D&D 5E D&D's Top 10 Fighter Subclasses Revealed!

In another of D&D Beyond's frequent data shares, here is a look at the most popular fighter subclasses currently in use. The Champion leads the pack, followed by Battlemaster, Eldritch Knight, Gunslinger, and Samurai.

 

[Fenris-77]

I know that a lot of people enjoy the character creation "mini-game" where they needle and nitpick every tiniest detail in order to get the absolute maximum bonus to Whatever, and that's fine. (I think they are why the Warlock even exists.) But I always preferred the creative builds, deliberately sub-optimal with visible and important flaws. Heroes who are awesome at everything are dull to me.

In the case of the Arcane Archer I'd settle for them being good at what they're supposed to be good at. I don't build for optimization, but I will simply avoid a class or subclass if on second reading my entire response is well, that kinds sucks, dunnit? The AA was that for me. I even went back and reread again it much later, just to make sure, and yup, sure enough, it still sucked.

A Warlock that shoots Eldritch Blast "out of a bow" is a way better, and more fun, AA than the AA. That's a sad state of affairs.

 

[Leatherhead]

Free UA option vs. paid content. And I would say a clearer case of the phenomenon than either the Champion Fighter or the Gunslinger.

To put this in context: the Wildemount book is the most popular splat in 5e. The most popular splat on D&D beyond (obviously), and an Amazon number 1 bestseller book.

 

[Garthanos]

Two ways to look at these numbers:
1- the “simple” fighter is by far the single most popular subclass
2- 62% of fighter players wants to do more than just hit things with their sword over and over

Seeing the top 3 be the ones that are in the PHB is hardly surprising. The Champion being most popular is possibly in part down to it being the only one in the Basic Rules.

So some of the content selected is on the cheaper/free side of a paywall and that one is selected more?

Add them altogether and realize statistics are difficult and can often say much that the one taking them wants them to say if you arent very very careful you miss the message.

 

[clearstream]

The whole SCAG feels outdated.

The strongest fighter class in SCAG is a wizard.

 

[Undrave]

I know that a lot of people enjoy the character creation "mini-game" where they needle and nitpick every tiniest detail in order to get the absolute maximum bonus to Whatever, and that's fine. (I think they are why the Warlock even exists.) But I always preferred the creative builds, deliberately sub-optimal with visible and important flaws. Heroes who are awesome at everything are dull to me.

Except that the Arcane Archer can run out of class features in one round past level 4. That's... that's pretty weak, flavour-wise. Two arcane shot in one round and you're no longer an Arcane Archer, you're just a subpar Champion.

Like Fenris say, build a Warlock, only pick utility spells and spend all your turn using Eldritch Blast with your 'magic bow' and boom!

 

[Marandahir]

I think an easy answer to the Arcane Archer deal would be to make Superior Technique, Blessed Warrior, and Druidic Warrior available to all classes that get Fighting Styles (bonus: Oath of the Ancients Paladin can be more druidic), add additional fighting styles that grant access to cantrips from each of the other caster classes, and let the player choose which ability they cast the cantrips with.

Then you could forgo the Archery fighting style to take Druidic Warrior or Arcane Warrior to fit your character. Just pretend you're casting the cantrip with your sling/bow/crossbow/firearm. You're not as accurate with your shots as a Fighter that chose Archery, but that's the cost of getting bonus cantrips to be able to cast all day long.

Best of all, it wouldn't require errata nor a reprinting of the Arcane Archer to work, since this would go hand-in-hand with the bonus/alternate class features document/book that's being developed.

 

[Guest 6801328]

But, clearly, we still need to fix the champion...

The only reason it's popular is all the newcomers who aren't good enough at D&D to realize that they aren't having any fun.

 

[Quartz]

I wonder if the Champion is so popular because it's often used as a secondary PC? You know, Merlin the Wizard has Bob the Bodyguard as a henchman?

 

[bedir than]

The whole SCAG feels outdated.

As a reminder, it is the 4th most popular book in 5th edition, though it looks like Wildemount will pass it in time. Yes, part of this is because it's the oldest of the player-facing books. Another part of it is that most players aren't into whiteboarding

 

[atanakar]

I wouldn't assume the ALL tables allow the ALL classes from ALL the books ALL the time.

My group has a Cavalier and an Arcane Archer.