This build focuses on sneak attacking undead, leveraging the Rogue’s sneak attack with abilities like Death Touch and Smite Undead from the Slayer of Domiel[1] class. Equipment includes two heavy maces and a chainshirt.
Stat Block Level 1:
Domiel Slayer: male, human rogue 1; CR 1; Medium humanoid (human); HD 1d6+2; hp 8; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 13, touch 12, flat-footed 11; Base Atk +0; Grp +3; Atk heavy mace +3 melee (1d8+3); Full Atk heavy mace +3 melee (1d8+3); SA sneak attack +1d6; SQ trapfinding; AL LG; SV Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +0; Str 16, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 14, Cha 10.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Hide +8, Move Silently +8, Knowledge (Religion) +8; Servant of the Heavens, Craven. Special Attacks and Qualities: Sneak attack +1d6, trapfinding.
Possessions: Two heavy maces, chainshirt.
This build specializes in maximizing Sneak Attack damage against undead, turning undead with ease, and maintaining roguish skills.
Stat Block Level 5:
Unnamed Male Human Rogue 5; CR 5; Medium Humanoid (Human); HD 5d6+2; hp 27; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 12, flat-footed 15; Base Atk +4; Grp +7; Atk Heavy Mace +8 melee (1d8+4) or Dagger +7 melee (1d4+3); Full Atk Heavy Mace +8 melee (1d8+4) and Dagger +7 melee (1d4+3); SA Sneak Attack +3d6; SQ Trapfinding, Evasion, Uncanny Dodge, Trap Sense +1; AL NG; SV Fort +2, Ref +6, Will +2; Str 16, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 14, Cha 10.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Hide 8, Knowledge (Religion) 8, Move Silently 8; Servant of the Heavens, Craven, Weapon Focus (Heavy Mace). Special Attacks and Qualities: Sneak Attack – deals an extra 3d6 damage if catching the target flat-footed or flanked. Trapfinding – locate traps with a DC higher than 20. Evasion – no damage on successful Reflex save for half damage. Uncanny Dodge – retain Dexterity bonus to AC if flat-footed. Trap Sense +1 bonus on Reflex saves and AC against traps.
Possessions: Two Heavy Maces, Chainshirt.
At level 10, this Rogue/Slayer of Domiel[1]/Knight of the Raven build specializes in combating undead. It combines Sneak Attack with undead fighting capabilities like Smite Undead and Turn Undead.
Stat Block Level 10:
Unnamed Character: male, human Rogue 6/Slayer of Domiel[1] 1/Knight of the Raven 3; CR 10; Medium humanoid (human); HD 9d6+1d8+20; hp 65; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 12, flat-footed 15; Base Atk +6; Grp +9; Atk heavy mace +11 melee (1d8+5) or heavy mace +11 melee; Full Atk heavy mace +11/+6 melee (1d8+5) or heavy mace +11 melee; SA Sneak Attack +4d6, Smite Undead 1/Day, Turn Undead; SQ Death Touch 1/Day, Trapfinding, Evasion, Uncanny Dodge, Trap Sense +1, Raven Harrier (Harry), Detect Evil; AL NG; SV Fort +5, Ref +8, Will +7; Str 17, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 14, Cha 10.
This Level 15 Rogue/Slayer of Domiel[1] build is designed to target and eliminate undead, a typical challenge for rogues due to their immunity to sneak attacks. This character excels in undead encounters, able to both Turn and Destroy Undead while maintaining high damage through sneak attacks.
Stat Block Level 15:
Unnamed Character: male, human rogue 6/slayer of Domiel[1] 9/knight of the raven 3/skullclan hunter 2; CR 15; Medium humanoid; HD 15d6+30; hp 82; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +10; Grp +13; Atk Heavy Mace +13 melee (1d8+5) or Heavy Mace +13 melee (1d8+5); Full Atk Heavy Mace +11/+11/+6 melee (1d8+5) or Heavy Mace +11/+11/+6 melee (1d8+5); SA Sneak Attack +8d6, Death Touch 2/day, Turn Undead; SQ Evasion, Uncanny Dodge, Trap Sense +2, Divine Grace, Improved Evasion; AL NG; SV Fort +9, Ref +11, Will +8; Str 16, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 14, Cha 10.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Hide 8, Knowledge(Religion) 8, Move Silently 8; Servant of the Heavens, Craven, Weapon Focus(Heavy Mace), Sanctify Martial Strike, Darkstalker, Two-Weapons Fighting, Improved Two Weapons Fighting. Special Attacks and Qualities: Sneak Attack +8d6 – deals additional damage on attacks if the opponent is flanked or caught flat-footed. Turn Undead – can use Turn Undead ability a number of times per day to turn or destroy undead creatures. Death Touch – can use Death Touch 2/day to deal damage to a target equal to a fraction of the character’s total hit points.
