The Fighter, Unchained

A human in clanging plate armor holds her shield before her as she runs toward the massed goblins. An elf behind her, clad in studded leather armor, peppers the goblins with arrows loosed from his exquisite bow. The half-orc nearby shouts orders, helping the two combatants coordinate their assault to the best advantage.

A dwarf in chain mail interposes his shield between the ogre's club and his companion, knocking the deadly blow aside. His companion, a half-elf in scale armor, swings two scimitars in a blinding whirl as she circles the ogre, looking for a blind spot in its defenses.

A gladiator fights for sport in an arena, a master with his trident and net, skilled at toppling foes and moving them around for the crowd's delight—and his own tactical advantage. His opponent's sword flares with blue light an instant before she sends lightning flashing forth to smite him.

All of these heroes are fighters, perhaps the most diverse class of characters in the worlds of Dungeons & Dragons. Questing knights, conquering overlords, royal champions, elite foot soldiers, hardened mercenaries, and bandit kings—as fighters, they all share an unparalleled mastery with weapons and armor, and a thorough knowledge of the skills of combat. And they are well acquainted with death, both meting it out and staring it defiantly in the face.

Quick Build

You can make a fighter quickly by following these suggestions. First, make Strength or Dexterity your highest ability score, depending on whether you want to focus on melee weapons or on archery (or finesse weapons). Your next-highest score should be Constitution, or Intelligence if you plan to adopt the Eldritch Knight or Psi Warrior martial archetype. Second, choose the soldier background.

Class Features

As a fighter, you gain the following class features.

Archery

You gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls you make with ranged weapons.

Blind Fighting

You have blindsight with a range of 10 feet. Within that range, you can effectively see anything that isn't behind total cover, even if you're blinded or in darkness. Moreover, you can see an invisible creature within that range, unless the creature successfully hides from you.

Defense

While you are wearing armor, you gain a +1 bonus to AC.

Dueling

When you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand and no other weapons, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls with that weapon.

Great Weapon Fighting

When you roll a 1 or 2 on a damage die for an attack you make with a melee weapon that you are wielding with two hands, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll, even if the new roll is a 1 or a 2. The weapon must have the two-handed or versatile property for you to gain this benefit.

Interception

When a creature you can see hits a target, other than you, within 5 feet of you with an attack, you can use your reaction to reduce the damage the target takes by 1d10 + your proficiency bonus (to a minimum of 0 damage). You must be wielding a shield or a simple or martial weapon to use this reaction.

Protection

When a creature you can see attacks a target other than you that is within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll. You must be wielding a shield.

Superior Technique

You learn one maneuver of your choice, as with the Maneuvers class feature. If a maneuver you use requires your target to make a saving throw to resist the maneuver's effects, the saving throw DC equals 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength or Dexterity modifier (your choice).

You gain one superiority die, which starts as a d6 (this die is added to any superiority dice you have from another source). This die is used to fuel your maneuvers. A superiority die is expended when you use it. You regain your expended superiority dice when you finish a short or long rest.

Thrown Weapon Fighting

You can draw a weapon that has the thrown property as part of the attack you make with the weapon.

In addition, when you hit with a ranged attack using a thrown weapon, you gain a +2 bonus to the damage roll.

Two-Weapon Fighting

When you engage in two-weapon fighting, you can add your ability modifier to the damage of the second attack.

Unarmed Fighting

Your unarmed strikes can deal bludgeoning damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier on a hit. If you aren't wielding any weapons or a shield when you make the attack roll, the d6 becomes a d8.

At the start of each of your turns, you can deal 1d4 bludgeoning damage to one creature grappled by you.

Second Wind

You have a limited well of stamina that you can draw on to protect yourself from harm. On your turn, you can use a bonus action to regain hit points equal to 1d10 + your fighter level.

Once you use this feature, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.

Combat Superiority

Starting at 2nd level, your tactical expertise makes you a deadly force on the battlefield. This prowess is represented by a special pool of dice called superiority dice, which are used to fuel combat techniques known as maneuvers.

Action Surge

Starting at 2nd level, you can push yourself beyond your normal limits for a moment. On your turn, you can take one additional action.

Once you use this feature, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.

Relentless

Also at 3rd level, you can steel yourself to fight on with renewed ferocity in battle. While you have no superiority dice remaining, you can use an action to regain one expended superiority die.

