Using This Document

This document is a spiritual successor to the Martial Power series from D&D 4th Edition, providing new and improved options for martial characters to benefit from. Rather than containing any classes or subclasses, this document presents new feats, maneuvers, optional class features, and variant rules to bolster the martial character builds that already exist.

Unless stated otherwise, each option in this document is independent of the other. You can pick and choose from the new maneuvers, take inspiration from the selection of feats, or allow one or two of the new action options, all without having to worry about compatibility or interactions with other parts of the document.

Other Homebrew

You should check out my other homebrew on GM Binder or Google Drive. In particular, check out the following homebew:

• My Warlord is a take on the beloved 4th edition class of the same name. Your choice of archetype allows you to wield your Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma to bolster your allies in a variety of different ways.
• My Feats for Skills and Feats for Tools are mundane options that gives martials extra tricks both in and out of combat. Both are inspired by a set of Unearthed Arcana releases that never got published officially and use them as a model.
• The Warrior's Codex, made by FungalBrews, is a large supplement that contains sweeping changes to the weapon and armor systems, tons of new subclasses, rules for mounts, poisons, and other mundane equipment for martials to use, and much more.

Credits

Each piece of artwork associated with this document is taken from official D&D 4th Edition books, allowed under the Fan Content Policy of Wizards of the Coast.

Additionally, all credit goes to the creator of Duncehack for making or inspiring many of the options in this document.

Expanded Rules

The variant, optional, and expanded rules below can be used to enhance combat for martial characters.

Combat Tussle

You can replace any weapon attack you make with an attempt to grapple or shove a target, rather than those made with the Attack action. This may also extend to other action options that involve similar mechanics, such as Tackle and Toss (see the Action Options section).

As an additional option, the DM may wish to prohibit grapple or shove replacement when making an opportunity attack.

Forceful Push

When you attempt to shove a creature and beat their contested check by 5 or more, you can choose to push it up to 10 feet away, rather than 5 feet.

Interpose

When a creature you aren't grappling makes an attack roll against you, you can use your reaction to attempt to interpose a creature you are grappling between you and the attack.

If the creature is unwilling, you make a Strength (Athletics) check contested by the target's Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check (the target chooses the ability to use). Unless you have two free hands, you have a -2 penalty to the roll. Additionally, you have advantage on this check if you are larger than the hostile creature, or disadvantage if you are smaller.

If you succeed, the grappled creature becomes the target of the attack instead of you.

Powerful Build

When you gain the Powerful Build trait or a similar feature, the maximum size category of creatures you can grapple or shove also increases by one. As an additional option, the DM may then impose disadvantage on checks made to grapple or shove creatures two sizes larger than you.

Rattle

When a creature grappled by you attempts to cast a spell, you can use your reaction to attempt to forcibly interrupt the casting. The target must make a Constitution saving throw with a DC of 10 + your Strength modifier. The target's spell fails and the spell slot (if any) is wasted on a failed save, and the target's spell works normally on a successful one.

Shove Aside

When you successfully shove a creature, you can move it up to 5 feet to any space within its reach, rather than directly away from you.

Yank

When a creature grappled by you attempts to make a weapon attack against a creature other than you, you can use your reaction to pull them away and make it harder for them to hit, imposing disadvantage on the attack roll.

Additional Attacks

Whenever you gain an extra attack from the Extra Attack feature, the number of attacks you can make with your second weapon whenever you engage in two-weapon fighting increases by one.

This benefit can be gated behind the Dual Wielder feat, at the DM's discretion.

Better Accuracy

If you have the fighting style for Two-Weapon Fighting, you also gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls you make while engaging in two-weapon fighting.

Damage Dice

When you engage in two-weapon fighting, you can use a d8 instead of the normal damage die for each weapon.

Called Shots

When you attack with a weapon that you are proficient in, you can forgo adding your proficiency bonus to the attack roll. If the attack hits, you add that proficiency bonus to the damage roll. You must decide to do this before making the attack roll. This ability can be used in conjunction with the Great Weapon Master and Sharpshooter feats.

