Expanded Unarmed Options

Usually a player looking to fight with their character's fists will be looking at the Monk - a class that revolves around fighting unarmed and unarmored. The monk is a fine class and for many it will get the job done. However others may find the flavour and mechanics of the class to be stifling and ill-fitting for their character concept. The following are character options for other classes to effectively use unarmed fighting in combat.

Fighting Style: Unarmed

A Fighter, Paladin or Ranger may choose the unarmed fighting style whenever they recieve a fighting style.

Unarmed: Your unarmed strikes deal d4 damage. This damage increases to d6 at 5th level and d8 at 11th level. Additionally, when you take the attack action while not holding a shield or any weapons you may attack with an unarmed strike as a bonus action.

Eldritch Invocation: Eldritch Fist

A Warlock meeting the requirements can take Eldritch Fist as one of their invocations.

Eldritch Fist

Prerequisite: Pact of the Blade feature

The power of your patron flows through your body, turning it into a weapon in its own right and allowing you to combine magic with martial arts. You gain the benefit of the unarmed fighting style and your unarmed strikes count as pact weapons. Additionally, whenever a cantrip or spell would require you to attack with a weapon, you can use your unarmed strike instead.

Barbarian Primal Path

Path of the Hulk

Barbarians on the Path of the Hulk are brute strength personified, gladly wading into the fray unarmed because they don't even need a weapon. You can fight effectively with just your fists, using raw might rather than .

Arms of the Hulk

From 3rd level when you begin you take the path of the hulk your unarmed strikes deal d6 damage. If you aren't holding a shield or any weapons you can increase this damage to d12, but you can't make unarmed strikes as a bonus action while you benefit from this ability.

Fearsome Strength

From 6th level, you gain a bonus on Charisma (Intimidation) checks equal to your Strength modifier. Additionally, while you are raging your speed is not reduced when you move while grappling a creature and you count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Shoving Attack

From 10th level you can really pack a punch. When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack you can use a bonus action make a shove attempt against that creature.

Wrestling Hulk

At 14th level your strength while raging lets you lift and throw opponents or slam them into the ground, or even use them as a weapon against another creature. You can't use this ability if you are holding a shield or any weapons or grappling more than one creature. When you use the attack action while raging, you can forgo one of your attacks to make a grapple check against the creature you are grappling. If successful, move the creature into a space you can see within 15ft you and it takes damage equal to twice your unarmed strike and falls prone but is no longer grappled by you. There must be a clear line between you and the chosen space.

Alternatively, after succeeding on the check you can make an attack roll against another creature you can see within 15ft. There must be a clear line between you and the target. The attack roll uses your Strength modifier and you are considered proficient. If the attack hits then both creatures take damage equal to your unarmed strike. If you miss only the grappled creature takes damage. Either way, the grappled creature lands prone in a space between you and the target and is no longer grappled by you.

Roguish Archetype

The Brawler

Even the most cunning of rogues will occasionally find themselves in a troublesome situation with no weapon at hand. Whether preparing for such circumstances or just for the thrill of fisticuffs, you've elected to hone your skill in fighting unarmed, developing a cunning and potent fighting style that could almost be called a martial art.

Cunning Fist

When you choose this archetype at 3rd level your unarmed strikes deal d4 damage and count as finesse weapons. Additionally, you can use your cunning action to make an unarmed strike.

Crafty Maneuver

Starting from 3rd level, you can use Dexterity (Acrobatics) instead of Strength (Athletics) on checks to grapple or shove a creature.