How to build Nightcrawler from X-Men | Dungeons & Dragons

[@samusamu5342]

fun fact: Nightcrawler in the finnish translation is literally just called Nightmare (painajainen)

[@dndbuilds]

And Nightmare is a play on words monster in DnD Mare as in a female horse, but a Nightmare is like a scary horse.

[@ourkeving]

And if you've seen the '74 version, you hear McQueen say the French word "Cauchemar", which means nightmare and is a more powerful version of the Nightmare.

[@Mario.1997]

For the background I suggest swapping fear for blink

[@lucasramey6427]

Winter eladrin is a fitting pick sure but I'd argue shadar-kai is equally or even more so fitting because his teleports are particularly shadowy and they get a temporary resistance which could be flavored as him warping around in the 5ft area he's in to avoid the brunt of attacks, also with a name like nightwalker shadow elves are pretty fitting and if your dm's cool they could have different elven subraces have more variation than pretty much a color palette swap like shadar-kai typically looking more daunting than say a high elf

[@VeemonKing]

Just saying the new archfey warlock is all about teleports with unique effects that you choose. It fits the vibe of nightcrawler

[@FlowSoGhostly]

oh yea nightcrawler build yea

[@dndbuilds]

Felt about time

[@GaioSamurai]

Incredible job with the build as always. Nightcrawler is far and away, my fave X-man. Not taking Tiefling is sad, but Logan calls him "Elf" *all the time.* The only other thing I'd change would be his fighting style. Kurt *loves* Errol Flynn, and is absolutely a rapier (Saber) Duelist. His AC is all dex based and his suit is not very armored, so Defense falls a bit flat for the aesthetic. Horizon Walker is an inspired choice. Glad to see his Cleric levels coming into play too. Love this build

[@johndidato]

Very cool take on nightcrawler. I think with the new phb coming out soon I may try this with a shadow monk.

[@dndbuilds]

When the new phb comes out I may wind up redoing a lot of builds with all the new mechanics coming

[@elgigantegrande]

See, I was thinking shadow monk too rather than cleric, but I couldn't remember what level you get the shadow teleports

[@johndidato]

@@dndbuilds And I'll be tuning in to watch all of them

[@ronsorage78]

I would say he is more a horn less tiefling than an elf as his father is a demon but Logan does call him elf if I recall lol

[@fightingfalcon777]

Well, not anymore. We know now that his “father” was actually Mystique transformed into a male form

[@johannesstephanusroos4969]

14:46 My brother in Christ (pun intended), Nightcrawler is canonically Catholic. He'd probably worship Pelor, or Ilmater

[@lucasramey6427]

Beh, I doubt christ would even exist in whatever fantasy world people are gonna be playing him in anyways so it's fine to change that minor detail

[@johannesstephanusroos4969]

@@lucasramey6427 Fair, nut did you know that D&D lore has a trinity of deities that parallels real life?

[@hollow9122]

Another awesome build really can’t wait to see the spawn build🤞🤞

[@Akosaki]

This build would have access to Pass Without Trace at level 5, as that spell is on the Ranger spell list.

[@treborp4679]

I always liked the WIS based Nightcrawler but the lack of Far-Step was annoying when I built it. I wonder if it could get added to the Horizon Walker list when it inevitably gets reprinted. I personally settled on Shadar-Kai. There's also arguments for CHA based Sword Bard/Sorcerer or INT for Bladesinger/Rogue along with reflavouring Echo Knight. But your outside the box thinking with the background probably makes this my favourite build for Kurt.

[@lucasramey6427]

Hell yeah another like minded person in their race choice, I think it's a little more fitting than eladrin because you could easily flavor the resistance to damage shadar-kai get after teleporting as reflexively teleporting to dodge the brunt of attacks and reappearing around in the 5ft area they're in

[@damonthompson6932]

Why not a shadar-kai for race?

[@thewolverine7619]

I did a nightcrawler as a tiefling (he got the charming ability instead of his standard 3rd level ability from SCAG) arcane trickster rogue and Bladesinger wizard multiclass, because while it's a ability he can naturally do he Hanes it through study and learning at the school which screamed wizard to me, plus a bladesong and him being impossible hit also felt like teleportation to me

[@majinsole8554]

Nice build! So strong with teleportation in fact that I would’ve been happy going Tiefling to get the tail, but really works either way. ~_~

[@lucasramey6427]

Flavor is free you don't need to be a tiefling to have a tail maybe you're generally just more planetouched than the average eladrin/shadar-kai (shadar-kai mentioned because it's another fitting choice to achieve the same result as eladrin)

[@MrTBrownie33]

This definitely seems like a perfect fit for Nightcrawler

[@dnd_sparty]

Cool build! Live the channel, lots of fun and very creative. I (mostly) play Adventurers League so I'd have to modify this a little bit, but definitely send doable and would be hella fun popping all over the gameboard with all that teleporting! Plus I love playing Rangers and hadn't thought about using the Horizon Walker before. Bravo

[@tylergardner8033]

So I just want to let you know that I had a session last Thursday and I rolled three Nat 20s in that session. First one was the first roll of the session and the other two were two in a row in a combat encounter. In that campaign I’m playing my Shield Hero inspired character and he has the build like you did for Naofumi in your channel. I also have a home brew mechanic that I have in addition to his build. My DM was completely cool with the idea. We are level 7 in the campaign now. Just a shoutout to you about that.

