A Manual of Unusual and Practical

Fighting Styles
A compendium of options for the practical combat artist
The Purpose of this Document
Fighting. Fighters. The act and art of combat. I am tasked
with compiling a manual of the more unusual fighting style I
have come across and studied in my many years as a
wondering adventurer. A complicated task, no doubt.
However, I am in luck. The defining characteristics of a
fighter are the discipline and artistry involved in their combat
style. I have an easier time of it than some. But enough
prattle, allow me to approach the meat of the matter.
No two fighters fight the same way. They do fit into
archetypes but many of those archetypes are well defined and
broad allowing for a huge range of particulars within those
bounds. This causes the problem of many burgeoning
fighters finding their style straying towards one of these
broad styles and deciding they must adopt this tradition.
False. Some of the greatest fighters I have ever encountered
have forged their own path, followed their own impulses and
arrived at a place so unique and powerful that they have
formed their own traditions. I understand the power and
place of discipline but discipline is not rigidity nor blind
adherence to tradition. I will always encourage a student to
follow their instincts.
Defining the Unusual
The artistry involved in the fighting styles I am to catalogue
here is undeniable. They have found a niche, a technique, and
mastered it to a phenomenal degree. Many of these styles
grew up out of necessity or a cultural tradition risen to
perfection in combat. I aim to explain both the origins of the
style as well as the partical applications, for it is only through
understanding do we attain mastery.
It is my hope that I can expand the knowledge of these
fighting styles and show potential fighters that there are a
vast myriad of ways in which to employ the artistry of combat.
Without any more preamble, allow me to get into it.
Dervish
The Dervish arises from the idea of the Death of a Thousand
Cuts. While many warriors believe in the strength of a single,
powerful blow a dervish knows that even the most powerful,
implacable foe can be brought down with many smaller cuts.
They take the oft overlooked art of dual wielding and bring it
to a place of awesome efficacy. They rely on manual dexterity
and practiced motion to engender the ambidexterity needed
to perform their manoeuvres. The style itself is incredibly
versatile, capable of performing well in single combat, but
where it truly shines is in horde combat. A well trained
dervish is capable of standing tall amidst a crowd of enemies
and inflicting wounds on all those in reach with a whirling
flurry of precise cuts.
Bonus Proficiency
When you adopt the archetype at 3rd level, you can choose
either Sleight of Hand or Acrobatics. You gain proficiency in
that skill.
Ambidexterity
Starting at 3rd level, your proficiency with both hands is
marvellous. When you take the Attack action while wielding
two weapons with the Light property and not wearing heavy
armor then you can make a single attack with your off hand
as a part of that action.
Additionally, when you use your bonus action to make a
dual wielding attack, that attack can be with either your main
or your off hand.
Dervish
Starting at 7th level, you can unleash a flurry of light, quick
blows at everyone around you. While you are not wearing
heavy armor and wielding only weapons with the Light
property, you can use an action to activate this ability, dealing
damage to all enemies within 5 foot equal to your proficiency
bonus.
You can use this ability three times and regain those uses
on finishing a short or long rest, or by spending a use of your
Action Surge as a part of the action to use this ability.
Biting Wind
Starting at 10th level, you reflexively lash out at those who try
to exploit your weak points. Whenever an opponent within 5
feet targets you as a part of a reaction they take damage equal
to your Dexterity modifier.
Whirlwind Attack
Starting at 15th level, you can unleash a devastating flurry of
blows against everyone you can reach. While you are not
wearing heavy armor and wielding only weapons with the
Light property you can spend an action to make an attack
against every enemy within 5 feet with your main hand, and
then make an additional attack against them with your
offhand.
You can use this ability twice and regain those uses on
finishing a long rest.
Additionally, when you use a bonus action to attack with
your second weapon you can make two attacks instead so
long as you are not wearing heavy armor.
Steel Cage
Starting at 18th level, your relentless cascade of attacks
forms a wall of whirling steel around you. As a bonus action
you can adopt a defesive stance. While in this stance, for each
melee weapon attack you make on your turn that hits you can
increase your AC by 1 until the start of your next turn. You
can only increase your AC in this way by an amount equal to
your Proficiency bonus.
Duellist
The duellist arises from the practice of one on one combat,
most often as some form of ritual or judicial practice.
Duellists were the first champions for hire or honour who
perfected this style of fighting. Through concentration, rigor
and needling persistence a Duellist is capable of taking on
almost any opponent in a one on one fight. They practice the
technique of counter tempo, where they adapt their rhythm to
counter the rhythm of their opponent. In single combat,
unmatched. However, in encounters with more than one
opponent their specialisation can be a severe impediment. So
complete is their focus upon one opponent that they leave
themselves vulnerable to any other opponent to take
advantage. With intelligent application, however, a duellist
can be the most devastating warrior.
One on One
Starting at 3rd level, you can focus all your attention on a
single opponent. You can spend a bonus action to choose a
target. Once per turn, when you damage this opponent you
can roll an additional weapon dice of damage. You add your
proficiency bonus to your AC from attacks made by this
opponent against you. Attacks against you from any other
source have advantage.
You can only focus your attention on one target at a time.
