Expanded Fighting Styles

Flexible, powerful combat options for martial classes


Expanded Fighting Styles
When a class feature allows you to pick a Fighting Style,
you may choose to use these rules. Whenever you would be
entitled to an Ability Score Improvement due to leveling up
the class that gave you this feature, you may also choose an
Exploit associated with a Fighting Style that you know
from that class. You may not pick an exploit if you forego
the Ability Score Improvement to pick a Feat.
Rogues and barbarians may also gain Exploits as if they
had the Fighting Style class feature, treating their rogue or
barbarian class as the class that provided it. Though they
choose a Fighting Style for the purposes of these rules,
they do not gain the benefits of the class feature unless they
gain it from a class that provides it.
You may have no more than three Exploits. When you
level up, you may switch one Exploit that you have for any
other Exploit within your Fighting Style for which you meet
the prerequisites.
Archery Exploits
"You gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls you make with ranged
weapons."
Called Shot
You may use a bonus action on your turn to choose a
creature you can see. Your next ranged attack is a called
shot if it targets that creature, and takes a -5 penalty to the
attack roll. A called shot targets the head, arm or leg,
producing a specific effect in place of damage if it hits. A
called shot against a target with any amount of cover will
always miss.
Arm. The target must make a Strength saving throw
with DC equal to the attack roll result, or drop a single one-
handed weapon or shield that it is carrying (DM's choice).
Head. The next attack made against the target is made
with advantage.
Leg. The target's land speed is reduced by 10 until the
end of your next turn.
Hunting
If your current target is within the normal range of your
ranged weapon and is also the last creature you hit with
that weapon type, you may choose to deal maximum base
weapon damage to your target on a hit instead of rolling for
damage. This damage cannot be non-lethal. If you lose sight
of the last creature you hit, target another creature, use an
action other than the Attack action (or Ready an action
other than the Attack action), move, or take damage, you
lose this benefit until you hit with a ranged weapon attack.
Overdraw
Prerequisites: Strength score of 16 or higher
On a hit, your ranged attacks made with the Attack action
also push the target 10 feet away from you.
Ricochet
On your turn, you may use an action to target creatures and
objects of your choice in a line 5 feet wide, to a distance up
to the normal range of the ranged weapon you are wielding
(maximum 120 feet). Targets must make a Dexterity saving
throw with a DC equal to 8 + your Ranged Attack Bonus.
Targets take full weapon damage on a failure, and half on a
success.
You may use this ability a number of times equal to half
your class level (rounded up). You must be wielding a
ranged weapon and fire one piece of ammunition that it
uses (or throw the weapon if it is a thrown weapon), when
you use this ability. You regain all uses of this exploit after
completing a long rest.
Trickshot
You perform an impressive feat of archery in a moment of
focus, that you dare not try to repeat. When you would have
to make an attack roll or ability check due to firing a ranged
weapon or throwing a thrown weapon, you may choose not
to roll. Instead, resolve the action as an automatic hit, or as
if you had succeeded on the check.
Once you have performed a Trickshot, you may not do so
again until you have completed a long rest.
Master Archer
Prerequisites: 16th level, two other Archery exploits.
Choose an exploit from this fighting style, that you do not
have. You may use this exploit until you complete a long
rest, regardless of how many exploits you know. Once you
have chosen an exploit in this manner, you may not do so
again until you have completed a long rest.
Defense Exploits
"While you are wearing armor, you gain a +1 bonus to AC."
Fortress
When an opponent uses the help action to grant combat
advantage against you to another opponent, you can use
your reaction to negate that advantage.
Adamant Iron
When you are subjected to the grappled condition, or
subject another creature to the grappled condition, you
gain half cover against attacks.
Shield Wall
While you are wielding a shield and are within 5 feet of any
number of allied creatures who are also wielding a shield,
you all possess half cover against attacks and spells. If you
gain cover from any source while wielding a shield, your
cover is improved by one category.
On Wings of Steel
You may use an action on your turn, to make a quick exit
from a bad situation. All enemy creatures within 5 feet of
you must make a Constitution save with a DC equal to 8 +
your Attack Bonus. On a failed save, they take half your
level in damage (of the same base type as your melee
weapon), and are stunned until the end of your next turn.
