Fighter Archetype
Boxer
The Boxer is a fighter who focuses their training into unarmed fighting. Taking inspiration from those who perfected the use of blades and the like, a Boxer takes it one step further, making their bodies their ultimate weapon. Whereas a Monk would harness Ki to do this, a Boxer harnesses their fighting prowess and uses their grit and raw force to achieve great things. The Boxer takes advantage of his strength, his opponents weaknesses, and the knowledge that each fight isn't just a test of strength. More importantly, each fight is a test of endurance, and endurance is something no Boxer lacks.
Boxer Features
| Fighter Level | Features |
|---|---|
| 3rd | Combat Superiority, Float Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a Bee |
| 7th | The Ol’ One-Two, Mauler |
| 10th | Roll with The Punches |
| 15th | Saved by the Bell |
| 18th | One-Hit Knockout |
Combat Superiority
When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you learn maneuvers that are fueled by special dice called superiority dice.
Maneuvers. You learn three maneuvers of your choice. Many maneuvers enhance an attack in some way. You can use only one maneuver per attack. You learn two additional maneuvers of your choice at 7th, 10th, and 15th level. Each time you learn new maneuvers, you can also replace one maneuver you know with a different one.
Superiority Dice. You have four superiority dice, which are d8s. A superiority die is expended when you use it. You regain all of your expended superiority dice when you finish a short or long rest. You gain another superiority die at 7th level and one more at 15th level.
Saving Throws. Some of your maneuvers require your target to make a saving throw to resist the maneuver's effects. The saving throw DC is calculated as follows:
Maneuver Save DC 8 + Your Proficiency Bonus + Your Strength or Dexterity Modifier (Your Choice)
Float Like A Butterfly
Starting at level 3, Your Unarmed Strikes are now considered One-Handed Melee Weapons with the Light Property for qualifying for Two Weapon Fighting, Feats, Maneuvers, and Fighting Styles.
Sting Like a Bee
Additoinally at level 3, you focus your training to allow you to use your fists as deadly weapon. You gain the Unarmed Fighting Fighting Style, If you already had this Fighting Style, you gain another choice available to the fighter at first level.
The Ol’ One-Two
Starting at level 7, you focus further on maximizing the amount of punches you can get it whenever you spot an opening. Whenever you roll maximum damage on the dice for an Unarmed Strike, or when you roll for an Unarmed Strike and roll a critical hit, you may make an additional unarmed strike as part of the same action. This ability may occur a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per turn.
Mauler
Additionally at level 7, your Unarmed Strikes count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.
Roll with The Punches
Starting at level 10, you learn how to efficiently take damage and keep the fight going. Whenever you take damage from a melee attack originating from within your melee range, you can use your reaction to roll 1d10 + your Constitution Modifier + Your Fighter Level and reduce the damage by that amount. If you reduce the damage to 0, you can immediately make an Unarmed Strike against the attacker as part of this reaction.
Saved by the Bell
Starting at level 15, you learn how to fight to your last breath, no matter the cost. When you are reduced to 0 hit points, but not killed outright, you can immediately choose to use your Second Wind ability, even if it has no uses remaining. After using this feature, you cannot use it again until you’ve finished a short or long rest.
One-Hit Knockout
Starting at level 18, your punches are so powerful they can take out a target in a single hit. When you hit an attack against a target, if their health is equal to or less than your Fighter level + your Strength Score, or double that amount on a critical hit, they must make a Constitution Saving Throw against your Maneuver Save DC. On a failure, the target of the attack immediately drops to 0 Hit Points and falls unconscious.
Boxer Rituals
Boxers live for a good fight, but can't help but want things to end in their favor. To achieve this, many adopt pre-fight rituals and superstitions to try and sway the odds. Consider picking or rolling one of the following.
| d6 | Rituals |
|---|---|
| 1 | You will forgo any and all recreational distractions before a fight, just to keep your head in the game. |
| 2 | You will go on a rager the night (or even hours) before a big fight, just to calm the nerves. |
| 3 | You refuse to go into battle without wearing a specific good luck charm, usually a showy piece of clothing. |
| 4 | You refuse to fight someone without a quick prayer, a hopeful word, or a verbal "good luck" |
| 5 | You do everything, truly everything, left to right. Punch with your left first, then right. Wrap your left fist first, then your right. |
| 6 | You will not stop a fight until the other person forfeits, even if it kills one of you. |
Note
The "The Ol' One-Two" feature can be volatile in certain regards, and It has been brought to my attention that using a lower damage dice will cause the ability to trigger more. At this time, I do not see this being an issue. I think it adds a layer of depth to seasoned players who want to play a boxer. Do I go with a lower potential DPR for the higher Proc Chance or do I keep my damage for a lower one. If this is an issue however at your table, my suggested change is as follows: Always have it trigger at a set rate. Personally my rate for that would be based off the D4 (around or exactly 25% Chance) as that is the highest potential chance you can get naturally. This means it would trigger:
- A roll of a 4 for a d4
- A roll of a 5 or 6 for a d6 (if it's 2d6 must be a 5 or 6 on both dice)
- A roll of a 7 or 8 for a d8
- A roll of 8, 9, or 10 for a d10
- A roll of 10, 11, or 12 for a d12.
Change Log
v1.1
- Added in new feature "Float Like a Butterfly" that seperates and expands on features previously present in "Sting Like A Bee"
- Simplified Sting Like a Bee to only concern the fighting style aspects.
- Added the Mauler Feature to allow the Boxer to bypass Non-magical Resistance
- Changed "Killer Instinct" capstone feature to "One-Hit Knockout", changed the feature entirely
Credits & References:
- Fighter Archetype: Boxer created by ParzivalGaming
Art
- Tenacious Underdog, by Zara Alfonso
Background Image Stains
Fan Content Policy
- This work is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
5E SRD Content
This work includes material taken from the System Reference Document 5.1 (“SRD 5.1”) by Wizards of the Coast LLC, available here.
The SRD 5.1 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License available here.