Fighters are an integral part of D&D and can be a formidable ally in your party. Not only are they durable, but fighters deal out lots of damage as well. Plus, with proper design, fighters can be highly adaptable and powerful allies for you to draw upon when needed.
You have several build options for the DND fighter class, depending on your requirements and objectives. Here is a brief look at some of the top builds to choose from:
Strength
Strength is an invaluable stat for any D&D fighter build. Not only does it make you a more formidable fighter, but it can also be utilized to protect the party from enemies. A powerful fighter will push back foes and keep them focused on them, freeing up other team members to focus on fighting or doing whatever else necessary to take care of that foe.
Building a fighter typically starts by increasing their Strength score, either through skill and ability score increases or by using it as the basis for more complex stats. Reaching 20 STR is the most efficient way to make your fighter more formidable, but it’s also essential that you select other stats which complement Strength.
GunnerTCoE (5) – This bonus action attack is more important for ranged martials than melee fighters, yet it still provides a significant increase in damage output. Comparing three attacks at 1d12+5 with 20 Dexterity, three shots with the longbow average 34.5 points of damage while four attempts using a hand crossbow at 1d10+1 result in 44.5 points of damage; adding numeric bonuses from an +X weapon further enhances that potential increase.
Armor (5) – For any fighter, adequate armor is key to keeping them healthy and allowing them to do enough damage to their enemies. Chain mail provides an AC of 16, which is suitable for most attacks; heavy armor provides additional protection for your character.
Gem (5) – Gem damage types such as radiant and force are great options for characters who like to fly quickly. While their effectiveness has diminished slightly over time, gem damage types remain an excellent choice for any character looking to gain advantage in flight.
Gnome (4) – Darkvision is an invaluable spell that makes gnomes much more effective in combat, with their increased resistance to magic. Nondetection may not be a common ability, but it’s valuable for Dex-based Fighters in games where there won’t be many opponents who cannot see you.
Dexterity
Dexterity in 5e is one of the primary ability scores, used for everything from initiative to saving throws. You can also use dexterity when attacking with finesse weapons or ranged weapons, armor class calculations, certain skill checks and more.
Dexterity is a trait that can be beneficial to many characters in D&D 5e, particularly fighters. Rogues and monks, for instance, often rely on their dexterity when engaging opponents. Dual-wielding martial artists as well as those using bows or crossbows also rely heavily on dexterity for protection.
The Fighter character type is a classic 5e classic that continues to be popular with new players. Its easy to learn and builds can be made quickly, making it an ideal choice for those seeking their first D&D character.
According to your chosen archetype and subclass, you have access to various Feats and Skill bonuses that can be invaluable for your build. These may include improved critical hits, increased attacks, or additional fighting styles.
Fighters have a wide variety of Feats available to them, but some stand out as particularly effective. These include:
Alert: For fighters, this is an ideal option as it gives them better positioning in combat. Melee fighters especially benefit from this, as they can get in front of enemies before they have a chance to hit you back.
Sharpshooter: This Feat is great for Fighters, as it enables you to make additional attacks while within range. This can be especially advantageous if you have a ranged weapon or are an adept Polearm Master; these extra strikes will help ensure that all enemies are taken down during combat.
Sentinel: For a tanky Fighter build, this is an ideal option as it keeps enemies engaged in melee combat with you and prevents them from fleeing or attacking your allies.
This Feat may be a little cumbersome and not suitable for all Fighter builds, but it does have the potential to add significant value to your character. When making attacks that miss, this Feat will grant superiority dies which is an incredible advantage when trying to take down multiple enemies at once.
Constitution
One of the most essential tools in any D&D fighter’s arsenal is the capacity to take down foes in one-on-one duel or group combat situations. While strength is often necessary, finesse sometimes suffices. Knowing your enemy and being prepared are the keys here; taking time to study their strengths and weaknesses can save you from getting overwhelmed at the tabletop, while having some luck can pay off big time as there will always be opportunities to turn the tables on them in these types of encounters.
Intelligence
If you’re crafting a D&D fighter build, intelligence is likely your most essential trait. It’s one of the most prevalent blue ability scores and plays an integral role in crafting your build.
As a Dnd fighter build, intelligence can be an excellent way to increase your damage potential and utility. This is especially true for Eldritch Knights who gain access to spell attacks that depend on Intelligence. Intelligence also benefits other mental abilities like Wisdom or Charisma.
High intelligence can be a major advantage as it enhances your psionic abilities. It can provide an enormous boost to how effectively you roll psychic dice and use them.
Utilizing psionic abilities is an excellent way to increase your damage output, especially if you’re searching for some unique attack options. To make this work properly, however, you will need other ability scores in order to successfully integrate them.
Fighters are typically designed to withstand a lot of damage. This means they can benefit from spells based on their physical ability scores like Strength or Dexterity, as well as getting an increase in Constitution.
Fights need a good number of Hit Points, though not as many as other classes require. Most builds can get by with a minimum score of 14; however, having extra hit points is always beneficial.
Furthermore, a fighter’s statistics reflect their actions and how they engage with the world. This can be beneficial but also lead to characters who become too powerful for their own good. Fortunately, there are ways to prioritize your stats so as to prevent this from occurring.
This option allows you to add a superiority die when making Investigation, History and Insight checks. It’s ideal for sneaky fighters but not something we recommend using if your campaign focuses on combat.
This option is super straightforward, but it can be invaluable for characters that need to be the face of their party. It may not be suitable for ranged characters, but it’s perfect for someone seeking to lead fighters in a dungeon.