Masked Hero

Heroic Armaments

You can infuse weapons with your vitality to turn them into valiant weapons. As an action, you can turn one weapon that you are proficient with, and is on your person, into a weapon of valour called a heroic armament. Alternatively, you can use your action to turn three weapons that lack the special and versatile properties, have the thrown property, and are on your person, into heroic armaments. Until you finish a long rest, harmless visual effects, such as lightning, surrounds your heroic armaments. This benefit ends early if you die.

You can use this feature four times, and you regain all expended uses of it whenever you finish a long rest.

Masked Transformation

On your turn, you can use your bonus action to transform into your heroic form, and wield your armaments with ease.

While you are transformed, the following rules apply:

• Your Armor Class equals 13 + your Wisdom modifier. While transformed, wielding a shield doesn't increase your Armor Class. Any armor that you are wearing also merges with your transformation, and has no effect until it ends. In addition, friendly creatures, other than yourself, do not benefit from any aura you radiate by any means short of a 3rd-level spell or higher.
• You can use your Charisma modifier, instead of Strength or Dexterity, for the attack and damage rolls of any weapon attack you make with a heroic armament.
• Whenever you take the Attack action on your turn with an unarmed strike, or a melee weapon, the first creature that makes an opportunity attack against you on the current turn must roll a d4, and subtract the number rolled from the attack roll. This die changes as you gain masked hero levels, as shown in the Masked Transformation column of the Masked Hero table.

Your transformation lasts for a number of hours equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of one hour), and ends early if you are reduced to 0 hit points or die. You can also end your transformation as a bonus action on your turn.

You can use this feature twice, and you regain all expended uses of it whenever you finish a short or long rest.

Fighting Style

At 2nd level, you adopt a style of fighting as your specialty. Choose one of the following options. You can’t take a Fighting Style option more than once, even if you later get to choose again.

Device Magic

Starting at 2nd level, you can summon a magical item called a bonded device. This device is an arcane object capable of channeling the power within you into the material realm in the shape of spells. See the end of the class description for the masked hero spell list.

Spell Slots

The Masked Hero table shows how many spell slots you have. The table also shows what the level of those slots is; all of your spell slots are the same level. To cast one of your masked hero spells of 1st level or higher, you must expend a spell slot. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a short or long rest.

For example, when you are 5th level, you have two 2nd-level spell slots. To cast the 1st-level spell cure wounds, you must spend one of those slots, and you cast it as a 2nd-level spell.

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 masked hero spells of your choice of 1st level and higher. A spell you choose must be of a level no higher than what's shown in the table's Slot Level column for your level. When you reach 5th level, for example, you learn a new masked hero spell, which can be 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.

Deflective Strike

Starting at 2nd level, you can deflect attacks in the blink of an eye. Once per round, when you or a creature that you can see within 30 feet of you is hit by an attack, you can make one special melee weapon attack to potentially cause the attack to miss. If that creature is more than 5 feet away from you, you teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space within 5 of that creature before making this special attack.

This special attack deals no damage, is made with an unarmed strike, or a melee weapon, and you must make this special attack before the triggering attack deals any damage.

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. Otherwise, the triggering attack hits, and immediately deals damage to you, regardless of the triggering attack's initial target. The damage you take is reduced by 5 + half your masked hero level (rounded up). You can't use this feature if you are frightened or incapacitated.

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 can use this feature a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of once). Whenever you finish a long rest, you regain all expended uses.

Heroic Decree

At 3rd level, you pick a decree that symbolizes your ideals. You may choose the Decree of Assimilation, the Decree of Conviction, the Decree of Execution, the Decree of Extinction, the Decree of Liberation, the Decree of Preservation, the Decree of Retribution, or the Decree of Salvation, all detailed at the end of the class description. Your choice grants you features at 3rd level and again at 7th, 11th, and 15th level.

Ability Score Improvement

When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.

