Life on a Knife’s Edge

In battle rogues are elusive targets. They rely on reflexes and light armor to avoid punishment, and their sharp blades strike at gaps in armor to wound with precision rather than power.

Rogues spend long hours honing their craft until they can perform amazing feats—clambering silently up a wall, disarming a trap with the flick of a lockpick—with almost no chance of failure. They’re always looking for an edge in their endless competition against the world, for even the narrowest edge might be the one that keeps them alive.

Creating a Rogue

Who trained you in your specialized set of skills, and for what purpose? Were you raised as a member of a criminal organization or a swindler’s apprentice? Or did you learn the lessons taught by cold streets and hungry nights?

Why did you strike out on your own? Was your mentor killed, or were you double-crossed by your gang? Are you on the run, or chasing crooks? Or are you simply looking to get rich quick?

Table: Rogue

Level	Proficiency Bonus	Features	Sneak Attack	Tricks Known	Maneuvers Known	Maneuver Degree
1st	+2	Skill Tricks, Sneak Attack	1d6	1	—	—
2nd	+2	Combat Maneuvers, Combat Tactic, Cunning Action	1d6	1	2	1st
3rd	+2	Rogue Archetype	2d6	2	2	1st
4th	+2	Ability Score Increase, Innocent Facade	2d6	2	3	1st
5th	+3	Aim	3d6	3	3	1st
6th	+3	Self-Preservation	3d6	3	3	1st
7th	+3	Improved Critical	4d6	4	4	2nd
8th	+3	Ability Score Increase, Shrewd Judgment	4d6	4	4	2nd
9th	+4	Rogue Archetype	5d6	5	4	2nd
10th	+4	Low Profile	5d6	5	5	2nd
11th	+4	Cunning Celerity, Expert Talent	6d6	6	5	2nd
12th	+4	Ability Score Increase, Self-Preservation	6d6	6	5	2nd
13th	+5	Rogue Archetype	7d6	7	6	3rd
14th	+5	Guarded Aspect	7d6	7	6	3rd
15th	+5	Elusive	8d6	8	6	3rd
16th	+5	Ability Score Increase	8d6	8	7	3rd
17th	+6	Rogue Archetype	9d6	9	7	3rd
18th	+6	Overpowering Personality, Self-Preservation	9d6	9	7	3rd
19th	+6	Ability Score Increase	10d6	10	8	4th
20th	+6	Grand Larcenist	10d6	10	8	4th

 

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CLASS FEATURES

As a rogue, you gain the following class features.

Hit Points

Hit Dice: 1d8 per rogue level

Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier

Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per rogue level after 1st

Proficiencies

Armor: Light armor

Weapons: Simple weapons, dueling daggers, hand crossbows, rapiers, sabres, shortbows, shortswords, throwing daggers

Tools: Disguise kit, poisoner’s kit, thieves’ tools

Saving Throws: Dexterity, Intelligence

Skills: Choose four from Acrobatics, Athletics, Culture, Deception, Engineering, Insight, Intimidation, Investigation, Perception, Performance, Persuasion, Sleight of Hand, and Stealth

Equipment

You begin the game with 125 gold which you can spend on your character’s starting weapons, armor, and adventuring gear. You can select your own gear or choose one of the following equipment packages. Also consult the Suggested Equipment section of your chosen background.

• Skulker’s Set (Cost 90 gold): 2 daggers, shortbow and 20 arrows, shortsword, padded leather, explorer’s pack, thieves’ tools
• Swashbuckler’s Set (Cost 92 gold): Saber, sling and 20 sling bullets, 2 throwing daggers, padded leather, burglar’s pack, thieves’ tools

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Skill Tricks

Your focused training allows you to use your skills in ways that others can’t. At 1st level you gain a skill trick of your choice. Your tricks are detailed at the end of the class description. The Tricks Known column of the Rogue table shows when you learn more skill tricks. Unless otherwise noted, you can gain each trick only once. 

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Sneak Attack

Beginning at 1st level, you fight with precision, taking advantage of momentary lapses in an opponent’s concentration. Once per turn, you can deal extra weapon damage when you hit a creature with a finesse weapon or ranged weapon attack. The amount of extra damage is shown in the Sneak Attack column of the Rogue table.

In order to apply this damage, you must not have disadvantage on the attack and your target must be within 5 feet of another enemy of the target who is not incapacitated . Alternatively, you can apply sneak attack damage if you have advantage on the attack.

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Combat Maneuvers

At 2nd level, you gain the ability to use combat maneuvers. You gain proficiency in two combat traditions from the following list: Biting Zephyr, Mist and Shade, or Rapid Current. You learn two maneuvers of your choice from traditions you are proficient with.

You gain an exertion pool equal to twice your proficiency bonus, regaining any spent exertion at the end of a short or long rest . You use your maneuvers by spending points from your exertion pool. The Maneuvers Known column of the Rogue table shows when you learn more maneuvers from a tradition you are proficient with, while the Maneuver Degree column shows the highest degree you can select maneuvers from at a given level.

Additionally, whenever you learn a new maneuver, you can choose one of the maneuvers you know and replace it with another maneuver of the same degree from a tradition you are proficient with.

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Combat Tactic

At 2nd level, you adopt a set of moves and tactics which complement your preferred combat strategies. Choose one of the following options. Each time you gain a level, you may change this choice.

Ambusher

When you begin your turn hidden from a creature, you gain advantage on melee attacks against it until the end of your turn.

Carver

When you deal sneak attack damage with a dagger, your attack deals an additional 1d6 damage. At 11th level, this additional damage becomes 2d6 damage.

Sniper

Once per turn, when you make an attack with a ranged weapon you can choose to add your proficiency bonus to the damage roll

Cunning Action

Also at 2nd level, you use your mobility to weave through the battlefield. Each turn in combat, you can use a bonus action to take the Dash, Disengage, Hide, or Use an Object action. 

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Rogue Archetype

At 3rd level, you choose an archetype: a specialization that defines how you approach the challenges of your profession. Your archetype choice grants you features at 3rd level and then again at 9th, 13th, and 17th level.

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Innocent Facade 

Beginning at 4th level, you are skilled at hiding your motives. Choose one of the following options. You must be proficient in a skill or tool to gain an expertise die from Innocent Facade.

Cipher 

You gain an expertise die on Deception checks. You can invent ciphers, and are able to teach a cipher to others. Anyone who knows a cipher can encode and read hidden messages made with it; the apparent text must be at least four times longer than the hidden message. Other creatures can spend a minute to make an Investigation check (DC 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier) to detect the presence of a cipher, and are able to read the hidden message if they succeed by 5 or more.

Additionally, you have advantage on Investigation checks made to detect and decode ciphers and codes.

Distraction 

You gain an expertise die on Performance checks. You can use an action to make a Performance check, opposed by the Insight check of creatures of your choice that can see or hear you. On a failure, until the end of your next turn the creatures have disadvantage on Perception checks and a –5 to their passive Perception scores.

Veiled Threat 

You gain an expertise die on Intimidation checks. When you succeed on a verbal Intimidation check, creatures of your choice other than the target of your check don’t recognize your hostile intent.

Social Expertise 

You gain an expertise die on checks made with one of the following skills: Insight, Persuasion, or Sleight of Hand.

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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.

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Aim

Beginning at 5th level, you learn to briefly focus and make the most out of your next strike. If you haven't yet moved on your turn, you can use your Cunning Action to Aim, gaining advantage on the next attack roll you make before the start of your next turn. If you do so, your Speed is reduced to 0 until the end of your turn.

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Self-Preservation

At 6th level, your honed reflexes and mental toughness allow you to avoid danger. Choose two of the following options. You may choose an additional option at 12th level and two more at 18th level.

Blindsense

You can use Cunning Action to reach out with your senses. Until the end of your next turn, you are aware of the presence and location of any hidden or invisible creature within 10 feet of you as long as you are able to hear. 

Evasion

When you make a Dexterity saving throw against an effect that deals half damage on a success, you take no damage on a success and half damage on a failure.  

Slippery Mind

You gain proficiency in Wisdom saving throws .

Street Tough

You gain proficiency in Constitution saving throws .

Tumbling Retreat

When a melee attack misses you, you can use your reaction to move up to half your speed. This movement doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks .

Uncanny Dodge

When you are hit by an attacker that you can see, you can use your reaction to halve the damage from the attack.

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Improved Critical

At 7th level, your weapon attacks score a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20. If you already have a feature that increases the range of your critical hits, your critical hit range increases by 1 (maximum 17–20).

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Shrewd Judgment

Beginning at 8th level, your ability to read others makes you as dangerous in conversation as you are in a dark alley. Choose one of the following options. You must be proficient in a skill or tool in order to gain an expertise die from Shrewd Judgment.

Quick Frisk 

You gain an expertise die on Sleight of Hand checks. You can touch a target to learn what they are carrying. Make a Sleight of Hand check opposed by the target’s Perception. On a success, you learn what types of objects they are carrying. If they are carrying coins, you know the approximate number. For the next 24 hours, any Sleight of Hand checks you make against the target have advantage . On a failure, you can’t use Quick Frisk against that target for 24 hours.

Social Expertise 

You gain an expertise die on checks made with one of the following skills: Intimidation, Performance, or Persuasion.

Spot Tell

You gain an expertise die on Insight checks. Whenever a creature makes a Deception check opposed by your Insight check and you win the opposed check, you also learn to recognize signs that the target is bluffing. For the next 24 hours, you have advantage on Insight checks made against the target.

Tricky Interrogation

You gain an expertise die on Deception checks. When you ask a yes or no question to a creature you can see, you can make a Deception check opposed by the target’s Deception check. On a success, you learn whether the target believes the answer to be yes or no, even if they didn’t reply. On a failure, you can’t use Tricky Interrogation against that target for 24 hours.

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Archetype Feature

At 9th level you gain another archetype feature.

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Low Profile

Beginning at 10th level, you can avoid notice when you wish. Choose one of the following options. You must be proficient in a skill or tool in order to gain an expertise die from Low Profile.

Costumer 

You gain an expertise die on checks made with a disguise kit. When you use a disguise kit on yourself or another person, creatures have disadvantage on checks made to see through the disguise.

Social Expertise 

You gain an expertise die on checks made with one of the following skills: Insight, Intimidation, Performance, or Sleight of Hand.

True Lie 

You gain an expertise die on Persuasion checks. Your lies are so convincing that you half believe them yourself. You can use Persuasion instead of Deception when you are telling a lie.

Walk it Back

You gain an expertise die on Deception checks. When an ally fails a Deception check to tell a lie, you can use your reaction to add a supporting detail. Make a Deception check and use your result instead of theirs.

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Cunning Celerity

Beginning at 11th level, you can take two different bonus actions on your turn. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. You regain all uses of this feature when you complete a short or long rest .

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Expert Talent

Beginning at 11th level, you almost never make mistakes when performing routine tasks. Whenever you make an ability check on which you roll expertise dice , you treat a d20 roll of 9 or lower as a 10.

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Archetype Feature

At 13th level you gain another archetype feature.

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Guarded Aspect 

Beginning at 14th level, you are adept at uncovering and preserving secrets. Choose one of the following options. You must be proficient in a skill or tool in order to gain an expertise die from Guarded Aspect.

Hidden Signs

You gain an expertise die on Sleight of Hand checks. You can use body language and hidden hand signals to communicate a short message to some observers while hiding it from others. Make a Sleight of Hand check opposed by the Insight checks of observers from whom you want to hide your communication. On a success, a creature is not aware that you sent a message. On a failure, the creature is aware that you signaled but doesn’t know the content of your message. If you fail by 5 or more, the creature learns your message.

Master of Disguise

You gain an expertise die on checks made with the disguise kit. As long as you are wearing a disguise, your true identity can’t be determined even if your disguise fails. Additionally, you can don or doff a disguise as an action.

Seen It All

You gain an expertise die on Insight checks. Your passive Insight score increases by 3.

Social Expertise 

You gain an expertise die on checks made with one of the following skills: Deception, Intimidation, Performance, or Persuasion.

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Elusive

At 15th level, you know how to avoid vulnerable positions. As long as you are not incapacitated , no attack roll has advantage against you.

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Archetype Feature

At 17th level you gain another archetype feature.

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Overpowering Personality

Beginning at 18th level, your poise and charm allow you to impose your vision on the world. Choose one of the following options. You must be proficient in a skill in order to gain an expertise die from Overpowering Personality.

Dress Rehearsal 

You gain an expertise die on Performance checks. You can spend 10 minutes practicing a skill of your choice, at the end of which you make a Performance check. You can use this result to replace the die roll of one ability check you make using that skill in the next hour. You may decide to use this feature after seeing the die roll. Once you have used this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest .

Psych Out 

You gain an expertise die on Intimidation checks. As an action, you can make an Intimidation check opposed by the Charisma check of a creature that can see you. On a success, the next attack roll or opposed ability check you make against that creature within the next 10 minutes is made with advantage . Once you’ve failed an opposed Intimidation check, you can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest .

Roguish Charm

You gain an expertise die on Persuasion checks. After you spend a minute in conversation with a creature that is not hostile, you may make a Persuasion check opposed by its Insight. On a success, the creature is nonmagically charmed by you for 1 hour. The charm ends early if you or your allies harm the creature. Once you’ve used this feature successfully, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest .

Social Expertise 

You gain an expertise die on checks made with one of the following skills: Deception, Insight, or Sleight of Hand.

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Grand Larcenist

At 20th level, you reach the epitome of roguish talent and expertise. You gain the following abilities.

Hide in Plain Sight

At 20th level, you master the art of distraction. When you see a creature look in your direction, you can use your reaction to hide even if you have nothing to hide behind as long as you remain in the same square without moving or taking actions. Until you move or take an action or a reaction, you are invisible to that creature. If you are targeted by an effect that requires a Dexterity saving throw , you may choose to fail it to remain invisible to the creature.

Skill Mastery

Also at 20th level, you are unparalleled in your chosen fields. For each skill and tool proficiency in which you have an expertise die , you gain another expertise die in that skill or proficiency. Your expertise dice can be upgraded from a d8 to a d10 or from a d10 to a d12 in this way.

Unstoppable

Also at 20th level, no portal—be it door, window, or planar device—is closed to you. You no longer need to make ability checks to pick locks, and you succeed automatically whenever you attempt to unlock any lock of any kind. You require no special equipment to use this feature.
 

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Skill Tricks

When you gain access to a new skill trick, choose one of the following. If a trick has prerequisites, you must meet them to learn it. You can learn the trick at the same time that you meet its prerequisites. A level prerequisite refers to your level in this class.

Agile Athlete

You gain an expertise die on Athletics checks and a climb speed equal to your Speed.

Analysis

You gain an expertise die on poisoner’s kit checks. With 10 minutes of experimentation you can identify a dose of a poison and learn the recipe to make it. You can use your poisoner’s kit and spend a day creating the poison for half its cost. At the Narrator’s discretion, you may be able to learn the recipe for poisons which don’t appear in Chapter 7: Maladies in Trials & Treasures.

Boobytrapper

You gain an expertise die on Sleight of Hand checks. You may make a Sleight of Hand check to conceal caltrops, ball bearings, a hunting trap, an alarm bell, or other Tiny traps or alarms. The result of your Sleight of Hand check is the DC for discovering these obstacles. They can be spotted without a check if they are not obscured .

Cat’s Eyes

You gain an expertise die on Perception checks and darkvision to a range of 30 feet. If you already have darkvision from another source, its range increases by 30 feet.

Delay Trap

You gain an expertise die on checks made with thieves’ tools. When you would trigger a mechanical trap on your turn, your alert senses warn you of danger before you complete the action. You may immediately end your turn in order to delay the trap’s effects until the start of your next turn.

Expertise Training

You gain an expertise die on checks made with one of the following skills or tools: Acrobatics, Athletics, Investigation, Perception, Stealth, or any tool. You may choose this trick more than once.

Extra Skill Training

You gain proficiency in one of the following: Acrobatics, Athletics, Investigation, Perception, Stealth, or any tool. You may choose this trick more than once.

Graceful Leap

Prerequisite: 13th level, d8 expertise die on Acrobatics checks

Your expertise die on Acrobatics checks increases to d10. As a bonus action, you can jump up to half your move speed horizontally and up to 10 feet vertically. Opportunity attacks provoked by this movement are made with disadvantage .

Hide in the Shadows 

You gain an expertise die on Stealth checks. You can attempt to hide from creatures without darkvision while you are in an area of dim light. When a creature tries to enter your space, your position is revealed.

Keen Eye

Prerequisite: 13th level, d8 expertise die on Perception checks

Your expertise die on Perception checks increases to d10. You don’t have disadvantage on Perception checks from being in lightly obscured areas. If you have darkvision, you treat darkness and dim light as if it were bright light.

Kip Up

You gain an expertise die on Acrobatics checks. When you are prone , standing up uses none of your movement. When you are knocked prone, you can use your reaction to stand up.

Locksmith

You gain an expertise die on checks made with thieves’ tools. You may spend a minute using thieves’ tools to improve an unlocked lock. At the end of the minute, make a Dexterity (thieves’ tools) check against the lock’s DC. On a success, you permanently increase the lock’s DC by 10. A lock may only be improved in this way once. 

Additionally, you may spend a minute using thieves’ tools to probe an unlocked lock. At the end of the minute, make a thieves’ tools check against the lock’s DC. On a success, you make a key for the lock.

Loot Runner

You gain an expertise die on Athletics checks, your speed increases by 5 feet, and you can carry 2 extra bulky items .

Observer

You gain an expertise die on Perception checks and increase your passive Perception score by 3. 

Poison Expert

Prerequisite: 13th level, d8 expertise die with poisoner’s kit

Your expertise die on checks made with the poisoner’s kit increases to d10. You can add this expertise die to saving throws made against poison. Choose a poison from Chapter 12: Gamemastery. You are immune to the effects of this poison.

Practiced Dash

Prerequisite: 13th level, d8 expertise die on Athletics checks

Your expertise die on Athletics checks increases to d10. When using the Dash action, you ignore difficult terrain and don’t fall on slippery surfaces.

Quick Scan

You gain an expertise die on Investigation checks. You can use a bonus action to take the Search action.

Scout Leader

You gain an expertise die on Stealth checks. When your party makes a group Stealth check, you may apply your result to yourself and one ally after seeing the results of all rolls. Additionally, when you are traveling, you can move stealthily at a normal pace.

Sense Aura

Prerequisite: 13th level, d8 expertise die on Investigation checks

Your expertise die on Investigation checks increases to d10. You can make an Investigation check to find magical traps. Additionally, you can spend 10 minutes to sense whether an object or creature you can see bears magic. This feature is nonmagical.

Sense for Secrets    

You gain an expertise die on Investigation checks. You have a sense for finding hidden things. You can spend a minute observing an area. If there are tricks, traps, secret doors, or other unusual features of a nonmagical nature within 30 feet of you on an unobscured surface you can see, you know something nearby is worth investigating, but not what or where it is. You can’t use Sense for Secrets twice on the same area. 

Shadow Skulk

Prerequisite: 13th level, d8 expertise die on Stealth checks

Your expertise die on Stealth checks increases to d10. You have a passive Stealth score of 10 plus your Dexterity modifier plus your proficiency bonus. When you have not attempted to hide from a creature but are not visible to it and not making noise, you are considered hidden, using your passive Stealth score.

Skeleton Key

Prerequisite: 13th level, d8 expertise die with thieves’ tools

Your expertise die on checks made with thieves’ tools increases to d10. As part of successfully picking a lock, you can alter the lock so that it opens to a key in your possession in addition to, or instead of, whatever keys previously opened it.

Tuck and Roll

You gain an expertise die on Acrobatics checks. When you would take falling damage, make an Acrobatics check and reduce the damage by an amount equal to the result of the check.

