Ancestry: Shifter
By day the Shifter appears normal, but under the light of the full moon their true nature is revealed: humanoids with a bestial aspect. Also called weretouched, the Shifters temporarily change shape don powerful bestial traits. Unlike lycanthropy, Shifters were born with their abilities, making it genetic and incurable. Some call this a curse, hiding their powers and even themselves from the outside world, while others consider it a blessing, using their unnatural abilities to forward their goals.
Shifters are similar to humans in height and build but are typically more lithe and flexible. Most shifters resemble a particular kind of lycanthrope. You can choose the kind of lycanthrope in your past, or you can determine it randomly by rolling on the Lycanthrope Ancestor table.
Table - Lycanthrope Ancestor
| d6 | Ancestor |
|---|---|
| 1 | Werebear |
| 2 | Werehornet |
| 3 | Wererat |
| 4 | Wereraven |
| 5 | Weretiger |
| 6 | Werewolf |
Shifter Traits
Ability Score Increase. One ability score of your choice increases by 2, and another by 1, to a maximum of 20.
Age. Shifter live to be around the same age as humans but slightly more than a century.
Alignment. Shifter tend toward chaotic alignments, their mood often changing alongside their transformations.
Size. Shifters are between 5 to 7 feet tall. Your size is medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30ft
Creature Type. You are a Humanoid. While you are transformed, you are also considered a Monstrosity for any prerequisite or effect that requires you to be a Monstrosity.
Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You discern colors in that darkness only as shades of gray.
Lycan Bite. Your bite is a natural weapon, which counts as a simple melee weapon with which you are proficient. You add your Constitution modifier, instead of your Strength modifier, to the attack and damage rolls when you attack with this bite. It deals 1d4 Piercing damage on a hit. While you are missing half or more of your hit points, you have advantage on attack rolls you make with this bite.
Lycanthropic Transformation. As a bonus action, you can transform into your bestial form. When you do so, you gain the following traits:
- You gain temporary hit points equal to your Constitution modifier + your level,
- Your Lycan Bite deals 2d4 Piercing damage, instead of 1d4.
- You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Your transformation lasts for 1 minute. Once you transform, you must complete a long rest to do so again.
Bestial Instincts. Relying on natural instincts more than others, you have proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Acrobatics, Athletics, Intimidation, Stealth, or Survival.
Languages. You know how to speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.
Lycantrhopy Prestige
The Shifter can also be played as a Prestige ancestry, taken after character creation at any point when you would receive a Feat in place of taking a regular Feat. A character must meet the following prerequisites to do so:
- You must have a Constitution score of 17 or higher.
- You must have 30 or more hit points.
- You must have a Common Ancestry.
- You cannot already be a Shifter.
- You can't already have a Prestige Ancestry.
Your DM might allow you to ignore one or more of these prerequisites, and may allow you to take this Prestige ancestry at 1st level.
Regardless of when you gain this ancestry, its features modify or add onto your base ancestry's. If a feature is present on both the prestige ancestry and the base ancestry, you take the version of the feature in the prestige ancestry. If you gain more than one prestige ancestry, you use the newest version of any feature it has that you previously gained.
When you play this ancestry as a Prestige ancestry, you gain the benefits of its Creature Type, Lycan Bite, and Lycanthropic Transformation features, and you gain one Shifter Heritage of your choice.
Heritage: Werebear
Your lycanthrope ancestor was a werebear. You gain the following traits:
- Maul. While you are transformed by your Lycanthropic Transformation, when you make a melee attack as an action, you can make an unarmed strike as a bonus action.
- Lycan Claws. You have claws that are natural weapons, which count as a simple melee weapon with which you are proficient. You add your Dexterity modifier, instead of your Strength modifier, to the attack and damage rolls when you attack with your claws. It deals 1d4 Slashing damage on a hit. While you are missing half or more of your hit points, you have advantage on attack rolls you make with your claws.
Heritage: Werehornet
Your lycanthrope ancestor was a werehornet. You gain the following traits:
- Exoskeleton. While you are transformed by your Lycanthropic Transformation, you have a +1 bonus to AC.
- Venom Savant. You are resistant to Poison damage.
Heritage: Wererat
Your lycanthrope ancestor was a wererat. You gain the following traits:
- Rat's Nimbleness. While you are transformed by your Lycanthropic Transformation, your walking speed increases by 10ft, and you have advantage on Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks.
- Escape artist. When a creature ends its turn within 5 feet of you, you can move up to 10 feet as a reaction.
Heritage: Wereraven
Your lycanthrope ancestor was a wereraven. You gain the following traits:
- Frightening Feathers. While you are transformed by your Lycanthropic Transformation, you have advantage on Charisma (Intimidation) checks.
- Ravenflight. While you are transformed by your Lycanthropic Transformation, you gain a 30ft fly speed.
Heritage: Weretiger
Your lycanthrope ancestor was a weretiger. You gain the following traits:
- Pounce. While you are transformed by your Lycanthropic Transformation, if you move at least 15 feet straight toward a creature and then hit it with a melee attack on the same turn, that target must succeed on a Strength saving throw, where the DC equals 8 + your Strength modifier + your Proficiency Bonus, falling Prone on a failed save.
- Natural Camouflage. You can attempt to hide even when you are only lightly obscured by foliage, heavy rain, falling snow, mist, and other natural phenomena.
Heritage: Werewolf
Your lycanthrope ancestor was a werewolf. You gain the following traits:
- Rallying Howl. Immediately after you use your Lycanthropic Transformation as part of the same bonus action, you instinctively let out a loud howl that can be heard up to 300 feet away. Creatures of your choice within 30 feet of you when you howl gain 2d4 temporary hit points.
- Lycan Claws. You have claws that are natural weapons, which count as a simple melee weapon with which you are proficient. You add your Dexterity modifier, instead of your Strength modifier, to the attack and damage rolls when you attack with your claws. It deals 1d4 Slashing damage on a hit. While you are missing half or more of your hit points, you have advantage on attack rolls you make with your claws.