Benny89
2021-01-04, 07:15 AM
I wasn't fan of Fighters before but Rune Knight seems to me like a blast to play. So much CC on top of normal Fighter chasis.
So how can we min-max him more? Fire Rune thrown weapon for casters, Charm for melee, grappling with advantage two enemies, giving disadvantage to save (HUGE utility for both you and party members).
But I would like to squish some good DPR here as well + with Tasha I can now distribute Ability Score racial bonuses where I want.
So the plan is to combine tons of things to have very good damage, great control and good AC. And so 2 levels of Artificer comes in mind. Not only it fits with Theme, but it also gets some neat infusions.
Build is intended to introduce some more interesting playstyle/combo than your basic min-max Sharpshooter Samurais, XBE Battle Masters etc. because those are known for pure DPS values.
BASIC BUILD
So the base chasis would be 8 Rune Knight/2 Artificer, going up to 15 RK/2 Artificer
Feats: Crossbow Expert/Gunner, Sharpshooter, Grappler
Fighting Style: Archery
Infusions: Armor of Magical Strength, Enhanced Defense, Returning Weapon, whatever else you want.
Runes: Fire Rune, Frost Rune, Stone Rune, Hill Rune (once we are level 10 RK)
MAIN WEAPON Combo
Our main weapon wil be... Dart. Why? Because:
1. It's a range weapon so it benefits from Sharpshooter.
2. It's a thrown weapon so it benefits from Throwing Style (f you take it with for example Variant Human or later ASI)
3. It's a simple ranged weapon so it benefits from Archery
4. It's a one-handed weapon so it can be used on grappled creature because we need only one free hand for grapple. And you can make ranged attacks vs grappled enemy. Nothing says you can't :). You would have penalty because 5 feet range, but that is why we take XBE or Gunner feat.
5. It's a finese weapon so it can be used with Strength
6. It's a single thrown weapon so it can benefit from Returning Weapon, getting +1 to dmg and hit on top of that
7. It can benefit from Fire Rune and multi attacking with it on level 15 RK (where you can use Rune twice) since it returns to you after each attack and creature only needs to be hit by it.
So when we combine it with Giant's Might, Armor of Magical Strength, Grappler feat, XBE/Gunner and Sharpshooter we get:
We can Grapple anything up to Huge size. We have advantage on Grapple and +1/2 bonus from Armor of Magical Strengt, +3 from STR and +2 from Frost Rune. You also get Guidance from Artificer so extra 1d4 to your next ability check for free, netting another +2.5 to initial grapple. You also have proficiency (+2 to +6) bonus. So total of +9.5 min to +17.5 max with advantage. If you want to stay with 13 INT only just for multiclassing - use Enchanced Defense instead for your armor for extra AC. You can also squeeze later some way of getting Expertise if you can make it work.
We have advantage on attack rolls (any attack rolls) vs Grappled enemy. We need one free hand for grapple. In second hand we have Returning Dart +1. We can make range attack vs grappled creature. Sharpshooter gives +10 dmg, XBE/Gunner eliminates penalty to attacking creature 5" from us and Archery gives +2 to hit, decreasing overall SS penalty to -3. We attack with Strength so we don't have to pump DEX and instead we can focus on STR and CON. And since we have Grappler - we attack with advantage.
So we can attack with 1d4 + STR +10 with advantage.
On top of that we can have other thrown weapon prepared with Fire Rune and one item with Stone Rune.
RACE CHOICE
Race. When it comes to Race, thanks to Tasha ability score rules we have tons of options: Mountain Dwarf with +2 to STR and CON is good choice. Yuan-ti with +2 STR and +1 CON with Spell Resistance is great. Winged Tiefling is also very good (though limits you to Medium armor) as you can grapple up to 2 targets and fly with them and even drop them for some fall damage. Since Grappler allows you to pin target and get him and yourself restrained - a Wildhunt Shifter can also work well as enemies won't have advantage on attacks against you when you are restrained. Protector Aasimar could work with it's flying + bonus damage. Tabaxi with it's double speed also benefits grappler as you can move 30 feet away with your grappled enemy. Variant Human as always will be solid due to extra feat (you could add extra Throwing Fighting Style for +2 damage or Mobile feat or Lucky etc.) which makes build get full combo faster. Thanks to Tasha we have tons of options.
FULL CC COMBO
Full comobs. We have full plate armor with Enchanced Defense so 19 base AC. We need free hand for grappling so no shield for us.
Since Frost Rune lasts 10 minutes- let's assume you already have it activated for current series of combat.
In combat use Bonus Action for Giant's Might. Use your reaction and activate Stone Rune on enemy (try to target melee enemy who should have lower WIS saves). Use one of your attack to throw Fire Rune Dart on another enemy (try to target casters as they have low Strength saves). Use your second attack to grapple another enemy (try to target the Big Boss here so you can inflict damage on him from next turn). Action Surge - now you have couple options:
1. Attack grappled enemy with 2x 1d4 + STR + 10 +1 sharpshooter attacks using your Returning Dart +1. You have advantage on all attacks.
