Masked Hero

Uttering an ancient command-phrase, a purple, glowing ring bursts into existence around the arriving warrior with a deep thundering noise. The warrior takes a step forward their foe, violet armour manifesting around them in the blink of an eye as a melodic tune rings in the air. When the ring disappears, the armoured warrior unsheathes a blade coursing with fire.

A bolt of energy lances across the battlefield at the whim of a warlock, and strikes the battered knight in the abdomen. He falls onto one knee as the next bolt rushes towards the knight for the killing blow. Freezing at the sight of imminent death, a masked figure suddenly appears before him in a flash of light, and deflects the projectile with a precise swing of their blade.

As the masked figure slashes a deep wound into the beast, their blade shimmers with the bite of winter as it effortlessly cleaves through its hide. When the creature retaliates with its claws, the masked avenger backflips over a rabid swipe, lands with ease, and decapitates the monster in one smooth slash.

Far beyond the safe havens of civilization, masked heroes battle against countless legions of monsters. Donning suits of armor fueled by their very force-of-will, these warriors take up personas to fight as faceless defenders. They fight for those who cannot, 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 their powers. Were those powers gifted to you by mysterious individuals? Were these strange abilities something that had been forced upon you?

Even though the concept of a masked hero may seem like it demands a pure mind and body, you need only an unwavering force-of-will, and the mind to turn that will into a weapon. The reason why you are able to do this can vary, as every masked hero has their reason for possessing the power they wield.

Class Features

Arcane Warrior

You learn two cantrips of your choice from the warlock 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 warlock spell list.

Archery

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

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.

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. You also gain proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Deception, or Persuasion.

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.

At 11th level, you can use your abilities to bypass language barriers with ease. As an action, you can expend three uses of Heroic Armaments to cast tongues, without expending a spell slot as long as a bonded device is on your person.

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 force damage equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1), and has disadvantage on the next saving throw it makes 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, when a creature makes the Intelligence saving throw made for your Analysing Strike feature, you can use your bonus action to roll a Masked Transformation die and subtract the number rolled from that creature's saving throw. You must choose to use this bonus action before the creature makes its saving throw.

Decree of Conviction

The Decree of Conviction grants masked heroes the inability to accept defeat, and the resolve to turn the tide of any battle. Wielding flames conjured by their unmatched determination, these heroes decimate their enemies with both sword and fist. Retreat is never an option for these heroes, only triumph.

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 Assassin. Once per turn, when you hit a creature with a ranged weapon attack, and deal damage to it, you can roll a Masked Transformation die and add the number rolled to increase that damage if the target is below its hit point maximum. In addition, you can use your Charisma modifier in place of your Dexterity modifier whenever you make a Dexterity (Stealth) check.

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 being within 5 feet of an enemy creature does not impose disadvantage on the attack roll. 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 use of Heroic Armaments to reroll the attack roll against a different target within 30 feet of the original target.

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, you can become one with the shadows. 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 as long as you aren't frightened or incapacitated, and as long as you have a bonded device on your person.

Decree Enhancements

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

Vanishing Veil. 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.

Relentless Assassin

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.

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 awakens the valorous entities within them to shield your mind and body from assault.

As long as a heroic armament is on your person, you are shielded by that heroic armament from your foes. Whenever you succeed on a saving throw, you can use your reaction to deal 1d4 force damage to the creature that forced the saving throw. This die changes as you gain masked hero levels, as shown in the Masked Transformation column of the Masked Hero table.

You can't use this feature if you are charmed or frightened.

Unshackle Armament

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

The next time you hit a creature with a weapon attack made with that heroic armament before the end of that 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 as the initial attack, 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, the entities within your heroic armament can grant you a burst of speed. Whenever you use Armament Spirit as a reaction, you can have your heroic armament's spirits surround you as part of the same reaction. Until the end of your next turn, moving through difficult terrain costs you no extra movement, and your speed increases 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 Charisma 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 as long as a bonded device is on your person.

