This thread is simple, name your favorite fighter subclass, why you like it, and maybe a character idea around the subclass.
then, name your least favorite fighter subclass, explain why, then maybe rant a little, let out your anger at why it exits.
please don’t respond to others posts, just because someone doesn’t like the samurai subclass doesn’t mean you gotta correct them.
my favorite is the arcane archer, and even if it’s not widely known or loved, it’s fun to play. I feel like a force of nature (and arrows) when I’m playing, plus, there isn’t another fighter subclass specially meant for archery, sure other subclasses can do it, but this one is MENT for it.
My least favorite is rune knight, when I saw it I immediately thought “multiclass, armorer, MECH!” With armorers you can done and doff armor as a action and rune knight giganto form is a bonus action, it felt perfect! But then I got to the runes... the feel like a very unique thing, like the subclass was only ment to be played a single way, how am I supposed to explain seeing the future as a “technological wonder” like my mech? How does my mech make me better in social situations? (Cloud rune) I feel like it was made to be played one way, the way of a person studying giant runes. So it quickly went from favorite to least favorite.
My favorite fighter subclass is the Eldritch Knight. I really like the idea of a spellcasting warrior that can switch between attacking with a sword and attack with fire bolt. It has really good flavor, and really good combat capability, especially with spells like green-flame blade and booming blade.
My least favorite fighter subclass is the Champion. At first I was thinking the Purple Dragon Knight, but Dungeons & Dragons is a role-playing game, and the champion has NO flavor at all. It feels like you are not even getting a subclass. They are really boring to play as in a long-term campaign too.
Anyway, that is my opinion.
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Erean Cabenrith a Variant Human Cleric (Light Domain)
My favorite is the eldritch knight because of it's flexibility. My least favorite is the arcane archer. I like literally nothing about how it works.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
My favorite fighter subclass is the Eldritch Knight. I really like the idea of a spellcasting warrior that can switch between attacking with a sword and attack with fire bolt. It has really good flavor, and really good combat capability, especially with spells like green-flame blade and booming blade.
My least favorite fighter subclass is the Champion. At first I was thinking the Purple Dragon Knight, but Dungeons & Dragons is a role-playing game, and the champion has NO flavor at all. It feels like you are not even getting a subclass. They are really boring to play as in a long-term campaign too.
Anyway, that is my opinion.
I am currently playing a Half Orc Champion. Without feats, I'm not sure it's a playable subclass. PAM and GWM are crucial to the subclass imo. I also plan on multi-classing into Barbarian for the advantage on attacks and a few other perks. Trying to go the crit fisher route. But overall, I agree with you about the Champion. It has to use a big 2h weapon and hope for crits. It has almost nothing to use or to manage the flow of the fight. Action Surge and Second Wind...other than that, just pray to Tempus for crits! lol
My favourite is probably the Psi Warrior. I enjoy the concept enormously and the thematic tone of the subclass is what appealed to me.
I'm not really a fan of the Samurai, for the basic reason that I dislike the flavour. The rapid strikes, temp HP and skill bonuses all seem rather disjunct too, making the theme a bit too unclear for my liking (an issue I don't have with the Battle Master because of how deliberately open it is).
Battlemaster Fighters just give me so much joy. ; )
...and plenty to work with!
With TCoE, they added some AMAZING new maneuvers, it’s simply fantastic.
Hit an enemy who enters your range...throw a dagger or javelin as a bonus action...swap places with your support character, and give yourself or THEM a bonus to their AC.
That last one has me planning a bodyguard character...while still being a sturdy Fighter.
Least favorite would be Purple Dragon Knight.
They just don’t provide a specialty or niche that isn’t replicated better with another class. Conceptually, they’re limited, as well.
Building off what Tony1Adobe said, battlemasters are great, and with unarmed fighting style and battle master, you could be a very cool and combat effective martial without being a monk.
My favorite is the Arcane Archer. I've played a mountain dwarf and a high elf Arcane Archer, and while the campaign with the dwarf was put on an indefinite hiatus and eventually formally disbanded after one session of actually having the subclass, I got to play my high elf for quite a few sessions before she died. I love the choices of the Arcane Shots, each one for a different school of magic. It gives much more practicality to playing the subclass. Chasing the BBEG through his dungeon, but didn't see which direction he turned? Seeking Arrow can solve your problems! It also gives me an opportunity to homebrew, which I love doing (I also DM, which I encourage doing before you homebrew; it gives you a better sense of what is overpowered and not). I've made quite a few different Arcane Shots for my elf, and my DM let me use them, which was amazing.