2. Grapple second enemy with another attack if you feel like it will benefit party more.
3. Use your full Action Surge action to pin down grappled enemy, making him and yourself restrained. This will give you party members advantage on attacks against him and if you are Wildhunt Shifter - enemies won't get advantage vs you and your pinned enemy will have disadvantage on attacks vs you.
Following next turn you can keep attacking your grappled target with your Returning Dart for heavy damage and once you are RK 15 - you can throw Fire Rune Dart at another enemy, use Stone Rune at another enemy.
If everything went well after your first turn you have 1 enemy restrained, 1 enemy charmed and 1 enemy grappled/restrained which gives you huge damage bonus from your attacks - or you have 2 enemies grappled/restrained if you pin them both.
Once you are level 15 RK you can by the end of your 2nd turn have - 2 enemies restrained, 2 enemies charmed, 1 enemy grappled/restrained for huge damage bonus or 2 enemies grappled/restrained.
Also once you have Hill Rune - you can use your reaction on the 2nd turn to give enemy disadvantage on saving throw or ability check. Great to make sure Big Bad Boss remains grappled/restrained (Or Fire/Stone runed guy) for this turn or to help you party member caster with some nasty spell like Banishment for example.
And best part - all returns on short rest.
LEVELING
Still not sure about this one. I would probably go Grappler as first feat with archery to play as control for first few level, using thrown weapon with Fire Rune, Stone Rune and Grappling/Restraining as my base tactic. I would go to level 6 RK to get Extra Attack and ASI (Crossbow Expert/Gunner), then 2 levels of Artificer for Infusions and then continue RK and taking Sharpshooter. You can speed it with Variant Human. If your party have ways to give you bonuses to attack like Fearie Fire/Bless etc. then I would start with Sharpshooter, then go Crossbow Expert and then Grappler.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Additionally if you don't want to grapple anyone (why not?)- you can use shield + returning dart combo if your party has other ways to give you advantage vs enemies. You can still Fire Rune/Stone Rune them but your AC will be 21.
At first you can grab anything up to Huge with Giant's Might active so Adult Dragons - no problem. Pin them too. Later you can grapple and restrain even Gargantual enemies. Ow, don't forget small but still extra damage to one attack every turn with Giant's Might. 1d6 to 1d10 later.
So here is the build. If you like it - I will post it on " An Eclectic Collection of Fun and Effective Builds".
I think it's a fun build to use and offers different playstyle. You are to judge :)
So how can we min-max him more? Fire Rune thrown weapon for casters, Charm for melee, grappling with advantage two enemies, giving disadvantage to save (HUGE utility for both you and party members).
But I would like to squish some good DPR here as well + with Tasha I can now distribute Ability Score racial bonuses where I want.
So the plan is to combine tons of things to have very good damage, great control and good AC. And so 2 levels of Artificer comes in mind. Not only it fits with Theme, but it also gets some neat infusions.
Build is intended to introduce some more interesting playstyle/combo than your basic min-max Sharpshooter Samurais, XBE Battle Masters etc. because those are known for pure DPS values.
BASIC BUILD
So the base chasis would be 8 Rune Knight/2 Artificer, going up to 15 RK/2 Artificer
Feats: Crossbow Expert/Gunner, Sharpshooter, Grappler
Fighting Style: Archery
Infusions: Armor of Magical Strength, Enhanced Defense, Returning Weapon, whatever else you want.
Runes: Fire Rune, Frost Rune, Stone Rune, Hill Rune (once we are level 10 RK)
MAIN WEAPON Combo
Our main weapon wil be... Dart. Why? Because:
1. It's a range weapon so it benefits from Sharpshooter.
2. It's a thrown weapon so it benefits from Throwing Style (f you take it with for example Variant Human or later ASI)
3. It's a simple ranged weapon so it benefits from Archery
4. It's a one-handed weapon so it can be used on grappled creature because we need only one free hand for grapple. And you can make ranged attacks vs grappled enemy. Nothing says you can't :). You would have penalty because 5 feet range, but that is why we take XBE or Gunner feat.
5. It's a finese weapon so it can be used with Strength
6. It's a single thrown weapon so it can benefit from Returning Weapon, getting +1 to dmg and hit on top of that
7. It can benefit from Fire Rune and multi attacking with it on level 15 RK (where you can use Rune twice) since it returns to you after each attack and creature only needs to be hit by it.
So when we combine it with Giant's Might, Armor of Magical Strength, Grappler feat, XBE/Gunner and Sharpshooter we get:
We can Grapple anything up to Huge size. We have advantage on Grapple and +1/2 bonus from Armor of Magical Strengt, +3 from STR and +2 from Frost Rune. You also get Guidance from Artificer so extra 1d4 to your next ability check for free, netting another +2.5 to initial grapple. You also have proficiency (+2 to +6) bonus. So total of +9.5 min to +17.5 max with advantage. If you want to stay with 13 INT only just for multiclassing - use Enchanced Defense instead for your armor for extra AC. You can also squeeze later some way of getting Expertise if you can make it work.
