How Does Gaining a Fighting Style Work? (2024)

Quote from Thezzaruz >>

Quote from jl8e >>

The feat should work, because specific beats general, but it wouldn't allow acquiring any additional fighting styles, because it doesn't provide the feature.

It really should but it doesn't, the feat refers you to a class feature that no longer exists making it a broken reference.
It still works in the character creator though and I would allow it where I get to choose as I think it is an oversight not an intentional change.

It references the Fighting Style of a 2014 Fighter because it is a 2014 feat, so you would it expect to break. However, the 2024 Fighter also has a class feature called Fighting Style with options, so picks up the reference and the Feat does indeed still work. It may or may not be intentional. I have a suspicion that it is either unintentional or intentionally unaddressed.

Quote from Thezzaruz >>

Quote from jl8e >>

The feat should work, because specific beats general, but it wouldn't allow acquiring any additional fighting styles, because it doesn't provide the feature.

It really should but it doesn't, the feat refers you to a class feature that no longer exists making it a broken reference.
It still works in the character creator though and I would allow it where I get to choose as I think it is an oversight not an intentional change.

 Not sure what you mean by it not working, then.

Quote from Tarod_ >>

Maybe it's a little gift for Fighters? Kind of like how Wizards can replace cantrips after Long Rest?

The Weapon Mastery feat is also different between classes, and I was surprised to see the next one: 2024 Weapon Masteries - Ranger/Paladin vs Fighter

 The discussion around the 2024 Fighting Style rules is interesting because the prerequisite creates some confusion when older feats like Fighting Initiate are used alongside the updated rules. I can see why people are debating whether this is an intentional restriction or simply an awkward compatibility issue. The distinction between gaining a Fighting Style through a class feature and through a feat is worth keeping in mind when building a character. For players who like customizing their character identity.

From the original question:

Quote from Maruntoryx >>

2) You get a fighting style at level one, and you can take another at level 4 because you have the feature from level 1.

This is the right answer. You have a Fighting Style Feature, which allows you to take a Fighting Style Feat when you can take a feat.

You might not see it as a good choice, though, since Fighting Style Feats do not include an ASI.

I'm surprised this is still subject to debate in 2026. It's been stated and reminded over and over: everything that hasn't been rewritten and/or marked as "Legacy" is retro-compatible with 5e Expanded Rules. The fact that Fighting Initiate doesn't let you pick a 2024 Fighting Style is a known bug on DnDB in the same regard as Eldritch Initiate that doesn't let you pick 2024 Invocations. TCoE's Fighting Initiate will be come Legacy when they mark it as such or when they rewrite it. But right now, it isn't.