Warrior
A Roegadyn woman stands locked in combat with a hobgoblin. With each swing of his blade, she meets with ferocity and powerful blows. The battle rages on, the woman feeding off the ecstasy of battle, receiving succor with each blow she lands.
A man dashes into the heat of battle, his battleax swinging wildly around him. He lets out an earth shaking battle cry as he crushes the ground and all those around him with explosive force.
A lightly armored figure stands at his ally's sides. His powerful voice echoes out across the field, empowering his allies as he leads his comrades into battle, axe drawn and swinging like a tempest of steel and iron.
Like a symbol crash in an orchestra, a warrior is an explosive force which stands out in any situation. Their booming voice, raw strength and powerful strikes are their tools for victory.
Indomitable Forces
The warrior finds their roots in ancient tribes akin to barbarians. These fearless fighters are peerless in their control of a force which they call the inner beast. Warriors often come from tribal backgrounds in which they learn to nurture and control this inner animal, which in turn grants them beast like strength and ferocity. Warrior bands once roamed unsettled lands as nomads, enjoying the boons which nature offers and defending the weak from those who would do them harm.
Unending Rage
Not unlike nature itself, a Warrior has the potential to become a relentless force of destruction. Like a raging forest fire, or an all consuming tidal wave, a warrior can unleash their inner beast to harness its rage. This state of being is known as berserking. While berserking, Warriors continually chase foes and defend allies, using their bloodlust to keep themselves in the battle as a threat.
Creating a Warrior
When creating a Warrior, one must consider their origins as a warrior. Are you a descendant of the ancient tribes from which warriors are able to draw their lineage? Perhaps you were a fledgling adventurer who found a mentor in the form of a former warrior who passed on the secrets of the inner beast.
You must also consider why you have set out on your life of adventuring? As a warrior, have you decided to seek out dangerous challenges to sharpen your skills or sate the appetite of the hungry beast inside you? Perhaps you have taken up arms in defense of your tribe, a village or a loved one? Warriors set out for any number of reasons.
Quick Build
You can make a Warrior quickly by following these suggestions. First make Strength your highest ability score, following with Constitution. Second take the Outlander background.
The Warrior
| Level | Proficiency Bonus | Features | Berserks | Berserk Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +2 | Fighting Style, Berserk | 2 | +2 |
| 2nd | +2 | Reckless Attack, Beastly Demeanor | 2 | +2 |
| 3rd | +2 | Warrior Archetype | 3 | +2 |
| 4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 3 | +2 |
| 5th | +3 | Extra Attack | 3 | +2 |
| 6th | +3 | Archetype Feature | 4 | +2 |
| 7th | +3 | Raw Intuition, Bellow of the Beast | 4 | +2 |
| 8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | +2 |
| 9th | +4 | Onslaught | 4 | +3 |
| 10th | +4 | Archetype Feature | 4 | +3 |
| 11th | +4 | Revenge | 4 | +3 |
| 12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | +3 |
| 13th | +5 | Shake It Off | 5 | +3 |
| 14th | +5 | Archetype Feature | 5 | +3 |
| 15th | +5 | Upheaval | 5 | +3 |
| 16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | +3 |
| 17th | +6 | Beastly Reflexes | 6 | +4 |
| 18th | +6 | Holmgang | 6 | +4 |
| 19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 6 | +4 |
| 20th | +6 | Infuriate | 6 | +4 |
Class Features
As a Warrior, you gain the following class features
Hit Points
- Hit Dice: 1d12 per Warrior level
- Hit Points at 1st Level: 12 + your Constitution modifier
- Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d12 (or 8) + your Constitution modifier per Warrior level after 1st
Proficiencies
- Armor: All armor, Shields
- Weapons: simple weapons, martial Weapons
- Tools: None
- Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution
- Skills: Choose two from Animal Handling, Athletics, History, Intimidation, Insight, Survival.
