Exploring the Basic D&D Fighter at Level 1 and Level 20

So a fighter in Basic D&D can go from levels 1 to 20 under the Champion build. What does that look like, and what does it mean? Let’s walk through character creation and see what the fighter can do at the end of his career.

The Beginning: A level 1 warrior worthy of consideration. Here we present Davin Kormak, an entrepid adventurer who has previously appeared on the blog as my first fighter PC:

Davin Kormak

Race:     Human male      Class:    Fighter                  Level :   1

Alignment:         neutral good      Background:       Soldier (officer)

STR 16 (+3); DEX 13 (+1); CON 15 (+2); INT 11 (0); WIS 11 (0); CHA 12 (+1)

HD D10; HPs 12; Saves STR, CON; Proficiency +2; AC 16   

Languages: Middle Tongue (common), Orcish

Skills: Athletics, Intimidation, Perception, Survival

Tool Proficiencies: cards, vehicles (land)

Fighter Traits:

Fighting Style: Great Weapon Fighting (reroll 1-2s on damage dice with 2-H or versatile weapons)

Second Wind (use bonus action on my turn to regain 1D10+level in HPs)

Soldier Feature: Military Rank   

Armor:  Chain mail (AC 16; stealth disadvantage)

Melee Weapons: Greatsword (+5 attack; 2D6+3 slashing; heavy, two handed) or Warhammer (+5 attack; 1D8+3 bludgeoning; versatile (1d10))

Ranged Weapon: Light crossbow and 20 bolts (+3 attack; 1D8+1 piercing; loading, two handed)

Equipment: Explorer’s pack, Insignia of rank (house Kormak ring), Trophy from battle (dagger), Deck of

cards, Common clothes,  Belt pouch,  10 GP

Trinket: A silver skull the size of a coin

Personality Trait: I can stare down a hellhound without flinching

Ideal: Live and Let Live

Bond: Those who fight beside me are those worth dying for

Flaw: the monstrous demon we faced in battle still leaves me quivering with fear

Davin at Level 1

Because we don’t have any detailed magic item rules (yet) this will be a fighter who advances through 20 levels with no enchanted weapons or armor to speak of, a lone warrior in a land free of magic items, apparently. Davin Kormak is a former soldier with a rough past who has now entered his trade as a free mercenary adventurer. Over the years he becomes a hardened, brutal warrior of no small skill at arms.

Here’s what Davin Kormak looks like at level 20:

Davin Kormak

Race:     Human male      Class:    Fighter                  Level :   20

Alignment:         neutral good      Background:       Soldier (officer)

STR 20 (+5, Saves +11); DEX 18 (+4/+7 remarkable athlete); CON 20 (+5; Saves +11); INT 11 (0); WIS 11 (0); CHA 12 (+1)

HD D10; HPs 193; Saves STR, CON; Proficiency +6; AC 17 (with dodge style bonus)   

Languages: Middle Tongue (common), Orcish

Skills: Athletics, Intimidation, Perception, Survival

Tool Proficiencies: cards, vehicles (land)

Fighter Traits:

Fighting Style: Great Weapon Fighting (reroll 1-2s on damage dice with 2-H or versatile weapons)

Second Wind (use a bonus action on my turn to regain 1D10+20 HPs once between rests)

Action Surge (use twice between rests)

Extra Attacks (four total per action)

Martial Archetype-Champion:

Superior Improved Critical 18-20

Remarkable Athlete (+3 prof. to DEX/STR/CON checks that don’t already use Prof bonus)

Defense Fighting Style (+1 AC when armored)

Survivor (regain 10 hit points/round when ½ HP or below)

Indomitable (reroll failed save; use 3 times between long rests)

Soldier Feature: Military Rank   

Armor:  Chain mail (AC 16; stealth disadvantage)

Melee Weapons: Greatsword (+11 attack, 4 per action; 2D6+5 slashing; heavy, two handed) or Warhammer (+11 attack, 4 per action; 1D8+5 bludgeoning; versatile (1d10))

Ranged Weapon: Light crossbow and 20 bolts (+10 attack, 4 per action; 1D8+4 piercing; loading, two handed)

Equipment: Explorer’s pack, Insignia of rank (house Kormak ring), Trophy from battle (dagger), Deck of

cards, Common clothes,  Belt pouch,  10 GP

Trinket: A silver skull the size of a coin

Personality Trait: I can stare down a hellhound without flinching

Ideal: Live and Let Live

Bond: Those who fight beside me are those worth dying for

Flaw: the monstrous demon we faced in battle still leaves me quivering with fear

Davin at Level 20

So Davin, at the peak of his career, can go into battle with his trusty old greatsword and in a typical fight he can do the following:

1     Each round he can move 30 feet and hit someone four times on one action, with a 15% chance of a critical strike each time, dealing an average of 12 damage per blow. Assuming he lands all four blows he’s doing 48 points of damage per round, and once every few rounds he’ll get additional critical damage in. Whenever he attacks he’s also getting to re-roll 1’s and 2’s on his 2-H sword attack damage, too.

2    Up to twice per battle (provided he’s rested a bit beforehand) Davin gets 2 extra attack actions, which means he can get one or two rounds in where he deals 8 attacks instead of 4, for 96 damage instead of 48 average, barring any crits or damage-re-rolls.

       In addition, he’s very tough. He can dodge better in armor (+1 modifier), he can take a second wind to recover an average of 25-26 hit points as a bonus action once per battle, and he has amazing survivor instincts that kick in when he is reduced to half of his hit points (97 or less), in which he starts regaining 10 HPs per round until he goes back over half his hit points. This kicks in every time he drops below half….nice doesn’t even touch how handy this appears to be!

      So that’s a 20^th level fighter in the raw with no magical enhancement due to items whatsoever. We have a fellow who can deal an average of 48 points of damage per round with two built-in conditional healing actions that will keep him up and fighting under most circumstances. Next up….the Wizard!