@@merlinwindrivver600 It doesn't give magic bonuses, it might be elves' ability to see the weave highen their abilities like how Jedi use the force to deflect blaster bolts. Even without it Bladesingers are still better at none magical combat then most other wizards.
I’d also add “Animated Objects” and “Bigby’s Hand”. These spells give your Bladesinger a powerful bonus-action option amidst your flurry of cantrips & weapon attacks.
Yeah have your Bigbys handle grapple and restrain your enemy to get advantage while you stab them with your rapier. On bonus action you could keep squeezing 😅
@@jeffadams9807 we’ve found that 3 small disks, 3 needles, and 4 balls all made from Adamantium (sp) works great for defeating certain kinds of damage reduction!
Nice video, I was waiting for it since I watched your Bladesinger video! Quick note though, Steel Wind Strike is on the Wizard's Spell list and its a great spell for a Bladesinger. It's a 5th-leven spell, requires S, M (a melee weapon worth at least 1 sp): "You flourish the weapon used in the casting and then vanish to strike like the wind. Choose up to five creatures you can see within range. Make a melee spell attack against each target. On a hit, a target takes 6d10 force damage. You can then teleport to an unoccupied space you can see within 5 feet of one of the targets you hit or missed."
That’s an excellent addition. I passed over it first time around because I thought it was a ranger exclusive spell but your right, wizards get access as well!
Damn that sounds awesome. Can you target the same enemy more than once? I would be kinda busted if you could but doesn't hurt to find out, well at least for the caster.
I think you missed one of the most important spells. Flaming sphere. This combined with booming blade will make for some hard decisions and really add to your wizards damage output. Have the best day.
This is even more useful now that Wizards Nerfed the Shadowblade, Booming Blade combo. Prior to Tasha's I'd have used Shadow blade + Booming blade with mobility to make my melee opponents regret their life choices. But now that Booming Blade requires a weapon worth at least 1 sp to be used as the material component this is a fail. Now this is my go to combo for 3rd and 4th levels of Bladesinger. At least until I can get spirit shroud in 3rd level. Something to note if you can take a Ravnica Background you can choose Orzhov Rep. That will give you Spirit Guardians as a third level spell for Wizard. Spirit Guardians is an amazing spell on a Bladesinger.
@@drakenon75 great tip on the background. I had no idea! After a bit of research I think that shadow blade+booming blade do work together. Crawford said he would allow it and to treat the shadow blade (an illusion) as being valued by what it is mimicking. I really think they did not intend to break the shadow blade booming blade combo. What they wanted to stop is booming blade a chair or you fist. Again great catch on that background!
@@bryankia Yep, I saw that post, but until something that is put into Errata or the Sage Advice compendium, it unfortunately isn't RAW, even if it might be RAI. I've had a few DM's already tell me that by wording of Booming Blade that it couldn't be cast while using a Shadow Blade, which is a complete bummer. While I'd love to use it still and will if a DM is cool with it, for now I've adjusted my spell lists to add Flaming Sphere instead of Shadow Blade at least initially. As for the background I about sang with joy when I stumbled across it. My current character is a Paladin 2/Bladesinger 2 in Rime of the Frost Maiden. I was able to work in the Ravnica Background because I was given the Escaped Prisoner Secret (you come from another world and were brought to this world via space faring Illithids). Level 7 (Pally 2/Bladesinger 5) will be the first time I can Bonus Action Bladesong, Action Spirit Guardians and move up 50 ft (is a Variant Human using Mobility as my starting Feat) to Put a Hurting on opponents). Level 8 (Pally 2/Bladesinger 6) will be even better because I will follow that up on round 2 with Attack Action +Smite and Cantrip of Booming Blade (Second attack) + Smite all the while Nuking my enemies or Attack action + Smite, Cantrip Lightning Lure to Pull a Scorpion from Mortal Kombat ("Get Over HERE!"). The Best part is this will be my First Round of combat generally for the life of this character as Spirit Guardians is one of the best scaling spells out there.
Great video! A quick note on dragon's breath, though. The bonus action just adds the feature to use the breath. The actual action of using it is a regular action, not a bonus action. It is, however, useful if you use it on your Familiar, and turn it into a drone with weapons. Edit: I just read that you answered a similar comment before. Eitherway, Dragon's breath is fun!
Bladesong is not sung with the mouth. It is the whistling sound made by the Bladesinger's whirling weapon. Bladesong would not be interrupted by using the dragon breath spell, nor would it preclude the use of the spell.
I agree that Fire Shield and Mirror Images are definitely must haves on this character if you can get a few minutes before combat to buff yourself, these are invaluable I am going to disagree on Stoneskin though. There are far better usages for your concentration than getting resistance to attacks. Things like Haste, Shadow Blade and Spirit Shroud come to mind, first. Combine that with the other 4th level spells that become much more useful in almost all situations, to name a few Dimension Door for more mobility, Sickening Radiance for Large area damage/battlefield control, Evards Black tentacles or Storm Sphere for movement hinderance, battlefield control and extra damage also seem far more useful. I would also add a few suggestions for the Cantrips/lower level spells: * Message becomes invaluable on this guy as even without stealth, your high dex and mobility make you a wonderful scout, and message provides a way of communicating with your party to co-ordinate an ambush. * Mind Sliver is a Great cantrip especially after 6th level where you can use it to diminish your foes saves and cause a little damage * Lightning Lure - This one is good especially when pairing your Bladesinger with the Orzhov Rep Background which gives you Spirit Guardians. Use it to damage and Pull opponents back in and with your amazing mobility move back in Melee with your opponent. In second level Rope Trick gives your party a free enemy free short rest, your warlocks will love you Flaming Sphere I whole heartedly agree with the other comment about this spell, between this and Booming Blade you force your enemy to choose between damage and damage (add 3 levels of artificer armorer with Thunder Gauntlets and you force the enemy to move and attack at disadvantage to anyone else. Quite nasty for a minimum level 6 character Invisibility: This again is wonderful for the mobile scout/skirmisher that is very likely your role in the party In third level Fireball - I add this one because of play style, see as I mentioned I am a mobile scout in most parties I'm in. So if I get discovered, I like to be able to Make my enemies regret finding me, by becoming ground zero. This plus a rection of absorb elements makes for a wonderful combo (since neither is a bonus action it doesn't trigger the issue with 2 leveled spells in the same turn as that issue is triggered by bonus action leveled spell. Counterspell is even more necessary for this build as you are near to the front lines, it is VERY likely you will be within 60 ft of enemy spellcasters In fouth level I almost always take Polymorph, This is a great spell to bring a companion that is about to fall from damage back into the fight. Plus there is nothing quite like adding a Mammoth or Giant Ape into the mix for battlefield fun, or turning your BBEG into a flounder and take them out of the mix while you finish their minions Sickening Radiance - This combined with a spell you get a little later (Forecage), makes for a combo i like to refer to as "The War Crimes Microwave". Even before you get 7th Level Magic you can use this spell to as a means of bottle necking your foes, If you have a warlock with Grasp of Hadar and/or Repelling Blast you and your party can continuously bounce your Baddies into the Microwave of exhaustion
*Something to note if you can take a Ravnica Background you can choose Orzhov Rep. That will give you Spirit Guardians as a third level spell for Wizard. Spirit Guardians is an amazing spell on a Bladesinger and as such if you have access to it use this in Lieu of Spirit Shroud on your spell list.
