Returned from Death

The experience of being brought back to life is often a difficult one. Some suffered in their final moments, and the thought of reliving it can break some, resulting in an insane weapon for their patron to wield. Others have been returned from another era, and they must learn of the new world that has passed them by as they lay in the ground. Whatever the cause of their death, one thing remains certain: a death knight is changed from their first life.

Warriors of their Patron

Death knights are created when an entity needs a hitman. Whether they are bargained for it or were forced into it, death knights serve as the hand of their patron. When there is a threat, they strike out. When there is an insult, a blade of necrotic magics corrects the slight.

Death knights are rare and meeting another is rarer still, but often when two meet it is with weapons drawn and spells ready. This is due to the wide range of patrons who create death knights. Often times the purposes of one is counter to the other, so it is rare for both parties to walk away unscathed from even a casual meeting.

Disciplined and Patient

As ones who have experienced death and usher others into its embrace, death knights learn that being at peace with one’s lot is important. The purest expression of this attribute is their rune-scribing. The focus and time needed to properly write a single rune is both soothing and demanding. The trance they enter to attune their emerald focus and use it to imbue their inks with the energy needed to inscribe a rune of power brings a tranquility that lets them cope with their nearness to death.

Creating a Death Knight

As you design a death knight, contemplate how they became a servant of their patron. Was it a mutual agreement? Was it for revenge? Or was it a deception? Consider how they act on their patron’s behalf. Do they act as a proper knight, or are they a scoundrel, doing as they wish until their next target?

Rivals Table

Hit Points

• Hit Dice: 1d10 per death knight level
• Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + your Constitution modifier
• Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your Constitution modifier per death knight level after 1st

Fighting Style

Starting at 2nd level, you adopt a particular fighting style as your specialty. Choose one of the following options. You can't take a Fighting Style more than once, even if you later get to choose again.

Pact Magic

By 2nd level, you gain pact magic and can cast death knight spells.

Spellcasting Focus

You use your rune weapon as a spellcasting focus for your spells.

Necrostrike

At 2nd level, you can wreath your weapon with deadly power drawn from your runes. when you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack using a rune weapon, you can cause green-white fire to erupt dealing an additional 1d10 necrotic damage. The number of uses and damage dealt is determined by your death knight level. The damage dealt increases to 2d10 at 5th level, 3d10 at 11th level, and 4d10 at 17th level

At 2nd level, you can use this feature 3 times per long rest. You gain 1 additional use at 5th, 10th, and 15th level.

Rune Scribe

Starting at 3rd level, you learn to ritualistically imbue your weapons and armor with runes of power. These special runes add unique features allowing death knights to be more adaptable. The ritual takes two hours per rune inscribed, and you can change a previously inscribed rune to a different one over the course of one hour. Once a rune has been inscribed, you must complete a long rest in order for the magic to take effect, and only you can benefit from inscribed runes.

The ritual requires an emerald valued at 100 gp or more to use as a focus. The emerald is not consumed by the ritual.

You can only have a number of inscribed runes equal to the amount shown on the Inscribed Runes column of the death knight table. A list of runes is provided at the end of this document.

By 6th level, your rune scribed weapons are infused with enough magic to act as a magical weapon. If you break your connection with a rune scribed weapon, the runes fade, and, if it was a non-magical weapon, it ceases to act as one.

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.

Extra Attack

Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

Knightly Discernment

At 7th level, the magics granted by your raw personality can be focused to give you clarity. When you make a Wisdom (insight) or Wisdom (perception) check. You can add your Charisma modifier to the total.

Bound Mount

When you become a cavalier, as a 1 hour ritual, you can summon a mount. The creature's form is initially only that of a riding horse, but as you gain levels in this class you can change its form. While you ride your mount, you can take the dash action as a bonus action. If you are not riding your mount in combat, it acts on your turn, and you can spend a bonus action to command it to move and attack. At 5th level you can alter it's form to that of any creature from the spell Find Steed. At 13th level it can take the form of a creature from the Find Greater Steed spell.

Knightly Demeanor

At 1st level, your training as a cavalier imparts a refined air to your countenance.

You can give yourself advantage on Charisma (intimidation) checks a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier per long rest. You regain all uses of this feature at the end of a long rest.

Skilled Rider

At 6th level, you become a dangerous foe to face while mounted. While you are mounted and are not incapacitated, you gain the following benefits:

• While mounted, you have immunity to the surprised condition.
• You gain proficiency with Animal Handling, or if you are already proficient, you can choose a skill from the death knight skill list and gain proficiency with it.
• You have advantage on checks to stay mounted against non-magical and magical effects.

Courtly Aptitude

At 10th level, your extensive experience has made you a superior diplomat. When you make a Charisma (persuasion) check or an Intelligence (history) check, your proficiency bonus is doubled.

Combat Instincts

Upon reaching 15th level, your summoned mount has become just as much of a force on the battlefield as you have. Any mount you summon gains instincts honed to the point that you have advantage on initiative rolls atop your mount.

