Galactic Gambits & Fiendish Feats: The Sith Lord’s Guide to D&D Domination
Strap yourself in, adventurers! We’re embarking on a deep dive into the Dark Side of the Force, exploring the shadowed halls of Sith legend and laying the building blocks for your own dark and dashing D&D anti-hero.
Race:
We’re kicking off our nefarious journey with Variant Human as our race of choice. Why, you ask? Sith are known for their unchecked ambition, cunning, and knack for bending the very rules of existence to their will. In D&D terms, this translates to a hunger for power, and there’s no better way to begin your ascent to the Sith summit than by choosing the Variant Human’s deliciously tempting bonus feat at first level.
Classes:
Regarding classes, we’re weaving a dangerous dance between the Monk — Way of the Shadow and the Warlock — The Fiend Patron.
We’re laying the groundwork with six levels of Monk, but we’re selecting the Way of the Shadow to harness its darkly alluring features. The Shadow Monk gives us access to powers that mimic those the Sith are known for, like Pass Without Trace (Sith stealth!), Darkness (because Sith Lords love their dramatic entrances), and Silence (perfect for sneaking up on unsuspecting Jedi). Plus, Minor Illusion for those deceptive Sith tricks.
We then switch gears into Warlock with the Fiend patron, a perfect representation of drawing power from an ominous and powerful entity. We’re specifically choosing the Blade pact to summon that crimson blade, the iconic double-edged lightsaber, to our hands. We’re taking five levels of Warlock to crank up our Dark Side powers to full throttle.
After imbibing the potent brew of our Warlock levels, we’re hopping back into the Monk class. We’re sticking to the Way of the Shadow path because, let’s face it, the higher-level features are the stuff of Sith dreams. Shadow Step (teleportation between shadows), Cloak of Shadows (invisibility in dim light or darkness), and Opportunist (capitalizing on others’ weaknesses) all play perfectly into the Sith archetype.
Skills and Feats:
Let’s go with Intimidation and Deception for our skills — what good is a Sith who can’t inspire fear or weave a web of lies? The bonus skill from being human? We’ll opt for Athletics — the Force may be strong with you, but it doesn’t hurt to pack a solid physical punch too!
As for feats, we’re starting off with Spell Sniper. Because shooting lightning from your fingers requires precision, my friends! At Monk 4 (character level 4), we’re opting for Warcaster — crucial for maintaining concentration on your darkly “Forceful” spells amidst the chaotic battlefield. When we hit Monk 8 (character level 13), we’re going all out with Mage Slayer to send a cold shiver down the spines of any Jedi (or other magic-wielding) adversaries you encounter.
Weapons and Spells:
As we mentioned, your Kensei and pact weapon will be a longsword, but let’s re-skin it as a crackling, sinister red lightsaber.
Your Warlock spells should echo the traits of the Sith: control and destruction. The Eldritch Blast cantrip could be your Force Lightning. Charm Person and Command embody Sith’s manipulative abilities. Hellish Rebuke could be used as a Force push, and Scorching Ray could serve as your lightsaber throw.
And there you have it, the ultimate guide to forging a Sith Lord from the raw materials of a D&D campaign! Remember that even though you’re playing a character steeped in darkness, D&D is still a team game, so try not to Force choke your fellow adventurers… unless it’s part of the plot, of course. Happy Sith-ing, and may the Force (of Chaos) serve you well!
