Embrace Your Equine Might! Explore the optimal class choices for Centaurs, known for their speed and strength.
These classes synergize with Centaur abilities, offering exciting gameplay options from swift cavalry charges to unparalleled endurance. Gallop into adventure with these top picks!
Contents
Best Classes for Centaurs
5. Artificer
Primary Ability Score – Intelligence
Secondary Ability Scores – Constitution, Dexterity
Spellcasting Ability – Intelligence
Armor Proficiencies – Light, Medium, Shields
Weapons Proficiencies – Simple
Why the Artificer?
Centaur Artificers will invest +2 in Intelligence and +1 in Constitution.
Centaurs focus mainly on their Charge and Hooves features, which only work well with two subclasses, as you’ll need to be a melee Artificer.
The easiest way to play a melee Centaur Artificer would be to use Booming Blade in combination with your Charge. The only issue is that Charge is Strength-based, and Artificers can’t afford to drop Intelligence for Strength.
Recommended Artificer Specialists
- Armorer
- Battle Smith
4. Paladin
Primary Ability Scores – Charisma and Strength
Secondary Ability Score – Constitution
Spellcasting Ability – Charisma
Armor Proficiencies – Light, Medium, Heavy, Shields
Weapons Proficiencies – Simple, Martial
Why the Paladin?
Centaur Paladins will mainly look to increase Strength or Charisma with +2, either adding +1 to the score they didn’t increase or replacing it with Constitution.
Centaur Paladins aren’t as effective as Fighters or Barbarians. Still, their Divine Smite can add significant amounts of damage (unfortunately, Divine Smite doesn’t work with a hoof attack, but your Strength helps a lot).
Recommended Paladin Sacred Oaths
- Oath of Conquest
- Oath of Devotion
- Oath of Vengeance
3. Ranger
Primary Ability Score – Dexterity
Secondary Ability Scores – Constitution, Wisdom
Spellcasting Ability – Wisdom
Armor Proficiencies – Light, Medium, Shields
Weapons Proficiencies – Simple, Martial
Why the Ranger?
Centaur Rangers will ignore most of their usual ideals and go for +1 Strength, +1 Wisdom, and +1 Dexterity.
Centaur Rangers will go for a melee build, relying on Strength and using spells or Feats to increase movement speed (or even avoid opportunity attacks like with Zephyr Strike).
Your biggest issue will be getting to your ability score requirements for Dexterity, Strength, and Wisdom, giving you a little leeway to try anything else but your Centaur build.
Recommended Ranger Archetype
- Drakewarden
- Fey Wanderer
- Swarm Keeper
2. Barbarian
Primary Ability Score – Strength
Secondary Ability Scores – Constitution, Dexterity to a lesser extent
Armor Proficiencies – Light, Medium, Shields
Weapons Proficiencies – Simple, Martial
Why the Barbarian?
Centaur Barbarians will most likely split their points in two ways: +2 Strength +1 Dexterity/Constitution or +1 Strength, +1 Dexterity, and +1 Constitution.
To get the most out of your Charge ability, you’ll need the Mobile Feat. Simply add Reckless Attack to it, so you almost always hit. You’ll then trigger your hoof attack and rack up the damage each time you attack.
Recommended Barbarian Primal Paths
- Ancestral Guardian
- Totem Warrior
1. Fighter
Primary Ability Score – Strength (STR-based), Dexterity (DEX-based)
Secondary Ability Scores – Constitution
Spellcasting Ability – Intelligence (For Eldritch Knight)
Armor Proficiencies – Light, Medium, Heavy, Shields
Weapons Proficiencies – Simple, Martial
Why the Fighter?
Centaur Fighters will likely take a +2 in Strength or Dexterity, then add +1 to whatever score they didn’t increase by 2.
Centaur Fighters also use Mobile since it increases movement speed and ignores opportunity attacks.
All you have to do now is add more movement speed, keep enemies in one area, and continuously charge them until they die.
Recommended Fighter Martial Archetypes
- Battle master
- Champion
- Samurai
Final Thoughts
Selecting the best class for your Centaur adventurer in D&D 5e can drastically change how you create strategies and play a campaign.
Whether you prefer the swift mobility of a Ranger, the martial prowess of a Fighter, or the inventive magic of an Artificer, each class offers unique opportunities for role-playing and combat.