Martial Archetype

At 3rd level, you choose an archetype from the list available that you strive to emulate in your combat styles and techniques. The archetype you choose grants you features at 3rd level and again at 7th, 10th, 15th, and 18th level.

Ability Score Improvement

When you reach 4th level, and again at 6th, 8th, 12th, 14th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.

If your DM allows the use of feats, you may instead take a feat.

Additionally, whenever you reach a level in this class that grants this feature, you can do one of the following, representing a shift in your martial focus:

• Replace a Fighting Style you know with another Fighting Style available to this class.
• Replace a number of maneuvers you know with different ones you can learn, up to a number equal to your proficiency bonus.

Extra Attack

Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

The number of attacks increases to three when you reach 11th level in this class and to four when you reach 17th level in this class.

Indomitable

Beginning at 5th level, you can reroll a saving throw that you fail. If you do so, you must use the new roll, and you can't use this feature again until you finish a long rest.

You can use this feature twice between long rests starting at 11th level, and three times between long rests starting at 17th level.

Combat Expertise

At 9th level, your experiences in battle make you a highly talented individual. Choose one skill in which you have proficiency and which appears on this class's skill list. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses the chosen skill.

Combat Versatility

Beginning at 13th level, when you finish a long rest, you can replace one maneuver you know with a different one available to you at that level.

Marksman's Lore

At 3rd level, you learn magical theory or some of the secrets of nature — typical for practitioners of this elven martial tradition. You choose to gain proficiency in either the Arcana or the Nature skill, and you choose to learn either the prestidigitation or the druidcraft cantrip.

Arcane Shot

At 3rd level, you learn to unleash special magical effects with some of your shots. You learn three Arcane Shot options of your choice, which are listed under "Arcane Shot Options" below. You learn an additional option of your choice when you reach 7th and 15th level.

Once on each of your turns when you take the Attack action and make a ranged attack roll with a weapon, you can apply one of your Arcane Shot options to that attack's projectile, either to the piece of ammunition fired (if your weapon uses ammunition) or to the weapon itself (if your weapon has the thrown property, for example). You decide to use the option when the attack hits a creature, unless the option doesn't involve an attack roll.

You have two uses of this special ability, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a short or long rest. You gain an additional use of your Arcane Shot when you reach 10th level in this class (for a total of three uses).

Whenever you reach a level in this class that grants the Ability Score Improvement feature, you can replace an Arcane Shot option you know with a different one.

Arcane Shot Options

The Arcane Shot feature lets you choose options for it at certain levels. The options are presented here in alphabetical order. They are all magical effects, and each one is associated with one of the schools of magic.

If an option requires a saving throw, your Arcane Shot save DC is calculated as follows:

Banishing Shot. You use abjuration magic to try to temporarily banish your target, which takes extra force damage equal to 1d8 + your Intelligence modifier (minimum of 1 damage) and must succeed on a Charisma saving throw or be banished to a harmless demiplane. While banished in this way, the target's speed is 0, and it is incapacitated. At the end of its next turn, the target reappears in the space it vacated or in the nearest unoccupied space if that space is occupied.

Beguiling Shot. Your enchantment magic causes this attack to temporarily beguile its target, which takes extra psychic damage equal to 1d8 + your Intelligence modifier (minimum of 1 damage). In addition, choose one of your allies within 30 feet of the target; the target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw, or it is charmed by the chosen ally until the start of your next turn. This effect ends early if the chosen ally attacks the charmed target, deals damage to it, or forces it to make a saving throw.

Bursting Shot. You imbue your attack with force energy drawn from the school of evocation. The energy detonates after your attack, and immediately after the attack hits the target, the target and all other creatures within 10 feet of it take force damage equal 1d8 + your Intelligence modifier (minimum of 1 damage).

Enfeebling Shot. You weave necromantic magic into your attack. The creature hit by the attack takes extra necrotic damage equal to 1d8 + your Intelligence modifier (minimum of 1 damage), and it must also succeed on a Constitution saving throw, or the damage dealt by its weapon attacks is halved until the start of your next turn.

Grasping Shot. When this attack strikes its target, conjuration magic creates grasping, poisonous brambles which wrap around the target, which takes extra poison damage equal to 1d8 + your Intelligence modifier (minimum of 1 damage). In addition, the target's speed is reduced by 10 feet, and it takes 1d8 slashing damage the first time on each turn it moves 1 foot or more without teleporting. The target or any creature that can reach it can use its action to remove the brambles with a successful Strength (Athletics) check against your Arcane Shot save DC. Otherwise, the brambles last for 1 minute or until you use your Arcane Shot again.

