“Battle is our life. One on one, hand to hand, only the best come out alive. We don’t need to slink around in the shadows or cheapen a fighter with magic. Skill on skill alone. That is our way. The way of fair play. Any willing to face me deserves my respect. For your last remaining moments alive anyway.”

How to Make a Goliath Fighter

Starting Stats

With all fighters, the three main Ability Scores that you’ll want to focus on are Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution. This all depends on what kind of build you want and the weapons you want to use. Since you get a +2 Strength at character creation, it’ll be the best place to start for your character. Constitution is also important because many of the subclasses use that ability modifier as part of the DC for your abilities.

Subclasses

With the versatility between the wide range of subclasses open to you, it can be hard to pick. However, with the Goliath bonuses to Strength and Constitution, there are two specifically that fit very well into these higher stats. Cavaliers are going to fully appreciate the natural toughness of your character. Rune Knights are another great option that fits both the mechanics and the lore behind these descendants of giants.

How to Play a Goliath Fighter

Cavalier

A cavalier almost completely controls the battle flow. Giving Disadvantage to every enemy you mark, besides against yourself, with Unwavering Mark will make it so that most enemies will attack you. With a higher than normal Constitution and Stone’s Endurance, you can shrug off any damage sent your way. On top of that, if they manage to hit someone other than you, you can make an extra, special attack against them a number of times equal to your Strength modifier. Hold the Line is an ability that acts almost like the Sentinel feat, keeping enemies close. Your stats will also make it harder to resist Ferocious Charger to knock an enemy Prone and boost the number of times you can use your Warding Maneuver to protect your party.

Rune Knight

The most significant benefit your racial stat bonus will do for a Rune Knight is improving the DC of your Rune Carver abilities that you invoke. Most of the Runes can supplement your skills that you might not use as much or can boost the ones you already have. Giant Might is great because all of your Strength based checks and saving throws can be made at advantage, which is very helpful when your Strength is already going to be higher than average.

How to Roleplay as a Goliath Fighter

Goliaths are usually all about a fair fight. You could be the trained champion of your clan, seeking out the strongest and the best to prove that they’re the best. Maybe they’re a wandering mentor, passing on their skills to those that are worthy. Are you a mercenary hunting for the next big bounty? Or maybe a bodyguard to someone puny and weak that has to rely on magic when protecting themselves? Are you tough and brash, or maybe calm and stoic? You can be any kind of warrior, it’s just a matter of deciding what you want to be remembered for.