Champion Fighter Guide for Beginners: Mastering the Champion in D&D 5e

The Champion Fighter is the purest form of a martial warrior in Dungeons & Dragons 5e, focusing on raw physical prowess, durability, and improved critical hits. Introduced in the Player’s Handbook, this subclass is perfect for players who want a simple, effective, and highly lethal melee combatant without the need for complicated mechanics or resource management.

Unlike other Fighter subclasses, Champion Fighters don’t rely on tactical maneuvers or magic; instead, they become superior warriors by pushing their natural abilities to the limit. If you love the idea of a fearless gladiator, battle-hardened soldier, or unstoppable knight who lands devastating critical hits more often than anyone else, this subclass is for you!

Why Play a Champion Fighter?

Key Benefits

• More Frequent Critical Hits – Improved Critical increases your chance to land a critical hit.
• Simple & Beginner-Friendly – No extra mechanics, just raw combat power.
• More Attacks than Any Other Class – Extra Attack (x3) at level 20 means you attack up to 4 times per turn.
• Enhanced Athletic Ability – Better physical skills for climbing, jumping, and grappling.
• One of the Most Durable Classes – High hit points, heavy armor, and Survivor at level 18 make you extremely tough.

Compared to other Fighters, Champion Fighters are all about sustained combat efficiency, relying on their superior physicality rather than maneuvers, magic, or complex tactics.

Core Features

Key Mechanics and Abilities

Improved Critical (Level 3)

• You now land a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20.
• Example: With multiple attacks per round, you’ll be landing critical hits much more frequently, making weapons with extra damage dice (greatswords, greataxes) especially deadly.

Remarkable Athlete (Level 7)

• Add half your proficiency bonus to Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution ability checks that you’re not already proficient in.
• Increase your long jump distance by your Strength modifier.
• Example: Need to grapple a raging minotaur or leap across a chasm? You’ll have a better chance at success than other Fighters.

Additional Fighting Style (Level 10)

• Gain a second Fighting Style, improving your combat versatility.
• Example: If you started with Great Weapon Fighting, you could now take Defense (+1 AC) or Dueling (+2 damage when wielding a one-handed weapon).

Superior Critical (Level 15)

• You now land a critical hit on a roll of 18, 19, or 20.
• Example: With 4 attacks per turn at level 20, this gives you incredibly high chances of landing at least one critical hit every round.

Survivor (Level 18)

• At the start of each turn, if you have less than half your HP, you automatically regain 5 + your Constitution modifier HP.
• Example: Even if you get knocked down to low HP in battle, you’ll keep regenerating health every turn without using actions or spells.

These abilities make Champion Fighters one of the most consistent and effective frontline warriors, excelling at dealing sustained damage while remaining incredibly durable.

Suggested Ability Scores

• Primary: Strength or Dexterity – Determines attack rolls and damage for weapons.
• Secondary: Constitution – Boosts HP and survivability.
• Tertiary: Wisdom or Charisma – Helps with saving throws and roleplay.

Recommended Races

Since Champion Fighters focus on raw physicality and durability, the best races include:

• Half-Orc – Savage Attacks boosts critical hits, and Relentless Endurance keeps you alive longer.
• Goliath – Stone’s Endurance reduces damage, making you even tougher.
• Variant Human – Gain a free feat at level 1, such as Great Weapon Master or Sentinel.
• Mountain Dwarf – Extra Strength and Constitution make you harder to kill.

Playing as a Champion Fighter

Role in a Party

• Frontline Damage Dealer – Use high-damage weapons and Improved Critical to destroy enemies.
• Tank & Durable Defender – Absorb damage and stay in the fight longer than most classes.
• Simple but Effective Combatant – Minimal decision-making, just focus on attacking and surviving.

Compared to other Fighters, Champion Fighters excel at raw damage output and critical hits while keeping the mechanics simple and effective.

Tips for New Players

• Use weapons with multiple damage dice – Greatswords (2d6) and Greataxes (1d12) benefit most from frequent critical hits.
• Pick a high-damage Fighting Style – Great Weapon Fighting or Archery works best for sustained damage.
• Maximize Constitution – You’ll be in melee often, so high HP keeps you in the fight.
• Focus on extra attacks – With Extra Attack and Action Surge, you can unleash devastating damage in one turn.

Roleplay Suggestions

• The Relentless Gladiator – A battle-hardened champion who thrives in combat arenas.
• The Indomitable Soldier – A trained warrior who refuses to fall, no matter the odds.
• The Fearless Avenger – A vengeful warrior seeking justice with sheer combat prowess.

Gear and Dice Recommendations

Suggested Equipment

Weapons

• Greatsword or Greataxe – Best for critical hits and high damage output.
• Polearm (Glaive or Halberd) – Pairs well with Sentinel and Polearm Master feats.

Armor

• Plate Armor – Maximum AC for melee combatants.
• Half Plate or Breastplate – For Dexterity-based Champions.

Magic Items

• Vorpal Sword – Instantly decapitates on a natural 20. Perfect for a Champion.
• Cloak of Protection – Boosts AC and saving throws.
• Belt of Giant Strength – Increases Strength dramatically for even more damage.

Dice Recommendations from Runic Dice

Enhance your unstoppable warrior aesthetic with these battle-themed dice sets:

• Warlord’s Steel: For a metallic gray appearance resembling a battle-hardened blade, consider the Shield and Sword Copper Hollow Metal DND Dice Set. This set features intricate shield and sword designs with a copper finish, capturing the essence of a seasoned warlord's weaponry.
• Crimson Gladiator: To evoke the imagery of blood and steel with red and silver hues, the Blood Red Raised Zircon Glass DND Dice Set is an excellent choice. Handcrafted from fiery blood-red zircon glass, these dice embody the spirit of intense combat and valor.
• Unyielding Titan: For a dark and rugged aesthetic symbolizing resilience in battle, the Smoke and Blood Resin DND Dice Set offers a unique blend of swirling smoke and crimson hues, reminiscent of a battlefield shrouded in mystery.

Advanced Tips and Tricks

Optimization Strategies

• Feats:

  • Great Weapon Master – Extra damage and bonus attacks after crits.
  • Savage Attacker – Reroll your damage dice once per turn for better damage output.
  • Sentinel – Lock enemies in melee and punish them for attacking allies.

• Multiclassing:

  • Barbarian (Path of the Berserker or Zealot) – Rage + Extra Critical Hits = Maximum Damage.
  • Rogue (Assassin) – Sneak Attack + Improved Critical makes for insane burst damage.

• Champion Fighter Advanced Build Ideas

  • The Ultimate Crit Machine: Great Weapon Master, Reckless Attack (Barbarian), and a Vorpal Sword for massive critical hit potential.
  • The Indestructible Warrior: Max Constitution, take Heavy Armor Master, and never die thanks to Survivor.
  • The Tactical Duelist: Use a Rapier + Shield, focusing on precision attacks and high crit damage.

The Champion Fighter is one of the simplest yet most effective martial subclasses in D&D 5e, excelling at critical hits, sustained combat, and raw physical endurance. If you want to play as a warrior who dominates through sheer strength and resilience, this subclass is for you.