Hematic Magic

You have survived a dangerous, long-guarded ritual that alters your life’s blood, forever binding you to the darkness and honing your senses against it. Your body has been empowered to control and shape hematic magic, which uses your own blood and life essence to fuel your abilities.

Some of your features will require you to roll a hematic die; this die changes as you gain blood hunter levels, as shown in the Hematic Die column of the Blood Hunter features table. If a feature requires you to sacrifice HP after rolling a hematic die, you always take the full amount; this damage cannot be reduced in any way.

Additionally, if a blood hunter feature requires your target to make a saving throw to resist the feature’s effects, the saving throw DC is calculated as follows:

Hematic Save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier

Fighting Style

Starting at 1st level, you adopt a particular style of fighting as your specialty. Choose one of the following options. You can’t take a Fighting Style option more than once, even if you later get to choose again.

Crimson Weapons

You have mastered the basics of hematic magic, including a ritual that empowers your weapons with sacrificial energy.

Starting at 1st level, you can use your bonus action to sacrifice HP equal to one roll of your hematic die.
In exchange, a weapon of your choice that you are holding becomes a crimson weapon.

Any attack made with a crimson weapon uses your Constitution modifier, instead of Strength or Dexterity, for the attack and damage rolls. Crimson weapons also deal extra damage equal to one roll of your hematic die. This empowerment fades when you finish a rest, die, or use this feature on the same weapon.

Caution: While a creature, other than you, wields a crimson weapon, that creature will sacrifice HP equal to one roll of your hematic die every time they make an attack roll.

Determination

Your augmented body amplifies your willpower,
propelling your capabilities beyond their normal means.

Starting at 2nd level, whenever you make an ability check, you can roll one hematic die and add the result to the check (no action required). You can use this feature after you see the result of the d20, but before the DM says whether the check succeeds or fails.

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The first time you use this feature after a rest, you suffer no adverse effect. If you use this feature again before finishing a rest, you must sacrifice HP equal to the result of the hematic die. Each additional use before resting will increase the sacrifice by one additional roll of your hematic die.

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Blood Brand

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Your resolve to study, track, and slay the realms' most vile monsters intensifies your bond with them, allowing you to sear your prey with a sinister brand.

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Starting at 2nd level, you can use your bonus action to sacrifice HP equal to one roll of your hematic die.
In exchange, you choose a creature you can see within a number of feet equal to 15 times your blood hunter level.

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A visible design of your choice appears on the creature; the brand remains on the target for 1 hour and fades away if the creature dies, if you die, or if you choose to remove it
(no action required).

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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.

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Additionlly, whenever you finish a short rest and have zero uses of this feature, you can sacrifice HP equal to one roll of your hematic die. In exchange, you regain one use.

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Your blood brand grants you the following abilities:

• Hematologist. You have advantage on INT-based and WIS-based ability checks related to branded creatures.

• Adrenaline. While at least one creature bears your brand, you can take the Dash action as a bonus action, and you don't spend extra movement when moving through nonmagical difficult terrain.

• Transfusion. If a branded creature dies within the range of this feature, you regain HP equal to one roll of your hematic die plus your Constitution modifier.

• Arrhythmia. When the duration of a brand ends, you can use your reaction to sacrifice HP equal to one roll of your hematic die. In exchange, the brand's duration is extended by a number of hours equal to the result. If you interrupt a rest to take this reaction, you must restart the rest.

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Secret Order

Starting at 3rd level, you devote yourself to an order of blood hunters whose philosophy will guide you throughout your life. Your choice grants you features at 3rd level and again at 7th, 11th, 15th, and 18th level.

Ability Score Improvement

Starting at 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.

Using the optional feats rule, you can forgo taking this feature to take a feat of your choice instead.

Extra Attack

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

Elemental Evolution

The influence of hematic magic alters your genetic composition, allowing you to transmute your living energy into raw elemental energy.

Starting at 5th level, your crimson weapons count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistances and immunities to nonmagical attacks and damage. Additionally, when you create a crimson weapon, you can change the damage type of the extra damage; choose one of the following: acid, cold, fire, lightning, poison, or thunder.

Last Rites

Your respect grows for the monsters you fell, wishing them a more peaceful afterlife.

Starting at 6th level, you learn the spells gentle repose and speak with dead. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

You can use this feature to cast each of these spells once without expending a spell slot or using spell components. You must finish a short or long rest before you can do so again.

Heartache

Your hematic power begins to flourish; your brand burns brighter and takes root in the heart of your prey, improving your methods of malice.

Starting at 6th level, whenever you hit a branded creature with a crimson weapon, you can trigger a traumatic event. Choose one of the following heartaches:

• Collapse Veins. The target must succeed on a Strength saving throw or have its speed reduced to zero.
• Clog Arteries. The target must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or be unable to take reactions.
• Infect Antibodies. The target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or be poisoned.
• Burst Capillaries. The target must succeed on an Intelligence saving throw or be frightened by you.
• Constrict Vessels. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be charmed by you.
• Decay Cells. The target must succeed on a Charisma saving throw or be deafened and unable to speak.

