Maw Hunter
As destructive as chromatic dragons are, they cannot be everywhere at once. In the world of Draxon, the Alliance of the Claw employs Small Folk constantly to do their dirty work with promises of power and wealth in return. Nowhere else is this promise of power felt more than with Maw Hunters: Specially trained rangers that are given technical crossbows blessed by the magic of Chromatic dragons. Rangers who follow along this path are no longer guardians of nature but are instead stewards of destruction, coming down on enemies in task forces that blast the opposition away with elemental devastation.
It is rare to see rangers of this sarchetype outside of the Alliance, but rare examples can be found among the other nations as they attempt to emulate this potent power.
Maw Hunter Features
| Ranger Level | Feature |
|---|---|
| 3rd | Maw Magic, The Maw, Maw of White, Maw of Green |
| 7th | Maw of Black |
| 11th | Maw of Blue |
| 15th | Maw of Red |
Maw Magic
Starting at 3rd level, you learn an additional spell when you reach certain levels in this class representing your connection with the souls of Chromatic Dragons, as shown in the Maw Spells table. The spells count as a ranger spell for you, but they do not count against the number of ranger spells you can know.
Maw Spells
| Ranger Level | Spell |
|---|---|
| 3rd | Chaos Bolt |
| 5th | Dragon's Breath |
| 9th | Fly |
| 13th | Elemental Bane |
| 17th | Dominate Person |
The Maw
At 3rd level, you obtain your Maw. Choose Light, Hand, or Heavy. You obtain a specially modified crossbow of the type you choose that can be used for various dragon-like abilities as you gain levels in this class. It can still be used as a normal crossbow.
Later on, you can choose to make a different crossbow your Maw. This is done in a special ritual over the course of a long rest that requires 100 GP of chromatic dragon scales- or by visiting a dragon proficient in creating Maw weapons.
You can only have one Maw at a time and if you create a new one, your old Maw becomes a normal crossbow and can no longer be used with the features of this class.
Maw of White
The most primal of dragons is the first Maw Hunters learn to emulate. As an action, you can use your Maw Attack, shooting a 30-foot cone of frost from your Maw crossbow. Creatures within the cone must make a Constitution saving throw against your Ranger spell save DC. Those who fail take 2d6 + your ranger level cold damage and have their speed reduced by 10 feet until the start of your next turn, or half as much cold damage on a successful save. You can use your Maw Attack a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
Additionally, this attack grows more potent as you gain levels in the Ranger class. The damage increases to 3d6 at 7th level, 4d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 at 15th level.
Maw of Green
The Green Dragon teaches that a dragon’s mouth is useful for more than breathing death. When conversing with Medium or smaller humanoids, you gain proficiency in the Deception and Persuasion skills if you do not already have it. Additionally, you learn Draconic if you do not already know it.
Finally, when using your Maw Attack, you can choose to deal poison damage instead of cold damage. If you do, those who fail their save are poisoned until the start of your next turn instead of having their speed reduced.
Maw of Black
At 7th level, you learn the black dragon’s acidic essence. When using your Maw Attack, you can choose to have it deal acid damage instead of cold damage. When you do so, creatures affected make Dexterity saving throws instead of Constitution saves and those who fail the saving throw cannot regain hit points until the start of your next turn instead of having their movement speed reduced.
Additionally, whenever you use your Maw Attack, you can now choose to have your Maw Attack shoot out in either a 60-foot long, 5-foot wide line or a 30-foot cone.
Maw of Blue
At 11th level, when using your Maw Attack, you can now choose to deal lightning damage instead of cold damage. When you do so, creatures affected make Dexterity saving throws instead of Constitution, and those who fail the saving throw cannot make reactions until the start of their next turn instead of having their movement speed reduced.
Additionally, your normal attacks now have the biting force of chromatic dragons behind them. The first time you hit with a weapon attack each turn, it does an extra 1d8 damage of the same type as your last used Maw Attack.
Maw of Red
At 15th level, you gain the blessing of the final true chromatic dragon and master your craft. When using your Maw Attack, you can now choose to deal fire damage instead of cold damage. When you do so, creatures affected make Dexterity saving throws instead of Constitution, and those who fail the saving throw take an extra 3d6 fire damage at the start of their next turn instead of having their movement speed reduced.
Additionally, your completed Maw Hunter training imparts the following benefits:
- When using your Maw Attack, you can now choose to have it shoot out in a 90-foot long, 5-foot wide line or a 60-foot cone.
- Your first weapon attack made each turn now deals an additional 1d8 damage, for a total of 2d8.
