Part 1 - Introduction
1.1 Why Create Classes?
My History with D&D
I adore D&D. I have been playing this game since 3.5e when I was about 7 or 8 years old. I also dabbled in Pathfinder for a couple years when some of my highschool friends got into it.
I often found myself DM'ing because I loved the creative aspect of putting together monsters and dungeons and BBEGs. I could spend as much time as I wanted fleshing out a dangerous and interesting world. Balance wasn't always there in my creations but I loved it anyway. As I gained more experience, I became very interested in the mechanics of balance, researching and reading about the decisions behind why some classes could do certain things and the opportunity cost of those classes as they missed out in other areas.
While these things were interesting for me early on, it wouldn't be until years later (mid-2021 to be precise) that I would actually begin learning to homebrew my own classes.
The Strength and Weakness of 5e
Fifth edition is a fantastic installment in D&D. No other edition has brought such popularity to the hobby, and I enthusiastically welcome all those who have recently become interested in D&D, whether through streams like Critical Role, introduced by their friends, or otherwise.
While there are a variety of reasons 5e is as popular as it is, I believe one of the major contributing factors is how approachable the rule system and mechanics are. Compared to earlier editions, 5e has streamlined many of the mechanics of D&D, making it far easier for new players to jump in and understand how to play. This relative simplicity is somewhat controversial in the community, but to me, it is one of 5e's greatest strengths.
However, this simplicity comes at a cost. With the streamlined nature of 5e, player options have also been kept simple to avoid overwhelming new players with excessive options. This means relatively few classes, with only one additional class, the artificer, released since the inception of 5e. Each class thus represents a large range of fantasy hero archetypes, often reflavored to fit a player's particular view of their characters. Many players praise this design: no need to bog down the game with many classes, when a few can represent whatever a player might want. However, I believe there are many unfilled, or poorly filled gaps in character archetypes that could be well filled by additional subclasses or entirely new classes.
My Solution: New Classes
To fill these gaps, I began to explore the realm of homebrewing entirely new classes. My very first class was the Magus, which I thought about for months before beginning work on it in earnest in September 2021.
As an illustrative example for how a new class can better fill a particular archetype, let's consider this Magus archetype. This class will be described in greater detail later on, but it suffices to say it is my version of a "spellsword" or "gish" class that everyone seems to make a version of. There are options in the base game to do this kind of archetype: paladins, wizard's bladesingers, and fighter's eldritch knights.
The issue is if you want an arcane spellsword, paladins might not fit well, and bladesingers/eldritch knights, as subclasses, are limited to only a handful of features tailored to the spellsword archetype. To solve this problem, a full class can be written so that all its features can be dedicated to the particular archetype one is trying to fill. In the case of the magus class, you gain a powerful feature "spellstrike" at 1st level that allows you to blend magic and weapon and immediately feel like the spellsword you want to be. All subsequent features of the class are also able to be tailored to the spellsword concept.
At this point, you might be wondering, "But doesn't this just complicate the approachable simplicity of 5e you were just praising". The answer to your question is yes, yes it does. But that's the beauty of homebrew, you only need to integrate whatever your group is interested in. And if someone is new or easily overwhelmed by options, they can always just select from the base classes. It probably doesn't need to be said, but all of the following content is completely optional: take whatever class you are interested in, or even select a few of a class's features to make a subclass for an official class if you feel comfortable doing so.
Twelve New Classes
To fulfill my desire to expand player options in 5e, I created 12 new classes over the last year. Each class took me about a month to write, including brainstorming and working its features, creating its document on gmbinder, numerically estimating class/subclass strength in excel and MATLAB, and putting trial characters of each class through playtest situations.
Each class I created is highly inspired by pathfinder. One thing I admire in pathfinder is the sheer volume of classes, feats, and other options while leveling in every class. Pathfinder's unique classes acted as a good launching point for creating my own, vastly reducing the time and effort I would need without that source of inspiration.
In order of release, my classes are the magus, bloodrager, oracle, brawler, summoner, witch, wildshifter, arcanist, inquisitor, shaman, cavalier, and alchemist. I love each of these classes and will be summarizing them and my thoughts and opinions of each in the following section.
1.2 Class Summaries
The following briefly describes each class in a couple paragraphs, followed by my personal thoughts on the class.
Magus
Summary
The magus is your typical "spellsword" class. It's a halfcaster, half-martial class, like the paladin or ranger. Blending wizards and fighters, it's signature feature, "spellstrike", allows a magus to cast a spell with a strike of their weapon, dealing their weapon damage and hitting the target with the spell at the same time. They get cantrips, so their basic attack is generally spellstriking a damaging cantrip with a weapon attack.
With a 1d8 hit die, only light or medium armor, and no shields, magi are on the squishier side. They make up for this by being especially efficacious with their spells as a spellstruck spell forces the target to make their spell save with disadvantage (they still need to actually hit the target, so it balances out).
My Thoughts
The magus is my baby. For years, I wanted a class tailored entirely to a spellsword concept and I dreamed of what a class like that might look like. I wasn't satisfied by the eldritch knight or bladesinger, so I eventually decided to make something of my own to fill the need.
The magus class is a satisfying way to feel like a spellsword. Casting a spell with a weapon attack feels kind of like a paladin's smite, but the difference is you actually get to cause a spell's normal effects with the attack. A spellstruck spell only ever affects the one target, which gives the magus a particular niche as an effective single-target class with some spell utility (though far less than full casters). Other features of interest are magus arcana, giving them a limited resource to magically enhance their combat capability, magus' shield, giving them a magical boost to AC when they have a free hand and proficiency in concentration (constitution) checks, and spell absorption, allowing them to reduce magical damage they take and turn it back on their foes.
To my delight, the magus became one of the more popular classes I have released.
Bloodrager
Summary
The bloodrager is a blend of barbarians and sorcerers into another halfcaster, half-martial. They have rages (called bloodrages) like a barbarian, but lack their full martial capabilities (e.g. they get a 1d10 hit die, no danger sense, fast movement, brutal critical, etc.). To make up for this reduced martial capability, they also get access to sorcerer spells to supplement their feral fighting.
A bloodrager's primary, unique features are bloodrage, which gives them extra damage on their attacks and spells, savage magic, allowing them to harm themselves to empower their magic, fierce caster, allowing them to make a single melee attack when they cast a spell, and sorcerous/eldritch rage, which allow them to cast spells targeting themselves when they initiate their bloodrage.
My Thoughts
I enjoyed writing the magus so much I decided why not make a second halfcaster. My favorite official class is the sorcerer, but, depending on the campaign/DM style, slinging spells from the backline can often be boring to me.
The bloodrager lets you enjoy the feeling of a caster with inherent, sorcerous power, but also lets you effectively fight on the frontline. It's difficult to efficiently multiclass a barbarian and caster evenly, without feeling like you are simply a weak barbarian mixed with a weak caster, especially due to the limitations on casting while raging. The bloodrager is the answer to that, where your rages and furious attacks are mixed with your spellcasting, instead of being at odds.
Oracle
Summary
Oracles are a fullcaster class. They have a spell list that is basically 2/3 cleric, 1/3 sorcerer, with access to nearly all divination spells. Their signature feature that really makes them an oracle is epiphany, which allows them to cast augury, divination, or commune (the latter spells become available as they level up) as a bonus action once per long rest. This feature allows the oracle to receive sudden knowledge at any point, even in combat.
All oracles also have an "oracle's curse", a flavorful debilitation (e.g. partial deafness, being haunted/possessed, disease) which actually grants benefits as you gain oracle levels. Their other main class feature is the capstone "revelation" which allows you to ask an additional question with augury/divination/commune.
My Thoughts
Creating the oracle was a unique challenge for me. It was my first time creating a fullcaster class, which get fewer class features to really establish their identity. When I first finished the oracle, I was underwhelmed because the Oracle didn't feel like a coherent class. Each subclass felt like it was entirely different from any other, and there was nothing that made each oracle actually feel like an oracle. So I scrapped my first version of the class and entirely reworked it, redoing all of the main class features (except Oracle's curse) and removing the level 20 capstone feature from each subclass and giving it to the main class instead.
This is when I developed the epiphany and revelation features, which allowed the oracle to cast augury/divination/commune different than any other class, having the opportunity to cast them once per long rest as a bonus action, representing the sudden flashes of knowledge oracles are known to receive. With these additions, the oracle finally felt like an oracle.
The time spend rewriting the oracle paid off as it would become my second most popular class.
Brawler
Summary
Brawlers are martial classes, whose unarmed attacks are similar to monks, but that's where the similarities end. Brawlers' main statistic is strength and they rely on unconventional grappling, shoving, and disarming while they attack. The signature feature of brawlers is "dirty fighting" which gives them "cheap shot" points which can be expended to grapple/shove/disarm or perform a subclass-specific technique when they attack.
Brawlers also get a powerful defensive feature at first level, "hard knocks", which grants them resistance to all damage for one round. At higher levels, brawler's unarmed damage die increases, they are able to grapple/shove larger opponents, and they get more uses of hard knocks. They also get a variety of other familiar features such as "fast movement" and "danger sense", and some unique ones like "awesome blow" and "size-up opponent".
My Thoughts
The brawler was my first martial class. One of my biggest gripes with martials is that DM's tend to limit them more than I think is appropriate. If it's unrealistic for a real person to do something, DM's tend to consider it impossible for a martial to do, while casters get to bend the fabric of reality with their spells. (Sidenote: this is the main reason I love laserllama's alternate fighter and barbarian with their exploit system, please go check those out).
So, when writing the brawler, I wanted to make sure it was capable of doing fantastic and impossible feats, despite being a pure martial. "Force of will" makes their attacks count as magical for resistance purposes, their "dirty fighting" points let them perform techniques unique to their subclass or simply grapple/shove as they attack, and "improved dirty fighting" and "legendary brawler" let them use these grapples and shoves on larger and larger creatures as they level. A level 20 brawler can basically suplex an ancient dragon if they succeed on the grapple and shove prone competitions, which I think is awesome.
Summoner
Summary
The summoner is a halfcaster with a class pet, called an "eidolon". The eidolon is a creature created by the summoner and gets features of your choice as you level-up in a unique "evolution" system. The summoner itself primarily learns conjuration spells and support spells to bolster its eidolon and allies.
Some of the summoner's other features are "summon creature", giving the summoner some more variability in what summoning creatures other than their eidolon, "maker's call" and "transposition", which teleport you and your eidolon relative to one another and allows "self" spells to target the eidolon instead, "life bond" which lets you reduce your own hit points to reduce damage to your eidolon, "aspect" which gives you some of your eidolon's features, and "merge forms" which allows you to merge with your eidolon, primarily as a protective measure.
My Thoughts
I put a lot of work into the summoner. It took a lot of thought and experimentation to figure out an appropriate way to make eidolons and evolutions work, until I finally landed on the current version of the summoner. Summoners effectively control two characters, their normal character and their eidolon, which obviously grants a major advantage to the class. So, these two units needed to be appropriately balanced such that the eidolon and summoner were both interesting and useful, while not being too powerful together. This is why the summoner ended up basically being a halfcaster wizard with very limited damaging spells to make up for the presence of the eidolon. The lack of damaging spells also pushes the summoner towards more support-based spells and conjuration magic, which contributes to the mechanical identity of the summoner aiding its eidolon.
The evolution system for this class (heavily inspired by pathfinder) is probably the best homebrew I have written, or at least one of my favorites. It grants a huge amount of variability to the summoner class but doesn't harm the class's identity or make it feel incoherent. Plus, the ability to basically invent your own monster to fight with you is just plain awesome.
The summoner is the most popular class I have written, and I believe the class definitely deserves the honor.
Witch
Summary
The witch is my second fullcaster class. It is what I call an "ultracaster", which only sorcerers and wizards fall into from the official classes. These casters have d6 hit die, no armor proficiencies, minimal weapon proficiencies, and a wide variety of spell options. The witch's signature feature is "hex", where a few times per day they can curse a target, choosing the effect from a variety of hexes that they can learn as they level. In terms of spell options, their spell list is basically 2/3 warlock and 1/3 druid.
Witches also have a "witch's familiar" which can concentrate on hexes for them (playing off the unlucky 'black cat' trope of witches), and get the feature "witchcraft" which lets them imbue objects with spells activated similarly to the "contingency" spell.
My Thoughts
The witch is a fun caster, and ended up being fairly popular, likely due to existing desire for a good witch homebrews amongst the community. As an "ultracaster", there isn't as much in the way of features other than their spellcasting, but their "hex", "witch's familiar", and "witchcraft" features do grant them a sufficiently distinct identity from wizards, sorcerers, druids, etc. I particularly love the "witchcraft" feature, as I felt that was a fun way for witches to create a flying broom (if they felt like having that stereotypical witch item) or enchant some other ordinary item of their choice.
I really enjoyed writing the covens (subclasses) for the witch. I thought each had a very fun and unique identity, while still feeling "witchy". I tried basing covens off of common depictions of witches in media, and included both positive and negative connotations of witches in the bits of flavor text in each coven.
Wildshifter
Summary
The wildshifter is essentially a martial druid. They have shapeshifting abilities, like the druid, but the majority of their class features are tailored to the shapeshifting concept, unlike druids. Although, in return, they do not get spellcasting. The main idea of the class is that a wildshifter learns various "wild aspects" allowing them to partially or fully transform into those creatures.
As they level, wildshifters also get features such as "chimeric form" and "avatar of the wilds", allowing them to blend their various wild aspects in unique combinations. In combat, a wildshifter primarily uses natural weapons from their wild aspects to fight, getting features like "natural weapons", "natural armor", "druidic claws", and "feral fury" to bolster their close-combat capabilities. There are also a couple of familiar features granted to wildshifters including "evasion", "land's stride", and "timeless body".
My Thoughts
I really like the idea of the wildshifter. While druids are technically able to shapeshift as well, it isn't always the most viable option in combat when their main strength comes from spellcasting. Wildshifters are the answer to this as they become quite effective in melee through their wild aspects.
Unfortunately, wildshifters did not get a lot of attention on release. I believe this is primarily due to their similarity to druids, causing them to feel like a repeated class. In addition, druid's wildshape allows for a larger variety of animal forms than wildshifters get access to, which feels disappointing for a class based on shapeshifting. Wildshifters have since received a buff allowing them greater variety in their shapeshifting, while maintaining the specific strengths they obtain from their selected wild aspects.
I also feel like I would be remiss if I did not mention that yes, I noticed this class's "wild aspect" feature is reminiscent of the animorphs. Thank you.
Arcanist
Summary
The arcanist is a fullcaster blend of sorcerers and wizards, creating an intelligence-based caster with unique spell-blending and twisting capabilities. While sorcerers have meta-magic options to alter their spells in unique ways, arcanists instead blend their spells together, mixing various effects and elements of the component spells with one another using their signature feature "spell blending".
Because spell blending is obtained at level 3, a weaker version "spell tweaking" is granted to arcanists at level 1, allowing them to make minor modifications to spells they cast, using the ranges/damage types/etc. from other spells they know. Arcanists also learn "arcane consolidation" allowing them to combine lower level spell slots into higher level ones (this is limited by their arcanist level) which synergizes well with spell blending. Lastly, arcanists also get to "invent" new spells with the "spell writer" feature which involves blending two spells and reducing the spell slot level required for that particular blend by one.
My Thoughts
The arcanist is my way of creating a system for spell homebrewing within a class. Those who would enjoy twisting and altering spells to be different from their original function will love playing around with the possibilities of this class.
Other than their unique spell blending, the class does feel similar to a sorcerer or wizard in terms of the kind of magic it has access to. However, it does successfully create its own unique identity with the "tweak spell", "spell blending", and "spell writer" features, though.
Inquisitor
Summary
The inquisitor is a halfcaster (prepared spells), with martial and utility capabilities akin to a ranger, but with divine-oriented spells and flavor. The class's signature feature is "judgment" where the inquisitor chooses a particular creature and gains bonuses against that creature (e.g. bonuses to hit, increases AC against its attacks, giving it a penalty against your spell save DC, etc.). Class spells are oriented towards utility and information gathering, mixed with cleric support spells and control spells.
The class also gets significant exploration/knowledge utility with features like "monster lore" that give them bonuses to identifying and understanding creatures they come across, "track the vile" which improves their ability to find and follow creatures, "expose the wicked" improving their detect good and evil spell, and "discern lies" which allows them to automatically know when someone is being intentionally deception. In terms of combat ability, they get the familiar "fighting style" feature, "bane of evil" which grants them additional damage against a creature type they choose during a rest, "stalwart" which improves their wisdom and constitution saves, and "final judgment" at 20th level which allows for a possible insta-kill once per day on a failed save (at this point, the big bads will have legendary resistance, so this is something that could only work once those have been exhausted).
My Thoughts
This is one of my personal favorites. As you may have noticed while I talked about the magus, I'm a big fan of writing halfcasters that blend physical prowess in combat with magic. I believe the inquisitor hits the nail on the head for class identity, when it comes to both flavor and mechanics. Its magical capabilities really lean towards gathering information and controlling foes, which feels perfect for a bounty-hunter-like, wicked-slaying class like the inquisitor.
Also, it's more utility-based features like "track the vile" or "monster lore" are useful (if somewhat situational) and synergize very well with the class's "bane of evil" damage boost. This makes the class optimal when it uses its features and spells to determine where and what kinds of creatures they will be meeting and then preparing to deal with those specific creatures with "bane of evil" and their prepared spell selection. This feels very much like you'd expect an inquisitor to act, so I'm pleased with how the mechanical features match the intended flavor.
Also, for some reason, I went super hard on the "relic keeper" inquisition which is 3 pages long, compared to the 1 page at most I've written for every other subclass from every other class.
Shaman
Summary
The shaman is a pact-caster, who learns and casts spells like a warlock. Its spell list can be described as 2/3 druid and 1/3 warlock with a focus on both natural magic and debuff/curse/control spells. It's signature feature is "totems and trinkets", though totems are what primarily give the class its own identity. Totems provide a powerful buff or debuff to a particular creature and require concentration which can be maintained through your "spirit guide", another feature. Trinkets are more passive bonuses that can be selected in addition to totems as you level.
Other than totems and trinkets, a shaman's main features are their spellcasting and "spiritual incant". Spiritual incants are like a warlock's "mystic arcanum", granting the shaman a 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th level spell as they level. Each set of shamanic spirits (subclasses) has its own ethereal manifestation at 20th level which involves taking on the form of your spirits and grants a large buff once per day.
My Thoughts
The shaman is the 10th class I had written, and by that point I had not written anything that casts spells like a warlock, so I decided this was the time. It made sense too; the shaman derives power from the spirits that follow them, which felt akin to a warlock gaining power from their patron.
The totems and trinkets options are the most variable part of the class, allowing players to choose what kinds of bonuses they like and really craft their own shaman build. The existence of totems and a spirit guide gives the class its own identity and unique mechanics where you can temporarily manifest your spirit guide to produce a totem effect but this makes them vulnerable.
The "cosmic spirits" subclass wins the trophy for the strangest subclass I've written. In summary, the subclass chooses either gravitational magic or electromagnetic radiation magic and gets features based on their choice. Their forms also become more and more alien becoming more like a radiation-producing, gravity-exerting cosmic body able to survive the harsh environment of space. The subclass features are also helpful within atmosphere if your campaign is not Spelljammer.
Cavalier
Summary
The cavalier is a fighter-like class with charisma as a secondary statistic. Their signature feature is "cavalier's mount" which allows them to select a mount at first level that grows in strength with them, remaining relevant even as the cavalier levels up. There are various mount archetypes to choose from granting their own unique benefits. The other major feature of cavaliers is their "heraldric banner" which can be held or planted in the ground to give allies in the vicinity different bonuses.
For combat, cavaliers also get the familiar "fighting style" feature, "charge" and "heroic charge" which allow them to deal extra damage when they attack after moving towards an opponent, "fleet mount" which improves the speed of their mount with as they level, and "valiant" which allows them to regain some hit points once between each rest. They also gain improvements to their banner from the "heroic banner", "renowned banner", and "legendary banner" features.
My Thoughts
My primary reason for writing the cavalier was that I wanted a way for players to be able to have a mount that remained relevant, even as players gained levels. In the base game, at some point it becomes completely unfeasible to use horses or similar mounts as regular amounts of damage dealt far exceed their hit point pool. The cavalier provides a way to make mounted combat practical while remaining balanced.
In some ways, the cavalier is like a non-magical paladin, whose support features come from their banner instead of magic/auras. However, in practice, the playstyle of cavaliers is very different. On the battlefield, they are extremely mobile, moving from place to place, using their mount to disengage or dash as needed and providing support wherever the need is greatest. They can even plant their banner somewhere so that they are free to move around while still providing its benefits to their allies. In contrast, paladins' powerful aura features generally make it beneficial to stay near the center of the fray amongst allies.
Alchemist
Summary
Alchemist are kind of like half-casters, except instead of directly casting magic, the alchemist uses its slots to create potions (called "extracts") which mimic spells and to throw "alchemical bombs". Extracts produce the effects of magical spells on whoever is affected by them (e.g. drinking them or being stabbed by a blade coated in the extract). This results in a unique "spell" system unlike any existing class.
One of the alchemist's most interesting features are their "discoveries" that you select as you gain levels. These can be improvements to their alchemical bombs, mutagens that alter the alchemists stats and abilities, or knowledge discoveries which grant other miscellaneous bonuses.
My Thoughts
For the final installment in this collection, I wanted to do something very unique, unlike any of the other classes I had written. I landed on this concept for the alchemist, who produces magical spells unlike any other class. It took some time to make its system of extracts balanced and functional, but the result is a very unique way of producing spells reserved just to this class.
Extracts are powerful as they can be used by anyone with just a bonus action (regardless of the corresponding spell), but have the major drawback that each potion must be prepared during a rest. An alchemist cannot just use its slots on any of their prepared extracts in the middle of combat, they need to have already made that extract. This requires alchemists to intelligently plan ahead and pass out extracts/potions, which fits the expected flavor of an alchemist perfectly.
Part 2 - Classes
-
Class List
-
2.1 Magus ...................................... 10
-
2.2 Bloodrager .............................. 24
-
2.3 Oracle ..................................... 38
-
2.4 Brawler ................................... 54
-
2.5 Summoner ................................ 67
-
2.6 Witch ...................................... 91
-
2.7 Wildshifter ............................ 104
-
2.8 Arcanist ................................. 123
-
2.9 Inquisitor .............................. 137
-
2.10 Shaman ................................. 154
-
2.11 Cavalier ............................... 172
-
2.12 Alchemist ............................. 188
Magus
A half-elf, wielding her signature curved blade, strides towards the orc raiding party. As the nearest orc prepares to deflect the anticipated strike, the elf waves her hand causing the blade to ignite with flame. She deftly brings her blade down as the fire engulfs her target.
A human scholar spends days poring over countless tomes of ancient secrets and combat styles from unknown lands. Finally, he grins as he is hit with an epiphany. Grabbing his hand axe and whirling it in a defensive posture, lightning crackles from the spinning metal. His research complete, he seeks out a worthy opponent.
A tiefling in dark leathers peers from a rooftop under the cover of darkness. He whispers an incantation under his breath, as shadows engulf his quarry's eyes below. The blinded target is unable to avoid the plunging blade.
All of these heroes are magi. Though individual magi are as diverse as weapons and spells, all magi combine the martial prowess of fighters with the arcane power of wizards. Devoting their lives to the study of both schools, magi combine blade and arcana with devastating effect. Many are naturally drawn to adventure often seeking the chance to perfect their craft or use their skills to benefit themselves or others.
Might and Magic
There are those who spend their lives poring over ancient tomes and texts, unlocking the power of magic, and there are those who spend their time perfecting the use of individual weapons, becoming masters without equal. The magus is at once a student of both philosophies, blending magical ability and martial prowess into something entirely unique, a discipline in which both spell and steel are used to devastating effect. As magi grow in power, they unlock powerful forms of arcana that allow them to merge their talents further, and at the pinnacle of their art, magi become
a blur of steel and magic, a force that few foes would dare to stand against.
Versatile Students
Magi spend much of their time traveling the world, learning whatever secrets they can find. They might spend months learning a new sword-fighting style from a master warrior, while simultaneously moonlighting in the local library, poring through tomes of ancient lore. Most who take this path dabble in all sorts of knowledge, picking up anything that might aid them in their search for martial and magical perfection.
Creating a Magus
To create a magus, consider what drives your character to develop their martial and magical prowess. Did something happen to a loved one, instilling in you a need to protect others? Do you have a rival, whom you must prove inferior? Do you come from a family or tradition that expects absolute perfection in the art of combat?
As a magus gains power, they refine their focus into a particular magi study. Although the class features related to your study don’t appear until you reach 3rd level, plan ahead for that choice by reading the study descriptions at the end of the class. Are you a heavily-armored warrior, using magic to supplement your powerful strikes? Are you a student of witchcraft, using your arcane energies to curse and control others? Or are you a devoted servant of a diety, trained to purge evil from the land?
Finally, consider your motivations for pursuing adventure. Are you adventuring to improve your mastery of martial combat or arcane knowledge? To use your abilities for good? Or maybe to prove yourself to your mentor or a parent figure?
Quick Build
You can make a magus quickly by following these suggestions. First, Strength or Dexterity should be your highest ability score, followed by Intelligence. Second, choose the sage background. Third, choose
the fire bolt and shocking
grasp cantrips.
The Magus Table
Level | Proficiency Bonus |
Features | Arcana Points |
Cantrips Known |
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | +2 | Spellcasting (Cantrips), Spellstrike | - | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
2nd | +2 | Spellcasting (Spell Slots), Magus Arcana (2) | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
3rd | +2 | Magus Study, Spell Recognition | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
5th | +3 | Extra Attack | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — |
6th | +3 | Magus' Shield | 6 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — |
7th | +3 | Magus Study Feature | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
9th | +4 | — | 9 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — |
10th | +4 | Magus Arcana (2), Arcane Knowledge (2) | 10 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — |
11th | +4 | Magus Study Feature, Improved Spellstrike | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — |
12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 12 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — |
13th | +5 | — | 13 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — |
14th | +5 | Spell Absorption, Arcane Knowledge (1) | 14 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — |
15th | +5 | Magus Study Feature | 15 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — |
16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 16 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — |
17th | +6 | — | 17 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
18th | +6 | Magus Arcana (2), Arcane Knowledge (1) | 18 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 19 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
20th | +6 | True Magus | 20 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Class Features
As a Magus, you gain the following class features:
Hit Points
- Hit Dice: 1d8 per magus level
- Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier
- Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per magus level after 1st
Proficiencies
- Armor: Light armor, medium armor
- Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons
- Tools: None
- Saving Throws: Dexterity, Intelligence
- Skills: Choose two skills from Acrobatics, Athletics, Arcana, History, Investigation, Religion
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- A martial melee weapon
- (a) a chain shirt or (b) leather armor
- (a) a component pouch or (b) an arcane focus
- (a) a scholar’s pack or (b) an explorer's pack
Spellcasting
As a student of arcane magic and martial technique, you commit spells to memory for use even while engaged in combat. See the magus spell list for the spells you can learn.
Cantrips
At 1st level, you know two cantrips of your choice from the magus spell list. You learn additional magus cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Magus table.
Spell Slots
The Magus table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your magus spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these 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.
Spells Known of 1st Level and Higher
At 2nd level, you learn two 1st-level spells of your choice from the magus spell list. Each time you gain a Magus Level, you may learn one magus spell and replace one of the magus spells you know with another spell of your choice from the magus spell list. Each of these spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots, as shown on the Magus table.
Spellcasting Ability
Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for your magus spells. You use your Intelligence whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Intelligence modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a magus spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.
Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus +
Spellcasting Focus
You can use an arcane focus as a spellcasting focus for your magus spells.
Spellstrike
At 1st level, you learn to deliver magical spells through melee attacks. Once per round, when you perform a melee attack and before you roll to hit, you may additionally cast a magus spell as part of the attack action by expending a spell slot of the spell's level or higher.
After choosing a spell, roll to hit as if attacking normally with your weapon. On a hit, the target suffers the weapon damage as well as the spell's effects. If the spell requires a saving throw, the target makes its initial save at disadvantage. On a miss, no weapon damage is dealt and the spell has no effect. On a critical hit, both the weapon damage die and any spell damage die are rolled twice and added together.
Spellstrike Rules:
- Spell Action: Spells used in spellstrike must have a casting time of 1 action or bonus action and must not normally require making a weapon attack.
- Cantrips: Cantrips can be cast as part of spellstrike and do not require a spellslot to be expended. However, cantrips cast this way deal damage as if cast by a character of levels 1-4.
- Area of Effect/Multiple Targets: Spells that affect an area or multiple targets instead only affect the creature targeted with spellstrike.
- Somatic Component: Spells with a somatic component may be cast with spellstrike while wielding a two-handed or versatile weapon in both hands, or a single weapon in each hand.
Magus Arcana
At 2nd level, you learn to weave martial prowess with arcane mastery, with hybrid abilities called "Magus Arcana." You know two such abilities. When you reach levels 10 and 18, you learn two more Arcana.
You may gain multiple features that allow you to spend AP when you successfully hit a creature. Only one such feature may be used on each hit.
Arcana Points
Magus Arcana cost Arcana Points (AP) to use. You have a number of Arcana Points equal to your Magus level. Expended AP are replenished after you complete a short or long rest.
Magus Arcana List
- Arcane Accuracy. As a bonus action, you may spend 1 AP to give yourself advantage on weapon attack rolls until the end of your turn.
- Critical Arcana. When you critically hit with a weapon attack, you may use your reaction and spend 2 AP to stun the target until the end of your next turn.
- Hastened Arcana. When you cast a spell with a casting time of one action, you may spend 3 AP to cast it as a bonus action instead. Any additional spells cast on your turn must be cantrips with a casting time of one action.
- Arcane Rebuke. As a reaction, when you take damage from an attacker that you can see, you may spend 2 AP to cast a cantrip against that attacker.
- Arcane Dodge. You can spend 1 AP to take the dodge action as a bonus action.
- Elementalist Arcana. As a bonus action, you can spend 1 AP to add your Intelligence Modifier to your weapon damage (as cold, fire, or lightning) until the end of your turn.
- Arcane Vigor. As a bonus action, spend 2 AP to gain temporary HP equal to double your Intelligence modifier.
- Arcane Guise. As a bonus action, you can spend 1 AP to add your Intelligence modifier to Stealth and Deception checks you make for 1 minute.
- Arcane Zeal. You can spend 1 AP to add your Intelligence modifier to the result of an initiative roll you make.
- Arcane Flow. When casting a spell that requires you to make an attack roll, you may use your bonus action and spend AP equal to 1 + the level of the spell cast (1 AP for cantrips) to target an additional creature either within 5 feet of you or the initial target.
Magus Study
At 3rd level, you focus your research and practice to a refined Magus Study. The study you choose grants you features at levels 3, 7, 11, and 15.
The studies of the Warmage, Magister, Hexcrafter, Eldritch Archer, Devoted Slayer, Stygian, and Primagus are shown below.
Spell Recognition
Beginning at 3rd level, you quickly recognize magic even in the heat of combat. You know the school of magical spells and effects that target you, that you are in the area of effect of, or that otherwise affect you.
This feature does not apply if you are unaware that you are under the influence of a spell or effect, such as when you are charmed or believe an illusion. If you become aware of the spell, you know its school of magic.
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.
Using the optional feats rule, you can forgo taking this feature to take a feat of your choice instead.
Extra Attack
Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice,
instead of once, whenever you take the attack
action on your turn.
You can replace one of those attacks with a
cantrip (cast as if you were levels 1-4).
Magus' Shield
Beginning at 6th level, you can protect
yourself with magical energies. You gain
proficiency in constitution saving throws made
to maintain concentration on spells when you
take damage.
Also, whenever you have a free hand, you gain
a +2 bonus to AC, as if you were wielding a
shield. You lose this benefit until the beginning
of your next turn if you use that hand to wield
a weapon or otherwise manipulate an
object.
Arcane Knowledge
At 10th level, you have expanded your arcane
knowledge to other disciplines. You may learn
two spells from any class list.
The chosen spells must be of a level for
which you have spell slots and count as magus
spells for you. You learn one more such spell at
levels 14 and 18.
Improved Spellstrike
At 11th level, you improve your ability to deliver
damaging cantrips with your weapon. Beginning
at this level, your damaging cantrips are treated as
if you are levels 5-10 when cast with the spellstrike
or extra attack features.
Spell Absorption
At 14th level, you learn to absorb harmful magical energies into your weapon. When you take damage from a magical spell or effect, you may spend 2 AP and use your reaction to reduce the incoming damage by 1d10 + your Intelligence modifier + your magus level.
The magical damage you absorbed is stored in your weapon and unleashed on your next hit. Before the end of your next turn, when you first hit a creature with your weapon, you deal additional damage equal to the amount avoided. The damage type is the same as the original triggering spell or effect.
Once you have absorbed magic into your weapon, you cannot use this feature again until the magic has been released through a successful attack or until it dissipates at the end of your next turn.
True Magus
At 20th level, you become a master of spells and combat. You may use the spellstrike feature twice per round if at least one of the spells used is a cantrip.
Magus Studies
Magi have varied focuses and preferences regarding their magical and martial pursuits. These are grouped into "studies" representing the different approaches taken by magi.
Study of the Warmage
The warmage is a skilled specialist, using magic to supplement and augment their martial mastery. They are somewhat less inclined towards magical development than other magi, and instead seek supremacy with blade and armor.
Armor Bond
At 3rd level, when you choose this study, you gain proficiency in heavy armor.
In addition, you learn a ritual that creates a magical bond between yourself and one set of armor. You perform the ritual over the course of 1 hour, which can be done during a short or long rest. The armor must be within your reach throughout the ritual, at the conclusion of which you touch the armor and forge the bond. You can only bond with one set of armor at a time; to bond with new armor you must break your bond with the original armor as part of the ritual.
Once you have bonded armor to yourself, you no longer need to don and doff the armor as normal. Instead, as long as your bonded armor is on the same plane of existence, you can summon your armor as a bonus action on your turn, causing it to appear instantly on your body. Similarly, as a bonus action, you can dismiss the armor to a familiar location of your choice.
Warmage's Strike
Beginning at 3rd level, you can augment the damage of your weapon attacks with raw arcana. When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you may spend AP to deal force damage equal to 1d6 per AP spent plus your intelligence
modifier. You may spend a number of AP up to half your
magus level (rounded down)
to use this feature.
Fighting Style
At 7th level, 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.
Defense
While you are wearing armor, you gain a +1 bonus to AC.
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.
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 or have increased AC from the magus' shield feature.
Arcane Sunder
Beginning at 11th level, your weapon strikes can undercut a creature’s resistance to spells. When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you may spend 2 AP to give that creature disadvantage on the next saving throw it makes to resist a spell before the end of your next turn.
Mind and Body
At 15th level, you learn to use your extensive martial knowledge to give yourself an edge in physical activities. When you make a Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution ability check or saving throw, you may use your reaction to add your Intelligence modifier to the result. This can be done a
number of times per long rest
equal to your Intelligence
modifier (minimum
of once).
Study of the Magister
In direct contrast to the warmage study, a magister
develops their spellcasting beyond that of the other magi studies. Magisters see the pursuit of arcane power as the ultimate means to perfection.
Arcana Flux
At 3rd level, you learn to bend your magical reserves to suit your purposes. You can use your arcane points to gain additional spell slots.
Creating Spell Slots. You can transform unexpended arcane points into one spell slot as a bonus action on your turn. The Creating Spell Slots table shows the cost of creating a spell slot of a given level. You can create spell slots no higher in level than 5th.
Arcana Point Cost | Spell Slot Level |
---|---|
2 | 1st |
3 | 2nd |
5 | 3rd |
6 | 4th |
7 | 5th |
Converting a Spell Slot to Arcana Points. As a bonus action on your turn, you can expend one spell slot and gain a number of arcane points equal to the slot’s level.
Font of Mana
Beginning at 3rd level, through practice you have developed your magical reserves further than most. You gain additional spell slots at the following levels. These replenish with your other spell slots.
- At 3rd level, you gain an additional level 1 Spell Slot.
- At 7th level, you gain an additional level 2 Spell Slot.
- At 11th level, you gain an additional level 3 Spell Slot.
Deep Arcane Knowledge
At 7th level, you learn two spells from any class list. The spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots and count as magus spells for you.
When you gain a magus level, you may replace one of the spells obtained with this feature for another.
Empowered Magic
Beginning at 11th level, you can empower your spells with arcane energy. You may spend 1 AP to add your Intelligence modifier to the damage of a magus spell you cast.
Arcane Restoration
Beginning at 15th level, once per short rest, you may replenish an amount of AP up to your Intelligence Modifier as a bonus action. At any time, your current AP cannot exceed your maximum AP pool.
Study of the Hexcrafter
A hexcrafter magus has uncovered the secret of using their arcane pool to recreate witch hexes. These magi can hex foes, curse those they strike, and expand their spell selection to include many curses and harmful spells.
Expanded Hexcrafter Spell List
You gain access to the following spells, and may learn them after you have reached the appropriate Magus level. They are magus spells for you.
Magus Level | Spells |
---|---|
3rd | hex, bane |
5th | enthrall, crown of madness |
9th | remove curse, bestow curse |
13th | blight, compulsion |
17th | geas, circle of power |
Cursed Blade
At 3rd level, you learn to curse
your weapon to debilitate and
harm your opponents. You
learn a ritual that turns a
weapon of your choice into
a cursed item. The ritual is
performed over 1 hour
which can be done during a
short or long rest.
You can handle the cursed
weapon without incurring any
negative effect, but any other
creature who wields the
weapon must make a wisdom
saving throw against your
spell save DC. On a failure, they
must make a roll on the short-term
madness table (located in the dungeon
master's guide). Anytime the creature
attempts a weapon attack with the cursed
weapon, they repeat the save and roll on
the madness table on a failure. The
madness effects take place before the
attack roll is made.
Another creature wielding the weapon
must use their action to make a wisdom
saving throw against your spell save DC
to willingly release the weapon. After
release, any madness remains for its duration
or until ended by a lesser restoration or remove
curse spell.
Hexcrafter's Curse
Beginning at 3rd level, your cursed weapon can apply
minor hexes on contact. As a bonus action, when you hit a creature with a weapon attack from the cursed weapon you may spend 2 AP to additionally cast hex at 1st level on them without expending a spell slot. When cast this way, if the target drops to 0 hit points, hex cannot be transferred to a new target.
At higher levels you gain the ability to cast new spells with this feature. Spells cast with this feature do not require concentration.
Improved Hex
At 7th level, you have attained mastery of common curses. Instead of 1d6, you now deal an extra 1d8 necrotic damage to targets under the effect of your hex spell. This damage increases to 1d10 at 11th level and 1d12 at 15th level.
Advanced Curse
At 11th level, the curses applied by your weapon intensify, blinding the senses of its target. You may now spend 3 AP to cast blindness/deafness at 2nd level in place of hex for the hexcrafter's curse feature.
Dreadful Curse
At 15th level, your weapon can deliver devastating curses. You may now spend 4 AP to cast bestow curse at 3rd level instead for the hexcrafter's curse feature.
Study of the Eldritch Archer
An eldritch archer forgoes the typical focus on melee combat to instead deliver spells through ranged weapons such as bows or crossbows. They become masters of spellstriking, able to cast all manner of dangerous spells through their attacks.
Ranged Spellstrike
At 3rd level, you learn to perform spellstrike attacks through ranged weapons. Your spellstrike feature is modified to
additionally allow spellcasting with
ranged weapon attacks.
Mystical Barrage
Beginning at 3rd level, you can use arcane energies to launch multiple projectiles in one attack. When you use your action to make an attack with a ranged weapon, you may expend 1 AP to make one additional attack against the target creature as part of your action.
After using focused barrage, all your subsequent attacks must target that same creature until the end of your turn. This feature cannot be performed if you previously made an attack roll against a different creature on your current turn.
Arcane Projectiles
Beginning at 7th level, you can imbue your ammunition with elemental energies. Doing so requires 1 minute of time per piece of ammunition enchanted. Projectiles enchanted in this manner do an extra 1d6 fire, cold, lightning, acid, or poison
damage (your choice at the time of enchantment) when used
by the magus and lose their enchantment after being
used for an attack.
Stunning Shot
At 11th level, you become adept at targeting
opponents weak points with magical energies. Once
per round, when you hit a creature with a ranged
weapon attack you may expend 2 AP to attempt a
stunning shot. The target must succeed on a
Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC or
be stunned until the end of your next turn.
Perfected Spellstrike
At 15th level, you expand the repertoire of spells
you can deliver with your ranged attacks. When
you perform spellstrike with a ranged weapon,
you can choose to allow the spell to affect its
normal area instead of a single target.
The target of your projectile may be a
creature or a specific point in the environment.
If your target is a creature, they are considered
within the area of the spell on a hit and have
disadvantage on the spell's initial saving throw,
if applicable. If your target is a point in the
environment, your attack automatically hits.
Spells with an area of effect have their
point of origin where your projectile strikes.
For cone, cube, and line shaped spells, the
areas extend in the direction opposite of you.
The ranges of other spells (without a defined
area of effect) are similarly determined from
where your projectile strikes.
If your attack misses a creature, the DM
determines a reasonable location the
projectile lands and thus the location of the
spell's point of origin.
If you make a critical hit on a spellstrike
using a spell with an area of effect, only
the targeted creature takes critical
damage from the spell and weapon
attack. All other creatures in the spell's
area take normal damage from the spell.
Study of the Vanquisher
Unlike other magus studies, vanquishers study the will of the divine to fuel magical attacks. Much like paladins and clerics, vanquishers are often sworn to the service of a diety and spend their lives in pursuit of heavenly knowledge.
Divine Magic
At 3rd level, you begin calling upon divine powers to fuel your magic. You gain proficiency in religion or another magus class skill if already proficient.
In addition, when you learn a magus spell, you can choose the new spell from the paladin spell list or the magus spell list. These are magus spells for you.
Restorative Strike
Beginning at 3rd level, you can unleash bursts of divine healing with your strikes. When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you may spend AP to regain hit points equal to 1d6 per AP spent plus your intelligence modifier. You may spend a number of AP up to half your magus level (rounded down) to use this feature.
Student of the Heavens
At 7th level, you have learned much about the
creatures that inhabit the many planes through your
studies. You have advantage on intelligence ability checks
to recall information about aberrations, celestials, elementals, fey, fiends, and undead.
Possible information known about these creatures includes their abilities, strongest/weakest ability scores, etc. in addition to general facts about a creature's behavior and history.
Spiritual Devotion
Beginning at 11th level, your dedication to heavenly principles empowers you with holy protection. When you take damage, you may use your reaction and spend 2 AP to give yourself resistance to the triggering damage.
Blessed Slayer
At 15h level, you have expanded your knowledge of the planes and the creatures within them and are prepared to end those who defy the holy standards of your worship. You have advantage on melee attack rolls against creatures of the following types: aberrations, celestials, elementals, fey, fiends, and undead.
In addition, those creatures have disadvantage on intelligence, wisdom, and charisma saving throws to resist your spells and features.
Study of the Stygian
Some magi, known as stygians, learn to blend shadowfell magic with their martial training, letting them stay unnoticed as they take down foes.
Shadow Weaver
At 3rd level, you learn to guide shadows to magically conceal yourself. You gain proficiency in stealth (or another magus class skill if already proficient). Whenever you make a stealth check, you may add your Intelligence modifier to the roll.
Additionally, whenever you cast a spell, you may spend 1 AP to cast it silently, without verbal components.
Arcane Cloak
Beginning at 3rd level, you use
arcane energy to render yourself
briefly invisible. When you move on
your turn, you may spend 1 AP to
become invisible until the
beginning of your next turn. This
invisibility ends early when you
attack or cast a spell.
Creatures who know you are
present may make a perception
check on their turn against your spell
save DC to know your location (no
action required). On a success, that
creature may attack you at
disadvantage. Creatures whom you
attacked on your last turn have
advantage on the perception check.
You may use arcane cloak out of
combat when turns are not closely
tracked. In these situations,
arcane cloak lasts 6 seconds
(unless it ends early). You may
spend additional AP to extend the
invisibility by an additional 6
seconds per AP spent.
Void Sight
Beginning at 7th level, your
expertise with shadow allows you to
see clearly through darkness and
partially see through invisibility. You
gain darkvision for 60 feet, and can
see through magical darkness. If you
already have darkvision, the range
increases by 30 feet. Additionally, you
can see the vague outline of invisible
creatures and objects within 30 feet of you,
allowing you to know their location. Your attacks
against invisible creatures are still made with
disadvantage.
Lingering Shadow
Beginning at 11th level, shadows cling to your form even when you are no longer invisible. Whenever the invisibility from your arcane cloak ends early, attacks against you have disadvantage until the beginning of your next turn.
Nightblade's Strike
Beginning at 15th level, your mastery of stealth and arcana allow you to deliver devastating strikes suffused with harmful shadowfell magic. Once per round, when you have advantage on an attack roll, you may spend 3 AP to automatically hit before you make the attack roll. You may still roll to attack after choosing to perform this feature to determine if you make a critical hit.
An attack performed this way deals an additional 2d6 necrotic damage a number of times equal to your intelligence modifier (for example, if you have +3 as your intelligence modifier, you deal an additional 6d6 necrotic damage).
Study of the Primagus
While many magi learn magic through formal study, there are those who draw power from natural sources. These magi are often wise people or shamans for tribal groups who use their knowledge of nature and tribal tradition to produce magic and fight alongside their fellow warriors.
Natural Magic
At 3rd level, you begin using your knowledge of nature and its creatures to power your magic. You gain proficiency in nature (or another magus class skill if already proficient).
In addition, when your Spellcasting feature lets you learn a magus spell, you can choose the new spell from the ranger spell list or the magus spell list. These are magus spells for you.
Boon of the Hunt
Beginning at 3rd level, your arcane blows inspire ancestor warrior spirits to empower your war party. When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you may spend 1 AP to grant an ally within 10ft of yourself advantage on attack rolls until the beginning of your next turn.
Feral Skill
At 7th level, you infuse your martial capabilities with passed-down techniques learned anciently from the wild. Choose one of the following options.
Fortitude of the Bear
Once per short rest, when a creature hits you and deals damage, you may use your reaction to take only
half as much damage.
Agility of the Elk
Once per short rest, when you fail a dexterity saving throw, you may use your reaction to succeed instead.
Ferocity of the Wolf
Once per short rest, when you hit a creature, you may choose to roll your weapon damage die twice and add them together for that attack.
Shrewdness of the Owl
Once per short rest, when you miss a melee attack roll, you may choose to reroll the attack.
Nerve of the Hawk
Once per short rest, if you fail a check to maintain concentration on a spell, you may choose to succeed instead.
Empowering Ritual
At 11th level, you have created a ritual to bolster your allies before a fight. Once per long rest, you and up to 10 allies may participate in the ritual which takes 10 minutes. This can be done as part of a long or short rest. Each creature that participates gains temporary hit points equal to half your magus level (rounded down) plus your intelligence modifier.
Wild Arcana
At 15th level, you begin applying arcane power to your nature-inspired martial techniques. Your may now use your chosen feral skill technique more than once per short rest, however, every subsequent use after the first requires spending AP.
Additional uses of Ferocity of the Wolf require 1 AP,
all other techniques require 2 AP.
Magus Spell List
Cantrips
- Acid Splash
- Blade Ward
- Booming Blade
- Chill Touch
- Control Flames
- Dancing Lights
- Fire Bolt
- Frostbite
- Green-flame Blade
- Gust
- Light
- Lightning Lure
- Mage Hand
- Mending
- Mold Earth
- Prestidigitation
- Produce Flame
- Ray of Frost
- Resistance
- Shape Water
- Shocking Grasp
- Sword Burst
- True Strike
1st Level
- Absorb Elements
- Burning Hands
- Cause Fear
- Chromatic Orb
- Color Spray
- Comprehend Languages
- Detect Magic
- Disguise Self
- Expeditious Retreat
- Feather Fall
- Find Familiar
- Grease
- Hideous Laughter
- Ice Knife
- Identify
- Jump
- Magic Missile
- Shield
- Silent Image
- Sleep
- Thunderwave
2nd Level
- Acid Arrow
- Aganazzar's Scorcher
- Alter Self
- Blindness/Deafness
- Blur
- Darkness
- Darkvision
- Detect Thoughts
- Earthbind
- Enlarge/Reduce
- Flaming Sphere
- Gust of Wind
- Hold Person
- Invisibility
- Magic Weapon
- Maximilian's Earthen Grasp
- Mind Spike
- Mirror Image
- Misty Step
- Phantasmal Force
- Ray of Enfeeblement
- Scorching Ray
- Shadow Blade
- Shatter
- See Invisibility
- Spider Climb
- Suggestion
- Web
3rd Level
- Blink
- Clairvoyance
- Counterspell
- Dispel Magic
- Elemental Weapon
- Enemies Abound
- Erupting Earth
- Fear
- Fireball
- Fly
- Gaseous Form
- Haste
- Hypnotic Pattern
- Lightning Bolt
- Major Image
- Protection from Energy
- Sending
- Sleet Storm
- Slow
- Spirit Shroud
- Thunder Step
- Tidal Wave
- Tiny Hut
- Tongues
- Wall of Sand
- Wall of Water
- Water Breathing
4th Level
- Arcane Eye
- Banishment
- Blight
- Charm Monster
- Confusion
- Control Water
- Dimension Door
- Elemental Bane
- Fire Shield
- Greater Invisibility
- Ice Storm
- Locate Creature
- Phantasmal Killer
- Resilient Sphere
- Secret Chest
- Sickening Radiance
- Stone Shape
- Stoneskin
- Storm Sphere
- Vitriolic Sphere
- Wall of Fire
- Watery Sphere
5th Level
- Arcane Hand
- Cloudkill
- Cone of Cold
- Control Winds
- Dawn
- Dominate Person
- Far Step
- Hold Monster
- Immolation
- Legend Lore
- Mislead
- Modify Memory
- Negative Energy Flood
- Scrying
- Seeming
- Steel Wind Strike
- Synpatic Static
- Telepathic Bond
- Transmute Rock
- Wall of Force
- Wall of Light
- Wall of Stone
Multiclassing
Prerequisites. To qualify for multiclassing with the
Magus class, you must meet these prerequisites: 13
Intelligence and 13 Strength or Dexterity.
Proficiencies. When you multiclass into the Magus
class, you gain the following proficiencies: Simple
weapons, martial weapons, light armor, medium armor.
Spell Slots. You add half your Magus levels (rounded
down) to determine multiclass spell slots.
The Magus
A half-caster class for those who can't choose between might and magic. Bring sword and spells to bear against your enemies with seven Magus schools: the Warmage, Magister, Hexcrafter, Eldritch Archer, Vanquisher,
Stygian, and Primagus.
Art Credits
Page 11: Broken Mirrors by theDURRRRIAN
Page 14: Regongar by OwlCat Games
Page 15: Dela C by Astri-Lohne
Page 16: Battlemage by Grzegorz Rutkowski
Page 17: MurderLoad by Mansik Yang
Page 18: Seldarine Dedicate by Howard Lyon
Page 19: Paladin by TheNightbringer
Page 20: Stealth Mage by Adrian-W
Page 21: Forest Defender by S. Horoszko
Page 22: Fire Sword by Dmitry Grebenkov
Page 23: Spellsword by TheFirstAngel
See Dragonshard's GM Binder profile for more homebrew classes inspired by Pathfinder.
Bloodrager
A powerful goliath wielding a man-sized axe leads his charging warband against their invaders. As the parties are about to clash, the goliath unleashes an ear-shattering shout as his arms and weapon erupt into bright flame. Despite the heat, the warrior is uninjured as he directs the flame into an whirlwind of embers encompassing his foes.
A dwarvish gladiator finds himself facing an impossible monstrosity in the arena he has come to know so well. The beast charges and leaps towards their prey, but as it closes in, a bright array of cobalt scales appears on the exposed skin of the fighter and two great wings erupt from their back. With a roar, the dwarf takes to the sky, and the beast crashes to the ground finding no target.
A firbolg wanders her forest home, seeking the aberrations that have been defiling it. Finding their corrosive forms destroying a holy grove, the wanderer focuses the power of nature in her blood. Great tendrils of woody growth extend from her restraining the horrid creatures as she dashes forward swinging her quarterstaff with abandon.
Some heroes learn magic through intense study, some are loaned the power by diety or nature, but a rare few gain their power through their ancestral blood. Bloodragers are warriors who tap into the energies contained within their arcane blood to enter a rage-like state where the full potential of their inherited power is unleashed into their attacks and spells.
Ancestral Power
While many ferocious combatants can tap into a deep reservoir of buried rage, bloodragers have an intrinsic power that seethes within. Like sorcerers, bloodragers’ veins surge with arcane power. While sorcerers use this power for spellcasting, bloodragers enter an altered state in which
their bloodline becomes manifest, where the echoes of
their strange ancestry lash out with devastating power. Through their inherited power, bloodragers can cast
some arcane spells instinctively. The bloodrager’s magic
is as fast, violent, and seemingly unstoppable as their physical prowess.
Arcane Blood
Like barbarians, bloodragers use their physical might and inherent power to charge into danger to keep their people and their allies safe. A bloodrager may leave their home for
a number of reasons, and, due to their abilities, they will
find themselves naturally suited to a life of adventure.
From their barbaric roots, bloodragers are accustomed
to a life of constant challenge and peril, and are often
loathe to settle down and let their inner power lie
dormant.
In an adventuring party, bloodragers take the
frontline, using their mighty attacks and savage
magic to overwhelm foes and draw attention
away from their allies. The presence of a
bloodrager is hard to ignore, especially when
their arcane power is unleashed in a bloodrage.
Creating a Bloodrager
The most important question to consider when creating your bloodrager is the origin of your power. When you make your character, you choose the nature of your bloodrager's arcane blood, such as a draconic ancestry or raw elemental power. However, you also choose the details of your power's origin. For instance, is it a blessing, passed down to you from distant ancestors? Or did some extraordinary event leave you blessed with inherent magic but perhaps scarred as well?
Consider what drove you to leave your old life behind in favor of adventure. Were you cast out due to fear of your power? Or perhaps as a rite of passage to become a true warrior? Do you feel a longing for your old life and a deep connection to your people? Or are you running from your past and plan on cutting all ties?
Consider as well your motivations for adventure. Are you seeking the origin of your power in order to reconnect with your ancestry? Or do you intend to end the blood curse that has plagued your family for generations? Are you simply accustomed to the life of a wanderer? Or would you like to settle but find it difficult to be trusted in civilized society?
Quick Build
You can make a bloodrager quickly by following these suggestions. First, Strength should be your highest ability score, followed by Charisma. Second, choose the
outlander background.
The Bloodrager Table
Level | Proficiency Bonus |
Features | Bloodrages | Bloodrage Die | Spells Known | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | +2 | Bloodline, Bloodrage | 2 | 1d4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
2nd | +2 | Spellcasting, Savage Magic | 2 | 1d4 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
3rd | +2 | Blood Sanctuary, Intimidating Power | 3 | 1d4 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 3 | 1d4 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
5th | +3 | Extra Attack | 3 | 1d4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — |
6th | +3 | Bloodline Feature | 4 | 1d4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — |
7th | +3 | Fierce Caster | 4 | 1d4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 1d4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
9th | +4 | — | 4 | 1d6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — |
10th | +4 | Bloodline Feature | 4 | 1d6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — |
11th | +4 | Sorcerous Rage | 4 | 1d6 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — |
12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 1d6 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — |
13th | +5 | — | 5 | 1d6 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — |
14th | +5 | Bloodline Feature | 5 | 1d6 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — |
15th | +5 | Unyielding Blood | 5 | 1d6 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — |
16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 1d8 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — |
17th | +6 | — | 6 | 1d8 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
18th | +6 | Bloodline Feature | 6 | 1d8 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 6 | 1d8 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
20th | +6 | Eldritch Rage | 6 | 1d8 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Class Features
As a Bloodrager, you gain the following class features:
Hit Points
- Hit Dice: 1d10 per bloodrager level
- Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + your Constitution modifier
- Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your Constitution modifier per bloodrager level after 1st.
Proficiencies
- Armor: Light armor, medium armor, shields
- Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons
- Tools: None
- Saving Throws: Constitution, Charisma
- Skills: Choose 2 skills from Arcana, Athletics, Intimidation, Insight, Animal Handling, and Survival.
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) a martial melee weapon and a shield or (b) two martial melee weapons
- (a) leather armor or (b) hide armor
- (a) a component pouch or (b) an arcane focus
- An explorer’s pack and four javelins
Bloodline
At 1st level, you choose a bloodline that has bestowed your arcane power. The bloodline you choose grants you features at levels 1, 6, 10, 14, and 18.
The Draconic, Elemental, Fey, Abyssal, Celestial, Undead, and Arcane bloodlines are shown below.
Bloodline Transformations
Bloodline features often involve transformations. Regardless of the transformation, your equipment continues to be worn or is integrated into your form so you retain all benefits from enchanted items, weapons, and armor. As a couple examples, AC bonuses from armor and shields are retained even in large forms that could not normally wear the armor, and magic items such as gauntlets, rings, or cloaks continue providing their benefit regardless of your transformation.
For weapons, you may choose to either integrate a wielded weapon into your form so that you gain its magical properties for one of your transformed melee attacks (such as one claw) or continue wielding the weapon in your new form.
Bloodrage
Starting at 1st level, you fight
with the primal energy of your
bloodline. On your turn, you can
enter a bloodrage as a bonus
action.
While bloodraging, you gain the
following benefits if you aren’t
wearing heavy armor:
- You have advantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws.
- When you make a melee weapon attack using Strength, or cast a bloodrager spell that deals damage, you gain a bonus to the damage roll equal to your bloodrage die. This die increases as you gain levels as a bloodrager, as shown in the Bloodrage Die column of the Bloodrager table.
- You have resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.
Your bloodrage lasts for 1 minute. It
ends early if you are knocked unconscious
or if your turn ends and you have not
attacked a hostile creature, cast a spell, or
taken damage since your last turn. You
can also end your bloodrage on your turn
as a bonus action.
Once you have bloodraged the number
of times shown for your bloodrager level
in the Bloodrages column of the
Bloodrager table, you must finish a long rest
before you can bloodrage again.
While bloodraging, you are not able to cast or
concentrate on spells except for bloodrager spells.
Spellcasting
At 2nd level, your bloodline powers manifest the ability
to perform magic spells.
Spell Slots
The Bloodrager table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your bloodrager spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these 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.
Spells Known of 1st Level and Higher
You learn two 1st-level spells of your choice from the bloodrager spell list. Each time you gain a Bloodrager Level, you may learn one bloodrager spell and replace one of the bloodrager spells you know with another spell of your choice from the bloodrager spell list. Each of these spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots, as shown on the Bloodrager table.
Spellcasting Ability
Charisma is your spellcasting ability for your
bloodrager spells. You use your Charisma
whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability.
In addition, you use your Charisma modifier when
setting the saving throw DC for a bloodrager spell
you cast and when making an attack roll
with one.
Spell Save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus +
Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus +
Spellcasting Focus
You can use an arcane focus as a spellcasting focus for
your bloodrager spells.
Savage Magic
At 2nd level, you can empower your spells with the raw energy of your bloodline at the cost of your own health. When you cast a bloodrager spell, you may choose to cast savagely. Doing so gives you advantage on the spell attack roll if one is required and gives enemies disadvantage on the first save they make to resist the spell. However, you additionally take damage equal to three times the level of the spell cast.
Blood Sanctuary
At 3rd level, the arcane power in your veins protects you from harmful magic. While bloodraging, you have advantage on saving throws against magical spells and effects.
Intimidating Power
At 3rd level, your natural power strikes fear into your enemies. You have advantage on intimidation checks towards creatures who have witnessed your bloodrage within the last hour.
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.
Using the optional feats rule, you can forgo taking this feature to take a feat of your choice instead.
Extra Attack
Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the attack action on your turn.
Fierce Caster
At 7th level, your spells and weapon attacks become inseparable parts of your fierce offense. When you use your action to cast a bloodrager spell, you may make a single melee weapon attack as a bonus action.
Sorcerous Rage
At 11th level, your bloodrages are joined by a surge of magic. When you use your bonus action to bloodrage, you may additionally cast a spell that targets only yourself as part of that same bonus action by expending a spell slot of the spell's level or higher.
If the spell has a duration of one minute or longer, it instead lasts until your bloodrage ends. Additionally, the spell must normally have a casting time of one action or bonus action.
Unyielding Blood
At 15th level, your bond with the mystic power in your blood becomes unshakeable. Once per long rest, when you fail a constitution saving throw to maintain concentration on a bloodrager spell, you may choose to succeed instead.
Eldritch Rage
At level 20, your raw arcane power is unleashed whenever you bloodrage. When you use the sorcerous rage feature upon entering a bloodrage, you may cast up to two spells that target only yourself, instead of just one.
Each spell requires expending a spell slot of the spell's level or higher, and follows the same requirements and durations outlined in the sorcerous rage feature.
Bloodrager Bloodlines
Bloodrager powers come from a variety of different sources, called "bloodlines". These different bloodlines describe the origin of your magical ability and provide various capabilities bestowed by your arcane blood.
Draconic Bloodline
Draconic blood flows through your veins, whether caused by a draconic ancestor or a dragon's blessing. Draconic bloodragers can harness their magestic power to fuel their magic and strike with fury as a dragon would.
Dragon Ancestor
At 1st level, you choose the color of dragon that bestowed magic on your bloodline. You gain a draconic element that is the damage type corresponding to your color choice on the following chart.
Dragon | Damage Type |
---|---|
Black | Acid |
Blue | Lightning |
Brass | Fire |
Bronze | Lightning |
Copper | Acid |
Gold | Fire |
Green | Poison |
Red | Fire |
Silver | Cold |
White | Cold |
When you deal extra damage with your bloodrage die, you may choose to change its damage to your
draconic element.
Draconic Resistance
At 1st level, your draconic bloodline grants you increased resilience. You have a sheen of dragon scales covering portions of your body that grant you a +1 bonus to AC. This bonus increases to +2 at bloodrager level 14.
Elemental Purity
At 6th level, you have a deepened bond with your draconic element. You gain resistance to that damage type. In addition, when you deal damage that is your draconic element, you may choose to treat a creature's immunity to that damage type as resistance instead.
Breath Weapon
At 10th level, you learn to breathe the elements like a dragon. Once during each bloodrage, you may replace one of your attacks with a breath weapon attack.
When you do so, you breathe a 20 ft. cone of your draconic element. All creatures in the area of your breath weapon must make a dexterity saving throw against your spell save DC. A creature takes 8d6 damage on a failed save, and half as much on a success.
Dragon Wings
At 14th level, when you begin a bloodrage, you may choose to sprout a pair of dragon wings from your back, gaining a flying speed equal to your current speed plus 10 ft. They last for one minute, until you become unconscious, or until you dismiss them as a bonus action on your turn.
Dragon's Magesty
At 18th level, you can bring the full might of a dragon to bear against your enemies. Once per long rest, when you begin a bloodrage, you may choose to take the form of a dragon of your draconic color. You remain in this form until you become unconscious or your bloodrage ends.
In your dragon form, your creature type is dragon, your
size becomes large, you become immune to your draconic
element, your draconic resistance AC bonus
increases to +3, and you gain the benefits of
your dragon wings until you leave the form.
In addition, you gain two claw
attacks and one bite attack, which
count as melee weapon attacks
using strength that you are
proficient in. You may perform
all three as your attack action
on your turn. Your claw attacks
deal slashing damage equal 1d8
+ your Strength modifier and
your bite attack deals piercing
damage equal to 1d12 + your
Strength modifier.
Elemental Bloodline
Your bloodline is intertwined with primordial elemental forces. Elemental blodoragers can call upon the elemental planes to empower their attacks, destroy their enemies, and become one with elemental chaos.
Elemental Plane
At 1st level, you choose the elemental plane from which your power is derived. You gain an intrinsic element that is the damage type corresponding to your choice on the following chart.
Elemental Plane | Damage Type |
---|---|
Air | Lightning |
Earth | Acid |
Fire | Fire |
Water | Cold |
When you deal extra damage with your bloodrage die, you may choose to change its damage to your intrinsic element.
Elemental Strikes
At 1st level, once per long rest when you bloodrage, you may choose to empower your attacks with elemental energy. When you do so, for the next minute, you may add extra damage equal to your charisma modifier to melee attacks you perform. The damage type is your intrinsic element. You may perform this feature twice per long rest starting at bloodrager level 14.
Elemental Purity
At 6th level, you have a deepened bond with your intrinsic element. You gain resistance to that damage type. In addition, when you deal damage that is your intrinsic element, you may choose to treat a creature's immunity to that damage type as resistance instead.
Powerful Surge
At 10th level, you can focus your rage into a torrent of elemental energy. While bloodraging, you may replace one of your attacks with a surge of elemental energy in a 10ft. radius centered on yourself. All other creatures in the area must make a dexterity saving throw against your spells save DC. Creatures take 12d6 damage of your intrinsic element on a failure or half as much on a success.
Once you have used this feature, you may not do so again until you have completed a long or short rest.
Energetic Form
At 14th level, the elemental plane to which your blood is bound bestows magical changes to your form. You gain the following change to your movement according to the following chart.
Element | Movement |
---|---|
Air | You gain a flying speed equal to your current speed for up to 10 minutes, usable once per short rest. |
Earth | You gain a burrow speed equal to half your current speed. |
Fire | Your base speed increases by 10 ft. |
Water | You gain a swim speed equal to your current speed and can breathe underwater. |
Primordial Body
At 18th level, you can become a manifestation of your chosen element. Once per long rest, when you begin a bloodrage, you may choose to take on the form of an elemental of your chosen elemental plane. You remain in this form until you become unconscious or your bloodrage ends.
In your elemental form, your size becomes large, your creature type is elemental, you are immune to your intrinsic element, and you can move through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing. In addition, you gain an ability corresponding to your chosen elemental plane according to the following chart. Note that the whirlwind, slam, and whelm abilities may apply your bloodrage die to one target when used.
Element | Ability |
---|---|
Air | Whirlwind. Once per round, you can perform whirlwind in place of an attack. When you do so, you make each creature of your choice within 5 ft. make a Strength saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failure, a target takes 2d8 + your Charisma modifier bludgeoning damage and is flung 20 feet in a direction you choose and knocked prone. |
Earth | Slam. You may replace each of your melee weapon attacks with a slam attack. Each slam does 2d12 bludgeoning damage. Slam attacks count as melee weapons using strength. |
Fire | Fire Form. Each hostile creature that touches you, hits you with a melee attack while within 5 ft., or ends their turn within 5 ft. takes fire damage equal to your Charisma modifier. |
Water | Whelm. Once per round, you can perform whelm in place of an attack. When you do so, you make a creature within 5 ft. make a Strength saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failure, the target takes 3d8 + your Charisma modifier bludgeoning damage. If it is Large or smaller, it is also grappled (escape DC is equal to your spell save DC) unless you are already grappling another creature. Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained and unable to breathe unless it can breathe water. |
Fey Bloodline
At some point, your bloodline merged with the essence of the feywild, perhaps through a blessing or curse from a powerful fey creature. Fey bloodragers can use feywild energies to confuse and enchant those around them, and command natural powers to do their bidding.
Fey Bloodline Spell List
The Fey Bloodrager gains access to the following spells, and may learn them after they have reached the appropriate Bloodrager level. They are bloodrager spells for you.
Magus Level | Spells |
---|---|
2nd | charm person, disguise self |
5th | spike growth, suggestion |
9th | fear, plant growth |
13th | charm monster, confusion |
17th | dominate person, tree stride |
Sylvan Blood
At 1st level, when you deal extra damage with your bloodrage die, you may choose to change its damage type to psychic.
Fey Trickery
At 1st level, your attacks afflict your enemies both physically and mentally. Once per round, when you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you may inflict the charmed or frightened condition on that creature until the beginning of your next turn.
After a creature has been affected by this feature, it is immune to the ability for 24 hours.
Land's Stride
At 6th level, you instinctively pass
through the harshest terrain without
issue. Moving through nonmagical
difficult terrain costs you no extra
movement. You can also pass through
nonmagical plants without being
slowed by them and without taking
damage from them if they have thorns,
spines, or a similar hazard.
In addition, you have advantage on
saving throws against plants that are
magically created or manipulated to impede
movement, such those created by the
entangle spell.
Raging Overgrowth
At 10th level, the forces of nature respond to the
power of your blood. Once per long rest, when
you begin a bloodrage, you may target a number of
creatures you can see equal to your charisma
modifier as part of that same bonus action.
Targeted creatures must succeed a strength saving throw
against your spell save DC, or become restrained in magical roots and plants. Restrained creatures may use their action to make a strength check against your spell save DC to escape. This feature has no effect against creatures that are currently flying or are otherwise at least 5 ft. away from the ground.
One with Nature
At 14th level, your bloodline earns you the friendship of plants and animals. Unless magically compelled, beast and plant creatures will not attack you or target you with harmful abilities or magical effects unless you first attack or otherwise harm them.
Additionally, a number of times per long rest equal to your charisma modifier, you may transport yourself between two trees of the same type within 500 ft. as part of your movement, as if using the tree stride spell.
Sylvan Trance
At 18th level, you can summon the powers of the feywild into your being, becoming at once beguiling and yet horrifying. Once per long rest, when you begin a bloodrage, you may choose to take on your fey form. You remain in this form until you become unconscious or your bloodrage ends.
In your fey form, your creature type is fey, and you are immune to the charmed and frightened conditions.
Additionally, when you use your fey trickery feature to inflict the charmed or frightened condition, the targeted creature is also entranced. An entranced creature may not perform reactions. In addition, at the beginning of each of its turns, an entranced creature must make a wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failure, the creature does nothing and its turn ends. On a success, the creature is no longer entranced. Creatures that are immune to the charmed condition are immune to being entranced.
Abyssal Bloodline
The dark powers of the abyss permeate your being due to the demonic blood flowing through your veins. Due to a bloodline curse or fiendish ancestor, abyssal bloodragers can transform into a dark form that becomes increasingly demonic as their power grows.
Chaotic Blood
At 1st level, your blood imbues you with dark powers from the abyss. Choose fire, cold, or lightning. The chosen damage type becomes your demonic element. When you deal extra damage with your bloodrage die, you may choose to change its damage type to your demonic element.
Horrific Claws
At 1st level, when you bloodrage, you may choose to transform your arms and hands into a set of inhuman claws as part of that same bonus action. These claws are treated as melee weapons using strength and deal 1d8 + your Strength modifier slashing damage.
When you take the attack action on your turn and only attack with your claws, you may use your bonus action to make one additional claw attack, adding your strength modifier to the damage as normal.
Abyssal Resistance
At 6th level, your demonic blood offers enhanced durability
to your mortal frame. You gain resistance
to poison and to your
demonic element.
Demonic Aura
At 10th level, you carry an unnerving presence about you, subtly breaking the will of your foes. Hostile creatures within 10 ft. of you suffer a penalty to saving throws equal to your charisma modifier.
Fiend Wings
At 14th level, when you begin a bloodrage, you may choose to sprout a pair of demon wings from your back, gaining a flying speed equal to your current speed plus 10 ft. They last for one minute, until you become unconscious, or until you dismiss them as a bonus action on your turn.
Abyssal Form
At 18th level, you take on the true, horrible form inherited from your demonic ancestry. Once per long rest, when you begin a bloodrage, you may choose to take on your demon form. You remain in this form until you become unconscious or your bloodrage ends.
In your demon form, your size becomes large, your creature type is fiend, and you are immune to your demonic element. Additionally, the damage of your claw attacks increases to 1d12 + your strength modifier.
In this form, your demonic aura extends to 30ft. When a creature begins its turn within your demonic aura, they must make a wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC or become frightened and take damage equal to 1d12 + your charisma modifier of your demonic element. They can repeat the saving throw at the beginning of each of their turns. On a
success, they are immune to being
frightened by your aura
for 24 hours.
Celestial Bloodline
You have a divine ancestry, blessed by the gods, granting you the ability to cull evil wherever it is found. At the height of their power, celestial bloodragers gain angelic abilities to protect themselves and their allies from dark forces.
Sanguine Radiance
At 1st level, the divine nature of your blood imbues you with brilliant energy. When you deal extra damage with your bloodrage die, you may choose to change its damage type to radiant.
Holy Resilience
At 1st level, inherent holy energy protects you from harm. When you begin a bloodrage, you gain temporary hit points equal to your bloodrager level plus your charisma modifier.
Guide from Evil
At 6th level, your holy blood holds a natural inclination towards good and disdain for evil. You may cast the spell Detect Evil and Good a number of times per long rest equal to your charisma modifier (minimum of 1). In addition, you gain resistance to radiant damage.
Sacred Aura
At 10th level, your divine heritage grants you
immense protection against creatures of unholy
origin. Whenever you are bloodraging, you are under
the effect of the spell Protection from Evil and Good.
Angelic Wings
At 14th level, when you begin a bloodrage, you may choose to sprout a pair of angelic wings from your back, gaining a flying speed equal to your current speed plus 10 ft. They last for one minute, until you become unconscious, or until you dismiss them as a bonus action on your turn.
Divine Being
At 18th level, your divine heritage allows you to temporarily take on an angelic form. Once per long rest, when you begin a bloodrage, you may choose to take on your angelic form. You remain in this form until you become unconscious or your bloodrage ends.
In your angelic form, your creature type is celestial, you are immune to radiant and resistant to necrotic damage, and your attacks and damaging spells deal an additional 2d8 radiant damage.
In addition, while in your angelic form you are always under the effect of the spell Detect Evil and Good, and all allies within 30 ft. are under the effect of Protection from Evil and Good.
Undead Bloodline
The foul corruption of undeath is an innate part of you. Somewhere in the past, the essence of death itself became infused with your lineage bestowing frightening power when your bloodrage.
Touch of Death
At 1st level, negative energy directly harms your target's life essence. When you deal extra damage with your bloodrage die, you may choose to change its damage type to necrotic.
Lifedrain
At 1st level, your attacks steal the life force of your enemies. Once per round, when you deal damage with your bloodrage die, you heal a number of hit points equal to the damage dealt.
In addition, enemies damaged by your bloodrage die can
not regain hit points until the beginning
of your next turn.
Undying Vitality
At 6th level, your life force is bolstered by unnatural vitality. You have resistance to necrotic damage and your hit point maximum can not be reduced.
Omens of the Dead
At 10th level, you can unleash an aura of necrotic energy causing hostile creatures to have disturbing visions. Once per short rest, you can use your action to make all creatures of your choice, within a 20ft. radius of yourself, make a wisdom saving throw. On a failure, that creature has visions of their own or a loved one's death causing them to be stunned until the beginning of your next turn.
Incorporeal Form
At 14th level, your connection to undeath allows you to temporarily shed the shackles of your physical form. When you use this feature, you and your held equipment become incorporeal until the beginning of your next turn. During this time, you can pass through solid objects as if they were difficult terrain, and are resistant to all nonmagical damage.
You may use this feature number of times per long rest
equal to your charisma modifier.
If you occupy the same spot as a solid object or
creature when your incorporeal form ends, you
are immediately shunted to the nearest
unoccupied space that you can occupy and
take force damage equal to twice the number
of feet you are moved.
Harbinger of Undeath
At 18th level, you are as much alive as
you are undead allowing you to enter a
state of partial-life and infusing those
around you with the energy of undeath.
Once per long rest, when you begin a
bloodrage, you may choose to take on
your undead form. You remain in this
form until you become unconscious or
your bloodrage ends.
In your undead form, you are under the
effect of your incorporeal form feature,
you have immunity to nonmagical
bludgeoning, slashing, and piercing
damage, and you deal an extra 2d8
necrotic damage with every attack
and damaging spell.
In addition, while in your undead
form, allies within 30 ft. have
advantage on death saving throws, and
any small or medium creature (not
including undead or constructs) that
dies within 30 ft. of you becomes a
specter (your DM has the statistics)
that raises at the beginning of your
next turn, acts on your initiative,
and attacks the nearest hostile
creature. Your raised specters
cease to exist when your
bloodrage ends.
Arcane Bloodline
Unlike other bloodragers, your bloodline is not derived from a particular type of creature or being; instead, your blood is inherently coupled with the weave of magic permeating all existence. This gives you increased command over magic, including both your own spells and those cast around you.
Forceful Power
At 1st level, your melee strikes are infused with raw magical power. When you deal extra damage with your bloodrage die, you may choose to change its damage type to force.
Arcane Sanctuary
At 1st level, your blood connection to the weave allows you to protect yourself from harmful magic. Once per short rest, when you fail a saving throw against a magical spell or effect you may choose to succeed instead.
Spell Flexibility
At 6th level, the essence of magic permeating your being gives you more flexibility over your casting. You can learn one spell from any class list. Spells gained from this feature count as bloodrager spells for you and must be of a level for which
you have spell slots. You learn one
more such spell at levels
10 and 14.
Unchained Power
At 10th level, your blood commands the weave, imbuing your spells with heightened power. While bloodraging, when you expend a spell slot to cast a spell, you may choose to cast the chosen spell at one level higher than the spell slot used.
The spell slot used must still be equal to or greater than the base level of the spell. For example, you cannot cast Hold Monster with a 4th level spell slot using this feature.
Arcane Travel
At 14th level, your physical form becomes more closely tied to magical energy. As a bonus action, you may expend any level spell slot to cast misty step.
In addition, when you use a bonus action to begin a bloodrage you may choose to teleport up to 30 ft. as part of that same bonus action, without expending a spell slot.
Caster Bane
At 18th level, your bloodrages can disrupt the weave of magic around you. Once per long rest, when you bloodrage you may choose to create a 10 ft. radius antimagic field centered on yourself. This field lasts until your bloodrage ends and requires your concentration to maintain.
This field has the same properties as a field created with the spell Antimagic Field. The one exception is that your own
bloodrager spells still function as normal
within the field.
Bloodrager Spell List
1st Level
- Absorb Elements
- Burning Hands
- Catapult
- Chaos Bolt
- Chromatic Orb
- Color Spray
- Detect Magic
- Earth Tremor
- Expeditious Retreat
- False Life
- Feather Fall
- Fog Cloud
- Heroism
- Ice Knife
- Jump
- Mage Armor
- Magic Missile
- Ray of Sickness
- Shield
- Tasha's Caustic Brew
- Thunderwave
- Witch Bolt
2nd Level
- Aganazzar's Scorcher
- Alter Self
- Blindness/Deafness
- Blur
- Cloud of Daggers
- Darkvision
- Dragon's Breath
- Dust Devil
- Earthbind
- Enhance Ability
- Enlarge/Reduce
- Gust of Wind
- Hold Person
- Invisibility
- Levitate
- Magic Weapon
- Maximillian's Earthen Grasp
- Mirror Image
- Misty Step
- Pyrotechnics
- Rime's Binding Ice
- Scorching Ray
- Shadow Blade
- Shatter
- Snilloc's Snowball Swarm
- Spider Climb
- Warding Wind
- Web
3rd Level
- Ashardalon's Stride
- Blink
- Counterspell
- Daylight
- Dispel Magic
- Elemental Weapon
- Erupting Earth
- Fireball
- Flame Arrows
- Fly
- Haste
- Hypnotic Pattern
- Lightning Bolt
- Melf's Minute Meteors
- Protection from Energy
- Sleet Storm
- Slow
- Stinking Cloud
- Thunder Step
- Tidal Wave
- Wall of Water
- Water Breathing
- Water Walk
4th Level
- Banishment
- Blight
- Death Ward
- Dimension Door
- Greater Invisibility
- Ice Storm
- Polymorph
- Sickening Radiance
- Stoneskin
- Storm Sphere
- Vitriolic Sphere
- Wall of Fire
- Watery Sphere
5th Level
- Cloudkill
- Cone of Cold
- Control Winds
- Enervation
- Far Step
- Hold Monster
- Immolation
- Insect Plague
- Skill Empowerment
- Steel Wind Strike
- Telekinesis
- Wall of Light
- Wall of Stone
Multiclassing
Prerequisites. To qualify for multiclassing
with the Bloodrager class, you must meet these
prerequisites: 13 Strength and 13 Charisma.
Proficiencies. When you multiclass into the Bloodrager
class, you gain the following proficiencies: Simple weapons,
martial weapons, light armor, medium armor, shields.
Spell Slots. You add half your Bloodrager levels (rounded down)
to determine multiclass spell slots.
The Bloodrager
A half-caster class for those who wish barbarians could cast spells. Overwhelm your enemies with savage blows and brutal magic from seven Bloodrager bloodlines: Draconic, Elemental, Fey, Abyssal, Celestial, Undead, and Arcane.
Art Credits:
Page 25: Kodai Wolfborne by Robert Mallinson
Page 27: Berserker by Sunflower204
Page 28: Garruk Wildspeaker by Aleksi Briclot
Page 29: Dragon-Nest Berserker by Lie Setiawan
Page 31: Shaman by Andrew Murray
Page 32: Guild Wars 2 by Kekai Kotaki
Page 33: Sunlit Angel by Dallas Williams
Page 34: The Entombed by Nestor Ossandon
Page 35: Arena Trickster by Hugh Pindur
Page 36: Charr by Kekai Kotaki
Page 37: Runecaster Warrior by Dangercook
See Dragonshard's GM Binder profile for more homebrew classes inspired by Pathfinder.
Oracle
A young woman, clutching her walking stick for support, wanders a lonely road. She hears snarling some distance behind her and turns to see a wolf pack beginning to circle. Unhurried, she extends her hand as a barrage of ghostly figures assaults the pack. Turning back around, she continues on her way.
A dwarvish man with clouded eyes stands amongst his adventuring companions as they wait to see his magic. He looks to the sun, his eyes now glowing brightly as the vision begins. A moment passes, his eyes fade and he nods to his crew pointing further down the path in the direction of their quarry.
As a furious mob rounds the corner, a fleeing elf with impossibly pale almost transparent skin weaves a spell. In an instant, she disappears from sight amongst the darkness.
Oracles are granted great power from divine sources, but this power is given against their will. In return for their divine abilities, oracles pay the price as their mortal forms are cursed by this same divine power. Desiring to understand their newfound magic and curse, oracles are driven to seek out hidden knowledge of divine mysteries and are granted increased power as they do so.
Divine Curse
Although the gods work through many agents, perhaps none is more mysterious than the oracle. These divine vessels are granted power without their choice, selected by providence to wield powers that even they do not fully understand. This power comes at a cost, however, and their body and spirit are irreparably cursed. Unlike a cleric, who draws magic through devotion to a deity, oracles garner strength and power from many sources, namely those patron deities who support their ideals. Instead of worshiping a single source, oracles tend to venerate all of the gods that share their beliefs. While some see the powers of the oracle as a gift, others view them as a curse, changing the life of the chosen in unforeseen ways.
Mystery Seekers
Oracles are a rare sight in civilized society as their curse and strange powers make it difficult to live an ordinary life. At best, oracles are revered as blessed individuals, looked
up to for their divine abilities. At worst, they are feared
and cast out by those who don't trust their cursed
state.
Oracles do not usually associate with any one
church or temple, instead preferring to strike out on
their own, or with a small group of like-minded
individuals. They typically use their spells and
revelations to further their understanding of their
mystery, be it through fighting mighty battles, tending
to the poor and sick, or uncovering lost lore. In an adventuring party, oracles provide a powerful
connection to a variety of divine sources to
support their allies and afflict their foes.
Creating an Oracle
To create an oracle, look at your choices in the Oracle Curses section and consider the relationship between your curse and your magical abilities. Does same power that fuels your spells also overwhelm and debilitate your physical body? Or instead, perhaps you are under obligation to a divine being or pantheon of beings and they maintain the curse to exert some control?
Determine your mystery and why you are pursuing that particular knowledge. Does it relate to your curse or do you have some other personal stake in acquiring that knowledge? Or maybe you have always been infatuated with your chosen mystery independent of becoming an oracle?
Lastly, determine why you have chosen the life of an adventurer? Will it get you closer to your goal of obtaining knowledge about your mystery? Were you ostracized by your homeland and forced to follow a transient life? Or did you find it difficult to keep your magic dormant and needed an outlet for your divine power?
Quick Build
You can make an oracle quickly by following these suggestions. First, Charisma should be your highest ability score, followed by Constitution. Second, choose the acolyte background and the clouded curse. Third, choose the guidance, light, and toll the dead cantrips,
along with the 1st-level spells bless and
detect magic.
The Oracle Table
Level | Proficiency Bonus |
Features | Cantrips Known |
Spells Known |
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | +2 | Spellcasting, Oracle's Curse | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
2nd | +2 | Mystery, Epiphany (Augury) | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
3rd | +2 | Curse Feature | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
5th | +3 | ─ | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
6th | +3 | Mystery Feature | 4 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
7th | +3 | Epiphany (Divination) | 4 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
9th | +4 | ─ | 4 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
10th | +4 | Mystery Feature, Curse Feature | 5 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
11th | +4 | ─ | 5 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
13th | +5 | Epiphany (Commune) | 5 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
14th | +5 | Mystery Feature | 5 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
15th | +5 | ─ | 5 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
17th | +6 | Curse Feature | 5 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
18th | +6 | Mystery Feature | 5 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
20th | +6 | Revelation | 5 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Class Features
As an Oracle, you gain the following class features:
Hit Points
- Hit Dice: 1d8 per oracle level
- Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier
- Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per oracle level after 1st.
Proficiencies
- Armor: Light armor
- Weapons: Simple weapons
- Tools: A gaming set or musical instrument of your choice, likely connected to or used in your oracular divination
- Saving Throws: Wisdom, Charisma
- Skills: Choose two skills from Arcana, History, Insight, Intimidation, Nature, Perception, Persuasion and Religion
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- Any simple weapon
- (a) a priest's pack or (b) an explorer's pack
- (a) a component pouch or (b) an oracular focus
- Leather armor and two daggers
- The gaming set or musical instrument you chose proficiency in
Spellcasting
Beginning at 1st level, you cast spells drawn from a multitude of divine sources.
Cantrips
At 1st level, you know three cantrips of your choice from the oracle spell list. You learn additional oracle cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Oracle table.
Spell Slots
The Oracle table shows how many
spell slots you have to cast your spells of 1st
level and higher. To cast one of these Oracle 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.
Spells Known of 1st Level or Higher
You know two 1st-level spells of your choice from the oracle spell list. The Spells Known column of the Oracle table shows when you learn more oracle spells of your choice from this feature. Each of these spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots on the oracle table.
Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the oracle spells you know from this feature and replace it with another spell from the oracle spell list. The new spell must also be of a level for which you have spell slots on the Oracle table.
Spellcasting Ability
Charisma is your spellcasting ability for your oracle spells. You use your charisma whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your charisma modifier when setting the saving throw DC for an oracle spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.
Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus +
Ritual Casting
You can cast an oracle spell as a ritual if that spell has the ritual tag and you know the spell.
Spellcasting Focus
You can use an oracular focus as a spellcasting focus for your oracle spells.
Oracle's Curse
Each oracle is bound by some curse, but this curse comes with benefits as your powers grow.
At 1st level, you choose a curse from the list of Oracle's curses. This curse cannot be removed or dispelled without the aid of a deity. Your choice of curse grants you additional features at levels 3, 10, and 18.
Epiphany
Beginning at 2nd level, you have an inherent inclination towards divining hidden secrets and lost knowledge. Once per long rest, you may cast the spell augury as a bonus action. This represents a sudden flash of knowledge bestowed by some divine source, and it only takes the duration of your bonus action to ask your question and receive an answer from the spell. Spells cast this way do not require expending a spell slot or using material components.
Beginning at 7th level, you may cast divination in place of augury. Beginning at 13th level, you may cast commune instead. When you cast commune this way, you may only ask one question during the initial bonus action. However, you may use your bonus action on subsequent turns to ask your remaining questions until the spell ends.
Mystery
At 2nd level, you dedicate yourself to a divine mystery to explore and understand. The mystery you choose grants you features at levels 2, 6, 10, 14, and 18.
In addition, you gain spells according to your chosen mystery at the appropriate oracle levels. Each of these spells counts as an oracle spell for you, but do not count against the number of oracle spells you know.
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.
Using the optional feats rule, you can forgo taking this feature to take a feat of your choice instead.
Revelation
At 20th level, your ability to reveal deep lore and ancient secrets is unmatched. When you cast the spells augury, divination, or commune, you may ask one additional question as part of the spell.
With the epiphany feature, your additional question is asked as part of the initial bonus action, regardless of the spell used.
Oracle Curses
Each oracle must choose one of the following curses. These represent an incurable magical condition that is tied to your oracle abilities. As your oracle powers grow, your curse grants you additional abilities.
If your curse grants you a spell, it counts as an oracle spell for you and normally cannot be replaced. However, if your mystery and your curse grant you the same spell, you may choose another spell from the oracle spell list.
Accursed
You are cursed such that magic seems to distort around you and cause frequent mishaps.
- Beginning at 1st level, once per short rest, you may choose to roll a saving throw against a spell with advantage.
- At 3rd level, you add hex to your known spells.
- At 10th level, you add bestow curse to your known spells.
- Beginning at 17th level, once per long rest, when you fail a saving throw against a magical spell or effect, you may choose to succeed instead.
Blackened
Your hands and forearms are shriveled and blackened, as if you had plunged your arms into a blazing fire, and your thin, papery skin is sensitive to the touch.
- At 1st level, you add burning hands to your known spells.
- At 3rd level, you add flaming sphere to your known spells.
- At 10th level, you add fireball to your known spells.
- At 17th level, you add fire storm
to your known spells.
Clouded
Your eyes are clouded as if you had severe cataracts. You struggle to see fine details.
- At 1st level, you gain darkvision to a range of 60 feet (if you already have darkvision, its range extends by 30 feet).
- At 3rd level, your darkvision extends by 30 feet.
- At 10th level, you gain blindsight out to 15 feet.
- At 17th level, your blindsight becomes true sight.
Consumed
Your connection to the Abyss and the demons that call it home has left you diminished but still able to scorn many mortal frailties.
- Beginning at 1st level, once per long rest, when you become incapacitated, you may choose to have advantage on death saving throws for one minute.
- Beginning at 3rd level, you have advantage on checks and saving throws to resist poison or disease.
- Beginning at 10th level, you can go without food or water for a number of days equal to your oracle level before suffering any negative effects.
- Beginning at 17th level, each time a creature within 30 feet takes damage, you gain 1 temporary hit point. These can be added to themselves but disappear after 1 hour. You can have a number of temporary hit points from this feature equal to your charisma modifier.
Deaf
Your sense of hearing is dull, forcing you to rely on other senses.
- Beginning at 1st level, when you cast a spell, you do so without any verbal components it normally requires.
- Beginning at 3rd level, you have advantage on perception checks that do not rely on hearing.
- At 10th level, you gain tremorsense out to 20 feet.
- At 17th level, you gain tremorsense out to 40 feet.
Deep One
The lure of the ocean tugs at your soul.
- At 1st level, you gain a swim speed equal to your land speed, and if you already have a swim speed, you increase it by 10 feet.
- At 3rd level, you gain a +1 bonus to AC as your skin thickens with aquatic scales.
- Beginning at 10th level, you have advantage on attacks rolls and enemies have disadvantage on saving throws
against your spells and abilities while in
rain or underwater.
- Beginning at 17th level, you gain the benefits of the freedom of movement spell while underwater, and you can breathe underwater.
Elemental Imbalance
Your physical form manifests elemental power. For example, your skin might crackle with electricity if you choose air. Choose air, earth, fire, or water.
- At 1st level, depending on your choice of element, you add one of the following to your spells known: feather fall (air), grease (earth), burning hands (fire), or create or destroy water (water).
- At 3rd level, you add gust of wind (air), maximillian's earthen grasp (earth), scorching rays (fire), or rime's binding ice (water) to your spells known.
- At 10th level, you add control winds (air), transmute rock (earth), flame strike (fire), or cone of cold (water) to your spells known.
- At 17th level, you add whirlwind (air), flesh to stone (earth), fire storm (fire), or freezing sphere (water) to your spells known.
Haunted
Malevolent spirits follow you wherever you go, causing minor mishaps and strange occurrences (such as unexpected breezes, small objects moving on their own, and faint noises).
- At 1st level, you add mage hand and thaumaturgy to your list of cantrips known.
- At 3rd level, you add levitate to your list of spells known.
- At 10th level, you add telekinesis to your list of spells known.
- At 17th level, you add reverse gravity to your list of spells known.
Hellbound
Infernal influence grants you profane insight but weighs on your soul causing good-attuned creatures to instinctively distrust you.
- At 1st level, you gain proficiency in persuasion or deception checks (your choice).
- Beginning at 3rd level, you have advantage on saving throws to resist charm effects.
- At 10th level, you gain resistance to fire.
- At 17th level, you are immune to the charmed condition and spells that charm.
Infested
Insects, spiders, grubs, and other vermin plague you constantly. They crawl in your hair, fill your clothes, and fly or crawl into your mouth, nose, and ears.
- At 1st level, you add infestation to your list of cantrips known.
- Beginning at 3rd level, you have advantage on saving throws against insects and similar creatures (e.g.
spiders). - At 10th level, you add giant insect and insect plague to your list of spells known. Choose one of the creatures listed in the giant insect spell, you are always infested by the small version of that creature and have it available for casting the spell.
- Beginning at 17th level, you can
condense part of your infestation
into a focused mass that lifts you up. Once per short rest, as a bonus action, you gain a flying speed equal to your current speed. This effect lasts for 1 minute, until you choose to end the effect as a bonus action, or until you are incapacitated.
Lame
One or both of your legs are deformed, giving you a noticeably altered gait.
- Beginning at 1st level, your speed can never be reduced unless specifically reduced to 0 feet.
- Beginning at 3rd level, you suffer no effect from the first or second levels of exhaustion.
- At 10th level, you add haste to your list of spells known.
- At 17th level, you add misty step and far step to your list of spells known.
Plagued
You suffer indefinitely from a variety of diseases and conditions. While you struggle to resist new diseases, you have grown accustomed to the many inconveniences of sickness.
- Beginning at 1st level, you can still be poisoned but the condition has no effect on you.
- At 3rd level, you add ray of sickness to your list of spells known.
- At 10th level, you add contagion to your list of spells known.
- At 17th level, you become immune to the effects of disease and infestations, although you remain a carrier for such.
Possessed
Another mind shares your body, interfering with your control.
- Beginning at 1st level, you have advantage on saving throws to resist being possessed or dominated.
- Beginning at 3rd level, once per short rest, you may reroll a failed constitution saving throw to maintain concentration on a spell.
- At 10th level, you add dominate person to your list of spells known.
- At 17th level, you add dominate monster to your list of spells known.
Reclusive
You are reclusive and paranoid to the point that your allies cannot easily help you in times of stress or unease.
- Beginning at 1st level, spells you cast that target only yourself are treated as if they were one level higher.
- Beginning at 3rd level, any spells you cast that target only yourself have double their normal duration.
- At 10th level, you have advantage on saving throws to resist being charmed.
- At 17th level, you become immune to the charmed condition.
Shadowbound
Your pigmentation is oddly colorless, and your eyes are sensitive to light.
- At 1st level, you gain darkvision to a range of 60
feet (or the range of your darkvision increases
by 30 feet), - At 3rd level, you add invisibility to your
spells known. - At 10th level, you add greater
invisibility to your spells
known. - At 17th level, you are
invisible while
in darkness.
Tongues
In times of stress or unease, you speak in tongues.
- At 1st level, you learn how to speak and understand one of the following languages: Abyssal, Celestial, Draconic, Deep Speech, Infernal, Primordial, or Sylvan (your choice).
- At 3rd level, you learn an additional language of your choice from the provided list.
- At 10th level, you can understand (but not necessarily speak) any spoken language, as if under the effects of tongues.
- At 17th level, you can speak and understand any language.
Undeath
Somehow you have entered into a state of undeath against your will.
- At 1st level, you gain resistance to necrotic damage.
- At 3rd level, add false life to your list of spells known.
- At 10th level, add negative energy flood to your list of spells known. You count as undead if you target yourself with the spell.
- At 17th level, you gain immunity to necrotic damage.
Multiclassing
Prerequisites. To qualify for multiclassing with the Oracle class, you must meet these prerequisites: 13 Charisma.
Proficiencies. When you multiclass into the Oracle class, you gain the following proficiencies: Simple weapons, light armor.
Spell Slots. You add all your Oracle levels for the purposes of determining multiclass spell slots.
Oracle Mysteries
Oracles grow their divine power as they uncover deeper knowledge about a chosen mystery. This mystery can represent dedication to one ideal, devotion to deities that support your mystery, or a natural calling to champion a cause.
Ancestor Mystery
Oracles that pursue an ancestor mystery develop a close connection to ancestral spirits. These benevolent spirits assist the oracle in a variety of ways including granting advice or protecting them from harm.
Ancestor Mystery Spells
Oracle Level | Spells |
---|---|
2nd | Unseen Servant, Heroism |
3rd | Spiritual Weapon, Augury |
5th | Spirit Guardians, Speak with Dead |
7th | Guardian of Faith, Divination |
9th | Telekinesis, Commune |
Ancestral Weapon
At 2nd level, you learn the cantrip green-flame
blade or booming blade (your choice). In
addition, you learn to summon a melee
weapon from your ancestral history without
using an action. This weapon deals 1d8
bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage (your
choice) and has a 5 foot range. You may use your
charisma modifier on attack and damage rolls with
the weapon, and you are considered proficient with it.
You can summon your weapon a number of times per
day equal to your charisma modifier. The weapon
disappears after 1 minute, after 1 round if it leaves your
grasp, or when you dismiss it as a bonus action.
Sacred Council
Beginning at 6th level, as an action, you can call upon
your ancestors to provide council. This advice grants
you advantage on your next ability check within one
minute. You can use this ability a number of times per
long rest equal to your charisma modifier.
Warrior Spirit
At 10th level, you have developed a close relationship with a warrior ancestor whom you can summon to subtly guide and protect you in combat, granting you the following benefits:
- Once per short rest, when you fail a saving throw, you can choose to reroll and take the new result.
- Once per long rest, as a bonus action, you can call the warrior ancestor to protect you. For the next minute, attacks targeting you have disadvantage.
Spirit Walk
Beginning at 14th level, once per long rest, as an action, you can become incorporeal and invisible. While in this form, you can move in any direction, pass through solid objects, and are resistant to nonmagical damage, but cannot perform actions, bonus actions, or reactions. You remain in this form for up to one minute or until you use your action to end the effect.
Blood of Heroes
Beginning at 18th level, the spirits of your ancestors surround you, assisting in every strike and spell against your foes. You gain a bonus to damage rolls equal to your charisma modifier. In addition, creatures within five feet have disadvantage on saving throws to resist your spells.
Dragon Mystery
Oracles seeking the mysteries of the dragons learn to become more like the majestic creatures. Channeling draconic power, an oracle may learn to take flight, breathe magical energy, or shrug off attacks with scaled skin.
Dragon Mystery Spells
Oracle Level | Spells |
---|---|
2nd | Absorb Elements, Cause Fear |
3rd | Dragon's Breath, Augury |
5th | Fly, Protection from Energy |
7th | Freedom of Movement, Divination |
9th | Summon Draconic Spirit, Commune |
Draconic Resistance
Beginning at 2nd level, like the great dragons, you are not easily harmed or injured. You gain resistance to a chosen damage type (either acid, cold, fire, lightning, or poison). In addition, you have advantage on constitution saving throws against magic.
Dragon Senses
At 6th level, your senses take on a keen draconic edge. You gain darkvision with a range of 60 feet (or increase the range of your darkvision by 30 feet). In addition, you have advantage
on perception checks involving sight.
Imbued Magic
At 10th level, the primal power of dragonkind seethes within you imbuing your magic with destructive or protective draconic energy. When you cast a non-cantrip spell, you may choose one of the two following options:
- You deal damage equal to half your oracle level (rounded down) plus your charisma modifier to one creature of your choice that is hit by the spell or in its area of effect. The damage is the type chosen for the "draconic resistance" feature.
- Choose one creature of your choice that is targeted by the spell or in its area of effect. That creature gains temporary hit points equal to half your oracle level (rounded down) plus your charisma modifier.
Dragon Wings
Beginning at 14th level, like the great dragons, you can take to the skies and terrorize opponents from above. As a bonus action, you can manifest leathery dragon wings that grant you a flying speed equal to your current speed. They last until you dismiss them as a bonus action.
Draconic Presence
Beginning at 18th level, those who would oppose are struck with terror at your draconic majesty. Once per long rest, as a bonus action, you can exude an aura of awe or fear (your choice) to a distance of 60 feet. For 1 minute or until you lose your concentration (as if you were casting a concentration
spell), each hostile creature that starts its turn in
this aura must succeed on a Wisdom saving
throw or be charmed (if you chose awe)
or frightened (if you chose fear)
until the aura ends.
Life Mystery
Oracles that pursue the mysteries of life itself gain the power to heal and restore themselves and allies. They become so attuned with the essence of life they can detect the presence of living creatures, prevent disease, and direct the flow of damage and healing in combat.
Life Mystery Spells
Oracle Level | Spells |
---|---|
2nd | Cure Wounds, Healing Word |
3rd | Lesser Restoration, Augury |
5th | Aura of Vitality, Revivify |
7th | Aura of Life, Divination |
9th | Greater Restoration, Commune |
Health Bond
Beginning at 2nd level, as a bonus action, you may create a bond between yourself and another willing creature. At the start of your turn, if the bonded creature has taken damage since the beginning of your last turn, it heals an amount of hit points equal to half the damage taken. You then take necrotic damage equal to half the amount of hit points healed, which ignores resistance or immunity.
You may have one bond active at a time. This bond continues until you or the bonded creature are reduced to 0 hit points or you choose to end it (requires no action).
Purifying Aura
Beginning at 6th level, allied creatures (including yourself) within 20 feet of you have advantage on saving throws to resist disease or poison.
Life Given and Taken
At 10th level, you learn to draw the life energy out of your foes and into your allies. When you heal a creature through a spell or the health bond feature, you also deal necrotic damage equal to half your oracle level (rounded down) plus your charisma modifier to all creatures of your choice within 5 feet of the healed target.
Lifesense
Beginning at 14th level, you notice and locate living and undead creatures within 30 feet, as if you had blindsense. You can distinguish which creatures are living or undead.
Healing Spirit
Beginning at 18th level, once per long rest, when you cast a spell that requires an action, you may become a beacon of pure healing energy. Once per round, while in this form, a creature that begins its turn within 5 feet of you or moves to within 5 feet of you automatically heals a number of hit points equal to 1d12 plus your charisma modifier, without requiring an action. When a creature is healed this way, you also heal the same number of hit points.
You may choose not to heal a creature, and you choose which creature (if any) is healed if there are multiple applicable targets at one time. You remain in this form for 1 minute, until you are incapacitated, or until you use a bonus action to end the effect.
Solar Mystery
Aimless wanderers and restless nomads, oracles of the solar mystery uncover meaning in the ever-changing positions of the sun and the stars in the sky. They draw power from the lights in the firmament to magically travel, enlighten hidden secrets, and burn their foes.
Solar Mystery Spells
Oracle Level | Spells |
---|---|
2nd | Faerie Fire, Guiding Bolt |
3rd | Flaming Sphere, Augury |
5th | Daylight, Fireball |
7th | Dimension Door, Divination |
9th | Dawn, Commune |
Blistered Caress
At 2nd level, you learn to channel the hostile, unforgiving heat of the sun into your magic. You learn the cantrip fire bolt, which does not count against your oracle cantrips known.
In addition, spells you cast of 1st level or higher deal additional fire damage equal to your charisma modifier to creatures of your choice affected by the spell.
Sungazer
Beginning at 6th level, you can study the sun and gaze upon any place light touches. Once per short rest, you may cast the spell clairvoyance, but only for visual observation and you can only place your sensor in places currently being touched by bright light.
At 10th level, you may use the spell scrying to observe a creature or location touched by bright light instead.
If a spell cast with this feature fails due to the target not being in bright light, your use of this ability is not expended.
Starlight Agility
Beginning at 10th level, you effortlessly weave
and dodge like light from a flickering flame. If
you move at least 15 feet in a straight line
during your turn, creatures have disadvantage on
attack rolls against you until the beginning of
your next turn.
Sun Stride
Beginning at 14th level, you can travel
between areas of bright light, granting you the
following benefits:
- As a bonus action, you may teleport to a location with bright light, bringing along objects or a willing creature (following the requirements of the dimension door spell). You can sun stride a number of feet per long rest equal to 20 times your charisma score (not modifier).
- You gain the ability to sense locations of bright light within 100 feet.
Luminous Form
Beginning at 18th level, once per
long rest, you can transform your
body into violently churning light as
a bonus action, granting you the
effects of the spell blur and causing
your body to shed bright light for a
range of 30 feet and dim light an
additional 30 feet.
Creatures that end their turn
within 10 feet of your luminous
form must make a constitution
saving throw against your spell
save DC or be blinded for 1d4
rounds. This form lasts for one
minute or until you end it as a bonus
action or fall unconscious.
Lunar Mystery
Individuals whose mysterious, divine powers are intimately linked to the moon, dreams, and madness, lunar oracles find inspiration and insight in lunar light.
Lunar Mystery Spells
Oracle Level | Spells |
---|---|
2nd | Sleep, Hideous Laughter |
3rd | Moonbeam, Augury |
5th | Enemies Abound, Crown of Madness |
7th | Confusion, Divination |
9th | Dream, Commune |
Touch of Mania
Beginning at 2nd level, through subtle
enchantment, your spells seem particularly
effective to your allies but only in their mind.
Once per round, when you cast a spell, you
may choose a creature that was targeted by
the spell or in its area of effect. That
creature gains a number of temporary
hitpoints equal to twice the spell's level. If
the spell deals damage, the temporary hit
points are applied after the damage is taken.
These temporary hit points expire after 1
minute.
Only one creature may benefit from these
temporary hit points at a time. If you grant
temporary hit points to a second creature, the
first loses theirs.
Nocturnal Companion
At 6th level, you gain the service of a
faithful animal of the night. As an action,
you can cast the spell find familiar without
material components to summon this
companion, which takes the form of a
nocturnal animal (your choice upon casting),
has the stats of a creature of your choice in the
find familiar spell, and is fey.
As an action, when your familiar is in dim light or
darkness, you can cause it to become invisible.
The invisibility lasts until the familiar enters an
area of bright light. Your familiar has proficiency
in stealth checks and uses your charisma modifier
for them in place of dexterity.
Moonlight Mantle
Beginning at 10th level, like the moon itself, you
illusively reflect light to illude your foes. Once per short
rest, as a bonus action, you can cause the effects of the mirror image spell on a willing creature that you can see, without expending a spell slot or requiring concentration.
Moonlit Script
Beginning at 14th level, during each long rest, while you sleep or trance, your hands produce mysterious writing that pertains to the future. This takes the form of a divination spell with two available questions. Both questions are asked before an answer to either has been received.
Lunacy
Beginning at 18th level, your spells carry with them the taint of madness. Once per round, when you cast a non-cantrip spell, you may choose one creature that was hit by the spell or in its area of effect to make a wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC. If a creature fails a saving throw to resist the spell, it automatically fails this wisdom saving throw.
On a failed save, that creature suffers the effects of the confusion spell and may attempt a wisdom saving throw at the end of each of its turns to end the effect. On a successful save to resist or end the effect, the creature is immune to this ability for 24 hours.
Bone Mystery
Oracles of bone study death and undeath to grant themselves greater power over the mysteries of life, especially its end. Like life oracles, bone oracles seek to fathom life but do so to manipulate death rather than bestow health.
Bone Mystery Spells
Oracle Level | Spells |
---|---|
2nd | Cause Fear, False Life |
3rd | Ray of Enfeeblement, Augury |
5th | Animate Dead, Speak with Dead |
7th | Blight, Divination |
9th | Danse Macabre, Commune |
Undead Servant
At 2nd level, you animate a humanoid corpse with undeath to serve you. This servant grows in power as you do. If your servant dies, you can spend your downtime during a long rest to reanimate it. Your servant is dismissed if you die.
Your undead servant uses the stat block on this page, which uses your proficiency bonus (PB) in several places.
Undead Servant
Medium undead, unaligned
- Armor Class 13 + PB
- Hit Points 2 + your Charisma modifier + five times your oracle level (the servant has a number of hit dice [d8s] equal to your oracle level)
- Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 6 (-2) 8 (-1) 10 (+0)
- Damage Immunities Poison
- Condition Immunities Charmed, Exhaustion, Poisoned
- Senses passive Perception 9
- Languages understands its oracle
- Proficiency Bonus (PB) equals your bonus
- Servant's Bond. You add your PB to any ability check or saving throw that your servant makes.
Actions
Touch of Death. your spell attack modifier to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6 + PB necrotic damage. On hit, the target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC or be frightened of both you and your servant until the beginning of your next turn.
In combat, the undead servant shares your initiative count, but it takes its turn immediately after yours. Unless commanded otherwise, the servant approaches and attacks the nearest hostile creature that it has a clear path to (if two or more enemies are an equal distance away, you choose which your servant approaches).
You may use your bonus action to mentally command the servant to perform a different simple task, such as attacking a different target, taking the dodge action, dashing in a certain direction, or following you or another creature.
Voice of the Grave
Beginning at 6th level, once per long rest, you can use your action to cast the spell Speak With Dead without expending a spell slot. When cast this way, you may ask a number of questions equal to your charisma modifier.
Armor of Bones
Beginning at 10th level, you can use the bones of a dead medium or larger creature to conjure bone armor onto your body as an action. Bone armor has the same characteristics as scale mail, but counts as light armor for the purposes of proficiency, does not give disadvantage to stealth checks, and weighs 15 pounds. When removed, this armor falls apart into the original set of bones used in its creation.
Lifesense
Beginning at 14th level, you notice and locate living and undead creatures within 30 feet, as if you had blindsense. You can distinguish which creatures are living or undead.
Champion of the Undead
Beginning at 18th level, you can have two undead servants animated at a time. The servants continue to take their turn immediately following yours and you choose which servant acts first. When you use your bonus action to mentally command them, you can give each separate commands.
In addition, creatures can be frightened by
your undead servants' touch of death
attack even if they are
immune to the
frightened
condition.
Winter Mystery
Winter oracles draw upon the powers of cold and snow in their spells and abilities. Their magic is as debilitating as freezing northern winters, slowing and blinding the oracle's foes to protect themselves and their allies.
Winter Mystery Spells
Oracle Level | Spells |
---|---|
2nd | Frost Fingers, Ice Knife |
3rd | Rime's Binding Ice, Augury |
5th | Sleet Storm, Slow |
7th | Ice Storm, Divination |
9th | Cone of Cold, Commune |
Snow Flurry
At 2nd level, your learn to manipulate cold and snow. You learn the cantrip ray of frost, which does not count against your oracle cantrips known.
In addition, once per round, when you target a creature with a spell, you may choose to create a flurry of snow around them that lasts until the beginning of your next turn. Creatures affected by the snow flurry are lightly obscured, and ranged attacks against those
creatures are made with
disadvantage.
Commune with Winter
At 6th level, you learn to draw knowledge and insight from snowfall and ice. Once per long rest, in icy or snowy terrain, you may cast the spell commune with nature as an action without expending a spell slot. You may alternatively perform this feature in other terrain types, but you only learn one fact of your choice from those listed in the spell.
Icy Armor
Beginning at 10th level, you can freeze water around yourself to gain a layer of icy protection. Once per long rest, as an action, you can summon this ice armor which can be worn on top of regular armor and lasts for 1 hour. While wearing the armor, you gain a +2 bonus to AC and resistance to fire damage.
If you take at least 20 points of fire damage at one time (before resistance), the armor melts and must be recreated to receive its benefits again. You still have resistance to the instance of fire damage that melted it.
Blizzard Soul
At 14th level, you become one with cold and winter, granting you the following benefits:
- Both magical and nonmagical fog, clouds, sleet, rain, snow, etc. do not obscure or block your sight.
- You gain resistance to cold damage.
- You do not suffer any negative effects caused by a cold environment.
Freezing Magic
At 18th level, your wintry magic becomes extremely cold and
debilitating. When a creature fails a saving throw against
one of your spells that deals cold damage, it automatically
suffers the effects of the slow spell until the beginning of
your next turn.
Similarly, when you hit a creature with a spell that
deals cold damage, that creature must make a
constitution saving throw against your spell
save DC. On a failure, the creature
experiences the same slowing
effects until the beginning of
your next turn.
Oracle Spell List
Cantrips
Chill Touch
Dancing Lights
Guidance
Infestation
Light
Mending
Message
Minor Illusion
Prestidigitation
Resistance
Sacred Flame
Sapping Sting
Spare the Dying
Thaumaturgy
Toll the Dead
True Strike
Word of Radiance
1st Level
Absorb Elements
Bane
Bless
Chaos Bolt
Chromatic Orb
Color Spray
Command
Comprehend Languages
Create or Destroy Water
Cure Wounds
Detect Evil and Good
Detect Magic
Detect Poison and Disease
Disguise Self
Gift of Alacrity
Guiding Bolt
Healing Word
Identify
Inflict Wounds
Protection from Evil and Good
Purify Food and Drink
Sanctuary
Shield of Faith
Silent Image
Sleep
2nd Level
Aid
Alter Self
Augury
Blindness/Deafness
Blur
Borrowed Knowledge
Calm Emotions
Continual Flame
Crown of Madness
Darkness
Darkvision
Detect Thoughts
Enhance Ability
Find Traps
Gentle Repose
Hold Person
Invisibility
Knock
Lesser Restoration
Locate Object
Mind Spike
Mirror Image
Misty Step
Phantasmal Force
Prayer of Healing
Protection from Poison
See Invisibility
Silence
Spider Climb
Spiritual Weapon
Suggestion
Warding Bond
Web
Wither and Bloom
Zone of Truth
3rd Level
Animate Dead
Beacon of Hope
Bestow Hope
Blink
Catnap
Clairvoyance
Create Food and Water
Daylight
Dispel Magic
Enemies Abound
Fast Friends
Fear
Feign Death
Fly
Glyph of Warding
Hypnotic Pattern
Incite Greed
Life Transference
Magic Circle
Major Image
Mass Healing Word
Meld into Stone
Motivational Speech
Protection from Energy
Remove Curse
Revivify
Sending
Speak with Dead
Spirit Guardians
Spirit Shroud
Tongues
Water Breathing
Water Walk
4th Level
Banishment
Blight
Charm Monster
Confusion
Control Water
Death Ward
Dimension Door
Divination
Freedom of Movement
Greater Invisibility
Guardian of Faith
Locate Creature
Sickening Radiance
Stoneskin
5th Level
- Commune
- Commune with Nature
- Contact Other Plane
- Contagion
- Creation
- Dawn
- Dispel Evil and Good
- Dominate Person
- Enervation
- Far Step
- Flame Strike
- Geas
- Greater Restoration
- Hallow
- Hold Monster
- Holy Weapon
- Insect Plague
- Legend Lore
- Mass Cure Wounds
- Planar Binding
- Raise Dead
- Scrying
- Seeming
- Skill Empowerment
- Wall of Light
6th Level
- Circle of Death
- Create Undead
- Eyebite
- Find the Path
- Forbiddance
- Globe of Invulnerability
- Harm
- Heal
- Heroes' Feast
- Mass Suggestion
- Mental Prison
- Planar Ally
- Sunbeam
- Tasha's Otherworldly Guise
- True Seeing
7th Level
- Crown of Stars
- Divine Word
- Dream of the Blue Veil
- Etherealness
- Finger of Death
- Fire Storm
- Plane Shift
- Power Word Pain
- Prismatic Spray
- Regenerate
- Symbol
- Teleport
- Temple of the Gods
8th Level
- Antimagic Field
- Control Weather
- Dominate Monster
- Holy Aura
- Power Word Stun
- Sunburst
9th Level
- Astral Projection
- Foresight
- Gate
- Mass Heal
- Power Word Kill
- Prismatic Wall
- True Resurrection
The Oracle
A full-caster class for those who like to know what's going on. Petition a pantheon of divine sources to fuel powerful magic and uncover deep secrets from seven Oracle mysteries: Ancestor, Dragon, Life, Solar, Lunar,
Bone, and Winter.
Art Credits:
Page 39: Daemancer by Y-mir
Page 41: Divination by Will Murai
Page 42: Sea Gate Oracle by Daniel Ljunggren
Page 43: Swarm that Walks by A. Davtyan
Page 44: Prescience by Eksafael
Page 45: Summoner by Amirul Hhf
Page 46: Dragonmaster Outcast by R. Swanland
Page 47: Soulfire Grandmaster by Johannes Vos
Page 48: Sun Burst by Kelsey Roth
Page 49: Moon Elf by Ameera Sheikh
Page 50: The Necromancer by ChrisCold
Page 51: Jace Beleren by Yi Zhen
Page 53: Oracle by Martina Farkova
See Dragonshard's GM Binder profile for more homebrew classes inspired by Pathfinder.
Brawler
Deep in a swamp, a hydra lunges one of its heads at a seemingly unarmed dwarf. Sidestepping quickly, the dwarf grabs the maw, pushing it forcefully into the marshy ground.
With a goblin in a chokehold in one arm, an armored dragonborn dashes and jumps into the air, dropkicking a hobgoblin. After mere moments, the whole goblin war party is lying in the dirt or running in frantic fear.
An ogre rushes a party of adventurers, swinging its club wildly. A human throws herself in the way and ducks under a menacing blow. Grabbing the ogre's arm, she launches herself into the air and brings both fists down on the crown of the brute's head. Stopping dead in its tracks, the ogre crumples to the ground.
These heroes are brawlers, warriors who train their bodies to be brutal weapons. Swinging their fists, and whatever else they get their hands on, brawlers are devastating melee combatants who control the battlefield as they effortlessly throw foes around, taking down those who pose too much danger to their allies.
Opportunistic Bruisers
Deadly even with nothing in their hands, brawlers eschew using the fighter’s heavy armor and the monk’s mysticism, focusing instead on perfecting styles of brutal unarmed combat. Versatile, agile, and able to adapt to all kinds of attacks, a brawler’s body is a powerful weapon.
Brawlers use every opportunity in combat to gain the upper hand, grabbing and throwing their foes when caught off-balance and swiftly dispatching them when their defenses falter. Skilled brawlers control the battlefield, maneuvering their foes right where they want them and pinning them down with ease.
Rolling with the Punches
Not every tavern drunk that throws a punch is a brawler. Brawlers are those who have honed their ability to fight, ignore pain when they take a hit, and expertly control their foes in battle. They include those skilled in methods of unconventional combat, and are often bodyguards,
bouncers, and street fighters.
A brawler's experience in unorthodox fighting makes
them a natural fit for the surprises often faced by adventurers. Brawlers are strong, maneuverable, and adaptable, able to protect their allies by enduring blows
and impeding the most threatening foes.
Creating a Brawler
To create your brawler, first consider how you first learned to fight. Did you teach yourself or was there someone who mentored you in brawling? Also consider why you first learned to brawl. Was it to protect yourself on the street or to earn some extra gold through fighting rings? Maybe you were seeking revenge against someone who wronged you or a loved one.
Although you don’t gain features from your brawling forte until you reach 3rd level, plan ahead for that choice by reading the forte descriptions at the end of the class and consider what techniques your brawler employs. Are you particularly skilled at controlling groups of enemies, breaking through enemy armor and shields, or simply being an impenetrable wall of strength and steel?
Lastly, what caused you to apply your unconventional fighting skills to adventuring? Was it simply the most promising option for more gold or were you seeking more exotic experiences that couldn't be found in your local circles? Perhaps you were forced out of your familiar life and onto the road by some rival or foe.
Quick Build
You can make a brawler quickly by following these suggestions. First, make Strength your highest ability score, followed by Constitution (or Charisma if you plan on choosing the victor forte).
Second, choose the folk
hero background.
