The following material was created by Dungeons & Dragons Franchise Creative Director Mike Mearls for his stream Happy Fun Hour, which you can watch live at Twitch.tv/DnD on Tuesdays at 4:00 EST or via replays on YouTube. This material is provided to facilitate community testing and feedback.

Weapon Master

A weapon master combines a variety of sources, from arcane and divine magic to the hardened resolve of a master warrior, to produce astounding battlefield effects.

Weapon Groups

Starting at 3rd level, you pick a broad category of weapons to specialize in. Select one of the following weapon groups. Each time you gain a level in this class, you can choose to swap your choice for a different one.

Blades. Dagger, greatsword, longsword, rapier, scimitar, shortsword.

Cleavers. Battleaxe, greataxe, handaxe, sickle, war pick.

Cudgels. Warhammer, club, flail, greatclub, light hammer, mace, maul, morningstar.

Polearms. Glaive, halberd, javelin, lance, pike, quarterstaff, spear, trident.

Projectiles. Hand crossbow, heavy crossbow, longbow, light crossbow, dark, shortbow, sling.

Weapon Mastery

Starting at 3rd level, you’re able to wield your chosen weapons with unmatched skill. Whenever you hit with a weapon from your chosen weapon group and deal damage, the weapon’s damage increases by your mastery die as shown on the Weapon Master Die table.

Way of the Blade

Starting at 7th level, you blend your martial talent with the softer skills needed to navigate the world. You gain a benefit based on your chosen weapon group. Choose one of the following benefits, which allies when holding a weapon from your weapon group:

Blades. 

Cleavers. You can use these your chosen weapons to aid you in climbing. You add your mastery die to the result of any Strength (Athletics) checks made to climb. When climbing, you ignore the extra speed cost normally incurred while climbing.

Cudgels. When holding a weapon from this your chosen group, you add your mastery die to the result of your Charisma (Intimidation) checks.

Polearms. When holding a weapon from this your chosen group, you add your mastery die to the result of your Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks.

Projectiles.

Superior Fighting Style

Starting at 10th level, your mastery of your fighting style deepens. You can choose a second option from the Fighting Style feature you gain at 2nd level, or you can choose an improved version of a fighting style you already know as detailed below. The improved version replaces the original one.

Superior Archery. You gain a +3 bonus to attack rolls you make with ranged weapons.

Superior Defense. While you are wearing armor, you gain a +1 bonus to AC. You also gain a +1 bonus to all saving throws.

Superior Dueling. When you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand and no other weapons, you gain a +4 bonus to damage rolls with that weapon.

Superior Great Weapon Fighting. When you roll a 1 or 2 on a damage die for an attack you make with a melee weapon that you are wielding with two hands, you can roll an additional damage die. The weapon must have the two-handed or versatile property for you to gain this benefit.

Superior Protection. When a creature you can see attacks a target other than you that is within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll and make an opportunity attack against the attacker. You must be wielding a shield.

Superior Two-Weapon Fighting. When you engage in two-weapon fighting, you can add your ability modifier to the damage of the second attack. You gain a +1 bonus to AC while you are wielding a separate melee weapon in each hand.

Armed Defense

Starting at 15th level, your mastery extends to defense. You gain a benefit based on your chosen weapon group.

Blades. When you are wielding a blade and are hit by an attack, you can use your reaction to roll your mastery die and add it to your AC against the triggering attack. This may cause the attack to miss.

Cleavers. While you are wielding a cleaver, you can use a bonus action to roll your mastery die and inflict that much slashing damage to all creatures within 5 feet of you.

Cudgels. When you are wielding a cudgel and a creature within 5 feet of you misses you with a melee attack, you can use a reaction to make a melee attack against it with a cudgel.

Polearms. When a creature you can see moves within reach of a polearm you are wielding, you may make a melee attack against it with that polearm.

