How to Play Trunks in Dungeons & Dragons (Dragon Ball Z Build for D&D 5e)

Today we have a build for Trunks in Dungeons & Dragons! If you want to be Dragon Ball Z's time travelling sword master in D&D 5e, this is the way to do it!
Twitter: / tulokthe
Patreon: / tulok

[@Kevinblue035]

fun fact, the dragon ball heros and xenoverse games introduce the idea that Trunks has been forced to work for the goddess of time to correct fucked up timelines as punishments for causing a bunch of paradoxes, so giving Trunks time magic does technically still thematically work

[@anthonynorman7545]

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[@ssjbread2803]

To be fair Trunks would've helped even if the Supreme Kai of Time HADN'T dropped the whole "mortal sin" thing on him, and she recently came clean to him and absolved him of it; now he works with the time patrol of his own volition.

[@Kevinblue035]

@@ssjbread2803 oh that's neat! i didn't know about that, i only loosly keep up with dragon ball lore lol

[@ssjbread2803]

@@Kevinblue035 Yeah, it's brought up in XenoVerse 2's DLC, I think it's the pack with the zamasu arc?

[@reloadpsi]

@@ssjbread2803 Trunks is just that much of a good lad.

[@magicdance4273]

I nearly spit-taked when I got to "Yamcha, he knows what he did"

[@ScyBlade]

The best part is that Yamcha is the type of person who would've done something that falls under 'he knows what he did'. Just ask Bulma why she dumped him for Vegeta. And no, it wasn't Bulma being shallow.

[@kingdomkey01]

It’s always a good idea to bring a sword to a fistfight. I love a good hack and slash.

[@samgafford2371]

Yes, very

[@creativeusername7366]

Trunks after Counterspelling Frieza’s Fireball: “Wow, Freeza, looks like you really DROPPED the ball...DROPPED the ball...DROPPED the-“

[@lucasm.3864]

Using Tenser’s Transformation is a really creative way to get that bulky form of Super Saiyan on Trunks.

[@reloadpsi]

It really is, right down to the fact it means he can't cast his speed spells any more.

[@burningcole2538]

"Look at me! I'm Trunks! Please love me dad!"

[@leothewhiteranger]

It also works for Rage.

[@reloadpsi]

@@burningcole2538 "That's a terrible impression..." "But not inaccurate!"

[@mason-.]

Is this gonna be our first Loxodon build? How else could he make a trunk based character? Is it clear I haven't watched DBZ?

[@thegreatandterrible4508]

How to play Tree Trunks from Adventure Time in 5e D&D

[@alphabetbeer]

Babar build when?

[@sneakyking]

Nice

[@kingdomkey01]

@@alphabetbeer I once made a Loxodon inspired largely by Sweeney Todd. In his backstory, his parents had named him after the most highly regarded Loxodon king. He was Babar, the barbarian barber.

[@Dmimpostor]

A swimming shorts, aquatic build joke or hell an animated object joke would of landed better

[@Cactusman129]

Who would have thought that one of the best ways to make a Z Warrior in D&D was to make one that uses weapons

[@ianmoone1412]

ah so we are going for the best version of trunks.

[@openarmsasmr4939]

Another cool part of this build: Thanks to chronogist and remarkable athlete, you have +10 Initiative. Not as good as some of the other stuff Tulok mentioned in the pros section, but that’s not bad.

[@hel3265]

considering how trunks just refuses to wait for people to power up, fitting

[@ultimateninjaboi]

Honestly, this is actually one of the handful of builds where a high Initiative bonus actually helps. Since its largely about self buffs and then either slicing or spellslinging your way to victory, it can help ensure that youve got yourself set up before the enemies can even do anything to you. And since two of the primary buffs include AC bonuses, thats a FANTASTIC thing

[@Morathor]

Love this build! It's pretty straightforward, but sometimes it's better not to complicate things. Sword, armor, spells, spells that make swords better.

[@ArtFord]

I can't wait to see how you do fusion characters.

[@itwasidio1736]

Most likely polymorph-focused builds with a few levels from each character.

[@ADdude]

Man Marty Mclfy is a lot different than I remember. Great job Tulok

[@solvdrage1456]

This is was really great build. Intelligence maxed out fits IC too. He is Bulma's kid after all. Future Trunks is also the best character in DBZ

[@brennanlow2336]

"Just don't tell your dad he gets a little insecure" Liked.

[@Tyyaash]

My favourite Z-Fighter on the anniversary of the worst day of my life. From the bottom of my heart thank you Tulok.