The Brawler Table
Level | Proficiency Bonus | Cheap Shots | Brawl Die | Features |
---|---|---|---|---|
1st | +2 | — | 1d4 | Hard Knocks (1 use), Brawling |
2nd | +2 | 2 | 1d4 | Dirty Fighting, Fast Movement |
3rd | +2 | 3 | 1d4 | Brawling Forte |
4th | +2 | 4 | 1d4 | Ability Score Improvement |
5th | +3 | 5 | 1d6 | Extra Attack |
6th | +3 | 6 | 1d6 | Forte Feature, Force of Will |
7th | +3 | 7 | 1d6 | Danger Sense |
8th | +3 | 8 | 1d6 | Ability Score Improvement |
9th | +4 | 9 | 1d6 | Hard Knocks (2 uses) |
10th | +4 | 10 | 1d6 | Forte Feature |
11th | +4 | 11 | 1d8 | Dirty Fighting Improvement |
12th | +4 | 12 | 1d8 | Ability Score Improvement |
13th | +5 | 13 | 1d8 | Awesome Blow |
14th | +5 | 14 | 1d8 | Forte Feature |
15th | +5 | 15 | 1d8 | Size-Up Opponent |
16th | +5 | 16 | 1d8 | Ability Score Improvement |
17th | +6 | 17 | 1d10 | Hard Knocks (3 uses) |
18th | +6 | 18 | 1d10 | Forte Feature |
19th | +6 | 19 | 1d10 | Ability Score Improvement |
20th | +6 | 20 | 1d10 | Legendary Brawler |
Class Features
As a Brawler, you gain the following class features:
Hit Points
- Hit Dice: 1d10 per brawler level
- Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + your Constitution modifier
- Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your Constitution modifier per brawler level after 1st.
Proficiencies
- Armor: Light armor, medium armor
- Weapons: Simple weapons
- Tools: A gaming set
- Saving Throws: Constitution, Strength
- Skills: Athletics, and choose two skills from Acrobatics, Insight, Intimidation, Medicine, Perception, Sleight of Hand, and Survival.
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- Any simple weapon
- (a) hide armor or (b) leather armor
- (a) a light crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) four javelins
- (a) a dungeoneer's pack or (b) an explorer's pack
Hard Knocks
At 1st level, you are accustomed to shrugging off blows and ignoring pain that would take down most people. Once per long rest, as a reaction to taking damage that would leave you with less than half your maximum hit points, you may choose to halve the triggering damage and temporarily gain resistance to all damage for one minute.
You can use this feature twice between long rests starting at 9th level and three times starting at 17th level.
Brawling
At 1st level, you know how to use your fists and whatever else is available in combat. You gain the following benefits while you are unarmed or wielding only one melee weapon:
- You can roll a d4 in place of the normal damage of your unarmed strikes and other melee attacks. This die changes as you gain brawler levels, as shown in the Brawl Die column of the Brawler table.
- When you use the Attack action with an unarmed strike or melee weapon on your turn, you can make one unarmed strike as a bonus action.
- Your proficiency modifier is doubled for athletics checks used in ability score contests.
Dirty Fighting
At 2nd level, you learn to take advantage of any opportunity your opponents give you. You have a number of cheap shots available according to the Cheap Shots column of the Brawler Table. You regain all expended cheap shots when you complete a short or long rest.
When you use the attack action to hit an opponent with a melee attack, you may expend a cheap shot to attempt to shove, grapple, or disarm the target as part of the same attack.
Depending on your choice
of brawler forte, you may gain
multiple features that allow you to
modify an attack by spending cheap shots. Only
one such feature may modify each attack. For example, if you use the wide swing feature from the bouncer forte, you may not spend additional cheap shots to grapple with those attacks.
Fast Movement
Starting at 2nd level, you are light on your feet. Your speed increases by 10 feet while you aren’t wearing heavy armor or a shield.
Brawling Forte
At 3rd level, you gain a forte representing your personal talents and brawling techniques. The forte you choose grants you features at levels 3, 6, 10, 14, and 18.
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.
Using the optional feats rule, you can forgo taking this feature to take a feat of your choice instead.
Extra Attack
Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of
once, whenever you take the attack action on your turn.
Force of Will
Beginning at 6th level, you put your whole will behind
every blow. Your unarmed strikes count as magical for
the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to
nonmagical attacks and damage.
Danger Sense
By 7th level, you've taken enough knocks to learn
how to avoid harm where possible. You have
advantage on Dexterity saving throws against effects
that you can see, such as traps and spells. To gain this
benefit, you can’t be blinded, deafened, or incapacitated.
Improved Dirty Fighting
Beginning at 11th level, when you attempt to grapple,
shove, or disarm, you can expend a cheap shot to give
the target disadvantage on their contesting check.
In addition, you can shove or grapple creatures up to
two sizes larger than yourself, and you no longer have
disadvantage when attempting to disarm an opponent
larger than you.
Awesome Blow
Beginning at 13th level, your critical hits become more
devastating. When you critically hit a creature with a
melee attack, you may expend one cheap shot to
automatically knock it prone and/or push it up to 10
feet away from you (your choice).
Size-Up Opponent
At 15th level, you have become so familiar with close
quarters brawling that you intuitively sense the
physical state of those you strike. Once per round,
when you hit an opponent with a melee attack, you
may choose to learn whether your opponent is near
death (25% or less of its maximum hit points
remaining), badly wounded (26-50%), winded
(51-75%), or fresh (more than 75%).
Legendary Brawler
At 20th level, your ability to keep your foes off-balance
is legendary. You have advantage on athletics checks
used in ability score contests.
In addition, you can shove or grapple any creature
regardless of size.
Multiclassing
Prerequisites. To qualify for multiclassing with the
Brawler class, you must meet these prerequisites:
13 Strength.
Proficiencies. When you multiclass into the Brawler
class, you gain the following proficiencies: Simple
weapons, light armor, medium armor.
Brawler Fortes
As they become more experienced, brawlers develop different fighting maneuvers and specialties. A specific set of techniques is referred to as a "forte", which reflects a brawler's focus on mastering certain types of techniques.
Bruiser
While all brawlers are brutal and unorthodox fighters, bruisers take things a step further. Rushing headlong into combat, bruisers astonish combatants with ferocious charges, impacting their foes before they even have a chance to raise their weapons.
Charge
At 3rd level, you've developed a staggering charging technique. You may attempt to charge a creature by moving at least 15 feet in a straight line into their space and expending one cheap shot. You make an athletics check contested by the creature's athletics or acrobatics check (their choice). The creature must be no more than one size larger than you.
If you succeed, you push the creature back 5 feet. In addition, you may push them 5 additional feet for every 5 points your check is greater than theirs. If you move the creature any additional distance, you move with them so that you remain within 5 feet. If you fail or tie, you move 5 feet
back to where you were before you moved into
the creature's space.
Intimidating Technique
Beginning at 3rd level, your fighting technique and intense demeanor alarm those around you. You gain proficiency in intimidation (or another brawler class skill if already proficient) and can use strength for intimidation checks.
Eager Combatant
Beginning at 6th level, you are always ready and itching for a fight. You have advantage on initiative rolls.
Bull Rush
At 10th level, you charge with such ferocity that your opponents can't stay on their feet. When you successfully push a creature with a charge, you can spend an additional cheap shot to automatically knock them prone.
In addition, you can now charge creatures up to two sizes larger than you.
Charging Strike
Beginning at 14th level, after attempting to charge a creature, if your next attack during the same turn hits that creature, the attack deals an extra two brawl die in damage.
Living Avalanche
Beginning at 18th level, once per round, when you successfully push a creature with charge, you may spend two cheap shots to stun that creature until the beginning of your
next turn. In addition, you can charge any
creature regardless of size.
Bouncer
Bouncers are adept at subduing multiple foes at once and employ techniques to control crowds. Powerful bouncers can even knock entire groups down with a single blow.
Wide Swing
Beginning at 3rd level, you attack in such a way to take down multiple foes. Once per round, when you target a creature with a melee attack, you may expend one cheap shot to target a second creature in range. You make a separate attack roll against each target.
Intimidating Technique
Beginning at 3rd level, your fighting technique and intense demeanor alarm those around you. You gain proficiency in
intimidation (or another brawler class skill if
if already proficient) and can use strength
for intimidation checks.
Crowd Expertise
At 6th level, you become expert at handling crowds. You cannot be flanked and enemies no longer benefit from pack tactics (or similar abilites that rely on nearby allies) when targeting you.
Unyielding Swing
Beginning at 10th level, when you use the wide swing feature, you may choose to target all creatures within range, including any allies, with the attack.
Bouncer's Interruption
At 14th level, you learn to stop enemies in their tracks when they try to get around you. Whenever a creature moves to a space within 5 feet of you, you may use your reaction and expend one cheap shot to make a melee attack targeting that creature. If you hit, the creature must make a strength saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier). On a failure, their speed is reduced to 0 until the end of their next turn.
Toppling Bash
Beginning at 18th level, when you use the wide swing or
unyielding swing features, you may spend an additional
two cheap shots. When you do so, creatures that are
hit by your attack must make a strength saving
throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your
Strength modifier). On a failure, the creature
is knocked prone.
Gladiator
Gladiators toe the line between trained fighter and unconventional brawler. They train themselves to wield shields and new kinds of weaponry, using those weapons to pin their foes, without needing to hold them down.
Pinning Strike
At 3rd level, you learn to use your weapons to pin your enemies in place. Once per round, when you target a creature with a melee or thrown weapon that deals piercing damage and before you roll to hit, you may choose to spend one cheap shot to attempt to perform a pinning strike. On a hit, your attack deals no damage, but the target is restrained. The targeted creature must be no more than one size larger than you.
Your weapon is used to restrain the target and can be removed as an action by making a strength check (DC 10). On a success, the creature is no longer restrained. While your weapon is restraining a target, it cannot be used for other attacks.
Trained Fighter
At 3rd level, you have trained to fight with conventional arms, though you retain your unorthodox style. You gain proficiency in tridents, short swords, nets, and shields.
Combat Performer
At 6th level, your fighting style becomes a sight to behold.
You gain proficiency in performance (or another brawler class skill if already proficient).
In addition, when you hit a creature with a melee attack, you may expend a cheap shot to grant a conscious creature you can see a number of temporary hit points equal to one roll of your brawl die + your proficiency modifier.
Piercing Strike
Beginning at 10th level, you may spend an additional cheap shot when using the pinning strike feature. When you do so, your attack deals half damage (rounded down) instead of none.
In addition, you can now use pinning strike on creatures up to two sizes larger than you.
Crowd Pleaser
At 14th level, your attacks become envigorating to your allies and other onlookers. When you use the combat performer feature to grant temporary hit points, you may spend an additional cheap shot to instead choose a number of creatures you can see up to your proficiency bonus. Each creature gains the temporary hit points.
Masterful Pierce
Beginning at 18th level, when you use the piercing strike feature, your attack deals its full damage instead of half. In addition, you can now use pinning strike on any creature regardless of size.
Steelbreaker
Masters of taking down heavily-armored knights and beasts with thick hide, steelbreakers specialize in tearing down defenses. Ripping or crushing even the thickest armor, these brawlers leave their foes completely vulnerable.
Rend Armor
At 3rd level, you develop a technique to puncture, tear off, smash, or otherwise destroy armor. Once per round, when you hit a creature with a melee attack, you may expend one cheap shot to reduce their AC by 2.
This feature works against natural or worn armor. Each creature can only be affected by this feature once, and a creature's AC can only be reduced to a minimum of 10 + their dexterity modifier. In addition, this feature, as well as "deep rend" and "great rend", do not destroy magical armor or shields, but can still reduce the AC of creature's wearing magic armor if they have other sources of AC that can be rent, such as nonmagical or natural armor.
Anti-Armor Implements
At 3rd level, you expand your
knowledge of weaponry used to tear
apart defenses. You gain proficiency
in martial weapons.
Defensive Insight
At 6th level, you learn to quickly
identify your opponents defenses so
you can tear them down. Once per
round, you can identify a creature's
AC and the components of their AC
(no action required). For example,
you can learn that a wild creature
has an AC of 15 from its natural
armor or that a particular warrior
has an AC of 20 from its plate
armor and shield.
It is up to the DM's discretion if a
creature's source of protection is
inconspicuous and unable to be
discerned through this feature. For
example, you might be unaware of a
ring of protection or tricked by an
illusion.
Deep Rend
Beginning at 10th level, your rends can
destroy armor more thoroughly. A creature can
be affected by your rend armor feature twice,
reducing their AC by 4 total.
In addition, when you reduce a creature's AC with
the rend armor feature, the attack deals additional
damage equal to one roll of your brawl die.
Sunder
At 14th level, you expand your destructive capabilities to weapons. When a creature hits you with a melee attack, you may use your reaction and expend a cheap shot to attempt to sunder the triggering weapon. You make an athletics check contested by your opponent's athletics or acrobatics (their choice). If you win, attacks with that weapon have disadvantage until repaired or healed.
This feature works against manufactured or natural weapons, but does not work against magical weapons. In the case of natural weapons, the effects of sunder end after the affected creature completes a long rest.
Great Rend
At 18th level, your ability to rend metal and hide alike becomes terrifyingly potent. When you use the rend armor to reduce an enemy's AC a second time, you may spend one additional cheap shot to reduce the target's AC by 1 more (total reduction of 5 from both uses of rend armor).
A creature affected by great rend cannot have their AC reduced by further uses of rend armor, and a creature's AC can only be reduced to a minimum of 10 + their dexterity modifier.
Victor
Victors are charismatic brawlers who inspire valor and courage in their allies. Often champions of the common folk, victors use their abilities to protect and motivate those they fight for.
Rally
Beginning at 3rd level, you encourage your allies in the midst of combat. You may use your bonus action and expend a cheap shot to allow an ally to immediately make a weapon attack or unarmed strike as a reaction. If the attack hits, it deals additional damage equal to your brawl die + your charisma modifier.
Heroic Presence
Beginning at 3rd level, you carry a heroic, confidence-inspiring presence about you. You gain proficiency in persuasion (or another brawler class skill if already proficient).
In addition, to determine your maximum hit point increase from brawler levels, you may use charisma in place of constitution.
Courageous Fighter
Beginning at 6th level, you are immutably brave, inspiring fervor in your allies. You are immune to the frightened condition.
In addition, when you hit a creature with a melee attack, you may expend a cheap shot to grant a conscious creature you can see a number of temporary hit points equal to one roll of your brawl die + your proficiency modifier.
Motivating Shout
At 10th level, you learn to imbue your allies with renewed vigor by shouting inspiration. Once per short rest, as a bonus action, you may spend two cheap shots to grant all allies you can see a bonus to attack and damage rolls equal to your charisma modifier. This bonus lasts until the beginning of your next turn.
Crowd Pleaser
At 14th level, your attacks become envigorating to your allies and other onlookers. When you use the combat performer feature to grant temporary hit points, you may spend an additional cheap shot to instead choose a number of creatures you can see up to your proficiency bonus. Each
creature gains the temporary hit points.
Inspiring Rally
Beginning at 18th level, when you use the
rally feature, the target creature has
advantage on the attack rolls until
the end of its next turn.
Venomfist
Whether due to alchemical accident, the nature of your race, or through some other means, your attacks are infused with venom. You are able to poison your foes with a touch, leaving them weak and faltering.
Venom Strike
At 3rd level, you learn to use your innate venom to harm your foes. Once per round, when you hit a creature with an unarmed strike, you may spend a cheap shot to deal extra poison damage equal to your brawl die + your Constitution modifier.
Intimidating Technique
Beginning at 3rd level, your fighting technique and intense demeanor alarm those around you. You gain proficiency in intimidation (or another brawler class skill if already proficient).
Poisoned Blood
Beginning at 6th level, the venom coursing through your body grants you resistance to poison damage and immunity to the poisoned condition.
Toxins
At 10th level, your venom becomes particularly impairing. When you use the venom strike feature, you may spend an additional cheap shot to make the target creature poisoned. At the end of each of its turns, a poisoned creature may attempt a constitution saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier). On a success, the creature is no longer poisoned.
Flowing Blight
Beginning at 14th level, your toxins weaken your opponents. Creatures that are poisoned by your "toxins" feature deal half damage on attacks that use strength.
Paralyzing Venom
At 18th level, your venom becomes extremely deadly. Once per round, when you hit a creature with an unarmed strike, you may spend two cheap shots to attempt to paralyze the target creature. The creature must make a constitution saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier). On a failure, the creature is paralyzed until the beginning of your next turn.
Brute
Brutes are exceptionally durable individuals who brush aside even the most earth-shattering attacks. Adding on layers of protection to their already formidable forms, brutes become an unshaking barricade against their foes.
Armor Deflection
At 3rd level, you learn to use your armor to preemptively knock aside blows before they would have hit you. When you are the target of a melee attack from a creature you can see, you may use your reaction and spend one cheap shot to
reduce their attack roll by one roll of your brawl die. You
must be wearing medium or heavy armor to use
this feature.
Heavy Brawler
At 3rd level, when you choose this forte, you learn to wear heavy armor without inhibiting your brawling techniques, granting you the following benefits:
- You have proficiency in heavy armor
- You can benefit from the "fast movement" feature while wearing heavy armor.
Steady Stance
Beginning at 6th level, at the end of each of your turns, if you have moved 15 feet or less, you are immune to being knocked prone or moved against your will (you can still be teleported) until the beginning of your next turn.
Brutish Durability
At 10th level, you become exceptionally adept at resisting
physical threats. When you fail a strength, dexterity, or
constitution saving throw, you may expend a cheap shot
to add one roll of your brawl die to the result.
Living Bulwark
At 14th level, you learn a technique to form a
blockade of just you and your armor by setting
your stance and preparing for enemies to
advance. On your turn, you may spend 20 feet
of movement and expend one cheap shot to
become a living bulwark until the beginning
of your next turn. Your living bulwark form
ends if you move, are forced out of your
current position, or are grappled, prone,
restrained, or incapacitated.
While you are a living bulwark, when a
creature starts their turn within 5 feet of you
or moves to within 5 feet of you, you may
force them to make an athletics or acrobatics
check (their choice, DC = 8 + your proficiency
bonus + your Strength modifier). On a
failure, their speed is reduced to 0 until
the beginning of their next turn.
Forceful Deflection
At 18th level, you brutishly counter
those who dare strike you. When you
use the armor deflection feature to
successfully prevent an attack that
would have hit you, you may spend an
additional two cheap shots. When you do
so, the creature that attacked you must
make a constitution saving throw (DC =
8 + your proficiency bonus + your
Strength modifier). On a failure, that
creature is stunned until the end of
their next turn.
The Brawler
A martial class for those like punching without monk mysticism. Throw your opponents off balance and knock them out with seven Brawler fortes: the Bruiser, Bouncer, Gladiator, Steelbreaker, Victor, Venomfist, and Brute.
Art Credits:
Page 55: Pathfinder Monk by Jordan Kerbow
Page 57: Epic Confrontation by Wayne Reynolds
Page 58: Golden Punch by Wan Yun
Page 59: Savage Punch by Wesley Burt
Page 60: The Bar by Artur Fast
Page 61: Gladiator by Artem Khorchev
Page 62: Fall of Gods by Jan Ditlev
Page 63: Arena Athlete by Jason Chan
Page 64: Tainted Strike by James Ryman
Page 65: Lizard Warrior by Veli Nystrom
Page 66: Practice by Wen Yi
See Dragonshard's GM Binder profile for more homebrew classes inspired by Pathfinder.
Summoner
Surrounded by a gang of bandits, a robed gnome feigns surrender. Just as the gang leader approaches the gnome, a young dragon flies over the hillside, snatches the bandit in his claws and engulfs the rest in its fiery breath. With the bandits either slain or fleeing, the gnome gives his dragon a loving pat on the snout.
An elderly elf, standing back from the brunt of the fighting, weaves a spell to paralyze one of the attacking ogres. Now helpless, the ogre can only watch as a massive serpentine creature erupts from the ground beneath it, swallowing it whole.
Surrounded dark tomes and magical reagants, a human begins the ritual she has become so familiar with. She
smiles as her demon, emerging from the chalk circle, flexes its newly grown steel-like claws, ready for something to try them on.
Each summoner develops a peculiar connection to a certain plane of existence granting them a close bond with the magical energies of that plane. Through this connection, summoners create an eidolon, a magical creature that they can shape and evolve as they please. Together, eidolon and summoner become a force to be reckoned with, bringing powerful magic and extraplanar power to overcome their foes.
Extraplanar Bond
While many who dabble in the arcane become adept at beckoning monsters from the farthest reaches of the planes, none are more skilled at it than the summoner. Each summoner has developed a particularly strong magical connection to one of the planes of existence. From the energies of this plane, the summoner creates a creature, known as an eidolon, which serves it's summoner and gains power as the summoner's skills grow. Over time, eidolon and summoner become linked, eventually even sharing a shard of the same soul.
Arcane Companion
Summoners typically spend their time exploring their arcane
power alongside their eidolons. While summoners attain mastery of their magic, they also rely heavily on their eidolon companions in dangerous situations. Though a summoner and their eidolon function as individuals, their true power
lies in what they can accomplish together as they become an inseparable and deadly team.
Those who form a close bond with an extraplanar being rarely lead a quiet, simple life. Summoners frequently seek out increased knowledge about their bonded plane and
the nature of their companion. This often leads them
to set out on dangerous adventures to ancient ruins
and foreign lands where they must use their magical
power and the strength of their eidolon to pull through.
Creating a Summoner
The first question you should consider when making a summoner is the nature of your bond to another plane of existence. Look at the summoner planar bonds available and consider what plane you have bonded to. How did you bond with this plane? Was it a magical accident, your inherited birthright, or a planned event you worked hard to achieve?
Even more importantly, consider the appearance of your eidolon and the abilities you want it to have. Summoners use their magical power to form their eidolon as they see fit. Therefore, eidolons come in every shape and size. Look through available evolutions for your eidolon and plan for the most important ones you wish for your eidolon to obtain.
Lastly, consider your relationship with your eidolon. Do you see each other as partners or friends, or are you in a master and servant relationship? More specifically, in battle, does your eidolon take the front line, does it stay right by your side as a loyal protector, or does it like to lie in wait to catch enemies off guard once fighting has begun? The evolutions you choose as you gain power will shape your eidolon's abilities and the role it plays.
Quick Build
You can make a summoner quickly by following these suggestions. First, Charisma should be your highest ability score, followed by Constitution or Dexterity. Then, choose the hermit background and the dancing lights and fire bolt cantrips. Lastly, for your eidolon, select the quadruped base form with a bite attack and choose the
improved health and improved
damage evolutions.
The Summoner Table
Level | Proficiency Bonus |
Features | Evolution Points |
Cantrips Known |
Spells Known |
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | +2 | Planar Bond, Eidolon, Spellcasting | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
2nd | +2 | Summon Creature, Bond Senses | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
3rd | +2 | Maker's Call | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
5th | +3 | — | 7 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — |
6th | +3 | Planar Bond Feature | 8 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — |
7th | +3 | Life Bond | 9 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 10 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
9th | +4 | — | 11 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — |
10th | +4 | Aspect | 12 | 4 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — |
11th | +4 | Transposition | 14 | 4 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — |
12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 15 | 4 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — |
13th | +5 | — | 16 | 4 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — |
14th | +5 | Planar Bond Feature | 17 | 4 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — |
15th | +5 | Greater Aspect | 18 | 4 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — |
16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 19 | 4 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — |
17th | +6 | Merge Forms, Plane Shift | 21 | 4 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
18th | +6 | Planar Bond Feature | 22 | 4 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 23 | 4 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
20th | +6 | Grand Eidolon | 28 | 4 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Class Features
As a Summoner, you gain the following class features:
Hit Points
- Hit Dice: 1d6 per summoner level
- Hit Points at 1st Level: 6 + your Constitution modifier
- Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d6 (or 4) + your Constitution modifier per summoner level after 1st
Proficiencies
- Armor: None
- Weapons: Daggers, darts, slings, quarterstaffs, light crossbows
- Tools: None
- Saving Throws: Wisdom, Charisma
- Skills: Choose two from Animal Handling, Arcana, Deception, Insight, Intimidation, Persuasion, and Religion
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) a quarterstaff or (b) a dagger
- (a) a component pouch or (b) an arcane focus
- (a) a dungeoneer's pack or (b) an explorer's pack
Planar Bond
At 1st level, you have developed a close connection with a particular plane of existence and the magical energies that can be drawn from it. The plane you choose grants you features at levels 1, 6, 14, and 18. Your chosen plane affects the creature type of your eidolon (described in the following section).
In addition, you gain spells according to your chosen plane at the appropriate summoner levels. Each of these spells counts as an summoner spell for you, but do not count against the number of summoner spells you know.
Eidolon
Small, Creature type depends on planar bond
- Armor Class 10 + Dex Modifier + PB (Natural Armor)
- Hit Points 2 + five times your summoner level (the eidolon has a number of hit dice [d6s] equal to your summoner level)
- Speed 20 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 14/10
(+2/+0)14/10
(+2/+0)12
(+1)8
(-1)10
(+0)14
(+2)
Attributes. At 1st level, choose whether your eidolon has 14 STR and 10 DEX or 10 STR and 14 DEX.
- Saving Throws Con +1 +PB, Cha +2 +PB
- Skills Athletics +2/+0 +PB
- Senses Passive Perception 10
- Languages Understands the languages its summoner speaks, but can only speak telepathically to its summoner while on the same plane.
- Proficiency Bonus (PB) equals your bonus
Features
Evolutions. Your eidolon's features and statistics depend largely on the evolutions you choose. At each summoner level, you gain at least one evolution point (as shown in the Summoner table) to spend on eidolon evolutions (see the "Evolutions" section).
Ability Score Improvement. At levels 4, 8, 12, 16, and 19, you can increase one of your eidolon's ability scores by 2, or you can increase two ability scores by 1.
Increases to ability scores affects the relevant saving throws, skills, attacks, hit points, AC, etc. as if the eidolon were a player character (e.g. if the eidolon's constitution modifier increases by 1, it gains a number of hit points equal to your summoner level and one more hit point at each new summoner level).
Actions
Multiattack. The eidolon makes a number of attacks depending on your summoner level (1 attack at level 1-4, up to 2 attacks at levels 5-16, and up to 3 attacks at levels 17-20). Multiattack cannot include spells.
The attacks available to your eidolon depend on its base form and evolutions. Each attack evolution you take applies to only one body part and may only be used once during an attack action. In addition, each of your eidolon's heads, arms, pairs of legs, and sets of wings may only perform one attack during an attack action.
Each attack counts as magical and uses your PB plus either the eidolon's strength or dexterity modifier to hit. On a hit, an attack deals an amount of damage according to its evolution description plus either the eidolon's strength or dexterity modifier. Unless otherwise stated, the range of each attack is 5 ft.
Spells. Some evolutions and features give your eidolon the ability to cast spells. Regardless of its form, your eidolon is able to perform the somatic and verbal components of spells it knows and can ignore material components that do not have a gold cost.
Eidolon
Beginning at 1st level, your attunement to another plane has allowed you to form an eidolon, a creature molded from the magical energies of its home plane. It is friendly to you and your companions, and it obeys your commands. You and your eidolon share a mental link that allows for telepathic communication across any distance on the same plane.
You can summon your eidolon in a ritual that takes 1 minute to perform. When summoned in this way, your eidolon's hit points are unchanged from the last time it was dismissed or banished. Your eidolon remains until you dismiss it as an action. If your eidolon is killed, it is banished to its home plane and it cannot be summoned again until you complete a long rest, which allows your eidolon to reform in its home plane and also gain the benefits of a long rest. Note that your eidolon benefits from rests and makes death saving throws like a player character. If you are killed, your eidolon is immediately banished to its home plane.
See your eidolon's base statistics in the eidolon stat block, which uses your proficiency bonus (PB) in several places. When applicable, your eidolon's proficiency bonus equals your own. When an ability is gained at a certain level, it is referring to your summoner level.
In combat, the eidolon shares your initiative count and takes its turn simultaneously with yours. It can move and use its actions and reaction on its own, requiring no action from the summoner. That action can be one in its stat block or some other action.
Eidolon Evolutions and Base Form
At 1st level, you choose a base form for your eidolon (see the "Eidolon Base Forms" section). A base forms provides some free evolutions for your eidolon that do not count against your pool of evolution points. Evolutions are improvements to your eidolon that grant it additional capabilities.
You have a number of evolution points (EP) according to evolution points column of the Summoner Table. These can be spent on evolutions for your eidolon. See the "Evolutions" section for a list of available evolutions and their EP costs. Whenever you gain a summoner level, you may spend available EP on new evolutions. When you do so, you may remove one of your eidolon's current evolutions (except for the free evolutions granted by their base form). Any EP that had been spent on the removed evolution are available to be spent on new evolutions. Unless otherwise stated, an evolution can be selected multiple times.
Spellcasting
Beginning at 1st level, you cast spells by drawing upon the power of the plane of existence you have bonded with. See the summoner spell list for the spells you can learn.
Cantrips
At 1st level, you know two cantrips of your choice from the summoner spell list. You learn additional summoner cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Summoner table.
Spell Slots
The Summoner table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your summoner spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these 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.
Spells Known of 1st Level and Higher
You know two 1st-level spells of your choice from the summoner spell list. The Spells Known column of the Summoner table shows when you learn more summoner spells of your choice from this feature. Each of these spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots on the summoner table.
Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the summoner spells you know from this feature and replace it with another spell from the summoner spell list. The new spell must also be of a level for which you have spell slots on the Summoner table.
Spellcasting Ability
Charisma is your spellcasting ability for your summoner spells. You use your charisma whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your charisma modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a summoner spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.
Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus +
Ritual Casting
You can cast a summoner spell as a ritual if that
spell has the ritual tag and you know the spell.
Spellcasting Focus
You can use an arcane focus as a spellcasting focus for
your summoner spells.
Summon Creature
At 2nd level, you diversify your summoning abilities to
handle situations your eidolon is not suited for. Once per long rest, instead of summoning your eidolon, you may use the same ritual to summon a creature from your bonded plane with a CR up to 1/3 of your summoner level for up to one hour, after which it returns to its home plane.
Maintaining the creature on the same plane as you requires your concentration, which if broken, causes the creature to immediately be dismissed. Like the eidolon, you summon this creature in a ritual that takes 1 minute to perform. The creature must be of the same type as your eidolon (determined by your planar bond). Your DM will have creature options for you and the stats for those creatures. The summoned creature is friendly to you and your companions, shares your initiative count, and takes its turn immediately after yours. It can move and use its action and reaction on its own.
You can have either your eidolon or one creature summoned through this feature at a time. If you summon your eidolon or a creature from this feature, other summons from this or the eidolon feature are immediately dismissed to their home plane.
Bond Senses
Beginning at 2nd level, you develop a close link with your eidolon allowing you to see the world from its perspective. Once per short rest, as an action, you can experience what your eidolon senses (including sight, hearing, feeling, etc.) for up to one minute, gaining the benefits of any special senses it has. During this time, you do not experience your own senses and do not have control of your own body. Your body does not move from the position you left it until the effect ends unless something else moves it.
Maker's Call
Beginning at 3rd level, you and your eidolon are magically connected regardless of distance. Whenever your eidolon is on the same plane as you, you can use your bonus action to teleport it to an open space within 5 ft. of you. If there are no open spaces, the teleportation fails.
In addition, while you can see your eidolon, spells you cast with a range of self can instead target your eidolon. If a self-targeting spell uses your reaction, it can be triggered through your eidolon (for example, when your eidolon is hit by an attack, you can use your reaction to cast shield on it).
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. As noted in the eidolon stat block, your eidolon's ability scores increase the same way.
Using the optional feats rule, you can forgo taking this feature to take a feat of your choice instead.
Life Bond
At 7th level, your life becomes intertwined with that of your eidolon. Whenever your eidolon takes damage, you may use your reaction and sacrifice a number of hit points from your current total. When you do so, you reduce the damage of the triggering attack by an amount equal to the number of hit points you sacrificed.
You may not reduce yourself to 0 hit points with this feature.
Aspect
At 10th level, your deepening relationship with your eidolon has bestowed you some of its power. You choose a number of evolutions your eidolon has that cost up to 2 EP total. You gain the benefits of the chosen evolution(s).
Each evolution may only be selected once for the aspect or greater aspect features.
Transposition
At 11th level, as a bonus action you can switch locations with your eidolon through teleportation. You must be able to see your eidolon to perform the transposition. In addition, if your eidolon is larger than you they must still occupy the space you were previously on (or vice versa). If there is
not sufficient room to do so, the
transposition fails.
Greater Aspect
At 15th level, you increasingly resemble your eidolon as the plower of your bonded plane flows through you. You choose a number of evolutions your eidolon has that cost up to 4 EP total. You gain the benefits of the chosen evolution(s).
Each evolution may only be selected once for the aspect or greater aspect features.
Merge Forms
At 17th level, your eidolon becomes an extension of your own being. You learn to merge you and your eidolon's forms into one creature.
Merging
As a bonus action, you may touch your eidolon to merge you and its physical forms into one body. When you do so, you and your eidolon become one creature. Your merged form continues to be affected by any ongoing spells or magical effects that were affecting either of you, including those from worn magical equipment. You become the size of your eidolon if it was larger than yourself, but otherwise you remain the same size. After the merge, you may occupy the space either you or your eidolon were in, but you must be able to fit in the chosen space with your new size.
Merged Statistics
In your merged form, your creature type is the same as your eidolon. You have access to both your own and your eidolon's senses and movement speeds. Each one of your merged form's ability scores equals either your or your eidolon's corresponding ability score, whichever is higher. In addition, you use your eidolon's hit point pool and its armor class, but you may still use the life bond feature to draw from your own hit point pool and reduce damage taken. Lastly, your merged
form has all proficiencies that you
or your eidolon had.
Merged
Form Actions
While merged, you and your eidolon continue to take your separate turns as normal but are now controlling the same body in tandem. Your minds and thoughts are so coordinated that you encounter no issues piloting the same form. You may use any of your normal actions including casting spells while in your merged form, but you may alternatively perform one of your eidolon's attacks or another one of its actions instead. Your eidolon acts as normal. Note that if one of your eidolon's abilities has a limited number of uses, you and your eidolon share the available uses. In addition, either you or your eidolon (not both) may choose to move using one of your merged form's speeds. Lastly, your merged form has two reactions per round; one from you and one from your eidolon, but only one can be used at a time.
Splitting
You may willingly split forms, using your bonus action, causing you and your eidolon to occupy separate spaces directly on or within 5 feet of the space(s) your merged form had occupied; if there is not enough space to split, you remain merged.
Also, if your merged form is reduced to
0 hit points, your form splits if there is space available to do so, and your eidolon begins making death saving throws. If there is not enough space available to split, you and your eidolon remain merged and you make one death saving throw each round as your merged form. If your merged form dies, you die, your form splits, and your eidolon is banished.
Plane Shift
Beginning at 17th level, you learn to travel to your bonded plane. Once per long rest, as a ritual that takes 10 minutes, you can transport yourself and up to 8 willing creatures you can see to a general location on your bonded plane (see the plane shift spell).
Alternatively, while on your bonded plane, you can use this ritual to return yourself and up to 8 willing creatures to a familiar location on your home plane.
Grand Eidolon
At 20th level, your eidolon becomes a creature of legend and immense power. You gain four additional EP (for a total of 28 as shown in the Summoner Table).
Eidolon Base Forms
An eidolon's base form acts as the starting point for
your eidolon's evolution. Each base form has free
evolutions that do not count against your pool of evolution points (EP). Unlike other evolutions, these free evolutions cannot be removed when you gain a summoner level.
You may decide that your eidolon has body parts it
does not have the corresponding evolution for. However,
this only affects your eidolon's appearance and does not impart any gameplay benefit. For example, this is often applied to eidolons that have legs but not the "legs"
evolution, because they do not use their legs for attacking.
Aquatic
Aquatic eidolons begin with the head, gills, swim, and tail evolutions. In addition, choose one of the following
evolutions for your starting attack: bite, headbutt, horns,
or tail slap.
This grants them a head, the ability to breathe
underwater indefinitely, a swim speed of 30 feet, a tail, proficiency in acrobatics, and the attack you chose.
Biped
Biped eidolons begin with the head, arms, and speed (base) evolutions. In addition, choose one of the following evolutions for your eidolon's starting attack: bite, claws, headbutt, horns, pincers, slam, or stinger.
This grants them a head, a pair of arms, a speed of 30 ft., and the attack you chose. Here, the speed evolution represents a pair of legs that is unavailable for attacking or receiving attack evolutions.
Quadruped
Quadruped eidolons begin with the head, legs, pounce, and speed (base) evolutions. In addition, choose one of the following evolutions for your eidolon's starting attack: bite, claws, headbutt, hooves, or horns.
This grants them a head, a pair of legs, a speed of 40 ft., doubled distance on their long jumps, and the attack you chose. Here, the speed evolution represents a second pair of legs that is unavailable for attacking or receiving attack evolutions.
Serpentine
Serpentine eidolons begin with the head, climb, reach, and tail evolutions. In addition, choose one of the following evolutions for your eidolon's starting attack: bite, headbutt, horns, stinger, or tail slap.
This grants them a head, a climb speed of 20 ft., a tail, proficiency in acrobatics, and the attack you chose (which gains a range of 10 feet).
Winged
Winged eidolons begin with the head, skilled (acrobatics), and wings evolutions. In addition, choose one of the following evolutions for your eidolon's starting attack: bite, headbutt, horns, or wing buffet.
This grants them a head, proficiency in acrobatics, a flight speed of 30 ft., and the attack you chose.
Optional Rule: Custom Base Forms
If none of the above base forms closely fit the idea you have for your eidolon's form, you can make a custom base form by following the guidelines listed below. Note that evolutions gained through a custom base form count as free evolutions and cannot be removed later.
- Choose two of the following evolutions: "arms", "head", "legs", "tail", and "wings". You may choose the same evolution twice, except for "wings". You may not choose both the "arms" and "wings" evolutions.
- Choose two different 1-point evolutions that are not attacks. However, if you chose either the "arms" or "wings" evolutions at least once in the previous step, you may only choose one 1-point evolution.
- Choose one 1-point attack evolution that your eidolon has a prerequisite body part evolution for. For example, the "claws" evolution requires "arms" or "legs".
Evolutions
The following are all the evolutions that can be given to your eidolon. You have a number of evolution points (EP) according to evolution points column of the Summoner Table. These can be spent on evolutions for your eidolon (see the "Evolutions" section) to grant them additional capabilities. Whenever you gain a summoner level, you may spend available EP on new evolutions. When you do so, you may remove one of your eidolon's current evolutions (except for the free evolutions granted by their base form). Any EP that had been spent on the removed evolution are available to be spent on new evolutions. Unless otherwise stated, each evolution can be taken multiple times.
An evolution that grants your eidolon an attack requires that your eidolon have one of the corresponding body part evolutions. For example, the claws evolution requires either the "arms" or "legs" evolutions.
1-Point Evolutions
The following evolutions cost one evolution point to choose.
Ability Score
Your eidolon becomes physically or mentally more capable. Choose one of your eidolon's ability scores. The chosen ability score increases by 1.
Increases to ability scores affects the relevant saving throws, skills, attacks, hit points, AC, etc. as if the eidolon were a player character. For example, if an eidolon's constitution ability score increases from 11 to 12, its constitution modifier increases by 1, and it gains a number of hit points equal to your summoner level and one more hit point at each new summoner level.
Basic Magic
Your eidolon learns to cast a basic spell. Select one first level spell from the sorcerer spell list. Your eidolon can cast this spell once per long rest at first level. Charisma is your eidolon’s casting ability for these spells.
Bite
Your eidolon’s maw is full of razor-sharp teeth, giving it a bite attack from a head. This attack deals 1d6 piercing damage and has a base range of 5 feet.
Cantrip
Your eidolon learns to cast a simple spell. Select one of the following cantrips: Acid Splash, Chill Touch, Create Bonfire, Dancing Lights, Fire Bolt, Frostbite, Gust, Infestation, Light, Lightning Lure, Mage Hand, Magic Stone, Mending, Mind Sliver, Minor Illusion, Poison Spray, Primal Savagery, Produce Flame, Ray of Frost, Sacred Flame, Sapping Sting, Shocking Grasp, Spare the Dying, Thorn Whip, Thunderclap, or Toll the Dead. Your eidolon can cast this cantrip a number of times per day equal to its charisma modifier. Charisma is your eidolon’s casting ability for these spells. Your eidolon uses your summoner level to determine the effects of its cantrips.
Claws
Your eidolon has a pair of vicious claws at the end of one of its pairs of limbs, giving it a claw attack from one arm or pair of legs or wings. This attack deals 1d6 slashing damage and has a base range of 5 feet.
Climb
Your eidolon becomes a skilled climber, gaining a climb speed equal to 20 feet.
You cannot select this evolution more than once.
Darkvision
Your eidolon gains the ability to see clearly in the dark. Your
eidolon gains darkvision to a range of 60 feet. Each
subsequent time you select this evolution, the range of
your eidolon's darkvision increases by 30 feet.
Disengage
Your eidolon is nimble and able to escape enemies'
attacks. Your eidolon can disengage as a bonus action.
You cannot select this evolution more than once.
Gills
Your eidolon has a pair of gills allowing it to breathe
underwater indefinitely.
You cannot select this evolution more than once.
Headbutt
Your eidolon grows a thick skull or blunt horns to
ram foes, giving it a headbutt attack from one head.
This attack deals 1d6 bludgeoning damage and has a
base range of 5 feet.
Hooves
Your eidolon has a pair of hardened hooves or otherwise
tough feet, giving it a hoof attack from one pair of legs.
This attack deals 1d6 bludgeoning damage and has a
base range of 5 feet.
Horns
Your eidolon grows a number of sharp horns on its head, giving it a horn attack from one head. This attack deals 1d4 piercing damage and has a base range of 5 feet. If your eidolon moves at least 15 feet directly towards a creature on its turn, this attack is made with advantage when targeting that creature before the end of the turn.
Improved Damage
One of your eidolon’s attacks is particularly deadly. Choose one of your eidolon’s attacks, not including spells. The damage die for this attack increases by one step (e.g. a 1d6 becomes a 1d8) up to a maximum of 1d12.
This evolution does not count as modifying an attack for the purposes of applying other evolutions to the same attack.
Improved Health
Your eidolon becomes tougher and able to withstand more damage. The size of your eidolon's hit die increases by one step (e.g. from d6 to d8) up to a maximum of d12. In addition, your eidolon's hit point maximum increases by an amount equal to your summoner level plus one and continues to increase by one more each time you gain a summoner level.
Each time your eidolon receives this evolution after the first, the cost increases by one evolution point.
Improved Natural Armor
Your eidolon’s natural armor grows thicker, sturdier, and heavier. Your eidolon’s AC now equals 12 + Dex modifier (max 2) + PB. You may choose improve this evolution by spending an additional evolution point to make your eidolon's AC equal 14 + PB.
Mount
Your eidolon is properly trained to serve as a combat mount. An eidolon with this evolution may carry one rider of the same size, up to two riders if they are all at least one size smaller, four riders if they are all at least two sizes smaller, and eight riders if they are all at least three sizes smaller.
You cannot select this evolution more than once.
Pincers
Your eidolon has a large crushing pincer or simply a powerful grip, giving it a pincer attack from one arm. This attack deals 1d4 bludgeoning damage and has a base range of 5 feet.
An eidolon with this evolution adds their PB twice
(instead of once) to athletics checks made to grapple if
they have hit with a pincer attack on that turn.
Pounce
Your eidolon has an exceptionally long jump. When
your eidolon makes a long jump, it covers a number of
feet up to double its Strength score.
You cannot select this evolution more than once.
Protective
Your eidolon is instinctually protective of you and your
allies. When a creature within 5 feet of your eidolon is targeted with an attack, your eidolon can use its
reaction to give that creature a +2 bonus to AC until
the beginning of your eidolon's next turn.
You may spend an additional evolution point to
improve this evolution. If you do so, your eidolon may
impose disadvantage on the triggering attack instead
of granting the AC bonus.
Pull
Your eidolon gains the ability to pull creatures closer when attacking. Choose one of your eidolon’s attacks, not including spells. When your eidolon deals damage with this attack, the targeted creature must make a strength saving throw (DC = 8 + your eidolon’s strength modifier + your proficiency bonus). On a failed save, the creature is pulled to the closest space within 5 feet of your eidolon.
An attack modified by this evolution may not be modified by any other.
Push
Your eidolon gains the ability to push creatures when attacking. Choose one of your eidolon’s attacks, not including spells. When your eidolon deals damage with this attack, the targeted creature must make a strength saving throw (DC = 8 + your eidolon’s strength modifier + your proficiency bonus). On a failed save, the creature is shoved 5 feet directly away from your eidolon or shoved prone (your choice).
An attack modified by this evolution may not
be modified by any other.
Reach
One of your eidolon’s attacks has a longer
range. Choose one of your eidolon’s attacks, not
including spells. The range of that attack increases by
5 feet. This evolution can be selected multiple times for the same attack depending on your eidolon’s size. A small or medium eidolon can select this evolution only once for each attack. For each size larger, your eidolon may select this evolution one more time for each attack. If your eidolon's size is reduced, its reach is temporarily reduced to the maximum available for its size (e.g. 10 feet for small/medium, 15 feet for large, etc.)
This evolution does not count as modifying an attack for the purposes of applying other evolutions to the same attack.
Resistance
Your eidolon is particularly resistant to a specific type of damage. Choose one of the following damage types: acid, cold, fire, lightning, necrotic, radiant, or thunder. Your eidolon gains resistance to that damage type.
Each time your eidolon receives this evolution after the first, the cost increases by one evolution point.
Scent
Your eidolon’s sense of smell is extremely acute. Your eidolon has advantage on perception checks that rely on smell. In addition, your eidolon automatically detects creatures within 60 feet that have a clear path smell can travel through (e.g. not behind walls or thick doors).
This evolution does not allow your eidolon to know the exact position of detected creatures, nor how many creatures there are. In addition, creatures cannot be detected this way if they do not produce a smell.
You cannot select this evolution more than once.
Siege
Your eidolon is adept at destroying and
tearing down walls and structures. Choose
one of your eidolon's attacks, not including spells.
Your eidolon deals double damage to objects and structures with that attack.
This evolution does not count as modifying an attack for the purposes of applying other evolutions to the same attack.
Size
Your eidolon grows in size. The size of your eidolon increases by one category (e.g. a small eidolon becomes medium). Each time your eidolon receives this evolution after the first, the cost increases by one evolution point.
When you summon your eidolon, you may make your eidolon smaller than its normal size (to a minimum size of small). This can be reverted when you summon your eidolon again.
Skilled
Your eidolon is particularly talented in a skill. Choose a skill your eidolon is not already proficient in (an eidolon starts with proficiency in athletics by default). Your eidolon is considered proficient in the chosen skill and adds your proficiency bonus to checks made with that skill.
Slam
Your eidolon can deliver devastating blunt attacks through a powerful fist, tentacle, etc. Your eidolon gains a slam attack on one arm. This attack deals 1d6 bludgeoning damage and has a base range of 5 feet.
Slippery
Your eidolon is particularly hard to
hold onto. Your eidolon has advantage
on saving throws and checks to avoid or
escape a grapple.
You cannot select this evolution more than once.
Speed
Your eidolon becomes faster and more mobile. Choose one of your eidolon's movement speeds (its base speed or any special movement speeds it has). That speed increases by 10 feet.
Sticky
Your eidolon is especially sticky. Creatures have disadvantage on checks made to escape your eidolon’s grapple (but not the initial check to avoid being grappled).
You cannot select this evolution more than once.
Stinger
Your eidolon has a dangerous barbed stinger or spike, giving it a stinger attack from one arm or tail. This attack deals 1d6 piercing damage and has a base range of 5 feet.
Swim
Your eidolon has webbed hands, feet, or flippers that allow it to swim quickly. Your eidolon gains a swimming speed equal to 30 feet.
You cannot select this evolution more than once.
Tail Slap
Your eidolon can use its tail to slam into enemies, giving it a tail slap attack from one tail. This attack deals 1d6 bludgeoning damage and has a base range of 5 feet.
Wing Buffet
Your eidolon learns to use its wings to batter foes, giving it a wing attack from its wings. This attack deals 1d6 bludgeoning damage and has a base range of 5 feet.
You cannot select this evolution more than once.
2-Point Evolutions
The following evolutions cost two evolution points to choose.
Bleed
Your eidolon inflicts deep bleeding wounds. Choose one of your eidolon’s attacks that deals piercing or slashing damage. When your eidolon deals damage with this attack, the targeted creature must make a constitution saving throw (DC = 8 + your eidolon’s strength or dexterity modifier + your proficiency bonus). On a failed save, the creature begins bleeding and takes 1d4 damage of the original damage type at the beginning of each of its turns. A bleeding creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the bleeding effect on a success. A creature cannot be affected by multiple instances of this bleed effect at a time.
An attack modified by this evolution may not be modified by any other.
Constrict
Your eidolon gains powerful muscles to crush those that it grapples. Choose one of your eidolon’s attacks that has been modified by the grab evolution. When your eidolon successfully grapples an enemy with that attack, it deals additional bludgeoning damage equal to one roll of the attack’s damage die.
Your eidolon must have the grab evolution to take this evolution. This evolution does not count as modifying an attack for the purposes of applying both the grab and constrict evolutions to the same attack.
Elemental Attacks
One of your eidolon’s attacks becomes infused with elemental energy. Pick one of the following damage types: acid, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder. In addition, choose one of your eidolon’s attacks. That attack deals an addition 1d4 damage of the chosen type.
You can spend an additional evolution point to increase the damage die for the chosen element by one step (e.g. 1d4 becomes a 1d6) up to a maximum of 1d12.
An attack modified by this evolution may not be modified by any other.
Evasion
Your eidolon learns to nimbly avoid areas of danger. When your eidolon is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage on a success, and only half damage on a failure.
You cannot select this evolution more than once.
Grab
Your eidolon becomes adept at
grappling foes with an attack.
Choose one of your eidolon’s
attacks, not including spells.
When your eidolon hits a
creature with that attack, it may
use its bonus action to attempt to
grapple the target creature. An
attack modified by this evolution
may not be modified by any other.
Head
Your eidolon grows an additional head.
Each head can perform up to one
attack during the attack action. Heads
may be given the "bite", "headbutt", and
"horns" attack evolutions.
In addition, each head after the first grants
your eidolon a +1 bonus to perception
checks.
Keen Senses
Your eidolon’s sense sight and other senses
becomes more acute. Your eidolon gains
proficiency in perception, allowing it to add
your proficiency modifier to checks made with
that skill. In addition, your eidolon has
advantage on perception checks that rely on sight
or smell (your choice).
You cannot select this evolution more than once.
Legs
Your eidolon grows an additional pair of legs. Each pair
of legs can perform up to one attack during the attack
action. Legs may be given the "claws" and "hooves" attack
evolutions.
Legs can represent actual legs or similar body parts that increase your eidolon's mobility. Each pair of legs increases your eidolon’s base speed by 10 feet. Note that you can alternatively take the speed evolution if you do not need the extra pairs of legs for attacks.
Minor Magic
Your eidolon learns to cast a minor spell. Select one second level spell from the sorcerer spell list. Your eidolon can cast this spell once per long rest at second level. Charisma is your eidolon’s casting ability for these spells.
You may only select this evolution for your eidolon if you have at least one second level spell slot.
Poison Attacks
One of your eidolon’s attacks secretes a toxic venom. Choose one of your eidolon’s attacks, not including spells. When your eidolon hits a creature with that attack, the target creature must make a constitution saving throw (DC = 8 + your eidolon’s constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus). On a failed save, the creature is poisoned. At the end of each of its turns, that creature may repeat the saving throw ending the poisoned condition on a success.
An attack modified by this evolution may not be modified by any other.
Rend
One of your eidolon’s bleeding attacks becomes particularly devastating. Choose one of your eidolon’s attacks that has been modified by the bleed evolution. That attack now scores a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20. In addition, on a critical hit, this attack deals two additional damage die (instead of one) when determining damage.
Your eidolon must have the "bleed" evolution to take this evolution. This evolution does not count as modifying an attack for the purposes of applying both the "bleed" and "venomous" evolutions to the same attack.
Saving Throw
Your eidolon becomes skilled at avoiding a certain kind of danger. Your eidolon gains proficiency in a saving throw or your choice (eidolons start with proficiency in constitution and charisma saving throws).
Each time your eidolon receives this evolution after the first, the cost increases by one evolution point.
Stench
Your eidolon develops a stench so overpowering it sickens nearby creatures. Any creature that starts its turn within 5 feet of your eidolon must make a constitution saving throw (DC = 8 + your eidolon’s constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus). On a failed, the creature is poisoned until the beginning of its next turn. On a successful save, the creature is immune to the stench evolution for 24 hours.
You cannot select this evolution more than once.
Tremorsense
Your eidolon becomes attuned to vibrations in the ground. Your eidolon gains tremorsense to a range of 30 feet. You may spend additional EP to increase the range of your eidolon’s tremorsense by 10 feet for each point spent.
Tail
Your eidolon has a long, powerful tail. Your eidolon gains proficiency in acrobatics, allowing it to add your
proficiency modifier to checks made with that skill.
Each tail can perform up to one attack during the
attack action. A tail may be given the "stinger"
and "tail slap" evolutions.
Venomous
Your eidolon’s venom becomes extremely potent.
Choose one of your eidolon’s attacks that has
been modified by the "poison attacks"
evolution. When your eidolon hits an enemy
with that attack, it deals an extra 1d6
poison damage. You can spend additional
EP to increase the damage die for the
chosen element by one step (e.g. 1d6
becomes a 1d8) for each point spent
up to a maximum of 1d12.
Your eidolon must have the poison
attacks evolution to take this
evolution. This evolution does not
count as modifying an attack for the
purposes of applying both the poison
attacks and venomous evolutions to the
same attack.
Weapon Training
Your eidolon gains proficiency in simple weapons. You may spend one additional evolution point to grant your eidolon proficiency in martial weapons as well.
This evolution allows your eidolon to make attacks with weapons they are proficient in. Your eidolon follows the normal rules for wielding weapons and can make up to one attack with each weapon they are wielding as part of multiattack.
You cannot select this evolution more than once.
3-Point Evolutions
The following evolutions cost three evolution points to choose.
Arms
Your eidolon grows an additional pair of arms. Each individual arm can perform up to one attack during the attack action, but each arm requires its own attack evolutions. Arms may be given the "claws", "pincers", "slam", and "stinger" attack evolutions.
Arms can represent actual arms, tentacles, hooked graspers on wing tips, pseudopods, etc. A pair of arms allows an eidolon to grasp objects and wield weapons (with the weapon training evolution).
Blindsight
Your eidolon’s senses of the immediate area become extraordinarily acute. Your eidolon gains blindsight to
a range of 20 feet. You may spend additional
EP to increase the range of your eidolon’s
blindsense by 5 feet for each
point spent.
Breath Weapon
Your eidolon learns to exhale magical energy, granting it a breath weapon from its head. Choose from the acid, cold, fire, lightning, or poison damage types. In addition, choose either a 30-foot cone or 60-foot line. Your eidolon’s breath weapon deals 4d6 damage of the chosen type and takes on the chosen shape. Note that each of your eidolon’s heads can only have one breath weapon.
Once per short rest, your eidolon may use its breath weapon as one of its attacks. Creatures caught in the breath weapon must make a dexterity saving throw (DC = 8 + your eidolon’s constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus). On a successful, save a creature takes only half damage from the breath weapon.
Unlike other attacks, your eidolon’s breath weapon cannot
be modified by other evolutions. However, you may
spend additional EP to increase the damage of the
breath weapon by 2d6 for each point spent, up
to a maximum of
10d6.
Burrow
Your eidolon learns to push through earth with ease. Your eidolon gains a burrow speed of 20 feet.
You cannot select this evolution more than once.
Damage Reduction
Your eidolon's skin, hide, or scales become hard as steel. Bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage that your eidolon takes from nonmagical attacks is reduced by 3.
Devil’s Sight
Your eidolon can see normally in darkness, both magical and nonmagical, up to 120 feet. You may spend additional EP to increase the range of your eidolon's devil's sight by 30 feet for each point spent.
Frightening Presence
The mere presence of your eidolon can strike terror in the hearts of its foes. Once per short rest, as a bonus action, your eidolon may force all creatures of its choice within 60 feet to make a wisdom saving throw (DC = 8 + your eidolon’s charisma modifier + your proficiency bonus). On a failed save, the creature is frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success. When the effect ends for a creature, that creature is immune to your eidolon’s frightful presence for 24 hours.
You cannot select this evolution more than once.
Immunity
Your eidolon becomes extremely resilient to an element.
Choose an element your eidolon is resistant to. Your
eidolon becomes immune to that element.
Each time your eidolon receives this evolution after the
first, the cost increases by one evolution point.
Moderate Magic
Your eidolon learns to cast a spell of moderate power.
Select one third level spell from the sorcerer spell list.
Your eidolon can cast this spell once per long rest at
third level. Charisma is your eidolon’s casting modifier
for these spells.
You may only select this evolution for your eidolon if you
have at least one third level spell slot.
Sacrifice Health
Your eidolon gains the ability to heal others through the
sacrifice of its own life force. As an action, your eidolon can
touch a creature and choose to lose a number of hit points
up to one less than its current total. The target creature
regains hit points equal to half of the number sacrificed by
your eidolon (rounded down).
You cannot select this evolution more than once.
Swallow Whole
Your eidolon can swallow enemies either through
engulfing them in their form like a slime, actually
swallowing them, or through some other means. When
you obtain this evolution, choose either bludgeoning or
acid damage. The chosen damage type is what will be
dealt to swallowed creatures.
Once per round, your eidolon may replace one of
its attacks with an attempt to swallow a creature
it is grappling. The target creature must be at
least one size smaller than your eidolon. Your
eidolon makes an athletics check contested by either
an athletics or acrobatics check from the target
creature. If your eidolon is successful, the target
creature is swallowed and is no longer grappled. The swallowed creature takes bludgeoning or acid damage (depending on which you chose when taking this
evolution) equal to 1d6 plus your eidolon's constitution modifier, and is considered blinded, restrained, and
behind total cover. At the beginning of each of your
eidolon’s turns, a swallowed creature takes the
bludgeoning or acid damage again.
Your eidolon can only have one creature swallowed
at a time. If your eidolon dies or is banished, the
swallowed creature is no longer restrained and is
prone in one of the spaces your eidolon was
occupying (your choice if there are multiple).
You cannot select this evolution more than once,
and your swallow whole evolution cannot be modified
by other evolutions. However, you may spend additional
EP to increase swallow whole's damage die by one step
(e.g. a 1d6 becomes a 1d8) up to a maximum of 1d12.
Web
Your eidolon gains the ability to spin webs. Once per
short rest, your eidolon may replace one of its attacks
with an attempt to web a creature. To do so, your eidolon makes an attack roll against a creature within 30 feet. On
a hit, the target creature is restrained by webbing.
As an action, a creature restrained by this webbing or adjacent to a restrained creature can make a strength check (DC = 8 + your eidolon’s constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus), bursting the webbing on a success. Fire damage automatically destroys the webbing but deals an equal amount of damage to a restrained creature.
You cannot select this evolution more than once.
Wings
Your eidolon grows powerful wings or otherwise gains the ability to fly. Your eidolon gains a flying speed of 30 feet. A set of wings can perform one attack during the attack action and may be given the "claws" and "wing buffet" attack evolutions.
You cannot select this evolution more than once.
4-Point Evolutions
The following evolutions cost four evolution points to choose.
Legendary Resistance
Your eidolon is incredibly resistant to physical and magical threats. Once per long rest, if your eidolon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
You must be at least level 11 to choose this evolution, and you cannot select this evolution more than once.
Lifesense
Your eidolon can pinpoint living creatures with ease. Your eidolon notices and locates living creatures within 60 feet regardless of cover, invisibility, etc.
You must be at least level 11 to choose this evolution, and you cannot select this evolution more than once.
Major Magic
Your eidolon learns to cast a powerful spell. Select
one fourth level spell from the sorcerer spell list. Your
eidolon can cast this spell once per long rest at fourth level. Charisma is your eidolon’s casting modifier for these spells.
You may only select this evolution for your eidolon if you have at least one fourth level spell slot.
Multiclassing
Prerequisites. To qualify for multiclassing with the Summoner class, you must meet these prerequisites: 13 Charisma.
Proficiencies. When you multiclass into the Summoner class, you gain no proficiencies.
Spell Slots. You add half your Summoner levels (rounded down) for the purposes of determining multiclass spell slots.
Summoner Planar Bonds
Every summoner has a powerful bond with another plane of existence. The magical energies of that plane constitute your eidolon, fuel your magic, and give you and your eidolon different abilities.
Astral Bond
Instead of a particular plane, some summoners bond to the space between planes, known as the astral sea. Eidolons formed from astral power are less spatially constrained, giving them the ability to teleport, banish creatures back to their own plane, and turn ethereal.
Astral Bond Spells
Summoner Level | Spells |
---|---|
1st | Expeditious Retreat |
5th | Misty Step |
9th | Blink |
13th | Banishment |
17th | Far Step |
Astral Eidolons
Astral eidolons are unlike creatures from any particular plane. Beginning at 1st level, your eidolon's creature type is aberration.
In addition, your eidolon's spatially transient nature gives your eidolon gains the "speed" and "slippery" evolutions as a free evolutions that cannot be removed.
Arcane Shift
At 6th level, your eidolon learns to control its position more closely. Once per short rest, your eidolon may cast misty step as a bonus action.
Space Between
Beginning at 14th level, you eidolon can direct the flow of astral energy between the planes to force creatures back to their home planes. Once per long rest, your eidolon may cast the spell banishment as an action.
Ethereal Form
At 18th level, your eidolon detaches itself more fully from the constraints of physical space. Once per long rest, as an action, your eidolon may gain the benefits of the etherealness spell for up to 10 minutes, requiring its concentration.
Feywild Bond
You have become coupled with the wild and unpredictable magics of the feywild. Your eidolon can channel this magic to disorient and confuse foes, becoming as illusive and deceptive as powerful fey.
Feywild Bond Spells
Summoner Level | Spells |
---|---|
1st | Disguise Self |
5th | Suggestion |
9th | Hypnotic Pattern |
13th | Confusion |
17th | Dominate Person |
Fey Eidolons
Eidolons infused with feywild magics become like the fey themselves. Beginning at 1st level, your eidolon's creature type is fey.
In addition, your eidolon can channel basic fey magic. Your eidolon gains the "basic magic (disguise self)" and "cantrip (minor illusion)" evolutions as free evolutions that cannot be removed.
Illusion Resistance
Beginning at 6th level, your eidolon is accustomed to the disorienting powers of the feywild, making it easy to resist similar effects. Your eidolon has advantage on wisdom savings throws.
Maddening Presence
Beginning at 10th level, the mere presence of your eidolon can madden its foes. Once per short rest, as a reaction to being targeted by an attack within 5 feet, your eidolon can force the attacker to make a wisdom saving throw (DC = 8 + your eidolon's charisma modifier + your proficiency bonus) before making the attack roll. On a failure, you choose a new target creature for the attack within range of the triggering attack; if there are no creatures in range other than your eidolon, the attacking creature targets your eidolon but has disadvantage on the attack roll.
Domination
At 18th level, your eidolon gains the ability to magically control lesser beings. Once per long rest, as an action, your eidolon may cast the spell dominate person.
Shadowfell Bond
You are attuned to the shadowfell, a plane of
decay and death, that acts as a bleak counterpart
to the material plane. Eidolons formed from darkness
channel the power of death in their attacks and learn to hide themselves in shadow.
Shadowfell Bond Spells
Summoner Level | Spells |
---|---|
1st | False Life |
5th | Invisibility |
9th | Summon Shadowspawn |
13th | Greater Invisibility |
17th | Danse Macabre |
Shadow Eidolons
Eidolons formed from the shadowfell are connected with the powers of death. Beginning at 1st level, your eidolon's creature type is undead or abberation (your choice).
In addition, your eidolon's dark, shadowy nature makes it resilient to necrotic attacks. Your eidolon gains the "resistance (necrotic)" and "skilled (stealth)" evolutions as free evolutions that cannot be removed.
Dark Offense
Beginning at 6th level, your eidolon's attacks are suffused with shadow magic. Choose one of your eidolon's attacks, this attack deals 1d6 necrotic damage on a hit. This does not count as modifying the attack with an evolution.
In addition, if you choose the "elemental attacks" evolution, you may choose necrotic as the damage type.
Shadowform
Beginning at 14th level, your eidolon can vanish into the shadows. Once per long rest, as an action, your eidolon can cast the greater invisibility spell targeting itself.
Immaterial
At 18th level, your eidolon's form becomes increasingly resistant to physical threats. Your eidolon gains resistance to nonmagical bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.
Elemental Bond
You have a strong connection to the elemental planes of
chaos. Your eidolon is formed from these chaotic
energies and can summon the power of the elements in
their attacks and abilities.
Elemental Bond Spells
Summoner Level | Spells |
---|---|
1st | Feather Fall (air), Grease (earth), Burning Hands (fire), or Create or Destroy Water (water) |
5th | Gust of Wind (air), Maximillian's Earthen Grasp (earth), Scorching Rays (fire), or Rime's Binding Ice (water) |
9th | Fly (air), Erupting Earth (earth), Fireball (fire), Tidal Wave (water) |
13th | Storm Sphere (Air), Stoneshape (Earth), Wall of Fire (Fire), Control Water (Water) |
17th | Control Winds (air), Transmute Rock (earth), Flame Strike (fire), or Cone of Cold (water) |
Elemental Eidolons
Your eidolon is formed from raw elemental energy.
Beginning at 1st level, your eidolon's creature type is
elemental. In addition, choose either air, earth, fire, or water
as your eidolon's bonded element, which affects the
following planar bond features and your bond spells.
Your eidolon's control over the elements gives them the
"elemental attacks" evolution as a free evolution that cannot
be removed. The damage type from this feature depends
on your eidolon's bonded element: lightning (air), acid
(earth), fire (fire), or cold (water).
Elemental Form
Beginning at 6th level, your eidolon can manifest its form
as elemental energy. Your eidolon gains resistance to one
of the following damage types depending on its bonded
element: lightning (air), acid (earth), fire (fire), or cold (water).
In addition, your eidolon can move through a space as
narrow as 1 inch without squeezing.
Planar Barrier
At 14th level, your eidolon learns to summon an
elemental barrier. Once per long rest, as an action, your
eidolon can cast one of the following spells, depending on
its bonded element: wind wall (air), wall of sand (earth), wall
of fire (fire), or wall of water (water).
Chaotic Aura
At 18th level, your eidolon's chaotic energy erupts in
response to enemy attacks. When a creature makes an
attack within 5 feet of your eidolon, you may choose to
deal 1d6 damage to that creature. The damage type
depends on your eidolon's bonded element.
Abyssal Bond
Your power is drawn from the dark, chaotic realm of demons, the Abyss. Abyssal eidolons become immune to many of the frailties of mortal creatures and can strike fear into those they face in combat.
Abyssal Bond Spells
Summoner Level | Spells |
---|---|
1st | Cause Fear |
5th | Blindness/Deafness |
9th | Summon Lesser Demon |
13th | Summon Greater Demon |
17th | Planar Binding |
Abyssal Eidolons
Eidolons born from abyssal darkness are demons in their own right. Beginning at 1st level, your eidolon's creature type is fiend (demon).
The chaotic nature of your eidolon grants it increased damage and resistance to a particular element. Your eidolon gains the "resistance" evolution to resist either cold, fire, or lightning (your choice) and the "improved damage" evolution. These are free evolutions that cannot be removed.
Terrifying Assault
Beginning at 6th level, your eidolon carries a dark presence with its attacks that frightens its foes. When a creature is hit by one of your eidolon's attacks, that creature must make a wisdom saving throw (DC = 8 + your eidolon's charisma modifier + your proficiency bonus). On a failure, that creature is frightened of your eidolon until the beginning of your next turn. On either a successful saving throw, a creature is immune to this feature for 24 hours.
Fiendish Anatomy
Beginning at 14th level, your eidolon's form is increasingly akin to a powerful demon's. Your eidolon gains immunity to poison damage and the poisoned and exhausted conditions.
Demonic Aura
At 18th level, the power of your eidolon
manifests an aura of despair and fear.
Creatures of your choice within 10 feet of
your eidolon have a penalty to
saving throws equal to your
eidolon's charisma
modifier.
Celestial Bond
You are blessed as a conduit of heavenly power from the upper realms. Your eidolon is a manifestation of this divine energy and can bless and heal you and your allies.
Celestial Bond Spells
Summoner Level | Spells |
---|---|
1st | Healing Word |
5th | Lesser Restoration |
9th | Mass Healing Word |
13th | Aura of Life |
17th | Greater Restoration |
Celestial Eidolons
Your eidolon is bestowed with divine power from the upper realms. Beginning at 1st level, your eidolon's creature type is celestial.
Your eidolon is inherently good and selfless, giving it a protective nature. Your eidolon gains the "resistance (radiant)" and "protective" evolutions as free evolutions that cannot be removed.
Healing Touch
At 6th level, your eidolon learns to channel holy energy to heal wounds. As an action, your eidolon can touch a target creature and restore a number of hit points to that creature equal to 1d4 times half your summoner level rounded down. Your eidolon can perform this action a number of times equal to its charisma modifier and regains expended uses after a long rest.
Blessed Presence
Beginning at 14th level, friendly creatures in the presence of your eidolon are blessed with confidence and protection. Once per short rest, your eidolon can cast bless as a bonus action. When cast this way, bless can affect up to 8 creatures within 30 feet of your eidolon and does not require concentration.
Purifying Blessing
Beginning at 18th level, creatures affected by your eidolon's blessed presence feature are immune to the frightened, poisoned, and stunned conditions. In addition, any of these conditions are removed from creatures when they are blessed by that feature.
Mechanus Bond
You are bound to the plane of ultimate order, Mechanus, a place of law and organization that is home to the modron race. Like the modrons, your eidolon takes on a mechanical form and seeks balance above all else.
Mechanus Bond Spells
Summoner Level | Spells |
---|---|
1st | Protection from Evil and Good |
5th | Zone of Truth |
9th | Dispel Magic |
13th | Summon Construct |
17th | Greater Restoration |
Mechanus Eidolons
Your eidolon is an organized mechanical creature constructed from the lawful energies of mechanus. Beginning at 1st level, your eidolon's creature type is construct.
Your eidolon's mechanical form grants it increased protection and knowledge on a particular subject. Your eidolon gains the "skilled" evolution granting it proficiency in arcana, history, nature, or religion (your choice) and the "improved natural armor" evolution. These are free evolutions that cannot be removed.
Logic Circuits
Beginning at 6th level, your eidolon's dedication to logic gives it advantage on saving throws to resist the effects of enchantment and illusion spells. In addition, your eidolon has advantage on checks to discern illusions, such as when inspecting a creature under the effects of a disguise self spell.
Preserve Balance
Beginning at 14th level, as a creature of order, your eidolon seeks to preserve the balance between the planes and their denizens, regardless of good or evil. Once per long rest, as an action, your eidolon can cast the spell protection from evil and good. When cast this way, the spell may target up to 8 creatures within 30 feet of your eidolon.
Pure Logic
At 18th level, your eidolon becomes a creature of perfect logic and order. Your eidolon is immune to the effects of enchantment, illusion, and transmutation spells. You may choose to allow a spell to affect your eidolon despite this immunity.
In addition, your eidolon can dispel the effects of spells from the above schools of magic by touching the object or creature affected by the spell. The spell must be level four or lower to be dispelled in this manner.
Beastlands Bond
You are attuned to the beastlands, a good-aligned plane full
of intelligent animals and varied landscapes. Your eidolon comes from the natural energies of this plane granting it improved maneuverability and keen senses like beasts of
the wild.
Beastlands Bond Spells
Summoner Level | Spells |
---|---|
1st | Speak with Animals |
5th | Summon Beast |
9th | Conjure Animals |
13th | Freedom of Movement |
17th | Commune with Nature |
Beastlands Eidolons
Your eidolon is a created from the essence of nature inherent to the beastlands. Beginning at 1st level, your eidolon's
creature type is beast or celestial (your choice).
Your eidolon has instinctive prowess from its
beast-like nature. Your eidolon gains the
"speed" and scent" evolutions. These
are free evolutions that
cannot be removed.
Land's Stride
Beginning at 6th level, your eidolon is accustomed to a wide variety of rough terrains from its home plane. Moving through nonmagical difficult terrain costs your eidolon no extra movement. Your eidolon can also pass through nonmagical plants without being slowed by them and without taking damage from them if they have thorns, spines, or a similar hazard.
In addition, your eidolon has advantage on saving throws against plants that are magically created or manipulated to impede movement, such as those created by the entangle spell.
Loyal Guardian
Beginning at 14th level, your eidolon is aggressively protective of you and your allies. Whenever a creature within 5 feet of your eidolon targets another creature (not your eidolon) with an attack, your eidolon may use its reaction to make an attack of opportunity against the attacking creature.
Bestial Sense
At 18th level, your eidolon's senses become incredibly acute, granting it the following benefits:
- Creatures within 30 feet are never considered invisible to your eidolon.
- While your eidolon is not incapacitated or restrained, melee attacks targeting it have disadvantage.
Summoner Spell List
Cantrips
Acid Splash
Blade Ward
Chill Touch
Create Bonfire
Dancing Lights
Fire Bolt
Frostbite
Gust
Infestation
Light
Mage Hand
Mending
Message
Minor Illusion
Poison Spray
Prestidigitation
Produce Flame
Ray of Frost
Shocking Grasp
Thunderclap
1st Level
Absorb Elements
Arms of Hadar
Color Spray
Detect Magic
Disguise Self
Entangle
Expeditious Retreat
False Life
Feather Fall
Find Familiar
Floating Disk
Fog Cloud
Grease
Jump
Longstrider
Mage Armor
Protection from Evil and
Good
Shield
Sleep
Unseen Servant
2nd Level
Alter Self
Blindness/Deafness
Blur
Borrowed Knowledge
Cloud of Daggers
Darkness
Darkvision
Dragon's Breath
Dust Devil
Earthbind
Enhance Ability
Enlarge/Reduce
Find Steed
Flock of Familiars
Hold Person
Invisibility
Kinetic Jaunt
Levitate
Maximilian's Earthen Grasp
Mirror Image
Misty Step
Ray of Enfeeblement
Rope Trick
See Invisibility
Spider Climb
Summon Beast
Vortex Warp
Web
Wither and Bloom
Wristpocket
3rd Level
Ashardalon's Stride
Blink
Conjure Animals
Create Food and Water
Erupting Earth
Fly
Gaseous Form
Haste
Hunger of Hadar
Hypnotic Pattern
Life Transference
Magic Circle
Phantom Steed
Protection from Energy
Slow
Spirit Guardians
Spirit Shroud
Stinking Cloud
Summon Fey
Summon Lesser Demon
Summon Shadowspawn
Summon Undead
Thunder Step
Tiny Hut
Water Breathing
4th Level
Banishment
Black Tentacles
Conjure Minor Elemental
Conjure Woodland Beasts
Dimension Door
Elemental Bane
Faithful Hound
Find Greater Steed
Fire Shield
Galder's Speedy Courier
Greater Invisibility
Polymorph
Stoneskin
Summon Aberration
Summon Construct
Summon Elemental
Summon Greater Demon
Watery Sphere
5th Level
Cloudkill
Conjure Elemental
Contact Other Plane
Creation
Far Step
Hold Monster
Infernal Calling
Insect Plague
Planar Binding
Seeming
Skill Empowerment
Summon Celestial
Summon Draconic Spirit
Teleportation Circle
The Summoner
A halfcaster class for those who don't like being lonely. Summon and evolve powerful, awe-inspiring creatures with eight Summoner bonds: Astral, Feywild, Shadowfell, Elemental, Abyssal, Celestial, Mechanus, and Beastlands.
Art Credits:
Page 68: Dragon Angel by Dopaprime
Page 71: High Rock Summoner by Bethesda
Page 72: Scion of Shiv by Greg Rutkowski
Page 73: Golem by Callergi
Page 74: Dragon Charmer by Shreya Shetty
Page 75: Rising Summoner by Mynet
Page 76: Summoner by Hypnus L
Page 77: Pren and the Gigaphant by T. Payton
Page 78: Dracomancer by Joshua Bermudez
Page 79: Dark Summon by XXXsof
Page 80: Dragon Tamer by JowieLim
Page 81: Maker's Feet by Katorius
Page 82: Summoner by Andrew
Page 84: Shepherd by Mikhail Palamarchuk
Page 85: Frozen Dragon by Viktor Fetsch
Page 86: Burnt Dress! by theDURRRRIAN
Page 88: Cylinne by Celine Vu
Page 89: Conflict by PainDude
Page 90: Solas by Pinselohr
See Dragonshard's GM Binder profile for more
homebrew classes inspired by Pathfinder.
Witch
A young human woman, bound to a large stake and standing atop a pile of kindling, is surrounded by scared villagers and angry guardsmen. One of the guards, approaching with a torch ready to set the pile ablaze, stops in his tracks as the woman mutters an incantation under her breath. Head now muddled by the hex, he looks upon the poor, helpless girl and slashes her bindings with his blade. With a smile, the woman uses her now freed hands to whisk herself away with a spell.
A group of warriors fight a large beast with terrible horns and an impenetrable hide. The fight appears to be lost as the creature continues to effortlessly slam the combatants around the battlefield. However, standing behind the warriors, an elf completes his spell causing dark bands of magical energy to restrain the great beast. Rendered almost defenseless, the beast is quickly felled.
Two hill giants loom over a elderly gnomish woman. As they debate whether the small woman is even worth it as a snack, the gnome conjures a wave of psychic energy rattling their weak minds. Thoroughly disoriented, the two giants begin brawling each other as the woman continues on her way.
Witches are powerful casters who glean power from ancient, mysterious sources, such as natural forces or obscure concepts. Through their connection to these sources, they gain their ability to create spells. Expert in controlling the weak-minded, witches tend to use their magic to subtly manipulate their way through obstacles and curse any who dare stand in their way.
Strange Devotion
Some gain power through study, some through worship, others through blood, but the witch gains power through communion with the strange and unknown. Dedicating themselves to a force of nature, a vaguely understood power, or even an intangible concept, witches draw their magic from the target of their devotion. Depending on the witch, these powers may be granted by an unknown being, or simply fueled by the forces of nature and magic around them. Witches learn to use their powers to curse those who oppress them, often giving them a reputation of both mystery and terror.
Feared Hexers
Due to their oft feared nature, witches sometimes hide their magic and strange devotion to coexist in society or live on the edge of civilization to more freely explore their power. Some may even choose to move from place to place in an effort to gain a greater understanding of their abilities.
For their own mysterious purposes, witches sometimes choose to seek out adventure, using their magical powers to curse and debilitate those who get in the way of them and their allies. While many are disinclined to trust witches, their spells and hexes will prove to be a great boon to any adventuring party as their enemies falter and break before them.
Creating a Witch
The first question to consider when creating your witch is what is the target of your devotion? For witches, these are typically forces of nature, such as weather or sickness, or intangible concepts, such as fate or finality. Look ahead at covens for ideas. For example, a witch dedicated to the powers of decay and rot, could thematically fit into the coven of the spreading plague. In addition, consider why you initially dedicated yourself to this particular force?
How did the onset of your powers affect your place in society? Were you ostracized or attacked or did you keep your powers hidden to not draw unneeded attention? On the other hand, maybe people viewed your magic with some wariness but otherwise appreciated its benefits?
Lastly, consider what caused you to set off on adventure. For instance, many witches move place to place to avoid persecution from suspicious villages and groups. Some witches simply seek out greater understanding of the target of their devotion through experience. Whatever the case, determine why you have decided to travel with an adventuring group.
Quick Build
You can make a witch quickly by following these suggestions. First, make Wisdom your highest ability score, followed by Constitution or Dexterity. Second, choose the hermit background. Third choose the toll the dead, minor illusion, and dancing lights
cantrips.
The Witch Table
Level | Proficiency Bonus |
Features | Cantrips Known |
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | +2 | Hex (1/short), Spellcasting | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
2nd | +2 | Witch's Familiar | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
3rd | +2 | Coven, Witchcraft | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
5th | +3 | ─ | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
6th | +3 | Coven Feature | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
7th | +3 | Hex Option | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
9th | +4 | ─ | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
10th | +4 | Coven Feature, Hex (2/short) | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
11th | +4 | ─ | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
13th | +5 | ─ | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
14th | +5 | Coven Feature | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
15th | +5 | Hex Option | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
17th | +6 | ─ | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
18th | +6 | Coven Feature | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
20th | +6 | Curse of the Occult | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Class Features
As a Witch, you gain the following class features:
Hit Points
- Hit Dice: 1d6 per witch level
- Hit Points at 1st Level: 6 + your Constitution modifier
- Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d6 (or 4) + your Constitution modifier per witch level after 1st.
Proficiencies
- Armor: None
- Weapons: Simple weapons
- Tools: Herbalism kit or a set of Artisan's tools, likely connected to or used in your witch magic and rituals.
- Saving Throws: Wisdom, Charisma
- Skills: Choose two skills from Animal Handling, Arcana, Deception, Intimidation, Insight, Nature, Perception and Religion
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- Any simple weapon and two daggers
- (a) a light crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) any simple weapon
- (a) a component pouch or (b) an arcane focus
- (a) a dungeoneer's pack or (b) an explorer's pack
- (a) An herbalism kit or (b) the set of artisan's tools you chose proficiency in
Spellcasting
Beginning at 1st level, your strong devotion to some force grants you the ability to cast spells.
Cantrips
At 1st level, you know three cantrips of your choice from the witch spell list. You learn additional witch cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Witch table.
Preparing and Casting Spells
The Witch table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these Witch 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.
You prepare the list of witch spells that are available for you to cast, choosing from the witch spell list. When you do so, choose a number of witch spells equal to your Wisdom modifier + your witch level (minimum of 1 spell). The spells must be a level for which you have spell slots.
You can change your list of prepared spells when you finish a long rest. Preparing a new list of witch spells requires some time in contemplation of the forces that fuel your magic: at least 1 minute per spell level for each spell on your list.
Spellcasting Ability
Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for your witch spells. 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 witch spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.
Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus +
Ritual Casting
You can cast a witch spell as a ritual if that spell has the ritual tag and you know the spell.
Spellcasting Focus
You can use an arcane focus as a spellcasting focus for
your witch spells.
Hex
Beginning at 1st level, you use your magical ability to manipulate your foes. You gain two hexes of your choice from the following list. You may choose another hex from the list at levels 7 and 15.
As a bonus action, you may target a creature that you can see and afflict them with a hex. When you do so, you choose one of your available hexes and the target suffers the effects. Maintaining a hex on a creature requires your concentration and lasts up to 24 hours, during which time you cannot concentrate on any other spell.
If a hexed creature drops to 0 hit points within the first minute of your hex's duration, you may use your bonus action on a subsequent turn within that minute to transfer the hex to another creature you can see for the remaining hex duration.
You may use hex once before completing a long or short rest. Beginning at 10th level, you may use two hexes before completing a short or long rest.
Hex List
- Hex of Agony. You curse your target with intense suffering and pain. When the target creature takes damage, you may use your reaction to deal additional necrotic damage equal to your witch level plus your wisdom modifier.
- Hex of Desire. You make yourself appear enticing and attractive to your target. The target creature must make a wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failure, they are charmed by you until the hex ends or you harm them. On a success, they are immune to this hex for 24 hours and your use of hex is not expended.
- Hex of Envy. You conjure intense feelings of jealousy in your target, causing them to deeply desire everything you have and everything you experience. When you take damage, you may use your reaction to deal necrotic damage equal to half of the triggering damage (rounded down) to the target creature.
- Hex of Fear. Your target sees you as a horrific being made of their worst nightmares. The target creature must make a wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failure, they are frightened. On a success, they are
immune to this hex for 24 hours and your
use of hex is not expended.
- Hex of Guilt. You make yourself appear pitiful and harmless to your target, causing them severe guilt when they attack you. The target creature has disadvantage on attack rolls against you.
- Hex of Hatred. An immense feeling of hatred towards you wells up in your target, making it difficult for them to focus on anything else. The target creature has disadvantage on attack rolls against any creature other than you, but gains advantage on attack rolls targeting you.
- Hex of Indolence. You bog down your enemies mind and body with fatigue. The target creature's movement speed is reduced by half.
- Hex of Pride. You instill a sense of overconfidence in your target causing them to lower their defenses. The target creature suffers a reduction to their AC equal to half of your wisdom modifier (rounded up).
- Hex of Sorrow. Your target becomes weighed down with feelings of despair. The target creature suffers a penalty to attack rolls equal to half of your wisdom modifier (rounded up).
- Hex of Wrath. Your target's mind is flooded with staggering rage. Choose intelligence, wisdom, or charisma. The target creature has disadvantage on saving throws of the chosen type.
Witch's Familiar
Witches develop a close relationship with a familiar spirit and use it to bestow their hexes on unfortunate individuals. Beginning at level 2, you gain the service of a familiar that is born from the force that you have devoted yourself to. Your familiar is a spirit that takes the form of a small creature of your choice. The creature type of your familiar is either celestial, fey, or fiend (your choice).
You summon your familiar in a ritual that takes one minute to perform causing it to appear in a spot within 30 feet of you. As in the find familiar spell, you can communicate with it telepathically within 100 feet, you can use your action to see and hear through its senses until the start of your next turn, and you can dismiss and resummon your familiar to and from a pocket dimension as an action. Your familiar has an AC of 10, 1 hit point, and a walking and flying speed of 30 feet, regardless of its chosen appearance. Your familiar acts on your initiative count, but cannot attack. Your familiar is automatically dismissed when it drops to 0 hit points or when you choose to dismiss it as a bonus action.
Your familiar may use its action to perform a hex in your place on a creature it can see, allowing you to concentrate on other spells. This expends one of your uses of hex and requires your familiar to maintain concentration. If your familiar is dismissed while maintaining concentration on a hex, the hex immediately ends.
Coven
At 3rd level, you begin to acquire distinct magical powers from the chosen focus of your dedication. Witches that dedicate themselves to similar forces are grouped into "covens". Some witches form loose connections with others in their coven, but many choose to remain fully independent instead. The coven you choose grants you features at levels 3, 6, 10, 14, and 18.
In addition, you gain spells according to your chosen coven at the appropriate witch levels. Each of these spells counts as a witch spell for you. These spells are always prepared and do not count against the number of spells you can prepare.
Witchcraft
Beginning at 3rd level, you imbue otherwise ordinary objects of your creation with your magical power. Using an object that you have created (using your artisan's tools, herbalism kit, etc.) you may select a witch spell and perform a ritual that takes 1 minute per spell level for the chosen spell. The ritual requires any material components the selected spell has and expends a spell slot of the spell's level or higher.
Upon completion of the ritual, the object is imbued with the magic of the chosen spell and is considered a magical item. You choose what triggers the magic to be cast; the object casts the spell either upon being touched or when a creature passes within a certain distance of it (maximum range of 30 feet). Other triggers are possible at your DM's discretion. You can exempt creatures of your choice from triggering the object when you perform the ritual. Alternatively, you (or friendly creatures of your choice) can choose to cast the spell from the object at any time as an action. Once an imbued object casts its spell, it cannot be triggered again until at least 24 hours have passed.
Spells that require concentration, when triggered from an imbued object, still require concentration as the object draws from your magical connection. If you are concentrating on another spell when your object is triggered, its effects still occur but last only until the following round on the initiative count it was activated.
You may have one object imbued with a witch spell at a time. Imbuing another object causes the original to lose its magic. You can also remove the magic from your imbued object through a ritual that takes 1 minute to perform.
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.
Using the optional feats rule, you can forgo taking this feature to take a feat of your choice instead.
Curse of the Occult
Beginning at 20th level, your hexes become exceptionally powerful and impairing. When you use your bonus action to target a creature with a hex, choose two of your hexes instead of one. Both hexes affect the target creature.
Multiclassing
Prerequisites. To qualify for multiclassing with the Witch class, you must meet these prerequisites: 13 Wisdom.
Proficiencies. When you multiclass into the Witch class, you gain the following proficiencies: Simple weapons.
Spell Slots. You add all your witch levels for the purposes of determining multiclass spell slots.
Witch Covens
A coven represents a group of witches that devote themselves to similar ideals and forces. Some witches form loose connections with others in their coven, but many choose to remain fully independent instead. The members of a coven collectively dedicate themselves to the same force and gain peculiar powers through their devotion.
Coven of the
Flickering Flame
While this coven may have a somewhat unassuming name, it is unwise to underestimate the destructive power of witches that revere the flame. In many lands, reviled witches had been put to the pyre out of fear and hate. Witches of the flickering flame reverse this devastating power of fire and harness it against those who would seek their destruction.
The moniker "flickering flame" is a reminder of how easily life can be snuffed, like a candle's wick.
Flame Coven Spells
Witch Level | Spells |
---|---|
3rd | Burning Hands, Hellish Rebuke, Scorching Ray, Continual Flame |
5th | Fireball, Melf's Minute Meteors |
7th | Fire Shield, Wall of Fire |
9th | Flame Strike, Immolation |
Charred Flesh
Seeking justice for the burned
witches of old, you turn the powers of
flame against your enemies. Beginning at
3rd level, you learn the fire bolt cantrip
which does not count against your number
of cantrips known.
Flame's Embrace
At 6th level, you learn to embrace the
warmth of flame. You gain resistance to
fire damage.
In addition, you may choose to ignore a
creature's resistance to fire damage
when casting a spell or using a witch
feature.
Burning Stake
Beginning at 10th level, the stake is no
longer a tool for burning witches, but instead
your foes. Once per long rest, when you hex a
creature, you may cause a pillar of fiery energy
to engulf them and confine them with magical
bands as part of the same bonus action. The
target must make a strength saving throw against
your spell save DC. On a failure, the target is
restrained and takes 1d6 fire damage for every witch level
you have. On a success, the target is not restrained and takes only half damage. A restrained creature may use its action to make a strength check against your spell save DC. On a success, the creature is no longer restrained.
Regardless of the result of the saving throw, the target creature's initial location burns with terrible flame for the next minute. A creature that ends its turn on a burning space takes 4d6 fire damage.
Vengeful Flame
Beginning at 14th level, flames of revenge grow bright within you, granting you the following benefits:
- As a reaction to taking damage from a creature, you
can deal fire damage equal to your witch level plus
double your wisdom modifier to the triggering
creature. - While you are hexing a creature, you treat their fire immunity as resistance that cannot be bypassed
further.
Witch's Pyre
Beginning at 18th level, none can escape the terrifying wrath of your flame. When you use the "burning stake" feature, all creatures of your choice within 10 feet of the targeted creature take 8d6 fire damage and must make a wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, that creature is stunned until the end of your next turn and frightened of you for one minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the frightened condition early on a success.
Coven of the
Spreading Plague
Fascinated with the powers of sickness and poison,
witches of the plague coven are amongst the most
reviled and feared. Like the flame coven, plague
witches can be vengeful but prefer to enact their plans
in more subtle ways. A witch seeking revenge on a village might seed infestation or plague amongst the villagers and allow the virulent diseases that result to run their course.
Of course, not every plague witch has such dark intents. Many with power over sickness choose instead to purify
and cure those afflicted with disease.
Plague Coven Spells
Witch Level | Spells |
---|---|
3rd | Detect Poison and Disease, Ray of Sickness Blindness/Deafness, Ray of Enfeeblement |
5th | Protection from Poison, Stinking Cloud |
7th | Aura of Purity, Blight |
9th | Cloudkill, Contagion |
Infection Vector
At 3rd level, you learn to summon small parasites as a means to seed infection and disease. You learn the infestation cantrip which does not count against your number of cantrips known.
Infectious Flow
Beginning at 6th level, your understanding of plague allows you to protect yourself against poisons and disease as well as make them more potent to your enemies. You gain resistance to poison damage and immunity to being diseased.
In addition, you may choose to ignore resistance to poison damage when you cast a spell or use a witch feature.
Sickening Magic
Beginning at 10th level, you infuse your spells with particularly virulent magical poison. This grants you the following benefits:
- Whenever you hit a creature with a spell that deals poison or necrotic damage, they must make a constitution saving throw against your spell save DC (creatures you are hexing automatically fail). On a failure, they are poisoned until the end of your next turn.
- If a creature fails a saving throw against one of your spells that deals poison or necrotic damage, they are poisoned until the end of your next turn.
Plagued Soul
Beginning at 14th level, your plagues and poisons have ascended beyond afflicting flesh alone. Your poison magic can wear away at anything from inorganic material to a creature's very soul, allowing you to poison creatures such as constructs or undead who would typically be unaffected. You gain the following benefits:
- While you are hexing a creature, you
treat their poison immunity as resistance that
cannot be bypassed further, and you can poison them even if they are immune to the poisoned condition. - You are immune to disease, poison damage, and the poisoned condition.
Virulence
At 18th level, you learn to magically spread plague from one creature to the next. You may use your bonus action to attempt to spread the poisoned condition or a disease that currently afflicts one creature to another.
To do so, choose two creatures that you can see within 60 feet. One of the creatures must be poisoned or afflicted by a disease. The other creature must make a constitution saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, the creature is now poisoned or diseased by the same effect that afflicted the original creature.
Coven of the
Encroaching Storm
Witches belonging to the coven of the encroaching storm have developed an intimate connection with weather itself, learning to create and direct storms. As storm witches grow in power, they can exert control over the weather in a wide area. Particularly strong members of the coven have been known to prevent the movement of armies with heavy storms and to lock down ships with freezing sleet. On the other hand, towns and villages on the good side of storm witches can expect pleasant days and just enough rainfall for their crops.
Mimicking storms' volatile natures, these witches often have tempestuous personalities. Those that interact with them learn to stay on their good side or keep their distance.
Storm Coven Spells
Witch Level | Spells |
---|---|
3rd | Fog Cloud, Thunderwave, Dust Devil, Gust of Wind |
5th | Call Lightning, Sleet Storm |
7th | Ice Storm, Storm Sphere |
9th | Control Winds, Freedom of the Winds |
Stormclap
At 3rd level, your fledgling abilities over weather allow you to rapidly alter air pressure in a small area, creating a thunderous clap. You learn the Thunderclap cantrip which does not count against your number of cantrips known.
Direct the Storm
Beginning at 6th level, you learn to direct the weather in the surrounding area. Once per long rest, you can cause the effects of the spell Control Weather. As long as you maintain concentration on this effect, you can sustain these effects indefinitely, during which time you cannot concentrate on spells. The range and effects depend on your witch level:
- Levels 6-10. 100 foot range,
change current temperature/wind/
precipitation by one stage. - Levels 11-16. 1000 foot range, change current temperature/wind/precipitation by up to two stages.
- Levels 17-20. 5 mile range, choose any temperature/wind/precipitation stage.
If you use this feature to alter weather that has been created by magic, you must make a wisdom check with a DC equal to the spellcasting ability score of the creature that created the weather. On a success, you alter the weather as intended. On a failure, the magical weather remains as before.
In addition, you can choose to be unaffected by storm coven spells (including thunderclap) that you cast.
Stormy Presence
Beginning at level 10, storms permeate your being causing lightning to crackle from your body especially in tense situations. When you are hit by an attack within 5 feet, the attacking creature must make a dexterity saving throw against your spell save DC (creatures you are hexing automatically fail). On a failure, the creature takes lightning damage equal to 1d6 times half your witch level (rounded down). On a success, the creature takes no damage.
Windborne
Beginning at 14th level, your control over the winds becomes so precise you can lift yourself or others as if you were flying. You gain a flying speed equal to 30 feet. In addition, you can choose to temporarily lose your flying speed to grant it to another creature of your choice that you can see.
Thunderous Strike
Beginning at level 18, your inner lightning crackles with extreme force. When a foe is damaged by your stormy presence feature, they are knocked back 20 feet from you and become prone.
Coven of the
Verdant Woodlands
The coven of verdant woodlands has a mixed reputation. More so than the other covens, woodlands witches tend to be more peaceful or at least reclusive when it comes to outsiders. Most often, these witches focus their efforts and powers towards maintaining their corner of nature. However, those that dare harm the land or beasts under the protection of a witch will face their unbridled wrath.
Woodlands Coven Spells
Witch Level | Spells |
---|---|
3rd | Entangle, Speak with Animals, Locate Animals or Plants, Spike Growth |
5th | Plant Growth, Speak with Plants |
7th | Conjure Woodland Beings, Guardian of Nature |
9th | Commune with Nature, Wrath of Nature |
Forest Guardian
Beginning at 3rd level, you harness the power of the wilds to empower your witch's familiar, which becomes a forest guardian. This creature takes the general appearance of a beast that inhabits the land around your home, but also has features that clearly mark it as a creature made from magic, such as shadowy tendrils that emanate from its body or similar unnatural qualities. It's friendly to you and your companions and it obeys your commands. The game statistics of your familiar are replaced by the Forest Guardian stat block, which uses your proficiency bonus (PB) in several places. You summon, dismiss, communicate with, and share the senses of your guardian in the same way as a witch's familiar.
In combat, the guardian shares your initiative count, but it takes its turn immediately after yours. It can move and use its reaction on its own, but the only action it takes on its turn is the dodge action or a hex as described in the "witch's familiar" feature, unless you take a bonus action on your turn to command it to take another action.
Land's Stride
Beginning at 6th level, moving through nonmagical difficult terrain costs you no extra movement. You can also pass through nonmagical plants without being slowed by them and without taking damage from them if they have thorns, spines, or a similar hazard.
In addition, you have advantage on saving throws against plants that are magically created or manipulated to impede movement, such as those created by the entangle spell.
Chilling Beast
Beginning at 10th level, your forest guardian emanates an aura of fear and doubt in its attacks. When a creature is hit by your guardian's wicked claws attack, it has disadvantage on attack rolls until the beginning of its next turn.
Forest Guardian
Medium, Chaotic Neutral
- Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
- Hit Points 2 + your Wisdom modifier + 5 times your witch level (the guardian has a number of hit dice [d8s] equal to your witch level)
- Speed 40 ft., fly 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 4 (-3) 10 (+0) 6 (-2)
- Saving Throws Dex +2 plus PB, Con +2 plus PB
- Skills Athletics +1 plus PB, Acrobatics +2 plus PB, Perception +0 plus PB
- Damage Resistances necrotic
- Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive perception 10 + PB
- Languages understands the languages you speak
- Proficiency Bonus (PB) equals your bonus
Actions
Wicked Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: your spell attack modifier to hit, reach 5 ft., one target you can see. Hit: 1d8 + 2 + PB necrotic damage.
Hex. Your forest guardian can perform a hex on a creature it can see, expending one of your uses of hex and requiring its concentration to maintain.
Reactions
Guardian's Retaliation. When a creature within 5 feet makes an attack roll or casts a spell, the guardian can use its reaction to make a wicked claws attack against that creature.
Wild Blood
Beginning at 14th level, your form becomes infused with the pure and chaotic energies of the wild. You gain immunity to poison and disease.
In addition, once per short rest, as a bonus action, you can choose to draw the ambient energies of the land into yourself to recover hp equal to your witch level plus double your wisdom modifier.
Horrid Beast
Beginning at level 18, the mere presence of your forest guardian empowers your magic and chills even the most fearless foes of the wild. You gain the following benefits:
- Creatures within 5 feet of your forest guardian are considered frightened by it, even if they are immune to the frightened condition.
- You have advantage on attack rolls against creatures frightened by your guardian. Similarly, those creatures have disadvantage on saving throws to resist spells
you cast.
Coven of
Uncertain Destiny
Many diviners hold fate in the highest regard and see struggling against destiny as fruitless and unwise. However, witches of the destiny coven view fate as a tool to be manipulated and controlled. This coven seeks understanding of what is to come through their magic and divination, because they believe that gaining a deeper understanding of a creature's destiny grants the power to change it.
Often these witches offer their fortune reading services with the tantalizing promise that everyone's destiny is malleable; only fools would ignore the opportunity to tweak it in their favor.
Destiny Coven Spells
Witch Level | Spells |
---|---|
3rd | Bless, Gift of Alacrity, Augury, Fortune's Favor |
5th | Clairvoyance, Dispel Magic |
7th | Death Ward, Divination |
9th | Commune, Contact Other Plane |
Tweak Fate
Beginning at 3rd level, you gain the ability to subtly alter the consequences of a creature's actions. You learn the guidance cantrip which does not count against your number of cantrips known.
Twisted Portent
At 6th level, you learn to glimpse the future and then twist it to your liking. When you finish a long rest, roll one d20 and record the number rolled. You can replace any attack roll, saving throw, or ability check made by you or a creature that you can see with one of these reshaped fate rolls. You may
do so immediately after the roll has been made,
demonstrating your ability to twist fate that
would have otherwise occurred.
If you replace the roll of a creature you are
hexing, you may reroll the twisted portent die
and use either the original or new result.
Each reshaped fate roll can be used
only once. When you finish a long
rest, you lose any unused
fate rolls.
Fated Death
At 10th level, your powers over fate have grown to the point you can cheat death. Once per long rest, when you or a creature of your choice that you can see within 30 feet would die as a result of failing a death saving throw (including due to taking damage while at 0 hit points), you may allow that creature to roll an additional death saving throw and take the new result. If the new result is a success, the creature regains one hit point.
Altering one's fated death has its consequences, however, and you gain one level of exhaustion. This exhaustion can only be removed through the greater restoration spell or by making a wisdom saving throw (DC 20) whenever you complete a long rest. On a success, you remove one level of exhaustion gained from this feature.
Visions
Beginning at 14th level, dabbling with future and fate has granted you dreams of what is to come. When you complete a long rest, you may ask one question about a goal, event, or activity to occur within 7 days and the DM offers a truthful reply in the form of a short description of the anticipated event.
For example, if you ask about an upcoming confrontation with an enemy, you may receive a glimpse of the fight giving you hints about the enemy's abilities and tactics as well as where you might encounter them.
Weaver of Fate's Strings
At 18th level, you learn to see, pull, cut, and weave the strings of fate that pull everyone towards their uncertain destinies. You roll two d20s for your twisted portent feature, rather than one, when you take a long rest.
In addition, you roll one d20 when you finish a short
rest and add it to your current pool of reshaped fate
rolls. You may have up to three reshaped
fate rolls stored
at any time.
Coven of the
Looming End
Death is the ultimate end, a destiny to be accepted and embraced. Respect for death is a core principle for witches of the coven of the looming end. These witches believe that one's death is a sacred event, one that should not be delayed beyond its natural time nor hurried along. Their great cognizance of death grants witches of the coven the ability to wield the powers of life and death to harm foes and heal allies. However, beseeching the powers of death to delay or reverse one's death is something that must be undertaken with only the utmost solemnity, and only when you firmly believe it was not their time to pass on.
This does not mean that this coven will not slay their enemies. In fact, many of these witches see death as the natural and unavoidable consequence for crossing them.
If someone gets in their way, it must have been their
foreordained time to
perish.
Looming End Coven Spells
Witch Level | Spells |
---|---|
3rd | Cause Fear, False Life, Gentle Repose, Wither and Bloom |
5th | Animate Dead, Revivify |
7th | Blight, Aura of Life |
9th | Danse Macabre, Enervation |
Touch of Death
At 3rd level, you begin to grasp the magic of necromancy and death. You learn the chill touch cantrip which does not count against your number of cantrips known.
Reap Life
Beginning at 6th level, your attunement to death allows you to draw lifeforce from those who meet their end. As a reaction, whenever a hostile creature within 30 feet of you dies, you may choose to gain a number of temporary hit points equal to your witch level or the creature's hit point maximum (whichever is lower). You gain double the temporary hit points if you were hexing the creature when it died.
You cannot use this feature to gain temporary hit points
from constructs or undead.
Deathly Visions
At 10th level, you learn to conjure omens of death to
assault the minds of your opponents. When you hex a
creature, you can choose to force that creature to make
a wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC. On a
failed save, the creature is stunned and frightened as
they suffer visions of their own death. A creature may
repeat the saving throw at the end of each of their turns,
ending the effect on a success.
Spirit Walk
Beginning at 14th level, you can magically manipulate
bodies and souls. Once per long rest, as an action, you
can shed your mortal form to become incorporeal and
invisible. While in this form, you can move in any direction,
pass through solid objects, and are resistant to nonmagical
damage, but you cannot perform actions, bonus actions, or
reactions. You remain in this form for up to one minute or
until you use your action to end the effect.
In addition, while you are hexing a creature, your spells
and features can frighten them even if they are immune
to the frightened condition.
Harbinger of the End
Beginning at 18th level, your magic brings the fear of death
and mortality to your foes, granting you the following
benefits:
- When you use your deathly visions feature, a creature is paralyzed instead of stunned.
- Once per round, when you deal necrotic damage to a hostile creature, you regain a number of hit points equal to half the damage dealt and the creature is frightened of you until the
end of your next turn.
Witch Spell List
Cantrips
- Blade Ward
- Chill Touch
- Create Bonfire
- Dancing Lights
- Druidcraft
- Eldritch Blast
- Friends
- Frostbite
- Guidance
- Infestation
- Mage Hand
- Magic Stone
- Mending
- Message
- Mind Sliver
- Minor Illusion
- Poison Spray
- Prestidigitation
- Spare the Dying
- Thaumaturgy
- Toll the Dead
1st Level
- Animal Friendship
- Bane
- Cause Fear
- Charm Person
- Command
- Comprehend Languages
- Cure Wounds
- Detect Evil and Good
- Detect Magic
- Disguise Self
- Dissonant Whispers
- Distort Value
- Goodberry
- Healing Word
- Hellish Rebuke
- Hex
- Identify
- Inflict Wounds
- Illusory Script
- Mage Armor
- Protection from Evil and Good
- Ray of Sickness
- Shield
- Silent Image
- Silvery Barbs
- Sleep
- Tasha's Caustic Brew
- Tasha's Hideous Laughter
- Witch Bolt
2nd Level
- Augury
- Blindness/Deafness
- Calm Emotions
- Crown of Madness
- Darkness
- Enthrall
- Flock of Familiars
- Gentle Repose
- Hold Person
- Invisibility
- Lesser Restoration
- Levitate
- Mind Spike
- Mirror Image
- Misty Step
- Pass without Trace
- Ray of Enfeeblement
- Spider Climb
- Suggestion
- Tasha's Mind Whip
- Wither and Bloom
3rd Level
- Animate Dead
- Bestow Curse
- Clairvoyance
- Counterspell
- Dispel Magic
- Enemies Abound
- Fear
- Feign Death
- Fly
- Gaseous Form
- Hypnotic Pattern
- Incite Greed
- Life Transference
- Magic Circle
- Major Image
- Mass Healing Word
- Nondetection
- Remove Curse
- Revivify
- Sending
- Speak with Dead
- Spirit Shroud
- Summon Fey
- Summon Lesser Demon
- Summon Shadowspawn
- Summon Undead
- Tiny Hut
- Tongues
- Vampiric Touch
4th Level
- Banishment
- Blight
- Charm Monster
- Confusion
- Conjure Minor Elemental
- Conjure Woodland Beings
- Death Ward
- Dimension Door
- Elemental Bane
- Greater Invisibility
- Hallucinatory Terrain
- Locate Creature
- Polymorph
- Raulothim's Psychic Lance
- Shadow of Moil
- Summon Aberration
- Summon Elemental
- Summon Greater Demon
5th Level
- Animate Objects
- Awaken
- Cloudkill
- Commune with Nature
- Contact Other Plane
- Contagion
- Danse Macabre
- Dispel Evil and Good
- Dominate Person
- Dream
- Enervation
- Far Step
- Geas
- Greater Restoration
- Hold Monster
- Insect Plague
- Legend Lore
- Mass Cure Wounds
- Mislead
- Modify Memory
- Negative Energy Flood
- Raise Dead
- Scrying
- Seeming
- Synaptic Static
- Teleportation Circle
6th Level
- Arcane Gate
- Circle of Death
- Conjure Fey
- Create Undead
- Eyebite
- Flesh to Stone
- Forbiddance
- Harm
- Heal
- Magic Jar
- Mass Suggestion
- Mental Prison
- Otto's Irresistible Dance
- Soul Cage
- Summon Fiend
- Tasha's Otherworldly Guise
- True Seeing
- Wind Walk
7th Level
- Dream of the Blue Veil
- Etherealness
- Finger of Death
- Magnificent Mansion
- Mirage Arcane
- Plane Shift
- Power Word Pain
- Project Image
- Regenerate
- Resurrection
- Simulacrum
- Teleport
- Tether Essence
8th Level
- Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting
- Antimagic Field
- Antipathy/Sympathy
- Clone
- Control Weather
- Demiplane
- Dominate Monster
- Feeblemind
- Glibness
- Maddening Darkness
- Power Word Stun
9th Level
- Astral Projection
- Foresight
- Gate
- Imprisonment
- Power Word Kill
- Psychic Scream
- True Polymorph
- True Resurrection
- Weird
The Witch
A fullcaster class for those who just wish they could curse someone from time to time. Draw from ancient powers and hex your foes with six witch covens: the Flickering Flame, Spreading Plague, Encroaching Storm, Verdant Woodlands, Uncertain Destiny, and Looming End.
Art Credits:
Page 92: Ember by Pathfinder - WotR
Page 94: Witch Wallpaper - Unattributed
Page 96: Witch by Francisco Perianez
Page 97: Plague by Tira-Owl
Page 98: Lightning Witch by Celine Vu
Page 100: Augur of Autumn by Billy Christian
Page 101: Kjelle the Night Mother by IreEthereal
Page 103: Enchantress by Julia Kovalyova
See Dragonshard's GM Binder profile for more homebrew classes inspired by Pathfinder.
Wildshifter
A tribal elf stands perched on a branch in the cover of night, above the sight of the passing soldiers. The elf's eyes shift into pure dark orbs to more sharpely survey the scene below. Finally, the elf spots his target, the company's captain atop his horse. Waiting for the perfect moment, the elf grows brutal talons and leaps down at the captain with deadly intent.
Surrounded on all sides by the invading ogres, a dwarf warrior starts to grow in size. In a moment, where the dwarf was just standing is now a massive cave bear with a deadly scorpion stinger. In a blink, the stinger-tipped tail of the creature lashes out, stabbing into the closest ogre, and the beast's clawed paws slash mightily into the next.
Patrolling the sky, a silent owl observes the plains below. Confident any danger is far off, the owl lands, settling back down with its companions as it partially shifts back into its normal human form, but retains its quiet owl-like feathers and sharp talons just in case.
Shapeshifting into wild beasts to accomplish their aims, wildshifters are versatile warriors of the wild. They call upon the powers and abilities of the beasts of the land to strengthen themselves, whether to protect themselves, allies, or nature itself or to seek vengeance on threats plaguing the land. In this way, wildshifters become avatars of nature's strength, cunning, and adaptability.
Wild Bond
Wildshifters develop close bonds with particular beasts of the wild, drawing upon their natural essence to integrate their power into themselves. They revere nature and beasts and often belong to the ancient traditions of the druidic circles.
Compared to druids, wildshifters develop a greater ability to intricately shapeshift, either partially or completely, into creatures they have bonded with, but lack the ability to produce spells. Powerful wildshifters gain great control over their shapeshifting, allowing them to take on the aspects of multiple creatures at once and even change their own appearance at will.
Guardian of Nature
On rare occasion within the druidic circles, an individual's spiritual union with nature does not manifest spellcasting ability, but instead in a more powerful mastery of shapeshifting. These individuals, known as wildshifters, often
act as the frontline against threats to the circle and the delicate balance of nature.
Although wildshifters are frequently beholden to
sacred sites or regions of hallowed nature, when a
major threat to the land arises, they are eager to set out
and join forces with others to quell the danger. They
serve an adventuring party as a powerful and versatile
close-combat warrior, able to scout, protect their allies, or
harass enemies depending on the creatures they develop
a bond with.
Creating a Wildshifter
When making a wildshifter, the most important question to ask is how you gained your shapeshifting ability? Were you blessed by a diety of the Old Faith as a child? Or were you raised by animals, during which time you learned to magically copy them? Maybe you were born to a druidic circle that sees a wildshifter born once a generation?
Consider as well your connection to and relationship with nature. Many wildshifters see nature as holy land that should be protected. Do you think the same or do you instead see the powers of nature as something to be used for your own benefit? Perhaps you are concerned with the relationship between civilization and untamed nature and seek to be a peacekeeper to maintain balance between the two?
A final question to consider is why you set off as an adventurer. Did malevolent destruction fall upon sacred nature you were sworn to defend, leading you to seek revenge? Or perhaps your druidic circle detected a great evil arising and you have been sent to learn more and quell it if possible? Maybe you even disagreed with some of the practices of your fellows and decided to strike out on your own?
Quick Build
You can make a wildshifter quickly by following these suggestions. First, make either strength or dexterity your highest ability score, followed by wisdom. Second, choose the outlander background. Third, choose
dexterous, enduring, and perceptive
(flight) as your starting wild
aspects.
The Wildshifter Table
Level | Proficiency Bonus |
Features | Natural Weapon Die | Wild Aspects |
---|---|---|---|---|
1st | +2 | Natural Weapons, Wild Aspect, Druidic | 1d4 | 3 |
2nd | +2 | Natural Armor, Wildshifter Circle | 1d4 | 3 |
3rd | +2 | Wild Form, Nature's Empathy | 1d4 | 4 |
4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 1d4 | 4 |
5th | +3 | Extra Attack, Chimeric Form (2) | 1d6 | 5 |
6th | +3 | Circle Feature, Druidic Claws | 1d6 | 5 |
7th | +3 | Evasion | 1d6 | 6 |
8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement, Land's Stride | 1d6 | 6 |
9th | +4 | Chimeric Form (3) | 1d6 | 7 |
10th | +4 | Circle Feature | 1d6 | 7 |
11th | +4 | Feral Fury | 1d8 | 8 |
12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 1d8 | 8 |
13th | +5 | Chimeric Form (4) | 1d8 | 9 |
14th | +5 | Circle Feature | 1d8 | 9 |
15th | +5 | Thousand Faces | 1d8 | 10 |
16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 1d8 | 10 |
17th | +6 | Chimeric Form (5) | 1d10 | 11 |
18th | +6 | Timeless Body | 1d10 | 11 |
19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 1d10 | 12 |
20th | +6 | Avatar of the Wilds | 1d10 | 12 |
Class Features
As a Wildshifter, you gain the following class features:
Hit Points
- Hit Dice: 1d10 per wildshifter level
- Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + your Constitution modifier
- Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your Constitution modifier per wildshifter level after 1st.
Proficiencies
- Armor: Light armor, medium armor
- Weapons: Simple weapons, scimitars
- Tools: None
- Saving Throws: Dexterity, Strength
- Skills: Choose two skills from Athletics, Acrobatics, Nature, Animal Handling, Perception, and Survival
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) a scimitar or (b) any simple melee weapon
- (a) leather armor or (b) hide armor
- an explorer's pack and four javelins
Natural Weapons
As a bonus action, you can magically shapeshift weapons inspired by beasts for use in combat, such as claws, horns, or fangs. These weapons have the following properties:
- The weapons count as natural melee weapons with the finesse property, with which you are proficient.
- The weapons deal 1d4 bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage (your choice when you shapeshift). This die changes as you gain wildshifter levels, as shown in the Natural Weapon Die column of the Wildshifter table.
On your turn, when you attack with natural weapons, including those gained by racial features, you can make one more attack with those weapons as a bonus action.
Wild Aspect
As a wildshifter, you develop a close connection with certain beasts of the wild and gain the ability to magically shift your form to partially imitate theirs. At 1st level, choose three aspects (see the Wild Aspects section) and one bonded animal that corresponds to each. You gain additional wild aspects according to the Wildshifter table.
As a bonus action, you can choose one of your aspects, partially shapeshift into the corresponding bonded creature, and gain the benefits of that aspect's minor form, replacing any current aspects. When you do so, you simultaneously change your natural wildshifter weapons to one appropriate to your new form. This transformation can include growing horns, scales, fur, long teeth, or other features of your bonded creature's appearance that you choose.
You may shapeshift a number of times between short or long rests equal to your wisdom modifier (minimum of once). You can revert to your normal form as a bonus action without expending a use of your shapeshifting. Also, once you have access to major forms (see the Wild Form feature), you can choose to drop the major form while retaining the minor form benefits in this same manner.
Natural vs Metal Armor
Like druids, wildshifters will not wear armor made of metal. The manufactured nature of metal armors inhibits a wildshifter's ability to transform into their animal aspects. While wearing metal armor, you cannot benefit from your aspects' minor or major forms.
Armors derived from plant or animal material, such as leather or hide, are useful to wildshifters as they can be integrated into an aspect's major form without difficulty. You can benefit from your aspects' forms and the AC granted by these armors at the same time.
Druidic
You know Druidic, the secret language of the druidic circles. You can speak the language and use it to leave hidden messages. You and others who know this language
automatically spot such a message. Others spot the
message's presence with a successful DC 15 Wisdom
(Perception) check but can't
decipher it without magic.
Natural Armor
Beginning at 2nd level, your shapeshifting allows you to improve your natural defenses, granting yourself beast-like hide or scales. While you are not wearing any armor, your armor class equals 10 + your dexterity modifier + your wisdom modifier.
Wildshifter Circle
At 2nd level, you choose to identify with one of the druidic circles. Although, as a wildshifter, the benefits you gain from that association affect you differently. Your choice grants you features at 2nd, 6th, 10th, and 14th level.
Wild Form
At 3rd level, you learn to fully shapeshift into a beast. When you use the wild aspect feature to shift into one of your wild aspects, you may choose to transform into your bonded creature, gaining the benefits of the aspect's major and minor forms. The following rules apply to your shapeshifted form:
- You retain your own statistics (including hit points and the ability to speak), except for those noted below and in the specific aspect description.
- Your appearance changes to that of your bonded creature, and your creature type becomes beast.
- You may change your size by up to one step from your normal size, unless stated otherwise for the specific aspect.
- You cannot cast spells or wield weapons/shields. You can continue to use your natural weapons and unarmed strikes.
- You choose whether your equipment falls to the ground in your space, merges into your new form, or is worn by it. Armors derived from plant or animal material can easily be integrated into your shapeshifted form, granting you the benefits of the armor while in your new form.
Optional Rule: Druidic Wild Shape
You can instead shapeshift into an animal that you have seen before but do not have the wild aspect for. When you do so, you must follow the same rules as the Wild Shape feature from the Druid class, including but not limited to: level limitations for the types of creatures you can shapeshift into (using your wildshifter level for required druid levels), the duration of your transformation, and your game statistics in your new form.
However, there are a few differences: You do not replace your hit points with that of the new form (instead retaining your original hit point pool), transforming in this way requires expending one of your uses of shapeshifting, and you retain the use of your wildshifter features.
Nature's Empathy
Beginning at 3rd level, your attunement to wild beasts makes you more adept at interacting with the creatures of nature. You have advantage on skill checks involving interactions with beasts. If a beast is one of your wild aspects (or is closely related at your DM's discretion), you automatically add double your proficiency bonus to those checks regardless of your normal proficiencies.
In addition, while you are shapeshifted into the major form of a creature, you can communicate with that kind of beast as if you shared a language.
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.
Using the optional feats rule, you can forgo taking this feature to take a feat of your choice instead.
Extra Attack
Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the attack action on your turn.
Chimeric Form
At 5th level, you learn to draw upon two of your wild aspects at a time. When you shapeshift into one of your wild aspects, you may choose one of your other wild aspects and gain the benefits of its minor form as well, influencing your shapeshifted appearance in minor ways.
As you gain levels, you learn to integrate more wild aspects into your form. You may choose total of two additional minor forms at 9th level, three at 13th level, and four at 17th level.
Druidic Claws
Beginning at 6th level, your natural wildshifter weapons count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.
In addition, you gain a bonus to damage dealt with your natural wildshifter weapons equal to half your wisdom modifier (rounded up).