Possessions: Two Heavy Maces, a Chainshirt.
The Slayer of Domiel[1] build focuses on overcoming the classic rogue problem of dealing with undead by being able to Sneak Attack them and use other divine abilities, still maintain sneak attack progression and remain a versatile skill monkey. This build merges the rogue’s sneakiness with divine powers and undead-hunting specialties of several other classes.
Stat Block Level 20:
Slayer of Domiel[1]: male, human Rogue 6/Slayer of Domiel[1] 9/Knight of the Raven 3/Skullclan Hunter 2; CR 20; Medium humanoid (human); HD 20d6+28; hp 97; Init +2; Spd 30 ft; AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +14; Grp +17; Atk Heavy Mace +20 melee (1d8+6) or Heavy Mace +15 melee (1d8+6); Full Atk Heavy Mace +20/+15/+10 melee (1d8+6) and Heavy Mace +20 melee (1d8+6) and Heavy Mace +10 melee (1d8+6); SA Sneak Attack +8d6, Turn Undead, Divine Strike, Smite Undead; SQ Trapfinding, Evasion, Uncanny Dodge, Trap Sense +2, Death Touch 3/day, Detect Evil, Raven Harrier, Speak with Ravens, Track Undead, Divine Grace, Improved Evasion; AL LG; SV Fort +12, Ref +18, Will +11; Str 16, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 14, Cha 10.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Hide +8, Knowledge (Religion) +8, Move Silently +8, Two-Weapon Fighting, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Greater Two-Weapon Fighting, Servant of the Heavens, Craven, Weapon Focus (Heavy Mace), Sanctify Martial Strike, Darkstalker. Special Attacks and Qualities: Sneak Attack: +8d6 damage when flank or target is flat-footed; Death Touch: 3/day as a standard action, the touch attack deals damage equal to character level plus Wis modifier; Divine Grace: Adds Cha modifier to all saves; Raven Harrier: Gain special abilities based on type of raven summoned; Turn Undead: Use up to 3 times/day; Detect Evil: Continuous effect, detect evil at will.
Possessions: Two Heavy Maces, Chain shirt, miscellaneous starting gold left to DM discretion.
Milestones Of Character Development
Levels 1-5: Establish core rogue abilities such as Sneak Attack, Evasion, and Uncanny Dodge. Focus on maximizing damage with Sneak Attack progression. Key feats include Servant of the Heavens and Craven to boost damage and moral determination.
Levels 6-10: Transition to Slayer of Domiel[1] and Knight of the Raven. Gain abilities to deal with undead through Turn Undead, Smite Undead, and Death Touch. Significant feats include Darkstalker for stealthy undead hunting.
Levels 11-15: Boost undead fighting capabilities with Skullclan Hunter abilities like Divine Strike. Continue Slayer of Domiel[1] progression for more Sneak Attack damage and additional uses of Death Touch. Key feats include Two-Weapons Fighting and Improved Two-Weapons Fighting for increased combat effectiveness.
Levels 16-20: Maximize final abilities of Slayer of Domiel[1], gaining Improved Evasion and Greater Two-Weapons Fighting. Reach peak combat effectiveness with Sneak Attack +8d6 and increased Death Touch uses. Focus on final ability score improvements and mastery of undead combat.
Core Abilities & Features of the Domiel Slayer
Sneak Attack on Undead
This build is a Rogue-centric character capable of sneak attacking undead. Typically, undead are immune to critical hits and sneak attacks. However, with the Slayer of Domiel[1] and Skullclan Hunter classes, this build bypasses that immunity. This allows you to dish out consistent sneak attack damage, racking up extra d6s to outmaneuver tough opponents like liches and vampires.
Death Touch
Death Touch, a feature from the Slayer of Domiel[1] class, amplifies the lethal potential of this build. This ability allows you to make a touch attack to deal damage directly to an opponent’s hit points. Starting at once per day and scaling up to three times daily at higher levels, it’s a strong tool for taking down single targets, especially when combined with sneak attack strategies.
Turn Undead
Granted by the Knight of the Raven class, the Turn Undead feature is essential for dealing with swarms of undead. This empowers the Rogue to channel divine energy to repel or even destroy undead creatures. Coupled with other anti-undead abilities, this makes the character exceptionally versatile in undead-heavy campaigns.
