Ninja Tortle

Adventurers League Build Guide

A 1st-20th level build guide suitable for Adventurers League play

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only. NINJA TORTLE
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 Ninja Tortle
Adventurers League Build Guide

A 1st-20th level build guide suitable for Adventurers League play

Writing: David Friant, Doug Vehovec

Cover Artist: Alex Guillotte
Editing: Doug Vehovec
Layout and Design: Doug Vehovec

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©2016 Wizards of the Coast LLC, PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-0707, USA. Manufactured by Hasbro SA, Rue Emile-Boéchat 31, 2800 Delémont, CH. Represented by Hasbro Europe,
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 We are looking to go Assassin from the Player’s
Ninja Tortle Handbook for our Roguish Archetype. This will al-
low us to get the most out of our skills from being a
We had gotten a request to make an Assassin rogue.
rogue/Gloom Stalker ranger multiclass build from
someone in the Nerdarchy community. Instead of
going with some of the obvious choices we decided Proficiencies
to come up with something a bit more unique with Armor: Light armor
the race. We were also thinking about the upcoming Weapons: Simple weapons, hand crossbows, long-
release of Waterdeep: Dragon Heist for a character swords, rapiers, shortswords
that would be fun in an urban adventure campaign
setting. Tools: Thieves’ tools
Saving Throws: Dexterity, Intelligence
— Nerdarchy
Skills: Acrobatics, Athletics, Deception, Stealth
PHB +1
Xanathar’s Guide to Everything Step 3 — Ability Scores
This is a great choice for your +1 when creating a STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
character for Adventurers League, opening up a
15 (+2) 13 (+1) 14 (+2) 8 (-1) 12 (+1) 10 (+0)
whole bunch of subclasses and spells. The tortle
race is considered part of Xanathar’s Guide to Ev-
erything for Adventurers League play, which worked Step 4 — Background
perfectly since the requested build required it for Urchin
the Gloom Stalker Ranger Archetype.
Skills: Intimidation, Sleight of Hand
Languages: None
Tools: Calligrapher’s supplies, vehicles (water)
Step-by-step character build guide
Each step of the way, this guide will show you the The urchin background made a lot of sense to us
choices made that are significant to this character due to the character we modeled him off, who is an
build. Options that are of particular importance to orphan. The City Secrets is also a great ability for
this character’s effectiveness are in bold. a urban character that is known for being able to
navigate a cityscape fast and undetected. We went
with chaotic good for alignment.
Step 1 — Race
Tortle Step 5 — Class and Level Progression
Race option from the Tortle Package. Level Class Gains
Claws, the ability to Hold Breath, Natural Armor, 1 Rogue Expertise (Athletics and
Shell Defense, Survival skill proficiency, and ability Stealth), Sneak Attack
score adjustments are +2 to Strength and a +1 to
Wisdom. Our race choice is purely for a theme we 2 Ranger Martial Weapons, Skill —
are going for this time around. Perception, Favored Enemy
(Constructs), Natural Explorer
(Underdark)
Proficiencies 3 Ranger Fighting Style (Two-Weapon
Armor: None Fighting), Spellcasting
Weapons: None 4 Ranger Ranger Archetype — Gloom
Tools: None Stalker, Dread Ambusher, Gloom
Stalker Magic, Umbral Sight,
Skills: Survival Primeval Awareness
Languages: Aquan 5 Ranger Feat — Dual Wielder
6 Rogue Cunning Action
Step 2 — Class 7 Rogue Roguish Archetype — Assassin,
1st level Disguise Kit and Poisoner’s Kit,
Assassinate
Start with Rogue

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 8

Rogue Ability Score Increase —
Strength +1, Wisdom +1 Other Character Guides
9 Ranger Extra Attack • Mind Breaker Paladin

