Oath of the Abyss

Paladins who swear the Oath of the Abyss pledge themselves to an unspeakable entity—be it an elder demon, an ancient devil, or the Abyss itself. These dark warriors forsake the ideals of righteousness, embracing chaos, domination, and forbidden knowledge in exchange for power. Some serve as chosen champions of a malevolent god, while others seek to unravel the fabric of reality, bending it to their will.

Tenets of the Abyss

The Oath of the Abyss is not built on honor or justice but on power and submission. Its tenets are whispered in the dark tongues of the void, compelling those who follow them to abandon mortal morality.

• Power Over Piety – Faith is an illusion; only raw strength determines one’s destiny.
• Corrupt the Pure – The light is a lie. Seek to break the wills of those who cling to hope.
• Spread the Abyss – The world must be reshaped in the image of your dark master.
• Embrace the Void – Fear is a tool, suffering a gift, and death merely a gateway.

Level 3: Oath Spells

At certain levels, you gain access to abyssal magic. These spells reflect your descent into darkness.

• 3rd Level: Inflict Wounds, Hellish Rebuke
• 5th Level: Darkness, Hold Person
• 9th Level: Bestow Curse, Fear
• 13th Level: Phantasmal Killer, Blight
• 17th Level: Contagion, Cloudkill

Level 3: Channel Divinity

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

• Abyssal Dread: As an action, you unleash a terrifying aura. Each creature of your choice within 30 feet must make a Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of you for 1 minute. They can repeat the save at the end of each of their turns.
• Mark of the Abyss: As a bonus action, you mark a creature within 30 feet. For 1 minute, your melee attacks against that target deal an extra 1d6 necrotic damage, and if they die while marked, you regain hit points equal to half your Paladin level.

Abyssal Dread

As an action, you unleash a terrifying aura. Each creature of your choice within 30 feet must make a Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of you for 1 minute. They can repeat the save at the end of each of their turns.

Mark of the Abyss

As a bonus action, you mark a creature within 30 feet. For 1 minute, your melee attacks against that target deal an extra 1d6 necrotic damage, and if they die while marked, you regain hit points equal to half your Paladin level.

Level 7: Aura of the Abyss

You exude an aura of unsettling power. Creatures of your choice within 10 feet have disadvantage on saving throws against being frightened or charmed. At 18th level, the aura extends to 30 feet.

Level 15: Unholy Tranformation

Your body becomes a vessel for abyssal energy:

• You gain resistance to necrotic and psychic damage.
• As a reaction, when a creature within 10 feet of you hits you with an attack, they take necrotic damage equal to your Charisma modifier.

Level 20: Abyssal Ascension

Once per long rest, an action, you undergo a terrifying transformation for 1 minute:

• You sprout shadowy wings, gaining a flying speed of 60 feet.
• You have advantage on saving throws against spells and magical effects.
• When you reduce a creature to 0 hit points, you can use a reaction to drain their life force, regaining hit points equal to your Paladin level.