Hey all... I'm trying to create a character that fits a concept I have in mind. I want to make a sword and board defender. I was him to be a tank focused on the protection of his party. I was thinking a Mountain Dwarf or Hill Dwarf Fighter Defender/Battle Master. I also thought about a variant human with either Sentinal, Tough, or Martial Adept. I'm not concerned about dealing damage, just protection of my party. Any thoughts?
D&D 5E Help creating a tough defender
- Thread starter Braxwulf
- Start date
Rhogar_Rarr
First Post
I'd go for a few (3-4) levels in barbarian. Once you get bear totem at level 3, your ability to tank skyrockets. In case you didn't know: Bear totem gives resistance to all damage except psychic while raging.
I wont lie, there are minimal ways in which you can "protect" your allies that are separate from simply hitting it for attention.
Tanking is not a concept that easily applies to Dungeons and Dragons - the use of a "meatshield" is more adequate, because it's about getting a large tough guy to absorb as much damage as possible, but only possessing limited ways in which they can protect the rest of the group.
I would recommend looking at something with some kind of protective spellcasting ability (Shield of Faith, for example, or Heroism). Battlemaster does contain a few options to help others, but I would recommend something like a Half-Elf or Dragonborn Paladin with Protection fighting style and spells designed to aid comrades. Also don't be afraid to use your action to Shove and/or grapple foes to ensure they don't reach your allies so easily.
Tanking is not a concept that easily applies to Dungeons and Dragons - the use of a "meatshield" is more adequate, because it's about getting a large tough guy to absorb as much damage as possible, but only possessing limited ways in which they can protect the rest of the group.
I would recommend looking at something with some kind of protective spellcasting ability (Shield of Faith, for example, or Heroism). Battlemaster does contain a few options to help others, but I would recommend something like a Half-Elf or Dragonborn Paladin with Protection fighting style and spells designed to aid comrades. Also don't be afraid to use your action to Shove and/or grapple foes to ensure they don't reach your allies so easily.
Tony Vargas
Legend
No defenders, per se. 5e is back to more or less the old-school 'fighter wall' or 'meatshield' paradigm: a tough character defends his allies by taking up space - in a corridor, doorway or other choke-point - until he dies. Protection Style and Sentinel help, a little, when you can't do that. Protection Style lets you protect one ally who is adjacent to you once per round (because it's a reaction). Sentinel makes a you a little bit sticky, but also uses your reaction, so you can't do both in the same round. It's not like 3.5 where you could use Reach + Combat Reflexes to lock down a whole section of the battlefield, or 4e where Combat Superiority used an OA but Combat Challenge a reaction. In 5e, it's all (what there is) reactions and you get only 1, so once you've imposed disadvantage on one attack or made an AoO on one enemy, you're done faking 'defender' for the round.
The best way you can draw attacks is to be a 'tank' - tough and high DPR - and hope hitting hard draws attention. That is, fortuitously, exactly what a 5e fighter does, prettymuch by default. You can also try to RP taunting, if your DM goes for that sort of thing. Mostly, your DM is able to have monsters attack whomever they want, so it's a matter of his style whether you watch your allies die a lot, or get beaten down, yourself, more often.
The best way you can draw attacks is to be a 'tank' - tough and high DPR - and hope hitting hard draws attention. That is, fortuitously, exactly what a 5e fighter does, prettymuch by default. You can also try to RP taunting, if your DM goes for that sort of thing. Mostly, your DM is able to have monsters attack whomever they want, so it's a matter of his style whether you watch your allies die a lot, or get beaten down, yourself, more often.
Last edited:
Or just go straight Berserker Barbarian with Sentinel.
It means you still do damage while being able to take it effectively, and Retaliation synergises really well with Sentinel once you get it.
Azurewraith
Explorer
I find a 1levle dip in barbarian early for the rage will help even if it is only resistance to "weapon" type damage. If you have plenty of melee allies i would take the protection style if not and the party is more ranged defensive may work better.
If your not dead set on a fighter i find paladins work much better as a defensive character they provide healing with lay on hands buff with shield of faith and bless provide +cha to saving throws of themselves and allies.
If your not dead set on a fighter i find paladins work much better as a defensive character they provide healing with lay on hands buff with shield of faith and bless provide +cha to saving throws of themselves and allies.
Warmaster Horus
Explorer
Probably Mountain Dwarf Fighter (Battlemaster) with plate and shield (AC 20 with mundane equipment) and lots of HP. Take the Protection Fighting Style and the Sentinel feat. On your action get near the person or people you want to protect. Use the Dodge action to give attacks against you Disadvantage and use your reaction to either provide support with Protection or Sentinel.
OR take 1 level Barb cap con and dex + shield is 22ac plus 2 rages for resistance from wpns when you need it and then the rest fighter Battlemaster other
option take pally or ranger for two levels and stack protection for +1 ac with the armor and battle master to get to 21 using plate and shield
Other Feats that may make sense
shield master can shove as a bonus action and use the shield to take no damage saving throw and take no damage instead of half
Tough extra HP
Just some other options
Azurewraith
Explorer
Also i would have a word with your DM about the optional Marking rules
Similar Threads
D&D General
Playing to "Win" - The DM's Dilemma
