How to Play Envy in Dungeons & Dragons (Fullmetal Alchemist Build for D&D 5e)

Today we have a build for Envy from Fullmetal Alchemist in Dungeons & Dragons! if you love shapeshifting and want to take that to monstrous sizes, this is the D&D 5e build for you!
Twitter: / tulokthe
Patreon: / tulok

[@Psykolord1989]

1:12 Let's not forget as ENvy said as he began regretting that decision, "Oh crap, that's right! This is the guy who killed Lust!" He somehow *FORGOT* that he was talking to at that point the only human to successfully kill a homunculus.

[@Kayta-Linda]

Big oof.

[@lanceward5904]

This build really captures how horrifying it is to fight Envy. He just won’t die. It’s why the homunculi are so terrifying.

[@aaronsirkman8375]

If bad guy not die from kill why not kill more until die? - signed, a Barbarian.

[@Kayta-Linda]

@@aaronsirkman8375 Basically the answer, yeah :D..

[@elib6465]

Brotherhood is great but they cut out the arc where Envy leads a Jimmy buffet cover band. Glad tulok is a true fan who's read Envys Jimmy buffet cover band arc!!! Great build btw.

[@XanderMax]

Bards can also rely on non-musical performances like acrobatic and/or tumbling performances. Envy likes to jump around, seems like a good fit. Pardon me while I feed the algorithms

[@goldenegg8of100]

Or comedy, they’re always doing impressions.

[@RobertBass]

Honestly, Bard is a great choice for a spy-type character, especially if you want to go the spellcaster-y route. Bards are skill monkeys, have a spell list loaded with enchantment and illusion spells, and Mantle of Whispers is perfect for this kind of character. Heck, in Faerun there's an entire organization of spies called the Harpers who are largely bards.

[@thomaskalland9276]

I really thought it was gonna be 14 moon Druid, 6 Astral self Monk to do his at will transformations, and strange transforming body attacks/strength.

[@Nietzschesghost]

FYI you've slightly misunderstood Silvery Barbs, it doesn't matter (RAW) if the enemy fails the reroll you can still give advantage to another creature. It's why its such an OP spell for 1st level as my DM found out this week :)

[@TheMARStudios]

An Ancient White Dragon and 8 T-Rex, if that was an encounter, you'd think your DM was trying to kill you XD A totally fun build for roleplay and combat, and always love seeing Whisper Bard get used since it's so weird. Actually rewatched the Bender build recently and the way he and Envy use their charisma is oddly similar, I never noticed till just now.

[@dillonking1423]

Here's the thing. I know people get mad about the amount of bards, but as someone who LOVES the mechanics of bards but maybe not the traditional depiction of them, I get so jazzed when I see non musical bard options!

[@sirusburningham4521]

to be fair, he does turn into a dragon in Conquerer of Shambala

[@zenebean]

Was considering using this monstrous shapeshifter archetype, but using beast barbarian instead of fighter to give them natural weapons they can whip out. You wouldn't be able to concentrate/cast all those bard spells, but many are buffs and you can still use psychic whispers. A back up when you roll poorly and somehow go through *all* of your polymorphs

[@johnquiett1085]

Oh...Hurl through Hell would make a good Gluttony ability though.

[@zidarose]

Always love me some Full Metal Alchemist builds.

[@xvader9445]

I have never been more inspired to play a Bard....wow

[@EricTheGrey]

I ran a 2e game a long time ago, using my own version of the Homunculi from FMA. None of my players watched anime, so I felt no pity. This would have been so much more difficult for the party to handle. I might have to revamp it with this and the other builds as BBEG's.

[@YouAnd_OnlyYou]

I knew you'd dump wisdom for Envy, I knew it!

[@sullivantwiss1954]

Damn, that's a lot of HP. Hope that for another set of videos, we see more RWBY characters or even some characters from The Owl House.

[@mosescola4174]

I love the fact that when he faces rejection and just doesn’t get his way he tries to destroy it.

[@burrito9327]

Envy could prolly be a good bard, I bet if you give him a mic they'd drop some HOT bars.

[@kingkered01]

Honestly, I admit. Seeing this gives me a good idea for a big bad the players get to meet multiple times throughout a campaign.

