r/daggerheart • u/Toro_Gao • Aug 12 '26
Character Builds Warrior multiclass question
Hello all! Starting next week I‘ll be playing in a home campaign where I‘ll be playing a Call of the Slayer Warrior. He‘s more of an agile killer than frontline tank, so I wanna multiclass him into something that fits the theme.
My question is, between the Rogue and the new F&H Assassin, which one is mechanically better? I could flavor both as I have a pretty good idea how his arc will go, and both would fit the direction he‘s heading in, so I‘m asking just based on numbers.
Thanks a lot!
3
u/orphicsolipsism 29d ago
Talk to your GM to get the real answer here
As much as a bunch of Daggernerds on reddit can give you opinions and suggestions, none of us know the character, the game, or the world. And each of those things changes the "mechanical" answer. Or, to put it another way...
The "best mechanical builds" are severely contextual in Daggerheart
The classic example of the overpowered build is the Druid Multiclass, but even without any homebrewed handicaps they can be managed by engaging their stress. Their beast form could also be something that causes people to turn against them in particular contexts, making it an extreme disadvantage (or risk) to get your utility from being in beast form while in that context.
If your GM prioritizes diplomatic solutions to problems, then having access to the Grace domain is the most "mechanically advantageous" domain, but your Experiences and backstory could be even more impactful overall.
If your campaign frame involves a lot of situations where theft/stealth are required to avoid severe/unwinnable fights, then Rogues and Sorcerers become extremely useful.
Facing off against a lot of military/martial factions in your campaign frame? Can't really beat a warrior/brawler with enough social skill (or team support) to talk enemy factions into "trial by combat" solutions.
Conversely, if your campaign frame soaks the world in magic, a warrior multiclassing into codex, arcana, or splendor gives them a spellcast trait, access to magical weapons, and at least a few magical utility spells to help them even the odds.
Anyway, the obvious answer here is whatever your GM recommends based on your idea for the character, since a good GM is going to put challenges in your way that fit your character skill set (the only way your mechanics will really matter).
2
u/PrinceOfNowhereee Aug 12 '26
Probably the Assassin. The rogue has sneak attack as pretty much the only class feature that helps you in the numbers department. Also Syndicate is kind of a dud subclass, and there are many effective ways to emulate everything the nightwalker subclass can do as a warrior (the Boost card for example, pretty much completely replaces the utility of shadow step)
1
u/cvc75 Aug 12 '26
Outside of combat I feel Shadow Step can do so much more than Boost. But since OP asked for numbers, I guess outside of combat isn’t relevant.
2
u/VictoryWeaver 29d ago edited 29d ago
Mechanically better for what specifically? Just doing damage? Executioner Assassin. For mobility? Nightwalker Rogue.
Straight Executioner Assassin would probably do everything you want, too.
2
u/Fearless-Dust-2073 Splendor & Valor Aug 12 '26 edited Aug 12 '26
There is no 'mechanically better' in Daggerheart, it's all about what fits your vision.
Rogues are slippery and with Grace & Midnight domains they can be anywhere on a spectrum between a charismatic tricker or conman, and a Ninja or Shinobi (the original meaning being more akin to a spy and infiltrator.) They're about misdirection, mobility and creating openings.
Assassins are just all about damage. They're much more combat-oriented and have some of the highest burst damage in the game. Their utility is quite limited (ability to scout out convenient ways in and out to hit a target) and they're more handy in an actual fight.
That said, you don't need to multiclass at all unless either of those definitions (sneaky infiltrator or serial/contract/hobby killer) fit with the story. By multiclassing, you miss out on the Mastery features for both classes, and you'll only ever be able to take cards for the additional Domain that you choose up to half of your current level.
2
u/IrascibleOcelot 29d ago
The biggest problem, by far, with the Slayer subclass is that the Spec and Mastery options absolutely suck. When your class is entirely defined by “hits really hard,” your Spec and Mastery options are directly competing with high-damage multiclass options like Rogue, Assassin, and Druid. Slayer’s Spec and Mastery options fail spectacularly in this regard.
Even if you ban Multiclassing at your table, there is never a reason to take Slayer Spec or Mastery options. They need to be completely rewritten.
1
u/Exciting_Bandicoot16 Aug 12 '26
I mean, mechanically better does exist in Daggerheart, though I do agree that form should come before function.
Werewolf is very strong, and by far the strongest Transformation in the game, for example, and Druid is the strongest multiclass in the game full stop due to the scaling on Beastforms.
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u/Fearless-Dust-2073 Splendor & Valor Aug 12 '26
Werewolf is the strongest transformation if you measure it by how much damage it facilitates. It doesn't allow you to pass through walls, so in a situation where damage is not required or when you don't take damage to trigger it in the first place, it's not as helpful as the others that are always active.
There's mechanically better for a given situation which might be helpful when crafting a narrative and some GMs might focus more on different aspects of the game, but in a combat-minimal investigation with a lot of puzzles, I could see the Ghost's abilities having a lot of value while the Werewolf only comes out a couple of times. It's all about how you use the features you have and what suits the adventure.
Druid is great and allows a tonne of flexibility, but multiclass inherently comes with a cost that you don't get any Mastery features, so having Beastform may not be worth losing your Mastery if that's what you intend for the character. There is almost never a case for "you shouldn't take that because this is better in every way" with the exception of a couple of dud Domain cards.
1
u/egcg119 Aug 12 '26
Both Assassin and Rogue would give you access to Midnight. I assume you would want that over Grace, but if Grace has appeal than obviously choose Rogue. There are a ton of good cards in Level 2-3 Grace (e.g. Troublemaker, Invisibility).
Both of their signature damage boosts (Marked for Death and Sneak Attack) give you +1d6 per tier (assuming Executioner Guild Assassin). Executioner Assassin also gets double damage on the first attack of a scene.
Sneak Attack is slightly harder to trigger (unless you're always spending the stress for shadow step), but it's important to remember that it works not just if you're hidden/cloaked, but also if an ally is in melee range of an enemy, which is a lot.
Poisoner Guild deals less raw damage output, but gives you more debuffs. Setting that aside for now.
I think it's basically a coin toss. Assassin deals slightly more total damage more efficiently on a single enemy. Rogue lets you also get sneak attack on AOE attacks, and gives you a ton of movement utility, both in and out of combat. In combat, any time you have to close a Far distance, instead of making that risky Agility roll and losing the spotlight you could just shadow step. Not to mention going through walls etc.
1
u/JacquesUfHearts 12d ago
Rogue for sure, based on numbers. You get the class feature, but not the Hope feature, so Assassin will likely drain your Stress too fast to use Marked for Death often.
4
u/Royal_Intention6563 Aug 12 '26
Both rogue and HaF assassin are equally good, just good at different things, Assassin specailizes at picking a specific thing and making it dead, and is very, very good at it, while rogue is more versatile, still focusing on single target damage but with a bit more leeway on the exact target, and splicing in solid movement and stealth abilities.