RK Grappler - Lore Bard vs Peace Cleric

[Ikedashi]

Hello fellow playgrounders!

After Rune Knight's capstone at 7th level, would be better multiclass to Lore Bard or Peace Cleric on a 13 level build?

Lore Bard provides better spells and nice features like, acess to spells like Enlarge/Reduce, Silence and Spike Growth via Magical Secrets, also we have Jack of All Trades, Expertise (Athletics), Cutting Words and Font of Inspiration. The drawback is that Cutting Words consumes alot of reactions to use and Rune Knight has a heavy demand on it like Cloud, Stone and Storm Runes (Storm uses it every round while active), Runic Shield and AoOs.

Peace Cleric provides its best feature, Emboldenind Bond, early at level 1. There is no need of an Action to activate if preemptively used and everyone benefits of it every round. We dont have expertise, but we can get it via Skill Expert (Atlethics), we lose acess to E/R and SG, but we get Bless and still has acess to Silence.

What are your thoughts? Peace or Lore?

[stoutstien]

Best to stay RK IMO. Lv 7 is a big jump but so is 10 and then lv 15 makes you match effect resource pools of some full casters.

For a lv 13 cap I'd go fighter 12 at least.

[Dualight]

Let's go over what pure RK would continue to give, even with the cap of 13:
RK 8: ASI. Valuable on any build.
RK 9: Indomitable (1 use). While easily the most underwhelming feature a fighter gets, when it comes in clutch, it can turn the tide of a battle.
RK 10: Giant's Might bonus damage turns to a d8(not much, but it's something), you grow 3d4 inches(pure ribbon) and you learn a 4th rune(the actually valuable part, considering most runes are valuable regardless of role.)
RK 11: Extra Attack(2) Three attacks per Attack Action is very valuable.
RK 12: Another ASI.
RK 13: Indomitable (2). This one I'll grant that one can reasonably want to dip another class instead if this has to be the capstone.

Taking this into account, my advice is to take Peace Cleric over Lore Bard, as your final level, so you'll have the fighter tools for as much of the campaign as you can.

[KorvinStarmast]

Grappler? Rune knight does that fine without any multiclassing.
If you take a feat like skill expert you get a +1 to any stat and one expertise in a skill.
Athletics/Strength, expertise and your 'Get Big" gives you advantage.

My level 12 Rune Knight is a shoving, grappling fool.

If you are bound and determined to multi class, go Lore Bard after you hit Rune Knight 7: those last two runes are pretty nice choices.
The expertise at Lore Bard 3 will do nicely.
Your various spells and spell slots will allow you to do many good things. Cutting words will still be available, but as it's a reaction you'll perhaps get into "what do I do for my reaction" sometimes since a few of your rune skills are reaction based. (The Rune Shield, among others).

But:
That third attack at level 11 is really nice.

[diplomancer]

For level 13, I like Fighter 12 Peace Cleric 1. Peace Cleric 1 is a great dip on any martial, and the higher the level, the better, and Figher is pretty good until level 12. Cutting Words is a fine ability, but do you have the Charisma for it?

[Skrum]

I would not pursue cutting words. As you note, RK already has a ton of reactions (like, enough to jam themselves). Some even do similar things to cutting words. Further, you'd need to boost Cha to at least 16 to get a worthwhile amount of uses.

Without knowing more about what ASI/feats you plan on getting, I would tentatively recommend fighter 11 cleric 2. Cleric 2 (over cleric 1) gives +1 spell slots and balm of peace, an excellent healing and movement ability. That to me is the "competition" for the ASI: is the ASI better than a 1st level slot and balm of peace (a short rest ability).

If you're really interested in being a caster though, something like fighter 7 sorcerer 6 or even fighter 5 sorcerer 8 is pretty strong. You'd lose the 3rd attack of course, but gain 3rd or 4th level casting.

[KorvinStarmast]

For level 13, I like Fighter 12 Peace Cleric 1. Peace Cleric 1 is a great dip on any martial, and the higher the level, the better, and Figher is pretty good until level 12. Cutting Words is a fine ability, but do you have the Charisma for it?

Cutting Words
Also at 3rd level, you learn how to use your wit to distract, confuse, and otherwise sap the confidence and competence of others. When a creature that you can see within 60 feet of you makes an attack roll, an ability check, or a damage roll, you can use your reaction to expend one of your uses of Bardic Inspiration, rolling a Bardic Inspiration die and subtracting the number rolled from the creature’s roll.
You can choose to use this feature after the creature makes its roll, but before the DM determines whether the attack roll or ability check succeeds or fails, or before the creature deals its damage. The creature is immune if it can’t hear you or if it’s immune to being charmed.

---

Bardic Inspiratiom
You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier (a minimum of once). You regain any expended uses when you finish a long rest.

fair Point.

[Psyren]

As others have noted, we need to know your stats to better make this recommendation. Low Cha bards are viable but Lore might be a tough sell on one of those.

[diplomancer]

As others have noted, we need to know your stats to better make this recommendation. Low Cha bards are viable but Lore might be a tough sell on one of those.

Though you can always try to convince your DM to let you go with Proficiency/SR instead of CHA/SR.