Hello again, dauntless adventurers, and welcome to the first installment of 5e Class Tutorial series (briefly mentioned at the end of the Create Your Character post)! Instead of going alphabetically, I’m working my way through each class based upon the most popular choices in D&D Beyond (see image below).

With that settled, let’s dive right in.

Why Play a Fighter?

Fighters are, for all intents and purposes, your combat Swiss Army Knife. They can, to brutal effect, become masters of melee, ranged, and even spell-based attacks through their class features and Archetypes. They have the second highest Hit Die with a d10 and are naturally proficient with all armor types, shields, and simple and martial weapons. If you want all possible combat-based doors open to you, then look no further than the Fighter.

The pièce de résistance, however, is the Fighter’s Action Surge and enhanced Extra Attack features. With Extra Attack, a character can make an additional attack when they use the Attack action. While all other classes with Extra Attack are only granted one additional attack, the Fighter will gain up to three extra attacks by the time they hit 20th level.

Action Surge is a feature which allows the Fighter to take one additional action on their turn (once per rest), meaning their action economy on that chosen turn looks like:

Turn = Move + Action + Bonus Action + Action

But wait, you may ask, if I use my additional action to use Attack, does my Extra Attack activate again? Yes! For the turn you use Action Surge, you can double the amount of attacks you make, meaning a 20th level Fighter can make eight attacks in a single turn.

NOTE: For spellcasting purposes (as we will discuss later with the Eldritch Knight), the extra Action granted by Action Surge allows you to cast another non-cantrip spell as long as you don’t cast a spell as a Bonus Action.

In a nutshell, the Fighter deals crazy amounts of damage, has incredible “action-movie hero” moments, and wields any weapon with deadly proficiency.

Where Do I Start?

Due to the Fighter’s versatility, you’ll need to think ahead and determine which Archetype you want to eventually play, as this will also determine how you focus your Ability Scores. While most Fighters will focus on Strength (or Dex for finesse/ranged weapons) and Constitution, those wishing to become an Eldritch Knight or Arcane Archer will need to invest heavily into STR/DEX and Intelligence instead.

NOTE: For my DM readers, I highly recommend you look into Class-Based Ability Score Increases to open up the realm of viable races available to your eager Fighters.

From here, note your initial hit points (10 + Constitution modifier), your Saving Throw proficiencies (Strength and Constitution), select your skill proficiencies (refer to p. 72 of the Player’s Handbook), and choose your starting equipment. You now get to select your Fighting Style, an inherent bonus to your attacks, damage, or defense under particular circumstances. For example, the Archery style gives you a +2 bonus to attack rolls made with ranged weapons, while the Defense style gives you a +1 bonus to your Armor Class (AC) while wearing armor.

To wrap up, note the Second Wind feature on your character sheet, which allows you to heal yourself (1d10 + your Fighter level) once per rest. Just like that, your 1st level Fighter is ready for action!

Meet the Archetypes

As mentioned previously, versatility on the battlefield is where the Fighter shines brightest; this shows itself most prominently in the suite of Archetypes available at 3rd level. For brevity sake, I’ll only be providing a brief summery of the options available in the Player’s Handbook (PHB) and Xanathar’s Guide to Everything (XGE). Although Xanathar’s is now considered a source book, always consult your DM before selecting an Archetype found in any non-PHB resource.

Champion: Become the pinnacle of physical prowess with better chances to make critical hits, adopting an additional Fighting Style, improving your physical ability checks, and finally gaining the ability to regenerate hit points when you’re below half health. This archetype is all about putting the “pow” in “power.”

Primary Stats: STR/DEX and CON

Battle Master: Command and conquer the battlefield with group tactics, enhanced reactive abilities, and the ability to assess the strengths (or weaknesses) of your enemies. Using Maneuvers, you’ll turn your opponents’ actions into their greatest mistakes.

Primary Stats: STR/DEX and CON

Eldritch Knight: With the mastery of martial and arcane might, there is no foe you cannot strike. While your spell choices are mostly limited to Evocation and Abjuration spells (with a few exceptions), these will provide you with all the firepower and defensive capabilities you need to win the day.

Primary Stats: STR/DEX and INT

Arcane Archer: As far as versatility is concerned, the Arcane Archer is an interesting cross-breed between the Battle Master (with the various Arcane Shot abilities) and the Eldritch Knight (with a plethora of damage types you can unleash with your arrows). Be aware the Arcane Shot class feature requires the use of a shortbow or longbow.

Primary Stats: DEX and INT (for Arcane Shot Difficulty Check)

Cavalier: Albeit a master of mounted combat, the Cavalier is most notably a superb defender, punishing foes who attack other targets and boosting the AC’s of those closest to her. If your primary concern is ensuring your allies never feel the sting of a cold blade, choose Cavalier.

Primary Stats: STR/DEX and CON

Samurai: Push your endurance beyond the limits of other Fighters with Fighting Spirit, which grants temporary hit points while also providing advantage on all weapon attacks you make on that turn. You’ll also gain a bonus proficiency and a boost to your Persuasion checks.

Primary Stats: STR/DEX and CON/WIS (for the bonus to Elegant Courtier)

How Should I Roleplay a Fighter?

Not to cop out of answering this question, but Fighters are found in all walks of life. Perhaps you select the Noble background and serve as a low-ranked knight obtaining rewards and reputation for your liege. Or, with the Criminal background, you work as the muscle for a well-established thieves’ guild and keep your quick-fingered compatriot safe while they travel with the party. A common, but no less exciting, approach is to take the Soldier background and play with what took you out of the military and into the adventuring lifestyle.

I could see an interesting concept for an Eldritch Knight as the failing apprentice to a powerful wizard who finally discovers his niche.

Unlike previous editions of Dungeons & Dragons, 5e does not require any of the classes to follow an Alignment scheme; your Fighter’s moral compass is left entirely in your hands. In the simplest terms: does your Fighter believe might makes them right or that they should use might for right?

NOTE: For further info on Alignments, check out the Alignment Player Tip and see how to best shape your Fighter’s ideals.

What Next?

With great proficiencies, a broad spectrum of Archetypes, and the ability to fit themselves into almost any background scenario, the Fighter is a spectacular class for new and veteran players alike. I personally believe Eldritch Knight and Samurai are the most intriguing Archetypes to play; the Knight’s spellcasting abilities drastically increase the options available to them each turn, while the Samurai’s Elegant Courtier and Bonus Proficiency features provide the Fighter a greater role in social interactions. That said, I would love to see some unique takes on the Cavalier and Battle Master.

If you were paying attention at the start of this post, you know the next topic in the 5e Class Tutorial series is the Rogue! But, in the interest of making these tutorials more impactful, what do you think of this first attempt? Do you want to see deeper dives into the Archetypes, an analysis on which builds provide the best damage, or something entirely different? Please, leave your insights in the comments below.

Until next time,

Matthew Wulf

---

Want to stay up to date with the latest happenings on Critical Hit Guru? Click the Follow button and type the email address you want to receive notifications for new posts!

We’re now on Twitter and Facebook! Search for @CriticalHitGuru on Twitter and the Critical Hit Guru page on Facebook to chat, ask questions, or just stay in the loop.

I’m Dungeon Master’s Guild official! For a thrilling military-themed heist all about saving a captured comrade, check out Rescue at Brightwell today.