How to Play Clayface in Dungeons & Dragons (Batman Rogue Build for D&D 5e)

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Tdaoy we have a build for Clayface, one of Batman's most terrifying foes in Dungeons & Dragons! If you want to shapeshift, slam DC Heroes around, or just shrug off any damage, this is a great D&D 5e character for you!
Twitter: / tulokthe
Patreon: / tulok

[@tulokthebarbrarian2033]

Head to keeps.com/tulok to get 50% off your first order of hair loss treatment.

[@vernonhampton5863]

Bald is beautiful... or so I'm told.

[@Nazo-kage]

A campaign I’m actually working on, (if I ever DM let alone play D&D) Involves a scientist capturing and puréeing (Think the collectors in Mass Effect 2) Everyone they can get to the equivalent of one person for every class and sub class in D&D Infusino together to make a clay face like artificial god, it will literally have every ability at its fingertips.

[@penitentestudios1492]

I got ideas for your next dnd builds The beheaded-dead cells Penitent one, crisanta-blasphemous Cuphead and mugman-cuphead Bf,pico-friday night funkin I know all of these characters I'm asking of you are from indie games, but it's worth the try to come up with the stats

[@powerslohner6728]

Would changeling have worked?

[@shottygod13]

Requests for Black Manta & Mera from Aquaman

[@Specter053]

I love the whiplash between brutal, psychotic appearance of most of the animations and the jolly-go-show look of Harley Quinn's Clayface. It's pretty funny.

[@0_Body]

One reason I really like this series is I get to learn more about different sides to a popular character

[@MajorHickE]

I like coming to learn trivia like the worst thing that happens to Jason Todd as an accidental batarang. It's nice to know I'm not in for any horrible surprises while catching up on stories published before I was born.

[@magistermagus1211]

12:50 The no killing rule doesnt say anything about maimimg, amputating, breaking or hospitalizing someone, so you're good to go.

[@marcusc9931]

"Batman? Last time I met the guy, he dislocated my shoulder."

[@kingdomkey01]

I love playing characters with good disguise options. I mostly follow this channel because I enjoy the character building exercises of adapting established characters into a game system, but this is a build I might actually want to take for a spin. That is, if and when I get a chance to play a PC again, but that’s life as a forever DM.

[@remingtonwright6796]

You could always shamelessly insert them as a DMPC

[@kingdomkey01]

@@remingtonwright6796 The closest I ever get to using a DMPC is as a sort of “special guest” NPC that joins the party for a specific adventure that the NPC has a personal stake in, and even then, usually only if it’s a small party or if I want to establish the NPC as an ally.

[@MorrisJoshua26]

The bridesmaid curse...but for DMs. I feel ya.

[@DvirPick]

You can always have characters as recurring NPCs, either as allies or potential enemies (just maybe not from the get-go if you plan on using him more than once). Clayface has some escape routes so you can ensure he won't die so he can be seen again.

[@frostburn3266]

Not going to lie, I though we were going Moon Druid here to turn into an Earth Elemental at level 10 and get at will Alter Self at level 14

[@jammin383]

Clayface disguised himself as a moon druid to fool you

[@toe_sucker_4165]

@@jammin383 my God. He's done it again.

[@sethfox942]

This was a really creative build, I’m sorry it’s causing so much frustration for you. This is definitely going on my list of builds to try, it looks really fun

[@Mojomoud]

There's something hilariously ironic about Tulok and his amazing mane of hair doing a Keeps ad.

[@toxxaniusornica824]

I noticed that to lol

[@potatospam641]

Considering that the last couple of Batman villains have been bards. I wonder if there is a way to fit bard levels in previous Batman villains builds like Joker and Mr. Freeze, just to keep up with the bit that all of his villains are just bards

[@SenorVilla]

Yes... But is also pretty funny that the Joker isn't a bard tho.

[@marcusc9931]

Didn't Joker have bard levels?

[@toxxaniusornica824]

You have to be quirky to be a bat villian, and bards are the quirkiest things around.

[@Malicebane]

It's cause so many Batman villains are Doctors- and Bards are the ones who explicitly go to college

[@kbowman772]

@@marcusc9931 He did not. Just bard spells from Magic initiate.

[@nicolasvillasecaali7662]

Clayface seems like a simple villain, but the skill to impersonate someone in the package of a hulking actor is a talent that can become useful quite often. Strong, charismatic and muddy is a neat combo that make clayface a great character, but i still want my Tangle the lemur on a build from Tulok, a great mixture of strength and agility with a decent amount of love to get her hands dirty to get things done, all while not needing to be too many persons along the years to uphold the Alias.

