The Gladiator
Gladiator
A burly human wrestles an Owlbear into submission
barehanded.
A half-orc bedecked in shining gold plate strikes down her
fifth opponent to the jeers of the audience.
A halfling wielding a net and trident dashes in for the
finishing blow against a captive ogre, and the crowd goes
wild.
These are Gladiators, warriors that not only fight well, but
look good doing it. To a Gladiator, the performance is just as
important as the battle prowess. They strive to not only be the
best fighter on the field, but also to be the best looking fighter
out there. Those who are truly talented can merge the two,
and achieve incredible results.
This is the free trial version of The Gladiator. You can
purchase the full class, including 2 additional subclasses and
9 additional Flourishes, here!
Love of the Crowd
Rather than striving for martial perfection or defending a
homeland against invaders, Gladiators pursue a much loftier
motivation: the adoration of fans. For a Gladiator, renown
comes from fame, and it is a desire for that recognition that
drives them to be inventive and resourceful on the battlefield.
Though they deal in combat, a true Gladiator is a performer
at heart.
This does not mean every Gladiator in the world is greedy
or vain --- many use their artful prowess to make a statement.
Perhaps they see themselves as a champion of the people, a
commoner who has risen to acclaim through their skill. Or
perhaps they relish the joy they bring people with their
performances. The true motivation of a Gladiator varies, but
their ultimate goal demands time in the limelight.
A Gladiator is best on the front lines, demonstrating
impossible feats that no one else would ever dare perform.
They train hard to be sure that they are the best in the field,
and their artful flourishes are spectacles unto themselves.
This doesn't mean that a Gladiator cannot be a team player,
though --- leaving an opponent stunned by the sheer audacity
of an attack can give one of their allies a fantastic opening to
strike!
Storied Showmen
Not every pit fighter or back alley pugilist is a Gladiator.
Gladiators are the most distinguished in their fields, rising to
greatness in and out of the arenas and fairgrounds. Being a
talented fighter is far from enough to be a successful
Gladiator. Those combatants who simply defeat their
opponents will be doomed to tougher and tougher challenges,
until they're pitted against something that breaks them. Far
too many straight-laced warriors have grunted through a
series of powerful combatants, only to meet their end in a
fight that was all but rigged.
To survive the arena, a Gladiator needs style and flair.
Winning the favor of the crowd means survival, and a better
chance of being in fights that are possible to win. Gladiators
know this, and use it to their advantage. Most of them are
talented warriors that know how to sweep a leg or disarm an
opponent. Their talent lies in doing so by sending their
opponent sprawling with an arcing kick, or making their
opponent's weapon fly clear across the field.
Creating a Gladiator
Gladiators who leave the arena to pursue a life of adventure
do so for many different reasons. Consider what your
character's motivation for leaving behind a life of fame might
be. Perhaps they're bored of the trials they face in the arena,
and are looking for glory in the more untamed parts of the
world. Perhaps they were fighting to earn their freedom, and
now want to see the world. Or perhaps they're simply on a
tour to garner more fans!
When creating your Gladiator, consider both what brought If a Flourish calls for a saving throw, the DC for the saving
you to the arena, and why you left it. No matter what, at some throw is equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma
point you entered the arena, and your time there will shape modifier.
your future.
Quick Build
You can create a Gladiator quickly by following these
suggestions. First, make Strength your highest ability score.
Your next highest skill should be Charisma. Second, choose Gladiator
either the Soldier or Entertainer background. Proficiency Flourishes Flair
Level Bonus Features Known Die
Class Features 1st +2
Flair for the
— d6
As a Gladiator, you gain the following class features Dramatic
2nd +2 Flourishes 3 d6
Hit Points
3rd +2 Martial Role 3 d6
Hit Dice: 1d10 per Gladiator level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + your Constitution modifier 4th +2
Ability Score
4 d6
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your Constitution Increase
modifier per gladiator level after 1st 5th +3 Extra Attack 4 d8
Proficiencies Eye-Catching
Armor: Light Armor, Medium Armor, shields 6th +3
Prowess
5 d8
Weapons: All Simple and Martial Weapons Martial Role
Tools: None 7th +3
Feature
5 d8
Saving Throws: Constitution, Charisma Ability Score
Skills: Choose three from Acrobatics, Animal Handling, 8th +3
Increase
6 d8
Athletics, Intimidation, Medicine, Perception,
Performance, or Persuasion 9th +4
Tireless
6 d8
Performer
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the 10th +4
Martial Role
Feature
6 d10
equipment granted by your background:
11th +4 Extra Attack (2) 7 d10
(a) chain shirt or (b) scale mail
(a) martial weapon and a shield or (b) two martial 12th +4
Ability Score
7 d10
weapons Increase
(a) two handaxes or (b) two javelins Boisterous
(a) an explorer's pack or (b) an entertainer's pack 13th +5
Disposition
7 d10

