Masked Hero

The orc slashes its axe across the archer's abdomen, causing her to drop to her knees in pain. When the warrior swings its weapon again to deal the killing blow, a figure appears before them in the blink of an eye, and deflects the attack with one sword strike. The bleeding archer gasps, before gazing up in awe at the helmeted, violet warrior that now stands over her.

Uttering a command-phrase, a red suit of armor begins to manifest around the mysterious stranger. As the armor-pieces join together in perfect harmony, an audible melody rings in the air, as if heralding the arrival of a saviour. When the tune finally ends, the crimson knight unsheathes a flaming blade.

Driving the entire length of the blue blade straight into the demon's torso, the gigantic beast cries out in pain before the masked figure sends it reeling backwards with a blazing kick. Right as the monster's back hit the wall behind it, its howl of pain is silenced by a burning fist that caves-in its skull. The beast finally dead, its body crumbles away as ash in the wind.

Beyond the safe haven of cities, masked heroes endlessly battle against the forces of evil. Donning suits of armor fueled by their force-of-will, these warriors take up heroic personas to fight as the world's faceless defenders. They fight for those who can't, and do so even if their efforts are unrecognized.

Creating a Masked Hero

When creating a masked hero, you must first decide how your character acquired the powers that they wield. Were they gifted to you from mysterious individuals? Perhaps you found a mysterious device buried within an ancient crypt? Are these powers something that you had desired, or was it a matter of taking up a mantle that had been passed onto you?

Even though the concept of a masked hero may seem like it calls for those of both pure mind and body, you need only an unwavering force-of-will, and the ability to turn that will into a weapon, in order to hone your abilities. The reason why you are able to do this can vary, whether it is because you fight for the sake of people that you care about, or because you had been given some sort of mysterious purpose alongside your newfound powers.

Class Features

Archery

You gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls you make with ranged weapons.

Blessed Warrior

You learn two cantrips of your choice from the cleric spell list. They count as masked hero spells for you, and Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for them. Whenever you gain a level in this class, you can replace one of these cantrips with another cantrip from the cleric spell list.

Dueling

When you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand and no other weapons, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls with that weapon.

Great Weapon Fighting

When you roll a 1 or 2 on a damage die for an attack you make with a melee weapon that you are wielding with two hands, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll, even if the new roll is a 1 or a 2. The weapon must have the two-handed or versatile property for you to gain this benefit.

Thrown Weapon Fighting

You can draw a weapon that has the thrown propery as part of the attack you make with the weapon.

In addition, when you hit a ranged attack using a thrown weapon, you gain a +2 bonus to the damage roll.

Two-Weapon Fighting

When you engage in two-weapon fighting, you can add your ability modifier to the damage of the second attack.

Spell Slots

The masked hero table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your masked hero spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these masked hero spells, you must expend a slot of the spell’s level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest.

For example, if you know the 1st-level spell cure wounds and have a 1st-level and a 2nd-level spell slot available, you can cast cure wounds using either slot.

Spells Known of 1st Level And Higher

You know two 1st-level spells of your choice from the masked hero spell list.

The Spells Known column of the Masked Hero table shows when you learn more spells of your choice. Each of these spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots. For instance, when you reach 5th level in this class, you can learn one new spell of 1st or 2nd level.

Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the masked hero spells you know and replace it with another spell from the masked hero spell list, which also must be of a level for which you have spell slots.

Spellcasting Ability

Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for your masked hero spells, as your ability to attune to the raw energy within you is what shapes your spells into a variety of effects. You use your Wisdom whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Wisdom modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a masked hero spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.

Decree of Retribution

The Decree of Retribution calls for heroes to see through the lies of the sinful, before bringing them to justice with a blade of wrath. No matter how adept their enemies may be, a hero that enforces this Decree will cut through the fog of deceit that shrouds their path, before reaching out for the truth.

Preservation Magic

Starting at 3rd level, you learn an additional spell when you reach certain levels in this class, as shown in the Preservation Spells table. The spell counts as a masked hero spell for you, but it doesn’t count against the number of masked hero spells you know.

Mark of Valour

When you select this decree at 3rd level, you can generate a mark of valour, a badge of honour meant only for the most bravest warriors. As an action, you can expend one use of Heroic Armaments to choose one creature that you can see within 5 feet of you. That creature gains a +1 bonus to its AC. This benefit lasts until that creature finishes a long rest, and ends early if that creature dies, dons medium or heavy armor, or wields a shield. A creature can benefit from only one mark of valour at a time.