On a successful save, they take no damage and cannot take
reactions until the end of your next turn. You can use this
action a number of times per day equal to your Wisdom
modifier (minimum 1).
Hardened Body
Prerequisites: Constitution score of 15 or higher
You can use an action on your turn to gain resistance to
damage from bonus damage rolls applied to weapons (such
as those rolled for critical hits, sneak attack damage, fire
damage from a flame tongue, and divine smites) for 1
minute. Once you have used this action, you cannot do so
again until you have completed a short rest.
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Master Defender
Prerequisites: 16th level, two other Defense exploits.
Choose an exploit from this fighting style, that you do not
have. You may use this exploit until you complete a short
rest, regardless of how many exploits you know. Once you
have chosen an exploit in this manner, you may not do so
again until you have completed a short rest.
Dueling Exploits
"When you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand and
no other weapons, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls
with that weapon."
Hamstring
When you hit a creature with a melee attack, and that
creature is in melee combat with another creature, you can
use a bonus action to hamstring your target. The target
must succeed on a Constitution save with a DC equal to the
attack roll result, or have its speed halved and be unable to
use the disengage action. The creature may repeat the
saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the
effect on a success.
Fleet-of-Foot
Once per turn when you hit a creature with a melee spell or
weapon attack, you can move 5 feet without provoking
attacks of opportunity as long as you end this movement
within melee range of at least one enemy.
Follow Through
When you use the Attack action to make a special melee
attack to shove a creature, you can use your bonus action to
make another melee attack against that creature,
regardless of whether the special attack was successful.
Dirty Fighting
Once on your turn, before you move out of a creature's
melee range after using the disengage action, you may
spend half your movement to make an attack against that
creature as if you had used an improvised weapon. On a
hit, the creature is blinded until the end of your next turn.
You may do this a number of times per day equal to your
Dexterity modifier (minimum 1).
Misdirection
When you are in a flanking position and attack the flanked
creature, you may use a bonus action to give the other
flanking ally advantage on its next melee attack against the
target. You must be wielding a one-handed weapon and no
other weapons to use this exploit.
Master Duelist
Prerequisites: 16th level, two other Dueling exploits.
Choose an exploit from this fighting style, that you do not
have. You may use this exploit until you complete a long
rest, regardless of how many exploits you know. Once you
have chosen an exploit in this manner, you may not do so
again until you have completed a long rest.
Great Weapon Fighting Exploits
"When you roll a 1 or 2 on a damage die for an attack you
make with a melee weapon that you are wielding with two
hands, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll,
even if the new roll is a 1 or a 2. The weapon must have the
two-handed or versatile property for you to gain this
benefit."
Parting the Waters
You make a broad, slow feint swing with your oversized
weapon, and everyone runs. As an action, up to 5 times
your level in hit points of creatures in a 15 foot cone
become frightened of you until the end of your next turn.
Creatures with the fewest hit points are affected first.
Grievous
When you reduce an enemy to 0 hit points with your two-
handed weapon, you can attack another enemy in range as
a free action.
Heavyweight
When you use the Attack action to make a special melee
attack to shove a creature, on a hit you can choose to knock
them prone and push them 10 feet.
When you hit a creature no more than one size category
larger than you with a two-handed weapon attack, you can
move them 5 feet in any direction into an unoccupied
space. When you force movement in this way, you may also
move 5 feet to remain adjacent to them, without spending
movement.
Destructive Blow
When you score a critical hit with your two-handed
weapon, all enemies of size medium or smaller within 5
feet of the target are knocked prone, including the target.
Storm Reaver
As an action, you can swing your two-handed weapon with
reckless abandon. All creatures within reach of your
weapon, must succeed on a Constitution save against a DC
equal to 8 + your Attack Bonus or take damage equal to
twice your Strength modifier (same base type as the
weapon). Objects in the area automatically take this
damage. You may use this exploit a number of times equal
to your Constitution modifier (minimum 1). You regain all
uses of this exploit when you complete a short or long rest.
Master Heavyweight
Prerequisites: 16th level, two other Great Weapon Fighting
exploits.
