Secret Lesson 37

Multiclassing: Requirements, Proficiencies, Class Features, and Spell Slots

Until now, most of our examples have assumed that a character gains every level in:

ONE CLASS

A Fighter remains a Fighter.

A Wizard remains a Wizard.

A Rogue remains a Rogue.

But the SRD 5.2.1 also allows:

MULTICLASSING

Multiclassing lets a character gain levels in:

MULTIPLE CLASSES

Instead of gaining your next level in your current Class, you can sometimes take:

LEVEL 1 IN A NEW CLASS

This allows you to combine the abilities of different Classes to create a character concept that might not be represented by a single Class.

EXAMPLE

A character might begin as:

FIGHTER 5

and then take:

ROGUE 1

The character is now:

FIGHTER 5 / ROGUE 1

Total character level:

6

ANOTHER EXAMPLE

A character might eventually become:

CLERIC 6 / FIGHTER 2

Total character level:

8

This distinction between:

CHARACTER LEVEL

and:

CLASS LEVEL

is fundamental to multiclassing.

PART ONE — CHARACTER LEVEL VS. CLASS LEVEL

A multiclass character has:

ONE TOTAL CHARACTER LEVEL

but also:

A SEPARATE LEVEL IN EACH CLASS

EXAMPLE

FIGHTER 5 / ROGUE 3

Fighter level:

5

Rogue level:

3

Total character level:

8

WHAT USES CHARACTER LEVEL?

Several multiclass rules use your:

TOTAL CHARACTER LEVEL

including:

  • XP thresholds

  • Proficiency Bonus

  • the normal level scaling of Cantrips unless a spell says otherwise

 

WHAT USES CLASS LEVEL?

Your individual Class level determines:

THE FEATURES YOU HAVE FROM THAT CLASS

If you are:

FIGHTER 5 / ROGUE 3

you use the Fighter Features table as:

FIGHTER LEVEL 5

and the Rogue Features table as:

ROGUE LEVEL 3

You are not an eighth-level Fighter or an eighth-level Rogue.

PART TWO — MULTICLASSING PREREQUISITES

You cannot always freely enter any new Class.

To qualify for a new Class, the SRD requires:

AT LEAST 13

in the:

PRIMARY ABILITY OF THE NEW CLASS

and:

THE PRIMARY ABILITY OF EACH OF YOUR CURRENT CLASSES

 

SRD EXAMPLE

A Barbarian wants to multiclass into Druid.

Barbarian Primary Ability:

STRENGTH

Druid Primary Ability:

WISDOM

Therefore the character needs:

STRENGTH 13 OR HIGHER

and:

WISDOM 13 OR HIGHER

 

WHY YOUR CURRENT CLASS MATTERS

The rule isn't merely:

“MEET THE REQUIREMENT OF THE NEW CLASS”

You must also still satisfy the Primary Ability requirement of:

YOUR EXISTING CLASS OR CLASSES

 

PRIMARY ABILITIES BY CLASS

The SRD Class Overview lists:

Class Primary Ability
Barbarian Strength
Bard Charisma
Cleric Wisdom
Druid Wisdom
Fighter Strength or Dexterity
Monk Dexterity and Wisdom
Paladin Strength and Charisma
Ranger Dexterity and Wisdom
Rogue Dexterity
Sorcerer Charisma
Warlock Charisma
Wizard Intelligence

 

PRACTICAL MULTICLASS REQUIREMENT TABLE

Applying the SRD's:

SCORE 13+ IN PRIMARY ABILITY

rule to those Primary Ability entries gives:

Class Ability Requirement
Barbarian Strength 13+
Bard Charisma 13+
Cleric Wisdom 13+
Druid Wisdom 13+
Fighter Strength 13+ or Dexterity 13+
Monk Dexterity 13+ and Wisdom 13+
Paladin Strength 13+ and Charisma 13+
Ranger Dexterity 13+ and Wisdom 13+
Rogue Dexterity 13+
Sorcerer Charisma 13+
Warlock Charisma 13+
Wizard Intelligence 13+

This table is the direct application of the multiclass prerequisite rule to the Primary Abilities listed in the SRD.

EXAMPLE — FIGHTER TO WIZARD

Current Class:

FIGHTER

New Class:

WIZARD

Suppose:

Str 10
Dex 16
Int 14

The Fighter requirement can be satisfied through:

DEXTERITY 13+

The Wizard requirement is:

INTELLIGENCE 13+

Both are satisfied.

