Hit Points

• Hit Dice: 1d8 per swashbuckler level
• Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier
• Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per swashbuckler level after 1st

Proficiencies

• Armor: Light armor and bucklers
• Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons, firearms
• Tools: One musical instrument of your choice, water vehicles
• Saving Throws: Dexterity, Charisma
• Skills: Choose four from Acrobatics, Athletics, Deception, History, Insight, Intimidation, Investigation, Performance, Persuasion, Sleight of Hand, and Stealth.

Equipment

You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:

• (a) a martial weapon and buckler, or (b) two martial weapons
• (a) a light pistol and 20 bullets, or (b) a simple weapon.
• (a) leather armor, or (b) a buckler
• (a) a diplomat's pack, (b) an entertainer's pack, (c) an explorer's pack

Alternatively, you may start with 5d4 × 10 gp to buy your own equipment.

Rakish Expertise

At 1st level, you are expert in witty repartee and thinking on your feet. Select one skill out of Acrobatics, Deception, Intimidation, Persuasion, and Sleight of Hand. If you are proficient with that skill, your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses that proficiency. If you are not proficient, you gain proficiency with it.

Panache

Also at 1st level, you fight with such flair that even your enemies must admire you, a little bit. When you perform daring deeds in combat, you gain a point of Panache. You can have Panache up to your Maximum Panache, as listed in the Swashbuckler table, and all your Panache disappears once you have neither earned nor spent any Panache for 1 minute. You can earn Panache by:

• Rolling Initiative: Gain Panache equal to half your proficiency bonus when you roll initiative.
• Critical Hit: Gain 1 Panache when you roll a critical hit in combat.
• Flashy Fighting: Gain 1 Panache at the end of your turn if you did damage to an enemy of CR 1/4 or higher.
• Gratuitous Flourish: As an action, perform a stylish gesture to impress onlookers and gain 1 Panache.

Improved Two-Weapon Fighting

It is highly recommended, but optional, to allow these variant rules for two-weapon fighting.

Surprising Strike explicitly doesn't work with automatic critical hits, such as against a paralyzed target.

Swashbuckler Codes

Swashbucklers choose a focus and learn specific techniques as they weave around the battlefield. You may choose which code your swashbuckler follows from the options listed below.

Black Powder Expert

When you adopt this code at 3rd level, you develop an expertise with firearms that is nearly unrivaled. You gain proficiency in smith's tools, and you can double your proficiency bonus when making ability checks to craft or repair firearms.

Pistol Specialist

Also at 3rd level, you have honed your focus on deadly pistols, on their own or alongside blades. You gain the following benefits:

• When making a ranged attack with a one-handed firearm, you do not have disadvantage if an enemy is within 5 feet of you.
• You can draw and stow a light pistol anytime you fire one without using an object interaction.
• The first time you hit an enemy with a ranged attack on your turn, you gain 1 Panache.

Packed Powder

Also at 3rd level, you learn a new deed.

Packed Powder: As a bonus action, you may spend 1 Panache to prepare an especially powerful shot for one of your firearms. The next attack you make with that gun, if it hits, deafens the target and staggers them, reducing their movement speed by 10 feet. If this attack is a critical hit, it triples the damage dice rather than doubling them.

Scoot and Shoot

At 7th level, you become adept at dodging out of your opponents' reach. Once per round after an enemy hits you with a melee attack, you can move 10 feet without provoking attacks of opportunity.

Short Barrels

At 11th level, your Pistol Specialist ability improves. You now gain 2 Panache the first time you hit an enemy with a ranged attack on your turn.

Snap Shot

Also at 11th level, you learn a new deed.

Snap Shot: As a reaction when you see an enemy moving within 15 feet of you, you may spend 2 Panache to make an attack of opportunity with a pistol you are holding.

Disarming Shot

At 15th level, your accuracy is such that you are able to disrupt an enemy's attacks with your shots. When you use your Packed Powder or Snap Shot, you may spend 1 additional Panache to give the affected creature disadvantage on their next attack roll.

Hail of Lead

At 20th level, when you take the Attack action, you can spend any amount of Panache to make 1 additional attack per Panache spent. These attacks all have disadvantage, but deal increasing amounts of bonus damage if they hit. This bonus damage is 1d6 per additional attack, cumulatively (the first attack deals 1d6 bonus damage, the second deals 2d6, etc.). This bonus damage is of the same type as your weapon's damage.

Spellcasting

When you reach 3rd level, you augment your martial prowess with the ability to cast spells. See Spells Rules for the general rules of spellcasting and the Spells Listing for the sorcerer spell list.

Cantrips

You learn three cantrips: minor illusion and two other cantrips from the sorcerer spell list which belong to the illusion, transmutation, or enchantment schools. You learn an additional sorcerer cantrip that meets these requirements at 10th level.

Spell Slots

The Trickster Spellcasting table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your sorcerer 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.

Spellcasting

When you reach 3rd level, you augment your martial prowess with the ability to cast divine magic. See Spells Rules for the general rules of spellcasting and the Spells Listing for the cleric spell list.

Cantrips

You learn three cantrips: guidance and two other cantrips from the cleric spell list. You learn an additional cleric cantrip that meets these requirements at 10th level.

Spell Slots

The Inquisitor Spellcasting table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your cleric 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 three 1st-level spells of your choice from the cleric spell list.

The Spells Known column of the Inquisitor Spellcasting table shows when you learn more spells of 1st level or higher. Each of these spells must be a cleric spell of your choice, and must be of a level for which you have spell slots. For instance, when you reach 7th level in this class, you can learn one new spell of 1st or 2nd level.

Whenever you gain a level in this class, you can replace one of the cleric spells you know with another spell of your choice from the cleric spell list. The new spell must be of a level for which you have spell slots.

Spellcasting Ability

Charisma is your spellcasting ability for your inquisitor spells, since you learn your spells through innate ability and practice. 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 inquisitor spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.

Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier

Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier

Code as Craft

When you adopt this code at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with tinker's tools, or another tool proficiency of your choice if you are already proficient. You also gain one additional tool proficiency of your choice. You can use your Charisma in place of your Intelligence for any tool checks that call for Intelligence.

Tinkerer's Gadgets

Also at 3rd level, you learn to construct small, single-use gadgets to augment your combat prowess. You may construct one gadget over the course of 10 minutes, which can be part of a short or long rest. You may have up to two gadgets at a time, and only you may make use of them. The available gadgets are listed below.

Graceful Gadgetry

Aditionally at 3rd level, your gadget use flows into your combat style. When you deploy a gadget, you gain 1 Panache immediately, and another 1 Panache at the start of your next turn.

Tuned Defenses

At 7th level, you construct a single-purpose defensive system, such as armor plating or an intercepting arm, and use it to protect yourself. Choose one of the following benefits:

• You gain resistance to acid, cold, fire, lightning, or poison damage.
• You gain a +1 bonus to your AC.
• After a long rest, you gain temporary hit points equal to half your swashbuckler level.

You may change this benefit after a long rest.

Improved Gadgetry

At 11th level, all your Tinkerer's Gadgets are improved. You can carry 1 additional gadget, and each one is upgraded as listed below.

Expanded Gadgetry

At 15th level, you master the use of two additional gadgets.

Treacherous Tinkering

At 20th level, you are a master at taking advantage of your gadgets' effects. The first time on your turn you hit a creature blinded by your Smoke Bomb, poisoned by your Poison Needle, or slowed by your caltrops, the attack is a critical hit.

Skullduggery

When you adopt this code at 3rd level, your abilities take a suspicious turn. You gain proficiency with Sleight of Hand or Intimidation, or another swashbuckler skill of your choice if you are already proficient with both. When you make a Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check, you can add your Charisma modifier to the result.