This effect requires concentration, though you do not need to
check for damage originating from your target.
Counter Tempo
Starting at 7th level, your ability to read your opponent allows
you to interrupt their combat flow with your own. When the
target of your One on One makes a melee weapon attack,
attempts to cast a spell or attempts to use an ability while it is
within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to make a
melee weapon attack.
Stare Down
Starting at 10th level, your confidence and demeanour
unnerves your opponent. When you use the Attack action
against the target of your One on One ability you can forgo
one of the attacks to instead make a flourish. If you do so,
your opponent must make an Insight check versus your
Intimidate or Perform check. If they fail they have
disadvantage on attacks against you and on checks to notice
anything other than you. Creature that are immune to the
Frightened condition are immune to this ability.
Flurry
Starting at 15th level, you can channel all your concentration
into a devastating cavalcade of blows. If you use the Attack
action on the target of your One on One you can declare it a
Flurry. You must make this declaration before rolling to hit. If
you do, each successful attack after the first deals an
additional dice of damage. This effect is cumulative but only
lasts until the end of your turn. You can use this ability once
and regain that use on finishing a long rest, or by spending a
use of your Action Surge as a part of the action to use this
ability.
One on Two
Starting at 18th level, you can keep your concentration on
two opponents at once. When you use your One on One
ability, you can choose a second target to designate as your
opponent.
Additionally, you gain an additional reaction that can only
be used against a target of your One on One ability and can
only be used to use your Counter Tempo ability.
Monster Hunter
Monster Hunters arose from the dangers of living in a
monster infested area. They began as hunters in the sense of
culling and defeating, developing techniques to fight
monsters in a way no other has and as such catch them off
guard. This lead to dominance and, eventually, capture. A well
trained and powerful Monster Hunter is capable of defeating
and capturing incredibly powerful monsters and asserting
dominance over them. Even those who have yet to achieve
such mastery are incredibly potent warriors, using gigantic
weapons and unconventional grappling techniques to bring
down foes far larger than them. Though they are specialised
towards a certain type of enemy, their brutality and
dominance allows them to catch any opponent off guard and
show off their novel and powerful techniques.
Monster Lore
When you adopt this archetype at 3rd level, you have started
to study the habitats and fighting styles of monsters. You are
considered proficient on any check to identify a beast,
monstrosity, dragon or giant or their lair.
Wrastlin'!
Also at 3rd level, you learn the best techniques for taking
down monsters by getting inside their guard. You have
advantage on Athletics checks to grapple a beast,
monstrosity, dragon or giant.
Additionally, you can grapple a creature up to two size
categories larger than you.
Brutality
Also at 3rd level, you are inexorably infused with the brutality
of your quarry. Once per turn, when you deal damage you can
increase that damage by an amount equal to half your level.
Monkey Grip
Starting at 7th level, your ability to wield large weapons
improves dramatically. You can attack a target you have
grappled with a Heavy weapon so long as you have only one
target grappled.
Additionally, you can brace for impact using your weapon
to blunt the blow. When you are hit by an attack you can use
your reaction to roll your weapon damage dice and reduce
the damage by that amount.
Subdue
Starting at 7th level, you learn how to knock a creature out
with a well placed blow. If you score a critical hit on a beast,
monstrosity, dragon or giant then you can attempt to subdue
it. Instead of rolling damage as normal for a critical hit, you
can double your number of dice and roll those instead.
Double those dice rolls as normal for a critical hit and add
your damage modifiers. If this deals enough damage to
reduce the creature to 0 hit points it is instead knocked
Unconscious at its current hit point total. This condition lasts
for 1 hour or until roused.
Additionally, you score a critical hit on a target below half
its maximum hit points on a roll of a 19 or 20.
Shutdown
Starting at 10th level, you answer an attack from your prey in
kind. If you are targeted by an attack from a beast,
monstrosity, dragon or giant then you can use your reaction
to make a melee weapon attack against the creature.
Right Where I Want You
Starting at 15th level, you gain the ability to devastate a target
you have proven your strength over. When you hit with a
melee weapon attack against a creature you have grappled,
you can turn that hit into a critical hit.
You can use this ability once and regain that use on
finishing a short or long rest, or by spending a use of your
Action Surge when you decide to use this ability.
Bring Them In
Starting at 18th level, you can capture a Large or Huge beast,
monstrosity, dragon or giant. You learn the technique for
crafting manacles and binds for various body types. Each set
of bindings takes 30 minutes to craft and 1 minute to attach
to a creature. A creature must be Unconscious to be bound
against its will.
While bound, a creature is Restrained. As an action, you
can force a creature to move up to your movement each turn
so long as it remains within 5 feet of you and you keep one
hand on the bindings. Each hour a creature is bound, it rolls a
d20 and adds its challenge rating. You must make an opposed
Intimidate check. If you are successful, the creature cannot
take any hostile actions for the next hour. If a creature fails
this roll off five times then it cannot take a hostile action
while bound.
Stalwart
The idea of a warrior being a person with a sword and shield
is ubiquitous. Ask a typical peasant what a warrior is and this
is the image they conjure. Even from the earliest armies and
mobs there have always been those with sword and shield.
