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Witch
A tattooed elf, veiled and cloaked, draws his obsidian dagger across the sand, calling forth from the lines a ghostly apparition to help him and his allies find their way. A trio of halfling hermits gather among candles and incense, chanting words of power to bait spirits from the shadows. The bejeweled human, dressed in exotic garb and golden chains bellows a spell which echoes with the voices of an army of lost souls, a fiendish glint in his eyes as blood drips from his palm.
Unlike shamans who pray to the spirits of nature, witches trap the tormented souls of those lost betwixt the realm of the living and the beyond. As a witch, you learn to summon these souls and bind them to your will, gaining protection from them and power over them. As you attain higher levels, the covenant you choose to live by grants you further abilities which extend the utility and power of these bonds in different ways.
The Power of Spirit
Witches may or may not have respect for the spirits they bind, though one could say they should. Some witches tap into the residual energies of long-departed souls, while others use extant spiritual beings as conduits for their spellcasting. Either way and whether or not they wish, witches bind part of their own soul to those that surround them.
Witch spells mostly deal with manipulation of spiritual energies (both living and dead) and protections against the beings who supply those energies. As part of their connection to the spiritual world, they are also privy to information and secrets normally not meant for mortal minds. As such, witches are powerful enchanters, abjurers, and diviners.
Bonds of the Soul
Witches acknowledge that there is a spiritual connection between all things – forces that inexplicably and randomly bind beings and happenings together in a kind of mass, shared fate. They see other witches as brothers and sisters, and other classes as close cousins. As a consequence, witches are often fond of forming alliances. The covenant that a witch subscribes to is one such alliance.
Covenants are the manifestation of a philosophy regarding the nature of spirits. Some, like the Covenant of Unity, believe in a supreme energy that extends beyond the physical world, weaving together magic and the collective conscience of all living things. Others, from the Covenant of Blood for example, believe in a more intimate connection between the physical world and the other side. In this philosophy, each soul is tied to something close to it in the physical world – a body, an object, or location that was important to it when it was alive.
The Witch
| Level | Proficiency Bonus |
Bonds | Features | Cantrips Known |
Spells Known |
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +2 | — | Quickening, Spellcasting | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2nd | +2 | 1 | Witch Covenant, Binding Rites | 3 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3rd | +2 | 1 | Spirit Ward | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4th | +2 | 1 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5th | +3 | 1 | — | 4 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6th | +3 | 2 | Covenant Feature | 4 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7th | +3 | 2 | Spiritual Spellcasting | 4 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8th | +3 | 2 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 9th | +4 | 2 | — | 4 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
| 10th | +4 | 3 | Covenant Feature | 5 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
| 11th | +4 | 3 | — | 5 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 12th | +4 | 3 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 13th | +5 | 3 | — | 5 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 14th | +5 | 4 | Covenant feature | 5 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 15th | +5 | 4 | — | 5 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 16th | +5 | 4 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 17 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 17th | +6 | 4 | — | 5 | 17 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 18th | +6 | 5 | Familiar Spirit | 5 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 19th | +6 | 5 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 20th | +6 | 5 | Ghostly Step | 5 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Creating A Witch
When deciding to play a witch, think about what led your character to tap into the spirit world. Maybe witchcraft is a tradition in the area, or your character comes from an area rife with a ghostly past. Superstition is also a good trigger for a fascination with spirits. What is your relationship with spirits? Is there a measure of mutual respect? Perhaps your character feels more like a servant to the spirit than the other way around, or maybe they possess the entitlement to dominate and extort spiritual beings.
How did your character come to be an adventurer? It could be that they were a pariah in their community due to contact with the other side, cast out and forced to fend for themselves. Perhaps your character is even haunted by a particular spirit, and seeks a way to control or be rid of it.
Quick Build
You can make a witch quickly by following these suggestions. First, Charisma should be your highest ability score, followed by Constitution. Second, select the Hermit background. Third, select the chill touch, guidance, and light cantrips.
Class Features
As a witch, you gain the following class features
Hit Points
- Hit Dice: 1d6 per witch level
- Hit Points at 1st Level: 6 + your Constitution modifier
- Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d6 (or 4) + your Constitution modifier per witch level after 1st
Proficiencies
- Armor: Light armor
- Weapons: Clubs, daggers, darts, quarterstaffs, scimitars, sickles, slings
- Tools: Herbalism kit
- Saving Throws: Wisdom, Charisma
- Skills: Choose two from Arcana, History, Insight, Medicine, Nature, Religion, and Persuasion
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) a component pouch or (b) an arcane focus
or (c) a druidic focus - (a) a priest's pack or (b) a scholar's pack
- Any simple weapon and two daggers
Spellcasting
Your contact with the spirit world and intuitive knowledge of the magic which allows it to persist grants you the use of spells.
Cantrips
You know three cantrips of your choice from the witch spell list. You learn additional witch cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Witch table.
Spell Slots
The Witch table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your spells of 1st level and above. To cast one of these witch spells, you must expend a spell slot of the spell's level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest.
For example, if you know the 1st-level spell cure wounds and you have a 1st-level and a 2nd-level spell slot available, you can cast cure wounds using either slot.
Spells Known of 1st Level and Higher
You know three 1st-level spells of your choice from the witch spell list.
