The Knight

A warrior in shining armour rides atop a silver stallion. A hero charging to the rescue, or the rumbling of heavy cavalry tearing through enemy lines. For many in their darkest hour, they listen and pray for the sound of galloping hooves.

In its most simplistic form, a knight is simply a mounted soldier - yet countless stories have been told of legendary knights who have fought against monsters, rescued princesses from towers, and saved the day against all odds. Knights are, after all, a heavily-armoured and extremely mobile unit, perfect for turning the odds in desperate situations. All across the land, knights have earned their renown with their speed and prowess in battle.

There are many who style themselves as 'knights', but those with actual rank are few and far between. Most knights are nobleborn, the most trusted retainers of kings, and the best of them belong to a tradition of Chivalric Orders. Some knightly titles are ceremonial or full of pomp, but at heart theirs is a martial rank.

Fighting Style

You adopt a particular 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.

• Archery. You gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls you make with ranged weapons.
• Defence. While you are wearing armour, you gain a +1 bonus to AC.
• Duelling. 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.
• Interception. 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 1d10 + your proficiency bonus (to a minimum of 0 damage). You must be wielding a shield or a simple or martial weapon to use this reaction.
• Jousting. You gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls made with a lance, and when you attack a creature using a lance its movement speed is halved until the start of your next turn.
• Protection. When a creature you can see attacks a target other than you that is within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll. You must be wielding a shield.
• Superior Technique. You learn one manoeuvre of your choice from among those available to the Battle Master archetype. If a manoeuvre you use requires your target to make a saving throw to resist the manoeuvre’s effects, the saving throw DC equals 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength or Dexterity modifier (your choice.) You gain one superiority die, which is a d6 (this die is added to any superiority dice you have from another source). This die is used to fuel your manoeuvres. A superiority die is expended when you use it. You regain your expended superiority dice when you finish a short or long rest.
• Two-Weapon Fighting. When you engage in two-weapon fighting, you can add your ability modifier to the damage of the second attack.

Rallying Cry

From 1st level, you do not flinch away from battle, instead you bolster your allies ready for the fight. As a bonus action, all friendly creatures within 30 feet of you who can hear you gain temporary hit points equal to your Charisma modifier plus your knight level.

Once you use this feature, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.

Trained Cavalry

Starting at 2nd level, you obtain a loyal steed, bonded to you and trained to be ridden into battle. The steed is friendly to you and your companions and obeys your commands. You can determine the type of animal, for example a pony, a camel, an elk, or a mastiff. Whatever animal you choose, your steed uses the ‘Young Steed’ stat block.

The steed may be either provided as part of your starting equipment, or acquired and trained through other means (see Bond of the Rider below).

When you mount your steed, it costs only 5 ft of movement speed (as opposed to the cost of half your movement speed for mounting other creatures).

During combat both you and your steed share a single turn. Otherwise, the regular rules regarding controlled mounts apply (see page 198 of the Player’s Handbook).

Young Steed

Medium beast, unaligned

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• Armor Class 11 (unarmoured)
• Hit Points 5 + five times your knight level (the steed has number of hit dice (d8s) equal to your knight level)
• Speed 40 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
15 (+2)	12 (+1)	13 (+1)	8 (-1)	14 (+2)	10 (+0)

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• Senses passive Perception 12
• Languages understands the languages you speak
• Challenge –

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Saddle-trained. The steed’s special training allows it to act as a mount for creatures of Medium size.

Trained Charge. If the steed moves at least 20 feet straight toward a target and its rider hits that target with an attack on the same turn, then the rider can use their bonus action to command the steed to make an additional trample attack.

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Actions

Trample. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6 + 2 bludgeoning damage.

Bond of the Rider

Also at level 2, you manifest a special bond with your steed. As a bonus action, you can heal your steed for a number of hit points equal to 1d10 plus your knight level.

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

In addition, if your steed is reduced to 0 hp yet doesn’t die outright, it becomes unconscious but automatically stabilised. Your steed does not need to make death saving throws so long as you are alive, as your shared bond sustains it.