[@moopi0]

4:55 Using resources for silly things is never a waste!

[@ItsjustaCharles]

Wait... Did you just make a Hoi-Poi Capsule in DnD with Arcane Abayance ? G-E-N-I-US

[@anthonynorman7545]

Yeah, that's awesome!

[@brandonhall7498]

My favorite Princess

[@simonmullett6884]

Careful, Princess Trunks called a moratorium on that

[@CH3353N1NJ45]

*ALL HAIL PRINCESS TRUNKS*

[@albertolarios5240]

I made a Trunks Star Druid + Kensei Monk and it totally works amazingly, haven’t seen the video but hope you went that way too

[@nucleargoofball8043]

Oh, cool, what did you pick as your ranged weapon?

[@PopDruidWeekend]

Healing hands is clearly that thing they do where they "give each other energy"

[@logandaley1544]

An interesting build. I wouldn’t have guessed the fighter/wizard multiclass

[@flare9675]

Since the shovel knight build, have you thought about doing any of the other knights? I'd love to see a plague knight or specter knight build!

[@digunder14]

to be fair, at least in tfs' version vegeta was proud before he got overwhelmingly pissed off at his future spawn

[@Acebender]

Good to see a Laura Bailey character lol

[@grandarkfang_1482]

Now we need Abby, Lucina and Kainé.

[@timtimothy5405]

What?

[@Acebender]

@@timtimothy5405 Laura Bailey voiced kid Trunks

[@a.z.pantera5577]

Sure he's got low Charisma but we all still think he's cool. And he still managed to find a girl in the midst of an apocalypse... a girl who's technically way older but also the same age cuz of the Dragon Balls... dont worry about it.

[@lucasramey6427]

I still say the future trunks from the goku black arc should have been the kid trunks from the main timeline now grown up because otherwise it leaves a bunch of plot holes which could easily be explained by saying it's the kid trunks from the main timeline now grown up

[@a.z.pantera5577]

@@lucasramey6427 I can see that. May also explain why his Super forms are so powerful as well, since it's implied his 2 is about as strong as Goku's 3. Plus his Rage form.

[@magistermercury]

While technically not in character, you could take Banishment and anytime you cast it shout, "GET THE F**K OUT OF MY TIMELINE!"

[@wolfherojohnson2766]

Or rather “GET OUT OF MY F-KING TIMELINE!”

[@Detton30]

"..and Yamcha, he knows what he did." I died :P

[@ninjabluefyre3815]

So did he.

[@bubbasacs99]

I would love to see your take on some Yu Yu Hakusho characters

[@kevindedios7372]

Kuwabara!

[@Mario.1997]

Honestly if you want to play a sayain with that same motif 17 levels of light domain cleric and three levels of circle of Stars druid

[@vogunBurgundy]

There's something incredibly amusing to me, about Dominic being put on the poll for this video a whole of like, one week before those Family memes for him blew up.

[@grobanlover292]

Honestly im surprised more saiyans arent Glory Paladins. They all live for the fight, when it's on, it gives them all bonuses with their running and jumping, and boosts all their attacks!

[@alphaxtitania5597]

Glory Paladin Divine Soul Sorcerer Aasimar. That would be a sight.

[@traviswhiting1290]

I really like this build, everything about it is right up my ally... I might be playing this in my next game.

[@SirButterlegs]

I was legit just thinking of my favorite DBZ character and here is a build for him. Nice!

[@johndipietro9301]

How dare you give me everything I want and more. Who gave you the right to make such wonderful content, especially of my favorite Z-Fighter?

[@liambreakell6529]

Love the build and the video! Trunks needed more respect ever since dbs did him dirty and I think this helped a lot

[@kronos1794]

It's funny, I was considering a Vergil build today and it ended up being similar to this. A few levels in echo knight for the shadow and the rest in wizard for his other powers.

[@g0lddustt29]

But...Vergil would be the definition of a Hexblade.

[@kronos1794]

@@g0lddustt29 I feel like he needs more spellslots than a hexblade. Plus his judgement cut is probably a time stop or something similar, magic missle for summoned swords, and a few lvls in echo knight for his shadow. Tensors transformation for his devil trigger

[@g0lddustt29]

@@kronos1794 Fallen Aasimar is not only thematically appropriate for Vergil, but comes with a built-in Devil Trigger. Judgement Cut is, quite literally, a reflavored Banishing Smite since the move is supposed to be cutting through dimensions. (Steel Wind Strike would be even better but Warlocks don’t get it). Eldritch Blasts with Agonizing Blast and E. Spear invocations + Cloud of Daggers or Sword Burst (LITERALLY one of the in-game moves) for Summon Swords will be better than Magic Missile would ever be. Vergil is a swordsman…he’s not a spellcaster, your focus should be on hitting things. I played him as a pure Hexblade to pretty great success. Echo Knight is a good multiclass option though

[@kronos1794]

@@g0lddustt29 I'd argue Vergil is more of a caster with melee capabilities. Dante in comparison is the more martial of the two. I'm not saying a warlock couldn't work, I just figured you'd go wizard to get the wider variety of spells and more spell slots. Echo knight provides enough to give him martial capabilites.