The Spells Known column of the Witch table shows when you learn more witch spells of your choice. Each of these spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots, as shown on the table. For instance, when you reach 3rd level in this class, you can learn one new spell of 1st or 2nd level.
Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose on of the witch spells you know and replace it with another spell from the witch spell list, which also must be of a level for which you have spell slots.
Spellcasting Ability
Charisma is your spellcasting ability for your witch spells, since your magic comes from bargaining with spirits. You use your Charisma whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Charisma modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a witch spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.
Spell Save DC
Spell attack modifier
Ritual Casting
You can cast any witch spell you know as a ritual if that spell has the ritual tag.
Spellcasting Focus
You can use an arcane focus or druidic focus as a spellcasting focus for your witch spells.
Quickening
At 1st level, you gain the ability to enter a trance known as the witch’s quickening, letting you see beyond the borders of the material world. As an action you can enter this trance to see into the Ethereal Plane up to 60 feet.
Additionally you also gain insight into the emotional energy surrounding you, you know if and what spirits are bound within 60 feet, and you gain advantage on Wisdom (Insight) checks.
The trance lasts for 1 minute, or until you end it as an action. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum 1). You regain any expended uses when you finish a long rest.
Witch Covenant
At 2nd level you commit yourself to a spiritual philosophy known as a witch's covenant: the Covenant of Blood, the Covenant of Charm, the Covenant of Ruin, the Covenant of Shadows, Covenant of Silver, Covenant of Steel, or the Covenant of Unity, detailed at the end of the class description. Your choice grants you features at 2nd level and again at 6th, 10th, and 14th level.
Covenant Spells
Each covenant has a list of spells that you gain at the witch levels noted in the covenant description. Once you gain a covenant spell, you know it, and it doesn't count against the number of spells you know.
If you have a covenant spell that doesn't appear on the witch spell list, the spell is nonetheless a witch spell for you.
Binding Rites
At 2nd level you can bind spirits to your service. Binding a spirit requires 10 minutes of uninterrupted meditation. During this time, the witch speaks the invocations required to summon the spirit forth and enacts the rite of binding depending on which philosophy the witch subscribes to. A blood witch might utilize a bone fragment to bind the spirit, while a shadow witch might bargain with the summoned spirit, exchanging a secret for the spirit’s service. A witch may perform this ritual at any time to swap a bound spirit for a new one, losing the old passive benefit and gaining the new (or simply to change the spell slot level the same spirit is occupying).
You choose a spirit to bind from the list at the end of this class description, and you fill one of your available spell slots with the spirit. The spell slot is no longer available for casting spells, and it remains unavailable for as long as the spirit filling it remains bound to you. The spirit is of a level equal to the level of the spell slot used to bind it. For example, a Spirit of Passion occupying a 6th level spell slot is a level 6 spirit. You cannot have more than one spirit with the same name bound at once.
Depending on the type of spirit, you gain certain benefits while the spirit remains bound and an additional effect when you release the spirit, as detailed in the Binding Rites section. Releasing a spirit is a bonus action, although some spirits allow release as a reaction. Once a spirit has been released, it no longer provides its passive effect and the spell slot it occupied is expended.
You can bind a number of spirits up to the number shown for your witch level in the Bonds column of the witch table.
Multiclassing and the Witch
If your group uses the optional rule on multiclassing in the Player's Handbook, here's what you need to know if you chose witch as one of your classes.
Ability Score Minimum. As a multiclass character, you must have at least a Charisma score of 13 to take a level in this class, or to take a level in another class if you are already a witch.
Proficiencies Gained. If witch isn't your initial class, you gain proficiency with the herbalism kit when you take your first level as a witch.
Spell Slots. Add your level in the witch class to the appropriate levels from other classes to determine your available spell slots.
Spirit Ward
At 3rd level, you learn a rite that offers protection against spirits who wish you or your allies harm. As an action, you can create a spirit ward with a radius of 15 feet, centered on a point you touch. The ward lasts 1 minute. While inside the ward, creatures you choose who you can see cannot be charmed, frightened, or possessed by undead and have resistance to all damage from incorporeal undead. Additionally, if an affected creature is reduced to 0 hit points within the ward but is not killed outright, the creature becomes stable.
Once you use this feature, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest or until you expend a spell slot to use it again.
Ability Score Improvement
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.
Spiritual Spellcasting
At 7th level you call upon the spirits you have bound to help you cast your spells. You can dismiss a spirit as a bonus action to recover a spell slot of a level equal to that of the spell slot used to bind the spirit. The release effect of the spirit you dismissed is not activated.
Familiar Spirit
At 18th level, you learn the find familiar spell. When you cast find familiar or if you already have a familiar, you can awaken spiritual energy within the animal as part of an additional ritual that takes 10 minutes. Once complete, choose one spirit from the list at the end of the class description. Your familiar provides you with the spirit’s passive effect as long as your familiar is within 100 feet of you. Its level is equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum 1). If the familiar dies, the spirit produces its release effect if there is a valid target within range of the familiar.
Ghostly Step
At 20th level you gain the ability to enter the spirit realm as a bonus action by projecting part of yourself beyond the material plane. This projection lasts for 10 minutes or until you rematerialize as a bonus action. You and all your belongings become invisible. You have resistance to all non-magical damage, and cannot be grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, or restrained.
For the duration, you can pass through solid objects as if they were difficult terrain. If you end your turn in an object, you take 1d10 force damage. If you rematerialize in a location occupied by a creature or solid object, you are shunted to the nearest unoccupied space and take damage equal to twice the number of feet you are moved as a result.
Once you use this feature, you must finish a long rest before you can use it again.
Covenants
The covenant that a witch swears by at 2nd level exemplifies the witch's personal philosophy on spirits. When entering a covenant, the witch gains abilities which align with these core philosophies. Though witches of different covenants can hold similar opinions of spirits, it is important to think on how each covenant's teachings shape your character's attitudes towards the binding and utilization of spirits.
Covenant of Blood
Witches of the Covenant of Blood believe in strong connections between the physical world and the spiritual one. Spirits are connected to the physical world through objects that were important to them while they were alive. This knowledge allows a witch to bind spirits more easily — as long as they know something of the spirit's life.
Though not always, witches from the Covenant of Blood tend to dominate the spirits under their control. They generally take care to leave spirits intact and in a state no worse than before they were bound, but nevertheless are capable of using a spirit's weaknesses against them, taking advantage of their connections to the physical world in order to gain great control of them.
Covenant of Blood Spells
| Witch Level | Spells |
|---|---|
| 3rd | Hold Person, Locate Object |
| 5th | Remove Curse, Vampiric Touch |
| 7th | Locate Creature, Polymorph |
| 9th | Awaken, Greater Restoration |
Awaken the Blood
Beginning at 2nd level, when you release a spirit from your power, you can use the energy from those broken spiritual bonds to repair corporeal bodies. When you release a spirit, a creature you touch regains hit points equal to three times the spirit's level.
Sympathetic Magic
At 6th level, you gain the power to cast spells on targets over vast distances beyond what the spell may ordinarily allow. Provided you have an article (blood, hair, clothing, or favoured object) from the target, your spells of 5th-level or lower which have a single target may affect the creature if it is on the same plane of existence as you.
When you cast a spell that targets a creature in this way, the article you have from the target is consumed.
Blood Binding
At 10th level, when a hostile creature dies within 30 feet of you, you can bind its soul as a reaction. You bind a spirit type of your choice to a spell slot of your choice. This binding expires after 24 hours or whenever you use this ability again. The target cannot be resurrected so long as its spirit remains bound in this way.
Once you use this feature, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.
Call Forth the Flesh
At 14th level, you gain the ability to force an ethereal or incorporeal creature that you can see within 60 feet into the material plane as an action. The target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or lose their incorporeal movement trait and immunities to grappled, paralyzed, petrified, prone, and restrained for 1 minute.
Alternatively, you can use this feature to to cast revivify once without expending a spell slot or material components.
Once you use this feature, you must finish a long rest before you can use it again.
Covenant of Charm
Witches of the Covenant of Charm tap deep into the emotions which govern lingering spirits’ behaviours. They use these emotions as signposts and guides to manipulate the desires and shape the aspirations of the living. They believe that although lingering spirits are echoes of the past, they hold the key to individual futures. By harnessing the raw emotional energy of the beyond, one can gain absolute control over the hearts and minds of those around them.
Witches of this philosophy vary in their treatment of spirits. Some befriend and learn from the spirits they bind, using that knowledge to further their own ends. Others take only cursory notice of the spirits they enslave – an attitude that often carries over into their living interactions, manipulating and charming those they will, without any true regard for the desires of those they meet.
Covenant of Charm Spells
| Witch Level | Spells |
|---|---|
| 3rd | Detect Thoughts, Suggestion |
| 5th | Hypnotic Pattern, Tongues |
| 7th | Hallucinatory Terrain, Phantasmal Killer |
| 9th | Dream, Modify Memory |
In Perfect Trust
At 2nd level, you have grown attuned to the hearts and minds of those around you. While in your quickening, you can add your proficiency bonus to Charisma (Deception) and Charisma (Persuasion) checks, or twice your proficiency bonus if you are already proficient.
Mysteries of the Heart
Also at 2nd level, during your quickening, you gain the ability to peer into the heart of a creature within 60 feet of you as an action. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC or you gain insight into its emotional state and something that is currently influencing this state, such as something it worries over, desires, loves, or hates. Constructs and creatures immune to being charmed automatically succeed on this saving throw. On a failed save the target is not aware of this intrusion.
Once you use this feature, you must finish a long rest before you can use it again.
Spirit Token
At 6th level you can tie one of your spirits you already have bound to a small object. As an action, you bind the spirit to an object that is significant to a creature you choose, the spirit still counts towards your maximum bonds while attached to the object. As long as the creature is in possession of the token, the spirit provides its passive effect as though the spirit were bound by the target (even if they are not a witch). In either case, the magic holding the spirit to the object expires after 24 hours when it returns to your control. If the token is returned to you, you can break this magic sooner as a bonus action, regaining use of the spirit.
Of One Heart
At 10th level, creatures charmed by you are also considered charmed by your allies.
Additionally, when you trigger a spirit's release effect, until the start of your next turn allies within 60 feet of you can damage charmed creatures without affecting the charm.
Crux of Desire
At 14th level, you can't be charmed or frightened, and your spells and spirits ignore immunity to the charmed condition.
