The Fighter

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 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.

Creating a Fighter

As you build your fighter, think about two related elements of your character's background: Where did you get your combat training, and what set you apart from the mundane warriors around you? Were you particularly ruthless? Did you get extra help from a mentor, perhaps because of your exceptional dedication? What drove you to this training in the first place? A threat to your homeland, a thirst for revenge, or a need to prove yourself might all have been factors.

You might have enjoyed formal training in a noble's army or in a local militia. Perhaps you trained in a war academy, learning strategy, tactics, and military history. Or you might be self-taught—unpolished but well tested. Did you take up the sword as a way to escape the limits of life on a farm, or are you following a proud family tradition? Where did you acquire your weapons and armor? They might have been military issue or family heirlooms, or perhaps you scrimped and saved for years to buy them. Your armaments are now among your most important possessions—the only things that stand between you and death's embrace.

Class Features

As a fighter, you gain the following class features.

Fighting Style

1st-level Fighter feature

Indomitable

9th-level Fighter feature

Mounted Warrior

When you hit a creature with a melee attack while riding a mount, you can force the target to make a Strength saving throw against your Exploit save DC. On a failed save, a Large or smaller target is knocked Prone.

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 force that attack to miss, as well as force any other attack rolls it makes that aren't against you to have Disadvantage until the start of your next turn. You must be wielding a shield.

Pit Fighting

Your have trained to fight with weapons typically associated with gladiators, granting you the following benefits:

• For you, tridents deal 1d10 (1d12) piercing damage on hit.
• When making an attack roll with a net against a creature within 5 feet, you have advantage on the roll.
• When you take the Attack action on your turn, making an attack with a net only takes the place of one attack.

Shield Warrior

You can use a shield as a martial melee weapon. On hit, you deal 2d4 bludgeoning damage. If you are wielding a shield and no other weapons, you gain a +2 bonus to your damage rolls with shield attacks, to your Armor Class, and to Dexterity saving throws you make.

Two-Weapon Fighting

When you engage in two-weapon fighting, you can add your ability modifier to the damage of any offhand attacks, and you can make one more offhand weapon attack as part of the same action as you would normally be able to.

Versatile Fighting

When wielding a versatile weapon with two hands you gain a +4 bonus to damage rolls. When wielding a versatile weapon with one hand, and nothing in your other hand, you gain a +2 bonus to both your attack rolls and your Armor Class.

You can also make a shove attack or an unarmed strike as a Bonus Action so long as you have a free hand to do so.

Wrestler

You gain an extra attack when you take the Attack Action, but this attack can only be used to grapple.

In addition, you can attempt to grapple a creature as a Bonus Action on your turn, so long as your have a free hand to do so. Also, you can drag Grappled creatures up to your full movement speed, and when you hit a creature grappled by you with a melee weapon attack, you deal an extra 1d4 damage of the weapon's type.

Weapon Master

20th-level Fighter feature

Arcane Archer Shots

Arcane Archer exploits utilize their knowledge of the arcane to suffuse magic into their arrows.

If an Arcane Archer Exploit requires a saving throw, your Arcane Shot save DC equals 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence/Wisdom modifier (choose when you gain this feature).

Arcane Knight

Arcane Knights are fighters who supplement their skill with the armaments of war with arcane knowledge. Compared to other mages who study only magic, Arcane Knights can only produce minor spells. However, when combined with their skill in the weapons of warfare, these minor magical spells become deadly enhancements. Proficient in both the arcane arts and the art of war, these spellswords are a deadly force.

Cavalier

The archetypal cavalier excels at mounted combat. Usually born among the nobility and raised at court, a cavalier is equally at home leading a cavalry charge or exchanging repartee at a state dinner. Cavaliers also learn how to guard those in their charge from harm, often serving as the protectors of their superiors and of the weak. Compelled to right wrongs or earn prestige, many of these fighters leave their lives of comfort to embark on glorious adventure.

Champion

While most fighters improve their capabilities by mastering various combat techniques, or augment their skill with magic, Champions forgo all other routes to improvement and focus on enhancing their raw physical strength. Imposing figures; Champions strive to maintain their peak physical condition through never-ending training. On the battlefield, Champions perform feats of supernatural athleticism and overwhelm their foes with their immense physical might.