The multiclass is permitted.

EXAMPLE — PALADIN TO ROGUE

Paladin requires:

STRENGTH 13+

and:

CHARISMA 13+

Rogue requires:

DEXTERITY 13+

Therefore the character needs all three:

STR 13+

CHA 13+

DEX 13+

to make that transition.

MULTIPLE EXISTING CLASSES

Suppose you are already:

FIGHTER / WIZARD

and now want to add Rogue.

You must satisfy the relevant Primary Ability requirement for:

FIGHTER

WIZARD

and:

ROGUE

because the rule refers to the new Class and your current Classes.

PART THREE — EXPERIENCE POINTS

Multiclassing doesn't create separate XP tracks.

Your XP requirement is based on:

TOTAL CHARACTER LEVEL

not individual Class level.

SRD EXAMPLE

A character is:

CLERIC 6 / FIGHTER 1

Total character level:

7

To take either:

FIGHTER 2

or:

CLERIC 7

the character must first gain enough XP to become:

CHARACTER LEVEL 8

 

YOU DON'T HAVE SEPARATE XP TOTALS

You do not track:

“Cleric XP”

and:

“Fighter XP.”

You track:

ONE CHARACTER XP TOTAL

and use the Character Advancement table.

PART FOUR — HIT POINTS WHEN MULTICLASSING

When you take your first level in a new Class:

YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THAT CLASS'S LEVEL 1 HIT POINT FORMULA

unless your:

TOTAL CHARACTER LEVEL IS ACTUALLY 1

 

THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

Suppose you begin:

FIGHTER 5

and take:

WIZARD 1

You don't suddenly gain:

6 + CONSTITUTION MODIFIER

as though you were creating a new level 1 Wizard.

Instead, because your total character level is already above 1:

USE THE WIZARD'S HP RULE FOR LEVELS AFTER 1

 

EXAMPLE — FIGHTER 5 → WIZARD 1

Wizard Hit Die:

D6

When gaining the Wizard level, you gain HP using the later-level process:

either:

ROLL 1D6 + CON MODIFIER

minimum increase 1

or use the fixed Wizard increase:

4 + CON MODIFIER

LEVEL 1 HP IS RECEIVED ONLY ONCE

Your first-ever character level receives the Class's level 1 HP formula.

Every later character level, even if it is:

LEVEL 1 IN A NEW CLASS

uses the:

AFTER-LEVEL-1 HP RULE

 

PART FIVE — MULTICLASS HIT DICE

Add together the Hit Dice granted by:

ALL YOUR CLASSES

to create your Hit Dice pool.

SAME HIT DIE TYPE

If multiple Classes use the same die type:

POOL THEM TOGETHER

SRD EXAMPLE — FIGHTER / PALADIN

Fighter:

D10

Paladin:

D10

Character:

FIGHTER 5 / PALADIN 5

Hit Dice:

10D10

 

DIFFERENT HIT DIE TYPES

If your Classes use different Hit Dice:

TRACK THE TYPES SEPARATELY

SRD EXAMPLE — CLERIC / PALADIN

Cleric:

D8

Paladin:

D10

Character:

CLERIC 5 / PALADIN 5

Hit Dice:

5D8 + 5D10

 

ANOTHER EXAMPLE

Character:

BARBARIAN 3 / WIZARD 2

Hit Dice:

3D12

and:

2D6

Do not turn these into five identical dice.

PART SIX — PROFICIENCY BONUS

Multiclassing does not give you a separate Proficiency Bonus for each Class.

Your PB is based on:

TOTAL CHARACTER LEVEL

 

SRD EXAMPLE

Character:

FIGHTER 3 / ROGUE 2

Total level:

5

A level 5 character has:

PROFICIENCY BONUS +3

 

NOT +2 + +2

You do not combine the PB values of the two Class levels.

The character has:

ONE PB

based on total character level.

EXAMPLE — FIGHTER 10 / ROGUE 7

Total level:

17

PB:

+6

because level 17 is in the +6 Proficiency Bonus band.

PART SEVEN — PROFICIENCIES FROM A NEW CLASS

When you take level 1 in another Class, you do:

NOT GAIN ALL OF THAT CLASS'S STARTING PROFICIENCIES

The SRD says you gain:

ONLY SOME

as specified in that Class's description.

This prevents multiclassing from automatically granting every starting benefit of every Class.

COMPLETE MULTICLASS CORE TRAITS TABLE

The individual Class entries specify exactly what you gain when entering them through multiclassing.