[@janehates]

The genius thing about making him human is that it made a lot of viewers (myself included) commenting about how he should have been a plasmoid. Comments help the video be picked up by the algorithm and I’m happy to have done my part

[@thetribunaloftheimaginatio5247]

The more I watch these clips from "Harley Quinn," the more I want to make a Dr. Psycho build. Custom Lineage (he's basically a human mutant with dwarfism) with Small size and the Telekinetic feat, and mostly an Aberrant Mind Sorcerer, with maybe enough Rogue levels to be an Arcane Trickster.

[@internetlucina]

Custom Sorcerer Subclass: Sexism

[@thetribunaloftheimaginatio5247]

@@internetlucina Poison Ivy: *looking up at Giganta* "So... how did THIS work, sexually?" Dr. Psycho: "NOT. GREAT."

[@spiritandsteel]

Also, can we just talk about how well Tulok cleans up? You're looking sharp as hell, my man.

[@patricklabreche]

This build seems really fun and wanted to comment to say you're absolutely killing it, Tulok. I don't follow the Patreon and vote like I probably should (I'm subscribed, I just don't participate) and it's always so fun to be surprised at the builds that come out.

[@Eramiserasmus]

Great combo of abilities. Clayface could be an amazing support or team infiltrator.

[@reloadpsi]

If people are complaining about you making the majority of Batman villains into bards, do they really even get Batman? I'm NOT a fan of Batman, and yet even I know that Batman villains are usually cerebral assassins, emotional manipulators, or great orators and public figures (with malicious intent.) How are those not bards?

[@SpitfiretheCat16]

I mean, the first one on that list sounds more "mastermind rogue" to me.

[@simonschlosser683]

I really enjoy seeing all your batman villain builds.

[@vernonhampton5863]

He has yet to do Kite Man, hell yeah!

[@red.hood.wonder]

I think the Changeling race would also work SUPER well. A very basic disguise self for free

[@spadefictionstudios7273]

Wow! I was so confused on how to make this character, thanks for the help Tulok!!

[@Wouldyoukindly4545]

A few tweaks here and you could also have Envy from Full Metal Alchemist. ....dumping Int and Wis is on brand.

[@KRIOSthe5th]

If he isn't a bard, I will be heartbroken Edit, 3 minutes in: YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSDDSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

[@trevorgerstin2490]

Clayface is my favorite Batman villain and this build seems really fun. Can’t wait to get my evil actor on.

[@toxxaniusornica824]

He's mine to! I love charismatic killing machines!

[@ernestoportillo5136]

3:48 Tulok you son of shepard, oh my god that's amazing. How are you that funny?

[@Shalakor]

Ya know, I'd often just straight up agree with "if they started life as a human, they're a human" but it feels like some of these supervillain builds might be more accurately said to be transformed so completely that they were subjected to the Reincarnate spell at some point. Still, hard to just throw that into a build. Couldn't even Contingency it, since it's an hour casting time.

[@ShoNuffTheShoGun1]

This is so badass. You should do 1 shot fights between some of these builds. They’re so sick. Lol

[@dannyacevedo174]

Love today's video. I watch every single one because i appreciate you and everything you do. Your videos are the highlights of my week

[@Morathor]

What a fun build. Just kept getting more excited level by level

[@ciaguy0128]

Tulok, long time watcher first time commenter. Just wanted to say how much I've had with some these builds and how entertaining and easy to follow the process is. You're definitely my favorite character builder on KZbin and I've recommended your stuff to all my DnD friends. Hope you're good, and can't wait for more content....but you know.....on your own time.

[@zamba136]

tbh, i don't know much about the character. but totally thought you might go for Glamour Bard for "turning into a form, giving your allies protection in the form of Temporary HP. so mud shields and such."

[@krumpits]

I know its UA but i think a plasmoid bard 1 beast barbarian 4 with eldritch adapt for mask of many faces gets you a clayface character the fastest

[@thecharmer5981]

This is what I was expecting

[@thenethuns5271]

Yes but he likes to make complicated builds that wont come online until lv 20

[@lucasm.3864]

5:33 I appreciate that Steamboat Willy-Era reference.