Cavalry Charge

If you damage a creature with a melee weapon that deals piercing damage after moving at least 30 feet straight toward a target while mounted, you deal an extra 1d6 damage.

Finisher

When you damage a prone creature with a melee weapon wielded in two hands, you deal an additional d6 damage.

Prone Fighting

When you are prone and make a weapon attack with a light weapon, you do not suffer disadvantage for being prone.

Sundering

Many bludgeoning weapons crush, break, or penetrate armor. Once per turn when you attack an object or a target wearing metal armor with a melee weapon that has the heavy property and deals bludgeoning damage, you can gain a +2 bonus to the attack roll. You can also gain this bonus against creatures with thick shells, metallic hides, and other creatures at the discretion of your DM.

Feat Changes

This section presents changes to existing feats.

Bulwark

The defensive uses of your shield can be extended to your allies as well. You gain the following benefits while you are wielding a shield:

• Each ally within 5 feet of you that doesn't have this feat gains half cover while you aren't incapacitated or prone.
• When you move on your turn, you can allow an ally within 5 feet of you that isn't incapacitated and doesn't have a speed of 0 to accompany you. The chosen ally can move with you (no action required), staying within 5 feet of you when possible, but you can't move more than half your speed during the turn.

Light Armor Master

Prerequisite: Proficiency with light armor

You have practiced moving in light armor to gain the following benefits:

• Increase your Dexterity by 1, to a maximum of 20.
• Your speed increases by 5 feet while you aren't wearing medium or heavy armor.
• Once on each of your turns, you can choose for a 5-foot portion of your movement to not provoke opportunity attacks.

Opportunist

You have mastered techniques to take advantage of every drop in any enemy's guard, gaining the following benefits:

• Creatures provoke opportunity attacks from you even if they take the Disengage action before leaving your reach.
• Creatures also provoke opportunity attacks from you when they make an attack against a target other than you (and that target doesn't have this feat) and when they stand up from being prone.
• When you hit a creature with an opportunity attack, you can also move up to 5 feet without provoking opportunity attacks yourself.

Pugilist

You become a master of unarmed combat, granting you the following benefits:

• You gain a +1 bonus to damage rolls you make with your unarmed strikes.
• Whenever you have advantage on a melee attack roll you make with an unarmed strike and hit, you can automatically grapple or shove the target (your choice) if the lower of the two d20 rolls would also hit the target.
• When you make an opportunity attack with your unarmed strikes, you have advantage on the attack roll.
• You do not have disadvantage on attack rolls made for your unarmed strikes while prone.

Two-Weapon Expert

You gain new techniques that you can use while fighting with two weapons, granting you the following benefits while engaging in two-weapon fighting:

• Checks and saves you make to avoid being disarmed of the weapons have advantage.
• If you don't take the Attack, Cast a Spell, or Ready action on your turn, you can use your bonus action to make an attack with one of the weapons.
• As part of the Attack action on your turn, you can also sweep your weapons around in a whirling cyclone of death, dealing damage to any number of creatures and objects within your reach. Each target takes damage equal to the weapon's ability modifier, and the damage type is chosen from among those that can be dealt by your weapons.

Unarmored Defense

You have learned to defend yourself without the use of armor, granting you the following benefits:

• Increase your Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma score by 1, to a maximum of 20.
• While you are wearing no armor and not wielding a shield, your AC equals 11 + the modifier of the ability increased by this feat.

Acquiring a Practice

You can only learn martial practices if you are a barbarian, fighter, monk, or rogue. The DM may also allow other classes to acquire them if they have access to the Fighting Style feature (e.g. the paladin and ranger).

You learn martial practices based on your character level, or your combined class levels in each elgible class described above if you are a multiclass character. The DM may let it simply scale with your character level even if you have some levels in non-martial classes, however (e.g. you are a fighter that took one level in warlock). You learn one martial practice at 1st level, and you learn another one at 5th, 11th, and 17th levels. When you level up, you can replace one practice you know with a different one, if the DM gives you permission.

