Oath of the Blooming Thorn

Paladins who swear the Oath of the Blooming Thorn bind their soul to the cycle of growth, bloom, and decay. They believe that every act of valor and mercy is a seed that must be planted in hardship, nurtured through pain, and defended with piercing thorns.

 

Tenets of the Blooming Thorn

Though each Blooming Thorn paladin interprets the cycle differently, most adhere to these principles:

• Sow with Purpose. Every word and action plants a seed. Make yours worthy of the bloom that follows.

• Guard the Fragile. Even the smallest bud has the right to bloom in peace.

• Pain Has Meaning. Growth does not come without suffering. Embrace both.

• Decay Is Not Defeat. When things wither, they feed what comes next. Death is part of life.

Channel Divinity

When you take this oath at 3rd level, you gain the following two Channel Divinity options:

Blooming Retribution

As a reaction when a creature damages you with a melee attack, you can force it to make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, the attacker is restrained by spectral thorn vines until the end of its next turn. On a success, its speed is halved. In either case, it also takes radiant damage equal to your Paladin level.

Seed of Resurgence

As an action, you plant a radiant seed into a willing creature within 30 feet. For 1 minute, whenever that creature regains hit points, it emits a 5-foot aura of thorny light. Enemies that start their turn in that aura take radiant damage equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum 1).

Aura of Thorns

You and friendly creatures within 10 feet of you gain resistance to damage from opportunity attacks, and enemies that miss you with a melee attack take piercing damage equal to half your Paladin level.

At 18th level, the range of this aura increases to 30 feet.

Thorn Bloom Cycle

At 15th level, at the start of your turn, choose one of the following “states” of your inner bloom. You may change state each round.

• Bud (Growth): You gain temporary hit points equal to your Charisma modifier at the start of your turn.

• Bloom (Vitality): Your healing spells and Lay on Hands restore additional HP equal to your Paladin level.

• Wither (Decay): Your weapon attacks deal extra radiant damage equal to your Charisma modifier, but you take half as much damage in return.

This mechanic resets on a short or long rest. You may stay in a state indefinitely but gain additional synergy when rotating states in combat.

Avatar of the Living Bloom

At 20th level, as an action, you can become a vessel of the eternal bloom for 1 minute. During this time:

• Your Thorn Bloom Cycle grants all three states simultaneously.

• Allies that start their turn within 30 feet regain 5 HP at the start of your turn.

• Your melee weapon attacks cause thorny vines to lash out: creatures within 5 feet of your target take piercing damage equal to your Charisma modifier.

• Enemies slain by your attacks sprout spectral roses that explode at the end of your turn, dealing radiant damage in a 10-foot radius (Dex save, DC = 8 + Proficiency + Charisma modifier).

Once you use this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest.