Fighter 5e
Masters of weapons and armor who excel at sustained combat through extra attacks and quick recovery. Fighters are versatile warriors with the most attacks per turn and customization options.
At a Glance
Hit Die
d10
Primary Ability
Strength or Dexterity
Saving Throws
Strength, Constitution
Armor
All armor, shields
Weapons
Simple weapons, martial weapons
Key Features
| Feature | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Fighting Style | 1st | Choose Archery, Defense, Dueling, Great Weapon Fighting, Protection, Two-Weapon Fighting, or others from Tasha's. |
| Second Wind | 1st | Bonus action to regain 1d10 + fighter level HP once per short rest. |
| Action Surge | 2nd | Take one additional action on your turn. 1 use per rest (2 uses at 17th level). |
| Extra Attack | 5th | Attack twice (three times at 11th, four times at 20th level). |
| Indomitable | 9th | Reroll a failed save once per long rest (2/rest at 13th, 3/rest at 17th). |
Subclasses
| Subclass | Source | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Champion | Player's Handbook | Expanded critical hit range (19-20, then 18-20) for simple but effective combat |
| Battle Master | Player's Handbook | Superiority dice for tactical maneuvers (Trip, Riposte, Precision Attack, etc) |
| Eldritch Knight | Player's Handbook | Wizard spellcasting (see eldritch-knight-5e for details) |
| Arcane Archer | Xanathar's Guide to Everything | Magical arrow effects with limited uses per rest |
| Cavalier | Xanathar's Guide to Everything | Mounted combat and protecting allies with opportunity attacks |
| Samurai | Xanathar's Guide to Everything | Fighting Spirit granting advantage and temp HP |
| Echo Knight | Explorer's Guide to Wildemount | Creating echo copies for teleportation and extra attacks |
| Psi Warrior | Tasha's Cauldron of Everything | Psionic energy dice for damage, protection, and telekinesis |
| Rune Knight | Tasha's Cauldron of Everything | Growing to Large/Huge size and using runes for various effects |
Common Mistakes
Common Mistake
Not using Action Surge enough - it refreshes on short rest
Common Mistake
Forgetting Action Surge gives an extra action (including extra attacks) but not extra bonus action
Common Mistake
Missing that Indomitable lets you reroll but must keep the new result even if worse
Common Mistake
Not leveraging four attacks at 20th level - fighters are sustained damage dealers
DM Tips
DM Tip
Fighters are deceptively powerful with multiple attacks and Action Surge nova rounds
DM Tip
Battle Master maneuvers add significant tactical depth - track superiority dice
DM Tip
Echo Knight can be confusing - the echo isn't a creature and has unique rules
DM Tip
Short rest classes like Fighter excel in dungeons with multiple encounters per day
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & Further Reading
- Fighter — D&D 5e Wikidot — Full SRD class text
- Fighter — D&D Beyond — Official class reference
- Fighter Guide — RPGBOT — Class optimization guide