New Class Core Traits Gained
Barbarian Hit Point Die, Martial weapon proficiency, Shield training
Bard Hit Point Die, proficiency in one Skill of your choice, one Musical Instrument proficiency, Light armor training
Cleric Hit Point Die, Light and Medium armor training, Shield training
Druid Hit Point Die, Light armor training, Shield training
Fighter Hit Point Die, Martial weapon proficiency, Light and Medium armor training, Shield training
Monk Hit Point Die only
Paladin Hit Point Die, Martial weapon proficiency, Light and Medium armor training, Shield training
Ranger Hit Point Die, Martial weapon proficiency, one Skill from the Ranger Skill list, Light and Medium armor training, Shield training
Rogue Hit Point Die, one Skill from the Rogue Skill list, Thieves' Tools proficiency, Light armor training
Sorcerer Hit Point Die only
Warlock Hit Point Die, Light armor training
Wizard Hit Point Die only

 

NOTICE WHAT IS MISSING

For example, multiclassing into Fighter grants:

  • Fighter Hit Die

  • Martial weapon proficiency

  • Light armor training

  • Medium armor training

  • Shield training

It does not say you gain the Fighter's normal starting:

SAVING THROW PROFICIENCIES

Likewise, it doesn't give every normal Skill choice from starting as a Fighter.

MULTICLASS SAVING THROW PROFICIENCIES

Because the multiclass entries don't grant the new Class's Saving Throw Proficiencies:

YOUR ORIGINAL CLASS'S SAVE PROFICIENCIES REMAIN IMPORTANT

You don't gain two new Save Proficiencies every time you add a Class.

EXAMPLE — WIZARD → FIGHTER

A Wizard multiclasses into Fighter.

From Fighter, the multiclass entry grants:

  • d10 Hit Die

  • Martial weapons

  • Light armor

  • Medium armor

  • Shields

It does not grant the normal Fighter starting:

STRENGTH AND CONSTITUTION SAVE PROFICIENCIES

 

STARTING EQUIPMENT ISN'T LISTED AS A MULTICLASS GAIN

The Class multiclass entries specify the Core Traits you gain and then grant:

THE CLASS'S LEVEL 1 FEATURES

They don't list that Class's normal starting equipment as something you receive when multiclassing.

So taking a new Class level should not be treated as creating a second new character with another full starting-equipment package.

PART EIGHT — LEVEL 1 CLASS FEATURES

Although you receive only part of the new Class's Core Traits:

YOU DO GAIN THAT CLASS'S LEVEL 1 FEATURES

The individual Class entries state this directly.

EXAMPLE — ROGUE 1 THROUGH MULTICLASSING

When you take your first Rogue level, the Rogue entry grants:

ROGUE LEVEL 1 FEATURES

in addition to its specified multiclass Core Traits.

EXAMPLE — WIZARD 1 THROUGH MULTICLASSING

When you multiclass into Wizard:

Core Trait gained:

HIT POINT DIE

Then:

WIZARD LEVEL 1 FEATURES

 

Spell-slot interactions are then governed by the multiclass Spellcasting rules.

PART NINE — CLASS FEATURES

Whenever you gain a level in a Class:

YOU GAIN THE FEATURES FOR THAT CLASS LEVEL

 

But several features have:

SPECIAL MULTICLASS INTERACTIONS

The SRD specifically highlights:

ARMOR CLASS CALCULATIONS

EXTRA ATTACK

SPELLCASTING

 

PART TEN — MULTIPLE ARMOR CLASS CALCULATIONS

A character can gain several different ways to calculate:

ARMOR CLASS

But if you have multiple AC calculations:

YOU CAN BENEFIT FROM ONLY ONE AT A TIME

 

SRD EXAMPLE

A:

MONK / SORCERER

might possess:

  • Monk Unarmored Defense

  • Sorcerer Draconic Resilience

Both provide ways to calculate AC.

The character must:

CHOOSE ONE

They are not combined.

WRONG

Suppose one calculation says:

10 + DEX + WIS

and another says something different.

You don't merge all parts of both formulas.

CORRECT

Choose:

ONE COMPLETE AC CALCULATION

that applies to you.

PART ELEVEN — EXTRA ATTACK

Several Classes can eventually gain:

EXTRA ATTACK

But gaining Extra Attack from more than one Class does:

NOT STACK

 

EXAMPLE

Suppose you have Extra Attack from:

FIGHTER

and also Extra Attack from:

PALADIN

You don't conclude:

“Each gives one extra attack, so I make three attacks.”

