The Fighter class is a great class for new and veteran D&D players alike. You’re always in the thick of battle, and a line of skills that always keeps you ready for anything. The various Fighter subclasses also give you a ton of options whenever you’re in combat.

Below, we’ll teach you how to make and play a Fighter. For this one, we’ll focus on the Half-Elf variety. Half-Elves make great characters if you’re seeking rich storytelling and roleplaying opportunities.

The Half-Elf race AND the Fighter class can be found in the Player’s Handbook. Click here to pick up your own copy of The Player’s Handbook!

How to Make a Half-Elf Fighter

First things first: find out which Fighter subclass and weapons you want to use throughout the campaign. Fighters have unlimited choices in their weapons and armor. This means you can pick a melee or ranged weapon, depending on your preferences. 

If you want to use melee weapons, make Strength your highest ability score. If you’re looking to fight from a distance, choosing an archery fighting style, make Dexterity your highest. Your second-highest score can be Constitution or Intelligence. Pick the latter if you plan to become an Eldritch Knight.

The Eldritch Knight is the spell-casting Fighter subclass. If you’re new to D&D, you’ll never go wrong with the Champion archetype. If you want to play as a combat specialist, pick the Battle Master archetype.

As a Half-Elf, you can choose which two ability scores will increase by 1 point. Improve your two highest ability scores with this racial trait. A good background choice for a Fighter includes the Soldier, Folk Hero, and Sailor. 

How to Play a Half-Elf Fighter

When your party goes into combat, your job is to be at the frontline. Fighters are one of the most effective classes at dealing high consistent damage. Your Action Surge feature gives you an extra action in combat. If your hit points go down from an attack or a barrage of them, use Second Wind to regain some of your health. These are the combat abilities that Fighters can use to take down enemies.

Add to those the unique skills of the subclass that you choose. The Battle Master is the best subclass for tactical combat thanks to the variety of maneuvers that you can use.

How to Roleplay as a Half-Elf Fighter

D&D canon says that Half-Elves are either diplomats or wanderers. Their mixed-lineage makes them excellent ambassadors and friends of all other races. At the same time, they may feel discrimination from peoples for being half-and-half.

When it comes to roleplaying, you don’t need to focus on the backstory of a character too much. Imagine the type of personality such a background makes and bring that to the table instead. 

For example:

Your character, Knerro is more cautious with his words and actions. While he adopted the posh accent of his elven mother, he had the brash honesty and open-mindedness of his dad. This often surprised the people he meets. 

They don’t expect Knerro to be more practical than classy. They also don’t expect him to be more familiar with a sword than with magic.

When you roleplay, write down the goals that your character wants to achieve.