D&D 5E (2024) Greater Fighting Styles

[Corinnguard]

Interesting, I had not seen that before. Thanks for sharing. I like the Classical Swordplay Fighting Style and wish there was something like that in the core/official rules.

IMO the best way to build a Bladesinger concept in 5e is a multiclassed EK/BS (lots of different splits are decent, and it’s nice to have the option of dialing the knob one way or the other). Unfortunately, really nailing the concept fully requires the self restraint of leaving one hand free, even though it’s basically a straight nerf compared to TWF. Whether TWF is actually compatible by RAW with 5e Bladesong is actually debatable, though from past conversations I’ve had it seems clear I’m the only one who thinks so

You're welcome. I like Laser Llama's take on Dual Wielding because it solves that one action economy issue that's been tied to this particular Fighting Style. The use of the Bonus Action to either make an off-hand attack, to cast a spell, or anything else that required it. It also helps that any weapon in the Magus' Arcane Armory can be used as a Spell Focus. So, as a Magus, you can use your primary weapon and your off-hand weapon during your Attack Action and then cast a spell that requires the Bonus Action.

I just started playing LL's Magus in a new homebrewed adventure my DM just started last night.

As for the Eldritch Knight, a couplie years ago there was a homebrewer on GM Binder who did a version of this subclass where you could pick any two of the eight schools of magic, not just the schools of Abjuration and Evocation. Also, each school granted the Eldritch Knight a school-related benefit.

 

[ECMO3]

IMO the best way to build a Bladesinger concept in 5e is a multiclassed EK/BS (lots of different splits are decent, and it’s nice to have the option of dialing the knob one way or the other). Unfortunately, really nailing the concept fully requires the self restraint of leaving one hand free, even though it’s basically a straight nerf compared to TWF. Whether TWF is actually compatible by RAW with 5e Bladesong is actually debatable, though from past conversations I’ve had it seems clear I’m the only one who thinks so

I really love EKs, it is my go-to fighter. I also like Bladesinger, but I tend not to mix the two.

On an EK I usually dump intelligence, max Charisma and multiclass Warlock to boost Truestrike and Blade Cantrips and get some control spells. Then I use my EK spells prepared for support where DC doesn't matter and use the EK slots to fuel low level Warlock spells with a DC on Charisma. This lets you also pick up Agonizing Blast, Sanctuary through Lessons of the First Ones, Pact of the Blade and Shillelagh through Pact of the Tome and these are awesome on a tank. The most powerful character I've played in 5.5E personally was a Tiefling Eldritch Knight 12/Elemental Evil Warlock 8. She had a 24 Charisma at games end dual wielding a Shillelagh Club+2 and a Pact Scimitar+2 with Agonizing Blast Green Flame Blade and everything rolling on Charisma. 3 attacks a round, plus a nick attack doing a basic attack action of (6d6+27) Force+(3d8+14) Fire + (1d6+9) radiant/psychic/necrotic/slashing and then if another target is within 5 feet it also takes (3d8+14) Fire. I could cast Conjure Minor Elementals and action surge the first round and do an extra 8d8 Fire while rerolling any 1s on fire damage through flames of phelethegos and doing a little damage to any bad guys that got through shield with FOP, Hellish Rebuke and Armor of Agathys.

On a Bladesinger I usually take 1 level of Ranger to get masteries without slowing spell slot progression. It also nets Goodberry and either Longstrider or Jump. I've fouind the free hunter's mark to be really eeffective on a Bladesinger with nick early in game. I actually like that spell better on a low level Bladesinger than I do on a Ranger. If you couldn't do TWF it would nerf that at low level quite a bit, but probably not matter at higher levels. You still have a full caster compliment of spell slots if you do this, but you really need to choose melee or not melee. If you are grinding and going toe-to-toe like a Barbarian or fighter tank that is going to burn a lot of your spell slots, so it is really either tank or controller you can't really do both well.

 

[Minigiant]

If not for 5e's initial revulsion to 4e, I woulda loved Fighting styles to be more general.

Conroller
Fighting Style Feat (Prerequisite: Fighting Style Feature)
When you attack with a weapon whose mastery property you can use, you can replace that property with the Sap property for that attack.

Improved Conroller
Fighting Style Feat (Prerequisite: Strength or Dexterity 17+, Fighting Style Feature)
When you attack with a weapon whose mastery property you can use, you can replace that property with the Sap property for that attack and creatures affected by Sap have their DCs decreased by 2.

Defender
Fighting Style Feat (Prerequisite: Fighting Style Feature)
When a creature you can see attacks a target other than you that is within 5 feet of you, you can take a Reaction to interpose your weapon if you’re holding one. You impose Disadvantage on the triggering attack roll and all other attack rolls against the target until the start of your next turn if you remain within 5 feet of the target.

Inproved Defender
Fighting Style Feat (Prerequisite: Strength or Constitution 17+, Fighting Style Feature)
When a creature you can see attacks a target other than you that is within 30 feet of you, you can take a Reaction to move your Speed and interpose your weapon if you’re holding one. You impose Disadvantage on the triggering attack roll and all other attack rolls against the target until the start of your next turn if you remain within Reach of the target.

Dirty Fighter
Fighting Style Feat (Prerequisite: Fighting Style Feature)
When you hit with an attack roll using a weapon, you add a 1d6 poison damage to the damage roll. You can only use this feature if you have a Poisoner’s Kit on your person and you haven’t moved during this turn

Improved Dirty Fighter
Fighting Style Feat (Prerequisite: Dexterity or Intelligence 17+, Fighting Style Feature)
When you hit with an attack roll using a weapon, you add a 1d8 poison damage to the damage roll. You can only use this feature if you have a Poisoner’s Kit on your person and you haven’t moved during this turn

Juggernaut
Fighting Style Feat (Prerequisite: Fighting Style Feature)
While you’re wearing Medium or Heavy armor, you gain a +1 bonus to Armor Class

Improved Juggernaut
Fighting Style Feat (Prerequisite: Constitution 17+, Fighting Style Feature)
While you’re wearing Medium or Heavy armor, you gain a +2 bonus to Armor Class

Powerhouse
Fighting Style Feat (Prerequisite: Fighting Style Feature)
You gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls you make with weapons and always add the abilty modifier of your weapon attacks to their damage rolls.

Improved Powerhouse
Fighting Style Feat (Prerequisite: Fighting Style Feature)
You gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls, +1d6 bonus to damage rolls, you make with weapons and always add the abilty modifier of your weapon attacks to their damage rolls

Striker
Fighting Style Feat (Prerequisite: Fighting Style Feature)
You gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls with Weapons.

Improved Striker
Fighting Style Feat (Prerequisite: Strength or Dexterity 17+, Fighting Style Feature)
You gain a +4 bonus to damage rolls with Weapons.

Leader
Fighting Style Feat (Prerequisite: Fighting Style Feature)
As a Help action, You can give a creature that can hear you Temporary Hit Point equal to your Charisma Modifier (minimum 1).

Improved Leader
Fighting Style Feat (Prerequisite: Charisma 15+, Fighting Style Feature)
As a Help action, You can give a creature that can hear you Temporary Hit Point equal to 1d6 plus your Charisma Modifier (minimum 2).