February 13, 2025

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

Cavalier Fighter in D&D The Cavalier Fighter is the ultimate mounted warrior and battlefield protector, excelling at defensive tactics, controlling enemy movement, and enhancing mounted combat. Introduced in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, this subclass is perfect for players who want to play a noble knight, fearless warrior, or tactical guardian who dominates the battlefield from horseback or on foot.

Unlike other Fighters who focus purely on offense, Cavaliers specialize in protecting allies, locking down enemies, and gaining massive advantages while mounted. If you love the idea of a heavily armored knight who commands the battlefield with superior positioning, tactical awareness, and masterful weapon skill, this subclass is for you!

Why Play a Cavalier Fighter?

Key Benefits

Best Fighter for Mounted Combat – Gain massive bonuses when fighting on horseback.
Excellent at Protecting Allies – Use your reaction to punish enemies who ignore you.
Superb Battlefield Control – Lock down enemies, stop movement, and force enemies to fight you.
Durable & Hard to Kill – Extra proficiency bonuses to saving throws and increased staying power.
Great for Roleplay – Perfect for knights, noble warriors, and battlefield commanders.

Compared to other Fighters, Cavaliers excel at battlefield control, durability, and mounted combat, making them ideal front-line defenders and tacticians.

Core Features

Key Mechanics and Abilities

Bonus Proficiencies (Level 3)

Gain proficiency in one of the following:
- Animal Handling (Great for mounted combat).
- Insight (Perfect for reading enemy tactics).
- Persuasion (For knightly roleplay and diplomacy).
Gain proficiency with one type of artisan’s tools (such as smith’s tools for repairing armor and weapons).
Example: A noble knight who understands both battlefield tactics and courtly etiquette.

Born to the Saddle (Level 3)

Advantage on saving throws to avoid being dismounted.
Mounting and dismounting only costs 5 feet of movement instead of half your speed.
Example: Quickly leap off your warhorse, charge into battle, then hop back onto your steed with ease.

Unwavering Mark (Level 3)

When you hit a creature with a melee attack, you mark them until your next turn.
Marked enemies have disadvantage on attacks against anyone except you.
If they hit someone else, you can use a Bonus Action on your next turn to make a special melee attack against them, dealing extra damage equal to your Fighter level.
Example: An enemy tries to attack your wizard? They take disadvantage, and if they land a hit, you get a free counterattack next turn.

Warding Maneuver (Level 7)

When a creature within 5 feet is hit by an attack, you can use your reaction to roll a d8 and add it to their AC.
If the attack still hits, they gain resistance to the damage.
You can use this a number of times equal to your Constitution modifier per long rest.
Example: Your rogue gets targeted? Use Warding Maneuver to help them dodge the attack or take less damage.

Hold the Line (Level 10)

Creatures that provoke an opportunity attack from you have their speed reduced to 0 for the rest of their turn.
Your opportunity attacks now hit harder, preventing enemies from escaping.
Example: A fleeing enemy tries to run? One slash from you, and they’re stuck in place.

Ferocious Charger (Level 15)

If you move at least 10 feet before attacking, you can make a Strength saving throw against the target’s DC (8 + your Strength mod + proficiency bonus).
On a failure, the enemy is knocked prone.
Example: Charge into battle on horseback, knock an enemy to the ground, and gain advantage on your next attack.

Vigilant Defender (Level 18)

You gain the ability to make opportunity attacks against enemies even if they take the Disengage action.
You can also make an unlimited number of opportunity attacks per round.
Example: Enemies trying to move past you get slashed apart, no matter how many there are.

These abilities make Cavaliers one of the strongest battlefield control Fighters, excelling at defending allies, keeping enemies in place, and dominating mounted combat.

Suggested Ability Scores

Primary: Strength – Boosts melee damage, grappling, and charging attacks.
Secondary: Constitution – Increases HP and durability.
Tertiary: Charisma or Wisdom – Helps with roleplay, Insight, and Persuasion.

Recommended Races

Since Cavaliers focus on Strength, Constitution, and battlefield control, the best races include:

Human (Variant) – Start with Sentinel or Mounted Combatant feat.
Half-Orc – Relentless Endurance and Savage Attacks improve survivability and damage.
Goliath – Stone’s Endurance adds extra durability, perfect for tanking.
Centaur – Naturally mounted, fits the charging theme.

Playing as a Cavalier Fighter

Role in a Party

Frontline Defender – Protect allies and force enemies to attack you.
Battlefield Controller – Stop enemy movement and dictate combat flow.
Mounted Combat Expert – Dominate the battlefield from horseback.

Compared to other Fighters, Cavaliers excel at locking enemies down, protecting teammates, and making the battlefield their domain.

Tips for New Players

Use Unwavering Mark on strong enemies – Forcing disadvantage can save an ally’s life.
Keep a mount handy – Your abilities are even stronger when mounted.
Always position yourself near allies – Your reaction-based abilities require you to be within 5 feet of an ally.
Use Hold the Line effectively – Trap enemies in melee combat and force them to fight on your terms.

Roleplay Suggestions

The Knightly Protector – A noble guardian who defends the weak with unshakable resolve.
The Ruthless Warlord – A master of battlefield strategy who dominates with superior tactics.
The Wandering Cavalier – A roaming knight searching for adventure and glory.