I think Spirit Shroud is confirmed to be in the new Tasha's book, not sure tho. Cool video, definitely excited to try out a Bladesinger when it comes out
I've made it a staple in fights with at least 3 enemies to have my familiar using Dragon's Breath. You can cast touch spells through the familiar, including onto the familiar, and your familiar is likely already a flying familiar for scouting purposes anyway. Dragon's Breath uses the Action of the creature it was cast on, so if I don't need my owl to Help me for free Advantage on a Booming Blade, I just have it spray 3d6 [insert element] damage and fly to cover. This doesn't work as well when ranged enemies exist, though.
It's also important to note that a familiar having Dragon's Breath can still help with a singular enemy or even if it's a flying creature! I use a chameleon sometimes and the familiar just sits on my person and uses its attack every turn to deal 3d6 element damage, which is still 30d6 x damage halved even if they make the save every time, as long as you keep concentrating to its full duration. Dragon's Breath+Familiar is underrated!
I am about to start a new campaign using Bladesinger and am excited to try it. My DM sent me your videos to hype me up and I got to say, while I am hyped up you have such a calming voice. I really enjoyed listening to your video. keep up the work man.
My favourite thing about blade singers is the disgustingly high ac you can get. Mage armor and 16 in dex and int (which isn’t to hard to get) gives you 19 ac in blade song and if you take the feat that gives you an eldritch invocation you can grab magical dark vision and make all your attacks with advantage and have the enemies attacks be with disadvantage and really you’re not even dumping your saving throws to do that either so it can become pretty hard for you to die
You could also play a completely normal wizard but annoy your DM with an utterly vile AC. Remember, just because you CAN melee doesn´t mean you have to all the time.
Invest just 2 level into paladin for divine smite. Now you have all the wizard spell slots as ammunition, plus your paladin would have 5 lv spells and up at lv 9 as opposed to a lv 18 paladin. Not only that burn spell slots foe max smite damage for each hit, you be dishing out an average of 60+ damage per turn, and if haste is up you can dish out 100+ damage. Glass canon is accurate
Blade singers don’t actually sing. The lore is that they sometimes hum but the sound they make is the sound of the sword cutting the air. Also, they are an S tier class. You can play them two ways Offensive (Martial dex with magic supporting) or defensive(Magic with dex and bladesong making you “untouchable”tm). Either way they play like Druids do. There are times you are better using melee others spell. I can’t agree with some of your spell choices as a result as it seems you are not moving in either “mode”. Also, can’t mis the feats that work here. All that said, I like the style of your comment and even is I do not agree today, I am still here.
Great video! I really wanna use the blade singer class, I'm really excited to try it. Also hopefully this comment pleases the algorithm and gets you recommended more cause you deserve it.
So I played a blade singer in a descent into Avernus campaign and I love the character to bits. Some of my favourite combos again situationally were haste for the +2 AC plus bladesong for the +5 AC (my character had maxed out INT asap) and if he got hit the reaction +5 from shield .. with a base AC of 16 that would put you at 28 !! Another one for multitargets was the greater invisibility + steel wind strike combo. Steel wind strike on a five target roll with advantage to hit let me crit so many times it was silly. A 6d10 crit rocks big time. Then there are the regular utility with fly, lightning bolts, fireballs .. the lot One of the best advise I read from reading about the class was that the blade singer is primarily a wizard so multi classing seems rewarding short term but once you get to level 6 and 7 spells the character really comes to life.
When you start hitting the higher levels shield is a great way to use your first level slots. I learned the hard way about the dangers of multiclassing with my bardlock, I was hitting level 2 spells when everyone else was at level 3 spells, no counterspell or lightning bolt until level 7!
Ive read from other sources that for the bladesinger to be good youd have to multiclass. Im not sure how to feel about it because isnt wizard one of those classes that you shouldnt multiclass with?
@@lightning2034 Personally for a blade singer I would not multi class because in my opinion other than the delicate hp the character is best left alone to get to your higher level spells. I would focus on enhancing the arcane ability especially with new items like the arcane grimoire from Tashas.
Or can afford a very rare barrier tattoo for the 18 ac+ anything else you can add like a cloak of protection, bracers of defense. Then add your blade song.
@@melissawardjohns220 That's fair game too, but just going by starting equipment, there's nothing wrong with going with Mage Armor if you don't have a better option. And I think the better options are going to be +1 armor or a magic tattoo, neither of which are typically obtained at level 1.
@@evangrescol7772 mage armor will keep you alive till better options are available or if you get attacked at night. It's a solid spell even once you have better choices.
