Fighters inDungeons & Dragonsbecome representatives of the warrior archetype. They are hardy, protective, and good with the sword. Despite their lack of flashy spells, a Fighter inD&Dhas a whole swath of unique features that make them just as deadly as a stealthy Rogue or a powerful Wizard. At the right hands, a Fighter can outmaneuver an entire platoon and leave them wide open for the party to attack.
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Newcomers to the Fighter Class shouldn’t treat them as typical mercenaries with swords, though. Thanks to Martial Archetypes from various sources, Fighters can diversify their combat knowledge to accommodate a myriad of situations. And unfortunately for other Fighters, some Martial Archetypes do offer more flexibility to players.
Updated May 18, 2025, by Rhenn Taguiam:Of all of the Classes in D&D 5e, it’s the Fighter that is perhaps the most versatile - both in terms of its skill set and its potential to fit into any kind of lore. After all, anyone with enough combat training can become a Fighter, which makes them an easy fit for new settings and books such as Critical Role’s Critical Role: Call Of Netherdeep, which was released in conjunction with the hit series’ third campaign. While the book offers a new setting and new approaches for players with regards to NPCs, monsters, and even creating rival NPCs, players who want to make Fighters might want to prepare themselves for tougher battles if they choose the right Subclass for their builds.
Sharpshooter (Unearthed Arcana 23)
TheSharpshooterspecializes in ranged combat. Compared to their companions that excel in melee, the Sharpshooter is theever-reliable eagle-eyed fighter. If they manage to keep their distance, they can incapacitate their foes from a mile away.
Notable Subclass Features:
Psi Knight (Unearthed Arcana 71)
Prior to the official arrival of Psionics inTasha’s Cauldron of Everything, thePsi Knightwas one the prototype concepts introduced as a Fighter Subclass. Relying solely on their psionic power, the Psi Knight can augment their fighting prowess with awide array of psychic abilities, such as endowed strikes, mental barriers, and telekinetic abilities.
Psychic Warrior
Whereas the Psi Knightaugments their talentswith psionic power, thePsychic Warriorimbues their body with their mental acuity, enabling them to infuse their blows, lashes, and strikes with powerful psychic force.
Monster Hunter (Unearthed Arcana 13)
Despite the stereotype attached to them, the archetypalMonster Hunteris an expert when it comes to dealing with unknown threats. As such, Monster Hunters areknowledgeable enough to deal with creatures of terror, be it lycanthropes or even the undead. Their knowledge extends to what weapons to use, what strategies to employ, and what things to believe regarding their prey.
Renegade (Legends Of Runeterra: Dark Tides Of Bilgewater)
Introduced in theLegends Of Runeterra: Dark Tides Of Bilgewaterbook, theRenegadeis a Fighter that has the charm of a Bard, exhibitinga certain swagger or cockinessthat is also perfectly represented by the custom firearms they have created. Unlike other ranged combatants, the Renegade takes advantage of whatever they see in combat to maximize the mayhem they can cause.
Banneret
A Banneret isa knight that inspires- a role model for their great deeds in battle. And while they mostly serve as royal envoys and honorable knights, a Banneret is no slacker in terms of combat. With the right player, a Banneret can rally their allies to victory.
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Arcane Archer
An Arcane Archerweaves magicinto their arrows, transforming their shots into arcane projectiles that easily become lethal. And thanks to their training, Arcane Archers access a multitude of shots to complement their ranged arsenal. At the hands of the right player, an Arcane Archer can dominate long-ranged combat.
Champion
A Champion possesses a body honed to perfection. With their physical prowess and rigorous training, Champions easilypose a force to reckon within any battle. Through the right combinations of attacks, a Champion can pummel through enemies with ease.
Rune Knight
The Rune Knight taps into the latent power of runes, an ancient practice amongst giants, toimbue themselves with various benefits in combat. Being rune artisans in their own right, Rune Knights constantly empower their equipment with these magical artifacts. And with the right player, a Rune Knight can wreak havoc on the battlefield.
Psi Warrior
The Psi Warrior unlocked their latent psionic potential, allowing them touse their minds to augment their attackswith fierce psychic abilities. Armed with a myriad of psionic techniques, Psi Warriors tap into new resources to become more useful on the battlefield. At the hands of the right player, a Psi Warrior can easily devastate foes.
