defectors in my campaign are constantly looking over their shoulders for assassination attempts, and if they weren't defectors, the non-drow elves would be on them just for daring to live on the surface.
I've been playing a melee heavy bladesinger wizard in an Icewind Dale campaign for a month and a half now and it's a BLAST. I would love the class in any campaign, but for that setting specifically it's perfect; Shadow Blade gets advantage on attack rolls made in dim light or darkness...and Icewind Dale is under perpetual dim light. Unless I'm in a well lit town (or my companions light a torch) I pretty much always have advantage on attacks which helps to offset the lack of a higher dex score.
What I love about the Bladesinger is that you are basically effective at ANY range. If someone gets close to you, you can fight. If they try to leave, you can fight. It gives a class with a lot of utility a lot more options for combat. Yes, it's true that you don't have a lot of HP, but the term "dodge tank" exists for a reason. Sure, you are gonna get hit... but good luck to anyone who's gonna try! Also, you can use a whip as your bladesong weapon. It's not the best option, but it makes me feel like a Belmont and that's cool.
thanks for reviewing in detail - - at least for me, the revised bladesinger is way more satisfying than the previous version. nice to see the updated version and helpful to learn your input and advice
A huge, huge consideration for the Order of Scribes and the Awakened Spellbook's change of damage type. The wording states, "replace its damage type with a type that *appears* in another spell". Not inflicts. Appears. So even spells that mitigate damage types (ie Stoneskin) can fuel this.
@@DungeonDudes Yeah, it's certainly a cheeky interpretation. Appear can just as easily mean "manifest" as apposed to simply "mentioned". But I'd chance it. ;)
That is how I read it, though not in the other direction. Like I can't turn a psychic attack spell into giving a resistance spell resistance to psychic damage when it wouldn't. Though I have seen people argue that as well.
I had a blade singer who did, 52 damage in the first blow in the campaign, as I made an entrance. (Started with a flame togue) afterwards the rogue did 19 damage in his round and made some crazy eyes. What a way to describe a powerhouse of a character!
Assuming the Awakend Spellbook feature allows you to tap into the damage types in prismatic wall, you could be an absolute monster with a pretty simple combo at level 19 (17 in Order of the Scribe Wizard and 2 in Tempest Domain Cleric) Cast Meteor Swarm and switch the fire and bludgeoning to lightning damage, then use your Channel Divinity for Destructive Wrath to max out the 40d6 to 240 lightning damage guaranteed on a ton of enemies. Bonus points if you have the elemental adept feat in lightning damage to bypass resistance.
two years later and im waiting to start a new campaign as a warforged scribes wizard, extremely bookish trying to figure out why they were made or if it even matters. looking forward to being proficient in all of the int skills
Oh neat that was quick! Playing a Bladesinger as my first wizard is honestly a bit confusing with the sheer amount of options available but it's certainly fun. Technically I'm also playing a Scribe lite too cuz our DM said he actively wanted us to be struggling with money and have barely any intake, but he's planned a magical pen so I can at least write some something in my spellbook with the literal no money I have. That would nullify the gold requirement while keeping the time requirement, idk how balanced or influencial that would be though.
A note on the "Awakened Spellbook"'s second feature: It actually says "[...]with a type that *appears* in another spell in your spellbook", the spell in question doesn't have to cause damage of that type. For example with *Absorb Elements* you get the ability to do acid, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder damage with all your damage dealing first level spells. (A bit redundant with Chromatic Orb, yes, but still nice ^^ ) You could make a bludgeoning Fireball if you also have Erupting Earth in your book. And Protection from Energy work like its smaller cousin Absorb Elements for acid, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder damage for level 3 spells. Stoneskin for bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage at level 4. So many possible shenanigans :-D
Dude I can just imagine a high charisma scribe wizard sitting a block away from a guards barracks pretending to sleep on the streets like a begger and having the orb cast fire ball or cloud kill in the barracks.
I did a multi class of Bladesinger Wizard and Battlemaster Fighter to make a Devil May Cry type character. It was a beautiful answer to the question: How do you perform combos in DnD 5e?
I have a wonderful idea for either a campaign or a powerful group of rivals. Since Bladesingers were introduced in 2nd edition as strictly elven, there are a cadre of elven Bladesingers who have vowed to keep it so. Their vows are to keep elves safe, protect the elven way of life, and to destroy any non-elves who practice bladesinging in the most violent and spectacularly public way as possible to discourage any non-elves from ever thinking about becoming Bladesingers.
The wizardly quail might be more powerful than you think. In the players hand book the cost of scribing a spell is the ink required too copy it. The wizardly quill doesn’t require ink. So I could be wrong but on paper do order the scribe’s not have to pay for their spells? It might be hard to find a DM that will let you do this though. Ha “ The cost represents material components you expand as you experiment with the spell to master it as well as the fine ink you need to record it”114PHB “The quill doesn’t require ink...” 77 TCE
Heh heh. "Wizardly quail." Yeah, I know it's just a stupid typo, but the image of a quail with that feather dangling over their head seems to fit somehow.
The high DEX won't benefit you _as much_ if you choose Scribes wizard, since you won't be using it to make melee attacks. But what is "high"? 16 INT, 14 DEX? That's reasonable for a Scribes wizard, if only for the AC and initiative boosts. But a 16 DEX? You're probably wasting it.
3 года назад
Bladesinging was banned at the table I learnt to play at. I never bothered what it was because I saw it was for elves only. And when I actually found out, I thought similar to what you guys said: you can get stupid high AC, but not only at a cost, but when you're lvl 15 or higher. Honestly, these videos have mostly convinced me that if sth's broken on tier 4, then I don't give a fuck anyway. Makes for great homebrew freedom.
Follow Dungeons of Drakkenheim on Kickstarter here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/2144996758/dungeons-of-drakkenheim
i was so hyped to see the three OG characters in art! the delirium all over the city!
it looks amazing
Looking forward to it.
See you on the 28th! Good luck!
I'm still confused. Please put a Y or N with the numbers
1. On my turn I can cast booming blade and attack with a rapier
2. Cast Shadow Blade wait for next round then attack
3. I can cast Shadow Blade and cast booming blade for attack
4. Level 6 cast Shadow Blade and cast booming blade x 2
5. Level 6 cast Shadow Blade and cast booming blade then 2nd attack shadow blade
6. Level 6 cast Shadow blade and attack x2
7. Level 6 cast Shadow blade and cast booming blade on attack
@@Charles-ij1ow 1Y, 2Y (though you don't have to wait), 3N, 4N, 5Y (you need to have a real weapon such as a rapier or scimitar in one hand, and then conjure shadow blade in the other; there's no rule that says you have to use the same weapon both times when you have the extra attack feature), 6Y, 7Y (and you'd still be able to take one more weapon attack)
I hope that clarifies things for you. The most important thing to remember is that you can't use shadow blade for the attack you make as part of casting the booming blade spell, but you can freely use shadow blade to make other attacks. The one disadvantage to this is that you won't be able to cast Shield, since you lack a free hand (one holding your regular weapon, one holding shadow blade)
Another thing to note: At level 6+, if you're wielding a light weapon in one hand (such as a scimitar or short sword, but NOT a rapier) and you've already cast shadow blade in the other hand on a previous round of combat, then on subsequent rounds of combat, you can take the attack action to attack once with the scimitar and also cast booming blade using the scimitar, and then use two-weapon fighting to attack with shadow blade as a bonus action (assuming you're still holding it). This becomes less useful as you level up, though. When you get to level 9, it's far better to use your concentration and bonus action on a spell like "Animate Objects".
Looking forward to Wizard Subclass Tier Rankings (Part 42,978)
Not to mention Part 42,979, really excited for that one too
@@DefinitelyNotBender It’s not their fault, that was the League of Legends wizard subclass list!
I'm still confused. Please put a Y or N with the numbers
1. On my turn I can cast booming blade and attack with a rapier
2. Cast Shadow Blade wait for next round then attack
3. I can cast Shadow Blade and cast booming blade for attack
4. Level 6 cast Shadow Blade and cast booming blade x 2
5. Level 6 cast Shadow Blade and cast booming blade then 2nd attack shadow blade
6. Level 6 cast Shadow blade and attack x2
7. Level 6 cast Shadow blade and cast booming blade on attack
@@Charles-ij1ow You can’t use shadow blade with booming/green-flame blade since they now require a weapon worth at least 1sp as material.
@@Charles-ij1ow number 6: Yes 1:Yes. All other: NO
My decision to play an Order of Scribes wizard was almost entirely for the rest of the party's reaction to my character talking to their dissertation notes and having it go from being a monologue to a dialogue.
This is actually the second "subclass" where I've heard mention of the Spell "Manifest Mind", the other being the Artificer-Archivist subclass. Though with that one, it allowed for telepathic communication between every person that held one of your artifact infusions (IE magic item creations), plus the Archivist version of Manifest Mind allows for the spell/skill of "Infoportation", a spell that turns you *into* information that can be transported instantly to wherever your Manifest Mind, or one of your infused magic items, are located.
I'm actually now curious; are there other subclasses that have their own versions of the "Manifest Mind" spell?
Don't suppose the Dungeon Dudes would be willing to make a video about "unique familiar/homunculus/mind" spells explaining and offering advice about whether or not it is worth playing a particular class/subclass *just* to play around with these "unique" spells and their effects, would they?
@@EvilGuy52 The Archivist Artificer was actually the original Unearthed Arcana version of the Order of the Scribes Wizard. They changed it because people thought it made more sense for the Spellbook dependent Wizard to have the Super-Spellbook Subclass.
*Barbarian rages in fear*
@@yueffstueff6542 Thanks to the magical quill, Order of Scribes is also great for making elaborate (and color-coded!) plans and schemes all over the walls and floor of the local inn room. It's the D&D version of the movie/TV "conspiracy-tracking board with all the pictures and red string" -- and it's erasable so you don't end up owing the innkeeper all your money.
Considering I play my wizard like a college student, I'm even more saddened by my choice of Bladesinger over Scribe since it was a random choice
"Are wizards the best class in the game?" Well they're not called Fighters of the Coast now, are they.?
I had the same thought. There should totally be a School of the Coast wizard subclass.
and they’re definitely not called Monks of the Coast
That was awesome!!!!
Correction on the 1st Order of Scribes ability; it no longer halves the time and gold cost to put spells in your spell book, but instead changes the amount of time needed to copy a spell into your spell book to 2 minutes per level of the spell, meaning in theory you could write 3 9th level spells into your spell book over the course of a short rest. The UA version of the subclass had the halved time and gold cost, but they altered upon fully releasing it.
It’s a very powerful ability now.
@Alaberti for real. Being able to add spells 60 times faster than other Wizards is crazy good.
I was going to respond the same. This makes the subclass and is a huge benefit.
Yeah, they need to take a second look at this again. Scribes is straight up S tier.
Actually, they DOWNGRADED it. A 9th level spell takes 18 HOURS to be copied; so, if you are a member of the Order of Scribes, it takes you 17 hours 42 minutes, and 450GP, so not much of a benefit, really. Otherwise the subclass would get the a benefit all the others get for ONE school of magic.
Correction, the 2nd point of Awakened Spellbook feature states that "The latter spell must be of the same level as the spell slot you expend." which means that if you cast Fireball with a 3rd level spell slot you cannot select Force or Psychic damage cause there is no spells of 3rd level that a wizard could obtain with those damage types, but if you upcast the same Fireball with 4th or 5th spell slot you could choose Psychic if you have Phantasmal Killer or Force if you have Bigby's Hand, respectively.
Heh. I just said the same thing.. should have kept reading the comments.
Also Pulse Wave from Explores guide to wildmount does exist and is a 3rd level wizard Spell that does Force so you can also use that one to cast a 3rd level Forceball
Summon Fey is a third level wizard spell that deals force damage
@@nathansmith9597 the fey does the damage not the spell itself
@@BanditLyfe2471 Arguably that is still the spell dealing damage but fortunately that question is entirely irrelevant.
“When you cast a wizard spell with a spell slot, you can temporarily replace its damage type with a *type that _appears_ in another spell in your spellbook*, which magically alters the spell's formula for this casting only. The latter spell must be of the same level as the spell slot you expend.”
Force damage certainly “appears in” the spell Summon Fey, regardless of whether it “deals” it.
The spell you cast must actually deal damage. The second spell that you use for a replacement has a much looser requirement.
I would like to request a "How to play a Bladesinger Wizard" Video. Since you already did such a Video for the Hexblade and the Eldritch Knight the Bladesinger would be the last one missing.
