D&D (2024) Brawler is out. What subclass should replace it?

[DavyGreenwind]

My bet is that it will be Rune Knight, in order to have at least one Giant-flavored subclass in the PHB.

 

[Parmandur]

My bet is that it will be Rune Knight, in order to have at least one Giant-flavored subclass in the PHB.

That's a pretty good reason, actually. Playing a Frost Goliath Rune Knight as a base option would be tight.

 

[mellored]

No, there is no chance, Crawford already stated the Fighter is done with UA.

But he didn't say they where done with the last subclass.

 

[mellored]

Well that rules out everything other than the Echo Knight, and I really doubt they are going to do the Echo knight.

I agree the Echo Knight is the most different.

 

[Parmandur]

But he didn't say they where done with the last subclass.

He listed out what is in the next UA, and that the Fighter ain't part of it. They probably had planned to go with Rune Knight or Psi Warrior without further testing as rhe back-up from the start. None of the Tasha's promotions have been tested or changed, because they already have been.

 

[Kurotowa]

But he didn't say they where done with the last subclass.

Indeed. Which is ambiguous. Does it mean no Fighter material will be included, or that the Fighter base class is done and they'll still be testing the new subclass to replace the Brawler? I mean, they might reprint the Fighter base class text just so the UA is self contained, but not include those features in the UA9 survey. They haven't done that before, but that doesn't mean they can't do it now.

 

[DaedalusX51]

I didn't realize I wanted a PDK/Cavalier mashup until it was mentioned here. I would be cool with this as the fourth Fighter subclass or Rune Knight.

Guardian

Unwavering Mark
When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you can menace your foes, foiling their attacks and punishing them for harming others. When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can mark the creature until the end of your next turn. This effect ends early if you are incapacitated or you die, or if someone else marks the creature.

While a creature marked by you is within 5 feet of you, it has disadvantage on any attack roll that doesn't target you.

In addition, if a creature marked by you deals damage to anyone other than you, you can make a special melee weapon attack against the marked creature as a bonus action on your next turn. You have advantage on the attack roll, and if it hits, the attack deals extra damage to the target equal to half your fighter level.

Regardless of the number of creatures you mark, you can make this special attack a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses of it when you finish a short or long rest.

Rallying Cry
Starting at 3rd level, you learn how to inspire your allies to fight on past their injuries.

When you use your Second Wind feature, you can choose up to three creatures within 60 feet of you that are allied with you. Each one regains hit points equal to your fighter level, provided that the creature can see or hear you.

Warding Maneuver
At 7th level, you learn to fend off strikes directed at you or other creatures nearby. If you or a creature you can see within 5 feet of you is hit by an attack, you can roll 1d8 as a reaction if you're wielding a melee weapon or a shield. Roll the die, and add the number rolled to the target's AC against that attack. If the attack still hits, the target has resistance against the attack's damage.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses of it when you finish a long rest.

Bulwark
Beginning at 10th level, you can extend the benefit of your Indomitable feature to an ally. When you decide to use Indomitable to reroll a saving throw and you aren't incapacitated, you can choose one ally within 60 feet of you that also failed its saving throw against the same effect. If that creature can see or hear you, it can reroll its saving throw with a bonus equal to your fighter level and must use the new roll.

Inspiring Surge
Starting at 15th level, when you use your Action Surge feature, you can choose one creature within 60 feet of you that is allied with you. That creature can use its reaction to immediately take an action, except the magic action, provided that it can see or hear you.

Vigilant Defender
Starting at 18th level, you respond to danger with extraordinary vigilance. In combat, you get a special reaction that you can take once on every creature's turn, except your turn. You can use this special reaction only to make an opportunity attack, and you can't use it on the same turn that you take your normal reaction.

 

[deganawida]

I didn't realize I wanted a PDK/Cavalier mashup until it was mentioned here. I would be cool with this as the fourth Fighter subclass or Rune Knight.

Guardian

Unwavering Mark
When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you can menace your foes, foiling their attacks and punishing them for harming others. When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can mark the creature until the end of your next turn. This effect ends early if you are incapacitated or you die, or if someone else marks the creature.

While a creature marked by you is within 5 feet of you, it has disadvantage on any attack roll that doesn't target you.

In addition, if a creature marked by you deals damage to anyone other than you, you can make a special melee weapon attack against the marked creature as a bonus action on your next turn. You have advantage on the attack roll, and if it hits, the attack deals extra damage to the target equal to half your fighter level.

Regardless of the number of creatures you mark, you can make this special attack a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses of it when you finish a short or long rest.

Rallying Cry
Starting at 3rd level, you learn how to inspire your allies to fight on past their injuries.

When you use your Second Wind feature, you can choose up to three creatures within 60 feet of you that are allied with you. Each one regains hit points equal to your fighter level, provided that the creature can see or hear you.

Warding Maneuver
At 7th level, you learn to fend off strikes directed at you or other creatures nearby. If you or a creature you can see within 5 feet of you is hit by an attack, you can roll 1d8 as a reaction if you're wielding a melee weapon or a shield. Roll the die, and add the number rolled to the target's AC against that attack. If the attack still hits, the target has resistance against the attack's damage.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses of it when you finish a long rest.

Bulwark
Beginning at 10th level, you can extend the benefit of your Indomitable feature to an ally. When you decide to use Indomitable to reroll a saving throw and you aren't incapacitated, you can choose one ally within 60 feet of you that also failed its saving throw against the same effect. If that creature can see or hear you, it can reroll its saving throw with a bonus equal to your fighter level and must use the new roll.

Inspiring Surge
Starting at 15th level, when you use your Action Surge feature, you can choose one creature within 60 feet of you that is allied with you. That creature can use its reaction to immediately take an action, except the magic action, provided that it can see or hear you.

Vigilant Defender
Starting at 18th level, you respond to danger with extraordinary vigilance. In combat, you get a special reaction that you can take once on every creature's turn, except your turn. You can use this special reaction only to make an opportunity attack, and you can't use it on the same turn that you take your normal reaction.

Yup. Perfect fit, and something that would get me to enjoy playing 5e more.

 

[Nikosandros]

Warlord.

And they don't need to put in a UA, because they would just have taken the 273 different Warlord threads found on EN World, RPG.net, Reddit, and all the others over the last 10 years that the posters all went over with a fine-toothed comb and could easily cobble together four subclass features out of them that are all fully playtested.

It's easy, it just needs this three features: damage on a miss, martial healing and a power that automatically forces enemies to come closer.

 

[Remathilis]

None of the Tasha's promotions have been tested or changed, because they already have been.

Strictly speaking, that's not true. The Oath of Glory was in Tasha's and is getting an update, but it also was a straight reprint from Theros so it didn't get a round of playtest during the Tasha era. But to your point; no subclass designed for Tasha's seems to be getting revised.

As an FYI: Here is the list of all subs who are getting promoted (excluding the fighter's new fourth).
Barbarian: Zealot (XGE) - revised
Bard: Glamour (XGE) - revised
Druid: Stars (TCE) - no changes
Monk: Mercy (TCE) - No changes
Paladin: Glory (TCE/MoT) - revised
Ranger: Fey Wanderer (TCE) - no changes
Ranger: Gloom Stalker (XGE) - revised
Rogue: Swashbuckler (XGE/SCAG) - revised
Sorcerer: Clockwork (TCE) - no changes
Sorcerer: Aberrant (TCE) - no changes
Warlock: Celestial (XGE) - revised