Arcane Pugilist (5e Subclass)

This is a re-imagining of the Arcane Warden Homebrew Subclass, modified slightly to be more suited for Unarmed Fighting style, and as such, contains many of the same verbiages/traits.: {{{2}}}

Fighter Martial Subclass: Arcane Pugilist[edit]

Prerequisites: Unarmed Fighting style Fighter

Note: This subclass prevents multiclassing into Monk. You cannot Multiclass into this subclass of fighter as a Monk.

The Arcane Pugilist is one who has perfected both the art of the fist, and the art of magics. When the fighter has realized the limitation of physical prowess alone, and turned to the arcane arts to further their power. While they are able to learn to use spells at a range, their true power arises from the combination of magic infused into their fists for a truly devastating attack.

Spellcasting

Arcane Pugilist Spellcasting
Fighter Level	Cantrips Known	Spells Known	—Spell Slots per Spell Level—
Fighter Level	Cantrips Known	Spells Known	1st	2nd	3rd	4th
3rd	3	3	2	—	—	—
4th	3	4	3	—	—	—
5th	3	4	3	—	—	—
6th	3	4	3	—	—	—
7th	3	5	4	2	—	—
8th	3	6	4	2	—	—
9th	3	6	4	2	—	—
10th	4	7	4	3	—	—
11th	4	8	4	3	—	—
12th	4	8	4	3	—	—
13th	4	9	4	3	2	—
14th	4	10	4	3	2	—
15th	4	10	4	3	2	—
16th	4	11	4	3	3	—
17th	4	11	4	3	3	—
18th	4	11	4	3	3	—
19th	4	12	4	3	3	1
20th	4	13	4	3	3	1

Beginning at 3rd level, you gain the power to wield arcane powers.

Cantrips. You learn three cantrips of your choice from the Arcane Pugilist spell list. You learn an additional Arcane Pugilist cantrip of your choice at 10th level.

Spell Slots. The Arcane Pugilist Spellcasting table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these spells, you must expend a slot of the spell’s level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest.

For example, if you know the 1st-level spell armor of agathys and have a 1st-level and a 2nd-level spell slot available, you can cast armor of agathys using either slot.

Spells Known of 1st-Level and Higher. You know three 1st-level Arcane Pugilist spells of your choice.

The Spells Known column of the Arcane Pugilist Spellcasting table shows when you learn more Arcane Pugilist spells of 1st level or higher. Each of these spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots. For instance, when you reach 7th level in this class, you can learn one new spell of 1st or 2nd level.

Whenever you gain a level in this class, you can replace one of the Arcane Pugilist spells you know with another spell of your choice from the Arcane Pugilist spell list. The new spell must be of a level for which you have spell slots.

Spellcasting Ability. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for your Arcane Pugilist spells, since you cast your magic through Arcane studies. You use your Charisma whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Charisma modifier when setting the saving throw DC for an Arcane Pugilist you cast and when making an attack roll with one.

^{Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier}

^{Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier}

Seeker of the Arcane

Beginning at 3rd level, you weave arcane forces into your fighting style.

Arcane Shield You gain the ability to conjure an arcane set of armor as a bonus action. This armor takes on any appearance you choose, but always shimmers with a dim glow of arcane light. While wearing this arcane armor, your AC equals 10 + your Charisma modifier + your Dexterity modifier. This armor has the added benefit of not imposing disadvantage on stealth checks. This armor lasts for 4 hours, and may be used three times per long rest. This armor may be used as the spellcasting focus during the duration of its existence. The armor dissipates when the player falls unconscious.

Focused Hand You use your inner power to bolster your hands, this also allows your spells and cantrips to count your Unarmed attack as a weapon for applicable spells(IE, booming blade)
Mage-Fist You may use your bonus action to infuse any touch-ranged damage spells or cantrips you know into your unarmed strike, adding the spells effects to the unarmed strike. You must announce your intent to infuse a spell into your attack prior to making the attack roll. This bypasses the casting time of the spell used. (IE, shocking grasp can be used with this, despite having a standard action time cost.) Spells cast in this way fail if the original strike does not connect, wasting the spell slot. You may use this feature 1+Proficiency modifier times per long rest.

Arcane Journeyman

Beginning at 7th level, having honed your arcane arts, you gain the following features:

All unarmed melee attacks you make are considered magical for the purposes of overcoming resistance and immunity to non-magical attacks and damage. In addition, they receive a +1 to attack and damage rolls.

You may cast detect magic as an innate ability twice per long rest, with a range of 15 feet instead of 30 feet.

You are considered proficient in two of the three following skills: Arcana, Investigation or Insight, or gain expertise in them, if you are already proficient.

While Arcane Shield is active, gain resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from non-magical sources.

Arcane Bulwark

Beginning at 10th level, hostile spells have disadvantage against you, and you have advantage on spell saving throws.

Your unarmed melee strikes now have +2 to attack and damage rolls.

Magus Knuckle

Beginning at 15th level, your mastery over the arcane blossoms further, granting the following benefits:

Cross Spell When using Extra Attack, you can cast additional touch-range spells on the additional attacks, using the additional spell slots in the process, so long as you have already expended your bonus action to infuse your first attack.

Helping Hand When a friendly creature within 10 feet of you fails a saving throw against a spell, you may use your reaction to allow that creature to re-roll that saving throw and take the higher roll. This feature excludes you.

Arcane Adept

Beginning at 18th level, when using the Action Surge feature, you may add an additional touch-ranged cantrip effect to a follow-up Mage-Fist attack, allowing for 2 spells to be infused into the same unarmed strike. You may use this feature once per turn, and twice per short or long rest. Additionally, your unarmed melee attacks now have +3 to attack and damage rolls. Once per Long Rest, you can cast the spell greater restoration. Once per Long Rest, you can also cast the spell power word: soup.