What about Arcana trickster
@@Hshot-nt2gs they made one
@@Nick-tj9cr they could do a refresh because of the update...
Over here: ruclips.net/video/q9SllHUtz2o/видео.html
Wow, a whole bunch of channels made 5E Bladesinger Wizard optimization videos ...
ruclips.net/user/results?search_query=how+to+play+a+bladesinger
Playing a bladesinger? You really want at least 3 levels of artificer, either armorer or battlesmith, to gain the ability to use intelligence for weapon attacks.
I would love to see the dudes make a poll on their channel's community tab about weather people would prefer hex blade or blade singer.
I play Adventurer's League and have multiple characters. I love both and play either depending on which I would rather be at the time. I am now trying a monk kensi. What do people rank that versus Hexblade or Bladesinger.
Hexblade, totally. Besides being kinda broken, Bladesong is limited, and because the class is more squishy, it ends up not fullfilling its primary function (magical melee damage) as good as the Hexblade, who has better armor, higher HP, more consistant damage and don't have to spread the stats. Bladesinger is more versatile, while Hexblade is better on what it focuses in. :/
Hexblade leans into the sword better than the Bladesinger.
Bladesinger leans into the magic better than the Hexblade.
So which do you more highly value?
Weather people prefer evocation ( lightning damage excites them)( yes, I'm taking the lazy joke)
Paladin I'd the best gish
Order of the scribes is a high A or S for me. Currently playing one. And they are an amazing class, feel like the most wizard that could ever wizard.
Thats how I felt. Its a wizard wizard. Just takes the base class and turns it up to 11
it's wizard ^2.
@@yuvalsela4482 I hate that no one got that joke... Take my like you sorcerer
I have one lined up for a character, one of the most goofy combos I am pretty stoked for is using awakened mind to drop a conjure greater demon into a locked room, from the awakened mind, then just dropping concentration and just letting them go ape mode
I agree on Bladesinger: "A" when compared to other Wizard subclasses for trying to be a Wizard. I think it's "S" for trying to be the gish that everyone wanted Eldritch Knight to be (no spell restrictions, more spell slots etc.). It's in its own class in a lot of ways.
100% agreed
A blade singer with 20 dex and int can have a 29AC without any magic items, just studded leather, haste, and shield. You could potentially throw stuff like defensive duelist in as well and make it absolutely obscene
@Rob Mayer A Bladesinger made using point buy or the average array will not reach ability scores like that until Tier 4 play, and will not be able to take many feats. So there is a trade off for that 29 AC. We think it's important to take a measured consideration that ability scores that high are only achievable for either high level characters (where a 29 AC is great, but not entirely insurmountable for endgame monsters) or when extremely generous ability score methods are used to create characters.
Absolutely, I just wanted to point out how high it could get at end game, even without magic items.
I think it'd also be insane to take a few levels of battle master for pushing attack to activate booming blade, but maybe I'm just insane
Hexblade capitalises the BLADE where Bladesinger is much more focused on elegant spell casting with melee flavour. Two very different styles of gish and both with their merits and weaknesses.
A hexblade absolutely does the spellsword thing better though if only bc of its ability scores being a lot more chill, plus it can amplify either trait even further with easy dips into paladin or sorcerer or bard
Updated tier list (regarding both The Dungeon Dudes and the users):
S TIER
- Path of the Totem Warrior (Barbarian)
- College of Lore (Bard)
- Life Domain (Cleric)
- Circle of the Moon (Druid)
- Battle Master (Fighter)
- Echo Knight (Fighter)
- Gloom Stalker Conclave (Ranger)
- Divine Soul (Sorcerer)
- The Hexblade (Warlock)
- School of Divination (Wizard)
A+ TIER
- Armorer (Artificer)
- Path of the Zealot (Barbarian)
- Forge Domain (Cleric)
- Tempest Domain (Cleric)
- Oath of Vengeance (Paladin)
- Arcane Trickster (Rogue)
- Swashbuckler (Rogue)
- The Fiend (Warlock)
- Chronurgy Magic (Wizard)
- Bladesinging (Wizard)
A TIER
- Artillerist (Artificer)
- Battle Smith (Artificer)
- Path of the Ancestral Guardian (Barbarian)
- College of Eloquence (Bard)
- Grave Domain (Cleric)
- Light Domain (Cleric)
- Circle of the Shepherd (Druid)
- Eldritch Knight (Fighter)
- Way of the Open Hand (Monk)
- Way of Shadow (Monk)
- Oath of the Ancients (Paladin)
- Oath of Conquest (Paladin)
- Oathbreaker (Paladin)
- Beast Master Conclave (TCE) (Ranger)
- Horizon Walker Conclave (Ranger)
- Scout (Rogue)
- Shadow Magic (Sorcerer)
- School of Abjuration (Wizard)
- School of Enchantment (Wizard)
- Order of Scribes (Wizard)
B+ TIER
- Cavalier (Fighter)
- Way of the Kensei (Monk)
- Oath of Devotion (Paladin)
- Oath of Redemption (Paladin)
- Draconic Bloodline (Sorcerer)
- Wild Magic (Sorcerer)
- The Archfey (Warlock)
- The Celestial (Warlock)
- School of Evocation (Wizard)
- School of Illusion (Wizard)
- School of Necromancy (Wizard)
B TIER
- Alchemist (Artificer)
- Path of the Storm Herald (Barbarian)
- College of Glamour (Bard)
- College of Valor (Bard)
- Nature Domain (Cleric)
- Order Domain (Cleric)
- Trickery Domain (Cleric)
- War Domain (Cleric)
- Circle of the Land (Druid)
- Circle of Dreams (Druid)
- Champion (Fighter)
- Samurai (Fighter)
- Way of the Long Death (Monk)
- Oath of Glory (Paladin)
- Hunter Conclave (Ranger)
- Assassin (Rogue)
- Thief (Rogue)
- Mastermind (Rogue)
- The Great Old One (Warlock)
- School of Conjuration (Wizard)
C+ TIER
- College of Swords (Bard)
- College of Whispers (Bard)
- Arcana Domain (Cleric)
- Death Domain (Cleric)
- Knowledge Domain (Cleric)
- Circle of Spores (Druid)
- Arcane Archer (Fighter)
- Way of the Drunken Master (Monk)
- Oath of the Crown (Paladin)
- Monster Slayer Conclave (Ranger)
- Inquisitive (Rogue)
- Storm Sorcery (Sorcerer)
- School of Transmutation (Wizard)
- War Magic (Wizard)
- Graviturgy Magic (Wizard)
C TIER
- Path of the Berserker (Barbarian)
- Path of the Battlerager (Barbarian)
- Way of the Sun Soul (Monk)
D+ TIER
- The Undying (Warlock)
D TIER
- Banneret/Purple Dragon Knight (Fighter)
- Way of the Four Elements (Monk)
- Beast Master Conclave (PHB) (Ranger)
Thanks for creating this!