Trapfinding and Evasion
The build retains all classic Rogue capabilities. Trapfinding allows you to locate and disable traps that others cannot. Evasion lets you dodge the brunt of area attacks, like fireballs or dragon breath, suffering no damage if you succeed on a Reflex save. This makes the build not just deadly in combat but also invaluable during exploration.
Divine Grace
Gaining this ability from the Slayer of Domiel[1], your Charisma bonus applies to all saving throws. This significantly boosts your survivability. Coupled with other defensive features, it ensures you can withstand magical and physical assaults alike.
Two-Weapon Fighting
Feats such as Two-Weapon Fighting, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, and Greater Two-Weapon Fighting enhance melee damage output. Wielding two heavy maces, you maximize your chances of landing sneak attacks and applying your multiple damage dice stacks effectively.
Darkstalker
Darkstalker allows you to Hide from creatures with special senses, like Tremorsense or Blindsight. In an undead-centric campaign, it ensures your sneak tactics remain viable, even against foes who could usually bypass mundane stealth.
Detect Evil
This ability, from the Slayer of Domiel[1], lets you sense and identify evil creatures. It’s particularly useful for scouting and determining threats in an area. Forewarned is forearmed, as they say, and this lets you plan your sneak attacks and Death Touches more effectively.
Equipment Progression of the Domiel Slayer
Level Range
Equipment
Details
L1-5
MW Heavy Mace
Early advantage with Masterwork (+1 to attack), key for consistent hits.
Chain Shirt
Provides a balance of protection (+4 AC) without hindering mobility much.
L6-10
Mithral Shirt
Lightened armor that retains high protection (as Chain Shirt), better mobility.
+1 Heavy Mace
Enhanced damage and hit probability. Mandatory for tougher foes.
L11-15
+2 Heavy Mace
Further improved hit and damage, keeps in line with enemy progression.
Amulet of Natural Armor +2
Boosts AC against all attacks, essential for survival in tougher engagements.
L16-20
+3 Heavy Mace
Critical for maintaining peak damage output. Maximize hit chance and damage.
Ring of Protection +2
Enhances defensive capabilities by adding to deflection bonus to AC.
Combat Scenarios as a Domiel Slayer
Dungeon Crawls:
Utilize hide and move silently to scout ahead, avoiding traps and enemy patrols. When you encounter undead, apply sneak attack damage using heavy maces enhanced with Sanctify Martial Strike.
Open Fields:
Leverage your Dexterity and Two-Weapon Fighting feat to close in on ranged opponents. Engage them in melee to maximize sneak attack damage. If facing undead, use Turn Undead or Smite Undead for additional damage or control.
Ambushes:
Position yourself in hidden spots using your ranks in Hide. Let allies lure enemies into your striking range, then unleash sneak attacks. Death Touch can be used to quickly eliminate high-value targets, even among the undead.
Defensive Stands:
Boldly intercept undead attackers with your divine grace and defense-centric abilities. Use Raven Harrier to confuse and smite undead. Ensure to use your improved evasion to mitigate area attacks effectively.
Urban Encounters:
Utilize the urban terrain to your advantage, employing rooftops and shadows. Your Move Silently skill helps in urban stealth. Engage in melee with heavy maces, ensuring optimal sneak attack damage against key targets. Use Turn Undead to handle clusters of undead foes effectively.
Weaknesses & Counters
Weakness
Counter
Low Intelligence (Int 8) limits skill points per level
Focus on key skills and use equipment like the Headband of Intellect (+2 to +6 Int, enhancing skill points)
Weak against high-AC foes
Utilize the Weapon Focus (Heavy Mace) feat to boost attack rolls and equipment like Bracers of Archery (enhances attack bonus)
Limited spell resistance versus magic attacks
Equip a Ring of Resistance (boosts various saves) or Cloak of Resistance (bonuses to all saves) for better defense
High reliance on physical damage
Carry a Wand of Magic Weapon (allows magical enhancements on weapons) or scrolls for versatility in damage types
Struggles against Unturnable Undead
Boost Turn Undead abilities with items like a Reliquary Holy Symbol (increased Turning attempts based on Charisma modifier)
Roleplaying the Domiel Slayer
Embrace the Duality
Playing a rogue dedicated to Domiel gives you a rich duality. You’re a former thief turned undead hunter. Reflect this in your character’s behavior. Your past as a Thieves’ Guild member should make your character savvy, mistrustful, yet pragmatic. You’ve seen the world’s underbelly and understand it deeply. But as a follower of Domiel, you are also driven by a sense of justice and redemption.
