The Transmuter: A Treantmonk Guide

Welcome to my Transmuter build. This build I call "the pacifist" because this wizard doesn't do damage to enemies...at all. This is something I've been asked for years, can a Wizard be effective if they don't deal damage to the enemy? As you'll see with this build, very little needs to change to make this happen.
For Part 2 of this build: • The Transmuter: A Trea...
For Part 3 of this build: • The Transmuter: A Trea...
Here's the link to the final build: ddb.ac/charact...

[@TreantmonksTemple]

Welcome to my Transmuter build. This build I call "the pacifist" because this wizard doesn't do damage to enemies...at all. This is something I've been asked for years, can a Wizard be effective if they don't deal damage to the enemy? As you'll see with this build, very little needs to change to make this happen. For Part 2 of this build: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp-qkGCwm5x1oq8 For Part 3 of this build: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iorNZGOFo5yNi9E Here's the link to the final build: ddb.ac/characters/18229275/93VRu1

[@FelineElaj]

I believe "technical pacifist" is the term used to describe this kind of attitude.

[@doomtooth74]

To Treantmonk: Which of your wizard builds would you suggest for a relatively new player to use in AL(preferable a pure wizard one as I am not yet comfortable multiclassing)?

[@whynaut1]

@@doomtooth74 Not Treantmonk, but personally I would say an Evocation Wizard. It us pretty straight forward with it's most potent ability letting your allies not take damage if they get caught in one of your blasts

[@KINFIN123]

Minor Alchemy use, and I’m sure some of you may recognize this. Buy a pot. Turn a silver coin into copper. Show someone the pot. Drop the coin into the pot. Stop concentrating. Pull silver coin out of pot. Sell your magic pot.

[@TheAdditionalPylons]

With a successful deception check of course : ]

[@lucifiaofthefreecouncil1312]

Hey that's pretty mean yo!

[@VTheTuber]

Shopkeeper: "So um why do you want to sell me this magic pot that can turn any copper coin into silver for gold? Can't you just make money yourself?"

[@Ciberbuster]

Minor alchemy is surprisingly useful for crafters. For example, taking woodcutter's tools you can transmute any material into wood, work it the way you want and then transmute it back to its original material. Also this ability interacts with the spell Fabricate in a similar way.

[@TreantmonksTemple]

Not any material, it's a pretty limited list.

[@Ciberbuster]

@@TreantmonksTemple Well; wood, stone and iron covers a great number of useful objects to craft.

[@thereaIitsybitsyspider]

When you said that this is the end, I pictured Frank Sinatra in a wizard hat and robes singing "My Way."

[@FrostLeaf13]

Nice, the transmuter! This subclass holds a special place in my heart since it was the subclass I used on my first actual full campaign in 5e. Super glad to see your take on school of transmutation.

[@binolombardi]

Minor alchemy is a nice ability to use for utility. Changing materials from wood, stone, wood, silver, iron, or copper can have many impacts on gameplay. Changing an iron lock to soft wood would make it easy to burn or break. Same story with the link of a chain. Changing stone, copper, iron, or silver objects to a soft wood would also make them much easier to shape or work by carving it. The material can be changed or damaged and still stay transformed. Changing copper or silver jewelry or statues might be easier to pilfer if it looks like it’s made out of wood or stone. This can be used to reinforce a wooden door into a stronger wood or stone with a bit of time. The average door is about 2.8 cubic feet. Basically like ritual casting. A nice niche use would be to turn the fighters heavy armor into some type of stone if you keep getting heat metaled. Probably works best on a medium breastplate though since it is seemingly one material.

[@tikiwikiki]

I've been waiting for this subclass since the beginning! Finally we come to it. Thank you for all the great builds til now! It made the waiting appear less long. 😉

[@RavenWolfStarcraft2]

It's great to see you use Mold Earth and Minor Illusion as your 'attack cantrips'. I'm making a Kobold pacifist conjuration Wizard (obviously inspired by your videos) and I'm also gonna take these cantrips except light->presti (as I'm described as the presti guy in my group). If my vote counts for anything, I'd love to see a Warlock 'god wizard' build. I suggest this because I've always loved the concept of Warlock, but in play hated it (two slots 'forever'). You don't have a Warlock build, that focuses on warlock spells/control, on the channel yet either. I'd love to see someone do Warlock right!

[@Jza_Dragon]

I got some warlock plays if you're interested in comments.

[@nicholass5621]

one tip i have for playing a warlock: scribe spell scrolls! this can help you to deal with not having many spell slots.

[@victorbarrosdeoliveira8496]

I already watched all the videos in this playlist about wizards and I loved them all! On some points, I think differently, but I really appreciate your line of reasoning ... Now a request, please make a video about the chronurgy wizard! Congratulations for the channel and the content as always ... thank you

[@obeygiant8409]

If you decide to do another series breaking down a specific class, I am going to have to request Bard as the class. It seems to be the most popular class in the game. I have never had a game without one. I've always wanted to play a Bard, but like I said, I've never had a game without one and I don't like to more than 1 of the same class. Cleric would be second.

[@virplexer1428]

I'd really be interested in seeing maybe a martial video or 2 from you next, i think it could be a nice change of pace from the normal spellcasting videos.