Projectiles. When you hit a creature with a weapon from the projectile group, roll your mastery die. A creature of your choice within 10 feet of the target takes that much damage. That damage type is one of your choice that your projectile weapon inflicts.

Inevitable Accuracy

Starting at 18th level, once during your turn when you miss with a weapon from your chosen specialized category, you instead hit but inflict half damage.

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OLD RULES:

Weapon Master

A weapon master follows the fighting techniques of the Sublime way. This martial discipline combines a variety of sources, from arcane and divine magic to the hardened resolve of a master warrior, to produce astounding battlefield effects.

Martial Exploits

Starting at 3rd level, you gain the ability to use your tactical acumen, physical prowess, and sometimes a dash of mystic energy to achieve astounding feats of martial skill.

You gain the ability to use martial exploits. You gain uses based on your fighter level, as shown on the Martial Exploits table. You regain all expended uses when you complete a long rest.

You also gain access to one path of the Sublime Way at 3rd level. The Martial Exploits table also shows when you get access to additional paths as you gain fighter levels.

Whenever you gain a fighter level, you can choose to lose access to one path and replace it with access to a different one.

Martial Exploits

Level	Path	Uses	Exploit Dice
3	1	4	2d6
4	2	5	2d6
5	2	5	2d6
6	3	5	2d6
7	3	7	3d6
8	3	7	3d6
9	3	7	3d6
10	4	9	3d6
11	4	9	3d6
12	5	9	3d6
13	5	10	4d6
14	5	10	4d6
15	5	10	4d6
16	5	10	5d6
17	5	10	5d6
18	5	10	5d6
19	5	10	6d6
20	5	10	6d6

Masterful Strike

When you reach 3rd level, you gain the ability to use a martial exploit to land a telling blow. When you make a weapon attack, you can expend a martial exploit. Roll the dice for your exploit along with your attack. If your attack misses, you can use one or more of the exploit’s dice results as a bonus to your attack. If the attack hits, apply any unused dice as a bonus to your weapon damage roll.

Way of the Blade

Starting at 7th level, you blend your martial talent with the softer skills needed to navigate the world. If you are holding a weapon when you make a Strength (Athletics), Dexterity (Acrobatics), or Charisma (Intimidation) check, you gain a bonus to the roll equal to half your proficiency bonus. You use your weapon to assist in your check, such as pole vaulting with a staff, using your sword to aid your balance, or menacing an enemy with your bloodied flail.

Superior Fighting Style

Starting at 10th level, your mastery of your fighting style deepens. You can choose a second option from the Fighting Style feature you gain at 2nd level, or you can choose an improved version of a fighting style you already know as detailed below.
Superior Archery. You gain a +3 bonus to attack rolls you make with ranged weapons.
Superior Defense. While you are wearing armor, you gain a +1 bonus to AC. You also gain a +1 bonus to all saving throws.
Superior Dueling. When you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand and no other weapons, you gain a +4 bonus to damage rolls with that weapon.
Superior Great Weapon Fighting. When you roll a 1, 2, or 3 on a damage die for an attack you make with a melee weapon that you are wielding with two hands, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll, even if the new roll is 1, 2, or 3. The weapon must have the two-handed or versatile property for you to gain this benefit.
Superior Protection. When a creature you can see attacks a target other than you that is within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll and make an opportunity attack against the attacker. You must be wielding a shield.
Superior Two-Weapon Fighting. When you engage in two-weapon fighting, you can add your ability modifier to the damage of the second attack. You gain a +1 bonus to AC while you are wielding a separate melee weapon in each hand.

Future Ability

Starting at 15th level, you get something so amazing that time and space cannot yet contain it. Check again in the future.

Future Ability

Starting at 18th level, you get something so amazing that time and space cannot yet contain it. Check again in the future.

Paths of the Sublime Way

Each path of the sublime way features a unique take on combat mastery. Many, but not all, require you to wield certain weapons to use their exploits.

When you use a martial exploit, you can choose to use one of the special exploits listed under one of the paths you know. You choose the special exploit when you decide to use a martial exploit.