Piercing Shot. You use transmutation magic to give your attack an ethereal quality. When you use this option, you don't make an attack roll for the attack. Instead, the attack's projectile shoots forward in a line, which is 1 foot wide and 30 feet long, passing harmlessly through objects and ignoring cover, before disappearing and reappearing in your empty hand. Each creature in the line the projectile traveled must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes damage as if it were hit by the attack, plus extra piercing damage equal to 1d8 + your Intelligence modifier (minimum of 1 damage). On a successful save, a target takes half as much damage.

Seeking Shot. Using divination magic, you grant your attack the ability to seek out a target. When you use this option, you don't make an attack roll for the attack. Instead, choose one creature you have seen in the past minute; the attack's projectile flies toward that creature, moving around corners if necessary and ignoring half cover and three-quarters cover. If the target is within the weapon's range and there is a path large enough for the projectile to travel to the target, the target must make a Dexterity saving throw. Otherwise, the projectile disappears after traveling as far as it can, instantly reappearing in your empty hand. On a failed save, the target takes damage as if it were hit by the attack, plus extra force damage equal to 1d8 + your Intelligence modifier (minimum of 1 damage), and you learn the target's current location. On a successful save, the target takes half as much damage, and you don't learn its location.

Shadow Shot. You weave illusion magic into your attack, causing it to occlude your foe's vision with shadows. The creature hit by the attack takes extra psychic damage equal to 1d8 + your Intelligence modifier (minimum of 1 damage), and it must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be unable to see anything farther than 5 feet away until the start of your next turn.

Magic Marksmanship

At 7th level, you gain the ability to infuse your shots with magic. Whenever you fire a piece of nonmagical ammunition from a ranged weapon you're holding, you can make it magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage. The magic fades from the ammunition immediately after it hits or misses its target.

Redirect Missiles

At 7th level, you learn how to direct an errant projectile toward a new target. When you make an attack roll with a piece of magic ammunition and miss, you can immediately use a bonus action to reroll the attack roll against a different target within 60 feet of the original target.

Improved Arcane Shot

At 10th level, your mastery over the marksman's arts improves. The damage dice of all your Arcane Shot options increase from 1d8 to 2d8.

Ever-Ready Marksman

Starting at 15th level, your magical marksmanship is available whenever battle starts. If you roll initiative and have no uses of your Arcane Shot remaining, you regain one use of it.

Grand Arcane Shot

At 18th level, the damage dice of all your Arcane Shot options increase from 2d8 to 3d8.

Banneret

Pledged to protect the crown they serve, bannerets — sometimes known as "Purple Dragon Knights" — are proud warriors who take the fight against evil beyond their kingdom's borders. They are tasked with wandering the land as knights errant, relying on their judgment, bravery, and fidelity to guide them in defeating evildoers.

A banneret inspires greatness in others by committing brave deeds in battle. The mere presence of a knight in a hamlet is enough to cause some orcs and bandits to seek easier prey. A lone knight is a skilled warrior, but a knight leading a band of allies can transform even the most poorly equipped militia into a ferocious war band.

A knight prefers to lead through deeds, not words. As a knight spearheads an attack, the knight's actions can awaken reserves of courage and conviction in allies that they never suspected they had.

Bonus Proficiency

When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you gain proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Animal Handling, History, Insight, Performance, or Persuasion. Alternatively, you learn one language of your choice.

Born to the Saddle

Starting at 3rd level, your mastery as a rider becomes apparent. You have advantage on saving throws made to avoid falling off your mount. If you fall off your mount and descend no more than 10 feet, you can land on your feet if you're not incapacitated.

Finally, mounting or dismounting a creature costs you only 5 feet of movement, rather than half your speed.

Unwavering Mark

Starting at 3rd level, you can menace your foes, foiling their attacks and punishing them for harming others. When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can mark the creature until the end of your next turn. This effect ends early if you are incapacitated or you die, or if someone else marks the creature.

While it is within 5 feet of you, a creature marked by you has disadvantage on any attack roll that doesn't target you.

