Fighter Swordsmaster (5e Class)
Fighter Swordmaster[edit]
A lone warrior stands poised in the center of the battlefield, their chest rising and falling with measured breaths. The sweat beads on their brow, the wind rustling through their cloak. The enemy surrounds them, but they are unshaken—each blade they wield is an extension of their very being. With a flick of the wrist, the fighter parries a vicious blow, turning it aside with the practiced grace of a master swordsman. In an instant, they counter with a deadly riposte, their sword slicing through the air with flawless precision. It’s not brute strength that marks them—it's the unerring focus and fluidity of their every move, honed over years of relentless training and battle.
This is the Fighter Swordmaster, an unyielding expert of the blade who wields their sword like an artist wields a paintbrush. They are unmatched in their skill with every edge, their movements so fast and accurate they seem almost otherworldly. In the heat of battle, they are a whirlwind of steel, parrying with supernatural finesse, riposting with devastating precision, and striking down enemies with such grace it is almost like a dance. Yet beneath their elegance lies the sharpness of a killer—each strike purposeful, each maneuver designed for maximum impact.
Master of the Blade[edit]
The Fighter Swordmaster is more than a warrior; they are an artist of combat. With years spent in the study of swordsmanship, they have perfected techniques that others could only dream of. From parrying incoming blows with the utmost ease to turning an enemy's strike into a moment of deadly opportunity, the Swordmaster is always several steps ahead of their foes. Their expertise is not limited to just one style of sword; they wield every edge with deadly grace, whether wielding a longsword, rapier, or even a greatsword, making them versatile and unpredictable in combat.
It is said that a Swordmaster does not merely fight—they shape the flow of battle itself. Every movement is deliberate, every strike is a calculated decision. Their mastery over the sword transcends mere technique, allowing them to anticipate enemy actions, disarm foes with a flick of the wrist, and even riposte with such force that they leave their enemies reeling.
A Blade That Cuts Through All[edit]
Swordmasters don’t simply rely on their superior technique, though; they are also keenly aware of their surroundings. Their ability to read the flow of battle gives them an edge over their opponents, allowing them to take advantage of any opening, no matter how small. Whether it’s turning aside an attack with a perfect parry or following up with a brutal counter, the Swordmaster always has a plan in mind—and they execute it with deadly precision.
But even a master of the blade knows the importance of versatility. Whether facing a single adversary in a duel or surrounded by foes in the chaos of a larger battle, the Fighter Swordmaster excels in every combat scenario. They bring not only their weapons to bear but also their mastery over the martial arts, seamlessly blending defense, offense, and counters into a single fluid movement.
Creating a Fighter Swordmaster[edit]
When creating your Fighter Swordmaster, consider what drives you to master the blade. Have you always been a prodigy, honing your skills from a young age, or did you rise from humble beginnings, working tirelessly to prove yourself? Do you seek to perfect your art as a way to attain personal glory, or is your goal to use your swordsmanship to protect those who cannot protect themselves? Perhaps your mastery over the sword is a path to redemption, or maybe it is simply the only thing that brings you peace in a chaotic world.
Regardless of your motivations, the Swordmaster’s journey is one of relentless pursuit of perfection—a never-ending quest to push the limits of what the blade can do, and to master the combat style that makes them truly unique.
What kind of fighter are you—one who seeks to defend, or one who strikes first and hardest? The Swordmaster’s approach to battle is as much about philosophy as it is about technique, and each fighter has their own philosophy that shapes how they wield the sword. Will you be a defender who turns your enemy’s strength against them? Or a ferocious attacker, driving your blade through the heart of any who challenge you? The choice is yours, but one thing remains certain—the path of the Fighter Swordmaster is paved with blood, skill, and a singular devotion to the mastery of the blade.
- Quick Build
To create a Fighter Swordmaster quickly, you can follow the following suggestions. First, Strength or Dexterity should be your highest ability score, followed by Constitution and Wisdom. Then, choose the Soldier background.
Class Features
As a Fighter Swordmaster you gain the following class features.
