Ladies and Gentlemen.... introducing the Drunken Brawler!

I have been waiting years for DDO to add a brawler varient of the fighter. I feel like that could be a real possibility now that archtypes are a thing, but finally my patience ran out, and I decided I would do it myself. This build is by no means the best thing since sliced bread, but it sure feels fun. The following were the stipulations for the build:

  • Must be a handwrap wearing character
  • May not include any levels of monk or sacred fist
  • May not be a shifter (feels too easy, we are going for flare here)
  • Must be at least partly fighter, per the brawler idea


The following is what I have come up with. So far I am level 14 and climbing quickly. I either join pugs or host groups myself all the way up through heroics, and so far this has been a killing machine, even being competitive with casters.


Character name: Drunken Brawler
Classes: 20 Fighter, 10 Epic, 2 Legendary
Race: Tabaxi· · · · · · · ·Alignment: Neutral

· · ·Start Tome Final · · ·Incorp:· · ·0% · · ·Displacement:· · 0%
Str:· · ·8· · 8 · ·21 · · ·HP:· · · ·1800 · · ·AC:· · 95
Dex:· · 20· · 8 · ·47 · · ·PRR: · · · ·80
Con:· · 18· · 8 · ·31 · · ·MRR: · · · ·17 · · ·+Healing Amp:· · 35
Int:· · 12· · 8 · ·26 · · ·Dodge: · 15/35 · · ·-Healing Amp:· · 25
Wis:· · ·8· · 8 · ·21 · · ·Fort:· · · 81% · · ·Repair Amp:· · · 25
Cha:· · ·8· · 8 · ·23 · · ·SR:· · · · · 0 · · ·BAB: · · · · · · 25

Class and Feat Selection (Consolidated)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Level Class · · · · · ·Feats
1 · · Fighter(1)· · · ·Standard: Dodge

2 · · Fighter(2)· · · ·Fighter Bonus: Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Handwraps

3 · · Fighter(3)· · · ·Standard: Mobility

4 · · Fighter(4)· · · ·Fighter Bonus: Swords to Plowshares
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Dexterity: +1 Level up

5 · · Fighter(5)· · ·
6 · · Fighter(6)· · · ·Standard: Weapon Focus: Bludgeoning Weapons
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Fighter Bonus: Whirlwind Attack

7 · · Fighter(7)· · ·
8 · · Fighter(8)· · · ·Fighter Bonus: Improved Two Weapon Fighting
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Dexterity: +1 Level up

9 · · Fighter(9)· · · ·Standard: Spring Attack

10· · Fighter(10) · · ·Fighter Bonus: Improved Critical: Bludgeoning Weapons

11· · Fighter(11) · · ·
12· · Fighter(12) · · ·Standard: Weapon Specialization: Bludgeoning Weapons
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Fighter Bonus: Greater Weapon Focus: Bludgeoning Weapons
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Dexterity: +1 Level up

13· · Fighter(13) · · ·
14· · Fighter(14) · · ·Fighter Bonus: Greater Two Weapon Fighting

15· · Fighter(15) · · ·Standard: Tactical Mastery

16· · Fighter(16) · · ·Fighter Bonus: Greater Weapon Specialization: Bludgeoning Weapons
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Dexterity: +1 Level up

17· · Fighter(17) · · ·
18· · Fighter(18) · · ·Standard: Superior Weapon Focus: Bludgeoning Weapons
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Fighter Bonus: Tactical Supremacy

19· · Fighter(19) · · ·
20· · Fighter(20) · · ·Fighter Bonus: Precision
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Dexterity: +1 Level up

21· · Epic(1) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Overwhelming Critical

22· · Epic(2) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting

23· · Epic(3) · · ·

24· · Epic(4) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Two Weapon Defense
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Dexterity: +1 Level up

25· · Epic(5) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Doublestrike

26· · Epic(6) · · ·

27· · Epic(7) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Epic Damage Reduction

28· · Epic(8) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Deific Warding
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Dexterity: +1 Level up

