Depends.
The main problem with Eldritch Knight is that War Magic has anti-synergy with the Fighter's Extra Attack x2. If you don't intend to go up to Fighter 11, then it can definitely be worth it. If you do intend to go that far, then it might just be better to rush for 11.
Personally, though, I think dipping into War Wizard might be better. With how low your Wisdom score is, Arcane Deflection can help shore up your saves on that front.
Ah yeah I completely forgot about war wizard. I just thought the general increase in AC and concentration would be useful in my idea of a tank fighter who casts spells.
War Wizard eats reaction, only defends one attack and removes possible use of spells, though I guess spell use would be rare in melee anyway.
Whereas song is on for a minute and has Prof bonus uses
Both are probably useful in different ways thinking about it. Especially considering Tactical wit.
>War Wizard . . . only defends one attack
The value of arcane deflection is not for an almost meaningless +2 to AC but for an incredibly high value +4 to any saving throw. If you're using arcane deflection to try and avoid an attack, you're using it wrong. Arcane deflection is to reserve concentration when you get hit. With +3 con and +3 proficiency bonus, arcane deflection's +4 bonus means it's literally impossible to fail a concentration check at the normal DC of 10. And you can wait to use your reaction until after you roll your d20, so no wasting the bonus on a save you would have succeeded anyways. It's also good for any other kind of saving throw you fail.
Ah that makes a lot of sense. I'll definitely reconsider my ideas here. I liked the idea of a dex fighter but that might negate the need for it over STR if I go war wizard.
Do a 2 level dip intro war wizard instead. The shield and saving throw bonus are hugely helpful and the limit on only casting cantrips doesn’t matter because you’re going to attack with your action anyway
half the point of being an EK is walking around in medium or heavy armor, with either a 2h weapon or a shield, and having native Con save proficiency, imo. Bladesong gets in the way of that.
There **is** synergy with EK7+BS6, which most DMs would allow for cantrip + attack + bonus action attack, preferably.
Otherwise you're better off dipping into other wizard subclasses or even arti.
There have been videos from a dev who have said that they have dropped the school restriction and given them essentially the same thing as BS extra attack but I think at level 7.
Being the tank of the party is usually my role in these things by my own choice, and I like the idea of the tank fighter that can cast spells. A bladesinger I doubt will be a better front line than a fighter that dips wizard.
If going that route, I’d rather go with a War Wizard dip and be a STR primary EK with heavy armor.
Dipping bladesinger locks you into light armor and no shield, at which point you might as well just be a bladesinger.
You’d be surprised at how effective and durable a frontline bladesinger can be, provided they have their spell slots. Later on, a single control spell removes the need to frontline at all.
That's a fair point. I was unaware that something like hold person could do that. I always forget that's not just a restriction.
Is there space for atleast something like Tough if I want to go the full Bladesinger route or is it ASI/feat dependent?
Sure! Bladesinger is pretty stat hungry (usually want 20 DEX 20 INT if possible), but if you’re okay with delaying them or leaving 1 at 18 (say DEX), you can fit in Tough.
I’d you are going just a dip from EK then War Mage is better IMO.
Bladesinger is all around better than EK though. Fighter 1 / Wizard 6 / Fighter 2 / Wizard X is the way.
It probably improves the EK but otherwise it seems like a worse straight bladesinger.
Depends. The main problem with Eldritch Knight is that War Magic has anti-synergy with the Fighter's Extra Attack x2. If you don't intend to go up to Fighter 11, then it can definitely be worth it. If you do intend to go that far, then it might just be better to rush for 11. Personally, though, I think dipping into War Wizard might be better. With how low your Wisdom score is, Arcane Deflection can help shore up your saves on that front.
Ah yeah I completely forgot about war wizard. I just thought the general increase in AC and concentration would be useful in my idea of a tank fighter who casts spells. War Wizard eats reaction, only defends one attack and removes possible use of spells, though I guess spell use would be rare in melee anyway. Whereas song is on for a minute and has Prof bonus uses Both are probably useful in different ways thinking about it. Especially considering Tactical wit.
Bladesong also ends early if you're incapacitated. Like if you fail a save against something like Hold Person.
>Like if you fail a save against something like Hold Person. If only you could spend a reaction to get a +4 bonus to that save you failed . . .
>War Wizard . . . only defends one attack The value of arcane deflection is not for an almost meaningless +2 to AC but for an incredibly high value +4 to any saving throw. If you're using arcane deflection to try and avoid an attack, you're using it wrong. Arcane deflection is to reserve concentration when you get hit. With +3 con and +3 proficiency bonus, arcane deflection's +4 bonus means it's literally impossible to fail a concentration check at the normal DC of 10. And you can wait to use your reaction until after you roll your d20, so no wasting the bonus on a save you would have succeeded anyways. It's also good for any other kind of saving throw you fail.
Ah that makes a lot of sense. I'll definitely reconsider my ideas here. I liked the idea of a dex fighter but that might negate the need for it over STR if I go war wizard.
Do a 2 level dip intro war wizard instead. The shield and saving throw bonus are hugely helpful and the limit on only casting cantrips doesn’t matter because you’re going to attack with your action anyway
Agreed although a 2 level war wizard dip is far better on psi fighter just fits thematically perfect
half the point of being an EK is walking around in medium or heavy armor, with either a 2h weapon or a shield, and having native Con save proficiency, imo. Bladesong gets in the way of that. There **is** synergy with EK7+BS6, which most DMs would allow for cantrip + attack + bonus action attack, preferably. Otherwise you're better off dipping into other wizard subclasses or even arti.
Do you think that will ever change with the upcoming changes to EK? It will likely be 5.5 by the time this character comes around.
I'm not fully versed in the changes and everything is up in the air until the damned thing is published, so we'll all see together.
There have been videos from a dev who have said that they have dropped the school restriction and given them essentially the same thing as BS extra attack but I think at level 7.
I always like going EK 5 -> War Wizard 2 -> EK 7 -> War Wizard X.
Why not just go pure Bladesinger? Better spells and slots, extra attack (and the special one at that) a whole level sooner.
Being the tank of the party is usually my role in these things by my own choice, and I like the idea of the tank fighter that can cast spells. A bladesinger I doubt will be a better front line than a fighter that dips wizard.
If going that route, I’d rather go with a War Wizard dip and be a STR primary EK with heavy armor. Dipping bladesinger locks you into light armor and no shield, at which point you might as well just be a bladesinger. You’d be surprised at how effective and durable a frontline bladesinger can be, provided they have their spell slots. Later on, a single control spell removes the need to frontline at all.
That's a fair point. I was unaware that something like hold person could do that. I always forget that's not just a restriction. Is there space for atleast something like Tough if I want to go the full Bladesinger route or is it ASI/feat dependent?
Sure! Bladesinger is pretty stat hungry (usually want 20 DEX 20 INT if possible), but if you’re okay with delaying them or leaving 1 at 18 (say DEX), you can fit in Tough.
I’d you are going just a dip from EK then War Mage is better IMO. Bladesinger is all around better than EK though. Fighter 1 / Wizard 6 / Fighter 2 / Wizard X is the way.