Evasion
Beginning at 7th level, your malleable form helps you avoid area effects, such as a dragon's fiery breath or a lightning bolt spell. When you are subjected to an effect that allows you to make a dexterity saving throw to take only half damage,
you instead take no damage if you succeed on the saving throw, and only half damage if you fail.
Land's Stride
Beginning at 8th level, moving through nonmagical difficult terrain costs you no extra movement. You can also pass through nonmagical plants without being slowed by them and without taking damage from them if they have thorns, spines, or a similar hazard. In addition, you have
advantage on saving throws against plants that are
magically created or manipulated to impede
movement, such as those creature by the entangle spell.
Feral Fury
Beginning at 11th level, you take inspiration from the feral techniques used by your favored beasts. When you take the attack action with natural weapons on your turn, you may choose to attack wildly. When you do so, you may attack two additional times with your attack action, but you have disadvantage on all attack rolls until the end of your turn.
Thousand Faces
At 15th level, your shapeshifting ability becomes far more versatile. You gain the ability to change your appearance at will, as a bonus action.
Your altered appearance must have the same basic arrangement of limbs and be roughly the same size as your current form. Performing this feature does not require expending a use of shapeshifting.
Timeless Body
Beginning at 18th level, the primal magic that permeates your being causes you to age more slowly. For every 10 years that pass, your body ages only 1 year.
Avatar of the Wilds
At 20th level, you effortlessly draw upon your wild aspects at a moment's notice. As a bonus action, you may switch one of your current minor forms for another minor form from one of your wild aspects, without expending a use of shapeshifting.
In addition, you can now choose a total of five additional minor forms as part of the chimeric form feature.
Multiclassing
Prerequisites. To qualify for multiclassing with the Wildshifter class, you must meet these prerequisites:
13 Wisdom and 13 Dexterity.
Proficiencies. When you multiclass into the Wildshifter class, you gain the following proficiencies:
Simple weapons, scimitars, light
armor, medium armor.
Wild Aspects
A wildshifter forms bonds with a select few creatures, allowing the wildshifter to transform into those creatures and gain their attributes for themselves. These bonds are known as wild aspects, each of which grants unique capabilities to the wildshifters that use them.
Acrobatic Aspect
Example Creatures: Lizards, Ibexes, Monkeys
The acrobatic aspect is one of swift, graceful movement, granting the ability to dart and scurry with an astounding agility and balance.
Minor Form
You have advantage on athletics checks made to climb and acrobatics checks.
Major Form
Your speed increases by 10 feet, and you gain a climb speed equal to your base speed. In addition, a number of times between short rests equal to your wisdom modifier (minimum of once), you can take the dodge action as a bonus action.
Agile Aspect
Example Creatures: Cheetahs, Lizards, Snakes
Those with the aspect of agility are lethal foes who strike unexpectedly with deadly effect, while avoiding opportune strikes made in return.
Minor Form
Opportunity attacks against you are made with disadvantage, and you make opportunity attacks with advantage.
Major Form
You gain a climb speed equal to your base speed. In addition, a number of times per short rest equal to your wisdom modifier, when you hit a creature with a melee attack, you may force that creature to make a constitution saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your wisdom modifier). On a failure, that creature is stunned until the end of your next turn.
Ambusher Aspect
Example Creatures: Raptors, Wildcats, Wolves
The ambusher is an agile hunter, adept at racing from ambush to deliver grievous wounds.
Minor Form
You gain a bonus to initiative rolls equal to your wisdom modifier.
Major Form
Your speed increases by 10 feet. In addition, once on your turn, when you attack a creature that has not yet had a turn in combat, you deal damage equal to double your wisdom modifier on a hit.
Aquatic Aspect
Example Creatures: Dolphins, Fish, Whales
The aquatic aspect imparts clever mastery of the seas.
Minor Form
You gain a swim speed equal to your base speed, and can hold your breath for 10 minutes before being at risk of drowning.
Major Form
Your normal speed is replaced by a swim speed of 50 feet. You can breathe underwater indefinitely.
Beginning at 15th level, you gain blindsense with a range of 15 feet.
Behemoth Aspect
Example Creatures: Elephants, Giraffes, Rhinos
Behemoths are symbols of immense size and power.
Minor Form
Your size increases by one step. In addition, you gain a bonus to athletics checks made to shove other creatures and to resist being grappled or shoved equal to your wisdom modifier.
Major Form
Your size is large or huge (your choice). On your turn, if you move at least 10 feet straight towards a creature and hit it with your next attack, that creature is automatically knocked prone if it is smaller than you. In addition, you have a +2 bonus to damage rolls against prone creatures with your melee attacks.
Charismatic Aspect
Example Creatures: Chameleons, Peafowl, Dart Frogs
Some creatures exert their presence with spectacular colors and charisma, making themselves impossible to ignore.
Minor Form
You gain a +2 bonus to your charisma score. In addition, you gain a bonus to performance checks involving creatures that see you equal to your wisdom modifier.
Major Form
You have advantage on performance checks. In addition, once per round, you can replace one of your attacks with a dazzling display to distract a creature that can see you within 30 feet. When you do so, you make a performance check and your target makes a wisdom check. If your check is higher, the target has disadvantage on attack rolls until the beginning of your next turn.
Climbing Aspect
Example Creatures: Foxes, Monkeys, Spiders
The aspect of the climber imparts cunning mobility and manual agility.
Minor Form
You gain a climb speed equal to your base speed.
Major Form
You gain a climb speed of 50 feet. In addition, a number of times between short rests equal to your wisdom modifier (minimum of once), you can take the disengage action as a bonus action.
Crawler Aspect
Example Creatures: Ants, Roaches, Spiders
Those with the bug aspect are unperturbed by difficult terrain, tight conditions, and darkness.
Minor Form
You ignore difficult terrain, and cannot be stuck or restrained in webs.
Beginning at 15th level, you gain tremorsense with a range of 15 feet.
Major Form
Your available sizes for this form additionally include diminutive or tiny. You gain a climb speed equal to your base speed and darkvision to a range of 60 feet. You are not considered squeezing when moving through a space large enough for a creature one size smaller than you.
In addition, while you are not moving, you have a bonus to stealth checks equal to your wisdom modifier.
Darting (Flight) Aspect
Example Creatures: Bats, Dragonflies, Hummingbirds
The aspect of the darting flight offers the ability to make quick, subtly effective attacks at foes.
Minor Form
If you entered the reach of a creature on your turn, you may freely leave that creature's reach without provoking an attack of opportunity.
Major Form
You gain a flight speed of 40 feet that can be used for a number of minutes equal to your wisdom modifier between short or long rests. In addition, if you move at least 30 feet on your turn, you gain a +2 bonus to AC until the beginning of your next turn.
Beginning at 10th level, you can fly indefinitely in this form.
Dexterous Aspect
Example Creatures: Cats, Deer, Wolves
Those with the aspect of dexterity are a powerful, yet
graceful hunters, avoiding predators and taking down prey
with ruthless efficiency.
Minor Form
You gain a +2 bonus to your dexterity score.
Major Form
Your speed increases by 10 feet, and you gain a bonus
to stealth checks equal to your wisdom modifier.
Electric Aspect
Example Creatures: Catfish, Eels, Rays
The aspect of electricity imparts the ability to charge
attacks with electricity and move in water
effortlessly.
Minor Form
Your melee attacks with natural weapons deal an
additional 1 point of lightning damage. This
damage increases to 1d4 at 7th level, 1d6 at 13th
level, and 1d8 at 17th level.
Major Form
Your normal speed is replaced by a swim speed
of 30 feet. You can breathe underwater
indefinitely. In addition, when you are hit by a
melee attack within 5 feet, your attacker
automatically takes the lightning damage
from the minor form.
Enduring Aspect
Example Creatures: Bears, Goats, Gorillas
The aspect of constitution invokes a juggernaut of tireless endurance and furious power. Those who take this aspect are known for surviving severe wounds and delivering punishing blows in return.
Minor Form
You gain a +2 bonus to your constitution score. This increases your current hit points and hit point maximum by an amount equal to your current level. If you lose the benefits of this minor form, your current hit points and hit point maximum decrease by the same amount.
Major Form
You reduce any bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage by an amount equal to your wisdom modifier. In addition, you can reroll the damage die for melee attacks you make, but you must use the new result when you do so.
Furious Aspect
Example Creatures: Bears, Boars, Woverines
Many creatures of the wild demonstrate a fury unknown to the civilized world. These creatures are known for their single-minded and undistracted focus on their prey.
Minor Form
At the beginning of your turn, you may choose to grant yourself advantage on your attacks. If you do so, attacks targeting you have advantage until the beginning of your next turn.
Major Form
Creatures you hit with a melee attack have
disadvantage on attack rolls against you
until the beginning of you next turn.
Grappler Aspect
Example Creatures: Crocodiles, Gorillas, Scorpions
Those with the grappler aspect are adept at latching onto their foes to prevent escape.
Minor Form
You have advantage on athletics checks made to grapple.
Major Form
You gain a bonus to ability checks made to grapple or avoid/escape being grappled equal to your wisdom modifier. In addition, you can attempt to grapple creatures up to two sizes larger than you.
Grappler (Aquatic) Aspect
Example Creatures: Crustaceans, Jellyfish, Octopi
Those with the acquatic grappler aspect are adept at grasping onto their foes in water.
Minor Form
You have advantage on athletics checks made to grapple.
Major Form
You gain a swim speed of 30 feet. You can breathe underwater indefinitely. In addition, you gain a bonus to ability checks made to grapple or avoid/escape being grappled equal to your wisdom modifier.
Hunter Aspect
Example Creatures: Bears, Snakes, Wolves
The hunter aspect grants mastery over tracking and stalking creatures and the powerful ability to finish off wounded prey.
Minor Form
You have advantage on smell-based perception checks.
Major Form
Your walking speed increases by 10 feet. In addition, you
have advantage on attack rolls made against
targets that are missing at least half of
their hit points.
Hunter (Aquatic) Aspect
Example Creatures: Dolphins, Sharks, Seals
The aquatic hunter aspect grants mastery over underwater pursuits and the powerful ability to track and kill wounded prey.
Minor Form
You gain the ability to detect injured creatures within 120 feet by scent. When a creature missing at least one hit point is within 120 feet of you, you are aware of their presence but do not know their exact location or exactly what creature they are.
Major Form
Your walking speed is replaced by a swim speed of 30 feet. You can breathe underwater indefinitely.
In addition, you have advantage on attack rolls made against targets that are missing at least half of their hit points.
Intelligent Aspect
Example Creatures: Dogs, Monkeys, Pigs
Those with this aspect are cunning hunters, able to use their wits to overcome foes.
Minor Form
You gain a +2 bonus to your intelligence score. You have a bonus to either arcana, history, nature, or religion (chosen when you gain this aspect) equal to your wisdom modifier.
Major Form
Once per short rest, when you are hit by an attack, you may use your reaction to force the triggering creature to reroll the attack.
Jumping Aspect
Example Creatures: Frogs, Kangaroos, Rabbits
The aspect of the jumping grants great mobility in leaping through the air.
Minor Form
You have advantage on acrobatics checks. In addition, your standing and running long jump covers a distance equal to twice your strength score. Similarly, your standing and running high jump clears a distance equal to 6 + double your strength modifier. In this form, jumping costs only one foot of movement for every two feet you travel.
Major Form
You may use your bonus action to disengage by leaping away from your opponents, moving yourself a distance less than or equal to your standing jump in any direction.
Lunging Aspect
Example Creatures: Mantises, Scorpions, Snakes
The aspect of the mantis imparts uncanny patience and unsettling speed in their lunging attacks.
Minor Form
The reach of your melee attacks increases by 5 feet.
Major Form
You gain a bonus to initiative rolls equal to your wisdom modifier. In addition, you have advantage on attack rolls against any creature that hasn't taken a turn in combat yet.
Lurking Aspect
Example Creatures: Crabs, Crocodiles, Water Snakes
Those with the aspect of lurking is skilled at hiding, especially in water, and striking at unsuspecting targets.
Minor Form
You have advantage on attacks targeting creatures that have not yet had a turn in combat.
Major Form
You gain a swim speed of 30 feet. Once per round, when you hit a creature with a melee attack, you may attempt to grapple that creature as part of that attack.
Miniscule Aspect
Example Creatures: Mice, Roaches, Snakes
The miniscule aspect offers the ability to gain access to hard-to-reach places while avoiding many attacks and effects.
Minor Form
You have advantage on dexterity saving throws.
Major Form
Your size is fine, diminutive, or tiny (your choice) and you gain a climb speed equal to your base speed. In addition, your minute size grants you a bonus to AC and dexterity saving throws equal to your wisdom modifier. However, your natural weapon attacks only deal half their normal damage while in this form.
Nocturnal Aspect
Example Creatures: Cheetahs, Raccoons, Wolves
The nocturnal aspect imparts mastery over night. Those who take this aspect become adept at stalking under the cover of darkness.
Minor Form
You gain darkvision with a range of 60 feet if you do not already have darkvision; otherwise, the range of your darkvision increases by 30 feet.
Beginning at 15th level, you gain blindsense with a range of 15 feet.
Major Form
You have advantage on stealth checks while in dim light or darkness. In addition, when make a melee attack with advantage on your turn, you deal extra damage equal to your wisdom modifier on a hit.
Nocturnal (Flight) Aspect
Example Creatures: Bats, Nightingales, Owls
The aspect of the nocturnal flier imparts mastery over darkness and the night. Those who take this aspect become adept at stalking in darkness from the air.
Minor Form
You gain darkvision with a range of 60 feet if you do not already have darkvision; otherwise, the range of your darkvision increases by 30 feet.
Beginning at 15th level, you gain blindsense with a range of 15 feet.
Major Form
You gain a flight speed of 30 feet that can be used for a number of minutes equal to your wisdom modifier between short or long rests. In addition, when you target a creature with a melee attack on your turn, you do not provoke opportunity attacks from that creature by moving out of their reach until the end of your turn.
Beginning at 10th level, you can fly indefinitely in this form.
Opportunistic Aspect
Example Creatures: Crocodiles, Scorpions, Spiders
The aspect of the opportunist invokes shockingly
threatening attacks against those that dare approach.
Minor Form
Other creatures provoke an opportunity attack from you when they enter your reach.
Major Form
You make opportunity attacks with advantage. Your melee attacks with natural weapons deal an additional 1 point of damage (poison or the original damage type, your choice). This damage increases to 1d4 at 7th level, 1d6 at 13th level, and 1d8 at 17th level.
Beginning at 15th level, you gain tremorsense with a range of 15 feet.
Pack Aspect
Example Creatures: Hyenas, Lions, Wolves
Pack hunters are magnetic predators, intimidating to their foes, inspiring to their allies, and expert in cooperating to bring down their prey.
Minor Form
You have an intense, commanding visage granting you a bonus to intimidation and persuasion checks equal to your wisdom modifier.
Major Form
When you and an allied creature are within five feet of the same creature, you both have advantage on attack rolls against that creature.
Perceptive Aspect
Example Creatures: Cheetahs, Deer, Goats
Those with the aspect of perception are rarely caught unaware, able to spot both predator and prey alike with ease.
Minor Form
You have advantage on sight-based perception checks.
Major Form
Your base speed increases by 10 feet, you gain a bonus to sight-based perception checks equal to your wisdom modifier, and you cannot be surprised.
Perceptive (Flight) Aspect
Example Creatures: Eagles, Hawks, Owls
Those with the perceptive flight aspect have powerful senses to hunt down even the most elusive prey.
Minor Form
You have advantage on sight-based
perception checks.
Major Form
You gain a flight speed of 30 feet that can be
used for a number of minutes equal to your
wisdom modifier between short or long rests. In
addition, you gain a bonus to sight-based perception
checks equal to your wisdom modifier.
Beginning at 10th level, you can fly indefinitely
in this form.
Powerful Aspect
Example Creatures: Bulls, Hippos, Rhinos
Those with the aspect of power are fierce
chargers and are adept at trampling their foes.
Minor Form
You gain a +2 bonus to your strength score.
Major Form
If you move at least 10 feet straight towards a
creature on your turn, you have advantage on your
next attack roll against that creature before your
turn ends. If that attack hits, you deal bonus
damage equal to double your wisdom modifier.
Resilient Aspect
Example Creatures: Crustaceans, Rhinos, Turtles
Master of defense, these creatures embody hardiness
and protection.
Minor Form
You gain a +1 bonus to AC.
Major Form
Your shape changes to that of your bonded creature. Your size is medium or large (your choice) and you gain an additional +1 bonus to AC.
In addition, at the beginning of your turn, you may use your bonus action to take a defensive posture. When you do so, attacks targeting you are made with disadvantage, but your speed is reduced to 0.
Stealth Aspect
Example Creatures: Snakes, Spiders, Tigers
The aspect of stealth imparts unmatched furtiveness. Those who master this aspect hunt and take down their prey without ever being noticed.
Minor Form
You have advantage on stealth checks.
Major Form
You have a bonus to stealth checks equal to your wisdom modifier. In addition, your first hit against a surprised creature deals additional damage equal to half your wildshifter level (rounded down) plus your wisdom
modifier.
Stealth (Flight) Aspect
Example Creatures: Bats, Moths, Owls
The aspect of flying stealth is one of silence and patience. This predator glides through the night unheard, striking with unseen attacks.
Minor Form
You have advantage on stealth checks.
Major Form
You gain darkvision to a range of 60 feet and a flight speed of 30 feet that can be used for a number of minutes equal to your wisdom modifier between short or long rests. In addition, your first hit against a surprised creature deals additional damage equal to four times your wisdom modifier.
Beginning at 10th level, you can fly indefinitely in this form.
Stubborn Aspect
Example Creatures: Badgers, Boars, Mules
Those with this aspect are famously stubborn, refusing to fall from grievous wounds.
Minor Form
When reduced to 0 hit points, you may choose to gain a level of exhaustion instead of falling unconscious. If you choose to do so, you do not fall unconscious from having 0 hit points until the end of your next turn.
Major Form
Your speed increases by 10 feet. In addition, when you enter this form, you gain temporary hit points equal to your wildshifter level plus your wisdom modifier. You may only gain these hit points once between short or long rests. If you complete a short or long rest in this form, you immediately regain the temporary hit points.
Swift Aspect
Example Creatures: Cheetahs, Horses, Wildebeests
The aspect of speed grants increased maneuverability
and swift movement that is difficult
to counter.
Minor Form
Your speed increases
by 10 feet.
Major Form
Your speed increases by an additional 10 feet. If you move at least 20 feet in a straight line on your turn, creature have disadvantage on attack rolls against you until the beginning of your next turn.
Wise Aspect
Example Creatures: Tortoises, Turtles, Elephants
Those with the aspect of wisdom demonstrate unerring patience and mental endurance.
Minor Form
You gain a +2 bonus to your wisdom score.
Major Form
You have advantage on intelligence, wisdom, and charisma saving throws. In addition, once per long rest, when you fail one of these saving throws, you may choose to succeed instead.
Venomous Aspect
Example Creatures: Platypuses, Snakes, Spiders
Venomous creatures debilitate their prey with poisoned attacks, weakening them before the kill.
Minor Form
Your melee attacks with natural weapons deal an additional 1 point of poison damage. This damage increases to 1d4 at 7th level, 1d6 at 13th level, and 1d8 at 17th level.
Major Form
When you hit a creature with a melee attack, they must make a constitution saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your wisdom modifier). On a failed save, a creature is poisoned and may repeat the saving throw at the end of each of their turns, ending the effect on a success. On a successful save, a creature is immune to
this poison for 24 hours.
Wildshifter Circles
Alongside their more magically-gifted druidic counterparts, wildshifters are organized into the same circles that share viewpoints on the natural world. Wildshifters often act as the muscle for these circles, being the frontline against threats to the circle and the nature they defend.
Circle of the Moon
Due to the circle of the moon's proclivity towards transformation and shapeshifting, wildshifters are more common in this circle than any other. Moon wildshifters have elaborate control over their wild aspects allowing them to combine and benefit from more aspects at once.
More strongly attuned to their animalistic side than others, wildshifters from the circle of the moon tend to be more reclusive from society, often spending weeks or months prowling and scouting their lands for threats.
Animal Bond
At 2nd level, your close spiritual bond with the beasts of the wild grants you an additional wild aspect.
Recuperating Shift
Beginning at 6th level, you are able to mend some of your wounds through your shapeshifting. When you use your bonus action to shift forms, you restore an amount of hit points equal to one roll of your natural weapon die. You may do this a number of times between long rests equal to your wisdom modifier (minimum of once).
Greater Chimera
Beginning at 10th level, when you use the chimeric form feature to benefit from multiple minor forms, you may choose one additional minor form to benefit from.
At 20th level, with the "Avatar of the Wilds" feature, you benefit from a total of six of your minor forms at once.
True Chimera
Beginning at 14th level, you draw up on the greater powers of two beasts at once combining them into a true amalgamation of their appearance and abilities.
When you use your bonus action to shapeshift into one of your wild aspects, you may choose one of your bonus minor forms granted by the chimeric form feature. You benefit from the major form of the chosen aspect in addition to the wild aspect you are shapeshifting into, effectively granting you two major forms at once. Your shape changes to become a bizarre combination of the two aspects and you take on the size of whichever major form is larger (if applicable).
Circle of Spores
Wildshifters of the circle of spores are physically bound to
the powers of decay and the cycle of life and death. Their shapeshifting extends not only to animal forms, but also
the ability to generate deadly spores.
Those that would violate the sacred cycle of life and
death by unnaturally avoiding their final rest or seeking to replace life with undeath, risk facing the lethal, life-
draining power of these wildshifters.
Halo of Spores
Beginning at 2nd level, you passively generate invisible spores from your form that you can unleash on unsuspecting targets. When a creature you can see moves to within 10 feet of you or starts its turn there, you can use your reaction to deal necrotic damage equal to one roll of your natural weapon die plus your wisdom modifier to that creature unless it succeeds on a constitution saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your wisdom modifier).
Siphoning Infestation
Beginning at 6th level, your spores draw the life energy of your targets into yourself. When you use the halo of spores feature to damage a creature, you gain a number of temporary hit points equal to the necrotic damage dealt.
Spreading Spores
At 10th level, you gain the ability to seed an area with deadly spores. As a bonus action, you can begin to exude spores in a 15-ft radius around yourself. The center of the affected area remains on you as you move and lasts for up to one minute or until you dismiss the spores as a bonus action.
Whenever a creature moves into the affected area or starts its turn there, that creature takes your halo of spores damage unless that creature succeeds on a constitution saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your wisdom modifier) or you choose to exempt that creature. A creature cannot take this damage more than once per turn.
While the cube of spores persists, you cannot use your halo of spores reaction.
Fungal Body
Beginning at 14th level, your shapeshifted form is as much spore as it is a living creature. While shapeshifted using the wild form feature, you cannot be blinded, deafened, frightened, or poisoned, and you
have immunity to poison
damage.
Circle of the Land
Members of the circle of the land have a deep connection to the lands in which they were born, granting them a powerful connection to the ambient magics of nature. Even wildshifters in the circle develop spellcasting to augment their shapeshifting.
Wildshifters of this circle are devoted protectors of their homelands, working with their fellow druids and wildshifters to safeguard communities that follow the Old Faith.
Wildshifter of the Land Spellcasting
Wildshifter Level |
Cantrips Known |
Spells Known |
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2nd | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — |
3rd | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — |
4th | 2 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
5th | 2 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
6th | 2 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
7th | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | — | — |
8th | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | — | — |
9th | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | — | — |
10th | 3 | 7 | 4 | 3 | — | — |
11th | 3 | 8 | 4 | 3 | — | — |
12th | 3 | 8 | 4 | 3 | — | — |
13th | 3 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — |
14th | 3 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — |
15th | 3 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — |
16th | 3 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — |
17th | 3 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — |
18th | 3 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — |
19th | 3 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
20th | 3 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
Spellcasting
At 2nd level, you draw upon your connection to the land in which you became a wildshifter to cast spells. Choose that land – arctic, coast, desert, forest, grassland, mountain, swamp, or Underdark.
Cantrips
You learn two cantrips of your choice from the druid spell list. You learn an additional druid cantrip of your choice at 10th level.
Spell Slots
The Wildshifter of the Land Spellcasting table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your druid spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these 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.
Spells Known of 1st Level and Higher
At 2nd level, you know three 1st-level druid spells of your choice.
The Spells Known column of the Circle of the Land Wildshifter Spellcasting table shows when you learn more druid spells of 1st level or higher. Each of these spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots. For instance, when you reach 8th level in this class, you can learn one new spell of 1st or 2nd level. At 7th, 13th, and 19th levels, your new spell must come from the druid circle of the land spell list associated with your chosen land.
Whenever you gain a level in this class, you can replace one of the druid spells you know with another spell of your choice from the druid spell list. The new spell must be of a level for which you have spell slots. If you are replacing the spell learned at 7th, 13th, or 19th levels, the new spell must come from the spell list associated with your chosen land.
Spellcasting Ability
Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for your druid spells. 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 druid spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.
Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus +
Beast Magic
At 6th level, you learn to produce magic while in a beast form. You can cast your druid spells even while fully shapeshifted into one of your wild aspects.
Nature's Ward
Beginning at 10th level, you have advantage on saving throws to avoid being charmed or frightened, and you are immune to poison and disease.
Nature's Sanctuary
Beginning at 14th level, creatures of the natural world sense your connection to nature and become hesitant to attack you. When a beast or plant creature attacks you, that creature must make a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, the creature must choose a different target, or the attack automatically misses. On a successful save, the creature is immune to this effect for 24 hours.
The creature is aware of this effect before it makes its attack against you.
Circle of Stars
Like sailors who relied on the stars of the night sky to navigate their way across vast waters, wildshifters of the stars likewise embark on epic journeys using the guidance of constellations.
Members of this circle revere the stars and the knowledge that their patterns bring to light. While druids of the circle focus their efforts on tracking these patterns to glean knowledge, wildshifters are called on journeys by the influence of starlight where they are led to greater wisdom through the experiences they have. When their journeys are complete, wildshifters return to the circle and the insight they gained is correlated with the patterns of the sky to gather all knowledge into one congruous whole.
Starry Form
At 2nd level, you gain the ability to harness constellations' powers to alter your form. Once per long rest, when you use your bonus action to shapeshift into a new form, you may choose to take on a starry version of the wild aspect.
Your starry form has the same statistics as your
shapeshifted form, but your body becomes luminous;
your joints glimmer like stars and glowing lines
connect them as on a star chart. This form sheds
bright light in a 10-foot radius and dim light for an
additional 10 feet. In addition, while in this form, you
may choose to deal radiant damage with your
natural melee weapons. The starry form ends after
10 minutes, reverting to the non-starry version of
your current form. Alternatively, the form ends early
if you dismiss it (no action required) or shapeshift into
a new form.
Whenever you assume your starry form, choose which
of the following constellations glimmers on your body:
- Pegasus. A constellation of a pure, winged horse appears on you. While in this form, you may use your bonus action to restore a number of hit points equal to one roll of natural weapon die plus your wisdom modifier. You may do this a number of times equal to your wisdom modifier (minimum
of once).
- Scorpius. A constellation of a vicious scorpion appears on you. While in this form, creatures that move to a location inside your reach provoke an opportunity attack from you (regardless of whether or not that creature began its movement inside your reach).
- Ursa. A constellations of a great bear appears on you. When you enter this form, you gain a number of temporary hit points equal to your wildshifter level plus your wisdom modifier.
Light the Path
Beginning at 6th level, you connection to the firmament guides you on your journeys. You gain the following benefits:
- You can see normally in darkness, both magical and nonmagical, to a distance of 60 feet.
- You have advantage on survival checks to follow tracks/paths, navigate wilderness, orient yourself when lost, and similar challenges related to finding your way.
Twinkling Constellations
At 10th level, the constellations of your starry form improve in the following ways:
- Ursa. This constellation now grants a number of temporary hit points equal to your wildshifter level plus double your wisdom modifier.
- Scorpius. This constellation grants you one additional reaction each round that can only be used to make an opportunity attack.
- Pegasus. This constellation now heals an amount equal to two rolls of your natural weapon die plus your wisdom modifier.
Full of Stars
Beginning at 14th level, you become partially incorporeal while in your starry form. While using your starry form, you have resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.
Circle of Wildfire
Wildfire wildshifters are agents of destructive power to clear the way for new creation and life. Their circle understands that destruction is a necessary prerequisite for the creation of new life and is part of the natural cycle of the living world.
These wildshifters can transform into fiery beasts, destroying and incinerating threats to their land, whether it be diseased life, biological debris, or unnatural beings, to allow for the healthy renewal of nature.
Fiery Form
At 2nd level, you learn to harness the power of fire in your shapeshifting. Once per long rest, when you use your bonus action to shapeshift into a new form, you may choose to take on a fiery version of the wild aspect.
Your fiery form has the same statistics as your intended shapeshifted form, but you emanate fire, shedding bright light in a 10-foot radius and dim light for an additional 10 feet. In addition, while in this form, you may choose to deal fire damage with your natural melee weapons. The form ends after 10 minutes, reverting to the normal version of your current form. Alternatively, the form ends early if you dismiss it (no action required) or shapeshift into a new form.
While in this form, whenever you are hit with an attack
within 5 feet, the attacking creature takes
fire damage equal to one roll of
your natural weapon die.
Soul of Fire
Beginning at 6th level, you learn to produce fiery attacks regardless of your current form. When you hit a creature with a natural weapon attack, you may choose to deal fire damage or your normal damage type.
In addition, you gain resistance to fire damage, and your attacks ignore resistance to fire damage.
Consuming Flame
Beginning at 10th level, your fire consumes the forms of the dead to bestow new life. While in your fiery form, when a small or larger creature dies within 10 feet, you may choose to incinerate its body as a reaction. When you do so, you heal a number of hit points equal to two rolls of your natural weapon die plus your wisdom modifier.
You may do this a number of times equal to your wisdom modifier (minimum of once) between long rests.
Incinerating Blaze
At 14th level, your fire grows ever hotter and more
powerful. Whenever you deal fire damage with
your natural weapons, you add
1d6 to the damage dealt.
Circle of Dreams
The circle of dreams has close ties with the Feywild and good-aligned Fey. The goals of the circle center on filling the world with dreamy wonder where the wounded can find healing and the weary can find rest. However, such a world is impossible while the wicked are allowed to roam, and so the wildshifters of the circle are charged with finding and rooting out these sources of evil.
Agent of the Summer Court
At 2nd level, you become imbued with the blessings of the Summer Court. You become a source of fey energy that can disrupt and disorient evildoers.
When you touch a creature, whether through a melee attack or otherwise, you may use your reaction to force that creature to make a wisdom saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your wisdom modifier). On a failed save, the creature is disoriented by dreamy visions and is blinded until the end of your next turn. You may do this a number of times between long rests equal to your wisdom modifier (minimum of once).
Fey Cunning
At 6th level, the fey power within you makes you
more naturally resistant to manipulation and cloaks
you in disorienting energy, granting you the following
benefits:
- You have advantage on saving throws to resist being charmed or frightened.
- You gain a bonus to stealth checks equal to your wisdom modifier.
Cloaked in Shadows
At 14th level, you learn to hide yourself in the shadowy powers of the Gloaming Court when you shapeshift. Once per short rest, when you use your bonus action to shapeshift using the wild aspect or thousand faces features, you may choose to make your new form invisible for one minute. Your invisibility ends early if you shapeshift into a new form.
Circle of the Shepherd
Even more so than other circles, the circle of the shepherd focuses their efforts on the protection and conservation of animal species, ensuring that their homes and habitats remain undisturbed. Members of this circle commune with the spirits of beasts and are content in the company of animals and wild spirits.
Wildshifters from the circle of the shepherd find themselves constantly in the presence of beast spirits. By virtue of their empathetic bond with nature, these wildshifters act as a beacon, attracting the spirits of nature to protect and aid them, especially when they call upon their power to shapeshift.
Wild Beacon
Beginning at 2nd level, whenever you shapeshift you attract beast spirits that assist you and your allies. Once per short rest, when you shapeshift into one of your wild aspects, you may choose one of the minor forms you are now benefiting from. Spirits of that animal flood into the area, granting the benefits of the chosen minor form to all creatures of your choice within 30 feet.
These spirits persist for one minute, after which the chosen creatures no longer benefit from the minor form.
Feral Speech
At 6th level, you learn to communicate with all beasts of the wild. Regardless of your current form, you can communicate with beasts as if you shared a language. Beasts you communicate with are still limited by their inherent intelligence. Most lack the intelligence to convey or understand sophisticated concepts, but a friendly beast could relay what it has seen or heard in the recent past.
In addition, you gain proficiency in animal handling if
you are not already proficient. If you already have
proficiency, you add your proficiency bonus
twice when you make an animal
handling check.
Summon Beasts
Beginning at 10th level, you can more deliberately control your bond with animal spirits to summon them in your time of need. Once per long rest, you can use your action to cast the conjure animals spell at 5th level. When you reach 14th level, you can cast the spell at 7th level.
The spell requires maintaining concentration and lasts up to one hour, as if it were cast normally.
Faithful Summons
Beginning at 14th level, the nature spirits you commune with protect you when you are the most defenseless. If you are reduced to 0 hit points or are incapacitated against your will, you can immediately gain the benefits of the conjure animals spell as if it were cast at 9th level. It summons four beasts of your choice that are challenge rating 2 or lower. The conjured beasts appear within 20 feet of you. If they receive no commands from you, they protect you from harm and attack your foes. The spell lasts for 1 hour, requiring no concentration, or until you dismiss it.
Once you use this feature, you can not
use it again until you complete a
long rest.
The Wildshifter
A fullcaster class for those who wish they could be something else. Shapeshift into fantastic beasts and claim their abilities as your own with seven wildshifter circles: Moon, Spores, Dreams, Stars, Wildfire, Land, and Shepherd.
Art Credits:
Page 105: Tribal Elf by Orochi-Spawn
Page 107: Little Gifts by Manuel Castanon
Page 108: Gaube by AlsaresLynx
Page 110: Peacock Girl by Jennyeight
Page 111: Arlinn Kord by Anna Podedworna
Page 113: God of Evanescence by Sandara
Page 114: One Wandering Soul by Aviaku
Page 115: Huatli's Raptor by Randy Vargas
Page 116: Elk Forest Elemental by Aaron Miller
Page 118: Not of this World by Carota17
Page 119: Pheonix by Arkarti
Page 120: Plant Spirit by Sandara
Page 121: Spirit Summoner by RalphHorsley
Page 122: Crirawin by Gamelore
See Dragonshard's GM Binder profile for more homebrew classes inspired by Pathfinder.
Arcanist
As a swarm of fiery elementals approaches an elven woman, she raises her hand summoning a blazing ball of fire above her. The woman closes her eyes and focuses as the ball of fire shifts into a confluence of ice and water. With just seconds to spare, she swiftly shapes the ball of ice into a cone-shaped blast aimed at the elementals which evaporate in a hail of icy shards and freezing air.
A dwarven adventurer looks in horror as his companion falls unconscious off a cliff, having been struck by a mortal blow. Rushing to the edge, in one fluid cast, the dwarf causes his ally to slow in his fall and be wrapped in a shield of protective energy for good measure.
A human scholar pores over his notes about thunderclap and lightning bolt. Suddenly realizing something he hadn't before, the scholar jumps to his feet, summons his magical power, and successfully invokes a sphere of exploding bolts around him. Now all he needed was a name for his newly invented spell.
All these spellcasters are arcanists, mages with an inherent connection to and intuition for magic, supplemented by intense study of their powers. These heroes are exceptionally skilled at tuning their magic to the situation at hand, tweaking spells and blending new magical combinations to tackle any challenge.
Arcane Intuition
Arcanists are born with an innate connection to magic, much like a sorcerer, granting them the inherent ability to produce magical spells. However, like wizards, arcanists take a structured, academic approach to the understanding of their magical power. Through their studies and experiences, arcanists develop a powerful intuition regarding the mechanics of magic. This comprehension of the underpinnings of magic grants arcanists greater control over their spells, allowing them to twist one spell to be more like another or even combine two spells together.
Versatile Magic
Combining their strengths, an arcanist's inherent connection to the arcane and their academic understanding of magic allow them to utilize their magical powers in surprising and novel ways. Expert arcanists are unmatched in their spontaneous magical versatility and their ability to produce new, unique spells. An arcanist is rarely caught off guard, able to use each one of their spells to overcome a myriad of challenges.
Arcanists frequently set out on adventure to seek out greater knowledge and understanding of their magical
power. In an adventuring party, arcanists serve as a
powerful source of adaptable magic, able to tailor their
spells to each challenge the group faces.
Creating an Arcanist
When you create your arcanist, consider two questions in parallel. First, where did you get your magical powers from? Were you blessed by some powerful being, or maybe magical power flows through your bloodline? Second, what did you do to study and master your arcane power? Did you join a college of wizards, learning to see your magic in an academic light? Or perhaps you immersed yourself in a study of gods and other powerful beings to try and discern the source of your power? In any case, consider the relationship between your magical abilities and your efforts to study and understand them.
Arcanists are known for their ability to tune spells to their liking and often have preferences for certain types of spells/magics. Look ahead at the branches of study you will choose from at 2nd level. Are you particularly dedicated to one school of magic or a few select spells? Maybe you have a vested interest in the magic surrounding the soul and the boundary between life and death? Or are you dedicated to a divine being or fiend who plays some role in your powers?
Lastly, consider your purpose in setting off on adventure. Are you seeking experience to grow your arcane power and gain greater expertise in spellcasting? Or, maybe you are curious about the origins of your magic and are seeking answers that cannot be found in a library. Perhaps some tragedy befell you or a loved one and you are trying to understand the cause?
Quick Build
You can make an arcanist quickly by following these suggestions. First, make Intelligence your highest ability score, followed by Constitution or Dexterity. Second, choose the sage background. Third, choose the firebolt, gust, light, and thunderclap cantrips along with the
1st-level spells mage armor and
burning hands.
The Arcanist Table
Level | Proficiency Bonus |
Features | Cantrips Known |
Spells Known |
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | +2 | Spellcasting, Tweak Spell | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
2nd | +2 | Branch of Study | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
3rd | +2 | Spell Blending | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
5th | +3 | Spell Blending (Damage Type) | 5 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
6th | +3 | Branch Feature, Arcane Consolidation (1st Level) | 5 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
7th | +3 | ─ | 5 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
9th | +4 | Spell Blending (Range), Spell Writer (Max 3rd) | 5 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
10th | +4 | Branch Feature, Arcane Consolidation (2nd Level) | 6 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
11th | +4 | ─ | 6 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 6 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
13th | +5 | Spell Blending (Targets/Area), Spell Writer (Max 5th) | 6 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
14th | +5 | Branch Feature, Arcane Consolidation (3rd Level) | 6 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
15th | +5 | ─ | 6 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 6 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
17th | +6 | Spell Blending (Hit/Save), Spell Writer (Max 7th) | 6 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
18th | +6 | Branch Feature, Arcane Consolidation (4th Level) | 6 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 6 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
20th | +6 | Arcane Supremacy | 6 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Class Features
As an Arcanist, you gain the following class features:
Hit Points
- Hit Dice: 1d6 per arcanist level
- Hit Points at 1st Level: 6 + your Constitution modifier
- Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d6 (or 4) + your Constitution modifier per arcanist level after 1st.
Proficiencies
- Armor: None
- Weapons: Daggers, darts, slings, quarterstaffs, light crossbows
- Tools: None
- Saving Throws: Intelligence, Constitution
- Skills: Choose two skills from Arcana, History, Insight, Investigation, Medicine, and Religion
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) a quarterstaff or (b) a dagger
- (a) a light crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) any simple weapon
- (a) a component pouch or (b) an arcane focus
- (a) a scholar's pack or (b) an explorer's pack
Spellcasting
Beginning at 1st level, your intuitive understanding of magic allows you to produce spells through your connection to the arcane.
Cantrips
At 1st level, you know three cantrips of your choice from the arcanist spell list. You learn additional arcanist cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Arcanist table.
Spell Slots
The Arcanist table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these arcanist 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.
Spells Known of 1st Level or Higher
You know two 1st-level spells of your choice from the arcanist spell list. The Spells Known column of the Arcanist table shows when you learn more arcanist spells of your choice from this feature. Each of these spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots on the arcanist table.
Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the arcanist spells you know from this feature and replace it with another spell from the arcanist spell list. The new spell must also be of a level for which you have spell slots on the Arcanist table.
Spellcasting Ability
Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for your arcanist spells. You use your intelligence whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your intelligence modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a intelligence spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.
Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus +
Spellcasting Focus
You can use an arcane focus as a spellcasting
focus for your arcanist spells.
Tweak Spell
At 1st level, you begin learning how to subtly alter your spells to be like others in your repertoire. When you cast a spell or cantrip you may choose to apply one of the following options:
- You change one of the damage types of your spell to a damage type from another arcanist spell/cantrip you know.
- You change the range of your spell to match the range of another arcanist spell/cantrip you know.
- You change the area of your spell to match the area of another arcanist spell/cantrip you know. The spell you are tweaking must already have an area to use this option.
- You can change the type of saving throw involved in your spell to a saving throw from another arcanist spell/cantrip you know (e.g. you change the dexterity saving throw
from fireball to the charisma saving throw from banishment).
You may do this a number of times equal to your intelligence modifier before completing a long or short rest. You may apply multiple options to a single spell, but each selected option requires expending one use of this feature.
Branch of Study
At 2nd level, you specialize your magical exploration into a particular branch of study, representing the approach you take towards understanding your arcane power. The branch you choose grants you features at levels 2, 6, 10, 14, and 18.
In addition, you gain spells according to your chosen branch at the appropriate arcanist levels. Each of these spells counts as an arcanist spell for you and does not count against the number of arcanist
spells you know.
Spell Blending
Beginning at 3rd level, extensive study of your arcane power has granted you the knowledge needed to blend your spells in unique combinations. On your turn, you may use your action to cast two spells as if they were one. Both spells must have a casting time of one action, bonus action, or reaction, and only one of the spells can be a cantrip. The two spells used in the blended spell are referred to as "component spells" in the following paragraphs.
A blended spell counts has a level equal to the combined level of both component spells. If one of the component spells is a cantrip, the blended spell level equals the level of the other spell plus one. Casting a blended spell requires expending a spell slot of a level equal to or greater than the spell's level, in place of spell slots for each component spell.
A blended spell counts as casting one spell with the effects of both component spells. You choose the targets or areas of each component spell separately based on the normal ranges and targets of each component spell, and each retains its normal duration. In addition, you choose which component spell's effects occur first, if the order matters. Both component spells may require concentration, in which case both effects end if you lose concentration. Lastly, when you use the "tweak spell" feature to modify a blended spell, you may modify one or both of the component spell's effects.
As you gain arcanist levels, you gain further ways to blend the effects of your spells:
- Damage Type: At 5th level, when you blend two spells that deal damage, you may choose to change the damage type(s) of one of the component spells to match a damage type of the other.
- Range: At 9th level, you may change the range of one of your component spells to match the range of the other.
- Targets/Area: At 13th level, you may change the targets/area of one of your component spells to match the targets/area of the other. If this causes a spell that normally affects one target to affect multiple targets or gain an area of effect, the level of the blended spell increases by one.
- Hit/Save: At 17th level, you may replace the attack roll or saving throw required by one of your component spells with an attack roll or saving throw involved with the other component spell.
If you replace a saving throw with an attack roll, the level of the blended spell increases by one, with one exception: If the original spell dealt half damage on a successful saving throw, the effect now deals full damage on a hit and no damage on a miss, and the blended spell's level does not increase by one.
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.
Using the optional feats rule, you can forgo taking this feature to take a feat of your choice instead.
Arcane Consolidation
At 6th level, you learn to consolidate bits of your magical energy to produce more powerful spells. As a bonus action, you can sacrifice multiple low level spell slots to create one spell slot of a higher level. The level of the new spell slot equals the combined levels of each sacrificed slot.
The level of the spell slots you can sacrifice and create depend on your arcanist level:
- 6th Level: Sacrifice 1st level slots. Create up to 3rd level.
- 10th Level: Sacrifice up to 2nd level. Create up to 5th level.
- 14th Level: Sacrifice up to 3rd level. Create up to 6th level.
- 18th Level: Sacrifice up to 4th level. Create up to 7th level.
Spell Writer
At 9th level, you work out the kinks and inefficiencies in one of your favorite blended spells, writing a whole new spell that you give a name.
Choose a blended spell that you can cast using the spell blending feature, including any blended damage types, ranges, targets/areas, and hits/saves. That specific blended spell's level is one lower than the original blended spell's level for you. The spell must be 3rd level or lower after the level reduction.
This new spell counts as an arcanist spell and is added to your spell list. It does not count against your number of arcanist spells known. Lastly, you choose the new spell's school of magic from one of the component spells' schools.
- At level 13, you create another spell up to 5th level.
- At level 17, you create another spell up to 7th level.
Spell Writer and New Blending Options
When you gain a new option for blending spells ("targets/area" at 13th level and "hit/save" at 17th level), you may retroactively apply the new option to your previously invented spells. However, you must choose to do so as soon as you gain the new option and you cannot undo your choice once made.
In addition, the spell must still follow its maximum level restriction after any change (e.g. if your first written spell was already 3rd level, you can not increase its level to 4 when you change its targets/area or hit/save).
Arcane Supremacy
Beginning at 20th level, you are exceptionally skilled at the spells you have written. You may cast each of your written spells (from the spell writer feature) once without expending a spell slot. After casting a spell in this manner, you can not do so again until you finish a long rest.
Branches of Study
While all arcanists seek to understand the mechanics behind their magical ability, they often choose to do so in different ways. These unique approaches are represented by the following branches of study. Within each branch, arcanists develop different specialties in terms of magical abilities they develop and particular spells they master.
Arcane Savant
Some arcanists are born with a natural connection to a particular school of magic. These arcanists, known as arcane savants, often focus their studies and practice on that school to develop mastery over that subset of magic.
Arcane savants are frequently leading magical experts on their specialized school, acting as authorities on the knowledge surrounding applications for and the properties of that school's spells.
Arcane Savant Spells
At 2nd level, when you select this branch of study, choose one of the following schools of magic: Abjuration, Conjuration, Divination, Enchantment, Evocation, Illusion, Necromancy, or Transmutation. The chosen school becomes your "specialty school", which affects the features granted by the arcane savant branch of study.
You learn extra spells from your specialty school, as shown in the following chart. These spells can come from any spell list.
Arcanist Level | Spells |
---|---|
2nd | Two 1st Level Spells from your Specialty School |
3rd | Two 2nd Level Spells from your Specialty School |
5th | Two 3rd Level Spells from your Specialty School |
7th | Two 4th Level Spells from your Specialty School |
9th | Two 5th Level Spells from your Specialty School |
Preferred Magic
Beginning at 2nd level, you have a strong inclination towards spells from your specialty school, making it easier to copy their attributes into your other spells.
When you use the tweak spell feature to copy a property from a spell that is part of your specialty school, you do not expend a use of tweak spell.
School Recognition
Beginning at 6th level, your familiarity with your specialty school becomes sufficiently strong that you effortlessly recognize related spells and effects. When you observe or are affected by a spell or effect from your specialty school, you immediately know the name and level of the spell and its effects.
Intuitive Blending
Beginning at 10th level, blending spells from your specialty school becomes second nature to you, making it less taxing to perform.
When you use the spell blending feature and one or both of
the component spells come from your specialty school, you
regain an expended spell slot up to half the level of the
blended spell (rounded down).
Know Your Weaknesses
Beginning at 14th level, your awareness of the
weaknesses and limitations of spells in your specialty
school allows you to more easily avoid and resist their
effects. You gain the following benefits:
- You have advantage on saving throws to resist the effects of spells from your specialty school.
- Creatures have disadvantage on attack rolls to hit you with spells from your specialty school.
Second Passion
By 18th level, you have expanded your expertise and
picked up another focus for your arcane power. Choose a
second specialty school. You gain the benefits of the
"preferred magic", "school recognition", "intuitive
blending", and "know your weaknesses" features for the
new school.
Twilight Sage
Many mages throughout history have studied how magic interacts with the soul and death. Twilight sages know that magic permeates the essence of life itself, and they study how that magic persists following the death or "the twilight of life". If life and soul can be controlled and understood, the underlying twilight magic can be harnessed.
Twilight Sage Spells
Arcanist Level | Spells |
---|---|
2nd | False Life, Hex |
3rd | Gentle Repose, Wither and Bloom |
5th | Revivify, Vampiric Touch |
7th | Blight, Death Ward |
9th | Enervation, Raise Dead |
Twilight Magic
Beginning at level 2, your soul itself becomes partially infused with the weave of magic, empowering it when you cast spells. Whenever you cast a spell, you gain temporary hit points equal to the level of the spell slot expended.
If you gain temporary hit points from a spell you cast, they are added to those you gain from this feature and treated as one pool of temporary hit points.
Soul Speaker
At 6th level, you learn to reach into the residual soul essence of recently deceased creatures to read their memories. Once per long rest, you may cast the spell speak with dead on the corpse of a creature that has died within 10 days, without expending a spell slot.
The spell acts differently when cast this way. Instead of allowing the corpse to speak, you hear the answers to your questions in your mind as you probe the lingering soul memories. The memories you find are generally brief and cryptic, but are also always true.
Siphon Death
Beginning at 10th level, you can absorb the magical
energies a creature releases on death to restore your
own spellcasting power. When a medium or larger
creature dies within 60 feet, you can use your reaction
to recover spell slots with a combined level equal to or
less than half your arcanist level (rounded down). Each
spell slot recovered this way must be 5th-level or less.
Once you use this feature, you cannot do so again until
you complete a short or long rest.
Persistent Soul
Beginning at 14th level, the twilight magic flowing through
your soul makes you unnaturally hard to kill and improves
your ability to reunite souls and bodies. This grants you the following benefits:
- Whenever you make a death saving throw, you do so with advantage.
- The duration a creature can be dead and still be affected by spells like revivify or raise dead is doubled if you are casting the spell.
- You can be dead for up to ten times as long as normal and still be affected by spells like revivify or raise dead.
Spirit and Body
Beginning at 18th level, you have mastered control over your own spirit and soul, granting you the following benefits.
Project Spirit
Once per long rest, as a bonus action, you can separate your spirit from your body and become incorporeal for up to one minute, while temporarily transferring your corporeal body to a pocket of the ethereal plane. While in this form, you can pass through solid objects and have immunity to nonmagical bludgeoning, slashing, and piercing damage. In addition, while in your incorporeal form, when you hit a creature with a spell or a creature fails a saving throw to resist one of your spells, that creature takes 2d8 necrotic damage.
You can return to your physical form early as a bonus action. When your incorporeal form ends, you resummon your body to your current space and your spirit and body are rejoined.
If you occupy the same spot as a solid object or creature when your spirit form ends, you are immediately shunted to the nearest unoccupied space that you can occupy and take force damage equal to twice the number of feet you are moved.
Inhabit Corpse
If you die, you may have your spirit attempt to inhabit the corpse of a small or medium humanoid creature within 60 feet. The body must be sufficiently intact to sustain life. If you do so, you gain three levels of exhaustion. In addition, you have 0 current hit points and must make death saving throws to stabilize as normal.
If you stabilize, you successfully inhabit the new body. Your strength, dexterity, and constitution scores become equal to those the creature had in life (maximum of 20); these changes can affect your AC, hit points, etc. Your other statistics remain the same.
If you fail to stabilize, you die again and can only be restored to life by means of a true resurrection or wish spell.
Elementalist
An elementalist seeks to understand the chaotic nature of the elemental planes. As their comprehension grows, elementalists learn to attune to each of the elemental
planes and gain abilities associated with that element.
The strongest elementalists can attune to all four planes
at once, calling upon the powers of all the elements at will.
Elemental Attunement
At 2nd level, you learn to attune yourself to the elemental planes, gaining the strengths of different elements as each situation requires. Once per short rest, as a bonus action, you can switch your elemental attunement to either air, earth, fire, or water. Each of these elements grants you different benefits as you gain arcanist levels.
You may change the damage of a spell to the associated damage type of the element you are currently attuned to, without expending a use of tweak spell. The damage types associated with each element are as follows:
- Lightning - Air Attunement
- Acid - Earth Attunement
- Fire - Fire Attunement
- Cold - Water Attunement
Elementalist Spells
Depending on your current elemental attunement, you gain access to some of the following spells. When you switch attunements, you lose any spells gained from the previous element you were attuned to.
Arcanist Level | Spells |
---|---|
2nd | Feather Fall (Air), Grease (Earth), Burning Hands (Fire), Create or Destroy Water (Water) |
3rd | Gust of Wind (Air), Maximillian's Earthen Grasp (Earth), Scorching Rays (Fire), Rime's Binding Ice (Water) |
5th | Fly (Air), Erupting Earth (Earth), Fireball (Fire), Tidal Wave (Water) |
7th | Storm Sphere (Air), Stoneshape (Earth), Wall of Fire (Fire), Control Water (Water) |
9th | Control Winds (Air), Transmute Stone (Earth), Flame Strike (Fire), Cone of Cold (Water) |
Chaotic Protection
Beginning at 6th level, you are more resilient against the elements you attune to. While attuned to an element, you have resistance to the associated damage type.
Elemental Intensity
Beginning at 10th level, you draw upon the elemental planes to intensity your magic. When you cast a spell that deals the damage type associated with your currently attuned element, you may reroll a number of the damage dice up to your intelligence modifier (minimum of one). You must use the new rolls.
Energetic Form
At 14th level, your attuned element bestows magical changes to your form. You gain the following change to your movement according to the following chart:
Element | Movement |
---|---|
Air | You gain a flying speed equal to your current speed that you can use for up to 10 minutes (recharges on short/long rest). |
Earth | You gain a burrow speed equal to half your current speed. |
Fire | Your base speed increases by 10 ft. |
Water | You gain a swim speed equal to your current speed and can breathe underwater. |
In addition, once per long rest, as a bonus action, you can gain the benefits of one of the following investiture spells for 10 minutes depending on which element you are currently attuned to: Investiture of Wind (Air), Stone (Earth), Flame (Fire), or Ice (Water).
Elemental Apotheosis
At 18th level, you no longer need to choose which element you are attuned to. You are considered to be attuned to air, earth, fire, and water all at once, and gain the benefits associated with each element from the "elementalist spells", "chaotic protection", "elemental intensity", and "energetic form" features.
When you use the "energetic form" feature to gain the benefits of an investiture spell, you choose which spell to benefit from.
Divine Scholar
While most arcanists take a purely academic approach to mastering their magic, divine scholars combine a studious investigation of the divine with their secular understanding.
A divine scholar may have received their magical power from the gods or simply choose to call upon greater powers to be blessed with their knowledge. In any case, due to their expertise in both the divine powers and arcane academia, divine scholars are often found serving as magic experts for religious groups or as theologians for wizard schools.
Divine Scholar Spells
Arcanist Level | Spells |
---|---|
2nd | Bless, Healing Word |
3rd | Borrowed Knowledge, Lesser Restoration |
5th | Beacon of Hope, Revivify |
7th | Divination, Guardian of Faith |
9th | Commune, Greater Restoration |
Holy Magic
Beginning at 2nd level, you can beseech the divine to channel their powers in your magic. When your spellcasting feature lets you learn an arcanist spell, you can choose the new spell from the cleric spell list or the arcanist spell list. These are arcanist spells for you.
In addition, when you cast a spell that targets one or more creatures, you may choose to restore a number of hitpoints to those creatures equal to the spell slot expended to cast the spell. However, if a creature is at 0 hit points, this grants them one automatic success on a death saving throw instead of restoring hit points.
Divine Guidance
Beginning at 6th level, you can call upon guidance from the heavens to support you and your allies. Once per short
rest, when a creature you can see within 30 feet
(including yourself) fails an ability check, you can use your reaction to add 2d4 to their total, possibly changing the outcome.
Miraculous Healing
At 10th level, you have developed a connection with the divine and have been blessed with a supernatural ability to heal others. Once per long rest, as a bonus action, you can touch a creature and bless them with rapid healing. For the next minute, at the beginning of each of that creature's turns,
they regain Xd4 hit points, where X is half your arcanist
level (rounded down).
In addition, at the end of the one minute duration,
the creature is no longer blinded, deafened, paralyzed,
or poisoned, and is cured of disease.
Divine Knowledge
Beginning at 14th level, you are an expert at petitioning chosen deities for knowledge. You gain the following benefits:
- When you cast the borrowed knowledge spell, you gain proficiency in a second chosen skill for the duration of the spell.
- When you cast the divination spell, you may ask a second question after receiving your answer to the first as part of the same spell.
- When you cast the commune spell, you may ask questions that cannot be answered with a yes or no. Like the divination spell, answers are generally given as short phrases, cryptic rhymes, or omens.
Word of the Gods
Beginning at 18th level, your spells are imbued with ultimate divine knowledge originating from the creation of life.
Whenever a creature fails a saving throw to resist one of your spells, you may choose to additionally afflict them with the effects of the divine word spell. When cast this
way, the divine word spell does not force
celestials, elementals, fey, or fiends
back to their plane of
origin.
Occultist
Whenever one delves too deep into a study of magic, they inevitably begin to hear a tantalizing promise of greater knowledge and power from some otherworldly being. Those arcanists that embrace this call and promise their loyalty or services to those beings are known as occultists.
Occultists learn to summon the servants and creatures of dangerous planes and bend them to their will. But an occultist must remain wary, lest they find that their will is no longer truly their own.
Occultist Spells
Arcanist Level | Spells |
---|---|
2nd | Dissonant Whispers, Unseen Servant |
3rd | Borrowed Knowledge, Crown of Madness |
5th | Spirit Shroud, Summon Lesser Demons |
7th | Banishment, Summon Greater Demon |
9th | Contact Other Plane, Planar Binding |
Dark Magic
Beginning at 2nd level, your magic is bolstered by the knowledge of ancient beings you study. When your spellcasting feature lets you learn an arcanist spell, you can choose the new spell from the warlock spell list or the arcanist spell list. These are arcanist spells for you.
In addition, you learn the eldritch blast cantrip and you learn to speak either abyssal or
infernal (your choice).
Lesser Invocation
At 6th level, you gain your first gift of power from a dark otherwordly being. From the list of eldritch invocations in the warlock class, choose one invocation that you meet the prerequisites for. You gain the benefits of the chosen invocation.
For this and the "greater invocation" features, when an invocation references your charisma, you may use your intelligence instead. Similarly, arcanist spell slots can be used in place of warlock slots for spells granted by invocations.
Fiendish Servant
Beginning at 10th level, you learn to summon a powerful servant of the being you covenanted with. You learn the summon fiend spell, which counts as an arcanist spell for you and does not require material components to cast.
Once per long rest, you can cast this spell at without expending a spell slot. The spell's level equals the level of the highest spell slot(s) you have at your current level (e.g. 5th level at arcanist level 10 or 9th level at arcanist level 17).
Greater Invocation
At 14th level, you are bestowed with even greater power as your connection to your dark patron grows. Choose two additional invocations that you meet the prerequisites for from the list of warlock eldritch invocations. You gain the benefits of the chosen invocations.
Hellish Master
Beginning at 18th level, you are an unwavering conduit of the will of your patron, allowing you to directly control the actions of fiends you summon. You gain the following benefits:
- Creatures you summon with the summon lesser demons and summon greater demon spells are always loyal to you and hostile only to creatures you choose.
- You can direct the actions of creatures you summon telepathically, requiring no action on your part.
- When you cast the summon lesser demons spell, you choose the result of the d6 roll as well as what specific type of demons you summon.
- When you cast the summon lesser demons, summon greater demon, or summon fiend
spells, they are treated as if you cast them
at one level higher.
Spell Specialist
Some arcanists believe that deep, tightly-focused specialization is the optimal approach to magic. To do so, these casters heavily emphasize a relatively small number of spells and develop an unrivaled mastery over them.
Known as spell specialists, these arcanists often seek to become an unparalleled virtuoso of their chosen spells, learning to use them better than any other caster can.
Specialty Spells
At 2nd level when you select this branch of study, choose one of the arcanist spells you know of 1st level. That spell becomes one of your "specialty spells". You gain various options to strengthen that spell as you level up.