The one grievance I have with this subclass is that it doesn't give you more Arcane Shots as you level up. You get Ever-Ready Shot, but I feel like as you grow more powerful, your influence over magic grows, and you can wield it with your arrows more often.
My least favorite subclass is the Cavalier, and I say this for one reason: Horses. Cavaliers, while not all of their features require you to be mounted, it is a great idea to be mounted. The problem with this is that you need to take your horse everywhere, and often, you can't. The volcanic crevice leading to the fire giant fortress? Too big. Going through the sewers to sneak into the castle? Can't climb out of the sewer. The idea of a cavalier is amazing, but mechanically, it just doesn't work. Anyway, that's my opinion.
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"I never thought I'd die fighting side by side with an elf."
My favorite is the Arcane Archer. I've played a mountain dwarf and a high elf Arcane Archer, and while the campaign with the dwarf was put on an indefinite hiatus and eventually formally disbanded after one session of actually having the subclass, I got to play my high elf for quite a few sessions before she died. I love the choices of the Arcane Shots, each one for a different school of magic. It gives much more practicality to playing the subclass. Chasing the BBEG through his dungeon, but didn't see which direction he turned? Seeking Arrow can solve your problems! It also gives me an opportunity to homebrew, which I love doing (I also DM, which I encourage doing before you homebrew; it gives you a better sense of what is overpowered and not). I've made quite a few different Arcane Shots for my elf, and my DM let me use them, which was amazing.
The one grievance I have with this subclass is that it doesn't give you more Arcane Shots as you level up. You get Ever-Ready Shot, but I feel like as you grow more powerful, your influence over magic grows, and you can wield it with your arrows more often.
My least favorite subclass is the Cavalier, and I say this for one reason: Horses. Cavaliers, while not all of their features require you to be mounted, it is a great idea to be mounted. The problem with this is that you need to take your horse everywhere, and often, you can't. The volcanic crevice leading to the fire giant fortress? Too big. Going through the sewers to sneak into the castle? Can't climb out of the sewer. The idea of a cavalier is amazing, but mechanically, it just doesn't work. Anyway, that's my opinion.
You need to re-read Cavalier. Cavalier is one of THE best pure tanks in the game. They can lock creatures down, assist allies with boosts to AC and force disadvantage on attacks not directed at them. They have one pure horse ability, Born to the Saddle. Outside of that, it's tanking and party assist mode.
My favourite fighter subclass is arcane archer. I love the feel of it, and arcane shot is really good (use banishing arrow on the bbeg). It’s also easy to homebrew some new arcane shot options, if you feel like it.
My least favourite subclass is purple dragon knight. The flavour and lore of it is good, but mechanically it kind of sucks.
My Favorite is Eldritch Knight for a few reasons, 1: Weapon Bond: I can literally bond to a Trident throw it call it back and throw it again, Action surge and repeat. 2: Spells: The shield spell is my favorite spell +5 Ac as a reaction to getting hit (This helps with a character build)
Character Build: Warforged Fighter why, well +1 From integrated protection, +1 for defense fighting style, +2 for a shield, +5 for shield spell, You then top it off with Plate armor AC:18
Add it all up You get an AC of 27, That's really nice and if you wan you could multiclass with something to be helpful, like a grave domain cleric
Least Favorite? Champion, i just don't like it cause its just makes it seem to easy and when i did play it i would forget that 19 count as critical hits, so it my least favorite mind you i only have the Player Handbook, It just doesn't suit how i like to play
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All men can see the tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.
Favorite is champion. One of the best structured subclasses in the game imo, in terms of what it does. It doesn't say that only this fighter can do X, because reasonably most Fighter's should be able to perform similar actions to one another. The abilities it has represent augmentations to existing abilities which is far better design in my opinion. Battlemaster does the opposite of this and I strongly dislike how it limits all other subclasses because when you attempt something the common response is: "...but you aren't a battlemaster". Why wouldn't all fighters be able to make a lunging attack, or how come only the battlemaster can command his allies to attack when reasonably anybody can do that. The only way you can feint an attack is by being a battlemaster... etc. The subclass I dislike the most is Cavalier as I just dislike its features on a fighter as it makes the game seem more video-gamey. This is just the feel I get from it, but I think the subclass was handled much better in the first UA it came out in: https://media.wizards.com/2015/downloads/dnd/04_UA_Classics_Revisited.pdf
No. it's just very setting specific... with what feels like a half-hearted effort to make it useful in general. But really what it needs is For the DM to build a place for it into their campaigns to really get it's full flavor anywhere outside of it's chosen setting.
The results aren't that surprising huh for a pretty mature poll?
Battlemaster I think is just over all one of the best archtypes in the game. To the point I wish a lot of it's mechanics were more generally used across the system. I bet that's probably a pretty universal thought.
I love Fighter class overall, the chassis is pretty solid and Battle Master is the perfect embodiment of it. You can design and play pretty much every fantasy archetype without the need to sub-optimal choices in favor of RP.
PDK is the most terrible sub-class I’ve seen in my life.
This thread is simple, name your favorite fighter subclass, why you like it, and maybe a character idea around the subclass.
then, name your least favorite fighter subclass, explain why, then maybe rant a little, let out your anger at why it exits.
please don’t respond to others posts, just because someone doesn’t like the samurai subclass doesn’t mean you gotta correct them.
my favorite is the arcane archer, and even if it’s not widely known or loved, it’s fun to play. I feel like a force of nature (and arrows) when I’m playing, plus, there isn’t another fighter subclass specially meant for archery, sure other subclasses can do it, but this one is MENT for it.
My least favorite is rune knight, when I saw it I immediately thought “multiclass, armorer, MECH!” With armorers you can done and doff armor as a action and rune knight giganto form is a bonus action, it felt perfect! But then I got to the runes... the feel like a very unique thing, like the subclass was only ment to be played a single way, how am I supposed to explain seeing the future as a “technological wonder” like my mech? How does my mech make me better in social situations? (Cloud rune) I feel like it was made to be played one way, the way of a person studying giant runes. So it quickly went from favorite to least favorite.
I love democracy
My favorite fighter subclass is the Eldritch Knight. I really like the idea of a spellcasting warrior that can switch between attacking with a sword and attack with fire bolt. It has really good flavor, and really good combat capability, especially with spells like green-flame blade and booming blade.
My least favorite fighter subclass is the Champion. At first I was thinking the Purple Dragon Knight, but Dungeons & Dragons is a role-playing game, and the champion has NO flavor at all. It feels like you are not even getting a subclass. They are really boring to play as in a long-term campaign too.
Anyway, that is my opinion.
Erean Cabenrith a Variant Human Cleric (Light Domain)
Eliem Lightblossom a High Elf Blood Hunter
Check out my Extended Signature Here
My favorite is the eldritch knight because of it's flexibility. My least favorite is the arcane archer. I like literally nothing about how it works.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
I am currently playing a Half Orc Champion. Without feats, I'm not sure it's a playable subclass. PAM and GWM are crucial to the subclass imo. I also plan on multi-classing into Barbarian for the advantage on attacks and a few other perks. Trying to go the crit fisher route. But overall, I agree with you about the Champion. It has to use a big 2h weapon and hope for crits. It has almost nothing to use or to manage the flow of the fight. Action Surge and Second Wind...other than that, just pray to Tempus for crits! lol
My favourite is probably the Psi Warrior. I enjoy the concept enormously and the thematic tone of the subclass is what appealed to me.
I'm not really a fan of the Samurai, for the basic reason that I dislike the flavour. The rapid strikes, temp HP and skill bonuses all seem rather disjunct too, making the theme a bit too unclear for my liking (an issue I don't have with the Battle Master because of how deliberately open it is).
Beardy druid.
Very beardy druid. With a cap.
Battlemaster Fighters just give me so much joy. ; )
...and plenty to work with!
With TCoE, they added some AMAZING new maneuvers, it’s simply fantastic.
Hit an enemy who enters your range...throw a dagger or javelin as a bonus action...swap places with your support character, and give yourself or THEM a bonus to their AC.
That last one has me planning a bodyguard character...while still being a sturdy Fighter.
Least favorite would be Purple Dragon Knight.
They just don’t provide a specialty or niche that isn’t replicated better with another class. Conceptually, they’re limited, as well.
Building off what Tony1Adobe said, battlemasters are great, and with unarmed fighting style and battle master, you could be a very cool and combat effective martial without being a monk.
Mystic v3 should be official, nuff said.
My favorite is the Arcane Archer. I've played a mountain dwarf and a high elf Arcane Archer, and while the campaign with the dwarf was put on an indefinite hiatus and eventually formally disbanded after one session of actually having the subclass, I got to play my high elf for quite a few sessions before she died. I love the choices of the Arcane Shots, each one for a different school of magic. It gives much more practicality to playing the subclass. Chasing the BBEG through his dungeon, but didn't see which direction he turned? Seeking Arrow can solve your problems! It also gives me an opportunity to homebrew, which I love doing (I also DM, which I encourage doing before you homebrew; it gives you a better sense of what is overpowered and not). I've made quite a few different Arcane Shots for my elf, and my DM let me use them, which was amazing.