Decree of Preservation

The Decree of Preservation heralds the arrival of heroes that shall become the stalwart defenders of the innocent. When these avengers arrive on the battlefield, any attack made by their enemies becomes futile in the face of protective wards, as these heroes seek to safeguard the lives of the innocent.

Retribution Magic

Starting at 3rd level, you learn an additional spell when you reach certain levels in this class, as shown in the Retribution 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.

Eye for Injustice

When you select this decree at 3rd level, you learn how to see through the lies and deceit of those you are interrogating. You gain proficiency in the Insight skill if you don't already have it. In addition, whenever you make a Wisdom (Insight) check on a creature that you have spent at least 1 minute interacting with, you can roll a Masked Transformation die and add the number rolled to the check.

Decree of Salvation

The Decree of Salvation brings heroes that shall light a path to a brighter future. With the assistance of magical familiars and spiritual weaponry, these masked heroes seek to bring hope to wherever they go, all while bestowing an invigorating energy that their souls are capable of manifesting at will.

Arcane Finale

3rd-level evocation

• Casting Time: 1 action
• Range: Self
• Components: V, S
• Duration: Instantaneous

You permeate your hands and weapons with heroic energy as you become faster than the eye can see. You teleport up to 10 feet to an unoccupied space that you can see within 5 feet of an enemy creature. Make a melee attack with an unarmed strike, or a weapon you are wielding, against that creature with advantage. On a hit, that attack deals an extra 5d6 force damage. If this damage reduces the target to 0 hit points, the target emits a wave of force, and each enemy creature within 10 feet of the target takes 1d6 force damage.

Blade Storm

3rd-level evocation

• Casting Time: 1 action
• Range: Self (15-foot cone)
• Components: V, S, M (a melee weapon worth at least 1 sp)
• Duration: Instantaneous

You raise the weapon used in the casting, and imbue it with your arcane energy before you slash the air to unleash a wave of magical blades. Each creature in a 15-foot cone must make a Constitution saving throw or take 8d4 force damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one.

Create Armament

1st-level conjuration

• Casting Time: 1 action
• Range: Self
• Components: V, S
• Duration: Instantaneous

You channel the arcane energy coursing within your heroic soul to create a weapon in your empty hand. You can choose the form that this weapon takes when you create it, and this weapon counts as a heroic armament. This weapon disappears when you cast this spell again, or if you die.

At Higher levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, you can use this weapon as a spellcasting focus for your spells.

Eldritch Summon

2nd-level conjuration

• Casting Time: 1 bonus action
• Range: Self
• Components: V, S
• Duration: 1 minute

You summon a spectral creature in your space that floats in the air and orbits you for the spell’s duration, or until you cast this spell again. When you cast the spell, you can command it to make a ranged spell attack against a creature that you can see within 90 feet of you. On a hit, the target takes force damage equal to 1d4 + your spellcasting ability modifier. As a bonus action on your turn, you can repeat the attack against a creature that you can see within 90 feet of you. Being within 5 feet of an enemy creature does not impose disadvantage on the attack roll.

At Higher levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the damage increases by 1d4 for each slot above 2nd, to a maximum of 2d4 force damage.

Iron Gale Strike

2nd-level conjuration

• Casting Time: 1 action
• Range: 15 feet
• Components: V, S, M (a melee weapon worth at least 1 sp)
• Duration: Instantaneous

You flourish the weapon used in the casting and then vanish to strike like the wind. Choose up to three creatures that you can see within range. Make a melee spell attack against each target. On a hit, a target takes 3d8 force damage. You then return to the space you had vanished from.

At Higher levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the damage increases by 1d8 for each slot level above 1st.

Reflective Guard

1st-level abjuration

• Casting Time: 1 reaction, which you take when you are hit by an attack
• Range: Self
• Components: V, S
• Duration: 1 round

A reflective barrier is conjured around you to protect you and harm any who try to attack you. You have a +5 bonus to AC against the triggering attack, and until the start of your next turn, whenever a creature makes an attack against you, including the triggering attack, the creature takes 1d4 force damage.