Additionally, your can now telepathically direct your mounts to take actions and move (no action required).

Dragonkin Mount

At 18th level, when you use your bound mount feature, you can now summon a Shadow Wyrm Mount (stats at the end of the list of runes).

Order of Ebon Blades

The ebon blades have the entrance to their headquarters in the first layer of the plane Acheron, Avalas. Through a rift accessible only to death knights and their patrons, lies the Adamant Bastion where ebon blades undergo their transformation from swordsman to swordmaster and from fearsome to terrifying.

Keeper of Secrets

At 1st level, as a result of your training, hiding the truth has become second nature. You can give yourself advantage on Charisma (deception) checks a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier per long rest. You regain all uses of this feature at the end of a long rest.

Expanded Spell list

You learn additional spells when you reach certain levels in this class, as shown in the Magi Spells table. The spell counts as a death knight spell for you, but it doesn't count against the number of death knight spells you know.

Mage Adept

When you choose this order at 1st level, you can learn cantrips from the Magi Spell list. At 1st level, you choose two cantrips. At 10th level you can learn one additional cantrip.

Additionally, you can cast the spell find familiar as a ritual, but you can only use it to create a crawling claw. This spell does not count toward your spells known.

Initiate Necromancer

At 6th level, once per long rest, you can cast the spell Animate Dead at 3rd level without expending a spell slot.

Forbidden Lore

At 10th level, you have unlocked many secrets of the multiverse. When you make an Intelligence (arcana) check or an Intelligence (religion) check, your proficiency bonus is doubled.

Adept Necromancer

At 15th level, undead you create gain the following benefits:

• Your undead minions are created with temporary hit points equal to half your death knight level
• Your undead minions weapon attacks score a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20.
• Your undead minions weapon attacks deal additional necrotic damage equal to your proficiency bonus.

Master Necromancer

At 18th level, once per long rest, you can cast Create Undead at 6th level without expending a spell slot.

Rune of the Arcanist

Prerequisite: Order of Magi

You can add your Charisma modifier to the damage you deal with any magi cantrip, and you can learn one additional magi cantrip.

Rune of the Crusader

You can use the necrotic energy of your runes to heal yourself. When you hit with a rune weapon while Necrostrike is active, you can roll a number of hit dice equal to your Charisma modifier and heal for the total rolled.

You can only use this rune once per short or long rest.

Rune of the Death Ward

Prerequisite: 13th level

When you take damage that would reduce you to 0 hit points, you instead drop to 1 hit point.

This rune can only be activated once per long rest.

Rune of Defense

Prerequisite: 13th level

Whenever you must make a saving throw, you gain a bonus to the saving throw equal to your Charisma modifier (with a minimum bonus of +1).

Rune of the Frozen Grasp

Once on each of your turns, when you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can reduce that creature's speed by 10 feet until the end of your next turn.

Rune of the Gargoyle

Prerequisite: Order of Ebon Blades

When you take damage, you can use your reaction to roll a d12. Add your Constitution modifier to the number rolled, and reduce the damage by that total.

You can use this rune once per short or long rest

Rune of Hellfire

Prerequisite: 17th level

This rune allows you to hurl a magical ball of fire fueled with energies derived from your rune weapon.

As an action, you choose a point you can see within 120 feet. Each creature in a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on that point must make Dexterity saving throw. The sphere spreads around corners. A creature takes 6d6 fire damage and 6d6 necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

You can use this rune once per long rest

Rune of Lethality

Prerequisite: 17th level

This rune lets you cause your enemies to whither under the effects of necrotic energy. You can use your reaction to cause a target creature to become vulnerable to a single instance of necrotic damage.

This rune can only be used once per short or long rest.

Rune of the Lightning Mount

Prerequisite: Order of Cavaliers; 9th level

While mounted, you can use your action to cast haste on yourself without expending a spell slot.

You can use this rune once per long rest.

Rune of Necrostrike Mastery

When you use Necrostrike, and you roll a 1 or 2 for necrotic damage, you can reroll the dice once and take the second roll.

Rune of Retribution

While this rune is inscribe, when you take damage from a creature within 60 feet of you, you can use your reaction to deal 3d10 necrotic damage to the creature that damaged you.

You can use this rune a number of times equal to a third of your death knight level (rounded down) per long rest.

Rune of the Owl

You gain darkvision and can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray. If you already have darkvision, then your darkvision intervals increase to 120 feet.

You also have advantage on stealth checks while in darkness.

Shadow Wyrm Mount

Large dragon, unaligned

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• Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
• Hit Points 58 (5d10 + 15)
• Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
19 (+4)	14 (+2)	17 (+3)	6 (-2)	12 (+1)	6 (-2)

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• Damage Immunities Necrotic
• Senses Blindsight 10 ft., Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 17
• Saving Throws Str +7, Dex +5, Con +6
• Skills Perception +7, Stealth +8
• Languages Can understand any language spoken by its master
• Challenge 3 (700 XP)

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One with Shadow. When in dim light or darkness, this creature has advantage on stealth checks Shadow Stealth. While in dim light or darkness, the dragon can take the Hide action as a bonus action.