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.

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.

Telekinetic Adept

7th-level Psi Warrior feature

Samurai

The Samurai is a fighter who draws on an implacable fighting spirit to overcome enemies. A samurai’s resolve is nearly unbreakable, and the enemies in a samurai’s path have two choices: yield or die fighting.

Homebrew Adaptation

Martial Exploits

Listed below are the Martial Exploits available to the fighter. Each time you gain a level in this class, you can replace one Exploit you know with another Exploit of your choice.

Keen Observation

When you make an Intelligence (Investigation) or Wisdom (Perception) check, you can expend an Exploit Die and add it to your roll. You can use this Exploit after you roll, but before you know whether you succeed or fail.

Lightstep

When you roll for initiative or make a Dexterity (Stealth) check, you can expend an Exploit Die and add it to your roll. You can use this Exploit after you roll, but before you know whether you succeed or fail.

Martial Focus

Once per turn, after you make a weapon attack roll, but before you know whether your attack hits or misses your target, you can expend an Exploit Die to reroll the attack roll.

Menacing Shout

As a bonus action, you can expend an Exploit Die to force a creature within 30 feet that can see or hear you to make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the target is frightened of you until the start of your next turn.

The fear effect ends early if the frightened creature sees you take damage.

Mighty Leap

When you make a running or standing jump, you can expend an Exploit Die to increase the distance of your jump by a number of feet equal to one roll of your Exploit Die + your Strength modifier, even if the distance of the jump would exceed your remaining movement speed for that turn.

Mighty Thrust

Prerequisite: 15 Strength

When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can expend an Exploit Die to force the target to make a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, the target is pushed away from you in a straight line, a number of feet equal to five times your Strength modifier (minimum of 10 feet). Creatures more than one size larger than you have advantage on this saving throw. On a successful save a creature is pushed 5 feet away from you.

Naturalist's Intuition

When you make a Wisdom (Animal Handling) or Intelligence (Nature) check, you can expend an Exploit Die and add it to your roll. You can use this Exploit after you roll, but before you know whether you succeed or fail.

Quick Toss

As a bonus action, you can expend an Exploit 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 exploit die to the weapon's damage roll.

Redirect

When a creature misses you with a melee attack, you can expend an Exploit Die as a reaction to force them to repeat their attack against a target of your choice within their reach.

Ruthless Strike

When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can expend an Exploit Die to force them to make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes additional damage equal to your Exploit Die and their Armor Class is reduced by 2 until the start of your next turn.

Riposte

When you are hit by a melee attack, you can use your reaction to expend an Exploit Die, adding it to your Armor Class against that attack. If the attack misses, you can immediately make one weapon attack against the attacker.

Ruthless Strike

When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can expend an Exploit Die to deal additional damage to the target equal to two rolls of your Exploit Die.

Sheer Presence

Whenever you make a Charisma (Intimidation) or Charisma (Persuasion) check, you can expend an Exploit Die and add it to your roll. You can use this Exploit after you roll, but before you know whether you succeed or fail.

Shield Impact

As a reaction when you are hit by a melee attack, you can expend an Exploit Die to reduce the damage by an amount equal to your Exploit Die + your Constitution modifier. You must be wielding a shield to use this Exploit. As you gain fighter levels, the damage reduction increases by one additional Exploit Die at 5th, 11th, and 17th level.

Strike of the Zephyr

As an action, you can flourish your weapon and expend an Exploit Die to move up to your full movement speed in a straight line. Any creature you move through must make a Dexterity saving throw. Creatures take damage of your weapon's type equal to a number of Exploit Dice equal to your fighter proficiency bonus on a failed save, or half as much on a success.

This movement does not provoke opportunity attacks.

Suppressing Strike

When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can expend an Exploit Die to force them to make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes bludgeoning damage equal to your Exploit Die, and it is either deafened or cannot speak (your choice) until the start of your next turn.

Survivalist's Cunning

When you make a Wisdom (Medicine) or Wisdom (Survival) check, you can expend an Exploit Die and add it to your roll. You can use this Exploit after you roll, but before you know whether you succeed or fail.