Covenant of Ruin
The Covenant of Ruin has less respect for spirits than the other covenants. Witches who bind these spirits utilize their magic to subjugate and pressure the spirits in order to extract power from them. Their unique philosophy centres on invoking ruin and causing as much damage as possible.
Though good witches of this covenant are rare, they are not unknown. Good witches who share this covenant's ideology typically aim to bind evil spirits, turning these beings into weapons for good against their will (though this can hardly be considered to be completely benign). Such witches often claim their actions are for the greater good — using evil to combat greater evil.
Covenant of Ruin Spells
| Witch Level | Spells |
|---|---|
| 3rd | Crown of Madness, Shatter |
| 5th | Bestow Curse, Call Lightning |
| 7th | Confusion, Ice Storm |
| 9th | Cloudkill, Destructive Wave |
Doom
Beginning when you choose this covenant at 2nd level, the targets of your spirits’ release effects have disadvantage on the next ability check or attack roll they make within the next 10 minutes.
Devastating Release
At 6th level, spirits you release erupt with energy as their bonds are broken, causing harm to those around you. When you release a spirit, roll a number of d6s equal to the level of the spirit. Creatures of your choice within 30 feet of you take psychic damage equal to the total. Those who take damage hear wails and screams as the spirit is released, and feel a rush of sorrow and discomfort.
Ruinous Ward
Beginning at 10th level, the Spirit Wards you create are accompanied by spiritual dissonance which can strain and break the weak of soul. When a creature starts its turn inside your Spirit Ward, you can use your reaction to deal 3d6 psychic damage to the creature.
Rite of Exorcism
At 14th level, you have learned a dreadful exorcist's rite. If a creature within 30 feet of you fails a Wisdom or Charisma saving throw against one of your spells or spirits' release effects, you can use your reaction to attempt to exorcise that creature's soul. The target takes 5d6 psychic damage and 5d6 necrotic damage as their soul is torn from their body, and they are stunned until the end of your next turn.
Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.
Covenant of Shadows
The Covenant of Shadows subscribes to the belief that everything that exists, both physically and metaphysically, is a shadow cast by that which came before it. Shadows are windows into worlds beyond the material plane — as one world becomes dimmer, others become brighter and easier to see by comparison.
There is reason to be wary of the dark. Witches from this covenant are more cautious dealing with spirits. They know that dangers lurk in the shadows, and they are careful with their dealings lest the spirits they bind show a darker side.
Covenant of Shadows Spells
| Witch Level | Spells |
|---|---|
| 3rd | Darkness, Pass Without Trace |
| 5th | Feign Death, Nondetection |
| 7th | Dimension Door, Greater Invisibility |
| 9th | Mislead, Seeming |
The Shadows Have Eyes
You can use the spirits which dwell in the darkness to see. Beginning at 2nd level, you can see normally in darkness, both magical and nonmagical, to a distance of 120 feet as long as you have at least one spirit bound, and you have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks in dim light or darkness.
Blinding Shackles
At 6th level, hostile creatures that are affected by any of your spirits’ release effects must succeed on a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC or be blinded for 1 minute. At the end of each of its turns, a target can make a Constitution saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success. This ability has no effect on creatures who do not use light to see.
Dark Mimicry
At 10th level, if you have at least one spirit bound, you can call upon the flickering shadows or the whispers of your spirits. When you cast a spell you can choose to cast it without any somatic components or cast it without verbal components.
Additionally, when you are hidden from a creature and cast a spell, casting the spell doesn't reveal your position to it.
Haunting Shades
Beginning at 14th level, after you release a spirit that targets a hostile creature, you can choose for the spirit to also haunt that creature for up to 1 minute, requiring your concentration as if on a spell. The passive effect of the spirit continues but uses the haunted creature as the origin. The passive effect otherwise treats you as the owner. After 1 minute or when you lose concentration, the spirit’s release effect activates again.
Once you use this feature, you must finish a long rest before you can use it again.
Covenant of Silver
Silver is a powerful weapon in any witch's arsenal but a witch who holds to the Covenant of Silver understands how to unlock the transformative and soul-binding powers of a simple looking glass. It is through this window to the soul that the Silver witch draws their power. Reflections are the silver chains that bind the worlds together.
Witches of the covenant of silver know that everything living has a reflection in the otherworld, and everything dead must reciprocate. Their craft is full of risk and reward, and through reflections, they come to understand and manipulate those outcomes.
Covenant of Silver Spells
| Witch Level | Spells |
|---|---|
| 3rd | Alter Self, Mirror Image |
| 5th | Clairvoyance, Major Image |
| 7th | Arcane Eye, Locate Creature |
| 9th | Mislead, Scrying |
Looking Glass
At 2nd level you gain a Tiny trinket known as a Soul Mirror. As an action you can turn the mirror toward a creature you can see and capture its reflection. The reflection remains captured until you release it as a bonus action or use this feature again.
As an action while you have a reflection captured, you can speak the name of the target to create an invisible sensor within 10 feet of it. The soul mirror then shows the view from the sensor as if it were there, instead of a reflection. The sensor moves with the target, remaining within 10 feet of it until the target's reflection is released. A creature that can see invisible objects sees the sensor as a translucent disc the size of your soul mirror.
If you lose your Soul Mirror, you can perform a 1-hour ceremony to summon a replacement. This ceremony can be performed during a short or long rest, and it destroys the previous mirror. The mirror shatters when you die.
