The Samurai Class: A disciplined warrior dedicated to mastery of the blade, the Samurai class excels in Iaijutsu Focus, fear effects, and honor-driven combat.
Steel Tempest: A fearsome Samurai specializing in overwhelming enemies with fear and devastating burst damage through Iaijutsu strikes and Kiai Smite.
Blade Master[1]: A precise and deadly duelist who combines magical blade techniques with unparalleled skill in one-on-one combat.
Dragon Samurai[2]: A half-dragon warrior[3] who wields immense power, flying across the battlefield to deliver devastating strikes and breath weapon attacks.
Volun Felfarten[4]: A Dwarven Samurai tank with unmatched durability, capable of holding the line and enduring prolonged battles.
The Wanderer[5]: A lightning-fast Samurai build that dominates combat with explosive damage, often ending fights before they even begin.
Build
Major Strength
Major Weakness
Steel Tempest
Combines high burst damage with fear effects to demoralize and scatter enemies.
Limited versatility against ranged enemies or magic users.
Unparalleled burst damage, capable of ending combat before enemies take action.
Fragile compared to other builds and heavily reliant on winning initiative for peak performance.
Steel Tempest
The Steel Tempest build focuses on pure Samurai strength, overwhelming enemies with a combination of Iaijutsu Focus, Kiai Smites, and fear effects. With two swords and full plate armor, the Steel Tempest is a daunting combatant and an unyielding presence on the battlefield.
Combines burst damage and fear-based abilities, demoralizing opponents while dealing devastating blows with Iaijutsu Focus and Kiai Smite.
Limited versatility outside of melee combat; struggles against ranged foes or magic users without proper preparation.
Use fear effects to soften enemies before initiating combat; your Frightful Presence can scatter opponents before you draw your blade.
Blade Master
The Blade Master[1] is a Samurai who perfects sword techniques to become an unparalleled duelist, capable of turning a simple strike into a masterpiece. Utilizing precision, magical enhancements, and superior combat maneuvers, this build thrives in one-on-one scenarios.
Exceptional one-on-one dueling potential with precise strikes and magical blade enhancements.
Reliant on facing fewer, stronger opponents; struggles in battles against hordes or enemies that bypass melee combat.
Master throwing your sword with the Exotic Weapon Master class for unexpected ranged attacks, keeping foes guessing.
Dragon Samurai
The Dragon Samurai[2] combines the strength of a Samurai with the raw power of a Dragon Disciple, achieving terrifying damage potential and unparalleled battlefield mobility. As a half-dragon warrior[3], this build excels in delivering lethal strikes and using breath weapons to obliterate foes.
High damage output through Iaijutsu Focus, Leap Attacks, and dragon traits like a breath weapon and flight.
Dependency on melee and charge-based attacks; lacks the adaptability to handle crowd control or complex tactical situations.
Use flight to dominate the battlefield; dive-bomb attacks combined with Leap Attack maximize damage and make you an unstoppable force.
Volûn Felfarten
The Volûn Felfarten is a Dwarven Samurai tank, combining high AC, strong saves, and massive health to hold the line while still delivering respectable damage. With a trusty War Megaloceros and defensive stances, this build excels in enduring extended battles.
Exceptional survivability with high AC, defensive stances, and strong saves, making it nearly unmovable in combat.
Lacks mobility and ranged options; highly vulnerable to spellcasters or enemies that bypass physical defenses.
Use Defensive Stance to turn into an unyielding fortress in critical chokepoints, forcing enemies to deal with your superior durability.
The Wanderer
The Wanderer[5] epitomizes speed and lethality, dispatching enemies before combat even begins with Iaijutsu Master’s Strike from the Void. This Samurai build thrives on agility, high initiative, and the ability to take down enemies in a single round.
Insanely high burst damage potential, often killing opponents outright before their first action.
Fragile compared to other Samurai builds; dependent on winning initiative to maximize effectiveness.
Take advantage of Mounted Combat and archery feats for battlefield versatility, giving you options beyond Iaijutsu strikes.
FAQ
What makes the Samurai class unique in D&D 3.5?
