The 2024 Fighter is one of Dungeons and Dragons’ simplest subclasses, but that doesn’t mean it’s unimpressive. A class often falsely maligned as ‘boring’, the Fighter packs a serious punch in combat and has plenty of varied subclasses and feats to experiment with. Plus, the 2024 rules make this beginner-friendly character option more tactical than ever before. This guide explains the rules for the Dungeons and Dragons Fighter class.
If you want to build a Fighter from scratch, STOP reading here. Our Fighter 5e guide has all the information you need – this is simply a changelog of changes between the two versions of fifth edition. Or, if you’re looking to try something new, here’s all you need to know about the other DnD classes.
Level one
- Fighting Style – Fighters can now swap their Fighting Styles when they gain levels.
- Weapon Mastery – An entirely new feature.
- Second Wind – Starts with two uses rather than one, and uses now increase as the Fighter levels up. Additionally, only one use is regained on a short rest, with all uses regained on a long rest.
Level two
- Action Surge – You can no longer take a Magic action using Action Surge.
- Tactical Mind – An entirely new feature.
Level three
- Fighter Subclass (Battle Master) – Student of War now gives you a skill proficiency as well as a tool proficiency.
- Fighter Subclass (Battle Master) – Combat Superiority no longer includes the Brace, Quick Toss, or Grappling Strike maneuver options.
- Fighter Subclass (Battle Master) – The Commander’s Strike maneuver from Combat Superiority no longer uses up your bonus action.
- Fighter Subclass (Battle Master) – The Evasive Footwork maneuver from Combat Superiority now lets you Disengage as a bonus action too.
- Fighter Subclass (Battle Master) – Combat Superiority’s Lunging Attack maneuver has been completely redesigned.
- Fighter Subclass (Battle Master) – The Parry maneuver from Combat Superiority can now be modified by your Strength or Dexterity modifier.
- Fighter Subclass (Battle Master) – The Precision Attack maneuver from Combat Superiority only triggers when your attack roll misses rather than when you make the attack roll.
- Fighter Subclass (Battle Master) – Combat Superiority’s Rally maneuver now gives temporary HP equal to half your Fighter level rather than your Charisma modifier.
- Fighter Subclass (Battle Master) – The following Combat Superiority maneuvers can now be applied to unarmed strikes as well as weapon attacks: Commander’s Strike; Trip Attack.
- Fighter Subclass (Battle Master) – The following Combat Superiority maneuvers now apply to attack rolls rather than weapon attacks or melee attacks: Distracting Strike, Goading Attack, Maneuvering Attack, Menacing Attack, Precision Attack, Pushing Attack.
- Fighter Subclass (Champion) – Remarkable Athlete has been moved from level seven to level three, and it has been redesigned so that it’s essentially a new feature.
Fighter Subclass (Eldritch Knight) – Spellcasting now lets you swap cantrips when you gain a Fighter level, and Eldritch Knights can now use an Arcane Focus.
- Fighter Subclass (Eldritch Knight) – War Bond (renamed from Weapon Bond) no longer works if you attempt to bond with a weapon already bonded with another Fighter or attuned to someone else.
- Fighter Subclass (Psi Warrior) – You now regain one Psionic Energy Die on a short rest.
Level five
- Tactical Shift – An entirely new feature.
Level seven
- Fighter Subclass (Battle Master) – Know Your Enemy has been re-designed so that it’s functionally a brand-new feature.
- Fighter Subclass (Champion) – Additional Fighting Style has been moved from level 10 to level seven.
- Fighter Subclass (Eldritch Knight) – War Magic has been completely redesigned.
Level nine
- Indomitable – Now adds a bonus equal to your Fighter level to the saving throw re-roll.
- Tactical Master – A completely new feature.
Level 10
- Fighter Subclass (Champion) – Heroic Warrior is a brand-new subclass feature.
Level 13
- Studied Attacks – A completely new feature.
Level 15
- Fighter Subclass (Battle Master) – Relentless has been re-designed so it’s basically a new feature.
Level 18
- Fighter Subclass (Champion) – Survivor has a second new benefit that gives you advantage on death saves and makes it easier to critically succeed on a death save.
- Fighter Subclass (Eldritch Knight) – Improved War Magic has been completely re-designed.
- Fighter Subclass (Psi Warrior) – Telekinetic Master now specifies that you always have the Telekinesis spell prepared.
Level 19
- Epic Boon – An entirely new feature.
For more character-building options, here’s all you need to know about DnD stats, DnD races, and DnD 2024 backgrounds. We can also show you what’s coming up on this year’s DnD release schedule.