The Shadow Blade: d4

Our D&D 5e build this week is another attempt to build a character around a particular weapon. Only this time, the weapon also happens to be my favorite spell in the game :).
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Character Concept:(0:00)
Battlezoo! (Sponsor):(4:41)
Level 1:(7:27)
Levels 2-6:(12:10)
Levels 7-9:(26:18)
Levels 10-13:(36:39)
Levels 14-17:(44:13)
Final Thoughts:(47:12)
Outtakes:(50:38)
Math/Graph for this episode: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Sustained DPR Comparisons (3 Tabs): docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Thanks to LudicSavant for the amazing DPR calculator! forums.giantitp.com/showthrea...)
Music Credits:
Achaidh Cheide - Celtic by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/
Angevin 120 loop by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/
Celtic Impulse - Celtic by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/
Fiddles McGinty by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/
Lord of the Land by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/
Master of the Feast by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/

[@jonathansnow7421]

If I had a nickel for every time this man uploaded a dope character build, I’d have five dollars. While isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened 100 times.

[@ThrawnIsAlive]

Great reference

[@ericharrison4067]

DOOM!

[@lukepoplawski3230]

MATHMATICAL!!

[@rollforbooty]

This is just an A+ comment lol

[@WolfHreda]

You deserve more likes.

[@rosenhell9025]

Congratulations Colby!!! 100 episodes is an awesome accomplishment. Now we have to see what comes next: 100k subs or episode 200. But seriously thank you so much for all the builds and enjoy the R&R with your family!!! We love you man!

[@sansasama299]

Congrats!

[@marcusescandinavo5310]

Congratulations to Brasil Colby for the 100th episode! About this combo, I found a way for it to work via RAW. You need the Weapon Thrower Fighting Style, which allows you to draw a weapon as part of the action used to attack. On your first turn, use the Action for Twilight Sanctuary and the Bonus Action for Bladesong. On your second turn, cast Shadowblade with the Bonus Action and do Attack and Extra Attack with it, then use your Object Interaction to switch hand Shadowblade. On your third turn you can draw a weapon with the Light and Throwing properties as part of the same Action used to Attack with it, thanks to your Fighting Style and since the Bladesinger's Extra Attack allows you and this Weapon provides the necessary material component, cast Booming Blade in this Attack, as you are holding the Shadowblade in your other hand at the time of the first Attack and it is a Different Weapon than the one that generated the trigger, make your Attack with the Bonus Action right after and then freely release the first Weapon on the ground and use your Object Interaction to switch hands with Shadowblade, doing your Extra Attack with it. On your fourth turn, make your Shadowblade Attack and use Object Interaction to switch hands, then as part of the same Action used to make your Extra Attack, draw another Throwing Weapon with the Light property and make your Extra Attack with Booming Blade, thus activating the trigger to make his Shadowblade Attack using the Bonus Action. On your fifth turn do your Attack using Booming Blade with the Weapon you were already holding, which again triggers your Attack with the Bonus Action using the Shadowblade and once again drop the first weapon on the ground freely, use your Interaction with Object to change the hand Shadowblade and make your Extra Attack with it and keep repeating these same steps... So for RAW the combo is 100 percent functional! Note that the Fighting Style requires the Weapon to have the Throwing Property, but doesn't require you to throw it, and Booming Blade requires the Attack to be Melee, so you won't gain the +2 bonus to damage provided by the Fighting Style . I hope I helped, sorry for my bad English and congratulations again for the great work!

[@davidpritchett855]

So something that some folks, I think, undervalue is the fact that shocking grasp removes the targets ability to have a reaction. The main use is so that you can shocking slap an enemy in melee then run and they won't get an attack of opportunity but it also applies when you are doing the opportunity attack. Reaction is refreshed at the start of the turn so if they are running then you can warcaster shocking slap their caboose and they will be so shocked by your actions they will be unable to use shield, uncanny dodge or similar damage mitigation abilities to protect themselves from you or someone else for the next round. This is a great way to shut down a squishy wizard who is dependent on a reaction to avoid damage very quickly.

