How to Play a Rune Knight Fighter in Dungeons and Dragons 5e

[@edamommy]

Cloud Rune is fantastic in flipping critical hits at the frontline. Fought a brainstealer dragon as a Rune Knight, the dragon crit on Extract Brain (instakill if the target hits 0), used Cloud Rune to force her to eat her own son's brain instead

[@fenderslasher]

Wtf?! That's a war crime!

[@nathanhedglin931]

😲

[@makaramuss]

Dude... thats terrible wtf... I mean... what? its cool... but man I am disgusted, well done.

[@dude2299]

Its also wonderful for taking out anything with that BS zombie "I get a con save to stay alive unless you crit or are a paladin/cleric" ability. Used it to that effect by flipping a crit off our wizard into the zombie, instantly taking it out. The fact the attack uses the same roll can be abused in niche circumstances as well. Like one time, our wizard got hit with an attack roll of 15, but I flipped it to myself (AC 18) cause there was no other enemy in range. Nobody takes any damage and all I lost was a short rest recharge ability.

[@critsandgiggles5342]

right, they said later level. I know of a wizard that died very easily at lvl 2 that would have loved to have a cloud rune knight haha

[@jonah4196]

Key things about the Rune Knight: Giants might makes you Large, not just one size larger. This means you still become large even if you are a goblin The runes and damage boosts work with ranged options So playing a goblin with a hand crossbow that grows to 12 feet tall and carries around what is now basically a small ballista

[@TTDundee]

Also being large means you can use heavy weapons without disadvantage Playing a kobold rune knight with a greatsword is definitely fun and powerful

[@WilliamTythas]

Pick Fiery and you can be huge - Giants Might to be large then Enlarge to be HUGE

[@cesargeney5268]

A new meaning to "fury of the small"

[@thebitterfig9903]

Speaking of Ballistas... The Eldritch Knight's Weapon Bond ability doesn't specify a simple or martial weapon--just a weapon. It also doesn't summon the weapon "in your hand," but "to your hand," so you could have the weapon appear ~under~ your hand. As I read it, there's no reason you couldn't have a loaded Ballista somewhere, summon it with a bonus action, aim with your normal action, and use action surge to fire it. It only does 3d10 damage so it's not really going to be worth it, but damn would it be cool.

[@CallenExile]

@@thebitterfig9903 Oh...this...I don't like this....

[@izegrimcreations]

Cloud rune changed a TPK into a relatively easy win. Fighting the two mindflayers in RoF. One stunned and hit our monk for 67 damage. Since it required an attack roll, I simply switched it to the other mind flayer, killing it. Half our party was stunned at that point, so taking out one of them instead of having the monk die was game changing.

[@ducksinthewild]

You could say... it was a stunning strike!

[@King_Persona]

@@ducksinthewild go to the corner! Jk

[@leonnici5178]

Stacking Duergars Enlarge with Giant Might allows you to become huge and later even gargantuan. It also fits the theme of combining magic and smithing.

[@Grayson.P]

I want to do this, just so if it comes up I can say "I grapple the Tarrasque" and have a chance to actually wrestle it.

[@lamarwashington2718]

Just deleted my comment about this when I realized you already said it. The only flaw is your DM could argue that RAI you can’t stack the enlarge spell and Giants Might. RAW it totally works.

[@goodgulfgas]

I played a one-shot with a Duergar Rune Knight and it was very awesome. I think I was level 7. I bonus action Giant's Might, cast Enlarge as an action, action surged to attack twice and slapped on the fire rune.

[@ErrorlessQuill9]

Kind of disappointed that this wasn’t talked about in the video. It’s an amazing character option for the rune knight!

[@relrosner]

Really? How about a Fairy? Flying & Huge then Gargantuan? A Massive Flying Fairy Behemoth!

[@piedpiper1185]

On the subject of Tavern Brawler and Grappler feats, I would like to remind everyone that since you become a Huge creature at high levels, you can technically grapple a Tarrasque and turn the fight into a kaiju battle.

[@samfish2550]

Or at level 3 because funny.... I'm just gonna say deep dwarf because I can't remember how to spell their name.

[@Arkansan_Rebel]

@@samfish2550 Duergar

[@samfish2550]

@@Arkansan_Rebel yes. that.

[@jameshernandez4112]

Just remember that grappler is terrible and should never be taken. Just shove and grapple.

[@samfish2550]

@@jameshernandez4112 true but still grappling a terrasque is still a power move though even without a feat.

[@XDependent]

As a Half-Orc Rune Knight, I can say I have had a lot of fun. One big thing I noticed is that Rune Knights are really fun to play as 'Anti-Caster' type Fighter. Since your abilities aren't spells, you never have to worry about Counterspells, and since you have so many ways to manipulated Dice rolls (Saving Throws, Ability Checks, etc), it means you can often be as helpful as a Divination Wizard in making sure spells do or don't go through. I really leaned into this eventually and even took Mage Slayer just to scream with casters' concentration.

[@Someone-nr5dg]

I like to imagine that for a Warforged to become huge, it summon other machines to fuse with like in Power Rangers.

[@boshiwarrior]

Warforged/Rune Knight/ witha few levels in Armorer Artificer. Become a Gundam

[@alexinfinite7142]

I can't handle this. This is too cool! I love it!