You can also learn the rudiments of martial practices from a skilled warrior who already knows it. Getting them to teach it to you may require you to complete a task or adventure for them, at the DM's discretion.

Reading a Practice

The entries below break down the different parts of a martial practice's description.

Key Proficiency. This entry gives one or more skill or tool proficiencies; you must be trained in at least one of them to learn and use the practice. If the practice has you make an ability check, you add your proficiency in this skill or tool to the total.

If a practice has more than one key proficiency, you choose which one to use.

Activation Time. Performing a martial practice takes a specific amount of time to complete.

Component Cost. This entry gives the number of hit dice or gold pieces gold (or both) required to perform the practice.

Duration. A martial practice's effects usually last at least 10 minutes. This entry tells you how long the practice's effects last.

Effects. The remaining text details the benefit you gain when you finish performing the practice uninterrupted.

Sample Practices

The martial practices below are presented in alphabetical order.

New Maneuvers

If you have access to maneuvers, the following maneuvers can be added to the list of options available to you. Maneuvers are made available by features like the Combat Superiority class feature, the Superior Technique fighting style, and the Martial Adept feat.

Survivalist

When you make an Intelligence (Nature), a Wisdom (Animal Handling), or a Wisdom (Survival) check, you can expend one superiority die and add the superiority die to the ability check.

General Features

This section presents three features that multiple martial classes can access simultaneously.

Combat Superiority is a catch-all feature you can add to any and all martial classes if you feel that they need more interesting things to do with their attacks.

Spellsword Maneuvers is a feature for artificers, paladins, rangers, and any other half casters in your game that allow them to expend spell slots to convert them to superiority dice.

Martial Techniques is a different feature for half-casters that replaces spellcasting entirely. This allows for character builds such as a nonmagical ranger or holy knight that focus only on their martial prowess.

Class-Specific Features

This section presents ways of getting maneuvers that are unique to each class. Each one has multiple differences compared to the others, but they all are tailored to their respective classes. Most of them are fueled by a class resource and thus only add versatility and not necessarily raw power.

Battle Ferocity is a barbarian feature that lets you choose to gain one or more superiority dice from Reckless Attack, rather than advantage.

Combat Expertise is a fighter feature that grants fighters a scaling pool of superiority dice, which may be appealing to those that think the base class lacks enough features to properly shine.

Ki Maneuvers is a monk feature that lets you spend ki points to fuel your maneuvers.

Roguish Exploits is a rogue feature that lets you sacrifice Sneak Attack dice to fuel your maneuvers.

Archetype Maneuvers

Action Options

One approach is to transform maneuvers into weaker action options that anyone can take, rather than making a bunch of features that grant access to maneuvers. Here are a few examples:

Goading Attack. When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack with advantage on the attack roll, you can impose disadvantage on the next attack roll the target makes against a creature other than you before the end of your next turn.

Lunging Attack. When you make a melee weapon attack roll that doesn't have disadvantage, you can increase your reach for that attack by 5 feet. When you do so, you suffer disadvantage on the attack roll.

Menacing Attack. See the Demoralize action option earlier in this document.

Rally. See the Bolster action option earlier in this document.

Riposte. When a creature misses you with a melee weapon attack with disadvantage on the attack roll, you can use your reaction to make one melee weapon attack against the creature.

Maneuver Variants

Especially when using optional features that grant maneuver access to many different classes, you may have to make a few tweaks so that things run smoothly. This section provides suggestions for such tweaks, which can be made for all characters or on a per-class basis.

Alternative Recharge. Instead of recharging on a short or long rest, the DM can choose one of the following recharge options for superiority dice, which are listed in order from least powerful to most powerful:

• You regain all expended dice whenever you roll initiative.
• You regain all expended dice as an action.
• You regain one expended die at the start of each of your turns.
• You regain all expended dice at the start of each of your turns.

Note that this option is geared more towards the general Combat Superiority feature detailed earlier in this section.