[@vinspad3]

If you take the Fighter dip for Action Surge I *think* you could do: Attack 1: Shadowblade Attack 2: Booming Blade Bonus Action Weapon Attack Action Surge 1: Shadowblade Attack 2: Shocking Grasp Move Away Now you've (potentially) hit with Booming Blade and moved away without getting Attacks of Opportunity due to shocking grasp. Now, if the creature wants to attack you, they'd need to move setting off Booming Blade's movement damage. I really think a 2 level dip at the end of this character is worth it. The TWF damage works, second wind will be helpful, and action surge with elven accuracy means there's a lot of crit fishing for burst damage potential too.

[@WolfHreda]

The Bladesinger manages to give life to two otherwise bad cantrips: Shocking Grasp and Blade Ward. Being able to prevent reactions or reduce damage while also attacking? Wonderful. Now if only we could save True Strike.

[@comet9864]

@@WolfHreda couldn't an arcane trickster utilize true strike before letting out a sneak attack from stealth before combat starts if the party has the drop on an enemy?

[@averywatts2391]

@@comet9864 I know this has been six months but I would like to mention that advantage does not stack. You either have advantage or disadvantage on an attack, and if you have conditions causing both (no matter how many of each), you roll normally. True Strike would not do anything for your rogue in this situation other than replace what could have been another attack. You already have the advantage from being hidden from your target.

[@DaraelDraconis]

While it would remove the free teleport, I really love the flavour of making this character a drow or half-drow, with their bladesinging and their Cleric levels both coming from a faith in Eilistraee. It's a perfect fit for the moonlight blade dancer.

[@givemeanaxe]

That's the way my bladesinger was built and lore'd for avernus. She was uber.

[@JadeHarleyCoffeeMug]

shadow blade flavored into a spear makes a great visual for a thrown weapon too!

[@BLynn]

Congrats on your 100th episode. Level 1:(see above) [wizard 1 & race] Level 2:(see above) [wizard 2 & sub-class] Level 3:(@16:23) [wizard 3] Level 4:(@18:47) [wizard 4 & ASI] Level 5:(@20:29) [wizard 5] Level 6:(@24:10) [wizard 6] Level 7:(see above) [cleric 1 & sub-class] Level 8:(@31:02) [cleric 2] Level 9:(@34:23) [wizard 7] Level 10:(see above) [wizard 8 & ASI] Level 11:(@37:43) [wizard 9] Level 12:(@41:19) [wizard 10] Level 13:(@42:08) [wizard 11] Level 14:(see above) [wizard 12 & ASI] Level 15:(@44:26) [wizard 13] Level 16:(@44:58) [wizard 14] Level 17:(@45:43) [wizard 15]

[@thatoneguy1284]

You are a legend

[@Rom2814SK]

I’m usually a RAW kind of DM, but I’m a softy with Shadow Blade - I have a Bladesinger in my campaign, and I let her cast shadow blade OVER a magic sword. So much of the fun of D&D is getting cool magic items and using shadow blade does have multiple costs…

hero we need

[@animefan3794]

I feel like if you went one level higher, it should be the 16th level of wizard, and for a feat one should take at that point on this build, you might actually get the most out of Dual Wielder. Replacing your shortsword/scimitar with a rapier, plus getting a small bump to AC when you have both it and your shadow blade, seems like a very natural progression and a decent method for consistency in both damage and survival.

[@McTacoDelight]

Shadar'kai Bladesinger Twilight Cleric? Oh, Colby. The edge lordness is strong in this one.