@@melissawardjohns220 Exactly. The casting is also instant compared to the minute it takes to put on light armor. Not that it really comes up often, but it's an advantage regardless. The only time when this is an issue is antimagic effects, like Dispel or Anti Magic Field. But that's crippling for any wizard.
If you setup your Bladesinger to run melee and only use defensive magic you can then also setup your remaining spells to be out-of-combat utility spells. It makes you more versatile than an Arcane Trickster and a ton more fun to play. Not all wizards are Boomzards. We leave that to sorcerers.
@@RichMerry I have a Boomzard in a campaign I'm playing in. This is 'that guy' who all his spells are combat spells, nothing else, and his solution to finding the one evil guy in the crowd is to fireball the whole crowd then magic missile the one guy who didn't die from the blast. He does not play anything else.
I question you choice of spells. No blur at second and no blink at third level. Are you aware of ultimate bladesinger defence? Blur+mirror image+blink?
4:04 Yeah, I gotta say, you should ALWAYS jump to get counterspell. You never know when one bullshit spell is coming for you that goes around your AC That being said, thanks for letting me know Melf's Minute Meteor exists, holy crap it sounds like a great spell and I wish i knew about it sooner. It's not even in 5e tools
until your blade singer has access to magical armor i do believe that the spell mage armor is useful. the highest AC you can get with non-magical light armor is 12 plus your dexterity whereas mage armor bumps that up by one point giving you 13 plus dex. in the lower levels before you get actual magic armor, that one point of higher AC can't hurt.
My question is, can you cast two booming blades in one turn. With a 2 lvl fighter dip. Attack, then booming blade, then action surge, attack and then second booming blade. I'm curious if that would work.
Technically yes, but only if you use action surge or another fringe case that lets you take 2 actions a turn. If your doing that I would use bonfire first then booming blade, making it even more tricky for the enemy.
The way I understand it though, you can replace a attack from the attack action with a cantrip. So action surge to take the attack action again, letting you replace the attack with booming blade. Because normally, you can't cast two spells in one turn.
I believe the ability would override the Rule as written. As far as I’m aware the reason you can only cast once per turn is because it takes an action to cast a spell. A lot of DMs use the Mercer rule of allowing a bonus action level 1 spell and a cantrip.
Nice video! Food for thought there. Just checking though, you cant cast Misty Step then Cone of Cold (or the other way around) right? Because once you cast a spell as a bonus action, you can only cast another spell as long as it's a cantrip?
At that level I was just using the phrase misty step instead of teleport. Any teleportation spell would work, including far step because it lets you use it every round for a minute.
Wait a minute... so level 6 extra attack with a cantrip, would that open the possibility of a second eldritch blast? If so, that’d make dipping into hexblade warlock more appealing, though stats requirements will will require a MAD character.
Unless you take 2 levels in fighter for action surge then no. At level 6 One of your attacks can be used as a cantrip if you take the attack action. I’m still not sure how it interacts with a haste spell so that might be a way to get a second E.B.
@@RichMerry what about the Eldrich Knight? War Magic Beginning at 7th level, when you use your action to cast a cantrip, you can make one weapon attack as a bonus action. would that allow you to attack -> cantrip ->attack? I mean taking 7 levels in fighter wouldn't really be worth it and with an offhand weapon you could do almost the same thing but I am wondering if it would fulfill the "when you use your action to cast a cantrip" since you technically use your action to attack with your weapon then turn your second swing into a cantrip use instead.
@@TheTomoyaNagase In this instance, I don't think you would be using your "action" to cast a cantrip. You would be using your "extra attack" from the class feature as a cantrip. You are using your action to attack, which grants you the extra attack to be used as a cantrip. If that makes sense. (that is just my interpretation)
Another good 9th level spell, though admittedly not as good as Wish (duh, it's Wish.) and comparable to Invulnerability IMO, is Foresight. You're a bladesinger, so your AC is already extremely high, especially at level 17, when you can first take this spell. (22 with no magical equipment wearing Studded Leather. 27 when casting Shield as a reaction, this can go higher with magical gear or getting a fighting style.) So adding disadvantage to hit you on top of that can make you extremely hard to hit, even at higher CR's. It gives you advantage on all attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws as well, meaning your damage goes up, your saving throws are much better (add on casting Absorb Elements and suddenly you take very little damage), and you hit much more often. Also, no concentration, meaning you can still add Tenser's Transformation onto this to still AC and Saving throw tank a lot of damage while still outputting a ton of your own.
I'd comment for mage armor it DOES GIVE you better armor then light armor until you get magical armor. Which may or may not happen based on campaign. Worked WONDERS for me all the way to level 6 in descent into Avernus.
It's such a shame that Adventurer's League has that PHB + 1 book rule. So many cool spells like shadow blade & absorb elements are off limits to bladesinger in AL without spellbook shenanigans.
Pretty sure I know the answer to this, but what's your suggestion against an anti-magic zone? I think the Bladesong is considered magic, so would an anti-magic zone shut down the bladesinger just like any other wizard?
You still have your weapon proficiency and *Extra Attack* and likely a better con score/took tough so f**k ‘em up to the Nine Hells! If you have magic armor then you still have armor, too!
I never liked the idea of actually singing a blade song, I always thought of it more like Chinese king fu movies, where the blade literally vibrates and makes a “song”
That's the main problem with bladesinger, the base wizard spells outpower the melee abilites at later levels. Heck, the base wizard spells are game breaking at later levels.
@@RichMerry Well yes that's why you play a wizard. or at least why I play a wizard, so I can have game breaking power at later levels. If you to play a gish bladesinger is probably the best at doing that.
Curious why you said that shadow blade was a good option until you get extra attack. Wouldn’t it be the other way around? Or did they change it so it doesn’t work with multiple attacks
It does work with multiple attacks I believe, but some would argue the plus to hit is more valuable than the raw damage. More chance to hit is more consistent damage over time. But that’s just an opinion, I have no stats to back it up.
