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

Zardnaar · 2026-04-17T00:57:59+0100

Minigiant said:
Not really.

Ranger only needs their Combat style feat. With 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.

Fighter can get it 6 and can have 20 dex at 8.

Or 3 feats and and 20 dex lvl 8.

Minigiant · 2026-04-17T01:18:48+0100

Zardnaar said:
Fighter can get it 6 and can have 20 dex at 8.

Or 3 feats and and 20 dex lvl 8.

Get what at 6?

Both a Switch Hitter Fighter and Ranger are taking GWF at 4.

So outside of Shadowtouched for Wrathful Smite in a EK, its mostly:

4 Sup Dice vs 2-3 HMs and 1/2 casting until level 11.

Minigiant · 2026-04-17T01:21:35+0100

ECMO3 said:
r 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

Your DM lets all magic weapons return?

Zardnaar · 2026-04-17T02:25:51+0100

Minigiant said:
Get what at 6?

Both a Switch Hitter Fighter and Ranger are taking GWF at 4.

So outside of Shadowtouched for Wrathful Smite in a EK, its mostly:

4 Sup Dice vs 2-3 HMs and 1/2 casting until level 11.

A feat.

ECMO3 · 2026-04-17T03:06:00+0100

Minigiant said:
Your DM lets all magic weapons return?

No, hence "if she is at range she starts out ....." usually she closes into melee after the first round, if she doesn't she still has her bow or goes and picks up one of those weapons she threw the first round or conjures a pact weapon to throw and then throws more of her magic daggers and her magic light hammer ......

As an aside both of her daggers of venom (she has 2) are bonded weapons so those do return with a bonus action, although I have rarely used that in combat.

All kinds of options, but the point remains using the thrown weapons is usually higher damage then just letting a bow sing over and over.

Minigiant · 2026-04-17T03:18:09+0100

Zardnaar said:
A feat.

I think for the Switch Hitter Builds, a feat is less powerful because the feat pulls you into one direction unless you can use it in both ranges.

ECMO3 said:
No, hence "starts out" usually she closes into melee, if she doesn't she still has her bow or goes and picks one of those weapons up or conjures a pact weapon to throw and then throws more of her magic daggers and her magic light hammer

So it really isnt a Versatile Warrior nor a Switch Hsaloon.

Just a Warrior with a good opening or emergency salvo.

ECMO3 · 2026-04-17T03:22:20+0100

Minigiant said:
So it really isnt a Versatile Warrior nor a Switch Hsaloon.

The question I was replying to on that line was if thrown weapons need to be more powerful to keep up with ranged weapons and the answer is no they dont.

As far as making a Versatile Character, I answered that earlier, Eldritch Knight is the best way to do that on a Fighter Chassis.

The character I mentioned is multiclassed, she is pretty darn versatile though. She is rocking a 26 Charisma, 16 Strength, 14 Dexterity, she does +16 damage on Agonizing Truestrike (not counting the +1 for her bow) all her attacks do an extra 1d6 fire damage (Warlock subclass ability). That is about 70DPR on average and it is before she starts using any limited use abilities or spells to boost damage further.

FrogReaver · 2026-04-17T03:46:29+0100

ECMO3 said:
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.

I think we’re talking about two different things. I’m not trying to maximize melee DPR or assume a steady supply of heavy magic weapons. I’m looking at how to give a STR‑primary Fighter a reliable ranged mode with minimal investment.

In this context, GWM is actually very low‑risk:

The +PB damage applies to longbow attacks
The bonus‑action attack on crit/kill still works with non‑heavy melee weapons
The STR ASIs still benefit any melee weapon you end up using

So even in the worst case where there are no magical heavy weapons and you use a magical non-heavy weapon, the feat still contributes meaningfully to the character.

The upside (when you do get to use a heavy weapon) is huge, and the downside is pretty mild which is why I see it as a high‑reward, low‑risk pick for this chassis.

TheSword · 2026-04-17T04:09:54+0100

FrogReaver said:
I think we’re talking about two different things. I’m not trying to maximize melee DPR or assume a steady supply of heavy magic weapons. I’m looking at how to give a STR‑primary Fighter a reliable ranged mode with minimal investment.

In this context, GWM is actually very low‑risk:

The +PB damage applies to longbow attacks

The bonus‑action attack on crit/kill still works with non‑heavy melee weapons

The STR ASIs still benefit any melee weapon you end up using

So even in the worst case where there are no magical heavy weapons and you use a magical non-heavy weapon, the feat still contributes meaningfully to the character.

The upside (when you do get to use a heavy weapon) is huge, and the downside is pretty mild which is why I see it as a high‑reward, low‑risk pick for this chassis.

I miss the days when a well made longbow added strength to damage. This combo somewhat evokes that feeling. I like it.

FrogReaver · 2026-04-17T04:13:37+0100

TheSword said:
I miss the days when a well made longbow added strength to damage. This combo somewhat evokes that feeling. I like it.

While this doesn't add STR to damage, I think you would likely get a similar feel.

From my perspective it definitely feels closer to the archetypical strong fantasy warrior.