Black Spot

Also at 3rd level, your crew is able to follow your lead when it comes to punishing your enemies. Once on your turn when you hit an enemy with a weapon attack, you can mark them for an ally to follow up. The next time an ally hits a marked target with an attack, the attack gains the following effects:

• The attack deals an additional 1d6 damage.
• You gain 1 Panache.
• The marked target can't make opportunity attacks until the start of your next turn.

Gang Up

Also at 3rd level, you learn a new deed.

Gang Up: As a bonus action, you can spend 2 Panache to grant one ally within 30 feet an additional attack the next time they take the Attack action.

Meat Shield

At 7th level, you're willing and able to sacrifice others to protect yourself from harm. When you make a Dexterity saving throw, you can add your Charisma modifier to the result if another creature within 5 feet is making a saving throw against the same effect. If you add your Charisma modifier in this way, the other creature subtracts it from their result.

Improved Black Spot

At 11th level, your Black Spot grows more fearsome. Your Black Spot ability's bonus damage increases to 2d6, and you gain 2 Panache when an ally activates it.

All for One

At 15th level, you have a near-mystical skill for taking advantage of openings your allies create. As a reaction when an ally within 30 feet succeeds on an attack roll or ability check, you can take the d20 roll for yourself. The next time you make an attack or ability check, you do not roll, and instead use this d20 result.

The ally rerolls the attack or ability check and adds your Charisma modifier, keeping the new result.

Mind Hunter

When you adopt this code at 3rd level, you hone your skill for seeking out vulnerable minds. You gain proficiency with Stealth, or a swashbuckler skill of your choice if you are already proficient. You also gain 15-foot mindsight, allowing you to see creatures with an Intelligence of 6 or higher within 15 feet as if by blindsight.

Psionic Predator

Also at 3rd level, you gain access to the Mind Leech psionic power. You gain a number of psi points equal to your proficiency bonus, regaining them on a short or long rest. You can use these points to empower your Mind Leech. The DC for your psionic abilities is equal to your panache save DC.

When you use your action on a psionic power, you can make one attack as a bonus action before the end of your turn.

Blood Sense

When you adopt this code at 3rd level, you gain a touch of the vampire's predatory nature and supernatural resilience. You have advantage on Wisdom (Survival) and Wisdom (Perception) checks to track or find creatures that have recently been wounded, and you are immune to nonmagical diseases.

Blood Frenzy

Also at 3rd level, you are strengthened by the blood of your foes. When you reduce an enemy of challenge rating 1/4 or higher to 0 hit points with a weapon attack, you gain 1 Panache and enter into a blood frenzy, gaining the following benefits for 1 minute.

• The first time you hit an enemy with an attack on your turn, you deal 1d4 additional damage.
• When you reduce an enemy to 0 hit points, you gain 1 additional Panache.

Your Blood Frenzy stacks multiple times, increasing based on your level in this class. At 3rd level, you can have up to 2 stacks. This increases to 3 at 5th level, 4 at 9th level, 5 at 13th level, and 6 at 17th level.

In addition, you gain 2 Panache the first time you suffer piercing or slashing damage in any combat.

Blood Drain

Also at 3rd level, you learn a new deed.

Blood Drain: As a bonus action, you can spend 2 Panache to bite an enemy, making a special unarmed strike against a target within 5 feet. This attack deals 1d4 + your Strength modifier piercing damage, and has the finesse property. On a hit, you gain temporary hit points equal to the damage dealt.

Supernatural Agility

At 7th level, you gain a measure of the vampire's physical prowess. Your jump distance is doubled and your movement speed increases by 10 feet.

In addition, you can cast the spider climb spell, with no components and a 1-minute duration. You can cast the spell in this way once, regaining the ability after finishing a short or long rest.

Greater Frenzy

At 11th level, your bloodlust grows. When your Blood Frenzy is not active, the next time it becomes active, it starts at two stacks.

