Oath of the Tamed

Paladins of the Oath of the Tamed are those who have contracted the curse of lycanthropy and turned to a life of faith and holy devotion in order to tame its savagery. They keep its bestial nature at bay, ensuring that the magical infection will not spread, and their conviction in the face of terrible primal instinct rewards them with holy magic. They devote themselves to their gods and pledge to control, but not cure, their own curse so that its power can be used for the sake of others, but only after lengthy meditation and practice of self-control.

There are many different variants of lycanthropy, and so there are many different beastly shapechangers that tame themselves with this holy oath. Werewolves are by far the most well known variant, but werebears, weretigers, wereboars, and wererats are also somewhat common. There are even wereravens and werebats that find salvation in these tenants, though the holy process of self-taming more often than not stunts their ability to fly. There are more variations than just these, but they are far less common.

TENETS OF THE TAMED

The tenets of the Oath of the Tamed hold a paladin to strict code of holy devotion and self-control in order to resist succumbing to the savagery of the curse of lycanthropy.

Resist the Beast. The nature of your curse can grant you great power, strength and ferocity, but never submit to the violent and wild nature of your inner beast. Biting another is the strictest taboo.

Abjure the Shapeshifter. Those who bear the same curse as you must be found so that the curse's spread will not affect innocent lives. However, violence should be used as a last resort. Curing the curse must always be prioritized.

Seek the Lost. The animalistic senses that accompany your curse can be used for good. Tracking those who require help can be just as useful as tracking foes who require vanquishing.

 Oath of the Tamed Features

Oath Spells

You gain oath spells at the paladin levels listed in the Oath of the Tamed Spells table. See the Sacred Oath class feature for how oath spells work.

Oath of the Tamed Spells

Channel Divinity

When you take this oath at 3rd level, you gain the following two Channel Divinity options. See the Sacred Oath class feature for how Channel Divinity works.

Partial Transformation. You can use your Channel Divinity to attain a slightly more beastly form, though its ravening urges are purposefully stunted by your strength of will. When you activate this feature as a bonus action, your hands manifest claws for 1 minute, each of which you can use as a natural weapon if your hand is empty. A claw attack deals slashing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier on a hit. Once per turn for the duration, when you make the Attack action while at least one of your hands is empty, you can make one claw attack as a bonus action. Additionally, for the duration, you have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell. This feature replaces the rules for Lycanthropy within the Monster Manual.

Reveal True Form. As an action, you present your holy symbol and howl, forcing each shapeshifter within 30 feet of you that can hear you to make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, a creature is dealt thunder damage equal to your Charisma modifier. Also, if it is transformed, it instantly reverts to its original form and can’t assume a different form for 1 minute. You can choose any number of creatures of your choice within range to not be affected by this feature.

Aura of the Pack

Starting at 7th level, you constantly emanate an aura of unity and pack leadership while you’re not incapacitated. The aura extends 5 feet from you in every direction, but not through total cover. All friendly creatures have advantage on melee weapon attack rolls against a creature of your choice that is within the range of your aura. You choose which creature at the end of each of your turns.

When you reach 18th level in this class, the range of the aura increases to 10 feet.

Beastly Shapechanger

Starting at 15th level, your divine faith and self-control has grown enough to allow yourself to utilize some of the animalistic effects of your curse more often. You can activate your Partial Transformation feature once without expending a use of Channel Divinity. You regain the ability to do so when you finish a short or long rest.

Additionally, while your Partial Transformation feature is active, your claw attacks are considered magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage, and you have resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical weapons that aren’t silvered.

Lycanthropic Hybrid

At 20th level, you finally gain the fortitude to control your terrible curse for a short time, during which you are able to harness its physical prowess, unnatural resilience, and razor sharp claws. As an action, you change your form into that of a full-fledged lycanthropic hybrid, gaining the following benefits for 1 minute:

• You gain all of the benefits of your Partial Transformation feature without expending a use of your Channel Divinity.
• The damage from the claw attacks granted to you by your Partial Transformation feature increase from 1d6 to 1d8.
• You have immunity to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical attacks that aren’t silvered.

Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.