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Who doesn’t like swinging a sword for big damage? It’s a satisfying feeling to have that damage stack up higher and higher as you grow as an adventurer inDungeons & Dragons. And few classes deal martial damage as well as a fighter.
Fighters are often the first pick of many D&D players as they are a bit more straightforward when compared to the classes that have complex spell lists, though you don’t have to leave spells completely behind. Either way, being a popular choice and knowing how to build a fighter are two separate things. This guide will go over what fighters do and how to create one you’re excited to play.
Fighter Highlights
Fighters arepowerhouses of the physical statsin Dungeons & Dragons:Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution. That’s, of course, not to say they can’t have good stats in every area of a character sheet, but those statsshould, and usually do, take priority.
Unlike some other classes with more complicated features or traits, fighters really boil down toa handful of key combat-driven strengths. They also canwithstand much more damagethan, say, a wizard or sorcerer. Plus, with their Second Wind, you’ll be able to stay in the fight even longer.
Ifyour favorite part of D&D is combator ensuring you have one of the best survival rates in combat, thenyou’ll enjoy crafting a fighterto set out on adventures with.
Differences In The 2024 Player’s Handbook
Unlike some classes that have seen the majority of what they do change, fighterskeep a number of their featuresunchanged or keep a feature buttweak and adjust portions of it. In addition to that,new features were addedthat didn’t appear at all in the 2014 Player’s Handbook.
Yes
Thesechanges are positive, especially gettingmore uses of Second Windper short and long rests. Its value remains high no matter how long your campaign goes on for, especially now that youhave multiple things you can do with itas, with the 2014 ruleset, it was gaining health back and nothing else.
Epic Boon is new for every class, but you have toreach level 19 with a classto be able to choose one. This isnot your player level.
Subclass Highlights
There are four subclasses for fighters:battle master, champion, eldritch knight, and psi warrior. Those who played with the 2014 Player’s Handbook will recognize all but one, the psi warrior. This fighter subclass was, instead,introduced through Xanather’s Guide To Everything.
Battle Master
Battle masters arefor the players whowant to synergize with their teamabove all else. They are known for the long list of Maneuvers that they can learn,20 of them in all. You’ll pickthree to start, and you’ll be able to learn as many asnine once you’ve hit fighter level 15. You also gain something calledSuperiority Dice, which is what you’ll burn through to use your Maneuvers.
While these Maneuvers make it so that you can do a lot with your turns besides just attacking, another powerful feat is Know Your Enemy, which lets you pick up onyour foes' weaknesses and strengthsso that not only do you know butcan communicate with your team, how to best take down an enemy.
Champion
With this subclass, you become a Remarkable Athlete. No really, that’s one of the feats you get, which gives youadvantage on initiative rolls and Athletics checks. But that phrase rings true to just abouteverything a Champion can do.
Yourcritical hits are improved, you gain asecond fighting style, and you can evengive yourself Heroic Inspirationjust from the sheer excitement of combat. This subclass is for those looking toplay a fighter for the first timeor are lookingmore forward to combat than anything elsein your D&D sessions.
Eldritch Knight
Eldritch knightsare for the fighterswho don’t want to be completely without magic. Being primarily a martial class, thenumber of spells you can learn is much lessthan that of the purely spell-based classes, and thehighest level spell you can learn is fourth level.
However, you canpick from the wizard’s spell list, giving you a great deal of variety. Magic is also weaved throughout your kit, allowing you to use one of your attacks tocast a cantrip.You canmagically bond with some of your weaponsso they can’t be knocked away or wrestled from your grip.
Psi Warrior
This subclass is for the playerwho may stillfeel intimidated by a spell listbut wants todabble with abilities that go a bit beyond the pure martial mightof battle masters and champions. Instead of casting a number of spells, you have a few abilities that usePsionic Energy Dice.
This allows you to aid allies and yourself,strike opponents, or evenmove friends or obstacleswith your mind. You eventually learn to evenshield your mind from psychic damage. And, once you hit level 18 with this subclass, you dogain one spell, Telekinesis.
Best Species Options
When it comes to fighters and the many ways you can build them out, there isn’t really a wrong species, especially with the new structure of the 2024 Player’s Handbook, which wants you topick your species after you pick your class.
With that said, there are quite a few species from the 2024 rules that work well with donning the armor and weapons of a fighter.GoliathsandOrcs, both of whichare physically powerful species, make for frightfully good fighters.
If you’d like toplay a species that isn’t includedin the 2024 Player’s Handbook but is part of Fifth Edition D&D, you can alsoconsider yuan-ti and bugbears. In fact, theten-foot reach of bugbearsmakes it so that you don’t even need to be right next to enemies tohurt them with your martial powers.
As for yuan-ti, they can help you out with yournon-physical saving throws. This aids you when going up against spellcasters who would otherwise assume that because you value Strength and Constitution more, things likeIntelligence, Wisdom, and Charismafall to the wayside.
Best Stat Placements
Where you want to place each of your stats will come down to two factors. Those arewhat fighter subclassyou want to pursue andwhat kind of fighter you’d like to be. These aren’t the same things as you can be a fighter that builds into yourStrength or into your Dexterity.
