How to Play Snake Eyes in Dungeons & Dragons (GI Joe Build for D&D 5e)

Today we have a build for Snake Eyes from GI Joe in Dungeons & Dragons! If you want to be a cool ninja in D&D 5e, this will do that.
Twitter: / tulokthe
Patreon: / tulok

[@IdiotinGlans]

Fun fact: one of most beloved issues of classic G.I.Joe comics is Snake Eyes writing a letter explaining his experiences in the ‘Nam. So yes, people do like his calligraphy.

[@ericpeterson8732]

I was going to say that since he is a non caster mute, his calligraphy skill would be used more than other builds who have it.

[@foxfireinferno197]

Throwing stars are also silent and can be poisoned. Nothing wrong with having multiple options so you can pick the right one for the job.

[@somniferrous]

so cool of tulok to do a snake eyes AND storm shadow build in the same day

[@rayquanthomas8137]

Can you do Rin Okumura from Blue exorcist

[@somniferrous]

@@rayquanthomas8137 yeah ill get right on that bossman

[@user-fd5nz5lo7m]

Missed opportunity to call Sneak attack - snake attack.

[@adamlawther6356]

Alternate idea: Swap Rogue & Fighter levels for 8 in Gloom Stalker Ranger. Level 3 gets you 60ft of darkvision [always useful], invisibility to creatures relying on darkvision to see you [giving you advantage on attacks & you can still move, unlike Steady Aim], an extra attack on your first turn in every fight that deals an extra d8 damage [more reliable to have than Action Surge] and you can add your Wisdom mod [which can be capped now] to initiative. Level 7 is WIS save proficiency [never bad to have since it's one of the more common saves]. A few Ranger spells stand out to me for this too. Hunter's Mark increases damage on all your attacks, no conditions required; Pass Without Trace boosts Stealth checks for the entire party [yours would be through the roof]; Summon Beast gets you the pet wolf.

[@benjaminholcomb9478]

Maybe not as snake eyes, but as a character build, absolutely.

[@maksudshtrudel1089]

I have a character build which is just 5levels gloom stalker, 2levels fighter, 3levels assasin. 6 attacks turn one with action surge and all crit

[@SeraphMaclay]

The comedy of playing that song at the very beginning after not playing it at all on the Solid Snake video...*Chef's kiss*

[@EnterprisingKen]

A Snake Eyes build? What a thrill....

[@feralart]

Running up walls and over water: combine the two and run up a waterfall, congrats, you're a salmon.

[@rickxhoshinji]

4:23 Tulok couldn't resist the opportunity.

[@awesomesauce980]

Broke: People like his design because they can project onto it easier Woke: his design is literally a tacticool ninja, and thus objectively awesome

[@ericpeterson8732]

Thank you, Tulok! I'm been waiting to see how you do this one. It was worth the wait!

[@Eramiserasmus]

all time fun build achieved! Thank you for the build!

[@officerdamickey]

Very cool build! Awesome to see all the new builds this month. I've been trying to make characters in D&D from other stuff myself in between my D&D stuff because you inspired my thinking a lot. Trying to make Pious Augustus from Eternal Darkness, quite the challenge! Hope you have a good day Tulok!

[@theovernight1915]

Batman vs SnakeEyes: if they both have the same gear load-out, who wins a death battle? Oh wait, that's that other channel!

[@reloadpsi]

This video brought back long-forgotten memories of playing the G.I. Joe NES games on an emulator years ago, and now I've been binging longplays of them :P

[@OGNoNameNobody]

PSA: This build actually has a *4th* Con: The 3rd Multiclass keeps you from getting one of the top 2 Monk abilities - *Diamond Soul*

[@BlandoGaming]

Hearing "ninja with dog" thrown out there makes me really want a Shadow and Interceptor from Final Fantasy VI build now. Please?

[@reloadpsi]

Oh god yes. Interceptor is an unbelievably good boy.

[@alejandrocarrasco3506]

Great video Tulok!! Always trying to see new styles of play for dnd characters. I would love to see you do a take on the different servants of the Fate series, like Gilgamesh, Hercules, and many others.

[@chrishubbard64]

I cant figure it out. How do you manage to make so many hundreds of builds remain entertaining to listen to? I still think one of my favorite things is when the build manages to make for an interesting combination of classes and still remain viable. Anyone can play a single class to 20 and be fairly fantastic at 20, mixing 3 classes or more together and still being viable? That takes skill.

[@g0lddustt29]

They're viable for level 20, which hardly ever happens. And in an actual game, progression would be so slow before the build "comes online." It's good for theory/buildcrafting for fun, though.

[@ericpeterson8732]

How? Tulok maxed out his Cha and took the skill master feat to get expertise in Performance. I think he might have taken some bard levels, too. He often uses prose (rap) in his videos.

