Oath of the Dragon Rider

Homebrew Class by Wolfman1999, with inspiration from reddit user Blue4Eternity's Oath of the Dragon Rider subclass

Paladins who have sworn to the Oath of the Dragon Riders are few, as this oath can only be made with direct influence from a powerful Dragon, such as Draconic Deities or a Greatwyrm, or from contact with a draconic artifact. If forged, the paladin is bonded to a draconic companion, a fraction of the paladin's soul incarnated. These paladins, known as Dragon Riders or Dragon Tamers, have no specific alignment, but each follow their own set, or those given by their deities, of rules. Although their differences, all riders follow three principal tenets, with additional from their beliefs or Gods.

Tenets Of The Riders

The tenets of the Oath Of The Dragon Rider vary by paladin, but all the tenets revolve around becoming one with their Dragon Companions, almost as if they were one single being with a single soul.

Two Bodies, One Soul. You and your Draconic Companion may share different bodies, but you are a single force when in battle. Show them the true meaning of fear and power.

Memories Of War. You honor the traditions of the dragonkin. Hoard gold or mementos of war, just like the ones that gifted you your power.

Power Of The Dragonkin. Dragons are known for their wrath in combat, with their stories striking fear and awe. Be one of these tales.

Level 3: Oath of the Dragon Rider Spells

3rd-Level Oath of the Dragon Rider Feature

The magic of your oath ensures you always have certain spells ready; when you reach a Paladin level specified in the Oath of the Dragon Rider Spells table, you thereafter always have the listed spells prepared.

Oath of the Dragon Rider Spells

Paladin Level	Spells
3	Chromatic Orb, Detect Magic
5	Dragon's Breath, Warding Bond
9	Fear, Fly
13	Fire Shield, Guardian of Faith
17	Legend Lore, Summon Dragon

Level 3: Draconic Companion

3rd-Level Oath of the Dragon Rider Feature

As a Magic action, you can spend 1 minute magically summon a Draconic Companion that is bound to you. It appears in an unoccupied space of your choice within 30 feet of you.

The dragon is friendly to you and your companions, and it obeys your commands. See its game statistics in the accompanying draconic Companion stat block, which uses your Charisma Modifier in several places. Whenever you summon the drake, choose a damage type listed in its Draconic Essence trait. You can determine the cosmetic characteristics of the drake, such as its color, its scale texture, or any visible effect of its Draconic Essence; your choice has no effect on its game statistics.

In combat, the dragon acts during your turn. It can move and use its reaction on its own, but the only action it takes on its turn is the Dodge action, unless you take a bonus action on your turn to command it to take another action. That action can be one in its stat block or some other action. If you are incapacitated, the dragon can take any action of its choice, not just Dodge.

The dragon remains until it is reduced to 0 hit points, until you use this feature to summon the dragon again, or until you die. Anything the dragon was wearing or carrying is left behind when the dragon vanishes.

Once you summon the dragon, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest, unless you expend a spell slot of 1st level or higher to summon it.

Draconic Resurrection. If the dragon is reduced to 0 hit points, it vanishes unless you are within 60 feet, can see the dragon, and use a reaction to expend a use of Channel Divinity. If you do so, it regains a number of hit points equal to three times your Paladin Level.

Draconic Companion

Small Dragon, Neutral

AC 13 plus your Charisma modifier

HP 5 plus five times your Paladin level (the beast has a number of Hit Dice [d8s] equal to your Paladin level)

Speed 40 ft.

Immunities Acid

Senses Darkvision 60ft.; Passive Perception 12

Languages Understands the languages you know

CR None (XP 0; PB equals your Proficiency Bonus)

Traits

Draconic Essence. When you summon the dragon, choose a damage type: acid, cold, fire, lightning, or poison. The chosen type determines the drake’s damage immunity and the damage of its Breath Weapon trait. 