However, if your steed is killed outright and lost permanently, then it can be replaced. You can train a beast such as a pony, a camel, an elk, or a mastiff over the course of 1d4 long rests. After this training period, the beast’s stat block is replaced by the ‘Young Steed’ stat block and becomes bonded to you.

Saddle-Ready

Starting at 3rd level, you have advantage on saving throws made to avoid falling off your mount. If you fall off your mount and descend no more than 10 feet, you can land on your feet if you’re not incapacitated.

Chivalric Order

When you reach 3rd level, you join an Chivalric Order, swearing your vows to a doctrine and following a tradition of knights. In return, your Order refines your fighting style and teaches you new techniques.

The Order you choose grants you features at 3rd level and again at 7th, 13th, and 17th 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.

Extra Attack

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

Experienced Cavalry

Your steed grows and advances as you do. At 5th level, the ‘Young Steed’ stat block is replaced by the ‘Mature Steed’ stat block, and your steed now uses your own proficiency bonus (PB) in several places.

Your steed’s attacks also count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to non-magical attacks and damage.

In addition, your steed gains one of the following features, reflecting the way you have reared it:

• Heavy Stampede. You’ve taught your steed to be fierce. When your steed uses its Trample attack against a creature, the target must pass a Strength saving throw (DC 8 + your steed’s Strength modifier + your proficiency bonus) or be knocked prone.
• Nimble Evasion. You’ve trained your steed to weave swiftly out of danger. When you make a melee attack against a creature, your steed’s movement does not provoke opportunity attacks from that creature for the rest of the turn, regardless whether you hit or not.

Charge Together

You lead from the front, paving the way for your allies to follow.

Starting at 6th level, when you move at least 20 feet straight and attack a target, then during their next turn any allies within 30 feet of your starting position have their movement speed increased by 10 feet, so long as they end their turns closer to your target than where they started.

Unshakeable Rider

At 9th level, whenever an effect or saving throw would dismount you from your steed, you can choose to stay mounted instead. You ignore any part of the effect that would remove you from your saddle, but suffer other parts of the effect as normal.

Once you use this feature, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.

Master Cavalry

At 10th level, the ‘Mature Steed’ stat block is replaced by the ‘Veteran Steed’ stat block. From its advanced training, your steed gains one of the following features:

• Responsive. You’ve trained your steed to react. While mounted, you cannot be surprised and you have advantage on initiative rolls.
• Hardy. You’ve conditioned your steed for endurance. Your steed gains proficiency in Constitution saving throws, and its hit point maximum increases by an amount equal to your knight level.

Shared Resolve

From 11th level, both you and your steed have advantage on saving throws made to resist becoming charmed or frightened.

Steady Reins

Beginning at 14th level, when you are mounted if either you or your steed are subjected to an effect that allows you to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, then you or your steed will instead take no damage on a success, and only half damage on a failure.

Heroic Cavalry

Your steed becomes the greatest of mounts, even manifesting supernatural abilities. At 15th level, the ‘Veteran Steed’ stat block is replaced by the ‘Glorious Steed’ stat block.

In addition, your steed gains one of the following features:

• Glorious Wings. Your steed gains a flying speed equal to its walking speed.
• Fiery Charge. Your steed burns with radiance. While mounted during each of your turns, your steed leaves a trail of fire behind it as it moves. This trail of fire lasts until the start of your next turn. A creature that starts its turn in or attempts to cross through the trail of the fire suffers 1d6 fire damage.

Knightly Vigil

A knight’s place is on the battlefield, tearing through foes and allowing none to escape. Starting at 18th level, when you are mounted you can take two reactions every turn instead of one.

Bonded for Life

The bond between you and your steed runs deep, allowing you to share vitality between one another. At 20th level, whenever you take damage, you can choose to reduce your steed's hit points instead of your own (to a minimum of 0).

Alternatively when your steed takes damage, you can choose to reduce your own hit points instead (to a minimum of 0).

Chivalric Orders

Knights follow traditions set by their forebearers. The choice of the Chivalric Order defines the knight.

