Guardian of the Ring

This archetype is focused on improving your defenses, ensuring that you can absorb damage and protect yourself and allies while allowing your boxing partner to deliver powerful blows. You are a master of using your body and environment to shield yourself and others, turning the tide of battle with a calm and tactical mind.

Ring of Steel

3rd level Guardian of the Ring feature

You know how to position yourself defensively and use your surroundings to your advantage. When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you gain the following benefits:

• Unyielding Stance: While you are not wearing heavy armor, you gain a +1 bonus to your AC. This bonus increases to +2 if you are wielding no weapons or shield and are using your fists or unarmed strikes.
• Deflecting the Blow: When a creature hits you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction to reduce the damage by an amount equal to your Fighter level (this does not stack with any other damage-reduction effects, such as a Monk’s Deflect Missiles).

Feinting Guard

7th level Guardian of the Ring feature

You are adept at anticipating and dodging incoming attacks. You’ve learned to feint and make your opponent miss with deceptive movements.

• Counter Strike: When a creature misses you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction to make an unarmed strike against that creature. This unarmed strike deals additional damage equal to your Strength modifier.
• Defensive Feint: When you take the Dodge action, any creature that misses you with an attack on their turn has disadvantage on their next attack against you.

Protect the Champ

10th level Guardian of the Ring feature

Your main priority is protecting your ally—particularly your Boxer companion. You can shield your allies from harm with expert timing.

• Bodyguard’s Reflex: When a creature you can see attacks an ally within 5 feet of you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on that attack roll.
• Sacrificial Guard: When you or an ally within 5 feet of you is hit by an attack, you can use your reaction to absorb the damage. You take the damage instead, but it is reduced by an amount equal to your Fighter level. If the attack would drop you to 0 hit points, you can instead drop to 1 hit point.

Iron Defense

15th level Guardian of the Ring feature

Your endurance and resistance to damage become legendary, allowing you to tank attacks with ease and without faltering.

• Relentless Guard: When you are hit with a melee attack, you can use your reaction to gain temporary hit points equal to your Fighter level. These temporary hit points last until the start of your next turn and can stack with other temporary hit points.
• Unshakable: You gain advantage on saving throws against being stunned or knocked prone.

Last Stand

18th level Guardian of the Ring feature

You have reached the pinnacle of your defensive abilities. When you are reduced to 0 hit points, you can use your reaction to immediately take an additional action on your turn before falling unconscious. This action can only be used to take the Dodge action or to use Second Wind, if you have it available. You then drop to 0 hit points at the end of your turn, if you have not been healed by then.

In addition, your AC bonus from Ring of Steel increases to +3 if you are wielding no weapons or shields and are using your unarmed strikes.