Beast Master
The Beast Master archetype embodies a friendship between the civilized races and the beasts of the world. United in focus, beast and ranger work as one to fight the monstrous foes that threaten civilization and the wilderness alike. Emulating the Beast Master archetype means committing yourself to this ideal, working in partnership with an animal as its companion and friend.
Animal Companion
At 3rd level, you learn to use your magic to create a powerful bond with a creature of the natural world. You can spend 8 hours bonding with a beast that has not yet reached maturity. You normally select your companion from among the following animals: a brown bear, a dire wolf, a giant eagle, a panther, or an elk. Their statistics are specified in Appendix B: Animal Companions.
The animal must already have a strong relationship with you (DM’s discretion). At the end of the 8 hours, the animal companion gains all the benefits of the Companion’s Bond ability. If you perform the ritual with a different animal, then the bond with your previous animal companion disappears. If your animal companion is dead, you may spend 8 hours and at least 25 gp worth of rare herbs to resurrect it as if you cast the True Resurrection spell.
Companion's Bond
The companion takes its turn on your initiative. It tries its best to follow your orders and acts independently otherwise. Your companion’s stats are replaced by the ones specified in Appendix: Animal Companions. It becomes proficient in Strength and Dexterity saving throws. Your companion regains all lost hit points after it finishes a long rest.
Art Credits
Connection by Yuumei Bear by Ivan Laliashvili, Jon Snow by Pablo Olivera, L.O.R.D. by Xiaodi Jin, Panther Rider by Jee-Hyung Lee, Sacred White Deer by G-host Lee
Linked Hearts
At 3rd level, your life force becomes intertwined with your companion’s. As an action, you can touch your animal companion and transfer any number of your remaining hit points to it. Alternatively, you can expend 5 hit points to cure your animal companion of one disease or neutralize one poison affecting it.
Linked Minds
At 7th level, you learn the spell Beast Sense if you do not already know it. Beast Sense does not count against your number of spells known. You can cast Beast Sense on your animal companion a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of 1) without expending a spell slot. You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
Chrysalis
At 11th level, your animal companion has grown to full maturity. Its stat changes are indicated in Appendix B: Animal Companions.
Furthermore, the primal magic that connects you to your animal companion is slowly infusing itself into your companion’s essence. Your animal companion's attacks are considered magical for the purposes of overcoming resistance.
Metamorphosis
At 15th level, the primal magic that flows through your animal companion blooms and unlocks a metamorphosis called an Aspect, as specified in Appendix B: Animal Companions.
Appendix: Animal Companions
Brown Bear
Medium (Level 11, Large) Beast, Your alignment
- Armor Class 11 + proficiency bonus
- Hit Points 6 x level (Level 11, 9 x level)
- Speed 40 ft., climb 30 ft.
- Proficiency Bonus your proficiency bonus
At Level 11, ability scores become the ones indicated in bold.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 15 (+2) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 2 (-4) 12 (+1) 7 (-2) 19 (+4) 10 (+0) 16 (+3) 2 (-4) 13 (+1) 7 (-2)
- Skills Proficient in Perception
- Senses passive Perception 11 + proficiency bonus
- Languages Understands all languages that you speak.
Keen Smell. The bear has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Sentinel. When the bear hits a creature with an opportunity attack, the creature’s speed becomes 0 for the rest of the turn.
Aspect of Spring (Level 15). The bear may transform into an Aspect of Spring (no action required). A soft glow shimmers around the bear and seems to rejuvenate the plant life around it. The transformation lasts for 10 minutes or until the bear chooses to revert to its normal form (no action required). The transformation ends early if the bear drops to 0 hit points. The bear may not use this ability again until it has finished a short or long rest.
Regeneration (Aspect of Spring Only). The bear regains 10 hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point.
Actions
Bite or Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: Str mod + Proficiency Bonus to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6+2 piercing (Bite) or slashing (Claws) damage. (Level 11) Damage increases to 2d6+4.
Gift of Life (Aspect of Spring Only) (Recharge 5-6). A brilliant green light emits from the bear in all directions. All friendly creatures within 10 feet of the bear regain 2d8 hit points.
Dire Wolf
Medium (Level 11, Large) Beast, Your alignment
- Armor Class 11 + proficiency bonus
- Hit Points 5 x level (Level 11, 8 x level)
- Speed 40 ft., (Level 11, 50 ft.)
- Proficiency Bonus your proficiency bonus
At Level 11, ability scores become the ones indicated in bold.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 12 (+1) 15 (+2) 12 (+1) 3 (-4) 12 (+1) 6 (-2) 17 (+3) 15 (+2) 15 (+2) 3 (-4) 12 (+1) 7 (-2)
- Skills Proficient in Perception and Stealth
- Senses passive Perception 11 + proficiency bonus
- Languages Understands all languages that you speak.
Keen Hearing and Smell. The wolf has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.
Pack Tactics. The wolf has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the wolf’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.
Aspect of Winter (Level 15). The wolf may transform into an Aspect of Winter (no action required). The wolf’s fur turns white as snow and its eyes become pale blue. The air surrounding the wolf covers everything in frost. The transformation lasts for 10 minutes or until the wolf chooses to revert to its normal form (no action required). The transformation ends early if the wolf drops to 0 hit points. The wolf may not use this ability again until it has finished a short or long rest.
Snow Camouflage (Aspect of Winter Only). The wolf has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in snowy terrain.
Frigid Air (Aspect of Winter Only). All enemy creatures within 30 feet of the wolf have disadvantage on Dexterity saving throws.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack : Str or Dex mod + Proficiency Bonus, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d8+2 piercing damage. (Level 11) Damage increases to 2d8+3.