@@DungeonDudes May I humbly suggest that you gentlemen pin PWolf's list. It's very helpful.
I thought oath of vengeance got an S?
Awesome work. I still scratch my head how the community voted lower for chronurgy than they did for divination, though. Chronurgy is potentially game breaking.
Cries in Monk.
The Scribe Wizard is able to put spells in their spell book at such a staggering speed, 60 times faster than normal, that sacrificing several levels of bad spells with their high level ability becomes very viable.
And it's completely in character for a Scribes wizard to hoard every spell they can get their hands on, whether they are aware they can "sacrifice" them later on or not. Witch Bolt becomes worth having in the book, and if they didn't have any way to deliver lightning damage with a first level spell slot before that, they do now.
I can also imagine a Scribes wizard making a fortune trading spells with other wizards. Anywhere they go where a spell might just not have gained any popularity, they have a novel magical secret to trade.
Kind of a super important oversight, the scribe wizard's quill as printed in Tasha's does not give a gold discount for transcribing spells and the copy time is reduced to 2 minutes/spell level. Not half gold and half copy time.
Whoops!
As well, One With The Word doesn't permanently remove spells when used, but just for a few long rests. Given that your average roll will be 10-11, and that wizards are never going to refuse a chance to scribe yet another spell into their book, this is an insanely simple cost to this "get out of death free" card. With the shenanigans from Manifest Mind, I feel that this is serious S-class stuff.
@Boomer Kelley No. It would surely say that explicitly if that was the case. And frankly it would be too powerful.
I was under the impression (from previous editions) that a spell required one page per spell level in a spell book, so high level mages may have multiple spellbooks.
@Boomer Kelley still, being able to copy in multiple spells over a short rest is nothing to sniff at.
Hello Dungeon Dudes, your subclass playlist does NOT have part 2 of your wizard subclass video. Hopefully you will see this comment and fix it. Love the videos!
Thank you! Went back and fixed it.
The Bladesinger conjures images of Gandalf in Return of the King. Really cool concept.
I said that the bladesinger wasn’t the best wizard subclass on Reddit and it caused a small riot in my mentions. I’ll pray for you dungeon dudes.
Other fun thing to do as a scribe wizard: Misty step cast through the drone is an insane range extension. Same with Dimension Door. And you can’t be counterspelled when you use it to escape.
Misty step reads "Briefly surrounded by silvery mist you teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space you can see" meaning you can't move more than 30 feet. So it sadly doesn't allow for a 330 feet misty step (but ask your DM anyways maybe they like it) however it does allow you to teleport when on darkness or to another room giving the mind isn't in darkness so that's cool
@@ekkeking I would agree, but Manifest Mind specifically states: "Whenever you cast a wizard spell on your turn, you can cast it as if you were in the spectral mind's space, instead of your own, using its senses" It's only 30 foot from the minds space, and you cast it as if you were standing in that space, which would allow that to happen. I would totally understand if a DM says no though.
@@MarcLucksch mhh see I thought that would affect the mind then and not the caster
@@ekkeking I would expect it to say something along the lines of "Spells targeting Self effect the manifested mind instead" Like I said, it's very weird and your DM might have other opinions.
@@MarcLucksch Personally I would not read it that way, it doesn't matter where you cast it from, your physical form would only move 30 feet is how I'd read it. That being said WOTC had a article up on D&D beyond where the author suggested it should work as you describe. The author had a couple other ruling type statements talking about the order of the scribes that I found suspect, but its still more official than me.
Actually the Scribes Wizard change of damage works based on the spell slot used, which means you can upcast for instance fireball, and because you have Flame Strike make a radiant fireball. It's a really interesting ability that comes in to spell selection.
18:38 "There's no 3rd level spell that does force damage."
[Matt Mercer looks around guiltily, then slides Pulse Wave off the table while no-one is looking.]
To be fair that's supposed to be exclusive to those two wizard subclasses.
Kelly and Monty, I want to personally say - "Thank you"! Too both of you. Im brand new DM, and I learned so much from you're show!
And as you like to say "You guys are AMAZING" :D
Also congratulations with Drakkenheim on kickstarter! ;)
Awesome! Thank you!
I think that the Bladesinger indeed has the kneejerk reaction of being OP, but I think the Scribe Wizard actually has way more potential. It has so many ways in which it can break the game even without getting a lot of spells to scribe.
'Laughs in 24 AC w/shield spell at level 5'. Currently running one and can honestly say being a wizard that can still do wizard things and can still defend itself in melee if it comes down to it is crazy good.
summon greater demon has a 90ft range so summoning a greater demon from 390 ft of distance is pretty cool and you don't have to worry about the save each turn as you won't be present anyways
Tasha’s subclasses! And drakkenheim book hell yea!!!
Bladesinging is the most fun I have had in DnD by far. Facetanking stuff with amazing AC while thunderwaving is just so much like the wizard from Diablo 3 it feels amazing!
The thing I've found with Hexblades is that they do tend to be heavy hitters, usually using greatswords and glaives for high damage and spell slots are a sidenote.
The Bladesinger presents quite an intriguing concept of an actual blade and magic combo, rather than magic used to maximize how hard to hit
Quite intrigued by the versatility presented of a wizard that isn't hiding away at the back, and the wide range of options for wizard spells that can be used in two different ways!
Bladesingers could definitely be a great fit for the agile, caster-with-a-sword type who uses as much utility magic as combat magic to expand the tactical and adventuring options. (Now I want to play in a seafaring trio of a Bladesinger, a Swashbuckler, and an Oath of the Open Sea paladin. Everyone trying to out-ham everyone else, all the time...)
I'm playing a bladesinger in a low level campaign right now, and it's tons of fun! We just hit level 4 so I picked up Mobile, and now I've got an excellent skirmishing melee wizard. That said, a crit one-shots me, but that's also the only way for enemies of my level to hit me...
