Fighter - Classes - Archives of Nethys: Pathfinder 2nd Edition Database (2024)

Fighter Details | Fighter Feats

There is a Legacy version here.

Fighter
Source Player Core pg. 136
Fighting for honor, greed, loyalty, or simply the thrill of battle, you are an undisputed master of weaponry and combat techniques. You combine your actions through clever combinations of opening moves, finishing strikes, and counterattacks whenever your foes are unwise enough to drop their guard. Whether you are a knight, mercenary, sharpshooter, or blade master, you have honed your martial skills into an art form and perform devastating critical attacks on your enemies.

Key Attribute: STRENGTH OR DEXTERITY
At 1st level, your class gives you an attribute boost to your choice of Strength or Dexterity.

Hit Points: 10 plus your Constitution modifier
You increase your maximum number of HP by this number at 1st level and every level thereafter.

Key Terms

Below are some key terms in many fighter class features.

Flourish: Actions with the flourish trait are special techniques that require too much exertion for you to perform frequently. You can use only one action with the flourish trait per round.

Press: Actions with this trait allow you to follow up earlier attacks. An action with the press trait can be used only if you are currently affected by a multiple attack penalty. You can't use a press action when it's not your turn, even if you use the Ready activity.

Some actions with the press trait also grant an effect on a failure. The effects that are added on a failure don't apply on a critical failure. If your press action succeeds, you can choose to apply the failure effect instead. (For example, you may wish to do this when an attack deals no damage due to resistance.)

Stance: A stance is a general combat strategy that you enter by using an action with the stance trait, and you remain in for some time. A stance lasts until you get knocked out, until its requirements (if any) are violated, until the encounter ends, or until you use a stance action again, whichever comes first. After you take an action with the stance trait, you can't take another one for 1 round. You can enter or be in a stance only in encounter mode. You can Dismiss a stance.

During Combat Encounters...

You strike with unmatched accuracy and use specialized combat techniques. A melee fighter stands between allies and enemies, attacking foes who try to get past. A ranged fighter delivers precise shots from a distance.

During Social Encounters...

You can be an intimidating presence. This can be useful when negotiating with enemies, but is sometimes a liability in more genteel interactions.

While Exploring...

You keep up your defenses in preparation for combat, and keep an eye out for hidden threats. You also overcome physical challenges in your way, breaking down doors, lifting obstacles, climbing adeptly, and leaping across pits.

In Downtime...

You might perform manual labor or craft and repair armaments. If you know techniques you no longer favor, you might train yourself in new ones. If you’ve established your reputation, you might build an organization or a stronghold of your own.

You Might...

  • Know the purpose and quality of every weapon and piece of armor you own.
  • Recognize that the danger of an adventurer’s life must be balanced out with great revelry or ambitious works.
  • Have little patience for puzzles or problems that require detailed logic or study.

Others Probably...

  • Find you intimidating until they get to know you—and maybe even after they get to know you.
  • Expect you’re all brawn and no brains.
  • Respect your expertise in the art of warfare and value your opinion on the quality of armaments.

At 1st level, you gain the listed proficiency ranks in the following statistics. You are untrained in anything not listed unless you gain a better proficiency rank in some other way.

Perception

Expert in Perception

Saving Throws

Expert in Fortitude
Expert in Reflex
Trained in Will

Skills

Trained in your choice of Acrobatics or Athletics
Trained in a number of additional skills equal to 3 plus your Intelligence modifier

Attacks

Expert in simple weapons
Expert in martial weapons
Trained in advanced weapons
Expert in unarmed attacks

Defenses

Trained in all armor
Trained in unarmored defense

Class DC

Trained in fighter class DC

You gain these features as a Fighter. Abilities gained at higher levels list the levels at which you gain them next to the features' names.

Your LevelClass Features
1Ancestry and background, attribute boosts, initial proficiencies, Reactive Strike, fighter feat, Shield Block
2Fighter feat, skill feat
3Bravery, general feat, skill increase
4Fighter feat, skill feat
5Ancestry feat, attribute boosts, fighter weapon mastery, skill increase
6Fighter feat, skill feat
7Battlefield surveyor, general feat, skill increase, weapon specialization
8Fighter feat, skill feat
9Ancestry feat, battle hardened, combat flexibility, skill increase
10Attribute boosts, fighter feat, skill feat
11Armor expertise, fighter expertise, general feat, skill increase
12Fighter feat, skill feat
13Ancestry feat, skill increase, weapon legend
14Fighter feat, skill feat
15Attribute boosts, general feat, greater weapon specialization, improved flexibility, skill increase, tempered reflexes
16Fighter feat, skill feat
17Ancestry feat, armor mastery, skill increase
18Fighter feat, skill feat
19General feat, skill increase, versatile legend
20Attribute boosts, fighter feat, skill feat

Ancestry and Background

In addition to what you get from your class at 1st level, you have the benefits of your selected ancestry and background.

