The Sword Master Class for Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) Fifth Edition (5e)

Base Class: Fighter

By necessity or birth, you have dedicated your life to mastering the art of the sword and its many fighting techniques. You live by the sword and die by the sword. Your aim is to become the greatest swordsman or swordswoman The Eight Isles has ever seen. To you, your sword is not just a mean to a violent end or to earn a day’s meal, it is a way of life – the sword is your soul. You are a Sword Master.

Union of Mind, Skill, and Body

A consummate sword fighter and Sword Master must always keep their mind, skill, and body as sharp as the edge of their blades. As such when you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you get a bonus proficiency in one of the following skills: Acrobatics, Athletics, Insight, or Intimidation. If you already have a proficiency in the skill, it will become an expertise.

Acrobatics

Acrobatics Expertise

Athletics

Athletics Expertise

Insight

Insight Expertise

Intimidation

Intimidation Expertise

Sword Stance

When you choose this archetype at 3 level, you learn two sword stances that make you a deadlier combatant. You gain an additional style at 5, 7, 10 and 15 level.
A Sword Master can adopt a Mode by sacrificing half their movement speed for one turn. This will last until the end of the encounter, or until they wish to adopt another Mode (which will require sacrificing half their movement speed for that turn)

Sword Mode Options

Draw of Water You draw your sword, strike in a quick flash, and return the blade to its sheath in one flowing motion. You roll your next attack roll with advantage and add 2 to the damage roll. Also, you may make the attack from a sitting or otherwise compromised position without having to go into an attack stance. To adopt this Mode, both hands must be available (no shield or a weapon on the other hand) and the weapon must be one handed or treated as one handed if versatile.

Dual Heavens (prerequisites: Class Level 7, Two-weapon Fighting) When you engage in two-weapon fighting (they need to be weapons of different length), you gain +2 to your AC and can make a single melee weapon attack as an additional bonus action on each of your turns while you are in this Mode.

Swift as Wind While in this Mode you receive +1 to your AC.

Sharp as Ice (Prerequisites: Class Level 5) While in this Mode you receive +1 to your attacks and damages.

Quiet as Forest (Prerequisites: Class Level 5, Swift as Wind) While in this Mode you receive +2 to your AC but move at half speed.

Fierce as Fire (Prerequisites: Class Level 10, Sharp as Ice) While in this Mode you receive +2 to your attacks and damages and add 5 feet to your movement.

Unshakable as Mountain (Prerequisites: Class Level 10, Gentle as Forrest) While in this Mode you receive +3 to your AC but move at quarter speed.

Unknowable as Shadow When you make a Dexterity (Stealth) or an initiative roll while in this Mode, you can add half of your Fighter Class level to your roll.

Terrible as Lightening (Prerequisites: Class Level 15, Fierce as Fire) While in this Mode you receive +3 to your attacks and damages and adds 10 feet to your movement.

Crescent Light While in this mode, as an action, you can move your sword and flash the light from your blade to attempt to blind a target. If the target fails a Wisdom saving throw, they are blinded for one round. DC for this is 8 + your Dexterity Modifier + your Proficiency Bonus.

Swallow Tail Counter While in this mode, if an opponent you can see moves within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to make one weapon attack against that creature. If the attack hits, add half of your Fighter Class Level to the damage.

Blade of Darkness (prerequisites: Blind Fighting) Whether an opponent is hidden or unseen, you do not get disadvantage on your attacks and your keen senses give you +2 to your attacks while you are in this mode and your eyes are closed or covered.

Wolf and Cub (prerequisites: Interception) When a creature you can see targets someone within 5 feet of you with an attack, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack. If the attack hits, you reduce the damage the target takes by 1d10 + your Fighter Class Level (to a minimum of 0 damage).

One with the Air (prerequisites: Level 7) While in this mode you do not provoke opportunity attacks. Additionally, once a round you may halve the damage from one melee attack taken against you by an opponent you can see.

Book of Five Rings (prerequisites: Level 15) While in this Mode, attack rolls of 18, 19 and 20 are all considered critical hits.

Sharp as Ice

(Prerequisites: Class Level 5) While in this Mode you receive +1 to your attacks and damages.

Blade of Darkness

(prerequisites: Blind Fighting) Whether an opponent is hidden or unseen, you do not get disadvantage on your attacks and your keen senses give you +2 to your attacks while you are in this mode and your eyes are closed or covered.

