3.5e Defensive Feats

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Defensive Feats are feats that help you defend yourself in melee or ranged combat. These feats make you harder to hit, or otherwise improve your defenses. A feat is listed here even if it only applies, say, while using a ranged weapon.

Defensive Feats

Feat	Prerequisite	Summary
Acrobatic Defense	Dex 13, Tumble 8 ranks	You are an expert at defending yourself from attacks.
Active Shield Defense	Shield Proficiency, Shield Specialization
Aggressive Defense	Dex 13, Base attack bonus +1	You have mastered using your weapons defensively without sacrificing accuracy.
Agile Shield Fighter	Shield Proficiency, Improved Shield Bash, Shield Specialization, Two Weapon Fighting	Similar to two-weapon fighting but this is for shields.
Armed Deflect Arrows	Weapon Focus, Dex 13	You can deflect arrows, including crossbow bolts, spears and other shot or thrown weapons with your chosen weapon.
Armor Focus	Proficient with armor, Base attack bonus +1	You move around in a certain type of armor without effort.
Armor Manipulation	Armor Proficiency (Light), Armor Proficiency (Medium), Armor Proficiency (Heavy), Shield Proficiency	You may activate the special abilities of any armor or shield that you wear.
Avoidance	Dex 15, Base attack bonus +6, Tumble 8 ranks, Dodge, Combat Expertise, Mobility, Spring Attack	You do not provoke attacks of opportunity moving past opponents.
Back To Back	Base attack bonus +2	You shield your allies' vulnerabilities in combat.
Blade Defense	Weapon Focus (any one blade weapon)	You have mastered the art of defending yourself with a blade.
Blood Splattered	Intimidate +10	You wear your enemy's blood proudly.
Bodyguard	Mobility, Con 15, Dex 15
Combat Rotation	Dodge, Mobility, Base attack bonus +3, Medium size or smaller	You know to relieve warriors from melee combat by taking their place in the ranks.
Controlled Charge		You can still remain defensive when charging.
Defense Specialization	Weapon Focus (with melee weapon), Weapon Specialization (with melee weapon), Fighter level 12th	You have mastered using your chosen weapon for defense.
Defensive Disarm	Combat Expertise, Int 13, Improved Disarm	When attacked with a weapon, you may attempt to disarm the foe attacking you.
Defensive Expertise	Combat Expertise, Int 13+, Dex 13+	You are well-practised at defending others during combat by parrying blows aimed at them.
Defensive Study	2 ranks of Sense Motive, Alertness	Allows you to use your Intelligence modifier instead of your Dexterity modifier for armor class adjustments.
Defensive Sunder	Str 13, Power Attack, Improved Sunder	When attacked with a weapon, you may attempt to break the weapon.
Deflecting Move	Dex 13, Dodge, Mobility
Dexterous Dodge		You are skilled at dodging attacks.
Ducking Shot	Point Blank Shot, Dodge, Dex 13	You are skilled at dodging while using your ranged weapon.
Energy Deflection	Shield Proficiency
Exercise Regime	Con 13, Great Fortitude
Fencing Stance	Weapon Finesse	You defend well with a single light weapon.
Greater Heavy Armor Optimization	Armor Proficiency(heavy), Heavy Armor Optimization, Base Attack Bonus +8	You become much better at using heavy armor
Heavy Armor Optimization	Armor Proficiency(heavy), Base Attack Bonus +4	You become much better at using heavy armor
Immediate Dodge	Dodge, Dex 13+	You may spontaneously elect to dodge incoming attacks that you are aware of.
Improved Combat Rotation	Dodge, Mobility, Base attack bonus +3, Medium size or smaller	You know how to relieve warriors from melee combat by taking their place in the ranks.
Improved Deflect Arrows	Dex 13, Deflect Arrows, Improved Unarmed Strike	You can deflect arrows several times in a round.
Improved Deflect Attack	Str 13, Int 13, Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes	You expertly block many incoming attacks.
Improved Dodge	Dex 13, Dodge	Your Dodge feat bonus applies against all attackers.
Improved Shield Mate	Base Attack Bonus +4, Shield Mate(3.5e Feat)
Lightning Parry	Base attack bonus +3	You use your lightning-quick strikes for defense instead of attack.
Main Gauche	Two-Weapon Fighting	Defend with an off-hand weapon
Mind Shield	Heavy Shield proficiency, ability to create a mind blade, Base attack bonus +1.	Using the same method as with your mind blade, you create a sheet of psionic semi-solid energy that functions as a heavy shield.
Missile Proof	Combat Reflexes, Shield Proficiency	You may block projectiles easily with your shield.
Mounted Dodge	Wild Rider, Mounted Combat, Ride skill	You may avoid attacks to yourself or your mount.
Overbear	Power Attack
Oversized Deflection	Strength 17, Deflect Arrows, Power Attack	You are able to knock away objects much larger than normal.
Quicksilver	Dex 13, Dodge, Base attack bonus +3	You are truly adept at dodging blows and avoiding damage in combat.
Resist Critical	Proficiency with armor, Base attack bonus +8	You are better able to resist critical blows with your selected armor.
Rushing Parry	Str 15
Shield Cover	Dex 13, Dodge, Mobility, Shield Proficiency	You can use your shield to prevent an opponent from making attacks of opportunity against you.
Shield Defender	Base attack bonus +6, Shield Proficiency	You can shield your friends in combat.
Shield Edge Deflection	Base attack bonus +4, Shield Mastery	You have learned to use your shield to stop touch attacks.
Shield Evasion	Shield Proficiency, Lightning Reflexes, Base reflex saving throw +4	You gain a limited evasion ability when using a large shield.
Shield Expertise	Shield Focus	You get extra benefit from your shield.
Shield Focus	Shield Proficiency, Base attack bonus +1	You use shields without effort.
Shield Harmony	Shield Proficiency, Base attack bonus +12	You absorb the brunt of incoming damage with your shield.
Shield Mastery	Shield Proficiency, Base attack bonus +1	You are especially proficient in blocking attacks with your shield.
Shield Mate	Base Attack Bonus +1	Grants allies +1 shield bonus.
Shield Skill	Shield Proficiency, Base attack bonus +1	You are particularly skilled at defending yourself with a shield.
Shield Ward	Shield Proficiency, Shield Specialization	May add your shield bonus to additional scores.
Skirmishing	Point Blank Shot, Dodge, Mobility, Shot on the Run, Dex 13, Base attack bonus +4	You have mastered the art of skirmishing, ducking and weaving while returning accurate shots of your own.
Spinning Weapon Defense	Combat Expertise, Dodge, Tumbling 5 ranks, Base attack bonus +4	Your mastery of the double-weapon has developed into a dance-like fighting style that makes you difficult to flank successfully.
Trained Stance	BAB +1	Through intensive training you can use your BAB as substitute for ranks Balance
Tunnel Fighting	Base Attack Bonus +1	You know how to fight with no room to maneuver.
Weapon Brace	Base attack bonus +2	By bracing your weapons together, you can resist a Sundering attack more effectively.
Whirlwind Defense	Dex 13, Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, Base attack bonus +4	You are adept at defending yourself against multiple opponents.