[@dylankoch1757]

"Everyone's favorite G.I. Joe" Idk about me because Shipwreck is really up there for me (at the least he and Snake Eyes are tied for favorite)

[@polaris30000]

Not Snake Eyes related, but I did get a chance to start playing the Mask build in a campaign. Holy Lord is it ever broken.

[@remingtonwright6796]

storm shadow drawing two katanas from the back from the same shoulder made me "error 404".

[@KumaChrisVT]

In his line of work, ninja stars would be a better projectile in a lot of cases, they are way quieter then guns and leave less blood splatter then swords since they stick into the body and dont often create a spray of blood unless you hit a artery.

[@ericpeterson8732]

Guns and swords are for when you fail your stealth check. As good as Snake-eyes is, he still flubs his stealth check every once and awhile.

[@guessruffdiamond1264]

You know who doesnt need stealth? IMMORTAL SUGIMOTO!

[@ShurikenSean]

another way I like to make a rogue martial artist that can sneak attack "unarmed" is soulknife, you summon the blades anyway so your always armed and I reflavor them as psychic punches, literally open hand palming their soul. meanwhile the ranged option is psychic shuriken the psi die also fits with the theme of rolling snake eyes dice and succeeding on skills, and the amount you get is based on proficiency bonus so still scales with monk and fighter levels the telepathy doesn't fit snake eyes not talking but could instead say the team knows you so well they literally know what your thinking, or you use handsigns or something obviously this doesnt fit snake eyes as much but think it works well for something simple and could easily replace assassin in this build with soulknife

[@mistamemewide]

Honestly, Snake Eyes is just fucking badass in general a living armory ninja with a badass backstory and a cool white counterpart ally/rival. Prime Character Design.

[@OldGreyGryphon]

Ninjas are great in any setting, and this video proves it.

[@TenguMonk]

yes! my favorite ninja!!

[@Notmyday2009]

They didn't paint one color they just strip him of all cloths and items. Because they needed to cut the cloth by 10 percent so instead dividing upon the dolls. They choose to pick him to take the bullet and go with nothing. Kids love him his featureless self. Lol

[@theeverythingcasual4296]

I got a fun suggestion. Ron stoppable from Kim possible. The clumsy hero

[@arkyark8]

I personally tweaked this to add 2 levels of Ranger to gain an extra Fighting Style and two spells: Zephyr Strike and Beast Bond (for his bond with Timber).

[@ryangoldman5362]

What 2 levels did you remove for those?

[@reloadpsi]

@@ryangoldman5362 Probably the two fighter levels, as you can still get a fighting style with ranger. You lose action surge though... Then again, instead of zephyr strike, hunter's mark picks up the slack on the damage and then some, and lasts an hour instead of the one round for action surge. Action surge of course is more versatile, but...

[@arkyark8]

@@ryangoldman5362 for a 20th lvl character: Monk 12, Fighter 2, Ranger 2, Assassin Rogue 4. My reasoning for this is based upon Snake-Eyes' original backstory. He was part of a long range reconnaissance patrol (LRRP) in the Vietnam War where he served along side Tommy aka Storm Shadow and Stalker. Ranger and Fighter both fit this training and experience before he later joined Tommy in Japan where he trained as a ninja. Additionally, after his training with the Arashikage clan he returned to America where he lived secluded in the High Sierra with his pet wolf, Timber before being recruited into G.I. Joe. Side note: while the live action movie "Snake-Eyes" is fun, I prefer the original backstory that I know and love.

[@arkyark8]

@@reloadpsi Zephyr Strike was a choice that I feel is true to the character of Snake-Eyes in the Marvel comics.

[@christianwright5874]

I’m surprised you didn’t do this sooner, to be honest.

[@Jonny_Uppercut]

You can't stop me from modifying it just ever so slightly to play as the superior Storm Shadow

[@user-er2ez2hm4s]

Thanks.

[@burrito9327]

Makes sense a guy named after dice would be great at an rpg.

[@peterstringham1765]

you shold make The Headless Horseman

[@AZDfox]

Jesse Faden is also a skilled marksman with a lot of damage and a high defense and mobility.

[@zidarose]

Go joe!

[@Irrationaaaaal]

GOD I LOVE THIS SHOW

[@dakotalange2858]

Silver banshee next!!!!

[@christopherbacon1077]

If you want to build Yuan-ti characters may I suggest Cardassians from Star Trek 2nd Generation and DS9

[@reloadpsi]

That just might break the internet.

[@RoxyGotMoxy.]

Oh my god please let Tulok make an Elim Garak build!

[@BJGvideos]

You know who'd be fun to see is Relm Arrowny from Final Fantasy 6. Pictomancy is woefully underrated and I'd love to see how to translate it to D&D. Since she manifests her magic through art, would that make her a bard?

[@AwesomeWookiee]

Or maybe even an Artificer? They can use tools as a spellcasting focus, including painter's supplies and calligrapher's tools!

