Oath of the Valkyrie
To most folk, the term "valkyrie" is synonymous with "warrior woman." In truth, however, valkyries are agents of war gods - male and female alike - tasked with delivering the dead of battle safely to their homes for proper funeral rites. While not inherently medical in their practices, each valkyrie takes whatever means are necessary to ensure a soul's passage into the afterlife without influence from dark forces.
Tenets of the Valkyrie
A paladin who assumes the Oath of the Valkyrie swears to be the shield for those incapable of defending themselves.
- Dedication. Your duty is a benevolent but morbid one. Brook not the disrespect of the dead, and meet any desecration of those departed with swift judgment.
- Mercy. Your charge is to bring peace to those whose lives have come to an honorable end. Stand for what they stood for, and continue to defend what they can no longer.
- Vigilance. Those who would seek to undermine your work are wicked and dastardly. Always be prepared to face down the worst of the mortal and immortal realms.
A Bit Out of the Box
This Sacred Oath, as it is written, is designed to be played alongside the Variant Paladin class created by Reddit user /u/devikyn. To adopt the subclass to the vanilla Paladin class, remove the Touch of Grace feature and the incremental increase of Aura of Safe Passage at 12th level.
Oath Spells
You gain oath spells at the paladin levels listed in the Oath of the Valkyrie table. See the Sacred Oath class feature for how oath spells work.
| Paladin Level | Oath Spells |
|---|---|
| 3rd | protection from evil and good, sanctuary |
| 5th | find steed, gentle repose |
| 9th | beacon of hope, revivify |
| 13th | aura of life, aura of purity |
| 17th | hallow, raise dead |
Channel Divinity: Guardian's Haste
You can use your Channel Divinity as a bonus action to grant yourself an uncanny speed. For 1 minute, whenever you or a creature you are mounted on takes the Dash or Disengage action, they gain the benefits of both the Dash and Disengage action, and on that turn, you can use a bonus action to either make one weapon attack or cast a non-damaging spell with a casting time of 1 action.
Channel Divinity: Valiant Serenity
You can use your Channel Divinity as an action to ward the spirits of those around you. Choose a number of creatures you can see within 30 feet of you, up to a number equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of one creature). For 1 minute, all the chosen creatures have advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws.
Touch of Grace
Starting at 3rd level, your touch can heal the mental afflictions of others. As a bonus action, you can spend 5 points from your Lay on Hands pool to touch a creature. The target can immediately repeat any Wisdom saving throw required to save themselves from a lingering effect, such as being charmed or frightened.
Aura of Safe Passage
Starting at 7th level, your presence inspires comfort, even in the heat of battle. While you are not incapacitated, you create an aura with a radius of 10 feet that moves with you. When a creature with at least 1 hit point but no more than half its maximum hit points starts its turn within the aura, you can choose to heal them for a number of hit points equal to half your paladin level. In addition, all creatures at 0 hit points within the aura immediately stabilize.
The aura's radius increases to 20 feet at 12th level, and again to 30 feet at 18th level.
Rush to Arms
Starting at 15th level, you can hurry to the aid of your fallen comrades. When a creature you can see falls to 0 hit points or fails a death saving throw, you can use your reaction to move up to your speed toward that creature and cast a non-damaging spell. The spell must only target that creature, and must have a casting time of 1 action or 1 bonus action.
In addition, you always stand ready to commence your work in battle. You make all initiative rolls with advantage, and you cannot be surprised.
Angelic Custodian
At 20th level, you become a supernatural embodiment of protection and vitality. You gain the following benefits:
- You gain immunity to necrotic and poison damage.
- You permanently gain the effects of the haste spell.
- You can use an action to cast either greater
restoration or gentle repose in a 30-foot
radius without requiring material
components. You can cast either of
these spells a shared number of
times per long rest equal to your
Charisma modifier.
Valkyrie NPC Statblocks
The following creature statblocks can be used by a DM who wishes to make use of the Oath of the Valkyrie in their NPCs. These NPCs could be used as battlefield medics, elite soldiers, or even occult warriors.
Template: Valkyrie
Any humanoid can be made into a basic valkyrie by making the following any of the adjustments to its statblock. Do not add the listed Spellcasting trait if the base humanoid is already a spellcaster.
- If the valkyrie does not wear armor, give it half plate.
- If the valkyrie does not wield a shield, give it one.
