Path of the Grave Warden

A Grave Warden is a primal defender of the dead. These Barbarians call on the spirits of the dead to aid them on and off the battlefield and fight to defend the honor and memory of their fallen comrades. While they may use their rage to harness the power of these spirits, these Barbarians always show reverence to the dead and their places of rest, ready to enact swift retaliation against those that seek to desecrate them.

 

Level 3: Guidance from Beyond

Your connection to spirits of the dead allows you to call on them for guidance. You learn the Guidance spell. When you cast the spell you can empower it to grant a 1d8 bonus instead of 1d4. You can empower the spell in this way a number of times equal to your Constitution modifier. You regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.

 

Level 3: Spirit Calling

Warrior spirits of the dead answer your call in battle to punish your foes and protect your allies. As a Bonus Action while your rage is active, you can call on a warrior spirit to aid you in one of the following ways:

Wrathful Spirit. Force a creature you can see within 30 feet to make a Wisdom saving throw, DC equal to 8 plus your Constitution modifier and Proficiency Bonus. On a failed save the creature takes 2d8 Necrotic damage.

Protective Spirit. Give an allied creature you can see within 30 feet Temporary Hit Points equal to 1d8 + half your Barbarian level (round up).

 

Level 6: Grave Keeper's Boon

You have learned to converse directly with the dead and can gain power from them to continue the fight. You learn the Speak with Dead spell and can cast it at will without expending a spell slot while not in combat. 

When you cast the spell you can decide to acquire power from the spirit inhabiting the corpse, regaining Hit Points or gaining Temporary Hit Points (your choice) equal to 2d8 + your Barbarian level when the spell ends. Once you gain this benefit you cannot gain it again until you finish a Short or Long Rest.

 

Level 10: Raging Spirits

You can call on spirits of the dead to control the battlefield and decimate your foes. When you activate your rage you can also cast the Spirit Guardians spell as part of the same Bonus Action. You can cast this spell and maintain Concentration on it even while your rage is active and it will last until your rage ends. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for this spell. Once you have used this feature to cast the spell in this way you cannot do so again until you finish a Short or Long Rest.

In addition, when you cast the spell in this way it always deals Necrotic damage and damage cannot break your Concentration on it.

 

Level 14: Grave Warden Mastery

You have mastered the ability to call on spirits of the dead, allowing you to empower them with your fury in battle. The effects of your Spirit Calling feature improve in the following ways:

Wrathful Spirit. If the creature fails its save against this effect, it has Disadvantage against the next saving throw it is forced to make before the start of your next turn.

Protective Spirit. The ally you give this effect to also has Advantage on the next saving throw they are forced to make before the start of your next turn.