[@Gallacant]

​@@kronos1794and then tulok makes vergil a bard

[@FriendofFantasy]

I love Tenser's Transformation. It's so anime. Is it the best spell? No, but is it fun? Yes.

[@mdalsted]

*Trunks* A Protector Aasimar Wizard-Fighter and son of Vegeta from the future. Trunks is a highly skilled warrior, able to keep up with his father handily. He traveled from the future ( *his* future, at least) to the present in order to stop a threat from destroying everything and everyone he cares about.

[@DParkerNunya]

Im so glad you're doing the only character in DBZ that actually gets things done

[@vernonhampton5863]

*clears throat* Piccolo.

[@DParkerNunya]

@@vernonhampton5863 Piccolo is one of if not the best character in the series, but he never gets any moments to shine.

[@MaJunior00]

I've wanted a Kakashi build since the channel was young... but I'd also love to see Hit.

[@Quarataia]

I will think about some way to ask for a Hellsing's Alucard build later, I'm genuinely intriged with Future Trunks.

[@CH3353N1NJ45]

TFS or manga ????

[@Quarataia]

@@CH3353N1NJ45 they have the same sheet, but are used by different players.

[@AdeptN7]

I love that 'Walk Hard' reference at the beginning, lol

[@crashpanda7]

My childhood favorite!!

[@paavoautio1974]

I give little weird idea. My favorite hearstone villain Rafaam the suprime archelogist.

[@ipsumquaerere6927]

I'm sad but watching your videos makes me less sad.

[@noblesseoblige319]

I'm sending you good vibes my dude. Hope things get less sad

[@attackins1470]

Today I learned that there are people out there who think Tenser's Transformation is bad. Fucking how? It's an amazing gish spell for any Wizard to mix it up, and crazy good on a Bladesinger.

[@anthonynorman7545]

I can give a bit of my reasoning as to why. The party is expecting you to do wizard stuff, especially if you're that high of a level in wizard, so it'll throw off party dynamics. Wizards are squishy and despite gaining proficiency in con saves (many wizards would have already gotten this) failing a con save is fairly likely given that you'll be a frontline combatant. Then one also has to pass the exhaustion check. And has to get back into wizard ranges. That's a lot of compounding suck in a small amount of time.

[@righttobearhugs7666]

It’s a pretty good spell, especially on bladesinger which can use their spell slots to decrease damage taken (which makes up for the caveat that one can’t cast spells under the effects of tenser’s) and can pair it with bladesong, but on other wizard class probably not as good. I think my main concern pertains to the spell is that some aspects of the spells are weak like heavy armor proficiency and medium armor proficiency. It doesn’t do too well as it takes ten minutes to Don heavy armor which is literally the duration of the spell. And once the spell is over and you don’t have some armor proficiency, you’re stuck with the inability to cast spells. Edit: I should also add that I think it does well on arcana domain cleric and most bards (especially valor in my opinion)

[@Ryu_D]

Thank you for the video.

[@psibernight2177]

Having a Dragon Ball Battle Royal would be cool.

[@simonhogwood2829]

2:00 Marty would actually be a great idea for a future build. Bard/Fighter with pistol specialization?

[@HAOSxy]

6:05 that Sayian armor IS as light as yoga pants. Goku and Piccolo's clothes were heavy (Goku's only before Freezer)

[@anthonynorman7545]

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[@madisontb529]

Man, I know the youtube comments don't have much bearing on what video Tulok does next, but I'd love a build on Popeye the Sailor. That'd be fun. I'd imagine he'd be a fighter barb monk, like half the other builds, but maybe Tulok could put some kind of twist?

[@AZDfox]

So, how about a Jesse Faden build? Control is a great game, and she's pretty different from most of the characters you build.

[@AverageLilac]

Requests: Shantae Filia Travis Touchdown Hat Kid

[@t_wayne]

Alright I’ll be that guy that questions one minor thing: No Burning Hands? Like that’s Trunks’ thing. He does his whole gang sign/Naruto deal with his hands and fires off a blast. Figured it would’ve made the list at 1st level spells.