Unstable Poison

You gain an expertise die on checks made with the poisoner’s kit. You learn the recipe for creating basic poison. During a short or long rest , you can brew one poison for which you have the recipe without spending gold or using ingredients (no check required). This version of the poison lasts until your next short or long rest.

 

Diverse Training

A ranger’s weapon of choice is whatever can get the job done. Some forest wardens work with nothing more than a handaxe. Specialized scout soldiers who patrol for signs of invasion on the borders of countries carry sturdy swords and train extensively to fight against humanoid combatants. Bounty hunters on the trail of dangerous monsters often require unorthodox implements and traps. For rangers who spend most of their time submerged or in a perpetual blizzard, a harpoon or torch may be their preferred tool.

Being a ranger entails exposing oneself to the world’s perils on a regular basis. They face anything from dire beasts to perilous rock formations. To avoid the mortal dangers most rangers prefer to tackle a problem from a safe distance first, and should a melee skirmish be unavoidable they keep it short and sweet, with the option to retreat always readily available. The ability to make these judgment calls quickly make rangers valuable adventurers, in particular as guides for long journeys through untamed lands.

Ultimate Survivalists

Rangers retain much of their survival savviness even in terrain they are unfamiliar with, quickly adapting through their observation skills and general outdoor bushcraft knowledge. They can easily locate items of sustenance in the wild, from materials to set up camp, medical supplies to remove a poison, or sources of food where there seems to be none. Self-sufficiency is not the same to all rangers however—where one may think it is better to collect fresh wood and feathers to make new arrows, another might decide scavenging parts on a recent battlefield is more sensible, and the slightest change in circumstances could switch the opinions of both. This flexibility is of utmost importance to a ranger and part of why they excel at surviving for long periods of time out in the wild.

Creating a Ranger

When creating your ranger, ask yourself the following questions: who trained them, and in what environment did the training take place? Who or what do they consider to be the greatest threat? What are their duties or the goals they hope to achieve by becoming a ranger? Are they rangers that work for a community, a country, or for themselves? 

What kind of weapons and tools does your ranger prefer to use?  What aspect of survival—handling wild animals, tracking, foraging, identifying herbs, or some other outdoors skill—do they excel in? Why and how do they contribute to an adventuring party? Under what circumstances would they give it their all or run for safety? 

Table: Ranger

Level	Proficiency Bonus	Features	Knacks Known	Maneuvers Known	Maneuver Degree
1st	+2	Exploration Knacks, Familiar Terrain, Studied Adversary	2	—	—
2nd	+2	Combat Maneuvers, Stride and Seek, Trained Accuracy	3	2	1st
3rd	+2	Ranger Archetype	3	3	1st
4th	+2	Ability Score Increase, Wilderness Mystique	4	3	1st
5th	+3	Extra Attack, Stride and Seek (2)	4	4	2nd
6th	+3	Adversarial Focus, Game Hunting	5	4	2nd
7th	+3	Ranger Archetype Feature	5	5	2nd
8th	+3	Ability Score Increase, Explorer’s Instinct	6	5	2nd
9th	+4	Flash of Steel, Hunter’s Focus	6	6	3rd
10th	+4	Trackless Hunting	7	6	3rd
11th	+4	Ranger Archetype Feature	7	7	3rd
12th	+4	Ability Score Increase, Wilderness Lore	8	7	3rd
13th	+5	Guarded Post	8	8	4th
14th	+5	Tactical Advantage	9	8	4th
15th	+5	Ranger Archetype Feature	9	9	4th
16th	+5	Ability Score Increase, Survivalcraft	10	9	4th
17th	+6	Hunter’s Intent	10	10	5th
18th	+6	Flora and Fauna	11	10	5th
19th	+6	Ability Score Increase, Extreme Exploration	11	11	5th
20th	+6	Nature’s Scion	12	11	5th

 

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CLASS FEATURES

As a ranger, you gain the following class features.

Hit Points

Hit Dice: 1d10 per ranger level

Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + your Constitution modifier

Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your Constitution modifier per ranger level after 1st

Proficiencies

Armor: Light armor, medium armor, shields

Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons

Tools: Choose one from herbalism kit, navigator’s kit, poisoner’s kit, and a musical instrument

Saving Throws: Strength, Dexterity

Skills: Choose three from Animal Handling, Athletics, Insight, Investigation, Nature, Perception, Stealth, and Survival

Equipment

You begin the game with 150 gold which you can spend on your character’s starting weapons, armor, and adventuring gear. You can select your own gear or choose one of the following equipment packages. Also consult the Suggested Equipment section of your chosen background.

• Deep Delver’s Set (Cost 143 gold): Longbow and 20 arrows, scimitar, shortsword, scale mail, dungeoneer’s pack
• Marksman’s Set (Cost 106 gold): Battleaxe, longbow and 20 arrows, scimitar, padded leather, explorer’s pack

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Exploration Knacks

For a ranger exploration isn't just something that happens between destinations—it’s a way of life. You start with two ranger exploration knacks of your choice. Your exploration knacks are detailed at the end of the class description. The Knacks Known column of the Ranger table shows when you learn more exploration knacks.

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Familiar Terrain

At 1st level, you are particularly adept at traveling and surviving in natural environments. When making an Intelligence or Wisdom check related to any natural terrain, you gain an expertise die if using a skill you're proficient in. While traveling in any natural terrain, you gain the following benefits:

• Difficult terrain doesn’t slow your group’s travel.
• Your group can’t become lost except by magical means.
• Even when you are engaged in another activity while traveling you remain alert to danger. Your passive Perception increases by 2.
• If you are traveling alone, you can move stealthily at a normal pace.
• When you Hunt and Gather, you find twice as much Supply as you normally would.
• While tracking other creatures, you also learn their exact number, their sizes, and how long ago they passed through the area.

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Studied Adversary

You have significant experience studying, tracking, hunting, and even communicating with your enemies. Choose a type of adversary: aberrations, beasts, celestials, constructs, dragons, elementals, fey, fiends, giants, monstrosities, oozes, plants, or undead. Alternatively, you can select two humanoid heritages (such as gnolls and orcs) as studied adversaries.

You have advantage on Survival checks to track your studied adversaries, as well as on ability checks to recall information about them. You also learn to communicate with basic words in a language of your choice that is spoken by your studied adversaries, if they speak one at all.

During a long rest, you can replace a current studied adversary with a new one.

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Combat Maneuvers

At 2nd level, you gain the ability to use combat maneuvers. You gain proficiency in two combat traditions from the following list: Biting Zephyr, Mirror’s Glint, Rapid Current, Razor’s Edge, Spirited Steed, and Unending Wheel. You learn two maneuvers of your choice from traditions you are proficient with.

You gain an exertion pool equal to twice your proficiency bonus, regaining any spent exertion at the end of a short or long rest. You use your maneuvers by spending points from your exertion pool. The Maneuvers Known column of the Ranger table shows when you learn more maneuvers from a tradition you are proficient with, while the Maneuver Degree column shows the highest degree you can select maneuvers from at a given level.

Additionally, whenever you learn a new maneuver, you can choose one of the maneuvers you know and replace it with another maneuver of the same degree from a tradition you are proficient with.

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Stride and Seek

Your wilderness survival instincts guide your physical and mental training. You gain one of the following features at 2nd level. You gain the other feature when you reach 5th level in this class.

Hunter’s Target

You can use your bonus action to focus your attention on a specific enemy. Choose a creature you can see within 90 feet to mark as your quarry. For 1 hour, you are focused on this creature. You gain a +1 bonus to weapon attack rolls against the creature, and your weapon attacks against it deal an extra 1d6 damage. In addition, you have advantage on Perception and Survival checks you make to find it. If the creature drops to 0 hit points before the hour ends, you can use a bonus action to mark a new quarry. 

Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest .

Swift Feet

You can use your bonus action to move with greater agility. For 1 minute, your movement doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks. You can choose to end this effect early to either increase your Speed by 30 feet until the end of your turn or gain advantage on a weapon attack. 

Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest .

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Trained Accuracy

At 2nd level, you learn to maintain a level of discipline that spills over into everything you do. This perpetual state of focus allows you to perform incredible feats. When using Trained Accuracy, the bonus to attack rolls from Fighting Style: Archery becomes a +2 bonus to damage on ranged weapon attacks.

Note: An adventurer that has Fighting Style: Archery gains no bonus to attack rolls from the fighting style when using Trained Accuracy, and instead gains a +2 bonus to damage on ranged weapon attacks.

Accuracy Bonus

When you make a weapon attack, you can use your reaction to gain an attack bonus or damage bonus as shown on the Accuracy Bonus table. Between long rests, you have a number of uses equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum 1).

Table: Accuracy Bonus

Bonus	Cost
+1 hit or +1d6	1 use
+2 hit or +3d6 damage	2 uses
+3 hit or +5d6 damage	3 uses

 

Accuracy Reserve

If you have not moved since the beginning of your last turn, you gain a +1 bonus to weapon attack rolls until the end of your turn. You lose this bonus if you move.

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Ranger Archetype

At 3rd level, you choose an archetype that embodies your purpose as a ranger. Your choice grants you features at 3rd level and again at 7th, 11th, and 15th level.

Some ranger archetypes can grant spells. If you are using a ranger archetype that grants spells, you learn to innately cast those spells once each between long rests using material components found in nature (such as a handful of dry leaves or loose gravel instead of the tiny silver bell for the alarm spell). The spells that you cast in this way are always cast using the lowest spell level. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

When you reach 9th level in this class you gain a second use of your 1st-level ranger spell between long rests.

When you reach 17th level in this class you gain a second use of your 2nd-level ranger spell between long rests.

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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.

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Wilderness Mystique

At 4th level your experience as an expert survivalist manifests at the subconscious level. Choose one of the following options:

Answering Silence

When others seek your advice on wilderness matters, they often arrive at the correct conclusion despite (or perhaps because of) the silence with which you respond. When a friendly creature makes a Nature or Survival check while within 5 feet of you, it gains an expertise die .

Fearsome Mysticism

Your uncanny abilities and single-minded focus can be unnerving to the uninitiated. You gain an expertise die on Intimidation checks against any creature that is neither proficient in Arcana nor casts spells. 

Kindred Spirit

You intuitively sense when another wilderness expert is nearby. Your passive Perception increases by 5 to detect hidden or invisible creatures within 30 feet of you, and you instantly detect whether any creature you can see is proficient with Stealth or Survival.

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Extra Attack

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

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Adversarial Focus

At 6th level you gain an additional studied adversary, and you gain a +1 bonus on weapon attack rolls made against your studied adversaries.

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Game Hunting

At 6th level, you have advantage on any check made to locate or catch local game animals in the wild and gain the following features:

• You have proficiency with nets, and being within 5 feet of a hostile creature doesn’t impose disadvantage on your ranged attack rolls with a net.
• You can use a 30-foot length of rope or strong vine as a lasso and try to grapple a creature within 20 feet of you. As long as a creature is grappled by your lasso, it is also restrained . The lasso has AC 13 and 7 hit points. It is vulnerable to slashing damage and resistant to bludgeoning damage. If the lasso drops to 0 hit points, it is destroyed.
• When you use the Attack action and attack with a dual-wielding weapon, you can use a bonus action to attack with a net or use a lasso you are holding.

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Archetype Feature

At 7th level you gain another archetype feature.

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Explorer’s Instinct

At 8th level, once between long rests , you can take two reactions in a round instead of one.

In addition, whenever you learn a new ranger exploration knack or replace an existing one, you can choose from druid secrets of nature or fighter soldiering knacks.

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Flash of Steel

At 9th level you gain the Missile Volley or Whirlwind Strike combat maneuver. It does not count against your number of maneuvers known and you do not have to spend exertion points to activate it.

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Hunter’s Focus

At 9th level, you can remain focused on your Hunter’s Target for up to 8 hours.

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Trackless Hunting

At 10th level, you can’t be tracked except by magical means, unless you choose to leave a trail.

In addition, whenever you learn a new ranger exploration knack or replace an existing one, you can choose to learn a rogue skill trick instead.

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Archetype Feature

At 11th level you gain another archetype feature.

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Wilderness Lore

At 12th level, your knowledge of wilderness lore deepens. Choose one of the following options:

Big Game Traps

Leveraging your skill with snaring small game, you take 10 minutes to set a trap or snare for a creature of Large size or smaller. 

The trap's DC is 8 + your Dexterity bonus + your proficiency bonus. A creature can spot the trap by making a Perception check against the trap's DC.

Describe the mechanics of your trap to the Narrator, including what triggers it and what happens when triggered. You may use the following examples or work with the Narrator to invent your own. 

When a creature enters the trapped area or interacts with the trapped object it makes a Dexterity saving throw against the trap's DC or triggers the trap.

Pendulum Trap. Creatures within 5 feet of the trap are struck by a swinging object that deals bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage (determined by the object) equal to 1d8 plus your Wisdom bonus. 

Pit Trap. The creature falls into a pre-existing pit or hazard that you have concealed.

Rope Trap. The creature is either knocked prone or restrained by a net or rope.

Waste Not

With 10 minutes work you can scavenge valuable cuts from the corpse of a beast, dragon, monstrosity, or plant that has a CR of 1 or higher and has died within the last hour. If sold to a collector, druid, or other naturalist, this notable component is worth an amount of gold equal to 5 × the creature’s CR.

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Guarded Post

Experience has taught you that defending others is often the key to survival. At 13th level choose one of the following options:

Defensive Marksman

When a hostile creature moves towards you or a companion, you can use your reaction to make a ranged weapon attack against it. 

Hunter’s Blind

You can spend 10 minutes constructing a natural shelter able to accommodate yourself and up to 9 other creatures of Medium size or smaller. The shelter blends in with its surroundings, and as long as no one moves into or out of it, the shelter is indistinguishable from a natural object. It is designed to allow creatures inside to see out but prevent anyone outside from seeing in. 

The shelter is comfortable and dry, regardless of the weather outside, and counts as a haven .

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Tactical Advantage

At 14th level you gain a third studied adversary. In addition, you can choose one of the following ranger tactics: 

Covered Shot

When you are protected by half cover , you gain the benefits of three-quarters cover (+5 to AC, Dexterity saving throws , and ability checks made to hide).

Nature’s Shadow

You gain an expertise die on Stealth checks.

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Archetype Feature

At 15th level you gain another archetype feature.

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Survivalcraft

At 16th level, basic survival skills have become second nature to you. Choose one of the following options:

Under the Stars

You gain the benefits of a long rest in half the normal amount of time.

Woodlore

Using your action, you can produce a flame at a moment’s notice even in wet or cold environments. You can hold the flame in your hand without harming yourself or your equipment. Without additional fuel, the flame lasts for 10 minutes, shedding bright light in a 10-foot radius and dim light for an additional 10 feet.

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Hunter’s Intent

At 17th level, you add your Wisdom bonus to the damage you inflict with a weapon attack.

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Flora and Fauna

At 18th level choose one of the following benefits:

Beastly Attack

Once on each of your turns, a beast that is friendly to you and able to see or hear you can use its reaction to make a single attack.

High Ground

You instantly analyze the natural foliage and features of a given terrain as well as how to leverage them to your advantage. You gain the following benefits:

• Your walking and climbing speed increase by 5 feet.

• When you are protected by three-quarters cover , you gain the benefits of total cover. 

• If you make a weapon attack against a creature, your movement does not provoke opportunity attacks from it until the beginning of your next turn.

• When you move through an area, you can cause it to become difficult terrain until the beginning of your next turn, and any creature that moves through the area during that time has disadvantage on its next attack roll.

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Extreme Exploration

Your travels and training have taken you to new heights and amazing depths. At 19th level, you gain two of the following benefits:

• You gain resistance to fire and cold damage.
• You gain immunity to poison.
• You gain a swimming speed and climbing speed equal to your Speed.

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Nature’s Scion

At 20th level, you are a master of yourself and your natural surroundings. You become extremely familiar with all types of terrain and can use the Master Tracker exploration knack at will.

In addition, you learn Primordial if you don’t already know it and gain one of the following:

Elemental Mastery

By focusing on a specific natural element within 100 feet (air, fire, earth, water, or wood) you can attract similar essences to you. After 10 minutes of concentration , a creature of that element is drawn to your presence and becomes your loyal companion. This creature uses the wilderness guardian template with certain traits determined by its type. The creature is friendly to you and your companions, takes its turn immediately after yours, and obeys your verbal commands. The creature disappears after 1 hour, when it is reduced to 0 hit points, or you use a bonus action to dismiss it. Once you have used this feature, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest .

Table: Elemental Mastery Wilderness Guardians

Air	Air elemental
Earth	Earth elemental
Fire	Fire elemental
Water	Water elemental
Wood	Shambling mound

 

Wilderness Guardian Template

A wilderness guardian keeps the statistics of its base creature, except as follows:

Armor Class. The guardian’s Armor Class increases by 2.

Challenge. The guardian’s challenge rating increases to CR 7. 

Languages. The guardian speaks Primordial in addition to any other languages it knows. 

New Trait:  Primal Force. The guardian gains +1 bonus to hit with its weapon attacks, dealing an additional 5 points of force damage on a hit.

Multiattack. If both attacks hit a Medium or smaller target, the target is grappled (escape DC 15), and the guardian uses its Engulf on it.

New Action: Engulf. The guardian engulfs a Medium or smaller creature grappled by it. The engulfed creature is blinded , restrained , and unable to breathe, and at the start of each of the guardian’s turns it makes a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or takes 2d8+4 bludgeoning damage (or fire damage for a fire guardian). If the guardian moves, the engulfed creature moves with it. The guardian can have only one creature engulfed at a time. 

New Action: Guard Life. The guardian uses its Engulf on a willing or unconscious ally without dealing damage. While engulfed, the ally is grappled but not restrained , can see and breathe normally, and has total cover . As soon as the ally takes an action, reaction, or bonus action, they are no longer engulfed. The guardian can release the ally at will (no action required).

Summon Stampede

You can spend an action speaking directly to the spirit of nature itself to request assistance. All beasts within a 1-mile radius of you are friendly to you for 1 minute, and for the duration on initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), you can choose one of the following effects. You can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row.  Once you have used this feature, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.

Enraged Fauna. Up to 3 Huge native creatures of up to CR 8 charge forward, bowling into your enemies. Choose any number of creatures you can see within 100 feet. Each creature makes a Strength saving throw against your maneuver DC or takes 6d8 bludgeoning damage, or half damage on a success.

In addition, you can choose one of the Huge creatures to stay and fight. You can have only one such creature assist in this way at a time, and it retreats when bloodied or when you command it to leave.

Rushing Stampede. A Huge-sized horde of Small, Medium, and Large native creatures hurry through the area, traveling in a 30-foot wide straight line from a direction you choose. Until the start of your next turn, the area is difficult terrain . In addition, each enemy creature in the area makes a Dexterity saving throw against your maneuver DC. On a failure, a creature takes (21) 6d6 bludgeoning damage, is knocked prone , and stunned until the start of your next turn. On a success, a creature instead takes half damage and is rattled until the start of your next turn.

Swarming Pests. Several Medium-sized swarms of Tiny native creatures enter the spaces of up to 5 Small, Medium, or Large creatures you choose, or the space of a Huge or Gargantuan creature. Each enemy creature in the swarm’s area must make a Constitution saving throw against your maneuver DC or become blinded and slowed until the start of your next turn, and loses concentration on any spell or effect it is concentrating on. On a successful save, an enemy creature is instead slowed.

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Exploration Knacks

When you gain access to a new exploration knack, choose one of the following. Some knacks have requirements, such as minimum ranger level or another knack. You must meet those requirements before you choose that knack.

Beast Friend

If you spend 10 minutes befriending and feeding a Medium or smaller beast of CR 1/8 or less, you become its guardian ranger. It follows you and is loyal to you, but it acts independently. In combat, it rolls its own initiative and acts on its own turn. The beast won’t attack except as a reaction to being attacked, but it can take other actions as normal and makes death saving throws. You can only be a guardian ranger to one beast at a time.