[@Darasilverdragon]

@@boshiwarrior lmao literally what I'm playing - except I don't get to the specialization. If I want Runic Juggernaut to still be on my ability list ever, I can only take a 2 lvl artificer dip I play the Giant's Might off as more of a Transformers thing than Power Rangers though - plates and gears and hinges just unfold out of nowhere and allow other, even larger parts to emerge and lock into place, despite there being no space for them inside him beforehand

[@22skidoo99]

I played a Loxodon Run Knight with the Unarmed Fighter fighting style and the Tavern Brawler + Skill Expert (athletics expertise) feats. With 3 grappling appendages and expertise+advantage on all grapple checks, he was an absolute monster of a battlefield controller and tank

[@GOLD-gr8hg]

Yo i have the same build except with a leonin in storm kings thunder

[@WhosAlx]

If I played a rune knight I’d give my character the archeologist background. They first encountered the runes at an excavation and are driven to learn the secrets of the giants.

[@chainsawboy2388]

I’m making mine a gnome whose town was exploited by a dragon for personal gain using them to find its treasures until one day a storm giant wandered near our town and offered to help, after a 3 day battle the giant emerged victorious and inspired my character to learn from him, bad stuff ensues and I leave to go on an adventure and learn the ways of the giants even more than before.

[@sloubser01]

Similar idea, I want to play an elf that has been studying these runes

[@backlash660]

One thing you can do with the Cloud rune is to transfer an awesome attack by one of your allies against a peon to the BBG . If your Rogue does a sneak attack crit the deals a ton on damage against a guard with 5 hits left you can thump the boss .

[@davec8385]

It's surprising how much you can do with the cloud rune, especially considering that it doesn't even allow a save or reroll! Simply an incredible ability and easily my first choice of rune

[@dgrimesii]

I really like the idea of a Dragonborn Rune Knight that is a member of an elite force that is trained to fight giants using their own magic against them.

[@MrPsych77]

That's what I went through with my character in a campaign. Combining Giant and dragon magic to become something very powerful

[@noahtremblay2676]

I like the same idea but reflavoring the runes as draconic powers

[@MrPsych77]

@@noahtremblay2676 what I did was take the gift of the chromatic and metallic dragon feat and flavored it as draconic runes

[@PatrickYule]

Guys, do not sleep on Cloud Rune and alternative builds. I am playing a Dex/Cha Halfling in Rime of the Frostmaiden. Cloud Rune setups by the party, especially with Deception as needed, are absolutely devastating to many encounters. You really get to be that "Trickster" role, but combined with the damage output and survivability of a fighter. Runic Shield blends with this very well too. Have fun.

[@MrPsych77]

Considering my first character ever once took over 35 damage at level 4. I'd really have liked to have had a cloud rune ability

[@PatrickYule]

@@MrPsych77 ooof! Sorry, about that Yeah, that's a perfect example of what Cloud Rune is good for. Especially at low levels where the total number of attacks is low (because that makes each one more important).

[@MrPsych77]

@@PatrickYule I'm playing a rune knight for a new campaign this week so I'm excited to have the cloud rune. I'll have lots of options for being the tank

[@PatrickYule]

@@MrPsych77 enjoy! I've found it to be a very fun and flexible class.

[@MrPsych77]

@@PatrickYule mixing it with a gem dragonborn with the gift of the chromatic dragon feat can make for an effective tank. Or that is the plan anyway

[@chefdontrun7436]

I'm currently playing a grey dwarf Rune Knight. Using Enlarge to become Huge at early levels is awesome.

[@driger2517]

fairy also works

[@goodgulfgas]

@@driger2517 this blew my mind! but you can't fly while wearing medium or heavy armor, so pump up the DEX.

[@driger2517]

@@goodgulfgas if you do, you can grapple then fly up and drop people

[@relrosner]

@@goodgulfgas a level of barbarian (, or magic items)

[@Sabortooftigar]

I've been super happy with my battleaxe and shield Green Knight inspired Firbolg rune knight, because they are sort of related to both fae and giants. I went with a theme out approach. They also have the powerful build, so my carrying capacity with giants might on goes up to over a thousand pounds. The ability to cast detect magic and to a lesser degree disguise self have also been really useful. Maxed out strength, then took skill expert at 8 to boost con to 16 and get expertise in athletics for grappling all the things. Already grappled a young white dragon, watch out bosses. Being able to grant disadvantage from storm rune in the right grapple, shove, fire rune or stone rune, has been very fun and cool synergy baked in. Trying to pick what to do next. Might go for slasher, grappler, or shield expert or max con next. I started fire and stone, and went to fire, hill, and storm.

[@goodgulfgas]

Nice character concept.

[@MRCOLOURfilld]

The firbolg disguise works well with the rune that gives you bonus to slight of hand and deception thematically.

[@alexinfinite7142]

That sounds pretty bad ass

[@ansuz5903]

That's tight. But the Grappler feat is worthless. I'd recommend Tavern brawler for that sweet bonus action grapple. Then you can shove and then grapple on the same turn, rendering your target worthless for at least a turn. And if you have multi attack, you can throw some hits in just for fun.

[@FoxHound-ut1hu]

Respect to my fellow Firbolg Rune Knight!

[@QuinnTheGM]

Easily my favorite fighter subclass! The runes are so unique, and I really like the customization that you get by selecting different options. It almost feels like a magical version of a Battle Master.

[@patdav56]

i'll admit, my favorite choice of race is that of the Fairy from Witchlight/Monsters of the Multiverse, allowing you to access Huge size early, and Gargantuan size at level 18. along with that, you also have access to Tiny size as well. this gives the fairy almost unrestricted access to all size categories whenever the need arises. plus the flavor of having sylvan runes rather than giant runes is very fun. change the smith tool proficiency to weaver's tools to actually sew the runes into clothing, and it is really cool flavor. plus the idea of this small dainty creature just getting roided and buffing themselves to high heaven is just a funny visual that i had to include,

[@KingDooburu]

So, basically Jorgen Von Strangle from Fairly Odd Parents.

