Dwarf Fighter 5e D&D Guide

Stout and valiant warriors, born and bred in the depths of the mountains, Dwarf Fighters are natural fighters with an axe always positioned in the one hand and a tankard of ale in the other.

Their armor is as sturdy as their determination, and their shield as unbreakable as their loyalty. They battle with fierce determination, ready to defend their kin and treasures with every fiber of their being.

Beneath their gruff exterior lies a heart of gold and a love for their comrades that is as deep as the veins of the earth.

If you are looking for a renowned warrior to share in your adventures, look no further than the Dwarf Fighter.

Creating a Dwarf Fighter

Dwarfs

Dwarfs are mostly found in their vast cities carved deep into the roots of mountains.

Echoing sounds of picks and hammers can be heard in their blazing forges and cavernous mines, a tradition burning as hot as their hatred for goblins and orcs – a common thread uniting all dwarfs.

Note: These features can be slightly changed or modified if some variations don’t fit your character.

Dwarf Subraces

Dwarfs have 4 distinct subraces, 2 of which populate most of the world, the rest being much rarer.

Hill Dwarf – Hill Dwarfs have keen senses, remarkable resilience, and deep intuition. 

Mountain Dwarf – Mountain Dwarfs are hardy and strong, familiar with a difficult life in rough terrain. They are also taller than most dwarfs, tending to have a lighter appearance as well.

Gray Dwarf (Duergar) – Gray Dwarfs live deep underground in the Underdark. They are vicious and stealthy and also have deep connections to the slave trade.

They’ll regularly go up to the surface to raid, taking their captives down to the Underdark to be sold as slaves to other races.

Unlike most dwarfs, Gray Dwarfs possess innate magical abilities, like temporarily growing to a giant size or becoming invisible.

Mark of Warding Dwarf – These dwarfs are masters at protection, especially when it means protecting something valuable or precious.

They have mystical abilities allowing them to weave wards and place intricate locks – they even understand many locks and have no problem figuring out how to unlock certain locks, be it with magic or normal tools.

Fighter Class Features

Hit Points

Proficiencies

Fighter Archetypes

When you’ve reached level 3, you’ll get to choose from 10 different Fighter archetypes. All of them have different playstyles, so you’ll have to choose the most interesting one or the one that best fits your character.

Arcane Archer – Arcane Archers use an elven archery method, infusing magic into their attacks.

They are capable of great patience, using their magical arrows to destroy enemies before they have a chance to attack.

Banneret – Bannerets inspire greatness in other companions through their skillful fighting tactics and unmatched attacks.

They often lead attacks, urging all those who follow them to strike with conviction and be filled with his courage.

Battle Master – Battle Masters use martial techniques to win battles, seeing combat as an academic field and being experienced with weaponsmithing or calligraphy as well. They possess great knowledge and skills used to overcome any enemy.

Cavalier – Cavaliers are mounted warriors prone to leading cavalry charges. They have excellent guarding capabilities and serve as great protectors. Cavaliers often become adventurers to earn prestige and make their mark on the world.

Champion – Champions are focused on one thing, raw physical power honed to destructive perfection, training nonstop until they reach an unmatched physical strike.

Echo Knight – Echo Knights are feared for their deadly echo, using it to cut down enemies before they realize what’s happening. Facing an Echo Knight feels like you’re fighting a swarm of shadows.

Eldritch Knight – Eldritch Knights have mastered common fighting and combine it with magical techniques often used by wizards. 

These knights focus on the Abjuration and Evocation schools of magic, which provide them with unbreakable protection and insane damage capabilities.

Psi Warrior – Psi Warriors use psionic powers to strengthen themselves, infuse their weapons, and breach mental barriers.

You wield the power of magic and mind, dedicating yourself to learning its secrets and turning your body into both weapon and shield.

Rune Knight – Rune Knights use the powers of runes once used by giants to empower their equipment, giving them powerful benefits like improved magical skills, greater damage, or increased protection.

