Boxer (Apath)

Unofficial rules compendium

Boxer is a fencer archetype that focuses on using fists, a variant of fencing that works with unarmed attacks and fist weapons. It is a martial arts class of the way of the mind.

Class Information

This is a martial arts archetype

Class: Fencer.

Hit Die: d12.

Class Features

This is all the boxer's class features.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

A boxer is proficient with all simple weapons, all weapons from the close weapon group (see the fighter's weapon training ability) and with shields (excluding tower shields) but not with any armor.

Boxing Limitations

A boxer may use an unarmed attack or any weapon from the close weapon group along with his boxing techniques, but may not wear armor or use a two-handed ranged weapon or otherwise carry or handle anything but a weapon allowed by her in both hands (all hands for multi-armed creatures). A boxer who does not fulfill these conditions loses all class features except skills, weapon and armor proficiencies, and bonus feats. All abilities are instantly regained as soon as the boxer fulfills the requirements.

Improved Unarmed Strike

The boxer gains Improved Unarmed Strike as a bonus feat at first level. Unlike a monk, a boxer does not deal increased damage with unarmed attacks, but see lunge. This replaces Weapon Finesse.

Lunge (Ex)

A boxer can use her mobility to make powerful strikes in melee with an unarmed attack or a weapon she can use with her style, adding her boxer level to her damage roll. A boxer that uses a shield, two melee weapons, or wields a melee weapon in two hands only adds half his class level to damage on a lunge. A boxer can use Two-Weapon Fighting and subsequent feats with unarmed attacks and still do full damage on a lunge.

Canny Hardening (Ex)

Boxers have two layers of defense, first their nearly impenetrable guard and then the toughness they develop through rigorous training. This is a specific exception to the general martial arts rule that only two attributes can modify Armor Class.

A boxer adds 1 point of Intelligence bonus (if any) per fencer class level as a dodge bonus to CMD and Armor Class. If a boxer is caught flat-footed or otherwise denied her Dexterity bonus, she also loses this bonus.

In addition, as long as he is not wearing any armor, the boxer gains a circumstance bonus to natural armor equal to his Constitution bonus. He can use shields normally and the bonus stacks with both natural armor and with enchantment bonuses to natural armor.

Chin (Ex)

Starting at 2nd level, a boxer gains a +1 bonus on saves against pain effects and effects that would make him dazed, exhausted, fatigued, nauseated, sickened, staggered, or stunned. This bonus increases by +1 for every four levels beyond 2nd.

Parry

At 2nd level a boxer learns to parry the attacks of other creatures against himself or an adjacent ally. To parry an attack, the boxer makes an attack roll at his best attack bonus. If this roll is greater than the attack roll of the attacking creature, the parry succeeds and the original attack misses. For each size category that the attacking creature is larger than the boxer, the boxer takes a –2 penalty on his parry roll. The boxer also takes a –2 penalty when attempting to parry an attack made against an adjacent ally. The boxer declares the use of this ability after the attack is rolled.

A boxer denied his Dexterity bonus to armor class cannot parry.

At 2nd level, the boxer can parry one attack per round. For every 5 levels past level 2, the boxer can parry an additional attack each round, to a maximum of four parries per round at level 17.

On his next turn after a boxer made one or more parries, he is staggered.

Boxing Styles

At 3rd level a boxer must select a boxing style to train in. Once chosen, this cannot be changed. This is similar to a fencing school, but specific to boxing.

Each style has a set of unique abilities boxers of that style develop as they advance in levels. A boxer gains school abilities at level 3, 6, 11, 16, and 20. Note that certain style features have specific requirements that must also be fulfilled to use that particular ability.

It is possible to extend the choice of boxing styles through the Additional Fencing School feat, just as a boxer can. All decisions regarding a boxing style, such as which weapon to specialize in, are made when the ability is first gained and cannot be changed later.

Punching Practice (Ex)

At 4th level, the boxer gains a +1 attack bonus with unarmed attacks and attacks with weapons from the close weapon group. This bonus increases by +1 for every five levels beyond 4th.

Bonus Feats

At level 5, 8, 10, 13, 15, 18, and 20, the boxer chooses a combat feat as a bonus feat. He needs to fulfill the prerequisites of these feats as normal. A boxer can select fighter-only feats as a fighter of his boxer level.

Cunning Opportunist

At 9th level, the boxer may make a number of additional attacks of opportunity per round equal to his Intelligence bonus. This stacks with the benefits of Combat Reflexes.

Uncanny Dodge (Ex)

Starting at 11th level, a boxer can react to danger before her senses would normally allow her to do so. She cannot be caught flat-footed, nor does she lose her Dex bonus to AC if the attacker is invisible. She still loses her Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized. A boxer with this ability can still lose her Dexterity bonus to AC if an opponent successfully uses the feint action (see Combat) against her.

Aggressive Defense (Ex)

At 14th level and higher a boxer can use aggressive defense. Whenever the boxer chooses to use Combat Expertise, to fight defensively, or to use total defense, he can make an attack of opportunity against any opponent within reach who misses her with a melee attack.

Boxing Mastery (Ex)

At 19th level the boxer gains DR 5/-.

Table: Boxer

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special
1st	+1	+2	+2	+0	Boxing limitations, canny defense, Improved Unarmed Strike, lunge
2nd	+2	+3	+3	+0	Boxing style, parry 1/round
3rd	+3	+3	+3	+1	Boxing style ability
4th	+4	+4	+4	+1	Riposte
5th	+5	+4	+4	+1	Bonus feat
6th	+6/+1	+5	+5	+2	Boxing style ability, pain resistance +2
7th	+7/+2	+5	+5	+2	Parry 2/round
8th	+8/+3	+6	+6	+2	Bonus feat
9th	+9/+4	+6	+6	+3	Cunning opportunist
10th	+10/+5	+7	+7	+3	Bonus feat, pain resistance +3
11th	+11/+6/+1	+7	+7	+3	Boxing style ability
12th	+12/+7/+2	+8	+8	+4	Parry 3/round
13th	+13/+8/+3	+8	+8	+4	Bonus feat
14th	+14/+9/+4	+9	+9	+4	Aggressive defense, pain resistance +4
15th	+15/+10/+5	+9	+9	+5	Bonus feat
16th	+16/+11/+6/+1	+10	+10	+5	Boxing style ability
17th	+17/+12/+7/+2	+10	+10	+5	Parry 4/round
18th	+18/+13/+8/+3	+11	+11	+6	Bonus feat, pain resistance +5
19th	+19/+14/+9/+4	+11	+11	+6	Boxing mastery
20th	+20/+15/+10/+5	+12	+12	+6	Bonus feat, boxing style ability

Boxing Styles

These are the fighting styles available to boxers. Each has a series of abilities as the fencer boxer advances in level. See the boxing style class feature.

Out-Fighter

The out-fighter fights much like a fencer, keeping their distance and using mobility and tactics to win the fight.

Slugger

The slugger relies on heavy punches to finish the fight in a few mighty blows.

Swarmer

The swarmer or in-fighter relies on getting up close and delivering a rain of fast punches.