In addition, if a creature marked by you deals damage to anyone other than you, you can make a special melee weapon attack against the marked creature as a bonus action on your next turn. You have advantage on the attack roll, and if it hits, the attack's weapon deals extra damage to the target equal to half your fighter level.

Regardless of the number of creatures you mark, you can make this special attack a number of times equal to your Strength modifier (a minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses of it when you finish a long rest.

Warding Maneuver

At 7th level, you learn to fend off strikes directed at you, your mount, or other creatures nearby. If you or a creature you can see within 5 feet of you is hit by an attack, you can roll 1d8 as a reaction if you're wielding a melee weapon or a shield. Roll the die, and add the number rolled to the target's AC against that attack. If the attack still hits, the target has resistance against the attack's damage.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses of it when you finish a long rest. While you have no uses remaining, you can expend a superiority die to use this feature again.

Hold the Line

At 10th level, you become a master of curtailing enemies. Creatures provoke an opportunity attack from you when they move 5 feet or more while within your reach, and if you hit a creature with an opportunity attack, the target's speed is reduced to 0 until the end of the current turn.

Ferocious Charger

Starting at 15th level, you can run down your foes, whether you're mounted or not. If you move at least 10 feet in a straight line towards a creature and then hit it with an attack, that target must succeed on a Strength saving throw (DC 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier) or be knocked prone. You can use this feature only once on each of your turns.

Vigilant Defender

Starting at 18th level, you respond to danger with extraordinary vigilance. In combat, you get a special reaction that you can take once on every creature's turn, except your turn. You can use this special reaction only to make an opportunity attack, and you can't use it on the same turn that you take your normal reaction.

Champion

The archetypal Champion focuses on the development of raw physical power honed to deadly perfection. Those who model themselves on this archetype combine rigorous training with physical excellence to deal devastating blows.

Echo Knight

A mysterious and feared frontline warrior of the Kryn Dynasty, the Echo Knight has mastered the art of using dunamis to summon the fading shades of unrealized timelines to aid them in battle. Surrounded by echoes of their own might, they charge into the fray as a cycling swarm of shadows and strikes.

Unleash Incarnation

Also at 3rd level, you can heighten your echo's fury. Whenever you take the Attack action, you can make one additional melee attack from the echo's position.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Constitution modifier (a minimum of once). You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Echo Avatar

At 7th level, you can temporarily transfer your consciousness to your echo. As an action, you can see through your echo's eyes and hear through its ears. During this time, you are deafened and blinded. You can sustain this effect for up to 10 minutes, requiring your action on each turn you do so, and you can end it at any time (no action required). While your echo is being used in this way, it can be up to 1,000 feet away from you without being destroyed.

Shadow Martyr

By 10th level, you can make your echo throw itself in front of an attack directed at another creature that you can see. Before the attack roll is made, you can use your reaction to teleport the echo to an unoccupied space within 5 feet of the targeted creature. The attack roll that triggered the reaction is instead made against your echo.

Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Greater War Magic

Starting at 18th level, when you take the Attack action on your turn, you can cast one of your spells in place of some of those attacks; the number of attacks replaced equals the level of the spell. The spell must be no higher than 3rd level and must have a casting time of 1 action, and you can't cast another spell on your turn. For example, you can use this feature to cast scorching ray as a 2nd-level spell in place of making two attacks during the Attack action.

Psi Warrior

Awake to the psionic power within, a Psi Warrior is a fighter who augments their physical might with psi-infused weapon strikes, telekinetic lashes, and barriers of mental force. Many githyanki train to become such warriors, as do some of the most disciplined high elves. In the world of Eberron, many young kalashtar dream of becoming Psi Warriors.

As a Psi Warrior, you might have honed your psionic abilities through solo discipline, unlocked it under the tutelage of a master, or refined it at an academy dedicated to wielding the mind's power as both weapon and shield.

Pugilist

Pugilists are followers of the simple but celebrated art of hand-to-hand combat, champions of the fighting pit who rely on brutal assaults and their own inhuman durability to overcome their enemies. For some, raw physical might is enough to emerge victorious, while for others, the true test of a pugilist lies in their combination of strength and cunning, utilizing both technique and expert movement.

Unarmored Defense

Starting at 3rd level, while you are not wearing any armor, your Armor Class equals 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Constitution modifier. You can use a shield and still gain this benefit.

