Unleash Your Draconic Heritage with These Choices! See the best classes for Kobolds, renowned for their cunning and dragon-like features.
These classes amplify a Kobold’s qualities, providing diverse playstyles from stealthy assassins to ingenious trapmakers. Dominate the underworld with these top picks!
Best Classes for Kobolds
5. Cleric
Primary Ability Score – Wisdom
Secondary Ability Scores – Constitution
Spellcasting Ability – Wisdom
Armor Proficiencies – Light, Medium, Shields
Weapons Proficiencies – Simple
Why the Cleric?
Kobold Clerics should increase Wisdom by +2 and Strength by +1.
With Kobold Legacy (Draconic Sorcery), you should pick up spells like Green-Flame Blade or Booming Blade before starting to use weapons.
Thereafter, any domain that lets you don heavy armor without penalties is appropriate, as it will enable you to use Draconic Cry to help your allies in battle.
Recommended Cleric Divine Domain
- Forge
- Nature
- Order
- Tempest
4. Warlock
Primary Ability Score – Charisma
Secondary Ability Scores – Constitution, Dexterity
Spellcasting Ability – Charisma
Armor Proficiencies – Light
Weapons Proficiencies – Simple
Why the Warlock?
Kobold Warlocks should increase Charisma by +2 and Dexterity by +1.
Kobold Warlocks can choose between two builds: a spellcaster that uses Draconic Cry for short-range attacks or a melee build that uses Draconic Cry in combination with various weapons.
Craftiness and Defiance are good Kobold Legacy choices and are pretty situational, so you can choose the appropriate one for your campaign.
Draconic Sorcery isn’t worth it, but you can use it if you want an extra Cantrip (you better not pick Friends!).
Recommended Warlock Otherworldly Patrons
- Fiend
- Genie
- Hexblade
3. Fighter
Primary Ability Score – Strength (STR-based), Dexterity (DEX-based)
Secondary Ability Scores – Constitution
Spellcasting Ability – Intelligence (For Eldritch Knight)
Armor Proficiencies – Light, Medium, Heavy, Shields
Weapons Proficiencies – Simple, Martial
Why the Fighter?
Kobold Fighters should increase Intelligence by +2 and Strength/Dexterity/Constitution by +1.
Fighter is an excellent melee class for the Kobold, as it fits with any Kobold Legacy.
Draconic Sorcery can get you Booming Blade as an Eldritch Knight, eventually getting War Magic, where it becomes exceptionally good.
Defiance will protect you against becoming frightened, which is a definite problem if you plan on always staying in the fight.
Craftiness gives you more skill versatility and makes you more useful outside of combat.
Recommended Fighter Martial Archetypes
- Battle Master
- Eldritch Knight
- Samurai
2. Rogue
Primary Ability Score – Dexterity
Secondary Ability Scores – Constitution, Intelligence (For Arcane Tricksters)
Armor Proficiencies – Light
Weapons Proficiencies – Simple, Shortswords, Rapiers, Longswords, Hand Crossbows
Why the Rogue?
Kobold Rogues should increase Dexterity by +2 and Constitution/Charisma by +1.
Kobolds complement a Rogue’s kit nicely. They use the advantage from Draconic Cry to trigger Sneak Attack and use Darkvision to see while sneaking around in the dark.
Draconic Sorcery also allows a Kobold Rogue to unlock Booming Blade. Combined with Cunning Action, you can easily perform hit-and-run tactics to chip away at enemies while staying safe.
Recommended Rogue Archetypes
- Arcane Trickster
- Soulknife
- Swashbuckler
1. Paladin
Primary Ability Scores – Charisma and Strength
Secondary Ability Score – Constitution
Spellcasting Ability – Charisma
Armor Proficiencies – Light, Medium, Heavy, Shields
Weapons Proficiencies – Simple, Martial
Why the Paladin?
Kobold Paladins should increase Charisma by +2 and Strength/Constitution by +1.
Kobold Paladins are suitable for the same reasons as Kobold Fighters.
However, since Paladins don’t get as many attacks as Fighters do, the Green-Flame Blade or Booming Blade from Draconic Legacy significantly upgrades your damage output.
Darkvision is also quite handy, as you can use it effectively if you plan on replacing a Rogue as the Scout or Face of the party.
Recommended Paladin Sacred Oaths
- Conquest
- Vengeance
- Oathbreaker
Final Thoughts
Whether you prefer the stealthy skills of the Rogue, the demonic sorcery of the Warlock, or the strategic versatility of the Fighter, each class offers unique opportunities to enhance your Kobold character’s abilities and role in your adventuring party.