At 6th level, you choose a second arcanist spell up to 3rd level to become a specialty spell.
At 10th level, you choose a third arcanist spell up to 5th level to become a specialty spell.
Note that you cannot choose any of the spells you create with the "spell writer" feature to be your specialty spells. However, your specialty spells can still be a component of spells you write.
Improved Spells
At 2nd level, you learn to empower your specialty spell with an enhanced property. Choose one of the following options for your specialized spell:
- Expansive. You may increase the area affected by your specialized spell by doubling its dimensions. For example, circular radii are doubled, cones have double their normal length, lines become twice as wide and long, etc. The spell must already have an area to select this option.
- Reaching. The range of your specialized spell is doubled. If the spell originally had a range of touch, its range becomes 15 feet. The spell must not have a range of self to select this option.
- Enduring. The duration of your specialized spell doubles. The spell must have a duration other than instantaneous to select this option.
- Subtle. You ignore any verbal or somatic components for the specialized spell.
- Careful. You may choose number of creatures up to your intelligence modifier in the area of your specialized spell. Those creatures automatically succeed on any saving throws to resist the effects of the spell.
- Versatile. When you cast your specialized spell, you may choose to change its damage type to a type that appears in another one of your spells/cantrips.
When you gain a new specialized spell at 6th and 10th levels, choose one of the options to affect the new spell. The option you select can be the same as or different than the one selected for your first specialized spell.
Versatile Expert
Beginning at 6th level, you become more versatile at twisting your specialty spells in new ways. Once per short rest, when you cast one of your specialty spells, you may choose one of the other options from the "improved spells" feature to augment your spell.
This choice temporarily replaces the original option you selected for that spell for the current cast only. This cannot be done at the same time as the "tweak spell" feature.
Improved/Expert Spells and Blending
Whenever you cast your specialized spell, including when it is cast as part of a blended spell, you may choose to apply selected options from the "improved spells" and "expert spells" features to the spell.
Similarly, if your specialized spell is part of a new spell you create with the "spell writer" feature, your specialty spell retains any options you have selected from these features.
Expert Spells
At 10th level, your specialty spells become even more powerful. Choose one of the following options for each of your specialized spells:
- Potent. Creatures make saving throws with disadvantage to resist the effects of your specialized spell.
- Accurate. You have advantage on attack rolls to hit with your specialized spell.
- Deadly. When you roll damage or healing for your specialized spell, you may reroll any number of the dice once, but you must use the new rolls.
- Sweeping. You may target one additional creature with your specialized spell. The spell must target creatures and must not create multiple projectiles (e.g. magic missile) to select this option.
If your spell would have targeted only one creature without this option, you must complete a short rest before you may use this option again for that spell. - Prolific. Your specialized spell creates a number of additional projectiles equal to one half of the original amount of projectiles (rounded down). The spell must create multiple projectiles (e.g. magic missile or scorching ray) to select this option.
- Swift. You may cast your specialized spell as a bonus action a number of times equal to your intelligence modifier between long rests. The spell must have a casting time of one action to select this option.
Specialty Blend
Beginning at 14th level, it is almost effortless to blend your specialty spells. When you use the spell blending feature and both of the component spells are your specialty spells, the required spell slot for your blended spell is one level lower than normal.
Mastered Spell
At 18th level, you become the unmatched master of your favorite spell. Choose one of your specialty spells. You may select an additional option from the "improved spell" and "expert spell" features to apply to that spell.
Arcanist Spell List
Cantrips
Acid Splash
Blade Ward
Booming Blade
Chill Touch
Control Flames
Create Bonfire
Dancing Lights
Fire Bolt
Friends
Frostbite
Green-Flame Blade
Gust
Light
Lightning Lure
Mage Hand
Mending
Message
Mind Sliver
Minor Illusion
Mold Earth
Poison Spray
Prestidigitation
Ray of Frost
Shape Water
Shocking Grasp
Sword Burst
Thunderclap
True Strike
1st Level
Absorb Elements
Burning Hands
Catapult
Cause Fear
Charm Person
Color Spray
Comprehend Languages
Detect Magic
Disguise Self
Earth Tremor
Expeditious Retreat
False Life
Feather Fall
Fog Cloud
Grease
Hideous Laughter
Ice Knife
Identify
JumpvMage Armor
Magic Missile
Ray of Sickness
Shield
Silent Image
Silvery Barbs
Sleep
Tasha's Caustic Brew
Thunderwave
Witch Bolt
2nd Level
Acid Arrow
Aganazzar's Scorcher
Alter Self
Arcanist's Magic Aura
Blindness/Deafness
Blur
Crown of Madness
Darkness
Darkvision
Detect Thoughts
Dust Devil
Earthbind
Enhance Ability
Enlarge/Reduce
Flaming Sphere
Gust of Wind
Hold Person
Invisibility
Levitate
Maximillian's Earthen Grasp
Mind Spike
Mirror Image
Misty Step
Nathair's Mischief
Phantasmal Force
Rime's Binding Ice
Scorching Ray
See Invisibility
Shatter
Snilloc's Snowball Swarm
Spider Climb
Suggestion
Tasha's Mind Whip
Vortex Warp
Warding Wind
Web
3rd Level
Bestow Curse
Blink
Clairvoyance
Counterspell
Dispel Magic
Enemies Abound
Erupting Earth
Fear
Fireball
Flame Arrows
Fly
Gaseous Form
Glyph of Warding
Haste
Hypnotic Pattern
Intellect Fortress
Lightning Bolt
Major Image
Melf's Minute Meteors
Protection from Energy
Sending
Sleet Storm
Slow
Stinking Cloud
Thunder Step
Tidal Wave
Tongues
Wall of Sand
Wall of Water
Water Breathing
Water Walk
4th Level
- Arcane Eye
- Banishment
- Blight
- Charm Monster
- Confusion
- Control Water
- Dimension Door
- Dominate Beast
- Elemental Bane
- Fire Shield
- Greater Invisibility
- Ice Storm
- Sickening Radiance
- Stoneskin
- Storm Sphere
- Vitriolic Sphere
- Wall of Fire
- Watery Sphere
5th Level
- Arcane Hand
- Animate Objects
- Cloudkill
- Cone of Cold
- Control Winds
- Dawn
- Dominate Person
- Enervation
- Far Step
- Hold Monster
- Immolation
- Legend Lore
- Scrying
- Seeming
- Skill Empowerment
- Synaptic Static
- Telekinesis
- Teleportation Circle
- Transmute Rock
- Wall of Light
- Wall of Stone
6th Level
- Arcane Gate
- Chain Lightning
- Circle of Death
- Contingency
- Disintegrate
- Eyebite
- Globe of Invulnerability
- Investiture of Flame
- Investiture of Ice
- Investiture of Stone
- Investiture of Wind
- Mass Suggestion
- Mental Prison
- Move Earth
- Scatter
- Sunbeam
- True Seeing
- Wall of Ice
7th Level
- Crown of Stars
- Delayed Blast Fireball
- Dream of the Blue Veil
- Etherealness
- Finger of Death
- Fire Storm
- Plane Shift
- Power Word Pain
- Project Image
- Reverse Gravity
- Symbol
- Teleport
- Whirlwind
8th Level
- Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting
- Dominate Monster
- Earthquake
- Feeblemind
- Incendiary Cloud
- Maddening Darkness
- Power Word Stun
- Sunburst
9th Level
- Gate
- Imprisonment
- Invulnerability
- Meteor Swarm
- Power Word Kill
- Psychic Scream
- Time Stop
- Wish
Multiclassing
Prerequisites. To qualify for multiclassing with the Arcanist
class, you must meet these prerequisites: 13 Intelligence.
Proficiencies. When you multiclass into the Arcanist class,
you gain no proficiencies.
Spell Slots. You add all your arcanist levels for the purposes of
determining multiclass spell slots.
The Arcanist
A fullcaster class for those who like to homebrew spells. Twist arcane magic to your liking and even invent new spells with six arcanist branches: the Arcane Savant, Twilight Sage, Elementalist, Divine Scholar, Occultist, and Spell Specialist.
Art Credits:
Page 124: A Trial of Sorcerers by Skyzocat
Page 126: Diablo Wizard by Jonas Jakobsson
Page 128: Armor Handler by Docatto
Page 129: Angel by MrMascara2
Page 130: Try Me by Rod Mendez
Page 131: Wushi-1 by Sun Kai
Page 132: Stromkirk Occultist by M. Villeneuve
Page 134: The Archivist by Juliedillon
Page 135: Wizard Overlord by Greg Rutkowski
Page 136: Arcane Endeavor by JustynaDura
See Dragonshard's GM Binder profile for more homebrew classes inspired by Pathfinder.
Inquisitor
Across the battlefield, a cowled figure points at the demonic leader of his foes, shouting words of condemnation and judgment. Now, feeling empowered with righteous fury, the figure rushes forward to slay his foe and end its wicked campaign.
A dwarf sniffs the subtle tracks left in the soft loam just hours before. "Aberrations...", she mutters to her companions. Knowing what lies beyond, the dwarven adventurer prepares her tactics and weapons to effectively destroy the monsters ahead.
A tiefling stands by as his companions parlay with a passing bard. The bard seems to be providing helpful information about the surrounding lands and its threats, but suddenly one phrase strikes the tiefling as deceptive. The tiefling touches his companion's shoulder and shakes his head slowly, letting the party know to be on their toes with this liar.
These adventurers are inquisitors, warriors bestowed with divine power to find, reveal, and destroy both monsters and wicked individuals. Grim and determined, the inquisitor roots out these enemies of the faith, using wit and cunning when righteousness and purity are not enough.
Justice Seekers
Inquisitors have a powerful sense of justice and seek to punish those who threaten the innocent or perform other evil deeds. Their intense dedication to bringing justice gives them the ability to cast divine spells tailored to tracking the iniquitous and resisting evil.
These agents of the divine are exceptionally skilled in both combat and knowledge surrounding dangerous beasts and individuals. Using their wit, an inquisitor gathers information as they travel to understand their foe so that they can be ready for whatever lies ahead. Each inquisitor has various means of preparing for specific foes, such as specialized tactics or magical preparations, that they use to gain the upper hand before fighting even begins.
Uproot the Wicked
Although inquisitors are often dedicated to a diety or church, they often act above the normal rules and conventions of that faith. They answer to their deity and their own sense of justice alone, and are willing to take extreme measures to meet their goals.
Inquisitors tend to move from place to place, seeking and following leads on enemies and researching emerging threats. As a result, they often travel with others in adventuring parties, whether to mask their presence or to seek strength in numbers to defeat a particularly dangerous foe. Inquisitors often work with other members of their faith when possible, but no one is above their suspicion and prying eyes.
Creating an Inquisitor
When creating an inquisitor, the most central question to answer is why you have developed such an intense dedication to bringing justice to the wicked. Did something happen to you or a loved one, instilling a personal drive to get revenge on every evildoer in reach? Maybe you have been commanded by a diety to be their agent with a mission to find and slay their enemies through any means available? Perhaps you inherently have a strong sense of right and wrong and cannot abide any amount of corruption?
Also consider the nature of your faith. First decide what diety or faith you belong to. Alternatively, you could act on your own with no connection to a structured church or particular god. Second, consider the relationship between the tenets of your faith and your dedication to dealing out justice. Do you see your faith's beliefs as immutable and absolute, or do you see them as something that comes second to your quest against evil? Perhaps you don't care for your faith's beliefs at all and simply use the resources of your church to further your own goals.
Lastly, consider why you have joined an adventuring party. There are a variety of reasons you may have joined with others. You might be trying to avoid the notice of those looking for a lone operative? Or perhaps you need strength in numbers to take down an exceptionally dangerous target? Maybe you just see your fellow adventurers as competent warriors and find it's easier to accomplish your goals with them at your side?
Quick Build
You can make an inquisitor quickly by following these suggestions. First, make Strength or Dexterity your highest ability score, followed by Wisdom. Second, choose the Acolyte background.
The Inquisitor Table
Level | Proficiency Bonus |
Features | Judgments | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | +2 | Judgment, Monster Lore | 2 | ─ | — | — | — | — |
2nd | +2 | Fighting Style, Spellcasting | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
3rd | +2 | Inquisition, Bane of Evil, Track the Vile | 3 | 3 | ─ | — | — | — |
4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 3 | 3 | ─ | — | — | — |
5th | +3 | Extra Attack | 3 | 4 | 2 | ─ | — | — |
6th | +3 | Counterstrike | 4 | 4 | 2 | ─ | — | — |
7th | +3 | Inquisition Feature, Judgment (2 Options) | 4 | 4 | 3 | ─ | ─ | — |
8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 4 | 3 | ─ | ─ | — |
9th | +4 | ─ | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | ─ | ─ |
10th | +4 | Bane Improvement, Expose the Wicked | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | ─ | ─ |
11th | +4 | Inquisition Feature | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | ─ | ─ |
12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | ─ | ─ |
13th | +5 | ─ | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | ─ |
14th | +5 | Stalwart | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | ─ |
15th | +5 | Inquisition Feature, Judgment (3 Options) | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | ─ |
16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | ─ |
17th | +6 | ─ | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
18th | +6 | Discern Lies | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
20th | +6 | Final Judgment | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Class Features
As an Inquisitor, you gain the following class features:
Hit Points
- Hit Dice: 1d10 per inquisitor level
- Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + your Constitution modifier
- Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your Constitution modifier per inquisitor level after 1st.
Proficiencies
- Armor: Light armor, medium armor, shields
- Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons, firearms (if present in your campaign)
- Tools: None
- Saving Throws: Wisdom, Intelligence
- Skills: Choose three skills from History, Insight, Intimidation, Investigation, Perception, Religion, Stealth, Survival
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) a martial weapon and a shield or (b) two martial weapons
- (a) a hand crossbow or (b) a heavy crossbow
- (a) studded leather or (b) scale mail
- (a) a dungeoneer's pack or (b) a priest's pack
Judgment
Beginning at 1st level, you can declare judgment on your foes either as a loud declaration of condemnation or a quiet resolve to bring justice. As a bonus action, a creature (or creatures) of your choice that you can see. Creatures chosen in this way become your "judged creatures".
Each creature chosen expends one use of judgment. You have a number of uses of judgment shown for your inquisitor level in the Judgments column of the Inquisitor table. You must finish a long rest before you can declare judgment again.
When you declare judgment, choose one of the following options. You gain the benefits of the chosen judgment for one minute, until you declare judgment again, or you are incapacitated or killed. Beginning at 7th level, you may choose up to two judgment options when you declare judgment. Beginning at 15th level, you may choose up to three.
Judgments List
Condemnation. You gain an intense, penetrating focus on your quarry. Judged creatures have a penalty to saving throws to resist your spells equal to your wisdom modifier.
Destruction. You are filled with divine wrath. You gain a bonus to weapon damage rolls equal to your wisdom modifier against judged creatures.
Healing. You are surrounded by a holy light, healing wounds you sustain. When you take damage from judged creatures, the damage you take is reduced by an amount equal to your wisdom modifier.
Justice. Your are spurred to bring justice to the unholy. You gain a bonus to attack rolls against judged creatures equal to half of your wisdom modifier
(rounded up).
Protection. You are enveloped by a protective aura. You gain a bonus to AC equal to half your wisdom modifier (rounded up) against attack rolls from judged creatures.
Purity. You resolve yourself against the foul taint of your foes. You gain a bonus to saving throws against spells and other effects from judged creatures equal to your wisdom modifier.
Smiting. You call upon holy powers to smite the wicked. Choose either acid, cold, fire, lightning, necrotic, poison, or radiant. Your weapon attacks against judged creatures deal that damage type and count as magical.
Monster Lore
Beginning at 1st level, you have a strong intuition for the behaviors of all kinds of abominable creatures, granting you the following benefits:
- You may use your wisdom modifier in place of intelligence for arcana, history, nature, and religion checks made to learn or recall information about a creature's strengths/weaknesses, abilities, tactics, behaviors, etc.
- You may perform one of the above checks as a bonus action on your turn. You have advantage on these checks if the target is currently one of your "judged creatures".
- You automatically know a creature's type when you perform an arcana, history, nature, or religion check about a creature and get a result of 10 or higher, unless that creature is magically disguised.
Fighting Style
At 2nd level, 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.
Defense
While you are wearing armor, you gain a +1 bonus to AC.
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.
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.
Two-Weapon Fighting
When you engage in two-weapon fighting, you can add
your ability modifier to the damage of the second attack.
Spellcasting
Beginning at 2nd level, your staunch dedication to destroying the wicked and monstrous grants you the ability to produce divine spells.
Preparing and Casting Spells
The Inquisitor table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these Inquisitor 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.
You prepare the list of inquisitor spells that are available for you to cast, choosing from the inquisitor spell list. When you do so, choose a number of inquisitor spells equal to your Wisdom modifier + half your inquisitor level (minimum of 1 spell). The spells must be a level for which you have spell slots.
You can change your list of prepared spells when you finish a long rest. Preparing a new list of inquisitor spells requires time strategizing about the foes ahead and choosing the tools needed to find and defeat them: at least 1 minute per spell level for each spell on your list.
Spellcasting Ability
Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for your inquisitor spells. 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 an inquisitor spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.
Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus +
Spellcasting Focus
You can use a holy symbol as a spellcasting focus for your inquisitor spells.
Inquisition
At 3rd level, your tactics for rooting out your foes becomes more specialized. Inquisitors are grouped into various inquisitions based on their skills and strategies for culling threats to their faith. The inquisition you choose grants you features at levels 3, 7, 11, and 15.
Bane of Evil
Beginning at 3rd level, whether through alchemical concoctions, martial strategization, or other means, you prepare yourself to deal with a particular brand of foe in your downtime. When you complete a long or short rest, choose one creature type (e.g. humanoids, monstrosities, elementals, fiends, etc.). Your weapon attacks deal 1d6 extra damage to creatures of that type until your next rest.
At 10th level, you may choose two creature types when you complete a rest, and the extra damage increases to 2d6.
Track the Vile
Beginning at 3rd level, you are particularly adept at finding where your enemies hide. You have advantage on survival and perception checks made to track, follow, or find creatures as well as to identify a creature from tracks or other clues.
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.
Using the optional feats rule, you can forgo taking this feature to take a feat of your choice instead.
Extra Attack
Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the attack action on your turn.
Counterstrike
Beginning at 6th level, you gain a supernatural sense for your foe's next move. When a judged creature hits you with an attack, you may use your reaction to add 1d6 to your AC for that attack. If this causes the attack to miss, you may make one weapon attack against the triggering creature as part of your reaction.
Expose the Wicked
Beginning at 10th level, you can magically deduce the intentions and desires of creatures around you.
- You always have the spell detect good and evil prepared, which does not count against your number of Inquisitor spells prepared.
- When you cast detect good and evil, its area extends to 60 feet and you learn the alignment of all detected creatures in the area.
Stalwart
Beginning at 14th level, you steel yourself in both body and mind against the assaults of the unrighteous, granting you the following benefits:
- You gain proficiency in constitution saving throws.
- You make wisdom saving throws with advantage.
Discern Lies
Beginning at 18th level, untruths and deceptions ring dissonant in your ears. While you can hear or see a creature, you automatically know if that creature tells a lie or half-truth, or otherwise tries to deceive with language or gestures. You do not necessarily learn what is actually true, but you do know that what was expressed is untrue or misleading from the perspective of that creature.
Final Judgment
Beginning at 20th level, you are able to declare final judgment on the most vile foes. Once per long rest, when you declare judgment, you may select one of your "judged creatures" to undergo final judgment.
In the next minute, when you first hit that creature with a weapon attack, they must make a constitution saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, that creature immediately dies and can only be returned to life by means of a true resurrection or wish spell. On a success, that creature is immune to the effects of final judgment for 24 hours.
Inquisitions
While all inquisitors are dedicated to uprooting and destroying the foes of their ideals and faith, there are many strategies and approaches they take in doing so. These approaches are grouped into inquisitions, granting particular capabilities and specialties to its member inquisitors.
Crusader
Crusaders eschew the intrigue and cautious approaches of their fellows to, instead, meet their foes head on. Donning heavy armor and powerful arms, crusaders fight on the front line against evil to protect the innocent. Crusaders believe the best way to stem the flow of evil in the world is to be a stubbornly obvious opponent to its agents. Working in the shadows just gives your foes more room to maneuver.
Heavy Armor
At 3rd level, when you choose this inquisition, you gain proficiency in heavy armor.
Trial by Combat
Beginning at 3rd level, you call your foes to meet you in honorable combat. You gain the following judgment option:
Trial by Combat. Your foes are compelled by your presence to target you. Judged creatures have disadvantage on
attack rolls against creatures other than you. Similarly,
you have disadvantage on attack rolls against creatures
other than the judged creatures.
Bolstering Presence
Beginning at 7th level, you can perform inspiring deeds of bravery to bolster your allies' confidence. Once per long rest, when you hit a hostile creature with a weapon attack, you may choose to give all creatures of your choice that can see you (including yourself) temporary hit points equal to your inquisitor level plus your wisdom modifier.
Fearless Champion
At 11th level, you become invulnerable to a fear of evil and danger. You gain immunity to the frightened condition.
Masterful Combatant
Beginning at 15th level, you are exceptionally skilled at defeating your foes in honorable combat. You have advantage on attack rolls against creatures affected by your
Trial by Combat judgment.
Witch Hunter
Some inquisitors focus their concern on the abundant magical threats in the world. They loathe the use of magic for nefarious purposes, which they see as supremely evil and a desecration of what should be a holy art. These inquisitors, known as witch hunters, scour the lands to reveal and destroy necromancers, witches, and all kinds of vile casters.
Arcane Emphasis
At 3rd level, you refine your practice of the arcane in order to better counter those who would use it for evil. You gain proficiency in arcana (or another inquisitor class skill if already proficient), and you learn two cantrips of your choice from the wizard spell list.
In addition, when you learn an inquisitor spell, you can choose the new spell from the wizard spell list or the inquisitor spell list. These are inquisitor spells for you.
Rebuke Witchcraft
At 3rd level, you learn to quench impure magics. You gain the following judgment option:
Rebuke Witchcraft. You condemn the unholy use of magic amongst your foes. When a judged creature attempts to cast a spell, they must first make a wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, the creature must take a different action and cannot cast spells until the beginning of their next turn. On a success, this judgment effect ends for that creature.
Sanctity of Magic
At 7th level, you learn to resist the influence and effects of vile magic. You have advantage on saving throws to resist spells and magical effects from judged creatures.
Witch Trial
Beginning at 11th level, you can magically detect the presence of those with a command over magic. You gain the following benefits:
- You always have the spell detect magic prepared, which does not count against your number of Inquisitor spells prepared.
- When you cast detect magic, its area extends to 60 feet and the spell additionally reveals a magic aura around anyone with the ability to cast at least one spell. You learn the source of magic for any creature revealed in this way, which could be their spellcasting class, their race, etc.
Suppress Magic
Beginning at 15th level, you are able to suppress the
weave of magic around creatures either to protect them
against harmful magics or to prevent them from casting
spells. Once per long rest, as an action, you can create a
personal antimagic field around a creature of your choice
within 30 feet (including yourself). The field lasts for up to
1 minute, requiring your concentration to maintain.
This field functions identically to the one created by
the spell antimagic field except that it only affects a
single creature instead of an area. Specifically, a creature
affected by this field cannot be affected by magic,
objects they are wielding or wearing become
nonmagical, and they cannot cast spells.
An unwilling target of this antimagic field can make a
saving throw using their spellcasting ability against
your spell save DC (e.g. a wizard would make an
intelligence saving throw). If a creature has multiple
spellcasting ability scores, they choose which to use for
the saving throw. On a successful save, the field does not
form, that creature is immune to this field for 24
hours, and your use of suppress magic is not
expended.
Slayer
While all inquisitors seek to root out and destroy evil, none are more dedicated to the art than slayers. Members of this inquisition specialize in destroying a particular type of enemy and become exceptionally skilled at understanding and countering those particular foes. However, with the correct preparation, slayers can be an immense threat to any creature they set their sights on.
Specialized Adversary
At 3rd level, you devote considerable effort towards understanding one type of creature so that you can better rid the world of their foul presence. Choose any creature type, such as aberration or undead to become your specialized adversary. You always deal bane damage to creatures of that type.
In addition, you gain proficiency in arcana, history, nature, or religion checks (your choice). Your selection should be based on your selection of specialized adversary (e.g. if your specialized adversaries are undead or fiends, you might choose religion). If you are already proficient in your first choice, you may choose one of the other skills.
Monster's Bane
Beginning at 3rd level, you are especially dedicated to destroying foul creatures. You gain the following judgment option:
Monster's Bane. You deftly target the weaknesses of
your foes. When you deal bane damage to a judged
creature, the size of the extra damage
die/dice increases from a d6 to a d12.
Adept Counter
Beginning at 7th level, you are always prepared to punish the mistakes and openings of your specialized adversaries. When a creature belonging to your specialized adversary type misses an attack roll against any target, you may use your reaction to make a weapon attack against the triggering creature.
Prepared Hunter
Beginning at 11th level, you are an expert in knowledge regarding your specialized adversary, granting you the following benefits:
- You are considered proficient whenever making an arcana, history, nature, or religion check about your specialized adversary.
- You add double your proficiency bonus to any of the above checks when they are about your specialized adversary.
Exploit Weakness
Beginning at 15th level, you learn to exploit the weaknesses of creatures you are prepared to fight, entirely removing their ability to fight back. Once per round, when you deal bane damage to a creature, you can force that creature to make a constitution saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, that creature is stunned until the
end of your next turn.
Justicar
Many churches, cults, and religious states utilize agents to enforce their will. These agents are justicars, sent out with the mission to punish transgressors and keep people in line with the laws of the land or tenents of the faith. The brutality and liberal application of punishment common to justicars has earned them a frightening reputation oft spoken in hushed tones for fear of being heard.
Stern Visage
Beginning at 3rd level, your stern and intimidating presence unnerves the feeble hearted and guilty. You gain proficiency in intimidation (or another inquisitor skill if already proficient).
In addition, you may use your wisdom modifier in place of charisma for intimidation checks.
Punish Transgression
Beginning at 3rd level, you empower yourself to punish the sins and crimes of the iniquitous. You gain the following judgment option:
Punish Transgression. When judged creatures deal damage, you add half the damage dealt (rounded down) to a "punishment" value. When you next hit a judged creature with a weapon attack, you deal extra damage equal to the current punishment value, which is then reset to 0.
Punishment has a maximum value equal to your
inquisitor level plus your wisdom modifier. Its
value is reset to 0 when the judgment effect
ends.
Make an Example
Beginning at 7th level, your brutal punishments strike fear into transgressors. Once per short or long rest, when you deal extra damage with the punish transgression judgment, you can cause all hostile creatures within 30 feet of your target to make a wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, a creature is frightened and may repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.
Brutal Tactics
At 11th level, you develop brutal strategies to harm your foes as efficiently as possible. Your weapon attacks score a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20.
Execution
Beginning at 15th level, your attacks are empowered by your calling as justicar to execute the wicked. When you score a critical hit against a judged creature, you additionally deal necrotic damage equal to your inquisitor level
plus two times your wisdom
modifier.
Preacher
Do not let the name fool you: a preacher inquisitor is no simple congregational speaker or soapbox orator. These inquisitors are just as deadly as any other. However, what differentiates a preacher is their desire to convert rather than slay their foes.
Persuasive Orator
Beginning at 3rd level, you are trained in public oration to bring your faith to others. You gain proficiency in persuasion (or another inquisitor class skill if already proficient).
In addition, you may use your wisdom modifier in place of
charisma for persuasion checks.
Conversion
Beginning at 3rd level, you take every opportunity to convince your foes of the might of your faith. You gain the following judgment option:
Conversion. Once per round on your turn, you may replace an attack with an attempt to sway your judged creature to yield. When you do so, the target makes a wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, you deal nonlethal psychic damage equal to 2d6 plus your wisdom modifier. A judged creature that cannot understand you automatically succeeds on the saving throw.
If this damage reduces your target to a number of hit points equal to or less than your inquisitor level, the creature is charmed and stops fighting you and your allies. If you or an ally damage the charmed creature, the effect ends and they may continue fighting.
Charming a foe in this manner does not typically mean the target is converted to your faith. Generally, at your DM's discretion, the creature is convinced of your power and the power of your god and is surrendering to avoid their wrath.
Invigorating Sermon
Beginning at 7th level, when you complete a long or short
rest, you may choose to deliver a rousing sermon to your
allies. Creatures of your choice that listen to the sermon
gain a number of temporary hit points equal to your
inquisitor level plus your wisdom modifier. In
addition, these creatures have advantage on the next
saving throw they make before their next rest.
Foundation of Faith
Beginning at 11th level, you are unfalteringly confident
in the tenets of your faith. You gain proficiency in and
have advantage on charisma saving throws.
Words of Mercy
Beginning at 15th level, your utterances are laced with
merciful healing power. When you use the conversion
judgment to attempt to sway a creature, you may use
your bonus action to choose up to six creatures
within 60 feet. Those creatures regain hit points
equal to 1d4 plus your wisdom modifier. You may
do this a number of times equal to your
wisdom modifier between long rests.
Sanctified Assassin
Some inquisitors are bestowed with the sensitive task of silencing enemies to their faith or state. These inquisitors are sanctified assassins, killers given the blessing of their god or ruler to skillfully end apocryphal leaders and heretics.
It is of utmost importance that these assassins do not attract unwanted attention to their deeds, so each is specially trained in deception and stealth to ensure their kills can not be traced back to their organization.
Covert Agent
Beginning at 3rd level, you have practiced tactics for getting to your target, whether it be through silver-tongued trickery or soft-footed stealth. You gain proficiency in disguise kits and either stealth or deception (your choice). You may gain proficiency in another inquisitor skill if you are already proficient in both.
Assassinate Heretic
Beginning at 3rd level, you learn to make deadly attacks by catching your foes off guard. You gain the following judgment option:
Assassinate Heretic. Once per turn, when you have advantage on an attack roll against a judged creature, or when another enemy of the judged creature is within 5 feet
of it, your attack deals Xd6 extra damage, where X is
equal to your wisdom
modifier.
Backup Plan
At 7th level, you learn to cut and run when plans go awry to avoid bringing unwanted attention to your faith or church. On your turn, you can hide, disengage, or dash as a bonus action.
Infiltrator
Beginning at 11th level, your skill in the covert arts makes you very difficult to discover. Choose either deception or stealth (you must be proficient in the chosen skill). Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check that uses the chosen skill.
End the Apostate
Beginning at 15th level, you are a master of assassinating unwary foes. When you hit a surprised creature under the effect of the assassinate heretic judgment, it must make a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, double the damage of your attack against
the creature.
Relic Keeper
Many religious groups put a lot of importance into various holy relics and artifacts. Some inquisitors take it upon themselves to find or protect these objects so that they can be used for righteous purposes.
Religious Historian
Beginning at 3rd level, to better care for holy artifacts, you have familiarized yourself with relevant historical contexts and some of the tools required to maintain/restore those artifacts. You gain proficiency in history (or another inquisitor class skill if already proficient) and a set of artisan's tools of your choice.
Holy Relic
Beginning at 3rd level, you have found or are entrusted with a holy artifact of great power. Choose the nature of your artifact including what type of object it is and what school of magic the artifact is connected to from the following table.
At the end of the subclass is a section of "Relic Powers" listing the magic schools and the relic effects associated with each. While you have the relic on you, you gain the base power corresponding to the chosen school of magic. Your relic does not require attunement, and other creatures cannot use your relic's powers.
School of Magic | Typical Items |
---|---|
Abjuration | Amulets, Armor, Bells, Bracers, Brooches, Cloaks, Holy Symbols, Shields |
Conjuration | Bags, Bowls, Braziers, Compasses, Figurines, Lanterns, Mirrors |
Divination | Book, Crystal Ball, Goggles, Decks of Cards, Headbands, Lenses, Planchettes |
Enchantment | Censers, Crowns, Helms, Musical Instruments, Necklaces |
Evocation | Gloves, Rods, Staves, Wands, Weapons |
Illusion | Crystals, Hats, Masks, Prisms, Rings |
Necromancy | Bones, Coins, Dolls, Drums, Robes, Skulls |
Transmutation | Belts, Boots, Sandals, Vests, Weapons |
Ancient Power
Beginning at 7th level, you have unlocked greater
power from your relic. Choose one of the focus powers
corresponding to the chosen school of magic for your
relic. You gain the benefits of that focus power while
you have your relic on you.
Relic Appraisal
Beginning at 11th level, you are an expert in appraising the qualities of magical artifacts, granting you the following benefits:
- You always have the spell identify prepared which does not count against the number of spells you can prepare. You can cast identify as a ritual.
- You can cast the spell legend lore once per long rest as a ritual without having the spell prepared. Once you have access to 5th level spell slots, you always have legend lore prepared which does not count against the number of spells you can prepare.
- You have advantage on skill checks to determine the history or properties of an item.
Unleashed Power
By 15th level, you have developed a deep personal connection to your artifact, allowing you to unleash unique magics from the artifact that it had not previously displayed. Choose a second school of magic for your artifact, gaining the benefits of that school's base power, as well as a new focus power from either the original or new school.
Relic Powers
Each holy relic is associated with one of the following schools of magic, granting it particular powers that it can bestow on you.
Abjuration
Abjuration relics are associated with protection and wards.
Protection. The relic has a protective influence. You gain a +1 bonus to saving throws.
Aegis. As an action you can touch a set of armor or a shield and grant it a +1 bonus. This bonus lasts until you enchant another item in this manner.
Antimagic. Whenever you complete a rest, you have advantage on the next saving throw you make to resist a spell or magical effect.
Resistance. Once per short or long rest, when you or a creature within 15 feet takes damage, you can use your reaction to grant that creature resistance to the triggering damage type (including the current damage) until the end of their next turn. You can do this a number of times equal to your wisdom modifier between long rests.
Abjuration Magic. Choose an abjuration spell up to 2nd level from any spell list. At 7th, 11th, and 15th level, choose an additional abjuration spell up to 3rd, 4th, and 5th levels, respectively. Once per long rest, you can cast one of the chosen spells at its base level without expending a spell slot.
Conjuration
Conjuration relics are associated with transporting and summoning creatures.
Conjure. The relic calls otherworldly creatures to your side. Once per long rest, you can use your action to summon a creature with a CR equal to or less than one quarter of your inquisitor level (rounded down). This creature is loyal to you and your allies, helps you to the best of its capabilities without requiring commands, and takes its turn immediately following yours. The creature remains with you for up to 1 hour, requiring your concentration, after which point it returns to its home plane.
Your DM determines an appropriate creature based on the nature of the artifact and has the stats for that creature. In the absence of appropriate creatures, work with your DM to reflavor another creature's statistics to create a relevant creature of appropriate strength.
Disrupt Outsider. When a creature from another plane makes a melee attack roll against you, you can use your reaction to give the roll disadvantage.
Holding. Your artifact functions as a bag of holding.
Shift. Once per round, as a bonus action, you can teleport up to 15 feet. You may do this a number of times equal to your wisdom modifier between long rests.
Conjuration Magic. Choose a conjuration spell up to 2nd level from any spell list. At 7th, 11th, and 15th level, choose an additional conjuration spell up to 3rd, 4th, and 5th levels, respectively. Once per long rest, you can cast one of the chosen spells at its base level without expending a spell slot.
Divination
Divination relics are associated with foresight and knowledge.
Third Eye. The relic grants you improved perceptive capabilities. You have advantage on perception and insight checks.
Epiphany. Once per short or long rest, you can cast the augury spell as a bonus action without material components or expending a spell slot. It only takes the duration of your bonus action to ask your question and receive an answer from the spell.
Foreknowledge. You can use your bonus action to give yourself advantage on your next attack or disadvantage to the next attack that targets you. You can do this a number of times equal to your wisdom modifier between long rests.
True Senses. You gain darkvision to a range of 60 feet, or increase the range of your darkvision by 30 feet. At 11th level, you gain blindsight to a range of 15 feet. At 15th level, your blindsight becomes true sight.
Divination Magic. Choose a conjuration spell up to 2nd level from any spell list. At 7th, 11th, and 15th level, choose an additional conjuration spell up to 3rd, 4th, and 5th levels, respectively. Once per long rest, you can cast one of the chosen spells at its base level without expending a spell slot.
Enchantment
Enchantment relics are associated with mental manipulation and magical influence.
Muddy Mind. The relic subtly befuddles your enemies' minds inhibiting their ability to resist your magic. Your spell save DC increases by 1.
Disorient. When a creature within 30 feet targets you with an attack, you can use your reaction to divert the attack. The triggering creature must make a wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, it targets the creature that is closest to it, not including you or itself. If there are no other valid targets, the creature targets you.
Hypnosis. You can use your action to target a creature that can see or hear you within 10 feet. That creature must make a wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC or be charmed until the end of your next turn. The charmed creature's speed drops to 0 and is incapacitated.
Psychic Retort. When a creature within 15 feet deals damage to you, that creature takes 1d6 psychic damage. At 11th and 15th level, the die increases to 1d8 and 1d10, respectively.
Enchantment Magic. Choose an enchantment spell up to 2nd level from any spell list. At 7th, 11th, and 15th level, choose an additional enchantment spell up to 3rd, 4th, and 5th levels, respectively. Once per long rest, you can cast one of the chosen spells at its base level without expending a spell slot.
Evocation
Evocation relics are associated with energy, healing, and destruction.
Destructive Energy. The relic lends magical energies to your attacks. You gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls and your weapon attacks count as magical.
Healing. When you or a creature within 15 feet takes damage, you can use your reaction to heal that creature for an amount equal to your inquisitor level plus your wisdom modifier. You can do this a number of times equal to your wisdom modifier between long rests.
Force Barricade. Once per short or long rest, as an action, you can summon a wall of force made of one 5-foot-by-5-foot panel. This wall functions the same as one created by the wall of force spell except for its size. This wall gives you total cover while interposed between you and an enemy. At your DM's discretion, certain enemies may be able to attack around the wall (e.g. an adjacent giant could generally attack over a vertical wall).
Smiting Attacks. Choose acid, cold, fire or lightning when you gain this artifact power. When you hit with a weapon attack, you can choose to deal an extra 1d4 damage of the chosen type with the attack. At 11th and 15th level, the die increases to 1d6 and 1d8, respectively.
Evocation Magic. Choose an evocation spell up to 2nd level from any spell list. At 7th, 11th, and 15th level, choose an additional evocation spell up to 3rd, 4th, and 5th levels, respectively. Once per long rest, you can cast one of the chosen spells at its base level without expending a spell slot.
Illusion
Illusion relics are associated with sensory distortion and stealth.
Distortion. The relic distorts your form and location, making you harder to spot. You gain a +1 bonus to AC and stealth checks.
Double. Once per short or long rest, when you are the target of an attack, you may use your reaction to create an illusory double. The triggering attack automatically misses, hitting your double instead.
Rapid Disguise. You can cast disguise self as a bonus action without expending a spell slot. You can do this a number of times equal to your wisdom modifier and regain expended uses after completing a long rest.
Shifting Illusion. While concentrating on an illusion spell, you can use your bonus action to alter the illusion. Any changes to the illusion must stay within the original limitations of the spell. For example, the minor illusion cantrip cannot be altered to affect an area larger than a 5-ft cube.
Illusion Magic. Choose an illusion spell up to 2nd level from any spell list. At 7th, 11th, and 15th level, choose an additional illusion spell up to 3rd, 4th, and 5th levels, respectively. Once per long rest, you can cast one of the chosen spells at its base level without expending a spell slot.
Necromancy
Necromancy relics are associated with the undead and restoring creatures to life.
Animate. The relic can temporarily animate a recently dead creature. Once per long rest, you may use your action to reanimate the body of a creature that has died within the last 24 hours. The creature retains the statistics it had in life, except its intelligence, wisdom, and charisma scores which are now equal to its original scores or 4 (whichever is lower). In addition, the creature has current hit points equal to half of its maximum hit points at the time of reanimation. The creature remains animated for up to 1 minute, requiring your concentration, after which point it is no longer animated.
The animated creature does not have the capability to make complex decisions, speak, or provide information. The creature takes its turn immediately following yours, but does not act unless you mentally command it (no action required). It is only capable of performing simple tasks such as approaching or attacking a creature, following you, etc. In addition, the creature can use abilities natural to it (e.g. an animated dragon could perform its breath attack), but it is incapable of more complicated actions such as casting spells.
Fear of the Grave. Once per long rest, as an action, you can cause all creatures of your choice within 60 feet to make a wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, a creature is frightened for 1 minute.
Vampiric Strike. Once per short or long rest, when you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you may choose to grant yourself temporary hit points equal to the damage dealt.
Resist Death. Creatures of your choice within a 10-foot radius have advantage on death saving throws. After granting advantage to three death saving throws, this power ceases until the following dawn, when the artifact recharges.
Necromancy Magic. Choose a necromancy spell up to 2nd level from any spell list. At 7th, 11th, and 15th level, choose an additional necromancy spell up to 3rd, 4th, and 5th levels, respectively. Once per long rest, you can cast one of the chosen spells at its base level without expending a spell slot.
Transmutation
Transmutation relics are associated with altering physical forms.
Empower. The relic strengthens your physical form. Choose either strength or dexterity. You gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls using that ability score.
Harden Skin. Once per long rest, as an action, choose a creature within 30 feet (including yourself). For the next hour, that creature's AC becomes 10 plus its dexterity modifier and your wisdom modifier if it's AC was originally lower. Otherwise, it remains unchanged.
Mutable Form. As an action, you can give yourself an additional speed from the following options dependent on your inquisitor level. Beginning at 7th level, you can grant yourself a swim speed equal to your base speed or a climb speed equal to half your base speed. At 11th level, you can grant yourself a flying speed equal to your base speed. At 15th level, you can grant yourself a burrow speed equal to half your base speed.
Sedate. Once per short or long rest, as a bonus action, you can imbue a weapon you are holding with slowing energy. The next time you hit a creature with an attack with this weapon, that creature is under the effect of the slow spell for up to 1 minute. At the end of each of its turns, a creature can attempt a wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC, ending the effect early on a success.
Transmutation Magic. Choose a transmutation spell up to 2nd level from any spell list. At 7th, 11th, and 15th level, choose an additional transmutation spell up to 3rd, 4th, and 5th levels, respectively. Once per long rest, you can cast one of the chosen spells at its base level without
expending a spell slot.
Inquisitor Spell List
1st Level
- Alarm
- Bane
- Cause Fear
- Charm Person
- Command
- Compelled Duel
- Comprehend Languages
- Cure Wounds
- Detect Evil and Good
- Detect Magic
- Detect Poison and Disease
- Disguise Self
- Divine Favor
- Expeditious Retreat
- Heroism
- Identify
- Illusory Script
- Protection from Evil and Good
- Purify Food and Drink
- Sanctuary
- Shield of Faith
- Sleep
- Zephyr Strike
2nd Level
- Aid
- Arcane Lock
- Augury
- Calm Emotions
- Darkness
- Darkvision
- Detect Thoughts
- Find Traps
- Hold Person
- Knock
- Lesser Restoration
- Locate Object
- Magic Weapon
- Mind Spike
- Mirror Image
- Pass without Trace
- Protection from Poison
- See Invisibility
- Suggestion
- Zone of Truth
3rd Level
- Beacon of Hope
- Clairvoyance
- Counterspell
- Create Food and Water
- Crusader's Mantle
- Daylight
- Dispel Magic
- Elemental Weapon
- Fast Friends
- Fear
- Magic Circle
- Nondetection
- Remove Curse
- Revivify
- Sending
- Tiny Hut
- Tongues
4th Level
- Arcane Eye
- Aura of Life
- Aura of Purity
- Banishment
- Compulsion
- Confusion
- Death Ward
- Divination
- Elemental Bane
- Locate Creature
- Private Sanctum
- Raulothim's Psychic Lance
- Resilient Sphere
- Secret Chest
5th Level
- Circle of Power
- Commune
- Dawn
- Destructive Wave
- Dispel Evil and Good
- Dominate Person
- Geas
- Greater Restoration
- Hallow
- Hold Monster
- Holy Weapon
- Legend Lore
- Mass Cure Wounds
- Modify Memory
- Scrying
- Steel Wind Strike
- Telepathic Bond
Multiclassing
Prerequisites. To qualify for multiclassing with the Inquisitor class, you must meet these prerequisites: 13 Wisdom and 13 Strength or Dexterity.
Proficiencies. When you multiclass into the Inquisitor class, you gain the following proficiencies: Simple weapons, martial weapons, light armor, medium armor, shields.
Spell Slots. You add half your Inquisitor
levels (rounded down) to determine
multiclass spell slots.
The Inquisitor
A halfcaster class for those who really don't like evil. Seek out and destroy the wicked with seven inquisitions: the Crusader, Witch Hunter, Slayer, Justicar, Preacher, Sanctified Assassin,
and Relic Keeper.
Art Credits:
Page 138: Stormfall Guy-1 by Ihor Sapehyn
Page 140: Yael by Astri Lohne
Page 141: Watch Inspector by Mitchell Malloy
Page 142: Witch Hunter by CDProjektRed
Page 143: Teutonic Knight by Catalin Lartist
Page 144: Outlaw Sorcerer by theDURRRRIAN
Page 145: The Witcher by JonasDeRo
Page 146: Extricator of Sin by Craig Spearing
Page 147: Eldar Seer by Timo Kujansuu
Page 148: Gemsoul Deathblade by F. Setiawan
Page 149: Zealous Inquisitor by Ryan Barger
Page 151: Hope Against Hope by David Seguin
Page 152: Warren Black by jamestheboyyy
Page 153: Eonnan Inquisitor by ConceptartistJR
See Dragonshard's GM Binder profile for more homebrew classes inspired by Pathfinder.
Shaman
A tribal leader stands conversing with a rival warparty. Hoping to avoid conflict, the leader chooses his words carefully to not offend the warriors. Unknown to all others, the spirit of his long departed ancestor, legendary for his silver-tongue, is whispering exactly what to say.
An adventuring party is set upon by a great ettin, swinging its club with abandon. Fearing the strength of this giant, an elf grasps a wood-carved totem, channeling spiritual magic through it. The ettin begins to slow, its strength suddenly waning from the elf's curse.
A half-orc, standing amongst her comrades, begins to call upon the spirits to gather around her. Though they cannot see what is happening, those nearby feel the hum of powerful energy, as a multitude of spirits join with the half-orc and begin to chant. In a flash, a great whirlwind emerges from previously calm skies, touching down right on top of the approaching foes.
Shamans are known for their connection to the spirit realm and the following of spirits they attract. Through the energy of their spirits, they produce magical spells and create mystical totems and trinkets to bolster their allies and curse their enemies.
Spiritual Retinue
Shamans have the supernatural power to commune with spirits as easily as they speak with someone face to face. They gain a loyal following of spirits that remains close by on the ethereal plane, ready to intercede in times of need. To further harness this spiritual power, shamans fashion totems and trinkets through which they channel their spirits' power to produce spells and other magical effects.
In addition, shamans develop a sacred relationship with a spirit guide, a particular spirit chosen from amongst their following. This spirit guide assists the shaman on their journey towards spiritual mastery and regularly manifests itself on the physical plane to provide direct aid.
Journey of Enlightenment
Of utmost importance to shamans is their connection to and mastery of the spirit realm. To gain this mastery, shamans often set out on journeys of enlightenment where they
must rely on their spiritual power and, in the process,
gain invaluable experience. It is only through danger
and trial that a shaman can truly learn to depend on
their spirit following and gain further spiritual
illumination. Throughout these experiences, a
shaman rarely fears death, as dying is simply an
opportunity to join those spirits they have grown
fond of.
Shamans will often join with other adventurers
to experience the challenges necessary to test
their spiritual power. Some seek knowledge
of the beyond, hidden in the far corners of
the world. Others pursue wayward spirits,
recruiting them to their following as a way
to bolster their connection to the spirit
realm.
Creating a Shaman
The most important thing to consider about your shaman is the nature of your shamanic spirits. This choice will be formally made at level 2, but look at the shamanic spirits section to plan ahead. Do your spirits come from your past ancestors, from plants and animals in nature, or from somewhere beyond the material world on which you live?
Next consider how you came to work alongside these spirits. Is it a tribal tradition, passed down to the next leader when they come of age? Maybe you happened upon a benevolent spirit in a time of need and began to befriend spirits from then on? Or maybe, you have magically bound wandering spirits to your service against their will? In any case, consider also the nature of your relationship with your shamanic spirits. Are you in a leader/follower relationship or are you partners, working together towards a common goal?
Lastly, decide why you set off on adventure. Many shamans depart on spiritual journeys to become more in tune with their spirits and the spirit world. Some wish to recruit more spirits to their following to grow their power and influence. Still other altruistic shamans seeks to better both the physical and spiritual worlds for all their denizens.
Quick Build
You can make a shaman quickly by following these suggestions. First, make Wisdom your highest ability score, followed by Constitution or Dexterity. Second, choose
the hermit background. Third choose the
toll the dead and dancing
lights cantrips.
The Shaman Table
Level | Proficiency Bonus |
Features | Cantrips Known |
Spells Known | Spell Slots | Slot Level | Totems & Trinkets |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | +2 | Spirit Magic | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1st | ─ |
2nd | +2 | Shamanic Spirits, Totems and Trinkets | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1st | 2 |
3rd | +2 | Spirit Guide | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2nd | 2 |
4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2nd | 3 |
5th | +3 | ─ | 3 | 6 | 2 | 3rd | 3 |
6th | +3 | Spirit Feature | 3 | 7 | 2 | 3rd | 3 |
7th | +3 | ─ | 3 | 8 | 2 | 4th | 4 |
8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 3 | 9 | 2 | 4th | 4 |
9th | +4 | ─ | 3 | 10 | 2 | 5th | 4 |
10th | +4 | Spirit Feature, Totems (2/short) | 4 | 10 | 2 | 5th | 4 |
11th | +4 | Spiritual Incant (6th Level) | 4 | 11 | 3 | 5th | 5 |
12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 11 | 3 | 5th | 5 |
13th | +5 | Spiritual Incant (7th Level) | 4 | 12 | 3 | 5th | 5 |
14th | +5 | Spirit Feature | 4 | 12 | 3 | 5th | 5 |
15th | +5 | Spiritual Incant (8th Level) | 4 | 13 | 3 | 5th | 6 |
16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 13 | 3 | 5th | 6 |
17th | +6 | Spiritual Incant (9th Level) | 4 | 14 | 4 | 5th | 6 |
18th | +6 | ─ | 4 | 14 | 4 | 5th | 6 |
19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 15 | 4 | 5th | 6 |
20th | +6 | Ethereal Manifestation | 4 | 15 | 4 | 5th | 6 |
Class Features
As a Shaman, you gain the following class features:
Hit Points
- Hit Dice: 1d8 per shaman level
- Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier
- Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per shaman level after 1st.
Proficiencies
- Armor: Light armor, medium armor, shields
- Weapons: Simple weapons
- Tools: Herbalism kit
- Saving Throws: Wisdom, Charisma
- Skills: Choose two skills from Animal Handling, Insight, Medicine, Nature, Perception, Religion, Survival
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- Any simple weapon and two daggers
- (a) leather armor or (b) hide armor
- (a) a component pouch or (b) a druidic focus
- (a) a dungeoneer's pack or (b) an explorer's pack
- (a) An herbalism kit
Spirit Magic
Beginning at 1st level, you call upon the spirits around you to produce magical spells.
Cantrips
At 1st level, you know two cantrips of your choice from the shaman spell list. You learn additional shaman cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Shaman table.
Spell Slots
The Shaman table shows
how many spell slots you
have to cast your shaman
spells of 1st through 5th
level. 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
shaman spells of 1st level or
higher, you must expend a spell
slot. You regain all expended
Spirit Magic spell slots when
you finish a short or long rest.
Spells Known of 1st
Level and Higher
At 1st level, you know two 1st-level
spells of your choice from the shaman
spell list.
The Spells Known column of the Shaman
table shows when you learn more shaman 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.
Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the shaman spells you know and replace it with another spell from the shaman spell list, which must also be of a level for which you have spell slots.
Spellcasting Ability
Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for your shaman spells. 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 shaman spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.
Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus +
Ritual Casting
You can cast a shaman spell as a ritual if that spell has the ritual tag and you know the spell.
Spellcasting Focus
You can use a druidic focus as a spellcasting focus for your shaman spells.
Shamanic Spirits
At 2nd level, your spirituality has attracted the presence of a particular group of spirits. These spirits remain close by on the ethereal plane, ready to interfere with the physical plane at your request.
Choose one of the shamanic spirits listed after the main class features. Based on the nature of these spirits, you are granted different blessings and abilites from their presence. The shamanic spirits you choose grant you features at levels 2, 6, 10, and 14, and 20, as well as an additional totem.
In addition, you gain
spells according to your chosen
shamanic spirits at the appropriate shaman
levels. These spells are shaman spells for you but
do not count against the number of shaman spells you know.
Totems and Trinkets
Beginning at 2nd level, you use totems and trinkets to beseech loyal spirits to interact with the material plane. Select two options from either the totem or trinket lists, gaining the benefits of your selections.
You gain additional totems or trinkets according to the Totems & Trinkets column of the Shaman table.
Totems
Totems are crafted objects attuned to the realm of spirits which are activated as a bonus action. Most totem effects require your concentration, during which time you cannot concentrate on other spells. Alternatively, your spirit guide (see the "Spirit Guide" feature at 3rd level) can independently perform a totem's effects once per long rest, removing the need for you to concentrate on them.
You may use one totem before completing a short or long rest. Beginning at 10th level, you may use two totems before completing a short or long rest.
Trinkets
Trinkets are small objects taken from the physical world and imbued with spiritual power. These provide their benefits without needing to be activated.
Spirit Guide
Beginning at 3rd level, from amongst your shamanic spirits, you have gained the close companionship of a spirit guide. This ghostly presence regularly manifests itself to you and guides you on your journey to spiritual enlightenment. The appearance of your spirit guide depends on your choice of shamanic spirits. Because your relationship with your spirit guide is sacred, other creatures cannot perceive or interact with your spirit guide unless you allow them to.
Spirit Guide Totems
Beginning at 3rd level, you may use your bonus action to have your spirit guide perform one of your totem effects once per long rest. As normal, this expends one totem use. When you choose to do this, your spirit guide acts independently, removing the need for you to concentrate on the effect if it normally requires concentration.
While performing a totem effect, your spirit guide is visible to others and vulnerable in a partially corporeal form. Unless the totem effect states otherwise, your spirit guide is a medium creature that appears in a space within 10 feet of you and takes it turns immediately following yours. Your spirit guide can take no actions, bonus actions, or reactions. However, it can move and has a flying speed equal to your speed, but must be within 30 feet of you at the end of its turn or be automatically dismissed.
When your spirit guide takes damage, if that damage equals or exceeds your shaman level plus your wisdom modifier, your guide is temporarily dismissed to the ethereal plane and its totem effect ends. After you complete a long
rest, your spirit guide returns to you.
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.
Using the optional feats rule, you can forgo taking this feature to take a feat of your choice instead.
Spiritual Incant
At 11th level, your shamanic spirits gather around you to help generate a more powerful spell, called a spiritual incant. Choose one 6th-level spell from the shaman spell list as this spiritual incant. Once per long rest, you can cast this incant without expending a spell slot.
At higher levels you gain additional shaman spells of your choice that can be cast in this way: one 7th-level spell at 13th level, one 8th-level spell at 15th level, and one 9th-level spell at 17th level. You regain all uses of your spiritual incants when you complete a long rest.
Ethereal Manifestation
At 20th level, you have attained spiritual enlightenment and a complete mastery of your spiritual power. Once per long rest, you can manifest the energy of your spirit into a ethereal form granting you powerful capabilities, depending on your choice of shamanic spirits.
Multiclassing
Prerequisites. To qualify for multiclassing with the Shaman class, you must meet these prerequisites: 13 Wisdom.
Proficiencies. When you multiclass into the Shaman class, you gain the following proficiencies: Light armor, medium armor, shields, simple weapons.
Spell Slots. You can use spell slots you gain from the "Spirit
Magic" feature to cast spells you know or have prepared
from other classes. Similarly, you can use spell slots you
gain from other classes to cast
shaman spells you know.
Totems
The following are totems available to shamans. Totems effects are activated as a bonus action and require your concentration unless otherwise stated.
You may use one totem before completing a short or long rest. Beginning at 10th level, you may use two totems before completing a short or long rest.
Chanting Totem
The spirits begin an unnerving chant bolstering your magical effects. For the next minute, you cannot lose concentration on your spells.
If your spirit guide is performing the totem effect, you may have your spirit guide concentrate on an ongoing spell for you until the totem effect ends. Your spirit guide does not need to make concentration checks, but loses concentration if it is dismissed. If you are not concentrating on another spell when your spirit guide's totem effect ends, you can begin concentrating on the spell again to continue its effects throughout the spell's duration.
Charming Totem
The spirits whisper soothing words. Choose a creature you can see within 30 feet. That creature must make a wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, the creature is charmed by you and is not hostile to your or your allies until you or an ally harm them. This effect lasts for up to 10 minutes and requires your concentration to maintain.
On a successful save, the creature is immune to this totem for 24 hours, and you may use your bonus action on your next turn to attempt to charm a new creature in this manner.
Evil Eye Totem
The spirits intensely focus a curse on a foe. Choose a creature you can see within 30 feet. That creature suffers disadvantage on ability checks and saving throws for one statistic, such as strength or dexterity. This effect lasts up to 24 hours and requires your concentration to maintain.
Fortune Totem
The spirits bestow good luck on an ally. Choose a
creature you can see within 30 feet, including
yourself. Once per minute, the target creature
may reroll any ability check, attack roll, or
saving throw it makes, but must take the
new result. This effect lasts up to 24
hours and requires your concentration
to maintain.
Furious Totem
The spirits arouse primal fury. Choose
a creature you can see within 30 feet,
including yourself. The target
creature gains immunity to
the frightened condition
and a bonus to melee
damage rolls equal to your
proficiency bonus. This
effect lasts up to 10
minutes and requires your
concentration to maintain.
Healing Totem
The spirits comfort and tend the wounds of an ally. Choose a creature within 30 feet, including yourself. At the beginning of each of its turns, a creature regains a number of hit points equal to your shaman level. This effect lasts up to 1 minute and requires your concentration to maintain.
Power Totem
The spirits add power your magical attacks. When you deal damage with a spell, you deal additional damage equal to your wisdom modifier. This effect lasts for 10 minutes.
Warding Totem
The spirits protect an ally. Choose a creature within 30 feet, including yourself. That creature gains a bonus to AC equal to your wisdom modifier. This effect lasts up to 10 minutes and requires your concentration to maintain.
Weakening Totem
The spirits exhaust an enemy. Choose a creature within 30 feet. That creature has disadvantage on attack rolls. This effect lasts up to 1 minute and requires your concentration to maintain.
Winged Totem
Prerequisite: 7th Level Shaman
The spirits lift and carry a creature, appearing as a pair of ethereal wings. Choose a creature within 30 feet, including yourself. That creature gains a flying speed of 30 feet. This effect lasts up to 10 minutes and requires your concentration to maintain.
If your spirit guide is performing the effect, it appears in the same space as the target creature, but can be targeted independently. While performing this totem effect, your spirit guide moves with the target creature and does not have its own movement speed. If your spirit guide is dismissed, the target creature loses its flying speed and immediately begins falling if it was suspended above
the ground.
Trinkets List
The following are trinkets available to shamans. Unlike totems, trinkets do not need to be activated. Some trinkets have prerequisites which you must meet before selecting the trinket.
Amber Trinket
You can cast heroism at 1st level at will, without expending a spell slot.
Bark Trinket
Your base AC becomes 10 + your dexterity modifier + your wisdom modifier while you are not wearing armor or using a shield.
Barb Trinket
When you hit a creature with an attack, you may reroll any number of damage die and take the higher result of each.
Bat Trinket
You can see normally in darkness, both magical and nonmagical, to a distance of 120 feet.
Bead Trinket
You can cast detect good and evil at will, without expending a spell slot.