Soul Shatter
Beginning at 6th level, if you have a reflection captured in your soul mirror, you can summon an eruption of ghostly mirror-shards whenever you release a spirit as a reaction to taking damage. The reflection is released along with the spirit, and the target of the spirit's release effect takes force or radiant damage (your choice) equal to the triggering damage. You regain a number of hit points equal to the damage dealt.
Soul Cloak
Beginning at 10th level, you can assume the form of the creature whose reflection you trapped in your soul mirror as an action. When you do so, the reflection is released and magically transforms into a disguise that appears on you. You now look like the creature, but flipped horizontally like a reflection. This disguise lasts for 1 hour or until you end it as a bonus action.
While you're in the disguise you can perfectly mimic the mannerisms, speech patterns, accent, and other superficial qualities of the original creature.
Another creature can see through this disguise by succeeding on a Wisdom (Insight) check with disadvantage against your spell save DC.
Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
Dark Reflection
At 14th level, you can use your action to compel a creature you can see within 60 feet to look at a warped illusion of itself. The target sees you as a wretched, horrifying version of itself — a visage that manipulates it with its insecurities and plays on its fears. You cast geas on the target without expending a spell slot or material components. When cast in this way, the target is also frightened of you for the duration, and the duration of the spell is seven years.
Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.
Covenant of Steel
Witches who tie themselves to the Covenant of Steel are a select few who combine their spiritual connection with a grounding in eldritch combat. These witches traditionally devote themselves to the grim task of binding or banishing malign spirits, and then bending such spirits to their cause.
Those of the Covenant of Steel often cannot afford to dwell on the wellbeing of their spirits, having often bound them to keep them from endangering the living. They know better than most the danger and power of these rogue entities, and lesser minds have been driven mad by their ethereal influence. For witches of this coven, any interaction with spirits is often kept to a necessary minimum, and even then with great suspicion.
Covenant of Steel Spells
| Witch Level | Spells |
|---|---|
| 3rd | Branding Smite, Spiritual Weapon |
| 5th | Crusader's Mantle, Phantom Steed |
| 7th | Banishment, Staggering Smite |
| 9th | Banishing Smite, Dispel Evil and Good |
Bonus Proficiencies
Beginning at 2nd level, you gain proficiency with medium armor, simple weapons and one martial weapon of your choice.
If you're proficient with a simple or martial weapon, you can use it as a spellcasting focus for your witch spells.
Fighting Style
At 2nd level, you adopt a style of fighting as your speciality. Choose one of the following options. You can't take a Fighting Style option more than once, even if something in the game lets you choose again.
Ghost Fighting. Being unable to see a creature doesn’t impose disadvantage on your attack rolls against it, provided the creature isn’t hidden from you.
Dueling. When you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand and no other weapons, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls with that weapon.
Eerie. While you have a spirit bound, you gain a +1 bonus to AC.
Imbue Weapon
At 2nd level, you can channel the power of your bound spirits through a weapon. Whenever you finish a short or long rest, you can touch one weapon that you are proficient with and choose one spirit you have bound. The spirit is infused into the weapon until you finish a long rest, and it cannot be released while it is infused in this way.
When you attack with the weapon, it gains a magical bonus to attack and damage rolls equal to the spirit's level divided by three, unless it is a magic weapon that already has a bonus to those rolls. Whenever you hit a creature with this weapon, you gain a number of temporary hit points equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1).
Extra Attack
Starting at 6th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
Reflexes of Steel
At 10th level, your physical and spiritual reflexes are razor sharp. You can give yourself a bonus to your initiative rolls equal to the number of spirits you have bound.
Additionally, when you make a saving throw you can use your reaction to gain a bonus to the roll equal to the number of spirits you have bound.
Steel Rain
At 14th level, your body and soul have been forged and tempered by your training. As an action, you can release a spirit to unleash a flurry of spiritually fueled strikes. You make a number of weapon attacks equal to the spirit's level, and the damage from these attacks ignores resistance and immunity. The spirit's release effect does not trigger.
Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.
Covenant of Unity
The Covenant of Unity subscribes to a philosophy that all spiritual entities are connected by a collective consciousness. They use this knowledge to surmount power over the spiritual realm itself. In other words, these witches gain their abilities by harnessing the secrets which govern the very basis of spiritual existence, rather than focusing on the relationships between the metaphysical and the material world.
The Covenant of Unity is perhaps more sympathetic to the spirits such witches bind. Witches of this covenant tend to see spirits as allies instead of tools. They trust the spirits they bind enough to allow their power to grow under their command with the purpose of sharing this power.
Covenant of Unity Spells
| Witch Level | Spells |
|---|---|
| 3rd | Augury, Blur |
| 5th | Phantom Steed, Spirit Guardians |
| 7th | Death Ward, Conjure Woodland Beings |
| 9th | Legend Lore, Telepathic Bond |
Spirit Link
Beginning at 2nd level, you can effortlessly link yourself to the souls around you. While in your quickening you can use your action to discern whether a creature you can see has greater or fewer hit points than yourself and any conditions it currently suffers from.
Forceful Presence
At 6th level, after you release a spirit you can choose to retain control over it, so that the spirit remains bound and ready to be released again.
You can use this ability a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of once). You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
Powerful Bonds
At 10th level, your body and soul develop the ability to contain more powerful spirits. The passive and release effects of spirits you bind are considered one level higher than the spell slot you use to bind them.
Pale Host
At 14th level, if you are reduced to 0 hit points, but not killed outright, you are not knocked unconscious and your body becomes possessed by a spirit you control while you have 0 hit points. You remain conscious and possessed in this way for 1 round per level of the highest level spirit you have bound. You still must make death saving throws, and you suffer the normal effects of taking damage or regaining hit points while at 0 hit points.
Onlookers notice a strangeness in your movements, eyes, and voice while you remain possessed. While possessed, you can use your action on your turn to activate the release effect of one of the spirits you have bound and have it remain bound. This does not expend any uses of the Forceful Presence ability.
Binding Rites
The following is a list of different spirits a witch may bind.
Agony
In the presence of a spirit of Agony, foes’ wounds continue to bleed and fires continue to burn. While Agony is bound, when you roll damage for an attack or spell you cast, for each 1 on a damage die, you can add the level of the spirit to the damage total.
Release. You can release Agony as a reaction when you roll the highest possible number on a damage die. Roll a number of d6s equal to the spirit's level and add the total to the triggering damage as psychic damage.
Desire
Spirits of Desire impress your will onto others and enhance existing desires. Friendly and charmed creatures within 30 feet of you have disadvantage on Wisdom saving throws against your spells. Once a creature succeeds on a Wisdom saving throw against one of your spells, that creature is immune to this spirit’s passive effect for 24 hours.
Release. When you release this spirit as a bonus action, you attempt to charm a creature you can see within 30 feet of you. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC or be charmed by you for 1 minute or until it takes damage. The spirit's level determines what kind of creature can be charmed. At 3rd level and below, only humanoids and beasts are affected. At 4th level and above, all creatures can be affected.
Empathy
Spirits of Empathy force your enemies to share your pain. While Empathy is bound, whenever a creature deals damage to you, you can use your reaction to retaliate. The creature takes psychic damage equal to twice the spirit's level.
Release. You can release Empathy as a reaction whenever a creature deals damage to you or an ally within 30 feet of you. The creature takes psychic damage equal to the triggering damage + the spirit’s level.
Envy
Spirits of Envy take from others what they covet for themselves – life. Once on each of your turns, when you damage a creature with an attack or spell while Envy is bound, you regain a number of hit points equal to the level of the spirit.
Release. When you deal damage to a creature with an attack or spell you can release Envy as a reaction. When you do so, you gain a number of temporary hit points equal to the triggering damage.
Fear
Spirits of Fear bring nightmares to life. While Fear is bound, you can add your proficiency bonus to Charisma (Intimidation) checks, or double it if you already do.
Additionally, creatures provoke opportunity attacks from you even if they take the Disengage action before leaving your reach.
Release. When Fear is released from its bonds as a bonus action, a number of creatures equal to the spirit's level within 30 feet of you must succeed on Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC or be frightened of you for 1 minute. A frightened target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Generosity
Spirits of Generosity are always willing to make sacrifices for those who bind them with good intentions. Your spells that restore hit points restore additional hit points equal to the spirit's level.
Release. You can release Generosity as a bonus action and gift the spirit to an ally within 30 feet of you. The spirit protects the ally, granting them a number of temporary hit points equal to 5 times the spirit's level. These temporary hit points last 10 minutes.
Guilt
Spirits of Guilt cause your enemies hesitation in acts that would wrong you. While Guilt is bound, when you are attacked you can use your reaction to gain a bonus to AC against that attack equal to the level of the spirit.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to the spirit's level. You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
Release. When you release Guilt from your power as a bonus action, one creature you can see within 60 feet has disadvantage on attack rolls against you for 1 minute. At the end of each of its turn the target can make a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Hate
Spirits of Hate inspire a ferocity in you. When you are damaged by a creature, you can choose to channel Hate and gain advantage on attack rolls against that creature until the end of your next turn.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to the spirit's level. You regain
all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
Release. When you damage a creature with an attack you can release Hate as a reaction. Roll a number of d6s equal to the spirit's level and add the total to the triggering damage as necrotic damage.
Humility
When you make an ability check with which you are not proficient at disadvantage, the result can not be lower than 8 + the level of this spirit.
Release. As a reaction when a creature you can see makes a saving throw or ability check, you can release Humility from your power to bestow it upon the creature. Add the spirit’s level to the roll. You can do so after the roll, but must decide before the DM says whether the roll succeeds or fails.
Hunger
Spirits of Hunger sustain their binder and deprive their enemies of energy. While Hunger is bound you require no food or water.
Release. You can release Hunger as a bonus action to exhaust a number of creatures within 30 feet of you equal to the spirit’s level. A target gains one level of exhaustion (as described in appendix A of the Player's Handbook), and cannot be affected by a Spirit of Hunger for 24 hours.
Passion
Spirits of Passion give those who bind them the power to push themselves and others to greater heights of success. While this spirit is bound you can channel Passion when you make an attack roll, ability check or saving throw, or when an ally within 30 feet of you does, you roll a d6 and add the number rolled to the total.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to the spirit's level. You regain
all expended uses when you finish a long rest. You lose all remaining dice when you release Passion.
Release. You can release Passion as a reaction when you make an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw. You gain advantage on the roll.
