Duelist

Duelists have perfected swordplay as an art as well as a tool. Duelists see bladework as a symphony, and they strike to inflict debilitating conditions on their adversaries. As the name suggests, duelists are best in smaller skirmishes, but they can function just as well in larger bloodbaths. Duelists are experts in resolving disputes through one-on-one combat. They strategically change stances to best suit the situation, and they can adapt to the ebb and flow of combat.

"I came here seeking a challenge—is this the best these fools can offer me?"

Level 3: Duelist

When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you commit yourself to mastering the art of the duel. You gain the Dueling fighting style. If you already have that fighting style, you instead gain another fighting style of your choice.

Level 3: Duelist’s Die

Your training emphasizes tempo, footwork, and momentum in one-on-one combat. When you roll initiative, you gain a Duelist’s Die, which starts at its lowest value. This die represents your advantage in the flow of a duel. The number shown on your Duelist’s Die increases by 1 whenever you accomplish one of the following dueling objectives, up to the maximum value of the die:

• You score a critical hit with a melee weapon attack.
• You reduce a creature to 0 hit points with a melee weapon attack. The creature must have a challenge rating equal to or greater than your proficiency bonus.
• You make a melee weapon attack as a reaction.
• You switch between your dueling stances.

Your Duelist’s Die resets to its lowest value at the end of combat or if you are incapacitated. The maximum size of your Duelist’s Die increases as you gain levels in this class, as shown in the Duelist’s Die table.

Fighter Level	Duelist’s Die
3	d4
5	d6
9	d8
13	d10
17	d12

Level 3: Dueling Stance

You can adopt specialized stances to respond to the shifting flow of a duel. As a bonus action, you enter one of the following dueling stances: Defensive or Offensive. You may switch stances as a bonus action on your turn. You gain the benefits of your chosen stance while you are not wearing medium or heavy armor.

Defensive Stance. While in this stance, you gain a bonus to your Armor Class and all saving throws equal to half the number shown on your Duelist’s Die (rounded down, minimum of 1). In addition, when you take damage, you can use your reaction to reduce the damage by an amount equal to twice the number shown on your Duelist’s Die.
Offensive Stance. While in this stance, your melee weapon attacks deal additional damage equal to twice the number shown on your Duelist’s Die.

Level 7: Bladework

You learn to exploit openings and pressure your opponent’s defenses. When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can choose to reduce the number shown on your Duelist’s Die by 1 to apply one of the following effects to the target until the start of your next turn:

• Addled. The creature has disadvantage on the next d20 test it makes.
• Pinned. The creature’s walking, flying, and burrowing speeds are halved, and it provokes opportunity attacks from you even if it takes the Disengage action.
• Shredded. The creature’s Armor Class is reduced by 2.

Level 7: Duelist's Dance

Your footwork allows you to press your advantage through constant repositioning. When you make more than one weapon attack on your turn, attacks beyond the first have advantage if you make them from the opposite side of the target from your previous attack against that creature.

If such an attack would already have advantage, it instead deals additional damage equal to the number shown on your Duelist’s Die.

Level 10: Fast Hands, Fast Feet

Your speed and precision allow you to maintain constant pressure in combat. You can make one melee weapon attack as a bonus action. When you do so, you may also switch between your dueling stances as part of the same bonus action.

Level 15: Three-Point Strike

You strike in rapid succession to dismantle your opponent’s defenses. When you take the Attack action on your turn and hit a creature with three consecutive melee weapon attacks, you increase the number shown on your Duelist’s Die by 1 and may apply one effect from your Bladework feature to that creature without reducing the number shown on your Duelist’s Die.

Level 18: The Grand Duelist

Your mastery of the duel reaches its pinnacle, allowing you to dominate the battlefield with unmatched precision. Gain the following improvements to your subclass features:

Your Bladework options improve as follows:

• Addled. The creature has disadvantage on all d20 tests.
• Pinned. The creature’s walking, flying, and burrowing speeds are reduced to 0.
• Shredded. The creature’s Armor Class is reduced by 4.

In addition, your dueling stances improve:

Defensive Stance. You gain a bonus to your Armor Class and all saving throws equal to the full number shown on your Duelist’s Die. When you reduce damage using your reaction, the damage reduction equals three times the number shown on your Duelist’s Die.
Offensive Stance. Your melee weapon attacks deal additional damage equal to three times the number shown on your Duelist’s Die.