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The 5 Most Powerful Unarmed Fighting Style Builds In D&D 5e (2024 Tier List)

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Unarmed combat in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition has undergone a massive resurgence in popularity, evolving far beyond the simple 1 + Strength modifier damage of the Player's Handbook. As of late 2024, the game's ruleset, particularly with the introduction of the official Unarmed Fighting Style and powerful new feats, has created a vibrant meta where brawlers, pugilists, and grapplers can stand toe-to-toe with sword-and-board warriors and great weapon masters. This article dives deep into the most optimized, fun, and brutally effective unarmed builds available today, ensuring your character is a powerhouse in any campaign.

For years, the Monk was the sole master of the fist, but thanks to content from *Tasha's Cauldron of Everything* and strategic feat combinations, non-Monk classes can now dominate the battlefield using only their hands, knees, and elbows. The key to this revolution is the Unarmed Fighting Style, which deals a respectable 1d6 or 1d8 bludgeoning damage, and the synergistic power of feats like Tavern Brawler and Crusher. We've ranked the five most impactful ways to build an unarmed striker, from the pure Martial Arts master to the unstoppable Strength-based grappler.

The Core Mechanics: Unarmed Fighting Style and Essential Feats

To truly master unarmed combat, you must first understand the foundational mechanics that elevate it from a last-resort action to a primary damage source. The Unarmed Fighting Style is the linchpin for any non-Monk build, typically available to Fighters, Paladins, and Rangers, or via the Fighting Initiate feat.

Unarmed Fighting Style Breakdown

  • Damage Increase: Your unarmed strikes deal 1d6 + your Strength modifier bludgeoning damage.
  • Two-Handed Option: If you are not wielding any weapons or a shield, the damage die increases to 1d8 + your Strength modifier.
  • Grapple Synergy: At the start of each of your turns, you automatically deal 1d4 bludgeoning damage to one creature grappled by you. This is a massive boost to the Grappling playstyle.

The Unstoppable Feat Trinity

While the Fighting Style is essential, the true power of a modern brawler comes from stacking the right feats. These three are the most important entities for an optimized unarmed build:

  • Tavern Brawler: This classic feat grants proficiency with improvised weapons and unarmed strikes, increasing the damage die (often to a d4 or d6 depending on the DM/variant rules), and most importantly, allows you to attempt to grapple a creature as a bonus action immediately after hitting with an unarmed strike or improvised weapon. This is crucial for action economy.
  • Crusher: Part of the "Smasher" feat trio, Crusher is a must-have for bludgeoning damage dealers. It allows you to move a creature you hit with a bludgeoning attack 5 feet to an unoccupied space (once per turn). This provides excellent battlefield control.
  • Fighting Initiate: If your class doesn't naturally get a Fighting Style (like a Barbarian or Rogue multiclass), this feat allows you to pick up the Unarmed Fighting Style, instantly transforming your damage potential.

Top 5 Unarmed Fighting Style Builds (2024)

These builds leverage the latest rules and best practices to create characters that are not only effective but also incredibly fun to roleplay as a dedicated Pugilist or Brawler.

#5: The Resilient Barbarian Grappler (Unarmed Fighting + Brutal Critical)

The Barbarian is an unexpected, yet potent, unarmed combatant. They naturally favor Strength, which is the key stat for the Unarmed Fighting Style and for making successful Grapple checks. The core strategy is to enter a Rage, gain advantage on Strength checks (including Grapple checks), and then use the Unarmed Fighting Style's 1d4 automatic damage on the grappled target every turn. This build is a terrifying mix of control and raw damage output.

  • Class/Subclass: Path of the Totem Warrior (Bear or Wolf) or Path of the Zealot.
  • Key Entities: Strength, Constitution, Unarmed Fighting Style (via Fighting Initiate feat), Tavern Brawler, Brutal Critical.
  • Playstyle: Grapple the primary threat, lock them down with advantage on the check, and beat them into submission while resisting damage. The Brutal Critical feature later adds extra damage dice to your unarmed strikes on a critical hit.

#4: The Divine Smiter (Paladin/Sorcerer Multiclass)

The Paladin's ability to use Divine Smite on a successful melee attack is a game-changer for unarmed builds. The rules confirm that an Unarmed Strike is a melee weapon attack, allowing the Paladin to channel their divine power through a devastating punch. A common optimization is a 2-level dip into Paladin for Smite and the Unarmed Fighting Style, followed by Sorcerer levels for massive spell slot progression, allowing for higher-level Smites.