Actions

Multiattack. The dragon makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) piercing damage and 2 (1d4) necrotic damage.

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit 7 (1d6 + 4)

Shadow Breath (1/long rest). The dragon exhales shadowy fire in a 20-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw, taking 33 (6d10) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Custom Spells

Crypt Fangs

5th-level conjuration

• Casting time: 1 Action
• Range: self (40 foot radius)
• Components: V, S
• Duration: Instantaneous

You reach down and place your palm against the ground, causing spires of shadow to pierce the ground. Creatures you choose within 40 feet of you must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw, or they take 4d10 necrotic damage and become frightened until the end of your next turn. On a successful save they only take half damage, and they are not frightened.

At higher levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 6th level or higher, the damage reduction increases by 1d10 for each slot level above 5th.

Grave Hammer

Evocation Cantrip

• Level:: Cantrip
• Casting time: 1 Action
• Range: 5 feet
• Components: V, M (a weapon)
• Duration: Instantaneous

As part of the action used to cast this spell, you must make a melee attack with a weapon against one creature within the spell's range, otherwise the spell fails. On a hit, the target suffers the attack's normal effects, and they cannot use their reaction until the end of your current turn.

At higher levels. At 5th level, the melee attack deals extra necrotic damage equal to 1d8. The damage increases by 1d8 at 11th level (2d8) and 17th level (3d8).

Hoarfrost Chains

4th-level conjuration

• Casting time: 1 Action
• Range: 30 feet
• Components: V, S, M (four iron chain links)
• Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute

You conjure a writhing mass of chains made of ice. When you cast this spell, you can direct the chains to wrap around any number of creatures within 30 feet of you that you can see. That creature must succeed on a Strength saving throw or you and the targeted are unable to move further than 30 feet from you. A creature bound in this way can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of their turns. Additionally, creatures chained in this way make Dexterity saving throws at disadvantage.

If your movement would cause a creature to be further than 30 feet from you, you can either release them (no action required), or you can move at a cost of an additional 1 foot of movement per creature per 1 foot moved. Creatures you leave chained while you move in this way causes them to move with you. You may also use a bonus action on your turn to attempt to chain an additional creature that is within 30 feet.

Life Ward

1st-level abjuration

• Casting Time: 1 Reaction
• Range: Self
• Components: V,S,M (a miniature shield pendant)
• Duration: Instantaneous

You can protect a creature within 30 feet or yourself from harm. When a creature or yourself would take damage from any source that can be reduced, you can use your reaction to reduce the damage by 1d8.

At higher levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the damage reduction increases by 1d8 for each slot level above 1st.

Necroblast

Evocation cantrip

• Casting Time: 1 action
• Range: 120 feet
• Components: V, S
• Duration: Instantaneous

You launch a sphere of sickly green-black fire at a creature or object within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 1d4 fire damage and 1d4 necrotic damage. A flammable object hit by this spell ignites if it isn’t being worn or carried.

At higher levels. This spell’s fire and necrotic damage each increase by 1d4 when you reach 5th level (2d4 and 2d4), 11th level (3d4 and 3d4), and 17th level (4d4 and 4d4).

Virulent Sickness

3rd-level necromancy

• Casting time: 1 Action
• Range: 60 feet
• Components: V, S
• Duration: 1 minute

After a rapid incantation, you cause a sickness to infect a target creature. The creature must succeed on a Constitution saving throw, or they are affected by one of the diseases you choose from the list below. If a creature is immune to disease, they automatically succeed.

• Rot: the affected creature cannot gain temporary hit points and only heals for half of the amount (rounded down).
• Agony: the affected creature takes 1d6 psychic damage at the beginning of each turn for the spell's duration.
• Leg Palsy: the affected creature's movement speed is halved, and they cannot take the dash or disengage action.
• Erratic Nerves: the affected creature must roll a d6 before each weapon or spell attack roll. On a 1 or 2, they take 2d6 lightning and the attack roll is made with disadvantage.

At higher levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th or higher, the number of targets you can affect increases. For each spell slot higher than 3rd level, you can target one additional creature in range.

Order of Fallen Paladins

The order of the fallen paladins is unique among the knightly orders. It is the only one whose members have no patron, and it cannot be chosen, rather one dies into it. Oath Breakers that have committed atrocities of the highest order resurrect as one of these. Only upon finding atonement and redemption can they find rest.

Fallen Paladin
Restricted Runes

Artwork (in order of appearance)

• Single Combat MtG Art by Livia Prima
• Sorin, Solemn Visitor MtG Art by Cynthia Sheppard
• Ghostly Touch MtG Art by Jason Felix
• Rune Circle by FadedShadow589
• Midnight Reaper MtG Art by Sidharth Chaturvedi
• Liliana, Dreadhorde General MtG Art by Chris Rallis
• Nahiri, the Harbinger MtG Art by Aleksi Briclot