A branded creature can be affected by only one heartache at a time, and the effects of the heartache end at the start of your next turn, or if the brand fades.

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Rapid Adaptations

Eliminating horrific monstrosities enriches your strategic mind; you recognize when a change in tactics is most advantageous.

Starting at 9th level, you gain the following abilities:

• Equivalent Exchange. As a bonus action, you can change the damage type of the extra damage on one crimson weapon you are holding; choose one of the damage types listed in the Elemental Evolution feature.
  
  Once you take this bonus action, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

• Bloodthirsty. As a bonus action, you can liquify one crimson weapon you are holding and absorb the liquid into your body, concealing the armament. While absorbed, the weapon retains its empowerment through rests, and it stays in your body until you use another bonus action to sacrifice HP equal to one roll of your hematic die.
  The weapon then appears in your hand.
  
  You cannot absorb more than one crimson weapon at a time, and if you die, the weapon appears next to your body without dealing damage to you.

Monstrous Physicality

Your entanglement with the darkness compels its tendrils to soak your body in deep vermilion.

Starting at 10th level, you gain a bonus to your Strength and Dexterity saving throws equal to your Constitution modifier.

Hemorrhage

As the roots of your brand burrow into your prey, a hematic force drives your weapons toward their critical points of weakness.

Starting at 10th level, your crimson weapon attacks score a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20 against branded creatures.

Ethereal Evolution

The influence of hematic magic transcends your spirit, allowing you to transmute your living energy into otherworldly energy.

Starting at 13th level, when you create a crimson weapon, you gain additional options for the damage type of the extra damage; choose one of the following: force, necrotic, psychic, or radiant. You can also choose one of these options when using your Equivalent Exchange feature.

Monstrous Mentality

Your entanglement with the darkness compels its tendrils to soak your mind in deep vermilion.

Starting at 14th level, you gain a bonus to your Wisdom and Charisma saving throws equal to your Constitution modifier.

Hypertension

With the roots of your brand buried deep in their heart, the pulse of your prey becomes erratic; they strain to halt your onslaught.

Starting at 14th level, whenever you hit a branded creature with a crimson weapon, you can trigger a traumatic event. Choose one of the following heartaches:

• Collapse Veins. The target makes a Strength saving throw; on a failure, the target is restrained; on a success, the target's speed is reduced to zero.
• Clog Arteries. The target makes a Dexterity saving throw; on a failure, the target is paralyzed; on a success, the target is unable to take reactions.
• Infect Antibodies. The target makes a Constitution saving throw; on a failure, the target is petrified; on a success, the target is poisoned.
• Burst Capillaries. The target makes an Intelligence saving throw; on a failure, the target is stunned; on a success, the target is frightened by you.
• Constrict Vessels. The target makes a Wisdom saving throw; on a failure, the target is incapacitated; on a success, the target is charmed by you.
• Decay Cells. The target makes a Charisma saving throw; on a failure, the target is blinded, deafened, and unable to speak; on a success, the target is deafened and unable to speak.

A branded creature can be affected by only one heartache at a time, and the effects of the heartache end at the start of your next turn, or if the brand fades.

Plasmatic Flare

With every strike, your weapons flash, as their ruby-tipped edges wield the power to vanquish any foe.

Starting at 17th level, whenever you attack with a crimson weapon, you can make all of the damage be the damage type of that weapon's extra damage.

Scarlet Soul

Your mastery of blood magic ascends beyond mortal comprehension, empowering your fortitude and mitigating your sacrifice.

Starting at 20th level, your Constitution score increases by 4, and the maximum value for your Constitution score is now 24. Additionally, once per turn, whenever you roll a hematic die, you can reroll the die and use either roll.

Exsanguination

The roots of your brand now envelop your prey, as your hematic might overwhelms thier resolve.

Starting at 20th level, your crimson weapon attacks score a critical hit on a roll of 18, 19, or 20 against branded creatures.

Order of Prophets

A member of the Order of Prophets was likely plagued by nightmares and hallucinations in their youth. Prior to devoting themselves to the Order, they wandered as fortune tellers, palm readers, or grifters. The Order of Prophets provides the means to navigate one's own mind, gaining control over the horrific visions.

Order of Prophets Features

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Blood Hunter Level	Feature
3rd	Prophetic Strikes, Forecasting
7th	Grim Visions
11th	Inevitable Omen
15th	Omniscient Predator
18th	Blood-Shot Oracle

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Prophetic Strikes

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3rd-level Order of Prophets feature

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You have learned to magically perceive a creature's strengths and weaknesses, granting you insights on how best to slay it.

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Starting at 3rd level, whenever you hit a creature with a crimson weapon, you immediately learn vital information about the target. Choose one of the following:

• The target's true creature type (and tag, if applicable).
• The name of the target's highest ability score.
• The name of the target's lowest ability score.
• Whether the target has more or less than 50% max HP.
• One of the target's damage vulnerabilities.*
• One of the target's damage resistances.*
• One of the target's damage immunities.*
• One of the target's condition immunities.*

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*If the target has no information for this choice,
you learn they have none.