Surrounded by Shadows
As this build is designed to take down undead, emphasize a grim, relentless persona. Imagine your character’s unwavering determination in rooting out and destroying undead threats. Use dark humor and a weary, experienced tone. Your rogue’s life is steeped in darkness, but you face it head-on every day. This is a dance with danger, and your character thrives on it.
Noble Yet Ruthless
You are a noble among rogues – one who isn’t afraid to get their hands dirty. Reflect this in your interactions. Talk with confidence, smooth but with an edge. When dealing with other characters, show a blend of charm and intimidation. You command respect because you can back it up with both words and actions. You’re not just a talker; you’re a doer — one who can wield heavy maces with lethal dexterity.
Connections and Loyalty
Leverage your background and position. You might still have contacts in the Thieves’ Guild or ways to get information that others can’t. Show this by being the go-to for covert operations or in-depth knowledge of the city’s darker aspects. Your loyalty now lies with Domiel and your mission, but old habits and friendships die hard.
FAQ
What makes the Domiel Slayer build unique?
The Domiel Slayer stands out for its ability to sneak attack undead. Normally, undead are immune to sneak attacks, but this build bypasses that. With powers from the Slayer of Domiel[1] and Skullclan Hunter classes, you can deal sneak attack damage to undead foes. This makes you a lethal threat to undead opponents, like liches and vampires.
How can the Domiel Slayer handle a swarm of undead creatures?
By utilizing the Turn Undead feature from the Knight of the Raven class, you can repel or destroy undead. This ability is crucial in undead-heavy campaigns. Combined with your other anti-undead skills, you can effectively manage large groups of undead enemies. Make sure to position yourself strategically to maximize the impact.
What are the major milestones in developing a Domiel Slayer?
In levels 1-5, establish core rogue abilities like Sneak Attack and Evasion. At levels 6-10, transition to Slayer of Domiel[1] and Knight of the Raven. From levels 11-15, enhance undead fighting with Skullclan Hunter abilities. Finally, between levels 16-20, maximize Slayer of Domiel[1] features and optimize your combat effectiveness.
How does the Domiel Slayer’s Death Touch ability work?
Death Touch lets you deal damage directly to an opponent’s hit points with a touch. It starts at once per day and can increase to three times daily. Combined with sneak attacks, this ability can quickly eliminate high-value targets. It’s particularly effective against single, tough opponents.
How should a Domiel Slayer roleplay their character?
Embrace the duality of being a former thief turned undead hunter. Display a grim, relentless persona and use dark humor. Show confidence with an edge in interactions. Reflect your complexity by balancing a sense of justice with your shadowy past. Highlight internal conflicts to add depth to your roleplaying.
Join us at Stellar Dragons!
Try playing a Domiel Slayer in your next D&D 3.5 game. Do you think the Domiel Slayer could be the best build in D&D 3.5? Join us on the Stellar Dragons Discord server at https://discord.gg/uAPvgEq6Z7 and share your thoughts!
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?
-“I know you know something about the White Wolf.” The young nobleman’s tone revealed an inquisitive mind behind the question.
The old gravekeeper scratched his beard.
–“And why would a nobleman like you would care about this?” The man was seated atop a tombstone nonchalantly, surrounded by skeletal corpses that had risen during the night.He was clearly unaffected by this situation – more, even, in his element. His voice had a sense of whimsy, of a man that had nothing at all at concern from whence he sat.
-“Why would an ex-member of the Thieves Guild become a gravekeeper?”
-“I have my reasons.”
-“And you henceforth have my answer to your question.” The old man smiled.
-“You’ve got guts for a fancy schmuck, and a sharp tongue. Two things I appreciate. Here’s the deal, stay here with this old man tonight, keep me company and help me deal with these things and I’ll tell you what I know.”
Race
Human
Class
Rogue 6/Slayer of Domiel 9/Knight of the Raven 3/Skullclan Hunter 2
Ability Scores
Str 16/Dex 14/Con 14/Int 8/Wis 14/Cha 10
Skill
Hide 8, Knowledge(Religion) 8, Move Silently 8 Equipment: Two Heavy Maces, a Chainshirt
Goal
I made this build specifically for the annoying people who keep complaining about creatures like undead being immune to Sneak Attack. Well this build can sneak attack undead all day long. It can also Turn Undead, Destroy Undead, etc. All the while remaining primarily a rogue, with all the sneak attacks and the skill monkeying.
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