[@SwearWoolf]

Sweet, adding to Batman's Bards gallery

[@whatistobedumb7119]

This one is a lot of fun, definitely adding it to my to-play list

[@st_jimmytwin7681]

I feel like the UA Plasmoid race would be pretty perfect for Clayface too, but the free Actor feat from V. Human is pretty on brand

[@thecharmer5981]

I was pretty sure it was gonna be a plasmoid honestly

[@spiritandsteel]

Came to say this. I can see why, though. Great build.

[@JakeTheHawk]

Yeah but... He's a human

[@thenethuns5271]

@@JakeTheHawk was* human. Changeling would have been decent too

[@Monkplaysbass]

This is a great one.

[@edgar-sama642]

I loved the young justice footage #SaveEarth16

[@jimmymiller1313]

This one looks so fun!

[@johnquiett1085]

I think this might be my favorite Batman villain build yet.

[@josephmarrow5598]

We interrupt your regularly scheduled character request to thank you for having done a Batman character

[@Zarkonem]

Lets see, most well known and prominent feature of Clayface is that he can make himself look like anybody at any time and his acting background helps him sell it. So Warlock for mask of many faces eldritch invocation? No?

[@zach8596]

Man, I can't count how many times I've sprayed a room with myself. It's been a lot. Probably way more than is reasonable, but I don't have a concrete number.

[@alarin612]

Great video, man. It's interesting to see Bards used in interesting ways that use the mechanics to effectively mimic these fictional characters while ignoring/stretching the "lore" that they are just magic musicians. Like with a lot of your builds, the spells are no longer "magic he learned" and now just replicate things we've seen them do. I'd encourage you to think the same way about races. "Earth genasi" doesn't HAVE to mean "descended from genies." It could just mean "big earth-made guy." I've seen some interesting stuff along those lines in other games - a fire genasi who, instead of being born of an ifrit, was made through magic rituals by a religious order of fire worshippers to be a champion of justice. Or, a tiefling who, instead of descended from infernals, was born a normal human but spent too much time on infernal planes and started taking on devilish traits. Reskinning the origins of races can be a lot of fun. Devil's advocate says you can do the same for variant human, of course - when doing these builds it's more about the mechanics the race gives than what the race is "supposed to be."

[@zacharybosley1935]

My mans was throwing some S H A D E today and I'm here for it

[@aquaticdemon1]

"That's gotta be the WORST thing that happened to Jason Todd....." Too soon man....too soon.

[@TLhikan]

Hey Tulok! I’ve really enjoyed binging your backlog, so I hope this comment comes off as appreciative and not pedantic self-importance 😬. In the strengths and weaknesses section of each build, I’d be interested in your thoughts on the “nova-ness” of a build vs. how consistently it can deal damage/perform its signature abilities turn to turn or encounter to encounter. Also, whether the ramp-up of the build in an encounter factors into how much fun it is to play; I’ve had characters that felt like by the time they had all their buffs ready, half of either the enemies or the party was dead. Also, are there any characters you’ve wanted to build but can’t because of not having footage for them? Many of my favorite characters that I’d like to play in D&D are currently still limited to print.

[@PirvateerKurei]

I just thought of a sadistic bard that stalks the memories of people, disguises themselves as them and then torments their victims while bludgeoning them to death

[@AmusinglySaunters]

Okay the Jason joke was my favorite 11:23

[@LilyCult]

I would say that *maybe* you could swap out some of spells specifically for changing your form by simply being a Plasmoid.

[@msf2399]

“Stealing the blood of a copycat killer who had superpowers that you give to yourself to give yourself superpowers-” The depressing thing is that my knee-jerk reaction to this wasn’t “WTF?!” but rather “Wait, no, that’s Preston Payne (aka Clayface 3)!” …Did they give Basil Preston’s backstory in a more recent run? Because if yes, who… who was the original Clayface? (For those who don’t know, I highly recommend Casually Comic’s “Claylist,” where she goes over the original stories for each one of the Clayfaces, as well as some of their more modern reappearances. I believe she’s up to 7 at time of this writing? Anyway, DC’s been mashing them together since the Batman Animated Series. Basil [#1] is the only actor, Matt [#2] was a petty crook as well as the first shapeshifter/proper Clay-person, Preston [#3] was injected with Matt’s blood and needed to melt people or suffer debilitating pain but didn’t get shapeshifting powers, Sondra [#4] got her powers from terrorists and could mimic superpowers as well as physical forms, Cassius [#5] was the child of Sondra & Preston and got all his mom’s powers (mimicked or otherwise) as well as being able to produce independent clay-creatures which could be reabsorbed back into him… Hell, the arc which introduced Sondra & Preston is literally about Basil stealing everyone’s powers; he was just a talented actor/makeup artist originally! DC just keeps shoving them together in both backstory & powers and hoping nobody calls them out on it.)

