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Action Surge 5E Fighter [Double Your Actions In A Flash]

Action Surge 5e Fighter
  Written By: Ashish Arya
Updated On: 01/12/2024
Est. Reading: 9 minutes

Experiencing an adrenaline surge during a pivotal moment in gaming can be electrifying. The intense thrill of exploiting an opportunity and turning the tide of events in your favor is immeasurable.

This dynamic experience has a parallel in Dungeons & Dragons, specifically mirrored in the fighter class feature known as action surge 5e.

Understanding this feature and employing it effectively can add a facet of pleasure and functionality to your gameplay.

Whether you are on the cusp of beating a high-level monster or desperately trying to regain control of a skirmish, the action surge 5e can provide an edge that might signal the difference between winning and losing.

Read on as this article unpacks what this game changer entails and how to harness its power for optimum gameplay success.

What is Action Surge In 5e?

The ‘action surge’ feature in Dungeons & Dragons (5th edition) is a unique ability acquired by the fighter class.

What is Action Surge 5e

It signifies the pushing of oneself beyond normal limits, a sudden rush of energy and power providing a brief edge over adversaries.

This provision kicks in at the second level, augmenting the fighter’s power during gameplay.

Using the action surge, you can take additional actions on your turn, aside from the usual combination of one per turn and other possible bonus actions.

It means that once during your turn, you can do one of the following actions: Attack (substantial when needing to land multiple hits), Dash (for increased speed), Hide (for stealth), or even Cast a Spell (if multiclassing as a spellcaster).

This feature essentially grants another round within your existing turn – meaning double movement, double attacks, and double interaction with items.

The only restriction is that you can only use it once before needing to rest.

Also Read: Druid 5E Class Guide [Become A Master Of Nature Magic]

Hit Points

It’s key to grasp your character’s endurance and tenacity. This is measured by Hit Points, a statistical representation of your fighter’s health.

Hit Dice is a distinctive feature concerning hit points. This term symbolizes your character’s combat resilience.

In the case of a Fighter character in 5e, each level you possess corresponds to one 10-sided die (1d10) in your pool of Hit Dice.

At the very outset of your journey, when your Fighter is at 1st Level, you automatically begin with impressive total hit points illustrated as ’10 + your Constitution modifier’.

Any enhancement in the constitution remarkably bolsters your foundational hit points volume.

Moving on to Higher Levels, for each fighter level after the first, you can choose either 1d10 or 6 as a standard rate to calculate extra hit points.

Infuse ‘your Constitution modifier’. Hence, even at upper levels, bolstering one’s constitution continues to impact cumulative hit-point bonuses.

Boosting and maintaining high Constitution enhances the total pool of Hit Points throughout all levels.

Successful utilization of hit points lets you indulge in gameplay with grit and tenacity, marching forward undeterred by obstacles or adversities thrown along the path.

Armors of action surge

As a player of Dungeons & Dragons, understanding your fighter’s armor options is crucial to navigating your way successfully through the game.

Armors of action surge

The type of armor you choose directly impacts your character’s survivability. Let us take a closer look at each armor type and how they play into the utilization of the action surge 5e.

Light Armor

When donning light armor, your fighter maintains high maneuverability.

This armor type provides you with basic defense while affording you speed and flexibility in combat a fundamental requirement when opting for an action surge.

Your agility complements this feature by letting you exploit opportunities in battle quickly, hence turning the tide in your favor.

Keep in mind that while light armor allows for fluid movement, it doesn’t offer as much protection as the heavier alternatives.

Medium Armor

As part of choosing medium armor for your character, you strike a balance between mobility and defense.

This option provides better protection than light armor without significantly compromising speed and flexibility thus enabling effective use of action surge 5e.

By wearing medium armor, fighters can engage in bouts with higher-stake foes, ready to unleash their extra move whenever the opportune moment arises.

Heavy Armor

Heavy armor is symbolic of brute force and hardiness they greatly bolster physical defense at the expense of some mobility.

As a bearer of heavy armor, planning is integral to optimizing the use of action surge 5e because this feature maneuver surges best when associated with a swift movement.

If calculated well enough, taking an extra turn in heavy cover could give your fighter significant attack or defense opportunities that could translate to victory.

Shields

Shields add another layer to your arsenal both defensively and strategically speaking.

While primarily serving as an extra point boost on your Armor Class (AC), shields could also play into effective utilization of action surge 5e depending on how creative or prepared you are for showdowns.

From protecting against powerful strikes to serving as a potential distraction against your enemies, a shield in hand can be instrumental in determining the outcome of your fighter’s action surge.

