Oath of Heavy Armor

The Oath of Heavy Armor is sworn by paladins who believe that true strength comes not from avoiding hardship, but from willingly bearing it. They take up armor that would slow lesser warriors and carry burdens that others would cast aside. Every plate, buckle, and chain becomes a reminder of the oath they have chosen to uphold.

To these paladins, heavy armor represents more than defense. It represents commitment. Once they plant their feet, they refuse to yield. Once they raise their shield, they refuse to let another fall behind them. Their armor becomes an extension of their sacred duty, allowing them to endure wounds, withstand overwhelming forces, and turn their own immovability into a weapon.

Oathsworn of Heavy Armor are often found guarding sacred places, holding the line against impossible odds, or placing themselves between danger and those who cannot defend themselves. Some become legendary knights clad in enormous suits of enchanted plate, while others wear battered armor covered in dents and scars, each mark serving as a testament to a battle they refused to lose.

They do not seek to be untouchable.

They seek to be the one who remains standing.

Oath of Heavy Armor

While wearing heavy armor, your movement speed is reduced by 10 feet, and your Constitution score increases by 2.

Tenets

1. "Where others retreat, I shall stand."

2. "I bear the weight so others may walk unburdened."

3. "Steel may bend, flesh may break, but my resolve shall remain."

4. "Let my enemies find me standing, even when all others have fallen."

 

Defensive Retaliation

When a creature within 5ft damages you, you can use your reaction to retaliate if the damage you take is less than your Constitution score.

If you do, you take no damage from the attack, and the attacking creature takes damage equal to your Constitution modifier.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.

Diminishing Blow

Once per turn when you deal damage to a creature, you can reduce the damage of its weapon attacks targeting you by an amount equal to your Constitution modifier. This effect lasts until the start of your next turn.

A creature affected by this feature cannot have its weapon attack damage reduced below 1.

The reduction increases as your endurance grows. At 11th level, the reduction becomes twice your Constitution modifier, and at the 17th level, the reduction becomes three times your Constitution modifier.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Constitution modifier, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Shield Bash

In place of one of your attacks, you can make a Shield Bash.

This attack does 1d6 bludgeoning damage plus the shields AC modifier to the enemy and pushes the enemy up to 5 feet away from you, provided it is no more than one size larger than you.

When you hit a creature with Shield Bash, until the start of the creature's next turn, all hits gain a bonus equal to the shields AC modifier to hit the creature.

Unyielding Fortress

While wearing heavy armor, you cannot be knocked prone or moved against your will unless you choose to be.

Additionally, you emit an aura of fortitude providing a +1 bonus to the AC of you and all allies within 10ft of you. At level 20 this becomes +2 and emits out to 30ft.

Unyielding Fortress

While wearing heavy armor, you cannot be knocked prone or moved against your will unless you choose to be.

Additionally, you emit an aura of fortitude providing a +2 bonus to the AC of you and all allies within 30ft of you.

Scion of the Bulwark

While wearing heavy armor, you can use a bonus action to enter this state of absolute defense for 1 minute. For the duration, whenever you take damage, you reduce that damage by an amount equal to your Constitution Score plus your Proficiency Bonus.

While Scion of the Bulwark is active Defensive Retaliation can be used as a free action.

Once you use this feature, you cannot use it again until you finish a long rest.