Lizardfolk Fighter 5e D&D Guide

Born from ancient swamps and murky marshlands, the Lizardfolk Fighter emerges as a formidable force on the battlefield, armed with the wisdom of their ancestors and the ferocity of a cornered predator.

Equipped with a masterfully crafted weapon, be it a broadsword or a deadly halberd, the Lizardfolk Fighter wields their chosen instrument of destruction with a primal grace.

Lizardfolk Fighters are also cunning tacticians, utilizing their keen senses to analyze the flow of combat. They observe their foes with a hunter’s gaze, identifying weaknesses and exploiting openings with ruthless efficiency.

In the end, a Lizardfolk Fighter is a creature of honor and loyalty, valuing the bonds of their tribe and their actions which are guided by a code of honor forged through generations.

Creating a Lizardfolk Fighter

Lizardfolk

Lizardfolk possess an inscrutable and alien mindset, as their thoughts and desires are driven by a different set of basic principles compared to warm-blooded creatures.

The dreary homes of Lizardfolk are mainly found in swamps hundreds of miles away from human or other warm-blooded settlements. This distance is nothing compared to the gap between the Lizardfolk’s thinking and that of the smooth-skins.

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

Lizardfolk Subraces

Lizardfolk don’t have any playable subraces, although you can always ask your DM to incorporate a subrace into the game for your character.

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 Lizardfolk

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 Lizardfolk Subrace

Since Lizardfolk don’t have known subraces, you’ll have to make do with their standard race’s Constitution (2) and Wisdom (1) ability scores for your Fighter.

While the Wisdom stat is useless, even as an Eldritch Knight, as they use Intelligence as their spellcasting modifier, the Constitution bonus suits a Fighter exceptionally well.

Features like Bite, Natural Armor, and Hungry Jaws also make great additions if you’re building an unarmed character or if you’re just feeling extra brutal today.

All that’ll be left to do from here on out is level your Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution depending on what you need most (which will usually be Strength then Constitution).

Your Lizardfolk Fighter Background

Your Lizardfolk 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 Lizardfolk 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

Lizardfolk Fighters are one of the hardiest races out there. Their sharp claws, large tails, and razer-like teeth make them natural-born killing machines.

Lizardfolk Fighter Examples:

• If you need me to do something for you, tell me I can’t do it.

• 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 Lizardfolk Fighter’s life – their conviction, ethical principle, and moral standing (probably something about nature).

If we all do the work, we will share the rewards.

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

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

Inspiration

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

I enjoy starting brawls in bars, even when my fellow party members urge me not to.

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 Lizardfolk 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: By using your starting wealth, you can buy your own equipment (5d4 x 10 GP for Fighters).

Final Thoughts

Lizardfolk complement the Fighter class extremely well, as they have the appropriate stats, as well as the features for it.

Even though Lizardfolk aren’t the easiest to approach due to their menacing appearance, you’ll come to understand that they are just misunderstood for their tribal antics.

You’ll do well to bring a Lizardfolk Fighter into your party, especially one who has experience!

You might also be interested in the following:

• Lizardfolk Cleric
• Lizardfolk Monk
• Loxodon Cleric
• Loxodon Druid