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Fighter Creating a Fighter

A human in clanging plate armor holds her shield before As you build your fighter, think about two related ele-
her as she runs toward the massed goblins. An elf behind ments of your character’s background: Where did you get
her, clad in studded leather armor, peppers the goblins your combat training, and what set you apart from the
with arrows loosed from his exquisite bow. The half-orc mundane warriors around you? Were you particularly
nearby shouts orders, helping the two combatants coordi- ruthless? Did you get extra help from a mentor, perhaps
nate their assault to the best advantage. because of your exceptional dedication? What drove you
A dwarf in chain mail interposes his shield between the to this training in the first place? A threat to your home-
ogre’s club and his companion, knocking the deadly blow land, a thirst for revenge, or a need to prove yourself
aside. His companion, a half-elf in scale armor, swings might all have been factors.
two scimitars in a blinding whirl as she circles the ogre, You might have enjoyed formal training in a noble’s
looking for a blind spot in its defenses. army or in a local militia. Perhaps you trained in a war
A gladiator fights for sport in an arena, a master with academy, learning strategy, tactics, and military history.
his trident and net, skilled at toppling foes and moving Or you might be self-taught—unpolished but well tested.
them around for the crowd’s delight—and his own tactical Did you take up the sword as a way to escape the limits
advantage. His opponent’s sword flares with blue light of life on a farm, or are you following a proud family tra-
an instant before she sends lightning flashing forth to dition? Where did you acquire your weapons and armor?
smite him. They might have been military issue or family heirlooms,
All of these heroes are fighters, perhaps the most di- or perhaps you scrimped and saved for years to buy them.
verse class of characters in the worlds of Dungeons & Your armaments are now among your most important
Dragons. Questing knights, conquering overlords, royal possessions—the only things that stand between you and
champions, elite foot soldiers, hardened mercenaries, death’s embrace.
and bandit kings—as fighters, they all share an unparal- Quick Build
leled mastery with weapons and armor, and a thorough
You can make a fighter quickly by following these sug-
knowledge of the skills of combat. And they are well
gestions. First, make Strength or Dexterity your highest
acquainted with death, both meting it out and staring it
ability score, depending on whether you want to focus
defiantly in the face.
on melee weapons or on archery (or finesse weapons).
Well-Rounded Specialists Your next-highest score should be Constitution. Second,
choose the soldier background.
Fighters learn the basics of all combat styles. Every
fighter can swing an axe, fence with a rapier, wield a The Fighter
longsword or a greatsword, use a bow, and even trap foes
in a net with some degree of skill. Likewise, a fighter Proficiency
Level Bonus Features
is adept with shields and every form of armor. Beyond
that basic degree of familiarity, each fighter specializes 1st +2 Fighting Style, Second Wind
in a certain style of combat. Some concentrate on ar- 2nd +2 Action Surge (one use)
chery, some on fighting with two weapons at once, and 3rd +2 Martial Archetype
some on augmenting their martial skills with magic. 4th +2 Ability Score Improvement
This combination of broad general ability and exten- 5th +3 Extra Attack
sive specialization makes fighters superior combatants
6th +3 Ability Score Improvement
on battlefields and in dungeons alike.
7th +3 Martial Archetype feature
Trained for Danger 8th +3 Ability Score Improvement
9th +4 Indomitable (one use)
Not every member of the city watch, the village militia,
10th +4 Martial Archetype feature
or the queen’s army is a fighter. Most of these troops are 11th +4 Extra Attack (2)
relatively untrained soldiers with only the most basic 12th +4 Ability Score Improvement
combat knowledge. Veteran soldiers, military officers,
trained bodyguards, dedicated knights, and similar fig- 13th +5 Indomitable (two uses)
ures are fighters. 14th +5 Ability Score Improvement
Some fighters feel drawn to use their training as adven- 15th +5 Martial Archetype feature
turers. The dungeon delving, monster slaying, and other 16th +5 Ability Score Improvement
dangerous work common among adventurers is second 17th +6 Action Surge (two uses), Indomitable
nature for a fighter, not all that different from the life he (three uses)
or she left behind. There are greater risks, perhaps, but 18th +6 Martial Archetype feature
also much greater rewards—few fighters in the city watch 19th +6 Ability Score Improvement
have the opportunity to discover a magic flame tongue 20th +6 Extra Attack (3)
sword, for example.

Chapter 3: Classes
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D&D Basic Rules (Version 1.0). Not for resale. Permission granted to print and photocopy this document for personal use only.