Triumphant Armaments

Beginning at 5th level, you can attack with a heroic armament twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

Restoration Device

Starting at 5th level, your bonded device can slowly replenish your ability to deflect blows. As long as a bonded device is on your person, you can recover a number of Deflective Strike's expended uses whenever you finish a short rest. This number is equal to half the number shown in Slot Level column of the Masked Hero table for your level (rounded up).

Enhanced Transformation

Starting at 6th level, your transformed state has achieved its next tier of power. Choose one of the following options to add onto your Masked Transformation's benefits:

Emboldening Rune. When you or a creature that you can see within 15 feet of you hits an enemy creature with a weapon attack, you can use your reaction to grant a bonus to the damage dealt by that attack equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of +1). In addition, you radiate an aura that extends 5 feet from you in every direction, but not through total cover. Whenever an enemy creature starts its turn within this aura, it takes force damage equal to your proficiency bonus.

Force Gauntlets. Any weapon attack you make with a heroic armament ignores all resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage. In addition, whenever you make a ranged attack with a weapon that has the thrown property, that weapon returns to your hand immediately after the attack is made.

Guided Vision. When you hit a creature with an attack, and that creature damaged you since the end of your previous turn, the creature takes extra force damage equal to your proficiency bonus. You can deal this extra damage only once per turn. In addition, you can see normally in darkness, both magical and nonmagical, to a distance of 30 feet.

Providence Mantle. While transformed, wielding a shield increases your Armor Class. In addition, whenever you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack on your turn, you can use your bonus action to make one melee weapon attack with a shield that you are wielding. This attack counts as an attack made with a heroic armament, its damage is force, and its damage die is a d6.

Vitality Plating. Whenever you transform, you gain temporary hit points equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus. These temporary hit points last until they are depleted, or until your transformation ends. In addition, whenever you make a Constitution saving throw to maintain concentration on a spell, you can roll a d6 and add the number rolled to the saving throw.

At 14th level, and again at 18th level, you can choose one additional Enhanced Transformation option. You cannot take the same option more than once.

Limit-Break

At 10th level, you can go beyond the limits of your abilities to attain superhuman strength and agility, causing your body to break apart as you momentarily push your transformed state to the peak of its potential.

You can choose to take damage equal to your character level whenever you use Masked Transformation. If you do so, for the duration of your transformation, you can attack with a heroic armament three times, instead of twice, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn, and your speed increases by 15 feet. In addition, your transformation only lasts for 1 minute instead. When your transformation ends, you suffer one level of exhaustion.

Valorous Finisher

At 13th level, your skills have culminated in you learning an ultimate technique called a valorous finisher. Choose one 4th-level spell from the masked hero spell list as this finisher.

You can cast your finisher spell once without expending a spell slot as long as a bonded device is on your person. You must finish a long rest before you can do so again.

At 17th level, you gain one 5th-level masked hero spell of your choice that can be cast in this way. You regain all uses of your Valorous Finisher when you finish a long rest.

Zenith Armaments

At 20th level, you can use your action to ascend one heroic armament that is on your person into its ultimate form. For 1 minute, that heroic armament gains the following benefits:

• Any attack roll you make with that heroic armament is a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20 on the d20.
• A creature hit by that heroic armament has disadvantage on attack rolls against creatures other than you until the end of its next turn.
• Once on each of your turns, you can summon that heroic armament, causing it to teleport instantly to your hand.

Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.

Heroic Decree

As the duty of a masked hero is to be the enigmatic avenger that battles across the realm, their position as vigilantes puts them above the very law that they may - or may not - fight for. Thus, whenever these heroes appear on the battlefield, they wield a sense of authority unlike any other, as they answer only to themselves. When such conviction is combined with an unwavering faith in their ideals, new powers will manifest and shape how these heroes carry out their idea of justice.

Although similiar in many regards to other masked heroes fighting across the realms, a masked hero of one decree will always be distinctinctly different when compared to a masked hero of another decree. Different ideas of justice always bring powers that have been shaped in order to visually represent a masked hero's beliefs, and their reason to take up the blade.