[@ericpeterson8732]

Custom Lineage. He's half tiefling, half changling. (Don't ever tell me Mystique was his father!) He could be a hornless tiefling, but none of the other tiefling attributes really fit. Unlike Spider-Man, Kurt isn't primarily known for his wall-crawling, which says to me its situational and thus a spell. Custom not only allows you to choose what he looks like, gets darkvision, and a +2 to an ability score (dexterity), but they get a free feat and fey touched gives you a +1 to Cha and access to misty step at level 1. My build is 10 levels in lore bard and then whatever you want for the other 10 (swashbuckler rogue, battlemaster fighter, etc). 10 lore bard levels get you everything you'd need with 4 magical secrets and some sword skills. At level 3, you can unnerve your opponent with cutting words. (Plus more skills). You also get more uses of Misty Step with second level slots. But it's at level 6 that you take your first step into combat teleportation. Blink allows you to attack, then possibly blink away. Blink will serve us well until level 10 and the final two magical secrets. Along the way, we can dimension door for an escape spell for us and a buddy. But it's at level 10 that we get our true X2 style teleport attack: steel wind strike. With that one spell, you can teleport around the battlefield attacking up to 5 enemies. And for more utility, Far Step. Far Step allows you to teleport every turn. And for long range teleports, Bard gets teleportation circle and later teleport. So maybe lore bard 13 to get everything. After that, if you want extra attack, battlemaster fighter is the best way to get it quick. But really, Kurt doesn't need it.

[@ericpeterson8732]

So it's spider climb and blink at lvl 6 and Far Step and Steel Wind Strike at level 10.

[@harrywinkson9158]

Excellent video I’m definitely going to try this

[@joshuakanapkey6570]

Along the teleportation vein, perhaps you'd consider covering Magick (Illyana Rasputina) soon!

[@nachowarrior6596]

The Nightcrawler build I was thinking was: Race- Kor; due to the climbing speed that does not require an ability check to climb. The Kor also has a "Lucky" trait that will assist in the long run. Also, with a good combo with the spell Blink & Far Step during combat. And Kor Climbling; has proficiency to Althetics & Arcobatics I was thinking for my idea will be: Sorcerer lvl. 9 Shadow Magic- for the spell list to 5th Level Rogue lvl. 7 Swashbuckler- Sneak Attacks if you're in a crowd fight Monk lvl. 4 Way of the Shadow- for Stealth and blend in w/ the dark

[@albertofernandez8651]

While you don't fight with someone with the centinel feat, this build is pretty fun to play. You hav done the besta tank and best archer builds, can you talk about a definitive spear user guide?

[@Kardur_Wrath_of_the_Abyss]

Nightcrawler is my favorite one of the X men, and one of my favorite marvel characters. I would have gone with tiefling as the race as he is part devil/demon (or something, I don't know the lore too well) Would love to see you make Natasha Romanoff, you have done all of the other avengers

[@Kardur_Wrath_of_the_Abyss]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZ-xpK1_gbFrapI

[@OracleSummon]

How about building Maximillian from Dark Cloud 2? Looking forward to more of your builds. Subscribed.

[@rickslechter7385]

Shadar ki would work good too

[@curiostheories9542]

I was thinking about a suggestion for a possible build based on Madoka from the Madoka Magica series, it's a half-assed idea but hey I don't lose anything by leaving the suggestion, good video

[@lucasramey6427]

Lore bard with a 0 in Constitution because the characters in that show have human durability

[@TheUglyGoblin]

Oh cool :D we both did a night crawler build :D

[@dndbuilds]

damn you're right, but your thumbnail is so much cooler than mine... kind of jealous

[@TheUglyGoblin]

@@dndbuilds What!? Nah man yours is great >:3 very cool so see we went down completely different routes too :o

[@theundyingknight6672]

I would've gone with a dhampir for spiderclimb then go with a swords bard/shadow sorcerer.

