This build is a warrior shaman[1] starting as a Totemist. With Power Attack and Improved Initiative from the get-go, it’s optimized for immediate melee combat. This character is poised to engage quickly and hit hard.
Stat Block Level 1:
Unnamed Totemist: male, human Totemist 1; CR 1; Medium humanoid (human); HD 1d8+3; hp 11; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 15, touch 12, flat-footed 13; Base Atk +0; Grp +3; Atk Spear +3 melee (1d8+3/x3); Full Atk Spear +3 melee (1d8+3/x3); SA Wild Empathy; SQ Illiteracy, Totem Chakra Bind (+1 Capacity); AL N; SV Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +1; Str 16, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Intimidate 5, Survival 9; Power Attack, Improved Initiative.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Wild Empathy (bonus equal to class level + Cha modifier); Totem Chakra Bind (access to totem chakras).
Possessions: Chainshirt, spear.
At level 5, this Warrior Shaman[1] build is a mix of melee ferocity and mystical resilience. With high Strength and Constitution, the build centers on powerful melee attacks using Power Attack and totem benefits. Totem Chakra Bind increases melee effectiveness with meldshaping abilities. This character can start the fight with a Pounce to unleash a flurry of attacks.
Stat Block Level 5:
Unnamed Warrior Shaman[1]: male, Human Totemist 4/Spirit Lion Totem Barbarian 1; CR 5; Medium humanoid (human); HD 4d8+1d12+15; hp 42; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 12, flat-footed 15; Base Atk +4; Grp +7; Atk Primary Attack (Greatsword +8 melee, 2d6+6); Full Atk Full Attack (Greatsword +8 melee, 2d6+6) or Secondary Attack(Spear +7 melee, 1d8+5); SA Pounce, Rage 1/Day; SQ Illiteracy, Wild Empathy, Totem Chakra Bind (+1 Capacity), Totem’s Protection; AL Chaotic Neutral; SV Fort +8, Ref +4, Will +3; Str 16, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8.
Meldshape Girallon Arms during rage for extra attacks; Pounce allows full attack after a charge.
Possessions: Chainshirt, spear, greatsword, eventual upgrade to full plate.
At level 10, the Totemist specializes in powerful melee attacks using a greatsword enhanced by Leap Attack and Power Attack. The totem rager aspect allows additional durability and strength in combat. With Improved Bullrush and the ability to bind chakras, this character is a formidable force in melee encounters, capable of unleashing a flurry of incomparably damaging attacks. Skilled in Intimidate and Survival, this warrior shaman[1] stands resilient and ready for battles that require both raw power and intuitive guidance.
Stat Block Level 10:
Warrior Shaman[1]: Male, Human Totemist 9/Totem Rager 1; CR 10; Medium humanoid (human); HD 9d8+1d10+43; hp 93; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 22, touch 12, flat-footed 20; Base Atk +10; Grp +13; Atk +16 melee (2d6+10/19-20, greatsword) or +14 melee (1d8+7, spear); Full Atk +16/+11 melee (2d6+10/19-20, greatsword) or +14/+9 melee (1d8+7, spear); SA Power Attack, Leap Attack, Rage 2/day; SQ Chakra Bind (Crown, Feet, Hands), Totem Chakra Bind (+1 Capacity), Damage Reduction 1/-, Wild Empathy; AL Chaotic Neutral; SV Fort +13, Ref +8, Will +5; Str 16, Dex 14, Con 18, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8.
Gains additional attacks with pounce; incorporates totemic spirits and chakra binding for combat bonuses.
Possessions: Greatsword, fullplate, spear.
At level 15, the Totemist Warrior Shaman[1] excels in melee combat with multiple attacks, leveraging Power Attack and Leap Attack for massive damage spikes. With Rage and extra resilience from DR and increased Constitution, this character overwhelms foes with strength and versatility. Its meldshaped Girallon Arms and totemic abilities enhance both offense and defense, making it a formidable presence on the battlefield.
