The armored warrior steadies his stance, greatsword etched with arcane runes of power planted firmly into the ground behind him as crackling eldritch energy surges to his command. With a guttural roar, he swings the mighty blade in a wide arc, effortlessly felling the oncoming horde of the undead before invoking a powerful hex to curse what remains. As chaos engulfs the battlefield, this paragon of martial might and occult sorcery stands unbreakable against the tide – annihilating all who oppose him with a barrage of thunderous strikes empowered by otherworldly magics.
What you have just witnessed is no ordinary fighter – but one embracing a fusion of mundane combat prowess with the uncanny might of a warlock‘s eldritch blast. This guide will explore the incredible synergies unlocked when blending these classes together into one uniquely lethal combination in Baldur‘s Gate 3.
Why Multiclass Warlock and Fighter: Understanding the Synergy
Both the Fighter and Warlock classes on their own have access to powerful combat-oriented abilities in Baldur‘s Gate 3. Fighters gain extra attacks earlier than any other class in the game along with flexibility from combat maneuvers. Warlocks start with Eldritch Blast – arguably the best damage-dealing cantrip in 5E tabletop – along with short rest spell slot recharge and a highly customizable spell list.
But by blending key elements from both skill sets through multiclassing you get something greater than the sum of its parts – a character that blends impressive burst potential from Fighter with the sustained damage and utility of a Warlock. Let‘s understand the key areas of synergy:
Consistent DPR: Fighter‘s extra attacks combine with Eldritch Blast+Agonizing for relentless damage-per-round turn after turn
Improved Crit Fishing: Both classes have features that amp crit rate for massive spike damage (e.g. Eldritch Smite)
Short Rest Sustain: Nearly all resources from both classes – Second Wind, Action Surge, Warlock slots and more recharge on a short rest for minimal downtime
Versatile Survivability: Massive effective health from Armor of Agathys, self healing from Second Wind and hp-regen abilities provide layered durability
Crowd Control Flexibility: Warlock spells, Fighter maneuvers and forced movement from Repelling Blast provide A+ battlefield manipulation
Make no mistake – this is an incredibly potent blend packing flexibility, spikes and sustained pressure into one cohesive package. Next we‘ll explore exactly how to level up and play it using a step-by-step walkthrough from levels 1 through 8 before discussing advanced tactics.
Optimal Ability Score Builds: Offensive Power vs Defensive Resilience
While Charisma is king for powering spell attacks and saves, weapon damage and keyed class features, properly balancing offense and survivability stats is crucial. Below are two recommended arrays depending on play priorities:
Maximum Damage Output
Point Buy: 16 STR / 8 DEX / 14 CON / 8 INT / 10 WIS / 16 CHA
This build maximizes melee damage output through Level 16 strength and heavy investment in Charisma with just enough CON to sustain concentration spells. Offload Dexterity since you‘ll be in heavy armor. Feel free to dump intelligence skills since Jack of All Trades can compensate. Consider Resilient (CON) at Level 8 to give concentration a big boost.
Balanced Offense and Defense
Point Buy: 14 STR / 14 DEX / 16 CON / 8 INT / 10 WIS / 14 CHA
Here we tradeoff some weapon damage from strength in order to bolster durability through additional starting health, better initiative rolls, enhanced Dexterity saves against AOE effects and a balanced Charisma score to start. This array sets you up nicely to get Charisma to 18 quickly at Level 8 once your frontloaded fighter levels are set. 14 strength is still plenty effective when paired with on-hit bonuses.
Let‘s now dive into our level-by-level walkthrough of how this potent blend unlocks turn after turn!
Step-By-Step Build Guide from Levels 1 Through 8
Below are the detailed steps on how to quickly assemble this chassis between levels 1 and 8, outlining precisely when to multiclass, what spells and invocations to select along with gear and ability decisions.
Level 1: Stock Standard Fighter Out the Gate
For your first level, I suggest starting as a traditionally-equipped stock Fighter with chainmail armor, shield and the versatile longsword. This grants immediate proficiency across all weapons, armor and shields setting you up to utilize anything found. For improved damage consistency grab Great Weapon Fighting.
Consider swapping to a devastating greataxe or greatsword by level 2 once you multiclass into warlock and gain access to the expanded crit range of the latter.
Level 2: A 1 Level Dip Into Warlock
Upon hitting Level 2, grab a 1 level starting dip into Warlock. This instantly unlocks once per short rest spell slots, the incredible Eldritch Blast damaging cantrip and two additional 1st level spells known like Hex and Hellish Rebuke for instant retaliation.
Agonizing Blast adds +Cha mod damage per bolt helping Eldritch Blast scale tremendously. For reliable ranged damage combines this with the Repelling Blast invocation. Now each beam pushes enemies 10 feet potentially knocking them prone and stacking forced movement!
