This has been on my to-do list for a very long time. As many people know, Shadow Magic is that perfect sounding theme, which gives the dark vibes, a cool summon and easily accessible 
Darkness. The reality?
Well, it’s a bit nuanced. The 
Hound of Ill Omen is cool, but it has limited HP, and its effects have fixed Spell Save DC, so plenty of optimisation will be needed. However, what I really liked is that it can safely stay in the Darkness which gives him a safe haven and an easy source of 
Advantage.
To top it off, it has a cool gimmick – 
Splinter Shadow, allowing it to create multiple versions of Nimbus for a few turns. They are not strong, but 2-3 of these also start splitting from themselves, and each of them casts 
Umbral Tangle for a little damage. Besides damage, it can also root enemies in place, making their movement more difficult, and your allies get Advantage.
With this build I really want to lean on the “shadow” aspect. For this, not only will we use 
Shadow Blade extensively, but also Oathbreaker subclass, to gain more proficiencies, a few powerful spells and 
Divine Smite for extra power when you hit with your blade.
Following the guide and a few tips: Build Overview covers the quick aspects and choices for the build - gear, levelling, etc. The progression by Acts cover the build in great detail, from spell selection to how utilize various features. Be sure to check the equipment sections for gear options and explanations. I also add additional section for build maximizing like consumables, illithid powers and others.
Shield to improve survivability.
Lightning Bolt, 
Cone of Cold, 
Chain Lightning, etc.
Friends, which are especially useful if you are the main character, as you can win over the dialogues.| Setup | Description |
|---|---|
|
11 Shadow Magic Sorcerer 1 Hexblade |
One of the variations if you want access to Shadow Walk Shadow Walk while maintaining proficiencies in medium armour and being able to Bind Hexed Weapon Bind Hexed Weapon. |
| 11 Shadow Magic Sorcerer 1 Fiend Warlock | Gives access to Command Command spell to control enemies without using the Concentration Concentration slot. |
Following the guide and a few tips: Build Overview covers the quick aspects and choices for the build - gear, levelling, etc. The progression by Acts cover the build in great detail, from spell selection to how utilize various features. Be sure to check the equipment sections for gear options and explanations. I also add additional section for build maximizing like consumables, illithid powers and others.
| Race | Features | Description |
|---|---|---|
Dwarf Duergar
|
Dwarven Combat Training Superior Darkvision Dwarven Resilience Duergar Resilience |
It's one of the most powerful races. At level 5, they gain Invisibility, which enables various ways of avoiding direct combat encounters, leaving them or breaking enemy AI. |
High Half-Elf
|
Civil Militia Darkvision Fey Ancestry |
Comes with a selection of additional cantrips and shield proficiency. Overall, it's a list of solid features. |
|
High Half-Elf
|
Civil Militia Darkvision Fey Ancestry Fleet of Foot - your movement speed is increased by 1.5m. |
Almost any build can benefit from the extra movement speed. I think the same is here, so I definitely recommend this option |
Here are some recommendations on how to follow the gear picks: I recommend checking the Item Checklists or Interactive Map, depending on which is easier to use for you. This will help you track which items and when you should pick them. Gear for each slot is listed Best -> Worst. Generally, this means that you would start with lower gear recommendations (as they are available earlier) and upgrade to higher ones. However, in some cases, the best items can be obtained early, like Titanstring Bow, and some others. I mention Stat Sticks in caster and ranged builds. These are items that you do not use directly (like Club of Hill Giant Strength, Knife of the Undermountain King, The Dead Shot, etc.), but their bonuses still apply to other weapon attacks or actions. If an item is taken by another character, use the one with lower priority or even those from previous acts. If you want to have the best items for all builds, this will require planning, which is not for everyone.
This is the go-to caster weapon in Act 1 with +1 Spell Save DC.
This weapon, for now, is optional, as you might not be inclined to always fight enemies with melee attacks. However, when in Darkness you gain an easy advantage, so the damage + hit chance is pretty good.
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