Flair for the Dramatic Ability Score

14th +5 8 d10
Increase
Your stylish fighting style can beguile your enemies. You have Martial Role
a number of Flair Dice equal to your Charisma modifier plus 15th +5
Feature
8 d12
half your Gladiator level, rounded down (minimum of 1). You
regain all flair dice when you finish a long rest. When you 16th +5
Ability Score
8 d12
expend a Flair Die you roll it, unless an ability specifies Increase
otherwise. Heartening
Your flair dice starts out as a d6, and increases as you gain 17th +6
Aplomb
9 d12
levels in this class, as shown in the Flair Die column of the
Gladiator table. 18th +6 Coup de Grace 9 d12
You can use a bonus action on your turn to expend a Flair Ability Score
Die and add the result to your next weapon attack or weapon 19th +6
Increase
9 d12
damage roll. Enthralling
20th +6 10 d12
Performance
Flourishes
Starting at level 2, you have learned to use performative
Flourishes while fighting to gain the edge in battle. When you
gain certain Gladiator levels, you learn additional Flourishes
of your choice, as shown in the Flourishes Known column of
the Gladiator table. You can use only one Flourish during
your turn in combat.

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Martial Role Coup de Grace
At 3rd Level, your specialized methods of fighting have Once you reach level 18, you can deliver a finishing blow to
developed into a specific role you play in performative disabled opponents. When you hit a creature that has half or
combat. You can choose between Retiarius, Secutus, less of its maximum hit points remaining and is unconscious,
Dimachaerus, and Thraex, each of which is detailed at the paralyzed, or incapacitated with a melee weapon attack, you
end of the class description. The Role you choose grants you can force that creature to make a Constitution saving throw
features at 3rd level and again at 7th, 10th, and 15th levels. against your Flourish DC. If it fails, it is reduced to 0 Hit
Points. If it succeeds, it takes 10d10 damage of a type your
Ability Score Increase attack would deal. Once you use this feature you cannot use it
When you reach 4th Level, and again at 8th, 12th, 14th, 16th, again until you finish a long rest.
and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your
choice by 2, or you can increase two Ability Scores of your
choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score
above 20 using this feature.
Extra Attack
Beginning at 5th Level, you can Attack twice, instead of once,
whenever you take the Attack action on Your Turn.
The number of attacks increases to three when you reach
11th level in this class.
Eye-Catching Prowess
Starting at level 6, your physical prowess can give you a leg
up in social interactions. Whenever you make a skill check
using your Charisma skill, you can add your Strength
modifier to the skill check as well. Once you use this ability,
you cannot use it again until you finish a long rest.
Tireless Performer
Starting at 9th level, your tireless dedication to your craft
allows you to draw on additional reserves to keep the show
going. Whenever you finish a short rest, you may regain a
number of Flair Die equal to half your maximum Flair Die,
rounded up.
Boisterous Disposition
When you reach 13th level, you've developed a nigh-
unshakeable sense of self-assurance, giving you advantage on
saving throws against being Charmed or Frightened. In
addition, you can use a bonus action on your turn to end one
effect on yourself that is causing you to be Charmed or
Frightened by expending a Flair Die without rolling it.
Hearty Aplomb
Starting at level 17, whenever you expend any number of flair
die, you gain temporary hit points equal to the total combined
roll. These temporary hit points last 10 minutes or until you
take a short rest.