I went for more line and melee spells (spells that come from me in the middle of combat), and concentration so I can do stuff while running in and attacking. I also used mage hand and catapult to one-shot the level 1 boss...
Overall, it's tons of fun just being a melee wizard in a party with several fighters and having better AC than they do
Yeah let's face it, the hexblade, really the hexadin because everyone ends up taking that dip, they don't have spell slots, they have smite slots, combine that with the fact that neither class is a ritual caster and you have yourself a... Guy who hits hard... At which point you might as well play a fighter at least that way you can be a battle master, the coolest of the guys who hit stuff.
@@devin5201 You'd be surprised at the versatility of Warlocks. Not as much spell wise as Wizard, but the role play is excellent, and out of combat, spells like Invisibility are still great utility wise, and Invocations are hard to beat for customization.
If you're just looking for straight mechanics, yeah fighter is good, but hexblades are still an excellent blend of heavy damage and you don't even have to tank
@@TheTakava Yeah! I haven't played a Bladesinger yet, but the concept is quite intriguing!
When did Kelly become a whole, well balanced and hearty snack?
Always has been
What do you mean "When"? Always has been 😏
The Dudes have always been on point with their looks.
Always has been 👩🏻🚀🔫
What do you mean "when did"?
They always have!
Please DO make a video comparing all gishes in D&D! (Maybe even the multiclass possibilities?)
I came here to say exactly this!
Gish subclasses:
Armorer/Battle Smith Artificer (Arguable)
Swords/Valor Bard
War Cleric (Arguable)
Eldritch Knight Fighter
Pretty much any Paladin/Ranger
Hexblade Warlock
Bladesinger Wizard
Yesss! I'd love to see the D-Dudes reaction to something like Bladesinger/Echo Knight
@@adamlawther6356 Don’t forget about the Rogue Arcane Trickster. The Rogue is considered a martial class, and the Arcane Trickster subclass gives it access to spellcasting.
I really like the Paladin 5/Sorcerer X multiclass at high levels (Extra Attack + Quicken Spell is a great combination, which is probably why we haven't seen a gish-y Sorcerous origin make it past the Unearthed Arcana stage). The problem is that it doesn't feel like a real Gish until you hit Paladin 5/Sorcerer 5. The same is true of any martial/magic multiclass, really.
I think the dudes underestimate any Gish concepts. They did the same with the swords bard. They overvalue one time use high level spells, and undervalue the Gish ability to take mid tier spells and get a lot of prolonged use and damage each turn with them. Yes, the individual spells are stronger for one fight, but you wouldn’t use those in all the fights pre-boss. Not to mention the versatility and turn by turn utility that a Gish can use and still maintain combat prowess in long fights on bonus actions and reactions is understated in these videos. That’s why the community is not of the opinion that bladesingers are “just high AC”.
Oh 100% agree! It's about resource management, maximizing concentration spells while still being able to put out damage better than a dagger with your rapier/shortsword and slinging cantrips. You can be in back while you're saving up but able to be up front when you want to mix it up or find a boss fight!
5:02 for fending off/escaping grapples it would be useful, also for acrobatic shenanigans mid combat, I love mid combat acrobatics so I can't not mention them.
What fun about Order of Scribes is that the damage types are only restricted by other spells you have, meaning you can use physical damage types if you so wish. Take Erupting Earth and Fireball, and you can turn Fireball into BOULDERBALL! it also works with Scorching Ray and Earthen Grasp to make Rock Rays! Also take the Crusher feat for added cromch!
If your campaign allows significant downtime, I believe the lower cost and time to create scrolls would boost this subclass into S tier when combined with the lower cost of inscribing spells into your book. The money savings could allow for a vast increase in spells in your book or non-attuned magic items. A bag of holding can hold a lot of scrolls!!
Basically, infinite spell slots, because you read them from scrolls.
@Dungeon Dudes pulse wave is a 3rd level force damage spell, so force ball time! :D
Nice catch!
It was also elf only in 3.5 (idk about 3e but probably)
I also think that the Bestow Curse spell can be used to grant access to *all* damage types for 3rd level, since damage type alone is "no more powerful" than necrotic as long as it keeps to that 1d8 from the fourth bullet point. However, the spell does specify that this is "at the DM's choice," but it shouldn't require much convincing.
You miss an important part about being a bladesinger. The cantrip + attack means things like bladeward becomes *very* useful. And the fact melee attack plus cantrip is such a flatrate damage without expending a spellslot which makes resource management much better.
So for multiple combats in a dungeon where you will want to save your bladesong, you can still use bladeward + attack for a defensive stance or cantrip+attack to help clear a room fast... All without expending resources... Which in a dungeon crawl is vital! Plus having reaction of absorb elements and shield just in case.
The scribe is a s tier for me, the drone termite atack is simply awesome
I love playing my Tortle Blade Singer, He gets CRAZY high AC!
I was looking for a comment from someone to mention tortles! Also, loxodons could make for fun bladesingers.
If i remember well, Tortle shells are counted as heavy armor.. :/
@@heyfell4301 You do not remember correctly. Tortle armor is natural armor and does not count as heavy armor.
EDIT: And for proof Tortles cannot use the defensive fighting style because they do not count as wearing armor.
Yeah this would let you skip mage armor and dex. But your weapon attacks should you want to use them would be kinda whimpy. Still if all you are going for is buffs then yeah it gets you a high AC. A smart DM is just going to target you with saving throws more often though.
@@tinkerer3399 i went there to check, and i was commiting a bit of a mistake here. Because your Dexterity doesn't affect the AC, i thought it counted as heavy armor. Now i'm officially banning Tortles from all my games, i really don't want someone with Bladesong and the Shield spell gaining 27 AC before at least level 14. :'D
Really funny, how the Bladesinger is the most in your face/up close and personal Wizard subclass, and Scribe is the most I don't want to get my hands dirty/stay as far away as possible Wizard :)
The Tasha subclass videos are here. It's happening!
witchbolt, darkvision, water walking, stoneskin, scrying, Drawmij's instant summons, dream of the blue veil, control weather, black blade of disaster... wonderful spells for the order of scribes (for chucking out of the book to stay alive)
Love my Order of the Scribes wizard. My DM doesn’t even know what he’s got into by letting my guy keep the money we found - my spell book has over 130 spells in it so far - just hit level 7.