[@patdav56]

@@KingDooburu I was thinking more like Biscuit from HunterXHunter, since Jorgon is that size all the time :P

[@ad9aggie]

Plus you could get a Large/Huge crossbow and do 2d10/3d10 damage, while flying.

[@aronnemcsik]

I'm imagineing a foul motuhed small farry who's first response to everything is violence and has a sort of nasty attitude. Basically Toph from Avatar as a fairy...

[@Alvin400]

Glad to know someone else had this idea. Was thinking of a fairy that was poked at for being stupid small. Then they’d grow to be large from the rune, and huge from the innate spell. Playing whack a mole with any unfortunate bystander that actually pissed them off

[@Wilkiesmuse]

I played a Kobold Rune Knight recently and he was honestly one of the characters I've had the most fun playing! Suplexing an anklyosaurus was a highlight, and using the Cloud Rune to swap crits from our squishy casters onto enemies was amazing. I actually built him to use dex for his fighting rather than strength, which played in well with the deception and sleight of hand bonuses, and it was hilarious when the tiny, scared kobold suddenly becomes a large sized angry mini-dragon!

[@CharlesUrban]

A giant kobold...roaring with Draconic Cry...and having the option to take Fire Bolt as a cantrip. That's Godzilla. "It is Kojira. We must run!"

[@CreationsFlare]

Part of what makes Rune Knight such a loved Fighter is that it doesn't try to force you into certain builds. You could be anywhere from a brutish Strength meat DPS, a steely aggro/CC tank, sneaky rogue-ish analog, or even just a more nordic approach to magic bowman. Also, I wouldn't sleep on Frost Rune if your goal is to grapple and keep something locked down for sure. But if your goal is damage or other opportunities for it, then it is conveniently last. And that's great.

[@Sean-fo8kg]

I think you are under selling the Cloud Rune. It doesn’t necessarily have to be an epic attack, although crits come up relatively frequently. Imagine a modest attack that does, say, 20 damage. Now imagine a spell that simultaneously heals 20 points of damage, while delivering 20 points of damage to an enemy with no saving throw. What level would you make that spell? Now that spell comes back on a short rest. I consider Cloud Rune a must have.

[@rosemurphy8026]

rogue rune knight assassin who goes around stabbing themselves in the throat dealing a sneak attack critical to themself then redirecting it to their target

[@MrPsych77]

My level 4 battle master once took a hit that did 35 damage and nearly killed me. I passed my death saves but was taken out of the fight. Man I would have loved to have the cloud rune for moments like that

[@danielmennel4565]

Not only do the under value Cloud Rune, they over value Fire Rune. The occasion to use Cloud Rune will easily come up once per short rest. Fire Rune while definitely useful, for the most part you only get to use it once per short rest and the target gets a saving throw from Fire Rune.

[@MrPsych77]

@@danielmennel4565 so I've been playing a rune knight for the campaign for a few weeks now and while the fire rune is pretty nice for dealing extra damage for whatever reason my targets always pass their saving throws. I've gotten way more use out of the cloud rune especially since no save needed

[@Mithguar]

@@danielmennel4565 don't underestimate fire rune when you get storm rune active. You can make each of these saves automatically on disadvantage. But i do agree that Cloud rune is crazy good.

[@matthewparsons4597]

Fun story: My brother and I played a campaign just over a year ago where he played an Abjuration Wizard and I played a Rune Knight Fighter. We ended up in trouble with the law and sentenced to death in a gladiator pit. When we got there it was described like a classic colosseum with marble pillars all around to climb or knock over. Our opponents were an NPC Artillerist Artificer and Bear Totem Barbarian of equal levels to us. The fight goes on, my Rune Knight has a character connection with the Barbarian that makes them hate each other, and it starts to look dire. All of a sudden, the Barbarian uses all of his might to rip one of the pillars out of the ground and drop it on my brother's Wizard. He rolled the damage: 283 BLUDGEONING DAMAGE! He was a goner, my DM was genuinely looking to wipe out one of our parties favourite characters to create some real loss, and then the column disappeared. My brother was perfectly safe as we all looked over to my character, my enormous shield glowing green where the rune had been etched, and then the column reappeared over the Artificer and he was flattened. The Barbarian looked at me with disgust, and my DM was momentarily horrified that I had that kind of power at level 4. The moral of the story is: Can a Battlemaster do that?

[@joshuawoodfolk8202]

The bigger question is: Why did your DM try to hit you with 283 damage while you were level 4? I know what you said, but that's just messed up

[@matthewparsons4597]

@@joshuawoodfolk8202 When the DM asked what type of adventure we wanted, we all agreed upon a super realistic tone. We all wanted our consequences to have repercussions, fights to be unfair and behave more like puzzles, and the law to be upheld wherever logical. It was actually really fun, I recommend it

[@joshuawoodfolk8202]

@@matthewparsons4597 ok, well now I want to play in that campaign too 😆

[@elhuracanhumano1997]

238 damage to a level 4 character... What a horrible DM

[@englewood1701]

That's awesome

[@shadcroly]

I've been playing a Goliath Rune Knight with a Pacific Islander/Polynesian aesthetic. All of his runes are beads threaded through his hair and incorporated into the intricate body tattoos (that a friend helped me design to remain respectful to the culture). I love him so much.

