Swordsaint

Among the countless warriors who dedicate their lives to the sword, a select few ascend beyond mere mastery and become Swordsaints. Their devotion to the blade transcends physical skill alone, allowing them to command steel with unmatched precision and impossible finesse. In their hands, every sword becomes an extension of their will, moving with purpose even beyond their reach.

A Swordsaint does not overwhelm their enemies through brute strength, but through complete dominion over the battlefield. Their blades weave through the air in perfect harmony, striking, defending, and adapting faster than the eye can follow. Those who survive an encounter often struggle to recall where the Swordsaint ended and their blades began, for to face one is to battle an entire arsenal guided by a single, unwavering mind.

Level 3: Bound Arsenal

Telekinetic Control: When you make an attack roll or use a subclass feature with a Bound sword, you use your Intelligence modifier instead of Strength or Dexterity for the attack and damage rolls. You always know the direction and distance to each Bound Sword while it is on the same plane of existence.

As a Bonus Action, you can summon any number of your Bound Swords you are currently able to have active (Level 3 = 1, 7 = 2 etc.) to unoccupied spaces within 10 feet of you. They begin floating around you and remain animated until:

• you dismiss them (no action),
• you become incapacitated,
• or you finish a Long Rest.

While floating, these swords cannot be wielded by another creature.

Initially, you may have one Bound Sword floating.

Blade Attunement: Your bound swords adapt perfectly to the weapons you forge them from. While wielding a melee weapon, your Sword Arts and weapon attacks gain a special property based on that weapon's properties: 

Your floating swords adapt perfectly to the weapons you forge them from. While wielding a melee weapon, your Sword Arts and weapon attacks gain a special property based on that weapon's properties:

• Light (Dagger, Shortsword, Handaxe): When you use a Sword Art that allows you to make an attack, you can make additional weapon attacks with light floating sword as part of that same action with as many light floating swords you currently possess. At 10th level, this extra attack deals an additional 1d4 force damage.

• Versatile (Longsword, Battleaxe, Spear): While wielding the weapon in one hand, you gain a +1 bonus to your AC. While wielding it with two hands, you gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls made with your Sword Arts. At 10th level, the one-handed AC bonus increases to +2, and the two-handed attack bonus increases to +2.

• Finesse (Rapier, Scimitar, Whip): When an enemy moves into a space within 10 feet of you, you can use your reaction to make a single opportunity attack against them using a floating sword. At 10th level, if this attack hits, the target's movement speed drops to 0 until the end of the turn.

• Heavy (Greatsword, Greataxe, Polearms): Your floating swords are massive and slow. You suffer a -1 penalty to attack rolls made with your Sword Arts, but they deal an additional +2 damage on a hit. At 10th level, the damage bonus increases to +4 (the -1 penalty remains).

Level 3: Sword Arts

You have Sword Art Points equal to:

2 × your Proficiency Bonus

You regain all expended points after a Short or Long Rest.

Whenever a feature requires a saving throw:

DC = 8 + Proficiency Bonus + Intelligence Modifier

Additionally you also gain a +1 to Intelligence.

Level 3: Sword Saint's Discipline

Beginning when you choose this archetype at 3rd level, your mastery over the blade allows you to command your Bound Swords through specialized combat disciplines known as Stances.

At the start of each of your turns, you may enter one of the following stances (no action required). The stance lasts until the start of your next turn, when you may choose another.

Some Sword Arts gain additional effects depending on your current stance.

Offensive Stance

Your blades relentlessly seek openings in your enemy's defenses.

While in this stance:

• Once on each of your turns, when you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you deal an additional 1d4 Force damage.
• Your Bound Swords can move an additional 10 feet during your turn.

Progression

Defensive Stance

Your floating blades form an impenetrable guard around yourself and your allies.

While in this stance:

• You gain +1 AC.
• Whenever a creature you can see within 5 feet of one of your Bound Swords is hit by an attack, you may use your Reaction and reduce the damage by 1d6 + your Fighter level.

Progression

Flowing Stance

You and your blades move as one, never remaining in the same place for long.

While in this stance:

• Your speed increases by 10 feet.
• Opportunity attacks against you are made with disadvantage.
• Once during your turn, after making a weapon attack, you may move 10 feet without provoking opportunity attacks.

Progression

Twin Discipline

You can now maintain two floating swords and learn 3 more Sword Arts (They are granted automatically). Additionally whenever a creature misses you with an attack, you may move one Bound Sword up to 10 feet without having to use a bonus action to move it.

Perfect Flow: 

Each stance gains a passive improvement.

Offensive

• Critical hits on a 19–20 while in this stance.

Defensive

• You cannot be flanked while at least one Bound Sword is active (or, if not using flanking rules, creatures provoke opportunity attacks when leaving your reach or a Bound Sword's reach).

Flowing

• Difficult terrain doesn't cost you extra movement.

 

Level 10: Perfect Harmony

You can now maintain three floating swords, additionally once per turn, after expending a Sword Art Point, add your Intelligence modifier to one damage roll made by a Bound Sword. When you roll Initiative, you gain temporary Sword Art Points equal to your Intelligence modifier. These disappear when combat ends.

On top of that you also gain the following benefit:

Blade Flow: 

Whenever you expend a Sword Art Point, choose one:

• gain +10 feet movement
• gain +2 AC until the start of your next turn
• one enemy struck can't make opportunity attacks

Level 15: Fourfold Arsenal

Maximum floating swords becomes four. Additionally you gain the following benefits:

Sword Domain: 

Your battlefield control becomes frightening.

Enemies treat squares within 5 feet of your floating swords as difficult terrain.

Whenever an enemy willingly enters one of these spaces:

Spend 1 Sword Art Point.

That sword makes an opportunity attack

Master's Domain: 

Your stance also affects all active Bound Swords.

Offensive

• Bound Swords score critical hits on 19–20.

Defensive

• Allies within 5 feet of a Bound Sword gain +1 AC.

Flowing

• Bound Swords can move through creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain.

Level 18: Saint of a Thousand Blades

Maximum floating swords becomes five. Additionally you gain the following benefits:

Endless Arsenal: 

At the start of every turn:

Recover one spent Sword Art Point.

Sword Saint's Ascend: Instead of choosing one stance each turn, you may maintain two stances simultaneously, gaining the benefits of both.