Instead:

THE FEATURES DON'T STACK

NORMAL RESULT

Extra Attack ordinarily lets you make:

TWO ATTACKS

with the relevant Attack action.

Having two ordinary Extra Attack features still doesn't increase that to three.

EXCEPTION

You can make more than two attacks with the feature if:

A FEATURE SPECIFICALLY SAYS YOU CAN

The SRD gives the Fighter's:

TWO EXTRA ATTACKS

feature as an example.

THIRSTING BLADE

The Warlock's:

THIRSTING BLADE

Invocation grants Extra Attack with the pact weapon.

The SRD explicitly says this doesn't give additional attacks if you also already have:

EXTRA ATTACK

 

PART TWELVE — MULTICLASS SPELLCASTING

Multiclass Spellcasting is the most technical part of these rules.

Your spellcasting capacity can depend on:

COMBINED LEVELS ACROSS SPELLCASTING CLASSES

and:

INDIVIDUAL LEVELS IN EACH CLASS

 

WHEN DO THESE SPECIAL RULES APPLY?

If you have the:

SPELLCASTING FEATURE FROM MORE THAN ONE CLASS

use the multiclass Spellcasting rules.

IF ONLY ONE CLASS GIVES YOU SPELLCASTING

If you multiclass but only one of your Classes has the Spellcasting feature:

FOLLOW THAT CLASS'S NORMAL SPELLCASTING RULES

 

EXAMPLE

Fighter 4 / Wizard 3

If the Fighter side of this particular build isn't supplying a Spellcasting feature, your Wizard spellcasting follows:

THE WIZARD RULES

rather than requiring the multiclass spell-slot calculation merely because the character has two Classes.

PART THIRTEEN — PREPARED SPELLS ARE CALCULATED SEPARATELY

This is one of the most important rules.

You determine which spells you can prepare:

FOR EACH CLASS INDIVIDUALLY

as though you were:

A SINGLE-CLASS CHARACTER OF THAT CLASS LEVEL

 

YOU DO NOT ADD YOUR CLASS LEVELS TO DETERMINE PREPARED SPELLS

Suppose you are:

RANGER 4 / SORCERER 3

You don't behave like a hypothetical:

LEVEL 7 RANGER

or:

LEVEL 7 SORCERER

for spell preparation.

Instead:

RANGER SPELLS → RANGER LEVEL 4

SORCERER SPELLS → SORCERER LEVEL 3

SRD EXAMPLE — RANGER 4 / SORCERER 3

The SRD says this character can prepare:

FIVE LEVEL 1 RANGER SPELLS

and:

SIX SORCERER SPELLS OF LEVEL 1 OR 2

plus:

FOUR SORCERER CANTRIPS

 

Each Class is handled separately for:

SPELLS PREPARED

EACH SPELL BELONGS TO A CLASS

Every spell you prepare is associated with:

ONE OF YOUR CLASSES

You use:

THAT CLASS'S SPELLCASTING ABILITY

when casting it.

EXAMPLE — CLERIC / WIZARD

A Cleric/Wizard might use:

WISDOM

for Cleric spells

and:

INTELLIGENCE

for Wizard spells.

You don't automatically choose whichever ability is higher each time.

SPELL SAVE DCS CAN THEREFORE DIFFER

Suppose:

Wisdom Modifier:

+3

Intelligence Modifier:

+4

PB:

+3

Cleric spell save DC:

8 +3 +3:

14

Wizard spell save DC:

8 +4 +3:

15

Same character.

Different Class spellcasting abilities.

PART FOURTEEN — CANTRIP SCALING

If one of your Cantrips becomes stronger at higher levels:

USE TOTAL CHARACTER LEVEL

not your level in the Class that gave you the Cantrip.

This applies unless:

THE SPELL SAYS OTHERWISE

 

EXAMPLE

Character:

WIZARD 1 / FIGHTER 10

Total level:

11

If a Wizard Cantrip has normal scaling based on character level:

USE LEVEL 11

not:

WIZARD LEVEL 1

unless that Cantrip says otherwise.

THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM PREPARED SPELLS

Remember:

Prepared spells

INDIVIDUAL CLASS LEVEL

Normal Cantrip scaling

TOTAL CHARACTER LEVEL

This distinction is essential.