Build Shelter

You can spend a day (8 hours) building a basic shelter which protects up to 8 people from the elements and reduces the likelihood of attack from monsters and bandits. The shelter counts as a haven . It lasts for as long as it is needed, but falls apart permanently after being left for a month unattended.

Once you have used this feature, you cannot do so again for a week.

Calls of the Wild

Using verbal and nonverbal cues to communicate with beasts, you can gain basic information from them or make a simple request (like delivering a short message or small object). 

Ear to the Ground

By expending 1 minute remaining stationary, using sound and vibrations alone, until you move or take an action you are able to deduce information up to 30 feet in every direction, as if using blindsight or tremorsense.

Expert Foraging

Once between long rests , you can take 1 minute to collect a number of edible, non-poisonous plants and grubs equal to your proficiency bonus. A creature can use its action to eat up to 5 plants or grubs, each of which restores 1 hit point. The grubs die and spoil 1 hour after being collected.

Forced Marcher

You can travel an additional number of hours equal to your proficiency bonus before needing to make a Constitution saving throw for a forced march.

Guide

While traveling, when you would have a failure or critical failure for a Scout journey activity, you succeed instead, and you can Scout while engaged in any other journey activity.

Healing Salves

Once between long rests you can spend an hour to collect natural ingredients and concoct an ointment that speeds healing. This salve is potent for 24 hours and has a number of uses equal to 1 + your Wisdom modifier. As an action, you can use the salve to restore 1d4 hit points to a creature within reach.

Herbal Bitters

You can spend an hour to collect ingredients and brew two servings of a bitter drink that is potent for 24 hours. Imbibing a serving takes an action and reduces fatigue by one level for 4 hours.

Huntsman

When you use the Hunt and Gather journey activity, you gain advantage on your Survival checks.

Longwalker

When you would gain a level of fatigue due to lack of Supply during a journey, you do not gain that level of fatigue. Alternatively, you can choose to accept the level of fatigue, allowing up to two traveling companions to forgo gaining a level of fatigue instead. Once you have used this feature, you cannot do so again for a week.

Master Tracker

Prerequisite: 9th level

You can spend 5 minutes looking at a 30-foot diameter outdoor area to study the ground and other clues. You learn all events which transpired in that area in the last 24 hours as though you had witnessed them yourself, although you do not learn secret information not obvious to an observer. The information you gain is only that which would be learned by sight; you do not gain sound-based information or learn what creatures in the area said to each other. 

Once you have used this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest .

Monster Mimic

By imitating how a beast or studied adversary sounds, looks, and moves, you gain advantage on Deception and Intimidation checks made to convince a creature that it is seeing or hearing that beast or studied adversary.

Poisons and Antidotes

Once between long rests you can spend 10 minutes to extract 3 doses of liquid poison (when ingested, a creature makes a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or is poisoned for 1 hour) from poisonous plants you’ve foraged with an hour of searching and DC 10 Survival check. Alternatively, using the same plants you can spend an hour making a dose of antitoxin (see Chapter 4: Equipment).

Read the Room

By spending 10 minutes observing facial expressions, body language, and vocal intonation, you can detect minute details which give you insight into the creatures within 30 feet of you. For the next minute, you can direct your focus on any one creature that you can see within 30 feet. If the creature you choose has an Intelligence of 3 or lower or doesn’t speak any language, the creature is unaffected.

You learn the surface thoughts of the creature—what is most on its mind in that moment. As an action, you can shift your attention to another creature’s thoughts.

Relentless Pursuit

Once you have successfully picked up the tracks of a creature, you are able to follow those tracks without any need for further checks for a period of up to 7 days.

See the Unseen

Prerequisite: 5th level

Once between long rests you can focus your attention on peripheral sights, sounds, and other signs of unseen passage. For the next hour, you can detect invisible creatures and objects, their location, movement, and actions, and even sense creatures and objects in the Ethereal Plane.

 

The Power of Command

The marshal’s greatest power comes from their ability to support those in action to be the best they can. They can point out a weakness, notice an unparalleled opportunity to exploit, or provide moral support for their allies, giving the perfect cutting edge in any situation. This occurs outside of combat too. A marshal can easily organize an effective search party or help navigate bureaucratic red tape with a few tips on how to work with a bureaucrat's disposition–after all, the philosophy behind warfare is often just as applicable during careful negotiations.

A Motivated Adventurer

Even though many of their talents shine through the performance of others, marshals themselves are often skilled combatants who know how to handle themselves in a fight, meaning they are well-equipped to become independent adventurers. While it certainly might seem unusual when many nations or organizations would pay handsomely for their services, marshals often take up adventuring for a variety of reasons. Some desire the freedom it has in comparison to the stuffy world of politics. Others may have taken up adventuring to seek the thrill of the unknown. Occasionally, a disgraced marshal may be looking to repair their reputation with some adventuring success—or so they would claim if asked over a drink at the tavern. One thing is for certain: if a marshal has taken up adventuring there is usually a good reason why they have chosen this path over others.

Creating a Marshal

Consider the following questions when creating your marshal: what were their beginnings? How did they accumulate knowledge of the art of warfare? Through what events did they refine their skills? Do they value brawn, acumen, or both? Do they lead from the front lines, amidst their compatriots, or from a safe distance? How do they treat those they work with, those they work for, and those who work for them? What sort of emotion, or lack thereof, do they associate with the rush of battle, or the tension of negotiations? What is it about adventure that drew them away from other opportunities?

Table: Marshal

Level	Proficiency Bonus	Features	Commanding Presence	Followers	Maneuvers Known	Maneuver Degree	Lessons Known
1st	+2	Commanding Presence, Rallying Surge	10 feet	—	—	—	—
2nd	+2	Combat Maneuvers, Lessons of War	10 feet	—	2	1st	1
3rd	+2	Marshal Archetype, Mark Foe	10 feet	—	3	1st	1
4th	+2	Ability Score Improvement	10 feet	—	3	2nd	1
5th	+3	Combat Directives, Extra Attack, Followers	20 feet	1	4	2nd	1
6th	+3	Call to Arms, Martial Renown, Versatile Exploration	20 feet	1	4	2nd	2
7th	+3	Marshal Archetype Feature	20 feet	1	5	2nd	2
8th	+3	Ability Score Improvement	20 feet	1	5	3rd	2
9th	+4	Spur Ally	20 feet	1	6	3rd	2
10th	+4	Expanded Directives, Rouse the Troops	30 feet	2	6	3rd	3
11th	+4	Extra Attack (2), Marshal Archetype Feature	30 feet	2	7	3rd	3
12th	+4	Ability Score Improvement, Commanding Demeanor	30 feet	2	7	4th	3
13th	+5	Dauntless, Stronghold	30 feet	2	8	4th	3
14th	+5	Advantageous Action	30 feet	2	8	4th	4
15th	+5	Marshal Archetype Feature	45 feet	3	9	4th	4
16th	+5	Ability Score Improvement, Greater Stronghold	45 feet	3	9	5th	4
17th	+6	Critical Weakness	45 feet	3	10	5th	4
18th	+6	Impressive Reputation, Marshal Archetype Feature	45 feet	3	10	5th	5
19th	+6	Ability Score Improvement	45 feet	3	11	5th	5
20th	+6	Legendary Commander, Supreme Stronghold	60 feet	4	11	5th	5

 

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CLASS FEATURES

As a marshal you gain the following class features.

Hit Points

Hit Dice: 1d10 per marshal level

Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + your Constitution modifier

Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your Constitution modifier per marshal level after 1st

Proficiencies

Armor: Light armor, medium armor, heavy armor, shields

Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons

Tools: None

Saving Throws: Wisdom, Charisma

Skills: Choose two from Athletics, History, Insight, Intimidation, Medicine, Perception, and Persuasion

Equipment

You begin the game with 200 gold which you can spend on your character’s starting weapons, armor, and adventuring gear. You can select your own gear or choose one of the following equipment packages. Also consult the Suggested Equipment section of your chosen background.

• Skirmisher’s Set (Cost 193 gold): 6 javelins, longsword, hauberk, light shield, explorer’s pack
• Soldier’s Set (Cost 110 gold): Battleaxe, scimitar, 2 spears, longbow and 20 arrows, padded leather, dungeoneer’s pack

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Commanding Presence

Starting at 1st level, you have a Commanding Presence which extends from you in a 10-foot radius. 

Your allies can attack at your command. When you take the Attack action, you can forgo making one attack to allow a friendly creature within range of your Commanding Presence to make an attack instead. If the target can hear or see you, it can use its reaction to either cast a cantrip or make one weapon attack.

The range of your presence increases to 20 feet at 5th level, 30 feet at 10th level, 45 feet at 15th level, and 60 feet at 20th level.

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Rallying Surge

Also at 1st level, you can use a bonus action to choose an ally within 30 feet of you. If the target can hear or see you, it regains hit points equal to 1d8 + your marshal level. Once you use this feature, you must finish a long rest before you can use it again.

You can simultaneously target 2 allies with this feature at 3rd level, and starting at 7th level you regain use of this feature after finishing a short or long rest.

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Combat Maneuvers

At 2nd level, you gain the ability to use combat maneuvers. You gain proficiency in two combat traditions from the following list: Biting Zephyr, Mirror’s Glint, Mist and Shade, Rapid Current, Razor’s Edge, Sanguine Knot, Spirited Steed, Unending Wheel. You learn two maneuvers of your choice from traditions you are proficient with.

You gain an exertion pool equal to twice your proficiency bonus, regaining any spent exertion at the end of a short or long rest . You use your maneuvers by spending points from your exertion pool. The Maneuvers Known column of the Marshal table shows when you learn more maneuvers from a tradition you are proficient with, while the Maneuver Degree column shows the highest degree you can select maneuvers from at a given level.

Additionally, whenever you learn a new maneuver, you can choose one of the maneuvers you know and replace it with another maneuver of the same degree from a tradition you are proficient with.

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Lessons of War

Also at 2nd level you learn a lesson of war of your choice. Your lessons are detailed at the end of the class description. The Lessons Known column of the Marshal table shows when you learn more lessons of war.

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Marshal Archetype

At 3rd level, you choose an archetype that focuses on the military stratagems you devise. Your choice grants you features at 3rd level, and again at 7th, 11th, 15th, and 18th level.

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Mark Foe

Also at 3rd level, your martial direction improves the efficiency of your allies’ attacks against an enemy you focus their attention on. You can use a bonus action to choose a creature you can see within 30 feet. Until the start of your next turn, creatures able to hear or see you gain an expertise die on attacks made against that creature.

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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.

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Combat Directives

Starting at 5th level, you can direct your companions so effectively that they can use the techniques you’ve mastered. You learn one additional combat maneuver from the Sanguine Knot tradition. This combat maneuver does not count against the number of combat maneuvers that you know.

In addition, when a creature uses your Commanding Presence to make an attack, it can simultaneously use one Sanguine Knot combat maneuver that you know. If the creature does not have any exertion points to spend on combat maneuvers, it does not require exertion points for that use but it cannot benefit from Combat Directives again until it has finished a short or long rest .

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Extra Attack

Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn. The number of attacks increases to three when you reach 11th level.

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Followers

At 5th level, you gain one inexperienced follower . At 10th, 15th, and 20th level, you gain an additional follower or one of your followers becomes more experienced.

When one of your followers dies, after 1 month you receive word that their replacement is ready to join you.

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Call to Arms

Beginning at 6th level, when you roll initiative, you and each creature friendly to you that are within range of your Commanding Presence gain an expertise die to their initiative check. Additionally, when you roll for initiative, you can switch your result with that of any ally you can see.

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Martial Renown

At 6th level, tales of your deeds take root in the hearts of the people. As a leader, you are more famous than most adventurers. You add half your proficiency bonus to your Prestige rating.

In addition, your reputation strongly affects how you are perceived, and when it becomes known that you are in a settlement people treat you accordingly. At the Narrator’s discretion, there may be settlements (such as an enemy’s war camp) where you cannot utilize this feature. Choose one of the following:

Famous

When you arrive in a settlement, after you reveal who you are local authority figures seek you out to make introductions and invite you to share a meal or drink. 

In addition, you gain an expertise die on Persuasion checks. 

Infamous

When you arrive in a settlement, after you reveal who you are common folk hurry to get out of your way, and when you corner a commoner to ask about something local they rapidly tell you whatever details they think you might want to know. 

In addition, you gain an expertise die on Intimidation checks.

Maverick

When you arrive in a settlement, after you reveal who you are the local watch starts keeping an eye on you. Heads of illegal organizations may introduce themselves to you if they have goals well suited to your talents. Additionally, guards expect you’re up to no good so are quick to leave their posts to follow you.

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Versatile Exploration

Also at 6th level, whenever you learn a new lesson of war or replace an existing one, you can instead choose from fighter soldiering knacks.

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Archetype Feature

At 7th level you gain another archetype feature.

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Spur Ally

Beginning at 9th level, when an ally you can see who can hear or see you fails an ability check or saving throw , you can use your reaction to make them reroll. Once you use this feature, you must finish a long rest before you can use it again.

Starting at 13th level, you regain use of this feature after finishing a short or long rest.

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Expanded Directives

Starting at 10th level, your capacity to direct your companions broadens. Choose one tradition that you know combat maneuvers from. You are able to use Combat Directives to grant uses of combat maneuvers from the chosen tradition.

At 15th level, choose a second tradition that you know combat maneuvers from.

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Rouse the Troops

Also at 10th level, you can spend 1 minute speaking words of encouragement and support to reinvigorate your companions. Each friendly creature that can hear or understand you can spend any number of Hit Dice to regain hit points without having to finish a short rest . In addition, each creature that does spend at least one Hit Die in this way can remove one level of fatigue or strife it is suffering from. Once a creature has removed a level of fatigue or strife from your use of this class feature, the creature must finish a long rest before it can do so again.

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Archetype Feature

At 11th level you gain another archetype feature.

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Commanding Demeanor

Starting at 12th level, the lessons you’ve learned on the battlefield become useful tools beyond the realm of combat. Choose one of the following:

Calm

Knowing how and when to embrace quietude allows your silence to speak far louder than any words, and you easily pick up on the subtleties revealed by body language and demeanor. When you first meet an NPC, you can choose to remain silent and speak through nonvisual cues—scrunching your brows, pursing your lips, narrowing your eyes, slowly leaning ever so slightly forward, hunching your shoulders, and so on. As long as you remain silent for 1 minute, the NPC has a CR lower than your level, and it remains within sight of you for the duration, it acts as if you succeeded on an Intimidation check. 

In addition, you gain an expertise die on Insight checks.

Resolute

Winning a battle is as much about knowing when to quit as it is knowing when not to give up. Whenever you make an Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma check against a creature and fail, you gain an expertise die on your next Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma check made against that creature.

Responsive

Whether between duelists or armies, combat is all about timing and you are impeccably punctual. When you overhear an interesting conversation between NPCs, you can interject so seamlessly and casually that the speakers think they already know you, answering one question you ask before realizing that they don’t. 

In addition, you gain an expertise die on Persuasion checks.

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Dauntless

Beginning at 13th level, you and allies within your Commanding Presence have advantage on saving throws against spells and effects that cause the charmed or frightened conditions.

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Stronghold

Also at 13th level, you gain an average grade 4 stronghold . Unlike usual strongholds, you are unable to sell this stronghold.

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Advantageous Action

Starting at 14th level, your experience in battle lets you help your companions more easily. You can use the Help action as a bonus action. In addition, when you take the Help action choose one of the following effects:

• You end the frightened condition on one creature within 30 feet of you that can hear or see you.
• You grant one creature within 5 feet of you temporary hit points equal to your Charisma modifier.
• You touch a living creature that has 0 hit points. The creature regains 1 hit point.

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Archetype Feature

At 15th level you gain another archetype feature.

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Greater Stronghold

At 16th level, your stronghold is upgraded to grade 5.

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Critical Weakness

Beginning at 17th level, you can focus your mind to identify any enemy’s weaknesses. As a bonus action, you can choose a creature you can see within 60 feet, exposing a flaw in its defenses. Until the end of your next turn, any creature able to hear or see you has advantage on attack rolls made against that creature, and their attacks and spells deal an extra 6 damage to it. Once you have used this feature, you cannot use it again until you finish a short or long rest .

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Archetype Feature

At 18th level you gain another archetype feature.

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Impressive Reputation

Starting at 18th level, your very name can inspire courage in the hearts of soldiers, fear among the ranks of the enemy, or uncertainty in the minds of the commanders set against you. Choose one of the following:

Hero

Inspiring tales of your victories have won you friends in high places. Nobles and royalty treat you as an equal, granting you free lodging, food, and a place upon their court for a number of days up to your marshal level.

Iconoclast

You are known for doing the unexpected and people love to hear about it. Whenever you arrive in a settlement you are visited by 1d4+1 bards, scholars, and sages asking for recountings of your recent exploits. In exchange they each either share a piece of information they think might be relevant to your current quest, or make an Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma check (bonus of +5) on your behalf to answer a specific question.

Slaughterer

Tales of your merciless bloodshed have won you friends in unlikely places. Bandit and pirate captains, crimelords, intelligent monsters of ill intent, and even fiends know who you are and that you are a valuable ally, doing their best to persuade you to take up the sword against their enemies. Whenever you encounter such a creature, it spends its first action (even in combat) declaring that it knows of your prowess and offering an alliance. 

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Legendary Commander

At 20th level, friendly creatures within range of your Commanding Presence add your Charisma modifier (minimum 1) to their saving throws . Additionally, choose one of the following:

Commander’s Expertise

Whenever a creature uses your Commanding Presence to make an attack or use a combat maneuver, it gains an expertise die . If the combat maneuver has a save DC, it increases by an amount equal to the result of the expertise die. This expertise die can be increased to a maximum of a d12.

Feedback Loop

Whenever a creature uses your Commanding Presence and successfully hits their target, you gain a reaction. You must use this reaction before the start of your next turn or it is lost.

Rapid Deployment

After initiative is rolled and until combat ends, your Speed increases by 20 feet, and allies that are able to see or hear you increase their Speed by 20 feet.

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Supreme Stronghold

Also at 20th level, your stronghold is upgraded to grade 6.

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Lessons of War

When you gain access to a new lesson of war, choose one of the following.

Exacting

You’ve won more battles armed with a sextant and your keen intellect than you have any blade. You gain proficiency with navigator’s tools, or if you are already proficient, an expertise die on checks made using them. When determining the distance you travel while journeying, you can make a DC 10 navigator’s tools check to travel an additional number of miles equal to your proficiency bonus.

Keep Walking

You can motivate your allies to keep going even when they are tired and hungry. Once between long rests , you can choose a number of allies equal to twice your proficiency bonus who can hear or understand you. Each ally can travel an additional hour before needing to make a Constitution saving throw for a forced march.

Lay of the Land

Knowledge of the terrain can be the difference between victory and defeat. By spending 10 minutes observing the area in a 2-mile radius you can spend 2 exertion points to pick out where there are choke points, large swathes of cover, watercourses, vegetations that can offer concealment , ridgelines, and so on. You gain an expertise die on Engineering and Survival checks made within the area, and on checks made to prepare an ambush or realize you are being ambushed.

Rewarding Repute

Your deeds have heroically won over the hearts and minds of people everywhere or cowed them into submission. Whenever you visit a settlement, the commoners there tell you all the valuable information they can about their home including nearby ruins, the general environment of nearby wilderness, and how populated the region is. You gain an expertise die on Nature and Survival checks made within 10 miles of any settlement you have visited.

Soldier Kitting

The weapons of war are rarely small, light, or easy to carry but you’ve learned tricks to lessen the burden. You and a number of creatures equal to your proficiency bonus are able to carry one additional bulky item .