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Enthralling Victory
Starting at level 20, whenever you reduce a creature to 0hp,
each creature that was allied with that creature within 30ft
must make a Wisdom Saving throw against your Flourish
DC. On a failure, those creatures become your choice of
Frightened or Charmed by you until the end of your next turn.
Martial Roles
If there’s one thing that every show fighter knows, it’s that you
need a gimmick. A Gladiator lives for the roar of the crowd,
and it’s much easier to obtain when they fill a role that the
audience can identify with and root for. From commoner to
soldier up to noble, there’s a Martial Role that a Gladiator can
play that will get the audience shouting their approval.
Want more options for your martial roles? Play as the dual-
wielding Dimachaerus or the heavily-armored Secutus by
purchasing the full Gladiator class descritpion!
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are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
Retiarius
The Retiarius are combatants that seek to emulate fisherfolk
in garb and gear. Fighting with nets and tridents, they often
represent the common folk in arena games. They are
favorites of the lower class, who love to see Retiarius
overcome a heavily armed and armored combatants using
equipment they might have in their own homes.
Netcaster
You have specialized training in utilizing nets in and out of
combat. Starting at 3rd level when you choose this martial
role, given access to sufficient fibrous material, you can repair
a damaged net with 1hr of downtime, or create one during a
long rest.
In addition, the range for a thrown net for you is 10/30
instead of the normal 5/15, and the base escape DC is 12
instead of 10. You can also add your Strength modifier to
attack rolls made with your net, rather than Dexterity, and
can attack a creature within melee range without
disadvantage.
Ensnaring Fighter
Starting at 7th level, you are particularly adept at combating
ensnared opponents. Whenever you restrain a creature
within 5ft of you with your net, or start your turn within 5ft of
a restrained creature, you can use your bonus action to make
a weapon attack against that creature.
Weighted Net
Starting at 10th level, you have learned how to make your
nets particularly heavy. Given access to adequate materials
and an hour of downtime, you can enlarge and weight a net to
make it a more effective weapon. You can now restrain any
creature that is Huge or smaller, and the escape DC of your
net is increased to 15. In addition, whenever your net hits a
creature, it deals 1d6 + your Str modifier bludgeoning
damage to it.
Tripping Toss
Starting at 15th level, whenever a creature within 10ft of you
moves at least 1ft, you can use your reaction to toss your net
at their feet. The targeted creature then makes a Dexterity
saving throw against your Flourish DC, and their speed goes
to 0 and they fall prone on a failure. A creature that falls this
way becomes restrained by your net.
If they succeed the saving throw, your net remains on the
ground where you threw it until you retrieve it. The 5ft square
area that your net occupies is considered difficult terrain, and
any creature that attempts to cross over it must also make the
Dexterity saving throw or fall prone and be restrained.
Thraex
Versatile fighters and everymen, Thraex tend to be painted as
the heroes of arena competitions. Their varied skills and
adaptability make them easy to root for, and their displays of
inventive fighting in the arena make them crowd favorites.
Additional Flourish
When you choose this martial role at 3rd level, your careful
examination of your enemies has allowed you to understand
them better. You may choose an additional Flourish, ignoring
subclass prerequisites. You learn another additional Flourish
with the same restrictions at 7th and 15th level. These
Flourishes do not count toward your Flourishes Known.
Cunning Instincts
You have an unmatched ability to adapt to the fight around
you. Starting at level 7, you can ignore difficult terrain for up
to 10 minutes after you roll for initiative. In addition, you
cannot be surprised as long as you are not unconscious or
incapacitated.
Adaptive Expertise
At level 10, you have gained the ability to focus in on those
talents that would most benefit you in a given situation.
Whenever you complete a long rest, choose one of your skill
Proficiencies. Until your next long rest, your Proficiency
Bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses the
chosen Proficiency.
Masterful Bladework
At Level 15, whenever you use a Flourish when you take the
Attack action, you can use your bonus action to apply a
second flourish to that attack.
Flourishes
Gladiators live for the thrill of the performance, and their
audiences love to see them prevail in new and exciting ways.
The most successful Gladiators learn how to utilize
Flourishes, specialized maneuvers that allow them to do
more than just deal damage while in the ring. In fact, the true
measure of a Gladiator is in how well they can utilize these
stylish flairs -- a Gladiator who is simply a good fighter isn't
going to put on a very good show!
If a Flourish has prerequisites, you must meet them to
learn it. You can learn the Flourish at the same time that you
meet its prerequisites. You can't learn a Flourish more than
once.
For even more exciting ways to spice up combat with your
Gladiator, you can purchase the full Gladiator class
description here! The full class comes with 9 additional
Flourishes!
Artful Avoidance
While moving, you can use your bonus action to expend a
Flair Die and add the result to your AC. This effect ends once
you stop moving.
Blinding Strike
Prerequisite: Retiarius, 12th Level
You use your weapon to attempt to blind a creature. When
you hit a creature with a weapon attack that would deal
piercing damage, you can expend three Flair Die without
rolling them. The target then makes a Dexterity saving throw.
If they fail, they are Blinded. This effect lasts until the Blinded
creature recovers any number of hit points, or until the
affected creature uses its action to make a Constitution
saving throw against your Flourish DC and succeeds.
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Called Shot
Prerequisite: 6th Level
You designate a specific weak point on a creature (eye,
underbelly, armor seam, etc) as the specific target for your
attack. When you make a weapon attack against a creature,
you may expend a Flair Die and subtract the result from your
attack roll. If your attack still hits, the attack deals additional
damage equal to twice the original result of the Flair Die. The
target then makes a Dexterity saving throw. If they fail, you
can choose up to one of the following additional effects:
The target’s speed is reduced by half.
The target makes melee weapon attacks with
disadvantage
The target sustains a wound that causes it to take 1d4
necrotic at the start of each of its turns.
These effects end if the target restores any number of hit
points, or if it uses its action to make a Constitution saving
throw against your Flourish DC and succeeds.
Constricting Tangle
Prerequisite: Retiarius
Whenever a creature attempts to break free of your net,
you may use your reaction to expend a Flair Die and add the
result to your net's escape DC.
Dance of Blades
You can use your performative combat skills to give you an
edge in certain social situations. You may expend a Flair Die
to add the result to a Performance or Intimidation skill check.
You can use this ability after rolling the d20, but must use it
before knowing the outcome of the roll.
Disarming Strike
You attempt to knock an item from your opponent’s grasp.
When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can
expend a Flair Die. If you do, add the result of the roll to the
damage roll and the target must make a Dexterity Saving
Throw. If they fail, the weapon is knocked from their grasp
and lands at their feet.
Distracting Performance
When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can
expend a Flair Die and add the result to your attack damage
roll to distract the creature, giving your allies an opening. The
next attack roll against the target has advantage if the attack
is made before the start of your next turn.
Ensnaring Strike
Prerequisite: Retiarius
Whenever you take the attack action on your turn, you can
expend a Flair Die to use one of your attacks to attempt to
tear an item (such as a held weapon, a shield, or an arcane
focus) from an opponent’s grasp using your net. If the attack
hits, you and the target make contested Strength ability
checks, adding the result of your Flair Die to your roll. If you
win the contest, you pull the item from their grasp. You can
remove the object from your net using your Use Object
action. If you don’t, the net becomes an improvised weapon
with a reach of 5ft which deals 1d6 + your Strength modifier
bludgeoning damage on a hit, and cannot be used to restrain
a creature until the item is removed. You are considered
proficient with this improvised weapon.
Goading Attack Stylish Blow
When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you may
expend one flair die to attempt to goad the target into expend a number of Flair Die up to half your Gladiator Level,
attacking you. You add the flair die to the attack's damage roll, rounded up, and add the result to the damage dealt. The
and the target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed damage is of the same type as another that the weapon could
save, the target has disadvantage on all attack rolls against deal.
targets other than you until the end of your next turn.
Sweeping Blow
Heroic Charge You take a dramatic, sweeping swing with your weapon that
Prerequisite: 6th Level damages nearby enemies. Whenever you hit a creature with a
When you make a weapon attack roll on your first turn in weapon attack that deals slashing or bludgeoning damage,
combat, you may expend a Flair Die. If you do, an allied you can expend a Flair Die to deal damage of the original
creature within 30ft. of you that can see you gains temporary type equal to the result of the roll to up to two additional
hit points equal to the result of the flair die roll. In addition, creatures within 5ft of the original target.
the creature gains immunity to the Frightened condition until
you next take damage.
Masterful Physique
You can apply your dramatic training to enhance feats of
strength and daring. You may expend a Flair Die to add the
result to an Athletics or Acrobatics skill check. You can use
this ability after rolling the d20, but must use it before
knowing the outcome of the roll.
Stunning Display
Prerequisite: 12th Level
When you hit an enemy with a weapon attack, you can
expend two Flair Die and add the result to the damage roll. If
you do, each creature within 15ft who were allied with that
creature and can see you must make a Wisdom saving throw.
On a failure, a creature is stunned until its next turn in
combat.