Book of Five Rings

(prerequisites: Level 15) While in this Mode, attack rolls of 18, 19 and 20 are all considered critical hits.

Draw of Water

You draw your sword, strike in a quick flash, and return the blade to its sheath in one flowing motion. You roll your next attack roll with advantage and add 2 to the damage roll. Also, you may make the attack from a sitting or otherwise compromised position without having to go into an attack stance. To adopt this Mode, both hands must be available (no shield or a weapon on the other hand) and the weapon must be one handed or treated as one handed if versatile.

Dual Heavens

(prerequisites: Class Level 7, Two-weapon Fighting) When you engage in two-weapon fighting (they need to be weapons of different length), you gain +2 to your AC and can make a single melee weapon attack as an additional bonus action on each of your turns while you are in this Mode.

One with the Air

(prerequisites: Level 7) While in this mode you do not provoke opportunity attacks. Additionally, once a round you may halve the damage from one melee attack taken against you by an opponent you can see.

Quiet as Forest

(Prerequisites: Class Level 5, Swift as Wind) While in this Mode you receive +2 to your AC but move at half speed.

Swallow Tail Counter

While in this mode, if an opponent you can see moves within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to make one weapon attack against that creature. If the attack hits, add half of your Fighter Class Level to the damage.

Swift as Wind

While in this Mode you receive +1 to your AC.

Unknowable as Shadow

When you make a Dexterity (Stealth) or an initiative roll while in this Mode, you can add half of your Fighter Class level to your roll.

Wolf and Cub

(prerequisites: Interception) When a creature you can see targets someone within 5 feet of you with an attack, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack. If the attack hits, you reduce the damage the target takes by 1d10 + your Fighter Class Level (to a minimum of 0 damage).

Sword Stance Options Continued

When you choose this archetype at 3 level, you learn two sword stances that make you a deadlier combatant. You gain an additional style at 5, 7, 10 and 15 level.

Sword Mode Options Continued

Quiet as Forest (Prerequisites: Class Level 5, Swift as Wind) While in this Mode you receive +2 to your AC but move at half speed.

Fierce as Fire (Prerequisites: Class Level 10, Sharp as Ice) While in this Mode you receive +2 to your attacks and damages and add 5 feet to your movement.

Unshakable as Mountain (Prerequisites: Class Level 10, Gentle as Forrest) While in this Mode you receive +3 to your AC but move at quarter speed.

Unshakable as Mountain

(Prerequisites: Class Level 10, Quiet as Forest) While in this Mode you receive +3 to your AC but move at quarter speed.

Fierce as Fire

(Prerequisites: Class Level 10, Sharp as Ice) While in this Mode you receive +2 to your attacks and damages and add 5 feet to your movement.

Quiet as Forest

(Prerequisites: Class Level 5, Swift as Wind) While in this Mode you receive +2 to your AC but move at half speed.

Duel of Fate

Starting at 7 Level, you can move in such a way as to prevent an enemy from attacking anyone but you. When you roll for initiative, you may select one target who then must make aWisdom saving throw (DC = 8 + your Dexterity Modifier + your Proficiency Bonus). On a failed roll, the target has disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks made to perceive any creature other than you for 1 minute or until you are incapacitated.
While this feature is in effect, you have advantage on the first attack roll of the round against the chosen target, and a roll of 19 + is considered a critical hit. If the first attack made with advantage is critical, then you have advantage and 19 + critical on the second attack too. The effect continues as long as you make critical hits and have the attacks left for the round.
Once you use this feature, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.

Be Like Water

Starting at 10th Level, you can choose to shift your Mode using a bonus action or reaction during your turn. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Dexterity modifier. You regain all expended uses when you finish a short rest.

The Dragon Awakens

Starting at 15 Level, every time you shift Modes, add 2d4 to your next damage roll.

Severing Blade

Starting at 18 Level, your mastery of the way of the sword and your sharpened mind’s eyes lets you see an opponent’s aura and lead your blade in such a way that you cut the part of their arsenal.
Whenever you martial clash, you always do so with advantage no matter what. Also upon succeeding a Martial Clash

You may seal 2 abilities rather than 1.
You instantly deal damage and that damage is as if you critically hit.

Phelegethon

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