War Magus (5e Class)

War Magus

A lone warrior stands a hill looking over a bandit camp. Shouts arise as the scouts see him but by then it's too late. The man seemingly teleports into the middle of the camp and a vortex of pure energy swirls around him obliterating everything. A minute later, the man walks away from the smoldering ruin that was once the camp of the most feared bandit in history. War Magi are the epitome of magical might combined with physical abilities.

Creating a War Magus

When making a War Magus, consider questions of character like why your character is adept at both magic and physical might? What pains did they undertake to achieve this, or are they naturally gifted? Are they pompously violent, or silently righteous with this power?

Quick build

You can make a war magus quickly by following these suggestions. First, make Strength or Charisma your highest ability score, depending on whether you want to focus on melee combat or on your spellcasting. Your next-highest score should be Constitution. Second, choose the soldier background.

Class Features

As a war magus you gain the following class features.

Hit Points

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

Proficiencies

Armor: Light armor, medium armor, shields
Weapons: Simple weapons, hand crossbows, longswords, rapiers, shortswords
Tools: None
Saving Throws: Strength, Charisma
Skills: Choose two from the following: Arcana, Athletics, Insight, Investigation, Survival and Religion

Equipment

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

• (a) a longsword or (b) rapier or (c) two simple weapons
• (a) a leather armor and a shield or (b) a scale mail
• (a) a component pouch or (b) an arcane focus
• a dungeoneer's pack and two daggers

Table: The war magus

Level	Proficiency Bonus	Features	Arcane Charge	Cantrips known	—Spell Slots per Spell Level—
					1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
1st	+2	Arcane Fighting style, Spellcasting	—	2	—	—	—	—	—
2nd	+2	War Magus Edge, Arcane Charge	10 ft.	3	2	—	—	—	—
3rd	+2	War Magus Archetype	10 ft.	3	3	—	—	—	—
4th	+2	Ability Score Improvement	10 ft.	3	3	—	—	—	—
5th	+3	Extra Attack, Arcane Resolve (1 use)	10 ft.	4	4	2	—	—	—
6th	+3	War Magus Archetype feature	15 ft.	4	4	2	—	—	—
7th	+3	—	15 ft.	4	4	3	—	—	—
8th	+3	Ability Score Improvement	15 ft.	5	4	3	—	—	—
9th	+4	Arcane Fortitude	15 ft.	5	4	3	2	—	—
10th	+4	War Magus Archetype feature	20 ft.	5	4	3	2	—	—
11th	+4	Arcane Resolve (2 uses)	20 ft.	5	4	3	3	—	—
12th	+4	Ability Score Improvement	20 ft.	6	4	3	3	—	—
13th	+5	—	20 ft.	6	4	3	3	1	—
14th	+5	War Magus Archetype feature	25 ft.	6	4	3	3	1	—
15th	+5	Improved Arcane Fortitude	25 ft.	6	4	3	3	2	—
16th	+5	Ability Score Improvement	25 ft.	6	4	3	3	2	—
17th	+6	Arcane Resolve (3 uses)	25 ft.	6	4	3	3	3	1
18th	+6	War Magus Archetype feature	30 ft.	6	4	3	3	3	1
19th	+6	Ability Score Improvement	30 ft.	6	4	3	3	3	2
20th	+6	Arcane Flash	30 ft.	6	4	3	3	3	2

Arcane Fighting Style

You may 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.

• Close Quarters Combatant Creatures provoke opportunity attacks from you even if they take the Disengage action before leaving your reach, and your base movement speed increases by 5 feet.

• 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.

• Protection When a creature you can see attacks a target other than you that is within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll. You must be wielding a shield.

Spellcasting

• Spell Slots. The War Magus table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these spells, you must expend a slot of the spell’s level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest.

• Spells Known A War Magus casts arcane spells (the same type of spells available to sorcerers and wizards), which are drawn from the War Magus spell list given below. He can cast any spell he knows without preparing it ahead of time the way a cleric or wizard must. When a War Magus gains access to a new level of spells, he automatically knows all the spells for that level listed on the Warrant Magus’s spell list. Essentially, his spell list is the same as his spells known list.