Prized Conditioning

Beginning at 7th level, your physical fitness allows you to perform feats of skill and endurance that would overwhelm others. When you make a saving throw, you can expend a superiority die, rolling the die and adding it to the saving throw. You use this feature after rolling the d20, but before learning from the DM whether the roll succeeds or fails.

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.

Additional Fighting Style

At 10th level, you can choose a second option from the Fighting Style class feature.

Devastating Critical

Starting at 15th level, when you score a critical hit with a melee weapon attack, you can cause one of the following effects of your choice to occur:

• You gain a bonus to the damage roll equal to your fighter level.
• The target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw (DC equal to 8 + your Strength modifier + your proficiency bonus) or become stunned until the end of your next turn.

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.

Giant's Might

Also at 3rd level, you have learned how to imbue yourself with the might of giants. As a bonus action, you magically gain the following benefits, which last for 1 minute:

• If you are smaller than Large, you become Large, along with anything you are wearing. If you lack the room to become Large, your size doesn't change.
• You have advantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws.
• Once per turn, one of your attacks with a weapon or an unarmed strike can deal an extra 1d6 damage to a target on a hit.

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

Runic Shield

Starting at 7th level, you learn to invoke your rune magic to protect your allies. When another creature you can see within 60 feet of you is hit by an attack roll, you can use your reaction to force the attacker to reroll the d20 and use the new roll.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Constitution modifier (a minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Great Stature

By 10th level, the magic of your runes permanently alters you. When you gain this feature, roll 3d4. You grow a number of inches in height equal to the roll.

Moreover, the extra damage you deal with your Giant's Might feature increases to 1d8.

Master of Runes

Starting at 15th level, you can invoke each rune you know from your Rune Carver feature twice, rather than once, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a short or long rest.

Runic Juggernaut

At 18th level, you learn how to amplify your rune-powered transformation. As a result, the extra damage you deal with the Giant's Might feature increases to 1d10. Moreover, when you use that feature, your size can increase to Huge, and while you are that size, your reach increases by 5 feet.

Samurai

The Samurai is a fighter who draws on an implacable fighting spirit to overcome enemies. Possessing worldly experience, these refined warriors espouse a sacrosanct code of honor and conduct to which they rigorously adhere, both on the battlefield and in everyday life.

Often finding themselves as lone wanderers or mercenaries, a samurai's inscrutable goals are a closely guarded secret. Preceded by reputation alone, a Samurai's resolve is nearly unbreakable, and the enemies in a Samurai's path have two choices: yield or die fighting.

Fighting Spirit

Starting at 3rd level, your intensity in battle can shield you and help you strike true. As a bonus action on your turn, you can give yourself advantage on weapon attack rolls until the end of the current turn. When you do so, you also gain a number of temporary hit points equal to your fighter level.

You can use this feature three times, and you regain all expended uses of it when you finish a long rest.

Elegant Courtier

Starting at 7th level, your discipline and attention to detail allow you to excel in social situations. Whenever you make a Charisma (Persuasion) check, you gain a bonus to the check equal to your Wisdom modifier.

Your self-control also causes you to gain proficiency in Wisdom saving throws. If you already have this proficiency, you instead gain proficiency in Intelligence or Charisma saving throws (your choice).

Tireless Spirit

Starting at 10th level, when you roll initiative and have no uses of Fighting Spirit remaining, you regain one use.

Rapid Strike

Starting at 15th level, you learn to trade accuracy for swift strikes. If you take the Attack action on your turn and have advantage on an attack roll against one of the targets, you can forgo the advantage for that roll to make an additional weapon attack against that target, as part of the same action. You can do so no more than once per turn.

Strength before Death

Starting at 18th level, your fighting spirit can delay the grasp of death. If you take damage that reduces you to 0 hit points and doesn't kill you outright, you can use your reaction to delay falling unconscious, and you can immediately take an extra turn, interrupting the current turn. While you have 0 hit points during that extra turn, taking damage causes death saving throw failures as normal, and three death saving throw failures can still kill you. When the extra turn ends, you fall unconscious if you still have 0 hit points.

Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.

Crippling Strike

Prerequisite: 15th level

When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can expend one superiority die to exploit the target's weak points. You add the superiority die to the attack's damage roll, and the target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or gain vulnerability to all of the attack's damage.

