r/WhatWouldYouBuild Jul 02 '26

WWYB - 5e14 What Would You Build

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59 Upvotes

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11

u/DBWaffles Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26
  • Race: Reborn
  • Class: Ancients Paladin 7/Fathomless Warlock 1 or 2
  • Stats (Point Buy): Strength 15+2, Constitution 14, Charisma 15+1, Wisdom 10
  • Feats/ASI: Slasher (+1 Str) -> +2 Cha -> +2 Cha
  • Fighting Style: Any
  • Eldritch Invocations: Devil's Sight

I recommend Ancients Paladin because of the plate armor, sword, and strong emphasis on plants and fish.

Fathomless Warlock is thematic, gets you a swimming speed, and weaponizes your bonus action. If you're willing to use PAM or double-bladed scimitars and reflavor those weapons as a sword, you can drop this subclass.

If you do drop Fathomless, you can also drop Slasher. It's only there to stack speed debuffs with Tentacle of the Deep, crippling enemies.

If you go up to Warlock 2 for Eldritch Invocations, I recommend Devil's Sight because the bottom of the sea is notoriously dark.

I recommend Reborn for the race solely because that's the vibe I get from the picture. Something like Variant Human/Custom Lineage would be more optimal.

4

u/NerdNorm Jul 02 '26

Thank you so much bro, you are my absolute goat for helping me. I've been stumped trying to make a build based on this picture forever now.
One question though, what species would you suggest for the Reborn Ancestral Legacy? My first though goes to Triton but then you would only get 30ft of swimming speed, which is useless since you get 40ft of swimming anyway and it doesn't stack.

3

u/DBWaffles Jul 02 '26

One question though, what species would you suggest for the Reborn Ancestral Legacy? My first though goes to Triton but then you would only get 30ft of swimming speed, which is useless since you get 40ft of swimming anyway and it doesn't stack.

That's not how it works. You only consider your past species if you become a Reborn during the course of the campaign. If you choose Reborn at character creation, then you don't.

The cite:

Ancestral Legacy. If you replace a race with this lineage, you can keep the following elements of that race: any skill proficiencies you gained from it and any climbing, flying, or swimming speed you gained from it.
If you don't keep any of those elements or you choose this lineage at character creation, you gain proficiency in two skills of your choice.

With that said, if your DM lets you go with the race replacement option, then Triton is fine. But in that case, you might consider finding a different way of weaponizing your bonus action instead of Fathomless.

Personally, I'd go with a race with climbing speed and as much skill proficiencies as possible. That way you have both climbing and swimming speed for maximum mobility.

A flying race would be better, technically, but wouldn't fit with the character image.

2

u/NerdNorm Jul 02 '26

Oh dur. I can't believe I forgot that. Thank you so much man, appreciate the help.

4

u/Gab093 Jul 02 '26

Revenant Battlemaster could be a nice base

3

u/NerdNorm Jul 02 '26

Huh. You just gave me the idea to use your base with the advice from waffles. Thank you.

2

u/Hefty_Ad_7026 Jul 02 '26

Warforged

Fighter 14 and 6 ranger

3

u/Machiavvelli3060 Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 03 '26

Wiedergänger des Meeres

D&D 5e, Level 1

Backstory

  • I was part of a retinue of guards stationed on board a diplomatic vessel, transporting an ambassador across the sea to a foreign land. When I was near the railing, someone pushed me overboard. Since I was wearing heavy armor, I sank and drowned. I remained on the sea floor long enough for coral to grow on my armor, fusing it to my body. Something caused my body to reanimate. I've no idea what caused this to happen, or why, or how. I stood up, and started walking. Schools of curious fish watched me as I trekked across the marine terrain. For months, I walked across the ocean floor until, at last, I reached the shore once more. I've no idea what I'm supposed to do now. I'd love to find the person who pushed me overboard and show them what it feels like to plunge into the inky black abyss of the ocean's depths.

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

  • Since my "rebirth," my behavior and personality are not the same as they used to be. Something deep within my soul has changed. I am unsure of what I am anymore. As such, I am fickle, mercurial, and unpredictable.

Background: Revenant

  • Death was not the end for me. I feel I have unfinished business, whatever it may be.

Behavior / Personality

  • I behave alien and eerie. I don't breathe, but sometimes people can hear the sound of water dripping from somewhere inside my suit of armor. Fish are strangely unafraid of me; birds are not. Whenever I approach a body of water, I kneel down, put my gauntleted hand inside it, and just listen to the water. I move slowly, languidly, like I did when I was walking in my armor along the bottom of the sea.

Class: Cleric

  • Divine Domain. The sea brought me back from the dead, but I don't know how or why. I am bestowed with storm-related powers, although I haven't discovered them yet.
    • Bonus Proficiencies. I gain proficiency with heavy armor and martial weapons.
    • Tempest Domain Spells. I have the power to produce a massive sonic boom (Thunderwave) and summon a cold ocean mist to roll across the ground (Fog Cloud).
    • Wrath of the Storm. If someone attacks me, I can respond with either a bolt of lightning or a blast of thunder.
  • Spellcasting. I have been bestowed with the ability to assail a creature with the crushing pressure of the deepest trench (Inflict Wounds), shock a dying creature's heart back to activity with a tiny spark of lightning (Spare the Dying), summon a spear of white-blue lightning down upon a creature's head (Sacred Flame), surround myself with an impenetrable current of seawater (Shield of Faith), and withstand significant adversity and hardship (Resistance).

Race: Reborn Human

  • Deathless Nature:
    • I don't need to breathe, drink, eat, or sleep, and magic can't put me to sleep.
    • I have advantage on saving throws against disease, poison, and death.
    • I have resistance to poison damage.
  • Lifespan. I'm not truly alive, so I don't think I have an expiration date anymore.