Theme: Pugilist

## Succeed against the Odds with Pugilism

The Pugilist Theme represents Heroes who have have chosen to forgo Weapons in favor of using their own fists for combat. Pugilists begin their training by mastering a Stance based on one of the four generally accepted styles of Boxing: Swarmer, Out-Boxer, Slugger and Counter-Boxer, allowing them to use this Stance without expending Stamina. Additionally, Pugilists in this Theme come in two weight classes: Heavyweights whose punches hit with additional ferocity, and Featherweights who are capable of sudden intense bursts of speed. As Boxers advance they learn how to draw on their inner reserves in the heat of combat to immediately recover from being knocked down, and to let loose of flurry of devastating blows in hopes of achieving maximum damage to their foes. At the height of their career they are able to exude a confidence that is difficult to resist, and also master an additional Pugilist style.

This Theme and the Stances utilized within it are inspired by real world Boxing Styles. The intent is that the Theme will allow Players to replicate both fictional and real world Boxers in their stories, from the real world legends such as Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and Sugar Ray Robinson to the fictional Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed. Players looking to recreate stories of determine Pugilists succeeding against the odds will find mechanics that support that fantasy in this Theme.

## Prerequisites

The Pugilist Theme is available to the Hero Archetype.

This Theme is particularly well suited to Settings primarily focused around combat.

## Level 3 Features

At Level 3 your Character gains the following features:

### Ready for the Fight

* You learn one of the Pugilist Stances, described at the End of this Theme: Swarmer, Out-Boxer, Slugger, Counter-Boxer
* While you are not Incapacitated, Concentrating on another Stance or effect or holding a Weapon or Shield, you are considered to be Concentrating on this Stance.
	+ If you know multiple Pugilist Stances, you may decide which Stance benefits from this feature whenever you finish a Long or Short Rest

### Weight Class

* You may choose one of the following Features to reflect the weight class of your Pugilist: Heavyweight or Featherweight.

#### Heavyweight

* Your Unarmed Strikes deal damage equal to two rolls of your Martial Die.
* You must be receiving the benefits of a Pugilist Stance to gain the benefits of this Feature.

#### Featherweight

* Your Unarmed Strikes deal damage equal to one roll of your Martial Die and they have the Finesse Property, allowing you to use either your Strength or Dexterity Modifier for their Attack and Damage Modifiers
* When you use the Hero's Action Surge feature to take the Attack Action, you may make two additional Unarmed Strikes as part of that Action provided you only use this Action to make Unarmed Strikes.
* **Y**our Movement Speed is increased by 10ft.
* You must be receiving the benefits of a Pugilist Stance to gain the benefits of this Feature.

### Boxer's Guard

* While you not wearing Difficult or Heavy Armor or a Shield, your Armor Class may be Determined using your Constitution Modifier:
	+ Armor Class = 10 + Dexterity Modifier + Constitution Modifier
	+ You may add the AC bonus of effects which grant bonuses to Armor Class to this Armor Class.
* While you are receiving the benefits of a Pugilist Stance, and you are not Incapacitated, Grappled or Restrained, you have a +2 Bonus to your Armor Class against Attacks you can see.

## Level 6 Features

At level 6 your Character gains the following features:

### Break Guard

* The Damage caused by your Unarmed Strikes ignore resistances and immunity to Bludgeoning Damage.

### I Didn't Hear No Bell

* When you are Knocked Prone, if you are not Incapacitated and your Movement Speed is greater than Zero, you may choose to immediately get up from Prone (no Action Required).
* Doing so does not expend your Movement.

### Comeback

* When you use your Bonus Action to use the Hero's Second Wind feature Attacks you make this turn with your Unarmed Strikes are considered a Critical Hit on a d20 roll of 18 or higher.

## Level 10

### Swagger

* When you use the Determination Feature on a Skill Check which uses your Charisma, you may in addition to rerolling one of the d20s on the Check add one roll of your Martial Die to the Result of the Check.

### Additional Stance

* You learn one additional Pugilist Stance

### Unorthodox Boxer

* As a Bonus Action, you may enter any Pugilist Stance you know, without expending Stamina to enter that Stance.