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background
- (a) a martial weapon
- (a) a short bow and 20 arrows or (b) two hand axes
- (a) an explorer's pack or (b) a dungeoneer's pack
- chain mail and a carved wooden idol related to your heritage.
Fighting Style
Beginning at the 1st level, you adopt a particular style of fighting as your specialty, Choose one of the following options. You can't take a Fighting Style option more than once, even if you later get to choose again.
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.
Two-Weapon Fighting
When you engage in two-weapon fighting, you can add your ability modifier to the damage of the second attack.
Berserk
Beginning at the 1st level, on your turn, you can enter a Berserk state of mind, letting your inner beast act freely. While under the effect of Berserk you gain the following benefits:
- you have advantage on Strength checks and saving throws
- when you make a melee weapon attack using Strength, you gain a bonus to the damage roll that increases as you gain levels as a Warrior, as shown in the Berserk Damage column of the Warrior table.
- When you take slashing, piercing or bludgeoning damage, you reduce the damage by half your Constitution modifier rounded up.
If you are able to cast spells, you are unable to do so while berserking due to an inability to concentrate.
Some warrior class features require target creatures to make saving throws. This is contested by your Berserk DC, calculated below.
Berserk DC = 8 + your proficiency modifier + your Strength modifier.
Your berserk state lasts for 1 minute. It ends early if you are knocked unconscious or if your turn ends and you have not attacked a hostile creature since your last turn or taken damage since then. You can also end your berserk state on your turn as a bonus action. For a number of rounds equal to 5 minus your Constitution modifier after your berserk state ends, you may not use the extra attack ability and your base movement speed is halved due to fatigue.
Once you have gone berserk the number of times shown in for your warrior level in the Berserks column of the Warrior table, you must finish a long rest before you can go Berserk again.
Reckless Attack
Starting at 2nd level, when you make your first attack on your turn, you can decide to attack recklessly. Doing so gives you advantage on all melee weapon attack rolls using Strength during that turn, but attack rolls against you are rolled with advantage until the beginning of your next turn.
Beastly Demeanor
Beginning at the 2nd level you gain a passive Intimidation score which you may use to replace rolls when making Intimidation ability checks. This passive Intimidation score is equal to 10 + your Strength modifier.
Warrior Archetype
At 3rd level, you select the tradition under which your warrior has trained. The Beast of Defiance tradition focus on restraining the inner beast of the warrior, and letting its power out only when needed.
The Beast of Deliverance tradition focuses on allowing the inner beast to run wild, fighting alongside its power to lay your enemies low. The Marauder has turned from harnessing their inner beast to become fierce fighters on their own power.
Ability Score Improvement
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 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.
Extra Attack
Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
Raw Intuition
Also beginning at 7th level, when you are struck by a melee weapon attack, as a reaction you may move directly back 5ft. from the creature and reduce the damage you have taken by 1d6. This damage reduction is increased to 2d6 at the 13th level and 3d6 at the 18th level. You can do this once. You must then finish a long rest to use Raw Intuition again.
You can use this feature twice between long rests starting at 13th level and three times between long rests starting at 18th level.
Bellow of the Beast
Beginning at the 7th level, you are able to attempt to dominate a conversation with the assistance of your inner beast. You may expend one use of Berserk to intimidate a creature with advantage and doubling all of your bonuses to the intimidate skill.
Onslaught
Beginning at the 9th level, when you use the dash action, you may make a melee weapon attack as a bonus action. You deal bonus damage on the attack equal to your Constitution modifier.
Revenge
Beginning at the 11th level, when a creature resolves an melee weapon attack action against you, as a reaction you may make one weapon attack against that creature.
Shake it Off
Beginning at the 13th level, while under the effects of Berserk, when you make a saving throw to resist a condition (excluding: Exhaustion, Grappled, Incapacitated, Prone, Restrained, Stunned and Unconscious) you may choose to
end your Berserk state to automatically succeed on the saving throw. You may do this after your roll but before the outcome of the resist has been declared.
