Brawler

All melee is up close and personal, but some warriors bring it as close as they can get. Brawlers can be found anywhere, among all races and societies. A brawler could be hired muscle in a tavern, a local crime syndicate enforcer, or a hotheaded recruit among the ranks of a baron’s guard. Often brawlers’ in-your-face attitudes are as powerful as their tactics.

Close Control (Ex)

At 2nd level, a brawler becomes skilled at forcefully moving their opponent around the battlefield. The brawler gains a +1 bonus on Bull Rush, Drag, and Reposition combat maneuver checks. The brawler also gains a +1 bonus to CMD when attacked with the Bull Rush, Drag, and Reposition maneuvers. These bonuses increase by +1 for every four levels after 2nd (to a maximum of +5 at 18th level).

This ability replaces armor training 1.

Close Combatant (Ex)

At 3rd level, a brawler gains a +1 bonus on attack rolls and a +3 bonus on damage rolls with weapons in the close weapon group. Both of these bonuses increase by +1 for every four levels beyond 3rd (to a maximum of +5 on attack rolls and +7 on damage rolls at 19th level).

This ability replaces weapon training 1 and 2.

Close Weapon Group: bayonet [APG], brass knuckles [APG], cestus [UC], dan bong [UC], emei piercer [UC], fighting fan [UC], gauntlet, heavy shield, iron brush [UC], light shield, madu [UC], mere club [UC], punching dagger, sap, scizore [UC], spiked armor, spiked gauntlet, spiked shield, tekko-kagi [UC], tonfa [UC], unarmed strike, wooden stake [APG], and wushu dart [UC].

Menacing Stance (Ex)

At 7th level, a brawler constantly harries and distracts their enemies. While adjacent to the brawler, enemies take a –1 penalty on attack rolls and a –4 penalty on concentration checks. These penalties increase by 1 for every four levels after 7th level (to a maximum of –4 on attack rolls and –7 on concentration checks at 19th level). Creatures do not take these penalties if the brawler is Dazed, Helpless, Staggered, Stunned, or Unconscious.

This ability replaces armor training 2, 3, and 4 and armor mastery.

No Escape (Ex)

At 9th level, taking a 5-foot step out of the area of a brawler’s menacing stance or moving out of the area of a Brawler’s menacing stance with a Withdraw action provokes an attack of opportunity from the brawler.

This ability replaces weapon training 3 and 4.

Stand Still

At 13th level, a brawler gains Stand Still as a bonus feat, even if they do not have the Combat Reflexes feat. If the brawler already has the Stand Still feat, they can take any other combat feat instead. Furthermore, they gain a bonus equal to 1/2 their fighter level on combat maneuver checks when using the Stand Still feat.

Weapon Mastery (Ex)

A brawler must select a close weapon for this ability.

Parent Class

Fighter