There are many fun ways to build your character in Dungeons & Dragons. One of the most popular builds is the concept of a "gish" or spellsword, a character who seamlessly blends spells with melee combat. While such a character can be immensely well-rounded and powerful, doing them right can be difficult.

Related: Dungeons & Dragons: How To Play A Necromancer

While spellswords are powerful in the arcane and blade, they are masters of neither. However, there are ways to competently blend the two. These are the best subclasses to make the basis of an effective spellsword character.

8 Path Of Wild Magic Barbarian

Kick In The Door by Justine Cruz 

An interesting take on the barbarian, the path of wild magic allows the barbarian to cast spell-like effects while under the influence of their rage, a feat not normally possible. While they lack true spellcasting like the other spellblade subclasses, these spell-like effects are all immensely powerful and lack the negative effects of the similar wild magic sorcerer.

Additionally, the barbarian gets a number of useful utility magic effects, such as Detect Magic and the ability to restore your magical allies' spell slots. For those wanting a barbarian spellsword, this is the only option but a very solid one.

7 Arcane Trickster Rogue

Imoen, Mystic Trickster by Alix Branwyn 

On to the more traditional definitions of a spellsword, the arcane trickster rogue blends spells and swordplay for a balanced attacker with access to a number of utility spells. While their focus on enchantment and illusion spells means that you will still be relegated to the shadows with your rogueish brethren, their class features lend well thematically to a spellsword.

While not as much of a spellslinger in combat, their spell list means they are very competent infiltrators and saboteurs, relying more on their blades in combat to take down befuddled foes.

6 College Of Swords Bard

Jewel of the North Art via Perfect World

A full spellcaster, the College of Swords is a great subclass for the already well-rounded bard. Gaining access to medium armor and a combat style improves survivability and allows the bard to lean more into a melee damage role. The flourishes are a great addition to their kit, allowing the bard to adjust to being more offensive or defensive on the fly. Gaining access to Extra Attack means they will not drop off in their damage ability later on.

Related: Dungeons & Dragons: The Best Magical Items For A Bard

As a full spellcaster, they still have access to their full spell list. This gives them a lot of utility both in combat and out of combat. However, in true spellsword fashion, they are masters of none, perhaps even more so than any other class. Their spell list is varied but has no clearly better spells not already utilized by other classes. Their defense and melee damage is good but cannot compare to fighters, making them well-rounded but not exceptional at anything.

5 School Of Bladesinging Wizard

Bladesingers from Tasha's Cauldron of Everything by Wizards of the Coast

A bladesinging wizard is the best option for players looking to be competent in swordplay while sacrificing none of their casting. Not only do they gain Extra Attack, but they can access a bladesong state that adds their Intelligence bonus to attack and AC while giving them boons to Concentration checks and movement besides. On top of that, they may also sacrifice spells slots for huge amounts of damage mitigation.

That being said, a bladesinging wizard is the flimsiest of the spellsword options, entirely owing to its low health pool. While the AC bonuses are nice, they cannot make up for the very low health pool afforded to wizards. Additionally, while the option is there for great mixed damage between spells and melee, your overall damage will still be relatively low compared to pure caster wizards, who may use their high-level spell slots entirely for damage.

4 War Domain Cleric

Cleric from the Player's Handbook via Wizards of the Coast

The foremost melee cleric, the War Domain offers many options that make clerics well-suited to melee combat. War Domain gives clerics another weapon attack, access to heavy armor and martial weapons, a Channel Divinity option that gives you or your allies a +10 to an attack roll, and even a lesser form of paladin smites on weapon hits.

Related: Dungeons & Dragons: Things You Should Avoid When Playing A Cleric

However, the War Domain focuses more on defensive options, playing more into melee support than a true powerhouse in melee. Fortunately, many cleric spells can be added to your spell lists to offset this by offering more melee buffs at the cost of other support and healing spells.

3 Eldritch Knight Fighter

Goblin Javelineer by Mike Jordana

The eldritch knight fighter is a quasi-casting subclass of the fighter. Their access to spells is limited and mostly relegated to spells of the Abjuration and Evocation schools. However, that by no means limits them.

Abjuration and Evocation spells form the bulwark of spells meant entirely for attack and defense, allowing the more melee-centric fighter to complement their kit with spells that play well into their wheelhouse. Additionally, the eldritch knight has access to a teleport that can greatly close distances and ensure that you are in the thick of things, casting spells and attacking simultaneously.

2 Zeal Domain Cleric

Appearing in the Planeshift - Amonkhet expansion, the Zeal Domain cleric shares many things with the War Domain cleric. Like the War Domain, Zeal Domain offers an extra attack option in melee, access to heavy armor and martial weapons, and even the lesser form of paladin smites. However, what sets it apart as better for a spellsword build is its subclass exclusive features and intrinsic spells.

Zeal Domain's Channel Divinity option maximizes damage on thunder and fire attacks, creating a massive boost in damage capacity that the War Domain cannot compete with. Coupled with intrinsic spells like Searing Smite and Thunderous Smite, this subclass can deal massive amounts of melee damage on par with paladins.

On top of that, Zeal Domain clerics gain access to Fireball and Haste, the latter of which is an incredible spell for any melee fighter. Overall, Zeal Domain is just a better-planned subclass for spellsword builds looking to cast spells of support and destruction while also being a force in melee.

1 Hexblade Warlock

Hired Hexblade by Irina Nordsol

Lastly, the Hexblade warlock is a fantastic choice for spellblade builds, mostly due to its sheer amount of customization options. The Hexblade allows the Warlock to use its Charisma modifier to attack and deal damage with weapons, and it gains access to medium armor and martial weapon proficiency. The Pacts and Eldritch Invocations are the perfect customization tool, allowing you to gear more toward offense, defense, or spells seamlessly.

The only real downside to the Hexblade is a trait shared by all warlocks; they aren't great for longer-form encounters. The Hexblade is a master of melee and has many bonus action spells that complement well with its Hexblade's Curse features to deal massive amounts of melee and spell damage, but once those are out, they aren't nearly as effective. Fortunately, most abilities and spells recharge on a short rest, permitting the Hexblade to still be viable.

Next: D&D: Best Class Features For Combat