[@benmills4358]

I'm very Envious about this build

[@ВиталийГлинкин-ж1э]

I'd like to see Lady Nagant build. I mean, she's probably going to be artificer-ranger multiclass, but still.

[@mrkaa5221]

As much as I enjoy Brotherhood's monster form of Envy, I still prefer the long dragon/serpent from the 2003 version. I was hoping when he talked about the white dragon transformation he'd post a clip of it.

[@Ty17V]

...Memory unlocked of the fanfiction I wrote with Envy being the lead singer of a rock band when I was a kid.

[@smiegto]

what i thought was gonna bappen: bard :). what i didnt think of: custom lineage being perfectly good at being a changeling. very nice tulok :)

[@Mario.1997]

I would have thought you the changeling was spot on for Envy.

[@NobodyDungeons]

One thing I often do is healing word to bring an ally above zero HP then polymorph them so I don't have to constantly bring them back.

[@DEADLYRAT34]

Technically, rules as written, you can't do both of those on the same turn in 5e. If you cast a leveled spell as a bonus action, you can only cast cantrips as an action for the rest of that turn. I suppose if you did some wacky multiclassing to get action surge as well, then you could do this by using a different healing spell and then action surging to cast polymorph. Its kind of a weird hidden rule in the spell casting rules, but worth noting if your trying to play by the rules.

[@matthewhoward-white463]

Great stuff as always bud! Would love to see Johnny Cage! A monk with a big mouth (charisma monk), would love to see how you pull that off 😁

[@VanessaVersus]

*extremely* based decision to use brie larson's black sheep

[@keeganwolters3837]

This also works as Alex Mercer from Prototype 2, since we just got his anti-hero version

[@jordanarnold6783]

I have never commented positively so quickly, the only thing better than the Brie Larson cover of Black Sheep are your puns.

[@nananamamana3591]

Envy's gotta be one of my favorite genders, ngl, big fan.

[@devinspencer1678]

I was expecting Shapechange rather than True Poly. It's the same idea, but Shapechange lets you keep your mental stats, use your class abilities, and you can change to a different creature at any time for the duration

[@l-space1019]

Shapechange isn't a Bard spell.

[@devinspencer1678]

@@l-space1019 Oh dang, you right. I thought I saw that it was. My bad.

[@AZDfox]

Jesse Faden also has some self healing with a powerful punch

[@MrSHADOWANGEL999]

A build that will leave you green

[@papierowyszczur9234]

I know I'm late and my comment probably isn't very relevant, because the builds don't take magic items into account, but... there is a way to play Envy as a changeling. There are two magic items that would allow him to transform his clothes with him: glamoured studded leather (+1 studded leather that can look like any kind of clothes, one of my favorite magic items in the game) and shiftweave (a common magic item from Eberron which is 5 sets of clothes in one, a specialty of changeling craftsmen).

[@whitefox3189]

Power Word Kill always works for shapeshifting tanks.

[@mayalynch]

It'd be cool to see a Phantom of the Opera build

[@vernonhampton5863]

Not all bards are musicians. Fight me.

[@lunchboxcomiks]

Watching this channel makes me wanna play bards more then anything else has, aside from Jack the Whipper Build Suggestion: Jack the Whipper!

[@unknownentityenthusiast6765]

I would have expected Changeling for nonmagical alter self type gimmicks but ehh mask of many faces works fine

[@brewdaly1873]

Someone else pointed out that Polymorph specifically says it has no effect on shapeshifters, so going Changeling would actually completely ruin this build.

[@unknownentityenthusiast6765]

@@brewdaly1873 damn I didn’t know that one

[@ancientbrassdragon2679]

Thanks @brewdaly for spreading the good news of changelings most fun random benefit. (I’m the other person who pointed it out.) to be fair, I only learned this when I tried to polymorph my changeling PC and was “um actually-ed” but it’s 100% legit. All credit should go to for Yaekte, the changeling moon Druid.

[@wizrad2099]

@@ancientbrassdragon2679 I did some digging, this is apparently a misinterpretation. Polymorph does not affect "shapechangers" which is apparently a specific tag for certain monsters. It does not apply to player races like Changelings. Furthermore, some sources have reworded Polymorph to say that "Shapechangers automatically succeed the saving throw," and since the saving throw only applies to unwilling creatures you can cast it on yourself regardless of the shapechanger tag.

[@tokiplays5827]

Winry Rockbell could be a cool build!

