Dual Shield Defender

This is a martial archetype for fighters who prioritize their allies' safety over their own, particularly those squishy magic casters. If the fighter chooses to follow this path, they become the ultimate tank, wielding dual shields in their effort to protect others. However, failure to protect comes at a personal cost. Only those willing to put their body and soul on the line for others should take up the burden of the Defender.

 

Not on my Watch

Fighter gains access to the ability:

• Interpose:
  • may add the AC of one shield to an ally within 10ft of them as a reaction.
  • if the attack still succeeds, fighter takes half the damage and loses their movement action for the following turn.
• fighter automatically gets to the two weapon fighting style as long as the wield two shields 
  • They lose this ability if they choose to wield other weapons
• fighter can add the AC of both their shields to their total AC

Defense is the Best Offense

Fighter gains access to two new abilities:

• Self Defense:
  • fighter may add the AC of one shield to their dexterity saving throws
    • if they succeed, they take no damage on what would otherwise be half damage.
    • if they fail, they take half-damage
• Back at You:
  • once per every short or long rest, the fighter may make a counter-attack after successfully deflecting a blow
    • the number of uses increases to 2 at level 12, and 3 at level 17

You are Squishy, I am Not

Fighter's Interpose ability improves:

• range of interposing increased to 15ft
• fighter may now completely interpose themselves between and ally and an enemy, using their AC.
  • if the attack succeeds, the fighter takes full damage and is stunned for their next turn.
  • this ability can be used twice per short or long rest
    • number of uses increases to 3 at level 15, and 4 at level 20
• if fighter succeeds in defending their ally, whether with a partial or full interposition, they may use their Back at You ability, but that does count against their number of uses

Won't Go Down

Fighter's Self Defense ability improves and they gain access to a new ability:

• Self-defense Improved:
  • fighter may now add the AC of both shields to dexterity checks

• Diehard:
  • fighter remains conscious, even at 0 hit points or lower
  • they must still make saving throws at the beginning of each of their turns and will die if they fail three
  • furthermore, they remain active threats to enemies

I Will Be Their Shield

Fighter receives improvements to their Interpose and Back at You abilities:

• Interpose improved:
  • range increases to 20ft
  • whether interposing their shield or entire being, the fighter may now add their proficiency bonus to the AC total
• Back at You improved:
  • if fighter succeeds in defending themselves or their ally, they may retaliate with two attack attempts