Upheaval
Beginning at the 15th level, while you are under the effects of Berserk, you are able to unleash a powerful blow fueled by your vigor. You make an unarmed strike, if you hit, you may declare you are using Upheaval. The creature makes a Constitution saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier). On a failure your unarmed strike deals #d12 force damage, where # is equal to your Constitution modifier with a minimum of 1d12 force damage and half as much damage on a success. Your Berserk state immediately ends after delivering the blow.
Beastly Reflexes
Beginning at the 17th level, while you are under the effects of Berserk you are able to make two reactions per round.
Holmgang
Beginning at the 18th level, while under the effects of Berserk, as a bonus action you are able to enter an indomitable state known as Holmgang. For a number of rounds equal to half your Constitution modifier, rounded down, your hit points can not fall below 1. Additionally, you may attempt to link yourself to a creature within 10ft. of you. If the creature is Large sized or smaller the target creature must make a Strength saving throw against your Berserk DC or be dragged to a space within 5 ft. of you. The creature cannot leave the 5ft. radius around you and your movement speed becomes 0ft. for the duration of Holmgang. You may only do this once. You must then finish a long rest to use Holmgang again.
Infuriate
Beginning at the 20th level, if you have no uses of Berserk left when you roll for initiative, you recover 2 uses of Berserk instantly.
The Beast Within
Warriors believe there is a beast within all the hearts of man. It is from this beastial force that they derive their power. There are two traditional approaches to working alongside one's inner beast. The Defiant tradition has the warrior stand in opposition to the destructive forces of the inner beast, while The Reckless tradition sees the warrior allow this beast to run wild, directing the destructive forces unmitigated.
The Beast of Defiance
A warrior who has cut their teeth under this tradition has tamed the beast within their heart, and gained great control over it. They channel the strength from this force only when it is needed, and are able to fight defensively with the help of such forces. Finding succor in the destruction of their foes and defense of their friends sees a defiant warrior become a powerful ally.
Disruption
Beginning at the 3rd level, while you are under the effects of Berserk, 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.
Storm's Path
Beginning at the 6th level, when you successfully land a melee weapon attack while under the effects of Berserk, you may declare you are using Storm's Path. The target creature makes a Strength saving throw against your Berserk DC, on a failed save the creature deals 1d6 less damage on their damage rolls for a number of rounds equal to your Strength modifier. This damage reduction increases to 2d6 at the 14th level. You may only use Storm's Path once during each use of Berserk.
Voice of the Beast
Beginning at the 10th level, you learn the Charm Monster and Beast Sense spells, and may cast each one once. Strength is your spellcasting ability for these spells. You may only cast Charm Monster on beasts. You can do this once. You must then finish a long rest to use Voice of the Beast again.
Inner Beast
Beginning at the 14th level, as an action you can use Inner Beast. Make a melee weapon attack against a target creature. On a successful attack roll you deal your normal weapon as well as recover hit points equal to 2d8+6 hit points and deal equal bonus damage. The effects of Berserk ends immediately after you use Inner Beast.
The Beast of Deliverance
A warrior of the Reckless Tradition has grown alongside their inner beast. They allow this force to take over and push their bodies to incredible feats of strength. They fight without care for their own safety, allowing bloodlust to take over. A reckless warrior's inner beast is hungry, and they allow this overwhelming force to feed without a thought of reserve.
Inner Release
Beginning at the 3rd level, while you are under the effects of Berserk, your weapon attacks score a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20. At the 14th level, your weapon attacks score a critical hit on a roll of 18-20.
Storm's Eye
Beginning at the 6th level, when you successfully land a melee weapon attack while under the effects of Berserk, you may declare you are using Storm's Eye. The target creature makes a Constitution saving throw against your Berserk DC, on a failed save the creature receives 1d6 bonus damage from weapon attacks against it for a number of rounds equal to your Strength ability modifier. This bonus damage is increased to 2d6 at the 14th level. You may only use Storm's Eye once during each use of Berserk.