PART FIFTEEN — CALCULATING MULTICLASS SPELLCASTER LEVEL

To determine your shared Spell Slots, add:

ALL LEVELS

in:

BARD

CLERIC

DRUID

SORCERER

WIZARD

Then add:

HALF YOUR PALADIN LEVELS, ROUND UP

and:

HALF YOUR RANGER LEVELS, ROUND UP

 

MULTICLASS SPELLCASTER FORMULA

BARD LEVELS

CLERIC LEVELS

DRUID LEVELS

SORCERER LEVELS

WIZARD LEVELS

HALF PALADIN LEVELS, ROUND UP

HALF RANGER LEVELS, ROUND UP

=

MULTICLASS SPELLCASTER LEVEL

IMPORTANT — ROUND UP

For Paladin and Ranger levels:

ROUND HALF LEVELS UP

 

EXAMPLE — PALADIN 1

Half of:

1

=

0.5

Round up:

1

for the multiclass Spellcaster calculation.

EXAMPLE — RANGER 3

3 ÷2:

1.5

Round up:

2

EXAMPLE — RANGER 4

4 ÷2:

2

No additional rounding required.

WARLOCK IS NOT ADDED TO THIS FORMULA

Notice that the Spell Slots calculation lists:

  • Bard

  • Cleric

  • Druid

  • Sorcerer

  • Wizard

  • half Paladin

  • half Ranger

It does not add Warlock levels to the:

MULTICLASS SPELLCASTER LEVEL

because Warlock uses:

PACT MAGIC

which has its own interaction described separately.

PART SIXTEEN — MULTICLASS SPELLCASTER TABLE

After calculating your Multiclass Spellcaster level:

FIND THAT LEVEL IN THE TABLE

The row tells you your available Spell Slots.

COMPLETE MULTICLASS SPELLCASTER TABLE

Level 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
1 2 — — — — — — — —
2 3 — — — — — — — —
3 4 2 — — — — — — —
4 4 3 — — — — — — —
5 4 3 2 — — — — — —
6 4 3 3 — — — — — —
7 4 3 3 1 — — — — —
8 4 3 3 2 — — — — —
9 4 3 3 3 1 — — — —
10 4 3 3 3 2 — — — —
11 4 3 3 3 2 1 — — —
12 4 3 3 3 2 1 — — —
13 4 3 3 3 2 1 1 — —
14 4 3 3 3 2 1 1 — —
15 4 3 3 3 2 1 1 1 —
16 4 3 3 3 2 1 1 1 —
17 4 3 3 3 2 1 1 1 1
18 4 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 1
19 4 3 3 3 3 2 1 1 1
20 4 3 3 3 3 2 2 1 1

 

PART SEVENTEEN — SPELL SLOTS ARE SHARED

The Spell Slots from this table can be used to cast spells of an appropriate level from:

ANY CLASS

whose:

SPELLCASTING FEATURE

you possess.

IMPORTANT DISTINCTION

SPELLS PREPARED

are determined separately by Class.

But:

SPELL SLOTS

are determined from your combined multiclass spellcasting level.

THINK OF IT THIS WAY

WHAT SPELLS CAN I PREPARE?

Look at:

EACH CLASS INDIVIDUALLY

HOW MANY SLOTS DO I HAVE?

Look at:

COMBINED MULTICLASS SPELLCASTER LEVEL

These are two different calculations.

PART EIGHTEEN — YOU CAN HAVE SLOTS HIGHER THAN YOUR PREPARED SPELLS

The Multiclass Spellcaster table can sometimes give you:

HIGHER-LEVEL SPELL SLOTS

than the level of spell you are currently able to prepare from any individual Class.

THIS DOES NOT LET YOU PREPARE HIGHER-LEVEL SPELLS AUTOMATICALLY

If your Class levels don't allow you to prepare a level 3 spell:

A LEVEL 3 SLOT DOESN'T CHANGE THAT

The slot and the spell you can prepare are separate.

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH THE HIGHER SLOT?

You can use it to cast:

A LOWER-LEVEL SPELL YOU DO HAVE PREPARED

 

UPCASTING

If the lower-level spell has an enhanced effect when cast using a higher-level Spell Slot:

YOU RECEIVE THAT ENHANCED EFFECT NORMALLY

The SRD uses:

BURNING HANDS

as its example.

PART NINETEEN — SRD MULTICLASS SPELLCASTING EXAMPLE

Character:

RANGER 4 / SORCERER 3

Let's calculate the shared Spell Slots.