Team Tactics

With your directions to help there is very little your companions can’t accomplish. When more than one creature takes the Help action to aid an ally making an ability check, for each additional creature helping the check is made with a +1 bonus. Only a number of additional creatures equal to half your proficiency bonus are able to Help in this way.

Teamwork

When you are involved in a group check, all members of the check gain an expertise die . Once you use this feature, you cannot do so again until you finish a long rest.

 

Powers That Be

It’s said that heralds gain their magic by keeping to their oaths, though certain ideologies see instead an inner strength brought out by living in accordance with a strict lifestyle instead. Another interpretation states that a herald’s power is in fact innate. In such cases, oaths are a way to contain them and keep the herald humble, though there are orders that prefer their heralds to flaunt their powers as a show of prowess instead.

Heralds are best known for using their magic to heal, protect, or eradicate. A herald’s magic can however also be used to facilitate negotiations or threats, conduct thorough investigations, or detect abnormalities.

Creating a Herald

When making your herald, ask yourself these questions: What is the cause they have dedicated themselves to? Do they serve a deity, a philosophy, or something else entirely different? Why have they chosen this path? Who do they consider the greatest threat?

What kind of message do they hope to bring to the world? How do they intend to spread this message? Do they do so by action, or with words? What sort of impression do people have of your herald after interacting with them? What does your herald think about the powers they have been given? Do they think this power is bestowed from another, unlocked by another from within, or something that they are naturally capable of?

Table: Herald        

Level	Proficiency Bonus	Features	Lessons Known	Smite Damage	Maneuvers Known	Maneuver Degree
1st	+2	Divine Sense, Lay on Hands, Spellcasting	—	—	—	—
2nd	+2	Combat Maneuvers, Divine Smite	—	1d8	2	1st
3rd	+2	Divine Lessons, Herald Archetype	1	1d8	2	1st
4th	+2	Ability Score Increase, Empowered Smite	1	1d8	3	1st
5th	+3	Extra Attack, Heraldic Sermon	2	2d8	3	1st
6th	+3	Sacred Aura	2	2d8	3	1st
7th	+3	Archetype Feature	3	2d8	4	2nd
8th	+3	Ability Score Increase, Greater Empowered Smite	3	2d8	4	2nd
9th	+4	Inspiring Devotion	4	3d8	4	2nd
10th	+4	Improved Sacred Aura	4	3d8	5	2nd
11th	+4	Divine Warrior	5	3d8	5	2nd
12th	+4	Ability Score Increase, Divine Recovery	5	3d8	5	2nd
13th	+5	—	5	4d8	6	3rd
14th	+5	Infectious Resolve	6	4d8	6	3rd
15th	+5	Herald Archetype Feature	6	4d8	6	3rd
16th	+5	Ability Score Increase	6	4d8	7	3rd
17th	+6	—	6	5d8	7	3rd
18th	+6	Aura Improvements	6	5d8	7	3rd
19th	+6	Ability Score Increase	7	6d8	8	4th
20th	+6	Holy Exemplar, Herald Archetype Feature	7	6d8	8	4th

 

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CLASS FEATURES

As a herald, you gain the following class features.

Hit Points

Hit Dice: 1d10 per herald level

Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + your Constitution modifier

Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your Constitution modifier per herald level after 1st

Proficiencies

Armor: Light armor, medium armor, heavy armor, shields

Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons

Saving Throws: Wisdom, Charisma

Skills: Choose two from Athletics, Acrobatics, History, Insight, Intimidation, Medicine, Persuasion, and Religion

Equipment

You begin the game with 200 gold which you can spend on your character’s starting weapons, armor, and adventuring gear. You can select your own gear or choose one of the following equipment packages. Also consult the Suggested Equipment section of your chosen background.

• Blessed Explorer’s Set (Cost 189 gold): Handaxe (4), hauberk, priest’s pack
• Divine Warrior’s Set (Cost 200 gold): Longsword, hauberk, medium shield, explorer’s pack

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Divine Sense

Choose one of the following sets of enemies: celestials and fiends, fey and elementals, or aberrations and undead. You can always sense when a creature of one of your chosen types is within 30 feet of you, but cannot determine their number, type, or location. As a bonus action, you can briefly enhance your senses to learn the location, number, and type of any creatures of your chosen types within 30 feet of you. When you do so, creatures of those types that are within range make a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC, with advantage if the creature’s CR is higher than your herald level. On a failed save, you also learn the creature’s identity. Within the same radius, you also detect any locations that have been consecrated or desecrated, as with the hallow spell. 

You can activate this feature a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier, and regain spent uses upon finishing a long rest . Upon finishing a long rest, you may also swap your chosen set of creature types for another. 

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Lay on Hands

Your blessed touch can heal wounds. You have a pool of healing power that replenishes when you take a long rest . With that pool, you can restore a total number of hit points equal to your herald level × 5.

As an action, you can touch a creature and draw power from the pool to restore a number of hit points to that creature, up to the maximum amount remaining in your pool.

Alternatively, you can expend 5 hit points from your pool of healing to cure the target of one disease or neutralize one poison affecting it. You can cure multiple diseases and neutralize multiple poisons with a single use of Lay on Hands, expending hit points separately for each one.

This feature has no effect on undead and constructs.

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Spellcasting

You have learned to draw on divine magic through meditation and devotion to your oath. 

Level	Cantrips Known	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
1st	2	2	—	—	—	—
2nd	2	2	—	—	—	—
3rd	2	3	—	—	—	—
4th	2	3	—	—	—	—
5th	3	4	2	—	—	—
6th	3	4	2	—	—	—
7th	3	4	3	—	—	—
8th	3	4	3	—	—	—
9th	4	4	3	2	—	—
10th	4	4	3	2	—	—
11th	4	4	3	3	—	—
12th	4	4	3	3	—	—
13th	4	4	3	3	1	—
14th	4	4	3	3	1	—
15th	4	4	3	3	2	—
16th	4	4	3	3	2	—
17th	4	4	3	3	3	1
18th	4	4	3	3	3	1
19th	4	4	3	3	3	2
20th	4	4	3	3	3	2

 

Cantrips

At 1st level, you know two cantrips of your choice from the Herald spell list. You learn additional Herald cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as seen in the Cantrips Known column of the Herald table.

Preparing and Casting Spells

The Herald table shows how many spell slots of each level you have to cast your spells. To cast one of these spells, you must expend a slot of the spell's level or higher. You regain all spent spell slots upon finishing a long rest. 

You can prepare a number of spells equal to your Charisma modifier + half your herald level, rounded down (minimum 1 spell). The spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots, and must be chosen from the Herald spell list. 

For example, if you are a 5th level herald, you have four 1st-level and two 2nd-level spell slots. With a Charisma of 14, your list of prepared spells can include four spells of 1st- or 2nd-level, in any combination. If you prepare the 1st-level spell cure wounds, you can cast it using a 1st-level or a 2nd-level slot. Casting the spell doesn't remove it from your list of prepared spells.

You can change the spells you have prepared whenever you take a long rest . Preparing a new list of spells requires you to spend time reflecting in meditation; at least 1 minute per spell level for each new spell on your list. 

Spellcasting Ability

Charisma is your spellcasting ability for your herald spells, since their power is derived from your dedication to your oath. 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 herald 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

Spellcasting Focus

You can use a holy symbol as a spellcasting focus for your Herald spells.

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Combat Maneuvers

At 2nd level, you gain the ability to use combat maneuvers. You gain proficiency in two combat traditions from the following list: Sanguine Knot, Spirited Steed, or Tempered Iron. You learn two maneuvers of your choice from traditions you are proficient with.

You use your maneuvers by spending exertion points, but you do not gain an exertion pool. Instead, at the start of each of your turns you can expend spell slots of 1st-level or higher to gain exertion points that go into a temporary exertion pool which lasts until you start your next long rest . You gain 2 exertion points for a 1st-level spell slot, and 2 more for each spell slot level above 1st. Only spell slots gained from the herald class can be expended in this way.

The Maneuvers Known column of the Herald table shows when you learn more maneuvers from a tradition you are proficient with, while the Maneuver Degree column shows the highest degree you can select maneuvers from at a given level.

Additionally, whenever you learn a new maneuver, you can choose one of the maneuvers you know and replace it with another maneuver of the same degree from a tradition you are proficient with.

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Divine Smite

Starting at 2nd level, whenever you hit a creature with a weapon attack you can choose to deliver a divine smite that deals an additional 1d8 radiant damage. The amount of extra damage increases as you gain levels in this class, as shown in the Smite Damage column of the Herald table. 

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and regain spent uses upon finishing a long rest . 

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Divine Lessons

In preparing to take your oath, you have learned a number of skills and tricks that can help you during your adventures. At 3rd level, you gain a divine lesson of your choice. The divine lessons available to you are detailed at the end of the class description. The Lessons Known column of the Herald table shows when you learn more divine lessons.

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Herald Archetype

Also at 3rd level, you choose the oath and tenets that you as a herald will swear to uphold. Until now you have merely been preparing, committed to the path but not sworn to it. Your choice grants you features at 3rd level and again at 7th, 15th, and 20th level. 

Archetype School

Each archetype has an associated school of spells, which you gain access to upon reaching 3rd level. You can choose spells from this school when preparing your spell list. If you would choose a spell that is not on the herald spell list, it is considered a herald spell for you. 

Channel Divinity

Your oath allows you to channel the divine for more magical effects than just casting spells. Each Channel Divinity option granted by your oath explains how to use it. Whenever you use your Channel Divinity, you choose which option to use. Once you have used this feature you can’t do so again until you finish a short or long rest .

Some Channel Divinity options require saving throws . When using such an effect, the DC for the saving throw equals your herald spell save DC.

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Empowered Smite

At 4th level, you are able to manipulate magic to add extra power to your smites. Whenever you would use your Divine Smite feature, you can choose one of the following effects. Once you have used this feature you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest . Alternatively, you can empower a smite by expending a spell slot of 1st-level or higher. 

Some empowerments require your target to make a saving throw to resist some of the empowerments effects. The DC for these saving throws is the same as your herald spell save DC.

Igniting Smite

Your smite instead deals fire damage, and the target must make a Constitution saving throw at the start of each of its turns or take 1d6 fire damage. On a successful save, it takes no damage and the fire is extinguished. The fire can also be put out as an action or by the environment, and extinguishes itself after 1 minute. 

Marking Smite

Your smite causes the target to shed bright light for 5 feet, and dim light for an additional 5 feet. The effect lasts for up to 1 minute, or until you target another creature with a weapon attack. As long as the effect lasts, the target gains no benefit from invisibility and has disadvantage on checks made to hide.

Repelling Smite

Your smite instead deals force damage, and the target must make a Strength saving throw or be pushed back 10 feet and knocked prone . On a successful save, the target is knocked back only 5 feet and is not knocked prone. 

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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.

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Extra Attack

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

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Heraldic Sermon

Also at 5th level, your oath has so inspired you that your words seem to be imbued with magic when you talk about it. Choose one of the following features.

Devout

You gain proficiency in the Persuasion skill. You have advantage when using this skill to influence others by discussing your oath or deity, and witnesses that hear your words are inspired to share any useful or important information they might have. 

Evangelism

You gain proficiency in the Performance skill. You have advantage when using this skill to convert others through preaching about your oath or deity, and witnesses that hear your words are inspired to donate to your cause.

Fearmonger

You gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill. You have advantage when using this skill and your faith to intimidate others, and witnesses with opposing views make obvious efforts to avoid you.

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Sacred Aura

At 6th level, you are able to manifest an aura that aids you and your allies. Each aura has a radius of 15 feet, is centered on you, and you must be conscious for you and your allies to benefit from it. You can have only one of the following auras active at a time, and can change which aura is active whenever you finish a long rest . At 18th level, the range of all auras increases to 30 feet.

Aura of Courage

You and allies within range cannot be frightened .

Aura of Resistance

You and allies within range of your aura gain a bonus on saving throws equal to your Charisma modifier (+1). 

Aura of Willpower

You and allies within range cannot be charmed .

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Archetype Feature

At 7th level you gain another archetype feature.

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Greater Empowered Smite

At 8th level you learn the following new empowerments for your smites, and can use this feature twice at no cost in between long rests . Alternatively, you can use an empowered smite by expending a spell slot of 1st-level or higher. 

Blinding Smite

The target makes a Constitution saving throw . On a failure, it is blinded for 1 minute. At the end of each of its turns, the target can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on a success. 

Disorienting Smite

Your smite instead deals psychic damage and the target makes a Wisdom saving throw . On a failed save, it has disadvantage on attack rolls for 1 minute. At the end of each of its turns the target can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on a success. 

Taunting Smite

The target makes a Wisdom saving throw . On a failed save, it takes an additional 1d6 radiant damage when attacking a creature other than you and cannot make opportunity attacks against anyone but you. This effect lasts up to 1 minute, and the target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success. 

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Inspiring Devotion

At 9th level, you can draw upon your oath for extra assistance in social situations. Choose one of the following features.

Lend Faith

When an ally within 30 feet that can see and hear you would make a saving throw or ability check you can inspire them with your faith, adding your Charisma modifier to the roll. Once you have used this feature you can’t do so again until you finish a short rest .

Reveal Heresy

You gain proficiency in the Insight skill, and and gain an expertise die on Insight checks. Whenever a creature is lying to you, it makes a Charisma saving throw against a DC equal to your passive Insight score. This save is made with disadvantage and done in secret by the Narrator. On a failure, you get a strong sense that they are being untruthful. 

Truth of Conviction

Whenever you or an ally are telling the truth and make any Charisma ability check to do so, you can use this feature to treat any roll of 10 or less as an 11 for that roll. Once you have used this feature you can’t do so again until you finish a short rest .

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Improved Sacred Aura

At 10th level, you gain a more powerful aura that is active alongside your Sacred Aura. The range of this aura is the same, and you can only have one Improved Sacred Aura active at a time. You can swap your active improved aura upon finishing a long rest .

Aura of Healing

Whenever you or an ally cast a spell to heal yourself or another ally while both are within your aura, both the spellcaster and target gain additional hit points equal to your Charisma modifier. 

Aura of Overcoming

Weapon attacks made by allies within your aura are considered magical for the purpose of overcoming damage resistances and immunities . 

Aura of Smiting

Whenever an ally within your aura scores a critical hit with a weapon attack, they deal additional radiant damage equal to half your herald level (rounded down).

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Divine Warrior

Beginning at 11th level, each of your strikes is infused with divine might. Whenever you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you deal an extra 1d8 radiant damage. 

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Divine Recovery

At 12th level, you can transform divine energy into more easily manipulated magics. You can use a bonus action to recite a short prayer or mantra and expend a use of Channel Divinity to regain a spell slot of 3rd-level or less.

Once you have used this feature three times, you cannot do so again until you finish a long rest .

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Infectious Resolve

Starting at 14th level, you can use your action to touch one willing creature (or yourself) and choose one of the following effects.

All In. The target gains advantage on its next weapon attack, and deals an extra 1d8 radiant damage on a hit. 

Iron Will. For the next minute, as long as you are conscious the target gains advantage on Wisdom saving throws made against spells and other magical effects.

Walk It Off. One spell or condition affecting the target ends. 

Once you have used this feature a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier, you cannot do so again until you finish a long rest .

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Archetype Feature

At 15th level you gain another archetype feature.

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Archetype Feature

At 20th level you gain another archetype feature.

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Holy Exemplar

At 20th level, your deity constantly watches over you. Even death cannot touch you as you recover from mortal wounds in a flash of holy light, a sudden swelling of unnatural darkness, or another expression of potent divine power. When you die after being reduced to 0 hit points by an attack or spell, after 1d4 rounds you return to life with 100 hit points. Once you have used this feature, you cannot do so again until you finish a long rest .

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Divine Lessons

When you gain access to a new divine lesson, choose one of the following.

Bestowed Understanding

When attempting to understand a language with which you are not proficient (whether spoken or written), you can make a DC 15 Wisdom (Insight) check to understand the basic message. If the language is considered forgotten, you roll with disadvantage . You can do so a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier, and regain spent uses upon finishing a long rest .

Divine Health

You are immune to disease and have advantage on saving throws made to resist the poisoned condition. 

Divine Vision

You gain 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. In addition, you always have the see invisibility spell prepared and can use this feature once per long rest to cast it without expending a spell slot. 

Do Without

Your divine connection and years of training combine to allow you to survive without Supply for a number of days equal to your Charisma modifier without suffering any adverse effects. 

Exemplary

You gain an expertise die on Acrobatics and Athletics checks made to climb, jump, run, and swim. When your party makes a group Acrobatics or Athletics check, you may apply the results of your roll to yourself and one ally. You can choose which ally to apply your result to after everyone has rolled, but must do so before the Narrator says whether you succeed or fail.

Glorious Purpose

When you agree to undertake a quest that specifically fulfills the tenets of your herald archetype, you gain proficiency with a skill that will be crucial to completing that quest. The skill is chosen by the Narrator. If you are already proficient with the skill, you gain an expertise die instead. The benefits of this divine lesson do not change until the quest has been completed.

Heraldic Order

Whenever you would pay for a meal, room, or minor supplies (such as mundane ammunition) roll 1d6. On a result of 4 or higher the merchant recognizes you as a herald of an order they either fear or respect and charge you nothing. If you insist on paying, they may offer you information about individuals or places that might be of interest to your heraldic order.

Miraculous Discovery

You gain an expertise die on Investigation checks, and your passive Investigation score increases by 3. Additionally, you can always choose to use your Charisma when making Investigation checks. 

Naturalist

Choose one type of terrain; arctic, coast, desert, forest, grassland, mountain, subterranean, or swamp. You gain an expertise die on Nature and Survival checks made in this terrain. In addition, once each week when you have run out of Supply, you can spend 8 hours in the wilderness to find 1d4+2 Supply. 

Prophetic Protection

Whenever you would trigger a trap, the Narrator makes a secret Charisma (Perception) check against the DC to spot the trap. On a success, you do not spot the trap but get a strong sense that moving any further will put you in danger. 

Seek Truths

You gain an expertise die on Insight checks made to discern the truth. In addition, after you have made a successful Insight check opposed by a creature’s Deception check, you have advantage on Insight checks made against it for 24 hours.

Sense Import

Your Divine Sense extends to detect whenever you enter a place that is or once was of great holy or unholy significance, and you learn basic information about why or to whom it was important. Additionally, you have advantage on checks made to learn more information about the area while you are there. 

Silvered Tongue

You gain an expertise die on Intimidation and Persuasion checks. In addition, when you successfully intimidate or persuade a creature, you have advantage on Intimidation and Persuasion checks made against it for the next 24 hours. 

Undaunted

While exploring a place which you have never been to before, you can use your reaction to gain advantage on ability checks and attack rolls until the end of your next turn. You can do so a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier, and regain spent uses upon finishing a long rest . 

 

Hardened Warrior

More than skill sets a fighter apart from other combatants: a fighter has gone through a crucible and come out the other side hard as steel. A fighter might be a veteran scarred by the wars they have fought, a knight dedicated body and soul to their oaths, or a student of the sword who spent years in the tutelage of a demanding master. Even the most inexperienced and gentle fighter has a strength within them that makes them unique.

Creating a Fighter

When creating a fighter, it’s important to ask why they fight. Are they a rebel fighting for a cause, or are they a mercenary lending their blade where it suits them? Did they pick up the blade after a tragedy, or is it a skill passed down by their family?