Berry Trinket
You no longer need to eat or drink and do not gain levels of exhaustion from starvation, dehydration, or fast travel paces.
Bird Trinket
Prerequisite: 15th Level Shaman
You gain a flying speed equal to your base speed that you can use for up to 1 hour between long rests.
Blood Trinket
You can cast false life at 1st level at will, without expending a spell slot.
Bone Trinket
You have advantage on death saving throws.
Claw Trinket
You have sharp claws at the end of your fingers. Your claws count as a magic melee weapon, with which you are proficient. These weapons use your strength or dexterity modifier to hit and deal slashing damage equal to 1d6 plus your wisdom modifier.
Conch Trinket
Prerequisite: 7th Level Shaman
Once per long rest, you can cast water breathing without expending a spell slot.
Crystal Trinket
Prerequisite: 4th Level Shaman
Once per long rest, you can cast conjure animals at 3rd level without expending a spell slot. When cast this way, the spell does not require concentration.
Egg Trinket
Your shaman hit die become d10s and your hit point maximum increases by an amount equal to your shaman level plus one.
Eye Trinket
You gain proficiency in insight checks and your passive insight increases by 5.
Feather Trinket
You can cast feather fall at will, without expending a spell slot.
Fish Trinket
You gain a swimming speed equal to your base speed and can breathe underwater.
Flower Trinket
You can cast aid at 2nd level at will, without expending a spell slot. You may do so a number of times equal to your wisdom modifier before completing a long rest.
Fungus Trinket
Once per round, when you cast a spell, you restore hit points equal to the level of the spell plus your wisdom modifier (cantrips do not restore hit points this way).
Fur Trinket
Your speed increases by 5 feet. At 5th, 10th, and 15th levels this bonus increases to 10, 15, and 20 feet, respectively.
Hawk Trinket
You gain proficiency in perception checks and your passive perception increases by 5.
Horn Trinket
When you hit a creature with an attack or spell, you may force them to make a strength saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, the creature is pushed up to 10 feet directly away from you.
Leaf Trinket
You can cast disguise self at will, without expending a spell slot.
Lizard Trinket
Prerequisite: 7th Level Shaman
You gain a climbing speed equal to your base speed.
Moss Trinket
You have resistance to radiant and necrotic damage.
Mud/Sand Trinket
You ignore the effects of difficult terrain.
Obsidian Trinket
You have resistance to fire damage and are immune to the effects of a hot environment.
Owl Trinket
You can cast detect magic at will, without expending a spell slot.
Panther Trinket
You have advantage on constitution saving throws made to maintain concentration on your spells.
Pinecone Trinket
You have resistance to cold damage and are immune to the effects of a cold environment.
Plumage Trinket
You are immune to the charmed condition.
Rabbit Trinket
Once per short rest, you can reroll one attack roll or saving throw, but you must take the new result.
Raven Trinket
You no longer require sleep and cannot be forced to sleep. To gain the benefits of a rest, you must perform only light activity through the normal duration of the rest.
Salamander Trinket
Whenever you regain hit points, you regain an additional number of hit points equal to your wisdom modifier.
Scale Trinket
You gain a +1 bonus to saving throws.
Seed Trinket
When you magically regain hit points, you gain an additional number of hit points equal to your wisdom modifier.
Shell Trinket
When you are the target of an attack roll, you can use your reaction to increase your AC by 1d6 against that attack. You can do this a number of time between long rests equal to your wisdom modifier.
Skull Trinket
You are immune to the frightened condition.
Snake Trinket
You gain proficiency in stealth and have
advantage on stealth checks you make
while you are not moving.
Stone Trinket
You gain a +1 bonus to AC.
Tail Trinket
You gain proficiency in acrobatics and can add your strength modifier twice, instead of once, when calculating jump distances.
Thorn Trinket
When you are hit with an attack within 5 feet, the attacking creature takes piercing damage equal to your shaman level.
Tooth Trinket
You can cast speak with animals at will, without expending a spell slot.
Venom Trinket
You have resistance to poison damage and are immune to the poisoned condition.
Vine Trinket
Once per short rest, when you hit a creature with an attack, you may choose to conjure vines that restrain the creature. The target makes a strength saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, the creature is restrained. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns.
Wolf Trinket
When you are within 5 feet of an allied creature other than your spirit guide, you have advantage on attack rolls.
Wood Trinket
Prerequisite: 4th Level Shaman
Once per long rest, you can cast speak with plants, without expending a spell slot.
Shamanic Spirits
As a shaman grows in their spirituality and connection to the ethereal, they gain a following of loyal, supportive spirits helping them to gain further enlightenment. These spirits come in many different forms and provide boons to you depending on their abilities in life. You gain features from your choice of spirits at levels 2, 6, 10, 14, and 20, as well as spells at the appropriate shaman levels.
Ancestor Spirits
Your shamanic spirits come not from an outside source, but from your own deceased ancestors. Those that have gone before you see you as a promising member of the bloodline and have chosen to give you their support. These spirits consist of many great warriors and artisans of the past, allowing you to call upon their skills and expertise.
Ancestral Spirit Spells
Shaman Level | Spells |
---|---|
2nd | Heroism |
3rd | Spiritual Weapon |
5th | Spirit Guardians |
7th | Guardian of Faith |
9th | Holy Weapon |
Ancestral Totem
Your ancestor spirits manifest themselves to guide you. You, or a creature you can see within 30 feet, gain proficiency in a skill or tool of your choice. This effect lasts for up to 24 hours and requires your concentration to maintain.
Ancestral Weapon
At 2nd level, the spirits grant you access to sacred ancestral weapons. You learn the cantrip green-flame blade or booming blade (your choice). In addition, you can summon a melee weapon from your sacred ancestry without using an action. This weapon deals 1d8 bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage (your choice) and has a 5 foot range. You may use your wisdom modifier on attack and damage rolls with the weapon, and you are considered proficient with it.
You can summon your weapon a number of times per day equal to your wisdom modifier. The weapon disappears after 1 minute, after 1 round if it leaves your grasp, or when you dismiss it as a bonus action.
Sacred Council
Beginning at 6th level, as an action, you can call upon a group of ancestors to provide council. This advice grants you advantage on your next ability check within the next minute. You can use this ability a number of times per long rest equal to your wisdom modifier.
Champion of the Bloodline
At 10th level, your ancestor spirits name you a champion of your bloodline, granting you an ancestral blessing of protection so that you may continue to bring glory to your family name. You gain a +1 bonus to AC and saving throws.
Great Ancestor
At 14th level, your spirit guide bestows its ancient
knowledge on you. You gain proficiency in one skill or
tool of your choice. If you are already proficient in the
chosen skill or tool, you instead add double your
proficiency bonus to skill checks using that skill/tool.
In addition, you gain proficiency in either
dexterity or constitution saving throws (your
choice).
Ancestral Manifestation
At 20th level, you manifest your warrior
ancestors into your form allowing them to guide
and strengthen every attack. Once per long rest,
when you roll initiative, you can take on the
form of an ethereal warrior enveloped in
ancestral armor and surrounded by warrior
spirits. This form lasts for one minute and
grants you the following benefits:
- You have a bonus to attack and damage rolls equal to your charisma modifier.
- You are proficient in strength, dexterity, and constitution saving throws.
- You can cast the cantrips green-flame blade or booming blade as a bonus action on your turn.
Draconic Spirits
Draconic shamans gain the favor of a line of terrible, yet majestic, dragons. Although it is rare that these beasts choose to work alongside a mortal, the presence of draconic spirits is invaluable. Dragons exemplify strength and resilience and their shamans grow to develop these attributes more and more as their spirituality grows.
Draconic Spirit Spells
Shaman Level | Spells |
---|---|
2nd | Absorb Elements |
3rd | Dragon's Breath |
5th | Fly |
7th | Freedom of Movement |
9th | Summon Draconic Spirit |
Draconic Totem
Your draconic spirits bestow magical protection, granting the appearance of mystical scales. Choose a creature you can see within 30 feet, including yourself. The target creature gains resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage, and is blessed with the effects of the dragon's breath spell as if cast at your spell slot level. These effects last up to 10 minutes and require your concentration to maintain.
Scales of the Dragon
Your body gains scattered layers of dragon-like scales. At 2nd level, your hit point maximum increases by 2 and increases by 1 again whenever you gain a level in this class.
In addition, when you are not wearing armor, your AC equals 10 + your dexterity modifier
+ your wisdom modifier.
Dragon Soul
At 6th level, your spirit guide infuses you with a draconic essence, connecting you to a particular element. You gain resistance to either acid, cold, fire, lightning, or poison (your choice).
Draconic Fury
Beginning at 10th level, you breathe the elements as naturally as your breathe air. When you are under the effect of the dragon's breath spell, you can use the breath attack as a bonus action. When you do so, the attack deals only half its normal damage (rounded down).
Wings of the Dragon
Beginning at 14th level, your draconic spirit grants you the ability to take to the skies. As a bonus action, you can manifest leathery dragon wings that grant you a flying speed of 40 feet. You can use these wings for a number of minutes equal to your wisdom modifier per short or long rest.
Draconic Manifestation
At 20th level, you manifest your draconic soul into your physical form. Once per long rest, when you roll initiative, you can take on the form of a great ethereal dragon. This form lasts for one minute and grants you the following benefits:
- Your size becomes large.
- You gain temporary hit points equal to your shaman level plus your wisdom modifier.
- You are under the effect of the dragon's breath spell as if it were cast at 9th level.
- You have immunity to the element you chose
as part of the "Dragon Soul" feature.
Nature Spirits
Shamans of nature commune with all kinds of natural spirits, both plants and animals. They work alongside all lifeforms to maintain balance and protect the wild places of the world. When natural life is threatened, these shamans command the beasts and plants of the land to band together against their foe.
Natural Spirit Spells
Shaman Level | Spells |
---|---|
2nd | Animal Friendship |
3rd | Beast Sense |
5th | Conjure Animals |
7th | Grasping Vine |
9th | Wrath of Nature |
Natural Totem
Nature spirits grant mastery over the land and terrain. Choose a creature within 30 feet, including yourself. The target creature ignored difficult terrain and gains a movement speed related to the surrounding land. At your DM's discretion, if the surrounding terrain fits multiple categories, you choose which movement speed the totem grants. This effect lasts up to 24 hours, requiring your concentration to maintain.
Terrain | Movement |
---|---|
Aquatic, Coast, Swamp | 30 ft. Swim Speed |
Arctic, Cave, Desert, Underground |
10 ft. Burrow Speed |
Forest, Mountain, Ruins |
20 ft. Climbing Speed |
Dungeon, Grassland, Urban | +10 ft. Base Speed |
Defiant Vegetation
Beginning at 2nd level, your attacks stir the spirits of
plant life around your target. When you make an
attack roll against a creature, you can use your bonus
action to entangle that creature in grasping weeds and
vines, or other plant life appropriate to the terrain. The
creature must make a strength saving throw against your
spell save DC. On a failed save, the creature is restrained.
A creature restrained by these plants can use its action to
repeat the save, freeing itself on a success.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to your
wisdom modifier before completing a long rest.
Beast Speech
Beginning at 6th level, your natural spirit guide teaches
you to communicate with beasts as if you shared a language. You are considered under the effect of the speak with animals spell at all times.
Aspect of the Wilds
At 10th level, your nature-attuned spirit causes your physical form to become more akin to wildlife. Choose either beast or plant form. You gain the following benefits depending on your choice:
Beast Form
- Your base speed increases by 10 feet.
- You make dexterity saving throws with advantage.
- Once per round, when you use your action to cast a spell, you can make one melee attack as a bonus action.
Plant Form
- You gain temporary hit points equal to your shaman level. You regain these when you complete a short or long rest.
- You make constitution saving throws with advantage.
- The ground within 15 feet of you is difficult terrain for your enemies.
Wildlands Communion
Beginning at 14th level, you instinctively commune with the spirits of the land around you. When you complete a long rest, you gain the benefits of the commune with nature spell, allowing you to learn three facts of your choice about the surrounding land.
In addition, you can telepathically communicate with plantlife that is within 30 feet of you. When you converse with plants in this manner, you may grant them limited sentience and animation to follow tasks you request of them as if they were affected by the "Speak with Plants" spell for up to 10 minutes.
Natural Manifestation
At 20th level, the spirits of the wild join your form. Once per long rest, when you roll initiative, you can manifest the form of an avatar of nature, combining features of both animals and plants. This form lasts for one minute and grants you the following benefits:
- When you enter this form, you immediately cast wrath of nature without expending a spell slot or using an action. The spell lasts until your manifestation ends and does not require your concentration.
- You benefit from both forms in the "Aspect of the Wilds" feature, instead of just the form you chose at 10th level.
Cursed Spirits
There are abundant spirits wandering the fringes of the physical world, bound by various curses to the mortal plane. Shamans can bind these spirits, using their dark energies to curse their foes. These shamans can even learn to draw cursed power out of themselves or allies and into their bound spirits to be dispersed into the weave or used against their foes.
Cursed Spirit Spells
Shaman Level | Spells |
---|---|
2nd | Hex |
3rd | Blindness/Deafness |
5th | Bestow Curse |
7th | Phantasmal Killer |
9th | Contagion |
Cursed Totem
Your cursed spirits weaken your foes will to fight and live. Choose a creature within 30 feet. The target creature has
disadvantage on all saving throws. This effect lasts
up to 1 minute, requiring your concentration
to maintain.
Hexing Magic
Beginning at 2nd level, your spells are infused with the cursed energy of your spirits. While you are concentrating on a spell, attack rolls are made with advantage against hostile creatures that are affected by the spell or in its area of effect.
Distill Curse
Beginning at 6th level, your spirits' command over cursed energies allows them to draw unwanted magics out of you and your allies. Whenever you complete a short or long rest, you may choose to end any number of curses affecting you. In addition, once per long rest, you can cast the spell remove curse without expending a spell slot.
Malediction
Beginning at 10th level, your cursed spells become even more debilitating. When you cast a spell granted by the cursed spirit spells feature, you can choose an effect from those listed in the bestow curse spell to apply to the target creature.
If you miss the creature with the spell attack roll or the creature succeeds its saving throw to resist the spell, it does not suffer the chosen effect. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your wisdom modifier before completing a long rest.
Transfer Affliction
Beginning at 14th level, your spirits can transfer negative magics from you to your foes. At the beginning of your turn,
while you are magically afflicted with a ongoing condition
or spell's effect, you can transfer that condition or effect to
another creature you can see within 30 feet even while
incapacitated. The condition or effect immediately ends
for you, and the target creature suffers the effects of the
condition or spell for the remaining duration. Your turn
immediately ends after using this feature.
You can only transfer a spell's effects if the spell
level is equal to or less than your shaman spell slot
level. In addition, you cannot transfer the prone,
restrained, grappled, or unconscious conditions.
Cursed Manifestation
At 20th level, your cursed spirits can bind themselves
to your physical form. Once per long rest, when you
roll initiative, you can take on the form of an dark,
ethereal spirit emanating discomforting energies.
When you enter this form, you immediately
cast hex and bestow curse on one creature of
your choice within 30 feet, without using an
action or expending a spell slot. The effects
last the duration of your cursed
manifestation and do not require your
concentration. Your cursed manifestation lasts
for one minute and additionally grants you the
following benefits:
- As a bonus action, you can transfer the bestow curse and hex spell from this form to another creature within 30 feet of you.
- Creatures affected by your hex spell take the extra necrotic damage from all attacks, instead of just yours.
Earthen Spirits
Some primordial spirits come directly from the stones and earth that make up the land. These venerable spirits are steadfast and wise, able to bestow stability and patient strength to those shamans who listen to what the earth has to say.
Earthen Spirit Spells
Shaman Level | Spells |
---|---|
2nd | Earth Tremor |
3rd | Maximillian's Earthen Grasp |
5th | Meld Into Stone |
7th | Stoneskin |
9th | Wall of Stone |
Earthen Totem
The spirits of the earth hold their allies steady against
any force. Choose a creature within 30 feet,
including yourself. That creature has advantage on
checks or saving throws to avoid being grappled
or moved against their will (including via
teleportation). In addition, if that creature
doesn't move on its turn, attacks have
disadvantage against that creature until the
beginning of its next turn or until it moves.
Bulwark of Earth
Beginning at 2nd level, while you are on the
ground, as a bonus action, you can surround
yourself in a bulwark of earth. While in the
bulwark, you are behind half cover, and you
cannot move or be moved unless teleported.
You can choose to end the bulwark as a bonus
action. The bulwark also ends if you are teleported
from your space.
Stone Foundation
Beginning at 6th level, the ground you walk bestows
primordial stability and endurance. While you are
touching the ground, you have advantage on checks
advantage on checks and saving throws to avoid
being grappled, shoved, restrained, knocked prone,
or moved against your will (including via
teleportation). In addition, you gain tremorsense
to a range of 30 feet.
Steadfast Patience
Beginning at 10th level, your connection to the earth
grants unmatched patience and endurance. While in
your bulwark of earth, you cannot lose concentration on
spells or totems unless you are incapacitated.
One with Earth
At 14th level, you become one with earth granting you the following benefits:
- You gain a burrow speed equal to half your base speed.
- You can cast the spell Meld Into Stone once per short rest as a bonus action, without expending a spell slot.
Earthen Manifestation
At 20th level, in times of need, earthen spirits erupt from the ground and join your form with rock. Once per long rest, when you roll initiative, you can manifest the form of a stone being, as you are enveloped in protective earth and rock.
When you enter this form, you immediately cast erupting earth centered on yourself without using an action or expending a spell slot. When you do so, you can choose to exclude any portion of the spell's area from the effect. This form lasts for one minute and additionally grants you the following benefits:
- While in this form, you are always considered in your bulwark of earth, regardless of whether or not you are touching the ground.
- You can move freely while in your bulwark of earth.
- All attacks against you are made with disadvantage.
Cosmic Spirits
On rare occasions, alien spirits from the space between material worlds will visit a terrestrial body and interact with the planet-bound residents. Cosmic shamans learn to reach out to and befriend these otherworldly, ethereal beings, learning to grasp the powers of celestial bodies.
Cosmic Spirit Spells
Shaman Level | Spells |
---|---|
2nd | Color Spray (Light), Magnify Gravity (Gravity) |
3rd | Lesser Invisibility (Light), Levitate (Gravity) |
5th | Daylight (Light), Fly (Gravity) |
7th | Greater Invisibility (Light), Gravity Sinkhole (Gravity) |
9th | Dawn (Light), Telekinesis (Gravity) |
Cosmic Totem
Extraterrestrial spirits channel cosmic energy onto the area. Choose a point within 100 feet. Originating from that point, the spirits create a 20-ft radius field of intense gravity and radiation. The weight of everything in the field is doubled. At the beginning of their turn, each creature in the field must make a constitution saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save their speed is halved and they take an amount of radiant damage equal to your shaman level plus your wisdom modifier. These effects last up to 1 minute, requiring your concentration to maintain.
Stellar Energy
At 2nd level, you learn cosmic power from your otherworldly spirits allowing you to either channel radiation from both the stars and distant supernova detonations into light or summon the gravitational powers of nearby celestial bodies. Choose either light or gravity. Your choice affects some of the subclass features, including the cosmic spirit spell list.
You learn either the light (light) or mage hand (gravity) cantrips. If you already know the cantrip, you may choose another from the shaman
spell list.
In addition, while you are outside, you can use your bonus action to absorb cosmic energy and regain a number of hitpoints equal to half your shaman level (rounded down) plus your wisdom modifier. You can do this a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus before completing a long rest.
Freedom of the Void
Beginning at 6th level, you no longer limited by ordinary terrestrial movement. You can choose to hover 1 foot above the ground as you move. While doing so, you are unaffected by difficult terrain and cannot have your speed magically reduced, unless it is reduced to 0.
In addition, you gain darkvision to a range of 60 feet, or the range of your darkvision increases by 30 feet.
Outer Being
At 10th level, your form becomes increasingly alien as it takes on the attributes of celestial bodies. You gain the benefits depending on your choice of either light or gravity:
Light. Your skin glows unearthly iridescent shades as you passively generate powerful electromagnetic radiation. Creatures that end their turn within 10 feet must make a constitution saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save a creature takes radiant damage equal to 2d8 plus your wisdom modifier and is blinded until the end of their next turn. On a successful save, a creature is not blinded and takes only half damage. You can freely stop or start radiating on your turn, without using an action.
Gravity. Your form generates an exceptionally powerful gravitational field in a 15-ft radius. Creatures treat the field as difficult terrain. In addition, creatures within that radius must make a strength saving throw against your spell save DC to move away from you. You can freely stop or start generating the gravity field on your turn, without using an action.
Extraterrestrial
Beginning at 14th level, the constraints of planetary bodies no longer limits you, granting you the following benefits:
- You gain a flying speed equal to your base speed.
- You no longer need to breathe.
Cosmic Manifestation
At 20th level, the your cosmic spirits manifest with you into an otherworldly form. Once per long rest, when you roll
initiative, you can manifest the form of an ethereal being of
void-like darkness with scattered pinpoints of stellar light
across your body. This form lasts for one minute and
grants you the following benefits:
- You gain both benefits from the "Outer Being" feature.
- Your size becomes large and you shed bright light in a 20-ft radius and dim light an additional 20 feet.
- Light. If you chose light at 2nd level, the radius of your "Outer Being" radiation extends up to 30 feet, deals 4d8 radiant damage, and affects only creatures you choose.
- Gravity. If you chose gravity at 2nd level, the radius of your gravitational field extends 60 feet and affects only creatures
you choose. In addition, as a bonus action, you can change
the center of the gravitational field to any point you can see
within 120 feet; the field remains there until your cosmic
manifestation ends or you move it again.
Divine Spirits
Some shamans are blessed with the presence of divine spirits, acting as guardians to the shaman and their allies. These angelic spirits are fiercely protective, granting the shaman the power to ward off foes and stand against the presence of evil physically and spiritually.
Many of these shamans are servants of the divine, having chosen to worship a particular god. Others have simply been chosen by diety, or have some divine heritage or birthright.
Divine Spirit Spells
Shaman Level | Spells |
---|---|
2nd | Bless |
3rd | Aid |
5th | Aura of Vitality |
7th | Aura of Life |
9th | Summon Celestial |
Divine Totem
You beseech angelic spirits to aid and protect an ally. Choose a creature you can see within 30 feet, including yourself. The target creature gains a bonus to saving throws and attack rolls equal to your wisdom modifier. These effects last up to 10 minutes and require your concentration to maintain.
In addition, while affected by this totem, the target creature can choose to reroll a failed saving throw. However, this dismisses the angelic spirits assisting the creature causing the totem effect to end.
Guardian Angel
Beginning at 2nd level, your spirit guide acts as a guardian angel, protecting you from danger. Once per short or long rest, you can reroll a failed saving throw.
In addition, when your spirit magic feature lets you learn
a new shaman cantrip or spell, you may choose the new
spell from the cleric or shaman lists. You must obey all
the normal restrictions for selecting the spell, and it
becomes a shaman spell for you.
Guide from Evil
Beginning at 6th level, your divine spirits hold a natural inclination towards good and disdain for evil. You may cast the spell Detect Evil and Good a number of times per long rest equal to your wisdom modifier (minimum of once) without expending a spell slot.
Protective Magic
Beginning at 10th level, your spells bestow merciful healing energies. When you target a creature with a non-cantrip spell, you may choose to grant that creature the benefits of the protection from evil and good spell for 1 minute. You may do this a number of times equal to your wisdom modifier before completing a long rest.
Miraculous Spell
Beginning at 14th level, your magic is infused with miraculous divine power. Once per long rest, when you cast a spell, you may choose a creature that was either targeted or within the area of effect of the spell. That creature undergoes the effects of either the lesser restoration or greater restoration spells (your choice), allowing you to end one relevant effect or condition afflicting that creature.
Divine Manifestation
At 20th level, your spirits grant you a divine form. Once per long rest, when you roll initiative, you can manifest the form of an angel, emanating merciful power. This form lasts for one minute and grants you the following benefits:
- You shed bright light in a 20-ft radius and dim light an additional 20 feet.
- You gain a pair of angelic wings, giving you a flying speed equal to your base speed.
- Whenever a creature within 30 feet takes damage, you can use your reaction to reduce the triggering damage by half.
Behemoth Spirits
Some of the most awe-inspiring creatures found in nature are behemoths, such as the mammoths, great dinosaurs, or other legendary beasts. Some shamans commune with these massive spirits and learn to become behemoths themselves.
Often, these shamans live amongst surviving groups of these creatures. Others learn about an ancient beast when they discover a giant skeleton or fossil and then choose to seek out the deceased creature's spirit.
Behemoth Spirit Spells
Shaman Level | Spells |
---|---|
2nd | Earth Tremor |
3rd | Enlarge/Reduce |
5th | Erupting Earth |
7th | Stoneskin |
9th | Polymorph |
Behemoth Totem
Behemoth spirits grant immense size and power. Choose a creature within 30 feet, including yourself. The target grows one size larger, and their strength score increases by 4. These effects last up to 10 minutes, requiring your concentration to maintain.
Giant Size
Beginning at 2nd level,
your shaman spells carry
the power of behemoth
stature. When you cast a
non-cantrip spell, you may
choose to become one size
larger than normal for one
minute. This size increase does
not stack with other effects that
increase your size.
In addition, while you are
larger than normal from any effect,
your current and maximum hp
increase by an amount equal to
your shaman level plus your
wisdom modifier, and you have
advantage on strength checks and saving
throws.
Trample
At 6th level, you learn to use your immense size
to throw your opponents off balance. On your
turn, when you move to within 5 feet of a
creature, you may choose to trample that creature
if you are at least one size larger. When you do so,
you make a contested athletics check against that
creature's athletics or acrobatics. If you win the contest,
the creature is knocked prone and takes damage equal to your shaman level plus double your strength modifier.
Gargantuan Size
At 10th level, you become capable of growing to even larger sizes, gaining unnatural durability and resilience. When you use the giant size feature to grow, you may choose to become two sizes larger instead of one.
In addition, creatures that are smaller than you have disadvantage on attack rolls against you.
Massive Polymorph
Beginning at 14th level, you can alter yourself or others to take on the form of behemoth creatures. Once per long rest, you may use your action to cast the spell polymorph without expending a spell slot. When you do so, the target of the of the spell is additionally under the effects of the enlarge option of the enlarge/reduce spell while polymorphed.
Behemoth Manifestation
At 20th level, you learn to take on the form of a true behemoth. Once per long rest, when you roll initiative, you can grow up to three sizes larger. This form lasts for one minute and grants you the following additional benefits:
- Your strength score increases by 6.
- Your reach with melee attacks extends by 10 feet if you are huge or larger.
- You can make one unarmed attack as a bonus action on your turn. This attack roll uses your strength and deals bludgeoning damage equal to 1d12 plus your strength modifier.
Shaman
Spell List
Cantrips
Acid Splash
Booming Blade
Chill Touch
Control Flames
Create Bonfire
Dancing Lights
Friends
Green-Flame Blade
Guidance
Gust
Infestation
Magic Stone
Mending
Minor Illusion
Mold Earth
Poison Spray
Primal Savagery
Sapping Sting
Shape Water
Shillelagh
Spare the Dying
Toll the Dead
1st Level
Absorb Elements
Cause Fear
Charm Person
Cure Wounds
Detect Magic
Detect Poison and Disease
Earth Tremor
Entangle
Faerie Fire
Fog Cloud
Goodberry
Healing Word
Hex
Jump
Longstrider
Protection from Evil
and Good
Purify Food and Drink
Snare
Thunderwave
Witch Bolt
2nd Level
Borrowed Knowledge
Darkness
Darkvision
Dust Devil
Earthbind
Enhance Ability
Enthrall
Gust of Wind
Healing Spirit
Hold Person
Invisibility
Lesser Restoration
Locate Object
Mind Spike
Moonbeam
Pass without Trace
Protection from Poison
Ray of Enfeeblement
Shatter
Skywrite
Suggestion
Warding Wind
Wither and Bloom
3rd Level
Counterspell
Daylight
Dispel Magic
Enemies Abound
Erupting Earth
Fear
Fly
Gaseous Form
Hypnotic Pattern
Magic Circle
Major Image
Meld into Stone
Protection from Energy
Remove Curse
Spirit Shroud
Thunderstep
Tongues
Vampiric Touch
Wind Wall
4th Level
Banishment
Blight
Charm Monster
Confusion
Dimension Door
Dominate Beast
Elemental Bane
Freedom of Movement
Hallucinatory Terrain
Locate Creature
Polymorph
Raulothim's Psychic Lance
Shadow of Moil
Sickening Radiance
Stone Shape
Stoneskin
5th Level
Contact Other Plane
Contagion
Control Winds
Dominate Person
Dream
Enervation
Far Step
Freedom of the Winds
Geas
Greater Restoration
Hold Monster
Insect Plague
Mass Cure Wounds
Reincarnate
Scrying
Synaptic Static
Transmute Rock
Wall of Stone
6th Level
Bones of the Earth
Circle of Death
Eyebite
Find the Path
Flesh to Stone
Heal
Heroes' Feast
Investiture of Stone
Investiture of Wind
Mass Suggestion
Move Earth
Primordial Ward
Scatter
Soul Cage
Sunbeam
True Seeing
Wind Walk
7th Level
Crown of Stars
Dream of the Blue Veil
Etherealness
Mirage Arcane
Plane Shift
Power Word Pain
Regenerate
Reverse Gravity
Whirlwind
8th Level
Antipathy/Sympathy
Control Weather
Demiplane
Dominate Monster
Earthquake
Feeblemind
Maddening Darkness
Power Word Stun
Sunburst
9th Level
Astral Projection
Foresight
Imprisonment
Mass Heal
Mass Polymorph
Power Word Heal
Power Word Kill
Psychic Scream
Ravenous Void
True Resurrection
Weird
The Shaman
A pact-caster class for those who could use some spiritual guidance. Draw upon totemic powers and commune with the spirit world with eight sets of shamanic spirits: Ancestor, Draconic, Nature, Cursed, Earthen, Cosmic, Divine, and Behemoth.
Art Credits
Page 155: Cyphra Shaman on WorldAnvil
Page 157: Nest Tender by Atla Palani
Page 158: Noaidi by Joel Holtzman
Page 159: Ancestral Recall by Raoul Vitale
Page 161: Archelos, Lagoon Mystic by Dan Scott
Page 162: Spirit of the Bear by Ryan Barger
Page 163: Saviour by Paulina Bochniak
Page 164: Keep Safe by Ekaterina Burmak
Page 165: Guardian of Chaos by Fesbra
Page 166: Reclamation Sage by ClintCearley
Page 167: Aesther Diviner by Alexandr Elichev
Page 168: Elven Shaman by Valyavande
Page 169: Uloth by Felix Donadio
Page 170: Blood Shaman by Conor Burke
Page 171: Dark Sun Templar by Dave Rapoza
See Dragonshard's GM Binder profile for more homebrew classes inspired by Pathfinder.
Cavalier
An elf directs her mount, a sleek black panther, towards her target, a rampaging ogre. As they approach, she lowers her great spear just before it slams devastatingly into the ogre's thigh, sending it sprawling to the ground.
His allies routing, an armored knight atop a winged wyvern, swoops down to the battlefield. He raises his banner to the sky, shouting a heartening battlecry. The nearby warriors, bolstered by the sight of the standard, turn back to face their enemy once more.
Seeing the oncoming, rampaging orcs, a dwarvish warrior plants his pike into the ground, bright heraldric ribbons flowing from its shaft. He draws his axe as his comrades assemble around him, empowered by his valiant bravery and inspiring heraldry.
When one speaks of great heroes of legend, atop a beautiful steed, weapon in hand, they are speaking of cavaliers. Known for their encouraging presence and unique, rousing heraldry, these great warriors enter the battlefield atop a loyal mount, whether it be a stallion, a wyvern, or anything in between. The heart of cavaliers, though, is their ability to bolster their allies, inspiring them to unleash their full potential.
Heroic Chivalry
Cavaliers are trained warriors, proficient in the use of a variety of weapons and armor. They pride themselves in their martial prowess, but even more so in their honor and heroism. Cavaliers are known for their bravery, taking the battlefield quickly and decisively on top of their loyal mount.
Most importantly, cavaliers are natural leaders, who inspire their allies with their charisma, allowing them to fight with greater heroism and bravery. A cavalier's true might is not only found in their own strength, but the strength they rouse in their comrades.
Honorable Campaign
Cavaliers set off on adventure to seek glory and honor.
On their adventures, cavaliers will often try to be
heroes, attempting to prove their honor, bravery,
mercy, or some other heroic attribute in whatever
challenges they encounter. Because of this,
cavaliers bravely lead the charge against whatever
terrible monsters or villains that stand in their way
or threaten their allies.
In an adventuring party, cavaliers engage
enemies in melee to take the focus off
of their allies. However, cavaliers are rarely
stationary, preferring to use their superior
mobility granted by their mount to control
the battlefield and hit the enemy where it
will hurt the most. Cavaliers also make
the most of heraldry and banners to
inspire allies and dismay foes, using their
great heroism and charisma to win the
battle of morale.
Creating a Cavalier
One important question to consider for your cavalier is how you gained their martial skills in combat. Were you a noble who received formal mounted combat training? Are you a self-taught warrior? Maybe a retired cavalier passed knowledge onto you and trained you?
Also, consider the nature of your mount. Determine the type of creature you would like as your mount, then look at the options in the "Mount Archetypes" section following the main class features. Next, determine how you earned the loyalty of your mount. Was it given to you as part of your training? Did you happen upon an injured creature and nursed it back to health? Or did you simply purchase it from a breeder/trainer?
Lastly, consider the nature of your heraldric banner which you gain the benefits of at 2nd level. Determine what type of object your banner is. It could be an actual standard, a decorative pennant attached to your weapon, emblazoned armor, or any displayable object that can uniquely designate you. Also, determine how you obtained your banner. Did you inherit it by birthright, passed down through your noble lineage? Is it a simple warbanner roughly made to rally your allies in combat? Or is it some trinket or article of clothing that has inadvertently begun to symbolize you?
Quick Build
You can make a cavalier quickly by following these suggestions. First, make Strength or Dexterity your highest ability score, followed by Charisma and Constitution. Second, choose the noble background. Third, choose the equine nature for your
mount.
The Cavalier Table
Level | Proficiency Bonus |
Features | Valor Die | Fleet Mount |
---|---|---|---|---|
1st | +2 | Cavalier's Mount, Fighting Style | 1d4 | ─ |
2nd | +2 | Heraldic Banner, Charge | 1d4 | ─ |
3rd | +2 | Cavalier Order, Fleet Mount | 1d4 | +10 ft. |
4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 1d4 | +10 ft. |
5th | +3 | Extra Attack | 1d4 | +10 ft. |
6th | +3 | Steadfast Champion | 1d6 | +15 ft. |
7th | +3 | Order Feature, Mount Feature | 1d6 | +15 ft. |
8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 1d6 | +15 ft. |
9th | +4 | Heroic Banner | 1d6 | +15 ft. |
10th | +4 | Unstoppable Charge | 1d6 | +20 ft. |
11th | +4 | Order Feature | 1d8 | +20 ft. |
12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 1d8 | +20 ft. |
13th | +5 | Renowned Banner | 1d8 | +20 ft. |
14th | +5 | Valiant | 1d8 | +25 ft. |
15th | +5 | Order Feature, Mount Feature | 1d8 | +25 ft. |
16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 1d8 | +25 ft. |
17th | +6 | Legendary Banner | 1d10 | +25 ft. |
18th | +6 | Order Feature | 1d10 | +30 ft. |
19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 1d10 | +30 ft. |
20th | +6 | Heroic Charge | 1d10 | +30 ft. |
Class Features
As a Cavalier, you gain the following class features:
Hit Points
- Hit Dice: 1d10 per cavalier level
- Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + your Constitution modifier
- Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your Constitution modifier per cavalier level after 1st.
Proficiencies
- Armor: All armor, shields
- Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons
- Tools: None
- Saving Throws: Dexterity, Charisma
- Skills: Choose two skills from Animal Handling, Athletics, History, Insight, Intimidation, Performance, Persuasion
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) a martial weapon and a shield
or (b) two martial weapons - (a) chain mail or (b) leather armor
- (a) a light crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) four javelins
- (a) a dungeoneer's pack or (b) an explorer's pack
- (a) a military or exotic saddle fitted to your mount
Cavalier's Mount
Beginning at 1st level, you are trained in the use of mounts in and out of combat, and have gained your own loyal mount. You gain the following benefits:
- You have advantage on checks and saving throws to remain mounted.
- You only spend 5 feet of movement to mount or dismount.
- You may use your charisma modifier in place of wisdom for animal handling checks involving your mount.
Mount Archetype
In addition, at 1st level,
choose one option from the
list of Mount Archetypes.
This represents the kind of
creature your mount is and
grants your mount features at
levels 1, 7, and 15.
Combat Mount
You have an trained bond with
your mount, allowing you to closely
control its actions. Your mount's
initiative matches yours, it cannot
use reactions, and it has only three
action options, Dash, Disengage, and
Dodge, unless you use your bonus action
to direct it to take another action while you
are riding it. You can take your and your mount's actions
and movements in any order.
Cavalier's Mount
Large Beast (depends on archetype)
- Armor Class 12 + Dex + PB (Natural Armor)
- Hit Points 3 + seven times your cavalier level (your mount has a number of hit dice [d8s] equal to your cavalier level)
- Speed 40 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 15(+2) 12(+1) 15(+2) 6(-2) 10(+0) 8(-1)
- Saving Throws Con +2 +PB, Str +1 +PB
- Skills Athletics +2 +PB
- Senses Passive Perception 10
- Languages Instinctively understands its cavalier.
- Proficiency Bonus (PB) equals your bonus
Features
Archetype. At 1st level you choose an archetype for your mount. This archetype grants your mount features at levels 1, 7, and 15.
Find Cavalier. Your mount has a deep connection with you spanning any distance. As long as your mount is on the same plane as you, it knows your location and can make its way back to you if nothing prevents it from doing so.
Actions
Attack. Requiring your bonus action while mounted, you direct your mount to make one attack with natural weapons, such as hooves or claws. Str/Dex + PB to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: Bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage (your choice when you select your mount's archetype) equal to your valor die + its Str/Dex modifier.
Your mount makes
death saving throws like a player
character. If your mount dies or is otherwise lost, you may find and bond with a new mount over the next 24 hours while adventuring (at your DM's discretion). The new mount must be the same archetype as the original.
See your mount's statistics in the preceding stat block, which uses your proficiency bonus (PB) in several places.
Fighting Style
At 1st level, 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.
Blind Fighting
You have blindsight with a range of 10 feet. Within that range, you can effectively see anything that isn't behind total cover, even if you're blinded or in darkness. Moreover, you can see an invisible creature in that range, unless the creature successfully hides from you.
Defense
While you are wearing armor, you gain a +1 bonus to AC.
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.
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 weapon to use this reaction.
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 to protect any creature other than your mount.
Two-Weapon Fighting
When you engage in two-weapon fighting, you can add your ability modifier to the damage of the second attack.
At 2nd level, you create or otherwise earn heraldry unique to you, emblazoned on a banner. This banner may be a standard attached to you or your mount, a pennant flowing from your weapon, or possibly an emblazoned cloak, tabard, or helm. You can have the banner attached to you or your mount. Also, while you have the banner, you can plant it in the ground as a bonus action.
If you lose your banner, you can usually requisition a replacement or get the materials to make one for 20 gold pieces in most settlements, at your DM's discretion.
Choose one of the following options for your banner. While you are within 60 feet of your banner, you may use your bonus action to grant the effects to a creature of your choice you can see within 60 feet of the banner. You can do this a number of times equal to your charisma modifier (minimum of once) before completing a short or long rest.
- Despairing Banner. Your banner demoralizes your foes. The target creature has disadvantage on the next saving throw it makes within the next minute.
- Inspiring Banner. Your banner inspires courage in your allies. The target creature has advantage on attack rolls until the end of your next turn.
- Intimidating Banner. Your banner strikes fear and unease in your enemies. The target creature has disadvantage on attack rolls until the end of your
next turn.
- Rallying Banner. Your banner boosts the morale of your allies. The target creature has advantage on the next saving throw it makes within the next minute.
Charge
At 2nd level, you valorously charge
towards enemies, using your speed to
deal devastating blows. When you
move at least 15 feet directly towards a
creature, your next melee attack that
targets that creature on your turn deals an
extra 1d4 damage on a hit.
The extra damage changes as you gain
cavalier levels, as shown in the Valor Die column
of the Cavalier table. You do not need to be mounted
to benefit from this feature.
Fleet Mount
At 3rd level, the trust between you and your mount
deepens, giving it the confidence to charge bravely in combat. While you are riding your mount, its speed increases by 10 feet. This speed bonus improves as you gain cavalier levels, as shown in the Fleet Mount column of the Cavalier Table.
Cavalier Order
At 3rd level, you pledge yourself to the edicts of a particular cavalier order. Choose one of the cavalier orders listed after the main class features. Your chosen order has particular edicts you must follow, and grants you features at levels 3, 7, 11, 15, and 18.
At your DM's discretion, choosing not to follow your order's edicts can result in the loss of order features for 24 hours.
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.
Using the optional feats rule, you can forgo taking this feature to take a feat of your choice instead.
Extra Attack
Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the attack action on your turn.
While riding your mount, you can choose to only attack once to allow your mount to also make one melee attack as part of your attack action.
Steadfast Champion
Beginning at 6th level, you and your mount are exceptionally valiant and steadfast in your loyalties. You and your mount are immune to the frightened and charmed conditions.
Unstoppable Charge
Beginning at 10th level, you are adept at following through with your charging strikes. When you deal extra damage to a creature with the charge feature, that creature cannot make opportunity attacks against you or your mount (if you are mounted) until the beginning of your next turn.
Valiant
Beginning at 14th level, your personal sense of honor and heroism pushes you to fight through injury and fatigue. Once per short or long rest, you can use your bonus action to regain hit points equal to two rolls of your valor die plus your cavalier level and your charisma modifier.
Heroic Charge
At 20th level, your charges are a terrifying and disorienting ordeal for your foes. When you make an attack that qualifies for charge damage, the attack counts as a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20.
In addition, when you deal extra damage with the charge feature, the target creature must make a constitution saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your charisma modifier). On a failed save, the creature is knocked prone and is stunned until the end of your next turn.
Multiclassing
Prerequisites. To qualify for multiclassing with the Cavalier
class, you must meet these prerequisites: 13 Strength or
Dexterity and 13 Charisma.
Proficiencies. When you multiclass into the
Cavalier class, you gain the following
proficiencies: Light armor, medium armor,
shields, simple weapons, and
martial weapons.
Mount Archetypes
The following archetypes represent the type of creature your mount is. These grant your mount various benefits at levels 1, 7, and 15. If your mount dies, any replacement mount must be the same archetype as the original.
Multiple archetypes might fit a creature you plan to have as mount. In this event, choose the most appropriate archetype that matches your desired mount.
Amphibian
Masters of land and water, amphibious mounts grant a large degree of travel flexibility for their cavaliers in semi-aquatic environments. Your mount's creature type is beast or monstrosity (your choice).
- Beginning at 1st level, your mount's scales or shell grants it a +1 to AC. In addition, your mount gains a swim speed equal to half its walking speed and can breathe underwater for up to 10 minutes before beginning to drown.
- Beginning at 7th level, your mount's swim speed increases to its full walking speed. If you cannot breathe underwater, you learn to hold your breath for a number of minutes equal to 5 + your constitution modifier, before beginning to drown.
- Beginning at 15th level, your mount has incredible regenerative abilities. Once per long rest, while it has less than half its hit points remaining, your mount can use a
bonus action to restore hit points equal to half its
maximum (rounded down).
Aquatic
Aquatic creatures are masters of the sea, able to survive in diverse, unfriendly environments underneath the waves. Your mount's creature type is beast or monstrosity (your choice).
- Beginning at 1st level, your mount's walking speed is replaced by a swim speed, and your mount can breathe underwater indefinitely.
- Beginning at 7th level, your mount's scales or tough hide give it a +1 bonus to AC. In addition, if you cannot breathe underwater, you learn to hold your breath for a number of minutes equal to 5 + your constitution modifier, before beginning to drown.
- Beginning at 15th level, your mount gains resistance to cold damage and has advantage on check and saving throws to avoid having its speed reduced by difficult terrain, spells, etc. This includes effects that would cause your mount to be paralyzed or restrained.
Behemoth
An unconventional choice, behemoth mounts provide a massive source of strength and sheer bulk in combat, but are somewhat slower and can be difficult to utilize in smaller spaces. Examples of behemoth mounts include elephants, dire bears, etc. Your mount's creature type is beast or monstrosity (your choice).
- Beginning at 1st level, your mount's size is huge and its strength score increases to 18, improving its attack rolls, damage, and its athletics checks by two. In addition, its constitution score increases to 16, granting it additional hit points equal to your cavalier level. However, your mount only gains half the speed benefit of the fleet mount feature rounded down to the nearest 5 feet (e.g. if fleet mount normally grants an additional 15 feet movement, your mount gains only 5).
- Beginning at 7th level, when you deal extra damage with the charge feature while riding your mount, the target creature must make a strength saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + mount's strength modifier). On a failed save, the creature is knocked prone and takes bludgeoning damage equal to two rolls of your valor die.
- Beginning at 15th level, creatures that are smaller than your mount have disadvantage on melee attacks against your mount and you (while you are riding your mount).
Compact
The mount of choice for smaller individuals,
compact mounts are much easier to manage in
tight places and tend to be much more dexterous
than their larger counterparts. Compact mounts
include mastiffs, boars, wolves, etc. Your mount's
creature type is beast or monstrosity (your choice).
- Beginning at 1st level, your mount's size is medium. You must be small or smaller to ride your mount. It's dexterity score increases to 16, granting it a +2
bonus to AC.
- Beginning at 7th level, your mount's nimbleness allows it to attack while carrying you. When you use your action to attack a creature within 5 feet, your mount can use its action to attack the same creature.
- Beginning at 15th level, your mount can dash as a bonus action.
Draconic
You have gained the companionship of a young
dragon or wyvern. Dragons are awe-inspiring
creatures who dominate the skies and land with their
wings and elemental breath. Your mount's creature
type is dragon.
- Beginning at 1st level, your mount's intelligence
and charisma scores are 10 and 16, respectively,
and it knows how to speak draconic. In addition,
while not carrying passengers, your mount has a
flying speed equal to its walking speed. - Beginning at 7th level, once per short or long rest,
your mount can make a breath attack as an action,
when directed. At 7th level, choose acid, cold, fire, lightning, or poison, and a 30-ft line or 15-ft cone.
Your mount's breath attack affects the chosen area
and deals damage (of the chosen type) equal to
four rolls of your valor die. Affected creatures
make a dexterity saving throw (DC = 8 + your
proficiency bonus + mount's charisma
modifier), taking half damage on a success. - Beginning at 15th level, your mount retains its
flying speed while carrying you.
Equine
Your mount is a tried and true stallion or similar
creature. These beasts are known for their speed
and stamina, making them an obvious choice for
many cavaliers. Your mount's creature type is beast.
- Beginning at 1st level, your mount's constitution
score increases to 16, granting it additional hit points equal to your cavalier level. In addition, your mount's speed increases by 10 feet. - Beginning at 7th level, your mount's dexterity increases
to 14, granting it a +1 bonus to AC. - Beginning at 15th level, your mount can dash as a
bonus action.
Reptilian
Reptilian mounts are known for their quick dexterity and ability to scale walls and trees. These mounts include giant lizards, crocodiles, etc. Your mount's creature type is beast or monstrosity (your choice).
- At 1st level, your mount gains proficiency in stealth, adding your proficiency bonus to its stealth checks.
- Beginning at 7th level, your mount gains a climb speed equal to its walking speed.
- Beginning at 15th level, your mount's dexterity increases to 16, granting it a +2 bonus to AC.
Subterranean
All manner of strange creatures make underground regions their home. These creatures are adept at seeing in the dark and navigating uneven terrain. Your mount's creature type is beast, monstrosity, or aberration (your choice).
- Beginning at 1st level, your mount has dark vision to a range of 120 feet and ignores the effects of difficult terrain.
- Beginning at 7th level, your mount gains a climb speed equal to its walking speed.
- Beginning at 15th level, your mount gains tremorsense to a range of 30 feet.
Winged
Winged mounts include
both large avians as well as monstrous,
partially-avian creatures such as griffons
or hippogriffs. These creatures are known for their expert flying and powerful eyesight. Your mount's creature type is beast or monstrosity (your choice).
- Beginning at 1st level, your mount's wisdom score increases to 16, increasing its (passive) perception by 3. In addition, while not carrying passengers, your mount has a flying speed equal to its walking speed.
- Beginning at 7th level, while you are riding your mount, it can safely glide down from any height, negating damage from falling. In addition, your mount gains advantage on perception checks relying on sight and gains a +5 bonus to its passive perception.
- Beginning at 15th level, your mount retains its flying speed while carrying you.
Cavalier Orders
As a cavalier gains some experience, they are drawn to dedicate themselves to a particular cavalier order. Each order epitomizes a particular ideal of cavalier chivalry, such as peace, loyalty, or strength.
Members of an order follow particular edicts stressing the importance of their chosen ideal. A cavalier's dedication to these edicts grants them improved capabilities, which can be lost should the cavalier choose to ignore their principles. You gain features from your choice of order at levels 3, 7, 11, 15, and 18.
Order of the Sword
The Order of the Sword dedicates itself to a balanced practice of chivalry, giving equal consideration to all virtues, such as courage, honor, and justice. Cavaliers who favor a tempered approach to their morals fit in well with this order.
The sword is the symbol of choice for the order as it represents balance. Just as a sword must be properly balanced, so too must cavaliers balance their virtues and apply wisdom to each unique situation.
Sword Edicts
- Avoid extremism and instead seek a principled
middle ground. - Use wisdom and a tempered attitude in your
choices and deeds. - Do not allow one virtue to overshadow others.
Beginning at 3rd level,
your banner brings
stability and calm to those
in its presence, granting it
the following effect:
Banner of the Sword. Once
per round, when a creature
within 60 feet of the banner
makes a roll with advantage
or disadvantage, you may
cause the roll to have neither
advantage, nor disadvantage.
This effect does not require
an action.
Unbiased Perception
Beginning at 3rd level, you do not
allow preconceptions or biases to
cloud your perception. You gain
proficiency in insight or perception (or
another cavalier class skill if already
proficient in both).
Balanced Charge
Beginning at 7th level, even in an offensive
charge, you do not let your defenses drop. When
you use the charge feature to deal extra damage to
a creature, you gain a bonus to your AC against that creature's attacks equal to your charisma modifier until the beginning of your next turn.
Impartial Effort
Beginning at 11th level, you learn to apply yourself in a steady, sustainable way towards your goals and efforts. If you are proficient in a skill, you may choose to treat checks using that skill as if you had rolled a 12 on the d20, instead of making a roll.
You must choose to use this feature before you make the roll. You may do this a number of times equal to your charisma modifier before completing a long rest.
Stable Mind
At 15th level, you master your mind and emotions. You make intelligence, wisdom, and charisma saving throws with advantage.
Exemplar of Balance
Beginning at 18th level, you exemplify perfect balance in combat, never overextending, yet never hesitating. You gain the following benefits:
- While you are not incapacitated, critical hits targeting you are considered normal hits.
- When you make an attack roll, you can treat a roll of 9 or lower as a 10.
Order of the Flame
Glory and prestige. These are the ultimate goals of each member of the Order of the Flame. The order emphasizes performing glorious acts and making them known throughout the land as a way to grant hope to the innocent or to dismay the unjust.
Just as a fire burns bright, destroying what it must, a cavalier should seek radiant glory through the destruction of villains and monstrous creatures. A powerful blaze can bring warmth and comfort, or it can scorch and incinerate. It all depends on where you stand.
Flame Edicts
- Seek opportunities for prestige and fame.
- Celebrate your accomplishments, that others may know of your renown.
- The greater the foe, the greater the glory.
Heroic Composure
Beginning at 3rd level, you internalize your sense of heroism, giving yourself unshakeable self-confidence. You have advantage on charisma saving throws.
Triumphant Blow
Beginning at 7th level, you relish the opportunity to best a foe in combat. Once per round, when you hit a creature
with a melee attack, you gain temporary hit
points equal to your
charisma modifier.
Witness Greatness
Beginning at 11th level, you have advantage on charisma skill checks towards creatures that have seen you in combat within the last hour.
In addition, choose a skill you are proficient in from amongst persuasion, intimidation, or deception. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for those skill checks.
On to Glory!
Beginning at 15th level, you inspire your allies to press the advantage in battle and achieve a glorious victory. When you or an allied creature within 30 feet reduce a small or larger hostile creature to 0 hit points, the triggering creature has advantage on attack rolls for the next minute.
Radiant Presence
Beginning at 18th level, your offense is like a blaze, purging the land of your foes in an awe-inspiring display. You gain the following benefits:
- When you hit a creature with a melee attack, all other hostile creatures within 10 feet must make a wisdom saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your charisma modifier). On a failed save, the creature is charmed by you until the end of your next turn. If you deal damage to a creature charmed this way, they are no longer charmed. On a successful save or once the effect ends, a creature is immune to this effect for 24 hours.
- Your attacks against charmed creatures automatically hit. You may still make attack rolls to determine
if you critically hit.
Order of the Rose
The Order of the Rose is dedicated to preserving peace and life throughout the land. They seek to resolve conflicts peacefully wherever possible, but don't hesitate to draw their blade to defend innocent life when necessary.
The emblem of choice for this order is the rose. Beautiful and pure, roses remind their beholders of the beauty of life. But just as a rose has thorns, these cavaliers will strike back at those who threaten to pluck that life.
Rose Edicts
- Wherever possible, find peaceful resolutions
for a conflict. - Honor the life of all beings; taking life can
never be done lightly. - Stop those who threaten the lives of the innocent.
Peacemaker
Beginning at 3rd level, you are skilled at resolving conflict peacefully and finding the middle ground between opposing groups. You gain proficiency in persuasion (or another cavalier skill if already proficient).
Inner Peace
Beginning at 7th level, you have mastered internal peace allowing you to remain patient while enduring pain and difficulty. Once per short or long rest, when you take damage, you may choose to reduce the damage taken by an amount equal to your cavalier level plus double your charisma modifier.
Harmonious Resolution
Beginning at 11th level, you are adept at ending combats with minimal harm by convincing a foe to stand down. This may take the form of disarming/restraining a foe or proving your martial superiority causing them to submit.
When you reduce a creature to 0 hit point with non-lethal damage, you may choose to render them incapacitated and unable to move for 10 minutes, but still conscious. When you do so, you are invigorated in the nonviolent resolution and gain temporary hit points equal to your cavalier level. If the creature regains any number of hit points, they are no longer incapacitated or unable to move.
Rose's Thorns
Beginning at 15th level, you recognize and efficiently vanquish dangerous individuals in order to protect the innocent. As a bonus action, you can choose a target
creature that has dealt damage since your last turn. Your
attacks deal an extra valor die of damage to that creature
for the next minute.
You can only have one creature selected with this
feature at a time. You can use this feature a number
of times equal to your charisma modifier before
completing a long rest.
Peerless Mediator
Beginning at 18th level, your encouraging presence
and powerful speech diminish your enemies'
conviction and aggression. Your proficiency bonus
is doubled for persuasion checks.
In addition, once per long rest, as a bonus action,
choose any number of creatures that you can see.
For the next minute, those creatures suffer the
following drawbacks:
- When a chosen creature makes a critical hit, it instead counts as a normal hit.
- Damage dealt by chosen creatures is reduced by an amount equal to your charisma modifier.
- Chosen creatures must make a charisma saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your charisma modifier) when they target an incapacitated creature with an attack. On a successful save, they target the creature as normal. On a failed save, they do not attack and the action, bonus action, or reaction they used is wasted.
Order of the Dragon
The Order of the Dragon emphasizes loyalty to one's allies and comrades over all else. They believe that strength comes through giving up your own desires in favor of the group. When each individual acts for the good of the whole, everyone benefits.
Despite generally being solitary creatures, dragons have been adopted as the symbol of choice for this order. Members of the order often revere Bahamut, the platinum dragon, as the epitome of loyalty in his partnership with the god of law, Torm.
Dragon Edicts
- Value the lives of your allies, as you value your own.
- Never allow someone to face danger alone.
- Serve and protect each of your companions for the good of the group.
Beginning at 3rd level, your banner
inspires selfless teamwork and cohesion
amongst your allies, granting it the following
effect:
Banner of the Dragon. When an allied
creature is within 30 feet of your banner,
they can use their reaction to assist
another allied creature within 5 feet that
is making a saving throw or attack roll.
When they do so, they roll a 1d4 and
add the result to the saving throw or
attack roll they are assisting. This must
be done before the saving throw or
attack roll is made.
Swift Assistance
Beginning at 3rd level, you are anxious
and ready to help your allies in tense
situations. You can use your bonus
action to perform the help action. You
may do this a number of times equal to
your charisma modifier before completing a
long rest.
One for All
; Beginning at 7th level, you have a habit of
supporting and guiding each member of the crew
while resting. Requiring 10 minutes of downtime
during a long rest, you and any allies that choose to
participate gain one charge of unity. A creature can
expend their charge of unity to reroll any failed attack
roll, saving throw, or ability check they make. A creature
may only have one unity charge at any time.
Back to Back
Beginning at 11th level, you and your allies cover each other's backs. While you are within 5 feet of an allied creature (other than your mount) and you are not incapacitated, attacks against you or that creature cannot have advantage.
All for One
Beginning at 15th level, you and your allies are expert in supporting one another in dangerous situations. When an allied creature fails an attack roll, saving throw, or ability check, another creature within 30 feet may use their reaction and expend a unity charge (gained through your One for All feature) to allow the original creature to reroll.
Synergistic Leader
Beginning at 18th level, you are unmatched in your ability to support your comrades in battle, granting you the following benefits:
- Other creatures of your choice within 10 feet have advantage on their attack rolls.
- When you are within 5 feet of an allied creature, attack rolls targeting that creature have disadvantage.
Order of the Lion
Members of the Order of the Lion are known for their boldness and aggressive tactics. These cavaliers are prepared for a fight, ready to charge at a moment's notice. Their fearless tactics frighten even the most experienced foes causing them to freeze or rout.
The Lion is an obvious symbol for this order due to its strength, predatory aggression, and natural intimidation. Some cavaliers in the order seem to emulate these terrible beasts in their battle cries and charges.
Lion Edicts
- Hesitation is death; be swift and resolute in your choices.
- The best defense is a bold response.
- Do not allow fear to sway your actions.
Unnerving Boldness
Beginning at 3rd level, your brave demeanor and strategies unnerve your foes. You gain proficiency in intimidation (or another cavalier class skill if already proficient).
Lion's Roar
Beginning at 7th level, your battlecry
envigorates your allies. Once per short rest,
when you deal charge damage, you may use
your bonus action to call allied creatures within 60
feet to join you. Until the beginning of your next turn,
these creatures gain the following benefits:
- Their movement speed increases by 10 feet.
- Once per turn, they can deal extra damage equal to your valor die when they hit with an attack.
No Hesitation
Beginning at 11th level, you never hesitate in the face of danger. You have advantage on initiative rolls.
Marshal the Pride
Beginning at 15th level, like a lion's pride, you and your allies attack together with devastating effect. Once per long rest, when you use the lion's roar feature, you can choose to have the effects last for one minute.
Ferocious Assault
Beginning at 18th level, your attacks evoke a deep, primal fear in your foes, granting you the following benefits:
- When you hit a creature with a melee attack, all hostile creatures within 10 feet must make a wisdom saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your charisma modifier). On a failed save, the creature is frightened of you for one minute. A frightened creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success. On a successful save, a creature is immune to this effect for 24 hours.
- When you kill a creature on your turn, you can take an additional action on top of your regular action that turn. You can do this a number of times equal to your charisma modifier before completing a long rest.
Order of the Shield
Masters of defense and protective fighting styles, members of the Order of the Shield dedicate themselves to protecting the weak and defenseless. Experienced warriors know any force led by a shield cavalier should not be fought head on.
