D&D 5E (2024) The Versatile STR Fighter: Melee with a Real Ranged Option

[Cap'n Kobold]

How so? As I noted Cantrips are not fenced to Full Casters. Every single martial can grab 2 Cantrips with an Origin Feat and they can get them through a species or General Feats.

I think it is actually the other way around in 2024 because it is more difficult for most full casters to get proficiency in martial weapons than it is for martials to get Cantrips. Play for example a single class Bard that is not Valor or Wizard that is not Bladesinger or any Sorcerer at all and I think you are completely locked out of martial weapon proficiency in the 2024 rules.

When martials can cast using their primary or secondary ability scores in the same way that many casters can wield weapons using their primary or secondary ability scores, that might be a concern.

Feats like GWM which don't play nice with cantrips like True Strike, and weapon Mastery, are some of the few areas where martials actually get to use something that isn't also given cheaply to casters.

 

[Minigiant]

When martials can cast using their primary or secondary ability scores in the same way that many casters can wield weapons using their primary or secondary ability scores, that might be a concern.

Im surprised no one ever pushed for a "Wand Dexterity" feat or subclass to cast spells with Dexterity or Strength 5e and blow up D&D enough to get people to examine it.

 

[ECMO3]

When martials can cast using their primary or secondary ability scores in the same way that many casters can wield weapons using their primary or secondary ability scores, that might be a concern.

??? Rangers and Paladins cast using their primary or secondary ability scores, that is two entire martial classes that do this.

As far as full casters go there are no classes that allow wielding ranged weapons using a primary or secondary ability as a basic class feature. The only way I know of to get this is through one subclass (Bladesinger) who can only do it part time and does not even get proficiency to do it effectively with martial ranged weapons. A Warlock can also do it with one weapon at a time but only if that weapon is Magic, and niether of them can use masteries.

Feats like GWM which don't play nice with cantrips like True Strike, and weapon Mastery, are some of the few areas where martials actually get to use something that isn't also given cheaply to casters.

Exactly! Cantrips are not superior to using weapons, even with the fact you don't have to count inventory for ranged attacks. That is what I have been saying all along.

If you play a PC (martial or caster) who relies on casting Cantrips for ranged attacks with the magic action you are significantly disadvantaged compared to using weapons with masteries and Extra Attack, the fact you don't have to manage inventory does not make up for this.

 

[Zardnaar]

??? Rangers and Paladins cast using their primary or secondary ability scores, that is two entire martial classes that do this.

As far as full casters go there are no classes that allow wielding weapons using a primary or secondary ability as a basic class feature. The only way I know of to get this is through one subclass (Bladesinger) who can only do it part time and through an Invocation for a Warlock that can do it with one weapon at a time only.




Exactly! Cantrips are not superior to using weapons, even with the fact you don't have to count inventory. That is what I have been saying all along.

If you play a PC who relies on casting Cantrips with the magic action you are significantly disadvantaged compared to using weapons with masteries and Extra Attack.

Thrown weapon build EK?

 

[TorgoTheWhite]

The concept
Build a STR‑primary, heavy‑armor, two‑handed Fighter who takes Great Weapon Master and the Archery Fighting Style, starting with 14 Dex. This creates a Fighter who is fully online in melee and has a real ranged damage mode without needing a Dex focus.

You get a legitimate ranged attack mode

• With 14 Dex and Archery Style:
• Attack bonus: +2 (Dex) +2 (Archery) + proficiency
  Damage: 1d8 + 2 (Dex) + proficiency (from 2024 GWM)
• This is real ranged DPR.

At level 5, your longbow attacks match a Dex dual‑wielder’s ranged accuracy
A Dex TWF build at level 5 typically attacks at:

• +4
• +3 proficiency
• no Archery bonus

Your damage bonus is higher thanks to GWM’s proficiency‑based rider.

Your defenses remain excellent
With heavy armor:

• You sit 1 AC above a Dex dual‑wielder
• You sit 1 AC below a STR melee specialist in plate + Defense Style
• You lose nothing meaningful in survivability

You don't sacrifice your melee identity
You’re still a full STR/GWM greatsword or maul Fighter:

• high STR
• Graze mastery
• heavy armor
• strong melee DPR
• no feat tax for ranged competence
• Your melee mode is untouched.

It works on virtually every subclass
This is a framework, not a specific build.

Done this on a Champion.. Rolled ridiculous high stats. DEX, CON, STR were stacked (unlike rangers, you don'tworry about WIS). Archer fighting style and an extra fighting style to boot. GWM with all that on longbow was strong... and level 9 mastery swap was pretty effective for slow then push. Went greataxe for the cleaves when I put the bow away.