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are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
 Artist Credits Continued:
Page 7: "Mosaic showing a retiarius (net-fighter)

Artist Credits named Kalendio fighting a secutor named

Astyanax, 3rd century AD, National
Archaeological Museum of Spain, Madrid" by
Following Hadrian is licensed under CC BY-SA
2.0. Cropped and feathered edges.
Cover Art: "A Retiarus armed with trident and
dagger fighting against a Secutor, the gladiator
mosaic at the Roman villa in Nennig, Germany"
by Following Hadrian is licensed under CC BY-SA
2.0. Cropped and feathered edges.

Page 1: "Detail of Gladiator mosaic, a Thraex

(left) fighting a Murmillo (right), Römerhalle, Bad
Kreuznach, Germany" by Following Hadrian is
licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped and
feathered edges.

Page 3: "Two combatants attacking one another

with cudgels and a whip, the gladiator mosaic at
the Roman villa in Nennig, Germany" by
Following Hadrian is licensed under CC BY-SA
2.0. Cropped and feathered edges.

Page 5: "Detail of the Gladiator mosaic floor, a

Hoplomachus fighting a Thraex, Römerhalle, Bad
Kreuznach, Germany" by Following Hadrian is
licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped and
feathered edges.

WWW.GMBINDER.COM

This is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used
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