Stat Block Level 15:
Warrior Shaman[1]: male, Human Totemist 9/Spirit Lion Totem Barbarian 1/Totem Rager 5; CR 15; Medium humanoid (human); HD 9d8+1d12+5d10+48; hp 147; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 26, touch 12, flat-footed 24; Base Atk +15; Grp +21; Atk Greatsword +22 melee (2d6+11/18-20) or Spear +19 melee (1d8+7); Full Atk Greatsword +22/+17/+12 melee (2d6+11/18-20); SA Power Attack, Leap Attack, Rage 4/day; SQ DR 2/-, Totem Chakra Bind (+2 Capacity), Illiteracy, Wild Empathy; AL CN; SV Fort +15, Ref +8, Will +6; Str 16, Dex 14, Con 19, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Intimidate 5, Survival 9; Power Attack, Improved Initiative, Cobalt Rage, Improved Bullrush, Leap Attack, Heavy Armor Proficiency.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Rage allows increased strength and durability; Totem Chakra Bind enhances meldshaping; DR reduces incoming damage.
Possessions: Fullplate armor, greatsword, spear, various personal and survival gear.
At Level 20, the Warrior Shaman[1], a formidable human hybrid build, combines Totemist and Totem Rager class abilities to unleash an unparalleled melee assault. With ‘Girallon Arms’ melded, they wield a Greatsword to execute deadly pounces, embellishing their attacks with Power Attack and Leap Attack. As a Totem Rager, their rage-fueled resilience affords them damage reduction and significant fortitude enhancements, making them a potent force in any battle scenario.
Stat Block Level 20:
Warrior Shaman[1]: male, human Totemist 9/Spirit Lion Totem Barbarian 1/Totem Rager 10; CR 20; Medium humanoid (human); HD 11d8+820/1d12+3/8d10+80; hp 203; Init +4; Spd 40 ft.; AC 24, touch 13, flat-footed 20; Base Atk +20; Grp +28; Atk +33 melee (2d6+18/19-20, +5 greatsword) or +28 ranged (1d8+5, spear); Full Atk +33/+28/+23/+18 melee (2d6+18/19-20, +5 greatsword) and +33/+28/+23 melee (1d4+18, Girallon Arms) or +28/+23/+18 ranged (1d8+5, spear); SA Pounce, Rage 4/day, Power Attack, Leap Attack, Shock Trooper; SQ Fast Movement, Totem Rage, DR 2/-, Illiteracy, Wild Empathy, Totem Chakra Bind (+2 Capacity); AL CN; SV Fort +21, Ref +13, Will +10; Str 24, Dex 14, Con 22, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Intimidate 5, Survival 9; Power Attack, Improved Initiative, Cobalt Rage, Improved Bullrush, Leap Attack, Heavy Armor Proficiency, Shock Trooper.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Pounce (full attack after a charge), Rage (4/day for additional Str/Con, increased saves), Totem Chakra Bind (enhanced meldshaper level), Extended Rage (increased duration of Rage), Double Chakra Bind (enhanced flexibility in binding soulmelds).
Levels 1-5: Begin with the basics of Totemist with power-boosting feats like Power Attack and Improved Initiative. Learn Wild Empathy. Enhance your combat engagement with the Totem Chakra Bind and Totem’s Protection, gaining +1 to Constitution.
Levels 6-10: Transition into a more aggressive combat style with Improved Bullrush and Leap Attack. Enter the Totem Rager class, unlocking Totem Rage and acquiring Damage Reduction. Extra Rage increases staying power in long skirmishes.
Levels 11-15: Focus on resilience and capability expansion with feats and abilities like Heavy Armor Proficiency and Double Chakra Bind. Gain even more Extra Rages and improve physical defenses with Damage Reduction boosts.
Levels 16-20: Enter the late-game with maxed-out Totem Rager abilities. Unlock Chakra Binds, including Arms, Brow, and Shoulders, boosting combat prowess. Shock Trooper feat enhances combat adaptability, ensuring maximum impact in melees.