@@RichMerry idk, magic weapon lasts way longer but shadow blade just seems to do way more damage especially when you upcast it at later levels. Personally I just like the insane dpr you can achieve with it off of one spell slot.
so at 6th level you have 3 3rd level spell slots and you can upcast the shadow blade at 3rd level to deal 3d8 damage. With the new Tashas revision on using a cantrip for the second attack you could use the first attack for 3d8 and booming blade the second attack sucked on the shadow blade so thats another 3d8 + the 1d8 thunder and a potential 2d8 if the target moves .. So a guranteed (well u still have to hit) 7d8 with a potential for 2d8 more is not too shabby
how is mage armor a wasted spell slot? with light armor you only get 12+dex (+int) but mage armor is 13+dex(+int) also light armor only takes an action to equip so if you were to run out you could just got back to studded leather
Considering most combats last less than 5 rounds I would say the shield spell can be used when needed, it is still relevant at later levels. Statistically most players get a short or long rest between combats as well.
You can check out the subclasses I've designed over on the patreon. You can download the Mentor Fighter for free, The Monolith Warlock and the Herbalist Ranger: www.patreon.com/RichMerry Check out some of my other subclass reviews in this playlist th-cam.com/play/PLcJxbxz7P6i3sM5I2igJJTH1D7RivAto4Check.html out the Bladesinger Subclass video th-cam.com/video/hR-VipyZoHw/w-d-xo.html And this video showing all of the Subclasses in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything th-cam.com/video/Bsyb8t31t18/w-d-xo.html
the issue with this sub class is.....its a wizard lol after a certain level you're not gonna want to fight in melee. when you have access to game changing spells
as far as the spell choices go... I think you missed a fine choice in LVL3... Blink.. that spell is too good. They should ban it . I cant tell you how many times it can save your bacon from getting grappled, to a red dragon's fire breath. Half the time roughly you wont be there to take damage, so your mob will have others more important to deal with saving your precious hit points. no concentration , add in mirror image , no concentration as well. makes you such a pain in the bum the mobs may become frustrated and go home just with that alone. But this tactic can go for any wizard just the same. Cause Fear is a fine spell that can be upcasted as a low level spell. make 2 mobs flee leaving you an easy 1v1. Shadow blade is great but has that concentration requirement. So if you indeed use this best to make it so that you do not take a hit in the first place. Cheers all.
@@RichMerry i strongly disagree that blue control is the strongest in magic the gathering but thats not the pojnt Counterspell in 5e D&D is by a significant margin the best incarnation of countrrspelling in all of the D&D mechanics hands down
I was just using blue counter magic as an example of hard countering being powerful in most game settings. I would say if your not taking counterspell and fireball/lighting bolt your not playing optimal but luckily D&D is more than just getting the most damage in a round.
@@RichMerry fly, thunderstep, fireball, haste, and counterspell are pretty much must haves for a wizard of any kind persoanlly i think they offer some of the best in utility
I don't agree with a lot of these advices. Why would you recommend blade ward? This is a horrible spell even with the changes to extra attack in tasha's. Your HP as a bladesinger is your most valuable commodity. You don't want to take damage, you want to avoid it at all costs. Take Shield, Absorb Elements, Counterspell, Misty Step. Some of the best spells available for Wizards are not being even mentioned. Animate Objects, Wall of Force, Force Cage, Simulacrum... You didn't recommend any of these. And honestly, why recommend Blade of Disaster? Just because this is a new 9th level spell? This spell is so cancerous for a 9th level spellslot... You have so many good stuff to do at 17th level if you waste that spellslot on BoD you need to have your Wizard Certificate invalidated....
I said it was a viable option now, when it wasn’t in the past. I wanted to address blade ward and how it’s changed, but i wouldn’t recommend it. It’s not the most optimal spell to take for defence but as a cantrip it doesn’t take any spell slots. I wanted to focus on the more melee oriented spells in this video so that’s why force cage, wall of force, etc, where left out. Thanks for your feedback though, it’s nice to hear different opinions about the spell list.
I use Antimagic-Zone to beat other wizards.
Question, would Antimagic Field cancel bladesong, it is an "elven magic" as it says in the book?
@@merlinwindrivver600
It doesn't give magic bonuses, it might be elves' ability to see the weave highen their abilities like how Jedi use the force to deflect blaster bolts. Even without it Bladesingers are still better at none magical combat then most other wizards.
I use Tenser´s transformation while multiclassing as Lycan Bloodhunter.
Gotta outtank the Barbarian while having more AC than the Paladin.
I really got to say that I enjoy your laid back approach and calm voice for when I want to watch some DND related content.
Thanks for the compliment, it’s nice of you to say that.
I’d also add “Animated Objects” and “Bigby’s Hand”.
These spells give your Bladesinger a powerful bonus-action option amidst your flurry of cantrips & weapon attacks.
Yeah have your Bigbys handle grapple and restrain your enemy to get advantage while you stab them with your rapier. On bonus action you could keep squeezing 😅
With The ANIMATE OBJECT'S
Spell, I Like To Use 10 Ball
Bearing's, 1d4x10, lol...
@@jeffadams9807 we’ve found that 3 small disks, 3 needles, and 4 balls all made from Adamantium (sp) works great for defeating certain kinds of damage reduction!
Nice video, I was waiting for it since I watched your Bladesinger video! Quick note though, Steel Wind Strike is on the Wizard's Spell list and its a great spell for a Bladesinger. It's a 5th-leven spell, requires S, M (a melee weapon worth at least 1 sp):
"You flourish the weapon used in the casting and then vanish to strike like the wind. Choose up to five creatures you can see within range. Make a melee spell attack against each target. On a hit, a target takes 6d10 force damage.
You can then teleport to an unoccupied space you can see within 5 feet of one of the targets you hit or missed."
That’s an excellent addition. I passed over it first time around because I thought it was a ranger exclusive spell but your right, wizards get access as well!
Damn that sounds awesome. Can you target the same enemy more than once? I would be kinda busted if you could but doesn't hurt to find out, well at least for the caster.