Level	Proficiency Bonus	Features	Knacks Known	Maneuvers Known	Maneuver Degree
1st	+2	Fighting Style, Combat Maneuvers, Soldiering Knacks	1	3	1st
2nd	+2	Steely Mien	1	4	1st
3rd	+2	Maneuver Specialization, Martial Archetype	1	4	1st
4th	+2	Ability Score Increase, Reserves (1)	1	5	2nd
5th	+3	Extra Attack	2	6	2nd
6th	+3	Martial Lore	2	7	2nd
7th	+3	Maneuver Specialization, Martial Archetype Feature	2	7	2nd
8th	+3	Ability Score Increase, Reserves (2)	2	8	3rd
9th	+4	Indomitable (one use)	3	9	3rd
10th	+4	Martial Archetype Feature, Reputation	3	10	3rd
11th	+4	Extra Attack (2), Maneuver Specialization	3	10	3rd
12th	+4	Ability Score Increase, Reserves (3)	3	11	4th
13th	+5	Indomitable (two uses)	4	12	4th
14th	+5	War’s Toll	4	13	4th
15th	+5	Maneuver Specialization, Martial Archetype Feature	4	13	4th
16th	+5	Ability Score Increase, Reserves (4)	4	14	5th
17th	+6	Indomitable (three uses)	5	15	5th
18th	+6	Martial Archetype Feature, Martial Legacy	5	16	5th
19th	+6	Ability Score Increase	5	16	5th
20th	+6	Warmaster	5	17	5th

 

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CLASS FEATURES

As a fighter, you gain the following class features.

Hit Points

Hit Dice: 1d10 per fighter level

Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + your Constitution modifier

Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your Constitution modifier per fighter level after 1st

Proficiencies

Armor: Light armor, medium armor, heavy armor, shields

Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons

Tools: None

Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution

Skills: Choose two from Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Athletics, History, Insight, Intimidation, Perception, and Survival

Equipment

You begin the game with 140 gold which you can spend on your character’s starting weapons, armor, and adventuring gear. You can select your own gear or choose one of the following equipment packages. Also consult the Suggested Equipment section of your chosen background.

• Brigand’s Set (Cost 114 gold): 2 dueling daggers, garrotte, rapier, 5 throwing daggers, leather brigandine, burglar’s pack, vial of basic poison
• Guard’s Set (Cost 107 gold): Longbow and 20 arrows, pike, shortsword, medium shield, padded leather, backpack, bell, lantern (standard), manacles, signal whistle
• Scout’s Set (Cost 117 gold): Greatsword, 4 javelins, hide, medium shield, climbing gear, explorer’s pack
• Squire’s Set (Cost 128 gold): Shortbow and 20 arrows, shortsword, leather brigandine, pony with padded cloth barding, sewing kit, smith’s tools

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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.

Archery

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

Battle Ready

You may activate up to 2 combat stances you know without expending any exertion points using the same bonus action. Once you activate a set of combat stances in this way you can’t use this feature again until you finish a short or long rest .

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.

Mounted Combatant

While mounted, you gain an expertise die on attack rolls against creatures that are Medium-sized or smaller and not mounted. In addition, you gain an expertise die on saving throws made to resist being unmounted.

Protection

When a creature you can see attacks a target other than you that is within 5 feet of you, if you are wielding a shield you can use your reaction to hinder the attack, forcing the creature to roll with disadvantage .

Technical Fighting

Whenever you use a combat maneuver any damage dealt by attacks using it deal an additional 2 damage, and your maneuver DC increases by 1. 

Thrown Weapon Fighting

Whenever you would make an attack using a weapon with the Thrown property you may draw the weapon as part of the attack. In addition, your ranged weapon attacks with thrown weapons deal an additional 2 damage.

Tireless Fighting

Whenever you expend Hit Dice to recover exertion points, you recover 3 exertion points per Hit Die expended (instead of 1d4 exertion points as normal).

Two-Weapon Fighting

When you engage in two-weapon fighting, you can add your ability modifier to the damage of the off-hand attack.

Unarmed Fighting

Your unarmed strikes deal bludgeoning damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier. If you aren’t wielding any weapons or a shield, you can strike with both of your hands to deal damage equal to 1d8 + your Strength modifier. If you start your turn grappling a creature, you may deal your basic melee damage to any creature you are grappling.

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Combat Maneuvers

At 1st level, you gain the ability to use combat maneuvers. You gain proficiency in two combat traditions of your choice. You learn three maneuvers of your choice from traditions you are proficient with.

You gain an exertion pool equal to twice your proficiency bonus, regaining any spent exertion at the end of a short or long rest. You use your maneuvers by spending points from your exertion pool. The Maneuvers Known column of the Fighter table shows when you learn more maneuvers from a tradition you are proficient with, while the Maneuver Degree column shows the highest degree you can select maneuvers from at a given level.

Additionally, whenever you learn a new maneuver, you can choose one of the maneuvers you know and replace it with another maneuver of the same degree from a tradition you are proficient with.

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Soldiering Knacks

Over the course of your training and adventures you have picked up a variety of skills and tricks to help you make your way. At 1st level you gain a soldiering knack of your choice. Your soldiering knacks are detailed at the end of the class description. The Knacks Known column of the Fighter table shows when you learn more fighter soldiering knacks.

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Steely Mien

At 2nd level your combat experience becomes obvious on some subtle level, influencing how people perceive you, or perhaps how you see them. Choose one of the following options:

Closed Helm

You have great control over your emotions; your face is an unmoving mask, revealing nothing of what you’re thinking. Creatures have disadvantage on Insight checks made against you. In addition, you gain an expertise die on saving throws against being charmed or frightened .

Heroic Flair

Your victories have emboldened you and you radiate with heroic confidence. You have advantage on Persuasion checks made to influence friendly creatures with a CR lower than your fighter level.

Watchful Eye

You are eternally alert and wary, ready for trouble. You have advantage on Insight checks made to determine hostile intent or predict violence, and your passive Perception increases by 5.

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Maneuver Specialization

As you experience combat and perfect your techniques they get easier for you to perform and more difficult for your foes to overcome. At 3rd level, and again at 7th, 11th, 15th, and 19th level you may choose to master a combat maneuver you know. You cannot master the same maneuver more than once in this way. 

• The exertion point cost of mastered maneuvers is reduced by 1 (minimum 1).
• Your maneuver DC for mastered maneuvers increases by 1. 
• Any attack you make as part of a mastered maneuver (including triggering attacks) deals 2 additional damage.

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Martial Archetype

Also at 3rd level, you choose an archetype that you strive to emulate in your combat styles and techniques. The archetype you choose grants you features at 3rd level and again at 7th, 10th, 15th, and 18th level.

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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.

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Reserves

At 4th level your stamina increases, allowing you to engage foes longer without tiring. Your exertion pool increases by 1. At 8th, 12th, and 16th level your exertion pool increases by an additional point.

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Extra Attack

At 5th level you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn. The number of attacks increases to three when you reach 11th level in this class.

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Martial Lore

At 6th level, your knowledge of martial lore deepens. Choose one of the following options:

Military Traditions

You’ve familiarized yourself with wars long past and military protocols of the present. You gain an expertise die on Intelligence checks made to recall lore or gather information regarding warfare or military action. In addition, you gain an expertise die on Charisma checks made to influence soldiers, guards, or other organized martial forces. 

Size Up

Your combat experience against a wide variety of foes has given you a good eye for evaluating threats. You can use a bonus action to determine the CR of a creature you can see within 200 feet, and that creature’s maneuver DC. 

Weapon Lore

You gain an expertise die on Intelligence checks made to recall lore or gather information about weapons, armor, and other martial equipment. In addition, you can use an action to investigate the magical properties of such an item by handling it, such as swinging a sword or hefting a shield. You learn its properties, how to use them, whether it requires attunement, and how many charges it has. You also learn if the item has any sentience or bears a curse, though you only learn if it is sentient or cursed (not the nature of that sentience or curse). 

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Archetype Feature

At 7th level you gain another archetype feature.

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Indomitable

At 9th level, you can draw upon your indomitable will to overcome pain, resist overwhelming forces, or retaliate  when most warriors would be shirking back. You can use this feature to perform any of the following reactions:

• Reroll a failed saving throw . If you do so, you must use the new roll.
• Reduce the damage you would take from a single source or attack by 2d8 + half your fighter level (rounded down).  
• Make a single attack against a creature that has just completed an attack against you.

You gain an additional use of this feature at 13th level and a third use starting at 17th leveI. You regain all spent uses of this feature whenever you finish a long rest .

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Reputation

At 10th level, your reputation has begun to precede you. Choose one of the following options:

Inspiring

You’re a reputed leader, a person to be trusted whose words are to be heeded. You gain an expertise die on Persuasion checks. In addition, you may spend 1 exertion point as a bonus action to inspire a creature that can hear you. The creature makes an Insight check opposed by your Persuasion check, becoming inspired by you on a failure. Indifferent creatures you inspire in this way become friendly towards you and your allies, and friendly creatures you inspire in this way will consider you an ally and may provide you with local information that would otherwise remain secret. Creatures will remain inspired by you indefinitely unless you do something that would make them hostile or lose confidence in you, such as lying, stealing, or causing them or their allies harm, or being proven cowardly or untrustworthy in any way. 

Intimidating

You’re reputed to be a terror to your foes and a fearsome ally. You gain an expertise die on Intimidation checks. In addition, you can use a bonus action and spend 1 exertion point to intimidate one creature you can see. The creature makes a Wisdom saving throw (DC 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier) or becomes frightened of you for 1 minute. At the end of each of its turns, a frightened creature can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Legendary

Your deeds have become epic stories, growing bigger and more outlandish with each retelling. You gain an expertise die on Deception checks. In addition, you can spend 1 exertion point to weave your real legendary deeds into a Persuasion check as boasting, or include fabricated legendary deeds into a Deception check. When you do so, you have advantage on the check. 

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Archetype Feature

At 10th level you gain another archetype feature.

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War’s Toll

At 14th level, your experiences have left their impressions on you. All the lives ended—both friends and foes—inevitably weighs down on a person, and each must find their own way to cope and pay the toll of war. Choose one of the following.

Battle Scarred

You’ve embraced every victory and loss, and you wear each battle scar like a badge of honor. Whenever you are reduced to 0 hit points you gain a new permanent scar or mark, and you gain inspiration. Once you gain inspiration in this way you cannot do so again until you finish a long rest .

Carouser

You cope through drink and revelry, and have mastered both. You can gain the benefits of a long rest by spending 4 hours drinking, carousing, and taking the occasional blackout nap. You can carouse in this way so long as you consume at least 4 pint’s worth of ale (or equivalent drink), and you are alert and aware of your surroundings while doing so. If you carouse with another creature in this way, you can attempt to learn secrets from it by drinking it under the table. Each hour you spend carousing with a willing creature, make an opposed Constitution check. On a success, that creature answers a question truthfully (even questions it would not normally answer). 

In addition, you can enjoy alcohol as normal but can’t gain the poisoned condition from it.

This feature has no effect on creatures that are immune to the poisoned condition.  

One Eye Open

Your life has been so regularly in danger that you’ve learned to literally sleep with one eye open. You are alert and aware of your surroundings while sleeping during long rests . You can also never be surprised and you gain an expertise die on initiative checks.

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Archetype Feature

At 15th level you gain another archetype feature.

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Martial Legacy

At 18th level, your mastered maneuvers have become as natural as breathing, and you have the opportunity to pass your techniques down to the next generation. By spending 8 hours sparring, you can teach another willing creature a maneuver you have mastered using Maneuver Specialization. A creature must be proficient in at least one combat tradition to learn a maneuver in this way, it can only learn maneuvers of a degree from which it already knows at least one maneuver, this counts against its numbers of maneuvers known.

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Archetype Feature

At 18th level you gain another archetype feature.

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Warmaster

At 20th level, you have become an undisputed master of battle. You gain the following features.

Master of Combat

You master every maneuver you know and any future maneuvers you learn as per Maneuver Specialization. Additionally, choose one maneuver of 3rd degree or less that you know. You are able to use the chosen maneuver without expending any exertion points.

Finishing Blow

You can make spectacular, devastating attacks which inspire awe in those nearby. When you miss with a weapon attack while taking the Attack action, you can choose to hit instead. Alternatively, you can choose to change a hit with a weapon attack into a critical hit, or when you score a critical hit you can choose to deal maximum damage.

All hostile creatures who see your Finishing Blow make a Wisdom saving throw against your maneuver DC or become frightened for 1 minute.

Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest .

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Soldiering Knacks

When you gain access to a new soldiering knack, choose one of the following.

Amphibious Combatant

You gain a swimming speed equal to your Speed, and may spend 1 exertion to reroll a failed Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution check related to aquatic activity (such as Athletics checks to swim, Acrobatics checks to keep balance on a ship’s deck, or Constitution checks to hold your breath). You may choose whether to use the new roll or the original. In addition, you add your proficiency bonus to the number of minutes you can hold your breath before suffocating, and can spend 1 exertion to hold your breath for an additional minutes equal to your proficiency bonus.

Burst of Strength

You have moments of incredible strength. You may spend 1 exertion to add your proficiency bonus to a Strength check, even if you already add your proficiency bonus to the check. 

Campaigner

You have the ability to go for the long haul, carrying heavy equipment across long distances. You double your Strength score when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can lift, push, or drag. You may also add your proficiency bonus to the number of hours you can march before you risk fatigue from a forced march.

Clearsight Sentinel

You gain 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. In addition, you do not suffer disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks in lightly obscured areas (such as in light fog, moderate foliage, or heavy precipitation).

Extreme Leap

When you take the Dash action and make a long jump after moving no less than 20 feet, your jump distance is doubled for the turn. You may spend 1 exertion to triple your jump distance for the turn instead, and may move the full distance of your jump even if it exceeds your Speed.

Mountaineer

You gain a climbing speed equal to your Speed, and may spend 1 exertion to reroll a failed Athletics check to climb, choosing whether to use the new roll or the original. In addition, moving through nonmagical difficult terrain costs you no extra movement.

Nightwatch

You are used to sleeping light and making the most of your rest. When taking a long rest , add your proficiency bonus to the number of hours you can spend in light activity. In addition, one hour of that time can be spent in strenuous activity near the rest site (such as patrolling, fighting, or other adventuring activities) without interrupting your rest.

Stable Footing

A steady stance and careful footwork is instinctive to you. You have advantage on any check or saving throw to avoid falling prone or handle difficult ground (such as against a grease spell or slippery ice). You are never prone after taking fall damage, and when calculating fall damage you treat the fall distance as if it were shorter by a number of feet equal to your proficiency bonus × 10.

Weather Beaten

Exposed to all kinds of weather over your life, you are inured to all but the most deadly effects. You gain advantage on saving throws against cold and hot weather, as well as any adverse effects from wind or precipitation.

 

Secretive Magic

Most druids come from orders and families known as circles that define the powers and philosophies that they hold. Circle druids are particularly secretive due to historical anecdotes of exploitation that caused harm to both humanity and nature. For these druids the decades spent under their elders is not just for the sake of mastery, but also to learn the restraint and ethics necessary for one to responsibly wield the powers of nature.

There are druids that do not learn their magic from circles but rather from nature itself, often stumbling upon their gifts by accident or through the instruction of creatures of nature (such as the fey). While they operate much more openly, these hedge druids often lack the language to describe how their magic works. Most ultimately seek out a circle to join while some continue to develop their understanding independently until they take on apprentices to form a new circle of their own. All druids, regardless of origin, are welcome at cyclical congregations where tips on magic and shapeshifting are shared and matters of importance discussed.

An Unlikely Adventurer

With secrecy being so important to druids many would wonder why they’d embark on an adventuring career—to most adventuring is seen as both a way to master their skills and as the ultimate test of character. Some circles even require their members to have a certain number of years adventuring experience before they can officially become druids. There are also occasions when adventuring is used as a cover for a druid to pursue another mission, often related to the restoration of nature to an area or to seek out the root of an issue plaguing a druid circle.

Creating a Druid

When creating a druid it’s important to ask what first connected them to nature. Were they raised within a druidic circle, taught nature’s lessons by animals or fey, or did they spurn the civilized world? Who was it that taught them the mystical arts? Is there some aspect of nature they’ve become intertwined with or feel they need to protect, or are they merely learning to be a druid to maintain a tradition? What part of being a druid do they like the most, or are most comfortable with?

In addition, ask why your druid has decided to become an adventurer. Is this a pilgrimage of sorts to a sacred location? Are they on a mission? What challenges do they expect to encounter? How different is the environment they are in in comparison to where they grew up? What aspects of adventuring shock them that they will have to learn to adjust to? 

Table: Druid

Level	Proficiency Bonus	Features	Wild Shapes Known	Secrets Known
1st	+2	Druidic Training, Secrets of Nature, Spellcasting	—	2
2nd	+2	Druid Archetype, Nature’s Bond, Wild Shape	3	2
3rd	+2	Natural Demeanor	3	2
4th	+2	Ability Score Increase, Wild Shape Improvement	4	2
5th	+3		4	3
6th	+3	Druid Archetype Feature	5	3
7th	+3	Druidic Lore	5	3
8th	+3	Ability Score Increase, Wild Shape Improvement	6	3
9th	+4	Ferocity or Serenity	6	4
10th	+4	Druid Archetype Feature	7	4
11th	+4	Improved Natural Bond	7	4
12th	+4	Ability Score Increase, Wild Shape Improvement	8	4
13th	+5		8	5
14th	+5	Druid Archetype Feature	9	5
15th	+5	Harmonize or Tyrannize	9	5
16th	+5	Ability Score Increase, Wild Shape Improvement	10	5
17th	+6		10	6
18th	+6	Greater Natural Bond	11	6
19th	+6	Ability Score Increase	11	6
20th	+6	Archdruid, Wild Shape Improvement	12	6

 

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CLASS FEATURES

As a druid, you gain the following class features.

Hit Points

Hit Dice: 1d8 per druid level

Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier

Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per druid level after 1st

Proficiencies

Armor: Light armor, medium armor, shields (you are never proficient with metal armors or shields)

Weapons: Blowguns, clubs, daggers, darts, javelins, maces, quarterstaffs, scimitars, scythes, sickles, slings, spears

Tools: Herbalism kit

Saving Throws: Strength, Wisdom

Skills: Choose two from Arcana, Animal Handling, Insight, Medicine, Perception, Religion, and Survival

Equipment

You begin the game with 115 gold which you can spend on your character’s starting weapons, armor, and adventuring gear. You can select your own gear or choose one of the following equipment packages. Also consult the Suggested Equipment section of your chosen background. 

• Hermit’s Set (Cost 107 gold): Quarterstaff, hide, light shield, herbalism kit, priest’s pack, focus tattoo (nature focus), tent (one person), healer’s satchel
• Forager’s Set (Cost 98 gold): Blowgun with 50 needles, sickle, padded leather, explorer’s pack, healer’s satchel, herbalism kit, ironwood acorn, poisoner’s kit, staff (nature focus)
• Survivor’s Set (Cost 114 gold): 4 javelins, spear, bone breastplate, medium shield, explorer’s pack, hunting trap, totem (nature focus)

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Secrets of Nature

During your druidic training and exploration of nature you pick up several methods of surviving in the wilderness. At 1st level you gain two secrets of nature of your choice, detailed at the end of the class description. The Secrets Known column of the Druid table shows when you learn more secrets of nature.

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Druidic Training

All druids are taught to commune with nature, to become a conduit for natural power, and to maintain the secrets of their druid circle. Also at 1st level, you gain proficiency with Nature, and you learn the druidcraft cantrip (this does not count against your total cantrips known). 

You know Druidic, the secret language of druids. 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.

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Spellcasting

Drawing on the power of nature itself, you can cast spells to shape nature’s essence to your will. See Chapter 11: Spellcasting for the general rules of spellcasting and the Spells Listing for the druid spell list.