[@ClintonJohnson1]

If someone was building around a spell like shadow blade, I'd probably have them find a hilt that they could channel it through and would give that hilt a gold cost. Now they can definitely get a RAW bonus to their damage. Maybe the hilt is actually a staff and lets their shadow blade have reach. As long as you don't give the item out too early, it could give 1/2 PB bonus to attack and damage (rounding down). Or maybe it provides the dueling fighting style only for the shadow blade.

[@dannyboy8859]

Congratulations on 100!! Thanks for helping a lot of our past, present and future adventures!

[@dragos26]

Congrats for 100 episodes💪 I ve seen all of them and the "evolution" of your videos is amazing. Already can't wait for the next one

[@cultivatedjerk5574]

Shadarkai + shadow blade for the 100th episode feels so right.

[@linuxpenguin823]

Been watching you since the first Tasha’s builds! Thanks Colby for everything you do! Congrats on 100!

[@MrSacralidge]

Thank you for all the work you've put in to these builds! It's been fun to watch your videos evolve over time, and I'm super excited to see what comes next. Congrats on your success, enjoy your R&R, and I'm super stoked to see what comes next!

[@joshd4119]

this channel has brought me so much joy 100 episodes in a row

[@Sethern]

Yesssss I love love LOVE shadow blade! I love brainstorming builds around it, can’t wait to see your take!

[@joshuadefriese1907]

Colby, your channel has given me a lot of inspiration for characters and story ideas, and I’m always motivated to break out a new character sheet after a video of yours. Thanks for doing what you do, and congratulations on 100 episodes! Glad to be here for so many more!

[@michaellavy3269]

Congrats on 100 builds! It’s been awesome to see you grow and I can’t wait to see what’s in store next. I hope you enjoy your much deserved r&r in the meantime!

[@LoreFoundry]

👏👏👏 I am so happy for you! I've been here since episode 1. love your channel, love the growth of the channel. All the people that have joined the d4 network, all the videos with other KZbinrs. You have come a long way and I am looking forward to seeing what the future brings. Stay blessed friend. 🙏

[@lovelaven6491]

Awesome build Colby and congratulations on your 100th episode! I have seen almost all of them by now. Please do keep it going, these videos has become an invaluable addition to my media consumption. All the best and have a relaxing vacation!

[@zicky8685]

Congrats on the 100 episodes Colby! I hope you enjoy your well-deserved break, and thank you for making such great content for us

[@xxtrczlmjrxx]

Congrats on 100 episodes, Colby! I just recommended your content to my players since they're all first timers and you explain everything so well. I really hope to see this channel grow even bigger

[@ErikkuBlade]

My sorlock just got a belt of frost giant strength, and I'm about to start using Shadow Blade, it really is a cool spell! I love how you used your 100th episode for one of your favorite spells! Fantastic video, these builds are always super fun! Enjoy your vacation, and looking forward to all your future builds!

[@alexbrekelmans3444]

100 episodes! Congrats Colby and thank you for continuing to inspire this wonderful community. Keep it up!

[@bigbbrendan]

I got into d&d not long after you started your channel. It's been an amazing journey getting to learn the intricacies of building characters through your very in depth analysis. I've watched every single episode and can't wait to see more of what you got cooking up!! Please continue sharing your knowledge with the community as it only helps it grow and thrive. I've learned so incredibly much from you and other KZbinrs and couldn't have gotten into the job y without you!

[@Cerillian]

Congrats on episode 100!!! Thanks for all your hard work!

[@cyrusrushton284]

Can’t believe we’re at 100 episodes, I remember stumbling upon some of your builds when we were still in single digits lol. Congratulations and I hope the future holds more amazing content as always!

[@Shanderson_5]

Congratulations, man! I’ve been watching for a while and as a min/maxer, your videos always inspire me to want to make an entirely new character for my campaigns! Even though they won’t all be played, they’re waiting in the wings for a chance to shine. Love your work, keep it up and enjoy your rest! Much love

[@NapoleonSoares]

Ha! I just spent last night catching up to your 100th episode and while watching i was building a character - one that tried to optimize shadow blade. The timing is surreal, congrats on your well deserved success so far and hope you continue to grow!

