Sometimes, for veteran Dungeons & Dragons players, building a high-level starting character, and starting a campaign at a much higher tier of play, can be more rewarding than starting at level one. If everyone at the table has played a lot of campaigns, and a lot of different classes, this can be a really fun experience, and can test your skills as a player.
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But, there are some pitfalls you’re going to want to avoid if you’re building a high-level starting character. Between capstone abilities, multiclasses, and more, here’s everything you need to know to create a high-level starting character in Dungeons & Dragons.
What Level Should You Start At?
The most important step in building high-level characters is figuring out how to pick the right level to start at.
If you start too low, there’s really no point in starting above level one. However, if you start too high, there’s no sense of progression available in your campaign.
Discuss with your DM and table what level character would be appropriate for the campaign you’re about to play.
Here’s a breakdown of recommended level starting points depending on your experience.
|
Player Experience |
Level To Start At |
|---|---|
|
Played 1 Campaign |
Level 3-5 |
|
Played 2-3 Campaigns |
Level 6-10 |
|
Played 3-4 Campaigns |
Level 11-16 |
|
Played 5+ Campaigns |
Level 17-20 |
How To Build A High-Level Character
Ultimately, building a high-level character isn’t too different from building a starting character. However, there are some pitfalls you’ll want to avoid.
First and foremost, the toughest part about building a high-level character in Dungeons & Dragons is that you have to build your sheet from scratch, and then level them up to your desired level.
This can prove tedious at times, so here are some tips and tricks to streamline this process.
|
Tip |
Details |
|---|---|
|
Do Ability Scores Last |
Your Ability Scores are going to change drastically as you build your character sheet. Don’t fill anything in until you’ve determined your starting stats, and how many Ability Score Improvements you’ll get. This will save you time later. |
|
Fill In Spells Later |
Your spell slots and number of cantrips and prepared spells also change drastically. So, first determine how many spell slots and prepared spells you will have, and then choose your spells at the very end. |
|
Focus On Features |
Features are your primary focus. Before you fill in anything else on your sheet, go through your class features chart and fill in every feature you have. |
For example, if you’re building a level ten cleric, fill in every feature through Divine Intervention, and note that you will gain two Ability Score improvements.
Then, roll your starting stats, add your subsequent Ability Score improvements, and calculate how many spells you have access to.
How To Determine Equipment
One thing you’ll want to consider as both a player and DM when building high-level characters is how to choose starting equipment.
You’ll get access to every piece of starting equipment detailed in your class description, but you should assume that your high-level adventurer will have found some treasure, magic items, and equipment along the way.
Here is a breakdown of what you as a DM can grant your players in terms of extra starting equipment depending on their level.
A version of the below table can also be found in the 2024 Player’s Handbook.
|
Starting Level |
Extra Starting Equipment And Gold |
Magic Items |
|---|---|---|
|
2–4 |
No additional equipment. |
1-2 Common |
|
5–10 |
500 GP, in addition to 1d10 × 25 GP |
2 (1 Common, 1 Uncommon) |
|
11–16 |
5,000 GP, in addition to 1d10 × 250 GP |
6 (3 Uncommon, 2 Common, 1 Rare) |
|
17–20 |
20,000 GP, in addition to 1d10 × 250 GP |
10 (4 Uncommon, 3 Rare, 2 Common, 1 Very Rare) |
Ultimately, the above buffs to starting equipment are just suggestions. You can tweak these as you see fit.
For example, if you’re playing a survival-based campaign, your party might not have as much access to extra gold.
As a DM, you’ll also want to make sure that your players are picking extra equipment and magic items that make sense for them narratively.
For example, a level 17 player may say they want to start with three Rings of Spell Storing, but this doesn’t make a lot of narrative sense for them to have found three identical magic items.
Encourage them to think flexibly and make narrative-based choices.
How To Multiclass As A High-Level Character
At higher levels of play, multiclassing works just the same as if you were multiclassing through standard level progression.
Here are some examples of high-tier multiclasses to consider when building a high-level character.
- Sorcerer-Warlock
- Barbarian-Fighter
- Artificer-Rogue
Any of the above options prove great for expert players, provided you’re starting at level ten or higher. Also, keep in mind when building a high-level character, you’ll want to make sure you’re choosing stats that allow for the multiclass you want.
Be sure to check the prerequisites for each multiclass as you build your high-level character, so you can achieve the build you want.
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