Mist Form

At 15th level, you can transform yourself and all your possessions into a cloud of mist as an action. While transformed, you gain a 15-foot flying speed with hover and resistance to nonmagical damage. You can pass through spaces as narrow as 1 inch wide, and cannot be grappled or restrained. You can still make attacks, but only with unarmed strikes. You can't talk, manipulate objects, or cast spells.

This transformation lasts for 1 minute, or until you end it as a bonus action. After you transform in this way, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest.

Complete Bloodthirst

At 20th level, your vampiric nature reaches its full expression. Anytime you score a critical hit, you immediately gain one stack of Blood Frenzy.

Code of the Graceful Fist

Some swashbucklers conduct themselves with a deep discipline, honing their martial skill until it reaches the level of an art. Through meditation and self-reflection, they learn to harness their inner strength, honing all their attention on the tip of their blade. Graceful fists also become masters of unarmed combat, able to flexibly transition between armed and unarmed combat.

Graceful fists are typified by their discipline and focus, not by any moral stances. Accordingly, they may be of any alignment and hail from any background. Many nobler swashbucklers embrace the life of the knight-errant, wandering the land and putting their skills to use in the service of strangers.

Appendix 1: New Equipment

Baldric of Mimicry

Wondrous Item, uncommon/rare/very rare (requires attunement)

This enchanted baldric is a favorite of seaborne swashbucklers, particularly pistoliers. It has multiple straps and holsters in which to stow pistols, with one particular holster inlaid with silver and lavishly decorated. When you attune to the baldric, you may also attune a specific pistol to it. When you attune a magical weapon to the baldric, all other pistols which you keep in the baldric gain the same magical properties. They only function this way when wielded by you.

The number of holsters in the baldric depends on its rarity: 2 for uncommon, 3 for rare, or 4 for very rare.

Dunstan's Dashing Dagger

Weapon (dagger), common

Sir Dunstan was a much-beloved gentleman in his adopted home city of Siriro, and this dagger is all that remains of his fabled armory. It is beautifully decorated, with a mother-of-pearl hilt, and a silver-blue mirrored sheen to its blade. You can use this dagger as a mirror, and if you look at yourself in it while styling your hair, you can replicate Sir Dunstan's legendary coiffure impeccably.

Pomade of Power

Wondrous item, rare

This ornate metal tin contains 1d6+1 doses of a thick, viscous gel, which smells vaguely of sandalwood. You can spend 1 minute styling a creature's hair or facial hair with the pomade. If you do so, that creature gains the following benefits for 1 hour:

• Advantage on initiative rolls
• Advantage on checks or saving throws to escape the grappled and restrained conditions
• 2d8 temporary hit points

Additionally, if the creature is a swashbuckler, they gain 1 additional Panache at the end of any round in which they have gained Panache. Creatures without any hair cannot use the pomade.

Scintillating Doublet

Wondrous item, common

This finely-made doublet glitters subtly in the light, and has an iridescent sheen. While wearing this doublet, you know the befriend* cantrip, with Charisma as your spellcasting ability.

In addition, as a bonus action, you can change the doublet's pattern or color. No matter what you select, it is always gaudy.

Telescoping Musket

Weapon (musket), uncommon/rare/very rare (requires attunement)

This musket has a series of intricate grooves and sleeves all along its barrel. You gain a bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon according to its rarity (+1/+2/+3).

While you are attuned to the musket, as an action you can collapse it down, telescoping its barrel into itself until the weapon is the size of a shot glass. When collapsed this way, it weighs half a pound, and can be easily concealed. You can expand a collapsed weapon as a bonus action.

The Last Mate's Cannon

Weapon (hand cannon), very rare (requires attunement)

This hand cannon has been handed down through unknown generations of unlucky first mates, always hoping to captain their own ship and meeting an untimely end first. You gain a +3 to attack and damage rolls with this magic weapon.

When you load this weapon, you can choose to imbue the cannonball with the spirit of one of its prior wielders. Select one of the following effects, which applies to your next shot.