Once you use this maneuver, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Disarming Attack

When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can expend one superiority die to attempt to disarm the target, forcing it to drop one item of your choice that it's holding. You add the superiority die to the attack's damage roll, and the target must make a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, it drops the object you choose. The object lands at its feet.

Disrupting Attack

Prerequisite: 7th level

When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can expend one superiority die to attempt to break the target's concentration. You add the superiority die to the attack's damage roll, and the target has disadvantage on any Constitution saving throw it makes to maintain its concentration as a result of the attack.

Distracting Strike

When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can expend one superiority die to distract the creature, giving your allies an opening. You add the superiority die to the attack's damage roll. The next attack roll against the target by an attacker other than you has advantage if the attack is made before the start of your next turn.

Evasive Footwork

When you move, you can expend one superiority die, rolling the die and adding the number rolled to your AC until you stop moving.

Feinting Attack

You can expend one superiority die and use a bonus action on your turn to feint, choosing one creature within 5 feet of you as your target. You have advantage on your next attack roll this turn against that creature. If that attack hits, add the superiority die to the attack's damage roll. The advantage is lost if not used on the turn you gain it.

Glancing Blow

When you miss a weapon attack against a creature you can see, you can expend one superiority die to deal partial damage to it. Roll the superiority die, and the target takes weapon damage equal to half the number rolled (rounded up).

Goading Attack

When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can expend one superiority die to attempt to goad the target into attacking you. You add the superiority die to the attack's damage roll, and the target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the target has disadvantage on all attack rolls against targets other than you until the end of your next turn.

Grand Charge

Prerequisite: 15th level

As an action, you can expend a superiority die and choose up to six willing allies who can see or hear you. You gain temporary hit points equal to the roll of your superiority die + your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1 temporary hit point), and each chosen ally can immediately use its reaction to move up to half its speed towards a hostile creature of its choice and then make one melee weapon attack against that creature.

Once you use this maneuver, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Grappling Strike

Prerequisite: 5th level

Immediately after you hit a creature with a melee attack on your turn, you can expend one superiority die and then try to grapple the target as a bonus action (see the Player's Handbook for rules on grappling). Add the superiority die to your Strength (Athletics) check.

Interdiction

Prerequisite: 9th level

When an ally within 5 feet of you is hit by a weapon attack from a creature you can see, you can use your reaction and expend one superiority die to interpose a simple or martial weapon or a shield you are holding between the ally and the attacker. Roll the superiority die; the ally gains a bonus to its AC equal to the number rolled for that attack, potentially causing it to miss.

Lunging Attack

When you make a melee weapon attack on your turn, you can expend one superiority die to increase your reach for that attack by 5 feet. If you hit, you add the superiority die to the attack's damage roll.

Maneuvering Attack

When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can expend one superiority die to maneuver one of your comrades into a more advantageous position. You add the superiority die to the attack's damage roll, and you choose a friendly creature who can see or hear you. That creature can use its reaction to move up to half its speed without provoking opportunity attacks from the target of your attack.

Menacing Attack

When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can expend one superiority die to attempt to frighten the target. You add the superiority die to the attack's damage roll, and the target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, it is frightened of you until the end of your next turn.

Parry

When another creature damages you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction and expend one superiority die to reduce the damage by the number you roll on your superiority die + your Dexterity modifier (minimum reduction of 1). If you use this maneuver to reduce the damage to 0, you regain the use of your reaction.

Pincer Attack

Prerequisite: 12th level

When an ally you can see hits a creature within 5 feet of you with a melee weapon attack, you can use your reaction and expend one superiority die to make a melee weapon attack against the same creature. If you hit, you add the superiority die to the attack's damage roll.

Precision Attack

When you make a weapon attack roll against a creature, you can expend one superiority die to add it to the roll. You can use this maneuver before or after making the attack roll, but before any effects of the attack are applied.

Pushing Attack

When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can expend one superiority die to attempt to drive the target back. You add the superiority die to the attack's damage roll, and if the target is Large or smaller, it must make a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, you push the target up to 15 feet away from you.

Quick Toss

As a bonus action, you can expend one superiority die and make a ranged attack with a weapon that has the thrown property. You can draw the weapon as part of making this attack. If you hit, add the superiority die to the weapon's damage roll.

Rally

On your turn, you can use a bonus action and expend one superiority die to bolster the resolve of one of your companions. When you do so, choose a friendly creature who can see or hear you. That creature gains temporary hit points equal to the superiority die roll + your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1 temporary hit point).