[@Dave004]

Awesome as always, definitely the highlight of my day when a new build is released! Shadow Blade is such a great spell and I'm addicted to your other Bladesinger/Battlemaster build using Shadow Blade and Quick Toss. You may lose out on some higher Wizard spells in place of 3 levels of Fighter, but dang that consistent high damage (at least 4 rounds) is great and then there is that nova dmg with action surge and...just epic!

[@X20Adam]

Congratulations Colby! I've been watching these since the beginning, and I've seen every episode so far. Excited to see what the next hundred have in store!

[@Bootsofwings]

Randals art never ceases to amaze me, his art always has so much unique character and I love them all

[@jeffadams9807]

This Is Now, My FAVORITE Of ALL Of Ur Bladesinger Builds, Great Job, Colby...

[@madwithjacob]

Take as long as you need Colby. You have given us more than enough content these past two years to deserve time off.

[@syrupchugger421]

Congrats for the 100th video. You've earned all your success. Thank you for all these fun, interesting, and entertaining videos. Keep up the good work. After the vacation, of course.

[@kristianwilliams6665]

Congratulations on 100 episodes Colby! You will always be my favorite D&D build channel. Probably my favorite D&D channel out there! Keep up the amazing work my dude!

[@mikeblack9609]

Congratulations on 100 episodes! I always enjoy seeing what you put together every week. Enjoy your vacation you have earned it. I look forward to the next 100

[@windpeoples]

Congratulations on your 100th episode! I love your builds. I find them quite thought provoking!

[@gregwillams5463]

Congratulations on 100. Came back to D&D recently and fell in love with your channel

[@Veledan]

Colby you made it to 100! Fantastic work my friend. Not a day goes by that I regret being a supporter of your work and channel, and I've used several of your builds already in my campaigns. My brother in Bladesinging, I wish you ever increasing success for your next 100 episodes, and I know I'll be there for every single one of them. Cheers!

[@phillipheaton9832]

Woo Hoo! !00 Character builds! Congratulations Colby!

[@lolumadder]

Great video! I love the passion, thoughtfulness, and your personal thoughts on the content.

[@randomize.4]

Congrats on 50k and on your 100th episode! I like this build, and now want to play it! I've wanted to play a bladesinger for a while, and this has now inspired me to try and work this into my own build.

[@GryphonDes]

100 Episodes is FANTASTIC! Grats! Heck of a build to celebrate with ! Enjoy your vacation too!

[@Trollie2000]

I was overjoyed when you said 'twilight cleric', Thank you for the amazing builds you've made so far

[@darthterrex861]

Congrats on the century mark Colby. Thanks for the dedication to quality content. Makes my drives to work go faster. At my table we allow booming blade and shadow blade to work as we think it should. Weapons are weapons. However we also allow a lot of other pretty crazy stuff, like no multiclass requirements. So ya Im playing a bladesinger with a 2 lvl dip in pally for smite and its glorious ! Congrats again!

[@GreyGosamyr]

Congratulations on 100 episodes!!! Enjoy your well-earned break, Colby!

[@marchilber3021]

Colby hitting the centennial barrier, what an optimised optimiser! I have loved most episodes and liked the rest. Thank you for all of them and congrats.

[@professionalbutler533]

Ever since I began my dnd journey, I’ve loved shadow blade and used it in many campaigns (one with an extremely similar build to this). I’m glad to see a video highlighting this spell.

[@georgewilson2575]

Congratulations on both accomplishments! They are both well deserve.

[@litefire01]

Congrats on 50k and 100 episodes, just started listening to you and absolutely have been enjoying it. It’ been interesting listening to 5e content, given my last regular games were 3.5 a decade ago.

[@backlash660]

Congratulations on hitting the century mark Colby . Enjoy your time off with family , we will be here when you come back .

