Arcane Warrior (3.5e Optimized Character Build)

Author: Ghostwheel (talk) Date Created: January 23rd, 2010 Status: Complete Editing: Clarity edits only please

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Introduction

An arcane warrior who uses his magic to beef himself into a martial force to be reckoned with.

References

• Complete Warrior
• Complete Mage
• Complete Adventurer
• Spell Compendium

Game Rule Components

Progression

Race (Templates): Human

ECL	Class/HD/LA	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Feats	Class Features	Special
			Fort	Ref	Will
1st	Wizard 1	+0	+0	+0	+2	Scribe Scroll, Power Attack, Arcane Strike	Summon Familiar
2nd	Wizard 2	+1	+0	+0	+3
3rd	Wizard 3	+1	+1	+1	+3	Improved Bull Rush
4th	Wizard 4	+2	+1	+1	+4
5th	Wizard 5	+2	+1	+1	+4
6th	Fighter 1	+3	+3	+1	+4	Improved Sunder, Leap Attack
7th	Wizard 6	+4	+4	+2	+5
8th	Spellsword 1	+5	+6	+2	+7		Ignore Spell Failure 10%
9th	Abjurant Champion 1	+6	+6	+2	+9	Shock Trooper	Abjurant Armor, Extended Abjuration
10th	Abjurant Champion 2	+7	+6	+2	+10		Swift Abjuration
11th	Abjurant Champion 3	+8	+7	+3	+10
12th	Abjurant Champion 4	+9	+7	+3	+11	Combat Brute	Arcane Boost
13th	Abjurant Champion 5	+10	+7	+3	+11		Martial Arcanist
14th	Eldritch Knight 1	+11	+9	+3	+11	Close-Quarters Fighting
15th	Eldritch Knight 2	+12	+10	+3	+11	Optional
16th	Eldritch Knight 3	+13	+10	+4	+12
17th	Eldritch Knight 4	+14	+11	+4	+12
18th	Eldritch Knight 5	+15	+11	+4	+12	Optional
19th	Eldritch Knight 6	+16	+12	+5	+13
20th	Eldritch Knight 7	+17	+12	+5	+13

Final progression: Wizard 6 / Fighter 1 / Spellsword 1 / Abjurant Champion 5 / Eldritch Knight 7

Highlights

At level 20...

• 17 BAB
• 18 Caster Level
• Level 9 spells

Tactics

• Buff up (Haste, Shield, etc)
• Charge (Wraithstrike)
• Full Attack (Combat Brute + Wraithstrike)
• Exploit your buffs to deal with any kind of enemy you face, especially the combination of Wraithstrike and Power Attack

Further Optimization

• Spiritual Weapon with Intelligence will reduce MAD
• Greater Luminous Armor (BoED) to get incredibly high armor
• If you specialize as a Conjurer, the Immediate Magic variant (PHB2) will let you easily escape from negative effects and attacks a number of times per day
• Other useful spells:
  • Greater Invisibility
  • Bite of the ... (Spell Compendium)
  • Heart of ... (Complete Mage)
  • Greater Magic Weapon
  • Protection from Evil
  • Mind Blank
  • Displacement
  • Mirror Image
  • Alter Self (Troglodyte for +6 armor)
  • Nerveskitter (Spell Compendium)
  • Polymorph
  • Enlarge Person
  • Heroics (Spell Compendium)
  • Blade of Fear and Pain (Spell Compendium)
  • Bladeweave (Spell Compendium)
  • Thunderlance (Spell Compendium)

Limitations

• Getting debuffed will ruin your day
• Running out of spells

DM Counters

• Dispel buffs
• Target that low Reflex save

Variants

• For a spontaneous caster, replace the levels of Wizard with Sorcerer, or even Batle Sorcerer
• The level of Fighter can be switched for any class that grants proficiency with all simple and martial weapons, and all armor
• Levels in Eldritch Knight can be replaced with those in Knight Phantom
• Most of the feats are optional, and can be substituted for whatever the player wants

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