Bruiser (Hero Class)

Bruisers are violent balls of muscle that prefer to get their hands dirty. They hit hard, using their bare hands or the environment around them.

Author's Note: This subclass is part of a series intended to replicate different superhero archetypes (all labeled "hero class"). These are my first attempts at homebrewing subclasses, so constructive feedback is much appreciated.

Haymaker

You use your brute strength to get up close and personal.

• Your unarmed strikes use a d8 for damage
• Your rage damage bonus applies to your unarmed strikes

The damage die increases to a d10 at level 6 and a d12 at level 10.

Collateral Damage

You are adept at using the environment around you to bring the hurt to your enemies.

• You are proficient with improvised weapons.
• Your improvised weapons have the thrown property (range 20/60).
• Attacks with improvised weapons deal, at minimum, the same damage as your Haymaker unarmed attacks. The damage may be higher at your DM's discretion.

 

Toss

Your enemies have become your weapons.

While you have a creature grappled, you can use an action to hurl the creature away from you a number of feet equal to 5 times your strength modifier, in the direction of your choice. If the creature collides with an object, it takes bludgeoning damage equal to your Haymaker unarmed attack. If it would collide with another creature, that creature must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw (DC equal to 8 + your Strength modifier + your proficiency bonus) or both creatures take the damage and are knocked prone.

Focused Power

Your skill in combat has grown to put your raw power to best use.

• You can focus your attacks to overcome your enemies' defenses. Your unarmed attacks and improvised weapons count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistances and immunities.
• When an enemy misses you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction to make a Strength (Athletics) check contested by the target's Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check. If you succeed, you can throw the enemy using your Toss feature.

 

Crushing Blows

You hit like a truck. Any time you hit with an unarmed attack or improvised weapon, double the damage dice as you would for a critical hit, but only add your Brutal Critical dice when you score a critical hit as normal.