• Spellcasting Ability. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for your War Magus spells, since you channel your inner resolve of magical power via innate ability. 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 war magus 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

War Magus Edge

Starting at 2nd level, your magical powers have awakened. A War Magus is specialized in dealing damage with his spells. Whenever a War Magus casts a spell that deals hit point damage, he adds his Intelligence bonus (if any) to the amount of damage dealt. For instance, if a 1st-level War Magus with 17 Intelligence casts magic missile, he deals 1d4+1 points of damage normally, plus an extra 3 points of damage due to his Intelligence bonus. The bonus from the War Magus edge special ability applies only to spells that he casts as a War Magus, not to those he might have by virtue of levels in another class. A single spell can never gain this extra damage more than once per casting. For instance, a fireball deals the extra damage to all creatures in the area it affects. However, if a 3rd-level War Magus casts magic missile and produces two missiles, only one of them (of the War Magus’s choice) gains the extra damage, even if both missiles are directed at the same target. If a spell deals damage for more than 1 round, it deals this extra damage in each round.

Arcane Charge

Also at 2nd level, you can channel your magical power to your agility and reflex, propelling you further toward your enemies. As a bonus action, you can move toward a hostile creature you can see, up to the distance indicated on the table. If you end your movement at a point 5 feet from a hostile creature, you can make one melee weapon attack against it as a part of the same bonus action.

When you end your movement, all unused movements for Arcane Charge are lost. When you are hit by an opportunity attack provoked by this move, your movement ends at the point you are hit with that opportunity attack.

When you use this feature, you cannot cast a cantrip or a spell at the same turn.

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

War Magus Archetype

When you reach 3rd level, choose one of the two following archetype: the Arsenal Magus or the Stratagem Magus, both detailed at the end of the class description.

Your choice grants you features at 3rd level, and again at 6th, 10th, 14th, and 18th level.

Ability Score Improvement

When you reach 4th level, and again at 6th, 8th, 12th, 14th, 16th and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of you 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.

Extra Attack

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

Arcane Resolve

Also starting at 5th level, as a bonus action, you can gain temporary hit points equal to 1d8 + your war magus level. Once you use this feature, you must finish a short rest or long rest before you can use it again.

You can use this feature twice between rests starting at 11th level and three times between rests starting at 17th level.

Arcane Fortitude

Starting at 9th level, you have advantage on Charisma saving throws to maintain your concentration on a spell when you take damage.

Improved Arcane Fortitude

Starting at 15th level, you gain proficiency in Constitution saving throws.

Arcane Flash

Starting at 20th level, you can channel your magical power to warp the space temporarily, enabling you to teleport through short distance. Your Arcane Charge feature can now teleport you, instead of moving. If you do so, you must teleport to an unoccupied space you can see up to the distance you can move with your Arcane Charge feature.

Additionally, you can use your Arcane Charge feature unlimited times.

Arsenal Magus

“	"Invoker, now, eh? No longer the Arsenal Magus?"	”
—Rubick, the Grand Magus, to Carl

Arsenal Magus Expanded Spell List

Spell Level	Spells
1st	protection from good and evil, shield
2nd	aid, zone of truth
3rd	counterspell, protection from energy
4th	banishment, death ward
5th	wall of stone, wall of force

Bonus Proficiencies

Starting at 3rd level when you choose this archetype, you gain proficiency in heavy armors.

Arcane Maneuver

At 3rd level, when you make an attack using your "Arcane Charge" feature, you can instead attempt to shove or trip the target with your superflous magic. If the target is Large or smaller, it must make a Strength saving throw. The save DC is equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier. On a failed save, you push the target up to 10 feet away from you, or you knock the target prone.

Arcane Arsenal

Also starting at 3rd level, your arcane knowledge enables you to imbue your weaponry and armor with magical power, enhancing their combat abilities. You can perform a 1-hour ritual to imbue magic into up to two weapons, an armor, and a shield. If you attempt to imbue magic to a third weapon, a second armor, or a second shield, you must first dismiss the magic imbued to one of the previous equipment.

The imbued weapons count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage. Additionally, you gain access to an extensive list of arcane warfare. Choose two from the following options, one from Arcane Weapon options and another from Arcane Armor options:

• Arcane Weapon: Arcane Akimbo. When you engage in two-weapon fighting with the imbued weapon, you can add your Wisdom modifier to the damage of the second attack, instead of the modifier you added to the first attack.

• Arcane Weapon: Empowered Blow. When you hit a creature no more than one size larger than you with a heavy imbued weapon, you can make a powerful blow with the weapon. The creature must make a Strength save throw against your war magus spell save DC. On a failed save, you knock the creature prone or push it up to 15 feet away from you.

• Arcane Weapon: Sage's Precision. You can use your Wisdom modifier, instead of your Strength or Dexterity modifier, when you make a melee weapon attack with an imbued weapon with finesse property.