  • Class/Subclass: Paladin (Oath of Vengeance/Conquest) 2 / Sorcerer (Divine Soul/Clockwork Soul) X.
  • Key Entities: Charisma, Strength, Unarmed Fighting Style, Divine Smite, Sorcery Points, Quickened Spell.
  • Playstyle: A high-burst damage dealer. Use a high-level spell slot to deliver a massive radiant damage Smite through a single, perfect punch. This build is extremely resource-intensive but delivers unparalleled single-hit unarmed damage.

#3: The Strategic Brawler (Battle Master Fighter)

The Battle Master Fighter is arguably the most versatile and reliable non-Monk unarmed build. Fighters gain the Unarmed Fighting Style at level 1 and have more Ability Score Improvements (ASIs) and feats than any other class. This allows them to pick up the entire Feat Trinity (Tavern Brawler, Crusher, Fighting Initiate for a second fighting style like Blind Fighting) very early.

  • Class/Subclass: Fighter (Battle Master).
  • Key Entities: Strength, Constitution, Unarmed Fighting Style, Battle Master Maneuvers, Action Surge, Superiority Dice, Crusher, Tavern Brawler.
  • Playstyle: A tactical master who uses maneuvers like Trip Attack (to knock a foe prone for advantage on subsequent attacks) or Pushing Attack (to combine with Crusher for 15 feet of movement) to control the flow of combat. Action Surge allows for a devastating, multi-punch turn.

#2: The Agile Striker (Kensei Monk/Fighter Multiclass)

While the Monk's Martial Arts feature allows for Dexterity-based unarmed strikes, a small multiclass dip can turn them into a true master of all damage types. The Kensei Monk, in particular, can treat their unarmed strikes as a Kensei Weapon, adding extra damage and utility. The optimal version involves a 1-level dip into Fighter for the Unarmed Fighting Style (for the 1d8 damage die) and then returning to Monk.

  • Class/Subclass: Monk (Way of the Kensei) X / Fighter 1.
  • Key Entities: Dexterity, Wisdom, Martial Arts, Kensei Weapons, Unarmed Fighting Style, Ki Points, Mobile Feat.
  • Playstyle: High-mobility, high-attack-count striker. This build uses the Fighter's Unarmed Fighting Style's 1d8 damage die until the Monk's Martial Arts die surpasses it, providing an early-game damage boost while maintaining the Monk's core Flurry of Blows and high-level utility.

#1: The Ultimate Pure Striker (Way of Mercy Monk)

Despite the rise of non-Monk brawlers, the pure Monk, specifically the Way of Mercy, remains the undisputed king of sustained, purely unarmed damage per round (DPR) and utility. The Mercy Monk's features perfectly align with the unarmed style, providing both healing and necrotic damage in the same flurry.

  • Class/Subclass: Monk (Way of Mercy).
  • Key Entities: Dexterity, Wisdom, Martial Arts, Flurry of Blows, Hands of Healing, Hands of Harm, Stunning Strike, Crusher.
  • Playstyle: The most efficient user of Ki Points. By level 3, the Mercy Monk can use Flurry of Blows to make two extra unarmed attacks, and then use their Hands of Harm feature to add extra necrotic damage to one of those attacks. This allows for a massive number of attacks, high sustained damage, and the ability to heal allies or deliver a deadly Stunning Strike as needed. It is the most complete and powerful unarmed package in 5e.

Unarmed Combat Entities and LSI Keywords

Mastering the unarmed style requires an understanding of the specific terminology and entities that govern the rules. Beyond the core mechanics, you must consider how your build interacts with concepts like Bonus Action, Melee Attack, and Damage Type.

Key Terminology and Rules Interactions

The rule that an unarmed strike is a Melee Weapon Attack (even though it's not a weapon) is the most important distinction, as it allows for synergy with features like the Paladin's Divine Smite and the Rogue's Sneak Attack (if a Finesse weapon is used, which is only possible through specific subclass features or homebrew/variant rules). Furthermore, the Bludgeoning Damage type is crucial because it triggers the effects of the Crusher feat, allowing for unparalleled battlefield control.

When optimizing your build, remember that Grappling and shoving are also considered unarmed combat maneuvers. A character with high Strength and the Unarmed Fighting Style can use their action to grapple, and then use their bonus action (via Tavern Brawler) to attack, or simply deal the 1d4 automatic damage at the start of their next turn. This combination of control and sustained damage is the hallmark of a top-tier Unarmed Brawler. The latest rules encourage players to move away from the simple, low-damage punch and embrace a complex, tactical style of combat that is both challenging and incredibly rewarding.

The 5 Most Powerful Unarmed Fighting Style Builds in D&D 5e (2024 Tier List)
unarmed fighting style 5e
unarmed fighting style 5e

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