SORCERER LEVELS

All count:

3

RANGER LEVELS

Half of 4:

2

TOTAL MULTICLASS SPELLCASTER LEVEL

3 +2:

5

 

LEVEL 5 MULTICLASS SPELL SLOTS

From the table:

FOUR 1ST-LEVEL SLOTS

THREE 2ND-LEVEL SLOTS

TWO 3RD-LEVEL SLOTS

 

BUT WHAT SPELLS CAN THE CHARACTER PREPARE?

The character cannot prepare:

LEVEL 3 SPELLS

and cannot prepare:

LEVEL 2 RANGER SPELLS

at those individual Class levels.

SO WHAT ARE THE 3RD-LEVEL SLOTS FOR?

They can cast the lower-level spells the character actually has prepared, potentially receiving:

HIGHER-LEVEL CASTING BENEFITS

if the spell provides them.

COMPLETE DISTINCTION

Ranger 4 / Sorcerer 3:

Total character level

7

Effective multiclass Spellcaster level

5

Ranger spell preparation

Based on:

RANGER 4

Sorcerer spell preparation

Based on:

SORCERER 3

These are four separate concepts.

PART TWENTY — PACT MAGIC

Warlock uses:

PACT MAGIC

rather than the normal shared Spellcasting slot progression.

But the two systems can interact.

PACT MAGIC → SPELLCASTING SPELLS

If you have:

WARLOCK PACT MAGIC

and:

SPELLCASTING FROM ANOTHER CLASS

you can use your:

PACT MAGIC SPELL SLOTS

to cast spells you have prepared through Classes with the:

SPELLCASTING FEATURE

 

SPELLCASTING SLOTS → WARLOCK SPELLS

The interaction also works in the opposite direction.

You can use Spell Slots gained from:

SPELLCASTING

to cast:

WARLOCK SPELLS YOU HAVE PREPARED

 

EXAMPLE — WARLOCK / WIZARD

Suppose a character has:

WARLOCK PACT MAGIC

and:

WIZARD SPELLCASTING

The character can:

USE A PACT MAGIC SLOT TO CAST A PREPARED WIZARD SPELL

and can:

USE A SPELLCASTING SLOT TO CAST A PREPARED WARLOCK SPELL

provided the slot is appropriate for the spell.

THE SLOT SYSTEMS REMAIN DISTINCT

Warlock levels aren't added into the Multiclass Spellcaster table calculation.

Instead:

PACT MAGIC SLOTS

continue to come from Pact Magic

while:

SPELLCASTING SLOTS

come from the Spellcasting calculation.

The rules then permit cross-use when casting prepared spells.

COMPLETE MULTICLASS EXAMPLE — FIGHTER 5 / ROGUE 3

Character:

FIGHTER 5 / ROGUE 3

Total level:

8

XP

Use:

LEVEL 8

on the Character Advancement table.

PB

Total level 8:

+3

HIT DICE

Fighter:

5D10

Rogue:

3D8

Total pool:

5D10 + 3D8

tracked by type.

CLASS FEATURES

Use:

FIGHTER LEVEL 5

for Fighter Features

and:

ROGUE LEVEL 3

for Rogue Features.

EXTRA ATTACK

If the Fighter side has Extra Attack:

that feature functions normally.

If the character later gained another ordinary Extra Attack from another Class:

THEY WOULD NOT STACK

 

COMPLETE EXAMPLE — CLERIC 6 / FIGHTER 1

Total level:

7

The SRD uses this character to illustrate XP.

To advance again:

REACH THE LEVEL 8 XP THRESHOLD

Then choose whether the new level becomes:

CLERIC 7

or:

FIGHTER 2

 

COMPLETE EXAMPLE — BARBARIAN → DRUID

Current:

BARBARIAN

Want:

DRUID 1

Requirements:

Strength:

13+

Wisdom:

13+

 

When the new Druid level is gained:

Multiclass Core Traits:

DRUID HIT POINT DIE

LIGHT ARMOR TRAINING

SHIELD TRAINING

Then:

DRUID LEVEL 1 FEATURES

 

Because this isn't the character's first total level:

USE THE LATER-LEVEL DRUID HP RULE

not the level 1 starting HP formula.

COMPLETE MULTICLASSING CHECKLIST

Before adding a new Class:

1. CHECK YOUR TOTAL CHARACTER LEVEL

This determines:

  • XP threshold

  • PB

  • some scaling effects

2. CHECK THE NEW CLASS'S PRIMARY ABILITY

Do you have:

13 OR HIGHER?

3. CHECK EVERY CURRENT CLASS'S PRIMARY ABILITY

Do you still satisfy those requirements?