@@Wolfkey13 Unfortunately no, you can choose up to five, so yeah, no doubler targeting, imagine a bbeg taking 30d10. That would be awesome.
It’s a Master Yi attack! Lol!!!
I think you missed one of the most important spells. Flaming sphere. This combined with booming blade will make for some hard decisions and really add to your wizards damage output. Have the best day.
How could I have missed Flaming Sphere! Good catch there. Wizards need something to compete with clerics spiritual weapon.
This is even more useful now that Wizards Nerfed the Shadowblade, Booming Blade combo. Prior to Tasha's I'd have used Shadow blade + Booming blade with mobility to make my melee opponents regret their life choices. But now that Booming Blade requires a weapon worth at least 1 sp to be used as the material component this is a fail. Now this is my go to combo for 3rd and 4th levels of Bladesinger. At least until I can get spirit shroud in 3rd level. Something to note if you can take a Ravnica Background you can choose Orzhov Rep. That will give you Spirit Guardians as a third level spell for Wizard. Spirit Guardians is an amazing spell on a Bladesinger.
@@drakenon75 great tip on the background. I had no idea! After a bit of research I think that shadow blade+booming blade do work together. Crawford said he would allow it and to treat the shadow blade (an illusion) as being valued by what it is mimicking. I really think they did not intend to break the shadow blade booming blade combo. What they wanted to stop is booming blade a chair or you fist. Again great catch on that background!
@@bryankia Yep, I saw that post, but until something that is put into Errata or the Sage Advice compendium, it unfortunately isn't RAW, even if it might be RAI. I've had a few DM's already tell me that by wording of Booming Blade that it couldn't be cast while using a Shadow Blade, which is a complete bummer. While I'd love to use it still and will if a DM is cool with it, for now I've adjusted my spell lists to add Flaming Sphere instead of Shadow Blade at least initially. As for the background I about sang with joy when I stumbled across it. My current character is a Paladin 2/Bladesinger 2 in Rime of the Frost Maiden. I was able to work in the Ravnica Background because I was given the Escaped Prisoner Secret (you come from another world and were brought to this world via space faring Illithids). Level 7 (Pally 2/Bladesinger 5) will be the first time I can Bonus Action Bladesong, Action Spirit Guardians and move up 50 ft (is a Variant Human using Mobility as my starting Feat) to Put a Hurting on opponents). Level 8 (Pally 2/Bladesinger 6) will be even better because I will follow that up on round 2 with Attack Action +Smite and Cantrip of Booming Blade (Second attack) + Smite all the while Nuking my enemies or Attack action + Smite, Cantrip Lightning Lure to Pull a Scorpion from Mortal Kombat ("Get Over HERE!"). The Best part is this will be my First Round of combat generally for the life of this character as Spirit Guardians is one of the best scaling spells out there.
Great video! A quick note on dragon's breath, though. The bonus action just adds the feature to use the breath. The actual action of using it is a regular action, not a bonus action.
It is, however, useful if you use it on your Familiar, and turn it into a drone with weapons.
Edit: I just read that you answered a similar comment before. Eitherway, Dragon's breath is fun!
Bladesong is not sung with the mouth. It is the whistling sound made by the Bladesinger's whirling weapon. Bladesong would not be interrupted by using the dragon breath spell, nor would it preclude the use of the spell.
3:12 You know how people say rappers/singers are "Spitting fire"?
There's you're answer. Your song is so good, it's setting things a blaze
I agree that Fire Shield and Mirror Images are definitely must haves on this character if you can get a few minutes before combat to buff yourself, these are invaluable
I am going to disagree on Stoneskin though. There are far better usages for your concentration than getting resistance to attacks. Things like Haste, Shadow Blade and Spirit Shroud come to mind, first. Combine that with the other 4th level spells that become much more useful in almost all situations, to name a few Dimension Door for more mobility, Sickening Radiance for Large area damage/battlefield control, Evards Black tentacles or Storm Sphere for movement hinderance, battlefield control and extra damage also seem far more useful.
I would also add a few suggestions for the Cantrips/lower level spells:
* Message becomes invaluable on this guy as even without stealth, your high dex and mobility make you a wonderful scout, and message provides a way of communicating with your party to co-ordinate an ambush.
* Mind Sliver is a Great cantrip especially after 6th level where you can use it to diminish your foes saves and cause a little damage
* Lightning Lure - This one is good especially when pairing your Bladesinger with the Orzhov Rep Background which gives you Spirit Guardians. Use it to damage and Pull opponents back in and with your amazing mobility move back in Melee with your opponent.
In second level
Rope Trick gives your party a free enemy free short rest, your warlocks will love you
Flaming Sphere I whole heartedly agree with the other comment about this spell, between this and Booming Blade you force your enemy to choose between damage and damage (add 3 levels of artificer armorer with Thunder Gauntlets and you force the enemy to move and attack at disadvantage to anyone else. Quite nasty for a minimum level 6 character
Invisibility: This again is wonderful for the mobile scout/skirmisher that is very likely your role in the party
In third level
Fireball - I add this one because of play style, see as I mentioned I am a mobile scout in most parties I'm in. So if I get discovered, I like to be able to Make my enemies regret finding me, by becoming ground zero. This plus a rection of absorb elements makes for a wonderful combo (since neither is a bonus action it doesn't trigger the issue with 2 leveled spells in the same turn as that issue is triggered by bonus action leveled spell.
Counterspell is even more necessary for this build as you are near to the front lines, it is VERY likely you will be within 60 ft of enemy spellcasters
In fouth level
I almost always take Polymorph, This is a great spell to bring a companion that is about to fall from damage back into the fight. Plus there is nothing quite like adding a Mammoth or Giant Ape into the mix for battlefield fun, or turning your BBEG into a flounder and take them out of the mix while you finish their minions
Sickening Radiance - This combined with a spell you get a little later (Forecage), makes for a combo i like to refer to as "The War Crimes Microwave". Even before you get 7th Level Magic you can use this spell to as a means of bottle necking your foes, If you have a warlock with Grasp of Hadar and/or Repelling Blast you and your party can continuously bounce your Baddies into the Microwave of exhaustion
Stoneskin good on paper bad in execution
*Something to note if you can take a Ravnica Background you can choose Orzhov Rep. That will give you Spirit Guardians as a third level spell for Wizard. Spirit Guardians is an amazing spell on a Bladesinger and as such if you have access to it use this in Lieu of Spirit Shroud on your spell list.