Additionally, you and each friendly creature within 30 feet of you gain a d6 that lasts until the end of your next turn. A creature can expend and roll the d6 when they make an attack roll or ability check, adding it to the total.
Pride
Creatures in your presence are more easily filled with a dangerous sense of pride, oversight, and overconfidence. When you make an ability check that is contested by a creature you can see, you gain a bonus to the ability check equal to the spirit's level.
Release. When a creature you can see succeeds on an attack roll or ability check, you can release Pride as a reaction to curse that creature to a disgraceful fall. The next time the target makes an attack roll or ability check, it does so with disadvantage, and subtracts the spirit’s level from the total.
Serenity
Spirits of Serenity bring peace and clarity of thought to those who bind them. You don't need to sleep. Instead, you can meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep.
Additionally, if you or any friendly creatures who can see you regain hit points at the end of a short rest by spending one or more Hit Dice, each of those creatures regains a number of additional hit points equal to the level of the spirit.
Release. When you release Serenity from your power at the start of your turn (no action required), you are no longer blinded, deafened, frightened, paralysed, poisoned, or stunned.
Sloth
Spirits of Sloth inspire sluggishness and laziness of thought and action around you. While Sloth is bound, the ground within 15 feet of you is difficult terrain for your enemies.
Release. When you release Sloth as a bonus action, you can slow a number of creatures up to the spirit's level that you can see. A target must make a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save a target is slowed until the end of their next turn, and can take either an action or bonus action on their turn, not both.
Sorrow
The failures of your enemies continue to haunt them in the presence of a spirit of Sorrow. While Sorrow is bound to you, when a creature fails a saving throw against one of your spells of 1st level or higher, it takes psychic damage equal to the spirit's level.
Release. When Sorrow is released as a bonus action, choose a creature you can see within 30 feet of you. The target has disadvantage on the next attack roll or ability check it makes before the end of its next turn. If it misses that attack roll or fails the ability check, roll a number of d6s equal to the spirit's level. The target takes psychic damage equal to the total.
Trust
While emboldened by a spirit of trust, you can help your allies through cooperative spellcasting. While Trust is bound, when you finish a long rest you can choose a number of spells from the witch spell list equal to the spirit's level. You and friendly creatures within 30 feet of you of you know these spells, and always have them prepared, and they don't count against the number of spells an affected creature can know or prepare.
Release. You can release Trust when you take the Help action, as part of that action. When the target makes the attack roll or ability check that you aided, it can reroll one of the dice once.
Valor
Spirits of Valor give those who bind them the power to pull through with confidence against poor odds. While Valor is bound, you and friendly creatures within 10 feet of you have advantage on saving throws against being frightened.
Release. When you release this spirit as a bonus action, you and a number of creatures equal to the spirit's level that you can see within 30 feet of you are no longer frightened.
Wonder
You radiate an aura of awe when a spirit of Wonder is bound to you. While Wonder is bound, creatures of your choice within 30 feet of you have disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks made to perceive any creature other than you.
Release. You can release Wonder from your power as an action to inspire awe in a number of creatures equal to the spirit's level that you can see within 30 feet of you. A target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC or be incapacitated and have a speed of 0 until the end of your next turn.
Spell List
Cantrips (0 Level)
- Blade Ward
- Chill Touch
- Dancing Lights
- Friends
- Guidance
- InfestationXGtE
- Mage Hand
- Mending
- Mind SliverTCoE
- Minor Illusion
- Poison Spray
- Resistance
- Thaumaturgy
- Toll the DeadXGtE
- True Strike
1st Level
- Animal Friendship
- Cause FearXGtE
- Chaos BoltXGtE
- Charm Person
- Cure Wounds
- Detect Magic
- Detect Poison and Disease
- Faerie Fire
- Find Familiar
- Healing Word
- Hex
- Ice KnifeXGtE
- Longstrider
- Protection from Evil and Good
- Purify Food and Drink
- Speak with Animals
- Tasha's Caustic BrewTCoE
- Witch Bolt
2nd Level
- Alter Self
- Augury
- Crown of Madness
- Darkness
- Darkvision
- Enhance Ability
- Enthrall
- Healing SpiritXGtE
- Hold Person
- Lesser Restoration
- Locate Animals or Plants
- Locate Object
- Mind SpikeXGtE
- Misty Step
- Moonbeam
- Nathair's MischiefFToD
- Protection from Poison
- Ray of Enfeeblement
- Shadow BladeXGtE
- Suggestion
- Summon BeastTCoE
- Tasha's Mind WhipTCoE
3rd Level
- Bestow Curse