Divine Bond. Once per turn, when the dragon hits a creature with an attack roll, it may cast Divine Smite using one of your spell slots. Add your Proficiency Bonus to any ability check or saving throw the beast makes.

Actions

Rend. Melee Attack Roll: Bonus equals your spell attack modifier, reach 5 ft. Hit: 1d8 + 3 plus your Charisma modifier Force damage.

Breath Weapon (PB/Day). Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 8 plus your Proficiency Bonus plus your Charisma modifier, each creature in a 15-foot Cone. Failure: The target takes 2d6 damage of it's draconic essence type. Success: The target takes half damage. The damage of this attack increases at Paladin level 7 (4d6), level 15 (6d6), and level 20 (8d6).

Reactions

Draconic Companion (Acid)

Your dragon's essence is Acid

Draconic Companion (Cold)

Your dragon's essence is Cold

Draconic Companion (Fire)

Your Dragon's draconic essence is Fire.

Draconic Companion (Lightning)

Your dragon's essence is Lightning

Draconic Companion (Poison)

Your dragon's essence is Poison

Draconic Burst

3rd-Level Oath of the Dragon Rider Feature

As a Magic action, while you are within 5 feet of your dragon, you can expend a use of Channel Divinity to have your dragon use it's breath weapon attack. This attack can be used even if your dragon has no uses of Breath Weapon remaining and deals an additional number of d6's equal to your Charisma modifier (Minimum of 1 additional die).

Level 7: Bond of Scale and Rider

7th-Level Drakewarden Feature

The bond you share with your dragon intensifies, protecting you and stoking the dragon’s fury. When you summon your dragon, it grows wings on its back and gains a flying speed equal to its walking speed.

In addition, while your dragon is summoned, you and the dragon gain the following benefits:

Dragon Mount. The dragon grows to Medium size. You can use the dragon as a mount if you are Medium or smaller, but while you’re riding it, the dragon falls at the end of a turn if it’s airborne and the only thing holding it aloft is its Fly Speed. It takes you only 5 feet of movement to mount or dismount the dragon.

Magic Fang. The dragon's Breath Weapon attack now deals 4d6 damage.

Resistance. You and your allies have resistance to your Draconic Companion's Draconic Essence while in your Aura of Protection.

Acid Resistance

You and your allies have resistance to Acid damage while in your Aura of Protection.

Cold Resistance

You and your allies have resistance to Cold damage while in your Aura of Protection.

Fire Resistance

You and your allies have resistance to Fire damage while in your Aura of Protection.

Lightning Resistance

You and your allies have resistance to Lightning damage while in your Aura of Protection.

Poison Resistance

You and your allies have resistance to Poison damage while in your Aura of Protection.

Level 15: Draconic Soul

15th-Level Oath of the Dragon Rider Feature

Empowered Breath. The dragon's Breath Weapon now deals 6d6 damage.

Superior Mount. The dragon grows to Large size, and its Speed increases to 40 feet. Additionally, the dragon no longer falls at the end of a turn if airborne while you’re riding it.

Tandem Attack. When you take the Attack action on your turn, you can forego one of your attacks to command the dragon to make one Rend attack. Alternatively, you can forego two of your attacks to command the dragon to use its Breath Weapon.

Divine Connection. While mounted on your dragon, you can make any spell that targets you also target your mount. Additionally, melee attacks made by your dragon benefit from your Radiant Strikes feature.

Level 20: Dragon Heart

Your bond with your Draconic Companion has reached it's full form. Your dragon's size increases to Huge and its breath weapon now does 8d6 damage.

Furthermore, as an action while mounted, you gain the following benefits for one minute:

• Your Dragon Companion has resistance to all damage.
• Your dragon's breath weapon area increases to either a 5-ft. by 60-ft. line or a 60-foot cone.
• You may use Draconic Burst without expending a Channel Divinity.

This ability ends early if you dismount or are knocked off of your mount, or if you or your dragon are incapacitated. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest unless you expend a use of Channel Divinity (no action required).