I think Spirit Shroud is confirmed to be in the new Tasha's book, not sure tho. Cool video, definitely excited to try out a Bladesinger when it comes out
It’s going to be interesting to see all the builds that players will present with the new cauldron ruleset.
I've made it a staple in fights with at least 3 enemies to have my familiar using Dragon's Breath. You can cast touch spells through the familiar, including onto the familiar, and your familiar is likely already a flying familiar for scouting purposes anyway. Dragon's Breath uses the Action of the creature it was cast on, so if I don't need my owl to Help me for free Advantage on a Booming Blade, I just have it spray 3d6 [insert element] damage and fly to cover. This doesn't work as well when ranged enemies exist, though.
Even if you don’t have dragons breath the familiar is great for getting advantage, it really works well with a rogue using sneak attack.
It's also important to note that a familiar having Dragon's Breath can still help with a singular enemy or even if it's a flying creature! I use a chameleon sometimes and the familiar just sits on my person and uses its attack every turn to deal 3d6 element damage, which is still 30d6 x damage halved even if they make the save every time, as long as you keep concentrating to its full duration. Dragon's Breath+Familiar is underrated!
I am about to start a new campaign using Bladesinger and am excited to try it. My DM sent me your videos to hype me up and I got to say, while I am hyped up you have such a calming voice. I really enjoyed listening to your video. keep up the work man.
Thanks for the comment. It’s cool that people would recommend one of the videos. Hopefully people can get some value out of them
My favourite thing about blade singers is the disgustingly high ac you can get. Mage armor and 16 in dex and int (which isn’t to hard to get) gives you 19 ac in blade song and if you take the feat that gives you an eldritch invocation you can grab magical dark vision and make all your attacks with advantage and have the enemies attacks be with disadvantage and really you’re not even dumping your saving throws to do that either so it can become pretty hard for you to die
I don't agree with everything that you said but I certainly respect your opinion and I think you gave well thought out reasons for each spell.
You could also play a completely normal wizard but annoy your DM with an utterly vile AC. Remember, just because you CAN melee doesn´t mean you have to all the time.
I kinda love the soothing music playing in the background. Your videos have some great information and the vibe is very chill.
Thanks, I’m glad you enjoy the videos. Finding some chill music that will not get copyright claimed isn’t easy.
Look up ‘Drown me out, VYEN’ to get the track by itself.
Great stuff Rich! Keep the content flowing friend...
Invest just 2 level into paladin for divine smite. Now you have all the wizard spell slots as ammunition, plus your paladin would have 5 lv spells and up at lv 9 as opposed to a lv 18 paladin. Not only that burn spell slots foe max smite damage for each hit, you be dishing out an average of 60+ damage per turn, and if haste is up you can dish out 100+ damage. Glass canon is accurate
Blade singers don’t actually sing. The lore is that they sometimes hum but the sound they make is the sound of the sword cutting the air. Also, they are an S tier class. You can play them two ways Offensive (Martial dex with magic supporting) or defensive(Magic with dex and bladesong making you “untouchable”tm).
Either way they play like Druids do. There are times you are better using melee others spell. I can’t agree with some of your spell choices as a result as it seems you are not moving in either “mode”. Also, can’t mis the feats that work here.
All that said, I like the style of your comment and even is I do not agree today, I am still here.
Great video! I really wanna use the blade singer class, I'm really excited to try it. Also hopefully this comment pleases the algorithm and gets you recommended more cause you deserve it.
Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment. If you decide to use blade singer let me know how it goes!
So I played a blade singer in a descent into Avernus campaign and I love the character to bits. Some of my favourite combos again situationally were haste for the +2 AC plus bladesong for the +5 AC (my character had maxed out INT asap) and if he got hit the reaction +5 from shield .. with a base AC of 16 that would put you at 28 !!
Another one for multitargets was the greater invisibility + steel wind strike combo. Steel wind strike on a five target roll with advantage to hit let me crit so many times it was silly. A 6d10 crit rocks big time.
Then there are the regular utility with fly, lightning bolts, fireballs .. the lot
One of the best advise I read from reading about the class was that the blade singer is primarily a wizard so multi classing seems rewarding short term but once you get to level 6 and 7 spells the character really comes to life.
When you start hitting the higher levels shield is a great way to use your first level slots. I learned the hard way about the dangers of multiclassing with my bardlock, I was hitting level 2 spells when everyone else was at level 3 spells, no counterspell or lightning bolt until level 7!
Ive read from other sources that for the bladesinger to be good youd have to multiclass. Im not sure how to feel about it because isnt wizard one of those classes that you shouldnt multiclass with?
@@lightning2034 Personally for a blade singer I would not multi class because in my opinion other than the delicate hp the character is best left alone to get to your higher level spells. I would focus on enhancing the arcane ability especially with new items like the arcane grimoire from Tashas.
These are great, very informative.
i think it's pretty powerful that you can get an AC of 23 regularly if you max out INT and DEX, then cast mage armor and use your song of war feature.
Mage Armor doesn't become worse than wearing light armor until you find +1 studded leather or the like....
Or can afford a very rare barrier tattoo for the 18 ac+ anything else you can add like a cloak of protection, bracers of defense. Then add your blade song.
@@melissawardjohns220 That's fair game too, but just going by starting equipment, there's nothing wrong with going with Mage Armor if you don't have a better option. And I think the better options are going to be +1 armor or a magic tattoo, neither of which are typically obtained at level 1.
@@evangrescol7772 mage armor will keep you alive till better options are available or if you get attacked at night. It's a solid spell even once you have better choices.
