The Aegis - A Fighter Archetype for 5e

A Martial Tradition

The Aegis style of fighting has been passed down from generation to generation, and is usually considered both a philosophy and a martial art. Those who ascribe to it value protection, mental strength, and form.

The style centres around the shield, using it as both an extension of the body and a weapon. Due to this, an Aegis warrior will hone their body to a physical knifes' edge. Aegis warriors are fierce on the battlefield, both an unstoppable force and an immovable object, capable of battering down the most resilient of foes or acting as a sentinel against darkness.

Aegis warriors also go through a process of reinvention, choosing to fight without a weapon. This requires a certain degree of adaptation. When this occurs, an Aegis warrior utilises the lessons they've learnt as a warrior thus far, culminating in an Aegis style unique to them. One Aegis warrior may hurl their shield at foes, catch it in their hand, and then go on to unleash a devastating strike. Another may simply place their full weight behind their bulwark, slamming it into creatures with devastating force.

Regardless, all Aegis warriors are unyielding, fierce, and stand tall with their allies. When the world asks them to move aside, they are the ones to plant their heels and say: "No, you move."

Shield Art

At 3rd level, you have mastered the rare art of using one's shield as a weapon and incorporating your body into series of attacks with it. You gain proficiency in unarmed strikes.

Whilst you are wearing a shield and have no weapon in your other hand, you may attack with the shield as a melee weapon that you are proficient with. It has the finesse quality, allowing you to use Strength or Dexterity for the attack and damage rolls. The shield deals 1d8 bludgeoning damage.

In addition, when you take the Attack action and attack with your shield, you may use your bonus action to make an unarmed strike. When you attack in this way, your unarmed strike deals 1d4 bludgeoning damage, but you may not add your ability modifier to the damage of the roll. This damage increases to 1d8 at 10th level and 1d12 at 18th level.

If the shield you are attacking with is magical, then it counts as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to non-magical attacks and damage. If you are wearing magical armour, the unarmed strike granted to you by this feature also counts as magical for the same purpose.

Finally, you may now don or doff a shield as part of your free object interaction, similar to drawing or sheathing a sword.

Aegis Style

Additionally at 3rd level, you adapt your fighting style to your new way of combat. Your fighting style is completely replaced with one of the following Aegis Styles, depending on which fighting style you took at 1st level: