Undying Hunter

Theme and Roleplaying: The Undying Hunter is a ranger who has forged a connection with the realm of death, embracing a darkened path that delves into the mysteries of undeath. This subclass embodies the theme of facing mortality and overcoming it, evolving into a fearsome hunter with a touch of undeath's power. They are relentless and driven, unafraid of the pain and suffering that comes with their abilities, and instead, they channel it to gain strength. Undying Hunters are often somber, introspective, and possess an unwavering determination, making them excellent lone hunters or enigmatic leaders of a group.

Abilities: The Undying Hunter gains the ability to draw power from the brink of death, defying mortal limitations and transforming pain into deadly strikes. Their Undying Resilience allows them to survive and thrive when others would fall, and they can harness the force of their own suffering to deal more damage through Death's Bounty. As they progress, their connection to undeath deepens, granting them resistance to diseases, the ability to communicate with the undead, and even the power to transform into a spectral form temporarily. At the pinnacle of their power, their strikes become incredibly lethal, and they can rise again and again to continue their relentless pursuit with Eternal Hunter.

Alignment and Campaign Fit: The Undying Hunter's path can often lead to a more morally gray territory. They are not inherently evil, but their fascination with the mysteries of undeath might be seen as disturbing or unnatural by others. Their actions can be guided by personal goals, be it seeking knowledge about death, seeking revenge against undead creatures, or simply wanting to become a guardian against the forces of undeath. Undying Hunters can fit into a wide range of alignments, from neutral to chaotic, depending on their individual convictions and the deeds they undertake.

In campaigns where themes of life, death, and the undead are prevalent, the Undying Hunter shines. Adventures involving necromancy, undead adversaries, or explorations of the afterlife provide ample opportunities for roleplaying and showcasing the unique abilities of this subclass. They might find common cause with necromancers seeking to control undead, or they could be sworn enemies of any unnatural force that tampers with life and death.

Undying Resilience

At 3rd level, you gain the ability to draw power from the brink of death. When you take damage that would reduce you to 0 hit points, you can use your reaction to instead drop to 1 hit point and gain temporary hit points equal to your Ranger level + your Wisdom modifier (minimum of 1). Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a short rest.

Death's Bounty

Starting at 3rd level, your connection to the realm of death allows you to channel your pain into lethal strikes. Whenever you take damage, you can add your Ranger level to the damage of your next weapon attack. This bonus lasts until the end of your next turn.

Lichlike Fortitude

At 7th level, your body becomes more resilient to the mortal frailties. You gain advantage on saving throws against diseases and being poisoned. Additionally, when you use your Undying Resilience feature to remain at 1 hit point, you can make one weapon attack as part of the same reaction.

Death's Embrace

At 11th level, you further attune yourself to undeath, gaining new abilities and benefits. You no longer age, and magical aging effects have no effect on you. Additionally, you gain the following benefits:

1. Spectral Form: As an action, you can transform into a spectral form for 1 minute. While in this form, you have resistance to all damage except force damage, and you can move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. You cannot take any actions, attack, or cast spells while in this form, but you can move up to your speed. Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a short rest.

2. Undead Insights: You can use your action to tap into the knowledge of the undead, gaining insights into the weaknesses of the creature you're facing. Choose one creature within 60 feet of you that you can see. For the next minute, you and your allies have advantage on attack rolls and ability checks against that creature. Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a short rest.

3. Undying Strike: Whenever you take damage, you gain a stacking bonus to your weapon damage rolls. This bonus equals the amount of damage taken until the end of your turn. Furthermore, if you have temporary hit points from your Undying Resilience feature and you reduce a creature to 0 hit points with a weapon attack, you gain temporary hit points equal to your Ranger level + your Wisdom modifier.

Undying Savagery

1. Undying Savagery: Your connection to the realm of undeath reaches its pinnacle. While you have temporary hit points from your Undying Resilience feature, your weapon attacks score a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20. Furthermore, once per turn, when you score a critical hit, you can regain hit points equal to the damage dealt by the critical hit and deal additional necrotic damage equal to your Wisdom modifier on each hit.

    

2. Soul of Enduring Vigor: You no longer age, and magical aging effects have no effect on you. Additionally, you can speak and understand the language of the undead.

    

3. Eternal Hunter's Resurgence: You gain the ability to draw upon the powers of undeath to sustain your body and prolong your time in battle. Whenever you roll for initiative and have no remaining uses of your Undying Resilience feature, you regain one use. Additionally, you can use your Undying Resilience feature twice before needing to finish a long rest to regain expended uses.