[@PieMan8522]

Says: Enbrie Larson Shows: Envy Arson

[@nicholaswhaling7233]

I kinda wonder what D&D versions of Darkstalkers would be like. Jon Talbain build, anyone?

[@vernonhampton5863]

Some players: "Bards are useless". Tulok: "Like and subscribe, I'll hold my own beer".

[@zemineriver8043]

Who says bards are useless? They're rogues with full spell casting

[@BJGvideos]

The only time my bard is useless is when he tries to attack. He keeps missing with his crossbow and then I have to roll to see how many bolts I can pick up afterwards

[@ojmarchus2831]

I'm going to guess changeling bard for max shape shifting/deception, healing, and polymorph. Maybe a dip into monk or fighter for unarmed fighting

[@ojmarchus2831]

Great build! Totally forgot about eldritch adept but I agree it fits better

[@umbracolt6364]

Self care is never gross and Metric is a good band

[@doomfiredan]

I would love to see you make maple from bofuri into DND as she would be a intresting build

[@itsmefirefox]

Simple 17 level in battle mage and wish plus a little artifice

[@radrob83]

lol I love it when you segue into bard it’s just hilarious 🎉

[@БенедиктХристиан]

Thanks.

[@Pedro12846]

Pls make Leonardo Watch from Kekkai sensen

[@jacobweinstock2180]

Jackie Estacado requests your presence to meet with ...The Darkness and it's many .... inhabitants And a Dr.Fate build cause a guardian of order and light is the opposite of the Darkness

[@nojusticenetwork9309]

Not gonna lie, was hoping to see a Changeling for this. Yes, Disguise Self via Mask of Many Faces solves the clothes issues but the whole thing is an illusion instead of being a true body morph. No reason you couldn't get both honestly imo

[@ancientbrassdragon2679]

Changelings can't be polymorphed, since they have the shapechanger trait and the spell polymorph says "this spell has no effect on a shapechanger." This build kinda falls apart without the self-polymorphing into giant monsters, which is Envy's whole deal.

[@nojusticenetwork9309]

@@ancientbrassdragon2679 that would be true if that element of Envy was a hallmark of the character. But that monstrous form only shows up like 2-3 times in Envy's entire screen time in either the manga or anime. Too much weight was put on this one aspect versus the main thing being Envy as a shapechanging infiltrator. Is Polymorph fun? Absolutely, but with conventional wisdom holding that most games don't go beyond 10-12 levels, building an entire around one spell is kind of...not fun when you want to realize a fantasy early

[@aceofaces0007]

Adding to the algorithm, I actually think Custom Lineage for Mask of Many Faces isn't that much better than the Changling's ability, namely because, with Disguise Self, there's a chance someone will make a sufficient Investigation check to see through the illusion, and Disguise Self doesn't alter your voice. Plus, proficiency with a Disguise Kit could compensate for the Changling not being able to change clothes via the transformation. But at least with the Changling, the transformation stands up to scrutiny and you can mimic the voice without needing the Actor feat (which also has a chance to fail an inspection).

[@brewdaly1873]

But, as someone else pointed out, both Polymorph and True Polymorph specifically say that they have no effect on shapeshifters, and this build doesn't work as well without those spells.

[@bruhmomento7234]

I am begging you to do the other shovel knight characters, Plague Knight, King Knight, and Specter Knight specifically.

[@Ty17V]

Now is the real test. Could the Poison Ivy build beat the Envy build or has she finally been dethroned? (Or maybe she has already. I'm unsure.)

[@Fae2705]

First! Edit: Love your videos keep up the awesome work!

[@cheezeofdoom6260]

You should make Sauron next

[@buttertoad420]

Please do one about Slash from TMNT!

[@leonardgreen4248]

Two bards this week babiessssssss

[@Lrbearclaw]

5:30 - Funny enough, as per the DMG (hidden in the monster stat info, page 268 iirc) when your size goes up a category, your damage is increased. Large is double Medium, Huge is triple, etc.

[@Wiredj]

It's an optional rule for the DM to use when building custom monsters. Doesn't seem like it applies here.

[@clorensgregory2445]

please make a video on how to become a zodiac knight

[@lordastolfo9531]

yo it'd be pretty cool if you made an astolfo build from fate

[@jnru43]

Can you Pandora's Actor from Overlord? I love to see another type of Changeling/Custom Lineage characters!