Samurai – Samurais are created through grudges, using their fighting spirit to overcome enemies and hardening their resolve to become unbreakable. Enemies facing a Samurai often only have two choices – yield or die in combat.

Combining Fighter With Dwarf

Determining Your Fighter Subclass

You’ll be making your own subjective choice when choosing your subclass, so before choosing, try to understand what your character wants to do and how well the chosen subclass fits with your subrace.

Optimal Dwarf Subrace

Dwarfs have a bonus to their Constitution (2), which fits well with the Fighter’s playstyle as their proficient saving throws use Constitution, which also means higher HP.

As a Fighter, you’ll benefit most from being a Mountain Dwarf or a Mark of Warding Dwarf. 

The reason for this is that Mountain Dwarfs have bonus Strength (2), assisting your saving throws.

Mark of Warding Dwarfs also has more magical defensive capabilities, giving you damage from your class and defense from your race.

Your Dwarf Fighter Background

The Dwarf Fighter you’re playing needs a unique background that will affect its choices, as well as the way it sees the world and what it wants to achieve.

Start by asking yourself some basic questions: Where were they born, and where did they come from? Do they have any goals, bonds, or ideals, and what are their flaws? Where do they belong in social circles and society as a whole? What inspires them?

Place of Birth

Think of the environment a Dwarf Fighter grew up in and how it affected them physically and emotionally and eventually shaped their view of the world.

Try to make their place of birth and upbringing correspond with their personality traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws – this will truly bring their character alive.

Note: The birthplaces of races are usually mentioned in the Player’s Handbook or some of its expansion books.

Characteristics and Personality Traits 

Dwarf Fighters are seasoned warriors, loving nothing more than a tankard of ale and the clashing of swords, but others have different personalities, and yours can also be unique.

Dwarf Fighter Examples:

• I’m experienced in helping out those who aren’t as smart as I am, and I always patiently explain anything and everything to others.

Ideals, Bonds, and Flaws

Ideal – Express one ideal that is a driving force in a Dwarf Fighter’s life – their conviction, ethical principle, and moral standing (probably something about nature).

All people deserve to be handled with dignity and respect.

Bonds – Think of a single bond that your Dwarf Fighter has to an event, person, or place. Bonds will tie them to their background and can inspire bravery or stimulate memories driving them against their ideals.

I protect those who cannot protect themselves.

Flaws – Choose a single flaw for a Dwarf Fighter – their unhealthy compulsion, greatest fear/weakness, or most vile vice.

Violence is often my answer to almost any challenge I face.

Inspiration

The DM can use inspiration to reward you for playing according to your bond, personality traits, ideals, and flaw.

Sharing memories with those who fought in battles is what I find myself doing naturally.

Note: If you’re struggling to create your background or just don’t want to think, the Player’s Handbook has well-thought-through backgrounds that you can use for your character or use as a mold.

Supplies and Gear For Dwarf Fighters

Fighters start with the following equipment, together with the equipment from their background.

Choosing equipment based on your situation and your character’s proficiencies is the easiest way to go about things.

• (a) Chain mail or (b) Leather, longbow, and 20 arrows
• (a) One martial weapon and a shield or (b) Two martial weapons
• (a) One light crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) Two Handaxes
• (a) Dungeoneer’s pack or (b) Explorer’s pack

You can decide how your character came about these goods – whether they stole, inherited, or purchased them some time back – adding to your character’s background.

Note: You can also choose to buy equipment using your starting wealth (5d4 x10 GP for Fighters).

Final Thoughts

Dwarfs are stout and often find themselves on the other end of a blade. They know how to eat, drink and fight, some of the core principles of any adventurer and loved by Halflings.

Dwarf Fighters are a great addition to your party if you’re in need of a Striker or Defender who deals a lot of damage.

You might also be interested in the following:

• Dwarf Barbarian
• Dwarf Cleric
• Dwarf Paladin
• Dwarf Rogue