Decree of Assimilation

The Decree of Assimilation is utilized by those who believe that knowledge and understanding are one's greatest powers. Analyzing both friend and foe in order to discover an efficient path to victory, these heroes will overcome whatever ordeals they face using precise applications of blade and diplomacy.

Decree of Execution

The Decree of Execution demands for the quick elimination of those that threaten the realm, as heroes of this Decree lurk in the shadows of their foes. No matter where their targets may be, these masked heroes will always find their quarry, all before eliminating them with silent, deadly strikes from afar.

Decree of Liberation

The Decree of Liberation is exercised by adepts of the heroic armament, heroes who have bonded with their armaments to become weapons of justice personified. With this bond, these heroes seek to shatter the chains of tyranny wherever they go, their armaments shielding their liberated souls from harm.

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.

Masked Hero Spells

Optional Class Features

You gain class features when you reach certain levels in your class. This section offers additional features that you can gain as a masked hero. You don't gain the features here automatically. Consulting with your DM, you decide whether to gain a feature in this section if you meet the level requirement noted in the feature's description. These features can be selected separately from one another; you can use some, all, or none of them.

Optional Masked Hero Feats

New feats meant for masked heroes are presented here in alphabetical order for groups that use them.

Optional Heroic Feats

New feats meant for player characters are presented here in alphabetical order for groups that use them.

Changelog

Decree of Liberation

• Liberation Magic 2nd level spell altered.
• Armament Spirit redesigned as a reaction-based feature that deals force damage to any creature that forces a saving throw on you, provided you have a heroic armament on your person and you succeed on said saving throw.
• Fleet of Foot now activates as part of using Armament Spirit, now only affects you, and has lost its bonus to walking speed.

Decree of Preservation

• Preservation Magic 1st level spell altered.
• Shield Rune's temporary hit points increased from d6 to d8. No longer lets you expend a spell slot to target additional creatures.
• Protective Ward now reduces damage based on your Masked Transformation die instead of d8 + your Wisdom modifier. Now lets you keep two protective wards instead of one at a time.
• Aegis Mastery changed to Aegis Adept, which lets you store three protective wards at a time.
• Forceful Rebuke changed to Everlasting Bulwark, which lets you add your Wisdom modifier to the damage reduction provided by your protective wards as it did in previous versions.

Decree of Retribution

• Retribution Magic 2nd level spell altered.
• Eye for Injustice now grants you a bonus to Insight checks based on your Masked Transformation die, instead of giving you situational Expertise on Insight checks.
• Judgement Blade now gives you advantage on one attack roll and extra Wisdom damage on the next hit you make against a creature you've already hit with Judgement Blade. No longer grants extra damage through spell slots.
• Vanquishing Armament changed to Debilitating Slash, which now instead removes reactions from a creature that is struck by your Judgement Blade.
• Psychic Assault changed to Interrogation Chamber to now let you cast zone of truth instead of detect thoughts using uses of Heroic Armaments.

Decree of Salvation

• Salvation Magic 1st level spell altered.
• Miracle Warrior's 15th level upgrade replaced with a 7th level upgrade to summon your Familiar as a pseudodragon by expending a use of Masked Transformation.
• Soul Charge bonus increased to 1 + your Charisma modifier instead of just your Charisma modifier.
• Spiritual Emissary replaced with Spiritual Armament, which lets you deal extra damage whenever you score a critical hit with the melee spell attack of spiritual weapon.
• Enhanced Device, previously the 15th level upgrade of Miracle Warrior, now placed as the 15th level feature.

Optional Features & Feats

• Martial Versatility added as an optional feature.
• Almighty Knight removed entirely due to Unwavering Resolve's removal.
• Disciplined Berserker, now Controlled Berserker, no longer gives a stat increase.
• Lightning-Fast Defender no longer lets you use your Wisdom modifier in place of your Dexterity modifier when rolling iniative.

FAQ Section

This section, while also useful for players who require clarifications, it is mostly aimed at DMs who have players that wish to play this class. Here, I shall explain about the class' weaknesses, while also clearing up any confusion regarding certain features and how they work. Additional questions can be sent to u/VoyeurTheNinja for Reddit, and GeminusBayonet for Twitter. Always happy to receive them.

