Tabaxi Fighter 5e D&D Guide

Born with the heart of a true adventurer, the Tabaxi Fighter is a master of aerial acrobatics and lightning-fast strikes. Their paws, honed by countless escapades, gracefully navigate the battlefield, leaving foes dizzied by their seemingly erratic movements.

Tabaxi Fighters deftly assess the flow of combat, calculating each move with instinctual brilliance. Their minds, like the sinuous vines that embrace ancient trees, entwine strategy and instinct, leading them to victory time and time again.

Tabaxi Fighters are capable of wielding a variety of weaponry; whether it be a pair of finely crafted scimitars flashing with each twirling strike or a longbow strung with moonlit threads, they become the embodiment of graceful destruction.

The heart of a Tabaxi Fighter is not solely bound by bloodshed and conquest. Like the enigmatic wanderers of ancient tales, they possess an insatiable curiosity that guides their steps. 

They seek not only glory and riches but the stories and legends that lay hidden beneath the mundane world.

Creating a Tabaxi Fighter

Tabaxi

Tabaxi are catlike humanoids who came from a distant and strange land, driven by their curiosity to collect fascinating artifacts, listen to stories, and understand ancient tales – laying their eyes on all the wonders of the world.

These felines are the ultimate nomads, never staying in one place too long, as they want to see and explore as much as they can. Their nature pushes them to find long-lost legends, discover treasure and leave no secrets uncovered.

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

Tabaxi Subraces

The Tabaxi are similar to their feline brethren, the Leonin, as they also have no subraces. Their lack of subraces is probably due to their reluctance to settle, always being on the move and seldom seeking refuge, even with their own kind.

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 Tabaxi

Determining Your Fighter Subclass

Choosing your ideal subclass is subjective, but if your objective is optimization, try understanding what your character wants to do and what stats fit best with their subclass.

Optimal Tabaxi Subrace

Tabaxi have bonuses to their Dexterity (2) and Charisma (1), which doesn’t do too much for you as a Fighter. Dexterity isn’t too bad, as it gives you AC in light armor, so don’t be too discouraged.

The Tabaxi make good unarmed fighters because of their Cat’s Claws; they can even take on the Superior Technique as a Fighter and use their improved Dexterity score as a modifier.

Even though Tabaxi are better Rogues than Fighters, their agility and bonus Dexterity make them powerful Fighters, as they use their speed to deal quick damaging blows.

Your Tabaxi Fighter Background

Your Tabaxi Fighter 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 Tabaxi 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

Tabaxi Fighters are not only proud creatures but creatures full of a lust for exploration, often scouring through the most inhospitable areas just to feel the rush of seeking what they have not yet laid their eyes upon.

Tabaxi 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.

• I make sure always to have a plan prepared for when things go wrong.

Ideals, Bonds, and Flaws

Ideal – Express one ideal that is a driving force in a Tabaxi Fighter’s life – their conviction, ethical principle, and moral standing.

Tyrants mustn’t be allowed to oppress people.

Bonds – Think of a single bond that your Tabaxi 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 Tabaxi Fighter – their unhealthy compulsion, greatest fear/weakness, or most vile vice.

I can’t resist a pretty face.

Inspiration

Inspiration can be used by the DM to reward you for playing according to your bond, personality traits, ideals, and flaw.

I cannot stand idle while someone is being treated unjustly; I must act, even if it gets me into trouble.

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 Tabaxi 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) A shield and martial weapon or (b) Two martial weapons
• (a) Light crossbow with 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: By using your starting wealth, you can buy your own equipment (5d4 x 10 GP for Fighters).

Final Thoughts

The Tabaxi excel at agility, as shown by their large variety of features, including their burst of speed from Feline Agility and their ability to climb using their Cat’s Claws.

These skills aren’t bad for Fighters at all, even though they are better suited for a Ranger or Rogue. The entire point of the matter is that their natural agility, combined with the power of the Fighter class, makes the unparalleled duelists.

Some features won’t be entirely used, like their Cat’s Talent or Cat’s Claws’ unarmed strikes, but the fast pace of these felines is enough to transform them into deadly Strikers for your party.

You might also be interested in the following:

• Tabaxi Bard
• Tabaxi Rogue