[@troperhghar9898]

Would adding the Dhampir lineage to your eladrin speices add more or less to this build

[@lucasramey6427]

It'd take away his regular racial traits and replace them with dhampir's for no real benefit because you're losing the reason to even go eladrin/shadar-kai which is their pb teleports

[@HorrorMetalDnD]

My recommendation for Nightcrawler 2024: - Species: Eladrin (Winter) - Class: Swashbuckler Rogue 8 / Archfey Warlock 12 - Background: Custom (DEX +2, CHA +1; Alert; Acrobatics, Religion; Calligrapher’s Supplies) - Point Buy Stats: STR 8, DEX 15, CON 13, INT 8, WIS 12, CHA 15 - Stats by the end: STR 8, DEX 18, CON 14, INT 8, WIS 12, CHA 20 - Feats: Alert, ASI (CHA+2), Dual Wielder, Fey-Touched, Inspiring Leader, Boon of Dimensional Travel - Eldritch Invocations: Pact of the Blade, Thirsting Blade, Devouring Blade, Eldritch Smite, Lifedrinker, Agonizing Blast (Eldritch Blast), Lessons of the First Ones (Tough), Lessons of the First Ones (Lucky) By Level 20, that’s 12 free uses of Misty Step (1 from the Fey-Touched, 5 from Archfey Warlock, and 6 from Eladrin species)-or a similar Bonus Action ability-plus 1 free use of a similar ability per use of the Attack action or Magic Action-essentially once per turn but not officially stated as such. I also recommend taking Prestidigitation, to help emulate the scent of brimstone Nightcrawler is said to emit when he bamfs. Plus, the 12 in WIS is there purely for roleplay reasons, so if you would rather dump WIS down to 8 and have 15 in CON from Point Buy-for a 16 in CON by the end, that could also work.

[@MrHawger]

Spring eladrin has some pretty cool potential, too.

[@LordDarque]

I went Dhampir, rogue (wraith blade), Monk (Kensei). Feats: defensive duelist, dual weapons

[@GrimDarkHalfOff]

I’m sorry I can’t keep my mouth shut, but Nightcrawler and his dad are both Tieflings canonically in universe. His dad and him literally fight each other across heaven and hell in the afterlife gaining the accompaniment of imps called “Bampfs” by fans. This is because Mutants - due to the fact they’re born with their powers have been treated as both magical and sci-if heroes. The big 3 examples of that are Nightcrawler, Storm and Ice Man (future versions - he develops the ability to make his own frost atronarchs from Skyrim)

[@HorrorMetalDnD]

Fairly recent retcon: Mystique is Nightcrawler’s father and Destiny is his mother.

[@gw1357]

This is an odd one. I would have thought Tiefling, but the winter elf thing made sense. The custom background kind of makes sense, but I think it would have been more consistent to have gone with Acolyte or Entertainer. I understand the use of Ranger to get certain abilities, but I don't think it makes much sense for the character. I think a mix of Bard (College of Swords), Sorcerer (representing mutant powers...probably Shadow or Wild Magic for the subclass), and maybe a little bit of Cleric (Peace domain makes the most character sense, I think...though it doesn't get you anywhere with powers).

[@purpleslushie]

Why have I not heard about steel wind strike until now? I didn't finish reading xanathars. I need to get on that.

[@dndbuilds]

Probably because it's only on the Wizard and Ranger spell lists, and the only wizards who would probably take it are Bladesingers

[@purpleslushie]

@@dndbuilds needs to be on magical rogue so bad. Multiclass is the best we get i guess.

[@Rudeboy_ra]

I wonder would the mark of the passage human be a better race choice you get misty step a dimension door 5 lvl regardless of class. I also suggest the rewarded background pick up the “Skilled feat” from it and pick religion acrobatics and whatever else.

[@hitorione]

Hear me out. Race: Shadar-Kai Ranger 6/ gloom stalker Monk 8/ way of shadow Background: giant foundling (cloud) Feat: guile of cloud giant Skulker: Mobility:

[@renmakuidoken]

DnD Builds! Yous a B.A.M.F (Badass Mfer)

[@dndbuilds]

Well thank you!

[@ericpeterson8732]

Lore Bard is better than Horizon Walker. True, you can attack four people (while hasted) with distant attack. But Steel Wind Strike is better. And Bard gets you more spell slots as a primary spellcaster.

[@lucasramey6427]

Yeah but he's more martial than caster with the majority of his kit being teleporting, sword fighting, and martial arts when he doesn't have swords, it'd be way harder to explain all the random spells that wouldn't fit the character a lore bard would grant than horizon walker which is pretty fitting kit wise

[@ultimojo868]

Do we know if the patreon background is useable in dndbeyond?

[@dndbuilds]

I set it up as a homebrew background that's accessible as part of the character sheet. If there's more I need to do to make it available I'm happy to do so

[@ultimojo868]

@@dndbuilds Gotcha gotcha! Nightcrawler is my all time favorite X-man! I can't support your patreon at this time, but you can bet I'll be back for this fuzzy elf!

