The Blademaster

This is a revision of the Blade Master from a fan-made Wheel of Time conversion for 5e. It has been modified to be less setting specific, so that it may be chosen by any Fighter in Cambria.



Blademasters train for many long years to perfect their swordwork, although none would ever call themselves a true master - knowing full well that mastery of any form is impossible, but that the pursuit of perfection is the purest path. Blademasters consider themselves to be artists, moving through their forms in an unending, darkly beautiful dance of death. Their training represents a path towards inner calm and self-reflection, not a lifeless collection of martial skills. A Blademaster worthy of the title knows that she cannot master her blade unless she has first mastered herself.

Sword Forms

The Blademaster has learned two forms by level 3. You gain an additional form at 5th, 7th, 10th, and 15th levels.

The Blademaster can adopt a form by sacrificing half their move speed for one turn. This will last until the end of the encounter, or until they wish to change forms.

Know Your Enemy

Starting at 7th level, if you spend at least 1 minute observing or interacting with another creature outside combat, you can learn certain information about its capabilities compared to your own. The DM tells you if the creature is your equal, superior, or inferior in regard to two of the following characteristics of your choice:

  • Strength score
  • Dexterity score
  • Constitution score
  • Armour Class
  • Current hit points
  • Total class levels (if any)
  • Fighter class levels (if any)

Threading the Needle

Beginning at 10th level, the Blademaster can choose to shift her form using a bonus action during their turn. A reaction can be used instead at any time, but this can only be done once before the Blademaster takes a short rest.

Leopard in High Grass

Beginning at level 15, every time you shift forms, add 1d6 to your next attack and damage roll.

Kissing the Adder

Beginning at 18th level, when the Blademaster rolls initiative, she may select one adversary. For the first round of combat, the Blademaster is guaranteed to hit the creature, and natural rolls of 16+ are considered critical hits. The Blademaster has her AC reduced to 8 for that round.

Sword Forms

Black Lance’s Last Strike

While in this form, the Blademaster draws her weapon for an immediate strike to the neck. Add 1d6 damage to your first attack each round. If you miss on this attack, enemies have advantage on attacks against you until your next turn.

Black Pebbles on Snow

You gain +2 to attack and damage rolls during a surprise round where the Blademaster has surprised her enemies.

Cat Dances on the Wall

While in this form, if an enemy misses an attack against the Blademaster, she can use her reaction to trip the creature who must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or fall prone. The DC of that saving throw is equal to the Blademaster’s Dexterity score.

Cat on the Hot Sand

By spending 5 feet of her movement in a feint, the Blademaster can force up to two enemies in melee range to expend their reaction on a failed attack of opportunity. The enemy will still roll the attack, and succeed on a natural 20, but with only normal damage.

Oak Shakes its Branches

The Blademaster uses the flat of her blade. Attacks made are non lethal.

Sheathing the Sword

Ignoring the opponent’s weapon, the Blademaster waits to lunge. In this form the Blademaster does not attack. Instead, whenever she is attacked she may attack the enemy immediately. Any attack that this, hers or the enemy’s, then rolls further attack rolls until they miss. Damage is calculated for each hit, with modifiers only being added once.

Swallow Takes Flight

While in this form, the Blademaster receives a +1 bonus to their AC.

The Viper Flicks its Tongue

When the Blademaster is within 5 feet of an ally, they may roll melee attack rolls for any attacks that ally misses.

Cat Crosses the Courtyard

Prerequisite: Level 5
While in this form you do not provoke opportunity attacks.

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THE BLADEMASTER

Rain in High Wind

Prerequisite: Level 5
While in this form, you may halve damage from a melee attack, done by an enemy you can see, once per round.

Apple Blossoms on the Wind

Prerequisite: Level 7
While in this form, the Blademaster can use the Shove action as a bonus action to push an enemy 5 feet away.

Courtier Taps His Fan

Prerequisite: Level 7
As a standard action, while in this form, the Blademaster strikes the target’s head with the hilt of her blade. The enemy must make a Constitution saving throw or become Stunned. The DC is 10 + the Blademaster’s Strength modifier.

Plucking the Low Hanging Apple

Prerequisite: Level 7
While in this form, any attacks made against a target that has lost over 50% of their hit points do an additional 1d8 damage.

Creeper Embraces the Oak

Prerequisites: Level 7, Swallow Takes Flight
While in this form, the Blademaster receives a +2 bonus to their AC.

The Wind Blows Over the Wall

Prerequisites: Level 10, Creeper Embraces the Oak
While in this form, the Blademaster may forfeit her reaction each round to bolster her AC by +3. This must be declared by the end of her turn.

Lotus Closes its Blossom

Prerequisite: Level 15
While in this form, attack rolls of 18+ are considered critical hits.

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