Overview:
I've done a post before on "holy warriors," where I discussed different alternative options for playing a character who practices religion without necessarily being a cleric or paladin. With this build, I want to do something similar, but with knights. We typically think of knights as mounted fighters in heavy armor, carrying swords or lances. To me, that sounds like a paladin using "Find Steed," or a Cavalier Fighter from Xanathar's Guide to Everything.
I'd like to think about how fluid the phrase "knight" can be used in D&D, especially when it comes to adventurers. I mean, when adventurers save the city and are proclaimed heroes by the king, is that not a type of "knighthood?" And as we know, adventurers can come in all shapes, sizes, and skill sets! In this case though, I'll be taking the literal definition of "knight" from Google - "a man who served a lord or sovereign as a mounted soldier in armor" - and looking at how knights can be classified in D&D 5e.
Let's see what kind of unique aesthetics we can make!
Race, Class, Stats, and Background
The background is the easiest place to start with this build. There is a "Knight" variant under the Noble Background (Player's Handbook) that works really well for that definition I gave at the start. Knights are technically lesser nobility. The Knight of the Order background (Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide) is also an option if you want your character to have a certain goal or code. They could be part of some kind of guild of elite warriors that the people have dubbed "knights" due to their heroism. The Soldier background (Player's Handbook) is also a good place to look, and applies to our Google definition.
For class, I'd like to steer clear of Paladin or Fighter as our main classes. While these are definitely the most "knightly" classes, our goal is to make a knight that has the "mounted, armored warrior" part, but while having a unique visual twist. I would be lying if I said that multiclassing into Paladin or Fighter for a build like this would be a bad idea though. Normal mounted combat in D&D 5e doesn't impose any penalties to players in terms of rolling to hit with an attack or spell while mounted, so any class could conceivably ride a mount into battle. I should know; I play an artificer in another game with a large beetle-like construct as a mount. However, the Cavalier Fighter with the Mounted Combatant feat (Player's Handbook) is a very powerful mounted fighter. I'd recommend, if you really want to focus on being good at mounted combat while keeping to a unique "knightly" aesthetic, take this class up to level 7 at the most. That still leaves you 13 levels in another class, and you still get a lot of benefits while having a mount.
In terms of main class, I see these as being the most interesting options to create a knight:
- If you're still looking for a weapon-fighting class, I'd recommend Ranger as your base class. Beast Master (Player's Handbook) could also give you an option for a mount. After all, a riding horse falls under the 1/4 CR rating required by a beast companion. So do mastiffs, for our halfling and gnome knights. However, if you're not a fan of the Beast Master subclass (I don't blame you), any subclass of ranger could be awesome for this build.
- The cool thing about this build is that this can be a knight that uses archery while mounted, rather than swords or lances. I think of Meredith from the movie Brave, riding her horse through the forest, shooting targets with incredible accuracy. Since our definition doesn't specify a weapon, only armor, archery is absolutely a valid choice as a fighting style.
- Dexterity is going to be your highest stat, followed by Wisdom for animal handling and spellcasting.
- Mounted spellcasters can also be a force to be reckoned with. Not to mention, a knight fighting with "nature as their sovereign" is also a beautiful and wild aesthetic. I'd put Druids forth as a fun and powerful "Green Knight." If your DM is kind to you, they may even let you ride in on a bear, or other great, wild beast. Subclass can absolutely vary here, but I'm partial to the idea of a mounted Circle of the Shepherd Druid (Xanathar's Guide) marching into battle with their own primal cavalry.
- I'd also recommend decking yourself out in wooden armor, since Druids have that available to them. Rather than having that "metallic armor" look associated with knights, you're still an "armored soldier," but you have that strong, natural look to you - like a great, immovable oak tree. I think that's a really powerful presence for a heroic character.
- Wisdom is your highest stat for spellcasting, and I would recommend investing in Constitution as well. The reason why is because if you intend to be mounted more often than not, you're not going to get much use out of your Wild Shape feature, which is a huge tanking bonus. So, make up for that by making yourself into a high HP tank.
- My last recommendation is... maybe a bit more unorthodox, but great for those players that enjoy their utility spellcasting classes. Hear me out: Bladesinger Wizard (Tasha's Cauldron.)
- Technically, you can put any wizard on a mount and call them a knight... except that they do not have proficiency in armor and being armored is a key part of our definition. Bladesingers do, and they are provided with some kind of blade that they can use as a weapon, and as a way of casting spells. Unlike the other knights on this list, a wizard might not be as much of a tank, but combined with the Cavalier and Mounted Combatant feat, I can see this wizard as a force to be reckoned with on the field.
- Intelligence is your highest stat, for spellcasting. I'd recommend Wisdom for animal handling, or either Strength or Dexterity, depending on what kind of weapon you plan on wielding.
As for race, this is definitely the most fluid choice. Anyone can be a knight, from the tallest Goliath to the smallest Gnome. I don't really see this as having much effect on the kind of aesthetic you're going for. Pick your favorite race, or pick one that gives you the kind of stat increases you need to succeed!
Roleplay Potential
To me, playing a knight has so many fun interactions ahead, especially depending on the nature of the campaign and how your knight conducts themselves. Traditionally, knights operate under a code of chivalry, but I'd imagine that some of these knights (the Druid, especially) might have their own codes of conduct. Players, work with your DM to determine what would be expected of you from your "sovereign" - whether that be a king or something else, like an aspect of the world, or even a deity.
In a campaign where there's a lot of combat or a huge, world-ending threat, this character could be a beacon of hope and safety. After all, gallant knights riding into battle on mounts are typically depicted as classic heroes and protectors. You can absolutely choose to be that, which could be an interesting contrast to a chaotic and eclectic adventuring party. On the other hand, perhaps your code is one of fear and conquering. Maybe you're not as "heroic" as many perceive you to be.
In a roleplay-heavy campaign, certain knights could be considered lesser nobles, or even low-to-mid-ranking holy people. Depending on where your character goes and the plot threads you're following, they could be an asset in dealing with stuffy nobles or corrupt clergy. Historically, knights often gained respect from others in those circles. They were soldiers primarily, but also traditionally depicted as pinnacles of the Christian faith in literature. Depending on how religion is structured in the game and the type of knight you want to play, the same thing could also apply to your character.
While playing the Fighter or Paladin knight is definitely a fun option, I like to think about how characters can identify as something (like a knight) but look and fight in a way that's unexpected. I think that, depending on the campaign setting, that could also be fun to explore with NPCs. Do the townsfolk look at your character in awe because they've never seen them, or skepticism because they can't possibly believe that a wizard could also be an armored cavalry soldier? That, I think, is what makes this build so fun and interesting.
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