- If the valkyrie has a Charisma score of 13 or less, make it 14.
- The valkyrie gains proficiency in Wisdom saving throws. If it would already have this proficiency, it instead gains proficiency in either Constitution or Charisma saving throws.
- Spellcasting. The valkyrie is a 5th-level spellcaster, using Charisma as its casting ability. It has 4 1st-level slots and 2 2nd-level slots with which to cast spells, and has the following spells prepared: find steed, gentle repose, protection from evil and good, sanctuary, and an additional number of paladin spells equal to the valkyrie's Charisma modifier (suggestions: cure wounds, heroism, lesser restoration).
- Guardian's Haste (Recharges after a short or long rest). As an action, the valkyrie or the creature it is mounted on gains the benefits of both the Dash and Disengage action for this turn, and can then use a bonus action to make one weapon attack or cast a non-damaging spell wih a casting time of 1 action.
- Valiant Serenity (Recharges after a short or long rest). As an action, the valkyrie and all allies within 10 feet of it gain advantage on all Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws until the start of the valkyrie's next turn.
Valkyrie. Represents a 5th-level character. These are the most common valkyries, sent in large numbers to the front lines or working alongside knights of royal houses. By applying the above Valkyrie Template to a priest (MM pg. ) or veteran (MM pg. 350), you can create a basic statblock for the generic valkyrie.
Valkyrie Captain. Represents a 13th-level character. These are more reputable valkyries, leading forces into battle and giving orders to lower ranks. To create one more quickly, add the Valkyrie Template to a champion (VGM pg. 212) but increase their Charisma to 18 and change their Spellcasting trait to the following:
Spellcasting. The valkyrie is a 13th-level spellcaster, with Charisma as its casting ability (save DC 16). The valkyrie has the following paladin spells prepared:
- 1st level (4 slots): cure wounds, protection from evil and good, sanctuary, shield of faith, thunderous smite
- 2nd level (3 slots): branding smite, find steed, gentle repose, lesser restoration
- 3rd level (3 slots): crusader's mantle, beacon of hope, blinding smite, revivify
- 4th level (1 slot): aura of life, aura of vitality, staggering smite
Valkyrie Queen. Represents a 20th-level character. Though valkyries can be of any gender, females are the most likely to rise to power within the ranks of valkyries. They can be found leading nations, or saving the lives of dozens of their soldiers on the fields of war. They carry a signature battleaxe and suit of armor that marks their prestige as a valkyrie.
To create a non-standard queen NPC, see the valkyrie queen statblock below. Give the queen's Holy Duty, Magical Equipment, and Spellcasting traits, as well as its Angelic Pulse action and Impose Shield reaction, to a warlord (VGM pg. 220), and increase the warlord's Charisma to 20 (+5). You may also replace the warlord's Frighten Foe Legendary Action with the queen's Dispel Aggression. All these additions increase the warlord's Challenge Rating to 15 or so, which also increases its proficiency bonus to +5, affecting its saving throws, skill proficiencies, and attack rolls.
DM Tip: A Player Becomes Queen
Want to have your Oath of the Valkyrie player feel incredible in the context of your story? Make sure to involve the character's fellow valkyries in the campaign and make them noteworthy allies or foes for the entire party all the way up until 19th level. After that point, have the valkyrie character face off against their queen (with or without the party's aid) for the right to rule their people. For a one-on-one duel, you may want to reduce the queen's strength unless the paladin is equipped to take on a CR 19 creature alone. Upon the player's victory, have the queen abdicate their position, and level up the paladin to 20th level just as they take the throne!
Valkyrie Queen
Medium humanoid (any race), any non-neutral alignment
- Armor Class 22 (valkyrie plate, sentinel shield, Holy Duty)
- Hit Points 204 (24d8+96)
- Speed 60 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 20 (+5) 16 (+3) 18 (+4) 16 (+3) 15 (+2) 20 (+5)
- Saving Throws Con +10, Wis +8, Cha +11
- Skills Athletics +11, Medicine +8, Perception +8, Persuasion +11
- Damage Resistances radiant; non-magical bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
- Damage Immunities necrotic, poison
- Condition Immunities diseased
- Senses passive Perception 22
- Languages Common, Celestial
- Challenge 19 (22,000 XP)
Holy Duty. The valkyrie gains a +2 bonus to Armor Class, its movement speed is doubled (all included in statblock), and it rolls all Dexterity saving throws with advantage. It has an extra action on each of its turns, which can only be used to do one of the following: make a weapon attack, Dash, Disengage, Use an Object, or cast a non-damaging spell with a casting time of 1 action. When the valkyrie uses its main action to Dash or Disengage, it gains the benefits of both the Dash and Disengage action.