Attribute Boosts

In addition to what you get from your class at 1st level, you have four free boosts to different attribute modifiers.

At 5th level and every 5 levels thereafter, you get four free boosts to different attribute modifiers. If an attribute modifier is already +4 or higher, it takes two boosts to increase it; you get a partial boost and must boost that attribute again at a later level to increase it by 1.

Initial Proficiencies

At 1st level you gain a number of proficiencies that represent your basic training in attacks, defenses, Perception, skills, and other areas. These are noted at the start of this class.

Reactive Strike

Ever watchful for weaknesses, you can quickly attack foes that leave an opening in their defenses. You gain the Reactive Strike reaction.

Reactive Strike [reaction]

Source Player Core pg. 138
Trigger A creature within your reach uses a manipulate action or a move action, makes a ranged attack, or leaves a square during a move action it's using.

You lash out at a foe that leaves an opening. Make a melee Strike against the triggering creature. If your attack is a critical hit and the trigger was a manipulate action, you disrupt that action. This Strike doesn't count toward your multiple attack penalty, and your multiple attack penalty doesn't apply to this Strike.


Fighter Feats

At 1st level and every even-numbered level, you gain a fighter class feat.

Shield Block

You gain the Shield Block general feat, a reaction that lets you reduce damage with your shield.

Skill FeatsLevel 2

At 2nd level and every 2 levels thereafter, you gain a skill feat. You must be trained or better in the corresponding skill to select a skill feat.

BraveryLevel 3

Having faced countless foes and the chaos of battle, you have learned how to stand strong in the face of fear. Your proficiency rank for Will saves increases to expert. When you roll a success at a Will save against a fear effect, you get a critical success instead. In addition, anytime you gain the frightened condition, reduce its value by 1.

General FeatsLevel 3

At 3rd level and every 4 levels thereafter, you gain a general feat.

Skill IncreasesLevel 3

At 3rd level and every 2 levels thereafter, you gain a skill increase. You can use this increase to either become trained in one skill you're untrained in or become an expert in one skill in which you're already trained.

At 7th level, you can use skill increases to become a master in a skill in which you're already an expert, and at 15th level, you can use them to become legendary in a skill in which you're already a master.

Ancestry FeatsLevel 5

In addition to the ancestry feat you started with, you gain an ancestry feat at 5th level and every 4 levels thereafter. The list of ancestry feats available to you can be found in your ancestry's entry.

Fighter Weapon MasteryLevel 5

Hours spent training with your preferred weapons, learning and developing new combat techniques, have made you particularly effective with your weapons of choice. Choose one weapon group. Your proficiency rank increases to master with the simple weapons, martial weapons, and unarmed attacks in that group, and to expert with the advanced weapons in that group. You gain access to the critical specialization effects of all weapons and unarmed attacks for which you have master proficiency.

Battlefield SurveyorLevel 7

Whether taking stock of an enemy army or simply standing guard, you excel at observing your foes. Your proficiency rank for Perception increases to master. In addition, you gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Perception checks for initiative, making you faster to react during combat.

Weapon SpecializationLevel 7

You've learned how to inflict greater injuries with the weapons you know best. You deal 2 additional damage with weapons and unarmed attacks in which you're an expert. This damage increases to 3 if you're a master, and 4 if you're legendary.

Battle HardenedLevel 9

Your experience in battle helps protect you against magic and toxins alike. Your proficiency rank for Fortitude saves increases to master. When you roll a success on a Fortitude save, you get a critical success instead.

Combat FlexibilityLevel 9

You can prepare your tactics to suit different situations. When you make your daily preparations, you gain one fighter feat of 8th level or lower that you meet the prerequisites for and don't already have. You can use that feat until your next daily preparations.

Armor ExpertiseLevel 11

You have spent so much time in armor that you know how to make the most of its protection. Your proficiency ranks for light, medium, and heavy armor, as well as for unarmored defense, increase to expert. You gain the armor specialization effects of medium and heavy armor.

Fighter ExpertiseLevel 11

Your practiced techniques have made you even more formidable. Your proficiency rank for your fighter class DC increases to expert.

Weapon LegendLevel 13

You've learned fighting techniques that apply to all armaments, and you've developed unparalleled skill with your favorite weapons. Your proficiency ranks for simple weapons, martial weapons, and unarmed attacks increase to master. Your proficiency rank for advanced weapons increases to expert.

You can select one weapon group and increase your proficiency ranks to legendary for all simple weapons, martial weapons, and unarmed attacks in that weapon group, and to master for all advanced weapons in that weapon group.

Greater Weapon SpecializationLevel 15

Your damage from weapon specialization increases to 4 with weapons and unarmed attacks in which you're an expert, 6 if you're a master, and 8 if you're legendary.

Improved FlexibilityLevel 15

Your extensive experience gives you even greater ability to adapt to each day's challenges. When you use combat flexibility, you can gain two fighter feats instead of one. While the first feat must still be 8th level or lower, the second feat can be up to 14th level, and you can use the first feat to meet the prerequisites of the second feat. You must meet all of the feats' prerequisites.