[@Super-Saiyan9665]

This is way late but ITS MAUI TIME

[@leonardofeudal]

For me all goliath are maori fighters. Face and body tattoos doing haka and making weird faces

[@toddbailey8474]

I remember playing a Spy Rune Knight Minotaur to mimic Iron Bull from Dragon Age Inquisition. The runes can be reflavored as the blood magic abilities that the reaver uses in that game

[@tabletopnephilim4633]

Please, elaborate. I've been trying like hell to figure out how to mimic those abilities.

[@juantiger27]

@@tabletopnephilim4633 most I could think of is like Changing them from Giant Runes to like Blood Runes? You like slice your arm/finger and draw a rune of blood on your weapon to activate?

[@TreiberSeptim]

The cloud rune is amazing. Our Rune Knight has diverted numerous crits onto enemies that would have really put a character‘s life at risk. The turnaround of „I take 20 damage? No, YOU take 20 damage!“ is amazing, at least at low levels so far.

[@aaronm.706]

Earth Genasi is also good for a Rune Knight I think! +2 to Con is super nice, and something about an earthen humanoid figure speckled in gems and onyx fingernails sharpened to points with glowing runes on their gauntlets really gets me going. edit: the flavor of having sharpened stone fingernails mixed with taking the unarmed fighting feat goes really nicely together. Not the most min/maxed character, but if you're playing true to the game and not just metagaming to the max, I think this build is super fun.

[@adamxei9073]

I like how the rune knight can be used as one of those face fighters. Proficiencies in roleplay skills like animal handling ,intimidation and persuasion etc. I could see a half elf Play this class very well with feats like protege.

[@srvfan17]

No one will ever see this but one of my friends came to me and said they wanted to make a character that uses mech armor and we settled on a Gnome Rune Knight that's almost more of a Steam Knight in theme, all the "magic" stuff about it is tech-based and pseudo-magical and I'm so excited

[@igor4e]

I'm currently playing my first time ever dnd campaign with a Tabaxi Rune Knight carrying a Spear. He's so fun!

[@pretty_fly_for_a_jeskai]

Playing a tabaxi rogue swashbuckler right now and I already plan on taking 2 levels in fighter pretty early for med armor proficiency and shields, action surge etc. It's between echo knight and this but a thing my character is obsessed with is magic items so it's so in theme to take rune knight even if it's 2 runes only, he's gonna feel like he's enchanting his own gear. Fire and Cloud on rapier and shield respectively sounds like a lot of fun.

[@Zswasd]

I'm playing a Blue Dragonborn Rune Knight and it's beign just awesome. It's the first time i'm playing a fighter and i'm loving it. Also what you guys said about the bonus action and reaction on a rune knight, I can totally confirm, it's very rare for me to have a bonus action or reaction available for something other than using my runes. I took shield master because my campaign is about fighting dragons and I wanted to be able to nullify the breath weapon damage (also every player is a dragonborn). And I use a warhammer with the Crusher feat just like you said hahaha.

[@MrPsych77]

Awesome. I'm planning a sapphire dragonborn rune Knight. Hoping it goes well

[@MGsubbie]

Rune Knight is also an amazing 3-5 level dip for multiple other classes. I have an Arcane Trickster-Rune Knight MC. Cloud Rune to get permanent advantage on Sleight of Hand, in which I have expertise and I can use it on my invisible mage hand; as well as permanent advantage on Deception, in which I also have expertise. And Fire Rune to have expertise on all my tools, including Thieves' Tools. Which also means I don't have to choose between those and skill proficiences when it comes to my expertise. Took Skill expert, so now I have 5 expertises in ability checks, as well as expertise in Thieves, Disguise, Forgery, Smithing, Poisoner and soon Alchemy. And him being a Halfling, means my 3'2" character suddenly becomes 12'8".

[@galensturupcomeau1242]

Oh yes! Rune Knight fighter! BTW, are you two gents planning on finishing your spell selection series for Warlocks and Wizard?

[@Babidi111]

- Love it! I was playing a Simic Hybrid Rune Knight fighter focused on grappling and unarmed fighting style. - I could climb around on walls and the extra arms gave me mroe grappling. I took a feat that gave me expertise in grappling and it was just so much fun.

[@thatoneguy1566]

My Goliath runeknight took a 1 lvl dip into forge cleric early on for a +2 to weapons or +1 to weapon and armor each at times. And it fits thematically as a forge master carving runes into his weapons and armor

[@sebastianhaines3178]

I've been loving playing a Fairy rune knight. Flying around with a bow and arrow that restrains foes is so much fun

[@gabrielalvesdeoliveira2190]

When I had the idea to create my Rune Knight I initially thought about making a Goliath. But because I had already made a barbarian Goliath, I had the idea of ​​making a Firbolg, and it turned out amazing. It was interesting because it came out of that Firbolg thing always being related to druids and clerics. And it got even better to be a Firbolg because of the giants theme.

[@davidandelin5006]

I have been playing a dex based Rune Knight in Lost Mines. Been a lot of fun and some fun burst damage. The cloud rune is very fun

[@thebitterfig9903]

The passive effects of Cloud and Fire runes on a Dex-based RK with a sneaky background like Charlatan or Criminal are going to provide a lot of Roguish utility.

[@ericstacey7811]

I would say one idea I have been tossing around that really makes the Rune Knight stand out to me is taking a 3 level dip into Fighter to get the subclass while playing a Changling Bladesinger (Wizard). Would lose a 5th/6th/7th level slot, but my core spell is Shadow Blade and getting action surge, cloud rune, and stone rune is very tempting.