[@willmacfarline363]

Congrats Colby! I can't wait to see what else you have in store!

[@Narctic]

I recently started my first campaign as a bladesinger. I've watched all your videos on them and they seemed amazing I was just to shy to try it. Ofc I was going off of bladesinger 2.0 and was scratching my head with the dim/darkness for advantage. Turns out, without any coordination, my party member went twilight cleric.. now every combat is in dim or darkness. It's great! Thanks so much for your videos and Gratz on your 100th episode!

[@Fr4nZeR]

Oh yeah!!! Super hyped! And congrats for ep 100!

[@knightwalker44]

100 episodes! Way to go, Colby! Excited to see the next 100!

[@tsukikonosennin]

Congrats on 100 episodes!! I can’t believe you’ve made it this far! Here’s to 100 more episodes! Every time Colby brings up how common darkvision is my human, Kalashtar, variant human, tortle, and warforged party cries

[@keggotht9323]

Congrats on 100 episodes, I've been looking forward to watching this all day

[@JoseLeit]

Congrats Colby!!! Love the videos! Looking forward to the next 100 as well!

[@lazarus_089]

Congrats at reaching 100! I'm a relative newcomer (only seen the last 8 or so) but I love the thought and care that you put into these videos and the previews that you put out.

[@peterthompson760]

Congratulations on Episode 100 and 50k+ Subscribers! "If you build it they will come." Twilight Sanctuary is a dynamic way to consistently gain advantage. Personally, if I'm going to use Booming Blade, on the round that I use Bladesong I up cast Bestow Curse (1d8 Necrotic Damage per attack) to 5th level to bypass concentration when available. Great video as always. I hope you have a wonderful vacation.

[@gregcampbell2977]

Love you too Colby. Your videos are fun, informative and entertaining 👏 Congrats on your Century! Many more to come I hope!! Enjoy your time off with your family. Cherish it ❤️

[@darrenromanko2414]

I can't believe this is the 100th episode. Congratulations and hope you have continued success. Been watching since Episode 6 and yes, I'm home here. Much love.

[@OrangeKnightStretch]

Woohoo! Congratulations and enjoy the vacation. This will be a great period of time for me to go back and enjoy some older character concepts I haven’t watched yet.

[@ssorayaya]

i love this show so much. cheers to a hundred episodes, and to a hundred more!

[@andrewhowlin]

Hope you have a very well deserved rest! Love the shadow blade build and the themes...inspired

[@timovandervalk679]

Congrats on on Episode 100! You definately deserve the rapid channel growth, keep up the good work!

[@gweria]

Honestly I was almost tearing up at the beginning as well 🥺 and honestly it's a huge milestone, it's okay to feel emotional about that. We love you Colby ❤️

[@AnoNYmous-bz2ef]

"By shield of day, and shield of night We feed and grow, beyond all sight Your darkest self shall be our knight Wield the sword of unseen light" (I'm playing a Harengon that is this build. 2 Bladesinger, 1 Twilight atm. I might've taken a little it too early but free Sleep is good.)

[@Kitigis]

Congratulations! You’re doing an amazing job. Thank you for your content.

[@adamienw]

Congratulations on 100! I also have a fascination with shadowblade and i love the new Shadar Kai!

[@derickmeester721]

Congratulations on #100! Enjoy your well earned vacation. I'll be patiently waiting for the next deep dive!

[@newgenesisx]

Thanks Colby for making dnd more fun and interesting with your ideas !! Keep it up mate !

[@bewtybandit7975]

When you said Wisdom early on I knew you were gonna go Cleric, your previous builds inspired me to do something very similar. So glad you did as it helped finalize how I wanted to build mine. Love the channel BTW! I’m new to DND and your videos have helped me look really good at my table when they all thought I’d be a noob :)

[@Seth0Hansen]

Wow great video!! Yesterday I actually built my own Shadar Kai Bladesinger for a new campaign... having no idea that this video was coming out today. Turns out, we ended up building very similar characters! I guess I learned a few thing after watching ~60 of your videos! Thanks again for all the work you've up in, and I can't wait to see #200!