- Clairvoyance
- Conjure Animals
- Dispel Magic
- Enemies AboundXGtE
- Fear
- Fly
- Life TransferenceXGtE
- Magic Circle
- Major Image
- Protection from Energy
- Remove Curse
- Speak With Dead
- Spirit Guardians
- Spirit ShroudTCoE
- Summon FeyTCoE
- Summon Lesser DemonsXGtE
- Summon ShadowspawnTCoE
- Summon UndeadTCoE
- Tiny ServantXGtE
- Tongues
- Vampiric Touch
- Water Walk
4th Level
- Banishment
- Blight
- Charm MonsterXGtE
- Compulsion
- Confusion
- Death Ward
- Divination
- Dominate Beast
- Freedom of Movement
- Guardian of NatureXGtE
- Hallucinatory Terrain
- Locate Creature
- Polymorph
- Raulothim's Psychic LanceFToD
- Shadow of MoilXGtE
- Summon Greater DemonXGtE
- Vitriolic SphereXGtE
- Wall of Fire
5th Level
- Animate Objects
- Antilife Shell
- Awaken
- Commune
- Contact Other Plane
- Contagion
- Danse MacabreXGtE
- Dominate Person
- Dream
- EnervationXGtE
- Geas
- Greater Restoration
- Hold Monster
- Insect Plague
- Legend Lore
- Mass Cure Wounds
- Modify Memory
- Negative Energy FloodXGtE
- Planar Binding
- Reincarnate
- Scrying
- Synaptic StaticXGtE
- Wrath of NatureXGtE
6th Level
- Circle of Death
- Conjure Fey
- Contingency
- Create HomunculusXGtE
- Eyebite
- Find the Path
- Heal
- Mass Suggestion
- Mental PrisonXGtE
- Primordial WardXGtE
- Soul CageXGtE
- Summon FiendTCoE
- Sunbeam
- Tasha's Otherwordly GuiseTCoE
- True Seeing
7th Level
- Crown of StarsXGtE
- Dream of the Blue VeilTCoE
- Etherealness
- Finger of Death
- Mirage Arcane
- Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion
- Plane Shift
- Power Word PainXGtE
- Regenerate
- Sequester
- Symbol
8th Level
- Abi-Dalzim's Horrid WiltingXGtE
- Animal Shapes
- Antipathy/Sympathy
- Dominate Monster
- Feeblemind
- Maddening DarknessXGtE
- Power Word Stun
- Sunburst
9th Level
- Astral Projection
- Foresight
- InvulnerabilityXGtE
- Mass PolymorphXGtE
- Psychic ScreamXGtE
- Shapechange
- True Polymorph
- True Resurrection
Appendix
Changelog
August 2020
Comprehensive wording adjustments across the board.
Spirit Ward has received a scaling uses-per-day based on level. The ability should feel strategically rare and valuable.
Familiar spells are now covenant spells.
Spells Known per level has been adjusted.
Spiritual Spellcasting is no longer inherently broken.
Spellcasting focus was tweaked.
Spell list updated.
Newly forged Covenants of Silver and Steel.
Covenants are still named covenants, and will not be renamed to covens. We're aware that sometimes a class has their subclass type named after an institution or collection of that class, that is not the case here. (We're also very aware of the unfortunate phonetic crossover between covenant and coven)
Newly summoned spirits of Trust, Humility, and Pride
December 2021
Eliminated Strength of Spirit and Channel Spell due to feedback and unnecessary bulk.
Changelog now ✨ looks better. ✨
Rite of Exorcism makes more sense.
Dark Mimicry is now more readable.
Devastating Release and Ruinous Ward are a little weaker.
Multiclassing sidebar now exists.
The page footers are now a bit prettier -- do you like the lilac? Personally I think it goes well with the cyan accents but let me know how you feel.
Tasha's content added to the spell list.
In Perfect Trust has been split in half to add Mysteries of the Heart.
Narrowed the scope of the Hate spirit to keep Agony competitive.
Steel witch is now more forgiving about weapon choice.
Replaced Light with Dancing Lights, and honestly what were we thinking with that choice -- Dancing Lights is clearly witchier.
January 2022
Minor formatting update. Moved some images around.
Typos fixed, thanks u/SenorVilla.
Art credits fixed as well.
v3.1 released!
Credits and Thanks
The Witch was summoned from the void by the dizzying mind of u/Zarieth, and bound to this reality by perilously sober u/WriteOftenPlayNever
Thank you all who have contributed their feedback, ideas, and questions.
- u/AeoSC
- u/alphrel
- u/freshprinceoftelfyr
- u/jahfury
- u/KingofWhales
- u/lygerzero0zero
- u/MothProphet
- u/PM_ME_YOUR_EMOTIONS
- u/Proteus92
- u/starbridge
- u/StriderT
- u/Three-flower
- u/EinarTheBlack
- u/Oson_the_Unsound
- u/FinnAhern
- u/haserson
- u/adventuring_guild
- u/TheMortonator
- and more
Special thanks to those above who offered substantial feedback on the class as a whole, those above who offered playtesting feedback.
And many thanks to the Adventuring Guild team who have done a playtest podcast including the witch class (albeit the previous beta version). Check out their stuff at www.theadventuringguild.com.
Finally, thank you to all you playtesters who didn't necessarily have a lot to put in, but who got in contact to say how interesting the class was or how much fun you or your dm/player/friend/partner was having with it!
Art Credits
- "Initiation Ritual" – Trishkell, deviantart
- "Sorcerer" – fatablow1977
- "Dilogus: The Winds of War" Concept Art – Digital Arrow
- "Haunted Forest" – Rene Aigner
- "The Crow's Dagger" – Elsa Kroese
- "Reave Soul" – Naomi Baker
- "The Forest" – honqi zhang, Artstation
- "Soul Abduction" – Andrea Koroveshi
- untitled – Mingzhu Yang
- "Ritual Preparations" – Wilthierna, deviantart
- "Undead" – Arash Radkia