[@davec8385]

I played a Gish that multiclassed into rune knight and can confirm that it is a good time, would recommend. I didn't go with bladesinger personally but it does sounds like a fun and powerful idea

[@craigastorian273]

I had a character who had 8 levels as a Rune knight and 1 level as a Warlock (genie/ earth) who had the crusher feat. Every time he did damage with his Glaive he ended up pushing his target away. So yeah it felt great! Pole Arm Master, and Sentinel combined with your larger size really does a job in locking down the field. Next ASI I take will be Great Weapon master. Now that I’ve seen your video I wish I took the Goliath race. To late now but I’m having a blast with my character! Thanks guys for caring…later!

[@byakkolegends5839]

So my only martial player character in Drakkenhiem is a rune knight that I'm dm'ing in... We start tonight session 1. Talk about great timing

[@DarkSwan01]

Just got the notification and like it so far. And it is funny, I am working on my own guide for the Rune Knight but without going into detail on abilities but the subclass except for the rune abilities.

[@Space1008]

Playing a bugbear rune knight brawler/grappler, tank. It's such a fun build! So much flexibility that even when taking sub-optimal options for RP reasons, it still feels really powerful. I also have a wizard in my party who learned enlarge/reduce, so I can get BIG! Playing in a Dragon Heist/Mad Mage campaign, so I think we should go all the way to 20th level.

[@gequetscht1031]

Yuan Ti brawler/grappler for a ginormous constrictor snake that poisons its victim

[@Decoyr409]

Grappling is so much fun. Took out a part of 4 throwing them down a well… it did suck pulling the bodies out. Also grabbing them and letting the party get advantage is fun.

[@justintoner9817]

This video came out at the perfect time. I just started playing a new D&D campaign and I'm playing a Goliath Rune Knight (I went with the thematic backstory, he saved a Cloud Giant's life and he repaid him by teaching him Rune magic), and last session we hit Level 3 so now I get to pick my Runes. Like you guys said, Fire Rune is a no brainer and that was my first pick but I'm trying to decide between Cloud or Stone as my second. Right now I am going with Cloud but what you said about Stone has me reconsidering esp for the nice passive boots Stone gives as well. My Goliath uses a Maul as one of his weapons so I was looking at the Crusher feat and get that Con boosted (He has 18 Str, 16 Con). So glad you highlighted that as a good feat option. I'm also looking at Sentinel and Great Weapon Master too. Thanks guys!

[@councilofcringe5520]

Hell yes I'm doin the same thing except he was saved by a storm giant outcast when his village got wiped killing slavers.

[@davec8385]

The crazy thing with the cloud rune is that it just breaks the action economy and very importantly allows for no save or reroll. At low levels denying a single attack can negate an enemy's entire action while also giving you a free attack. This can give you a bigger action economy advantage than even action surge at lower levels. On top of the flavour/frosting of crits, extra riders, and turning an ally's melee attack into a ranged attack. The ability is just always good, never fails, and is almostly wholey unique. The only other ability in the game that provides a similar effect is the div wizard's portant ability.

[@Milenos]

What i like about rune knight is that even if you decide to take thing that take bonus or reaction, it just mean you always has something to do with those action. You have a lot of options and its so cooperative as you help the party very well other than just being a punching bag or a damage dealer.

[@Adam.297]

Ended up rewatching the Shield Master video the other day, so it is fresh in my mind... Frost Rune would be a good choice to increase the odds, especially with a 10 minute duration. Having not liked the Rune Knight much before, this combo may actually be enough to get me to try it out.

[@johnhoward269]

Yes to this. I had a similar idea to use this rune to further improve chances of winning the Athletics contested role for making shove/trip attacks. Thinking of a polearm master build using reach to knock opponents prone.

[@davidlewis8814]

Just started playing one of these characters - I’m so excited!!! I’ve made him as the scion of a clan of humans who had been highly-prized slaves of cloud giants. When fleeing the wreckage he was able to claim several giant-sized rune-scribing pencils that are human-sized spears. I took spear specialist right outta the gate. So excited!!!!!

[@wizzz1967cm]

I would love to see you guys do a oath of Conquest Paladin so badly want to build one keep up the good work

[@dio6334]

Hi, I make one for curse of strahd. I played a female fallen Aasimar with a great sword and great weapon master feat. My god was the all might, first ruler of avernus, the great archdevil Zariel. My mission was killing Strahd in order to free the souls trap in is demiplane.

[@_Bjornfot]

My favorite thing with a Rune Knight is to use grab and shove to pin down Giant creatures like Hydras and Dragons, you even get advantage on Athletics so there is no way they are escaping. I'm not even going for a grappling build. I made a thrown weapon fighting plus polearm master and crusher spear build. Grappling is just something that I discovered was still very effective.

[@menacingbobbyt9647]

So me as a DM, big undead Giant and an Undead Warlock fighting the party. Big giant crits the squishy Wizard, Rune Knight directed the crit into the Undead Warlock. Dead Warlock.

[@michaelcords4006]

Thing i love about the Cloud Rune & Runic Shield - is that you dont have to see the attacker - you just have to see the player being hit - and when you storm a Gith asteroid and are up against Gith's that have greater invisibility and non detection cast on them, the cloud rune is a godsend to transfer crits from your allys to the visible spell casters or worst case scenario, yourself. And Runic Shield is just great to get them to re-roll the crit

[@Scorned]

something to specify is that the Hill rune doesnt specify non-magic damage which means magical slashing, piercing and bludgeoning damage is also halved. one of the downfalls of the cloud rune is that it cant be the same creature that dealt the damage so if fighting a solo boss it can be used to the damage from a squishy player to a tankier one or yourself. another thing i think you should touch more on is the fighting techniques.

[@wolfskinchanger]

I literally just got my fighter started as a Rune Knight; this info is precisely what I needed.

