Roar into Battle with Feline Grace! Explore the best class choices for Leonin, renowned for their lion-like features and fierce demeanor.
These classes harmonize with a Leonin’s attributes, providing diverse playstyles from agile warriors to spiritual leaders. Embark on thrilling adventures with these top selections!
Best Classes for Leonin
5. Monk
Primary Ability Score – Dexterity
Secondary Ability Scores – Constitution, Wisdom
Armor Proficiencies – None
Weapons Proficiencies – Simple, Shortswords
Why the Monk?
Leonin Monks should put +2 in Dexterity and +1 in Wisdom.
Leonin Monks aren’t the best, but they can be pretty thematic, providing useful features to aid the Monk in their adventures.
Hunter’s Instincts gives you proficiency in Athletics, Intimidation, Survival, or Perception, which are skills you can use well.
Darkvision is excellent if you are caught in a cave or at night, and Daunting Roar makes for a decent AoE ability.
Note: Daunting Roar gets outshone by Patient Defense or Step of the Wind, so that you can use it, but it won’t be the most effective. Claws aren’t that useful, but they can be thematic if you choose to use them.
Recommended Monastic Traditions
- Way of the Astral Self
- Way of the Long Death
4. Ranger
Primary Ability Score – Dexterity
Secondary Ability Scores – Constitution, Wisdom
Spellcasting Ability – Wisdom
Armor Proficiencies – Light, Medium, Shields
Weapons Proficiencies – Simple, Martial
Why the Ranger?
Leonin Rangers should put +2 in Dexterity and +1 in Wisdom.
Rangers often compete with the Rogue, and with Hunter’s Instincts, they get one step closer to rivaling them in terms of skills.
Daunting Roar is a good option if you want an AoE ability, so if you don’t plan on using other methods Rangers have, then it can be quite useful.
Darkvision is always good on a Ranger, but you should avoid Claws unless you play a Strength-based Ranged, and even then, they aren’t that good.
Recommended Ranger Archetypes
- Beast Master
- Fey Wanderer
- Gloom Stalker
3. Barbarian
Primary Ability Score – Strength
Secondary Ability Scores – Constitution, Dexterity to a lesser extent
Armor Proficiencies – Light, Medium, Shields
Weapons Proficiencies – Simple, Martial
Why the Barbarian?
Leonin Barbarians should put +2 in Strength and +1 in Constitution.
Barbarians will enjoy the skill proficiency from Hunter’s Instincts, making them more useful out of combat.
Barbarians often struggle with crows, so having Daunting Roar can come in handy.
Recommended Barbarian Primal Paths
- Ancestral Guardian
- Beast
- Totem Warrior
2. 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?
Leonin Fighters should put +2 in Strength, Dexterity, or Intelligence and +1 in Constitution.
Fighters are like Barbarians, using their extra skill proficiency to be more useful outside of combat, with Daunting Roar helping with crowds.
You might have a use for Claws as a Strength-based Fighter, but many weapons beat its 1d4 damage die.
Recommended Fighter Martial Archetypes
- Battle Master
- Echo Knight
- Rune Knight
- Samurai
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?
Leonin Paladins should put +2 in Charisma or Strength and +1 in Constitution.
The skill proficiency from Hunter’s Instincts allows a Paladin to increase their current Face capabilities or broaden their horizons with other skills that other party members don’t have.
Daunting Roar is an excellent way to deal with crowds, so you should use it whenever needed or when you have a spare Bonus Action.
Recommended Paladin Sacred Oaths
- Conquest
- Vengeance
- Oathbreaker
Final Thoughts
Whether you favor the strength and resilience of a Barbarian, the primal rage of a Barbarian, or the strategic skills of a Ranger, each class offers unique abilities that can complement Leonin’s prideful nature.