Gear and Dice Recommendations

Suggested Equipment

Weapons

Lance (Mounted Combatant Build) – Extra reach when charging into battle.
Longsword / Greatsword (Defensive Build) – Best for tanking damage and counterattacks.

Armor

Plate Armor – Maximum AC for staying in the fight.
Shield – Extra AC when defending allies.

Magic Items

Saddle of the Cavalier – Prevents you from being dismounted.
Cloak of Protection – Boosts AC and saving throws.
Belt of Giant Strength – Massively increases Strength, perfect for charging attacks.

Dice Recommendations from Runic Dice

Enhance your knightly warrior aesthetic with these noble-themed dice sets:

Knight’s Honor: For a silver and blue design representing a noble warrior, consider the Gemstone Light Blue Cat's Eye Stone DND Dice Set. Handcrafted from genuine light blue cat's eye stone, these dice exhibit a captivating chatoyancy, symbolizing the valor and honor of a chivalrous knight.
War Charger: To embody battlefield command with gold and crimson hues, the Red and Gold Glitter Liquid Core Resin DND Dice Set is an excellent choice. This set features a dynamic liquid core with shimmering red and gold tones, reflecting the leadership and courage of a commanding knight.
Titan’s Charge: For a dark steel and red aesthetic symbolizing unstoppable force, the Blood Red Glitter Liquid Core Resin DND Dice Set offers deep red hues with a dynamic liquid core, capturing the relentless power of a titan in battle.

Advanced Tips and Tricks

Optimization Strategies

Best Feats for a Cavalier Fighter

Cavaliers excel at battlefield control, mounted combat, and protecting allies. The right feats can make you even more effective in these roles.

Sentinel – Prevents enemies from moving past you and punishes them for attacking allies. This works incredibly well with Unwavering Mark and Hold the Line.
Mounted Combatant – If you’re fighting on horseback, this feat grants advantage on melee attacks against unmounted enemies and allows you to redirect damage from your mount to yourself.
Polearm Master – Combines well with Hold the Line, allowing you to stop enemies before they even get close.
Shield Master – Boosts your ability to shove enemies and increases your durability with Dexterity saving throws.
Tough – Adds much-needed HP, making you even harder to bring down.

Multiclassing for a Cavalier Fighter

While Cavaliers are excellent as single-class Fighters, some multiclass options can enhance their battlefield control and tanking abilities.

Paladin (Oath of the Crown or Devotion) – Gains Divine Smite for extra damage and aura abilities that enhance their role as a protector.
Barbarian (Path of the Ancestral Guardian or Zealot) – Rage + Cavalier’s defensive abilities make you nearly unkillable while still dishing out high damage.
Cleric (War or Peace Domain) – Provides buffs, healing, and even more support options to keep allies alive.

Best Weapons for Cavaliers

Cavaliers work best with weapons that let them control the battlefield and deal consistent damage.

Lance (Mounted Combat Build) – Has reach and is best used when mounted but gives disadvantage on attacks if you're not.
Halberd / Glaive (Polearm Build) – Pairs well with Polearm Master and Sentinel for lockdown control.
Longsword + Shield (Tank Build) – Boosts AC and survivability while still allowing you to control enemies.

Cavalier Playstyles & Advanced Builds

The Unstoppable Knight (Tank Build)

Core Strategy:

Use Sentinel + Hold the Line to lock enemies in place.
Wear Plate Armor + Shield for max AC.
Use Warding Maneuver to protect allies.

Best Feats:

Sentinel – Stops enemies from moving past you.
Tough – Gives extra HP to survive even longer.
Shield Master – Lets you shove enemies prone and tank Dexterity saves.

The Mounted Charger (Mounted Combat Build)

Core Strategy:

Use Mounted Combatant feat to get advantage on attacks.
Lance for high reach damage while mounted.
Charge into battle, use Ferocious Charger to knock enemies prone, then finish them off.

Best Abilities:

Born to the Saddle – Lets you stay mounted even in rough terrain.
Ferocious Charger – Knocks enemies prone when charging.
Unwavering Mark – Forces enemies to attack you instead of allies.

The Battlefield General (Tactical Support Build)

Core Strategy:

Stay near allies, using Warding Maneuver and Unwavering Mark.
Use Hold the Line to keep enemies locked down.
Set up flanking opportunities and advantage for teammates.

Best Feats:

Inspiring Leader – Boosts team survivability.
Resilient (Wisdom) – Helps resist mind-affecting spells.
Alert – Ensures you go first and control battle flow.

Tips for Using Cavalier Abilities Effectively

Use Unwavering Mark on priority enemies – Force enemies to focus on you instead of squishier teammates.
Pair Hold the Line with Sentinel – Enemies can’t escape once they engage with you.
Warding Maneuver works best when allies are close – Position yourself in the middle of combat.
Keep a backup weapon for non-mounted combat – A longsword or halberd is useful if your mount is lost.

The Cavalier Fighter is one of the best subclasses for battlefield control, defense, and mounted combat, excelling at protecting allies, locking down enemies, and charging into battle with overwhelming force. If you want to play as a true knight and master of combat strategy, this subclass is for you.