Magical Equipment. The valkyrie carries a sentinel shield, a valkyrie axe, and a quiver of seeking arrows. It also wears a suit of valkyrie plate. The sentinel shield grants the valkyrie advantage on initiative rolls and Wisdom (Perception) checks, and prevents it from being surprised.
Spellcasting. The valkyrie is a 20th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 19). The valkyrie can has the following paladin spells prepared:
- 1st level (4 slots): compelled duel, cure wounds, protection from evil and good, sanctuary, shield of faith, thunderous smite
- 2nd level (3 slots): aid, branding smite, find steed, gentle repose, lesser restoration
- 3rd level (3 slots): crusader's mantle, beacon of hope, blinding smite, revivify
- 4th level (3 slots): aura of life, aura of vitality, staggering smite
- 5th level (2 slots): banishing smite, hallow, raise dead
Touch of Grace (Recharge 5-6). As a bonus action, the valkyrie can touch a creature and heal it for 5 hit points. The target may then reroll one Wisdom saving throw for a lingering effect that ails it.
Valiant Aura. While not incapacitated, the valkyrie creates a 30-foot-radius aura that moves with it. All creatures of the valkyrie's choice within the aura regain 10 hit points at the start of their turns if they have at least 1 hit but no more than half their maximum hit points, and make all Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws with advantage. All unconscious creatures of the valkyrie's choice within the aura immediately stablize.
Actions
Multiattack. The valkyrie makes two weapon attacks.
Blessed Greataxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (1d12+7) slashing damage plus 9 (2d8) radiant damage.
Seeking Shortbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, range 80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8+4) piercing damage, and the arrow bounces to another creature within 30 feet of the original target. The valkyrie makes another attack roll against the new target as part of the same shortbow attack. The arrow continues flying until it misses a. One arrow must bounce off two other targets before it can strike any target a second time.
Angelic Pulse (5/day). The valkyrie casts either gentle repose or greater restoration in a 30-foot radius without requiring material components.
Reactions
Impose Shield. When a creature within 5 feet of the valkyrie is targeted by attack, the valkyrie can grant that creature +2 Armor Class until the start of the valkyrie's next turn. Whenever the target creature takes damage for this duration, it only takes half as much damage, and the valkyrie takes the remaining half.
Rush to Arms. When a creature the valkyrie can see falls to 0 hit points or a death saving throw, the valkyrie can move up to its speed towards the creature and use its Touch of Grace on it if it ends this movement within range.
Legendary Actions
The valkyrie can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The valkyrie regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
Attack. The valkyrie makes one weapon attack.
Vigilance. The valkyrie regains its reaction for this round. This action can be taken just as one of the valkyrie's reactions would be triggered.
Dispel Aggression (Costs 2 Actions). The valkyrie casts sanctuary without expending a spell slot.
Seeking Ammunition
Ammunition, very rare
You gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with attacks using this ammunition. When this arrow or bolt strikes a target, it flies toward another target within 30 feet of the first target. Make another attack roll with the ranged weapon as part of the same attack against that target. This process can continue until the arrow misses. After striking one target, the arrow or bolt must strike two other targets before it can strike any target a second time.
Valkyrie Armor
Generic variant, rare (requires attunement)
This variant can apply to any suit of medium or heavy armor.
While wearing this armor, you gain resistance to radiant damage, and when a creature ties your Armor Class with an attack roll, the attack glances off of you, only dealing half as much damage.
If the base version of valkyrie armor does not have a Strength requirement to wear, that form of valkyrie armor has a Strength requirement of 13. Any existing Strength requirement in base armor is increased by 2 for valkyrie armor. For example, a valkyrie chain shirt has a Strength requirement of 13, and valkyrie splint has a Strength requirement of 17.
Valkyrie Axe
Martial weapon (greataxe), melee weapon, rare
You gain a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this weapon. If you are holding a shield in one hand, you can wield this weapon in the other hand as if it were a one-handed weapon.