New Pugilist Class Comes Out Swinging On D&D Beyond

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If the idea of repeatedly punching a monster in the face sounds like your idea of a good time, then you’re in luck. The new Pugilist Class has just arrived on D&D Beyond.

First released on DMsGuild almost a decade ago by designer Benjamin Huffman (founder of RPG publisher The Sterling Vermin Adventuring Company), the Pugilist quickly became a fan-favorite and one of the top selling products on the digital platform. Now, these bareknuckle brawlers have been thrown back into the ring by Wizards of the Coast, with the class officially updated for the D&D 2024 rules.

So does the Pugilist Class still pack a punch after all these years? Below, we break down all the details.

What was in the original Pugilist Class on DMsGuild?

The original 2016 DMsGuild version of the Pugilist Class was a 12-page supplement for the D&D 5e rules that featured the base class along with seven subclasses (known as a “Fight Club”).

• Arena Royale: High-flying luchadores and WWE-style wrestlers who blend theatrics and TKOs.
• Bloodhound Bruisers: Urban defenders of the downtrodden who are always on the lookout for trouble.
• Dog & Hound: Brawlers who take on enemies with the help of their trusty canine companion.
• Piss & Vinegar: Dirty fighters who take pride in their ability to provoke their foes into attacking.
• The Squared Circle: Expert grapplers who employ an MMA-style of submission fighting.
• The Sweet Science: Classic boxers and streetfighters who can deliver powerful knockouts.
• Hand of Dread: Pugilists who call on dark powers to aid in their battles. (Notably, this was not available in the first version of the class, and was added in an updated edition).

The book also included several weapons (including brass knuckles and knuckle knives), magic items (including magical tattoo ink and the hilariously named Club of Unconsciousness) and NPCs (with stat blocks that cover a number of possible Pugilists who can be used as friends or foes).

Creator Benjamin Huffman also rolled out several changes to the Pugilist class in 2022 when he published The Ultimate Adventurer’s Handbook (a Mithral best-selling sourcebook which introduced a number of new player options). The material from that book was later added to the standalone Pugilist Class supplement on DMsGuild.

What’s Included in the D&D Beyond Version?

The D&D Beyond version contains much of the same material as the DMsGuild version, with the exception that all content has been updated and is fully compatible with the current D&D 2024 rules. In addition, it includes one new subclass (the Street Saint) that is not available on the DMsGuild. The book itself contains the following:

• The Pugilist Class (with full integration with the D&D Beyond character builder)
• 6 subclasses (Dog and Hound, Hand of Dread, Piss and Vinegar, Squared Circle, Street Saint and Sweet Science)
• 3 new weapons
• 23 new magic items
• 4 new Pugilist NPC stat blocks

How much is the Pugilist Class on D&D Beyond?

The D&D Beyond version retails for $14.99. Notably you can still get the original version on DMsGuild with the PDF retailing for $9.95 USD.

What you’re really paying for the D&D Beyond version of the Pugilist, however, is the inclusion of a new subclass (the Street Saint), the ability to integrate materials into the D&D Beyond character generator and the fact that all material has been updated for the new D&D 2024 rules.

Is the Pugilist Class worth picking up on D&D Beyond?

If you like the idea of the Pugilist class and don’t already own the DMsGuild version of the material, then this book is definitely worth picking up (and bear in mind that a good chunk of the proceeds will go to original creator Benjamin Huffman).

The other option is to save yourselves a few bucks and pick up the original version on DMsGuild. The material here isn’t updated for the D&D 2024 rules, but are fully compatible and can made to work with a bit of tweaking (notably, you also won’t get The Street Saint subclass).

Final Thoughts

Over the past few years we’ve seen more and more third-party products end up on D&D Beyond. Most of these, however, are from larger publishers (like MCDM, Paizo and Ghostfire Gaming) with products often the result of massive crowdfunding campaign. With the Pugilist class, however, this is one of the few products created by a single individual who made something that was genuinely embraced by the community. In that sense, grabbing the book now is the chance to support a talented creator and pick up a genuinely cool class.

You can download the Pugilist now on D&D Beyond or pick up the original on DMsGuild

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