[@dndbuilds]

@@ultimojo868 I'm happy you're here either way, patreon is a bonus, but if you're viewing my content I'm happy enough

[@Mrnosferatu901]

What about vortex warp?

[@necrogenesis1981]

I can’t remember, can he trap people in the brimstone dimension when he teleports? I’m not sure if he’s ever done that in the comics, but if he can, is there a spell that’s similar?

[@Swamp_Ave]

I want another teleporting x-man, Magik

[@endrekiss3007]

Pls do Carmen Sandiego!!!!(netflix seiries)

[@vennom14]

Love Nightcrawler, but what videogame ware you playing where it was Nightcrawler vs Venom? Just realized it's Contest of Champions

[@DanielGalban007]

Idk the new barbarian subclass the worldtree for the new player handbook is perfect it's almost literally a nightcrawler class

[@dndbuilds]

I don't really have a ton to go off of with that yet, as soon as it gets officially printed I'm sure I would use it. The only other thing is that I don't see nightcrawler as much of a barbarian

[@DanielGalban007]

@dndbuilds no yeah I agree. character wise, definitely not, but the ability to teleport around every bonus action and even teleport 6 party members at once screams nightcrawler. But I agree he is definitely not a barbarian.

[@milesackers2935]

I think for my own build I’d make a small change and swap out Aladrin for Shadar Kai

[@lucasramey6427]

It's Eladrin, but I 100% agree

[@krismurray77]

Finally

[@vortexrjk5071]

Hear me out. Rellana, Twin Moon Knight build from the new elden ring dlc

[@boracansever_]

YES FINALLY 😂

[@Tbren24]

Escanor from Seven Deadly Sins

[@lucasramey6427]

Scourge Aasimar, Devotion Paladin divine soul sorcerer probably up to 5th level sorcerer so you can have both flaming sphere and fireball grab quicken spell beyond that pick what feels right

[@NinjaFatal]

Could you please make Kars from Jojo Bizarre Adventure

[@lucasramey6427]

Most likely druid Dhampir because Dhampir is a vampire like race that doesn't burn in the sun and high level druid is practically unkillable because they can constantly shift animal forms just reflavor the shifting to be a partial shift but with the normal setbacks like not being able to cast spells for most of your career as druid, for subclass I'd say obvious pick is moon druid it'd even let you "regenerate" while shifted

[@anorangebanana6690]

Surprise youre going for eladrin and not tiefling

[@lucasramey6427]

Tiefling doesn't give you anything specific to what nightcrawler can do and you can just reflavor elf to resemble him such as giving him a tail because flavor is free, who says you can't flavor your character how you want, and besides logan calls him elf all the time

[@aegisthes272]

Shouldve gone Shadar Kai instead of Eladrin

[@aegisthes272]

Eladrins are not depicted in a blueish tint, they change colors depending on their current moods; embodying the seasons. So.. They wouldnt be blue all the time unless they were depressed.

[@lucasramey6427]

​@@aegisthes272I also agree shadar-kai is generally a better fitting pick as well as mechanically a better pick, but on another side flavor is free your elf could simply be more planetouched than regularly and thus has blue skin and a tail but keeping the mechanics of shadar-kai or eladrin and such simply having traits that both a tiefling and elf would have if their features were mixed which could aid in helping nightcrawler fit in to the fantasy world he'll appear in thus not losing much from the character just shining it in another light so you still have that x men writing in it

[@alexislapointe4725]

I would like you to build in dnd lelouch from code geass

[@lucasramey6427]

You'd kinda need mechs to be in the game to pull it off but beyond that he's kinda just a regular human with good mental stats

[@Ubermensch9240]

These videos require so much extra work.... I miss Tulock.

[@dndbuilds]

What do you mean by extra work? Just want to understand so I might improve if possible

[@Ubermensch9240]

@@dndbuilds Well, I haven't seen the entirety of this video, so my issues are probably not in this, but for your Erza Scarlet video, you forgot her Skills. In Wonder Woman's video you forgot to address some of her other racial qualities and which version of Protector Aasimar you are using and while I love Kobolds, the Agrretsuko build was..... well a player would need to fill in a LOT of blanks. For me this stuff can be a headache. Not dealbreakers, but could be more thorough.

[@Ubermensch9240]

@@dndbuilds Thankfully, most of these problems are not in this video!😁

[@dndbuilds]

@@Ubermensch9240 that's some great feedback, thanks I'll try to keep that in mind for some future videos

[@Ubermensch9240]

@@dndbuilds Yeah.... your Flash build was hard to follow.

[@ronsorage78]

I, like a lot of people, stopped taking the books seriously as soon as Disney took over and started crapping all over the established lore thus losing readers and Thanos snapping comic shops across the country with the non-existent sales.