Level	Cantrips  Known	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th
1st	2	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2nd	2	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
3rd	2	4	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
4th	3	4	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
5th	3	4	3	2	—	—	—	—	—	—
6th	3	4	3	3	—	—	—	—	—	—
7th	3	4	3	3	1	—	—	—	—	—
8th	3	4	3	3	2	—	—	—	—	—
9th	3	4	3	3	3	1	—	—	—	—
10th	4	4	3	3	3	2	—	—	—	—
11th	4	4	3	3	3	2	1	—	—	—
12th	4	4	3	3	3	2	1	—	—	—
13th	4	4	3	3	3	2	1	1	—	—
14th	4	4	3	3	3	2	1	1	—	—
15th	4	4	3	3	3	2	1	1	1	—
16th	4	4	3	3	3	2	1	1	1	—
17th	4	4	3	3	3	2	1	1	1	1
18th	4	4	3	3	3	3	1	1	1	1
19th	4	4	3	3	3	3	2	1	1	1
20th	4	4	3	3	3	3	2	2	1	1

 

Cantrips

At 1st level, you know two cantrips of your choice from the druid spell list. You learn additional druid cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Druid table.

Preparing and Casting Spells

The Druid table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your druid spells. To cast one of these druid 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 druid spells that are available for you to cast, choosing from the druid spell list. When you do so, choose a number of druid spells equal to your Wisdom modifier + your druid level (minimum of one spell). The spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots.

Casting spells doesn’t remove them from your list of prepared spells.

You can change your list of prepared spells whenever you finish a long rest by meditating for at least 1 minute per spell level for each spell on your list.

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 save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier

Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier

Ritual Casting

You can cast a druid spell as a ritual if that spell has the ritual tag and you have the spell prepared.

Spellcasting Focus

You can use a nature focus as a spellcasting focus for your druid spells.

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Druid Archetype

At 2nd level, you choose a circle of druids to identify with. Your choice grants you features at 2nd level and again at 6th, 10th, and 14th level.

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Wild Shape

At 2nd level, you know 3 wild shapes of your choice for creatures of CR 1/2 or less that have the beast or plant type. You learn additional and more powerful wild shapes of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Wild Shapes Known column of the Druid table.

Whenever you gain a level in this class, you can replace one of the wild shapes you know with a new one.

As an action you can magically assume one of your known wild shapes. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. You regain expended uses when you finish a long rest .

Whenever you use your Wild Shape feature to transform into a creature, you gain a number of temporary hit points equal to 1d4 × the creature’s CR (minimum 1d4).

You can stay in a wild shape for a number of hours equal to your druid level. You then revert to your normal form unless you expend another use of this feature. You can revert to your normal form earlier by using a bonus action on your turn. You automatically revert if you fall unconscious, drop to 0 hit points, or die.

  While you are transformed, the following rules apply:

• Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the creature, except you retain your hit points and Hit Dice, personality, the ability to speak and understand any languages you know, and your Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. You also retain all of your skill and saving throw proficiencies, in addition to gaining those of the creature. If the creature has a higher bonus to a skill or saving throw , you may use the creature’s bonus instead. 
• You gain all of the wild shape’s senses, movement speeds, resistances , immunities , vulnerabilities , traits, actions, and attacks. If you take a Multiattack action of a creature, you cannot make any further attacks that turn, even if another feature would normally allow you to do so.
• While in a wild shape your Armor Class equals 12 + ¼ your druid level (rounded down) as shown on the Wild Shapes table. If your wild shape would have a higher AC, you may use that instead.  
• While in a wild shape you may only cast spells with a range of Self or Touch. You can perform the verbal and somatic components of such spells while in a wild shape and your wild shape itself acts as your spellcasting focus. Transforming doesn’t break your concentration on a spell you’ve already cast, nor does it prevent you from taking actions that are part of a spell, such as call lightning, that you’ve already cast.
• You still retain the benefit of any features from your class, destiny, or culture and can use them if your wild shape is physically capable of doing so. However, you can’t utilize any features gained from your heritage or heritage gift while in a wild shape.
• Any equipment you are wearing or wielding merges into your new form. Equipment that merges with your form has no effect until you leave the form.

Table: Wild Shapes

Level	Max CR	Armor Class	Example
2nd	1/2	12	Ape
4th	1	13	Giant Eagle
8th	2	14	Awakened Tree
12th	3	15	Giant Scorpion
16th	4	16	Elephant
20th	5	17	Triceratops

 

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Nature’s Bond

Also at 2nd level, nature provides you with the ability to summon its minor spirits. As an action, you can expend a use of your Wild Shape feature to cast the find familiar spell, without material components.

The familiar you summon is a fey instead of a beast, and it disappears after a number of hours equal to half your druid level.

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Natural Demeanor

At 3rd level your connection to the natural world comes forth and becomes omnipresent. Choose one of the following:

A Way With Animals

Beasts understand anything you verbally communicate in Druidic, and you can comprehend them in return. The knowledge and awareness of many beasts is limited by their intelligence, but at minimum beasts can give you information about nearby locations and monsters, including whatever they have perceived within the past day. At the Narrator’s discretion, you might be able to persuade a beast to perform a small favor for you. In addition, you gain an expertise die on Animal Handling checks.

First-Hand Naturalist

You’ve learned the intricacies of nature through firsthand experience rather than academic study. 

You gain an expertise die on Nature checks. In addition, you may always choose to use Wisdom when making Nature checks. 

Leyline Awareness

Druidic rituals attune you to the leylines that course through the Material Plane. While you are on the Material Plane, you always know the following information:

Which way is north.

The direction of the nearest forest.

The direction of the nearest natural body of water.

The direction of the nearest city or other humanoid community.

The general health of the local ecosystem, and if anything unnatural or magical is upsetting the natural order.

Scholar of Old Ways

Your circle taught the old magic at the root of all things, granting you eldritch insights beyond mundane arcane studies.

You gain proficiency with Arcana, or if you already have proficiency you instead gain an expertise die on Arcana checks. In addition, you may always choose to use Wisdom when making Arcana checks. 

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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.

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Archetype Feature

At 6th level you gain another archetype feature.

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Druidic Lore

At 7th level, your knowledge of the natural world grows. Choose one of the following:

Druidic Secrets

You’re adept at covertly performing druidic magic without attracting attention. When you cast a druid spell you may choose to do so utilizing silent and subtle Druidic motions and signs in place of both the spell’s seen and vocalized components, gestures that creatures which can speak Druidic are aware of. Once you cast a druid spell in this way, you cannot do so again until you finish a short or long rest .

Toxin Intuition

You are a veteran of nature’s chemical warfare. You automatically know if any flora or fauna is poisonous or venomous. In addition, you gain advantage on checks made to determine if a foodstuff is poisonous and saving throws against poison.

Truthspeaker

You’ve learned to tap into the fundamental truth that connects all things, at least briefly.

You may cast the spell legend lore without expending a spell slot and without material components. Once you cast the spell in this way, you cannot do so again for the next 24 hours.

Waste Not

With 10 minutes work you can scavenge valuable cuts from the corpse of a beast, dragon, monstrosity, or plant that has a CR of 1 or higher and has died within the last hour. If sold to a collector, naturalist, or other druid, this notable component is worth an amount of gold equal to 5 × the creature’s CR.

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Ferocity or Serenity

At 9th level you choose to embrace either the wild savagery of nature or the control you need to protect it. Choose one of the following:

Embraced Ferocity

You gain a +2 bonus on attack rolls you make while in a Wild Shape. In addition, whenever you use Wild Shape to transform into a creature, you gain a number of temporary hit points equal to 1d8 × the creature’s CR (minimum 1d8) instead of 1d4 × CR.

Embraced Serenity

You have advantage on concentration checks made to maintain spells. In addition, as a bonus action you may sacrifice a use of Wild Shape to recover an expended spell slot of 3rd-level or lower, or two uses of your Wild Shape feature to recover an expended spell slot of 6th-level or lower.

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Archetype Feature

At 10th level you gain another archetype feature. 

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Improved Natural Bond

At 11th level your bond has grown and you are able to summon forth far greater nature spirits. As an action, you can expend a use of Wild Shape to cast the conjure animals spell.

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Archetype Feature

At 14th level you gain another archetype feature.

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Harmonize or Tyrannize

At 15th level you choose to harmonize with nature or to harness it. Choose one of the following: 

Harmonize

During a short rest you may choose to meditate and harmonize with your surroundings. If you do, at the end of your rest you attune to the area in a 5-mile radius around you. You magically know what types of creatures are present in your attuned area, their approximate numbers, and if there are any magics disturbing the natural order in your attuned area. While in your attuned area, you have advantage on Nature, Perception, and Survival checks, and blindsight out to a range of 30 feet. Once attuned to an area, you remain attuned for the next 24 hours. You can only attune to one area at a time.     

Tyrannize

You draw upon nature’s power to become a prime example of one of its children. Whenever you assume a wild shape you may choose to assume the apex form of that wild shape. An apex form is one size category larger than the creature’s normal size category (maximum Gargantuan) and any attack made by an apex form wild shape deals an extra 1d8 damage. In addition, while in an apex form wild shape you gain an expertise die on Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution checks and saving throws .

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Greater Natural Bond

At 18th level your bond expands to encompass the Dreaming and you are able to summon any woodland beings. As an action, you can expend a use of Wild Shape to cast the conjure woodland beings spell as if you cast it using a 6th-level spell slot.

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Archdruid

At 20th level, you become an extension of nature. Your Wild Shape has no duration. In addition, when you cast a druid spell you do not need seen or vocalized components, or any material components that have no cost or aren’t consumed by the casting. You gain this benefit in both your normal shape and while using Wild Shape.

You also learn to tap into the intricate ebb and flow of life around you and how to divert it as you see fit. You may cast the spells power word kill and true resurrection without expending a spell slot and without any material components. Once you cast either spell in this way, you cannot do so again until you finish a long rest. 

Finally, you can turn nature in its rawest elements into deadly weapons no matter your form. Once each turn, you can use a bonus action to choose a target point within 30 feet and one of the following element options. If the element you choose is not present at or near the target point, any damage dealt by this feature is halved, you have disadvantage on your spell attack, and creatures have advantage on any saving throws made to resist it.

Air. Each creature within 20 feet of that point must make a Strength saving throw . On a failure, a target takes bludgeoning damage equal to 3d8 + your Wisdom modifier and is flung up 20 feet away from the target point in a random direction and knocked prone . If a thrown target strikes an object, such as a wall or floor, the target takes 1d8 bludgeoning damage. If the target is thrown at another creature, that creature must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw against your spell save DC or it takes the same damage and is knocked prone. If the saving throw is successful, the target takes half the bludgeoning damage and isn’t flung away or knocked prone.

In addition, all ranged attacks within 30 feet of the target point have disadvantage until the beginning of your next turn. 

Earth. Clumps of dirt and stone explode outward. Creatures within 10 feet of the target point take 4d8 bludgeoning damage and are knocked prone . A creature that makes a Strength saving throw against your spell save DC takes half damage is not knocked prone.

Fire. Flames roil outward in a burst of inferno. Creatures within 15 feet of the target point take 6d6 fire damage. A creature that makes a Dexterity saving throw against your spell save DC takes half damage.

Ice. You condense and flash freeze the water from a vast area above you into a massive boulder to drop down with immense force. Make a ranged spell attack against a creature at least 30 feet below the target point. On a hit, the creature takes 4d6 bludgeoning damage and 4d6 cold damage.

In addition, the area in a 20-foot radius around the creature becomes difficult terrain for 1 minute.

Water. You create a 20-foot tall, 20-foot wide wave that travels 30 feet in one direction and then crashes down. Any Large or smaller creatures and objects in the wave’s path make a Strength saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failure, a creature takes 4d8 bludgeoning damage and is carried with the wave. Any creature that succeeds on its saving throw takes no damage and is not moved.

Wood. Splinters appear and fling themselves into flesh and armor alike. Creatures within 20 feet of the target point take 4d6 piercing damage. A creature that makes a Dexterity saving throw against your spell save DC takes half damage.

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Secrets of Nature

When you gain access to a new secret of nature, choose one of the following.

Aerial Surveyor

You are at home soaring at dizzying heights and peering towards the horizon. You can familiarize yourself with a 5-mile radius area around you by spending a minute studying your surroundings while flying or at great heights. Once you familiarize yourself with an area in this way, you gain an expertise die on any Perception or Survival checks you make while outdoors in that area for the next 24 hours, and you cannot familiarize yourself with another area until you finish a long rest . 

Aquatic Delver

You are at home in the depths, able to control your breathing and attune to the subtle movements of the water. You gain a swimming speed equal to your Speed and you add your Wisdom modifier to the number of minutes you can hold your breath before suffocating. In addition, while fully submerged in water you gain blindsight out to a range of 10 feet. 

Cavern Skulker

You’ve grown accustomed to the echoing solitude of vast caverns. You always know the actual direction of any sound you hear regardless of any echoes. In addition, while you are in complete darkness and not deafened you gain blindsight out to a range of 15 feet.

Desert Dweller

Few choose to willingly live where the sun relentlessly burns overhead but you find tranquility amongst the sands. You are naturally acclimatized to hot weather and extremely high temperatures. In addition, while in a desert or similar arid environment you can spend 1 hour scouring the area for food and digging for water to generate 1 Supply. Once you use this feature, you cannot do so again until you finish a long rest . 

Eldritch Survivor

You’ve grown to know the lands twisted by the fey, distorted by magical pollution, or places otherwise warped in unnatural ways. You may make Survival checks in place of Arcana checks regarding magical environments, foodstuffs, and creatures, and gain an expertise die on any checks made this way.

Herbal Apothecary 

Forests and jungles are filled with natural medicines ripe for the picking. You gain an expertise die on checks made using an herbalism kit and checks made to locate herbal ingredients. In addition, whenever you obtain a medicinal or rare herb using an herbalism kit, you gain twice as many medicinals or rare herbs.

Marshland Guide

Bogs and swamps are unpleasant to most but are filled with natural beauty to you. Moving through swamps, bogs, or muddy difficult terrain costs you no extra movement and you cannot become naturally lost while traveling through marshlands. In addition, you ignore the effects of roughing it imposed by resting in wet or swampy environments. 

Master Forager

No matter the brush you always know how to harvest nature’s bounty. You have advantage on checks made to locate or harvest edible flora in the wild and gain twice as many Supply as normal when doing so.

Mountain Climber

You gain a climbing speed equal to your Speed. You gain an expertise die on any Athletics checks made while climbing and you are also acclimated to high altitudes, including elevations above 20,000 feet. In addition, you ignore the effects of roughing it imposed by resting in rocky or uneven terrain.

Tundra Explorer

You embrace the cold of snowbound tundra. You are naturally acclimatized to cold weather and extremely low temperatures, you ignore the disadvantage to Perception checks imposed by blizzards, and you automatically succeed on concentration checks imposed by blizzards. In addition, you ignore the effects of roughing it imposed by resting without warmth in environments of extreme cold.

 

Divine Mission

With divine power at their fingertips clerics can heal the wounded and even revive the dead. Their allies glow with boons wrought from outside the Material Plane, and their enemies fall into shadow and flame as they feel the wrath of almighty forces. These abilities are granted when the cleric is chosen by a greater entity, or even a whole pantheon, to fulfill a divine duty, and more are given as they prove themselves worthy. With expertise in both protection and affliction, clerics are indomitable allies and terrifying foes. When the time calls for it some are just as handy in close quarters with a mace or warhammer as they are at the sidelines with an amulet and divine word. Unlike many spellcasters, a cleric distills their magical ability from acts of devotion and revelations from beyond the pale. Their command over supernatural power stems from their unique connection to forces outside of this realm, and from the mission granted to them.

Revelation

No matter their religion or cause, a cleric is distinct from the average worshiper and even those at the highest echelons of its hierarchy. Rather than simply choosing a spiritual path, they are called to a spiritual duty. Their greater entity has chosen them as a vessel for their will, anointing the cleric with theurgic magic to manifest commands from beyond.

A cleric may receive their divine mission in the fog of a dream, the gentle whispers of nature, or the appearance of an intercessory messenger (such as angelic or demonic beings, a holy animal, or a long-deceased ancestor) after long study of holy texts. The cleric may even have been non-religious until the moment of their calling (and might still consider themselves that way), born with an innate skill or understanding essential to their mission—for them worship is often more in the form of deeds than in prayer or meditation. Their precise goal is shaped by the entity or pantheon they worship and their chosen archetype (and perhaps a discussion with the Narrator). An oracle may be bound to travel the world and distribute word of things to come, whereas a healer may wade into the chaos of battle to rescue the wounded. Whatever their mission, adventure is central to the life of clerics as they perform the extraordinary to fulfill their duty. 

Creating a Cleric

The most important detail for your cleric is their religious identity. Are you a member of a religious or philosophical tradition, or are you non-religious? How did becoming a cleric change your life? As a cleric you are a chosen of a greater entity or pantheon and a religious or ideological leader in some form. Do you have a relationship with the other elders of your faith? Were you appointed to this role, or do you come to your authority by other means?

Having faith is important, but clerics are also the hands and mouthpiece of the power they serve. Many clerics are representatives of kindly and nurturing forces, while others serve wrathful entities whose message strikes the heart with terror. What services or actions make your spiritual leadership? What is the divine message you have to share?

Table: Cleric 

Level	Proficiency Bonus	Features	Signs Known
1st	+2	Cleric Archetype, Defensive Blessing, Sacred Call, Spellcasting	—
2nd	+2	Archetype Feature, Channel Divinity, Principles of Devotion	—
3rd	+2	Signs of Faith	1
4th	+2	Ability Score Increase, Sacred Office	1
5th	+3	Empowered Turning	1
6th	+3	Archetype Feature, Channel Divinity	1
7th	+3	—	2
8th	+3	Ability Score Increase, Archetype Feature, Empowered Turning	2
9th	+4	Sacred Presence	2
10th	+4	Providence	2
11th	+4	Empowered Turning	3
12th	+4	Ability Score Increase	3
13th	+5	—	3
14th	+5	Empowered Turning	3
15th	+5	—	4
16th	+5	Ability Score Increase	4
17th	+6	Archetype Feature, Empowered Turning	4
18th	+6	Channel Divinity	4
19th	+6	Ability Score Increase	4
20th	+6	Avatar of Faith	5

 

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CLASS FEATURES

As a cleric, you gain the following class features.

Hit Points

Hit Dice: 1d8 per cleric level

Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier

Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per cleric level after 1st

Proficiencies

Armor: None

Weapons: Simple weapons

Tools: Choose one from herbalism kit, an artisan tool, or a musical instrument

Saving Throws: Wisdom, and either Intelligence or Charisma

Skills: Choose two from Culture, History, Insight, Medicine, Persuasion, and Religion

Equipment

You begin the game with 125 gold which you can spend on your character’s starting weapons, armor, and adventuring gear. You can select your own gear or choose one of the following equipment packages. Also consult the Suggested Equipment section of your chosen background. 

• Holy Warrior’s Set (Cost 122 gold): Longbow and 20 arrows, mace, scale mail, explorer’s pack, reliquary divine focus (holy symbol)
• Righteous Combat Set (Cost 87 gold): 4 javelin, warhammer, 5 wooden stakes, chain shirt, medium shield, emblem divine focus (holy symbol), explorer’s pack
• Spiritual Protector’s Set (Cost 90 gold): Quarterstaff, 2 flasks of holy water, padded leather, healer’s satchel, amulet divine focus (holy symbol), priest’s pack

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Cleric Archetype

Your holy vocation comes to the fore through your choice of a Cleric Archetype. Choose one of the following archetypes: Healer, Lightbringer, Oracle, or Warpriest. This choice represents how you wish to communicate your values and ideals to the world at large. Although some archetypes lend themselves to a given religion or ideology, each archetype is suitable for most any belief system—even if such a presentation is provocative. Your choice of archetype will likely help inform your character’s goals, desires, and even personality. 

At 1st level you gain archetype spells and other features. Your archetype grants you additional features at 2nd, 6th, 8th, and 17th level.

Archetype Spells

With your archetype you gain access to a list of archetype spells at the levels noted in your archetype description. Once you gain an archetype spell it is always prepared and doesn’t count against the spells you can prepare each day. 

If you gain an archetype spell that is not on the cleric spell list, it is considered a cleric spell for you. 

