Wyvern Master

A homebrew sub-class for my sandbox campaign "Echoes of the Damned". This sub-class is heavily based off the Drake Warden from Fizban's Treasury of Dragons, but with the intent to make it 5.5e compatible. Any flavor text is for my campaign, and as with any mechanical decisions, I heavily urge anyone using this to make changes as they desire to better fit their own stories.

Level 3: Wyvern Companion

You are a commander of a Wyvern, which draws strength from your bond. The beast is Friendly to you and your allies and obeys your commands. The stat-block used for the Wyvern is ultimately decided by the DM, but a good fall back is the Drake Companion from Fizban's Treasury of Dragons. When selecting this class, you must choose an essence type from the following list: Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning, or Poison. You can determine the cosmetic characteristics of the Wyvern, such as it's color, it's scale texture, or any visible effect of it's essence; you're choice has no effect on its game statistics.

The Wyvern in Combat. In combat, the Wyvern acts directly after your turn. It can move and use its Reaction on its own, but the only action it takes is the Dodge action, unless you take a Bonus Action to command it to take an action, which it does once it's turn starts. You can also sacrifice one of your attacks when you take the Attack action to command the Wyvern to take the Wyvern’s Strike action. If you have the Incapacitated condition, the Wyvern acts on its own and isn’t limited to the Dodge action.

Reviving the Beast. If the Wyvern has died within the last hour, you can take a Magic action to touch it and expend a spell slot. The beast returns to life after 1 minute with all its Hit Points restored.

For the purpose of my campaign, the beast is mortal and will die if not revived in time. I urge anyone using the class outside of my campaign to make any changes they need to tailor the sub-class to their own worlds.

Level 3: Skilled Ambusher

You have mastered the art of creating fearsome ambushes, granting you the following benefits.

Ambusher’s Leap.  At the start of your first turn of each combat, your Speed increases by 10 feet until the end of that turn.

Essence Strike. When you attack a creature and hit it with a weapon, you can deal an extra 1d8 damage of your Wyvern's chosen essence. You can use this benefit only once per turn, you can use it a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.

Initiative Bonus. When you roll Initiative, you can add your Wisdom modifier to the roll. 

 

Wyvern Sight

Wyvern Sight. You gain Darkvision with a range of 60 feet. If you already have Darkvision when you gain this feature, its range increases by 60 feet.

Level 7: Bond of Fang and Scale

The bond you share with your Wyvern intensifies, protecting you and stoking the Wyvern's fury. The Wyvern grows to Medium size and it's flying speed increases to 45. In addition, you and the Wyvern gain the following benefits.

Wyvern Mount. The wyvern is now large enough to bear a rider of Medium or smaller size. While riding the Wyvern, it's flying speed becomes the same as it's walking speed.

Magic Fang. The Wyvern's bite attack deals an extra 1d6 damage of the chosen Essence's type.

Resistance. You Gain resistance to damage of the chosen Essence's type.

Level 11: Empowered Bond

The bond to your Wyvern has grown much stronger, nearing the pinnacle of it's power. You and the Wyvern gain the following benefits:

Large Wyvern. The Wyvern grows to Large size. When you ride your Wyvern, it's flying speed is no longer reduced.

Empowered Bite. The Wyvern's bite attack deals an extra 1d6 damage of the chosen Essence's type (for a total of 2d6).

Wyvern Breath. Your Wyvern learns the Wyvern Breath action. When commanded, your Wyvern can use it's action to exhale a 30-foot cone of damaging breath. The damage type is decided by the Essence chosen at 3rd level. Each creature in the cone must make a Dexterity saving throw against your spell save DC, taking 8d6 damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Once you use this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest, unless you expend a spell slot of 3rd level or higher to use it again. This damage increases to 10d6 when you reach 15th level in this class.

Level 15: Perfected Bond

Your bond to your Wyvern has reached the peak of it's strength. You and the Wyvern gain the following benefits:

Empowered Bite. The Wyvern's bite attack deals an extra 1d6 damage of the chosen Essence's type (for a total of 3d6 extra damage).

Huge Wyvern. Your Wyvern grows to Huge size. It's flying speed is increased to 60 feet.

Reflexive Resistance. When either you or your Wyvern take damage while you're within 30 feet of each other, you can use your reaction to give yourself or your Wyvern resistance to that instance of damage. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.