The fighter is one of Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition's most straightforward classes. It focuses on making simple weapon attacks with no additional complexity, such as spellcasting, in the base class. Some D&D 5e fighter subclasses add complex new mechanics to add versatility and power. The Samurai Martial Archetype instead enhances the fighter's toolkit with straightforward new features.
The Samurai fighter may seem easy to build in D&D 5e given its lack of complexity, and it's very hard to make an underwhelming one. However, some build choices can elevate the Samurai from a functional fighter build in D&D 5e to a top-tier combatant.
Samurai Fighter Build Summary
Ability Scores (In Order Of Importance) | Strength/Dexterity, Constitution, Wisdom, Charisma, Strength/Dexterity, Intelligence |
|---|---|
Race | Variant Human/Custom Lineage, Satyr, Bugbear, Orc |
Background | Sailor, City Watch |
Feats | Great Weapon Master/Sharpshooter, Gift of the Chromatic Dragon, Fey Touched |
Multiclass | Rogue, Paladin |
Perks Of A Samurai Fighter Build
Fighter Level | Samurai Features |
|---|---|
3 | Bonus Proficiency, Fighting Spirit |
7 | Elegant Courtier |
10 | Tireless Spirit |
15 | Rapid Strike |
18 | Strength Before Death |
A D&D 5e Samurai fighter doesn't get versatile new abilities like spellcasting, psionics, or Battle Master maneuvers. Instead, their straightforward new powers synergize well with the fighter's core playstyle of attacking as often and as hard as possible. They're also not the most basic D&D 5e fighter Martial Archetype. They gain social features, one-use abilities, and things that fundamentally change the game's rules. The Samurai is the best fighter subclass in D&D 5e for players who want to excel at the fighter's core strengths while still having options both in and out of combat.
A Samurai fighter's Bonus Proficiency emphasizes the build's more social side. Many of their skill proficiency choices, such as Insight, Performance, and Persuasion, are invaluable in conversation. Fighting Spirit is the subclass' core combat feature. With a bonus action, a D&D 5e Samurai fighter gains temporary hit points and advantage on every attack they make that turn. This includes additional attacks made with Action Surge. Given D&D fighters excel at taking and dealing damage, this enhances everything they want to do in combat.
Elegant Courtier cements the Samurai as the best D&D 5e fighter subclass for social situations. The fighter adds their Wisdom bonus to Charisma (Persuasion) checks. With the right build, this bonus can outstrip Charisma-focused classes like sorcerers and warlocks. It also gives proficiency in Wisdom saving throws, making the Samurai very resistant against most crowd control effects.
Tireless Spirit gives a fresh charge of Fighting Spirit every time the fighter rolls initiative without any uses remaining. This skyrockets a D&D 5e Samurai fighter's accuracy and damage throughout the adventuring day. However, it does strip back some of the tactical considerations by encouraging the player to use all of their charges as soon as possible.
Rapid Strike lets the fighter exchange advantage on one attack to make an additional strike once per turn. This is always worth the trade-off due to being mathematically identical with a chance to hit twice. This synergizes well with Fighting Spirit while rewarding clever play to get advantage as often as possible.
Strength Before Death is a D&D 5e Samurai fighter build's ultimate feature. When an attack reduces the fighter to zero hit points, they take an extra turn immediately, even if this interrupts another creature. At high levels, this lets the fighter output lethal damage in what should be an opponent's moment of triumph. In addition, nothing stops the Samurai from drinking a potion, using Second Wind, or recovering hit points in some other way to prevent unconsciousness.
Best Stats For A Samurai Fighter Build
Like most D&D 5e fighter subclasses, the Samurai can excel with either Strength or Dexterity. Strength-based Samurai fighter builds in D&D 5e can deal some of the highest damage in the game with melee weapons and leave enemies vulnerable by grappling them. Dexterity-based Samurai are some of the most accurate archers in the game who can hold their own in melee with Finesse weapons.
All D&D 5e fighters want Constitution. Soaking up damage for the party is a key fighter role, particularly for more melee-focused Samurai. Although Fighting Spirit bolsters a fighter's stamina and Strength Before Death rewards them for reaching zero hit points, most fighter builds want to delay this as long as possible.
Wisdom is almost equally as important as Constitution for a D&D 5e Samurai fighter build. It's essential for avoiding the worst crowd control spells and abilities and abilities like Perception. However, Samurai also add their Wisdom bonus to Persuasion checks, making it invaluable in social situations.
Consequently, Charisma is somewhat useful for a Samurai fighter. If they're happy to let another character serve as the party's face, they can safely ignore it. If they want to take the lead during social situations in a D&D campaign, they can't. Even a small Charisma bonus makes Elegant Courtier that much better. However, it's less important than a D&D 5e Samurai fighter's core ability scores.
Best Race & Background For A Samurai Fighter Build
The satyr race synergizes perfectly with a D&D 5e Samurai fighter's battlefield role. The added mobility helps melee fighters close the gap with enemies or ranged fighters keep distance between them and foes. The bonus skill proficiencies suit a Samurai fighter's potential as the party face and free up their class proficiency for another skill. Magic Resistance makes them almost unstoppable by magic-users, particularly with Elegant Courtier's Wisdom saving throw bonus.