The Samurai stands out for its focus on Iaijutsu Focus, fear-inducing abilities, and a dedication to precise, honor-driven combat. Its ability to demoralize opponents and unleash devastating damage in single strikes makes it a highly thematic and effective class.
Which build is the best for dealing with multiple enemies?
The Steel Tempest is best suited for handling groups, as its fear effects and mass demoralization capabilities can disrupt enemy cohesion before engaging them in melee.
With its natural flight ability and high damage output, the Dragon Samurai[2] can pursue and eliminate aerial or ranged threats effectively, using its breath weapon and diving attacks.
Is the Volûn Felfarten build suitable for new players?
Yes, its tanky nature, high survivability, and straightforward playstyle make Volun Felfarten[4] a great choice for players looking to focus on durability and defense.
How does the Wanderer[5] compare to other Samurai builds in speed and damage?
The Wanderer[5] is unmatched in speed and burst damage, often striking down opponents before they can act. However, it is more fragile, requiring careful planning and tactical positioning.
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Writer, Editor, GM, Technologist – Andrew’s been playing TTRPGs since as far back as he can recall… at least sometime in the nineties… or was it the early 2000s?
Two swordsmen stood firm before each other, as their blades were clashed with incredible force. The Lord son’s had already defeated several champions, but the one in front of him was completely different from the others. He truly was a master of the blade, each of his strikes were deadly, and his blade left faint traces of magic behind each motion.
A deadly blade for a deadly master, the young man thought. They were at a complete impasse. The young man’s swing, nor reaction speed were fast enough to land a solid strike, but the champion couldn’t understand how there could be a young pretender that was much stronger with the blade than anyone else he had encountered before.
The Champion smiled, such a dangerous foe would require unorthodox techniques to defeat. So he took his one handed, stabbing stance his entire reputation was built on to ready himself for the change in fighting style.
The young man paused in his tracks. He knew that stance. It meant the champion was getting serious. That meant he would need to put his best foot forward, to bring out his best attack, or else be defeated. He sheathed his blade, took his father’s legendary battojutsu stance. The champion hesitated, he knew that stance. His opponent’s true identity was revealed.
–“You are serious champion, and so am I, do you wish to proceed?” The champion smirked.
–“I am a Samurai, fleeing an enemy in front of me isn’t an option.”
Your blade is your pride, as you can convert magic items to empower it, and you have mastered techniques, like throwing your sword, that makes you a tricky opponent to fight.
You also deal tremendous damage and are a master at using fear effects to demoralize opponents (probably one of the best builds to do such in the game).
Level
Class
HD
Feat
Special
1
Samurai
12
Exotic Weapon Proficiency(Bast ard Sword), Dreadful Wrath, Power Attack
The young wanderer had heard of his father’s demise. After facing countless opponents, he was finally face to face with his father’s rival. The Dragon Lord was staring him down from his throne.
–“You would dare challenge me young wanderer. For what? Honor? Revenge? None of these will bring your father back.”
-“No, it won’t, but his last order was to defeat every single clan champion. So here I am.”
The Dragon Lord smiled, rose from his throne and flew down the stairs. He drew his sword, which was engulfed in flame as it left its sheath.
–“Very well wanderer. I shall commit your insipid family’s memory to the grave with your death.” The lord bellowed, flames erupting from his gaping maw as his excitement roared.
Knowledge(Arcana) 8, Iaijutsu Focus(as high as possible)
Equipment
Daisho(free), the best armor you can afford.
Goal
You are a genuine half-dragon samurai, if this isn’t one of the coolest things you have heard all day, you have a very exciting life my friend. You deal a simply ridiculous amount of damage between Diving, Leap Attacking, Breath Weapon and Iaijutsu Focus Charge. The fact that you can fly without magic just means those pesky wizards wont escape you that way.