Cavaliers in this order see themselves as shields to be used in the protection of others. A shield's job is to take the hit, and many of these cavaliers would rather suffer a severe blow than let another creature suffer harm.
Shield Edicts
- Above all else, protect the vulnerable.
- Fight on the frontline to cover your allies
and divert your foes. - A sound defense is the backbone of any plan.
Protective Style
Beginning at 3rd level, you adopt a protective style in combat. You gain the protection fighting style from the fighting style feature (or another cavalier fighting style if you already have the protection style).
Precautionary Defense
At 7th level, you learn to preemptively defend allies that are in dangerous positions. As a bonus action, choose a creature within 5 feet. Until the beginning of your next turn, as long
as that creature remains within 5 feet, the next attack
targeting that creature has
disadvantage.
Intercept
Beginning at 11th level, you are vigilant and swift to guard the vulnerable. When a hostile creature makes a melee attack on its turn against another creature, you can use your reaction to move up to half your speed (or your mount's speed if mounted) towards the targeted creature. As part of the same reaction, you use the protection fighting style to impose disadvantage on the triggering attack.
Cover Ally
Beginning at 15th level, you fully interpose yourself between your allies and danger. When you use the precautionary defense feature to impose disadvantage on an attack, that attack targets you instead. That attack is made with disadvantage as normal.
Guardian of the Innocent
At 18th level, you are renowned for your protective intuition and unbreakable defensive tactics, granting you the following benefits:
- When you use your bonus action to perform the precautionary defense feature, you no longer need to target a specific creature. Instead, you become the target of the next attack that targets any allied creature within 5 feet and that attack is made with disadvantage.
- When you use the intercept feature, if the triggering attacks misses, the attacking creature's turn immediately ends.
Order of
the Hammer
'Might makes right' is
a central tenet of the
Order of the Hammer.
When you are strong, you
can ensure your will
prevails over your foes'.
Cavaliers of this order have
an intense focus on martial
prowess and skill in combat,
seeking to become
unbeatable warriors.
Hammers are tools to build
and to destroy. Members of
this order use their might to
tear down those who would get
in their way. Once those obstacles
are removed, they become free
to forge the land the way they
see fit.
Hammer Edicts
- Might makes right. Use your
might to ensure you prevail. - Never allow yourself to appear
weak; weakness invites challenge. - Do not hold back, but instead, let
your enemies feel your full
strength.
Physical Prowess
Beginning at 3rd level, you hone your martial skills and physical prowess at every opportunity. You gain proficiency in athletics or acrobatics (or another cavalier class skill if already proficient in both).
Brutal Strikes
Beginning at 7th level, when you make your first attack on your turn, you may choose to perform brutal strikes. When you do so, you deal additional damage equal to your charisma modifier with each attack that turn, but attacks targeting you have advantage until the beginning of your next turn.
Improved Critical
Beginning at 11th level, you show no mercy with your attacks. Your weapon attacks score a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20.
Refuse to Fall
Beginning at 15th level, you do not tolerate defeat. Once per long rest, when you are redued to less than half of your maximum hit points, you gain the following benefits:
- You have advantage on melee attacks.
- You have resistance to all damage.
These benefits last for one minute or until you fall unconscious, whichever occurs first.
Pinnacle of Skill
At 18th level, you have attained martial mastery and unmatched skill in combat. You gain the following benefits:
- Choose either strength or dexterity. The chosen score increases by 2, and your maximum for that score is now 22.
- Choose either athletics or acrobatics (you must be proficient in the chosen skill). You now add double your proficiency bonus to checks using that skill.
The Cavalier
A martial class for those who prefer riding
over walking. Dominate the battlefield atop
fantastic beasts and heroically lead
the charge with eight cavalier orders:
Sword, Flame, Dragon, Rose, Lion,
Shield, and Hammer.
Art Credits
Page 173: Dragon Knight by 90chin
Page 175: Dain Ironfoot by Nick Keller
Page 176: Personal Work by Sanghyun Kam
Page 177: Desert Cavalry by Fang Wanglin
Page 178: Traveler by Kairyan
Page 179: We're Home by Sam Leung
Page 180: Demacian Knight by Joon Ahn
Page 181: Embereth Paladin by Randy Vargas
Page 182: Sir Galahad by Rakuen
Page 183: Griffin Rider by Derrick Song
Page 184: Ambershire War Rider by Jessada-Art
Page 185: Aryel by Greg Rutkowski
Page 186: Knight Ally by Josu Hernaiz
Page 187: Rising Sun by Mila Pesic
See Dragonshard's GM Binder profile for more homebrew classes inspired by Pathfinder.
Alchemist
Running from the flows of lava behind them, an adventuring party rounds a corner of the crumbling keep only to find a dead end. Two of the adventurers cast spells, getting themselves out of harm's way. A half-elf woman grabs her orcish companion and quickly gulps a vial from her belt. In a flash, the pair teleports just as the lava surges where they were just standing.
A sneaking gnome, sliding along a 3rd-story railing, spots his target through a window, a noble surrounded by his squad of guards. He grabs pinches of dust from his pouches, tosses them into a vial which immediately begins steaming violently. Throwing the concoction through the window, the inhabitants all begin sputtering and coughing, lurching around the room in a confused stupor. Disabled, they are now easy pickings for the gnomish assassin.
An ogre rampages about that battlefield, wreaking havoc on the opposing fighters. An elf coats an arrow with a putrid oil, takes aim, and fires it at the ogre. As soon as the arrow meets it mark, the ogre's movements become sluggish and uncoordinated, its attacks now easier to evade.
These adventurers, masters of potion and bomb, use their alchemical creations to overcome any challenge and defeat their foes. Although they are not casters in their own right, alchemists mimic the effects of magical spells in their extracts, able to be used by anyone who drinks them or is otherwise injected with them.
Alchemical Creations
Alchemists do not produce spells the way others do, instead distilling the energy of magical spells into extracts for themselves or others to consume. Their creative capability does not end at extracts, however. Alchemists also create mutagenic solutions, experimentally altering their own body to improve their capabilities, and alchemical bombs which are put to devastating use in combat.
Their magical extracts are able to be used in a matter of moments to produce the effects of a magical spell, allowing for easy use in tense situations. However, this ease of use has a cost as an alchemist must carefully choose and create their extracts in advance before danger arrives.
Exotic Discoveries
The reagants required to study and create powerful extracts are difficult and expensive to obtain in civilized settlements. Many alchemists set off on adventure to obtain exotic and rare ingredients to further their alchemical studies and
learn to produce new magical effects with their extracts.
In an adventuring party, alchemists provide a useful
source of magic to their allies, providing them with life-
saving and bolstering extracts to aid them in combat. Alchemists are also extremely effective at handling groups
of foes, throwing and detonating alchemical bombs where their enemies tightly packed.
Creating an Alchemist
When creating your alchemist, the first question to consider is how you began to learn alchemy. Did you have a mentor who set you on your alchemical journey? Did you become fascinated with the local flora and fauna of your home and began to experiment with their magical properties? Maybe you loved to create explosive and fiery concoctions, and searched ways to make the explosions bigger and brighter?
Most alchemists have a longterm goal with their alchemical studies. Legends often speak of the miraculous effects alchemy can have but few alchemists are able to achieve them. You might be seeking an elixir of eternal youth, allowing yourself to stave off the effects of age and degeneration? You might be seeking a cure-all to disease, whether to cure yourself or a loved-one of some vicious, malignant affliction.
Lastly, consider why you have set out on adventurer. Do you seek rare ingredients for your extracts, so they you can increase their power, and produce new magical effects? Are you looking for ancient knowledge of alchemy that can only be found in long-lost civilizations? Or maybe alchemy is just a means to an end as you seek after some other goal?
Quick Build
You can make an alchemist quickly by following these suggestions. First, make Intelligence your highest ability score, followed by Constitution or Dexterity. Second, choose the sage background. Third choose the cure
wounds and heroism extracts.
The Alchemist Table
Level | Proficiency Bonus |
Features | Discoveries | Extracts Known | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | +2 | Extracts, Alchemical Bombs | ─ | 2 | 2 | ─ | ─ | ─ | ─ |
2nd | +2 | Discovery, Toxic Edge | 2 | 3 | 2 | ─ | ─ | ─ | ─ |
3rd | +2 | Swift Alchemy, Alchemical Specialty | 2 | 4 | 3 | ─ | ─ | ─ | ─ |
4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 2 | 5 | 3 | ─ | ─ | ─ | ─ |
5th | +3 | ─ | 3 | 6 | 4 | 2 | ─ | ─ | ─ |
6th | +3 | Mutagen | 3 | 7 | 4 | 2 | ─ | ─ | ─ |
7th | +3 | Specialty Feature | 4 | 8 | 4 | 3 | ─ | ─ | ─ |
8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 9 | 4 | 3 | ─ | ─ | ─ |
9th | +4 | ─ | 5 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 2 | ─ | ─ |
10th | +4 | Learned Immunity | 5 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 2 | ─ | ─ |
11th | +4 | Specialty Feature | 5 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | ─ | ─ |
12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 6 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | ─ | ─ |
13th | +5 | ─ | 6 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | ─ |
14th | +5 | Greater Mutagen | 6 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | ─ |
15th | +5 | Specialty Feature | 7 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | ─ |
16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 7 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | ─ |
17th | +6 | ─ | 7 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
18th | +6 | Alchemical Body | 8 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 8 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
20th | +6 | Miraculous Extract | 8 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Class Features
As an Alchemist, you gain the following class features:
Hit Points
- Hit Dice: 1d8 per alchemist level
- Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier
- Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per alchemist level after 1st.
Proficiencies
- Armor: Light armor, shields
- Weapons: Simple weapons
- Tools: Alchemist's Kit
- Saving Throws: Constitution, Intelligence
- Skills: Choose two skills from Arcana, History, Investigation, Medicine, Nature, Perception, Sleight of Hand, Survival
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- Any simple weapon and a dagger
- (a) leather armor or (b) a shield
- (a) a light crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) 10 darts
- (a) an explorer's pack or (b) a scholar's pack
- (a) An alchemist's kit
Extracts
At 1st level, you use alchemical knowlege to distill magical properties into potions or extracts that can bestow their effects on whoever drinks them. These extracts mimic magical spells cast by wizards, clerics, druids, etc.
Extracts Known
You know two 1st-level extracts of your choice from the alchemist extract list. The Extracts Known column of the Alchemist table shows when you learn more alchemist extracts of your choice from this feature. Each of these extracts must be of a level for which you have extract
slots on the alchemist table.
Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you
can choose one of the alchemist extracts you know
from this feature and replace it with another extract
from the alchemist extract list. The new extract must
also be of a level for which you have extract slots on the Alchemist table.
Preparing Extracts
When you complete a long or short rest, you use your alchemist's tools to prepare extracts, choosing from your
known extracts. The number and type of extracts you can
prepare during your rest depends on the extract
slots you have available at your alchemist level. For each
extract slot you choose to expend, you can prepare one
extract of that slot's level or lower. Note that an extract's
level does not necessarily match the level of the corresponding spell (e.g. a confusion extract is 3rd level
while the confusion spell is 4th level). You regain all expended extract slots when you complete a long rest.
For example, if you are a 5th-level alchemist, you have four 1st-level and two 2nd-level extract slots, meaning you can prepare four extracts of 1st level and two extracts of 2nd or 1st level if you expend all your extract slots. Note that extract slots can also be used to create alchemical bombs (see the "alchemical bombs" feature).
Your extracts must be used within eight hours of their creation. After that time, your extracts lose their potency and are unable to bestow any magical effect.
Regaining Slots after a Short Rest
When you complete a short rest, you regain spent extract slots with a combined level up to half your alchemist level (rounded down, minimum of one). You can regain slots this way twice before completing a long rest.
Extract Material Components
If an extract's corresponding spell requires material components, that component is required for the extract as well. Material components that are consumed by a spell are also consumed when creating the corresponding extract.
Concentration Effects
Extracts of spells that require concentration are more difficult and time-consuming to produce. You may only prepare up to two extracts of concentration spells when you complete a long rest, and up to one when you complete a short rest.
Using Extracts
There are three ways an extract can be used:
- Imbibe. A creature can use its bonus action to imbibe an extract it is holding and gain its effects.
- Apply to a Weapon. A creature can use its bonus action to apply the extract to a weapon that deals piercing or slashing damage. For one minute, the next time that weapon deals damage to a creature, that creature suffers the effects of the extract.
- Administer to another Creature.
A creature can use its action to administer
an extract to a willing or incapacitated creature
within 5 feet, bestowing the effects of the extract on
that creature.
Extract Effects
The effects of an extract are just like its corresponding spell, except that an extract targets the creature that imbibes it, and an extract does not require concentration even if the original spell does. For example, a creature that is affected by a "Slow" extract must make a wisdom saving throw against your extract save DC (see below) or experience the effects of the slow spell until they succeed on the saving throw or the 1 minute duration ends.
- If a spell has multiple options, you choose which applies when you create the extract (e.g. blindness/deafness, enlarge/reduce, bestow curse).
- If a spell's effect is relative to another creature (for example, if a spell causes a creature to be frightened of or charmed by something), the second creature is considered to be the alchemist that created the extract.
- If a spell's effects normally require a roll to hit the spell's target, the corresponding extract automatically hits any creature affected by it.
- If a spell normally requires the caster to make an ability check (e.g. dispel magic), the alchemist makes the check regardless of who imbibed the extract.
Alchemical Ability
Intelligence is your alchemical ability for your alchemist extracts. Whenever an extract refers to your spellcasting ability, you instead use your alchemical ability, intelligence. In addition, you use your Intelligence modifier when setting the saving throw DC for an alchemist extract you make.
Alchemical Bombs
At 1st level, you prepare explosive combinations of reagants for use in combat or otherwise. When you complete a long
or short rest, you can expend extract slots to create one alchemical bomb for each slot expended.
You can use your action to prepare and throw one of your alchemical bombs at a point within 30 feet. The bomb detonates at the chosen location, dealing magical fire or thunder damage (your choice when you throw the bomb) to all creatures in a 5-foot radius of the targeted point. The damage dealt equals Xd8 plus your intelligence modifier, where X is two times the level of the extract slot expended to create the bomb (e.g. a bomb created with a 2nd-level extract slot deals damage equal to 4d8 + your intelligence modifier). A creature may make a dexterity saving throw against your extract save DC, taking only half
damage on a success.
Discovery
Beginning at 2nd level, you start making novel discoveries in the world of alchemy. The discovery column on the alchemist table shows when you make a new discovery, chosen from the list of alchemist discoveries, found after the main class features.
Discoveries fall into three categories: bombs, mutagens, and knowledge. Bomb discoveries grant you improvements to your alchemical bombs. Mutagen discoveries alter your body, granting you permanent physical benefits. Knowledge discoveries represent gaining greater skill in alchemy, improving your ability to use your extracts and toxins. When choosing a discovery, you can select from any category.
Toxic Edge
Beginning at 2nd level, you can use your bonus action to apply a dangerous alchemical toxin to one of your weapons that deals piercing or slashing damage, without using an extract. Until the end of your turn, the next time you hit with that weapon, the target creature must make a constitution saving throw against your extract save DC. On a failed save, the creature is poisoned until the beginning of your next turn and takes magical acid or poison damage (your choice) equal to your intelligence modifier plus half your alchemist level (rounded down). On a successful save, a creature is not poisoned and takes only half the acid or poison damage.
In addition, when you apply this toxin or one of your extracts to a weapon, you may use your intelligence modifier on attack rolls with that weapon until the end of your turn.
Swift Alchemy
Beginning at 3rd level, you are adept at skillfully and
swiftly creating alchemical supplies and potions, granting
you the following benefits:
- When making a skill check using your alchemist's supplies, you add your proficiency bonus twice to the roll.
- Crafting with your alchemist's supplies takes you only half the normal time and gold cost.
Alchemical Specialty
At 3rd level, you begin to specialize in a particular area
of alchemy. Choose one of the alchemical specialties
listed after the main class features. From your
chosen specialty, you gain features at levels 3, 7, 11,
and 15, as well as additional known extracts at the
appropriate alchemist levels.
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.
Using the optional feats rule, you can forgo taking
this feature to take a feat of your choice instead.
Mutagen
At 6th level, whether inadvertently due to alchemical exposure or as purposeful experimentation, your body has been permanently altered by your magical reagants and extracts. You gain proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Athletics, Acrobatics, Intimidation, Perception, Sleight of Hand, or Stealth.
Learned Immunity
At 10th level, your physical form becomes inured to the more common effects of alchemical ingredients, granting you the following benefits:
- You are immune to the poisoned condition and have resistance to poison damage.
- You have resistance to acid, cold, fire, lightning or thunder damage (your choice).
Greater Mutagen
At 14th level, your body is further altered by prolonged exposure to alchemical solutions. Choose one of the following skills that you have proficiency in: Athletics, Acrobatics, Intimidation, Perception, Sleight of Hand, or Stealth. You now add your proficiency bonus twice to checks using that skill.
Alchemical Body
At 18th level, you have finally achieved an
alchemical feat only dreamed of or spoken of in
legend, ascending your form beyond one of the
limitations of mortality. You gain one of the
following benefits (your choice):
- You no longer need food or water to survive and cannot become exhausted from starvation or dehydration.
- You are immune to all diseases and poisons, whether magical or mundane.
- You have the appearance of a young adult of your species and no longer age. You cannot be magically aged.
Miraculous Extract
At 20th level, you learn to create an extract
of enormous magical power, distilling the
essence of a wish spell into a consumable
form. When you complete a long rest, you
can create an extract with one of the
following effects, without expending an
extract slot:
- The consumer gains resistance to all damage for 8 hours.
- The consumer gains immunity to a single spell or other magical effect of their choice for 8 hours. For instance, they could become immune to a lich’s life drain attack.
- The consumer regains all hit points and any lost limbs, and all effects described in the greater restoration spell end for them. If the creature died in the last minute, they are brought back to life as if by the revivify spell.
- Within one minute after imbibing the extract, the consumer can force a reroll of any one roll made within the last minute. Reality reshapes itself to accommodate the new result. For example, they could undo an opponent’s successful save, a foe’s critical hit, or a friend’s failed save. They can force the reroll to be made with advantage or disadvantage and can choose whether to use the reroll or the original roll.
As normal, this extract must be used within eight hours of its creation, or it loses its potency.
Multiclassing
Prerequisites. To qualify for multiclassing with the Alchemist class, you must meet these prerequisites: 13 Intelligence.
Proficiencies. When you multiclass into the Alchemist class, you gain the following proficiencies: Light armor, shields, simple weapons, alchemist's kit.
Extract/Spell Slots. You add half your alchemist levels (rounded down) for the purposes of determining multiclass spell slots. These slots count as both your extract slots and spell slots. You can use these slots to prepare alchemist extracts, create alchemical bombs, or to cast spells you know or have prepared from other classes.
Alchemical
Discoveries
The following are the
discoveries available to
alchemists. The discovery column
on the alchemist table shows when
you make a new discovery.
Discoveries fall into three categories:
bombs, mutagens, and knowledge,
described in the following sections.
Bomb Discoveries
Bomb discoveries grant you additional
options for modifying the alchemical
bombs you create using your extract
slots. Whenever you throw an
alchemical bomb, you can choose to
alter it with any of the bomb
discoveries you have learned. The
following bomb discoveries are organized
by prerequisite alchemist level.
Unique Modifications
Bomb discoveries may have the "unique modification"
tag. A single bomb can only be modified by one unique modification. There is no limit to the number of non-unique modifications that can be applied to a bomb.
Prerequisites
Bomb discoveries may have a prerequisite alchemist level and/or bomb level. Alchemist level indicates the number of alchemist levels you must have before you can learn a discovery. Bomb level indicates the minimum extract slot level used to create a bomb that is modified by that discovery. For example, a bomb must have been created by at least a 3rd-level extract slot to be modified by the adhesive sludge discovery.
No Prerequisite
Delayed Detonation
Prerequisites: None
You can choose to delay a bomb's detonation. When you choose this option, you may set a reaction trigger to activate the bomb. For example, you might use your reaction to detonate the bomb when a certain creature enters its damage range. You can alternatively use your bonus action on a subsequent turn to detonate the bomb.
Once you have chosen to delay a bomb's detonation, it detonates immediately if moved from its current position. If a bomb is delayed for 24 hours or more, it loses its ability to explode and deal damage. You can only have one bomb with a delayed detonation at a time.
Elemental Bombs
Prerequisites: None
You can alter the detonation of your bomb to release a different harmful element. Choose one of the following damage types: acid, cold, lightning, or poison. You can change a bomb's damage type to the one you select.
You can choose this discovery multiple times.
Explosive Missile
Prerequisites: None
When you use your action to create an alchemical
bomb, you can use your bonus action to attach it to a
ranged weapon. As part of that same action, you fire/throw the weapon and the bomb detonates in the spot it impacts.
Faerie Fire
Prerequisites: None
Unique Modification
You can cause your bomb to release faerie fire on detonation. When you do so, all creatures in the area affected by the bomb must make a dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, a creature is outlined in light for one minute as in the faerie fire spell, granting advantage to attack rolls targeting that creature and nullifying any benefit from invisibility.
Focused Blast
Prerequisites: None
You can change a bomb's damage area from a sphere to a cone. When you do so, the area affected by the bomb changes to a cone with a length equal to double the original spherical radius, with a point of origin centered where the bomb detonated. You choose which direction the cone extends.
Grease Slick
Prerequisites: None
Unique Modification
You can cover your bomb with a slick grease. Creatures in the area affected by the bomb fall prone if they fail the dexterity saving throw to reduce the damage taken from the bomb.
The grease covers the bomb's affected area for one minute. During this time, any creature that enters the area or ends its turn there must make a dexterity saving throw against your extract save DC, falling prone on a failed save.
Poison Burst
Prerequisities: None
Unique Modification
You can cause your bomb to release a burst of poisonous gas upon detonation. When you do so, creatures in the area affected by the bomb must make a constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature is poisoned for one minute. A creature may repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.
Shrapnel Bomb
Prerequisites: None
Unique Modification
You can insert brutal, lacerating shrapnel into your bomb. When you do so, creatures in the area affected by the bomb must make a constitution saving throw against your extract save DC. On a failed save, a creature is lacerated, taking an amount of magical slashing damage equal to your intelligence modifier. A creature that took this damage must repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, taking the slashing damage again on a failed save. On a successful save, the effect ends for the creature.
Sleeping Gas
Prerequisites: None
Unique Modification
You can cause your bomb to release a magical knockout gas with its detonation. When you do so, the bomb applies its normal damage first and then you apply the effects of the sleep spell to the area affected by the bomb. The level of the sleep spell equals the extract slot level used to create the bomb.
5th-Level Prerequisite
Blast Area
Prerequisites: 5th Level Alchemist
You can increase a bomb's damage radius to 10 feet.
Breaching Detonation
Prerequisites: 5th Level Alchemist
You can design your bomb to effortlessly tear holes in structures. Your bomb deals double damage to structures and objects.
Darkness Bomb
Prerequisites: 5th Level Alchemist, 2nd+ Level Bomb
Unique Modification
You can imbue your bomb with magical darkness. The area affected by the bomb is covered by magical darkness as in the darkness spell for 10 minutes.
Deafening Burst
Prerequisites: 5th Level Alchemist, 2nd+ Level Bomb
Unique Modification
You can cause your bomb to unleash a deafening burst of sound upon detonation. Creatures in the area affected by the bomb must make a constitution saving throw against your extract save DC. On a failed save, a creature is deafened until the end of your next turn.
Enfeebling Toxin
Prerequisites: 5th Level Alchemist, 2nd+ Level Bomb
Unique Modification
You can cause your bomb to release a weakening gas in its immediate area. When you do so, one creature of your choice within 5-feet of the detonation must make a constitution saving throw against your extract save DC. On a failed save, a creature deals only half damage with attacks that use strength for the next minute. A creature can repeat the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.
Forceful Blast
Prerequisites: 5th Level Alchemist, 2nd+ Level Bomb
Unique Modification
You can increase the detonation strength of your bomb, causing it to knock back those in its blast radius. Creatures in the area affected by the bomb must make a strength saving throw against your extract save DC. On a failed save, the creature is thrown 10 feet away from the bomb and is prone. Any creature(s) in the 5-foot space the bomb detonated in that failed the save are launched directly upwards, falling prone in the same space.
Smoke Bomb
Prerequisites: 5th Level Alchemist, 2nd+ Level Bomb
You can cause your bomb to unleash a thick, dark smoke upon detonation. When you do so, the area affected by the bomb becomes heavily obscured for one minute or until a strong wind disperses it.
7th-Level Prerequisite
Concussive Blast
Prerequisites: 7th Level Alchemist, 2nd+ Level Bomb
Unique Modification
You can cause your bomb to release a powerful concussive blast in its immediate area. When you do so, one creature of your choice within 5-feet of the detonation must make a constitution saving throw against your extract save DC. On a failed save, a creature is stunned for 1 minute. A creature may repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.
Flash Bomb
Prerequisites: 7th Level Alchemist, 2nd+ Level Bomb
Unique Modification
You can cause your bomb to unleash a disorienting blast of light upon detonation. Creatures in the area affected by the bomb must make a constitution saving throw against your extract save DC. On a failed save, a creature is blinded until the end of your next turn.
Moonlight Bomb
Prerequisites: 7th Level Alchemist, 2nd+ Level Bomb
Unique Modification
You can cause your bomb to unleash a burst of moonlight upon detonation. Creatures in the area affected by the bomb are immersed in a silvery, pale light and must make a constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 2d10 radiant damage or half as much on a success.
Shapechangers in the area make the saving throw with disadvantage and revert to their original form on a failed saving throw (as in the moonbeam spell).
9th-Level Prerequisite
Adhesive Sludge
Prerequisites: 9th Level Alchemist, 3rd+ Level Bomb
Unique Modification
You can cover your bomb with an adhesive sludge. Creatures in the area affected by the bomb must make a strength saving throw against your extract save DC. On a failed save, a creature is restrained for one minute. A creature can use its action to repeat the saving throw, breaking free from its restraints on a success.
Other creatures can make a melee attack against the sludge to attempt to break a creature free. The sludge has an AC equal to your extract save DC and 20 hit points.
Greater Blast Area
Prerequisites: 9th Level
Alchemist, Blast Area
You can increase a
bomb's damage radius
to 15 feet.
Necrotic Bomb
Prerequisites: 9th
Level Alchemist
You can cause your bomb to
unleash harmful, life
eroding energies. You can
change a bomb's damage
type to necrotic.
Psychic Bomb
Prerequisites: 9th
Level Alchemist
You can cause your bomb
to release harmful
psychic magics. You can
change a bomb's damage
type to psychic.
Radiant Bomb
Prerequisite: 9th
Level Alchemist
You can cause your bomb to
detonate in a brilliant flash of
celestial light. You can change a
bomb's damage type to radiant.
Stink Bomb
Prerequisites: 9th Level
Alchemist, 3rd+ Level Bomb
Unique Modification
You can cause your bomb to
release a cloud of nauseating gas
upon detonation. The area affected
by the bomb is covered in a stinking cloud
for one minute or until a strong wind
disperses it.
The area of the stinking cloud is heavily obscured.
Creatures that start their turn in the cloud must make a constitution saving throw against your extract save DC.
On a failed save, a creature must spend its action retching and reeling. Creatures that are immune to poison or those that don't need to breathe automatically succeed on the saving throw.
Torporific Toxin
Prerequisites: 9th Level Alchemist, 3rd+ Level Bomb
Unique Modification
You can imbue your bomb with magical slowness, fatiguing those caught in its blast. Creatures in the area affected by your bomb must make a wisdom saving throw against your extract save DC. On a failed save, a creature undergoes the effects of the slow spell for 1 minute. A creature may repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.
12th-Level Prerequisite
Anti-magic Bomb
Prerequisites: 12th Level Alchemist, 3rd+ Level Bomb
Unique Modification
You can imbue your bomb with anti-magical properties. Magical effects of the slot level used to make the bomb and lower end within the area affected by the bomb (as in the dispel magic spell).
Cursed Bomb
Prerequisites: 12th Level Alchemist, 3rd+ Level Bomb
Unique Modification
You can cause your bomb to release cursed necromantic magic. One creature of your choice within 5-feet of the detonation must make a wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, that creature is cursed for one minute. You choose the effect of the curse from those listed in the bestow curse spell.
Force Bomb
Prerequisites: 12th Level Alchemist
You can imbue your bomb with pure magical force. You can change a bomb's damage type to force.
15th-Level Prerequisite
Banishing Bomb
Prerequisites: 15th Level Alchemist, 4th+ Level Bomb
Unique Modification
You can imbue your bomb with magic that disrupts creature's connection to the current plane. One creature of your choice within 5-feet of the detonation must make a charisma saving throw against your extract save DC. On a failed save, the creature is banished as in the banishment spell. If the creature is native to the current plane, it is banished to a harmless demiplane for one minute.
Confusing Vapors
Prerequisites: 15th Level Alchemist, 4th+ Level Bomb
Unique Modification
You can cause your bomb to release disorienting vapors upon detonation. Creatures in the area affected by your bomb must make a wisdom saving throw against your extract save DC. On a failed save, a creature undergoes the effects of the confusion spell for 1 minute. A creature may repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.
Gravity Bomb
Prerequisites: 15th Level Alchemist, 4th+ Level Bomb
Unique Modification
You can cause your bombs to unleash a magical gravity well centered on the bomb's detonation. Creatures in the area affected by the bomb must make a strength saving throw against your extract save DC. On a failed save, the creature takes 5d10 force damage, is pulled in a straight line towards the space the bomb detonated, stopping in the closest unoccupied space, and has its speed reduced to 0 until the end of your next turn. On a successful save, a creature takes half damage, is not moved, and retains its normal speed.
Paralyzing Toxin
Prerequisites: 15th Level Alchemist, 4th+ Level Bomb
Unique Modification
You can cause your bomb to release a potent paralyzing magic in its immediate area. When you do so, one creature of your choice within 5-feet of the detonation must make a wisdom saving throw against your extract save DC. On a failed save, a creature is paralyzed until the end of your next turn.
18th-Level Prerequisite
Cloudkill Bomb
Prerequisites: 18th Level Alchemist, 5th+ Level Bomb
Unique Modification
You can cause your bomb to unleash a cloud of extremely toxic gases upon detonation. Creatures in the area affected by the bomb must make a constitution saving throw against your extract save DC. A creature takes 5d8 poison damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful save. Creatures are affected even if they hold their breath or don't need to breathe.
The cloud of gases covers the area affected by the bomb for one minute or until a strong wind disperses it. The area of the cloud is heavily obscured. When a creature enters the cloud of gas or ends its turn there, it takes 5d8 poison damage.
Incendiary Bomb
Prerequisites: 18th Level Alchemist, 5th+ Level Bomb
Unique Modification
You can cause your bomb to unleash a cloud of burning hot embers upon detonation. Creatures in the area affected by the bomb take an additional 5d8 fire damage (halved if they succeed on the dexterity saving throw to take half damage from the bomb).
The cloud of embers covers the area affected by the bomb for one minute or until a strong wind disperses it. The area of the cloud is heavily obscured. When a creature enters the cloud of embers or ends its turn there, it takes 5d8 fire damage.
Plague Bomb
Prerequisites: 18th Level Alchemist, 5th+ Level Bomb
Unique Modification
You can lace your bomb with a extremely dangerous viral agent. When you do so, one creature of your choice within 5-feet of the detonation is afflicted with one of the disease options from the contagion spell. At the end of each of their turns, a creature afflicted by a disease must make a constitution saving throw against your extract save DC. After failing three saves, the creature is afflicted by the disease for 7 days and stops making saving throws. After succeeding three saves, the creature recovers from the disease and its effects end.
Mutagen Discoveries
Mutagen discoveries alter your own characteristics, including anything from proficiencies to hit points and even creature type. Unless otherwise stated, you can only choose a mutagen discovery once. The following mutagen discoveries are organized by prerequisite alchemist level.
No Prerequisite
Bitter Flesh
Prerequisites: None
Alchemy has made your skin and blood sickening to the touch. When another creature touches you, you may force them to make a constitution saving throw against your extract save DC. On a failed save, the creature becomes poisoned for 1 minute. At the end of each of its turns, a creature can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on a success.
Chameleon Skin
Prerequisites: None
Your skin has been alchemically altered and now tends to mimic its surroundings. You can use your bonus action to blend in with a surface you are touching. While you remain in front of that type of surface, you have advantage on stealth checks.
Feral Mutagen
Prerequisites: None
You grow claws, fangs, spines, horns, or a different
natural weapon of your choice. Your attacks with
these weapons deal 1d6 bludgeoning,
piercing, or slashing damage, as appropriate
to the natural weapon you chose, and
you considered proficient with them.
In addition, when you are not
wearing armor or wielding a shield,
your armor class equals 13 + your
dexterity modifier.
Memory Enhancer
Prerequisites: None
You improve your own memory
with cognitive-focusing reagants.
Choose arcana, history, nature,
or religion. You gain proficiency
in the chosen skill. If you are
already proficient, you now add
double your proficiency bonus
to checks using that skill.
You can choose this
mutagen multiple times.
Pheromones
Prerequisites: None
You passively generate emotion
altering pheromones. Choose
deception, intimidation,
or persuasion. You have
advantage on the chosen
skill checks involving
creatures within 10 feet of you.
5th-Level Prerequisite
Elemental Resistance
Prerequisites: 5th Level Alchemist
Your body has learned to resist a certain dangerous element through alchemical exposure. Choose acid, fire, cold, lightning, or thunder. You gain resistance to the chosen damage type.
Toughened Form
Prerequisites: 5th Level Alchemist
Through alchemical manipulation, your body has become more durable. Your alchemist hit die become d10s, and your hit point maximum increases by an amount equal to your alchemist level.
Toxic Skin
Prerequisites: 5th Level Alchemist
Exposure to toxic reagants has altered your body to the point that you can excrete toxic chemicals/gases from your skin. When a creature within 5 feet hit you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction to deal an amount of poison damage to that creature equal to half your alchemist level (rounded down) plus your intelligence modifier.
Healing Touch
Prerequisites: 5th Level Alchemist
Your touch has become infused with the magic of healing reagants. Once per short rest, you can use your bonus action to touch a creature. That creature restores a number of hit points equal to half your alchemist
level (rounded down) plus your
intelligence modifier.
7th-Level Prerequisite
Cognatogen
Prerequisites: 7th Level Alchemist
You use stronger cognatogens to further sharpen your mind at the cost of your physical capabilities. Choose either intelligence, wisdom, or charisma.
If you choose intelligence, your intelligence increases by 2 and your constitution decreases by 1. If you choose wisdom, your wisdom increases by 2 and your dexterity decreases by 1. If you choose charisma, your charisma increases by 2 and your strength decreases by 1. As normal, an ability score cannot be raised above 20.
Physatogen
Prerequisites: 7th Level Alchemist
You use stronger cognatogens to further improve your physical capabilities at the cost of mental capacity. Choose either strength, dexterity, or constitution.
If you choose strength, your strength increases by 2 and your charisma decreases by 1. If you choose dexterity, your dexterity increases by 2 and your wisdom decreases by 1. If you choose constitution, your constitution increases by 2 and your intelligence decreases by 1. As normal, an ability score cannot be raised above 20.
Spider Climb
Prerequisites: 7th Level Alchemist
Whether through small, stiff hairs on your fingers or through an adhesive excreted from your glands, you have gained the ability to effortlessly scale vertical surfaces. You gain a climb speed equal to your walking speed.
9th-Level Prerequisite
Adrenaline Surge
Prerequisites: 9th Level Alchemist
Once per long rest, as a bonus action, you can will your body to release an unnaturally large concentration of adrenaline. When you do so, you gain the effects of the haste spell for up to 1 minute, requiring your concentration to maintain.
Hardened Organs
Prerequisites: 9th Level Alchemist
Your soft tissues can magically harden in response to trauma. Once per long rest, as a reaction to taking bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage, you may grant yourself resistance to those damage types for one minute.
12th-Level Prerequisite
Cognitive Boost
Prerequisites: 12th Level Alchemist
You use alchemical stimulants to bolster your focus or confidence. Choose either wisdom or charisma. You gain proficiency in saving throws of the chosen ability score, and you gain proficiency in one skill corresponding to that ability (e.g. persuasion for charisma, perception for wisdom, etc.).
Physical Boost
Prerequisites: 12th Level Alchemist
You improve your body's physical capabilities with alchemical help. Choose strength or dexterity. You gain proficiency in saving throws of the chosen ability score, and you gain proficiency in one skill corresponding to that ability (e.g. athletics for strength, stealth for dexterity, etc.).
Alchemical Spirit
Prerequisites: 12th Level Alchemist
Your spirit itself has been infused with alchemical strength, making you exceptionally hard to kill. You have advantage on death saving throws and can immediately roll one death saving throw when you are reduced to 0 hit points.
15th-Level Prerequisite
Grand Cognatogen
Prerequisites: 15th Level Alchemist, Cognatogen
You improve your congatogen to boost its effectiveness and remove its physically dampening side effects. The ability score you chose for cognatogen increases further by 1, and the corresponding penalty to another ability score is removed. As normal, an ability score cannot be raised above 20.
Grand Physatogen
Prerequisites: 15th Level Alchemist, Physatogen
You improve your physatogen to boost its effectiveness and remove its cognitively dampening side effects. The ability score you chose for physatogen increases further by 1, and the corresponding penalty to another ability score is removed. As normal, an ability score cannot be raised above 20.
Synthetic Wings
Prerequisites: 15th Level Alchemist
You have used alchemical stimulation to grow a functional pair of wings. You gain a flying speed equal to your walking speed.
18th-Level Prerequisite
Artificial Ascension
Prerequisites: 18th Level Alchemist
You use distilled holy/unholy magics to artifically grant yourself the characteristics of an angelic or demonic being. Your creature type becomes celestial or fiend (your choice), and you gain resistance to radiant and necrotic damage and immunity to poison damage. In addition, you gain angelic or demonic wings, granting you a flying speed equal to your walking speed.
Expanded Mind
Prerequisites: 18th Level Alchemist
You have managed to use alchemy to expand your own cognitive capabilities without side effect. Your intelligence score and maximum intelligence increase by 2.
Undeath
Prerequisites: 18th Level Alchemist
You undergo a particular alchemical regimen that kills you but allows you to shortly rise afterwards as undead. Your creature type becomes undead, you gain resistance to cold and necrotic damage and immunity to poison damage. In addition, you have immunity to the frightened and exhausted conditions.
In addition, your extracts now work on undead, even if they would have no effect normally (e.g. an extract of cure wounds can now heal undead).
Knowledge Discoveries
Knowledge discoveries represent gaining greater skill in alchemy or learning particular alchemical applications, including learning more extracts, creating an alchemical elemental, or enchanting your poisons with magic to make them harder to resist. Unless otherwise stated, you can only choose a knowledge discovery once. The following knowledge discoveries are organized
by prerequisite alchemist
level.
No Prerequisite
Arcane Study
Prerequisites: None
Your experience with alchemical magic has taught you how to produce a simple spell. You learn one cantrip of your choice from the wizard spell list. Your spellcasting modifier for this cantrip is intelligence.
You can choose this discovery multiple times.
Long-lasting Extract
Prerequisites: None
When you complete a long or short rest, you may choose
one of your created extracts that has a duration of 1
minute or longer. That extract's duration is doubled.
You can choose this discovery multiple times. Each
time you select this discovery, you can increase the
duration of one additional extract.
5th-Level Prerequisite
Enhanced Extract
Prerequisites: 5th Level Alchemist
When you complete a long rest, and before you expend
extract slots, you may choose to increase the level of one
of your extract slots by one. The slot must become a level
for which you already have extract slots.
You can choose this discovery multiple times. Each
time you select this discovery, you can increase the
level of an additional extract slot.
Preserve Extract
Prerequisites: 5th Level Alchemist
Choose one extract that you have created. That extract
will not lose its potency regardless of the amount of
time that passes since it was created. You may choose
to preserve another extract at any time, but any other
extract you are preserving will immediately lose its
potency and become unusable.
You can choose this discovery multiple times. Each
time you select this discovery, you can preserve one
additional extract.
7th-Level Prerequisite
Alchemical Elemental
Prerequisites: 7th Level Alchemist
When you complete a long rest, you may expend one
extract slot of 2nd level or higher to create an
alchemical elemental. This elemental has the
statistics of a magma mephit, except that any
reference to fire are replaced by acid, its alignment
is chaotic neutral, and the heat metal spell is
replaced by acid arrow. In addition, the elemental
does not know any languages but instinctively
understands its alchemist. The elemental lasts for 8
hours or until it is killed.
In non-threatening situations, your elemental simply
follows you unless you command it to do otherwise. In
combat, you control your elemental, which acts on
your initiative.
Combined Extracts
Prerequisites: 7th Level Alchemist
When you complete a long rest, you may choose two of the extracts you created and combine them. The resulting extract has the effects of both of the original extracts.
You can choose this discovery multiple times. Each time you select this discovery, you can combine two additional extracts into one.
Extract Discovery
Prerequisites: 7th Level Alchemist
You learn three additional extracts. These extracts can be changed when you gain an alchemist level like other known extracts.
You can choose this discovery multiple times.
9th-Level Prerequisite
Alchemical Undead
Prerequisites: 9th Level Alchemist
You create a zombie or skeleton (your choice, your DM
has the statistics) from a combination of alchemy and
decaying flesh and/or bone. You must expend one extract
slot to create your creature and whenever you
complete a long rest in order to maintain your
creature. When you choose not to maintain your
creature or it is killed, your creature becomes an
inert pile of flesh and/or bone. You can recreate
your creature as a ritual that takes 10 minutes
and requires expending one extract slot.
You can verbally command your creature to
perform simple tasks. If no task is given, the
creature follows you and defends itself against
attacks, acting on your initiative.
The statistics of your creature change depending
on what level of extract slot you last expended to create/maintain the creature. Your creature has a
number of hit points equal to Xd8 + your intelligence
modifier, where X is the extract slot level used (add
+1 to X if your creature is a zombie). In addition, its
bonus to hit equals your proficiency bonus plus your intelligence modifier, and the damage it deals with its
attacks equals Yd6 + your intelligence modifier, where
Y equals the extract slot level used.
Bottled Ooze
Prerequisites: 9th Level Alchemist
You alchemically create a gray ooze, a creature
capable of eating through nonmagical metal, which
you keep bottled (your DM has the statistics for a
gray ooze). As an action, you can throw the bottle to
an unoccupied space within 30 feet, releasing the gray
ooze onto that space. Alternatively, you can open the
bottle and release the ooze to a space adjacent to you.
Your gray ooze cannot be commanded. It will
approach the nearest creature or metal object, not
being worn or carried. If it's target is a creature, it
will attack with its pseudopods. If its target is a
metal object, it will attempt to corrode it. While
within 5 feet of the ooze, you can use your action to
magically rebottle it. If your ooze dies or is otherwise
lost, you can expend an extract slot of 2nd level or
higher after your next long rest to recreate it.
12th-Level Prerequisite
Swift Alchemist
Prerequisites: 12th Level Alchemist
When you complete a long rest, you may create one extract without expending an extract slot. The extract must be a level for which you have extract slots, and the corresponding spell effect cannot require concentration.
15th-Level Prerequisite
Soul Poisons
Prerequisites: 15th Level Alchemist
Your poisons directly interfere with the lifeforce or magical animation of a creature. When you deal poison damage or attempt to give another creature the poisoned condition, you may ignore immunity to the poisoned condition
and resistance to poison damage, and treat
immunity to poison damage as
resistance.
Alchemical
Specialties
As much as they might want to, an
alchemist cannot specialize in every
facet of alchemical magic. As an alchemist
gains more experience in a particular field
of study, they become associated with a
particular alchemical specialty, which are
broad categorizations roughly describing
an alchemists' focus and abilities.
The following are the specialties available
to alchemists. From your chosen specialty,
you gain features at levels 3, 7, 11, and 15,
as well as additional known extracts at the
appropriate alchemist levels.
Vivisectionist
Many alchemist are content to use parts of
long-deceased creatures for their extracts
and studies. Some, however, study living and
recently-living creatures to uncover the
alchemical properties inherent to these beings.
These alchemists, called vivisectionists, seek to
understand the alchemy of the living form, learning
to harm and heal more effectively as their knowledge
grows.
Vivisectionist Extracts
Arcanist Level | Spells |
---|---|
3rd | Sleep |
5th | Hold Person |
9th | Revivify |
13th | Polymorph |
17th | Hold Monster |
Vivisection
Beginning at 3rd level, you harvest magical components from fallen creatures to use in your extracts. Once per short or long rest, you may spend 1 minute harvesting from an incapacitated creature or a creature that has died in the last hour. When you do so, you regain one expended extract slot. The level of the regained slot can be up to half the challenge rating of the harvested creature (rounded down). You can perform this feature on a creature you have magically put to sleep without waking that creature. The creature remains magically asleep until you finish the vivisection regardless of the duration of the sleep effect.
In addition, you gain proficiency in medicine (or another alchemist class skill if already proficient).
Sleeping Gas
Beginning at 3rd level, you utilize sleeping gas to experiment on or treat creatures more freely. You gain the sleeping gas bomb discovery which does not count against your number of discoveries known.
Stimulate Healing
Beginning at 7th level, your helpful extracts stimulate the natural healing of those who drink them. Whenever you create extracts, you may choose any number of them to have a healing effect. In addition to their normal effects, these extracts restore a number of hit points equal to your intelligence modifier plus Xd8, where X is the level of the extract slot used to create the extract.
Anatomical Expertise
By 11th level, you have become expert at the anatomy of all kinds of creatures. You gain the following benefits:
- Your attacks score a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20.
- You roll one additional damage die when determining the damage of a critical hit.
- You add double your proficiency modifier on medicine checks.
Regenerating Solution
Beginning at 15th level, whether for altruistic or more sinister alchemical reasons, you have developed a technique that can regenerate lost limbs. Once per long rest, you can spend 1 minute to grant a creature, within 5 feet, the benefits of the regenerate spell.
Toxicant
Toxicants specialize in the creation and application or poisons and other toxins to kill or disable their enemies without a direct fight. These alchemists are often employed by assassin's guilds to provide deadly toxins or by nobles to counter poisonous threats.
Toxicant Extracts
Arcanist Level | Spells |
---|---|
3rd | Ray of Sickness |
5th | Blindness/Deafness |
9th | Confusion |
13th | Blight |
17th | Contagion |
Toxin-Infused Extracts
Beginning at 3rd level, you make your harmful extracts particularly toxic. When a creature fails an initial saving throw against one of your extracts, they are poisoned until the end of your next turn.
In addition, you have advantage on skill checks made to recognize, identify, or notice poisons.
Volatile Poisons
Beginning at 3rd level, you learn to violently poison your
foes with your bombs. You gain the poison burst bomb discovery which does not count against your number of discoveries known.
Trained Resistance
Beginning at 7th level, countless small exposures to toxic potions and reagants has built your resistance to harmful magical effects. Once per short rest, when you fail a saving throw against poison or a magical effect, you can reroll the saving throw, but you must take the new result.
Precision Poisoning
Beginning at 11th level, you have become expert at the applying poisons directly to creature's circulatory systems or their equivalent. Creatures have disadvantage on saving throws they make to avoid being poisoned by you.
Virulent Extracts
Beginning at 15th level, when a creature fails an initial saving throw against one of your extracts, you may choose to apply one of the following spell effects to that creature based on the slot level used to create the extract, instead of applying the poisoned condition with the "toxin-infused extracts" feature.
- 1st/2nd Level Slots: Ray of Sickness
- 3rd/4th Level Slots: Blindness/Deafness (your choice)
- 5th Level Slots: Confusion
The effects last as long as the effects of your extract. However, if an extract's effects are instantaneous, these effects last until the end of your next turn. If the extract effects end early (e.g. a creature succeeds on a saving throw), the additional effects from this feature also end.
Horticulturist
Some alchemists become intimately familiar with the magic of nature and plant life, understanding that even the smallest shrub has innate power and potential. These alchemists learn to draw out the potential of plants, awakening their own plant familiar to deliver extract effects and even using their alchemy to grant temporary sentience to surrounding vegetation in tense situations.
Horticulturist Extracts
Arcanist Level | Spells |
---|---|
3rd | Detect Poison and Disease |
5th | Locate Animals or Plants |
9th | Speak with Plants |
13th | Guardian of Nature |
17th | Commune with Nature |
Awakened Plant
Beginning at 3rd level, your alchemical experimentation has resulted in the creation of your own plant familiar. This plant has the statistics of an awakened shrub, except that it has a number of hitpoints equal to 2 + 4 times your alchemist level and has a bonus to hit equal to your intelligence modifier plus your proficiency bonus. In addition, your plant familiar gains a thorn throwing attack with a range of 30 feet that deals piercing damage equal to 1d4 - 1 to a single target. Your plant familiar acts on your initiative and you control its actions. If
your plant familiar dies, you can revive it,
or create a new one,
when you next
complete a
long rest.
Whenever you create extracts, you can choose to expend one of them and infuse your plant familiar with its effects to bestow on another creature. The next time a creature is hit by your plant familiar's attack, it suffers the effects of the extract. Alternatively, your plant familiar can use its action to bestow the extract's effects on a willing or incapacitated creature within 5 feet. Once your plant familiar has granted the effects of its extract to a creature, it cannot do so again until you complete a long or short rest. Your plant familiar can only be infused with one extract at any time; infusing it with a new extract nullifies the previous extract.
In addition, you gain proficiency in nature (or another alchemist class skill if already proficient).
Natural Extracts
Beginning at 3rd level, you are adept at using the right herbs and reagants to extend an extract's effects. You gain the long-lasting extract discovery which does not count against your number of discoveries known.
Verdant Infusion
Beginning at 7th level, when you complete a long rest, you may choose one of your extracts to infuse with verdant natural powers. That extract gains the following effects, which last for one minute, in addition to its original effects:
- The target's skin becomes tough and bark-like, granting it resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.
- The target creature gains a number of temporary hit points equal to your alchemist level.
- The target creature makes constitution saving throws with advantage.
Awaken Vegetation
Beginning at 11th level, you repurpose the formulation that created your plant familiar to grant temporary sentience to all plants in an area. Once per long rest, you may use your action
to choose a point within 120 feet. All plants within a 30-foot
cube centered on that point are given a limited ability to
move (as if by the awaken spell), can understand you, and
are friendly to you and your allies. These plants cannot
move from their current space, but they can move their
limbs, roots, vines, etc. to inhibit foes or help you. This
effect lasts for one minute.
If there is plant-life present, this causes the 30-foot
area to become difficult terrain for all creatures of
your choice. Other capabilities of this feature
are possible at your DM's discretion. For
example, you might ask a tree to use it roots
or branches to block a nearby opening.
Nature's Wrath
Beginning at 15th level, awakened vegetation
becomes fiercely protective of you and your
allies. When you use your awaken vegetation
feature, the affected area is now a 60-foot
cube. In addition, the area undergoes all
the effects listed in the Wrath of Nature
spell.
Energist
Alchemical reactions consume or release energy depending on their nature. Some alchemists study this pattern of energetics to more directly control and utilize alchemical energy. These energists harness magical energies to amplify the effects of their extracts.
Energist Extracts
Arcanist Level | Spells |
---|---|
3rd | Longstrider |
5th | Dragon's Breath |
9th | Haste |
13th | Elemental Bane |
17th | Freedom of the Winds |
Exoarcana and Endoarcana
Beginning at 3rd level, you amplify the inherent energy releasing or consuming nature of your extracts. When you create extracts, you determine which of your extracts release positive magical energy (exoarcanic) and which consume it (endoarcanic). When a creature is affected by an exoarcanic extract, they regain hit points equal to half your alchemist level (rounded down), plus your intelligence modifier. When a creature is affected by an endoarcanic extract, they lose hit points equal to the same amount.
In addition, you gain proficiency in arcana (or another
alchemist class skill if already proficient).
Elemental Energy
Beginning at 3rd level, you utilize varied elements in your alchemical bombs. You gain the elemental bombs discovery (cold or lightning, your choice) which does not count against your number of discoveries known.
Absorb Energy
Beginning at 7th level, you learn to draw upon the energies of magical effects around you. When you are a target of or in the area of effect of a spell of 1st-level or higher, you may use your reaction to gain temporary hit points equal to the level of the spell plus your intelligence modifier.
Efficient Absorption
Beginning at 11th level, you absorb magical energies with unmatched efficiency. When you use your reaction to use the absorb energy feature, you are considered resistant to any damage the triggering spell deals.
Improved Energetics
Beginning at 15th level, you further improve the energetics of your extracts. In addition to their normal effects, exoarcanic extracts increase the speed of creatures they affect by 10 feet and increase their dexterity score by 2 for one minute.
Similarly, endoarcanic extracts reduce the speed of the drinker by half for 1 minute. At the end of each of its turns, a creature affected by this slowing effect may make a constitution saving throw against your extract save DC, ending the effect early
on a success.
Sapper
Some alchemists simply cannot resist the allure of huge explosions. These alchemists, called sappers, become expert at creating powerful, varied bombs for use in combat or as entertainment. Sappers are often utilized in sieges to create bombs that can take down enemy walls or devastate those hiding inside.
Sapper Extracts
Arcanist Level | Spells |
---|---|
3rd | Jump |
5th | Kinetic Jaunt |
9th | Thunder Step |
13th | Fire Shield |
17th | Immolation |
Triggered Detonation
Beginning at 3rd level, you more precisely control when and how your bombs detonate. You gain the delayed detonation bomb discovery which does not count against your number of discoveries known.
Building Pressure
Beginning at 3rd level, when you delay one of your bomb's
detonations using the delayed detonation discovery, it builds pressure until it finally detonates causing a more powerful explosion. Each time you begin your turn and you have an undetonated bomb, that bomb's damage increases by 1d8. A bomb's maximum damage increase is equal to its original damage (e.g. a 1st-level bomb can gain up to 2d8 extra damage).
Blast Resistance
Beginning at 7th level, you have developed measures to protect yourself against your bombs and similar threats. You have resistance to all damage taken from area effects.
Bomb Expert
Beginning at 11th level, you are well-versed in all things explosive and unstable. Choose two bomb discoveries that you meet the prerequisites for. You learn the chosen discoveries.
High-Capacity Explosives
Beginning at 15th level, you learn to fit multiple different magical effects within a single detonation. You can now apply two unique modifications to a bomb. If a bomb has two unique modifications, at least one modification must have prerequisite level of 7 or less.
Alchemist Extract List
1st Level
Armor of Agathys
Cause Fear
Charm Person
Color Spray
Comprehend Languages
Cure Wounds
Detect Evil and Good
Detect Magic
Detect Poison and Disease
Disguise Self
Dissonant Whispers
Expeditious Retreat
False Life
Gift of Alacrity
Heroism
Hideous Laughter
Inflict Wounds
Jump
Longstrider
Mage Armor
Protection from Evil and Good
Ray of Sickness
Sanctuary
Shield of Faith
Sleep
Speak with Animals
Zephyr Strike
2nd Level
Alter Self
Arcanist's Magic Aura
Augury
Barkskin
Blindness/Deafness
Blur
Borrowed Knowledge
Crown of Madness
Darkvision
Detect Thoughts
Dragon's Breath
Enhance Ability
Enlarge/Reduce
Enthrall
Fortune's Favor
Gentle Repose
Hold Person
Invisibility
Kinetic Jaunt
Lesser Restoration
Levitate
Locate Animals or Plants
Locate Object
Mirror Image
Misty Step
Pass without Trace
Protection from Poison
Ray of Enfeeblement
See Invisibility
Slow
Spider Climb
Tasha's Mind Whip
Warding Bond
Water Breathing
Water Walk
3rd Level
Ashardalon's Stride
Aura of Vitality
Bestow Curse
Blink
Confusion
Dispel Magic
Enemies Abound
Fast Friends
Feign Death
Fly
Gaseous Form
Haste
Intellect Fortress
Nondetection
Protection from Energy
Remove Curse
Revivify
Speak with Plants
Spirit Shroud
Thunder Step
Tongues
4th Level
Aura of Life
Aura of Purity
Banishment
Blight
Charm Monster
Death Ward
Dimension Door
Divination
Dominate Beast
Elemental Bane
Fire Shield
Freedom of Movement
Greater Invisibility
Guardian of Nature
Locate Creature
Phantasmal Killer
Polymorph
Resilient Sphere
Shadow of Moil
Stoneskin
Wind Walk
5th Level
Antilife Shell
Circle of Power
Commune
Commune with Nature
Contact Other Plane
Contagion
Dispel Evil and Good
Dominate Person
Far Step
Freedom of the Winds
Greater Restoration
Hold Monster
Immolation
Legend Lore
Mislead
Modify Memory
Negative Energy Flood
Raise Dead
Scrying
Skill Empowerment
Telekinesis
Tree Stride
The Alchemist
A half-caster/potion class for those who like mixing stuff together. Create magical extracts and throw devastating bombs with five alchemical specialties: the Vivisectionist, Toxicant, Horticulturist, Energist, and Sapper.
Art Credits
Page 189: Blackwood Alchemist by Legends
Page 191: Kaltoran Alchemist by Clonerh
Page 192: Alchemist by Grafit-art
Page 193: Runaway Alchemist by Aurore Folny
Page 194: Bomb Thrower by Grafit Studio
Page 196: Alchemist by Thronebreaker
Page 198: Thergan the Alchemist by AnthonyLM
Page 200: Nilufar by Sam Hogg
Page 201: Orc by Jin Xiaodi
Page 202: Spell Components by Demonui
Page 203: Plague Doctor by Mantislash
Page 204: Crow's-eye Rhizome by Gwent
Page 205: Potion Maker by Flame Croowz
Page 206: Madcap Experiment by J. Meehan
Page 207: Alchemist by Alifka Nugroho
Page 208: Vicovaro Novice by Bruno Biazotto
See Dragonshard's GM Binder profile for more homebrew classes inspired by Pathfinder.
Part 3 - Conclusion & Credits
3.1 Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed some of the classes I had to offer. Feel free to use these in your campaigns, and if you feel inclined, let me know your thoughts. Questions or constructive criticism are always welcome. Best way to reach me is through dragonshardclasses@gmail.com. I try to look at that inbox at least once a day and respond as soon as possible. Of course, work and life can sometimes cause my responses to come slower.
Even though I have finished my 12-month goal to write 12 classes, I don't think that this is it for my homebrew writing. I have had too much fun over the last year writing and testing that I can't see myself stopping now. So, keep an eye out for
whatever comes next on GMBinder, though it might
be class updates for now.
3.2 About Me
I go by Dragonshard when it comes to homebrew writing. I've been playing D&D and similar games for about two decades now, since I was a kid. I especially love the creative aspect of D&D, designing characters and monsters that come to life in my games.
Outside of D&D, I am a biomedical engineer working at a hospital in New York City, where I recently moved. It keeps me busy, but I find time to play videogames, read fantasy, and of course write these classes and play D&D.
I have been married for 3 years, but my wife is not super into tabletops. So instead, she and I read together, watch broadway plays, and try new restaurants around Manhattan. It's good for me to step outside of the forgotten realms every so often.
3.3 Thanks
I mainly need to thank my D&D group for letting me playtest my ideas. You have been supportive and excited about my
creations when I bring them up and I appreciate you all
encouraging my enthusiasm. You are seriously the
best D&D party and group of friends
I could ask for. I look forward to
many more harrowing fights
and fascinating encounters
with you.
Dragonshard's Class Compendium
A collection of 12 unique classes for D&D 5e, inspired by Pathfinder. This compendium acts as an expansion on player options and mechanics to invigorate gameplay for veterans and
newcomers alike.
Art Credits
Page 1: Everyone Made It by Victor Tan
Page 3: Labyrinths of Chaos by AKIMBLYA
Page 9: Campfire Tales by Jordan Kerbow
Page 209: Woodland Gathering by Livia Prima
Page 210: Hidden Door by Avishek Nath
Art credits for individual classes can be found immediately following each classes' content.
See Dragonshard's GM Binder profile for each of these classes and more homebrew to come.