The archetypal Stalwart mixes the same fundamentals of a unmounted Cavalier with an oppressive pavise, targe or hoplon to upset martial enemy formation, provide pressure and protection. Traditional wisdom dictates that a shield wall is weakest when its fighters are separated; not so for the lone bastion, the Stalwart. Careful conditioning has helped these fighters to manage the burden of heavy shields and unwieldy weapons, using stance changes to keep up with an evolving battlefield. 

 

Stalwart Features

 

Shield Stance

At level 3 you gain the ability to craft and repair a specialized tall shield and you can alter a magical shield into a tall shield with 5 days of effort. When wielding this shield and not mounted, prone, restrained or incapacitated, you lose 15 ft. of your normal movement speeds and gain the following benefits:

• You can ignore the "two-handed" property of reach weapons that do piercing damage
• You gain +2 to Dexterity saving throws
• You gain advantage on saving throws against being knocked prone
• As a reaction, when struck by a melee attack you can immediately make an unarmed strike with your tall shield and add your proficiency bonus to the damage

Quick Stow

 You have the ability to equip or unequip your shield as a bonus action during combat as long as you are not restrained or incapacitated. 

Unwavering Mark

Starting at 3rd level, you can menace your foes, foiling their attacks and punishing them for harming others. When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can mark the creature until the end of your next turn. This effect ends early if you are incapacitated or you die, or if someone else marks the creature.

While it is within 5 feet of you, a creature marked by you has disadvantage on any attack roll that doesn’t target you.

In addition, if a creature marked by you deals damage to anyone other than you, you can make a special melee weapon attack against the marked creature as a bonus action on your next turn. You have advantage on the attack roll, and if it hits, the attack’s weapon deals extra damage to the target equal to half your fighter level.

Regardless of the number of creatures you mark, you can make this special attack a number of times equal to your Strength modifier (minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses of it when you finish a long rest.

Sturdier Than Thou

At 7th level, you learn to use the weight of your shield to its full potential. The following effects are added to your Shield Stance:

• You have advantage on all Strength saving throws
• Whenever you make an Unarmed Strike as part of the Attack action on your turn and it connects, treat it as if you are also taking the Shove action. 

Hold the Line

At 10th level, you become a dominating presence on the battlefield. Creatures provoke an opportunity attack from you when they move 5 feet or more while within your reach, and the area within your reach is considered difficult terrain for hostile creatures. 

Vigilant Bulwark

Starting at 15th level you become an unflinching paragon of defense. Friendly creatures of your size or smaller which stand within 5 ft. of you while the effects of Shield Stance are active gain the benefits of half cover. You can use your reaction to give one of these creatures advantage one Strength or Dexterity saving throw before you know the results. 

Unburdened at Last

Starting at 18th level you are as one with your shield. You no longer suffer the speed penalties inflicted by the Shield Stance feature of this subclass, and you can gain the benefits of that feature while mounted.