Embrace Your Primal Instincts! Explore the best class choices for Thri-kreen, famed for their insectoid features and survival skills.
These classes synergize with Thri-kreen characteristics, offering a range of abilities from swift hunters to agile warriors. Embark on desert adventures with these top selections!
Best Classes for Thri-kreen
5. 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?
Thri-kreen Rogues should put +2 in Dexterity or Intelligence (Arcane Trickster) and +1 in Constitution.
Thri-kreen are good Rogues, but they’re not perfect, as Secondary Arms seems good for two-weapon fighting. While it helps, it doesn’t significantly improve any aspect.
I recommend trying to get proficiency with Shields and combining it with Secondary Arms, as that will at least give you a +2 AC boost.
Chameleon Carapace works well with your stealthy playstyle, and when combined with Expertise, it becomes even better.
Recommended Rogue Archetypes
- Soulknife
- Swashbuckler
4. 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?
Thri-kreen Barbarians should put +2 in Strength and +1 in Constitution.
The Barbarian is drawn between two options: two-weapon fighting or two-handed? The answer is both since you can easily switch between the two and use a Shield with two-weapon fighting to boost your AC.
Using a two-handed weapon will deal more damage, but you can always go with two Handaxes, a Longsword, and a Shield, which gives you a larger damage die with some extra AC.
Recommended Barbarian Primal Path
- Totem Warrior
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?
Thri-kreen Paladins should put +2 in Strength and +1 in Constitution.
Paladins function a lot like a Fighter but without all the nifty additions that make a Thri-kreen shine.
Secondary Arms don’t provide much, but using two-weapon fighting gives you more chances to apply bonus smite damage to enemies.
The only issue is that you don’t have as many Feats as the Fighter.
Recommended Paladin Sacred Oaths
- Conquest
- Vengeance
2. 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?
Thri-kreen Rangers should put +2 in Dexterity and +1 in Wisdom
Thri-kreen are perfect for two-weapon fighting Rangers because of their Secondary Arms, especially for a Dexterity-based build.
If you want to be more stealthy, you can always rely on Chameleon Carapace but know that it won’t help you move more quietly.
Recommended Ranger Archetypes
- Drakewarden
- Fey Wanderer
- Gloom Stalker
- Swarmkeeper
1. 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?
Thri-kreen Fighters should put +2 in Dexterity and +1 in Constitution.
Thri-kreen Fighters are the ultimate two-weapon fighting build, having access to various Feats and Fighting Styles.
Dual Wielder and Sentinel are Feats you should look at, and if you’re worrying about your AC, remember that Chameleon Carapace makes it so that you’ll have more AC than most Dexterity-based Fighters.
Recommended Fighter Martial Archetypes
- Battle Master
- Rune Knight
- Samurai
Final Thoughts
Whether you prefer the primal fury of a Barbarian, the stealth and agility of a Rogue, or the battle instincts of a Fighter, each class offers unique abilities that can complement the insectoid nature of Thri-kreen.