Table of Contents
The Blackguard
Hit Points
Hit Dice: 1d8 per level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + 1d8 + CON
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 + CON
Proficiencies
- Armor: Light armor
- Weapons: Simple Weapons, Shortswords, Rapiers, Longswords, Hand Crossbows
- Saving Throws: Dexterity, Intelligence
Skills: 4 Lore: 1 + INT Tools: 1 + INT Survival: 1 + WIS Languages: 2 + CHA
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) a rapier or (b) a finesse weapon
- (a) a shortbow and quiver of 20 arrows or (b) a shortsword
- (a) a burglar's pack, (b) a dungeoneer's pack, or (c) an explorer's pack
- Leather armor, two daggers, and thieves' tools
The Blackguard
Level | Proficiency Bonus | Exploit Dice | Ploys Known | Ploy Dice | Features |
1st | +2 | 1d6 | - | - | Blackguard's Craft, Expertise, Exploit Weakness |
2nd | +2 | 1d6 | 2 | 2 - d4 | Cunning Action, Ploys |
3rd | +2 | 2d6 | 2 | 2 - d4 | Blackguard's Craft Feature, Reactive Exploit |
4th | +2 | 2d6 | 3 | 2 - d4 | Personal Journey, Ploy |
5th | +3 | 3d6 | 3 | 3 - d6 | Cunning Action, Gambits, Uncanny Dodge |
6th | +3 | 3d6 | 4 | 3 - d6 | Blackguard's Craft Feature, Expertise, Ploy |
7th | +3 | 4d6 | 4 | 4 - d6 | Evasion |
8th | +3 | 4d6 | 5 | 4 - d6 | Cunning Action, Personal Journey, Ploy |
9th | +4 | 5d6 | 5 | 5 - d6 | Blackguard's Craft Feature |
10th | +4 | 5d6 | 6 | 5 - d6 | Deft Actions, Ploy |
11th | +4 | 6d6 | 6 | 6 - d8 | Cunning Action, Reliable Talent |
12th | +4 | 6d6 | 7 | 6 - d8 | Personal Journey, Ploy |
13th | +5 | 7d6 | 7 | 7 - d8 | Blackguard's Craft Feature |
14th | +5 | 7d6 | 8 | 7 - d8 | Blindsense, Cunning Action, Expertise, Ploy |
15th | +5 | 8d6 | 8 | 8 - d8 | Slippery Mind |
16th | +5 | 8d6 | 9 | 8 - d8 | Personal Journey, Ploy |
17th | +6 | 9d6 | 9 | 9 - d8 | Blackguard's Craft Feature, Cunning Action |
18th | +6 | 9d6 | 10 | 9 - d10 | Elusive, Expertise, Ploy |
19th | +6 | 10d6 | 10 | 10 - d10 | Personal Journey |
20th | +7 | 10d6 | 11 | 10 - d10 | Cunning Action, Ploy, Unparalleled |
1.
Blackguard's Craft
Every blackguard has a subclass, or a Craft, that defines them. Currently available are the Thief, Assassin, or Arcane Trickster, all detailed at the end of the class description. The Blackguard's Craft grants them features at 1st level, and then again at 3rd, 6th, 9th, 13th, and 17th level.
Expertise
Choose two skills in the skills section. It the Blackguard already has this proficiency, they gain expertise with this skill. If they were not already proficient, they gain the skill chosen instead.
Blackguards can choose an additional skill in the skills section to gain this benefit at levels 6, 10, 14, and 18.
Exploit Weakness
Once per turn, a Blackguard can deal an extra 1d6 damage to one creature they hit with an attack if either factor below applies:
- They have advantage
- An ally is within 5 feet of the target, and not incapacitated
The attack must be made with a finesse or ranged weapon, and not be at disadvantage.
This bonus d6 damage increases with level, as shown in the Blackguard class table.
2.
Cunning Action
Blackguards learn two Cunning Actions, which can be used for their Minor Action.