Shield Rune

At 3rd level, when you use Deflective Strike, you create a rune called a shield rune. This rune lasts until the end of your next turn, and you can have only one shield rune on you at a time. As a bonus action on your next turn, you can expend this rune to choose one creature that you can see within 15 feet of you. That creature gains temporary hit points equal to a d6. As long as that creature has these temporary hit points, its movement doesn't provoke opportunity attacks.

You can expend one spell slot when granting these temporary hit points to choose one additional creature for each slot level, to a maximum of three additional creatures that you can see within 15 feet of you.

These temporary hit points increase when you reach certain levels in this class, increasing to 2d6 at 11th level.

Protective Ward

At 7th level, you can create defensive wards within you called protective wards. Whenever you use Deflective Strike, you gain one protective ward. You can store a maximum of one protective ward at a time. Whenever you finish a short or long rest, your number of protective wards resets to zero.

When you or a friendly creature that you can see within 15 feet of you takes damage, you can use your reaction and expend one protective ward to reduce the damage taken by 1d8 + your Wisdom modifier (minimum reduction of 1). You cannot use this feature and Deflective Strike on the same turn.

At 15th level, the range of this feature increases to 30 feet.

Decree Enhancements

Starting at 11th level, you gain the following benefit for your Masked Transformation:

Aegis Mastery. You can store a maximum of two protective wards instead of one at a time. If your transformation ends while you have more than one protective ward, the number of protective wards you have is reduced to one.

Forceful Rebuke

At 15th level, your protective runes react violently to enemy attacks. When an enemy creature makes an attack against a target that has temporary hit points granted by Shield Rune, the attacking creature takes 1d10 force damage at the end of its turn if you're within 30 feet of it, and not incapacitated.

Salvation Magic

Starting at 3rd level, you learn an additional spell when you reach certain levels in this class, as shown in the Salvation Spells table. The spell counts as a masked hero spell for you, but it doesn’t count against the number of masked hero spells you know.

Miracle Warrior

When you select this decree at 3rd level, you gain the ability to call upon otherwordly creatures. You gain proficiency in the Animal Handling skill if you don't already have it.

In addition, you learn the find familiar spell, and can cast it as a ritual as long as a bonded device is on your person. The spell doesn’t count against your number of spells known.

At 15th level, as an action, you can expend two uses of Heroic Armaments to revitalize a bonded device on your person. While that bonded device is on your person, you gain a bonus to your masked hero spell-save DC equal to half your Constitution modifier (rounded down). This benefit lasts for 1 minute, and ends early if that bonded device disappears, or if you die.

Soul Charge

At 3rd level, when you use Deflective Strike, you generate a divine charge called a soul charge. This charge lasts until the end of your next turn, and you can have only one soul charge on you at a time. As a bonus action on your next turn, you can expend this soul charge to choose one creature that you can see within 30 feet of you. That creature gains a bonus to one saving throw it makes within the next 5 minutes, equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of +1). You cannot choose a creature that already has the bonus of this feature.

That creature can wait until after it rolls the d20 before deciding to use the bonus, but must decide before the DM says whether the roll succeeds or fails.

You can expend one spell slot when granting this bonus to choose one additional creature for each slot level, to a maximum of three additional creatures that you can see within 30 feet of you.

Spiritual Emissary

At 7th level, you learn the animal messenger spell, and can cast it as a ritual as long as a bonded device is on your person. The spell doesn’t count against your number of spells known. Whenever you cast this spell, you can choose your familiar if you can see it within range, and is in the animal form of a bat, hawk, owl, or raven, to deliver the message.

Decree Enhancements

Starting at 11th level, you gain the following benefit for your Masked Transformation:

Radiant Counterattack. When an enemy creature within your reach makes an attack against a target other than you, you can use your reaction to make one weapon attack against the attacking creature. If the attack hits, all damage dealt by the attack becomes radiant damage. You cannot use this feature and Deflective Strike on the same turn.