Knights not belonging to an Order are considered to be knight-errants. After pledging yourself to an Order, you become a lauded knight - vowed and sworn. Each Order carries its own traditions and purpose, which its knights are obliged to carry and follow. A Chivalric Order also teaches its own martial disciplines to its followers.

Your Chivalric Order grants additional class features at 3rd, 7th, 13th and 17th level.

Order of the Thronebearer

Of all the members of a noble royal court, none are more respected or more honoured than the Thronebearers.

So-called because they form one of pillars that prop up the crown, the Order of the Thronebearers are the most trusted retainers of the king or queen. They are the knights who stand at the base of the throne, who escort the royal entourage, who guard their liege on the battlefield.

But these knights are more than just glorified bodyguards, they are trusted advisors, envoys and courtiers. They represent the crown with every step they take - often serving as ambassadors for the most important assignments.

The Order of Thronebearers may often take on diplomatic or ceremonial duties, but neither have they forgotten their martial roots.

Order of the Outrider

Outriders are forward scouts.

Outriders are not heavy knights; they do need lead heroic charges, nor do they clash in heavy steel against tides of foes. Instead, they fight with speed and grace - moving swiftly with a longbow in hand, picking off their foes from afar, one by one. Outriders learn to how battle even in the harshest conditions, nearly impossible to track and even harder to pin down. In wartime, Outriders are at the forefront, paving the path for their comrades to follow.

When disaster strikes, Outriders are often the first to respond, and the first to draw blood.

Order of the Dragon

Knights and dragons have long had a complicated relationship.

Many knights have been famous dragonslayers, the bane of dragons across the land, yet there are also knights who fought besides dragons, vowed to protect dragonkind.

According to lore, the Order of the Dragon was founded by a wise ancient gold dragon, who shared secrets of its power with a handful of trusted warriors. The Order of the Dragon was tasked not to merely protect dragons, but to preserve balance between the two races. Knights of this Order are tasked with hunting down anyone - be they mortal or dragon - who threatens peace.

Many evil dragons have met their demise at the end of a lance wielded by a noble knight clad in scales.

Draconic Essence

When you join this Order at 3rd level, you learn the secrets of channelling draconic power. Knights of the Dragon learn how to harness elemental draconic power, enabling them to both fight alongside good dragons and become the bane of evil dragons.

At the end of a long rest, choose one type of draconic essence to attune with from the table below. The associated damage type is used by features you gain later.

You can change your choice of draconic essence at the end of each long rest.

In addition, you gain the following features:

• Draconic Presence. If you fail a Charisma (Intimidation) or Charisma (Persuasion) check, you can use your reaction to reroll the check, as you tap into the mighty presence of dragons. Once this feature turns a failure into a success, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.
• Draconic Resilience. Your hit point maximum increases by 3 and increases by 1 whenever you gain a level in this class.
• Draconic Tongue. You learn to speak, read, and write Draconic.

Draconic Bond

Also at 3rd level, as you learn to harness the draconic essence, your steed shares in its power. Your steed gains the following features:

• Draconic Resilience. Your steed’s hit point maximum increases by 3 and increases by 1 whenever you gain a level in this class.
• Draconic Scales. A thin sheen of dragon-like scales covers your steed’s skin. While your steed is not wearing barding, its AC equals 13 + your proficiency bonus.

Dragon Heart

At 7th level, your understanding of dragons grows deeper. You gain the following features:

• You gain resistance to the damage type associated with your chosen draconic essence.
• When you or your steed deals damage to a target with an attack roll, you can change the damage type to the type associated with your chosen draconic essence.

Dragon Rider

Also at 7th level, your steed's nature alters alongside your own. Your steed gains the following features:

• Your steed’s creature type becomes 'Dragon' instead of 'Beast'.
• Your steed becomes immune to the damage type associated with your chosen draconic essence.

Your steed also gains a breath attack that it can use as an action. When you command it to attack with a bonus action, your steed can exhale a 30-foot cone of breath of a damage type associated with your draconic essence. Each creature in the cone must make a Dexterity saving throw against DC equal to 12 plus proficiency bonus; taking 6d6 damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a success.