The stalwart takes this idea, the colloquial sword and board,
and raises it to its logical extreme. Utilizing their shield as
much as, if not more than, their true weapon a stalwart is an
immobile and immovable bastion. There is no greater anchor
to a battle line than a stalwart. With form, stance and
impeccable use of their shield they become almost unkillable.
Such is their implacable heroism that they inspire their allies
to keep fighting even in the toughest of circumstances. A true
fighters fighter, a stalwart is an elevation of an archetype to
awesome heights.
Fortress Stance
When you adopt this archetype at 3rd level, you can go into a
stance favouring defence over mobility. You can use your
movement action to adopt this stance instead of moving. If
you do, your speed becomes 0. You cannot adopt this stance if
you moved this turn and the stance ends as soon as you move
voluntarily or if you are knocked prone. While in this stance
you double your shield bonus to AC and can add your shield
bonus to Athletics checks to resist forced movement or a
saving throw to avoid being knocked prone.
Sword and Board
Also at 3rd level, you can use your shield as a weapon as
much as a defence. While you are wielding a shield it is
considered a light melee weapon that deals 1d6 damage.
Additionally, when you use your shield to shove a creature
and succeed, that creature takes damage equal to your
Strength modifier.
Implacable Guard
Starting at 7th level, you can use your successful defiance to
fuel you. When you are targeted by an attack that misses or
when you succeed on a saving throw you can use your
reaction to gain a number of temporary hit points equal to
half your level plus your proficiency bonus.
Defiant Cry
Starting at 10th level, you can let loose a shout of pure fury
and defiance. You can use a reaction when you are targeted
by an attack or have to make a saving throw to grant you
resistance to all damage until the start of your next turn.
You can use this ability once and regain that use on
finishing a short or long rest, or by expending a use of your
Action Surge as a part of the reaction.
Rallying Surge
Starting at 15th level, you can lead your allies to glory with
your heroics. Whenever you use your Action Surge, you and
any allies within 30 feet that can see you regain hit points
equal to your proficiency bonus plus your Strength modifier.
Invincible Spirit
Starting at 18th level, your will keeps you going when others
would fall. When you are reduced to 0 hit points you are
instead reduced to 1. This effect can only occur once and it is
refreshed by finishing a long rest or by spending two uses of
your Action Surge as a bonus action.
Witch Hunter Iron Will
There is a long tradition of religious warriors who have Starting at 18th level, you are a mental fortress perfectly at
dedicated themselves to fighting the undead. While this home on the hunt. You gain resistance to spell damage.
sentiment describes witch hunters, they could not be further Additionally, any time you kill your quarry you gain
from the archetypal paladin. Their fighting style does not rely temporary hit points equal to your proficiency bonus. If your
on an investiture of power or their own faith, instead it is quarry was undead, had the Spellcasting, Pact Magic or
based on knowledge and an implacable spirit. They are Innate Spellcasting feature then you instead gain temporary
relentless in their hunt of their quarry, not resting until they hit points equal to your fighter level.
have destroyed them utterly. While capable of hunting any
target they are most dangerous while hunting the undead or
those who practice magic. A well trained witch hunter is a
terrifying foe, protected against the tricks and abilities of its
favoured foes and tearing them apart with righteous fury.
Bonus Proficiency
When you adopt this archetype at level 3 you gain proficiency
in the Religion skill. You can add double your proficiency
bonus in any attempts to identify undead or their lairs.
Hunt the Wicked
Starting at 3rd level, you focus your intention on one foe, not
resting until you bring them down. You can use a bonus
action to designate one creature within 60 feet as your
quarry. Once per turn, when you deal damage to your quarry
you deal an additional d6 damage. If your quarry is undead or
has the Spellcasting, Pact Magic or Innate Spellcasting
feature then you instead deal an additional d10 damage.
Once you designate a quarry you cannot choose a new one
until your current quarry is dead or until one week has
passed. You are considered proficient in any checks required
to track your quarry so long as it is within 5 miles of your
location. You can use this ability twice and regain those uses
on finishing a short or long rest.
Interrupt
Starting at 7th level, you become capable of stopping a spell
with a well placed blow. If your quarry attempts to cast a spell
you can use your reaction to attempt to interrupt them. Make
a melee weapon attack against them, if it hits then they must
make a Constitution saving throw with a DC equal to the
damage dealt. If they fail this save then they lose their spell.
You can use this ability once and regain that use on
finishing a short or long rest, or by sacrificing a use of your
Action Surge as a part of the reaction.
Purity of Will
Starting at 10th level, your trials and tribulations have
hardened your will. You gain proficiency in Wisdom saving
throws. Additionally, when your quarry forces you to make a
saving throw you have advantage on that saving throw.
Furor
Starting at 15th level, your drive to kill your quarry can be
honed to a fever pitch. If you take the Attack action against
your quarry you can spend a bonus action to make an
additional attack. If this attack hits, you can make an
additional attack. If this attack hits, you can make a third
attack that is an automatic critical if it hits.
You can only use this ability once and regain that use on
finishing a long rest or by sacrificing two uses of your Action
Surge as a bonus action.