- Hit Points
Hit Dice: 1d10 per Fighter Swordmaster level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + Constitution modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + Constitution modifier per Fighter Swordmaster level after 1st
- Proficiencies
Armor: All armor, shields
Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons
Tools: None
Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution
Skills: Choose two skills from Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Athletics, History, Insight, Intimidation, Perception, and Survival
- Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) chain mail or (b) leather armor, longbow, and 20 arrows
- (a) a sword and a shield or (b) two swords
- (a) a light crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) two handaxes
- (a) a dungeoneer's pack or (b) an explorer's pack
| Level | Proficiency Bonus |
Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | +2 | Fencing, Sword Parry |
| 2nd | +2 | Blade Mastery |
| 3rd | +2 | Martial Archetype |
| 4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement |
| 5th | +3 | Extra Attack |
| 6th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement |
| 7th | +3 | Martial Archetype feature |
| 8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement |
| 9th | +4 | Deadly Precision (one use) |
| 10th | +4 | Martial Archetype feature |
| 11th | +4 | Supernatural Accuracy |
| 12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement |
| 13th | +5 | Deadly Precision (two uses) |
| 14th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement |
| 15th | +5 | Martial Archetype feature |
| 16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement |
| 17th | +6 | Deadly Precision (three uses) |
| 18th | +6 | Martial Archetype feature |
| 19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement |
| 20th | +6 | Kensei |
Fencing[edit]
Starting a 1st level, you are a true master of swords, that are shortswords, longswords, greatswords, scimitars and rapiers. When using a sword, you have a bonus of +2 on attack rolls with it. If using the Disarming optional rules, you also add that bonus to any attempts you make at disarming a creature using a sword, or to avoid being disarmed from your sword.
Sword Parry[edit]
As a reaction when you are hit by an attack made with a weapon you can see, you can parry it if you are wielding a sword, reducing the damage to 0. If the same creature makes more attacks against you as part of the same action, on the turn you used this reaction, those attack's damage are also reduced to 0. Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a short or a long rest.
Blade Mastery[edit]
Starting at 2nd level, you learn special blade techniques called Masteries, which you can use when wielding a sword. You can use Blade Masteries a number of times equal to the number shown on the Mastery Uses Column, regaining uses after you finish a short or long rest.
- Bleed
- When you hit a creature with a sword, you can spend one Mastery to cause an hemorrhage on the target. While bleeding the target loses 1d4 hit points at the end of each of its turns. The blood loss can be stopped by magical healing, regeneration or if a creature uses an Action to perform a successful Wisdom (Medicine) check on the bleeding target, with a DC equal to the result of the attack that caused the bleeding.
- Mutilate
- When you score a critical hit with a sword that causes slashing damage, you can forgo the additional damage from the critical to roll the d20 again. If you would hit an attack with this new roll, the target lose one limb. If this new roll is a a critical, the target is decapitated.
- Riposte
- When you parry an attack, you can spend one Mastery to make an attack of your own as part of that reaction. The attack must be made against your attacker, and only if the attacker is within your sword's reach.
Martial Archetype[edit]
At 3rd level, you choose an archetype that you strive to emulate in your combat styles and techniques. The archetype you choose grants you features at 3rd level and again at 7th, 10th, 15th, and 18th level.
You can choose the same archetypes available to the Fighter class.
Ability Score Improvement[edit]
When you reach 4th level, and again at 6th, 8th, 12th, 14th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.
Extra Attack[edit]
Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
Deadly Precision[edit]
Beginning at 9th level, when you miss an attack with a sword, you can choose to instantly hit instead. When you do so, that attack is considered a critical.
You can't use this feature again until you finish a long rest. You can use this feature twice between long rests starting at 13th level and three times between long rests starting at 17th level.
Supernatural Accuracy[edit]
At 11th level, once per round when you miss with an attack roll using a sword, you can reroll it. You have Advantage on this reroll.
Kensei[edit]
At 20th level, your skill with the sword is unmatched. Any sword you wield have a bonus of +3 on attacks and damage rolls and it is considered magical for the purposes of overcoming resistances and immunities to non-magical damage. When wielding a sword that already have a magical bonus to attacks and damage rolls, this replaces it if the bonus granted by the weapon is smaller.
In addition, when wielding a magical sword that has a bonus of +3 or higher, your ability score used for that sword is considered to be 24, for purposes of attack and damage rolls, and to checks and saves relating to that weapon.
Multiclassing[edit]
Prerequisites. To qualify for multiclassing into the Fighter Swordmaster class, you must meet these prerequisites: 13 Strength or 13 Dexterity.
Proficiencies. When you multiclass into the Fighter Swordmaster class, you gain the following proficiencies: Light armor, medium armor, shields, simple weapons, martial weapons
Restriction. You can't multiclass into the fighter class.
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