Core Abilities & Features
The Totemist – Warrior Shaman[1] build creates a formidable melee powerhouse, blending the Totemist’s mystical bond with spirits and the raw rage of the Barbarian. At its core, this build maximizes the synergy between Totemist soulmelds and Barbarian pounce attacks.
The Totem Chakra is a crucial feature, allowing enhanced meldshaping capabilities, like the Girallon Arms, which provide multiple attacks. This synergizes perfectly with the power of the Spirit Lion Totem Barbarian, giving access to pounce – a vital ability granting a full attack at the end of a charge. The Barbarian aspect also offers Rage, amplifying attack and damage output every day.
In the Totem Rager progression, increased Rage frequency and the Double Chakra Bind allow for enhanced versatility and defense. Damage Reduction and Extended Rage further bolster resilience, cementing this build as a battlefield juggernaut. Steps like acquiring Improved Bullrush and Shock Trooper feats enhance tactical battlefield control and massive damage via charge attacks, making this build an unstoppable force in melee engagements.
Equipment Progression
Level Range
Equipment
Details
L1-5
Chainshirt
Initial armor providing basic protection with low weight to maintain dexterity.
L1-5
Spear
Standard ranged attack weapon, entry options for combining with early Totemist abilities.
L6-10
Fullplate
Upgrade from Chainshirt for improved AC, reducing damage taken as you advance.
L6-10
Greatsword
Switch to two-handed weaponry for maximum damage potential, synergizes with Leap Attack.
L11-15
Belt of Giant Strength
Equipment that boosts Strength, enhancing physical power and melee combat capability.
L16-20
Amulet of Health
Increases Constitution, providing more hit points and better durability in combat.
L16-20
Cloak of Resistance
Enhances saving throws, guarding against magical threats and saving from dangerous effects.
Combat Scenarios as a Warrior Shaman
Dungeon Crawls:
In narrow tunnels, use Pounce to swiftly engage enemies and Power Attack for hefty damage. Leverage your Chainshirt for mobility until Fullplate is available. Intimidate can be used to control lesser foes, making them hesitant to attack.
Open Fields:
Charge across open terrain utilizing Leap Attack for devastating impact. Utilize extended rage for sustained combat effectiveness, becoming a whirlwind of destruction with your Greatsword and Girallon Arms meld.
Ambushes:
Rely on Improved Initiative to gain the upper hand. Initiate combat with Rage and use Pounce to overwhelm foes. Utilize Shock Trooper techniques to control the battlefield and protect allies from surprise attacks.
Defensive Stands:
In fortifications, assume a fortified position with your high Constitution and Damage Reduction. Manage Chakra Binds for defensive enhancements and use Rage to maintain stamina while repelling waves of attackers.
Urban Encounters:
Navigate tight quarters using Totemist abilities for agility. Employ Survival skills for tracking and engaging enemies effectively. Adapt tactical approaches, shifting from aggressive to defensive using your versatile melds.
Weaknesses & Counters
Weakness
Counter
Low Charisma
Use magic items like the Cloak of Charisma (+2, +4, or +6 enhancement bonus to Charisma) to enhance social interactions and improve Wild Empathy.
Limited to Melee
Employ the Boots of Flying or acquire spells/consumables like Fly to reach ranged opponents swiftly.
Suffers in Tight Spaces
Equip with the Ring of Freedom of Movement to easily maneuver through tight corners and spaces during combat.
Weak Reflex Saves
Utilize the Cloak of Resistance to bolster Reflex saves, minimizing damage from area spells and traps.
Roleplaying the Warrior Shaman
Channeling the fierce power of the Totemist and the raw energy of the Warlady complement hills of the Warrior Shaman[1]’s character. When entering a town, your character might take a moment, draw a breath, and let the spirits speak through the wind.
This duality in your character could be the axis upon which all fringes of their history are wrapped. As conversations unfold, personal connections will become apparent, mirroring legends akin to those from your tribe’s ancestral stories. Could one have wielded the spirit of a lion in battle?
Opportunities
Explore your character’s deep ties to nature and ancestral spirits. Use opportunities to highlight the Totemist’s spiritual influence in combat and social situations. Engaging with NPCs, let the spirits guide your diplomacy or intimidate foes with your supernatural aura. Your bond with the wolf or hawk spirit could be pivotal in convincing others of your prowess.