Tempered ReflexesLevel 15

Practiced reflexes let you find safety even in the face of cataclysmic explosions. Your proficiency rank for Reflex saves increases to master. When you roll a success on a Reflex save, you get a critical success instead.

Armor MasteryLevel 17

Your skill with armor improves further. Your proficiency ranks for light, medium, and heavy armor, as well as for unarmored defense, increase to master.

Versatile LegendLevel 19

You are nigh-unmatched with any weapon. Your proficiency ranks for simple weapons, martial weapons, and unarmed attacks increase to legendary, and your proficiency rank for advanced weapons increases to master. Your proficiency rank for your fighter class DC increases to master.

Fighter - Classes - Archives of Nethys: Pathfinder 2nd Edition Database (2024)

FAQs

What subclasses are fighters in pf2e? ›

Unlike other classes, the Fighter has no subclasses. Instead, you can totally determine how the Fighter works by your choice of class feats.

Are archives of nethys legal? ›

Newcomers; Archives of Nethys is free. It's not pirated. It's not illegal.

Are fighters good in Pathfinder 2e? ›

The Fighter is at their best in combat, where their capabilities truly shine. The Fighter has fewer skills than most classes and terribly few utility options, but in a fight the Fighter is versatile, capable, and often surprising.

What are the core classes in pf2e? ›

Twelve character classes, including the alchemist, barbarian, bard, champion, cleric, druid, fighter, monk, ranger, rogue, sorcerer, and wizard! Hundreds and hundreds of spells, class feats, and other exciting abilities to help you customize your character to become the hero YOU envision her to be!

What is the strongest Fighter subclass? ›

1 Battle Master Is The Best Fighter Subclass In D&D

Without a doubt, Battle Master is the ideal fighter subclass. Its main feature, Combat Superiority, allows the Battle Master to draw on an ever-growing pool of Superiority Dice, which grant them a variety of maneuvers to help them in battle.

How many archetypes can you have PF2E? ›

Class Archetypes

It may be possible to take a class archetype at 1st level if it alters or replaces some of the class's initial class features. In that case, you must take that archetype's dedication feat at 2nd level, and after that you proceed normally. You can never have more than one class archetype.

Is Pathfinder 2e better than D&D 5E? ›

While D&D 5E is easier to pick up and play, Pathfinder 2E is much more front-loaded but easier to run longer campaigns with, since higher-level play tends to feel more balanced and feasible with better scaling options.

Does a natural 20 always hit Pathfinder 2e? ›

Automatic hit/success

In several editions of the D&D rules, a natural 20 is an automatic hit on an attack roll, regardless of the opponent's armor class. This occurs in AD&D 1st edition, 2nd edition, D&D 3rd edition, 4th edition, and 5th edition.

What is the best race for fighters in Pathfinder 2e? ›

The Best Fighter Ancestries In Pathfinder 2e

However, the strongest options in Pathfinder tend to be human for the bonus Feat or dwarves for their stat bonuses and extra damage from dwarven weapons. Half-elf and half-orc are also decent options with their racial traits and Darkvision for the latter.

Is PF2E too crunchy? ›

PF2e is undoubtedly crunchy, but is very, very smooth in its crunch.

How often should players level up PF2E? ›

You have a great deal of control over when the characters gain XP, though the following guidelines are what you're expected to give out in a standard campaign. Normally, when a player character reaches 1,000 XP or more, they level up, reduce their XP by 1,000, and start progressing toward the next level.

Which classes can heal Pathfinder 2e? ›

Combat Healing by Class:
  • Alchemist: Alchemists aren't casters but they can create elixirs of life) that can be distributed or administered to the party to restore their life. ...
  • Bard: Bards have the Occult Spell List. ...
  • Cleric: Clerics have the Divine Spell List.
Feb 17, 2020

Does PF2 have subclasses? ›

In PF2E, only a few classes have what could be considered a subclass. For example, if you're a bard, you get to choose a Muse, or as a Wizard, the Spell School you choose is a bit like a subclass. However, only a few of the classes you'll be dealing in have subclasses.

What level do fighters get a subclass? ›

Fighters pick a subclass at level 3. If you're looking to keep things simple, Champion is the best fighter subclass — it just makes you better at punching.

What is the champion Fighter archetype in Pathfinder 2e? ›

Archetype Feats

Champion fighters focus on a style of combat exemplified by their deity. A shield-using champion benefits from the best of both worlds in shield feats.

What is the best Fighter race in Pathfinder 2e? ›

The Best Fighter Ancestries In Pathfinder 2e

However, the strongest options in Pathfinder tend to be human for the bonus Feat or dwarves for their stat bonuses and extra damage from dwarven weapons. Half-elf and half-orc are also decent options with their racial traits and Darkvision for the latter.

References

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