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Forecasting

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3rd-level Order of Prophets feature

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Your ability to control life force extends beyond your own body; you seize dominion over the arcane, and manipulate the weave of magic to replicate the powers of a diviner.

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Starting at 3rd level, you learn the guidance cantrip. You also learn all of the spells listed in the Order of Prophets Divination Spell List. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for casting divination spells with this feature.

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You can cast any spell from this list so long as its level is less than or equal to half your blood hunter level (rounded up). You do not need to provide spell components, unless the spell states that a material component is consumed or has an explicit cost, in which case you must possess that specific component to cast the spell.

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Platelets. You have a number of platelets equal to the maximum value of your hematic die. Whenever you cast a divination spell using this feature, you expend a number of platelets equal to the spell's level. You regain all expended platelets when you finish a long rest.

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Macabre Recovery. Whenever you finish a short rest, you can roll one hematic die. You regain a number of platelets equal to the result (up to your max), and you sacrifice HP equal to the number of platelets recovered (not the die result).

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Grim Visions

7th-level Order of Prophets feature

You gain partial control over the visions that plague you mind; with rigorous discipline, you can solidify these visions, turning possibility into reality.

Starting at 7th level, the first time you sacrifice HP after a long rest, you can roll one d20 and record the result. Whenever a creature you can see (including yourself) begins to make an attack roll, saving throw, or ability check, you can use your reaction to replace the roll with the recorded result.

You must choose to do so before the roll is made, and taking this reaction fulfills the vision, expending the recorded result.

You retain the vision so long as you are alive, but when you use this feature again, the previous vision is lost.

Inevitable Omen

11th-level Order of Prophets feature

Your blood brand becomes a symbol of inevitable doom for your quarries, ensuring the scales of fate always tilt in your favor.

Starting at 11th level, if you drop to 0 HP while you are near a branded creature (within a number of feet equal to 15 times your blood hunter level), you can make a DC 10 Constitution saving throw. If you succeed, you drop to 1 HP instead.

Each time you use this feature after the first, the DC increases by 5. When you finish a short or long rest, the DC resets to 10.

Omniscient Predator

15th-level Order of Prophets feature

Your dominion over the arcane continues to flourish, as your mind's eye glimpses the infinite multiverse.

Starting at 15th level, if the target of your scrying spell is on a different plane of existence, the spell functions as if they were on the same plane as you.

Additionally, while concentrating on the scrying spell, you can use your Blood Brand feature on a creature you can see through the spell's sensor, temporarily ignoring the feature's range limitation.

Blood-Shot Oracle

18th-level Order of Prophets feature

Though they were once a point of pain in your life, your visions have become your greatest weapon; you are crowned the most powerful, prophetic, predator of the multiverse.

Starting at 18th level, you can roll two d20s for your
Grim Visions feature, retaining both visions while you're alive, and losing both visions when you use the feature again.

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Order of Prophets Divination Spell List

The Spells listed above come from the Player's Handbook (PHB). If your DM allows sources beyond the PHB, this subclass allows you to learn the divination spells associated with that source material.

For Example:

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Homebrew Notes and Logic

Homebrew Notes and Logic

Subclass: Order of Prophets

This subclass is a big twist on a "type" of ranger I've always been interested in. The Ranger subclass "Monster Slayer" has a Hunter Sense that I've always thought was cool, but hard to use and hard to justify. Additionally, divination spells naturally lean toward "tracking", but I think the spells are meant to parallel a Ranger's abilities; this subclass, however, adds the divination spell power to the hunter/tracker abilities, making an extremely proficient tracker (which I've always wanted). All that to say, this subclass is a love-letter to myself, so no worries if its not your cup tea :-)

• Prophetic Strikes: A combination of Hunter's Sense, Know Your Enemy, and Insightful Manipulator from Ranger, Fighter, and Rogue, respectively. I realize it can be hard to role-play this technical aspect of the game, but if it doesn't fit with a Blood Hunter/Diviner, then I don't where it fits.

• Forecasting: Basically spellcasting. This feature let's you cast spells as the same level a full caster would (like locate creature at 7th level), but with extremely limited "spell slots" and is divination only. Which means these spell don't really add a ton of damage output (yes, except for Hunter's Mark), but add a boat-load of utility to this martial class, which I love to see. I'd like to see something like this for the half casters, where you can cast higher level spells (on par with full casters), but the cost is significant.

• Grim Visions: Portent (from Wizard) with a twist. You only get 1, and it costs your reaction (and technically HP) to use, BUT you can hold on to it indefinitely if you so chose.

• Inevitable Omen: copy from Barbarian (Relentless Rage), but changed condition to brand-focus. added to the theme of "fated to destory" or "your fate belongs to me"

• Omniscient Predator: improves scrying spell, since there aren't any 7th or 8th level divination spells. Allows for branding across planes, which I realize is crazy powerful, but I don't think more powerful than spellcasters casting 8th level spells at this level.

• Blood-Shot Oracle: 2 portents.

Credits and Sources