D&D (2024) How does the 2024 Fighter compare to other fighting classes?

Quartz

Hero
How does the Fighter compare with the Paladin, Ranger, and Barbarian for damage-dealing and general combat? I'm looking at 3rd and 11th levels in particular.

Do you still have to use Action Surge to make up the damage difference? How are weapon masteries affecting combat?

And I see that the Barbarian now gets Indomitable ahead of the Fighter.
 

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Clint_L

Legend
How does the Fighter compare with the Paladin, Ranger, and Barbarian for damage-dealing and general combat? I'm looking at 3rd and 11th levels in particular.

Do you still have to use Action Surge to make up the damage difference? How are weapon masteries affecting combat?

And I see that the Barbarian now gets Indomitable ahead of the Fighter.
Fighters have always been an A-S tier damage dealer in 5e and a B tier tank, and that hasn’t changed. They now have more options, though, through Second Wind becoming a more flexible resource, through masteries, etc. The balance with barbarians probably hasn’t changed much, but it’s too soon to really tell. Barbarians also got significant buffs.
 

ECMO3

Legend
How does the Fighter compare with the Paladin, Ranger, and Barbarian for damage-dealing and general combat? I'm looking at 3rd and 11th levels in particular.

Do you still have to use Action Surge to make up the damage difference? How are weapon masteries affecting combat?

And I see that the Barbarian now gets Indomitable ahead of the Fighter.

Damage dealing it is probably the best of those 4. General combat the third weakest out of 4 ahead of Barbarian and behind the casters.
 


FrogReaver

As long as i get to be the frog
How does the Fighter compare with the Paladin, Ranger, and Barbarian for damage-dealing and general combat? I'm looking at 3rd and 11th levels in particular.
Ignoring subclasses, level 3 Damages

Fighter:
TWF = 6 DPR Base / +1.8 Fighting Style / ~+0.9 Vex / ~+0.5 Action Surge = ~9.2 DPR
Greatsword = 6 DPR Base / +0.6 Fighting Style / +1.2 Graze / ~+1 Action Surge = ~8.8 DPR

Ranger
TWF = 6 DPR Base / +1.8 Fighting Style / +4.2 Hunter's Mark / ~+1.4 Vex = ~13.4 DPR

Barbarian
Greatsword = 6 DPR Base / +1.2 Rage / ~+2.9 Reckless / ~+0.5 Graze = ~10.6 DPR
TWF = 6 DPR Base / +2.4 Rage / ~+3.4 Reckless = ~11.8 DPR

Paladin (calculating using smite over a 16 round day).
Greatsword = TWF = 6 DPR Base / +0.6 Fighting Style / +1.2 Graze / +2.3 Divine Smite = ~10.1 DPR
TWF = 6 DPR Base / +1.8 Fighting Style / ~+0.94 Vex = ~8.7 DPR

All of these classes have subclasses that can significantly increase DPR as well.

Do you still have to use Action Surge to make up the damage difference?
Early yes. Later I think fighter can gain some ground without action surge.

How are weapon masteries affecting combat?
Weapon masteries tend to add a decent amount of DPR, though usually it's by increased accuracy or damage on a miss, so as you get items or effects that give you increased accuracy or advantage they do less and less for DPR.

IMO. Fighter starts looking more on par when they can gain their additional feat at level 6 and GWM at level 4.

In terms of durability I'd say Fighter and Barbarian are clearly the best in different ways.
Paladin and Ranger both lack a bit but provide some team friendly heal options Goodberry/Cure Wounds/Lay on Hands
 
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FrogReaver

As long as i get to be the frog
It's still being analyzed.

But everyone looks pretty close at level 3.
I think Ranger is clear leader at level 3. Everyone else is neck and neck. Fighter might be just a tad behind.
By 11 fighters probably do the most damage and rangers the least.
I'll do some break downs later, but my initial take is Fighters and Paladins should be fairly close after divine smite is factored in (possibly there are better dpr spells as well, but keeping it simple for now).

Ranger and Barbarian without subclasses are a step below Fighters and Paladins without them, but possibly close together in damage to each other.
 

Tonguez

A suffusion of yellow
Having had a look it does look like that at Level 3 the Barbarian and Paladin have better damage output however these are limited in scope, Barbarians prowess is linked to rage and directed to their role as Frontline Tank-Disruptor, whereas Paladin is limited by Smite. However by Level 11 Fighters have Extra Attack and Action Surge to put them in the lead on Martial damage.

The Biggest factor though is that Fighters are now far more flexible due to the range and use of masteries.
 

FrogReaver

As long as i get to be the frog
Level 11 Damage (no subclasses)

Fighter
Greatsword = 21.6 DPR Base / +1.8 Fighting Style / +6 Graze / +7.2 GWM (not bonus attack) / ~+4.6 Action Surge = ~41.2 DPR

Ranger
(calculating using hail of thorns over a 16 round day).
Greatsword = 14.4 DPR Base / +1.2 Fighting Style / +4 Graze / +4.8 GWM (no bonus attack) / +4.2 Hunter's Mark / ~+5.2 Hail of Thorns = ~33.8 DPR

Barbarian

Greatsword = 14.4 DPR Base / +3.6 Rage / +4.8 GWM (not bonus attack) / ~+9.1 Reckless / ~+1.6 Graze = ~33.5 DPR

Paladin
(calculating using smite over a 16 round day).
Greatsword = 14.4 DPR Base / +1.2 Fighting Style / +4 Graze / +4.8 GWM (no bonus attack) /+5.4 Radiant Strikes / ~+8.7 Divine Smite = ~38.5 DPR
 
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FrogReaver

As long as i get to be the frog
*Note all my calculations assume 60% base chance to hit, vex doing 67.2% chance to hit with 2 attacks, and advantage doing 84% chance to hit. Crits are not included.

There may also be some better spells to slightly increase damage on the ranger and paladin.
 
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FrogReaver

As long as i get to be the frog
Anyways, I just realized how potent the champions heroic inspiration ability you get at level 10 is. Focused on level 11 - Most rounds you are going to miss at least 1 of your attacks 1 - 0.6*0.6*0.6 = 0.784. Assuming you have a good grasp of the enemies AC you can use your heroic inspiration to reroll the miss. Since you do 17 damage on a hit, the +DPR is 0.784*0.6*17 = +8 DPR just from that ability. The Crit ability adds around +1 DPR. +9 DPR from champion subclass is impressive. Likely, stronger than battlemaster for damage.

I really need to add in some subclass evaluations as well.
 

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