Gunblade Fighters combine their master swordsmanship with the power of magic and rudimentary gunpowder. These Fighters can serve as bodyguards or elite infantry, either protecting their allies or unleashing explosive bursts of damage with their signature weapon. Each Gunblade Fighter designs and crafts their own Gunblade, a powerful weapon that enhances melee attacks with explosions of magical energy that are released when magically infused cartridges are primed and the trigger is pulled. Masters of the Gunblade can use these cartridges for protection or devastation. 

 

Level 3: Bladesmith

You gain proficiency with Smith's Tools. During a Long Rest you can use your Smith's Tools to craft your own Gunblade using a Longsword and a Pistol. If the Longsword you use in the crafting is magical, your Gunblade will inherit its benefits and effects. You decide what the weapon looks like when you craft it. You must be wielding your Gunblade to use the features of this subclass. Your Gunblade has the following traits: 

• Weapon Category: Martial Melee
• Damage on a Hit: 1d10 Slashing plus the ability modifier used for the attack roll. 
• Properties: Finesse, Two-Handed 
• Weight: 5 Ib.
• Mastery: Special  

When you craft your Gunblade you chose the Weapon Mastery property that the weapon has. You can use this property, and it doesn’t count against the number of properties you can use with Weapon Mastery. When you finish a Long Rest you can modify your Gunblade to change this mastery property to a different property of your choice. 

 

Level 3: Primed Cartridges

Your Gunblade can hold 6 magically infused cartridges. You can replenish all expended cartridges when you finish a Short or Long Rest. When you reach Level 10 in this class you can modify your Gunblade during a Long Rest to hold 8 cartridges. 

As a Bonus Action, you can prime your cartridges, adding 2d6 Fire or Lightning damage (your choice) to each attack you make with your action using your Gunblade until the end of your turn. Once the cartridges are primed each affected attack will consume 1 cartridge until the effect ends. 

 

Level 7: Shield Shot

The magic stored within your cartridges can be used to grant protection from harm. As a Reaction whenever you or an ally within 15 feet are attacked, you can fire a cartridge to create a magical shield. Doing so expends 1 cartridge. Until the start of the target's next turn they gain a +3 bonus to their Armor Class, including against the triggering attack. You can use this Reaction the moment after the attacker makes the attack roll for an attack. 

When you reach level 10 in this class your Shield Shot improves. When you take a Reaction to use Shield Shot, the attacking creature is marked until the start of your next turn. While you are within 15 feet of the marked creature it has Disadvantage on attack rolls against targets other than you until the mark fades.

 

Level 7: Momentum Trigger

Use the momentum of your attacks to fire off primed cartridges quicker. You can activate Primed Cartridges as part of any attack you make with your Gunblade using your action, instead of as a Bonus Action. The triggering attack will not expend a cartridge or gain the benefits from the Primed Cartridges effect, but all following Gunblade attacks made with your action will. 

In addition, if you expend 2 or more cartridges with your action you can make a thrusting attack with your Gunblade as a Bonus Action that does Piercing damage equal to 1d6 plus the ability modifier used for the attack roll. When you reach level 15 in this class this damage increases to 2d6 plus the ability modifier used for the attack roll. 

 

Level 10: Cartridge Blast

You can expend a cartridge as an action to unleash an explosive blast at your location. Each creature within 15 feet of you must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Dexterity or Strength modifier). A creature takes 6d6 Fire or Lightning damage (your choice) on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful save. This damage increases to 8d6 when you reach level 15 in this class. When you use this action you also protect yourself from its effects, gaining Immunity to the damage dealt. 

 

Level 15: Magic Reload

You have learned how to resupply quickly in an emergency. As a Bonus Action you can expend a spell slot of level 2 or higher to instantly replenish all of your expended cartridges. Alternatively, if you do not have a spell slot to expend, an ally within 15 feet of you may use their Reaction to do so for you. You can benefit from this feature once before needing to finish a Long Rest to benefit from it again. 

 

Level 18: Rapid Burst Impact

Charge in to unleash the ultimate explosive attack. You can expend 3 cartridges as an action to instantly move within melee range of a creature you can see within 20 feet without using your movement or provoking Opportunity Attacks. At the end of this movement you unleash a powerful cluster attack with your Gunblade that does 6d12 Fire or Lightning damage (your choice) and causes the creature to be Stunned until the end of your next turn. Using this action also causes you to take 3d12 Force damage if the attack hits. This damage cannot be reduced in any way. 

If this attack hits, you cannot use this action again until you finish a Short Rest or use your Magic Reload feature to use it again.