@@melissawardjohns220 Exactly. The casting is also instant compared to the minute it takes to put on light armor. Not that it really comes up often, but it's an advantage regardless.
The only time when this is an issue is antimagic effects, like Dispel or Anti Magic Field. But that's crippling for any wizard.
If you setup your Bladesinger to run melee and only use defensive magic you can then also setup your remaining spells to be out-of-combat utility spells. It makes you more versatile than an Arcane Trickster and a ton more fun to play. Not all wizards are Boomzards. We leave that to sorcerers.
That’s the first time I’ve heard the term Boomzard but it’s staying in my vocabulary. Amazing.
@@RichMerry I have a Boomzard in a campaign I'm playing in. This is 'that guy' who all his spells are combat spells, nothing else, and his solution to finding the one evil guy in the crowd is to fireball the whole crowd then magic missile the one guy who didn't die from the blast. He does not play anything else.
@@danieljones3291 sounds like a dick
I question you choice of spells. No blur at second and no blink at third level. Are you aware of ultimate bladesinger defence? Blur+mirror image+blink?
Thanks for the great Video Rich
Your welcome, glad you enjoyed it.
Great job rich!
love this dudes voice
4:04 Yeah, I gotta say, you should ALWAYS jump to get counterspell. You never know when one bullshit spell is coming for you that goes around your AC
That being said, thanks for letting me know Melf's Minute Meteor exists, holy crap it sounds like a great spell and I wish i knew about it sooner. It's not even in 5e tools
until your blade singer has access to magical armor i do believe that the spell mage armor is useful. the highest AC you can get with non-magical light armor is 12 plus your dexterity whereas mage armor bumps that up by one point giving you 13 plus dex. in the lower levels before you get actual magic armor, that one point of higher AC can't hurt.
Shadow Blade! 👍🏻
My question is, can you cast two booming blades in one turn. With a 2 lvl fighter dip. Attack, then booming blade, then action surge, attack and then second booming blade. I'm curious if that would work.
Technically yes, but only if you use action surge or another fringe case that lets you take 2 actions a turn. If your doing that I would use bonfire first then booming blade, making it even more tricky for the enemy.
The way I understand it though, you can replace a attack from the attack action with a cantrip. So action surge to take the attack action again, letting you replace the attack with booming blade. Because normally, you can't cast two spells in one turn.
I believe the ability would override the Rule as written. As far as I’m aware the reason you can only cast once per turn is because it takes an action to cast a spell. A lot of DMs use the Mercer rule of allowing a bonus action level 1 spell and a cantrip.
I'm making a Variant human bladesinger for AL. So everything has to be RAW. I agree tho, I think the ability overrides the rule.
If you have illusionist bracers you can cast a cantrip twice.
Nice video! Food for thought there. Just checking though, you cant cast Misty Step then Cone of Cold (or the other way around) right? Because once you cast a spell as a bonus action, you can only cast another spell as long as it's a cantrip?
At that level I was just using the phrase misty step instead of teleport. Any teleportation spell would work, including far step because it lets you use it every round for a minute.
@@RichMerry ah I see what you mean.
Wait a minute... so level 6 extra attack with a cantrip, would that open the possibility of a second eldritch blast? If so, that’d make dipping into hexblade warlock more appealing, though stats requirements will will require a MAD character.
Unless you take 2 levels in fighter for action surge then no. At level 6 One of your attacks can be used as a cantrip if you take the attack action. I’m still not sure how it interacts with a haste spell so that might be a way to get a second E.B.
@@RichMerry what about the Eldrich Knight?
War Magic
Beginning at 7th level, when you use your action to cast a cantrip, you can make one weapon attack as a bonus action.
would that allow you to attack -> cantrip ->attack?
I mean taking 7 levels in fighter wouldn't really be worth it and with an offhand weapon you could do almost the same thing but I am wondering if it would fulfill the "when you use your action to cast a cantrip" since you technically use your action to attack with your weapon then turn your second swing into a cantrip use instead.
@@TheTomoyaNagase In this instance, I don't think you would be using your "action" to cast a cantrip. You would be using your "extra attack" from the class feature as a cantrip. You are using your action to attack, which grants you the extra attack to be used as a cantrip. If that makes sense. (that is just my interpretation)
Another good 9th level spell, though admittedly not as good as Wish (duh, it's Wish.) and comparable to Invulnerability IMO, is Foresight. You're a bladesinger, so your AC is already extremely high, especially at level 17, when you can first take this spell. (22 with no magical equipment wearing Studded Leather. 27 when casting Shield as a reaction, this can go higher with magical gear or getting a fighting style.) So adding disadvantage to hit you on top of that can make you extremely hard to hit, even at higher CR's. It gives you advantage on all attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws as well, meaning your damage goes up, your saving throws are much better (add on casting Absorb Elements and suddenly you take very little damage), and you hit much more often. Also, no concentration, meaning you can still add Tenser's Transformation onto this to still AC and Saving throw tank a lot of damage while still outputting a ton of your own.
Nice video!
Thanks for leaving a comment.
I'd comment for mage armor it DOES GIVE you better armor then light armor until you get magical armor. Which may or may not happen based on campaign. Worked WONDERS for me all the way to level 6 in descent into Avernus.
I do not think a lot of these spells wouild be too amazing on a bladesinger especially tenser's transformation
Spirit shroud is in Tasha’s and you mention this is using the subclass as of that printing. How could you miss that?!
At the time of publishing the video I was using the Sword Coast book so I couldn't 100% guarantee that spirit shroud would be in Tasha's.
It's such a shame that Adventurer's League has that PHB + 1 book rule. So many cool spells like shadow blade & absorb elements are off limits to bladesinger in AL without spellbook shenanigans.
I wonder why u dont consider blink to be included? It creates a chance to not taking any damage for 1 round isnt it?
To be honest I was focusing on most of the melee damage spells, blink is a really good spell but just didn’t make the cut.