Choose an exploit from this fighting style, that you do not
have. You may use this exploit until you complete a long
rest, regardless of how many exploits you know. Once you
have chosen an exploit in this manner, you may not do so
again until you have completed a long rest.
Protection Exploits
"When a creature you can see attacks a target other than
you that is within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to
impose disadvantage on the attack roll. You must be
wielding a shield."
Shield Throw
 When a creature you can see within 30 feet of you, attacks a target o
When a creature you can see within 30 feet of you, attacks a target other than you, you can use your reaction to throw your shie
EXPANDED FIGHTING STYLES 2
Taunting Bash
While you wield a shield, you can use an action on your turn
to taunt a creature by bashing your shield with your
weapon. Choose a creature within 30 feet of you that can
perceive you. It has disadvantage on attacks against
creatures other than you until the end of your next turn.
Retaliatory Lunge
When a creature within 10 feet of you that you can see
attacks a target other than you that is within 10 feet of you
and hits, you can move within 5 feet of the attacker, and
your movement speed is reduced to 0 until the end of your
next turn. You may then make a melee weapon attack
against that creature. On a hit, the creature is stunned until
the end of your next turn. You cannot use this exploit if your
movement speed is reduced for any reason.
Shield Wall
While you are wielding a shield and are within 5 feet of any
number of allied creatures who are also wielding a shield,
you all gain half cover against attacks and spells. If you gain
partial cover from any source while wielding a shield, your
cover is improved by one category.
Guarding Warden
You may use a bonus action on your turn to designate an
allied creature of your size category or smaller as your
ward. When you are within 5 feet of your ward, you can
expend your action on your turn to provide your ward with
half cover against attacks until the beginning of your next
turn. Whilst you are providing your ward with cover in this
way, they have resistance to damage from spells, traps and
attacks. When your ward reduces the damage they take due
to this resistance, you take an equal amount of damage of
the same type.
If they are within 5 feet of you, your ward can move with
you up to their speed on your turn, remaining within 5 feet
of you. After completing this movement, their speed is
reduced to 0 until the end of their next turn.
You may have only one ward at any one time. If you
designate a new ward, all benefits for the old one are lost.
Master Sentinel
Prerequisites: 16th level, two other Protection exploits.
Choose an exploit from this fighting style, that you do not
have. You may use this exploit until you complete a long
rest, regardless of how many exploits you know. Once you
have chosen an exploit in this manner, you may not do so
again until you have completed a long rest.
Two-Weapon Fighting Exploits
"When you engage in two-weapon fighting, you can add
your ability modifier to the damage of the second attack."
Clockwork Shift
When you use your bonus action to attack with your off-
hand weapon, you can immediately move to another square
within 5 feet of the target without provoking attacks of
opportunity.
Hamstring
When you hit a creature with a melee attack, and that
creature is in melee combat with another creature, you can
use a bonus action to hamstring your target. The target
must succeed on a Constitution save with a DC equal to the
attack roll result, or have its speed halved and be unable to
use the disengage action. The creature may repeat the
saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the
effect on a success.
Fire Spin
You may use your bonus action to enter a fire spin, a fast
dual-wielding combat form which lasts for 1 minute.
During a fire spin, each creature that starts its turn within
5 feet of you, or enters this space for the first time on its
turn, takes damage equal to half your level. You can enter
this state a number of times per day equal to your Dexterity
modifier (minimum 1).
Twin Tempest
When two creatures are in flanking positions either side of
you, you can use your action to attack them both and leave
one of them vulnerable. Make a melee weapon attack
against both creatures. If you hit at least one, choose one of
the two. That creature is stunned until the end of your next
turn. You must be dual-wielding to use this exploit.
Misdirection
When you are in a flanking position and attack the flanked
creature, you may use a bonus action to give the other
flanking ally advantage on its next melee attack against the
target. You must be dual-wielding to use this exploit.
Dance Master
Prerequisites: 16th level, two other Two-Weapon Fighting
exploits.
Choose an exploit from this fighting style, that you do not
have. You may use this exploit until you complete a long
rest, regardless of how many exploits you know. Once you
have chosen an exploit in this manner, you may not do so
again until you have completed a long rest.
3 EXPANDED FIGHTING STYLES