The Fighter is one of the most iconic & versatile classes in Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition. Masters of weapons & armor, fighters can be molded into various combat styles, from stalwart defenders to nimble archers. This guide will explore the fighter’s core features, ability scores, weapon choices, & build options to help you create a formidable warrior for your next D&D campaign.
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Core Class Features
Fighters begin with a d10 hit die, granting 10 hit points at first level & 6 hit points per level thereafter. They are proficient in Strength & Constitution saving throws, reflecting their physical prowess & endurance. Fighters can choose two skill proficiencies from a list including Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Athletics, History, Insight, Intimidation, Perception, & Survival. Most fighters tend to lean toward Athletics or Acrobatics for mobility & Perception for situational awareness.
One of the fighter’s greatest strengths is their unparalleled proficiency with weapons & armor. They are skilled in all simple & martial weapons, as well as light, medium, & heavy armor, plus shields. This versatility allows fighters to adapt to various combat situations & carry backup weapons for different scenarios.
Weapon Mastery & Fighting Styles
At first level, fighters gain the Weapon Mastery feature, allowing them to unlock the Mastery property for three weapons of their choice. These masteries can be changed after a long rest & grant additional effects to attacks, such as the ability to knock enemies prone. At 9th level, fighters gain Tactical Mastery, enabling them to add push, sap, or slow properties to their attacks instead of the weapon’s standard mastery.
Fighters also select a Fighting Style at first level. This choice significantly influences the fighter’s combat approach & should align with their intended build & role in the party. Options include Great Weapon Fighting for maximizing damage with two-handed weapons or Archery for enhancing ranged attacks.
Second Wind & Action Surge
Second Wind allows fighters to use a bonus action to regain hit points equal to 1d10 plus their fighter level. This ability improves at higher levels, granting additional uses & allowing tactical advantages in skill checks or movement when activated.
Action Surge is one of the fighter’s most potent abilities. Gained at second level, it grants an additional action on their turn that can be used for various actions except casting spells or using magic items. This feature becomes even more powerful when combined with Extra Attack at higher levels.
Extra Attack & Studied Attacks
At 5th level, fighters gain Extra Attack, allowing them to attack twice when taking the Attack action. This feature improves at 11th & 20th levels, granting additional attacks. By 20th level, a fighter can make four attacks with a single Attack action or eight attacks when using Action Surge.
Studied Attacks, gained at 13th level, grants advantage on the next attack if the fighter misses an enemy. This feature significantly increases the fighter’s reliability in combat.
Ability Score Improvements & Feats
Fighters receive ability score improvements at levels 4, 6, 8, 12, 14, & 16—more than any other class. These can be used to increase ability scores or take feats for extensive customization. At 19th level, fighters gain an epic boon feat that enhances their capabilities further.
Indomitable
At 9th level, fighters gain Indomitable, allowing them to reroll a failed saving throw & add their fighter level to the result. This ability is particularly useful for overcoming weaknesses in mental saving throws.
Ability Score Allocation
When building a fighter, primary ability scores depend on the chosen combat style. Strength-based fighters should prioritize Strength & Constitution for robust melee capabilities. Dexterity-based fighters should focus on Dexterity & Constitution for ranged combat effectiveness.For a strength-based fighter using point buy:
- Strength: 15 (+2 from background)
- Constitution: 15 (+1 from background)
- Dexterity: 10
- Intelligence: 8
- Wisdom: 13
- Charisma: 10
For a dexterity-based fighter:
- Strength: 10
- Dexterity: 15 (+2 from background)
- Constitution: 15 (+1 from background)
- Intelligence: 8
- Wisdom: 13
- Charisma: 10
Fighter Builds
The Shield Bearer
This build emphasizes defense & battlefield control. Prioritize Strength & Constitution while choosing the Protection or Interception fighting styles. Select feats like Shield Master or Sentinel to enhance your defensive capabilities.
The Two-Handed Weapon Fighter
For maximum damage output, this build utilizes powerful two-handed weapons. Focus on Strength & Constitution while choosing the Great Weapon Fighting style. Feats like Great Weapon Master can significantly boost your damage potential.
The Archer
Ranged combat specialists excel at dealing damage from afar. Prioritize Dexterity & Constitution while selecting the Archery fighting style. Feats like Sharpshooter can make you a formidable ranged threat.
The Dual Wielder
This build focuses on making multiple attacks per turn through dual-wielding weapons. Emphasize Dexterity & Constitution while choosing the Two-Weapon Fighting style. Feats like Dual Wielder enhance your dual-wielding prowess.
Background Choices
Selecting an appropriate background for your fighter can complement your chosen build significantly. For strength-based fighters, backgrounds like Farmer or Soldier provide valuable bonuses that enhance physical attributes. For dexterity-based fighters, backgrounds such as Charlatan or Criminal offer beneficial bonuses aligned with ranged combat styles.
These backgrounds also provide unique origin feats that further enhance your fighter’s capabilities. For instance, the Soldier background grants Savage Attacker while the Criminal background provides Alert—both valuable options depending on your build focus.
Multiclassing Options
While fighters are potent on their own, multiclassing can create unique character concepts:
- Fighter/Barbarian: Combining martial versatility with rage for enhanced melee combat.
- Fighter/Rogue: Blending martial prowess with stealth for a versatile character.
- Fighter/Paladin: Creating a holy warrior with enhanced martial abilities & divine magic.
The fighter class in D&D 5E offers incredible versatility & combat effectiveness. Whether you prefer being a stalwart defender or a precise archer, the fighter can be tailored to suit your playstyle perfectly. By carefully selecting your ability scores, fighting style, & feats, you can create a character that excels in combat while contributing significantly to your party’s success.
Remember that this guide provides a solid foundation; however, the true strength of the Dungeons and Dragons Fighter lies in its adaptability—don’t hesitate to experiment with different builds to create a unique character that fits your vision of an ultimate warrior!
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