Highest damage by level 6(non AoE)

[Spacehamster]

So assuming attack(s) hit non crit what build would you say can cram out the most damage per round? Also + points for it actually beeing pretty sustainable damage and decently likely to hit.

Here is one: Variant human with PAM as feat +1STR +1WIS, 16/13/12/8/16/8 with point buy
5 levels hunter ranger 1 level war cleric, uses first ASI for great weapon master and bless as his go to spell.
Using -5/+10 on all attacks he does 1d10 + 13 2-3 times on his action and either 1d4 + 13(PAM) or 1d10 + 13(if scoring a kill, doing a crit or burning one use of war cleric bonus attack), can do similar with ranged with same class levels and better too hit due to archery style aswell. :)

Can't wait too see what you guys think would be good builds for level 6. :)

Oh and if all 4 attacks hit its 4d10 + 62 so 84 on average 82 if PAM bonus and 63,5 if you can't trigger horde breaker.

[Moosoculars]

Well if you are using the assumption that attacks hit you should switch the bless for Hunters Mark to get 3-4D6 on your total.

[Spacehamster]

Well if you are using the assumption that attacks hit you should switch the bless for Hunters Mark to get 3-4D6 on your total.

Yeah I know but as I wrote, bonus points if the build is more likely to land the hits in actual play which is the case with bless vs hunters mark. :)

[Moosoculars]

I think you can get a little more with Fighter 5 / Warlock 1. Use Hex and take the same GWF and PAM. This gets you 2 Attacks a BA Attack Action Surge with 2 more attacks and a possible Cleave. All trigering the 1D6 Hex Damage.

This works out at 5D10+1D4+5D6+78 (assuming a +3 strength Stat) an average of 125.5. If the Cleave doesn't activate then this drops to 103 average.

[GWJ_DanyBoy]

Vengeance paladin with Polearm Master and Great weapon master.

2d10+1d4+39+ 1 to 3 * (2d8) + 3d6 (hunter's mark). Average 53.5, goes to 56.5 if you crit or kill something. Great weapon fighting style would bring this up as well, depending on DM interpretation of all the dice or just weapon dice.
And you can use vow of enmity to get advantage for 1 minute.

I'm curious how your Ranger build gets a fourth attack. Also, where does the +62 come from? Divided by 4 it's + 15.5 per attack, which doesn't make sense. It should be +13 as you said.

[Spacehamster]

Vengeance paladin with Polearm Master and Great weapon master.

2d10+1d4+39+ 1 to 3 * (2d8) + 3d6 (hunter's mark). Average 53.5, goes to 56.5 if you crit or kill something. Great weapon fighting style would bring this up as well, depending on DM interpretation of all the dice or just weapon dice.
And you can use vow of enmity to get advantage for 1 minute.

I'm curious how your Ranger build gets a fourth attack. Also, where does the +62 come from? Divided by 4 it's + 15.5 per attack, which doesn't make sense. It should be +13 as you said.

Wrote wrong on 62 should be 52 and 2 normal attacks, horde breaker + bonus attack is 4. :)

[dev6500]

devotion paladin 5/ undying light warlock 1 vhuman
GWF, GWM, PAM, spiritual weapon(+cha to hit), divine favor(d4+cha damage)
opening round is spiritual weapon + divine favor setup.
2-3 attacks of d10+ d4 +16 and 1 attack 2d4 + 16

highest damage(GWM activates) is 3d10 +3d4+48 ~ 72
regular round (PAM bonus action) is 2d10+ 4d4+48 ~ 69

If smites added in, damage +2d8 or 3d8(9-13) per attack.

[Spacehamster]

I think you can get a little more with Fighter 5 / Warlock 1. Use Hex and take the same GWF and PAM. This gets you 2 Attacks a BA Attack Action Surge with 2 more attacks and a possible Cleave. All trigering the 1D6 Hex Damage.

This works out at 5D10+1D4+5D6+78 (assuming a +3 strength Stat) an average of 125.5. If the Cleave doesn't activate then this drops to 103 average.

True it's stronger once per short rest, the one I put is more sustainable damage tho. :)

[Moosoculars]

I know the OP said no crit (i presume that this was for easy calculation of damage and a benchmark)

However you can go. Fighter 2 / Rogue Assassin 3 / Warlock 1 As a Half Orc

This gives you HEX, 2D6 SA, 3 Attacks 1 normal, 1 BA, 1 Action Surge. If they his as an assassinate attack they are automatically Critical Hits (No rolling) and would be at advantage for extra credit. Savage Attacker of the Half Orc is triggered three times for an additional 3D6

Giving you

(3D6 short sword + 2D6 SA +3D6 Hex) x2 +3D6 Savage Attacker +9 for a total of 75.5

Not as much as the PAM fighter but will hit much more likely.

[Specter]

If it's in one given round, 2 Fighter levels are pretty much mandatory for Action Surge.

[Spacehamster]

I know the OP said no crit (i presume that this was for easy calculation of damage and a benchmark)

However you can go. Fighter 2 / Rogue Assassin 3 / Warlock 1 As a Half Orc

This gives you HEX, 2D6 SA, 3 Attacks 1 normal, 1 BA, 1 Action Surge. If they his as an assassinate attack they are automatically Critical Hits (No rolling) and would be at advantage for extra credit. Savage Attacker of the Half Orc is triggered three times for an additional 3D6

Giving you

(3D6 short sword + 2D6 SA +3D6 Hex) x2 +3D6 Savage Attacker +9 for a total of 75.5

Not as much as the PAM fighter but will hit much more likely.