Sweeping Strike

When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can expend an Exploit Die to force it to make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, it falls prone and takes bludgeoning damage equal to your Exploit Die. Creatures more than one size larger than you have advantage on this saving throw.

Swordsman's Grace

Whenever you make a Dexterity (Acrobatics) or Charisma (Performance) check, you can expend an Exploit Die and add it to your roll. You can use this Exploit after you roll, but before you know whether you succeed or fail.

Take Cover

When a creature that you can see hits you with a ranged attack or forces you to make a Dexterity saving throw, you can expend an Exploit Die to immediately fall prone. While prone in this way you have advantage on any Dexterity saving throw you make. When you fall prone you gain temporary hit points equal to your Exploit Die that last until you stand up.

Take Down

As a bonus action, you can expend an Exploit Die to make a Shove or Grapple attack against a creature within your reach, adding your Exploit Die to your Strength (Athletics) roll.

Taunt

As a bonus action, you can expend an Exploit Die to enter into a goading series of manuevers. Each creature of your choice within a radius of 5 times your fighter proficiency bonus must make a Wisdom saving throw or else have disadvantage on attack rolls against creatures other than you until the start of your next turn.

Warrior's Fortitude

Whenever you are forced to make a Strength or Constitution saving throw, you can expend an Exploit Die and add it to your roll. You can use this Exploit after you roll, but before you know whether you succeed or fail.

Warrior's Reflexes

Whenever you are forced to make a Dexterity or Intelligence saving throw, you can expend an Exploit Die and add it to your roll. You can use this Exploit after you roll, but before you know whether you succeed or fail.

Warrior's Willpower

Whenever you are forced to make a Wisdom or Charisma saving throw, you can expend an Exploit Die and add it to your roll. You can use this Exploit after you roll, but before you know whether you succeed or fail.

Whirlwind Attack

As an action, you can expend an Exploit Die to make a graceful and deadly whirlwind slash. All creatures within range of a weapon you are holding that you are proficient with must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, they take damage of you weapon's type equal to a number of Exploit Dice equal to your fighter proficiency bonus, plus your Strength or Dexterity modifier (your choice). On a success they take half as much damage.

Weakening Blow

When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can expend an Exploit Die to temporarily weaken their defenses. The first attack made against the target before the start of your next turn is made with advantage, and on a hit, the attack deals additional damage equal to your Exploit Die.

Crushing Strike

Prerequisite: 5th Level Fighter, 15 Strength

When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can expend an Exploit Die and force it to make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, it takes extra damage equal to your Exploit Die, and its Armor Class is reduced by 1 until its defenses are repaired, or it finishes a short or long rest.

Destructive Slam

Prerequisite: 5th Level Fighter, 15 Strength

As an action, you can expend an Exploit Die and strike the ground at your feet, forcing all creatures in an adjacent 20-foot cube to make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, they take bludgeoning damage equal to a number of Exploit Dice equal to your fighter proficiency bonus and fall prone. On a success they take half as much damage.

The area becomes difficult terrain until a creature takes 1 minute to clear it, and any objects take maximum damage.

Gale Force Slash

Prerequisite: 5th Level Fighter

As an action, you can flourish your weapon and expend an Exploit Die to rend the air in front of you. Creatures in an adjacent 20-foot cone must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, they take thunder damage equal to a number of Exploit Dice equal to your fighter proficiency bonus. On a success they take half as much damage.

Thunderous Shot

Prerequisite: 5th Level Fighter

As an action while you are wielding a ranged weapon, you can expend an Exploit Die and fire a piece of ammunition in a straight line the length of your weapon's normal range. Any creature that the ammunition passes through must make a Dexterity saving throw. They take the normal damage of the weapon, plus thunder damage equal to the Exploit Dice you spent on a failed save. On a success they take half damage.

Heroic Focus

Prerequisite: 9th Level Fighter, 15 Dexterity

As a bonus action, you can expend an Exploit Die to enter into a heightened state of focus that requires Concentration. For 1 minute, or until you lose Concentration, you gain an additional action on each of your turns. It can only be used to take the Attack (one weapon attack only), Dash, Disengage, Hide, Search, or Use an Object action.

When the effect ends, you can’t move or take actions until after your next turn, as a wave of lethargy sweeps over you.

