Player characters, or PCs, are the best part of Dungeons & Dragons. With a player character, a D&D player can immerse themselves in a fantasy world as someone with magical powers and incredible weapons, all right there on their stat sheet. However, when starting out, players might fumble with their low-level characters.
Low-level characters are the most common in this game since most PCs start at low levels, and stronger ones might get killed off in a tough dungeon. So, players are encouraged to avoid simple or deadly mistakes with their low-level characters and make sure those characters are fun to use and survive to reach higher levels later in the campaign.
10 Multiclassing Too Soon
Multiclassing is a tricky feat to pull off in Dungeons & Dragons, and some characters will be ready to dip into another class before others are. There are many combinations for multiclassing, including at which levels a player character will start multiclassing, and it should be handled correctly.
If a low-level D&D character is meant to multiclass but does so too soon, that could cause problems. The character might be missing key traits from their original class if they start multiclassing too soon, and they won't have any advanced spells or traits from either class to use just yet.
9 Multiclassing Into The Wrong Class
Low-level characters are often multiclassed so the player can develop their character's hybrid build sooner and make it the norm in their campaign. However, these low-level characters might either get another class too soon or simply go into the wrong secondary class.
Some multiclass combinations are strong, such as bard/warlock or fighter/barbarian, but if a low-level character goes into the wrong class, that will sabotage the character for many sessions to come. Newer players, in particular, are more likely to make this mistake with their low-level characters.
8 Picking Fights The Party Can't Win
Parties of any level may face disaster if they pick a fight they can't actually win, but it's low-level characters who are the most vulnerable to this mishap. Low-level characters have far fewer options if things go south, such as the Greater Restoration spell, the Wish spell, or items that can bail characters out of trouble.
Combat is simpler for both sides at low levels, and advanced options won't be available yet. In that sense, combat is more dangerous for low-level parties than high-level ones, so antagonizing the wrong monsters may spell doom.
7 Investigating Potentially Dangerous Things
Parties of all levels are encouraged to explore the world and investigate odd things they find in dungeons, a forest, or even a tavern's basement. Like with combat, low-level parties are more vulnerable since they have fewer spells, items, traits, or feats to bail them out of trouble.
Low-level parties are often ill-equipped to handle all the hazards in a dungeon or even certain puzzles. If a deadly spell is triggered, the low-level party may not have Dispel Magic, or they may be unable to cure poison or curses that afflict the party.
6 Ignoring The Character's Backstory
Backstories add a lot of personal flair to any character, and they can even contribute to worldbuilding and affect how the campaign's story plays out. Doing this early can help establish a character's identity and personal stakes, which will pay off when the party is at higher levels.
This means it's a careless mistake to ignore a low-level character's backstory or save it for higher levels. On a personal level, low-level D&D characters are the most interesting since they're defined more by their backstory than their abilities.
5 Being Excessively Cautious
On the one hand, low-level parties are advised against prodding everything in a scary dungeon or picking fights with strong monsters, or face a TPK. It's a balancing act, however, since being excessively cautious will make progress difficult.
Some D&D players will be highly reluctant to expose their vulnerable low-level character to danger and avoid anything even remotely risky or hazardous. Doing that will ruin the point of an adventure, and the DM may struggle to move the story along if characters are handled like that.
4 Forgetting Stat Increases For Multiclassing
Low-level characters are often ripe for multiclassing, but there are many ways to do it incorrectly. Another potential mistake is to neglect the character's stats and forget to get that PC's stats ready for whatever class they're going to dip into.
For example, the PC may have a 12 in the stat they need for multiclassing, and the player might forget to get a stat increase at level 4 to get that stat ready. Or, the player may have the necessary 13 but realize that their other stats aren't ready, making the new class weaker.
3 Neglecting To Get Magical Weapons
Later in the campaign, the DM will probably provide magical weapons as dungeon loot all the time, and shops will sell magical swords, bows, and battle axes for affordable prices. Low-level characters won't start off with magical items, though, so the player should seek them out.
Many monsters in D&D, even those with a low CR, are resistant to damage from non-magical weapons, and they may appear early in the campaign. If the player forgets to seek out a magical weapon for their low-level character, certain fights will be highly challenging or even hopeless.
2 Using Spell Slots Too Generously
Spellcasters are expected to sling some magic to contribute in battle and perform feats no barbarian or rogue could ever do, but low-level casters have limited spell slots. These low-level characters may run out at a critical moment, which may get the party totally stuck.
More experienced D&D players will know that their level 3 Wizard should use cantrips against weak enemies and save spell slots for stronger foes or difficult puzzles. Unless the DM is generous with short and long rests, it's risky to cast spells for every little thing.
1 Trying To Do Everything Alone
Some low-level players might seek to get something done all by themselves since they're the best class for the job. Other times, the low-level party may decide to solve the main quest's problem on their own as a group and forget that NPCs can lend some aid.
Low-level parties are the ones that need NPC aid the most, but some parties might neglect to even ask the NPCs for aid. If the DM knows that the party will need assistance, they should provide a few NPCs who may reinforce the low-level party and make a dire challenge more manageable. It also makes for some good roleplaying.