Great Weapon Fighting 5e: Master The Art Of Brutal Combat
Have you ever wondered how to maximize your damage output with heavy weapons in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition? Great Weapon Fighting is one of the most popular fighting styles that can significantly enhance your character's combat effectiveness. Whether you're a barbarian wielding a massive greataxe or a fighter with a greatsword, understanding this fighting style can transform you from a mere adventurer into a devastating force on the battlefield.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll dive deep into everything you need to know about Great Weapon Fighting 5e. We'll explore how it works, which classes can benefit from it, optimal strategies, and even some advanced techniques to help you dominate your enemies. Ready to unleash your inner warrior? Let's get started!
How Great Weapon Fighting Works in D&D 5e
Great Weapon Fighting is a fighting style option available to certain classes in D&D 5e. When you choose this fighting style, you gain the ability to reroll damage dice that show a 1 or 2 when attacking with a melee weapon that you're wielding with two hands.
Here's the key mechanic: You must use the new roll, even if the rerolled dice also shows a 1 or 2. This means you're guaranteed to do at least 3 damage per die instead of the minimum 1 damage you'd normally get.
For example, if you're wielding a greatsword (which deals 2d6 damage), your minimum possible damage becomes 6 instead of 2. Similarly, a maul (2d6) or a greataxe (1d12) will also benefit from this reroll mechanic.
Which Classes Can Use Great Weapon Fighting
Several classes in D&D 5e can access the Great Weapon Fighting style:
Fighters are the most obvious choice, as they can select fighting styles at 1st level and again at 10th level through their class features. This allows for some interesting multiclassing possibilities.
Paladins also gain access to fighting styles at 2nd level, making them excellent candidates for Great Weapon Fighting. A paladin wielding a two-handed weapon can combine this with their divine smite for devastating damage output.
Rangers can choose fighting styles at 2nd level, though they typically focus more on ranged combat or dual-wielding. However, a melee-focused ranger can certainly make use of this style.
Barbarians don't technically get fighting styles, but they're the quintessential great weapon fighters. Their Rage feature and Brutal Critical ability synergize perfectly with heavy weapons, even if they can't officially select this fighting style.
Best Weapons for Great Weapon Fighting
The ideal weapons for Great Weapon Fighting are those that deal multiple dice of damage, as this maximizes the benefit of your rerolls. Here are the top choices:
Greatsword (2d6 slashing) - The classic choice, offering consistent damage with a good balance of average and maximum damage potential.
Maul (2d6 bludgeoning) - Identical to the greatsword in terms of damage dice, but with bludgeoning damage, which is less commonly resisted.
Glaive, Halberd, or Pike (1d10 damage) - These reach weapons let you attack from 10 feet away while still benefiting from Great Weapon Fighting.
Greataxe (1d12 slashing) - While it only rolls one die, the higher maximum damage can be appealing for those who like to gamble on big hits.
Double-bladed Scimitar (2d4 slashing) - An exotic weapon from Eberron that deals 2d4 damage and has a bonus action attack, making it excellent for those who want to maximize their Great Weapon Fighting rerolls.
Great Weapon Fighting vs Other Fighting Styles
How does Great Weapon Fighting compare to other fighting styles? Let's break it down:
Dueling (+2 damage) provides a flat bonus that's reliable but doesn't scale with your damage dice. It's excellent for versatile weapons but less impactful than Great Weapon Fighting with heavy weapons.
Two-Weapon Fighting allows bonus action attacks but doesn't benefit from your Strength modifier on the bonus attack. It's more complex and requires a different playstyle.
Protection is defensive rather than offensive, allowing you to impose disadvantage on attack rolls against adjacent allies. It's invaluable in certain party compositions but doesn't increase your damage.
Great Weapon Master (feat, not a fighting style) lets you take a -5 penalty to hit for +10 damage or attack as a bonus action when you score a critical hit or reduce a creature to 0 hit points. This synergizes excellently with Great Weapon Fighting.
In terms of pure damage output with two-handed weapons, Great Weapon Fighting is hard to beat, especially when combined with the Great Weapon Master feat.
Building the Ultimate Great Weapon Fighter
Creating an optimized great weapon fighter requires careful consideration of race, class, and feat selection. Here's a proven build:
Race: Half-Orc is an excellent choice, providing +2 Strength, +1 Constitution, Darkvision, proficiency in Intimidation, and the crucial Relentless Endurance and Savage Attacks traits. Alternatively, Variant Human allows you to start with a powerful feat.
Class: Fighter (Champion) is the classic choice, providing increased critical hit range at level 3 and improved critical hits at level 15. Paladin is another strong option, especially if you want to incorporate spellcasting and divine smite.
Ability Scores: Prioritize Strength (aim for 16-20), then Constitution (14-16), and finally Dexterity for better initiative and AC if you're not wearing heavy armor.
Feats: Great Weapon Master is almost mandatory, allowing you to trade accuracy for massive damage or make bonus action attacks. Optionally, consider Sentinel to lock down enemies or Tough for extra hit points.
Equipment: Start with a greatsword or maul, then upgrade to magical versions as soon as possible. Consider a shield for situations requiring more defense, though this means giving up your two-handed weapon bonus.
Advanced Tactics and Strategies
Once you've mastered the basics of Great Weapon Fighting, consider these advanced strategies:
Action Surge (for fighters) allows you to take a second action on your turn, meaning you can attack twice with your extra action. Combined with Great Weapon Master's bonus action attack, you could potentially make three attacks in a single turn at higher levels.
Horde Breaker (ranger conclave option) lets you attack a second nearby creature when you take the Attack action, effectively doubling your damage potential in crowded encounters.
Opportunity Attacks with reach weapons can catch enemies trying to move past you, and Great Weapon Fighting ensures even your opportunity attacks pack a punch.
Teamwork is essential - coordinate with your party's controller or tank to ensure you're attacking enemies that have been debuffed or immobilized, increasing your chances to hit and reducing the need to use Great Weapon Master's accuracy penalty.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced players make mistakes when using Great Weapon Fighting. Here are some pitfalls to avoid:
Don't forget to reroll - It's easy to overlook those 1s and 2s in the heat of battle. Make it a habit to check your damage dice after every roll.
Avoid spreading your ASIs too thin - Focus on Strength first, then Constitution. Don't waste ability score increases on Dexterity or Charisma unless your build specifically requires it.
Don't ignore positioning - While you're a damage dealer, you still need to be where you can contribute. Don't charge off alone or get stuck in a position where you can't reach enemies.
Be mindful of your accuracy - Great Weapon Master's bonus damage is tempting, but the -5 penalty to hit can be devastating if your chance to hit was already marginal. Use it strategically, not automatically.
Conclusion
Great Weapon Fighting 5e is more than just a fighting style - it's a ticket to dealing massive damage and becoming the cornerstone of your party's offensive strategy. By understanding how it works, choosing the right class and weapons, and building your character with damage optimization in mind, you can create a truly devastating warrior.
Remember that D&D is ultimately about having fun and telling stories with your friends. While optimizing your great weapon fighter is rewarding, don't let the pursuit of maximum damage overshadow the roleplaying and collaborative storytelling that make D&D special.
Whether you're cleaving through hordes of goblins, facing down terrifying dragons, or dueling enemy champions, your Great Weapon Fighting expertise will ensure you leave a trail of fallen foes in your wake. So grab your greatsword, don your armor, and prepare to become a legend on the battlefield!
What's your experience with Great Weapon Fighting? Do you have a favorite build or strategy we didn't cover? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
