What subclasses can a Fighter choose?

Champion

Champion is the straightforward physical-performance Archetype.

Its signature early feature expands the Fighter's critical-hit range.

Later features improve general athletic capability, add another Fighting Style, expand the critical range further, and improve recovery.

Champion is suitable for players who want the Fighter's weapon engine without a large secondary resource system.

Battle Master

Battle Master adds superiority dice and manoeuvres.

Manoeuvres can affect:

• accuracy;
• damage;
• movement;
• control;
• defense;
• ally positioning.

This makes Battle Master one of the most tactical Fighter options.

The player must decide which manoeuvre is worth spending a superiority die and when conserving resources is better.

Eldritch Knight

Eldritch Knight combines Fighter progression with limited Wizard spellcasting.

It gains spells much more slowly than a full Wizard.

The subclass is still fundamentally a Fighter.

Magic adds defense, utility, mobility, area effects, and specialised combat options around the existing weapon chassis.

Purple Dragon Knight / Banneret

Purple Dragon Knight, also known more generically as Banneret, focuses on leadership and sharing some of the Fighter's benefits with allies.

It is a social and support-oriented interpretation of the Fighter rather than a new spellcasting or manoeuvre system.

The exact name used can depend on setting presentation.

Arcane Archer

Arcane Archer specialises in magical archery.

It adds Arcane Shot options that modify arrows with magical effects.

The subclass is highly focused compared with Battle Master and is most appropriate when magical bow combat is the intended identity.

Cavalier

Cavalier emphasises defensive martial play, holding enemy attention, and mounted-warrior themes.

Despite the name, several of its important features can still function when the Fighter is not mounted.

It is a strong choice for a Fighter intended to protect space and punish enemies for ignoring them.

Samurai

Samurai focuses on resolve, bursts of offensive reliability, and social presence.

Fighting Spirit creates turns where the Fighter gains a major accuracy and durability boost.

The subclass is well suited to deliberate burst windows rather than a constantly active resource system.

Echo Knight

Echo Knight uses a magical echo to alter positioning and attack origin points.

The echo makes the subclass unusually spatial.

A player must track where both the Fighter and echo are located and how enemies can interact with them.

It is one of the most movement- and positioning-heavy Fighter options.

Psi Warrior

Psi Warrior adds psionic power through a pool of psionic dice.

Its abilities can improve damage, protect creatures, and manipulate movement.

The subclass gives the Fighter a supernatural resource system without becoming a normal spellcaster.

Rune Knight

Rune Knight uses giant-inspired runes and Giant's Might.

The runes provide active and passive effects, while Giant's Might changes size and improves martial pressure.

The subclass combines durability, control, utility, and physical presence.

How do you choose an Archetype?

A simplified comparison is:

Champion → simple physical consistency Battle Master → manoeuvres and tactical resource play Eldritch Knight→ weapon combat plus limited Wizard magic Banneret → leadership and ally support Arcane Archer → magical bow techniques Cavalier → defense, marking pressure, mounted themes Samurai → resolve and burst accuracy Echo Knight → positional echo tactics Psi Warrior → psionic offense, protection, movement Rune Knight → runes, size, control, giant magic

The best option depends on how much additional complexity and resource management the player wants.

What every Archetype retains

Every Fighter still keeps:

• Fighting Style;
• Second Wind;
• Action Surge;
• Extra Attack;
• the Fighter's extra ASIs;
• Indomitable;
• broad weapon and armor proficiency.

The Archetype adds a specialist system on top of that foundation.