[@bodenking]

Ain't Burning Hands a flamethrower type spell? So long as a spell has somastic(?) components you can do his crazy hand style for it

[@burningcole2538]

Isnt it also called "burning attack?"

[@roxonightreturns]

he's a Wizard so he could learn it by book or something

[@RazorBlade747]

Trunks moves his hands, and a cone shaped blast comes out of his hands when he finishes Frieza. Tulok uses the clip even! Eh just switch out thunderwave

[@jamesr5574]

Sun Soul monk with some barbarian dip works as well.

[@ladyvictoria820]

THAT INTRO, I'M DEAD!!! 😭😂

[@mattiasfaust2746]

Gonna make a warforged like this.

[@aetherspiralknight]

0:48 'HAIR DIE". Language was invented just for this. We thank you.

[@ryangriffin1998]

A Walk Hard reference. Magnificent

[@c-note1222]

I know my boy Roshi will come one day :*)

[@scumbad7953]

Kid Trunks making a Dungeons & Dragon Quest character

[@mega7157]

Seeing this build makes me want to see an evil counterpart as a janemba build

[@kyleshank3411]

Hold on. *The* Dom Toretto? From Fast10 Your Seatbelts??

[@user-er2ez2hm4s]

Thanks

[@VanessaVersus]

Trunks is the best Z Fighter? I didn't realise Tulok wrote the Goku Black arc!

[@malachischrodinger4675]

Stocke or Rainie (maybe Raynie?) from Radiant Historia. They are both kindof spellblade/gish, but id love to see some love for this awesome game. For Omega-level bonus points, build Roche instead ('cause Mech arm).

[@BJGvideos]

Holy shit someone mentioning Radiant Historia

[@shonenclout1017]

Hell yeah.

[@EK24z]

Here's a question - Tasha's Cauldron of Everything included what was basically Errata to say "Take Racial ASIs and just apply them to whatever." I don't think that's been applied in a build thus far, but will it be or have you considered it? For example, here with Trunks, you used the Base Aasimar ASIs to remove all Negative ASMs, but you could've also moved them to Strength or Int to cap them earlier and take the Tough feat for more health. Or if you make a Po build, I could see him being a Goliath with mostly Long Death Monk levels, but possibly moving that +2 ASI from STR to WIS depending on whether you'd make him a Stronk (Strength Monk) or Stdonk (Standard Monk).

[@reidulv6003]

Hey, I know we are far away from all the Mortal Kombat hype (not me tho) but is it possible that one of these days you would tackle the subject of Shang Tsung? I figured that it would require a monk/school of necromancy multiclass but thats all I could muster. So pretty please?

[@FungusDisgusticus]

You know, you could swap out a strength bump with the tough feat. (Tenser's kind of makes up for it, giving you advantage on your attacks with your sword.)

[@weirdguy1495]

Episode 301 of the Fire Emblem stats: Future Trunks. Like most DBZ fighters, he's good at brawling, both types of magic, and heavy armor. Unlike most DBZ fighters, he's also good with swords at the cost of being bad at authority since no one listens to him. He's the slowest of the current DBZ roster for this series, but he has the highest attack since he's more of a close-quarters fighter. Also, since I missed it last time, Funky Kong too, why not? Of course, the Donkey Kong roster has never been one for variety as far as weapons go. He's the almost exact same as Donkey Kong, so he's good at brawling and riding. However, he's also good at flight due to being a pilot. He shares his close sibling's weaknesses at heavy armor and magic. He's even faster than Donkey Kong but as a consequence, he's less bulky.

[@BLynn]

Tulok, do you ever watch Treantmonk's Temple or d4: D&D Deep Dive who both do optimized builds? I think it would be interesting for one character that you build that they find something about that Character then optimize that thing. Of course, I really like cross-over episodes so that drives this interest too.

[@GalvatronRodimus]

OK, I have to ask, what's the audio from when Frieza gets cut in half?

[@TheZombiefist]

You should do a video on how to play Yusuke Urameshi from yu yu hakusho.

[@jackbaccarat4084]

You have yet to make a Conan the Barbarian Build...make with that what you will.

[@grantbaugh2773]

I haven't read or watched any Conan stuff, would be actually be best represented by a barbarian?

[@jackbaccarat4084]

@@grantbaugh2773 you would think so, but both the movies and the books make him more than just a simple barbarian.