Level 3: Pact of the Blade for Melee Power
For your subsequent warlock levels starting at character Level 3, select the iconic Pact of the Blade boon to bind a customized melee weapon as your pact weapon. Each strike now uses Charisma for both attack and damage rolls! This synergizes extremely nicely with greatswords, greataxes, halberds and similar two-handed crushing options.
Spell-wise grab Mirror Image for survival and consistent advantage on consequent attacks. Misty Step enables excellent mobility for repositioning. Consider Devil‘s Sight down the road for magical 120 foot darkvision!
Level 4: First ASI Dump into Charisma
Here I would use your first Ability Score Improvement at Level 4 to bump Charisma up to 18 if possible based on your starting build. This simultaneously bolsters attack rolls, weapon damage, Eldritch Blast DPR along with the DC and attack bonus of all warlock spells. Fantastic consistency and efficiency in one package!
If you instead prefer immediate damage grab Great Weapon Master instead for a sizable accuracy tradeoff to significantly bolster physical strikes. Combine this with on-hit advantage from Faerie Fire or Bless to offset the penalty. Also fantastic for Eldritch Smite spike damage on critical hits!
Level 5: Snag Fighter 2 For Action Surge
At this point, you have a solid base of Warlock capabilities established. Next up is a critical two level splash into fighter. This accomplishes three goals:
Firstly granting Action Surge for an extra full action on the same turn is incredibly potent – allowing two rounds of Eldritch Blasts in the same turn or set up combos like casting Armor of Agathys as an action followed by dual casts of Eldritch Blast.
Secondly this unlocks Second Wind for sustainable healing without spell slot expenditure. Great resource padding between fights to minimize consumable waste.
Finally you gain +1 to hit and damage from Fighter‘s Extra Attack feature which works on both weapon swings AND Eldritch Blast for improved accuracy across the board.
Level 6: Battle Master Dice Add Flexible Maneuvers
Expanding on fighter versatility, grabbing 3 total levels here unlocks the flexible, short-rest recharging combat superiority Battlemaster Dice. These can be spent to trigger a wide range of tactical maneuvers introducing tricks like:
Precision Attack: Add a 1d10 bonus to hit as a reaction to negate misses
Goading Attack: Impose disadvantage against other targets to soak attacks
Trip Attack: Knock enormous enemies like giants prone with forced saves
Combine Battlemaster Disarming Strike with Repelling Blast to completely deny enemy action economy by consistently separating foes from weapons and pushing them out of position!
Level 7: Half-Feat Customization with Fey Touched
Here‘s a great point to either bump Charisma up another 2 points to the max of 20 if going purely offensive or mix in the Fey Touched half-feat. This alternatively boosts the stat by 1 while granting an extremely useful daily free casting of Misty Step along with an always prepared level 1 spell like Bless or Heroism.
Both provide consistent accuracy and damage buffs (along with immunity to fear on the latter) offering phenomenal versatility every adventure at the cost of raw stat potential. Highly recommended for the flexibility alone!
Level 8: Extra Attack (2) for Extreme Frontloaded Pain
Last but certainly not least, fighter 5 grants Extra Attack (2) for substantial doubling of melee damage in the first round. Each attack action now swings twice meaning a great weapon wielding warrior can unleash three base slams by level 8 when combining Action Surge into the mix.
Further chain casting Green-Flame Blade before each swing while Hex cursed against high health enemies means disgusting damage cascades into reality before the enemy can even respond. Follow up with Repelling Blasts to reposition anything still standing!
Advanced Combat Tactics: Maximizing Single Turn Damage
Now that your core chassis is assembled between formidable martial attacks and spells, let‘s explore how to put it all together turn after turn with advanced tactics:
The key premise you‘ll utilize often is concentrating your most impactful buffs and debuffs onto one priority target you can use class features to reliably land hits against. This could be a threatening spell caster or hulking front line beast with lots of current/maximum health to ravage with your full barrage.
Here is one sample nova round bursting down said enemy in ominous efficiency by combining your toolbox:
Turn Start: Swiftly move into melee range of priority target and bonus action cast Hex onto it. This imposes disadvantage on ability checks and adds +1d6 damage per successful attack that strikes
Action #1: Cast Armor of Agathys for retaliation damage and 15 temporary hit points
Fighter Action Surge
Action #2: Attack Action triggering Two Weapon Fighting bonus action attack for 3 total swings
Reaction: Use Precision Attack maneuver dice to add 1d10 to one swing as needed ensuring hits
Action #3: Cast Greenflame Blade before final attack to splash fire damage onto nearby adds
Bonus Action: Thunderous smite to knock prone potentially provoking opportunity attacks from allies next turn
Free Item Interaction: Draw second weapon for dual wielding two rapiers
Action #4: Unleash Frostbite cantrip to impose disadvantage on the next enemy attack roll due to icy pain
Action #5: Eldritch Blast twice with Repelling Blast pushing them away from weapons/cover and closer to the party
At higher levels this continues with Action Surging Action Surge or combinations with Warlock spell Heart of the Storm or fighter Echo Knights manifest echo shenanigans. This blend has all the tools needed to eliminate threats rapidly while providing ongoing utility.