Your shared past with significant characters, like the Warlady, can form intricate plot lines. It could be an old allegiance or a moment from your past where mutual respect was earned. Embrace moments to help with environmental storytelling, like interpreting omens or discovering totems that provide new insights.
Themes
The meshing of warrior brutality with shamanistic wisdom can drive compelling internal conflicts. One day, meditative serenity balances savage fury on the battlefield; the next, premonitions from dreams.
Examine how your character perceives ‘home’ and ‘tribe’ within new lands and gathered allies. Explore whether your character can reconcile these primal instincts within civilized realms. Let shadows of past dreams guide uncertain paths, whispering secrets from the spirits and shaping your next terrible swing on the battlefield.
The Warrior Shaman[1] blends a Totemist’s spirit magic with Barbarian might. It excels in melee with Totem Chakra and the Girallon Arms meld for multiple attacks. Add Barbarian’s Pounce, enabling full attacks post-charge, and Rage for massive damage boosts, it’s formidable and adaptable in battle.
How does the Warrior Shaman[1] build handle different combat challenges?
The Warrior Shaman[1] excels in open terrains using Leap Attack for devastation. In tight quarters, its agility and Intimidate checks help manipulate enemies. For defensive stands, its high Constitution and Damage Reduction boost endurance. Its versatility in various scenarios makes it a relentless force.
Low Charisma can hinder social interactions but is manageable with a Cloak of Charisma. While limited to melee, magic items like Boots of Flying add reach. Reflex weaknesses can be mitigated with a Cloak of Resistance. Always maintain spells like Endure Elements as backup when not in Rage.
How do roleplaying opportunities enhance the Warrior Shaman[1]’s narrative?
Explore the spiritual connections of the Totemist in both combat and social interaction. Use spirit-guided diplomacy or intimidation in scenes, adding depth to personal stories. Craft intricate ties with NPCs, leaning on ancestral bonds to enrich the campaign’s narrative tapestry.
How does party composition affect this build’s effectiveness?
Complement with spellcasters to enhance your combat prowess. Healers maintain optimal health, prolonging Rage benefits. Stealthy rogues can exploit your battlefield control. A balanced team maximizes synergy, making the Warrior Shaman[1] a more potent ally.
Join us at Stellar Dragons!
Test the Warrior Shaman[1]’s formidable melee and spiritual prowess in engaging scenarios. Discover if this combination makes it the best build in D&D 3.5. Join us and other enthusiasts on our Stellar Dragons Discord server: https://discord.gg/uAPvgEq6Z7.
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?
The scarified man hefted his blade, as he prepared himself for what was to come. Ready to leave the tribe, the man turning toward his wife who couldn’t help but tense her jaw, her platinum scales shining under the sun.
–“I will come back.”
Her smile was dulled by her own apprehension. But she gave a small nod nonetheless.
–“I know. Still, be careful, both of you”, She answered and turned to their daughter, who was toying with her spear.
–“Don’t ya worry mom, the spirits will guide us”.
As they left, the young woman thought about that dream she had of two wolves and two men – where they were desperately against hordes of creatures. Her totem had spoken to her in her dreams. “Find them, help them. Please”.
A few days later, they heard that the Free City fell. They had to do something. Her father agreed and deciding to join her in her quest.
–“We need to make a slight detour first. He said as the pair entered the woods.
–“Where?” She asked, curious. The man turned with a teasing smile on his face
–“Just an old friend, a Warlady who owns a castle just south of these woods. She will likely want to lend help.”
Chainshirt, eventually Fullplate, a spear, eventually a greatsword
Goal
Meldshape Girallon Arms, pick a Greatsword and pounce into melee with a bajillion attacks, each dealing crazy ass damage via Power Attack+Leap Attack, the ability to Rage in addition to such makes you a true storm on the battlefield, capable of massive damage bursts while being extremely resilient to counterattacks makes you an excellent melee character.
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