Dwarf Fighter Build Guide

Levels 1-4

Start with the Great Weapon Fighting style to reroll 1s and 2s on your 2d6 attacks. At level 3, lock in the Battle Master archetype. Because of your 25-foot dwarf speed, you need Trip Attack to knock enemies prone once you reach them, and Precision Attack to turn near-misses into hits. At level 4, immediately take the Great Weapon Master (GWM) feat. The flat +10 damage is non-negotiable for a Striker, and Precision Attack completely offsets the -5 penalty to your attack roll.

Levels 5-10

Level 5 brings Extra Attack, doubling your damage output and doubling your chances to trigger GWM's bonus action attack on a kill or critical hit. At level 6, take the Dwarven Fortitude feat, bumping your Constitution to an even number and allowing you to spend a d10 hit die whenever you take the Dodge action. At level 8, push your Strength to 18. By level 10, grab Maneuvering Attack to help reposition your allies while you hold the frontline.

Levels 11-16

Level 11 is the Fighter's biggest power spike: Extra Attack (2). You are now swinging three times per Action. Take your Strength to 20 at level 12. At level 14, address your glaring 10 Wisdom by taking the Resilient (Wisdom) feat. A failed save against Hold Person or Dominate Person will turn your massive HP and GWM damage against your own party. At level 16, take the Tough feat to double down on Dwarven Toughness, making you mathematically equivalent to a Barbarian in health.

Levels 17-20

At level 17, you gain a second Action Surge, allowing for explosive eight-attack rounds. Level 20 grants Extra Attack (3), cementing your sustained DPR. Use your level 19 ASI for the Alert feat. As a dwarf with a 14 Dexterity, your initiative is mediocre; Alert ensures you aren't stuck at the bottom of the turn order, letting you lock down dangerous targets before they can cast a spell or reposition.

Great Weapon Master

Take this at level 4. The -5 to hit for +10 damage is the mathematical core of your Striker role. As a Battle Master, you can use Precision Attack to add a superiority die to your attack roll after you see the d20 result, completely negating the penalty. If you kill a creature, you get a bonus action attack, maximizing your action economy.

Dwarven Fortitude

Available only to dwarves, this half-feat is taken at level 6. It allows you to spend a Hit Die to heal yourself whenever you take the Dodge action. Because Fighters get Action Surge, you can Action Dodge (healing yourself and giving enemies disadvantage) and then Action Surge to attack in the same turn. It is the ultimate survival tool.

Resilient (Wisdom)

With a starting Wisdom of 10, you are highly susceptible to debilitating enchantment and illusion magic. Taking this at level 14 gives you proficiency in Wisdom saving throws. As a frontline Fighter, you are the primary target for enemy spellcasters trying to use Crown of Madness or Banishment. This feat keeps you in the fight.

Tier 1 (Levels 1-4)

Start with Chain Mail and a Greatsword. Your goal is to acquire Splint armor as quickly as you can afford the 200 gold. Carry at least five handaxes or javelins to compensate for your 25-foot dwarven speed during the first round of combat.

Tier 2 (Levels 5-10)

Upgrade to Plate Armor (1,500 gp) for an AC of 18. Seek out a +1 Greatsword or a Weapon of Warning. A Weapon of Warning provides advantage on Initiative rolls, which is crucial since you rely on getting into melee range quickly before enemies disperse.

Tier 3 (Levels 11-16)

You want the Dwarven Thrower. It requires attunement by a dwarf, returns to your hand instantly, and deals an extra 1d8 damage (or 2d8 against giants). This completely solves your 25-foot speed issue, turning you into a lethal ranged threat when melee isn't an option.

Tier 4 (Levels 17-20)

Look for a Belt of Fire Giant Strength or higher to break the 20 Strength cap, pushing your attack and damage rolls into the stratosphere. Combine this with Dwarven Plate to reduce forced movement effects, ensuring nobody can push you away from your target.

As a Striker, your job is to delete high-threat targets using Great Weapon Master and Action Surge, while relying on your d10 hit die and Dwarven Toughness to absorb retaliation. You need allies who can fix your mobility issues and boost your accuracy.

A Wolf Totem Barbarian is your best friend. Standing next to them grants you automatic advantage on melee attack rolls, allowing you to spam Great Weapon Master swings without needing to burn Superiority Dice on Precision Attack. This pairing turns the frontline into a blender.

Alternatively, any Cleric or Divine Soul Sorcerer casting Bless is a godsend. The +1d4 to attack rolls perfectly offsets your GWM penalty, and the +1d4 to saving throws shores up your mediocre Wisdom saves. If they can also cast Haste on you, your 25-foot dwarf speed doubles to 50, completely removing your biggest racial weakness.

Barbarian 2 Dip

Taking two levels of Barbarian for Reckless Attack is a massive DPR boost. Advantage on demand guarantees your Great Weapon Master attacks land. You also gain Rage, which grants resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage. Combined with Dwarven Toughness, your effective HP becomes virtually infinite.

Forge Domain Cleric 1 Dip

A single level of Forge Cleric fits the dwarven flavor perfectly. You get Bless to buff your GWM accuracy, and the Blessing of the Forge feature lets you turn your Greatsword or Plate Armor into a +1 magic item if your DM is stingy with loot.

• Ignoring your 25-foot speed: Dwarves are slow. If you don't carry javelins or secure a Dwarven Thrower, you will waste entire turns just taking the Dash action to reach the enemy backline.
• Forgetting Dwarven Resilience: Poison is the most common damage type in the Monster Manual after physical attacks. Don't forget you resist the damage and have advantage on saves against the Poisoned condition.
• Skipping Dwarven Fortitude: Fighters get 7 ASIs. Failing to take this racial feat is a huge missed opportunity, as it perfectly synergizes with your high Constitution and Action Surge capabilities.
• Dumping Wisdom: Leaving your Wisdom at 10 without taking the Resilient feat in Tier 3 means you will inevitably be hit by Hold Person, paralyzing you and making all adjacent attacks automatic critical hits.