The one grievance I have with this subclass is that it doesn't give you more Arcane Shots as you level up. You get Ever-Ready Shot, but I feel like as you grow more powerful, your influence over magic grows, and you can wield it with your arrows more often.
My least favorite subclass is the Cavalier, and I say this for one reason: Horses. Cavaliers, while not all of their features require you to be mounted, it is a great idea to be mounted. The problem with this is that you need to take your horse everywhere, and often, you can't. The volcanic crevice leading to the fire giant fortress? Too big. Going through the sewers to sneak into the castle? Can't climb out of the sewer. The idea of a cavalier is amazing, but mechanically, it just doesn't work. Anyway, that's my opinion.
"I never thought I'd die fighting side by side with an elf."
"What about side by side with a side?"
"Aye, I eye eye eye."
You need to re-read Cavalier. Cavalier is one of THE best pure tanks in the game. They can lock creatures down, assist allies with boosts to AC and force disadvantage on attacks not directed at them. They have one pure horse ability, Born to the Saddle. Outside of that, it's tanking and party assist mode.
My favourite fighter subclass is arcane archer. I love the feel of it, and arcane shot is really good (use banishing arrow on the bbeg). It’s also easy to homebrew some new arcane shot options, if you feel like it.
My least favourite subclass is purple dragon knight. The flavour and lore of it is good, but mechanically it kind of sucks.
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My Favorite is Eldritch Knight for a few reasons, 1: Weapon Bond: I can literally bond to a Trident throw it call it back and throw it again, Action surge and repeat. 2: Spells: The shield spell is my favorite spell +5 Ac as a reaction to getting hit (This helps with a character build)
Character Build: Warforged Fighter why, well +1 From integrated protection, +1 for defense fighting style, +2 for a shield, +5 for shield spell, You then top it off with Plate armor AC:18
Add it all up You get an AC of 27, That's really nice and if you wan you could multiclass with something to be helpful, like a grave domain cleric
Least Favorite? Champion, i just don't like it cause its just makes it seem to easy and when i did play it i would forget that 19 count as critical hits, so it my least favorite mind you i only have the Player Handbook, It just doesn't suit how i like to play
All men can see the tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.
-Sun Tzu
The Art Of War
Favorite is Battle Master for now. Haven't played a Psi Warrior yet, but I like the look of it.
Least favorite is Purple Knight. Champion is close behind for its blandness.
Favorite is champion. One of the best structured subclasses in the game imo, in terms of what it does. It doesn't say that only this fighter can do X, because reasonably most Fighter's should be able to perform similar actions to one another. The abilities it has represent augmentations to existing abilities which is far better design in my opinion. Battlemaster does the opposite of this and I strongly dislike how it limits all other subclasses because when you attempt something the common response is: "...but you aren't a battlemaster". Why wouldn't all fighters be able to make a lunging attack, or how come only the battlemaster can command his allies to attack when reasonably anybody can do that. The only way you can feint an attack is by being a battlemaster... etc. The subclass I dislike the most is Cavalier as I just dislike its features on a fighter as it makes the game seem more video-gamey. This is just the feel I get from it, but I think the subclass was handled much better in the first UA it came out in: https://media.wizards.com/2015/downloads/dnd/04_UA_Classics_Revisited.pdf
I’m getting a lot more responses than I thought I would! Wow! Thanks!
No. it's just very setting specific... with what feels like a half-hearted effort to make it useful in general. But really what it needs is For the DM to build a place for it into their campaigns to really get it's full flavor anywhere outside of it's chosen setting.
The results aren't that surprising huh for a pretty mature poll?
Battlemaster I think is just over all one of the best archtypes in the game. To the point I wish a lot of it's mechanics were more generally used across the system. I bet that's probably a pretty universal thought.
I love Fighter class overall, the chassis is pretty solid and Battle Master is the perfect embodiment of it. You can design and play pretty much every fantasy archetype without the need to sub-optimal choices in favor of RP.
PDK is the most terrible sub-class I’ve seen in my life.
Rune Knights are close to my favorite now...they have a lot going for them and you can build to be able to do a lot out of combat.
In combat its incredibly fun to get real big and smash stuff so they have a lot going for them.
Battlemaster only edges them out for me due to the fact you have so many options for Maneuvers now...its really pretty great at this point.
You can build just about ANYTHING with the mold.
Echo night = worse. Overcomplicated and Unbalanced.....