Comprehensive List of Reasons to Multiclass

[Bjarkmundur]

What are the individual reasons to ever consider taking a 1-2 level dip in a class?

Fighting Styles
Unarmored Defense
Divine Smite
Short Rest Spell Slots
Don't get me started on hexblade

[Unoriginal]

RP reasons?

[Bjarkmundur]

RP reasons?

You truly have mastered the art of unhelpful helpful replies xD
You know pretty much everything about the game, throw a man a bone here?

[BloodSnake'sCha]

Cunning Action
The fighter extra action
Bardic inspiration
Sorcerer 13 base armor/DS bonus to save or attack.
wizard lv1 rituals(for the people that don't like feats)
A lot more that I need the books to write.

RP reasons?

Well, if I want my character to be safe because he is smart I will dip monk for unarmored defense.

You can RP all you want but if you can't do stuff your character can only talk about it.

[OldTrees1]

You truly have mastered the art of unhelpful helpful replies xD
You know pretty much everything about the game, throw a man a bone here?

You wanted a comprehensive list. "RP Reasons" is a catchall for a majority of the full list.


Other mechanical reasons (remember sometimes the dip is at 1st level):
Proficiencies(Weapon)
Proficiencies(Armor)
Proficiencies(Skills)
Proficiencies(Saves)
Class Features(1st level)
Class Features(2nd level)

Examples:
Heavy Armor on a Wizard
Healing Word on a Rogue
Knowledge Domain on a Rogue
Guidance on a Rogue
Lore Bard on a Rogue
Shillelagh on a Monk

Conclusion: The list is too long and includes a majority of the mechanics found at 1st-2nd level.

[TyGuy]

Conclusion: The list is too long and includes a majority of the mechanics found at 1st-2nd level.

Exactly. Clerics, wizards, warlocks, and sorcerers get subclass goodies at 1&2. The list will get long if you're going to include every specific archetype feature.

[Pex]

Spellcaster that's not Bard - A range attack cantrip for a character who lacks a meaningful range attack, and it's hurting the party you don't have a range attack losing your actions for the round in an encounter.

Sorcerer/Wizard - Shield & Absorb Elements

Cleric - Guidance & Bless

Rogue - When you really need or want expertise in a particular skill or two.

Fighter - A boost in combat.

[Jamesps]

A lot of the martial classes have long stretches of rather uninteresting features. I usually multiclass out of martial classes after I reach a certain level almost regardless of the situation.

Barbarian's the worst offender for me. After level 7 I don't care for any of the intervening base class abilities up until 20. Fighter has the same problem after 11th.

[Pex]

A lot of the martial classes have long stretches of rather uninteresting features. I usually multiclass out of martial classes after I reach a certain level almost regardless of the situation.

Barbarian's the worst offender for me. After level 7 I don't care for any of the intervening base class abilities up until 20. Fighter has the same problem after 11th.

Same. I went to Barbarian 8 though for the ASI. Took a feat.

[elyktsorb]

I do it because it's fun and is sometimes thematically fitting for the character.

[Lyracian]

Barbarian's the worst offender for me. After level 7 I don't care for any of the intervening base class abilities up until 20. Fighter has the same problem after 11th.

Same. I went to Barbarian 8 though for the ASI. Took a feat.

I agree you get diminishing returns in the second half of the levels for none spell casters.

Maybe the better question is when to multi-class?

Casters often want a level early to get Armour and are then a level behind in getting bigger spells. Ultimately they want 17 Levels in a class to get Level 9 spells.

Martial are better able to mix two classes as they gain more than they lose by taking several levels in a different class.

[Pex]

I agree you get diminishing returns in the second half of the levels for none spell casters.

Maybe the better question is when to multi-class?

Casters often want a level early to get Armour and are then a level behind in getting bigger spells. Ultimately they want 17 Levels in a class to get Level 9 spells.

Martial are better able to mix two classes as they gain more than they lose by taking several levels in a different class.

It's a matter of taste. Some players don't care about having the higher level spells. They're cool but not essential. What you get multiclassing is fun for them now then what could happen many levels later. In one of my games the warlock multiclassed a few levels in bard to get more cantrips, healing spells, and expertise. Bardic Inspiration was a cherry on top. In another game the cleric multiclassed wizard for spell diversity.

For warriors going 5 levels is without doubt for Extra Attack. It's the 6th level that's tempting for Fighter and Paladin. Totem Barbarian less so, but the ribbon might matter for some players plus one more rage per day. If Fighter goes to 6 you can get out after. For Paladin it's an issue. You want CH to saves, but depending on your Oath 7th level is really good then you might as well go 8th for the ASI. 9th gives you 3rd level paladin spells, but it's possible to get out if you were more focused on smiting than spellcasting.

[JakOfAllTirades]

A lot of the martial classes have long stretches of rather uninteresting features. I usually multiclass out of martial classes after I reach a certain level almost regardless of the situation.

Barbarian's the worst offender for me. After level 7 I don't care for any of the intervening base class abilities up until 20. Fighter has the same problem after 11th.

I have similar feelings about playing a BladeLock after level 12. Once I've got the LifeDrinker Invocation, and a good 12th level Feat to go with it, I find myself debating whether I want 8 more levels of Warlock, or... something else.

[Man_Over_Game]

• Barbarian: Rage, Reckless Attack (Advantage on melee attacks)
• Fighter: Constitution Proficiency, Heavy Armor, Fighting Style, Second Wind, ACTION SURGE!!!!
• Monk: Unarmed Strike, Unarmored Defense, Dodge as a Bonus Action
• Paladin: Heavy Armor, Divine Smite
• Ranger: Favored Terrain, Favored Enemy, Fighting Style, Goodberries
• Rogue: Expertise, Thieves' Tools Proficiency, Cunning Action
• Bard: Utility spells, Bardic Inspiration, lots of known spells
• Cleric: Armor proficiency, niche combat boon (such as enhanced healing or punishing enemies for attacking you), prepared spells
• Druid: Wisdom Spell Slots, Wild Shape, easy subclass feature, prepared spells
• Sorcerer: Metamagic, Shield, Absorb Elements, level 1 subclass feature, lots of spell slots/cantrips.
• Warlock: Pact Boon, invocations, level 1 subclass feature, Short Rest spell slots.
• Wizard: Shield, Absorb Elements, easy subclass feature.

[TyGuy]

• Barbarian: Rage, Reckless Attack (Advantage on melee attacks)
• Fighter: Constitution Proficiency, Heavy Armor, Fighting Style, Second Wind, ACTION SURGE!!!!
• Monk: Unarmed Strike, Unarmored Defense, Dodge as a Bonus Action
• Paladin: Heavy Armor, Divine Smite
• Ranger: Favored Terrain, Favored Enemy, Fighting Style, Goodberries
• Rogue: Expertise, Thieves' Tools Proficiency, Cunning Action
• Bard: Utility spells, Bardic Inspiration
• Cleric: Armor proficiency, niche combat boon (such as enhanced healing or punishing enemies for attacking you).
• Druid: Wisdom Spell Slots, Wild Shape, easy subclass feature.
• Sorcerer: Metamagic, Shield, Absorb Elements, level 1 subclass feature, lots of spell slots/cantrips.
• Warlock: Pact Boon, invocations, level 1 subclass feature, Short Rest spell slots.
• Wizard: Shield, Absorb Elements, easy subclass feature.

Fixed that omission ;)

[Zuras]

Not sure you can come up with a comprehensive list of reasons to multiclass. That’s like trying to come up with a comprehensive list of reasons to play D&D.

[Man_Over_Game]

Fixed that omission ;)

Made the revision. Can't believe I forgot Action Surge. I wouldn't put Second Wind on the list, though. It's generally a feature that I only ever consider if I'm already playing a Fighter.

[Willie the Duck]

Depending on your DM, an Ranger's Natural Explorer ability is worth more than any other class feature. By the sounds of it, not many DMs actually impose the penalties that the ability obviates unless you remind them, so it's often not really a benefit. But if they do, it certainly can be.

[Pex]

Made the revision. Can't believe I forgot Action Surge. I wouldn't put Second Wind on the list, though. It's generally a feature that I only ever consider if I'm already playing a Fighter.

When multiclassing into Fighter it helps to think of it as an extra HD of Short Rest healing.

[Max_Killjoy]

RP reasons?

RP reasons, and "how to best map this character into the mechanics within the limitations of the system" reasons.

[Max_Killjoy]

Depending on your DM, an Ranger's Natural Explorer ability is worth more than any other class feature. By the sounds of it, not many DMs actually impose the penalties that the ability obviates unless you remind them, so it's often not really a benefit. But if they do, it certainly can be.

One level dip in Revised Ranger:

Light armor, medium armor, shields
Simple weapons, martial weapons
One skill from the class's skill list
Ignore difficult terrain.
Advantage on initiative rolls.
On the first turn during combat, advantage on attack rolls against creatures that have not yet acted
+2 Damage against "favored enemy", which can be Humanoids, for pete's sake.

[nickl_2000]

There is also one thing that I haven't seen listed here. Cantrip, being able to cast RP spells and ranged spells at will can be a very useful thing.