[@benhuntsman6753]

I like the Idea of going Bugbear with a reach weapon. At 18th levl you have a 20 foot reach on a base of a huge character.

[@chrisjacobs4716]

I have done this and it was great fun

[@ChazTheYouthful]

My new favorite martial subclass since it came out. So much ridiculous fun especially for a small character. Watch your enemies' eyes pop out as you become larger than they are and then grapple them into nonexistence.

[@IMXLegedaryBard]

For me, I definitely want to play this class as a halfling. Just the thought of my three foot character approaching the biggest baddest in the room, grows up to their height or if not a little higher and then ends up wrestling them lol

[@justinelliott7827]

I'm just starting a rock gnome Rune Knight. I have the math done so that he grows 5x his normal size and comes in just under the Huge size limit (15' 10") then when he gains the extra 3d4 it will put him in Huge range.)

[@taylorritchie6643]

I have a kobold rune knight that I love. I went dex over strength, and wield finesse weapons. Took the dual wielder feat, so I can wield 2 rapier or whips, or one of each. It is so fun to make a small, weak creature huge and dish out so much damage. The contrast just feels so satisfying.

[@ancientdarkmagic1409]

I just thought of a Bugbear rune knight with a reach weapon. That way you are literally able to pin down enemies in the battle map. Especially if you take sentinel with pole arm master.

[@tiodapamonha4531]

I am baffled that they forget it. Fenhir, my rune knight bugbear is sad for doesn't being in the show

[@JKLauderdale]

10:03 Fire Rune with an Artificer's "Returning Weapon" infusion on your handaxe is alot of fun. Fire Rune doesn't state that it has to be a hand-held weapon so you can throw your axe as your opening attack vs the enemy caster and then it comes back for future melee. Take Shield Master and you can also Shove a 2nd creature due to having already attacked with your thrown melee weapon.

[@RoninRaconteur]

Dragonborn with that high of a con means their breath weapon is going to be a lot more sturdy especially if you use Fizban's new subraces. I also see a Bugbear being a solid choice giving you that reach right away as well as a possibility of getting some sneak attack with it if you can with their own abilities.

[@MrPsych77]

Yeah I'm combining this with the gift of the chromatic dragon feat. Get resistance for even more things. And with a gem dragonborn it's really effective

[@isaacgraff8288]

I have played a Dragonborn Rune Knight. It was awesome. Stone Rune was nice, I actually had the best Darkvision in the party.

[@jw__11]

@@isaacgraff8288 _finally_ a dragonborn with darkvision!

[@JacksonX94]

Imagine a gem Dragonborn with wings that flies around with a Halbert and if you're an Amythest dragonborn you're breath weapon is now force and you could just basically 1 shot kingdoms by this point while being giant. Absolutly terrifying 😳

[@bombboy200]

The one case I can see for Frost Rune is for grappler builds. As it gives the +2 bonus to Strength and Constitution ability checks and saving throws, it means that early on you can grapple with some foes that might be a bit above your weight class when it comes to strength contests (especially since fighters don't get expertise and can only acquire it from a feat). Later on it certainly falls off, especially if you do pick up expertise in athletics but it still is a nice little bonus for the early levels when you need it the most since failing a grapple check results in losing your attack for the turn or one of two attacks on your turn.

[@recka5000]

The cloud rune has seen some interesting uses in games I've been in. On an airship, we had a player who recently rerolled to a new fighter after their last PC was killed but we didn't know the subclass. We had a Chimera fly up and attack us from range, the fighter attacked our warlock out of nowhere (and got a crit) with their flametongue weapon, used the cloud rune to hit the chimera. The party (especially the warlock's player) were all... Confused, surprised, then cheering!

[@ShiningChocobo]

This is such perfect timing. My DM allowed me to revamp my first character since I really didn’t know what I was doing and he will be a Rune Knight. He come back from his 6 session “training arc” next week and I’m so pumped for this!

[@weasel_in_a_tophat]

The fire rune could be huge for shutting down mages in combat. Making strength saves is something most mages are bad at, and being shackled means they can't perform the somatic components for spells

[@jean-baptisteblanchet9856]

It doesn't. We've faced this issue with a rune knight in one of our games where we assumed shackles were applied to the hands, but RAW they're not. It applies the restrained condition, and nothing in that condition restricts movement of the hands or prevents you from casting spells. We've interpreted the rules to mean that your legs are shackled, which aligns with the mechanical effect of the ability.

[@MRCOLOURfilld]

@@jean-baptisteblanchet9856 depending on how you read it, having your legs bound can still effect your somatic component

[@MRCOLOURfilld]

@@logicseeker3770 i mean you cannot cast spells if you are not proficient with armor because it fucks with somatic casting.

[@jean-baptisteblanchet9856]

@@MRCOLOURfilld in any case, the mechanics effect is very clear. It imposes a specific condition, which is restrained, and that condition doesn't prevent spellcasting. If it did, it would be explicitly stated in the condition. Now, you can rule it any way you want as a DM. But RAW, that's the way the ability works.

[@Jessie_Helms]

Imagine playing a bugbear Rune Knight with a halberd. 15 foot reach and you can become Large size, increasing the radius of your threatened area.

[@GangurEXE]

Frost rune seems like it could be good for a caster multiclass for that improved constitution saving throws

[@DieDieNacho]

As a Duergar rune knight, built around grappling and concentrating on enlarging themselves, frost rune can sometimes make a huge difference.

[@Linkdoesminecraft100]

I JUST created a Rune Knight for a 4 shot I’m gonna be doing soon! Very good stuff!

[@Linkdoesminecraft100]

What I found really funny now that I’ve watched this is that I made my character almost PERFECTLY to your recommendations EXCEPT the choice of Runes. I created a Goliath Rune Knight wielding a Glaive with the Two-Handed Fighting Style and the Great Weapon Master feat. But I chose the Frost and Cloud Runes instead lmao

[@solarcupid2583]

My character (bard/barbarian multiclass) has a rune knight father. I made both her parents level 15 because it fit with their backstory, but they still weren't totally maxed out. He was a human soldier (this world had the starting age for soldiers really low) and learned the fighter class there. He was also forced to leave the military at level 10 because he lost a leg and wasn't high enough to warrant getting a magical prosthetic. He then became a blacksmith. I had decided all of this before looking at subclasses and rune knight just seemed perfect. It's great when things just align like that.

[@Leapalot]

I'm glad you circled back and added firbolg to your list. The fact that they speak giant plus their lineage just really adds to the flavor. Plus they still get powerful build like goliaths. I'm playing one now and it's a blast.

[@Klaital1]

For my rune knight, I took unarmed fighting style, and skill expert to get expertise in athletics, and then, in addition to the cc from fire and stone runes, I can also grapple two enemies to hold them in place for my allies to pick off, while being large size, being amazing tank. And with expertise in Athletics, and advantage on Athletics checks from giant's might, not many things can escape my grapples.

[@Soupdude338]

multiverse bugbear is a great twist on this that really gives a lot especially with the polearm and crusher feats.

[@aaronstout1323]

Off topic. At the risk of sounding laim I wanted to say I watch you guys all the time. You guys have inspired me to write my own book. Publishing process starts in a few week. Just wanted to give you 2 inspiration credit, if that's ok. Just a thought

[@lucasstrong9208]

I play a small rune knight, and it is great. The role play and the mechanics weave a great experience. And I work with the barbarian to pull super strength shenanigans, such as she throws me, since my movement is less as a small character, then I use my big power to grapple and move the enemy closer to the team, or just lock them down. Using frost rune and skill expert, I have +13 Athletics, and Giant's Might gives advantage, so my normal roll to grapple or shove is between 25 and 30, easily.

[@davec8385]

On top of everything mentioned in this video the Rune Knight is also the best grappler subclass in the entire game. The giant's might ability by it's self gives you advantage on strength checks to grapple and let's you grapple creatures you normally couldn't by increasing you size! With the number of ASIs fighters get it's pretty trivial to pick up expertise. (or even take a single level of rogue) The frost rune certainly is niche and not required but also stacks with the other abilities and lasts for 10 minutes so you can pretty freely turn it on before combat at the beginning of a dungeon and expect it to last through multiple encounters. With the new unarmed fighting style you can make a pretty useful character that only requires 3 levels of investment. Allowing for lots of multiclassing options or scales well into late game with increased extra attacks and plentiful ASIs for fun, flavourful feats.

[@davidstratton696]

Skill expert is the feat that gives expertise in a skill (among some other things like another skill proficiency and ability score improvement). U didn’t mention a name so wasn’t sure if u knew which one did.

[@notjohnbruno1522]

Some friends and I are planning a fairy tale themed campaign, and I’m planning my character to be Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk. The idea is that after killing the giant, he became cursed or somehow affected by its magic to become a giant, and was feared and ostracized from his village as a result. Mechanically, he’d be a goliath, but in-universe I’d want him to be a man slowly turning into a giant, which I think is a super interesting story arc to explore

[@DieDieNacho]

That sounds like a really fun campaign theme!

[@TheDarkD8]

I'm playing a Rock Gnome Rune Knight, initially it was for the funny sake of being small then suddenly becoming large, I've been having so much fun using all the abilities and traits that come with the rune knight.

[@PANDAXD001]

And Interesting mix of Flavor and utility is taking a rune knight and getting the ritual caster feat. It gives you, as a fighter, more too do outside of the party assuming you don't already have a bard or wizard. It makes sense that ritual magic would heavily rely on runes (no reason why your "book" could be tattoos on your skin for my Goliath bretherin) and you don't delay any class abilities like extra attack. And just in case you needed too give your DM another reason too hate you, this stacks very nicely with a barbarian dip since you won't be raging while ritual casting. This idea does branch from Treantmonks double phantom rogue video (which is from one of his players)

[@Tellius23]

I started playing this class 6 months ago and love it; so much versatility and role playing possibilities

[@grizzlednerd4521]

I took the Frost Rune on a MC Beast Barb who was proficient in intimdation and Athletics and loved to grapple enemies...dragging them to places they didn't want to be. Increased size, rage bump, and Frost Rune made her grapples pretty reliable.

[@JasonCorfman]

During our Icewind Dale campaign, one of our party members played as a gnome rune knight. In our final battle, our rogue/artificer cast Enlarge/Reduce (emphasis on Enlarge) on the Rune Knight after he had increased in size, so we had a huge gnome fighting on our side.

[@mkhanson1440]

I played this as a halfling. It was fun being this "You won't like me when I'm angry" trope. Lots of fun to RP. I know it isn't meta or anything, but it was a blast, and came in handy at times too. Fit into a tight space, enlarge and move items.

[@lepatriote5767]

Monty, I just want to point out that the Tavern Brawler/Grappler route works stupidly well with a Rune Knight. Grapple allows you to grapple creatures only up to one size larger than you. By becoming Large you can grapple Huge Creatures, and eventually Gargantuan creatures. And since you have Extra Attack, you can grapple then shove (or vice versa) to make the creature prone with a speed of 0(which means not getting up). Which you can now proceed to murder at your leisure. Also, for the reach: Bugbear. Take the Tasha Fighting Style for an extra Battlemaster maneuver, take the Lunge one. Bam 20ft of reach once per short rest, on each of your turn a reach of 15ft and 10ft with a polearm.

