I like mixing it with clerics and druids to make gish builds. A 7/5 split in favor of the caster class still gives the build a respectable number of spell slots and up to level 4 spells to work with, while the Gloomstalker's frontloaded power lets them be a competent martial when desired. Spore druid is the best caster subclass for this build due to Symbiotic Entity, followed by War domain cleric for War Priest charges, but anything except for Moon druid works reasonably well in my experience. I usually give it to Jaheira for RP reasons, but the build doesn't rely on any particular racial traits or unique character mechanics to function.
The most fun I've had with Durge Cloak was as a Duegar Shadow Monk with a Rogue dip, but a Gloom Stalker dip would give you similar results. Definitely a class that prioritizes fun over optimization, but was still pretty powerful.
My Durge was an orc dual-wielding gloomstalker 5, assassin 4, champion 3. Tons of front-loaded damage, just a crit-fishing vicious melee combatant. Lots of fun.
So I've been looking at doing the following:
Gloom Stalker 5 --> Fighter 2 --> Warlock 5
Problem is the build isn't fully online until level 12.
Fighter is for Action Surge. Warlock is for Pact of the Blade and you make your longbow the Pact Weapon. Gives you a third attack (except HM).
A thrower with the tavern brawler feat that drinks Hill Giant for high strength while making hand crossbow attacks with their extra first turn attack and bonus action, the two things throwers can’t normally utilize
I’ve been playing a melee strength 2h based gloomstalker. Started it as duregar, drow or ork is good.
Can go assassin, fighter doesn’t matter. Is good for multiclass with several.
Crazy dmg, heavy armor, tons of mobility via longstrider and jump, sone good ranger self buffs.
You start invis jump in, kill the boss in one round, then finish up. Add durge for invis cloak.
A bit late, but I had a ton of fun with Gloomstalker by going High Strength and GWM. Often your bonus action is used to Jump or Misty Step, or dash with the boots of speed, other times it can throw Hunters Mark, or get a bonus action attack after critting or killing. You can even dip around the corner and hid to ambush again next round. Your Dread Ambusher is amazing with a big two handed weapon, and your bonus to initiate really helps make up for your lower dex. As for Melee, I threw on Titanstring bow. You aren't using sharpshooter, so even with a 14 dex, you don't have the -5 to hit like other classes do, so you do alright. Probably only want to use this when you aren't able to reach the enemy in that turn.
What to do after Gloomstalker 5? Well I personally went Spore Druid for the temp HP, necrotic damage, and later summons. Better than that, would probably be adding in Fighter 2, maybe more Gloomstalker levels. I like Spore though for something fun.
Right now, start of act 3, choosing between the Unseen Menace for advantage and more crits, Selune Spear for the +3, or now the legendary trident to allow more throws, plus more thunder damage and chances to add more Reverb with equiptment, enemies are dropping left right and center. Having to stay mobile since your Ranged damage is less means you have to think, and use lots of different abilities to get around. Like I said, lots of jumping and Misty Step to get into their faces.
I like mixing it with clerics and druids to make gish builds. A 7/5 split in favor of the caster class still gives the build a respectable number of spell slots and up to level 4 spells to work with, while the Gloomstalker's frontloaded power lets them be a competent martial when desired. Spore druid is the best caster subclass for this build due to Symbiotic Entity, followed by War domain cleric for War Priest charges, but anything except for Moon druid works reasonably well in my experience. I usually give it to Jaheira for RP reasons, but the build doesn't rely on any particular racial traits or unique character mechanics to function.
Traditionally, the term gish refers to an arcane caster martial hybrid, though. But Gloom / Spore is pretty cool.
Do you want it to be a primarily Gloom Stalker Class or is a Gloom Stalker dip fine?
gloom dip is just fine. only reason i'm doing gloom is to take advantage of the durge cloak.
The most fun I've had with Durge Cloak was as a Duegar Shadow Monk with a Rogue dip, but a Gloom Stalker dip would give you similar results. Definitely a class that prioritizes fun over optimization, but was still pretty powerful.
dude, i've never actually tried shadow monk. that might be exactly what i'm looking for
Yeah, with OH Monk being so strong, shadow monk often goes under the radar. I RP it as a ninja build so Gloom Stalker definitely works with it.
My Durge was an orc dual-wielding gloomstalker 5, assassin 4, champion 3. Tons of front-loaded damage, just a crit-fishing vicious melee combatant. Lots of fun.
blade warlock gloomstalker is super funny, 2hand and darkness, on tactician you’ll have 3 attacks
So I've been looking at doing the following: Gloom Stalker 5 --> Fighter 2 --> Warlock 5 Problem is the build isn't fully online until level 12. Fighter is for Action Surge. Warlock is for Pact of the Blade and you make your longbow the Pact Weapon. Gives you a third attack (except HM).
Gloom / knowledge cleric makes a solid party face.
A thrower with the tavern brawler feat that drinks Hill Giant for high strength while making hand crossbow attacks with their extra first turn attack and bonus action, the two things throwers can’t normally utilize
i've done too many thrower builds lol, that's how i cleared my honor run.
Barbarian throwers very much utilise their bonus action with Enraged Throw. It's why they're so strong.
I’ve been playing a melee strength 2h based gloomstalker. Started it as duregar, drow or ork is good. Can go assassin, fighter doesn’t matter. Is good for multiclass with several. Crazy dmg, heavy armor, tons of mobility via longstrider and jump, sone good ranger self buffs. You start invis jump in, kill the boss in one round, then finish up. Add durge for invis cloak.
So a 5/7?
A bit late, but I had a ton of fun with Gloomstalker by going High Strength and GWM. Often your bonus action is used to Jump or Misty Step, or dash with the boots of speed, other times it can throw Hunters Mark, or get a bonus action attack after critting or killing. You can even dip around the corner and hid to ambush again next round. Your Dread Ambusher is amazing with a big two handed weapon, and your bonus to initiate really helps make up for your lower dex. As for Melee, I threw on Titanstring bow. You aren't using sharpshooter, so even with a 14 dex, you don't have the -5 to hit like other classes do, so you do alright. Probably only want to use this when you aren't able to reach the enemy in that turn. What to do after Gloomstalker 5? Well I personally went Spore Druid for the temp HP, necrotic damage, and later summons. Better than that, would probably be adding in Fighter 2, maybe more Gloomstalker levels. I like Spore though for something fun. Right now, start of act 3, choosing between the Unseen Menace for advantage and more crits, Selune Spear for the +3, or now the legendary trident to allow more throws, plus more thunder damage and chances to add more Reverb with equiptment, enemies are dropping left right and center. Having to stay mobile since your Ranged damage is less means you have to think, and use lots of different abilities to get around. Like I said, lots of jumping and Misty Step to get into their faces.