[@LordSanquil]

What about the love of the straw hat crew from one piece and shaman king characters?

[@chrishubbard64]

He hasnt done one piece? Wow, cant believe I missed that. Some of the characters would be really interesting to see how he classes them out. Like luffy and his long range punches. I bet ussop would be a ranger druid for his combination of long range attacks and nature based damage.

[@feralart]

I've suggested SK characters in the past.

[@neurotypicaljotchua8726]

I will continue to wait patiently until the day Luffy exists on this channel

[@LordSanquil]

@@chrishubbard64 I’ve started making them myself but I’d like to also see how he does them missing jimbei (just want to see more fights but I’ve got my general idea for him

[@evanchase9585]

Tulok likes to watch all of a series/film/play all the games before he makes a character-no just checking the wiki for him. This is why ha hasn't made a build for Naruto/One Piece yet-he has a lot of stuff he wants to watch for character videos and a series that long takes a *lot* of investment.

[@commandlist015]

you should do a build for Prince of Persia

[@knightavariel6642]

Hey Tulok, any chance you're doing anything for Black Summoner? Would be interesting to see what you'd put together for the main character.

[@ericpeterson8732]

Summoners are hard to make in 5e, especially anime ones. BS made contracts with a death knight, tiefling (demon princess), a slime, a goddess, and a hero. There really isn't a good approximation for that kind of summoning.

[@MrSHADOWANGEL999]

Go joe

[@zabra790]

Suggestion: Homelander and Stormfront

[@0_Body]

Wait you can play as a dice curse?

[@patrickryan807]

I was so glad he dumped charisma because I was worried he would make another bard lol

[@p.l.fwarrior7354]

Hey do you think you can make a build for a character named Texas? He's from a Disney XD show called Motorcity.

[@shanebeamer2141]

Can you please do punisher next

[@---bu6eg]

How about Raiden/ Jack the Ripper, from Metal Gear Rising?

[@PieMan8522]

IT'S SNAKE EYE-TER

[@nicolasvillasecaali7662]

You might not like see Snake eyes when speaking of dices but this one come attached to the one character veiled in so much mystery that feels like he didn't had a personality to begin with, that is quite the opposite to Tangle the lemur, who oozes charm and happiness, maybe we can get a build for her from Sir Tulok? Please? [Redacted], code name Snake eyes is the Master sergeant recon ranger member of the US army that fought in the Vietnam war with Stalker and Storm Shadow when disaster struck him there and in the way back. From there he tempered in a temple to become a fine warrior, when tragedy struck as his masted seemingly died at hands of his best friend: Tommy, aka Storm Shadow, sparking a rivalry between them that would keep burning even before he was recruited by a Hawk to be part of the coolest American task force there is. With the will of a machine, some unusual french visor and armor and the skill of all ninja tropes Snake-eyes is the one man army you need for any mission, but remember to be humble, your party might not like that you change the name of the team as if you are the biggest asset of it, even if true.

[@jacobweinstock2180]

Third Keith David build Goliath from Disney Gargoyles which Goliath the race might work well for but I guess Tiefling could do better

[@douglaselder5967]

We also need builds for Demona and Xanatos.

[@AriesBozz]

Winged tiefling variant? Or a war forged

[@jacobweinstock2180]

Oh wait Symic hybrid for Goliaths clone, Htailog, and if Xanatos isn't a charismatic Mastermind Rouge with some Artificer levels idk what to do.......maybe Bard?

[@jacobweinstock2180]

@@AriesBozz Winged tiefling

[@douglaselder5967]

@@AriesBozz warforged only wiorks for Steelclan & CYOTI. Maybe the Cold Trio too.

[@eternalmusic101]

Can we do a Blader From Bey blade

[@Colin-Sierra682]

"Favorite Joe"? Try the best Joe!

[@vennom14]

Nova build

[@thetribunaloftheimaginatio5247]

Shuriken aren't a weapon. They're a tool used for deterrance. Anyone will hesitate when you're hurling small sharp bits of metal at them. Historical ninja were spies, saboteurs and survivalists, not assassins or sorcerers with swords... though many of their physical and weapon-feats WERE attributed to magic, a reputation the ninja did nothing to dispel because misinformation is the bread-and-butter of spycraft. You can avoid a fight if you can convince the other guy that fighting you will go very poorly for them. "But the ninja didn't have guns!" Au contraire... the Iga ninja-clan EMBRACED matchlock rifles and pistols as soon as Oda Nobunaga, their boss, bought them from Portugese merchants during the heyday of ninja activity, the Sengoku Jidai (Warring States Period). Ninja were known to employ firearms and explosives, though most of their weapons were improvised from farm-tools thanks to laws barring anyone save for samurai to carry swords... that, and ninja didn't have a lot of access to forges or top-quality sword-grade steel.