Winter’s Howl (Aspect of Winter Only) (Recharge 5-6). The wolf exhales a blast of freezing wind in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw. On a fail, a creature suffers 4d8 cold damage and all attacks against it until the start of your next turn gain advantage. On a success, a creature suffers only half damage.
Giant Eagle
Medium (Level 11, Large) Beast, Your alignment
- Armor Class 10 + proficiency bonus
- Hit Points 4 x level (Level 11, 7 x level)
- Speed 10 ft., fly 60 ft. (Level 11, fly 80 ft.)
- Proficiency Bonus your proficiency bonus
At Level 11, ability scores become the ones indicated in bold.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 12 (+1) 15 (+2) 10 (+0) 7 (-2) 14 (+2) 7 (-2) 16 (+3) 17 (+3) 13 (+1) 8 (-1) 14 (+2) 10 (+0)
- Skills Proficient in Perception
- Senses passive Perception 12 + proficiency bonus
- Languages Giant Eagle, Understands all languages that you speak.
Keen Sight. The eagle has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or sight.
Aspect of the Sun (Level 15). The eagle may transform into an Aspect of the Sun (no action required). The eagle feathers adopt a golden sheen that reflects the light in iridescent colours. The transformation lasts for 10 minutes or until the eagle chooses to revert to its normal form (no action required). The transformation ends early if the eagle drops to 0 hit points. The eagle may not use this ability again until it has finished a short or long rest.
Iridescence (Aspect of the Sun only). The eagle's feathers radiate with aura of the sun, providing bright light in a 60-foot radius and dim-light for an additional 60 feet.
Actions
Beak or Talons. Melee Weapon Attack: Str or Dex mod + Proficiency Bonus to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d4+2 piercing (Beak) or slashing (Talons) damage. (Level 11) Damage increases to 2d4+3.
Wings of the Phoenix (Aspect of the Sun Only) (Recharge 5-6). The eagle’s wings erupt in flames as it dashes towards its enemies. The eagle flies up to its speed. All creatures within 10 feet of the eagle during its movement must succeed on a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw or take 3d8 fire damage.
Panther
Medium Beast, Your alignment
- Armor Class 11 + proficiency bonus
- Hit Points 4 x level (Level 11, 7 x level)
- Speed 50 ft., climb 40 ft. (Level 11, 80 ft., climb 60 ft.)
- Proficiency Bonus your proficiency bonus
At Level 11, ability scores become the ones indicated in bold.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 14 (+2) 16 (+3) 10 (+0) 3 (-4) 14 (+2) 7 (-2) 15 (+2) 20 (+5) 13 (+1) 4 (-3) 14 (+2) 7 (-2)
- Skills Proficient in Perception and Stealth
- Senses passive Perception 12 + proficiency bonus
- Languages Understands all languages that you speak.
Keen Smell. The panther has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Pounce. If the panther moves at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and then hits it with a claw attack on the same turn, that target must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the panther can make one bite attack against it as a bonus action.
Sneak Attack. (Level 11) Once per turn, when the panther hits a creature while having advantage on the attack roll, the panther deals an extra 2d6 damage.
Aspect of the Moon (Level 15). The panther may transform into an Aspect of the Moon (no action required). Wisps of shadow mask the panther in darkness. The transformation lasts for 10 minutes or until the panther chooses to revert to its normal form (no action required). The transformation ends early if the panther drops to 0 hit points. The panther may not use this ability again until it has finished a short or long rest.
Shadow Step (Aspect of the Moon Only). When the panther is in dim light or darkness, as a bonus action, the panther can teleport up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space it can see that is also in dim light or darkness. The panther then has advantage on the first melee attack it makes before the end of the its turn.
Actions
Bite or Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: Str or Dex mod + Proficiency Bonus to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6+3 piercing (Bite) or slashing (Claws) damage. (Level 11) Damage inceases to 1d6+5.
Elk
Medium (Level 11, Large) Beast, Your alignment
- Armor Class 11 + proficiency bonus
- Hit Points 5 x level (Level 11, 8 x level)
- Speed 50 ft. (Level 11, 60 ft.)
- Proficiency Bonus your proficiency bonus
At Level 11, ability scores become the ones indicated in bold.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 16 (+3) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 2 (-4) 10 (+0) 6 (-2) 16 (+3) 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 7 (-2) 11 (+1) 10 (+0)
- Skills Proficient in Perception
- Senses passive Perception 10 + proficiency bonus
- Languages Understands all languages that you speak.
Keen Sight. The elk has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or sight.
Charge. If the elk moves at least 20 feet straight toward a target and then hits it with a ram attack on the same turn, the target takes an extra 1d4 damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Aspect of the Stars (Level 15). The elk may transform into an Aspect of the Stars (no action required). The elk's body appears spectral and becomes shrouded in a mystical aura of faerie lights. The transformation lasts for 10 minutes or until the elk chooses to revert to its normal form (no action required). The transformation ends early if the elk drops to 0 hit points. The elk may not use this ability again until it has finished a short or long rest.
Spiritual Guardian (Aspect of the Stars Only). All creatures of your choice within 15 feet of the Elk has their speed halved.
Actions
Ram. Melee Weapon Attack: Str mod + Proficiency Bonus to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d4+3 bludgeoning damage. (Level 11) Damage increases to 2d4+3.
Hooves. Melee Weapon Attack: Str mod + Proficiency Bonus to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6+3 bludgeoning damage. (Level 11) Damage increases to 2d6+3.
Expecto Patronum (Aspect of the Stars Only) (Recharge 5-6). A barrier of shimmering energy expands in the form of a sphere centered on the elk. All creatures of your choice within 100 feet of the elk are pushed in a straight line away from it until they are 100 feet away.