29· · Epic(9) · · ·

30· · Epic(10)· · · · ·Epic Feat: Epic Reflexes
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Legendary: Scion of Arborea

31· · Legendary(1)· · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Elusive Target

32· · Legendary(2)· · ·Dexterity: +1 Level up

Enhancements: 80 APs, Racial 12, Universal 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tabaxi - Points spent: 21
Core1 Nimble Cat I
Core2 Ability I: +1 Dexterity
Tier1 Sharp Claws - 2 Ranks
Core3 Nimble Cat II
Core4 Ability II: +1 Dexterity
Core5 Nimble Cat III
Tier2 Deflect Arrows
Tier3 Improved Nimble Cat
Tier3 Focused Agility
Tier3 Corner - 3 Ranks
Tier3 Sharp Claws II - 3 Ranks
Tier4 Lucky Cat
Tier4 Fast Sprinter
Tier4 Nine Lives
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kensei - Points spent: 45
Core1 Kensei Focus: Kensei Focus: Martial Arts
Tier1 Weapon Group Specialization I: Kensei Focus: Martial Arts
Tier1 Action Boost: Haste Boost - 3 Ranks
Tier1 Extra Action Boost - 2 Ranks
Tier2 Ascetic Training: Agility - 3 Ranks
Tier2 Improved Dodge - 3 Ranks
Core2 Spiritual Bond
Tier2 Weapon Group Specialization II: Kensei Focus: Martial Arts
Core3 Strike With No Thought
Tier3 Athletic Mastery - 3 Ranks
Tier3 Weapon Group Specialization III: Kensei Focus: Martial Arts
Tier3 Ability I: +1 Dexterity
Tier3 Shattering Strike: Shattering Strike - 1 Ranks
Tier4 Weapon Group Specialization IV: Kensei Focus: Martial Arts
Tier4 Liquid Courage
Tier4 Strike at the Heart
Core4 Power Surge
Tier4 Ability II: +1 Dexterity
Tier4 Opportunity Attack
Core5 One Cut
Tier5 Keen Edge
Tier5 Deadly Strike: Deadly Strike
Tier5 One With The Blade
Tier5 Weapon Master
Tier5 A Good Death: A Good Death (Melee)
Core6 Alacrity
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Horizon Walker - Points spent: 21
Core1 Mark Target
Tier1 Planar Dodge - 2 Ranks
Tier1 Eye for Accuracy - 3 Ranks
Tier2 Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
Core2 Improved Marking
Tier2 Skilled Navigator - 3 Ranks
Tier2 Protection from Evil and Good - 3 Ranks
Tier3 No Step Missed - 2 Ranks
Core3 Greater Marking
Tier3 Ability I: Dexterity
Core4 Dauntless Marking
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stalwart Defender - Points spent: 6
Core1 Toughness
Tier1 Improved Stalwart Defense I: Durable Defense - 3 Ranks
Tier1 Stalwart Defensive Mastery - 1 Ranks
Core2 Stalwart Defense
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Some of the pseudo-restrictions of this build include:

  • I really wanted to have a trance, so it had to be dex/int/wis based
  • Although an int gnome or a wis aasimar both seem like good options, I ultimately ended liking the idea of dexterity
  • If you want to do dex-to-hit/dmg for handwraps, your only option is tabaxi. Thus, I decided I would really lean in on the tabaxi/dex synergy -- at level 14 I've got 50 dexterity, evasion with a reflex over 55 and dodge around 22%
  • Horizon Walker is not a great tree outside of bow builds, but 21 points felt like a reasonable sacrifice for trance, +2 dex, +dodge cap, and fort bypass on bosses.


So, to conclude, I am wondering if you guys have any changes you would make (beside using a reasonable weapon, that is most unreasonable). I am thinking that the points in SD may not be worth it, because my MRR will be capped at 110 I believe by cap, but I am unsure how close I can get to that without the +15. Clearly this is not an endgame reaper machine, but that's part of the fun! Very excited for level 15, sharn gear is going to be a significant upgrade!

Cheers!