Riposte

When a creature misses you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction and expend one superiority die to make a melee weapon attack against the creature. If you hit, you add the superiority die to the attack's damage roll.

Shockwave

Prerequisite: 12th level

When you take the Attack action on your turn, you can forgo one of your attacks and expend one superiority die to slam your weapon into the ground, creating a shockwave that emanates outward from you in a 20-foot cone in a direction you choose. Each creature in the shockwave's area must make a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes bludgeoning damage equal to the roll of your superiority die + your Strength modifier (minimum of 1 damage), or half as much damage on a successful one.

Once you use this maneuver, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Spring Attack

Prerequisite: 7th level

Immediately before you make a weapon attack against a creature, you can expend one superiority die to gain a burst a speed. Your speed increases by 10 feet until the end of the current turn, and if your attack hits, you add the superiority die to the attack's damage roll.

Class Changes

In D&D 5th edition, the fighter is the quintessential martial character archetype; the class possesses both a simplicity that allows for quick familiarity and an ease of use for its features, and the most customizable level progression of any class which lacks the Spellcasting feature, which enables the greatest variance and diversity in building a character. With these class philosophies in mind, the alterations to the fighter presented in this handbook are designed to add more tools and abilities to the class's basic repertoire without making it too complex — most notably, by integrating the maneuvers system (formerly present in the Battle Master subclass) into the base class, so that every fighter has superiority dice at their disposal.

Proficiencies. The fighter now gains proficiency with improvised weapons.

Combat Superiority. The fighter gains this feature, which is identical to the 3rd-level Battle Master feature of the same name, at 2nd level. Due to this change, the Battle Master archetype has been removed entirely, as its defining feature is now a part of the base class.

Combat Superiority: Superiority Dice. The fighter gains two superiority dice, which are d6s, and gains an additional superiority die at 6th, 10th, 14th, and 18th level; the superiority dice turn into d8s at 10th level. (Previously, as part of the Battle Master archetype, the fighter gained four superiority dice, which were d8s, and gained an additional superiority die at 7th and 15th level; the superiority dice turned into d10s at 10th level, and into d12s at 18th level.)

Combat Superiority: Maneuvers. The fighter now learns two maneuvers at 2nd level, and learns an additional maneuver at 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th, and 18th level (for a total of eight). Previously, the fighter learned three maneuvers at 3rd level, and learned two additional maneuvers each at 7th, 10th, and 15th level (for a total of nine). The fighter can also replace a known maneuver with a different one each time they gain a fighter level, instead of only replacing a maneuver when they learn new maneuvers.

These changes are intended to provide the fighter with additional options during combat, but at reduced effectiveness relative to the Battle Master until higher tiers of play, when martial characters otherwise have a lessened ability to have decisive impact in combat.

Action Surge. The fighter no longer gains a second use of Action Surge at 17th level, due to the relocation of the fighter's final Extra Attack improvement (see below).

Martial Archetype. The Arcane Archer archetype has been renamed to Arcane Marksman, to reflect the subclass's greater diversity with ranged attack options, and the Purple Dragon Knight has been renamed to Banneret, to better suit the changes to its features (see below). In addition, a new subclass, the Pugilist, has been added.

Relentless. This is a new feature, which was adapted from versions of the fighter class released during the "DND Next" 5th edition playtest. It is intended to give fighters with no remaining superiority dice a way regain one, though at the cost of using their action.

Ability Score Improvement. The fighter can now replace a large number of their chosen maneuver options each time they gain this feature from this class.

Extra Attack. The fighter gains its final improvement to this feature at 17th level, instead of 20th level.

Indomitable. The fighter gains their first use of this feature at 5th level, instead of 9th level, and gains an additional use between long rests every six levels, gaining their third and final use at 17th level as normal.

Combat Expertise. This is a new feature, which is intended to allow the fighter to better serve its assigned roles in and out of combat as the character progresses into higher tiers of play.

Combat Versatility. This is a new feature, which is designed to give the fighter a much greater degree of control over how they adapt to differing situations in combat over the course of consecutive days and weeks.

Peerless Warrior. This is a new feature, which is required due to the relocation of the fighter's final Extra Attack improvement to 17th level (see above).

Banneret

Previously known as the Purple Dragon Knight, the changes to the Banneret are listed below.