Level
Class
HD
Feat
Special
1
Samurai
12
Exotic Weapon Proficiency(Bast ard Sword), Power Attack, Cosmopolitan(I aijutsu Focus)
It seems they will be coming soon, the dwarven dragonborn whispered to himself, while hidden in a crevasse in the ceiling of the cavern where the cult of Tiamat was operating. He had learned from his gnome friend the situation and had vowed to help. High up in the cavern, he had remained unnoticed, his bastard sword dangling at his hip.
The silence broken, the alarm was raised!
His sharp teeth showing in a smile, he drew his flame blade as he jumped down with a scream on the two panicking guards.
The best armor and shield you can afford, and a spear at first, eventually a Bastard Sword.
Goal
You are a great melee combatant, and your auras help you turn the field to your advantage. As a Dragon Samurai Ronin, your charges can deal a ridiculous amount of damage.
As the young man wandered far and wide, always looking for greater champions to challenge, he had heard of the story of the Volûn Felfarten. Father Winter, the Eternal Dwarven Knight who was said to be it’s people’s strongest protector. It took him months to find his estate, and another few to get there.
As it happened, the Dwarf was waiting for him on the mountain, in the midst of a blizzard. He calmly regarded the approaching man, mounted on his trusty woolen rhinoceros.
-“You have come to challenge me young man. or so I have heard.”
-“That I have, o mighty dwarf.”
The dwarf nodded. In a trained motion, he dismounted and dropped into the deep snow with a solid crunch.
–“Unfortunately, I cannot accept a duel to the death, for my people need me, and if the rumors are just, so do yours. So here’s the deal. If you manage to move me from where my feet are planted, you win. How about that?”
The young man, still exhausted, look at the dwarf. Truly, an honorable warrior.
–“I accept master dwarf. After our duel, will you allow me to warm myself at your estate?”
–“Naturally young man, I am a dwarf, not a savage.”
Race
Dwarf
Class
Dwarf Paragon 3/Samurai 3/Knight of the Iron Glacier 1/Knight Protector of the Great Kingdom 3/Fighter 2/Dwarven Defender 8
Daisho(Free), the best armor and shield you can afford.
Goal
Okay, not going to lie here, I was reading the 3.5 dwarves and samurai and the full concept of the build just…works, so I needed to try it. Turned out a solid tank build with incredible AC, good saves, tons of HP, and yet still capable of dealing some more than decent damage. Also, you have a War woolly rhinoceros and that is just amazing (turns out Knight of the Iron Glacier works surprisingly well with a Samurai).
Level
Class
HD
Feat
Special
1
Samurai
13
Exotic Weapon Proficiency(Bast ard Sword), Power Attack, Mounted Combat, Cleave
As time passed, the young man had become well known as the Wanderer. He had gained a reputation as a master duelist and now champions came to him to test their skills. Though his time traveling had come to an end, he always welcomed the challenge to maintain his skill, sharpness of his reactions and mental acuity.
As he arrived at the gates of the palace he was raised, the guards had not recognized him at first.
–“No one is allowed inside until the return of our young Lord.” The young man smiled.
–“Very well then, have a good day”. The young man said, turning on his heel only for the samurai to stop and eye him over.
–“You are the legendary wanderer aren’t you.Please, duel me.”
-“Here? In front of the palace?” The young man asked.
-“Why not?”
The young man let out a sight and nodded. The challenger drew his blades, and readied for an attack. The young wanderer still waited, his blade in his sheath.
-“Here I come wanderer.” Let out the excited samurai, who then charged him with incredible velocity.
It seemed to all that his blade was about to strike the young wanderer in the neck, decapitating him, for a single moment.
A single moment was still too slow to defeat the wanderer.
The next instant, the samurai bit the ground, his sword shattered in twain, his armor broken. The young wanderer, his family’s legendary stance, had struck from the void, with a speed faster than the mind can process.
As he sheathed his blade once more, the guards bowed to him.
You can kill an opponent as part of rolling for the initiative count, with the absolute insane amount of damage you can dish out, ending a fight before it truly begins. You are a speed fighter, capable of dispatching virtually any enemy in one round, while being a fast and maneuverable fighter on the battlefield. You also embody everything it means to be a Samurai, capable of mounted combat and archery, along with Diplomacy and social interactions.
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