The Harbinger of Pestilence is a ranger who has forged a dark pact with the essence of disease and decay. Infused with the power of pestilence, they command the forces of nature to spread blight and affliction, becoming agents of inevitable decay.

Expanded Spell List: The Harbinger of Pestilence adds the following spells to the ranger spell list:

1st Level: Ray of Sickness, Inflict Wounds

2nd Level: Blindness/Deafness, Ray of Enfeeblement

3rd Level: Bestow Curse, Stinking Cloud

4th Level: Blight, Contagion

5th Level: Insect Plague, Cloudkill

Blighted Precision

At 3rd level, you learn to channel the essence of pestilence into your attacks with precision. When you hit a creature with a ranged weapon attack using a bow, you can expend a spell slot to deal additional poison damage. The extra damage is 1d6 for a 1st-level spell slot, plus an additional 1d6 for each spell level higher than 1st. Additionally, the target must make a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC or be poisoned until the end of its next turn, suffering disadvantage on attack rolls.

Virulent Strikes

Starting at 7th level, once per short rest, you can infuse your attacks with a virulent disease. As a bonus action, you can scatter a contagion on your weapon, and the next successful weapon attack you make within the next minute causes the target to become diseased. The target must make a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, the target is afflicted with the disease, taking 1d6 poison damage at the beginning of its turn for 1 minute. If the target succeeds on the saving throw, it is not affected by the disease.

Plaguebearer's Ambush

At 11th level, you excel at ambushing your foes with the subtle touch of decay. When you hit a creature with a ranged weapon attack while hidden, you can choose to afflict it with a debilitating disease. The target must make a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC or have its speed halved, and it takes necrotic damage equal to 1d6 at the start of each of its turns. The disease lasts for 1 minute and can be removed by lesser restoration or similar magic.

Emissary of Decay

At 15th level, you become a true emissary of decay, wielding the power of pestilence with unmatched mastery. Once per long rest, you can unleash a wave of decay in a 40-foot radius centered on a point within your attack range. Enemies within this area must make a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC, taking 6d8 necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one.

Attacks against enemies within the area have advantage for the duration. The aura of decay persists for 1 minute, continually affecting only enemies that start their turn within the area. After using this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.