Summary
Multiclassing is a great boon for players who are trying to min-max theirDungeons & Dragonscharacter. And, it’s true, optimizing your character can prove incredibly fun and be highly rewarding as a player. But if you’re looking for something different and a bit of a challenge, I’d recommend trying to multiclass in the exact opposite direction.
Sometimes, you might discover a multiclass that’s so terrible, it’s actually ingenious. Or, who knows, maybe it is just bad. Either way, if you’re a longtime Dungeons & Dragons player, we highly recommend checking out one of these awful multiclass ideas that might just be brilliant.
Way Of The Open Hand Monk
Requires close martial combat.
Martial classes can often prove to begreat to multiclasswith spellcasters, but sometimes, the requirements of a martial subclass can prove problematic depending on the type of spellcaster you’re playing as. Such is the case for the wild magic sorcerer and the way of the open hand monk.
While there are benefits to the wild magic table, many of the wild magic options can cause movement in less than ideal directions, or effects that can prove monk features to become less than effective. Plus, one of the low-level features for way of the open hand monks requires you to be in close combat with enemies, which can prove less than ideal for squishier sorcerers who only have a d6 for their hit die. But also, you never know just how entertaining having a wild magic effect might be when trying to fight as a monk.
Requires a decently high Charisma score
Peace Domain Cleric
Creates roleplay problems
This multiclass makes absolutely no sense in terms of character concept. Playing as a conquering paladin while simultaneously serving as an envoy for peace is going to prove hilarious, contrasting for roleplay purposes. But, while you may have a hard time justifying this character concept, and needing both a high Wisdom and Charisma might prove tricky, some abilities weirdly synergize well.
For example, if a creature is frightened of you, you’re able to use your Aura of Conquest feature as a paladin to reduce its speed. And, as a peace domain cleric, you can use your channel divinity to move through creatures who are slowed near you without provoking opportunity attacks. So there are some optimized reasons to choose this multiclass, but in terms of roleplay, you might have a tough time selling it to your DM without accidentally breaking your paladin oath.
Some redundant spellcasting
Draconic Sorcerer
Negates Draconic Resilience
Dungeons & Dragons has a ton of different classes that have unarmored defense abilities. These usually grant the player-character a buff to their AC, provided they are not wearing armor. One surefire way to make a terrible multiclass in this way is to pick a subclass that gets buffs when they’re wearing armor.
The armorer artificer and draconic sorcerers are delightfully terrible in this way. You’ll have to choose right off the bat between using Draconic Resilience or any of your armorer features. This can prove tricky at lower levels. Plus, these two subclasses have a lot ofoverlap in terms of spells. However, at higher levels, having a more heavily armored sorcerer can prove fun and useful.
Can’t use some fire abilities while submerged
Fathomless Warlock
Poor synergy with fire-based abilities
This next multiclass combination poses some logistical problems between you and your DM. A lot of your fathomless warlock abilities revolve around being submerged in water, swimming, being able to breathe underwater, and more. However, as a circle of wildfire druid, most of your abilities are about creating and conjuring fire.
Can you even conjure your wildfire familiar while underwater? Probably not. However, there is fun to be had with this combination by playing a hot-cold character. The contrast will make for some great roleplay and an overall highly elemental-focused build.
Contrasting roleplay
Life Domain Cleric
Contrast with Turn Undead
Simultaneously playing a necromancer and a cleric can prove hilariously off-kilter. Not only is the roleplay for this class combination confusing, but choosing this multiclass will completely negate your ability to use Turn Undead as part of your cleric features. This is because, at sixth level, necromancy wizards can cast Animate Dead, which is a super useful spell.
However, you could end up inadvertently turning your own undead away from you in this way. However, because both subclasses have healing abilities, you will find yourself strangely healing yourself and your allies quite a bit, so it’s actually a multiclass that might prove worth exploring.
Negates some need for Wildshapes
Circle of the Moon Druid
Have to focus on either Wildshape or Mounted Combat
This multiclass is worth picking just for the hilarity that could ensue just from some of the logistical concerns this combination could bring about. Obviously, as a circle of the moon druid, so much of your skill comes from constantlyusing your Wildshapesand animal forms. But, as a cavalier fighter, the idea is for you to be mounted most of the time.
Can you ride a mount while in Wildshape? That’s a question only your DM can answer. However, this combination is less than ideal since almost none of these two subclasses' abilities synergize with one another. But, I personally need to try it just to see if I can ride a horse while Wildshaped as a horse.
Charisma doesn’t lend itself well to barbarians
Berserker Barbarian
Attacks negate charm effects
One of the trickiest things about multiclassing is correctly spreading out your stats in a way that makes sense. Multiclassing between various mental stat classes and physical stat classes can prove useful, but also contradictory. This bard-barbarian combination is one such example.
So much of the college of glamour bard is about charming your opponents, but most charm effects are broken by attacking. In stark contrast, so much of the berserker path is about attacking opponents with brutal force. However, it can be useful to be able to charm and impose the frightened condition on opponents with these two classes in tow.
Extra spells overlap with sorcerers
Divine Soul Sorcerer
Extra healing not worth the multiclass
This multiclass is the ultimate six of one, half a dozen of the other. Ultimately, when you multiclass, you’re missing out on capstone abilities and other high-level features for each class. The idea, of course, is that you’re making a more unique character in the process.
However, this combination just steals features from the other class. Divine soul sorcerers get access to similar healing abilities as clerics, but ones that aren’t nearly as powerful, while trickery domain clerics get access to spells that are already on the sorcerer spell list. However, if you do play your cards right with the cleric’s Invoke Duplicity feature, you can become an immensely powerful healer with this multiclass!