I'm currently playing a Scribe Wizard "Indiana Jones"esque character. Being able to send the Manifested Mind ahead to scout out ruins (or to fight for me while I'm invisible) has proved invaluable for the party, and just all round enjoyable.
As mentioned by others as well- the Wizard's Quill you summon doesn't just half the time of writing down spells (as it did in its UA version), it reduces the time to 2 minutes per spell level. So you could literally write down all the spells another Wizard has in their grimoire (provided you have the money) in the span of a short rest, which is insanely good (and is precisely what my character did with an NPC wizard that was travelling with the party)
I’m really really liking these tier list videos, I really would love to see “best of the archetype” once you’re done with the subclasses.
Best gish, best tank, best healer, etc
I think that the most consistently underrated feature of the Scribes wizard is easily the ability to cast a ritual with its normal casting time once per long rest. There are a handful of really useful rituals that have interesting, creative use cases, especially ones like Gentle Repose or Unseen Servant that only take an action to cast with a spell slot, that you can now cast as an action without spending a spell slot or having it prepared. It's certainly niche, but if you're clever, and especially if your DM is open to a little bit of shenanigans, you can get a _lot_ of mileage out of it.
For example, one of the first things I did playing as a Scribes wizard was to use an Unseen Servant to pick up a big stick and stick it in the spokes of a bandit group's wagon wheel, and the resulting crash killed several and seriously injured more (thanks Nikki, you're an awesome DM ^^). I could also see using Gentle Repose to stop a necromancer from raising a key target, or being able to spin up Detect Magic almost instantly in a key moment is great - all without wasting your precious preparation or slots on them.
So just imagine a level 17 Scribes Wizard with blade of disaster and Meteor Swarm now you have Force damage meteors or even at level 1 you can have a force damage chromatic orb I think just playing around with damage types intrigues me
Scribes wizard really is a great elementalist if you want to go that route.
Scribes Wizard and Transmute Spell metamagic were huge boosts for me as a caster though.
@@ryanweaver3348 I think an evocation wizard with metamagic adept to take transmute would be great because you can point blank a thunder ball without worrying about collateral damage
Level 17 scribe wizard + level 2 tempest Cleric = cast Meteor Swarm, change damage to lightning, use channel divinity to maximize damage
@@nathanbally I believe you would also need to know prismatic wall for this but uh. . . Yeah. Ouch.
I think, what gets a little overlooked, is that song of defense doesn't need a specific source of damage, like attacks or spells. It could be used against fall damage, traps and other things like that. As long as you take damage, you can use this, which makes it pretty versatile.
Not the order I thought but still very happy to see it. Can't wait to c ur opinion on druid
My bigest problem with the Bladesinger isn't actually the subclass itself. I fucking love it, and really enjoyed playing a character with it. The problem is when you introduce multliclassing, because that 2 level dip into Bladesinger wizard is insanely powerful. Smack that on top of a Battle Smith or Armorer Artificer or Eldritch Knight or Arcane Archer Fighter, you have a nightmare of a character to deal with.
If a Wizard in my game took Order of the Scribe, I would occasionally destroy his spellbook just so they can reconstruct it
I would be tempted to sell my spellbook. Just keep a ton of dusty old tomes on hand (blank pages, of course). Sell the active spellbook. Skip town. Transcribe a new spell book!
It at least allows you as a DM to feel like you can risk the spell book. Normally its a jerk move which is why you almost never see it in campaigns.
@@TheCrystalMind that's evil! I love it.
Bladesinger Wizard's dual wielding is honestly one of the most fun things to do. Having the Mobile feat, you can literally dance through combat and make it part of the character. One of the other fun things you can do is if you're wielding a light weapon, you can dual wield with Shadow Blade due to it's properties, which can also be something to add flavor to the character. Of course if you'd prefer to use something like Haste, that is also an option to use if you'd simply like to dual wield or use a single weapon, like a rapier.
I've seen a lot of people playing Bladesinger just as a buff to their casting, which is why when I created mine, the character story is more about his lack of certain magic abilities, one of the most notable is that he does not know Fire Bolt or Fireball, or spells of that nature. He is more about mobility spells and buffs. It honestly made me get really creative with the character and his backstory, and he is now my identifying character according to my friends.
i feel people treat the bladesinger as a wizard that can melee from time to time, instead of a melee character that can wizard.
are you going to be more effective if you pop bladesong and just spam fireball? Yes, 100%, but at that point are you even playing a bladesinger?
Yours is absolutely the correct take.
Both are great subclasses with really fun flavor to play as. I think the change to the scribe time adjustment makes it A+/S tier and would love to play either and could very well be top choices along with chronurgy/enchantment/divination wizards. Love the show and can’t wait to see book when it comes out!
I dont think the scribes wizards actually reduces the cost of scribing spells just the time.
I think this requires a talk with the DM since you could use your wizard quil which doesn't require ink resulting in decreased costs overall.
My 12-year-old son plays as a Divination wizard and the portent dice is a literal life saver! Being able to control the outcome of a battle that directly is insane.
“Any character is going to be broken with three 18s”
As the proud player of a 2nd level rogue with three 18s, I agree.
Yes! More wizards! I really love the content you guys put out and it has really helped me build my characters and the campaign I'm doing right now.
The addition of the Bladesinger makes trynna roll + RP a cleric/sword dancer of Eilistraee so much more tantalizing 🤌🏽🤌🏽
While managing the Bladesinger's split stats can be a challenge, you may find an amulet of vigor or headband of intellect makes things A LOT easier.
Two tips I learned for playing and DM'ing for a Scribe:
1) You'll need to keep track of even your unprepared spells for purposes of damage-type switching. For instance, D&D Beyond's UI isn't really set up to do this smoothly. Highly recommend writing out a cheat sheet prior to your sessions.
2) Unlike a familiar, you cannot see through the manifest mind's eyes. It just describes to you psychically what it sees. Lots of GM discretion there, with room to decide what it thinks it sees, or what its personality is, etc.
Love it guys!
Though I’m reverse on your quandary. I think scribes might be S-tier, and bladesinger might be B.
Singer get’s high AC sure, but nothing else helps you be exceptional at what you’re already good at; casting spells. While the scribes ability to find, cast, and survive long enough to cast that exceptional spell is unparalleled except by chronurgy.
Great list though! Love the videos!
