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.

 

[Marandahir]

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.

I'm confused. What is the mechanical basis for "going through training" here? Are you talking about Marks of Prestige -> Training, DMG pg.231? Downtime Activies -> Training, DMG pg.131 only discusses training to gain levels.

Even if their character received a mark of prestige in that they can receive training, you'd need a feat that grants a Fighting Style (do any? None that I know of. I think it would be a good feat to publish, though!).

 

[Weiley31]

I'm confused. What is the mechanical basis for "going through training" here? Are you talking about Marks of Prestige -> Training, DMG pg.231? Downtime Activies -> Training, DMG pg.131 only discusses training to gain levels.

Even if their character received a mark of prestige in that they can receive training, you'd need a feat that grants a Fighting Style (do any? None that I know of. I think it would be a good feat to publish, though!).

I will actually reward certain feats for actions preformed. So going through enough downtime training, I award the Weapon Mastery Feats and not through leveling up.

 

[Weiley31]

I think fixing the Arcane Archer can be done by giving it the Eldritch Blast cantrip and having it scale by level. It's basically arrows but refluffed via the cantrinp. Save the special stuff for outside of cantrip blasting.

 

[Fenris-77]

I think fixing the Arcane Archer can be done by giving it the Eldritch Blast cantrip and having it scale by level. It's basically arrows but refluffed via the cantrinp. Save the special stuff for outside of cantrip blasting.

The cantrip by itself is only barely better than a heavy crossbow, and a probably a downgrade from a stat modded longbow. Were you thinking a straight d10 was enough, or was it more the d10+stat?

 

[CleverNickName]

The cantrip by itself is only barely better than a heavy crossbow, and a probably a downgrade from a stat modded longbow. Were you thinking a straight d10 was enough, or was it more the d10+stat?

Well, Eldritch Blast can shoot 2, 3, even 4 times per turn at higher levels, while a heavy crossbow only ever shoots once per round. I'd say that's quite a bit better than a heavy crossbow.

My two cents, I think EB shouldn't scale with level. But that's a ruefully unpopular opinion 'round here.

 

[Weiley31]

The cantrip by itself is only barely better than a heavy crossbow, and a probably a downgrade from a stat modded longbow. Were you thinking a straight d10 was enough, or was it more the d10+stat?

It would scale via INT+modifer I would assume. Or automatically give it the effect of agonizing blast so that way it scales off of INT.

OR you do the 5E Die system a number of classes have, like the Monk, and it starts at D4 or D6. Then at certain levels, up the die till it stops at D10. So that way with a bow, each arrow fired uses the "Arcane" Die instead. It "shouldn't" make the Arcane shots redundant, so you can save those for when needed or harder foes.

The point is, either option would help with AA's "four shots and I need a nap" complaint. And your not stabbing things most of the time when your a magical Archer.

I still like the idea of using Eldritch Blast as I am big on the Magic Bows, from Dragon's Dogma, concept wise. And Eldritch Blast splitting like it does is fantastic for that flavor. Plus Beam Arrows yo.

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

I will actually reward certain feats for actions preformed. So going through enough downtime training, I award the Weapon Mastery Feats and not through leveling up.

Does that feat grant the Fighting Style fighter class ability rather than just weapon proficiencies in your game?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Well, Eldritch Blast can shoot 2, 3, even 4 times per turn at higher levels, while a heavy crossbow only ever shoots once per round. I'd say that's quite a bit better than a heavy crossbow.

I can think of three different ways to shoot a heavy crossbow more than once per round.

 

[Todd Roybark]

It strikes me that all the Arcane Archer subclass needs is more uses of Arcane Shot.
One extra use of Arcane Shot, each time a new Arcane Shot option is learned, is an easy fix.

This puts the Arcane Archer, as doing a tad bit more damage with their Arcane Shot than a Battle Master with their Maneuver Dice, at top level.

The Battle Master still sets higher Saving Throw DCs then the Arcane Archer.

 

[Fenris-77]

Well, Eldritch Blast can shoot 2, 3, even 4 times per turn at higher levels, while a heavy crossbow only ever shoots once per round. I'd say that's quite a bit better than a heavy crossbow.

My two cents, I think EB shouldn't scale with level. But that's a ruefully unpopular opinion 'round here.

Well, a fighter gets 2, 3, and even 4 attacks a round at higher level, which puts the heavy crossbow pretty much right on par, wouldn't you say (I guess with a feat to help loading time)? I asked because without the equivalent of Agonizing Blast the cantrip is actually worse.

 

[Weiley31]

Does that feat grant the Fighting Style fighter class ability rather than just weapon proficiencies in your game?

No. It's just the Weapon Mastery Feats from one of the UA.

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

No. It's just the Weapon Mastery Feats from one of the UA.

Ah. like the Sword or spear feats?

I thought that you were talking about fighting styles: I missed the "as well" in your previous post.

Do you allow characters to learn the Fighting Style fighter class feature in downtime as well?

 

[Weiley31]

Do you allow characters to learn the Fighting Style fighter class feature in downtime as well?

I can see myself allowing that. Perhaps through Marks of Prestige "tokens" that are traded in to represent the training.

 

[Marandahir]

No. It's just the Weapon Mastery Feats from one of the UA.

Those feats don't offer Fighting Styles, though. They're sort of like fighting styles in feat form, but they're not the same, so I'm still a bit confused how learning Fighting Styles is possible for Clerics or Druids.

 

[FlyingChihuahua]

Those feats don't offer Fighting Styles, though. They're sort of like fighting styles in feat form, but they're not the same, so I'm still a bit confused how learning Fighting Styles is possible for Clerics or Druids.

Well that's easy.

the dm said they could learn them.

 

[THEMNGMNT]

On paper, the Arcane Archer looks like a missed opportunity. But in practice the fighter chasis is sturdy. Action Surge, Archery fighting style, lots of ASIs, and the Sharpshooter feat. At that point, Arcane Shot is just gravy. I think the problems with the subclass are more in flavor than in mechanical effectiveness.

 

[Weiley31]

Those feats don't offer Fighting Styles, though. They're sort of like fighting styles in feat form, but they're not the same, so I'm still a bit confused how learning Fighting Styles is possible for Clerics or Druids.

I just snap my fingers and they have em.

Join me next week when I have the BBEG REBUKE a Nat 20 roll because he stole the Goddess of Fates's control of fate and the story arc asks the PCs to figure out how to beat that.

 

[Marandahir]

I just snap my fingers and they have em.

Join me next week when I have the BBEG REBUKE a Nat 20 roll because he stole the Goddess of Fates's control of fate and the plot asks the PCs to figure out how to beat that.

Got it, I just was confused because it didn't make sense with your original statement - "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." Nothing in the alternate class features UA allows training rules to let Druids and Clerics to get those fighting styles. But I understand what you're doing now, and that's cool.

 

[Weiley31]

I just snap my fingers and they have em.

Got it, I just was confused because it didn't make sense with your original statement - "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." Nothing in the alternate class features UA allows training rules to let Druids and Clerics to get those fighting styles. But I understand what you're doing now, and that's cool.

Your good. I originally kept Blessed Warrior and Druidic Warrior just to the Paladin/Ranger too, then I thought, why not?

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

Your good. I originally kept Blessed Warrior and Druidic Warrior just to the Paladin/Ranger too, then I thought, why not?

Have to admit: I'd be a little leery of giving out the class features of one class to another, particularly when it is a fairly defining feature of a relatively underpowered class being given to an already-powerful class.

Without knowing if you have any other houserules in place to correct the imbalance, I can't really comment on the impact on your game though.