[@warioskapelli3100]

Yes I just started catching up on CC’s Claylist! She just dropped another video too. What a weird history for 1 villain theme…

[@Avigorus]

I'd use a homecooked Undying Warlock (buff the abilities, maybe change some spells; he got his powers quite literally from the dead, after all) or RAW Fiendlock (spell list leaves something to be desired but the other features work mechanically, just ignore the default fluff) myself, and go for Master of Myriad Forms. Entertainer background with Actor feat, get a Reincarnate into a Custom Lineage at the same time as acquiring that Invocation. Weaker in AL cause I like buffing Undying's healing abilities far better than relying on Fiend, but either way still works better IMO. Maybe go ahead with that Fighter dip, but stop at 5 instead of 6.

[@aetherspiralknight]

2:19 Now I actually want to play an Arkham game! Clayface > Joker

[@DragonTwilight]

Another option, swap out two Fighter levels for two Warlock levels. Take Undead for Form of Dread to become a scary clay monster with temp HP, then on your second level take the Eldritch Invocation Mask of Many Faces. That way you can cast Disguise Self at will instead of being limited by spell shots.

[@Hypersaiyanike]

B-but punchy Boi. I'm kidding, and you're right.

[@itwasidio1736]

My first time seeing Clayface was the Lego Batman game, I didn't know how deep his character was.

[@gargax3925]

Finally! The character I'll be able to gaslight, gatekeep, *and* girl boss with.

[@PyroJohn19]

Next batman villain I want to see is Scareface and the Ventriloquist.

[@GingerObiWan]

"Mountains don't hit people. Imagine if they did." *Gregor Clegane has entered the chat*

[@lunchboxcomiks]

Rune Knight has really proven to be a boon to the making builds. If people want a buld in the vein of frenxy dane and monk Raz. Giant might fighter to 6 for more stats and feats. rest in to beast barb for shape shifting weapons.

[@fightingfalcon777]

Seriously, though. Rune Knight quickly became my favorite Fighter subclass, but I figured it would be unlikely to be used in many builds on Tulok’s channels just because I figured it would be way too niche. But I have pleasantly surprised just how much use he has been getting out of it for so many of these builds! 😊

[@darkherculeskabuterimon7203]

How to play Clayface: Lv.20 Moon Druid, turn into an earth elemental. Procced to never turn back.

[@WalkinStereotype]

I’m just happy that Oswald the Lucky Rabbit got recognition and saved from fall damage.

[@jackalope2302]

I thought he was talking about Penguin

[@jackalope2302]

Mr. Freeze: 🥶 King Shark: Oh my God! It's Beyonce. Clayface: Oh my God! It's Lady guGah! Harley Quinn: 🙄

[@martmantzt]

I once lured Batman to an old abandoned warehouse, and then... I threw a rock! .... ..... it was a BIG rock.

[@VaidLeVey]

How about a build for Kiteman, Hell Yeah?

[@AZDfox]

Ok, I've got nothing for this one. Outside of being charismatic, this is nothing like Jesse Faden.

[@jamesphillips7539]

I sure thought you were going Changeling

[@starfire09]

I can confirm, getting hit by a batarang is the worst thing that happens to Jason Todd

[@user-er2ez2hm4s]

Thanks

[@thomasdevine867]

Thank you for Kirk and Spock! Still pulling for Eglantine Price (Bednobs and Broomsticks), Winifred Sanderson (Hocus Pocus), Prince Voltran (Flash Gordon), Counselor Troi (Star Trek tNG), Mary Poppins, and the Reverend Doctor Syn (The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh) Bugs Bunny would be great. And it would be wonderful to see Sir Dragonet King Arthur's court jester( Idylls of the King/Morte d'Arthur).

[@calebsmith4530]

Whisper Bards are super fun. Y’know who’d also be fun? Michael Weston. You can take your time though, he’s not going anywhere.

[@ericwatson1590]

Hey could you perhaps do a build for a World Trigger character? It's frankly an amazing series that I think you'd enjoy, if you can get past the 1st season and filler arc, namely I'd think building Yuma would be fun. Perhaps something like Eldritch Knight or Hexblade to get his Scorpion weapons with a few levels of rogue due to his tendency to attack people while they're focused on other opponents to take out enemies while they're distracted. I'd also like to see what you come up with for his various uses of the Grasshopper trigger, as catapult could be a decent re-flavoring of him launching debris, but other aspects of it like him launching opponents to put them off balance could be interesting to make.