Can Heroic Armaments and Bonded Devices be shared among PCs?

Rules as written, yes. Masked Transformation states describes it as "- any weapon attack you make with a heroic armament." The Heroic Armaments feature also describes creating a heroic armament, and not your heroic armament. Per these rules, heroic armaments can indeed by shared among masked heroes, if the situation ever calls for it and there is more than one masked hero in the party.

Bonded devices also have a similar interaction with your Device Magic feature, as well as any other feature that isn't spellcasting, but still calls for a bonded device to be on your person in order to use it, not your bonded device. Unlike heroic armaments, bonded devices do indeed have that restriction of disappearing when they are too far away from the masked hero that created it, but aside from that, bonded devies are also allowed to be shared and borrowed in case a masked hero somehow ever loses the one they created in the middle of an encounter.

How does the Interception Fighting Style & Deflective Strike interact?

As written, Interception has the following sentence "When a creature you can see hits a target, other than you, within 5 feet of you with an attack, you can use your reaction to reduce the damage the target takes by-" Because of this, and the fact that Deflective Strike requires you to declare that you will use it before the attack deals any damage to its target, the two features cannot be used in quick succession.

If you declare Deflective Strike, and fail your special attack, the attack's target would switch to you, preventing you from using Interception as it only affects friendly creatuers other than yourself. Meanwhile, Interception requires the target which you are attempting to protect to have already taken damage in order for you to use it, thus preventing you from using Deflective Strike.

While having both would make for a formidable defender PC, their requirements do not synergize well, and thus, why I had chosen not to include it as a Fighting Style selection.

Artificer's Arcane Armor & Masked Transformation at the same time

As per Masked Transformation's rules "Any armor that you are wearing also merges with your transformation, and has no effect until it ends." your Arcane Armor would not be useable for the duration of your Masked Transformation, as your transformation would essentially overwrite it and treat it as though it does not exist. This would have the same effect as well on any magical armor you have donned, as this is meant to envoke the trope of transforming heroes storing whatever they were wearing before in what is essentially hammerspace storage.

Restoration Device & Short Rests

With the Restoration Device feature only replenishing expended uses of Deflective Strike if you have a bonded device on your person at the end of a short rest, there is the question on whether or not a masked hero benefits from Restoration Device if the short rest is being used to summon a bonded device to begin with. As the bonded device ritual has been changed to have the bonded device appear on your person at the end of the ritual, this would indeed be the case, as long as the 1-hour ritual does indeed finish before the 1-hour short rest.

Why is Deflective Strike not based on a character's Reaction?

Understandbly, I've been asked numerous times as to why Deflective Strike has never been used as a reaction ever since the class' earliest versions. One reason for this is that I do not wish to interrupt the use of reaction-based features or spells, or even the basic use of opportunity attacks. The second reason is the primary reason: I wish for the Masked Hero class to be one that acts as a defender first-and-foremost, in order to invoke the feel of a protector of the innocent. In exchange for going on the attack, a masked hero instead chooses to swing their blade to protect, rather than shed blood. Forgoing offensive power for other uses is a design that was chosen in the end, to make the class distinct, and to also expand the use of the "once per round" terminology that isn't seen too often outside of spells like tree stride and tsunami.

Multi-classing for spells

Do you need a bonded device to cast spells that you have learned through multiclassing? No. A bonded device is only required and useable for spells that you have learned through this class in particular. Thus, if you attain any feat that grants you a spell, or any class that grants you spells, you are not bound by the requirements of needing a bonded device in order to cast those spells.

Will there be anymore versions of this class after this release?

As of now, WotC have yet to release its new versions of the 5E Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide and so on for the 50th anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons. Thus, while this version of the Masked Hero is the ideal one I would encourage to use, I will definitely make it clear that if these new versions of the core rulebooks were to introduce any change to how classes are designed, balanced, or how they're simply worded, then I will definitely promise an updated release of this Next Evolution version.