Variant human or custom lineage are as good for a Samurai fighter build in D&D 5e as they are for any other class. A free feat is more powerful and synergistic than most lineage traits. It's less pressing for a fighter due to their vast number of Ability Score Improvements, but it's still hard to pass up.
Bugbear is an ideal race for a Samurai fighter who wants to inflict maximum damage. Surprise Attack gives an extra 2d6 damage on attacks against opponents who haven't acted yet in combat. A D&D 5e Samurai fighter, particularly at high levels, can exploit this more than any other build with Fighting Spirit, Action Surge, and Rapid Strikes. There's a potential vicious combination where a fighter uses all of their attacks and then deliberately triggers Strength Before Death somehow to deal two turns' worth of Surprise Attack damage. Other features like Long-Limbed are valuable for melee fighters.
Orc is an unconventional choice that works well for a Samurai fighter build. Adrenaline Rush conflicts with Fighting Spirit as both are bonus actions, but it's a valuable gap-closer early in a fight or tactical option when the player has no Fighting Spirit uses left. Two sources of low temporary hit points also add to a character's tankiness while being unlikely to clash. Relentless Endurance doesn't combine with the Strength Before Death ability in D&D 5e, but the two separately make the character very difficult to put down for good.
Samurai fighters typically want to build their physical skills or emphasize their Wisdom with backgrounds. Even if they want to emphasize social interaction, they can get the necessary skills from race or class features. Sailor gives Athletics and Perception to maximize a D&D 5e Samurai's ability scores with evergreen skill proficiencies. City Watch gives Athletics and Insight to further put a Samurai's Wisdom to use during social situations.
Best 5e Feats For Samurai Fighters
Fighter Level | Recommended Feats |
|---|---|
1 (Variant Human/Custom Lineage Only) | Gift of the Chromatic Dragon/Fey Touched |
4 | Ability Score Increase: Strength/Dexterity |
6 | Great Weapon Master/Sharpshooter |
8 | Ability Score Increase: Strength/Dexterity |
12 | Polearm Master/Crossbow Expert |
14 | Skill Expert |
16 | Ability Score Increase: Wisdom |
19 | Tough |
Fey Touched is one of D&D 5e's best feats, and it's no less effective for Samurai fighter builds. A Samurai's lack of spellcasting doesn't make them less effective. However, it can hinder their mobility. Fey Touched's free Misty Step helps Samurai close with challenging enemies or bypass obstacles. A free Divination or Enchantment spell furthers the build's utility outside combat or gives powerful combat buffs like Bless. It can also bump up a Samurai fighter's Wisdom.
Samurai fighters are better placed than most D&D 5e builds to exploit Great Weapon Master or Sharpshooter. Fighting Spirit helps counteract the -5 to hit, while their many attacks benefit more from the +10 damage than other classes. Either one of these feats is the biggest possible damage buff for a Samurai who uses the right weapons.
For fighters who take those feats, Polearm Master and Crossbow Expert are similarly vital choices. A fighter can't use the feats' bonus action attacks on the same turn as Fighting Spirit. However, they're a significant damage increase when the fighter doesn't want to or can't use Fighting Spirit, giving them something to do with their bonus action every turn.
Gift of the Chromatic Dragon is another stellar feat for a Samurai fighter in D&D 5e. An additional d4 damage may not seem like much, but it adds up quickly with a Samurai's many attacks. The flexible damage type keeps it useful in almost any combat encounter. Furthermore, the reaction-based damage resistance further increases the build's tankiness.
Fighters aren't the best class for using skills in D&D 5e. However, Skill Expert has two clear uses. Social-focused Samurai fighter builds in D&D 5e can get one of the highest Charisma (Persuasion) bonuses in the game with Skill Expertise. More combat-focused Samurai can take Expertise in Athletics to become unparalleled grapplers and shovers. Shoving enemies prone is an ideal way to get advantage on attacks when the fighter is out of Fighting Spirit charges.
Tough is a natural choice for any character who expects to be in the thick of combat. Even ranged Samurai fighter builds can't expect to avoid damage forever. Tough keeps a Samurai in the fight longer, ideally to the point an enemy will be on low hit points when they trigger Strength Before Death, giving the Samurai a decisive turn before they fall unconscious.
Multiclassing A 5e Samurai Fighter
Samurai fighter builds in D&D 5e work perfectly well taking levels in fighter and nothing else. However, their straightforward and broadly useful abilities synergize well with several other classes.
From a flavor perspective, rogue is an unusual Samurai fighter multiclass in D&D 5e. However, Fighting Spirit gives advantage for Sneak Attack as a bonus action without Steady Aim's downsides. Cunning Action can also prevent a melee Samurai fighter from being bogged down with chaff enemies in favor of targeting significant threats. A handful of rogue levels alone can provide a substantial damage buff and combat flexibility at the cost of delaying Samurai features.
Paladin works as a Samurai fighter multiclass from both a flavor and a mechanical perspective. Fighting Spirit makes critical hits more likely to maximize Divine Smite's damage. Even low-level Divine magic makes a D&D 5e Samurai fighter more flexible, with worthwhile combat buffs and healing available. However, this build will be working with a small number of spell slots and low pools of Lay On Hands unless it makes a significant investment and disregards a Samurai's powerful high-level abilities.