[@KarumaJiusetu]

And, you don't require a free hand to keep something grappled or to drag the target with you, this means you have no limit to how many things you can grapple at once. Also, in addition to Large/Huge, Giant Might gives us Advantage on the Grapple/Shove checks to begin with. Also, with Tavern Brawler+Extra Attack, to get the most out of it I usually Shove->Unarmed Attack with Advantage->Bonus Action Grapple.

[@jacktyreman2955]

Great timing! About to start a campaign tomorrow as a Rune Knight! Love the videos dudes keep it up!

[@benpebbles4111]

I wish I had this kinda relationship so bad. Seems fun to make these kind of videos.

[@jcdenton2187]

Same dude

[@21FunkyMonkeys]

One of my fave characters was a Rune Knight Kobold named Kokorico. He was raised in secret by a stone giant who fell in love with his odd colouration that made it look like he was a statue with veins of gems running along his body (product of a cracked egg/premature birth). He had a voice like golum in his normal form, but when he'd grow big he'd have an Aussie accent :P

[@beastninjai8251]

Played a Dwarven Rune Knight in an all dwarf campaign a few months ago and he was absolutely amazing. Took the unarmed fighting fighting style just because there's nothing better than a massive dwarf knocking heads together. Ended that game as a 5'5 Dwarf who could grow to be 11 feet tall and rip things apart with his bare hands. He was a fun character.

[@orwin5445]

I really like gift of the chromatic dragon on a rune knight as well. Yes it's another bonus action/reaction ability, but resistance to fire/acid/cold/lightning on top of stone giant's resistance to bludgeoning/piercing/slashing means you're pretty much a bear barbarian with all the benefits of a fighter.

[@chacepassmore6474]

I love you!!!! I was so excited after you replied to my comment about this!

[@wilgo58]

Currently multiclassing as a gnome rune knight / artificer and having an absolute blast. Able to use my infusions and runes in multiple support and defensive ways.

[@trinacle1]

I’m playing a ranger Rune Knight in a Norse campaign and it’s been so much fun! Easily one of my favourite subclasses

[@mikecarson7769]

nice review ! thanks so much! As A DM, i like the rune knight as a villain sub-boss. As a Player, i like the Rune Knight if i am looking for a strength-based and heavy-armour fighter. The rune knight seems not to work so well for a Dexterity-based style, but it greatly augments the style of strength, heavy melee weapons, and armoured hand-to-hand combat

[@moocowofjustice525]

What a convenient video for me! A friend is running me and some others through Curse of Strahd currently. I’m playing a Drunken Master Monk alongside a Lore Bard and one moon Druid and one land Druid. So I figured if I die I should make a backup character in case. I had just told him I’m looking at a Rune Knight yesterday.

[@bluedragonguild]

This is a subclass I’m very interested in playing, very happy to see a video about it! Thanks Dudes!

[@beastslayer8729]

2:58 Kinda funny that d4 Deep Dive released a build today working around grapples, and one of the major features the build relied on was the Frost Rune. XD

[@droehnix]

Warforged is also a great race for this build in my opinion, especially if you’re playing a heavy armored tank. On separate note, I ended up taking the cloud rune early on in games, because my character is the main tank of the party, so anytime the cleric or wizard would be hit with a natural 20, I would redirect the attack onto myself.

[@thebitterfig9903]

Warforged and Hill Dwarf both have a lot going for them, nearly getting an extra ASI at first level. +1 AC or +1 HP are sorta kinda almost not quite the same as +2 Dex or +2 Con, but in a way that breaks the normal cap of 20 in a stat.

[@droehnix]

@@thebitterfig9903 agreed, and the main reason for me choosing a warforged for heavy tank builds, is that you don’t get a penalty for sleeping in armor. The racial traits are soooo good. Being to “sleep” and still able to keep watch is so nice.

[@jiiaga5017]

In a high level campaign, I combined a rune knight fighter with an MCDM wicked witch sorcerer, and it was really funny to sit in the middle of the party and have reaction options to bounce both attacks and spells. Really a fun combination.

[@iAmEnenra]

I played a Half-Elf/Goliath Rune Knight and absolutely loved it. He was a runic gunslinger. Went to 13th level and had a great time.

[@josephdouglas5242]

Fun fact. The unarmed fighting style fighters can pick up means not only can you punch well, but you can also kick for the same damage! Theoreticly, if you had the hill rune up, and your wizard cast enlarge on you, you could potentially grapple an ancient white dragon, while carrying a shield, and still be able to attack. This allows you to have both a high AC AND take half bps damage, without letting the dragon move to attack anyone else or position for effective breath attacks. Warning, this will teach your DM how to use dragons more effectively!

[@tassiasmith]

I've have two rune knights. One is a grappling build, and one is a tanky sentinel build. Both are really fun. Honestly there are so many options, I really think you can fit whatever type of fighting style you want into a rune knight and make it effective.

[@ansuz5903]

Playing this class as a Satyr. Got speed, got horns, got leaps for grappling flying creatures, and other cool satyr stuff. Because of this, I'm a fighter with a ton of charisma and advantage on intimidation checks. I also have the unarmed fighting style for better grappling, and I can do pretty much anything because I always have hands free.

[@wazzledog1007]

I'm getting to start my firbolg runeknight at lv8 (last character died) this weekend. Really looking forward to having absurd grapple checks, great carrying capacity and lots of defensive reactions. I just hope the snow of icewinddale doesn't betray my hidden step while I sneak up on my foes.