Volley of Arrows

Prerequisite: 9th Level Fighter, 15 Dexterity

As an action while you are wielding a ranged weapon, you can expend an Exploit Die and choose a point within the normal range of your weapon. Creatures within 5 feet of that point must make a Dexterity saving throw. They take piercing damage equal to a number of Exploit Dice equal to your fighter proficiency bonus on a failed save, or half as much on a success.

You must have a piece of ammunition to hit each creature in order for that target to take damage of this Exploit.

Unbreakable

Prerequisite: 13th Level Fighter, 17 Constitution

When you take damage that would reduce you to 0 hit points, even if that damage would kill you outright, you can use your reaction to expend an Exploit Die to fall to a number of hit points equal to a roll of your Exploit Die instead.

Strikes of Steel Wind

Prerequisite: 17th Level Fighter

As an action, you can flourish your weapon and expend an Exploit Die to move at blinding speed. Make a melee attack against up to five creatures you can see within 30 feet of you. On a hit, a target takes 4d12 damage of your weapon's type.

You then appear to an unoccupied space you can see within 5 feet of one of the targets you hit or missed.

Legendary Exploit

Prerequisite: 17th Level Fighter

Epic level fighters should be capable of legendary feats on par with powerful spellcasters. Should your table allow it, consult your GM to design a Legendary Exploit for your fighter, considering the following guidelines for creation:

• You should expend Exploit Dice as an action to use it.
• If it targets a single creature, it should deal damage equal to the Exploit Dice you spent + your Strength or Dexterity modifier in bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage. Consider adding a rider effect like stunned or blinded.
• If it targets an area, reduce the damage of the Exploit accordingly. The larger the area, the less damage.
• If it targets an area, it should force creatures in that area to make a Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution saving throw based on the Exploit's nauture to resist its effects.
• If it causes a condition in addition to damage (such as prone, blinded, stunned, etc) the damage should also be reduced according to the strength of the condition.

Arcane Knight Exploits

The Exploits below are exclusive to fighters of the Arcane Knight Archetype. They use Exploits to enhance their attacks with magic and defend themselves from arcane assaults.

Cavalier Exploits

The Exploits below are exclusive to fighters of the Cavalier Archetype. Cavalier Exploits focus on defending their allies and making use of their trained mounts in combat.

Champion Exploits

The Exploits listed below are exclusive to fighters who adopt the Champion Archetype. Champion Exploits make use of their impressive physical power, and ability to overwhelm their opponents with displays of might and athleticism.

Echo Knight Exploits

The Exploits listed below are exclusive to fighters of the Echo Knight Archetype. Echo Knight Exploits focus on strange shadow magic which they can use to duplicate themselves.

Psi Warrior Exploits

The Exploits listed below are exclusive to fighters of the Psi Warrior Archetype. Psi Warrior Exploits focus on combing their wondrous psionic power with deadly martial skill.

Samurai Exploits

The Exploits below are exclusive to fighters of the Samurai Archetype. Samurai Exploits focus on their regal demeanor in diplomacy and relentless fighting spirit on the battlefield.

Inspiration

This variant is inspired by laserllama's Alternate Fighter found here and expanded here, as well as by Treantmonk's Variant Fighter found here.

Art Credits

Art (Cover): EsbenLash: Another one Bites the Dust (Link)
Art (Page 2): Dave Greco: Hero, the First Crow. (Link)
Art (Page 3): Colin Boyer: Battershield Warrior (Link)
Art (Page 4): Tom Garden: Wrath (Link)
Art (Page 5): Craig Spearing: Defiance (Link)
Art (Page 6): RobinRuan: league of legends Xin Zhao (Link)
Art (Page 7): rudiindra4: Goblin Slayer (Link)
Art (Page 8): Kim Junghun: For honor warden_Fanart (Link)
Art (Page 9): Dave Rapoza: Arcane Archer (Link)
Art (Page 10): Vitali Timkin: Elf (Link)
Art (Page 11-12): Noah Alonzo: RUIN: Eren, The Emerald Wind (Link)
Art (Page 13): Livia Prima: Lucia_LotC (Link)
Art (Page 14): Lake Hurwitz: Hammer Dropper (Link)
Art (Page 15): MeAndMyGaster: [DND NOVEMBER] Kris as Echo Knight (Link)
Art (Page 16): Marcela Medeiros: Psychic Warrior (Link)
Art (Page 18): Catilus: Darthoridan Vale, Human Psy Warrior (Link)
Art (Page 19): Conrad Atega: Verann, Hobgoblin Samurai (Link)
Page Stains: /u/flamableconcrete

