Some take up arms for glory, wealth, or revenge. Others do battle to prove themselves, to protect others, or because they know nothing else. Still others learn the ways of weaponcraft to hone their bodies in battle and prove their mettle in the forge of war. Lords of the battlefield, fighters are a disparate lot, training with many weapons or just one, perfecting the uses of armor, learning the fighting techniques of exotic masters, and studying the art of combat, all to shape themselves into living weapons. Far more than mere thugs, these skilled warriors reveal the true deadliness of their weapons, turning hunks of metal into arms capable of taming kingdoms, slaughtering monsters, and rousing the hearts of armies. Soldiers, knights, hunters, and artists of war, fighters are unparalleled champions, and woe to those who dare stand against them.
Role
Fighters excel at combat—defeating their enemies, controlling the flow of battle, and surviving such sorties themselves. While their specific weapons and methods grant them a wide variety of tactics, few can match fighters for sheer battle prowess.
Starting Wealth
The following table lists the starting gold piece value for fighter characters. In addition, each character begins play with an outfit worth 10 gp or less.
| Class | Starting Wealth | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Fighter | 5d6 × 10 gp | 175 gp |
Class Skills
The fighter's class skills are Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (dungeoneering) (Int), Knowledge (engineering) (Int), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str).
Skill Ranks per Level
2 + Int modifier.
Table: Fighter
| Level | Base Attack Bonus | Fort Save | Ref Save | Will Save | Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +1 | +2 | +0 | +0 | Bonus feat |
| 2nd | +2 | +3 | +0 | +0 | Bonus feat, bravery +1 |
| 3rd | +3 | +3 | +1 | +1 | Armor training 1 |
| 4th | +4 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Bonus feat |
| 5th | +5 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Weapon training 1 |
| 6th | +6/+1 | +5 | +2 | +2 | Bonus feat, bravery +2 |
| 7th | +7/+2 | +5 | +2 | +2 | Armor training 2 |
| 8th | +8/+3 | +6 | +2 | +2 | Bonus feat |
| 9th | +9/+4 | +6 | +3 | +3 | Weapon training 2 |
| 10th | +10/+5 | +7 | +3 | +3 | Bonus feat, bravery +3 |
| 11th | +11/+6/+1 | +7 | +3 | +3 | Armor training 3 |
| 12th | +12/+7/+2 | +8 | +4 | +4 | Bonus feat |
| 13th | +13/+8/+3 | +8 | +4 | +4 | Weapon training 3 |
| 14th | +14/+9/+4 | +9 | +4 | +4 | Bonus feat, bravery +4 |
| 15th | +15/+10/+5 | +9 | +5 | +5 | Armor training 4 |
| 16th | +16/+11/+6/+1 | +10 | +5 | +5 | Bonus feat |
| 17th | +17/+12/+7/+2 | +10 | +5 | +5 | Weapon training 4 |
| 18th | +18/+13/+8/+3 | +11 | +6 | +6 | Bonus feat, bravery +5 |
| 19th | +19/+14/+9/+4 | +11 | +6 | +6 | Armor mastery |
| 20th | +20/+15/+10/+5 | +12 | +6 | +6 | Bonus feat, weapon mastery |
Class Features
The following are class features of the fighter.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency
A fighter is proficient with all simple and martial weapons and with all armor (heavy, light, and medium) and shields (including tower shields).
At 1st level, and at every even level thereafter, a fighter gains a bonus feat in addition to those gained from normal advancement (meaning that the fighter gains a feat at every level). These bonus feats must be selected from those listed as combat feats, sometimes also called “fighter bonus feats.”
Upon reaching 4th level, and every four levels thereafter (8th, 12th, and so on), a fighter can choose to learn a new bonus feat in place of a bonus feat he has already learned. In effect, the fighter loses the bonus feat in exchange for the new one. The old feat cannot be one that was used as a prerequisite for another feat, prestige class, or other ability. A fighter can only change one feat at any given level and must choose whether or not to swap the feat at the time he gains a new bonus feat for the level.
Starting at 2nd level, a fighter gains a +1 bonus on Will saves against fear. This bonus increases by +1 for every four levels beyond 2nd.
Starting at 3rd level, a fighter learns to be more maneuverable while wearing armor. Whenever he is wearing armor, he reduces the armor check penalty by 1 (to a minimum of 0) and increases the maximum Dexterity bonus allowed by his armor by 1. Every four levels thereafter (7th, 11th, and 15th), these bonuses increase by +1 each time, to a maximum –4 reduction of the armor check penalty and a +4 increase of the maximum Dexterity bonus allowed.
In addition, a fighter can also move at his normal speed while wearing medium armor. At 7th level, a fighter can move at his normal speed while wearing heavy armor.
Starting at 5th level, a fighter can select one group of weapons, as noted below. Whenever he attacks with a weapon from this group, he gains a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls.
Every four levels thereafter (9th, 13th, and 17th), a fighter becomes further trained in another group of weapons. He gains a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls when using a weapon from this group. In addition, the bonuses granted by previous weapon groups increase by +1 each. For example, when a fighter reaches 9th level, he receives a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls with one weapon group and a +2 bonus on attack and damage rolls with the weapon group selected at 5th level. Bonuses granted from overlapping groups do not stack. Take the highest bonus granted for a weapon if it resides in two or more groups.
A fighter also adds this bonus to any combat maneuver checks made with weapons from this group. This bonus also applies to the fighter's Combat Maneuver Defense when defending against disarm and sunder attempts made against weapons from this group.
Weapon groups are defined as follows (GMs may add other weapons to these groups, or add entirely new groups):
Axes
battleaxe, dwarven waraxe, greataxe, handaxe, heavy pick, light pick, orc double axe, and throwing axe.
Blades, Heavy
bastard sword, elven curve blade, falchion, greatsword, longsword, scimitar, scythe, and two-bladed sword.
dagger, kama, kukri, rapier, sickle, starknife, and short sword.
Bows
composite longbow, composite shortbow, longbow, and shortbow.
Close
gauntlet, heavy shield, light shield, punching dagger, sap, spiked armor, spiked gauntlet, spiked shield, and unarmed strike.
Crossbows
hand crossbow, heavy crossbow, light crossbow, heavy repeating crossbow, and light repeating crossbow.
Double
dire flail, dwarven urgrosh, gnome hooked hammer, orc double axe, quarterstaff, and two-bladed sword.
Flails
dire flail, flail, heavy flail, morningstar, nunchaku, spiked chain, and whip.
Hammers
club, greatclub, heavy mace, light hammer, light mace, and warhammer.
Monk
kama, nunchaku, quarterstaff, sai, shuriken, siangham, and unarmed strike.
Natural
unarmed strike and all natural weapons, such as bite, claw, gore, tail, and wing.
Pole Arms
glaive, guisarme, halberd, and ranseur.
Spears
javelin, lance, longspear, shortspear, spear, and trident.
Thrown
blowgun, bolas, club, dagger, dart, halfling sling staff, javelin, light hammer, net, shortspear, shuriken, sling, spear, starknife, throwing axe, and trident.
Expanded Weapon Groups: Ultimate Magic
At 19th level, a fighter gains DR 5/— whenever he is wearing armor or using a shield.
At 20th level, a fighter chooses one weapon, such as the longsword, greataxe, or longbow. Any attacks made with that weapon automatically confirm all critical threats and have their damage multiplier increased by 1 (×2 becomes ×3, for example). In addition, he cannot be disarmed while wielding a weapon of this type.
Fighter Archetypes
Fighter Archetypes: Advanced Player's Guide
Fighter Archetypes: Ultimate Combat