No Goading Attack. Goading Attack is very similar to what the Cavalier does with its 3rd-level feature. While the two do synergize with each other, you may wish to remove Goading Attack when using this variant so that the Cavalier's main combat ability isn't just available to everyone.

Relentless. Starting at 18th level, when you roll initiative and have no superiority dice remaining, you regain 1 superiority die.

Removed Damage. Other than the Commander's Strike maneuver, maneuvers no longer add a superiority die to the damage of a single attack. This option is primarily meant for the fighter class, reducing multiclass abuse with Combat Expertise while also not increasing the class's damage output per round.

Prepared Maneuvers

Instead of knowing a set list of maneuvers, you prepare the list of maneuvers that are available for you to use whenever you finish a long rest, choosing from the overall list of maneuvers. When you do so, you choose a number of maneuvers equal to the amount you would have normally learned without this variant.

Sustained by Rage

3rd-level Berserker optional feature (enhances Frenzy)

While you are raging, you do not suffer any of the ill effects of exhaustion. The effects return when your rage ends.

Unbridled Rage

6th-level Berserker optional feature (enhances Mindless Rage)

You can't be paralyzed, petrified, or stunned while raging. You can enter rage even if you are paralyzed, petrified, or stunned, and the effects from any of those conditions are suspended for the duration of the rage (no action required).

Battle Fervor

2nd-level fighter optional feature (alternative to Action Surge)

In combat, you gain an additional action on each of your turns. That action can be used only to take the Attack (one grapple or shove only), Disengage, Help, Search, or Use an Object action. If you are using the Action Options presented in the Dungeon Master's Guide, you can also use this feature to take the Climb onto a Bigger Creature, Overrun, Shove Aside, or Tumble action.

You can use this additional action a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. You regain all expended uses when you finish a short or long rest.

Starting at 17th level, when you roll initiative, you can immediately move up to your speed and take one of the actions listed earlier in this feature.

Show of Skill

5th-level fighter optional feature

You blend your martial talent with the softer skills needed to navigate the world. If you are holding a weapon when you make a check using the Acrobatics, Athletics, Intimidation, or Performance skill, you gain a bonus to the roll equal to half your proficiency bonus. You use your weapon to assist in your check, such as pole vaulting with a staff, using your sword to aid your balance, or menacing an enemy with your bloodied flail.

Additional Fighting Styles

6th-level and higher fighter optional feature (replaces extra Ability Score Improvements)

Your style of fighting broadens. At 6th level and again at 14th level, you can choose an additional option from the Fighting Style feature you gain at 1st level.

Legendary Resistance

9th-level and higher fighter optional feature (replaces Indomitable)

If you fail a saving throw, you can choose to succeed on it instead (no reaction required). If you use this feature on a death saving throw, it counts as rolling a 15 on the d20.

Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest. You can use this feature twice between long rests starting at 13th level and three times between long rests starting at 17th level.

Mundane Expert

9th-level and higher fighter optional feature

Your experiences as a fighter have improved your proficiency in certain mundane activities. Choose one of the following benefits, and then choose another one at 13th and 17th level.

Resolving Vigor

9th-level and higher fighter optional feature (alternative to Indomitable, adds to Second Wind)

Your Second Wind feature grows in power as you gain levels in this class.

Starting at 9th level, when you use your Second Wind, your exhaustion level, if any, is decreased by 1. Any poison affecting you also immediately ends.

Starting at 13th level, you can use your Second Wind even if you are incapacitated. When you do so, the effect causing that condition immediately ends on yourself, but you only regain half as many hit points.

Starting at 17th level, you can use your Second Wind twice between rests.

Brutish Durability

7th-level Champion optional feature (replaces Remarkable Athlete)

Your toughness allows you to shrug off assaults that would devastate others. Whenever you make a saving throw, roll 1d4 and add the die to your saving throw total. If applying this bonus to a death saving throw increases the total to 20 or higher, you gain the benefits of rolling a 20 on the d20.

Spellweaver

7th-level Eldritch Knight optional feature (replaces War Magic)

Once on each of your turns when you take the Attack action, you can cast a wizard cantrip in place of one of your attacks.

Martial Combatant

The following section lists a collection of optional features that expand the thematic space monks reside in with respect to their martial prowess.

Ki Features

When you gain the Ki feature at 2nd level, you also gain access to the following features, some of which cost ki points.

Dazing Strike

You overload the target's mind, disrupting its ability to take actions. The target must succeed on a Constitution or Wisdom saving throw (your choice) or be dazed until the end of your next turn.

While dazed, the creature can't take reactions, and on its turn, it can use either an action or a bonus action, not both; in addition, regardless of its abilities or magic items, the creature can't make more than one melee or ranged attack during its turn, and it can't concentrate on spells or other effects that require it. A creature is immune to being dazed if it is also immune to being stunned.

Isolating Strike

You overload the target's senses and prevent them from functioning properly. The target must succeed on a Constitution or Wisdom saving throw (your choice) or become blinded and deafened until the end of your next turn.

Restraining Strike

You overload the target's joints and muscles, preventing it from moving. The target must succeed on a Dexterity or Constitution saving throw (your choice) or be restrained until the end of your next turn.

Wind Walker

9th-level monk optional feature (enhances Step of the Wind)

When you use Step of the Wind, you can forfeit up to half of your movement to instead fly the distance you forfeited. You fall if you end your flight in the air and nothing else is holding you aloft.

Deft Explorer

The features below assume the use of the Deft Explorer optional class feature from Tasha's Cauldron of Everything.

Hunter's Quarry

1st-level ranger optional feature (replaces Favored Enemy and the hunter's mark spell, works with Foe Slayer)

When you hit a creature with an attack roll, you can call on your mystical bond with nature to mark the target as your favored enemy for 1 minute (no concentration required). If the target drops to 0 hit points before this effect ends, you can mark a new creature for the remainder of the duration after hitting them with an attack roll on a subsequent turn.

The first time on each of your turns that you hit the favored enemy and deal damage to it, including when you mark it, you can increase that damage by 1d4.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

This feature's extra damage increases when you reach certain levels in this class: to 1d6 at 6th level and to 1d8 at 14th level.

Poultices

3rd-level and higher ranger optional feature (alternative to Primeval Awareness)

You can create special herbal poultices that have healing power comparable to some potions. You can spend 1 hour gathering herbs and preparing herbal poultices using treated bandages to create a number of such poultices equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum 1). You can carry a number of poultices at one time equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum 1). The poultices you create cannot be applied by anyone but you. After 24 hours, any poultices that you have not used lose their potency.

If you spend 1 minute applying one of your poultices to a wounded humanoid creature, thereby expending its use, that creature regains 1d6 hit points for every two ranger levels you have (rounded up).

When using this feature, consider also using the optional features detailed below.

Combat Training

7th-level Beast Master optional feature (replaces Exceptional Training)

Once on each of your turns when your beast companion doesn’t attack, you can command it to take the Dash, Disengage, Help, Search, or Use an Object action on its turn (no action required).

In addition, the beast's attacks now count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.

Beastly Coordination

15th-level Beast Master optional feature (alternative to Share Spells)

When an attacker that you can see hits your beast companion with an attack, you can call out a warning. If your beast companion can hear you, it can use its reaction to halve the attack's damage against it.

Blunt Force

1st-level rogue optional feature (adds to Sneak Attack)

Your Sneak Attack can be used on attacks made with any simple melee weapon that you are wielding in one hand.

Canny Quickstep

5th-level rogue optional feature (alternative to Uncanny Dodge)

After an attack hits or misses you, you can use your reaction to move up to half your speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

Extra Attack

5th-level rogue optional feature

You can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

Mental Gymnastics

15th-level rogue optional feature (enhances Slippery Mind)

If you are already proficient in Wisdom saving throws when you gain the Slippery Mind feature, you instead gain proficiency in Charisma saves.

Additionally, you are immune to being charmed, and your thoughts can’t be read by magic or other means unless you allow it.

Roguish Archetype Improvements

The following features add to or modify certain subclass features for this class.