4. GAIN THE NEW CLASS'S HIT DIE

Add it to your Hit Dice pool.

5. CALCULATE NEW HP

Use:

LATER-LEVEL HP

unless this is literally your first character level.

6. GAIN ONLY THE MULTICLASS CORE TRAITS LISTED

Do not assume you receive the complete starting proficiency package.

7. GAIN THE NEW CLASS'S LEVEL 1 FEATURES

Apply any special multiclass rules.

8. CHECK ARMOR CLASS CALCULATIONS

If you have multiple:

CHOOSE ONE AT A TIME

9. CHECK EXTRA ATTACK

Multiple ordinary Extra Attack features:

DO NOT STACK

10. CHECK SPELLCASTING

If multiple Classes give Spellcasting:

PREPARE SPELLS SEPARATELY

but:

CALCULATE SHARED SPELL SLOTS

using the Multiclass Spellcaster rules.

11. CHECK PACT MAGIC

If Warlock is involved:

KEEP PACT MAGIC DISTINCT

but remember the two slot systems can cast prepared spells from the other system as described by the SRD.

12. UPDATE YOUR CHARACTER SHEET

Record:

  • new total level

  • new Class level

  • HP

  • Hit Dice

  • new proficiencies

  • new features

  • spell information

  • any altered AC or attack information

COMMON BEGINNER MISTAKES

MISTAKE 1 — IGNORING THE 13+ REQUIREMENTS

To enter a new Class, satisfy the Primary Ability requirement of:

THE NEW CLASS

and:

YOUR CURRENT CLASSES

 

MISTAKE 2 — TREATING CLASS LEVEL AS CHARACTER LEVEL

Fighter 5 / Rogue 3 is:

CHARACTER LEVEL 8

but:

FIGHTER LEVEL 5

ROGUE LEVEL 3

MISTAKE 3 — USING CLASS LEVEL FOR XP

XP advancement is based on:

TOTAL CHARACTER LEVEL

 

MISTAKE 4 — GAINING LEVEL 1 HP FROM EVERY NEW CLASS

Level 1 HP is received only when:

TOTAL CHARACTER LEVEL = 1

 

MISTAKE 5 — CONVERTING DIFFERENT HIT DICE INTO ONE TYPE

Different types are:

TRACKED SEPARATELY

 

MISTAKE 6 — ADDING PROFICIENCY BONUSES FROM DIFFERENT CLASSES

There is:

ONE PB

based on:

TOTAL CHARACTER LEVEL

 

MISTAKE 7 — TAKING EVERY STARTING PROFICIENCY OF THE NEW CLASS

You gain:

ONLY THE MULTICLASS TRAITS SPECIFIED BY THAT CLASS

 

MISTAKE 8 — GAINING NEW SAVING THROW PROFICIENCIES AUTOMATICALLY

The multiclass Core Trait entries don't grant the normal starting Saving Throw Proficiencies of the new Class.

Use exactly the traits listed in that Class's multiclass entry.

MISTAKE 9 — TAKING A SECOND FULL STARTING-EQUIPMENT PACKAGE

The multiclass entries list the specified Core Traits and level 1 Class Features, not a new starting-equipment package.

MISTAKE 10 — COMBINING MULTIPLE AC FORMULAS

If you have multiple AC calculations:

USE ONLY ONE AT A TIME

 

MISTAKE 11 — STACKING EXTRA ATTACK

Ordinary Extra Attack features from multiple Classes:

DON'T STACK

 

MISTAKE 12 — COMBINING CLASS LEVELS TO DETERMINE PREPARED SPELLS

Prepared spells are determined:

CLASS BY CLASS

 

MISTAKE 13 — USING ONE SPELLCASTING ABILITY FOR EVERY CLASS

Each prepared spell is associated with a Class and uses:

THAT CLASS'S SPELLCASTING ABILITY

 

MISTAKE 14 — USING CLASS LEVEL FOR NORMAL CANTRIP SCALING

Cantrip increases normally use:

TOTAL CHARACTER LEVEL

unless the spell says otherwise.

MISTAKE 15 — ROUNDING PALADIN OR RANGER LEVELS DOWN

The SRD 5.2.1 says:

HALF LEVELS, ROUND UP

for both Paladin and Ranger in the multiclass Spell Slot calculation.