I've played a bit of the old Bladesinger from Sword Coast and I loved it, but you hit the nail right on the head. Now, granted, we started the campaign as level 5's and I went with 4 Wizard / 1 Fighting w/ Dueling Fighting Style, deciding what ASI to go for was tough. I actually ended up going for the Mobile Feat haha. There's just something really funny about a Longstrider'd Hasted Wizard running around with 100 ft of movement. As for the Ability Scores, they weren't that great with 16 Dex, 14 Con and 16 Int and because I multiclassed, I had to wait another level to get Extra Attack. Not being locked to the Elf race does sound neat, though I must admit that Eladrin Elf was pretty nice (free Misty Step and Dark Vision never hurts!). The race's pretty rare I feel though...
As for the Scribe, as amazing as it sounds to change damage types, I can't think of many moments where it comes without meta gaming or, you know, you being sad because no Force Ball. :( 6th level ability sounds amazing though! Great video as always. :)
If you look at the spells in Explorers Guide to Wildemount, I'm pretty there is a 3rd level spell that deals force damage. It's the one that shoves a load of enemies using a conical blast.
I have done run one game with a Blade-singer Wizard. It was using the original version from Sword Coast Adventure guide, and the PC's had uncommonly high stats. I tend to gravitate towards singular large combat encounters and story based conflict. This meant that the blade-singer never ran out of spell songs. He ran head-long into a orc fortress taking three rounds of shots from all the archers they could put on the walls... and dispatched most of the orcs before his party caught up. He won every duel he was ever a part of, and generally had more resilience than the Bear-totem barbarian... at least while his spells lasted.
There is something to be said for the ability to bring a wizards powers to the frontline, with the defense needed to stay there for a time! Not something that would have been possible with more reasonable stats, but a memorable character regardless.
Please Note: Shadow Blade does not work in conjunction with Booming Blade or Green-Flame Blade any longer due to the errata. Both cantrips require a weapon with a value of at least 1 silver piece. Shadow Blades are made of shadow and cannot be traded. They have no value.
Would pact of the blade warlocks not be able to use them until they bond with a real weapon, since their base weapon is conjured and therefore worth no money? That errata is stupid.
@@SkellyHertz Good question with no answer. Find a +1 magic weapon quickly and bond it. Problem is then solved.
EDIT: Up to the DM. I'd rule that a summoned weapon is a metal weapon of appropriate value and would qualify for the spell even if it disappears when more than 5 ft away from you for 1 minute or more. Perhaps you summon the blade from the closest armory and it returns there after you dispel it or when its out of reach for the appropriate amount of time.
@@SkellyHertz That errata was to fix the issue of using Booming Blade without an actual weapon, which was even more stupid. The Shadow Blade issue is just an unexpected side effect. Jeremy Crawford even said that while it's true RAW that you can't use Shadow Blade for Booming Blade, he personally would allow it at his table.
You could use spirit shroud instead, which does a bit less damage but you could use it with two weapon fighting.
The advantage on dexterity acrobatics check for bladesingers is useful to escape grapples if you don't have spell slots for misty step or something like that.
I found that song of defense for the bladesinger comes in very handy when those crits land. Makes your d6 health go a bit further in melee
Yes! It's the perfect crit reaction. No nonsense damage reduction of any kind vs a hit that's probably going to hurt.
Sure there are other less expensive reactions, but not many against getting spanked on the frontlines.
So I’m playtesting Swordsinging with an Owlkin. The dex save bonus is extremely useful with your flight requiring specifically a dex save to recover on fall. Your flightspeed increases to 40ft as well, and with your extra AC, you can really dance along the skys, weaving in and out in a sort of divebombing style.
17:42 Didn't it say that time of writing is turned from hours to minutes and it doesn't need ink?
Yes, and there is no gold discount (unless your DM rules that you get savings from not needing ink)
@@chrisbenson6753 Unless there is formula for how many ounces of ink + materials is needed because 1 punce is 10 gold.
Can't wait for the kickstarter 🧙🏾♂️
Order of Scribes: Shenanigans the subclass.
I agree and love it.
What I like about these subclasses is that they're practically exemplary of certain playstyles. The Bladesinger is the best mix of martial and magic, and the Scribes Wizard is the Wizard cranked up to eleven.
Also, one point about the Bladesinger. It takes one of the strongest classes in the game and not only covers one of its most glaring weaknesses, its AC, it turns it into a strength that even classes that focus on that strength wish they could reach. It's also incredibly mobile, and while _Counterspell_ can replace Song of Defense where magic is concerned, if your AC is somehow surpassed by physical attacks, well, now you've got something for that.
I heard Bladesinger and a chill went up my spine, the "I want to play a Tolkien elf" OP class from AD&D.
I see Eldar from WH or 40K.
Y’all should do a video with Treantmonk comparing y’all’s rankings.
The multiple use of the word shenanigans raises the stock of this video exponentially.
I have an Order of Scribes player who does exactly as you say, he hangs back, taking notes on the battle, while using his Manifested Mind as bait and casting spells through it.
Bladesinger being Elf-only is a carry over from its inception in AD&D 2nd Edition.
And the original lore of the subclass. I have no issues with it being available to other races, but I also wouldn’t have any issue with my DM having it only be available to elves in a specific setting, including a Forgotten Realms game.
One of my munchkin players:
-Can I play Variant Human bladesinger?
-Sure, if you want to be hunted down by elves. A wonderful addition to your story.
-But... Ok, I'll play as a Drow Bladesinger :(
Leaving subclass exclusive to certain race feels right.
@@vladimirserpov6773 I would gladly take a nice combo along with a cool roleplay bonus. Would fit a paranoia flaw, with arcane lock, alarm, and nondetection being spells commonly used by the character. A REAL munchkin would custom lineage elf.
@@vladimirserpov6773 He didn't want to be hunted by elves... so he picked drow instead... something isn't quite clicking here...
All the drow defectors in my campaign are constantly looking over their shoulders for assassination attempts, and if they weren't defectors, the non-drow elves would be on them just for daring to live on the surface.
I love the fact with the Order of the scribe wizard in doing spell into spellbook 2mins per spell level, which is really powerful.
"If we could do a ranking video on Gish characters"
Yes. Please do that. I love Gishes.
