The Pugilist class first debuted in 2014 on the DMsGuild, and quickly went on to become one of D&D's most popular homebrew classes. Now, over 10 years later, Benjamin Huffman returns with the latest take on D&D’s beloved Pugilist class, complete with 7 subclasses (known as Fight Clubs), over 15 class-specific features, 3 new weapons, and 23 magic items. Originally one of D&D’s most beloved third-party classes, the 2024 edition of the Pugilist further optimizes its design to integrate with the 5.5e ruleset while keeping the elements fans loved from its first iteration. Key features such as the Pugilists Fisticuffs and the Moxie resource make their return, only this time, rules are optimized for new and returning players to enjoy.

What Is The Pugilist?

In some ways, the Pugilist class is a response to the core martial classes of D&D. According to Benjamin Huffman, between the Barbarian, Fighter, and Monk, there’s one martial path that goes unrepresented: the path of the melee fighter whose creed is nothing other than their own raw determination. A brawler whose fists are propelled into the faces of their enemies, not by a code or a creed, but by the sheer strength of their determination and passion. These aren’t the kind of fighters who fight in the name of kingdoms and royalty, or the kind of fighters whose melee ability is inexorably tied to mysticism and spirituality. Instead, Pugilists subscribe to their own beliefs, and measure their success by the resilience of their callouses and the impact of their punches.

No Pain, No Gain

Moxie is the Pugilist’s core resource, fueling their special moves and allowing them to buff offensive or defensive abilities on command. You gain your first Moxie points at level two, and from then on, you can spend your points to power class options such as extra attacks, mobility, and temporary HP, similar to the ki/discipline/focus point pools in other classes. Much like most resources, you regain all spent Moxie points on a short or long rest, and can even refill points mid-combat with certain features.

As a bonus action, you can expend one Moxie point to make two Unarmed Strikes, make one Unarmed Strike and Dash or Disengage, or gain a chunk of temporary hit points. These options change from subclass to subclass, allowing Moxie points to be spent in entirely unique ways. For example, Pugilists from the Piss & Vinegar Fight Club can spend Moxie points to provide advantage to charisma checks, Pugilists from the Hand of Dread Fight Club can spend additional Moxie points to make three unarmed strikes as a bonus action, and Pugilists from the Dog & Hand Fight Club can spend Moxie to bolster their canine companion. The Pugilist enjoys seven different subclasses, each with unique fighting styles and abilities.

The Pugilists Subclasses

The Pugilist hits the scene with seven total subclasses, known as “Fight Clubs”. We all know the first rule of Fight Club, but for the sake of this article, we’re going to break that rule just once.

Arena Royale
Equal parts performer and gladiator, the Arena Royale pugilist travels the world earning their keep with staged physical competitions or unscripted brawls. This class receives bonuses to performance, and at level six, gains the ability to charm or frighten combatants with their alternate persona. Role-playing a Pugilist from the Arena Royale Fight Club means playing a fighter who fights for glory and honor just as much as they fight for fame and showmanship.

Example Background: Entertainer, Athlete, Folk Hero

Bloodhound Bruisers
The Bloodhound Bruisers are the everyman defenders of their cities. Staunch urban defenders of their communities, the Bloodhound Bruisers are notorious for getting their hands dirty while they grapple with the unjust and criminal underbelly of their homes. Sometimes vigilant protectors, othertimes diligant bounty hunters, the Bloodhound Bruisers make trouble and solve problems. At the third level, Bloodhound Bruisers Detective Work feature grants proficiency in a selection of skills, including Insight, Investigation, or Perception, along with the ability to spend one moxie point to gain advantage on Wisdom checks. By sixth level, Bloodhound Bruisers can expend two moxie points to analyze an enemy for advantage on weapon attacks against the creature. Role-playing a Bloodhound Bruiser involves a profound connection to an urban or civilized environment and a hard-headed commitment to seeing their task through.

Example Background: Urban Bounty Hunter, Investigator, House Agent

Dog & Hound
The Dog & Hound Fight Club is for the Pugilist who fights best with a sidekick by their side. When it comes to fighting alongside mans best friend, no one knows better how to cause real damage than the Dog & Hound Pugilist. For the Dog & Hound fighter, moxie points can be spent on bolstering your canine companion in combat, hound attacks, and the dash action. By level six, your coordination enables the hound to use its reaction to make bite attacks, making the hound the Dog & Hound Pugilist’s secret weapon. Role-playing a Dog & Hound fighter means rolling a character with a personal connection to a canine companion, and playing to each other's strengths in your fight for glory.

Example Background: Iron Route Bandit, Outlander, Folk Hero

Hand of Dread
The Pugilist who bartered for strength in exchange for a world of dread and encroaching insanity. When you choose this fight club, you’re signing up to walk a darker path than most. Of course, that does pay off in the form of cantrips like Eldritch Blast at third level, along with the Dread Hand feature, which grants tons of bonuses to represent your altered and monstrous appearance. Later on, starting at sixth level, the Hand of Dread Pugilist unlocks two eldritch invocations of their choosing, earning more as they progress. If you’re picking up on a little cross-over with the Warlock class, it’s intentional. As the subclass explains, “For every two levels you have in this class, you count as having one warlock level for the purpose of meeting an eldritch invocations prerequisite”. At level 11, things get out of “hand” as you unlock an alternate monstrous form, doubling your size and strength.

Example Background: Haunted One, Acolyte

Piss & Vinegar
The Pugilist fight club for the fighter who isn’t here to make friends. To use wrestling terms, where the Arena Royale fighter might be the “Face” of the Pugilist class, the Piss & Vinegar Pugilist is undoubtedly the heel. This fighter specializes in everything unpleasant, from hurling insults at level three to cause psychic damage, or throwing low blows like pocket sand at level six. The Piss & Vinegar Pugilist is the very definition of a dirty fighter. Role-playing a Piss & Vinegar Pugilist means getting comfortable with being disliked. You may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but they’ll love you when you’re the last one standing.

Example Background: Criminal, Soldier, Gambler

The Squared Circle
The Squared Circle Pugilist is perhaps the most technically skilled fighter of all the Pugilist classes. Where other Fight Clubs subscribe to more all-out beliefs of reducing your enemies to dust, the Squared Circle Pugilist knows exactly how to end a fight as effectively as possible. The ultimate subduers, the Squared Circle Pugilist unlocks Groundwork at level three granting the fighter tons of new grappling options. As you progress through the Squared Circle skill tree, you’ll unlock full control of the battlefield as you can grapple, subdue, and shove any enemy that comes your way. Role-playing for a Squared Circle would best suit a more benevolent character, whose love of fighting outweighs their love of violence. For more inspiration, check out Dimension 20’s Cloudward Ho, where Murph’s Max character plays a slightly modified Squared Circle Pugilist.

Example Background: City Guard, Entertainer, Noble

The Sweet Science
The Sweet Science is the quintessential toe-to-toe boxer of the Pugilist subclasses, with a penchant for laying out his enemies cold on the floor. At third level, critical hits reduce to 19 on a d20, and your Cross Counter ability allows you to reduce damage and return fire all within the same reaction move. Role-playing a Sweet Science Pugilist means becoming a mastermind of the ring, chasing KO’s like it’s your ticket to heaven.

Example Background: Athlete, Soldier, Entertainer

Punchup Your D&D Sessions With The Pugilist