[@TheKrazyCossack]

Any chance for some more LOTR builds? Talion from the Shadow of War video games? Thranduil from the Hobbit ? The Witch King of Aangmar ?

[@liamhawkins2326]

Just out of curiosity do you plan to do more Mortal Kombat characters? I’d love to see what you could do for Kenshi or Barraka

[@charlottesanford3895]

something that wouldve been neat as a warlock, if a bit of a stretch, could be pact of chains, make it a slug or octopus or something, then gift of the chain masters. then you could flavor that as the lil leech fucker envy and say they are why you heal so much. this is also just... like what three levels for one thing though

[@medusa7690]

Can you do how to play Lucy in dnd the one who can access her entire brain

[@blueredlover1060]

The one thing I noticed most about the video was how fine Lust looked when she was on screen. I know it's an Envy video, but damn.

[@remingtonwright6796]

I'm sure someone is keeping track, so who's he missing from the homunculus collection? I'm thinking Gluttony and Sloth

[@RubberDuckyProject]

Wait to confirm create character as a Warforge?

[@xvader9445]

Can you do Morpheus from Sandman

[@chaoslordlordofchaos]

Can we get a Scar build please?

[@rebelcity8632]

Do guts from berserk

[@didikamenick7155]

How did you not make them a changeling

[@brianformica2599]

“Ruse the hughes” 😂

[@BlandoGaming]

TOO SOON! 😭

[@ArcCaravan]

While I completely understand people can just change the build for their own game so it's pointless to mention how I think it'd be better a different way, I can't help but mention that Changeling shapechanging can't be seen through with an investigation check or physical contact unlike Disguise Self.

[@loganrenfrow2544]

Well Envy actually does notably get seen through from an investigation check at one point so it seems like that would just make it less accurate honestly.

[@ArcCaravan]

@@loganrenfrow2544 True, but those were about either obvious impersonations that weren't intended to deceive or acting differently than the original. More like guessing a Changeling is a shapeshifter than a flaw in the disguise.

[@loganrenfrow2544]

@@ArcCaravan Well specifically I'm talking about the mole that Envy forgot that tipped Hughes off.

[@ArcCaravan]

@@loganrenfrow2544 Same thing a shapechanger could forget.

[@aanthonyddiaz]

Pleaseeeee do namor from wakanda forever

[@jhonea6535]

I feel like this much polymorphism is gonna fall to concentration saves a lot...at least that's been my experience.

[@scarman1675]

He does kinda look like an alt metal band drummer though, ngl

[@apex2000]

Don't think they explicitly say Envy can't play musical instrument. Maybe just not in the mood.

[@sageneodraconus]

I wish the bard class was more malleable in what you choose to perform with. It shouldn't be JUST musical instruments. What about a megaphone/microphone type thing for vocals? What about stage makeup to be an actor? They are both optional forms of artistic performance. I'd allow them I. My games. I love reflavoring things to make them neat and unique. But RAW it must be a lute or flute or whatever to play a song or something. Like I said. Good thing I would allow it in my games. But sad that I'd probably never be able to do so if I was just a player for another DM

[@joshualynn6459]

More Black sheep ALWAYS lol

[@haseoyamazaki8897]

Instead of a bard class focus I would have gone rogue Mastermind

[@theHedgex1]

Easy. Be jealous of everyone and everything that got more than you and then be jealous of everybody that doesn't have everything you have.

[@JustGeorge770]

videos good, bing bong noise bad ☺

[@nicolasvillasecaali7662]

one don’t need to look like a monster to be one, a true monster can have as many as you please. I find more joy in the good and selfless characters (like Tangle the lemur for example, Sir Tulok, please?) but when a monster of many faces (in many ways of the word) is another option, I can see how some can be tempted to abandon empathy to humanity and awe on the ruin of the many. Envy the Jealous is a creature with a ruthless, and sinister persona who holds hidden a childish mentality that surface to taunt the ones he afflict misery, being created with the purpose of inducing distrust and bloodshed he is resentful of anyone that suggest he is ugly or that confront its inner insecurities of pride, a sign of the dark deep in his psychic that didn’t ever reached fulfillment; keep your inner demons and that schadenfreude attitude in check, the people that you try to kill might put aside their differences to destroy you, but as a member of a party you do understand the concept of friendship, don’t you?

