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The whole SCAG feels outdated.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.

 

[Remathilis]

The strongest fighter class in SCAG is a wizard.

Truly that "3rd edition feel"

 

[Ruin Explorer]

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?

That is an interesting point. I have two above-level 1 Champions on my Beyond account which are precisely that. Both are dead of course but Beyond doesn't reflect that.

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

Is it? What's your source? I've heard a lot of conflicting claims here.

Like, looking at UK Amazon, I literally can't compare it with Xanathars for example, for example, because no total sales figure is given, and they're only rated in ranking in different categories!

Xanathars is #823 in "Books" and #50 in "Games" and SCAG is #268 in "Board Games (Toys and Games)" and #6909 in "Toys and Games". I'd suggest "Books" is probably a significantly more competitive category than "Board Games (Toys and Games)" as is "Games", but who knows.

Also, Xanathars has 3700 reviews (4.7 average), and SCAG only had 1049 (4.5 average). To me this suggests Xanathars sold quite a lot more copies, at least in the UK.

 

[Undrave]

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

Wasn't it the first player-facing book after the PHB? so I'm sure people, starved of content in this brand new edition, pounced on it. Plus, it got the Forgotten Realms brand name on top of that. I don't think it speaks to its current status that it did well in the past, nor do sales figure tell us much about customer satisfaction with the product. What's more interesting is if it continues to sell well compared to the more modern books.

I think if a survey of 'your favourite splat book in 5e' was conducted, SCAG would closer to the bottom of the ranking.

Truly that "3rd edition feel"

That's Forgotten Realms for ya!

 

[jayoungr]

The heck even is an Echo Knight? (I haven't picked up the Wildemount book yet, though I plan to eventually.)

 

[TwoSix]

The heck even is an Echo Knight? (I haven't picked up the Wildemount book yet, though I plan to eventually.)

 

[Marandahir]

The heck even is an Echo Knight? (I haven't picked up the Wildemount book yet, though I plan to eventually.)

Dunamancy-using Fighter. Can create a parallel universe/timeline copy ("Echo") of themselves to attack from two places at the same time.

FYI, Dunamancy is like hacking the laws of physics. The other two subclasses in Wildemount are Dunamancy Wizards - Gravity Mage and Time Mage concepts.

 

[Eyes of Nine]

Personally love the Dunamancy school.

 

[Weiley31]

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.

I actually allow ALL features of that UA to be used. So paladins/clerics in my games can use Blessed Warrior and druids/rangers can use Druidic Warrior. You can easily Homebrew an Eldritch Warrior fighting style to do the same thing for Bards/Eldritch Knights.

 

[Marandahir]

I actually allow ALL features of that UA to be used. So paladins/clerics in my games can use Blessed Warrior and druids/rangers can use Druidic Warriors. You can easily Homebrew an Eldritch Warrior fighting style to do the same thing for Bards/Eldritch Knights.

How would you give fighting styles to Clerics and Druids??

In my games, I allow any character with access to the Fighting Style feature to choose from any of the most recent rounds of UA or any published in an official volume.

 

[Weiley31]

How would you give fighting styles to Clerics and Druids??

In my games, I allow any character with access to the Fighting Style feature to choose from any of the most recent rounds of UA or any published in an official volume.

They are allowed that choice. So if they go through training, then they can unlock said fighting style for their characters. Characters can also train to unlock the use of the Weapon Mastery feats UA as well.

I also allow all fighters/style users to select published and UA styles as well.