I've been playing a melee heavy bladesinger wizard in an Icewind Dale campaign for a month and a half now and it's a BLAST. I would love the class in any campaign, but for that setting specifically it's perfect; Shadow Blade gets advantage on attack rolls made in dim light or darkness...and Icewind Dale is under perpetual dim light. Unless I'm in a well lit town (or my companions light a torch) I pretty much always have advantage on attacks which helps to offset the lack of a higher dex score.
That art looks fantastic.
What I love about the Bladesinger is that you are basically effective at ANY range. If someone gets close to you, you can fight. If they try to leave, you can fight. It gives a class with a lot of utility a lot more options for combat. Yes, it's true that you don't have a lot of HP, but the term "dodge tank" exists for a reason. Sure, you are gonna get hit... but good luck to anyone who's gonna try!
Also, you can use a whip as your bladesong weapon. It's not the best option, but it makes me feel like a Belmont and that's cool.
Bladesinger just turned the wizard from a worm to a cocroach.
thanks for reviewing in detail - - at least for me, the revised bladesinger is way more satisfying than the previous version. nice to see the updated version and helpful to learn your input and advice
A huge, huge consideration for the Order of Scribes and the Awakened Spellbook's change of damage type. The wording states, "replace its damage type with a type that *appears* in another spell". Not inflicts. Appears. So even spells that mitigate damage types (ie Stoneskin) can fuel this.
I could see that interpretation not flying with some DMs, but interesting observation!
@@DungeonDudes Yeah, it's certainly a cheeky interpretation. Appear can just as easily mean "manifest" as apposed to simply "mentioned". But I'd chance it. ;)
That is how I read it, though not in the other direction. Like I can't turn a psychic attack spell into giving a resistance spell resistance to psychic damage when it wouldn't. Though I have seen people argue that as well.
I had a blade singer who did, 52 damage in the first blow in the campaign, as I made an entrance. (Started with a flame togue) afterwards the rogue did 19 damage in his round and made some crazy eyes. What a way to describe a powerhouse of a character!
Finally! Bladesinger!
Assuming the Awakend Spellbook feature allows you to tap into the damage types in prismatic wall, you could be an absolute monster with a pretty simple combo at level 19 (17 in Order of the Scribe Wizard and 2 in Tempest Domain Cleric)
Cast Meteor Swarm and switch the fire and bludgeoning to lightning damage, then use your Channel Divinity for Destructive Wrath to max out the 40d6 to 240 lightning damage guaranteed on a ton of enemies. Bonus points if you have the elemental adept feat in lightning damage to bypass resistance.
i dont know enough to ever do a wizard so its just mono eldrich blasts for me, but I still really enjoy what you guys have to say :)
two years later and im waiting to start a new campaign as a warforged scribes wizard, extremely bookish trying to figure out why they were made or if it even matters. looking forward to being proficient in all of the int skills
Oh neat that was quick! Playing a Bladesinger as my first wizard is honestly a bit confusing with the sheer amount of options available but it's certainly fun. Technically I'm also playing a Scribe lite too cuz our DM said he actively wanted us to be struggling with money and have barely any intake, but he's planned a magical pen so I can at least write some something in my spellbook with the literal no money I have. That would nullify the gold requirement while keeping the time requirement, idk how balanced or influencial that would be though.
It's honestly crazy that you guys make such quality content and aren't bigger. Legitimately some of the best DnD content I've seen!
A note on the "Awakened Spellbook"'s second feature:
It actually says "[...]with a type that *appears* in another spell in your spellbook", the spell in question doesn't have to cause damage of that type.
For example with *Absorb Elements* you get the ability to do acid, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder damage with all your damage dealing first level spells. (A bit redundant with Chromatic Orb, yes, but still nice ^^ )
You could make a bludgeoning Fireball if you also have Erupting Earth in your book. And Protection from Energy work like its smaller cousin Absorb Elements for acid, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder damage for level 3 spells.
Stoneskin for bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage at level 4.
So many possible shenanigans :-D
Dude I can just imagine a high charisma scribe wizard sitting a block away from a guards barracks pretending to sleep on the streets like a begger and having the orb cast fire ball or cloud kill in the barracks.
I like mixing arcane trickster with bladesinger using most of my wizard spells for utility and its so fun
I did a multi class of Bladesinger Wizard and Battlemaster Fighter to make a Devil May Cry type character. It was a beautiful answer to the question: How do you perform combos in DnD 5e?
I have a wonderful idea for either a campaign or a powerful group of rivals. Since Bladesingers were introduced in 2nd edition as strictly elven, there are a cadre of elven Bladesingers who have vowed to keep it so.
Their vows are to keep elves safe, protect the elven way of life, and to destroy any non-elves who practice bladesinging in the most violent and spectacularly public way as possible to discourage any non-elves from ever thinking about becoming Bladesingers.
Blade singer cranks their AC to the low thirties.
DM: roll a strength save.
Blade singer: ..... Fuck...
Loving these subclass videos! I can’t wait for Sorcerer part 3 with reviews of Tashas subclasses!
The wizardly quail might be more powerful than you think. In the players hand book the cost of scribing a spell is the ink required too copy it. The wizardly quill doesn’t require ink. So I could be wrong but on paper do order the scribe’s not have to pay for their spells?
It might be hard to find a DM that will let you do this though. Ha
“ The cost represents material components you expand as you experiment with the spell to master it as well as the fine ink you need to record it”114PHB
“The quill doesn’t require ink...” 77 TCE
Heh heh. "Wizardly quail." Yeah, I know it's just a stupid typo, but the image of a quail with that feather dangling over their head seems to fit somehow.
Listening to you all gush about the Bladesinger really makes me wish you'd revisit that D you gave Sword Bard waaaaay back when this series started.
This video came out perfectly timed for me! I’m playing a level 1 Wizard with high Dex and can’t decide between taking Bladesinger or Scribe.
The high DEX won't benefit you _as much_ if you choose Scribes wizard, since you won't be using it to make melee attacks. But what is "high"? 16 INT, 14 DEX? That's reasonable for a Scribes wizard, if only for the AC and initiative boosts. But a 16 DEX? You're probably wasting it.
Bladesinging was banned at the table I learnt to play at. I never bothered what it was because I saw it was for elves only. And when I actually found out, I thought similar to what you guys said: you can get stupid high AC, but not only at a cost, but when you're lvl 15 or higher.
Honestly, these videos have mostly convinced me that if sth's broken on tier 4, then I don't give a fuck anyway. Makes for great homebrew freedom.