Said no crits mostly to avoid assassin builds since pulling that off is so setting and DM dependent + can only be done once per combat. :) as the idea were bonus if it's reliable and sustainable and not nova once per short rest or long rest. :)

Otherwise another cool assassin build albeit lvl 9, 6 champion 3 assassin, great weapon master feat, half Orc, fight with a great axe. If you do get the drop and action surge you do 15d12 + 70(considering 18 STR) for a whooping 97,5 + 70 on a nova. :) then later take alert and go before most enemies on round one to give you advantage on your attacks first round even if you do not get the drop on them which works great with champion increased critical. :)

If you want to build on the build at level 20 I would prob make it 12 fighter 2 barbarian 3 assassin and 3 hunter ranger with horde breaker, 2 ASI's to max STR and two others for alert and GWM. On nova with 3 attacks + horde breaker + bonus attack + 3 action surge attacks it would do 24d12 + 136(20STR, GWM, rage) so 156 + 136.

[dev6500]

Rogue 2(expertise athletics)/Druid 4 vhuman(mobile)
Precombat (cast longstrider -- lasts an hour)
1st round, cast spike growth and wild shape into lion.
2nd round, attack target and grapple and drag 70 ft in spike growth ~70 damage
3rd round, if they don't break grapple, drag them 105ft in spike growth ~105 damage

If a party member hastes you
2nd round, attack target and grapple and drag 210 ft in spike growth ~210 damage
3rd round, id they don't break grapple, drag them 280 ft for ~280 damage .


I have officially spammed this silly idea and should stop ;p

[Spacehamster]

Rogue 2(expertise athletics)/Druid 4 vhuman(mobile)
Precombat (cast longstrider -- lasts an hour)
1st round, cast spike growth and wild shape into lion.
2nd round, attack target and grapple and drag 70 ft in spike growth ~70 damage
3rd round, if they don't break grapple, drag them 105ft in spike growth ~105 damage

If a party member hastes you
2nd round, attack target and grapple and drag 210 ft in spike growth ~210 damage
3rd round, id they don't break grapple, drag them 280 ft for ~280 damage .


I have officially spammed this silly idea and should stop ;p

Silly but awesome lol

[Moosoculars]

Still a little novaish (as it uses Action Surge) but Fighter 2, Warlock 1, Sorcerer 3 with Quicken Spell and Hex for a Eldrich Blast, Quickened Scorching Ray, Action surge Eldrich Blast for

4D10 +13D6 which is 67.5.

Without the Action Surge (if we are not doing that) then Warlock 2 Agonising Blast / Sorc 4 quicken spell gives

2D10 + 11D6 +8 for 49.5

[Trancekat]

So assuming attack(s) hit non crit what build would you say can cram out the most damage per round? Also + points for it actually beeing pretty sustainable damage and decently likely to hit.



You can't make that assumption. Chance to hit is too important to just hand wave away for an optimized build. GWM is not an autohit so assuming you hit everything makes this an exercise in futility.

If you'd like help in calculating the percentage chance of a hit, I can show you how to do that.

[Lombra]

Barbarian 5 / Warlock 1

Glaive, GWM, PAM, variant human, 16 to strength:

2d10(first two glaice attacks)+1d4(PAM bonus attack)+3d6(hex damage bonus)+30(GWM)+6(rage)+9(STR mod.)= 69 avg. (58.5 without hex)


Barbarian gives also the opportunity to attack with advantage at-will, thus increasing the chance to hit.

If going berserker and thinking only about the nova, drop PAM for a +2 strength ASI and pick a greatsword:

6d6(three greatsword attacks)+3d6(hex)+6(rage)+30(GWM)+12(STR)= 79.5 avg. (69 without hex)

Not the optimal but I like it a lot.

[Spacehamster]

Barbarian 5 / Warlock 1

Glaive, GWM, PAM, variant human, 16 to strength:

2d10(first two glaice attacks)+1d4(PAM bonus attack)+3d6(hex damage bonus)+30(GWM)+6(rage)+9(STR mod.)= 69 avg. (58.5 without hex)


Barbarian gives also the opportunity to attack with advantage at-will, thus increasing the chance to hit.

If going berserker and thinking only about the nova, drop PAM for a +2 strength ASI and pick a greatsword:

6d6(three greatsword attacks)+3d6(hex)+6(rage)+30(GWM)+12(STR)= 79.5 avg. (69 without hex)

Not the optimal but I like it a lot.

Can´t sadly concentrate on keeping hex up while in rage. :(

[JakOfAllTirades]

Can´t sadly concentrate on keeping hex up while in rage. :(

Barbarian 5 is still a solid starting point due to Reckless Attack; you'll hit most of the time.

I'd swap out the Warlock 1 for Fighter 1 instead, and pick up the Great Weapon Fighting Style. It's a smaller damage bump than Hex but it'll work, and there's a lot less MADness involved with a Barb/Fighter MC.