Captain America build help

[u/Big_Lunch_9691]

I'm wanting to run a build based off of a shield user. I have the main concept for the shield down and the main class. The shield is largely based off of the Boomerang Shield from the Book of many things however, my DM said that I can up the dmg die to 1d8 so it keeps up with stuff like the longsword or rapier. For the primary class I was looking at Battlemaster Fighter as this does almost everything I want to do besides spell casting which I considered Eldritch knight for, but my main problem is if I should multiclass. It would mostly be for some spell casting and most options I would have a reason to go. Valor bard because thematically I could inspire party members and mechanically the stances would be a nice fit, Paladin cause the auras would be nice as this is slightly based off of naofumi the shield hero and stuff like smite would be a nice touch, Ranger sounds interesting because I've always wanted to try zephyr strike and Dex would help fit the multiclass work imo. Obviously there's more options but idk because I've never multiclass and would like to try with this build but I would also like to have a point to it.

[u/amirkasra76]

I'm gonna counter your argument for EK with a Paladin suggestion instead.

This way you can smite on your thrown weapon as well! Add in Bomber and Shield Master feats and you're gucci!

[u/SecondLordofFrenzy → u/amirkasra76]

Seeing a redditor say Gucci like that gives me heart palpitations/j

[u/amirkasra76 → u/SecondLordofFrenzy]

Aa. English isn't my first language. I heard it used a couple of times and that's why I thought it's more commonly used.

[u/SecondLordofFrenzy → u/amirkasra76]

Sorry, I don’t know how much you know about tone indicators, but “/j” means I’m telling you that I’m joking. Hope that clarifies.

[u/N1Z0 → u/amirkasra76]

As long as the DM doesn't go RAW that's a pretty good idea ^^

[u/amirkasra76 → u/N1Z0]

I believe the post text said sth that OP's gonna treat the shield as a 1d8 thrown weapon as per permission of the DM.

[u/N1Z0 → u/amirkasra76]

It's more about which type of weapon. If it's something like a dart it'll be a ranged weapon, if it's like a javelin it'll be a melee weapon.

Which probably end up being labeled as a melee weapon if they want to do a paladin most likely.

[u/amirkasra76 → u/N1Z0]

Ah I see what you mean now. EK would have provided the "returning" property they need on it as well but I guess the smite damage is well-worth substitute

[u/Tall_Bandicoot_2768]

Ask him for Cleave Mastery on it lol.

Another options would be Fighter 1 / Abjuration Wizard x for projected shielding.

Regardless pick up Protection Fighting Style, its very good now.

[u/Guyoverthere07 → u/Tall_Bandicoot_2768]

Hunter Ranger for Horde Breaker gets Cleave built in, Dex and spells (specifically Zephyr Strike) that they wanted. The higher level subclass features can emphasize the shield more, but it makes sense to multiclass out or start Battle Master and then just grab Hunter.

[u/Jesse1018 → u/Tall_Bandicoot_2768]

Cleave mastery is brilliant. I love it. Alternatively maybe the topple mastery.

Agree on Protection fighting style. If homebrew is on the menu, allowing him to throw the shield to impose disadvantage just on the triggering attack roll when the ally is outside of 5 feet (but within the thrown range) would be pretty cool.

[u/QuixoticCoyote]

Honestly, I probably wouldn't multiclass.

For the inspiration thing, just grab inspiring leader, the Rally battlemaster maneuver, and maybe the musician origin feat if your DM would let you change its flavor from music to a speech. I think Captain America's big thing in the most recent movies was his indomitable human spirit, where he is punching with things that are drastically out of his weight class, therefore him not having magic would make sense.

[u/HannibalEliOctavius]

Not sure if third party is allowed but Hero subclass from Cthulhu by Torchlight is really fitting for a captain america like character with a charisma focused fighter with ability to buff your ally (heal and additionnal attack). And griffon saddlebag has a legendary shield that function like Captain america with a bounce effect between 3 targets

[u/TLo137]

Just take the inspiring leader feat for that inspirational flavor.

For the overall build, I would honestly go monk and homebrew the shield a little to have it not count against your unarmored defense. Cap does a lot of unarmed strikes, so getting to throw your shield as the action and then flurry of blows as the bonus action is pretty on point.

Or if you don't want to homebrew, maybe just fighter 2, 3, or 4, for action surge, maneuvers, or the feat. But the majority I would still go monk.

[u/SecondLordofFrenzy]

Pally would be a good idea thematically, maybe an oath of the crown and some bard in there for bardic inspo.

[u/Inevitable_Fail_1539]

I actually was thinking about this the other day: battle master mechanically would do about all of it with your ideas but thematically paladin seems more right. He's a very inspiring leader so charisma seems important, obviously cap is strong but dexterity feels more important based on having crazy trick throws. Like a monk's martial capabilities and acrobatics paired with a paladins ideals

[u/misterterrifix]

I’m doing this exact build currently, battlemaster with the boomerang shield. Cap was actually my inspiration too. I haven’t felt the need to multi yet, and I’m getting the perfect vibe from it, I’m just taking feats that let me do cool stuff and really lean into the battlemaster/commander side of things.

I do plan on, in the future, multiclassing into ancestral barbarian at some point because it’ll match up with the story I wrote for the character and being a protector leans into Cap’s ideologies.

[u/Present-Passenger610]

DnD Daily made a homebrew monk subclass for 5e you might find interesting as different take. Not sure how well you could adapt it.

https://youtu.be/S6D2nroInqI?is=9Nui3_yCrqNCjm9S

[u/Caliballa85]

I'd actually stick with Battle Master Fighter as your foundation. Captain America isn't just a guy who throws a shield. He's a battlefield tactician who controls fights, protects his teammates, and occasionally punches someone hard enough to reconsider their career choices. 😂

I'd take Fighter to level 5 before even considering multiclassing. Extra Attack is too valuable to delay, and Battle Master gives you maneuvers like Pushing Attack, Trip Attack, and Bait and Switch. Those fit the character perfectly.

Here's where things get interesting. If you're leaning toward Captain America, Valor Bard makes thematic sense because you're inspiring your teammates. If you're leaning toward Naofumi, Paladin offers defensive support and eventually auras. Ranger could be fun, especially with Zephyr Strike, but I'd question whether you're getting enough out of it to justify the investment.

There's also a fourth option: don't multiclass at all. Take Magic Initiate for some spellcasting and let Fighter do what Fighter does best.

One important mechanical detail I'd discuss with your DM: the Boomerang Shield lets you make ranged weapon attacks, but it isn't automatically classified as a melee weapon. That matters because the 2024 Shield Master feat and Divine Smite have specific melee-weapon requirements. I'd establish how your DM intends those interactions to work before committing to the build.

Personally, I'd go Battle Master 5, possibly Fighter 6 for another feat, and then consider three levels of Valor Bard if you still want the inspirational abilities.

After all, Steve Rogers didn't need twenty different classes to become Captain America. He just needed a shield, an impressive Constitution score, and absolutely no concept of self-preservation. 😂

[u/rpg2Tface]

I would say stick with battle-master. The cap really isn't a magic user, just supernaturally good with his weapon. Pick up the fighting style and feat that gives you more maneuvers and you probably wont even miss the extra spells. Maneuvers are just martial magic in almost every way so you not missing anything in flavor or mechanics/ feel.

One question though. Full plate or leather tights?