[@ssjbread2803]

@@jackbaccarat4084 To be fair, just because your class in d&d is barbarian doesn't mean that's ALL you can do, it's just all MOST people do. You can absolutely make more of a barbarian than "big dumb angry guy who hit thing with axe", but that's an in-character choice.

[@jackbaccarat4084]

@@ssjbread2803 I agree, conan is not the stereotype of the big dumb savage, he's a skilled swordsman, a cunning thief, a devoted follower of the god kram, and to cap it off he's got some elements of the cavalier.

[@YourBoyNobody530]

BTW I would have gone warlock taking pact of the blade then going for Genie because it that would give you everything you need for this build, and would make you a bit more powerful.

[@rezuanizambadarudin-8501]

Can you build Shadow Monarch Sung Jin Woo from Solo Leveling ?

[@H3y_Im_Rob]

You know, his Cons do seem in character. Low HP: In his Timeline, Trunks would his ass handed to him by the Androids time and again, he was killed by Imp. Cell in another Timeline, and was one shotted by Perfect Cell. Concentration: It took him forever to go Full Super Saiyan when he was facing Perfect Cell, who decided to wait for him just for shits and giggles, it also took Trunks around the middle to the end of his movie to finally go Super Saiyan, and his "Burning Attack" requires alot of hand movements to do. Low Charisma: Trunks is a cautious character; during the Android Saga, he wanted to wait for Goku to recover before facing 17 and 18, he has no chill and will try to swing at the baddie before they get a chance to do anything, and when he's not fighting, Trunks is seen to be more Bashful/Timid.

[@chand911]

You have my attention.

[@unrealfan11]

Is there a specific way you're gaining enhance ability at Wizard 4 that I'm missing, since it's not on the Wizard Spell list? Edit: Also, Augury at Wizard 10

[@raygunner8643]

Still waiting on that Artorias build Tulok! I also have an interesting idea for something different. You've made so many interesting character builds so how about some top ten? like your personal favorites, hardest to make ETC.

[@edwardflores6604]

A vid should be done on the Necro-Batd Klaus from Umbrella Academy

[@anthonynorman7545]

Planet dad! I'm dead 😆

[@vigorouslethargy]

Underappreciated joke for sure.

[@loganballard5789]

When I was looking over the other a fighters I noticed trunks was missing and made a quick build. Variant human with tough 5 divine sorcerer for flight and to mimic an asimar heritage champion fighter 15 to get sword fighting and unarmed fighting

[@MrSHADOWANGEL999]

all hail princess trunks

[@yakuhebihorobira3068]

Great video can you do alastor from hazbin hotel

[@reloadpsi]

"Turn Freeza into eight slices of Piza" Well the two characters shared a voice actor at some point.

[@Fyrebrand18]

Will y’all ever do one on Trese?

[@maulodachi9971]

Can't wait for broly

[@demonkingsparda]

Fu Hua from Honkai Impact. I’d say either her Phoenix or Azure Emyprea variants

[@AlleyFang]

hehe, planet dad xD

[@dphill96]

"Know, oh Saiyan Prince, that between the years when the oceans drank Atlantis and the gleaming cities, and the years of the rise of the Sons of Aryas, there was an Age undreamed of, when shining kingdoms lay spread across the world like blue mantles beneath the stars - Nemedia, Ophir, Brythunia, Hyperborea, Zamora with its dark-haired women and towers of spider-haunted mystery, Zingara with its chivalry, Koth that bordered on the pastoral lands of Shem, Stygia with its shadow-guarded tombs, Hyrkania whose riders wore steel and silk and gold. But the proudest kingdom of the world was Aquilonia, reigning supreme in the dreaming west. Hither came Conan, the Cimmerian, black-haired, sullen-eyed, sword in hand, a thief, a reaver, a slayer, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth, to tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth under his sandalled feet." - The Nemedian Chronicles.

[@jailbreak434]

Got so excited to see Chronurgy on the build! Wildemount gave us so much fun stuff to play with. Love this build, very fun way to build a saiyan.

[@pigtaku4276]

Should do Lelouch from Code Geass

[@kevinstewart1870]

YAY! A Zfighter with a weapon

[@GingerObiWan]

I have a friend who may enjoy this as much as I would enjoy a Godzilla build

[@metalgeartommgt5607]

Can you do Lloyd from Tales of Symphonia next?

[@hellmen4882]

Arcane knight Fighter and monk done but good vid

[@deathsaurus6699]

The kakarot dlc was great

[@Bwall12493]

Could you do the 10th doctor from doctor who?