Divine Beacon

At 15th level, you can use your heroic soul to call upon divine assistance. Whenever you finish a long rest, you can choose one of the masked hero spells you know and replace it with another spell from the masked hero spell list, which also must also be of a level for which you have spell slots. If you do this, make an ability check using your masked hero spellcasting ability. The DC equals 10 + the spell’s level, and on a success, you replace one of the spells you know with the new spell.

Conviction Magic

Starting at 3rd level, you learn an additional spell when you reach certain levels in this class, as shown in the Conviction Spells table. The spell counts as a masked hero spell for you, but it doesn’t count against the number of masked hero spells you know.

Decree Enhancements

When you select this decree at 3rd level, you can manifest magical gauntlets to turn your unarmed strikes into heroic armaments. You gain the following benefit for your Masked Transformation:

Scorching Gauntlets. Whenever you take the Attack action on your turn with an unarmed strike, or a melee weapon that you are wielding in one hand, you can make one unarmed strike as a bonus action. In addition, Your unarmed strikes count as melee weapon attacks made with a heroic armament, deal fire damage instead of bludgeoning damage, and you can roll a d6 in place of the normal damage of your unarmed strike.

This die changes when you reach certain levels in this class, increasing to 1d8 at 11th level, and 1d10 at 15th level.

Infernal Step

At 3rd level, when you use Deflective Strike, you can use your reaction to immediately teleport up to 10 feet to an unoccupied space that is within 5 feet of an enemy creature that you can see.

If you do so, you can make one unarmed strike against that creature, or unleash a bonded device on your person as part of the same reaction.

If you choose to unleash a bonded device, each enemy creature that you can see within 5 feet of you must make a Dexterity saving throw against your masked hero spell save DC or take 1d6 fire damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one.

When you unleash a bonded device, you can expend one spell slot to deal an extra 1d6 fire damage to each enemy creature that you can see within 5 feet of you, plus 1d6 for each spell level higher than 1st, to a maximum of 4d6.

Debilitating Impact

At 7th level, your unarmed strikes and your Infernal Step feature ignore resistance and immunity to fire damage. In addition, when you use your Infernal Step, and your unarmed strike hits as part of that same action, the target's next saving throw is reduced by a number equal to half your Wisdom modifier (rounded down) before the end of its next turn.

Decree Enhancements

Starting at 11th level, you gain the following benefit for your Masked Transformation:

Fiery Resolve. You can use your Wisdom modifier in place of your Strength modifier when making Strength checks and Strength saving throws.

Transferral Flames

At 15th level, when you hit a creature with an unarmed strike, and deal force damage to it, you can trigger your fires to jump from your target to a different creature of your choice that you can see within 5 feet of it. The second creature takes fire damage equal to your unarmed strike damage die, and this fire damage can be dealt only once on each of your turns.

Execution Magic

Starting at 3rd level, you learn an additional spell when you reach certain levels in this class, as shown in the Execution Spells table. The spell counts as a masked hero spell for you, but it doesn’t count against the number of masked hero spells you know.

Decree Enhancements

When you select this decree at 3rd level, you learn the art of eliminating your foes from a distance. You gain the following benefit for your Masked Transformation:

Masked Marksman. Once per turn, you can deal an extra 1d6 force damage to a creature you hit with a ranged weapon attack if another enemy of the target is within 10 feet of that creature.

The force damage increases when you reach certain levels in this class, increasing to 1d8 at 7th level, and 1d10 at 11th level.

Exterminating Strike

At 3rd level, you can eliminate your targets with an arcane projectile right after they attack. When an enemy creature that you can see within your weapon's normal range makes an attack, you can expend one use of Deflective Strike as a reaction to make one special ranged weapon attack against the attacking creature.

This special attack is made with a ranged weapon, or a melee weapon that has the thrown property, does not expend ammunition, and can be made without disadvantage while an enemy creature who can see you, and who isn’t incapacitated, is within 5 feet of you. If you make this special attack with a melee weapon that has the thrown property, that weapon returns to your hand immediately after the attack is made.

On a hit, the attacking creature suffers the weapon attack's normal effects, and it has disadvantage on the next attack roll it makes before the end of its next turn.

If your special attack misses, you can expend one spell slot to deal 1d10 force damage to the attacking creature, plus 1d10 for each spell level higher than 1st, to a maximum of 4d10.

When you use this feature, you can only attack once, instead of twice, if you take the Attack action on your next turn. If you are able to attack three times, instead of twice, whenever you take the Attack action, you can only attack twice instead. You cannot use this feature and Deflective Strike on the same round.