Also Read: 12 Best Subclasses 5E [Choose Your Specialization Wisely In DnD]

Weapons in Action Surge 5e

The proper use of weaponry is indeed a critical skill set to master for any Fighter hoping to utilize the action surge 5e effectively.

Weapons in Action Surge 5e

It’s about understanding the damage you can deal with and how you wield it under pressure.

In this realm of martial prowess, weapons fall into two primary categories: Simple and Martial weapons.

Choosing the right weapon to pair with your action surge can undoubtedly be the difference maker.

Simple Weapons

Simple Weapons are those that require basic combat training such as clubs, daggers, greatclubs, handaxes, javelins, light hammers, maces, quarterstaffs, and spears among others.

As a Fighter using Action Surge 5e, mastering simple weapons is the foundation upon which other armament proficiencies are built.

They’re easy to swing or thrust, and their usage can be quickly perfected through practice.

While they may not deliver as much damage as their martial counterparts at times, their simplicity often makes them suitable for tactical flexibility during combat.

Martial Weapons

Moving on to Martial Weapons: these are a cut above in terms of sophistication and capability when compared to Simple Weapons.

Swords (including shortswords and longswords), war hammers, flails, longbows, and great axes – these examples indicate a step up the fighter’s lethal ladder.

They require specialized training due to complex handling characteristics but compensate for this intricacy with the potential infliction of more significant damage.

As such they become highly effective when used in combination with your action surge 5e attribute.

Pairing an action surge with a well-timed strike from a martial weapon might just provide the battle-changing momentum that alters outcomes towards victory rather than defeat.

They are not for every fighter’s scenario; your game’s circumstances will also dictate whether a simple or martial weapon suits best given your strategic plans.

Also Read: 10 Best Sorcerer Subclasses 5E [Choose The Right Magical Origin]

the Saving Throws in the Action Surge 5e Fighter

Saving Throws are a fundamental aspect of the Dungeons & Dragons gameplay.

the Saving Throws in the Action Surge 5e Fighter

They work as your character’s reflexive defense to minimize or flat-out avoid potential harm, making them an exciting feature in the dynamics of your gaming experience.

When it comes to the Action Surge 5e Fighter, there are two core Saving Throws Strength and Constitution. Now let’s dive deeper into these saving throws.

Strength

When participating in a game of Dungeons & Dragons as an Action Surge 5e fighter, you will often need to leverage the might and physical prowess of your character, hence the pertinence of strength saving throws.

They come into play when you must resist a force that would physically move or bind you.

This may involve anything from standing your ground against a gusty gale conjured by an adversary mage, to resisting effects such as paralysis.

Having good strength saving throws enables you to command your character to perform spectacular feats like withstanding heavy impacts or even breaking free from bonds.

It’s quintessentially about it being a symbolic representation of fortitude and bracing against intrusive physical energies.

Constitution

Constitution saving throws, on the other hand, mirror your character’s endurance and health status.

They are engaged when you need to withstand results that can afflict illness or harm upon your character’s vital health metrics, be it neurological disruptions through enchantments, severe bodily harm inflicted by poisons or simply enduring severe weather conditions.

These saving throws represent how sturdy and tenacious your character is against physiological affronts or intense environments.

If your constitution score is high enough, it could signal that potential poisons diminish more swiftly inside your body or that magical sleep spells may not affect you as much.

Also Read: 10 Best Rogue Subclasses 5E [Specialize In Stealth And Skulduggery]

What are the Skills of Action Surge?

Mastering the specific set of skills revolving around action surge 5e can notably augment your game strategy.

Not only do these skills heighten your gameplay experience, but they also provide versatility to a fighter’s combat approach.

Each skill caters to a specific scenario, culminating in a well-rounded fighter prepared for any situation.

Acrobatics

In terms of combat, agility often trumps sheer strength- a fact exemplified by the skill of acrobatics.

Whether it’s dodging enemy attacks or maintaining balance in precarious situations, acrobatics plays an essential role in nimble maneuverability.

Skillful use of this ability in conjunction with action surge 5e can lead you to perform unexpected feats that catch your enemies off guard.

Being elusive can frequently be more advantageous than merely striking with power.

Animal Handling

Action surge doesn’t confine itself to individual combat prowess alone; it spreads its utility to aid outside the direct theater of battles as well.

Case and point is animal handling. This skill allows you to pacify potentially harmful beasts or command battle-ready creatures with precision while bolstered by action surge 5e.

The wilderness might become less daunting when you have the know-how to interact with its inhabitants effectively.