At Higher levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the damage increases by 1d4 for each slot above 1st, to a maximum of 3d4 force damage.

Martial Versatility

4th-level masked hero feature

Whenever you reach a level in this class that grants the Ability Score Improvement feature, you can replace a fighting style you know with another fighting style available to masked heroes. This replacement represents a shift of focus in your martial practice.

Augmented

Prerequisite: Enhanced Transformation feature

Contracted Soul

Prerequisite: Wisdom 13 or higher

Class Layout

• Usage of Charisma and Wisdom has been reworked.
• Third spell slot is now gained at 11th level instead of 13th.
• Six class-exclusive Spells are added to the spell list.
• Aura of vitality spell added to 3rd level spell selection.

Core Features

• Heroic Armaments now affects thrown weapons that have the special property when making three at once.
• Masked Transformation now lets you choose either your Charisma or Wisdom modifier for your attack rolls and has its AC calculation be based on both Charisma and Wisdom now. In exchange, its drawback is changed to not letting you benefit from any bonuses to your saving throws outside of using your proficiency bonus. Your transformation's duration is now also Wisdom modifier-dependant. Lastly, the d4 penalty now applies to even a regular attack made against you on your turn. This is a small change, but this makes it applicable to attacks made against you on your turn through legendary actions instead of just opportunity attacks.
• Blessed Warrior changed to Arcane Warrior, as it now utilizes the warlock spell list instead of cleric spell list.
• Emboldening Rune's bonus damage has been increased to 1 + your Charisma modifier.
• Vitality Plating renamed to Vitality Plate Armor. The bonus to saving throws to maintain Concentration has been changed to a simple advantage on the save, but the temporary hit points have been reduced to 7 + prof. bonus.
• Limit Break changed to Berserk Form. No longer makes your transformation lasts 1 minute, but the bonus speed is reduced by 5 and you take more damage from using it. You can also only use it once per short rest or long rest.
• Zenith Armaments changed to Ultimate Form. Now acts as a 1-minute alternative to Berserk Form. Reworked almost entirely, but still keeps the criticals on 19s and 20s.

Decree of Assimilation

• Agent of Diplomacy now gives a skill proficiency.
• Analysing Strike force damage changed from 1d12 to your Charisma modifier. In exchange, the imposed save disadvantage now affects the next saving throw the target makes in general instead of just a save against your spells.

Decree of Conviction

• Protection from energy spell replaced by arcane finale.
• Relentless Flames now uses your Charisma Modifier.

Decree of Execution

• Masked Assassin now uses your Charisma modifier.
• Exterminating Strike's wording is slightly cleaned up.

Decree of Extinction

• Cloud of daggers spell replaced by iron gale strike
• Dissolving Chains' acid damage is now 1 + your Charisma modifier.

Decree of Liberation

• Every spell provided by the subclass has been replaced by: create armament, eldritch summon, and blade storm.
• Fleet of Foot once again grants a 10 feet speed bonus.
• Fatal Blow now uses your Charisma modifier.

Decree of Preservation

• Shield of faith spell replaced by reflective guard.
• Everlasting Bulwark now uses your Charisma modifier.

Decree of Retribution

• Judgement Blade's extra damage is now 1 + your Charisma modifier.

Version & Date Released

Next Evolution 2.0 Version 12-7-2022

Class Designer

u/VoyeurTheNinja

Artists Credits (NSFW warning each)

Waikari by AAAtsushi -----------------------------------------

https://www.pixiv.net/users/4315024

PFRD合集 by xukong -----------------------------------------

https://www.pixiv.net/users/2648922

神代剣バースデー by むめも -----------------------------

https://www.pixiv.net/users/46990673

MASKED RIDERs Crest by ひかり -------------------------

https://www.pixiv.net/users/2648922

Untitled by cosknb --------------------------------------------

https://www.pixiv.net/users/5508008

仮面ライダーウィザード by ぱらしまテンコ -----

https://www.pixiv.net/users/53911381

信仰式跳楼放必杀 by QUICK筷子 ----------------------

https://www.pixiv.net/users/4768744

『Are you ready?』 by ごみ匣 ----------------------------

https://www.pixiv.net/users/778260

仮面ライダーセイバー by 時雨1213 -----------------

https://www.pixiv.net/users/21916813

Masked Rider Femme by 玢丧Der ------------------------

https://www.pixiv.net/users/21200457

映画を観る前→紘汰（闇）ｗｗｗ by ばつ ---------

https://www.pixiv.net/users/167105

サイガの日 by LB ---------------------------------------------

https://www.pixiv.net/users/433000

【壁紙】平成ライダー6 by *

瑠璃玻@返信気づかないのごめん*------

https://www.pixiv.net/users/433632

Kamen Rider DEMONS Spider Genome by RD Naoko -----------------------------------------------

https://www.pixiv.net/users/13961000

Kamen Rider EVIL by RD Naoko ---------------------------

https://www.pixiv.net/users/13961000

5e PHB Style Watercolor Brushes by pstutorialsws --

https://www.deviantart.com/pstutorialsws

Special Thanks To:

r/UnearthedArcana and r/KamenRider for their support, questions and critiques, as well as Homebrewery and GMBinder, for their excellent homebrew crafters.

Multiclassing-dips

Up until the class' 2019 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. Post-2019, that feature had been moved into one of Masked Transformation's benefits, and later on changed to use either your Charisma or Wisdom. At the same time, the AC calculation is now based on both your Charisma modifier and Wisdom modifier.

This was done so that multiclassing PCs can't access that Hex Warrior-esque feature without the drawback of having their Armor Class be around that of medium armor due to the modifier requirements of the feature, and the inability to use shields, which was a way of preventing the arise of SAD builds. In addition, another drawback of Masked Transformation meant to discourage SAD builds is how it prevents you from being affected by any bonuses to your saves, be it a paladin's Aura of Protection, the bless spell, etc.

Deflective Strike frustrations

While a masked hero constantly using Deflective Strike will surely be frustrating for a DM, it's meant to be similar to a paladin's Divine Smite, where it can 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 or challenging 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 who deal most of their damage with few, hard-hitting attacks. You can also make use of lighting to nullify this feature, as masked heroes require line of sight for a friendly creature that they are saving.

Lastly, you can toss in enemies with saving throw features 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.

Encounter-Balancing

If you want a reference on how you should treat a masked hero, they are designed like a half-caster first and foremost, working best when resources for their features are readily available. But unlike other half-casters, a masked hero running out of resources reduces their damage output and defenses dramatically.

Once deprived of Masked Transformation in particular, a masked hero is just a fighter with a worse hit die, with their combat ability scores being regulated to primarily being mental ability scores until Masked Transformation is useable.

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 it is written, it is still possible to turn an attack roll of a natural 20 into a miss. The hard part is that it would require you to also roll a natural 20 on the d20 for 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 masked hero of Conviction is allowed to use Deflective Strike twice in-between turns, that PC is only able to use Infernal Step once, as you can only get back your reaction on the start of your next turn. Another example would be a masked hero of Preservation only being able to store one Shield Rune on them at a time before they can expend said resource on their next turn as a bonus action.

Can multiple masked heroes use Deflective Strike on one creature?

No. To quote a few sentences, "- and you must make this special attack before the triggering attack deals any damage," [...] "Otherwise, the triggering attack hits, and immediately deals damage to you, regardless of the triggering attack's initial target."

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 fail their special attack, the triggering attack immediately 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.

Does the Extra Attack (2) feature & Berserker Form feature stack?

No. Extra-Attack (2) lets you attack three times as an action on your turn, while Berserker Form 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 on your next turn.