Gladiator Class


Pathfinder First Edition General Discussion

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Look up the rules regarding Performance Combat. You'll see that LOTS of classes can function as gladiators not just one.

This is a world of magic and the fantastic. Gladiatorial contests have FAR more options than the historical equivalents.


the fighter has an archetype for it too.

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There is a Gladiator Fighter Archetype in Ultimate Combat.

Shadow Lodge

Gladiator Fighter

There's also the Pit Fighter PrC, which is essentially a gladiator.

There are also classes that, while not designed as gladiators, make very good ones - particularly if you're not using the performance combat mechanics that the proper gladiator classes are designed to make use of. Daring Champion Cavalier, for example.


There's a third party Gladiator class by TPK games, detailed in Ultimate Gladiator complete with archetypes. It's built on a similar framework to the Talented Fighter from Genius Games. I've used it with good results.


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'Gladiator' is one of those things potentially better defined by a characters situation than their class. If you want to create the iconic sword-and-shield Roman gladiator (called a murmillo), I would suggest:

Ranger - Urban Ranger/Guide/Skirmisher removes all nature themed stuff and spells for truly vicious combat ability and urban savvy. Then,

Two Weapon Fighting Style, Gladius and Heavy Shield. Call the Gladius your offhand weapon, and you can dual wield the classical pair without heavy penalties while using a strength-based warrior. Weapon and Shield works well too, but frankly it lacks the killing edge of Improved Two Weapon Fighting and Two Weapon Rend.

When the Guide archetype uses Ranger's Focus - single out your foe for the kill! - your attack and damage with two weapons goes absolutely brutal. By level 10 you can pick 4 foes a day to enjoy you having a +6 attack and damage against them with both your weapons. All the right flavor components for a hard-core combatant are there in the later bonuses too - such as Inspired Moment making you a god of battle (pseudo-pounce!) for a couple of turns once per day.


How do you define a 'gladiator' class?


You have to wear funny looking pieces of armor, and wield funny looking weapons and tridents. Oh. And you might have to be enslaved.

Scarab Sages

Joey, do you like movies about gladiators?

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