Recommend me a build: Medieval Dead Rising?

[Dr_Dinosaur]

I’m mostly a Pathfinder DM these days, and a longtime friend brought up a desire to try running a 5e game recently. Of course I’m interested, but I’m not sure what I’ll enjoy playing while presumably (from the description in the title) alternately hewing through zombies and interviewing survivors.

I know this part of town doesn’t like “optimizers,” so I want to make it clear I’m not asking to utterly steamroll this guy’s first ever game as DM. I just want to ensure my character is both useful and not boring to play in an undead-heavy campaign

[JackPhoenix]

Unlike PF, undead aren't immune to sneak attacks, so nobody is really screwed by including them (unless they make specific niche choices like poison specialist, or characters as useless in combat as possible in presumably combat-heavy campaign), but paladins and clerics traditionally shine against them. Or anyone with source of radiant damage, while undead aren't especially vulnerable to it, it bypases some tricks they have (radiant damage keeps zombies down reliably and stops vampiric regeneration)

[Potato_Priest]

I’m mostly a Pathfinder DM these days, and a longtime friend brought up a desire to try running a 5e game recently. Of course I’m interested, but I’m not sure what I’ll enjoy playing while presumably (from the description in the title) alternately hewing through zombies and interviewing survivors.

I know this part of town doesn’t like “optimizers,” so I want to make it clear I’m not asking to utterly steamroll this guy’s first ever game as DM. I just want to ensure my character is both useful and not boring to play in an undead-heavy campaign

Durned right. You don’t want to find out what we do to optimizers in these parts, eh boys?

One of the great things about zombies (and some other undead) is that they’re stupid and slow. Because of this, it isn’t too hard to get yourself a terrain and range advantage when fighting them. ( they’re also not very sneaky, so you ought to get at least a few feet worth of distance at the start of an encounter).

These factors make 2 options in particular very appealing:
1. Nature cleric
Given the incredible stupidity of zombies, the combined power of spiritual guardians (general cleric spell) and spike growth (nature domain spell) ought to eat those guys for breakfast. You’ll also have access to lesser restoration to cure any squicky diseases you guys get and turn/destroy undead as an amazing panic button.
2. Some sort of archery thing. The options are many for building capable ranged combatants, from Battlemaster Fighters using the sharpshooter feat in conjunction with precision strike to Kensai monks empowering their longbows with ki to Warlocks spamming eldritch blast with the agonizing and repelling blast invocations. All of these will perform well against stupid enemies that just shuffle forward without seeking cover. Try to make sure you have some way to make your own ammunition though. Wood carvers tools are probably a good idea.

[2D8HP]

We have plenty of "optimizers" here to, some quite inventive.

I'm not "in the weeds" rules-wise to be that good of an optimized, but mechanically wise I've found a max DEX and WIS, Outlander Wood Elf Rogue with Expertise in Perception and Stealth PC to be a fun and effective first level "build".

Second level Rogue's "Cunning Action" is well worthwhile, but if the multi-classing option is allowed at least two levels of Fighter for "Action Surge" are good.

I'm told that "Land Druid" is the most powerful class, also that some flavor of a Multiclass Paladins/Sorcerer is powerful as well.

But 5e is fluid enough that you can just build for theme rather than effectiveness and you won't be very subpar..

[Dr_Dinosaur]

Unlike PF, undead aren't immune to sneak attacks, so nobody is really screwed by including them (unless they make specific niche choices like poison specialist, or characters as useless in combat as possible in presumably combat-heavy campaign), but paladins and clerics traditionally shine against them. Or anyone with source of radiant damage, while undead aren't especially vulnerable to it, it bypases some tricks they have (radiant damage keeps zombies down reliably and stops vampiric regeneration)

Undead not bring immune to Sneak Attacks is actually one of the differences between PF and 3.5! I was more thinking of illusionists and mental magic that would probably just fail against shambling corpses (a shame, since Bards seem fun).

Hmm, Cleric’s probably not a great pick with the other people playing (one has a history of playing, let’s say aggressively agnostic characters), but the other suggestions sound good. My instinct is to multiclass but I’m pretty sure I’ll never get multiple attacks in that case, right?

[Potato_Priest]

Hmm, Cleric’s probably not a great pick with the other people playing (one has a history of playing, let’s say aggressively agnostic characters), but the other suggestions sound good. My instinct is to multiclass but I’m pretty sure I’ll never get multiple attacks in that case, right?

Actually, it’s still pretty easy for you to get more than one attack. If you get the extra attack feature from a class, you have it, no questions asked. It is worth noting, however, that extra attack features from different classes do not stack and you always take the best one, so you’ll be limited to 2 attacks (plus any bonus actions/reactions that may be available) unless you take 11 or more levels in fighter.

[lunaticfringe]

Lizardfolk something or other. You get a racial that allows you to build gear out of body parts. Seems appropriate.

