Roguish Archetype: Occult Investigator
When the guards are ill-equipped, when the church is busy or sceptical, and when wizards are too expensive, the common folk turn to the services of the Occult Investigator to safeguard them from strange occurrences. These brazen specialists in the weird and the worrisome wield no magic, but instead arm themselves with information and experience to drive away unwholesome spirits and the risen dead.
| Rogue Level | Occult Investigator Features |
|---|---|
| 3rd | Esoteric Studies, Investigator's Tools (2) |
| 9th | Paranormal Autopsy, Investigator's Tools (3) |
| 13th | Well-Travelled Investigator, Investigator's Tools (4) |
| 17th | Eldritch Armoury, Investigator's Tools (5) |
Esoteric Studies
3rd-level Occult Investigator feature
Your studies of otherworldly visitors have armed you with the greatest weapon of all: knowledge. You have advantage on Intelligence checks to recall information about Fey, Fiends, and Undead, and on Wisdom checks to track their passage or mark their presence.
Investigator's Tools
3rd-level Occult Investigator feature
you have armed yourself with special equipment which can prove effective against your unusual quarry. Choose two tools to acquire from the list below at 3rd level; you gain one additional tool of your choice at 9th, 13th, and 17th levels. You may use any tools you have, in any combination, a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you complete a long rest.
If any of your tools require a saving throw, the DC is equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier.
- Holy Bombs. As an action, you launch a flask of holy water at point you can see within 20 feet of you. All Fey, Fiends, and Undead within 5 feet of the point must make a Dexterity saving throw, taking radiant damage equal to your Sneak Attack damage on a failed save or half as much on a success.
- Iron Bombs. As an action, you throw a small explosive laced with iron filings at a Fey, Fiend, or Undead you can see within 20 feet of you. The creature must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or become stunned until the end of your next turn.
- Occult Lenses. As an action, you place a special lens over your eye, which remains there for 1 minute or until you remove it as an action. While you are looking through the lens, you have advantage on Perception checks to locate hidden or invisible Fey, Fiends, and Undead, and you cannot be surprised by such creatures.
- Silver Chains. As an action, you lay down a silver chain on the floor; the chain may either encompass a 10-foot radius around you, or a 20-foot line which must pass through at least one space within 5 feet of you, and it remains in place for 1 minute or until you collect it back up as an action. You may decide to decrease the length of the chain when you place it, at your discretion. Any Fey, Fiend, or Undead which attempts to cross chain the must succeed on a Strength saving throw or be unable to cross its boundary until the start of its next turn. Flying or burrowing creatures may freely pass over the boundary so long as they are at least 20 feet above or below the chain.
- Quicksilver Oil. As an action, you coat a melee weapon or ten pieces of ammunition you touch with a special oil. For the next minute, the affected weapon deals additional damage to Fey, Fiends, and Undead equal to your proficiency bonus. This damage is of the same type as the weapon.
Paranormal Autopsy
9th-level Occult Investigator feature
You may choose a creature type from Fey, Fiends, or Undead. You are especially adept at dispersing creatures of this type; your weapon attacks deal increased damage to creatures of the chosen type equal to half your proficiency bonus, rounded down, and ignore any damage resistances the creatures possess against bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage. You may change your chosen type by spending at least 8 hours studying in an occult library, cathedral archives, or other place of otherworldly knowledge.
Well-Travelled Investigator
13th-level Occult Investigator feature
Sometimes the callouts you take aren’t for the creatures you’re familiar with, but you’ve learned to adapt all the same. Whenever you complete a short or long rest, choose a creature type from Aberrations, Celestials, Elementals, Monstrosities, and Shapechangers; all your Occult Investigator features except Paranormal Autopsy work against that creature type just as they do for Fey, Fiends, and Undead, until the end of your next short or long rest.
Eldritch Armoury
17th-level Occult Investigator feature
You are a veritable arsenal of occult weapons and knowledge. Your Investigator’s Tools may be activated using either an action or a bonus action, and you regain up to half your expended uses of the feature when you complete a short rest.