Embrace Your Wild Side! Explore the best classes for Shifters, known for their primal instincts and shape-shifting abilities.
These classes enhance a Shifter’s traits, providing varied playstyles from fierce warriors to cunning scouts. Embark on adventurous journeys with these top classes!
Contents
Best Classes for Shifters
5. Cleric
Primary Ability Score – Wisdom
Secondary Ability Scores – Constitution
Spellcasting Ability – Wisdom
Armor Proficiencies – Light, Medium, Shields
Weapons Proficiencies – Simple
Why the Cleric?
Shifter Clerics should put +2 in Wisdom and +1 in Constitution.
Clerics can find good uses for Beasthide and Longtooth, but the other Shifting abilities aren’t as good.
Beasthide grants good durability for Clerics who want to wade through melee and need higher AC stats to avoid being hit.
Longtooth grants an extra attack (unarmed strike) as a Bonus action. While it does scale with Strength, this attack triggers Divine Strike, making it easier to hit and dealing extra damage.
Note: Even though your Cantrips deal more damage, this is a good addition that can be used if you don’t feel like only relying on your OP Cantrips.
Recommended Cleric Divine Domains
- Forge
- Order
4. Artificer
Primary Ability Score – Intelligence
Secondary Ability Scores – Constitution, Dexterity
Spellcasting Ability – Intelligence
Armor Proficiencies – Light, Medium, Shields
Weapons Proficiencies – Simple
Why the Artificer?
Shifter Artificers should put +2 in Intelligence and +1 in Dexterity (AC boost when wearing Light or Medium armor).
Artificers will find Beasthide and Swiftstride welcome additions to various builds.
Beasthide will act as extra durability for frontline Artificers, making it easy to sit there, attract attention, and cast various Cantrips.
Swiftstride allows you to enact hit-and-run tactics, especially around Cantrips like Booming Blade. This also rewards you for using your Reaction by planning for an enemy to end their turn within 5 feet of you.
Recommended Artificer Specialists
- Armorer
- Battle Smith
3. 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?
Shifter Paladins should put +2 in Strength and +1 in Charisma.
Paladins can make use of Beasthide, Longtooth, and Swifthide.
Beasthide gives even more durability to an already durable class.
Longtooth works well for Strength-orientated Paladins, giving you an easy way to use your Bonus Action and boost your damage output.
Swiftstride allows for various tactics, like repositioning, engaging an enemy, or moving forward to bait an enemy into attacking you.
Recommended Paladin Sacred Oaths
- Conquest
- Crown
- Vengeance
- Oathbreaker
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?
Shifter Fighters should put +2 in Strength and +1 in Constitution.
Much like Paladins, Fighters can use Beasthide, Longtooth, and Swiftstride.
Beasthide increases durability, while Longtooth gives you a good use for your Bonus Action while boosting your damage.
Swiftstride, on the other hand, works well for ranged Fighter builds. It allows you to get away from enemies or escape from one’s grasp if you miscalculate your positioning.
Recommended Fighter Martial Archetypes
- Battle Master
- Echo Knight
- Samurai
1. 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?
Shifter Barbarians should put +2 in Strength and +1 in Constitution.
Barbarians can use Beasthide, Longtooth, and Swiftstride for the same reasons Fighters and Paladins use them.
However, Barbarians can also use Wildhunt effectively, as it counteracts the Advantage given to attackers from Reckless Attack.
This will increase your toughness and allow you to use Reckless Attack with fewer drawbacks.
Recommended Barbarian Primal Paths
- Ancestral Guardian
- Beast
- Totem Warrior
Final Thoughts
Whether you prefer the primal instincts of a Barbarian, the inventing spirit of an Artificer, or the stalwart defenses of a Paladin, each class offers unique strengths that can complement the Shifter’s natural abilities.