Your steed can use this feature twice, and your steed regains all expended uses when you finish a short or long rest.

Aspect of the Wrym

Beginning at 13th level, you can channel the fearsome presence of dragons, causing those around you to become awestruck or frightened. As an action while mounted, you can exude an aura of awe or fear (your choice) to a distance of 30 feet. Each hostile creature within range must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw (DC equal to 8 + your Charisma modifier + your proficiency bonus) or be either charmed (if you chose awe) or frightened (if you chose fear) until the end of your next turn.

Once you use this feature, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.

Glorious Dragon

At 17th level, your steed becomes the embodiment of a dragon’s grace and might. Your steed gains both the Glorious Wings and the Fiery Charge granted by the Level 15 feature Heroic Cavalry. You can also change the damage dealt by Fiery Charge to match the damage type of your draconic essence.

In addition, if you or your steed fails a saving throw, you can choose to succeed instead. Once you use this feature, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.

Order of the Black

Of all the foes and fiends that roam the realms, few are more feared than the dreaded Black Knights.

Knights belonging to the Order of the Black are those who maybe been corrupted by an evil power, or enticed by greed or hate. Perhaps they pursue some dark ambition, maybe they have been scarred by a dark wound - or maybe they simply care for none but themselves. Whatever the reason, Black Knights learn to harness the darkness - their force of will manifests into an innate power of necromancy. They develop abilities that many would consider heretical.

The Black Knight rides armoured in shadows, atop of a skeletal steed, leaving only corpses and undead in their wake.

Dark Tidings

When you reach 17th level, the galloping hooves of your steed causes the world to turn cold and your enemies to tremble. You ride upon the embodiment of necromantic darkness.

Your steed gains the following features:

• Aura of the Dullahan. An aura of cold surrounds you. While mounted and in combat, a 10-foot radius cloud of mist follows you, and the area is considered lightly obscured. Creatures within 10 feet of you have disadvantage on Wisdom saving throws to resist being frightened.
• Nightmare Wail. With a bonus action, you can command your steed to unleash a wail of focused necrotic energy as an action. All creatures within a 30-foot cone must make a Constitution saving throw against DC equal to 12 + your proficiency bonus; taking 8d6 necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much on a success. This damage ignores resistances and immunities, and cannot be reduced in any way. Once your steed uses this feature, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.

Order of the Green

Knights of the Green, defenders of the Feywilds.

These knights stand apart from the affairs of men, but rather they are soldiers vowed to protect nature. They guard the sacred groves and the forgotten sanctuaries of the old world. Many of this Order were appointed by noble courts of fey, or charged by elder druids, while for others for it was personal calling.

Theirs is not a well-known order, but their might is not to be underestimated. They are the martial arm of nature - if ever the grinding armies of civilisation dare to encroach too deep into the wilds, then it shall be the Green Knights who throw the invaders back. They are knights who ride out from the trees, fighting alongside druids and dryads, wielding both steel and fey magic.

They are the first line of the forest's defense, and all tremble when their wrath is provoked.

Fey Rider

Also at 7th level, exposure to wild magic transforms your steed. Your steed gains the following features:

• Your steed's creature type becomes 'Fey' instead of 'Beast'.
• Your steed becomes immune to the charmed condition, and cannot be put to sleep.
• You steed gains proficiency in proficiency in Wisdom saving throws.

Armour of the Sylvan

From 13th level, your draw upon the blessing of the forest to armour yourself. As a bonus action, you cause the skin of both you and your steed to hardened and your armour becomes enveloped by a rough, bark-like surface. For a duration of 1 hour, both you and your steed have resistance to non-magical bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.

In addition, this form allows you to blend into nearby foliage. While this feature is active, you have advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in forested terrain, even when mounted.

Once you use this feature, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.

Misty Rider

When you reach 17th level, you learn to ride through the Feywilds to flicker in and out of the battlefield. You can cast Misty Step without expending a spell slot, and your steed can teleport with you.

Whenever you use Misty Step in this way, both you and your steed receive a number of temporary hit points equal to 1d12 plus your knight level. These temporary hit points last for 1 hour.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.