Sword Saint

Sword Saints have had an image of their ideal weapon in mind since birth, and without fail it is a blade.  Coupled with extensive training, a single-minded focus on the vision of one's true sword has blessed the Sword Saint with deadly skills while leaving their offhand empty.  They also see a particular benefit from wearing light armors and keeping their movements unrestricted.

Sword Saints are also able to use their mental energy to conjure swords or draw out the power of physical weapons.  As their sagacity increases, Sword Saints are able to create more devastating effects.

Level     Proficiency          Features

   1                +2                    Fighting Style: Dueling, Second Wind

   2                +2                    Action Surge (one use)

   3                +2                    Martial Archetype

   4                +2                    Ability Score Improvement

   5                +3                    Extra Attack

   6                +3                    Ability Score Improvement

   7                +3                    Martial Archetype

   8                +3                    Ability Score Improvement

   9                +4                    Indomitable (one use)

  10               +4                    Martial Archetype

  11               +4                    Indomitable (two uses)

  12               +4                    Ability Score Improvement

  13               +5                    Extra Attack (2)

  14               +5                    Ability Score Improvement

  15               +5                    Martial Archetype

  16               +5                    Ability Score Improvement

  17               +6                    Action Surge (two uses), Indomitable (three uses)

  18               +6                    Martial Archetype

  19               +6                    Ability Score Improvement

  20               +6                    Extra Attack (3)

 

At the 4th, 8th, and 14th levels Sword Saints may improve any ability score by 1.  At the 6th, 12th, 16th, and 19th levels Sword Saints may improve any ability score by 2 or any two ability scores by 1.  Using the optional feats rule, a Sword Saint may instead choose a feat rather than the ability score improvement.

Sage Defenses

At 3rd level a Sword Saint can use their Wisdom modifier instead of their Dexterity modifier for AC so long as they are equipped with a blade (dagger, greatsword, longsword, scimitar, shortsword) and light armor and have their offhand empty.  They also gain access to the cantrip Sword Burst.

At 11th level a Sword Saint gains an additional +1 AC so long as they are equipped with a blade and light armor and have their offhand empty.

At 19th level this bonus is increased to +2 AC.

Draw Out

At 7th level a Sword Saint gains a special ability called Draw Out.

Draw Out counts as a ranged attack, but is cast and defended against as a spell (V,S).  Sword Saints use their Wisdom as their spellcasting ability.  A Sword Saint must be equipped with a blade and have their offhand empty.  Make a ranged spell attack.  On a critical failure, the blade is instantly destroyed and Draw Out does no damage (if the blade used is a wondrous item, then it is instead flung to the ground within 5ft. and an Action must be spent to retrieve it).  On a failure, Draw Out does no damage.  On a success, a target within 60ft. must make a Dexterity save against your spell save DC (12 + Wisdom modifier).  The target takes 1d8 slashing damage plus 2d10 force damage on a failed save and half as much on a successful one.  If your success was a critical, the target is knocked down.  At 11th level Draw Out deals an additional 1d8+2 slashing damage.  At 16th level Draw Out deals an additional 1d10+2 force damage.  At 20th level Draw Out deals as much psychic damage as it does force damage.

Sword Burst does an additional 1d6 force damage.

Dervish

At 10th level Sword Burst does an additional 2d6 force damage.  When you would use your Reaction for an Attack of Opportunity, you can instead choose to cast Sword Burst.

Mental Massacre

At 15th level a Sword Saint can cast True Seeing on themselves once per day without material components. 

Sword Burst deals an additional 2d6 force damage.  All enemies within range when Sword Burst is used must make an additional Wisdom save against your spell save DC.  Enemies that fail the save are pierced by a psychic blade and are incapacitated for three rounds.  Incapacitated enemies take 1d20 psychic damage at the start of their turn and then make a Wisdom(Insight) save to attempt to cancel the incapacitated condition.

The Blade Becomes

At 18th level, when a Sword Saint attunes a blade, there are additional bonuses conferred to the blade.  Attacks with your attuned weapon deal an additional 2d10 psychic damage.  You may also choose to either use the attuned weapon's inherent bonus to attack and damage rolls or the bonus calculated by the following:

Attuned Uncommon: Wisdom modifier - 3

Attuned Rare: Wisdom modifier - 2

Attuned Very Rare: Wisdom modifier - 1

Attuned Legendary/Artifact: Wisdom modifier

 

Once per day, a Sword Saint may use an Empowered Sword Burst that targets all enemies within 30ft.  The Empowered Sword Burst does double damage and any targets that would be incapacitated are paralyzed instead.