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Defensive Blessing

Starting at 1st level, the high powers which guide you bestow a modicum of protection for your journey. Choose one of the following options.

Armor of Conviction

While you are not wearing any armor or wielding a shield, your AC equals 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Wisdom modifier.

Also, in addition to the spells you normally prepare, you always have shield of faith prepared.

Sacred Archery 

You gain proficiency with light armor, medium armor, and ranged martial weapons.

Spirit Soldier

You gain proficiency with light armor, medium armor, and shields.

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Sacred Call

Also at 1st level, your clerical vocation anoints you with certain graces for spreading your message to the people. Choose one of the following.

Clerical Charisma

Crowds find your public presence irresistible. You gain proficiency in the Performance skill. Whenever you use Performance to deliver a sermon or to sing holy songs in a town or city, even on a failed check other than a natural 1, you still attract a crowd of people no smaller than your spell save DC.

Ordination

Your mission in the world is supported by the spiritual community or religious hierarchy who called you to religious service. As a formal leader within your religious order, you are expected to perform the ceremonies of your faith, including weddings and funerals. In exchange, members of your faith provide you and your companions with food, lodging, and a modest lifestyle.

Additionally, if your congregation or order is able, they send you letters with regular updates about their well-being. They are willing to help connect you with other chapters of your faith through letters of introduction.

Zeal of the Convert

You enthusiastically see the hand of a greater entity everywhere. You gain advantage on Persuasion checks when you invoke the name of your deity or movement during a conversation with a pious person. If the listener is negatively disposed to your greater entity or movement, you have disadvantage instead.

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Spellcasting

Sanctioned by the highest powers, you can cast spells to enact sacred miracles. See Spells Rules for the general rules of spellcasting and the Spells Listing for the cleric spell list.

Level	Cantrips Known	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th
1st	3	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2nd	3	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
3rd	3	4	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
4th	4	4	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
5th	4	4	3	2	—	—	—	—	—	—
6th	4	4	3	3	—	—	—	—	—	—
7th	4	4	3	3	1	—	—	—	—	—
8th	4	4	3	3	2	—	—	—	—	—
9th	4	4	3	3	3	1	—	—	—	—
10th	5	4	3	3	3	2	—	—	—	—
11th	5	4	3	3	3	2	1	—	—	—
12th	5	4	3	3	3	2	1	—	—	—
13th	5	4	3	3	3	2	1	1	—	—
14th	5	4	3	3	3	2	1	1	—	—
15th	5	4	3	3	3	2	1	1	1	—
16th	5	4	3	3	3	2	1	1	1	—
17th	5	4	3	3	3	2	1	1	1	1
18th	5	4	3	3	3	3	1	1	1	1
19th	5	4	3	3	3	3	2	1	1	1
20th	5	4	3	3	3	3	2	2	1	1

 

Cantrips

At 1st level, you know three cantrips of your choice from the cleric spell list. You learn additional cleric cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Cleric table.

In addition to these, you also know the thaumaturgy cantrip.

Preparing and Casting Spells

The Cleric table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your cleric spells. To cast one of these cleric 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 cleric spells that are available for you to cast, choosing from the cleric spell list. When you do so, choose a number of cleric spells equal to your Wisdom modifier + your cleric level (minimum of one spell). The spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots.

Casting spells doesn’t remove them from your list of prepared spells.

You can change your list of prepared spells whenever you finish a long rest by meditating for at least 1 minute per spell level for each spell on your list.

Spellcasting Ability

Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for your cleric 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 cleric spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.

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

Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier

Ritual Casting

You can cast a cleric spell as a ritual if that spell has the ritual tag and you have the spell prepared. You can also cast the ceremony spell as a ritual whether you have the spell prepared or not.

Spellcasting Focus

You can use a holy symbol as a spellcasting focus for your cleric spells.

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Channel Divinity

At 2nd level, you are able to channel the energy of your greater entity directly, and use it for a variety of magical effects. You start with two of these effects: Turn Undead and an additional effect dependent on your chosen Cleric Archetype. Some archetypes provide additional uses of Channel Divinity as your cleric level increases, detailed under the heading of your chosen archetypes. 

You may choose which Channel Divinity effect to create each time you use this feature. You must then finish a short or long rest before you’re able to Channel Divinity again.

Some Channel Divinity effects require saving throws . The DC for this is the same as your cleric spell save DC.

From 6th level you can use your Channel Divinity twice between rests , and beginning at 18th level you can use it three times between rests. Finishing a short or long rest regains your expended uses.

Channel Divinity: Turn Undead

As an action, you present the holy symbol of your greater entity and speak a divine word, rebuking the undead. Each undead creature within 30 feet that can see or hear you must make a Wisdom saving throw . If the creature fails it is turned for 1 minute or until it takes damage from any source. 

A turned creature must use its turns trying to move as far away from you as possible. It cannot willingly move to a space within 30 feet of you. It also cannot take reactions. On its action, it can use only the Dash action or try to escape any effect that prevents it from moving. If there’s nowhere to move, the creature can use the Dodge action. 

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Principles of Devotion

At 2nd level, after much contemplation and communion with your greater entity, you pledge to uphold certain standards of behavior beyond what is necessary for adventure. In return, your greater entity grants you one of the following related boons. When you fail to uphold this pledge, you lose any benefits from it until 24 hours after you finish a long rest and rededicate yourself.

Chaste

In exchange for forgoing pleasures of the heart and flesh, you are hardened to the persuasions of others. Add your Wisdom modifier to any saving throws made to resist being charmed . You also gain one skill specialty chosen from Insight, Persuasion, or Religion.

Destitute

In exchange for forgoing material luxury, vendors who are not explicitly opposed to your greater entity are compelled to give you heavy discounts of up to 20%, and inkeeps offer free lodging.

Devotional Integrity

You adhere to a strict code of morality and ethics. When an action you take is honest and non-violent, until the end of your turn you are immune to the rattled condition and you do not suffer disadvantage or penalties on Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma checks made as part of that action.

Image of the Divine

You exhibit a uniform, makeup, tattoo, or body modification indicating your higher entity or religious order. Creatures have advantage when discerning your religious identity. You gain advantage on saving throws against fear and ability checks made against Intimidation. You also gain one skill specialty chosen from Insight, Intimidation, or Persuasion.

Merciful

In exchange for forgoing bloodshed—torture, attacking unconscious creatures, and dealing lethal wounds to creatures you reduce to 0 hit points—you are yourself granted mercy. When you have already succeeded on two death saving throws , you have advantage on death saving throws.

Rule of Ritual

You make formal religious observances and perform ritual timekeeping. You can spend 1 hour during a long rest to make these observances, and if you do you only need 4 hours of sleep instead of the normal 6. You learn the guidance cantrip if you do not already know it, and when you grant expertise dice with a spell of 1st-level or higher, the expertise die you grant increases by one step.

Secrecy

Your mission from your deity requires you to work undercover, concealing your true self with a secret identity. In exchange for forgoing the pleasure of true connection and friendship, you gain an expertise die on Deception checks.

Severity

In exchange for forgoing weaknesses such as helping or protecting others (except when it serves you), you add your Wisdom modifier to Perception checks made to find valuable objects, and on opposed checks made against the Persuasion check of another creature.

Silence

In exchange for speaking only to cast spells, you are able to compel other creatures to action with only a glance. When a creature within 10 feet of you makes a Persuasion check, you may add your Wisdom modifier to the result.

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Archetype Feature

At 2nd level you gain another archetype feature.

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Signs of Faith

At 3rd level, you gain a sign of faith of your choice. Signs of faith are detailed at the end of your class description. The Signs Known column of the Cleric table shows when you gain new signs. 

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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.

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Sacred Office

Also at 4th level, your mission has taken root and is known through much of the land, conveying rumors both good and ill about your deeds. Choose one of the following. 

Auspicious Collaborator

The higher powers you are attuned to have witnessed your deeds and bestowed upon you a quality of worthiness. Your requests for aid are perceived as opportunities for partnership rather than impositions.

People of all backgrounds are more drawn to help you than they would ordinarily be. You gain one specialty chosen from Culture or Persuasion, and you gain an expertise die on Persuasion checks related to seeking aid.

Divine Authority

Your connection to religious hierarchy opens many doors. Sermons you give and courtesy calls you make to different religious groups put you in contact with a local representative of your faith, who is happy to strongly recommend you to another local leader. You gain one specialty chosen from Culture, Insight, or Persuasion. In addition, you gain an expertise die on Culture, Insight, and Persuasion checks made against local leaders to whom you are recommended that would otherwise be indifferent towards you.

Engaging Proclaimer

Your recitations of divine stories, songs, or chants quickly build and hold an audience’s attention, whether you are speaking to a packed tavern or a smaller gathering. You gain an expertise die on Performance checks to gather and hold the attention of 2 or more people. In addition, you gain two skill specialties, chosen from Performance and Religion.

Reputation

Your reputation for talented ministry and good works precedes you. Common folk frequently recognize you on sight, and those who do often have a friendly disposition towards you. They often ask you for counsel, favors, and blessings. The disposition of people they introduce you to are one stage better than normal (the indifferent become friendly, the hostile become indifferent).

Symbol of Might

The strength of the powers you serve is obvious to anybody you interact with, and you are able to use it to garner a certain level of fear and compliance. You gain one Intimidation specialty, and you gain an expertise die on Intimidation checks made to convince others to comply with your demands. The people you intimidate are no longer friendly towards you, if they were previously. 

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Empowered Turning

At 5th level your greater entity grants you improved ways to turn undead or other abhorrent beings. You gain this feature again at 8th, 11th, 14th, and 17th level. Each time you gain Empowered Turning, choose one of the following:

Command Undead

If you choose, creatures you turn instead regard you as their master for the duration. While they are under this effect, you may use your action to issue simple commands (no more than a sentence or two) which they are compelled to obey. They will not take any action that is obviously harmful to them, and so will not leap from a great height, jump onto a sword, or purposefully self-inflict any damage. They follow the command until you issue a new one.

Destroy Undead

Creatures turned by you of CR ½ or less are immediately destroyed, transformed into dust by a blinding flash of light. You can select this option multiple times. Each time you choose it, you are able to destroy more powerful creatures, progressing to CR 1, CR 2, CR 3, and then CR 4 each subsequent time you select this option. 

Turn Ideology

Choose one of the following: Chaotic, Evil, Good, or Lawful. When you use Turn Undead, you can also choose to affect creatures with the chosen alignment trait. You can select this option multiple times.

Turn Supernatural

Choose a creature type from celestial, elemental, fey, or fiend. When you use Turn Undead, you can also choose to affect creatures of that type. You can select this option multiple times.

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Archetype Feature

At 6th level you gain another archetype feature.

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Archetype Feature

At 8th level you gain another archetype feature.

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Sacred Presence

At 9th level, you bring the true presence of your ideals wherever you go. Choose one of the following.

Cosmic Idealist

Your moral compass aligns with the transcendent forces of the multiverse. Choose Chaotic, Evil, Good, Lawful, or one of the following: Chaotic and Evil, Chaotic and Good, Lawful and Evil, or Lawful and Good. You gain the chosen alignment trait or alignment traits. You can identify creatures that have the same alignment traits as you, and you have advantage when making Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma checks against them.

Additionally, you do not suffer negative effects from being on a plane with which you share an alignment trait.

Eyes of the Heart

You have a way of really seeing folk’s inner character. When you succeed on a contested Insight check, if the opposing creature’s Charisma score is equal to or less than your spell save DC, for the next 24 hours you do not need to make any further checks to recognize whenever that creature is lying, telling the truth, or excluding information. 

Spiritual Salve

Your spiritual mindset has given you unique insights that can help you and your companions endure hardships. Your constant encouragements and proverbs allow allies within 30 feet of you to reroll a Constitution check or saving throw that they fail. If they do so, they must use the new roll. This feature cannot be used on saving throws made to maintain concentration on a spell. Once a creature has used your Spiritual Salve to make a reroll, it cannot do so again until it has finished a long rest .

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Providence

At 10th level, the potency of your faith increases. Choose one of the following.

Divine Intervention 

Beginning at 10th level, you can use an action to call on your deity to intervene on your behalf when your need is great. Describe the assistance you seek and roll percentile dice. If you roll a number equal to or lower than your cleric level, your deity intervenes. The Narrator chooses the nature of the intervention; the effect of any cleric spell or cleric archetype spell would be appropriate. If your deity intervenes, you can't use this feature again for 7 days. Otherwise, you can use it again after you finish a long rest . 

After each failed divine intervention roll, add 1 to the number required to succeed until it is a success, at which point it resets to your cleric level or below.

At 20th level, your call for intervention succeeds automatically, no roll required.

Imminent Turning 

A powerful connection to the life force of your greater entity extends the range of your Turn Undead. You may now Turn Undead from up to 60 feet away.

Master Ritualist 

Careful study of your holy texts has made you intimately familiar with all of your ritual spells. You may cast any ritual spell on the cleric spell list you could cast as a ritual, whether or not you have it prepared. 

Prayer of Protection

After each long rest choose one damage type from the following list: cold, fire, force, lightning, necrotic, psychic, radiant, or thunder. You gain resistance to this damage type until the end of your next long rest . 

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Archetype Feature

At 17th level you gain another archetype feature.

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Avatar of Faith       

At 20th level, your secret inner divinity is finally revealed. You can use your Channel Divinity to become a conduit of the divine, flooding the world around you with the unfettered power of the Moral Planes. Once you have used either of these options, you cannot use that option again until you finish a long rest .

Channel Negative Energy

You can use an action to evoke baleful energy from the Lower Planes to harm creatures you are able to see. You choose the creatures. Each creature makes a Charisma saving throw or takes 5d10 force damage and 5d10 necrotic damage, or half damage on a success. 

When you use this feature, you also choose one of the following conditions: blinded , confused , deafened , frightened , poisoned , rattled , or slowed . A creature that failed its saving throw also gains the chosen condition. At the end of each of its turns, a creature can repeat the saving throw to end the effect on itself.

In addition, you can choose any number of creatures you can see that have the Evil alignment trait. Each regains 5d10 hit points.

Channel Positive Energy

You can use an action to evoke energy from the Upper Planes to heal creatures you are able to see. You choose the creatures and divide 200 hit points of healing among them.

A creature that regains hit points from this feature is also healed of one level of fatigue and one level of strife , and if it is blinded , charmed , confused , deafened , doomed , frightened , paralyzed , petrified , poisoned , rattled , slowed , or stunned those conditions end for it. This feature cannot be used on undead or constructs.

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Signs of Faith

When you gain access to a new sign of faith, choose one of the following.

Ancestral Guidance

In addition to the spells you normally prepare, you always have speak with dead prepared, and you can use this feature to cast it once between long rests without spending a spell slot. When you do so, you do not have to target a corpse; you can also target a grave marker, memorial, statue, painting, or other depiction of the deceased creature you wish to talk to. If the chosen creature is not dead, or if such a creature never existed in the first place, the spell fails.

Compassionate Nurse

Your insight and sympathy more than make up for your lack of formal medical training. You gain an expertise die on Medicine checks. In addition, you may always choose to use Wisdom when making Medicine checks.

Faithful Historian

You have a deep relationship with religious history and art. You gain an expertise die on History checks. In addition, you may always choose to use Wisdom when making History checks.

Gentle Healer

During a short rest , you can spend uses from your healer’s satchel to aid your allies in their recovery. A creature you choose may roll expended Hit Dice twice, taking the higher result. You may not expend your own Hit Dice while using this feature, since you use all of your energies to heal your companions.

Graceful Fall

Falling from a height greater than 30 feet causes your greater entity to intervene. You are protected as if by the feather fall spell. This sign does not use your reaction. 

Monastic Austerity

Your greater entity acts as a buffer to shield you from hardship or your religious self-discipline sustains you even during harsh times. Preventing the first level of fatigue you would take each day.

Numinous Awareness

When you see a creature that appears to be a beast, you automatically recognize whether it is a celestial, fiend, or fey. You have advantage on Arcana and Medicine checks made to interact with magical wounds and maladies caused by celestials, fiends, and fey.

Premonition

You have the ability to interpret messages sent to you in dreams or visions by your greater entity. After each long rest you know either:

- a piece of information that will help you in your endeavours before the end of your next long rest,

- or, how one action will play out before the end of your next long rest. Roll a d20. Before the end of your next long rest, you may choose to replace any roll made by a creature that you can see within 30 feet of you with the result of this d20 roll.

The Narrator lets you know which benefit is available whenever you finish a long rest.

Preservation

Your connection to a greater entity allows you to sense poison or disease in food, drink, or other consumables. You must have had direct contact with them or their container in order to sense this corruption.

Righteous Path

Divine intuition guides you through the tangled paths of constructed or inhabited areas without confusion. Once per day you may choose to walk the Righteous Path for 1 hour. While walking the Righteous Path, you are aware when enemies are within 60 feet of you, and you know if backtracking or alternate routes could avoid them. You can also use an action to sense if there are traps within 30 feet, but not the location or nature of the traps.

Soothing Words

Your divinely-inspired counsel and wise advice can calm troubled minds. You may reduce one ally’s strife by one level. Once you use this feature, you cannot do so again until you finish a long rest . 

Supernal Intuition

Choose a creature type from fiend, fey, celestial, elemental, or undead. You know when a creature of this type is within 60 feet of you, although you do not know its location. Nondetection protects against this feature. You may select this sign multiple times, choosing a different creature type each time.

Theologian

Years of devoted learning have given you a deep understanding regarding the evolution of religion, theology, and the figures involved. You gain an expertise die on Religion checks. In addition, you may always choose to use Wisdom when making Religion checks.

Voice of Doom

Your personal knowledge of divine wrath and the end times make your proclamations utterly chilling. You gain an expertise die on Intimidation checks. In addition, you may always choose to use Wisdom when making Intimidation checks.

More Than Vocal

The most important part of playing a bard is knowing your party’s strengths and weaknesses. For the most part understanding what your team lacks is beneficial to someone who is an actual jack-of-all-trades. Bards offer fantastic support to all the other classes either as a backup healer, a secondary spell slinger, or a magician with great utility. However when on their own and in the right company, bards can easily outshine others in both magic, combat, and social interactions—but be warned for a jack-of-all-trades is a master of none, and not focusing on particular aspects of adventuring can spread a bard quite thin.

Music Makes the World Go Round

It is said that if one’s name is taken in song that they can never truly die, and so it is the bard’s purpose to immortalize in their art the adventures they experience. From a tossed coin to the symphony of the greatest goblin, bards across the land can influence the world around them with the power of their song. History is written by the winners, but rebellions can be sparked by the single twang of a lute.

Creating a Bard

Being a bard is more than just grabbing a musical instrument and strumming alongside the party. Your job—outside of basically being the lifeline of everyone’s livelihood—is to tell the tales of adventure and valor from the perspective of someone who lived them. Are you doing it so you can tell the specific tales of a specific person? Are you on the hunt for something grander than other people have found? Or have you foreseen the course of current events and noticed that a pivotal moment shall come with the actions of a few good adventurers, so you join them hoping to become something greater? 

Always remember however that of all things your reputation is what makes you stronger, be it good or bad. Not many can work wonders amongst the people of your world like you can.

Level	Proficiency Bonus	Features	Battle Hymns	Tricks Known
1st	+2	Art Speciality, Bardic Inspiration, Battle Hymn, Spellcasting	1	—
2nd	+2	Adventuring Tricks, Jack-of-All-Trades, Varied Expertise	1	1
3rd	+2	Bard Archetype Feature	1	1
4th	+2	Ability Score Increase, Bardic Legend (1st), Battle Hymn Focus	2	1
5th	+3	Bardic Inspiration (d8), Font of Inspiration, Key Change	2	1
6th	+3	Bard Archetype Feature, Prestigious, Varied Expertise	2	2
7th	+3	Bardic Legend (2nd), Maestro	3	2
8th	+3	Ability Score Increase, Battle Hymn Specialization	3	2
9th	+4	Bard Archetype Feature	3	3
10th	+4	Bardic Inspiration (d10), Varied Expertise	4	3
11th	+4	Art Mastery, Bardic Legend (3rd)	4	3
12th	+4	Ability Score Increase, Battle Hymn Specialization	4	3
13th	+5	Universal Trick	5	4
14th	+5	Bard Archetype Feature, Varied Expertise	5	4
15th	+5	Bardic Inspiration (d12) Bard Archetype Feature	5	4
16th	+5	Ability Score Increase, Universal Trick	6	5
17th	+6	Art Mastery, Grand Battle Hymn	6	5
18th	+6	Varied Expertise	6	5
19th	+6	Ability Score Increase, Universal Trick	7	5
20th	+6	Virtuoso	8	6

 

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CLASS FEATURES

As a bard, you gain the following class features.

Hit Points

Hit Dice: 1d8 per bard level

Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier

Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per bard level after 1st

Proficiencies

Armor: Light armor

Weapons: Simple weapons, hand crossbows, longswords, rapiers, shortswords

Tools: Two musical instruments of your choice, or 1 musical instrument and any other tool

Saving Throws: Dexterity, Charisma

Skills: Choose any three

Equipment

You begin the game with 135 gold which you can spend on your character’s starting weapons, armor, and adventuring gear. You can select your own gear or choose one of the following equipment packages. Also consult the Suggested Equipment section of your chosen background.

• Agitator Set (Cost 110 gold): Dagger, hand crossbow with 20 crossbow bolts, padded cloth, entertainer’s pack, flute
• Ambassador Set (Cost 91 gold): Longsword, shortbow with 20 arrows, padded leather, diplomat’s pack, violin

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Art Speciality

No bard is complete without their instrument. Be it a flute, a lute, or even your own voice, starting at 1st level you learn how to make art your greatest weapon for influencing the battlefield. For the purposes of spellcasting, any musical instrument that you have proficiency with counts as a spell focus. Although spells can be cast without these instruments, only targets that are able to perceive your performance can benefit from this feature. Whenever you finish a short or long rest , choose one of the following to be your Art Specialty.

Percussion (Casabas, Castanets, Drums, Maracas). Any instrument played by being struck or scraped (either by other instruments or against each other) qualifies as a percussion instrument. When using this musical art as a spell focus, you double the ranges of bard spells from the sound school. A sound spell that has a range of touch increases its range to 30 feet.

String Instruments (Harp, Lute, Lyre, Violin, Dulcimer). String instruments are played by plucking and twanging strings. When using this musical art as a spell focus, whenever you cast a bard spell from the movement or teleportation school you can target an additional creature within 15 feet of you.

Visual (Calligraphy, Dance, Light Manipulation, Shapes). There are many ways to undertake a visual performance whether through illustration, illusion magic, or legerdemain. When using this art as a spell focus, whenever you cast a bard spell you may choose to make an ally able to see you the point of origin of that spell. You must be able to see any targets of the spell.

Voice (Humming, Insults, Oration, Singing). When using this musical art as a spell focus, you have advantage on checks made to maintain concentration on a bard spell.

Wind Instruments (Flute, Horn, Ocarina, Trombone, Bagpipes). Any instrument played by passing air through it qualifies as a wind instrument. When using this musical art as a spell focus, whenever you cast a bard spell you can make a Deception or Performance check. Any observers with a passive Insight score equal to or less than the result of your check do not see or hear you cast the spell. Once you have used this feature three times, you cannot do so again until you finish a long rest.

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Bardic Inspiration

You have a preternatural ability to inspire those around you. You can use a bonus action to choose one creature other than yourself within 60 feet of you who can hear or see you. That creature gains one Bardic Inspiration die, a d6.

Once within the next 10 minutes, the creature can roll the die and add the number rolled to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw it makes. The creature can wait until after it rolls the d20 before deciding to use the Bardic Inspiration die, but must decide before the Narrator says whether the roll succeeds or fails. Once the Bardic Inspiration die is rolled, it is lost. A creature can have only one Bardic Inspiration die at a time.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum once). You regain any expended uses when you finish a long rest .

At 5th level your Bardic Inspiration die increases to d8, at 10th level it increases to d10, and at 15th level it increases to d12.

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Battle Hymn

Like music, battle can be wild and chaotic, and through the sensible use of formula and talent order can be brought with a dedicated change of tune. At 1st level, you learn a battle hymn. It can be expressed in any way you like—a special leitmotif in your music, a change in pitch, or even a more advanced version of your favorite art.

Once at the start of your turn, you can activate a battle hymn by expending a use of Bardic Inspiration (no action is required). Performing a battle hymn requires your concentration, as though you were casting a spell. Once activated, a battle hymn continues until you lose concentration or the start of your next turn.

The number of battle hymns you know are listed in the Battle Hymns Known column of the Bard table. Whenever you gain a bard level, you may swap one battle hymn you know for a new battle hymn.

Audience. Unless stated otherwise a battle hymn does not have a target until you choose one, and each targets a single creature within 30 feet. You may choose to target a creature at any point, but after targeting a battle hymn its target cannot be changed.

Sustained Song. When you have an activated battle hymn but have not chosen a creature to benefit from it yet, at the start of your turn when it would end you can instead choose to sustain the battle hymn until the start of your next turn without expending a use of Bardic Inspiration.

Table: Battle Hymns

Bard Level	Battle Hymn
1st–4th	Harmony of Pain. The creature gains a number of temporary hit points equal to your Bardic Inspiration die. Overbearing Rhythm. An attacker targeting the creature has disadvantage on its attack roll. Song of Clarity. At the start of the creature’s turn, if it is not at 0 hit points the creature may expend and roll one of its hit dice to regain hit points.
5th–8th	Bastions of Justice. The creature gains a bonus to saving throws equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum +1). Call to Arms. The creature can roll one additional weapon damage die on its weapon attacks. If the creature makes weapon attacks on its next turn and misses, you can sustain this battle hymn without expending a use of Bardic Inspiration. Placid Tones. The creature gains an expertise die on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma checks.
9th–12th	Heaven’s Blessing. When the creature benefits from your Bardic Inspiration, it rolls the Bardic Inspiration die twice and uses the higher result. Ode of Blood. If the creature is dying, it continues making death saving throws but stops being incapacitated for up to 3 rounds. The creature becomes incapacitated if it takes any damage, and it dies if it fails its last death saving throw. Once a creature has benefited from this battle hymn, it can’t benefit from it again until it finishes a short or long rest. Willful Serenade.  Until the end of the combat, the creature ignores up to 4 levels of fatigue or strife it is suffering from (how much of each to ignore is determined by the creature).
13th–16th	Doomsayer. The creature takes a –1d8 penalty on attack rolls. Onward to Battle. The creature gains a 40 foot increase to Speed. Rise and Fight. A dying creature regains hit points equal to your Bardic Inspiration die. Once a creature has benefited from this battle hymn, it can’t benefit from it again until it finishes a long rest .
17th–20th	Bring Low the Foe. The creature takes a –1d8 penalty on saving throws. In addition, it is rattled for 1d4 rounds after the battle hymn ends. Carry the Spirit. The creature gains advantage on saving throws . Inspiring Crescendo. The creature gains a 1d6 expertise die on ability checks. Unlike normal, this expertise die can be as high as a d12.

 

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Spellcasting

You have developed a talent for creating magic through artistic expression, whether that be a melody made enchanted or a dance that unlocks power from beyond the mortal realms. 

Level	Cantrips Known	Spells Known	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th
1st	2	4	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2nd	2	5	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
3rd	2	6	4	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
4th	3	7	4	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
5th	3	8	4	3	2	—	—	—	—	—	—
6th	3	9	4	3	3	—	—	—	—	—	—
7th	3	10	4	3	3	1	—	—	—	—	—
8th	3	11	4	3	3	2	—	—	—	—	—
9th	3	12	4	3	3	3	1	—	—	—	—
10th	4	13	4	3	3	3	2	—	—	—	—
11th	4	14	4	3	3	3	2	1	—	—	—
12th	4	15	4	3	3	3	2	1	—	—	—
13th	4	16	4	3	3	3	2	1	1	—	—
14th	4	17	4	3	3	3	2	1	1	—	—
15th	4	18	4	3	3	3	2	1	1	1	—
16th	4	19	4	3	3	3	2	1	1	1	—
17th	4	20	4	3	3	3	2	1	1	1	1
18th	4	21	4	3	3	3	3	1	1	1	1
19th	4	22	4	3	3	3	3	2	1	1	1
20th	4	23	4	3	3	3	3	2	2	1	1

 

Cantrips

At 1st level, you know two cantrips of your choice from the bard spell list. You learn additional bard cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Bard table.

Spell Slots

The Bard table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your spells of 1st-level and higher. To cast one of these bard 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 four 1st-level spells of your choice from the bard spell list.

The Spells Known column of the Bard table shows when you learn more bard spells of your choice. Each of these spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots. For instance, when you reach 3rd level in this class, you can learn one new spell of 1st- or 2nd-level.

Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the bard spells you know and replace it with another spell from the bard spell list, which also must be of a level for which you have spell slots.

Ritual Casting

You can cast any bard spell you know as a ritual if it has the ritual tag.

Spellcasting Ability

Charisma is your spellcasting ability for your bard spells, as your magic is fueled by how you express your inner self upon the world. 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 bard 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 

Spellcasting Focus

You can use an arcane focus or Art Speciality as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells.

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Adventuring Tricks

Even when abroad you are most at home when surrounded by those who love you—or at least tolerate you. At 2nd level you learn one adventuring trick of your choice. Adventuring tricks are detailed at the end of the class description. The Adventuring Tricks Known column of the Bard table shows when you learn more adventuring tricks.

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Jack-of-All-Trades

Starting at 2nd Level, whenever you make an ability check with a skill or tool you are not proficient with, you add half your proficiency bonus (rounded down).

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Varied Expertise

Also at 2nd level, choose one skill or tool you are proficient with. You gain an expertise die on checks made using the chosen skill or tool. At 6th level, and again at 10th, 14th, and 18th level, choose an additional skill or tool.

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Bard Archetype

At 3rd level you choose exactly what kind of bard you want to be: a loremaster, minstrel, mountebank, or warchanter. Your choice grants you features at 3rd level and again at 6th and 14th level.

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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 increase two ability scores of your choice 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.

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Bardic Legend

No one is a true artist until others appreciate their work. Through the course of your career as a bard your talent can attract to your doorstep both the most curious of fans and also the vilest of enemies. 

At 4th level you write a bardic tale of your adventures. Your bardic legend takes whatever form you like. When you enter a settlement and spend a day playing or recounting the tale, the reputation of you and your allies starts to grow. In addition to receiving local quests suited to the exploits detailed in your bardic legend, when you rest in a settlement that knows your bardic legend you and your allies regain all spent Hit Dice over the course of a long rest . In addition, you gain an expertise die on Prestige checks made in the settlement.

Starting at 7th level, you craft a second bardic legend. Commoners are either more amenable or afraid of you depending on the type of bardic legend you create. Choose one of the following skills: Deception, Insight, Intimidation, or Persuasion. You gain advantage on checks made using the chosen skill against any commoner that has heard your bardic legend.

Beginning at 11th level, you craft a third bardic legend that is able to spawn other tales. Whenever you enter a settlement, you can name a new bardic legend of your choice. Allies that are part of the tale gain inspiration when they finish a long rest in that settlement. Any other creatures that are part of that tale have their reputations ruined—either they confront you directly to stop the rumor, or they are unable to hide or deal in that town for the length of time you are in it. Once you have used this feature in a settlement, you cannot do so again until you finish a long rest .

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Battle Hymn Focus

Also at 4th level, as soon as battle commences your mind focuses on inspiring your allies. At the end of another creature’s turn, you can use your reaction to activate a battle hymn. This battle hymn replaces any currently activated battle hymns. Replacing an activated battle hymn does not require expending a use of Bardic Inspiration if it has no target yet.

In addition, choose one of the following.

• Your battle hymns no longer require concentration .
• Your battle hymns can affect a number of additional creatures equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum 1).
• You learn an additional battle hymn that does not count against the number of battle hymns you can know. When choosing this battle hymn, you are treated as having 4 more bard levels for the purpose of meeting its prerequisites. If you change this Battle Hymn Focus, you forget the additional battle hymn.

Whenever you gain a bard level, you may change your Battle Hymn Focus.

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Font of Inspiration

Starting at 5th level, you regain all expended uses of Bardic Inspiration whenever you finish a short rest .

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Key Change

Also at 5th level, you can use a bonus action to switch instruments and change your Art Speciality. Once you have used this feature, you cannot do so again until you finish a short or long rest .

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Prestigious

Beginning at 6th level, you cannot help but draw attention and spread your reputation. Your Prestige rating increases by an amount equal to half your proficiency bonus. When you reach 11th level, your Prestige rating instead increases by an amount equal to your proficiency bonus.

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Archetype Feature

At 6th level you gain another archetype feature.

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Maestro

At 7th level you become so perfect in your craft that your style begins to bleed over into all your other workings. Choose one type of Art Speciality. You always gain the benefits of that Art Speciality no matter what instrument or art you are using.

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Battle Hymn Specialization

At 8th level, the energy and focus you bring to battle make your presence in combat a crucial factor for victory. The range of your battle hymns increases to 60 feet. 

In addition, choose one of the following.

• You can expend 2 uses of Bardic Inspiration to activate two Battle Hymns at the same time. Losing concentration or changing battle hymns deactivates both.
• Pick three spells of 4th-level or lower that have only vocalized components. These spells may be from any class spell list. You may spend 2 uses of Bardic Inspiration to cast one of the chosen spells at the start of your turn with no action required (instead of activating a battle hymn).
• When you expend a use of Bardic Inspiration to activate a battle hymn, you may also grant a Bardic Inspiration die to a creature within 60 feet.

Whenever you gain a bard level, you may change your Battle Hymn Specialization.

At 12th level, you gain a second Battle Hymn Specialization.

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Art Mastery

At 11th level, the use of your art specialty has transcended into something beyond majestic. You gain one of the following art masteries. At 17th level, you gain an additional art mastery.

Percussion: Rolling Rhythm. You can throw a spell’s magic, rebounding it from one place to another. When using this musical art as a spell focus, if you cast a spell that targets only one creature, you can target an additional creature within range of the first (as if it were casting the spell). Once you have used this feature a number of times equal to half your proficiency bonus, you can’t do so again until you finish a short rest .

String Instruments: Melody for All. The melodies you pluck spread like gusts of wind. You gain a number of melody charges equal to your Charisma modifier, which you regain whenever you finish a long rest . When using this musical art as a spell focus, if you cast a spell that targets only one creature you can spend a melody charge to target an additional creature within the spell’s range. 

Visual: Dual Masterpiece. Your magic resonates through the air. When using this musical art as a spell focus, after casting a bard spell that used an ally as its point of origin on your last turn, if you cast the same spell normally its spell level increases by 2. Once you have used this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.

Voice: Everlasting Song. The spells you cast resound upon themselves. When concentrating on a bard spell, you automatically succeed on checks made to maintain concentration while you are using this musical art as a spell focus.

Wind Instruments: Perfect Pitch. While using this musical art as a spell focus, you gain advantage on Deception and Performance checks to conceal the casting of bard spells.

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Universal Trick

Whether from watching your fellow adventurers work, from tales of your predecessors, or simply because you are just that talented, you have taken to adopting the techniques of your peers. 

At 13th level, and again at 16th and 19th level, you learn a developed talent from the berserker class, a sign of faith from the cleric class, a soldiering knack from the fighter class, or an elective study from the wizard class. You may only learn one Universal Trick from any individual class.

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Archetype Feature

At 14th level you gain another archetype feature.

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Grand Battle Hymns

At 17th level, you master one of three grand battle hymns that can shake the firmament with arcane power. Choose one of the following grand battle hymns. Once you have used your grand battle hymn, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest .

Beyond the Grave. All allies within 60 feet of you that are bloodied or unconscious are restored to half their maximum hit points. In addition, each is healed of up to 3 levels of fatigue . 

Magic Never Dies. Allies within 30 feet of you regain up to 5 levels of spell slots, or if they have no spell slots, gain 30 temporary hit points.

Taste of Victory. Allies within 30 feet of you gain a blessing of victory that remains for up to 24 hours or until it is expended. A blessing of victory can be expended while rolling a d20 to gain advantage on an attack roll or opposed ability check. 

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Virtuoso

At 20th level, your capacity for drawing a crowd reaches dizzying new heights. As an action, you can expend a use of Bardic Inspiration to start an epic performance that lasts for 1d4 rounds. During that time, you can choose up to 50 creatures that are within 120 feet of you. Each creature able to hear or see your Epic Performance makes a Charisma saving throw against your bard spell save DC. If a creature fails its saving throw, it is charmed by you for the duration plus 6 days, or until you or your companions do anything harmful to it. A charmed creature regards you as a friendly acquaintance. 

The performance ends early if you are incapacitated or silenced , or if you voluntarily end it (no action required). At the end of the duration, you can expend an additional use of Bardic Inspiration to extend the duration by 1d4 rounds. 

When your Epic Performance lasts at least 1 minute, at the end of the duration you can target each charmed creature as if using the mass suggestion spell cast at 9th-level. Creatures do not make saving throws to resist this effect. The commands you give a charmed creature are not obvious, and other creatures must make a Wisdom (Insight) check opposed by your Charisma (Performance) check to understand that you are doing anything more than giving a performance. You can give each creature its own set of commands, but can only give out 6 different sets of commands.

Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest .

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Adventuring Tricks

When you gain access to a new adventuring trick, choose one of the following.

Bewitching Companion

Choose one skill you are proficient with. You gain an expertise die on checks made using the chosen skill. 

In addition, you gain an expertise die on checks made to influence anyone accompanying you on a journey.

Brutish Confrontation

Choose one skill you are proficient with. You gain an expertise die on checks made using the chosen skill. 

In addition, you gain advantage on ability checks made to prepare an ambush.

Improvised Engineering

You gain proficiency with Engineering. If you are already proficient with Engineering, you instead gain an expertise die . In addition, you gain advantage on Engineering checks made to build a temporary construction (such as a bridge or ladder) and shore up existing structures (like the wall of a collapsing building).

Marching Song

You know how to inspire and motivate your companions as they travel. Allies within 30 feet of you travel 1 mile per hour faster than normal. Your party cannot use Stealth while traveling in this manner.

Profitable

You gain proficiency with Performance. If you are already proficient with Performance, you instead gain an expertise die . Whenever you make a Performance check to earn coins, you gain twice as much as normal.

Resonance

Choose one skill you are proficient with. You gain an expertise die on checks made using the chosen skill.

In addition, when either you or a companion casts a ritual spell, its duration is doubled and it affects twice the usual number of targets.

Sly Confidant

Choose one skill you are proficient with. You gain an expertise die on checks made using the chosen skill. 

In addition, when you succeed on an opposed Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma check, you gain advantage on your next opposed Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma check against the same creature.

Song of Rest

Any creatures able to perceive you performing your art while taking a short rest and rolling Hit Dice regain an additional 1d8 hit points.

Showoff

Choose one skill you are proficient with. You gain an expertise die on checks made using the chosen skill. 

In addition, when you succeed on an Acrobatics or Athletics check to climb, balance, leap over danger, or otherwise physically overcome an obstacle, a number of allies equal to your proficiency bonus gain advantage on the same check made to overcome the same obstacle.

Townie

Choose one skill you are proficient with. You gain an expertise die on checks made using the chosen skill. As long as you have a positive reputation in a town or city, all basic goods and spellcasting components cost 1/3rd less (rounded down).

Widely Known

You do not have disadvantage on Prestige checks made outside the area described by your Prestige rating.