Some of these abilities require you to roll fewer dice when using a martial exploit. You cannot use an ability that reduces the total dice you roll for the exploit to less than 1. Such an ability is beyond your skill.

Some of these abilities require a creature to make a saving throw. The DC for such a save is 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier.

Path of the Shadow Harlequin

The Shadow Harlequin path is a school of artful sword play and mesmerizing flourishes. Its practitioners attack a foe’s mind and body, maneuvering their foes into tactical blunders with cunning feints and sudden, surprising moves.

Shadow Harlequins typically fight with light, agile weapons, such as rapiers and short swords, but their talents are useful to almost any warrior.

Come Forth to Dance

Your weapon moves in a lazy, hypnotic pattern, luring your foe to blunder ahead and walk into your trap.

As an action, expend a martial exploit and select a creature that can see you within 15 feet of you. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw. If it fails, it moves up to 15 feet closer to you. You then make a single melee attack against it using your martial exploit with one die fewer.

Cutting Dialogue

If this exchange of blows is a dramatic play, let your rejoinder be its final act.

As a reaction when a creature makes a melee attack against you, you can expend a martial exploit and make a melee weapon attack against that creature. You can select one of the dice rolled and add it to your AC against the target’s attack.

Dramatic Exit

Your overly dramatic strike distracts your opponent, allowing you to slip away from their grasp.

When you expend a martial exploit when making a melee weapon attack, you can move up to 5 feet, without provoking opportunity attacks, per exploit die rolled after your attack.

Path of the Stone Dragon

The Stone Dragon path focuses on brutal power and overwhelming toughness. Most of these exploits require you to attack with a two-handed melee weapon or a versatile melee weapon you wield in two hands.

Warriors of the Stone Dragon are often cruel destroyers. They fight with the subtlety and irresistible force of an avalanche. Their punishing attacks render their enemies immobile, allowing them to then take careful aim for one, final executioner’s blow.

Adamantine Bones

You focus your mind and grit your teeth, pushing aside pain and drawing on wellsprings of energy that blot out the pain of your wounds.

When you expend a martial exploit when attacking with a two-handed melee weapon or a versatile one wielded in two hands, after rolling the dice you can select one or more of them. You gain temporary hit points equal to the total of the dice + your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1).

You can also activate this ability as a bonus action. In that case, you roll your martial exploit dice and gain temporary hit points equal to their total + your Constitution modifier.

Colossus Strike

You swing your weapon in an upward arc, catching your foe in the chest and sending them flying across the battlefield.

When you expend a martial exploit when attacking with a two-handed melee weapon or a versatile one wielded in two hands, after rolling the dice you can select one or more of them and disregard their result. For each die selected, you push the target 5 feet in a straight line along the ground if your attack hits.

Jaws of the Stone Dragon

Like a mighty dragon pouncing upon a helpless victim, you take stock of an immobilized foe before landing a crushing strike.

When you expend a martial exploit when attacking a target that cannot move or with a speed of 0 with a two-handed melee weapon or a versatile one wielded in two hands, you gain an additional +2 bonus per die used as a bonus to your weapon damage roll.

Mountain’s Grasp

Your blows land with such force that your enemy is left off balance, unable to escape your brutal assault.

When you expend a martial exploit when attacking with a two-handed melee weapon or a versatile one wielded in two hands, after rolling the dice you can select at least two of them and disregard their results. The target must make a Constitution saving throw. If it fails, its speed is reduced to 0 until the end of your next turn.

Sweeping Bludgeon

As you ready to strike your enemy, you sweep your weapon around you in a great arc that builds momentum and forces your enemies to dive to the ground to avoid a crushing blow.

When you expend a martial exploit when attacking with a two-handed melee weapon or a versatile one wielded in two hands, after rolling the dice you can select one or more of them and disregard their result. For each die selected, pick a creature within reach of your attack. Each chosen creature must make a Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.