They learn an additional Cunning Action at levels 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, and 20.
Ploys
The Blackguard table shows the amount ploys known by level as well as the amount of ploy dice and their strength. Most ploys require that you expend one of your ploy dice in order to use them. Additionally, only one ploy can be used per turn. All ploy dice are regained upon finishing a short or long rest.
Ploy dice begin as d4s, but they increase in size by level. View the Blackguard level table for your Ploy Dice amount/total known.
One Ploys is known at second level from the Ploys list. You gain an additional ploy at level levels 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20.
3.
Blackguard's Craft Feature
Gain the Level 3 feature under the Blackguard's Craft.
Reactive Exploit
Blackguards can now use their Exploit Weakness ability during attacks of opportunity.
4.
Personal Journey
Choose an option from the Personal Journey section.
Ploy
Choose an additional Ploys.
5.
Cunning Action
Choose an additional Cunning Action.
Gambit
Before a Blackguard rolls Exploit Dice on an attack, they may use a ploy that can be used with a weapon attack, sacrificing an amount of dice equal to the degree of the ploy used, and only rolling the remaining dice. This ploy does not deal any additional damage covered in its effect when used in this way.
Uncanny Dodge
When an attacker that a Blackguard can see hits them with an attack, they can use their reaction to halve the attack's damage to them.
6.
Blackguard's Craft Feature
Gain the Level 6 feature under the Blackguard's Craft.
Expertise
Choose an additional skill in the skills section, gaining the skill chosen, or expertise if already taken.
Ploy
Choose an additional Ploys.
7.
Evasion
When a Blackguard is subjected to an effect that allows them to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, they can instead take no damage if you succeed on the saving throw, and only half damage if they fail.
8.
Cunning Action
Choose an additional Cunning Action.
Personal Journey
Choose an option from the Personal Journey section.
Ploy
Choose an additional Ploys.
9.
Blackguard's Craft Feature
Gain the Level 9 feature under the Blackguard's Craft.
10.
Deft Actions
Blackguards gain an additional Minor action during their turns.
Expertise
Choose an additional skill in the skills section, gaining the skill chosen, or expertise if already taken.
Ploy
Choose an additional Ploys.
11.
Cunning Action
Choose an additional Cunning Action.
Reliable Talent
Whenever a Blackguard makes an ability that adds their proficiency bonus, a d20 of 9 or lower can be counted as a 10.
12.
Personal Journey
Choose an option from the Personal Journey section.
Ploy
Choose an additional Ploys.
13.
Blackguard's Craft Feature
Gain the Level 13 feature under the Blackguard's Craft.
14.
Blindsense
As long as a blackguard can hear, they are aware of the location of any hidden or invisible creature within 10 feet of them.
Cunning Action
Choose an additional Cunning Action.
Expertise
Choose an additional skill in the skills section, gaining the skill chosen, or expertise if already taken.
Ploy
Choose an additional Ploys.
15.
Slippery Mind
Blackguards gain proficiency in Wisdom saving throws.
16.
Personal Journey
Choose an option from the Personal Journey section.
Ploy
Choose an additional Ploys.
17.
Blackguard's Craft Feature
Gain the Level 17 feature under the Blackguard's Craft.
Cunning Action
Choose an additional Cunning Action.
18.
Elusive
No attack roll has advantage against a Blackguard while they aren't incapacitated.
Expertise
Choose an additional skill in the skills section, gaining the skill chosen, or expertise if already taken.
Ploy
Choose an additional Ploys.
19.
Personal Journey
Choose an option from the Personal Journey section.
20.
Cunning Action
Choose an additional Cunning Action.
Ploy
Choose an additional Ploys.
Unparalleled
The pinacle of shadows, the Unparalleled Blackguard gains an +1 Proficiency bonus, as well as an additional reaction. Once per round, when an enemy you can see hits you with an attack, you can use your reaction to reduce the damage by an amount equal to your Dexterity modifier.