[@andyrobin7196]

im guessing that new ooze race with the eldritch invocation feat for at will disguise self, probably the actor feat as well and the unarmed fighting style

[@alexfalcone8963]

What dca movie was that clayface from? He looked so awesome and badass! I recognized the harley quinn and young justice but not the third

[@jackalope2302]

You mean where he's hanging out with Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, King Shark and Dr. Psycho? 2019's Harley Quinn cartoon. Harley quits working for Mr. J and forms her own gang.

[@Straven93]

Cant remember if that's bad blood or son of batman

[@sethmaxwell9464]

Can you do overlord characters??????!!!!!!! Ains, albedo, shalltear, cocytus, aura and mare, demierge maybe even a couple of the monster style maids like the bug girl and the gelatinous cube one...

[@Dadpool8652]

Love the videos, could you do a Tobirama Senju build? Would be super fun to play.

[@CyrusMajin]

I don’t recall if you use races from UAs. But if you do, why not re flavored Plasmoid as his race? Edit: To be clear, this is just out of curiosity.

[@Drahjan_TheoryBREAK]

If Clayface was actually a professional actor, then Bard should be fine. I guess. But my concern is the race. Why is he not a Changling?

[@MrSHADOWANGEL999]

Love these rogues

[@DerrickBarrows]

What can Penguin do that is incredible? Or Two Face?

[@deepseastonecore3017]

How often do l make jokes about chemistry? Periodically.

[@jacobreichert6239]

I’m surprised. No Tensers Transformation?

[@CosmereInformant]

Commenting here to drown out the idiots complaining about him being human. These videos are great, we appreciate it!

[@BJGvideos]

Where? Where are these supposed idiots complaining? I'm going through the whole comment section and haven't seen *any*.

[@Grim_death144]

Yes I need help with a build like this

[@ZaneBlade88]

Better monk than an actual monk.

[@dragonmaster_707]

Can you do a Killer Croc build?

[@gamemasteranthony2756]

Kinda curious to see how this build could be done with that amorphous Monk subclass (Was it Monk?) that you created, Tulok. Part two in the future, maybe?

[@ArtGuyCharlie]

Love all the Harley Quinn footage just finished watching that recently, it’s one hell of a show.

[@philipsanchez5852]

Okay but like tulok or all people has to know that he’s schilling for hrt, right?

[@butchdeadlift10]

I am more a a Matt Hagan fan than Basil. Is this why we are not looking at BTAS and The Batman clayface?

[@dennislogan6781]

Query Clay Face vs Sandman (Spiderman villain)? Who wins? I say Clay Face

[@EarthDragonPuke]

Could Changeling work better instead of variant human?

[@thegoldensuit4771]

I personally feel like a better race choice might be the Reborn lineage, to be a human turned clay monster, the resistances also work heavily in favor of this. I know V. Human is great because of the free feat, but I think being literally a human turned clay golem gets the idea across a lot better

[@CL22CBURN]

Is there a way that you could make a video of majin buu or Kid Buu

[@raydaveed]

Be this, this and this... Another bard? 😂

[@matthewdenz1045]

Infinity Ultron Build?

[@3dmonDantez]

How about a Yu Yu Hakusho - Genkai build?

[@nickth6972]

A clay person who transforms into other people. TOTALLY NOT A CHANGELING

[@Itachi45481]

wouldn't eldritch adapt to cast disguise self at will be better then spending spell slots for his signature ability

[@bartlettmeeks]

Kite Man build WHEN! :)

[@Oflyin]

If your DM allows UA, then snag plasmoid for your race and you are in business here.

[@Dickythemainman]

The Plamoid race from a recent Unearthed Arcana would be a solid choice as well, eh?

[@JakeTheHawk]

But he's a human

[@Dickythemainman]

@@JakeTheHawk Correction: he *was* a human. If a terrible experiment turned him from human to a being made of clay in the comics, what exactly is preventing you from saying the same thing happened to a human to turn them into a plasmoid creature?

[@TheRedVelvetScare]

Clayface is a lot like Sandman, but ~gooey~

[@TheRedVelvetScare]

Also, they're not really alike at all. Except being ~gooey~