• Arcane Weapon: Touching the Intangible. When you make a melee weapon attack with an imbued weapon on your turn, you can increase your reach for one attack by 5 feet.

• Arcane Armor: Concentrated Stance. When you end your turn without moving while wearing medium or heavy imbued armor, you gain a +1 bonus to AC and Constitution saving throws to maintain your concentration on a spell when you take damage, until the start of your next turn.

• Arcane Armor: Dampening Shield. When you are subjected to an effect that allows you to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage while wielding an imbued shield, you instead take no damage on a successful save, and only half damage on a failed save.

• Arcane Armor: Elemental Shield. Whenever you take a short rest or long rest, choose one damage type from acid, cold, fire, lightning, and thunder. When you are wielding an imbued shield, you gain resistance to the chosen damage type.

• Arcane Armor: Full Metal Magus. While you are wearing a heavy imbued armor and wielding an imbued shield, you bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage that you take from nonmagical source os reduced by 3.

• Arcane Armor: Sage's Reflex. When you are wearing light imbued armor, you add your Wisdom modifier to AC, to the maximum of +2.

• Arcane Armor: Solid as a Rock. As long as you are wearing heavy imbued armor and not incapacitated, you cannot be shoved or knocked prone by creatures no more than one size larger than you, and you have advantages on Strength saving throws against being grappled.

Arcane Reflex

Starting at 6th-level, feature, when you provoke opportunity attacks while moving with your "Arcane Charge" feature, all attack rolls on those opportunity attacks against you have disadvantage.

Additional Fighitng Style

At 10th level, you can choose a second option from the Fighting Style feature.

Improved Arcane Arsenal

When you reach 14th level, you gain one additional options from the Arcane Arsenal feature.

Arcane Vortex

Starting at 18th-level feature. When you move with your Arcane Charge feature, you create a vortex of magical energy centered from the point you stopped. Each creature in 5-foot-radius from that point makes a Costitution saving throw. The save DC is equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier. On a failed save, the creature takes 4d10 force damage, and half the damage on a successful save. A creature that failed the save also falls prone.

Stratagem Magus

“	"Even the Arsenal Magus falls before my magic."	”
—Rubick, the Grand Magus, to Carl

Stratagem Magus Expanded Spell List

Spell Level	Spells
1st	burning hands, thunderwave
2nd	gust of wind, scorching ray
3rd	fireball, lightning bolt
4th	ice storm, wall of fire
5th	arcane hand, cone of cold

Combat Spellcasting

Starting at 3rd level, you can perform the somatic components of spells even when you have weapons or a shield in one or both hands.

Arcane Skirmish

Also starting at 3rd level, when you make an attack using your "Arcane Charge" feature, you can instead cast a cantrip on the target. The cantrip must have a casting time of 1 action and must require an attack roll.

Arcane Surge

Starting at 6th level, you can harness your resolve to recharge your magical powers. As a bonus action, you can restore one expended spell slot. The spell slot restored this way must be a 1st-level spell slot. Once you use this feature, you cannot use it again until you finish a long rest.

Potent Spellcasting

Starting at 10th level, you add your Charisma modifier to the damage you deal with any war magus spell.

Improved Arcane Skirmish

Starting at 14th level, when you make an attack using your Arcane Charge feature, you can instead cast a spell on the target. The spell must have a casting time of 1 action and must target only that creature.

Improved Arcane Surge

Starting at 18th level, when you use your Arcane Surge feature, you can restore two 1st-level slots, or one 2nd-level spell slot, instead of one 1st-level spell slot.

War Magus Spell List

1st-level Spells

• chromatic orb
• mage armor
• disguise self
• feather fall
• magic missile

2nd-level Spells

• detect thoughts
• gust of wind
• invisibility
• magic weapon
• mirror image

3rd-level Spells

• vampiriric touch
• dispel magic
• fly
• haste
• major image

4th-level Spells

• confusion
• dimension door
• greater invisiblilty
• polymorph
• stoneskin

5th-level Spells

• seeming
• mislead
• teleportation circle
• passwall
• telekinesis

Multiclassing

Prerequisites. To qualify for multiclassing into the war magus class, you must meet these prerequisites: Charisma 13 and Strength 13 or Dexterity 13.

Proficiencies. When you multiclass into the war magus class, you gain the following proficiencies: Simple weapons, light armor.

Spellcasting. Calculate your war magus level as one third when determining your total spellcaster level with multiclassing.

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