Blackblade (5e Class)

Blackblade

A human wanders the city, wearing a cloak and wielding a mysterious dark blade. He notices sounds approaching from an alleyway, piquing his interest. Within lies two criminals attempting to steal from an easily deceived merchant. The swordsman, upon learning of the situation, decides to take matters into his own hands. With a fiery sweep, he cleaves the criminals in half, then enchants his blade with holy energy to resurrect them. The criminals, unharmed yet terrified, swiftly retreat from the area. The swordsman scolds the merchant for his naivety, then promptly disappears to continue his journey.

Enchanted Swordsmen

Blackblades are wielders of a special, exceedingly rare sword, known as an aterius. Ateriuses are magical swords with exceptional potential resting within, which can be awakened exclusively by one who has devoted theirself to their blade. The bond between a blackblade and an aterius is almost sacred; they are ritualistically bound together when the blackblade bestows a name upon the aterius. When this occurs, the blackblade cannot stray from their path, lest they sever the bond between them eternally.

Creating a Blackblade

When creating a blackblade, consider your history and relationship with your aterius. Was your blade passed down by your family as an heirloom of manners, obliging you to honor your familial tradition and wield the aterius? Did you uncover the blade on an adventure, swiftly forming a connection with the sword before eventually devoting yourself to it? Perhaps the aterius was simply a blade that you purchased from an artifact collector, bearing little to no sentimental value to you? The aterius is integral to the blackblade, and as such, consider the importance of your blade to you.

Quick Build

You can make a blackblade quickly by following these suggestions. First, Strength or Dexterity should be your highest ability score, followed by Charisma. Second, choose the far traveler background. Third, choose the chain mail, the explorer's pack, and the aterius.

Class Features

As a Blackblade you gain the following class features.

Hit Points

Hit Dice: 1d12 per Blackblade level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 12 + Constitution modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d12 (or 7) + Constitution modifier per Blackblade level after 1st

Proficiencies

Armor: All armors
Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons, ateriuses
Tools: None
Saving Throws: Strength, Dexterity
Skills: Choose any two skills

Equipment

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

• (a) Chain mail or (b) Studded leather armor
• (a) A dungeoneer's pack or (b) A priest's pack
• An aterius
• If you are using starting wealth, you have 5d4 × 10 in funds.

Table: The Blackblade

Level	Proficiency Bonus	Features	Aterius Damage Dice	Dark Charges
1st	+2	Aterius Expertise, Magical Blade	1d8/1d10	4
2nd	+2	Blessings of Battle	1d8/1d10	4
3rd	+2	Judgement	1d10/1d12	5
4th	+2	Ability Score Improvement	1d10/1d12	5
5th	+3	Extra Attack	1d12/2d8	6
6th	+3	Blessings of Battle Improvement	1d12/2d8	6
7th	+3	Judgement feature	2d8/2d10	7
8th	+3	Ability Score Improvement	2d8/2d10	7
9th	+4	Sable Sorcery	2d10/2d12	8
10th	+4	Judgement feature	2d10/2d12	8
11th	+4	Blessings of Battle Improvement	2d12/3d8	9
12th	+4	Ability Score Improvement	2d12/3d8	9
13th	+5	Augmented Slashes	3d8/3d10	10
14th	+5	Sword of Sin	3d8/3d10	10
15th	+5	Judgement feature	3d10/3d12	11
16th	+5	Ability Score Improvement	3d10/3d12	11
17th	+6	Blessings of Battle Improvement	3d12/4d8	12
18th	+6	Judgement feature	3d12/4d8	12
19th	+6	Ability Score Improvement	4d8/4d10	13
20th	+6	Awakened Aterius	4d8/4d10	13

Aterius Expertise

You are proficiency in the utilisation of ateriuses, the fabled black blades. You are bound to your aterius, which takes the form of a black longsword with the Indestructible and Versatile properties. You cannot be disarmed of your aterius unless you are incapacitated. As a bonus action, you can summon your blade, causing it to instantly teleport to your hand.

In the hands of individuals other than yourself, your aterius inflicts 1d4 slashing damage. Whilst you are utilising your aterius, it inflicts 1d8 slashing damage, or 1d10 slashing damage, should you wield it in two hands. This damage increases as your blackblade level increases, as displayed under the Aterius Damage Dice column of the Blackblade table. Additionally, your aterius gains a bonus to its attack and damage rolls equal to your proficiency bonus.

Furthermore, whilst wielding your aterius, you gain the following benefits:

• You can use Dexterity, rather than Strength, when calculating attack and damage rolls made with your aterius.
• You gain a bonus to your saving throws made against spells and other magical effects equal to your proficiency bonus.
• You are immune to the charmed and frightened conditions.

Magical Blade

You are capable of unleashing the magical abilities sealed within your aterius. You learn mystical slashes, which are enchanted attacks created by your blade and fueled by your dark charges.

Mystical Slashes. You learn each mystical slash displayed on the list at the bottom of the class page. Mystical slashes are magical sword techniques that can be unleashed as an action. They augment your attack in a manner, and at times, they are capable of utterly altering your attack.

Dark Charges. You bear a number of dark charges contingent on your level, as displayed under the Dark Charges column of the Blackblade table. Your mystical slashes, as well as particular blackblade features, require dark charges to be utilised. You restore all expended dark charges upon finishing a short or long rest.

Saving Throws. Some of your mystical slashes require saving throws. The DC for these saving throws is equal to 10 + your Strength or Dexterity modifier + your Charisma modifier + half of your proficiency bonus, rounded down.

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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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Multiclassing

A blackblade must remain devoted to their blade; to practice a new class would be to sever the bond between the wielder and the aterius. As such, should you multiclass out of the blackblade class, you lose all blackblade levels. Should you multiclass into the blackblade class, you lose all levels in your classes, barring your blackblade levels. Your levels within those classes are retained, should you return to them. The very same applies to your blackblade levels.

Prerequisites. To qualify for multiclassing into the blackblade class, you must meet these prerequisites: Strength or Dexterity 13, possession of an aterius.

Proficiencies. When you multiclass into the blackblade class, you gain the following proficiencies: ateriuses.

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