D&D: Picking a Fighting Style? Try One of These
Are you playing one of the privileged few classes that gets to pick a Fighting Style Feat? Let us help you decide.
Fighting Styles are where characters who use weapons have a chance to stand out. Fighting Styles are something of a rarity, because they’re only available to select classes. Not everyone gets to pick one. You typically need to be playing a class that specializes in armed combat of some kind or another.
And while multiclassing is a thing, now that Fighting Styles are feats, it places a little more emphasis on the choice you’ll make. But don’t worry, we’re here to help.
Two Weapon Fighting
Two Weapon Fighting is back in a big way in 5.5E, thanks in large partto the reworked dual wielding rules. It’s so fun and effective that you don’t even necessarily need this Fighting Style feat to make dual wielding good. But if you’re specializing in it already, then this fighting style is one way to pump your damage even higher, allowing you to capitalize on the extra attack you make with a weapon with the Light Property, getting to add your stat modifier to the attack’s damage.
Archery
Of course, ranged combat is an oft overlooked gem when you’re not a spellcaster. Fighters can be just as good at range, so long as they prepare a little. And the Archery Fighting Style Feat makes you much more accurate. And while it doesn’t combo with Sharpshooter for the extra +10 damage to every attack the way it did in E, having more accuracy means you can hit targets at much longer range, because while a +2 won’t completely counteract the Disadvantage for shooting at long range, it will make you that much likelier to hit in spite of it. And if you’re hitting someone at longbow ranges, odds are good they aren’t hitting you back.
Blessed Warrior/Druidic Warrior
But why make a fighting style feat all about weapons? These two feats are the exclusive purview of Paladins and Rangers (or people with enough levels in Paladin or Ranger). And they work the same, by making you that much more of a spellcaster. These fighting style feats let you pick two cantrips from the Cleric or Druid spell lists, respectively, giving you a magical option you might not otherwise have. Combo this with an Origin Feat like Magic Initiate to be the most magical melee warrior ever.
Dueling
Dueling has always been a solid fighting style choice. It gives you +2 to damage when using a one handed weapon without holding any other weapons. Which traditionally means sword and shield or something, but you could easily take something like a sword and wand, allowing you to cast spells just as readily as protect yourself. The point is, with this fighting style feat, the damage on a one-handed weapon goes from 4.5 to 6.5, bringing it about on par with the average damage of a Greataxe. While you won’t have the same damage ceiling, you will definitely feel the difference with every swing.
Protection
Last but not least, Protection. This fighting style feat is the perfect option for someone who is a team player. You have to be wielding a shield in order to use it, and you have to be standing within 5 feet of your ally—but these are things you can do. With protection, you can interpose your shield when an enemy hits an ally within 5 feet of you. Doing so gives disadvantage to any attacks that come in until the start of your next turn. Ranged, melee, spell, it doesn’t matter. You’ve got your allies’ back.
Now you’re fighting with styles!