MISTAKE 16 — ASSUMING A HIGHER-LEVEL SLOT MEANS YOU CAN PREPARE A HIGHER-LEVEL SPELL

Spell Slots and spell preparation are:

SEPARATE

You may have a level 3 slot without being able to prepare any level 3 spell.

MISTAKE 17 — ADDING WARLOCK LEVELS TO THE MULTICLASS SPELLCASTER TABLE

Warlock Pact Magic is treated separately.

Its slots can interact with Spellcasting slots as specified by the Pact Magic multiclass rule.

LESSON 37 — KEY TAKEAWAYS

MULTICLASSING

Allows you to gain levels in:

MORE THAN ONE CLASS

 

PREREQUISITE

You need:

13+ IN THE PRIMARY ABILITY OF THE NEW CLASS

and:

13+ IN THE PRIMARY ABILITY OF YOUR CURRENT CLASSES

 

TOTAL CHARACTER LEVEL CONTROLS

XP

PROFICIENCY BONUS

and normally:

CANTRIP LEVEL SCALING

 

INDIVIDUAL CLASS LEVEL CONTROLS

CLASS FEATURES

and:

SPELLS PREPARED FOR THAT CLASS

 

HIT POINTS

Entering a new Class after character level 1 uses:

THE LATER-LEVEL HP RULE

not that Class's level 1 starting HP.

HIT DICE

Combine all Class Hit Dice.

Same type:

POOL TOGETHER

Different types:

TRACK SEPARATELY

 

PROFICIENCIES

You gain:

ONLY THE MULTICLASS CORE TRAITS SPECIFIED BY THE NEW CLASS

not its complete starting proficiency package.

CLASS FEATURES

You gain the appropriate new Class Features, but special rules govern interactions such as:

MULTIPLE AC CALCULATIONS

EXTRA ATTACK

SPELLCASTING

 

MULTIPLE AC FORMULAS

CHOOSE ONE

MULTIPLE EXTRA ATTACK FEATURES

DON'T STACK

PREPARED SPELLS

CALCULATE EACH CLASS SEPARATELY

SHARED SPELL SLOTS

Count:

ALL BARD LEVELS

ALL CLERIC LEVELS

ALL DRUID LEVELS

ALL SORCERER LEVELS

ALL WIZARD LEVELS

plus:

HALF PALADIN LEVELS, ROUND UP

HALF RANGER LEVELS, ROUND UP

 

HIGHER-LEVEL SLOT ≠ HIGHER-LEVEL PREPARED SPELL

You can use higher slots to cast lower-level prepared spells and receive higher-level effects where the spell provides them.

PACT MAGIC

Warlock Pact Magic remains separate from the Multiclass Spellcaster calculation, but:

PACT MAGIC SLOTS CAN CAST SPELLCASTING-CLASS SPELLS

and:

SPELLCASTING SLOTS CAN CAST PREPARED WARLOCK SPELLS

 

NEXT LESSON

LESSON 38 — TRINKETS AND COMPLETING YOUR CHARACTER

You now understand the major mechanical systems required to create and advance a character.

Lesson 38 finishes the:

CHARACTER CREATION AND ADVANCEMENT

section.

We will examine the SRD's:

TRINKET SYSTEM

including the complete:

D100 TRINKET TABLE

from:

01 TO 00

Every one of the 100 mysterious objects will be included.

We will also use Lesson 38 as a final character-completion checklist, making sure your character has:

  • Class

  • Level

  • XP

  • Subclass where applicable

  • Background

  • Species

  • Languages

  • Alignment

  • Ability Scores

  • Ability Modifiers

  • Proficiency Bonus

  • Skills

  • Saving Throws

  • Tool Proficiencies

  • Armor Training

  • Size

  • Speed

  • Hit Points

  • Hit Dice

  • Initiative

  • Armor Class

  • Passive Perception

  • equipment

  • attacks

  • Class Features

  • Feats

  • spells where applicable

  • personal history

  • and an optional mysterious Trinket

After Lesson 38, character creation will be complete.

Then we begin:

CLASSES

with:

LESSON 39 — BARBARIAN AND THE PATH OF THE BERSERKER

SRD 5.2.1 ATTRIBUTION

This work includes material from the System Reference Document 5.2.1 (“SRD 5.2.1”) by Wizards of the Coast LLC, available at https://www.dndbeyond.com/srd. The SRD 5.2.1 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode.