Dwarven Defender is one of the class kits available for fighters. This class kit has a fairly self-explanatory specialization: defending weaker characters, holding the line and absorbing damage. It is only available to dwarves - making it the only kit that humans can't choose out of all the (single) classes and kits.
Ability Scores[]
| Ability Score | Min. Score (Dwarven Defender) |
Max. Score (Dwarven Defender) |
|---|---|---|
| Strength^ | 12 | 18/00 |
| Dexterity | 9 | 17 |
| Constitution | 16 | 19 |
| Intelligence | 3 | 18 |
| Wisdom | 3 | 18 |
| Charisma | 1 | 16 |
^ Fighters have access to percentile strength.
Special abilities of the fighter[]
Advanced weapon specialization[]
This class may achieve High Mastery in any hammers and axes, allowing them to invest up to four points into these Weapon Proficiencies. As a result, dwarven defenders may do more damage and hit more often with weapons from these specific proficiencies.
Dwarven defenders may not spend more than 2 proficiency points in any other weapon type.
The following table is accurate to the Enhanced Edition games. See the Weapon Proficiency page for information on other versions.
| Level of proficiency | Unskilled | Proficient | Specialized | Master* | High Master* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points spent | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Bonus to THAC0 | +2 | 0 | -1 | -3 | -3 |
| Bonus to damage | 0 | 0 | +2 | +3 | +4 |
| Bonus to APR | +0 | +0 | +1/2 | +1/2 | +1/2 |
| Bonus to speed factor | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
- Axes and Hammers only.
Dwarven Defender Abilities[]
- May use Defensive Stance level/4 + 1 times per day (one use at level 1, two uses at level 4; an additional use is gained every 4 levels thereafter.) For 1 turn, the Dwarven Defender gains +50% resistance to all forms of physical damage, a -2 bonus to saving throws, and a 50% movement rate penalty. Does not stack with Hardiness high-level ability.
- Gains +5% resistance to crushing, slashing, piercing, and missile damage every 5 levels to a maximum of 20% at level 20
- Gains 1d12 Hit Points per level; on par only with Barbarian.
High-level class abilities[]
High level class abilities are added in the expansion Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal. For all warrior classes and Monks, the pool of abilities consists exclusively of abilities that are activated from the special abilities menu (i.e. no passives or spells.) These abilities become available to fighters once they've reached 3,000,000 xp (exact Level can vary depending on the actual class/class combination of the character).
- Power Attack: this ability can be selected as many times as you like.
- Critical Strike: requires power attack. This ability can be selected as many times as you like.
- Smite: requires power attack and critical strike. This ability can be selected only one time.
- Deathblow: this ability can be selected as many times as you like.
- Greater Deathblow: requires deathblow. This ability can be selected as many times as you like.
- Whirlwind: this ability can be selected as many times as you like.
- Greater Whirlwind: requires whirlwind. This ability can be selected as many times as you like.
- War Cry: this ability can be selected as many times as you like.
- Hardiness: this ability can be selected as many times as you like.
- Resist Magic: this ability can be selected as many times as you like.
Gameplay[]
- Defensive Stance provides better protection than Hardiness, although the latter doesn't reduce movement speed.
- Using Defender of Easthaven can bring the Dwarven Defender's physical damage reduction to 90% while in Defensive Stance.
Table for experience, weapon proficiency points, hitpoints and Damage resistance[]
For more information, see Experience tables.
| Level | Required Experience | Proficiency Points | Attacks | Hit Dice (d12) | Damage Resistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | 2,000 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| 3 | 4,000 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | 8,000 | 1 | 4 | 0 | |
| 5 | 16,000 | 1 | 5 | 5 | |
| 6 | 32,000 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 5 |
| 7 | 64,000 | 1.5 | 7 | 5 | |
| 8 | 125,000 | 1.5 | 8 | 5 | |
| 9 | 250,000 | 7 | 1.5 | 9 | 5 |
| 10 | 500,000 | 1.5 | 9 + 3 | 10 | |
| 11 | 750,000 | 1.5 | 9 + 6 | 10 | |
| 12 | 1,000,000 | 8 | 1.5 | 9 + 9 | 10 |
| 13 | 1,250,000 | 2 | 9 + 12 | 10 | |
| 14 | 1,500,000 | 2 | 9 + 15 | 10 | |
| 15 | 1,750,000 | 9 | 2 | 9 + 18 | 15 |
| 16 | 2,000,000 | 2 | 9 + 21 | 15 | |
| 17 | 2,250,000 | 2 | 9 + 24 | 15 | |
| 18 | 2,500,000 | 10 | 2 | 9 + 27 | 15 |
| 19 | 2,750,000 | 2 | 9 + 30 | 15 | |
| 20 | 3,000,000 | 2 | 9 + 33 | 20 | |
| 21 | 3,250,000 | 11 | 2 | 9 + 36 | 20 |
| 22 | 3,500,000 | 2 | 9 + 39 | 20 | |
| 23 | 3,750,000 | 2 | 9 + 42 | 20 | |
| 24 | 4,000,000 | 12 | 2 | 9 + 45 | 20 |
| 25 | 4,250,000 | 2 | 9 + 48 | 20 | |
| 26 | 4,500,000 | 2 | 9 + 51 | 20 | |
| 27 | 4,750,000 | 13 | 2 | 9 + 54 | 20 |
| 28 | 5,000,000 | 2 | 9 + 57 | 20 | |
| 29 | 5,250,000 | 2 | 9 + 60 | 20 | |
| 30 | 5,500,000 | 14 | 2 | 9 + 63 | 20 |
| 31 | 5,750,000 | 2 | 9 + 66 | 20 | |
| 32 | 6,000,000 | 2 | 9 + 69 | 20 | |
| 33 | 6,250,000 | 15 | 2 | 9 + 72 | 20 |
| 34 | 6,500,000 | 2 | 9 + 75 | 20 | |
| 35 | 6,750,000 | 2 | 9 + 78 | 20 | |
| 36 | 7,000,000 | 16 | 2 | 9 + 81 | 20 |
| 37 | 7,250,000 | 2 | 9 + 84 | 20 | |
| 38 | 7,500,000 | 2 | 9 + 87 | 20 | |
| 39 | 7,750,000 | 17 | 2 | 9 + 90 | 20 |
| 40 | 8,000,000 | 2 | 9 + 93 | 20 |