[@btalladams]

Congrats on 100 episodes! Take that well deserved break!

[@tobiasschmid9216]

This build is so inspirational! I had ideas for 3 different characters while you explained it!

[@justinaakre2705]

100!!! Congrats Colby!

[@mcphadenmike]

Congrats on 100!

[@dawidkoperek7917]

Congratulations. I hope we will see next 100. Good work on your behalf. Right now i am thinking of building one of your Bladesingers build and maybe this will be my answear. Thank you for your content you save us all

[@scrubz3583]

Congrats!!! Don't usually comment and just admire silently, but the occasion calls for it. Keep up the amazing work and thank you for allll the amazing builds!

[@TCGupdate]

Congrats on 100 man!

[@WRCannon]

I didn’t start playing D&D until mid-2020 and I remember your early builds were my first taste of optimization. Very much looking forward to the next 100

[@Stupacalypse82]

Colby, not only are you one of the most informative and entertaining D&D content creators on this platform, you are also the most welcoming, friendly, and wholesome. Congrats on 100! Here's to 100 more. We love ya, bud!

[@DnDDeepDive]

Thank you!!! :)

[@FreeToReed]

Happy 100th episode Colby! Thank you, I needed this today ❤️

[@Barkstopper]

CONGRATS COLBY! WOOHOO, I'LL BE HERE FOR #1000 AND BEYOND! Dude this has been amazing, so many ideas for builds, your Campaign episodes, it all has been a blast. I am so glad i found you when I did, i tell everyone my inspiration is from your videos and to check you out! (Shout Out to your Bard/Wizard contoller build, that was an encounter no one enjoyed lol). Cheers to yours and your family friends! Edit: i cant spell

[@brianwhalen9457]

Woohoo. Love your content. Thank you for 100 episodes. Also, totally agree with the favorite weapon Shadow Blade!

[@Flamingtaco109]

Grats on the 100 episodes! Your channel has help me get through the lonely days of remote working! Im actually playing a drow full bladesinger that focuses on shadowblade/physic damage through curse of stradh. One of the other players is playing a drow twilight cleric and in game our characters often clash in ideals and actions we take (we communicate with each other and the dm when the rp gets heated) Definitly would've been interesting to multiclass in that domain like your build. Well done and thanks for the amazing content

[@eanwarren8196]

Congratulations Colby! What a milestone

[@horbi3683]

Congratulations to 100 vids! Love your work!

[@comfortablegrey]

Grats on 50k and 100 episodes! There is a lot of harmony to this being your 100th.

[@rcschmidt668]

Colby, Utmost congratulations on your centennial episode! This is such a milestone. Enjoy your break. You have earned it. (The shadow blade is very fitting.)

[@dungeondiceart6701]

Thanks for the build was happy it made it in!

[@joatandimas3098]

I've come here from the lvl 20 one shot, loving the channel e watching your old videos. Really great stuff for real. Enjoy the vacation bro

[@euchiron]

This is such a cool build around a cool idea! Also, wicked cool hearing you sing Enya at the end 😸

[@chiekohoki]

As someone who found you because of your first bladesinger video, I've never clicked on a video so quickly :P congrats on 100 episodes, 50k subscribers, and have fun on your vacation!

[@yodaleiaheehoo9960]

Some old school Enya surprising and awesome! Love this build there is just something about the rp of a character that can manifest their weapons, it’s why I really enjoyed your soul knife build as well.

[@williambowen8054]

I was genuinely touched at the opener. Also not worried if you take a vacation. I'll be too busy playing my own shadow blade character.

[@TheyCallMeDj56]

Enjoy your vacation! I look forward to your next builds!