[@arcticbanana66]

I always see players with Japanese-style characters saying "I don't use guns because they're dishonorable." When actually, the Samurai and Ninja _loved_ firearms.

[@thetribunaloftheimaginatio5247]

@@arcticbanana66 Samurai were horse-archers first and foremost... the connection to swordplay came later, and even then the katana was invented mainly because a melee-weapon was needed, but the quality of the native steel was so lousy it HAD to be folded over many times just so the blade wouldn't immediately snap like a twig. Also, the love of firearms depended on the samurai... Oda Nobunaga loved these new-fangled weapons the Portugese offered in trade, but Iesu Tokugawa, the guy who'd eventually come out on top of the Sengoku Jidai and whose Shogunate would last until the late 19th century? Not so much... in fact, first things he did after kicking his rivals to the curb were to outlaw Christianity and to tell the Portugese (and every OTHER foreign power trying to establish trade with Nippon) to go kick rocks. Which would last until 1854, when Commodore Matthew Perry turned his cannons on the shores of Tokyo Bay and said in no uncertain terms "You WILL trade with Western powers, or I'll open fire and take what I want from your cooling corpses." So yeah... anyone who tells you that firearms are "dishonorable" and that the katana is "the perfect weapon" has read entirely too much manga and spends too much time at those grey-market import-shops at your local mall that sell phony Buddha statues and wall-hanger shuriken to Joe Dirt and Dale Gribble.

[@palious13]

FYI in pathfinder, unarmed attacks are finese weapons.

[@Jseibert1521]

Please tell me that you are going to do storm shadow next.

[@aaronsirkman8375]

What do you mean, he just did build Storm Shadow!

[@edgar-sama642]

How would you build David Martínez from Cyberpunk Edgerunners? An unspired idea could be eldritch knight / armorer

[@AwesomeWookiee]

Definitely uses something like Haste or Far Step?

[@andrewbernal9957]

Day 19 of asking for How to Play Buster Scruggs in D&D.

[@ojmarchus2831]

I'm betting on kensei monk / assassin rogue with maybe a few levels of samurai fighter

[@apex2000]

I'd pick dueling fighting style, especially if need to hold 2 guns or 2 swords.

[@nicholasmullins3693]

the dueling feat doesn't work that way. dual weapon fighting, does.

[@kabanzai5985]

please make a one piece related character

[@grantbaugh2773]

Commenting both for the algorithm and to request a John Walker build.

[@aaronsirkman8375]

Who's John Walker again?

[@grantbaugh2773]

@@aaronsirkman8375 the replacement Captain America

[@aaronsirkman8375]

@@grantbaugh2773 Oooooooh, that asshole, right. Uh....US Agent, right?

[@eeefe972]

Yoko Kurama plz

[@kirbiliusclausius]

*ahem* Scarlett's traditional shipping is with Duke, not Snake Eyes

[@BookwyrmEDS]

You only watched the cartoon didn't you? In the comics (which are waaayy better), its Scarlett and Snake-Eyes from the very beginning.

[@kirbiliusclausius]

@@BookwyrmEDS I'll grant you that, I never read any G.I. Joe comics. And I will grant you that they are the most canonical source. I've only heard that there even was a Cobra Civil War. And yeah, the only three pairings in the cartoon and movies were Scarlett & Duke, Flint & Lady Jay, Destro and the Baroness...that I was aware of.

[@burtmillard9196]

First

[@aaronsirkman8375]

Sure you were, buddy.

[@brianformica2599]

No dog friend :(

[@douglaselder5967]

Wish you could have used less footage from the recent Snake Eyes film.

[@timjackson9334]

No Goblin Slayer build? He's just a Fighter/Ranger/Barbarian. Human, with the soldier background. What's so hard about that?

[@JakeTheHawk]

You make it then. He's stated before that he's not making it.

[@timjackson9334]

@@JakeTheHawk Because he's "not comfortable". Instead he replaced it with Alexander Anderson. What's the standard here? I watched the whole Abridged series. Goblin Slayer is about the same standard as Alexander Anderson. No explanation? At least pin the link!

[@paulpower9959]

@@timjackson9334 I’m gonna say it’s the Uh…… rape

[@timjackson9334]

@@paulpower9959 Should not effect the mechanics of a character build. He doesn't have to go into that part. Sure I have my opinions about character mechanics but who's to say my opinions are right? How do I know I'm not delusional about the mix? I need insight! I'm dumb enough to make Balrog an Orc. I need Goblin Slayer guidance!

[@paulpower9959]

@@timjackson9334 just let the dude have his standards. Everyone has them

[@PizzaBoi5194]

MAKE ARCHER (Emiya Shirou the heroic spirit) FROM FATE STAY NIGHT MY MAN I NEED UNLIMITED BLADE WORKS IN DND