Pretty sure I know the answer to this, but what's your suggestion against an anti-magic zone? I think the Bladesong is considered magic, so would an anti-magic zone shut down the bladesinger just like any other wizard?
You still have your weapon proficiency and *Extra Attack* and likely a better con score/took tough so f**k ‘em up to the Nine Hells! If you have magic armor then you still have armor, too!
I never liked the idea of actually singing a blade song, I always thought of it more like Chinese king fu movies, where the blade literally vibrates and makes a “song”
Yup, it's a bladesinger. The blade should be doing the singing!
You're still a wizard so fireball and counterspell are still really good picks. You going to melee the group of weak mobs or just cast fireball once?
That's the main problem with bladesinger, the base wizard spells outpower the melee abilites at later levels. Heck, the base wizard spells are game breaking at later levels.
@@RichMerry Well yes that's why you play a wizard. or at least why I play a wizard, so I can have game breaking power at later levels. If you to play a gish bladesinger is probably the best at doing that.
True strike and blade ward suck they are the worst cantrips in the game they are a waste of a turn now the others are good choices.
Preaching the truth!
Good vid:)
Thank you Júlio. 👍
Curious why you said that shadow blade was a good option until you get extra attack. Wouldn’t it be the other way around? Or did they change it so it doesn’t work with multiple attacks
It does work with multiple attacks I believe, but some would argue the plus to hit is more valuable than the raw damage. More chance to hit is more consistent damage over time. But that’s just an opinion, I have no stats to back it up.
@@RichMerry idk, magic weapon lasts way longer but shadow blade just seems to do way more damage especially when you upcast it at later levels. Personally I just like the insane dpr you can achieve with it off of one spell slot.
so at 6th level you have 3 3rd level spell slots and you can upcast the shadow blade at 3rd level to deal 3d8 damage. With the new Tashas revision on using a cantrip for the second attack you could use the first attack for 3d8 and booming blade the second attack sucked on the shadow blade so thats another 3d8 + the 1d8 thunder and a potential 2d8 if the target moves .. So a guranteed (well u still have to hit) 7d8 with a potential for 2d8 more is not too shabby
how is mage armor a wasted spell slot? with light armor you only get 12+dex (+int) but mage armor is 13+dex(+int) also light armor only takes an action to equip so if you were to run out you could just got back to studded leather
Considering most combats last less than 5 rounds I would say the shield spell can be used when needed, it is still relevant at later levels. Statistically most players get a short or long rest between combats as well.
Oh yeah
It's weird to me that u skipped steel wind strike that seems like it was tailor made for bladesingers
You can check out the subclasses I've designed over on the patreon. You can download the Mentor Fighter for free, The Monolith Warlock and the Herbalist Ranger: www.patreon.com/RichMerry
Check out some of my other subclass reviews in this playlist th-cam.com/play/PLcJxbxz7P6i3sM5I2igJJTH1D7RivAto4Check.html out the Bladesinger Subclass video th-cam.com/video/hR-VipyZoHw/w-d-xo.html
And this video showing all of the Subclasses in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything th-cam.com/video/Bsyb8t31t18/w-d-xo.html
the issue with this sub class is.....its a wizard lol after a certain level you're not gonna want to fight in melee. when you have access to game changing spells
as far as the spell choices go... I think you missed a fine choice in LVL3... Blink.. that spell is too good. They should ban it . I cant tell you how many times it can save your bacon from getting grappled, to a red dragon's fire breath. Half the time roughly you wont be there to take damage, so your mob will have others more important to deal with saving your precious hit points. no concentration , add in mirror image , no concentration as well. makes you such a pain in the bum the mobs may become frustrated and go home just with that alone. But this tactic can go for any wizard just the same. Cause Fear is a fine spell that can be upcasted as a low level spell. make 2 mobs flee leaving you an easy 1v1. Shadow blade is great but has that concentration requirement. So if you indeed use this best to make it so that you do not take a hit in the first place. Cheers all.
Pretty sure Dragon's Breath is an Action to exhale the breath but it's a bonus action to cast.
Your right, it’s still a powerful spell to take, especially if you combine it with a summon familiar.
If you are level 3 mage and you skip counterspell you deserve what ever hita you that could have easily been prevented
It’s a class defining spell. There’s a reason blue counterspell is the most powerful deck in magic the gathering.
@@RichMerry i strongly disagree that blue control is the strongest in magic the gathering but thats not the pojnt
Counterspell in 5e D&D is by a significant margin the best incarnation of countrrspelling in all of the D&D mechanics hands down
I was just using blue counter magic as an example of hard countering being powerful in most game settings. I would say if your not taking counterspell and fireball/lighting bolt your not playing optimal but luckily D&D is more than just getting the most damage in a round.
@@RichMerry they are optimal chlices because just like modal spells in magic they are the most variable spells with the widest application
@@RichMerry fly, thunderstep, fireball, haste, and counterspell are pretty much must haves for a wizard of any kind persoanlly i think they offer some of the best in utility
I don't agree with a lot of these advices. Why would you recommend blade ward? This is a horrible spell even with the changes to extra attack in tasha's. Your HP as a bladesinger is your most valuable commodity. You don't want to take damage, you want to avoid it at all costs. Take Shield, Absorb Elements, Counterspell, Misty Step. Some of the best spells available for Wizards are not being even mentioned. Animate Objects, Wall of Force, Force Cage, Simulacrum... You didn't recommend any of these.
And honestly, why recommend Blade of Disaster? Just because this is a new 9th level spell? This spell is so cancerous for a 9th level spellslot... You have so many good stuff to do at 17th level if you waste that spellslot on BoD you need to have your Wizard Certificate invalidated....
I said it was a viable option now, when it wasn’t in the past. I wanted to address blade ward and how it’s changed, but i wouldn’t recommend it. It’s not the most optimal spell to take for defence but as a cantrip it doesn’t take any spell slots. I wanted to focus on the more melee oriented spells in this video so that’s why force cage, wall of force, etc, where left out. Thanks for your feedback though, it’s nice to hear different opinions about the spell list.