• 1, Desperate: If the attack is a critical hit, it deals an additional 18 piercing damage.
• 2, Greedy: If the attack kills its target, 1 gold piece appears in your pocket.
• 3, Hapless: If you would have disadvantage on the attack, you instead have advantage.
• 4, Haunted: The attack deals cold damage instead of piercing, and the target cannot recover hit points until the end of your next turn.
• 5, Terrified: If your target survives the attack, you may take the Dash action as a bonus action, and half cover functions as three-quarters cover until the start of your next turn.
• 6, Vengeful: If the attack targets a creature who has previously damaged you, it gains advantage.

Each spirit may be used once, and you regain the use of all of them after a long rest.

Curse. While attuned to this weapon, you must roll a d6 at dawn each day. You adopt the personality trait of the spirit you roll until dawn of the next day. Additionally, the amount of time you can hold your breath is reduced by half.

Appendix 3: Spells

v1.2

• Reduced Panache generation from Marked Foe
• Slightly adjusted the Pistolier's Panache generator
• Removed Thrown Weapon Fighting (non-SRD)
• Buffed Marked Foe (can use as part of initiative roll)
• Various rephrases for clarity
• Updated artwork

v1.1

• Nerfed Graceful Fist's interaction with Surprising Strike
• Remove Panache gain from Graceful Fist's Martial Retort

v1.0

• Added the Code of the Graceful Fist!
• Replaced all MtG placeholder art
• Updated licensing

v0.13

• Added the Code of the Blooded!
• Some changes to art and layout

v0.12

• Added the Code of the Grimhunt!
• Renamed Skilled Appraiser TotT

v0.11.1

• Adjusted Instant Action to account for panache change from 0.10.1

v0.11

• Added the Code of the Scoundrel!

v0.10.1

• Tweaked Deft Strike to remove path-dependence within your turn
• Granted 1 Panache after every initiative roll
• Fixed a bad art link and some tiny formatting

v0.10

• Added the Code of the Tinkerer!
• Fixed missing buckler proficiency
• Updated art for Trickster & Inquisitor
• Moved Multiclassing block
• Removed Tricks of the Trade progression after 4

v0.9.1

• Added befriend cantrip and restored Scintillating Doublet

v0.9

• Added the Code of the Inquisitor!
• Increased Fading Blow cost to 2 Panache
• Changed equipment from scholar's to explorer's pack
• Temporarily removed Scintillating Doublet

v0.8.2

• Some clarifications and edge-case fixes on Duelist's Marked Foe and Infuriating Taunt.

v0.8.1

• Added lead balls and cannonballs to items appendix
• Updated Ruffian art

v0.8

• Added the Code of the Ruffian!
• Reworked Hand Cannons
• Buffed Instant Action to short-rest recharge
• Reworked Suave Evasion

v0.7.2

• Fixed infinite-attacks interaction between Surprising Strike and hold person
• Slight wording tweak to Silver Tongue

v0.7.1

• Filled out Magic Items appendix
• Replaced last placeholder paragraph

v0.7

• Added the Code of the Trickster!
• Reworked Suave Evasion
• Buffed Panache generation in all the subclasses at level 11
• Added Gratuitous Flourish

v0.6.1

• Reworked Instant Action
• A bunch of tiny mechanical fixes (shout-out to Dichotomy Games for the excellent feedback)
• Fixed the Pistolier which I'd actually fully broken in v0.6

v0.6

• Added Magic Items index (empty for now)
• Renamed Flashy Fighting
• Removed Flash & Flair
• Removed Stylish Step (it'll come back)
• Moved Snap Shot to 11th to replace Suppressing Shot, replaced Snap Shot with Packed Powder

v0.5

• Added Equipment index

v0.4.1

• Unnerfed Flash and Flair

v0.4

• Raised Pistolier's Panache costs ~everywhere
• Eliminated Pistolier's 3x crits
• Nerfed Flash and Flair to temporary Panache

v0.3

• Added the Code of the Pistolier!

v0.2

• Added levels 11-20

v0.1

• Roughest Draft
• Base class levels 1-10
• Duelist levels 1-11