We have advantage on attack rolls (any attack rolls) vs Grappled enemy. We need one free hand for grapple. In second hand we have Returning Dart +1. We can make range attack vs grappled creature. Sharpshooter gives +10 dmg, XBE/Gunner eliminates penalty to attacking creature 5" from us and Archery gives +2 to hit, decreasing overall SS penalty to -3. We attack with Strength so we don't have to pump DEX and instead we can focus on STR and CON. And since we have Grappler - we attack with advantage.
So we can attack with 1d4 + STR +10 with advantage.
On top of that we can have other thrown weapon prepared with Fire Rune and one item with Stone Rune.
RACE CHOICE
Race. When it comes to Race, thanks to Tasha ability score rules we have tons of options: Mountain Dwarf with +2 to STR and CON is good choice. Yuan-ti with +2 STR and +1 CON with Spell Resistance is great. Winged Tiefling is also very good (though limits you to Medium armor) as you can grapple up to 2 targets and fly with them and even drop them for some fall damage. Since Grappler allows you to pin target and get him and yourself restrained - a Wildhunt Shifter can also work well as enemies won't have advantage on attacks against you when you are restrained. Protector Aasimar could work with it's flying + bonus damage. Tabaxi with it's double speed also benefits grappler as you can move 30 feet away with your grappled enemy. Variant Human as always will be solid due to extra feat (you could add extra Throwing Fighting Style for +2 damage or Mobile feat or Lucky etc.) which makes build get full combo faster. Thanks to Tasha we have tons of options.
FULL CC COMBO
Full comobs. We have full plate armor with Enchanced Defense so 19 base AC. We need free hand for grappling so no shield for us.
Since Frost Rune lasts 10 minutes- let's assume you already have it activated for current series of combat.
In combat use Bonus Action for Giant's Might. Use your reaction and activate Stone Rune on enemy (try to target melee enemy who should have lower WIS saves). Use one of your attack to throw Fire Rune Dart on another enemy (try to target casters as they have low Strength saves). Use your second attack to grapple another enemy (try to target the Big Boss here so you can inflict damage on him from next turn). Action Surge - now you have couple options:
1. Attack grappled enemy with 2x 1d4 + STR + 10 +1 sharpshooter attacks using your Returning Dart +1. You have advantage on all attacks.
2. Grapple second enemy with another attack if you feel like it will benefit party more.
3. Use your full Action Surge action to pin down grappled enemy, making him and yourself restrained. This will give you party members advantage on attacks against him and if you are Wildhunt Shifter - enemies won't get advantage vs you and your pinned enemy will have disadvantage on attacks vs you.
Following next turn you can keep attacking your grappled target with your Returning Dart for heavy damage and once you are RK 15 - you can throw Fire Rune Dart at another enemy, use Stone Rune at another enemy.
If everything went well after your first turn you have 1 enemy restrained, 1 enemy charmed and 1 enemy grappled/restrained which gives you huge damage bonus from your attacks - or you have 2 enemies grappled/restrained if you pin them both.
Once you are level 15 RK you can by the end of your 2nd turn have - 2 enemies restrained, 2 enemies charmed, 1 enemy grappled/restrained for huge damage bonus or 2 enemies grappled/restrained.
Also once you have Hill Rune - you can use your reaction on the 2nd turn to give enemy disadvantage on saving throw or ability check. Great to make sure Big Bad Boss remains grappled/restrained (Or Fire/Stone runed guy) for this turn or to help you party member caster with some nasty spell like Banishment for example.
And best part - all returns on short rest.
LEVELING
Still not sure about this one. I would probably go Grappler as first feat with archery to play as control for first few level, using thrown weapon with Fire Rune, Stone Rune and Grappling/Restraining as my base tactic. I would go to level 6 RK to get Extra Attack and ASI (Crossbow Expert/Gunner), then 2 levels of Artificer for Infusions and then continue RK and taking Sharpshooter. You can speed it with Variant Human. If your party have ways to give you bonuses to attack like Fearie Fire/Bless etc. then I would start with Sharpshooter, then go Crossbow Expert and then Grappler.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Additionally if you don't want to grapple anyone (why not?)- you can use shield + returning dart combo if your party has other ways to give you advantage vs enemies. You can still Fire Rune/Stone Rune them but your AC will be 21.
At first you can grab anything up to Huge with Giant's Might active so Adult Dragons - no problem. Pin them too. Later you can grapple and restrain even Gargantual enemies. Ow, don't forget small but still extra damage to one attack every turn with Giant's Might. 1d6 to 1d10 later.
So here is the build. If you like it - I will post it on " An Eclectic Collection of Fun and Effective Builds".
I think it's a fun build to use and offers different playstyle. You are to judge :)