10 Rogue Uncanny Dodge • Zen Archery Master

11 Rogue Expertise — Acrobatics,

Intimidation
12 Rogue Evasion
For Dungeon Masters
We thought it would be fun and useful to take our
13 Rogue Feat — Tough player character builds and create a version of them
14 Ranger Favored Enemy — Aberrations as a creature stat block for Dungeon Masters.
15 Ranger Iron Mind — Proficiency in This character can be used as an ally, villain, or
Wisdom saving throws colorful NPC to engage the adventurers in your own
home games.
16 Ranger Ability Score Increase —
Constitution +2, Land’s Stride
17 Ranger
Ninja Tortle
Medium humanoid, any
18 Ranger Hide in Plain Sight
Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
19 Ranger Stalker’s Flurry
Hit Points 91 (15d8 +24)
20 Ranger Ability Score Increase —
Strength +2 Speed 30 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

Conclusion
18 (+4) 13(+1) 14 (+2) 8 (-1) 14 (+2) 10 (+0)
Saving Throws Dexterity +4, Intelligence +2, Wisdom
Final Ability Scores +5

STR DEX CON INT WIS
20 (+5) 13 (+1) 16 (+3) 8 (-1) 14 (+2)
Proficiencies
Armor: Light armor, medium armor, shields
Weapons: Martial weapons, simple weapons
Tools: Calligrapher’s supplies, disguise kit, poisoner’s
kit, thieves’ tools, vehicles (water)
Saving Throws: Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom
Skills: Acrobatics (Expertise), Athletics (Expertise),
Deception, Intimidation (Expertise), Perception,
Sleight of Hand, Stealth (Expertise), Survival
Languages: Aquan, Common, Deep Speech, Under-
common
Further Resources
Character creation, build, roleplaying tips and
backstory elements are discussed in a video on the
Nerdarchy YouTube channel here.
In the video description, you can find a link to this
character build on D&D Beyond.
CHA Skills Acrobatics +7, Athletics +10, Deception +3,
Intimidation +6, Perception +5, Sleight of Hand +4,
10 (+0)
Stealth +7
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15
Languages Aquan, Common, Deep Speech, Under-
common
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
Hold Breath. The ninja tortle can hold its breath for 1
hour.
Shadow Ambush. During its first turn, the ninja tortle
is invisible to any creature that relies on darkvision
to see them in the darkness. If the ninja tortle takes
the Attack action, it has advantage on attack rolls
against any creature that hasn’t taken a turn. Any hit
the ninja tortle scores against a surprised creature
is a critical hit. In addition, the ninja tortle can make
one additional weapon attack that deals an extra 1d8
damage of the weapon’s damage type on hit.
Evasion. If the ninja tortle is subjected to an effect
that allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to
take only half damage, the ninja tortle instead takes
no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and
only half damage if it fails.

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Sneak Attack. Once per turn, the ninja tortle deals
an extra 14 (4d6) damage when it hits a target with
a weapon attack and has advantage on the attack
roll, or when the target is within 5 feet of an ally of
the ninja tortle that isn’t incapacitated and the ninja
tortle doesn’t have disadvantage on the attack roll.

Actions

Multiattack. The ninja tortle makes three weapon at-

tacks.

Sai. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach

5 ft., 1 target or range 20/60 ft. Hit: 7 (1d6 +4) piercing
damage.

Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., 1

target. Hit: 6 (1d4 +4) slashing damage.

Shell Defense. As an action, the ninja tortle can

withdraw into its shell to gain a +4 bonus to AC and
advantage on STR and CON saving throws. While in
its shell, it is prone, its speed is 0, it has disadvantage
on DEX saving throws, and it can’t take reactions. It
can emerge from its shell as a bonus action.

Reactions

Smoke Bomb. When the ninja tortle takes damage, it

can use its reaction to move up to its speed to an un-
occupied space it can see without provoking opportu-
nity attacks, and take the Hide action with advantage
on the Stealth check. Until the end of its next turn,
the space it moved from is heavily obscured.

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