[Finger6842]

Obviously, Cleric eventually gets the destroy undead ability which is nice for covering your expected encounters, though I think the CR requirements make them useless against big bad undead mobs.

Wizard or Bard...because both have AOE plus eventually their own zombie army. Bard saves/skill checks are "best in the game". Overall Bard does a lot more things than any other class so it's more fun to me. Wizard is more powerful offensively so it'll smash zombies better.

Warrior or Ranger because the physical based ranged damage is great and they are both good at it. Ability to take a beating also helps if you are in confined spaces, though in that realm Barbarian is best.

I'd pass on rogue here because hiding from undead often isn't possible.

I haven't tried Druid/Warlock/Sorcerer/Monk yet so can't advise you there. I also don't recommend Multiclassing until higher levels since you lose access to higher level spells and it makes much more difference in the early game.

Any class with spell sniper feat and a fast mount will work so play whatever you feel.

Optimizing isn't necessary to enjoy 5e, just don't gimp yourself (on purpose), that's the DM's job.

[Captain Bob]

Paladin, Wizard or Rogue would be my recommendations simply because you have a metric ****-ton of options in a variety of situations with all three - which in my opinion makes them the most fun. Paladin is a juicy-sweet blend of extra attack, solid 'half' casting, and good class features -
AND they're associated with a creed or code of conduct rather than deities if that's a sticking point.

Wizards are as potent here as they are in most other forms of table top games, lots of spell options and the subclasses offer a wide variety of specializations. Of note here are the blade singer, war wizard, or abjurer subclasses if you want something a little tougher or more fighter-y than a pure wizard.

Rogues offer a bunch of interesting mobility options, as well as a wide variety of skills. Subclasses also are all pretty solid, in this case I'd consider an arcane trickster for some cool casting with your stabbing, or swashbuckler if you'd rather wade in a bit more and have an easier time meeting conditions for sneak attacks.

Or play a monk. Then you don't need to worry about your DM denying you food, sleep, or gear...and there's a subclass that punches radiant damage into things at range.

[MrStabby]

If revised ranger is an option I would run with that and some other class dips. Two levels of cleric will help your spells go further and give you the level 1 cleric domain abilities and the level 2 turns undead. Two levels of rogue will get you a little sneak attack, expertise and most importantly cunning action.

These together should give power, a degree of endurance and a lot of flexibility.

[Captain Bob]

Those benefits are extant...but I'd at least consider what you're giving up by jumping around like mad. Having 5 levels in one class is often a big deal because of either extra attacks or 3rd level spells, both of which are sort of defining features in their own rights - let alone the fact that you miss ASI's or a feat. Not having these things also feels super bad balance and satisfaction-wise if you're in a party that's built even semi-competently.

[MrStabby]

Oh yeah, I would go for 5 ranger first. But between ranger 6 and the other classes I think it is a pretty tough choice.

[Talionis]

Durned right. You don’t want to find out what we do to optimizers in these parts, eh boys?

One of the great things about zombies (and some other undead) is that they’re stupid and slow. Because of this, it isn’t too hard to get yourself a terrain and range advantage when fighting them. ( they’re also not very sneaky, so you ought to get at least a few feet worth of distance at the start of an encounter).

These factors make 2 options in particular very appealing:
1. Nature cleric
Given the incredible stupidity of zombies, the combined power of spiritual guardians (general cleric spell) and spike growth (nature domain spell) ought to eat those guys for breakfast. You’ll also have access to lesser restoration to cure any squicky diseases you guys get and turn/destroy undead as an amazing panic button.
2. Some sort of archery thing. The options are many for building capable ranged combatants, from Battlemaster Fighters using the sharpshooter feat in conjunction with precision strike to Kensai monks empowering their longbows with ki to Warlocks spamming eldritch blast with the agonizing and repelling blast invocations. All of these will perform well against stupid enemies that just shuffle forward without seeking cover. Try to make sure you have some way to make your own ammunition though. Wood carvers tools are probably a good idea.

Or both of these. Go Hunter Ranger 5/ Cleric of your choice X. That's if you want to be a caster. Cleric feels a little front loaded so giving you more spell slots is very nice for all those Ranger spells that up cast well. I'm partial to Trickster Cleric for its spell list on an archer, but in a high level campaign it's added poison damage may be negligible. So it depends what level you start and what level you'll get to.

But equally valid is Ranger 5 into Monk, Rogue, Fighter to taste. These are easy to multiclass into and can make you feel like a very nonmagical character.

But Ranger 5 is really as far as the class goes. It's best to get 5 Ranger first then multiclass and never come back. There isn't much left to get in the class, that isn't outpaced by multiclassing.

[8wGremlin]

I'd go Arcana Cleric to level 2, then pick Ranger (dark stalker) to level 5 then cleric the rest of the way.
Or just stick to Arcana clerics, but them I' biased in favour of them, you can really help the party out.

Or pick Divine Soul Sorcerer, and pick good spells to twin and help the party out as a less militant armoured cleric.