Base Class Changelog

• Fighting Styles: Great Weapon Fighting changed to feel nicer, Mounted Warrior, Pit Fighting, Shield Warrior, Versatile Fighting, and Wrestler added as options.
• Second Wind: the healing now scales better as your level.
• Action Surge pushed to 6th level, Martial Exploits are given at 2nd level instead. These allow for fighters to occasionally do something other than just attack every turn, and feel like they're a demigod from fiction, doing an act of mythical strength and skill.
• The Extra ASI given at 6th level is removed, as fighters now get exploits at 2nd and action surge at 6th, the former of which's power should more than compensate for the removal.
• Know Your Enemy added as 3rd level feature. This seems like something a skilled fighter should be able to do: sizing up their foe and estimating their abilities/strengths/weaknesses.
• Extra Attacks now increases to 4 attacks at 17th instead of 20th level to match cantrip scaling.
• Resolute added at 9th level to allow a fighter to gain some mileage out of taking the dodge action.
• Indomitable now allows you to add your fighter proficiency bonus to the reroll, allowing you a better chance on the reroll to make those high DC Wisdom saves that you were failing, and pretty much ensuring success on the few Strength/Constitution saves you fail.
• Reactionary added at 12th level to allow for grappling attempts with your opportunity attack.
• Improved Combat Style added at 14th level to allow the fighter to be uniquely good at fighting styles at later levels.
• Weapon Master added as the new capstone.

Subclass Changelog

These changes only cover changes to published classes. Most borrowed homebrew subclasses have also undergone changes, but as they aren't as widely known, the changes aren't comprehensively covered here.

Champion

• Mighty Warrior replaced Improved Critical, and replaces the wording with a reduced critical range, meant to be consistent across all classes/subclasses, and meant to be able to stack with other ways to decrease critical range. It also adds a bit more damage on a critical, as a crit range buff on a fighter, who doesn't get a whole lot from crits, wasn't adding very much to DPR, at least compared to what other subclasses could do.
• Remarkable Athlete buffed to also improve skills you took proficiency in, avoiding the problem of punishing you for picking proficiencies in skills you know you wanted to use.
• Additional Fighting Style now works with Improved Fighting Style, allowing the Champion to be only subclass in the game that can have two Improved Fighting Styles.
• Versatile Champion added at 10th level to allow a Champion to convert exploit dice into additional Second Winds or Action Surges.
• Paragon of Might now also applies an extra d6 to any Strength or Constition check or saving throw. Why a champion is getting only a small crit range improvement equivalent to what they got at 3rd level at 15th level is beyond me.
• Mythical Champion has the hit point recovery changed to equal your fighter level. The healing here deserves to be significant, not just 7 or 8 hit points that only applies some of the time.

Echo Knight

• Manifest Echo was nerfed to have a limited number of uses for summoning the echo equal to your Int mod times per rest. You can also use exploit dice to summon it again. The echo's AC is also dependent on your fighter level.
• In general, the subclass was modified to key off of Intelligence, rather than Constitution. This fighter should have to be a little multiple ability score dependent in exchange for the massive increase in mobility and positioning it gets, as well as the power that comes with Unleash Incarnation.

Psi Warrior

• Your psionic energy dice are now the same size as your exploit dice, and exploit dice can be used in place of psionic energy dice.
• Telekinetic movement now has size differentiation dependent on your Intelligence modifier.

Samurai

• Temporary hit points from Fighting Spirit now changed to equal your fighter level, so it scales more evenly. Its uses are now tied to your Wisdom modifier, and you regain 1 expended use when you finish a short rest.
• Rapid Strike and Tireless Spirit have been switched; Rapid Strike is too interesting and core a feature that works incredibly well with Fighting Spirit to wait until 15th level for.