D&D 5E (2024) The Versatile STR Fighter: Melee with a Real Ranged Option

[Minigiant]

I'm not convinced the ranger is best archer.

I didnt say that ranger is the best archer.

I said Ranger is the best Shock Trooper with Range

 

[sevenbastard]

you have an idea for who you think is the best contender for that title then?

 

[FrogReaver]

Does this give up too much in the party total? Splitting between Dex and Str to be ok with both means that you are not great with one until you can add more at higher levels. Does the party now lack a front line fighter or a ranged option if the fighter is straddling the river so to speak.

It likely does not matter much with 5e since the PCs are more powerful and versatile. I also feel that the players can take whatever they want and the party can work, but a more traditional group or a group with only a few PCs might run into problems. Maybe this works better in a low number group where each PC needs more roles.

I never raise dex past the 14 I start with, I am advocating a STR Fighter with a ranged bow attack. Archery style smooths the attack roll. GWM smooths the Damage.

 

[aco175]

I never raise dex past the 14 I start with, I am advocating a STR Fighter with a ranged bow attack. Archery style smooths the attack roll. GWM smooths the Damage.

I was thinking if you take the archery style for the sometimes you might need to shoot, then you are not taking another style for when you melee. It's a trade-off. Is it worth it for most groups?

 

[FrogReaver]

I was thinking if you take the archery style for the sometimes you might need to shoot, then you are not taking another style for when you melee. It's a trade-off. Is it worth it for most groups?

Right, it’s about tradeoffs - but on a high level conceptual basis, I think it’s worth it.

You’re covering a known weakness of STR based Fighters - ranged combat - while giving up relatively little in return.

Having a strong ranged option isn’t just about edge cases like flying enemies or distant starts. It fundamentally increases your tactical flexibility:

• You don’t have to rush forward and take unnecessary hits just to contribute
• You can kite or reposition with the party instead of committing immediately
• You can soften enemies before they reach you
• You can pressure priority targets earlier in the fight

So it’s less about “sometimes I can shoot” and more about always having meaningful options.

Flexibility in 5e is often stronger than specialization in practice, because fights rarely happen under ideal conditions.

 

[ECMO3]

The concept
Build a STR‑primary, heavy‑armor, two‑handed Fighter who takes Great Weapon Master and the Archery Fighting Style, starting with 14 Dex. This creates a Fighter who is fully online in melee and has a real ranged damage mode without needing a Dex focus.

You get a legitimate ranged attack mode

• With 14 Dex and Archery Style:
• Attack bonus: +2 (Dex) +2 (Archery) + proficiency
  Damage: 1d8 + 2 (Dex) + proficiency (from 2024 GWM)
• This is real ranged DPR.

At level 5, your longbow attacks match a Dex dual‑wielder’s ranged accuracy
A Dex TWF build at level 5 typically attacks at:

• +4
• +3 proficiency
• no Archery bonus

Your damage bonus is higher thanks to GWM’s proficiency‑based rider.

Your defenses remain excellent
With heavy armor:

• You sit 1 AC above a Dex dual‑wielder
• You sit 1 AC below a STR melee specialist in plate + Defense Style
• You lose nothing meaningful in survivability

You don't sacrifice your melee identity
You’re still a full STR/GWM greatsword or maul Fighter:

• high STR
• Graze mastery
• heavy armor
• strong melee DPR
• no feat tax for ranged competence
• Your melee mode is untouched.

It works on virtually every subclass
This is a framework, not a specific build.

I think a better way to do it is a 15 Strength, 13 Dex, 17 Intelligence Eldritch Knight with Truestrike. Go to 16 str with GWM, then 18 Int at level 6 with a feat and 20 Int at level 8, then back to strength ASIs.

If you really want to max single class and you have Eldritch Adept available as an Origin Feat the cat's meow for this on a single class fighter would be either a Human with Magic Initiate or High Elf Eldritch Knight with 14 Str, 13 Dex, 17 Charisma with Truestrike on Charisma (either through magic initiate or Elf) and Pact of Blade through your Origin Feat. Then you make all your attacks on Charisma and swap pact weapons between your heavy melee weapon and a magic longbow as the situation permits. If you can't swap because you need you use your bonus action then you still Truestrike and make any extra attacks at +1.

Those numbers are assuming you are using point buy.

On flexibility, I agree it is almost always stronger than specialization, but going GWM does make you somewhat specialized IME, especially in melee. If you are confident good magic heavy melee weapons are going to be available it is great, but in a lot of campaigns they are not. This is why PAM is the most overrated feat in the game and while GWM is much better it often does not work as well as expected.

 

[Minigiant]

Fighter bonus feat helps with GMW which is high price for ranger.

Not really.

Ranger only needs their Combat style feat. Without Sharpshooter needed, you can easily wait til level 8 for it and take GWF at 4.

The Fighter subclass has to a lot of heavy lifting until level 11.

Edit: Without not With

 

[CreamCloud0]

Tangential though about ranged STR characters, does anyone else think thrown weapons should just be a better option than they currently are?

 

[Minigiant]

Tangential though about ranged STR characters, does anyone else think thrown weapons should just be a better option than they currently are?

The issue is the only thrown martial weapon is Trident and most magically throwable weapons arent returning.

Ranged STR attacks really lacks a weapon.

 

[ECMO3]

Tangential though about ranged STR characters, does anyone else think thrown weapons should just be a better option than they currently are?

No I don't. With weapon masteries and nick I think they are too good already. They are easy to exploit with Hex or Hunter's Mark that adds damage per attack and they work with smites at Range (Wrathful Smite especially).

Usually a ranged character is going to do better damage by using a combination of weapons than they will with a bow or crossbow. This usually involves making one of their attacks using a light thrown weapon (typically a Hand Axe) followed by a dagger with nick that gives you an extra attack. This works regardless of what weapon you start out with. My 20th level PC (Eldritch Knight 12/Warlock 8) is primarily a melee character but if she is at range usually starts out with a Magic Longbow using Truestrike, then follows that with a Spear+2, Hand Axe+2, Dagger of Venom (occasionally she uses a bonus to envenom it). This combo would be even better with a Heavy Crossbow or Musket to start with the 1st attack.