Athletics

The very core attribute of a fighter lies in their physicality, and this is where athletic skill is indispensable.

Coupled with action surge 5e, feats of strength like long leaps, and climbing steep or slippery inclines become achievable tasks rather than daunting challenges.

Be it plowing through an enemy frontline or overcoming elaborate traps; athleticism partnered with timely bursts from action surge offers increased chances for success.

History

Though not immediately apparent as being tied into an adrenaline-induced feature like an action surge, understanding history can impact battles significantly.

Having contextual knowledge about enemy origins or understanding ancient war tactics could help inform your decision-making and strategies in combat.

This mental prowess, coupled with the spontaneous boost of action surge 5e, consolidates your versatility as a fighter against any odds.

Insight

How useful would it be if you could anticipate an opponent’s next move? That’s where insight comes into play.

Greater insight means a better understanding of your enemy’s intention, allowing for more informed strategic choices.

When merged with the swift capabilities of action surge 5e, having exceptional insight can provide impeccable defense and opportune moments for attack, particularly during heated battles.

Intimidation

The sword isn’t the only powerful weapon at a fighter’s disposal. When leveraged aptly, words can also serve as a potent weapon.

Learning to intimidate enemies can unnerve opponents before blades even clash or turn away conflicts entirely without bloodshed.

With the raw force inherent in action surge 5e backing up your dogged determination, intimidating foes becomes a feasible tactic in your arsenal.

Perception

Surviving in adversarial situations depends considerably on alertness and keen observation skills marked by high perception ratings.

Perception allows you to detect traps or hidden enemies that lay ahead or sense an ambush before it strikes.

Action surge 5e only magnifies this innate penchant for detecting danger, making this skill vital for a fighter intending to avoid being taken by surprise.

Survival

There is toughness needed in the heat of battle and resiliency required outside its confines when traversing hostile terrains or following tracks of elusive prey under challenging conditions.

The survival skill encapsulates these out-of-battlefield scenarios perfectly well.

Enhanced by action surge 5e, it equips fighters with the knowledge to find water and food sources or create makeshift shelters everything necessary for living off the land.

Also Read: 8 Best Barbarian Subclasses 5E [Choose Your Path Of Rage]

Bonuses According to Level

As your adventurer progresses through various levels in the game, their ability to combat foes and overcome challenges increases substantially.

This growth is most evident in the bonuses they receive with each level-up upgrades that enhance their performance significantly.

These bonuses serve as perks that can considerably tip the scales in your favor during gameplay.

LevelProficiency BonusFeatures
1st+2Fighting Style, Second Wind
2nd+2Action Surge (one use)
3rd+2Martial Archetype
4th+2Ability Score Improvement
5th+3Extra Attack
6th+3Ability Score Improvement
7th+3Martial Archetype feature
8th+3Ability Score Improvement
9th+4Indomitable (one use)
10th+4Martial Archetype feature
11th+4Extra Attack (2)
12th+4Ability Score Improvement
13th+5Indomitable (two uses)
14th+5Ability Score Improvement
15th+5Martial Archetype feature
16th+5Ability Score Improvement
17th+6Action Surge (two uses), Indomitable (three uses)
18th+6Martial Archetype feature
19th+6Ability Score Improvement
20th+6Extra Attack (3)

FAQs About action surge 5e

What level does a 5e fighter get Action Surge?

In Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition(5e), a fighter acquires the Action Surge ability at the 2nd level.

How frequently can I use Action Surge in a fighter class in D&D 5e?

You can use the Action Surge feature once per short or long rest, allowing you to take extra action on your turn.

Can I stack multiple uses of my Action Surge as a 5e fighter?

No, you cannot. According to the game rules, even though a Level 17 Fighter gets two uses of their action surge, they must complete a short or long rest between uses.

Is it possible to gain additional bonus actions with Action Surge in D&D 5e?

No, it isn’t. While you get an additional action with the use of action surge, it does not grant a bonus action.

Does the Action Surge feature impact spellcasting for Eldritch Knights in D&D 5e?

Yes, it potentially impacts Eldritch Knights. They could cast two spells in one turn if one of them is cast as a bonus action and the other with Action Surge.

Author

  • Ashish Arya

    I'm a tech enthusiast and lifelong gamer, hailing from the beautiful city of Chandigarh. My passions range from immersing myself in worlds like GTA V, COD, SIMS, Roblox and Minecraft to exploring the latest innovations in laptops and technology. Armed with a Bachelors Degree in Computer Application, I love sharing my insights through writing and engaging with fellow enthusiasts. Join me on my journey through the ever-evolving realms of gaming and tech!

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