Master New 5E D&D Fighting Styles from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

Over at Nerdarchy the YouTube channel Nerdarchists Dave and Ted toss around ideas about a particular kind of fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons character. Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything introduces tons of fantastic new character options including a few perfect for realizing a character capable of slinging projectiles to deadly effect as a Thrown Weapon Fighting master along with some other really awesome new 5E D&D Fighting Styles. So let’s get into it.

A 5E D&D fighting style for every occasion

For 5E D&D fighters, paladins and rangers choosing a Fighting Style at 1st or 2nd level (and 10th level too — gotta love Champions!) represents another building block in creating a capable warrior. In the video Dave and Ted excitedly discuss the history and potential for present day 5E D&D thrown weapon fighting masters. They really get into a lively conversation how one of the new Fighting Styles introduced in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything makes this highly specialized character concept much more viable, especially considering a new Battle Master maneuver. But that’s a topic for another time.

The list of Fighting Style options expands quite a bit with seven new ones found in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything included some exclusive ones for paladins and rangers. Coupled with the six found in the Player’s Handbook the options more than doubled now with 13 possibilities. Even more incredible thanks to a new feat also from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything — Fighting Initiate — any character with proficiency with a martial weapon can develop a Fighting Style from the fighter class. This caveat makes the two exclusive ones unavailable as well as future non-fighter exclusive Fighting Styles. Don’t feel too bad about these two though — Magic Initiate feat makes these a trap if they were included here.

One last but very important point to note before taking a broad view at all the Fighting Style options available to 5E D&D characters is yet another optional rule presented in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything. The Martial Versatility feature gives fighters, paladins and rangers the option to replace a fighting style they know with another fighting style available to their particular class whenever they reach a level granting the Ability Score Improvement feature.

And now here’s all 13 currently available Fighting Styles for 5E D&D characters along with their source.

(PHB = Player’s Handbook, TCoE = Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything)

1. Archery. Better accuracy with ranged weapons. (PHB)
2. Blessed Warrior (Paladin Only). Paladin cantrips! (TCoE)
3. Blind Fighting. Grants blindsight and low key invisibility detection. (TCoE)
4. Defense. Better defenses while wearing armor. (PHB)
5. Druidic Warrior (Ranger Only). Ranger cantrips! (TCoE)
6. Dueling. Better damage with one handed fighting. (PHB)
7. Great Weapon Fighting. Better damage with two handed fighting. (TCoE)
8. Interception. Damage reduction for nearby creatures. (TCoE)
9. Protection. Better defenses for nearby creatures. (PHB)
10. Superior Technique. Grants a Battle Master maneuver. (TCoE)
11. Thrown Weapon Fighting. Better damage and quick draw with thrown weapons. (TCoE)
12. Two-Weapon Fighting. Better damage with second weapon. (PHB)
13. Unarmed Fighting. Better damage with unarmed strikes and against grappled creatures. (TCoE)

In the city of Sigil, Guildmaster Rhys realizes that finding capable recruits is one of the main challenges of being a patron as seen in the fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything. [Image courtesy Wizards of the Coast]

So many possibilities brewing in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

I’ve been working my way through Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything modular chunk by modular chunk and I’ve got to say every time I digest a new section my imagination is awhirl. Starting with chapter 4’s Dungeon Master’s Tools the material in this book reinvigorates my already high enthusiasm level for 5E D&D. If I’m honest it wasn’t until this closer look at the new Fighting Style options I realized there’s more in this new book than there is in the PHB. That’s wild!

As excited as Dave and Ted are about their thrown weapon fighting possibilities the ones with the most juice for me are the paladin and ranger exclusive Blessed Warrior and Druidic Warrior fighting styles. Spellcasting focused paladins and rangers are both character types I’ve enjoyed playing in the past and I’ve already tinkered around with several ideas as my D&D Beyond pool of characters swells to enormous size lately.

What’s your favorite new fighting style from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything? Which one helps you realize a favorite character concept or kicks your imagination into high gear? Let’s hear your character stories in the comments and of course, stay nerdy!