Elusive Retreat

At 7th level, whenever you make a Dexterity (Stealth) check, you gain a bonus to the check equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of +1). In addition, when an enemy creature that you can see ends its turn within 5 feet of you, you can teleport up to 10 feet to an unoccupied space that you can see. You can teleport in this way only once per round, and as long as you aren't frightened or incapacitated.

Decree Enhancements

Starting at 11th level, you gain the following benefit for your Masked Transformation:

Vanishing Shroud. You can take the Hide action as a bonus action on your turn. In addition, if you take the Attack action on your turn, you can roll a d6 and add the number rolled to one Dexterity (Stealth) check you make on that turn.

Hunter's Tenacity

At 15th level, prowling in the shadows of your enemies slowly mends your injuries. You regain hit points equal to 1d6 + half your masked hero level (rounded down) if you end your turn in combat with fewer than half of your hit points remaining, you are in dim light or darkness, and you aren’t incapacitated.

Decree of Extinction

The Decree of Extinction is enforced by those that have gone down the path of death and despair. Motivated by their thirst for battle, these 'heroes' excel in granting death to their foes, and even other masked heroes, as they believe that in the end, there is no justice in the duty of a vigilante, only bloodshed.

Assimilation Magic

Starting at 3rd level, you learn an additional spell when you reach certain levels in this class, as shown in the Assimilation Spells table. The spell counts as a masked hero spell for you, but it doesn’t count against the number of masked hero spells you know.

Agent of Diplomacy

When you select this Decree at 3rd level, you acquire the skill of subtly weaving your words with magic. Whenever you cast the charm person spell, you can cast it without any somatic or verbal components.

In addition, you learn the comprehend languages spell, and can cast it as a ritual as long as a bonded device is on your person. The spell doesn't count against your number of spells known.

Analysing Strike

At 3rd level, when you use Deflective Strike, your eyes begin to analyze your opponents. The first creature you hit on your next turn with a melee weapon attack must make an Intelligence saving throw against your masked hero spell save DC. On a failed save, the target suffers the weapon attack's normal effects, and you afflict it with an effect of your choice from any of the ones described below:

• That creature takes 1d12 force damage at the start of its next turn, and has disadvantage on the next saving throw it makes against a spell you cast before the end of your next turn.
• Whenever you roll damage for an attack made with a heroic armament against that creature, you can reroll the weapon's damage die and use either total. This effect lasts for 1 minute, and ends early if you die.

At 7th level, a creature that damaged you since the end of your previous turn has disadvantage on the Intelligence saving throw made for your Analysing Strike feature.

Liberation Magic

Starting at 3rd level, you learn an additional spell when you reach certain levels in this class, as shown in the Liberation Spells table. The spell counts as a masked hero spell for you, but it doesn’t count against the number of masked hero spells you know.

Armament Spirit

When you select this Decree at 3rd level, your bond with your heroic armaments allows you to awaken and unleash the valorous entities within them as a projectile. As long as a heroic armament is on your person, you can expend one spell slot as an action to make a special ranged spell attack against a creature that you can see within 60 feet of you. This special attack is made with a free hand, you add your Wisdom modifier to its damage rolls, and its damage is force.

On a hit, the target is moved up to 15 feet horizontally in a direction of your choice, and takes 3d6 force damage, plus 1d6 for each spell level higher than 1st, to a maximum of 6d6.

Unshackle Armament

At 3rd level, when you use Deflective Strike, a bonded device on your person rings with power until the end of your next turn. As a bonus action on your next turn, you can transmit this power into a heroic armament on your person, unshackling it until the end of your turn.

The next time you hit a creature with a weapon attack made with that heroic armament before the end of your turn, you can make one additional weapon attack with that heroic armament as part of the same action. If the attack hits the same target, all damage dealt by the attack becomes force damage.

At 11th level, whenever you unshackle a heroic armament, attack rolls made with that heroic armament are prevented from being affected by advantage and disadvantage.

Fleet of Foot

At 7th level, you can bestow unrivaled speed to outwit your opponents. When an enemy creature that you can see ends its turn within 30 feet of you, you can use your reaction to choose one creature that you can see within 15 feet of you. Until the end of that creature's next turn, moving through difficult terrain costs it no extra movement, and its walking speed is increased by 10 feet.