## Level 14

### Legendary Comeback

* When you use your Bonus Action to use the Hero's Second Wind feature Attacks you make this turn with your Unarmed Strikes are considered a Critical Hit on a d20 roll of 16 or higher.

## Stances

Full rules on the use of Stances may be found in the Martial Stances section.

Rules pertinent to their use in this Theme are included below.

### Concentration

Using a Stance requires great focus. When you use a Stance you are considered to be Concentrating on the Stance.

Any previous effects relying on your Concentration, such as other Stances or Spells immediately end when you enter into a Stance.

Damage and Environmental effects do not provoke Concentration Checks to maintain a Stance (you have practiced to maintain a Stance in the heat of battle) however effects which would otherwise end your Concentration, such as the Incapacitated condition, will end your Concentration.

### Stance Save DC

If a Stance requires a Saving Throw be made, the DC is set by either your Character's Strength or Dexterity Modifier (your choice):

Stance Save DC = 8 + Proficiency Bonus + Your Strength or Dexterity Modifier (Your Choice)

## Pugilist Stances

The Pugilist Stances are available to Heroes which take the Pugilist Theme. They are also available to Characters which take the Combat Mastery Theme or Feat.

The benefits granted by Pugilist Stances are inspired by the prevailing styles of boxing, Swarmer, Slugger, Out-Boxer and Counter-Boxer.

Pugilist Stances may only grant benefits while you are not holding weapons or wearing shields.

### Swarmer

*Basic Stance, Costs 2 Stamina.*

* **The Old One-Two:** Until the Stance Ends, Once Per Turn when you make an Unarmed Strike against a Character you may instead make two consecutive Unarmed Strikes against the same Character.
* **Deadly Combo:** If both these Attacks hit, the second successful Unarmed Strike you made is automatically considered a Critical Hit.
* **Restriction:** You lose the benefits of this Stance while you are holding a Weapon or wearing a Shield.

#### Out-Boxer

*Basic Stance, Costs 2 Stamina.*

* **At Arms Length:** Until the Stance Ends the Reach of your Unarmed Strikes is increased by 5ft. Additionally whenever a Character enters your Reach you may as a Reaction make an Unarmed Strike against them.
* **Butterfly Step:** Whenever a Melee Attack you can see is made against you, you may use your Reaction to cause the Attack to have Disadvantage. Immediately after the effects of this Attack are determined, you may as part of this Reaction move 10ft. This movement does not expend your Movement or provoke Attacks of Opportunity.
* **Restriction:** You lose the benefits of this Stance while you are holding a Weapon or wearing a Shield.

#### Slugger

*Basic Stance, Costs 2 Stamina.*

* **Powerful Strike:** Until the Stance Ends you have Advantage on the first Unarmed Strike you make each Turn.
* **Knockout Punch:** When you hit a Character with an Unarmed Strike which is a Critical Hit they must make a Constitution Saving Throw against your Stance Saving Throw DC. If they Fail this Saving Throw, they are Stunned for 1 Minute. They may repeat this Saving Throw at the Start of Each of their Turns, ending the Stunned Condition on a Successful Save.
* **Restriction:** You lose the benefits of this Stance while you are holding a Weapon or wearing a Shield.

#### Counter-Boxer

*Basic Stance, Costs 2 Stamina.*

* **Bob and Weave:** Until the Stance Ends, Melee Attacks you can see which are made against you have Disadvantage. If you are Hit by a Melee Attack, this benefit is suppressed until the Start of your Next Turn.
* **Counter-Punch:** If a Melee Attack misses you you may as a Reaction make an Unarmed Strike with Advantage against the Attacker.
* **Restriction:** You lose the benefits of this Stance while you are holding a Weapon or wearing a Shield.

## Copyright Notice

This work includes material taken from the System Reference Document 5.1 (“SRD 5.1”) by Wizards of the Coast LLC and available at https://dnd.wizards.com/resources/systems-reference-document. The SRD 5.1 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

## Credit this Work

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This work includes material taken from "7e” by Peter Rees and materials taken from the System Reference Document 5.1 (“SRD 5.1”) by Wizards of the Coast LLC. Both "7e" and the "SRD5.1" are Licensed under the Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 International License, available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode