On dimly lit cobblestone streets and raucous taverns throughout the multiverse, Pugilists learn to fight the old-fashioned way—by throwing the first punch. With the Pugilist class, you can play a scrappy streetwise fist fighter that hits hardest when they’re on the ropes. If you’re excited for the chance to play a bloody knuckled bruiser that doesn’t know when to quit, the Pugilist class has you covered.

Let's explore a Pugilist character build that’s ready to play tonight!

• The Pugilist Class
• Chando Bouldershoulders, the Reigning Champ (Build)
• Punch Up Your Game

Put Up Your Dukes

The Pugilist Class (2024) from Sterling Vermin Adventuring Co. brings bare-knuckle brawling to your table with a scrappy, streetwise class built to thrive when the fight gets ugly. This book includes:

• The Pugilist class: A hard-hitting, unarmed bruiser with features built around grit, comebacks, and close-quarters control.
• 6 subclasses: Including the Squared Circle, Street Saint, and more.
• 3 new weapons designed for Pugilists and other up-close fighters.
• Over 20 magic items made for bloody-knuckled heroes who never stay down.
• 4 Pugilist-based NPCs for DMs to throw down with their players.

• Buy on D&D Beyond

The Pugilist Class

Jonathan Simard

Pugilists come from many backgrounds but are united by their ability to overcome adversity through force of will, persistence, and, usually, punching. Unlike other adventurers, Pugilists aren't divine warriors or unlock their inner power by contemplating the mysteries of the multiverse. Pugilists learn to fight because their livelihoods depend on it, and they tap into their resilience through desperation and grit.

Level 1: Fisticuffs and Iron Chin

At level 1, Pugilists get two features that allow them to enter the fray unarmed and unarmored: Fisticuffs and Iron Chin.

Fisticuffs enhances the Pugilist’s Unarmed Strikes, increasing the damage dealt with such attacks as the Pugilist levels up and allowing an additional Unarmed Strike each turn as a Bonus Action. The same feature also improves their attacks with improvised weapons, treating such objects as if they have the Sap mastery property that the Pugilist can use. Combined, these benefits allow you to brawl with just your fists or make use of anything at hand—broken bottles, barstools, and more!

Iron Chin modifies the way a Pugilist determines Armor Class. While wearing Light Armor or no armor, a Pugilist can add their Constitution modifier in place of their Dexterity modifier. Pugilists don’t dodge hits; they roll with the punches.

Level 2: Bloodied but Unbowed and Moxie

Building on the theme of resilience, the Pugilist’s Bloodied but Unbowed feature allows them to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. When a Pugilist has the Bloodied condition, or takes damage while they have the Bloodied condition, they can use their Reaction to gain Temporary Hit Points equal to four times their Pugilist level. Pugilists regain their use of this feature whenever they finish a Short Rest or Long Rest, making Bloodied but Unbowed a cornerstone of their combat strategy.

Also at level 2, the Pugilist gets its Moxie feature that gives them a pool of Moxie Points that replenish on a Short Rest or Long Rest or when they use Bloodied but Unbowed. As a Bonus Action, a Pugilist can spend a Moxie Point to make two Unarmed Strikes, make one Unarmed Strike and take the Dash or Disengage action as part of the same Bonus Action, or gain Temporary Hit Points. These options allow a Pugilist to lean into offense or defense on a round-by-round basis.

Level 3: Heavy Hitter

Since Pugilists rely on Unarmed Strikes, rather than weapons, when making attacks, they typically do not capitalize on Weapon Mastery properties. The Heavy Hitter feature compensates for that, allowing every Unarmed Strike attack a Pugilist makes to deal damage and either Grapple or Shove.

At Higher Levels

Beyond level 3, Pugilists gain access to features that further expand on the core themes of vigor, comebacks, and devastating strength.

The Dig Deep featureat level 4 allows Pugilists to temporarily gain Resistance to Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing damage. This can be used once at no cost and can be reactivated by gaining 1 Exhaustion level. This encourages Pugilists to push their luck, gambling long-term penalties against short-term benefits.

The Haymaker feature atlevel 5 builds on the risk-taking concepts of Bloodied but Unbowed and Dig Deep. When a Pugilist makes an Unarmed Strike or attacks with a Pugilist weapon, they can gamble a Moxie Point. On a hit, they deal maximum damage instead of rolling their damage dice and get the Moxie Point back. On a miss, there’s no effect, and the Moxie Point is lost.

Chando Bouldershoulders, the Reigning Champ (Build)

Fil Cieplak

This build focuses on tanking hits and locking down the biggest, baddest enemy on the battlefield. You’ll keep your foes right where you want them by wrestling them to the ground while laying on a beatdown they won’t soon forget.

Hometown Hero

Chando grew up on the mean streets of Styrnia, where if you couldn’t fight, you couldn’t keep the gold in your pouch.

When he began adventuring, he put his streetfighting skills to good use, beating up dungeon-dwelling monsters with his bare hands and wrestling them into submission. Once he’d earned a reputation and quite a bit of gold, he could have lived a life of luxury and put his past behind him. He didn’t.

Chando opened a gymnasium right on the corner where he grew up. Now he’s giving back to his community, teaching the youth what he knows, and always on the lookout for his next big adventure.

Squared Circle

Chando is a Squared Circle Pugilist, using powerful grappling abilities to lock down his opponents. The Groundwork feature lets him spend Moxie to give opponents Disadvantage on attempts to escape his grapples and allows him to passively deal damage to creatures he has grappled. At higher levels, Meat Shield allows him to intercept attacks using a creature he has grappled, and Heavyweight causes him to count as one size larger for the purposes of grappling and shoving. The final Squared Circle feature, Clean Finish, gives him the chance to perform a fight-ending sleeper hold on a foe he has grappled.

Playstyle Priorities

Run Towards the Danger. The combination of Chando’s Pugilist features Bloodied but Unbowed and Dig Deep, and Orcish species trait Relentless Endurance adds up to a frontline fighter that takes hit after hit without going down. Every attack Chando takes to the chin is one his allies don’t have to.

Create Opportunities for Allies. With his Heavy Hitter and Groundwork features, Chando is a wrestling legend in his own right. When he’s fighting alongside other adventurers that focus on melee attacks, he can set them up for success by knocking their enemies Prone. Even when he’s fighting up front alone, putting monsters down ensures they’ll have to spend their Speed standing up instead of closing in on his companions in the backline.

Lock Down the Big Bad. Making sure the biggest, baddest monster in the fight has his complete attention is Chando’s number one priority. His Heavyweight feature allows him to grapple creatures larger than he would normally be able to. Once he’s got his opponent grappled and on the ground with the Prone condition, he can use his Haymaker to unleash devastating blows with Advantage.

Punch Up Your Game

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Build Information

Origin and Ability Scores

Pugilist (Squared Circle) Build Guide

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Get The Pugilist Class (2024) now and build the brawler you’ve always dreamed of playing with the Pugilist class, six subclasses, three new weapons, four new Pugilist-themed NPCs, and over twenty magic items!