D&D 5E Rune Knight Is The Best Fighter Overall IMHO.

[Zardnaar]

Eldritch Knight requires some very specific choices and doesn't even start to come online till level 7. Even then it's usually clunky (free hand casting), requires very specific spells and doesn't have many slots - most of what you mentioned. By Max level it could be arguable that eldritch knight is the best.

At higher levels and optimistic its probably better.

For most of your career at levels that matter (3-10) Rune Knight.

 

[niklinna]

If I were to play 5e, and if I were to play a Fighter, it would for sure be a Rune Knight. It seems both effective and flavorful. Echo Knight is a close second, but it isn't quite as colorful (literally! ).

 

[Zardnaar]

If I were to play 5e, and if I were to play a Fighter, it would for sure be a Rune Knight. It seems both effective and flavorful. Echo Knight is a close second, but it isn't quite as colorful (literally! ).

Haven't seen Echo Knight in play. I think the book isn't that well known offline relative to Xanathars/Tasha's.

 

[niklinna]

For those who dig Treantmonk, he puts Echo Knight in upper A-tier, Rune Knight mid B-tier, Battle Master in high C-tier, and Eldritch Knight in lower C-tier.

 

[Zardnaar]

For those who dig Treantmonk, he puts Echo Knight in upper A-tier, Rune Knight mid B-tier, Battle Master in high C-tier, and Eldritch Knight in lower C-tier.

Up to a point. Dungeon Dudes rated them higher but that was as far as Fighters go compared to each other

Treatmonk might be overall or over the 20 levels.

Personally I prioritize level 3-10.

 

[Seramus]

Echo Knight is a certain kind of awesome that can make incredibly fun combat and exploration builds. The chief problem is the somewhat vague wording that means your mileage at any given table can vary quite a bit. I would personally rate it higher than Rune Knight unless I wanted to focus on the social advantages of Rune Knight, or had a conservative DM where Rune Knight's clarity makes it more reliable to play.

 

[niklinna]

Up to a point. Dungeon Dudes rated them higher but that was as far as Fighters go compared to each other

Treatmonk might be overall or over the 20 levels.

Treantmonk weights class features gained at lower levels higher, and barely mentions features gained above 10th level.

 

[Zardnaar]

Treantmonk weights class features gained at lower levels higher, and barely mentions features gained above 10th level.

Yeah I agree with that.

 

[Gorck]

Haven't seen Echo Knight in play. I think the book isn't that well known offline relative to Xanathars/Tasha's.

There is a live play called The Dungeon Run in which one of the players (Morgan Peter Brown) plays an Echo Knight Fighter (Valcorio) in their Campaign 2.

 

[Zardnaar]

There is a live play called The Dungeon Run in which one of the players (Morgan Peter Brown) plays an Echo Knight Fighter (Valcorio) in their Campaign 2.

Never heard of it shrugs.