These two skills both have their impressive pros. you’re able to have all of the Dexterity in the world but can struggle to push a heavy door. Whereas you can have the Strength to push that door, but not the Dexterity to avoid the traps on the other side.
In most party structures, you’ll probablywant to build into Strength, as beyond barbarians and some paladins, none of the classesprioritize Strength as one of their top skills.
Your Constitution score impactsyour maximum hit points, so you’ll want this to be high. Dexterity will still help withFinesse weapons and your Acrobaticsskill. If youplan to be an archer,swap Strength and Dexterity.
Intelligenceis your spellcasting modifierand your spell save DC, which is the number enemies have to beat to get out of your spell effects. And Constitution will determinehow many hit points you have.
While you don’t have spells to use, a number of your featureswill use your Intelligence score, so while it doesn’t need to be as high as an eldritch knight, you do still want ithigh enough for those feats.
Best Spells For Eldritch Knights
Even when casting spells as an eldritch knight, you’ll want to ensure you candeal a lot of damageif you choose to cast over swinging that thang, whatever weapon of choice that is for your character. But there will also be someconstant spells you’ll want to consider keeping on your personat all times. These can eitherbolster teamwork or aid you and your abilitiesas a fighter.
Fire Bolt
Cantrip
These spells areall ranged spellsthat will allow you to strike for big damage even when your foes are purposefully staying outside your reach. Many of them can also be usedin close quarters, giving youplenty of optionsfor how you’d like to use your action.
Message
These spells will help youkeep the fight goingeven whenthe odds or terrain are stacked against you. They can alsoaid allies who need extra helpkeeping up or escaping from situations.
Level Three
Best Starting Equipment
Fighters are one of the only classes that havethree options when it comes to your starting equipment,as most others only present two. The first of the threefocuses on Strength. The second combination of gearis focused on Dexterity. The third option is all aboutgetting gold pieces instead of equipment.
Just as stated above, if you want to be a fighter that focuses on Strength or Dexterity, thenpicking the matching set of loot is perfectly fine. If you want to pick your own gear or ask your Dungeon Master (DM) if you can swap some things around, you haveall non-magical armor and weapons open to you.
If you’re looking for thegreatest damage output, you’ll want to look atthe great axe, greatsword, and maul. If you want tokeep a hand free or wield a shield, then look atversatile optionslike the war pick and warhammer.
When it comes to armor, all of the heavy options will give youdisadvantage on Stealth checks, and some of the choices might be closed off to you if youdon’t meet a certain Strength criteria, like plate armor requires you to have a Strength score of 15 or higher. But, if you have a low Dexterity score, then none of the medium armor options will give you as high an Armor Class (AC).
If youprioritized your Strengthor have a very low Dexterity score, picka heavy armor option. If youprioritized Dexterity, then pickthe medium armor of your choice.
Best Feats And Backgrounds
Plenty of feats will help every kind of character out, even if they are in a circumstantial situation. However, someshine above the rest, getting picked time and time again because of their usefulness. Here are some ofthe best options for fighters.
Why This Feat?
Athlete
This helps youget into and out of the frayquickly, as well asadapt to changes on or off the battlefield.
Dual Wielder
You will be able tohit with two weapons in a single attack action, letting you deal more damage early on in the campaign.
Durable
This gives youadvantage on saving throws, giving healers a chance to get you back up without the complete looming threat of death.
Grappler
Not only canyou grapple foes, but you haveadvantage on hits against them. They’ll have tobeat your Strengthto get out, which will usually be your highest stat.
Mage Slayer
Not only can youtarget down the powerful spellcasterson the field,breaking their concentration, but you can also more likelysucceed your Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws.
Skill Expert
If you find any of yourability checks lacking, you can not only give yourselfa skill proficiency but also expertise.
The same really applies to backgrounds. you’re able to pickany of them and just go with it. But, naturally,some work betterwith a fighter.
Why This Background?
Criminal
This works best with aDexterity-based eldritch knight or psi warrioras it has a focus not only on Dexterity, but Intelligence too.
Entertainer
As strange as it might sound, if you’re buildinga Dexterity-based fighter, this will help you with bothDexterity and Strength, as well as withyour Acrobatics checks.
Helps withStrength and Constitution.
Guard
With a focus onStrength and Intelligence, you can bolster yourAthletics and Perception.
Nobel
This works wellfor eldritch knights and psi warriorsas it will aid with bothStrength and Intelligence. Plus, you’ll get theSkilled feat.
This helps you with theDexterity side of things, alsogranting Acrobatics.
Soldier
This helps you with all of yourthree physical ability scoresand also gives youSavage Attacker. You also get a decentarray of weaponswhen you choose this background.
Best Multiclassing Options
You’d be hard-pressed to find one class thatdidn’t work well with a fighter. But, depending on how you’ve placed your stats, some of the class options will be much morevaluable to you than others.
Why These Classes?
Barbarian
The fighter who wants to be in the heart of the action.
Cleric or Paladin