War Banner. This is a new feature, intended to be the subclass's defining feature; several other changes to the banneret involve this feature.

Rallying Cry. This feature can now only affect creatures under the banneret's banner, rather than any allies within 60 feet of them, and only grants temporary hit points, instead of restoring hit points; in exchange, the recipients gain 1d10 more points than previously.

Inspiring Surge. The feature can only affect an ally under the banneret's banner; in exchange, the allied creature can also move up to its speed during its reaction.

Bulwark. The feature can only affect an ally under the banneret's banner; in exchange, the feature also grants that ally an additional benefit if it fails the rerolled saving throw.

Noble Phalanx. This is a new feature.

Cavalier

The changes to the Cavalier are listed below.

Warding Maneuver. The cavalier can use this feature a number of times equal to their proficiency bonus between long rests, instead of their Constitution modifier (a minimum of once). The cavalier can also expend a superiority die to reuse this feature.

Champion

The changes to the Champion are listed below.

Remarkable Athlete. The champion now gains this feature at 3rd level, instead of 7th, to standardize the number of features each subclass gets at this level.

Enduring Grit. This is a new feature, which grants slightly more defensive capability to the champion.

Echo Knight

The changes to the Echo Knight are listed below.

Reclaim Potential. The echo knight can use this feature a number of times equal to their proficiency bonus between long rests, instead of their Constitution modifier (a minimum of once).

Eldritch Knight

The changes to the Eldritch Knight are listed below.

War Magic. Instead of allowing the eldritch knight to follow up a cantrip with a weapon attack as a bonus action, this feature now allows the eldritch knight to cast a cantrip in place of one of its attacks as part of the Attack action.

Arcane Charge. The fighter can now teleport both before and after using Action Surge, instead of once.

Greater War Magic. Instead of allowing the eldritch knight to follow up a spell with a weapon attack as a bonus action, this feature now allows the eldritch knight to cast a spell in place of one or more of the attacks it takes as part of the Attack action. This is intended to give the eldritch knight greater martial-spellcasting flexibility at the highest tier of play, especially when compared to other flexible martial casters.

Psi Warrior

The changes to the Psi Warrior are listed below.

Higher Font. This feature includes the introduction of Psionic Dice (formerly Psionic Energy Dice) to the psi warrior. These dice are no longer a discrete set of dice, but are instead treated as special superiority dice, which both function as normal superiority dice and can also fuel the psionic abilities of the subclass.

Psionic Powers. This feature includes the 3rd-level psionic abilities previously gained from Psionic Power (which has been removed); the feature's abilities are otherwise unchanged.

Pugilist

While it takes inspiration from the Brute (a playtest-exclusive martial archetype that was never officially published), the Pugilist is a new archetype included to give fighters a different choice of subclass. As such, there are no changes to official material to be detailed here.

Rune Knight

The changes to the Rune Knight are listed below.

Giant's Might. The extra damage of this feature can be triggered once per turn, instead of once on each of the rune knight's turns.

Runic Shield. The rune knight can use this feature a number of times between long rests equal to their Constitution modifier (a minimum of once), instead of their proficiency bonus.

Samurai

The changes to the Samurai are listed below.

Bonus Proficiency. The fighter gains both a skill and a language, instead of choosing between the two.

Fighting Spirit. The temporary hit points granted by this feature now directly scale with fighter level.

Maneuvers

The changes to existing maneuvers are listed below.

Parry. This maneuver now specifies that it has a minimum damage reduction of 1, and the figher regains their reaction if they use this maneuver to nullify all incoming damage. This is to differentiate the maneuver from the Interception Fighting Style option.

Rally. This maneuver now specifies that it grants a minimum of 1 temporary hit point.

Art Credits

The artists below are credited in alphabetical order. Where possible, an art credit includes the website where the artist's work can be found, and the pages on which their illustrations appear.

• Huy Tran Viet (ArtStation; pg 10)
• Paizo (© Paizo; pg 7, 12, 16)
• Rayden Chen (ArtStation; pg 5)
• Wang Ding / "wd" / "wang_ding" (ArtStation; cover)
• Wizards of the Coast (© Wizards; pg 2, 9)

Thank You

... for taking the time to read this reimagining of the Cleric class! If you have any feedback or suggestions, please contact the author ─ /u/Ozzifer on Reddit ─ or consider joining their Patreon.

Open Game License

Version 1.0a

END OF LICENSE