Decree Enhancements

Starting at 11th level, you gain the following benefit for your Masked Transformation:

Fatal Blow. Once per round, when you roll damage for a critical hit with a weapon attack, you can choose to reroll a number of the damage dice up to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of 1). You must use the new rolls.

Veil of Deliverance

At 15th level, your emancipated soul can envelop heroes in a shroud to protect them from enemy detection. As an action, you can expend two uses of Heroic Armaments to cast pass without trace, without expending a spell slot.

Multiclassing-Dips

Up until the first final release, the class essentially had the Hex Warrior feature from the Hexblade Warlock , primarily as a way of emulating a transforming hero's ability to fight without needing any sort of physical strength. In the final release, that feature had not only been moved into Masked Transformation, but using the Masked Transformation feature also forces one's AC to be based off the following formula: AC = 13 + your Wisdom modifier.

By doing this, multiclassing paladin/bard PCs can't access that Hex Warrior-esque feature without having their Armor Class plummet because they don't have a high-enough Wisdom modifier, and the ability to benefit from shields.

Deflective Strike

While a masked hero constantly using Deflective Strike will surely be frustrating for a DM, it's meant the equivalent of a paladin's Divine Smite, where it's supposed to play a key-role in battle, but extensive use of it drains a masked hero's effectiveness in encounters fast.

A good way of wearing down a masked hero PC is by fielding multiple 'chaff' enemies with weak attacks, as a masked hero works best when there are only a few enemies capable of dealing high damage . You can also make use of lighting to nullify this feature, as masked heroes require line of sight for an ally that they are saving.

Alternatively, you can toss in enemy creatures with saving throw abilities instead of ones that rely on attack rolls. Unlike the characters that this class is based on, explosions are not harmless to these costumed heroes.

Can Deflective Strike affect attack rolls that rolled a 20 on the d20?

Yes. To quote a sentence, "Compare your attack roll to the attack roll of the triggering attack. If your attack roll equals or exceeds it, you turn the triggering attack into a miss," as written, it is still possible to turn an attack of a Nat 20 into a miss. The hard part is that it would require you to also roll a Nat 20 on your special attack.

Using the Deflective Strike feature twice in-between your turns?

As Deflective Strike is based on rounds, it is possible to do this depending on the position of several enemies in the initiative ladder. This is one way for a 5th level masked hero to deflect two attacks while only taking away Extra Attack on one upcoming turn. Even if you had used it twice in-between turns, it still only takes away one attack no matter what.

At the same time, several of the subclasses rely on using your reaction in order to access features tied into Deflective Strike. Thus, while a hero of Retribution is allowed to use Deflective Strike twice in-between turns, that PC is only able to use Judgement Blade once, as you can only get back your reaction on the start of your next turn.

Lastly, a masked hero's usage of Deflective Strike is limited, even after 5th level, so using it recklessly can prove fatal in later encounters.

Can multiple masked heroes use Deflective Strike on one creature?

No. To quote a few sentences, "- and you make this attack immediately before the triggering attack deals any damage," [...] "Otherwise, the triggering attack hits, and instantly deals damage to you instead of that creature."

The first masked hero to declare Deflective Strike gets to use it when they - or a creature they are protecting - gets hit. But the moment they succeed/fail on their special attack, the triggering attack instantly deals damage to them. This is to prevent any other masked hero from attempting to deflect that attack and create a domino effect of sorts.

Using spell slots for subclass features wihout a bonded device?

If a masked hero doesn't have a bonded device, their spells known will be locked to them until they can get one. On the other hand, they can still very much expend their spell slots for subclass features like Judgement Blade, as they are not tied to spellcasting, merely using similar resources.

Only subclasses like the Decree of Conviction require the presence of a bonded device for some features to be used, as they specifically point out the need for one in certain features.

Does the Extra Attack (2) feature and Limit-Break feature stack?

No. Extra-Attack lets you attack three times as an action on your turn, while Limit-Break lets you attack three times with a heroic armament as an action on your turn.

Similar to having levels in classes with Extra Attack, their effects do not let you attack additional times.

Does Deflective Strike affect those with the Extra Attack feature?

Yes. Even if you are a Fighter with Extra Attack (2) that took a 2-level dip into the class, using Deflective Strike will still take away one of your attacks if you take the Attack action.