[@gamemasteranthony2756]

So...weird thought: The Homonculi from FMA vs. The Seven Deadly Sins from their own anime. Who else wants to see that besides me?

[@aaronsirkman8375]

The Homunculi would Homuncu-DIE, just slightly slower than the average bad guy in the show. Those peeps are way OP; the mangaka basically took the max power level from his previous manga, Kongou Banchou, and set that as the floor for Nanatsu no Taizai.

[@snowzerox2868]

In order to take Eldritch adept you need to have spellcasting

[@zemineriver8043]

They're a bard at level 1 so they do have spell casting

[@sylviasherman5517]

👀 p͓̽r͓̽o͓̽m͓̽o͓̽s͓̽m͓̽

[@TheDungeonmaster64]

First

[@fallenesther]

I'm not watching this to learn how to become a bloodborne boss in dnd. Nooo who would do such a thingg

[@Avigorus]

Gotta admit, I hate Magic Jar. Why? Aside from permanent body swap arguments that have heavy RAW problems, every other possible function has an alternative in 5e, with only one possible niche. Specifically, it lets you infiltrate a location where somehow mind control is rendered impossible but possession is not blocked (not even Hallow allows that, you'd need IDK magic item of Mind Blank Field and locals can't Hallow even via Wish), locals are beyond humanoid disguise magic or Polymorph and True Polymorph & Shapechange are unavailable and/or locals have True Seeing, and a mundane disguise is not feasible. Yeah, that's a lot to arrange... Anyhoot if you're curious what the RAW problems with body swap are, read more: Firstly, if you cast it twice yourself and the DM agrees to read it as you are returned by the second spell to the first of two bodies you possessed... congratulations, you are now beyond RAW and probably cohabitating with another soul if not subject to a deity stepping in to restore balance by removing you from existence (at best, DM homebrews something, like you're now a weird Kalashtar or your two souls can conflict for control ala sentient magic item possession or the like). Even if you can think of a workaround for that like a means of getting the target to cast it twice for you to vacate their body for you so you're not the one caught up in the glitch... there is a very clear rule that nobody can be affected by multiple instances of the same named effect at the same time (this is why you can't double-up on Bless or Haste), and even if one has to focus on the _soul_ being affected by the same spell twice, that's still happening. There is even a Sage Advice that at least acknowledges that two entities cannot possess the same target via simultaneous Magic Jar effects. So yeah, this spell, by itself, cannot reliably and safely transfer your soul to another body, even with multicasting, unless the DM is extremely lenient and going beyond RAW, yet alone RAI (as I highly doubt any creators intended for permanent body hopping and am frankly astounded they haven't already quashed this).

[@Grim_death144]

A bit off topic but am I the only one who thought envy was a girl at first

[@aaronsirkman8375]

Envy is all genders, all the time. And also none.

[@Izonxy]

MAKE TWILIGHT SPARKLE PLEASE YOU FUCKING DOLT I WILL NEVER STOP.

[@LetheSoda]

Acting bards, rejoice at representation.

[@emperorxander666]

Not having them be a changling is you biggest mistake I've ever seen on this channel

[@joshuabeatty7371]

Yeah but changelings can't be affected by polymorph so it'd just be envy turning into other people not his monster form.

[@chinoborrego4828]

@@joshuabeatty7371 says where??? book & page of this así a player character, please.

[@girlwithtehface5880]

Changeling can't change their clothes with their shape-shifting ability, but Disguise Self does. This is more mechanically appropriate to Envy.

[@ancientbrassdragon2679]

Changelings have the shapechange ability. Polymorph the spell says “this spell has no effect on a shapechanger”- basic rules 266

[@ancientbrassdragon2679]

The ability in changeling is called “shapechanger.” I don’t have MPMM in front of me right now to cite the exact page number, but I did look that up to re-verify. Therefore, changelings are immune to all versions of polymorph (edited for clarity).

[@nguoisaohoa6410]

Is this a girl or boy the one in thumbnail

[@NeverSpeak6]

The literal canon answer is neither

[@NeverSpeak6]

It’s a fake person made by effectively magic, it doesn’t have genitals until it morphs the parts on

[@nguoisaohoa6410]

@@NeverSpeak6 oh okay