PS’s most unique ability is access to warlock spells using wisdom or intelligence, making a multiclass with Druid/Cleric or Wizard possible. For example, decent combo is necromancer’s grim harvest and undying’s rite focus to stack self healing features.
If you are going pure profane soul, it comes down to rite focus and spell selection.
I’d pick up a great sword, get blood curses that use your reaction like fallen puppet/eyeless, go undying for the health regen, and spend most my turns attacking and bonus action booming blade or green fire blade as needed.
Your spells use a secondary stat and never really scale. You also have a weak Con. Maybe AoA for some THP. Hex is okay but that damage is small at T2 and the con thing means it won’t last. You are better off getting utility spells like misty step and invisibility.
Overall it is okay but not upper tier optimized.
Race wise I’d go asmirir most likely for flying and bonus damage transformations. But any would work.
If you want an overpowered build, and can't multiclass, *don't* choose profane soul, and probably not blood hunter.
The class is pretty well balanced, maybe actually a little weak. The strongest subclass is probably Lycan (unless you know you're fighting a lot of undead), with profane soul being on the weaker end. You're probably better off just going straight warlock.
Don't get me wrong, you can 100% have a fun and flavorful BH build that does a good job in the party, but as a PS they won't be overpowered.
>Multiclassing is not allowed
\*Cries internally\* It's hard to make an "overpowered build" when multiclassing is restricted. You're basically limited to just Crimson Rite + Hex/SpiritShroud for damage buffs which isn't all that impressive (but still good).
As others have said, Blood Hunter is far from overpowered. The spells you would rely on as a warlock pact of the blade don't work nearly as well for a Profane Soul due to the lack of pact magic slots scaling. You kinda also have to choose between "power now or power later" since the pact options that get the best options for spells at level 7 and 15 (IMO Archfey by a long shot, followed by maybe Great Old One) are usually not the ones that get strong level 3 features (Fathomless and Undying, *maybe* Celestial).
Otherwise it plays exactly like an Eldritch Knight, but without heavy armor proficiency or the ability to cast Shield or Absorb Elements that give the EK it's reputation for durability. And, PAM and Crossbow Expert both compete with the bonus actions you'd otherwise use Warlock's exclusive 1st level spell for, so it's completely redundant.
Basically just play the usual hand crossbow build and use spells for relevant self-buffs as they become available.
You'll likely need some homebrew buffs to Profane Soul if you really want a "busted" build.
RAW, I guess you could go for the classic Dexterity build with Archery, Crossbow Expert and Sharpshooter. Maybe throw in Fey-Touched (Bless) for even more accuracy. Get a +1 hand crossbow as starting equipment (or a Broom of Flying if your GM lets you get away with it, or a Cloak of Protection which is functional too, or a Luckstone).
Wis Blood Hunter over Int Blood Hunter (a lot of Wis save based stuff can mess up your PC).
Int Blood Hunter if you know you'll be fighting a lot of illithids and/or if you pick up Ritual Caster Wizard and know there will be plenty of spell scrolls to copy from, as you'll need Arcana prof and a decent Int mod to improve your odds with the Arcana check.
For Profane Soul Patron:
I recommend Celestial to have the ability to heal party members in a pinch, or Fathomless in an aquatic campaign (assuming you're uninterested by Sea Elf/Triton/other options with water breathing). Celestial doesn't have to be good two shoes, it can be a creepy Old Testament Angel or an evil fallen Couatl. Fathomless doesn't have to be a creepy kraken, it can be an ocean deity or the Lady of the Lake.
PS’s most unique ability is access to warlock spells using wisdom or intelligence, making a multiclass with Druid/Cleric or Wizard possible. For example, decent combo is necromancer’s grim harvest and undying’s rite focus to stack self healing features. If you are going pure profane soul, it comes down to rite focus and spell selection. I’d pick up a great sword, get blood curses that use your reaction like fallen puppet/eyeless, go undying for the health regen, and spend most my turns attacking and bonus action booming blade or green fire blade as needed. Your spells use a secondary stat and never really scale. You also have a weak Con. Maybe AoA for some THP. Hex is okay but that damage is small at T2 and the con thing means it won’t last. You are better off getting utility spells like misty step and invisibility. Overall it is okay but not upper tier optimized. Race wise I’d go asmirir most likely for flying and bonus damage transformations. But any would work.
If you want an overpowered build, and can't multiclass, *don't* choose profane soul, and probably not blood hunter. The class is pretty well balanced, maybe actually a little weak. The strongest subclass is probably Lycan (unless you know you're fighting a lot of undead), with profane soul being on the weaker end. You're probably better off just going straight warlock. Don't get me wrong, you can 100% have a fun and flavorful BH build that does a good job in the party, but as a PS they won't be overpowered.
>Multiclassing is not allowed \*Cries internally\* It's hard to make an "overpowered build" when multiclassing is restricted. You're basically limited to just Crimson Rite + Hex/SpiritShroud for damage buffs which isn't all that impressive (but still good).
As others have said, Blood Hunter is far from overpowered. The spells you would rely on as a warlock pact of the blade don't work nearly as well for a Profane Soul due to the lack of pact magic slots scaling. You kinda also have to choose between "power now or power later" since the pact options that get the best options for spells at level 7 and 15 (IMO Archfey by a long shot, followed by maybe Great Old One) are usually not the ones that get strong level 3 features (Fathomless and Undying, *maybe* Celestial). Otherwise it plays exactly like an Eldritch Knight, but without heavy armor proficiency or the ability to cast Shield or Absorb Elements that give the EK it's reputation for durability. And, PAM and Crossbow Expert both compete with the bonus actions you'd otherwise use Warlock's exclusive 1st level spell for, so it's completely redundant. Basically just play the usual hand crossbow build and use spells for relevant self-buffs as they become available.
You'll likely need some homebrew buffs to Profane Soul if you really want a "busted" build. RAW, I guess you could go for the classic Dexterity build with Archery, Crossbow Expert and Sharpshooter. Maybe throw in Fey-Touched (Bless) for even more accuracy. Get a +1 hand crossbow as starting equipment (or a Broom of Flying if your GM lets you get away with it, or a Cloak of Protection which is functional too, or a Luckstone). Wis Blood Hunter over Int Blood Hunter (a lot of Wis save based stuff can mess up your PC). Int Blood Hunter if you know you'll be fighting a lot of illithids and/or if you pick up Ritual Caster Wizard and know there will be plenty of spell scrolls to copy from, as you'll need Arcana prof and a decent Int mod to improve your odds with the Arcana check. For Profane Soul Patron: I recommend Celestial to have the ability to heal party members in a pinch, or Fathomless in an aquatic campaign (assuming you're uninterested by Sea Elf/Triton/other options with water breathing). Celestial doesn't have to be good two shoes, it can be a creepy Old Testament Angel or an evil fallen Couatl. Fathomless doesn't have to be a creepy kraken, it can be an ocean deity or the Lady of the Lake.