Brawler

You have dedicated yourself to becoming a master of unarmed combat. Using devastating punches and kicks, or brutal clinches and holds, you batter and incapacitate your enemies. Those that get within your reach soon regret their life choices that led them to fight you.

Brawlers Weapons

Brawlers tend to use brass knuckles, steel-toed boots, or other such equipment that augments their focus on striking with their body. Their attacks while using such equipment are still considered unarmed strikes. Such equipment can be enchanted to improve accuracy and damage, just as other weapons can.

Spiked versions of these weapons are available, changing the damage type from Bludgeoning to Piercing. Or bladed versions, to change the damage type from Bludgeoning to Slashing.

Level 3: Bob and Weave

When not wearing heavy armor or using a shield, as a bonus action, you can go into an evasive stance. Until the start of your next turn, you have a bonus to your AC equal to your proficiency bonus. You can use this feature a number of times equal to twice your proficiency bonus. You regain uses of this feature after a long rest.

Level 3: Get Over Here

When you hit a creature with an unarmed strike on your turn, you can use a bonus action to attempt to grapple the target. The creature must be no larger than one step above your size (Medium for Small-sized brawlers, Large for Medium-sized brawlers, etc.)

Level 3: Toe to Toe

Your unarmed strikes do 1d8 + your Strength modifier Bludgeoning damage. This damage will improve as you gain levels in fighter. As a 7th-level Fighter, your unarmed strikes do 1d10 + your Strength modifier damage on a hit. As a 13th-level Fighter, your unarmed strikes do 1d12 + your Strength modifier damage on a hit. And as a 19th-level Fighter, your unarmed strikes do 2d6 + your Strength modifier damage on a hit.

Level 7: Counter Striker

When an enemy within your melee range hits or misses you with a melee attack, you can use your Reaction to make one unarmed strike attack against that creature. You can use this feature twice per short or long rest. At 15th level, you can use this feature three times per short or long rest.

Level 10: Let's Do This

When not wearing heavy armor or using a shield, as a bonus action, you can adopt a very aggressive stance. All unarmed strikes that turn are rolled with advantage, but at a cost. If you use this feature on your turn, all attacks on you are also rolled with advantage until the start of your next turn. You can use this feature twice per short or long rest. At 18th level, you can use this feature three times per short or long rest.

Level 15: Hard Chin

When you are about to go unconscious from falling to zero hit points, you can make a Constitution saving throw (DC equals 10 + half of the damage taken on the hit that triggers this feature). If you pass the save, you instead fall to 1 hit point. You can use this feature a number of times per day equal to your Constitution modifier.

Level 18: Vicious Striker

When you hit with an unarmed strike, you can use this feature to add your fighter level to the damage of the blow. You can use this feature once per short or long rest.