Phalanx Warrior

Phalanx warriors excel at fighting with sword, spear, and shield in a formation of interlocking shields.

Phalanx

A phalanx is a formation of soldiers wielding interlocking shields; each soldier provides protection for the one next to them. At 3rd level when you take this archetype, you are taught how to fight in this formidable combat stance.

As a bonus action, if you are wielding a shield, you can activate this stance. While in the phalanx stance, adjacent allies receive a +1 bonus to their AC and your speed is halved. Also while in the stance, any enemy that moves within or out of your 5-foot reach, or attacks an ally adjacent to you, is subject to an attack of opportunity from you. This opportunity attack interrupts the triggering action and can only be used to take the shove action. If the shove is successful, in addition to the normal effects of the shove action, the target’s speed is also reduced to zero until the start of its next turn.

Soldier’s Discipline

Phalanx warriors must hold the formation at all costs.

Starting at 3rd level you may expend your Second Wind class feature to remove one fear or paralyzing effect affecting you. When you do this, you do not regain any hit points from the class feature for this use.

This ability does not work against a paralyzing effect that is imposed by being physically grappled or restrained.

Shield Bash

At 7th level, you have learned to use your shield in the following manner:

• You can take the shove action as a bonus action on your turn.
• Shield Bash – You can make a melee weapon attack with your shield. On a hit, it does 1d4 bludgeoning damage + your Strength modifier + any magical armor bonus your shield may have, and it has a reach of 5 ft. Using your shield in this manner ends your phalanx stance.

Well Trained

At 10th level you gain a second fighting style.

Shield Block

You are a master at fighting with a weapon and shield. You have learned to punish those that have the audacity to attack you and fail by using your shield to create attacks of opportunity when you use it to block an attack.

Starting at 15th level, when an enemy within 5 feet of you misses you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction to make an attack of opportunity against that target with your weapon or shield. Using your shield in this manner does not require you to end the phalanx stance. You must be wielding a shield to use this ability.

Glory!

A glorious death is what a true phalanx warrior hopes for.

Starting at 18th level, if you take damage from an attack and are at less than half your maximum hit points following that attack, you can use your reaction to retaliate, making one melee attack against every enemy within reach of the weapon you are currently wielding. Alternatively, you may use your reaction to make a melee attack against a single enemy. If you select this option, then the hit is treated as critical success.

Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a short rest or long rest.