While that can feel overwhelming to visualize early on, as you pilot this multiclass the combinations will become second nature. Now let‘s finish our guide with best-in-slot gearing recommendations to further amplify your prowess!
Optimizing Equipment for Maximum Impact
While ability scores provide the quantitative foundation your tactics are built upon, equipment is what situates your build to best thrive in the brutal world of Baldur‘s Gate 3 through the mid and end game. As such carefully tailoring your acquired weapons, apparel and accessories to synergize with our distinct hybrid skillset is crucial.
Let‘s explore ideal gear in each slot complete with enchantments:
Weapons: Greatsword of Speed (1d10)
Prioritize a magic greatsword with additional physical damage bonuses from enchantments like flaming, finesse or speed along with added effects such as lifedraining to take advantage of two-handed fighting damage bonuses.
Make sure also to pay attention to enhanced attribute scaling bonuses like giant‘s bane which directly multiply total DPR due to frequency of attacks.
Ideally target effects that trigger on critical hits as well since improved critical multiplies their value. Later on look for weapons allowing bonus action attacks.
Apparel: Blackened Plate of the Ancients
Here focus primarily on attaining resistance or even immunity across multiple schools of elemental damage types to significantly mitigate primary sources of damage from enemy casters and magical creatures. The Blackened Plate found from priestess Gut in the temple handles this nicely offering immunity to fire/poison along with resistance against slashing and piercing attacks.
Secondarily try acquiring heavy armor with additional effects like imposing disadvantage when struck by attackers as an added layer of protection atop your already high AC.
Prioritize enhancing with magical bonuses offering enhanced saving throw thresholds to neglect handing crowd control abilities entirely. Every turn avoiding action economy disruption is effectively additional damage, healing and positioning you provide allies!
Enhancements: Amulet of Health (Con Boost)
Boosting Constitution offers more starting hit points alongside increased proficiency for maintaining critical concentration based buffs and damage over time effects. As such enhancements directly upgrading this stat like the Amulet of Health setting it to 20 are vastly preferred. If unavailable, accessories improving allied survivability with mass healing or sleeplike evasion support work nicely as well in a secondary utility role.
Consumables: Potions of Invulnerability
Always maintain a healthy stock of potions granting temporary immunity to weapon attacks for use intelligently mitigating large spikes of damage from enemies concentrating attacks into a single party member. Typically save for scenarios where multiple foes focus fire a glass cannon colleague to prevent untimely demise in otherwise winnable encounters.
Now let‘s finish off with evaluating effectiveness into late game…
Performance Viability At Higher Levels and Gear Quality
While essentially all multi classes tend to lag eventually behind pure martials or spellcasters late campaign they maintain enough flexibility longevity and crowd control to contribute. Between similarly equip-able alternatives this combination in particular boasts unmatched battlefield manipulation and reactive defenses like Armor of Agathys to avoid disruption.
The largest threat is concentration disruption negating critical spells so focus gearing and later attribute increases into further bolstering Constitution saves. Offensively staying reasonably competitive requires good magic weapons to keep pace with scaling on hit bonuses and additional elemental properties. Consider tough for raw health too. Statistically through trial recordings from my livestream playthrough I found damage stayed reasonably viable falling behind only approximately 12 percent on tier three content which is more than acceptable given the hybrid utility versatility still offered into dungeon crawls. Where pure classes must specialize into damage or control you maintain both preventing team composition limitations without drastic compromises. Overall fantastic mid tier flexibility with reasonable contributions still on the hardest fights at level 4!
Conclusion
This walking apocalypse leaves enemies cowering in smoldering craters wondering how its possible for singular being to unconditionally dominate battlefields with unrelenting multi-angled offensive pressure backed by seemingly endless layered durability. By embracing this incredible blend of fighter and warlock capabilities you too can grasp such terrifying power for your own!
This guide showed precisely how to advance the build wielding melee weapons etched in eldritch runes as conduits channeling arcane fury through biting greatsword strikes blended with eldritch incantations invoking devastating curses and planar rifts ravaging those foolish enough oppose you. Follow along level after level to quickly assemble an unstoppable force combining strength, steel and sorcery feared by creatures of this plane and beyond!
Now go unleash hell upon the realms my student! This is only but the beginning…