[@Porphyrogenitus1]

Treantmonk's next guide-series will consist of raccoon build guides, starting with the tough and deadly *Raccoon Biter* and finishing with the versatile and explosive *Raccoon Sapper* Tune in April 1st of 2020 for the first release! Until then the videos will mainly center on "Cat Macros and D&D" and an updated re-visitation of *Phil & Dixie's* 2E-era series on "Sex & D&D" which sadly never quite got completed due to various unexpected vicissitudes.

[@carlosdevoto798]

You have to come within 5 feet of your target in order to use the Help Action against it, which is highly inadvisable unless you are playing a tank or you have the Mobile feat.

[@douglascheesman]

Keep the builds coming!

[@smile-tl9in]

I'd argue that it is a pacifist if roleplayed well. If he avoid fights and try to imprison or redeem people rather than killing them....It is a pacifist

[@herbybrew]

Thanks!

[@Lastofthesigilites]

Mark of healing would be perfect subrace for this.

[@ChristianW1975]

Thank you so much for all your wizard videos, i have watched them all numerous times. Will you be making videos with suggestions to changes to any of the wizard subclasses in the future ?

[@TreantmonksTemple]

Yes, keep an eye on my Treantmonk Variant series that is being released on Fridays. When you see Wizard - that will include the subclasses.

[@ChristianW1975]

Treantmonk's Temple wonderful, looking forward to that !

[@ZacharyEntenman]

What would you think about a one level Cleric dip for this character? Obviously it makes them more MAD but I think a life domain dip to access things like bless and cure wounds fits quite well with the character and gives a few more options at low levels

[@kethos017]

=) feed the algorithm gnomes

[@applecrow8]

looking at this I'm wondering how well an upcast Tiny Servant or Animate Objects doing readied help actions could make an attack roll heavy party do more damage. especially at higher levels when creatures have resistance to non magical attacks.

[@jud6651]

doesn't silent image stop being useful as a distraction the first time an enemy attacks it? spending a spell slot for just a chance to negate only one attack seems like a waste

[@goose6752]

I've had some thoughts about mold earth. If I instantaneously excavate a 5' pit beneath a M or smaller opponent, they fall into it (no damage); prone? If I take a 5' cube of earth from adjacent to that opponent and insantaneously pile it around them in their square, grappled? restrained? What if I'm a sorcerer w/ quicken? Instant grave? Buried to the neck? (Realistically, if your buried to the neck in loose earth, your not getting out unless someone else digs you out. No leverage.)

[@TreantmonksTemple]

By RAW, none of those things happen as part of the spell. However, your DM may employ the "rule of cool" if you use it creatively.

[@goose6752]

@@TreantmonksTemple No, they don't happen as a part of the spell; they happen as a consequence of the spell. Reasonably, the creature would get a Dex Save at the casters DC to avoid the consequences and later an escape check to get free; unless the DM ruled that under a creature or an occupied square were invalid targets. Either way, its a another situation that requires DM adjudication because it isn't addressed by the RAW (as far as I can tell.)

[@JoseRodriguez-pi8cx]

I’ve noticed on nearly all of these builds, you choose a feat at lvl 4 rather than an Int ASI. Almost all the other optimization advice I read contradicts this, why is the feat at lvl 4 more worthwhile to you when building than an ASI? I ask because I’m playing a Sorcerer/Bard with proficiency/advantage(tides of chaos) in con saves and a 13 dex and I’m HIGHLY considering moderately armored to make his concentration extremely difficult to break

[@TreantmonksTemple]

Boosting your concentration I find is pretty much always a sound investment at level 4. The best boost to concentration saves is not to get hit in the first place, so I think you are leaning towards a sound choice. Tides of Chaos is an extremely DM dependent ability, you may get it consistently, or once per long rest.

[@shrimpboy1079]

Hey Chris! I may have missed it as I was occupied while listening to the video but you mention using your action to Help allies in combat. However, that requires you to be within 5ft of the enemy creature if I am not mistaken. Do you have any advice for keeping this character in that close proximity or do you recommend avoiding Help altogether then unless the enemy is not a real threat at all?

[@TreantmonksTemple]

You are not mistaken. Yeah, I think our experience differs. If there is an enemy getting injured by the guy with a greatsword, then I find on their turn, they tend to attack the one trying to kill them in groups I play in. Though I'm more likely to move in if I figure the enemy might go down before their turn comes up.

[@shrimpboy1079]

@@TreantmonksTemple Makes sense, actually! Thanks!

[@FatherOfThursday]

@@TreantmonksTemple This bothered me too. I don't have much D&D experience yet but have been trying to play your god-wizard style wizard and so far has been working well. I haven't had the courage yet to use the help action though due to it being risky. I still tend to stay way away from combat and use ranged spells. Should I re-think this and try to get in close?

[@rodrigobartos4633]

Hey when you were ranking subclasses you ranked transmuter as one of the worse, do you think it is worth making a character transmuter?

[@TreantmonksTemple]

One of the worst wizards is still one of the best overall. I'm not picking Transmuter unless the subclass works best for my concept though.

[@whynaut1]

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