The SHADOW KNIGHT: A Stealthy Tank Wielding Shadow Blade | D&D 5e Character Build

As a DM I let shadow blade be a pact weapon because the magic weapon of psychic energy created by the power granted to you by your magic sword seems like it should be considered a pact weapon by proxy.

Dang, reflavoring Giants Might as Susanoo is such a cool idea! Great build too.

I know this is about not being a Bladesinger, but one of my favorite characters I've played was one that used this spell. I decided to go two levels of fighter first for flavor, and then started going into wizard. I told everyone I was going to be a melee damage dealer, nad none of them really believed me. In fact the DM was asking if I wanted to change anything to be a bit more effective, and didn't think that Shadow Blade was going to be worth it. Right after we hit level 5, and everyone else was hitting a good power spike with their singular classes, I showed them what my character could do. When I used a Booming Blade enhanced Shadow Blade attack, got a crit, and one hit ko'ed a character we were supposed to run away from. I love Shadow Blade as a spell, so seeing other builds that could utilize it makes me really happy.

Swords Bard and Eldritch Knight are two other decent starting points for a Shadow Blade wielder 👍

So here is my take on this build leaning into what you said about this being a rogue like character, I would start of with 3 levels of sorcerer (any subclass would do), this gives you your proficiency in con saves. From there I would go Bard, specifically the whispers bard which gives you the psychic blades feature which is basically sneak attack though a limited number of times per day. I would go bard for 5 levels to get more psychic blades damage and font of inspiration, from here it's basically whatever you feel like taking, Bard get's you more psychic blades damage plus magical secrets very late game, sorcerer gives you more meta magic points, meta magic being very useful in general. This combo also does not hinder your spell slot progression which allows you to cast shadow blade at higher levels increasing it's damage which I think makes up for the lack of extra attack plus more powerful spells (this build I think personally works as just regular non gimmick build). the lack of extra attack is also made up for with quicken spell as you can use your action to attack expand a use of psychic blade and quicken touch spell such as an upcast inflict wounds (available through the divine soul sorcerer subclass). Bard also grants expertise to add to the rogue like feel. Race really does not matter if you use the new expanded rules for ability scores at games I play I impose a rule on myself that I only change one of the races starting ability scores to one that makes sense for the background I choose and leaving the other as is (representing both nature and nurture playing a key part in character development). So for that I would probably pick a race that has Charisma as one of there racial stats, Tabaxi, Triton or Aasimar being what I would go for. Edit: Note regarding sorcerer subclass the most thematic for this build would probably be shadow which is also a good choice in general due to being able to cast and see through the darkness spell at level 3 which would grant you advantage on your attacks making it less likely to miss and especially if you invest more in sorcerer since you would get more sorcery points.

I don't know if you are the mind behind all those builds but I really enjoy your video. Short and straight to the point. This build seems really cool to play! Good job👍

Love your flavor builds. The image of susanoo here is super cool

Once again, you got me with the flavor. The tatoo concept is something I've dabbled with before. I really like the inspirations you’re using too. Little from here and a little from there, and it becomes something so cool. Awesome job.

If you go war domain cleric and fathomless warlock you get the bonus action attack with a melee weapon of the war domain wisdom mod times per day and when out of that you still have the tentacle of the deep of the fathomless. May not be the best build but you at least always have a bonus action attack, except the turn you cast the shadow blade

Nice build. Folks sleeping on Earth Genasi.

I did a similarish idea but mine was flavored more as a mercenary. I did Vengeance Paladin & Shadow Sorcerer

So, my version of this is way more focused on being a rogue taking only a few levels in sorcerer followed by levels in rogue and bard. More specifically assassin rogue and whispers bard. The reason for this is one we get access to plenty of spell slots which we can use for invisibility, and other useful spells in addition to giving us massive critical sneak attacks dealing 16d8+18d6+5 damage for an average of 144 damage on a hit which can readily be done multiple times, and with the quickened spell meta magic can be done twice a turn. In addition we are the skill monkeys that other skill monkeys wish they could be with expertise in 8 skills by level 20 more if you chose to take certain feats. Honestly, this build is kind of nutty being able to pull out up 241 DPR with the right feats in addition to being a massive skill monkey, and being insanely hard to hit with the mobile feat, invisibility, and other affects plus you have access to 18 AC with mage armor and the shield spell from sorcerer. Also, don't forget about the benefits of shadow sorcerer even at 3rd level.

What a fun build.

Thematically I like it. You could also go Gloomstalker instead of Rune Knight and accomplish pretty much the same thematically. You might lose some flavour in some ways but gain similar flavour and maybe even better in other ways. You would be trading Con saves for Dex saves but also gaining Wis saves later and more spell slots to play with not to mention more mobility and straight up free but limited improved invisibility. The real issue is and has always been making Shadow Blade work effectively enough to offset giving up +weapons and the use of the Blade cantrips as well as justifying it taking up your concentration...que the Star Wars "it's a trap" meme. The best build I have come up with that can effectively use SB might surprise you but it's actually 6 Battlesmith/2 Warlock (any)/12 Abjuration Wizard. Simply put, you absolutely abuse the crap out of the Armor of Shadows invocation and upcasting Armor of Agathys to fuel your Arcane Ward while swinging your SB using your Intelligence to hit/damage and even if something manages to get through your Ward and all your temporary hit points you still have the auto save concentration checks infusion.

I like the flavor of this

Love Sage! ❤️

So Earth Genasi ( Over-rated I think vs shadur Kai in general, but if you want pass without trace, sure...) Then I'd go Paladin (watchers Vs Crown) Lvl 1, then Genie Warlock 3, , than back to pally through lvl 11 Pally Lvl 14 Character, then maybe grab the feat with warlock 4... finish with Sorc. -- Saves are solid, enhanced smite helps scale damage, and over time you get a bunch more spell slots so you're never be without castings... then either initiative bonus (watchers) or Spirit guardians for even more melee death ( Crown would be my choice), wear heavy armor, Psi- sword and board...alternatively you could finish rogue .. maybe swashbuckler for sneak attacks, but that's a more MAD version...-- Or just grab More Warlock lvls after pally 11 and get Concentration-free flight at tier 4.... -- Were I going fighter ( which I think is weaker) I'd go Eldricth knight, two weapon fighting, dual wielder, and from lvls 7-10 fighter booming blade with real blade and also use the shadowblade , then lvl 11 Fighter you just have 3 attacks with shadowblade and bonus action with offhand blade..

For my Shadow Blade, I went with a nova damage concept: Rogue 2 -4/ Warlock 4/ Whisper Bard 3 - 12 (Warcaster feat). I leave the Big Bad to the rest of the party, and I deal with his lieutenant or the mini-boss. I precast Shadow Blade at the highest possible level, then use Dissonant Whispers, and when forcing an Attack of Opportunity, I cast Booming Blade + Shadow Blade + Sneak Attack + Psychic Blades to burn him down quickly. Then, I either spend the rest of the combat rinse/ repeating or casting my charms and illusions to sow confusion and discord among the remaining enemies.

So far my favorite shadow blade is the echo knight

Flavor bad ass, build bad ass.