Crimson Duelist

Extraordinary are those who can swing blades and weave magicks both, but few can hold a candle to the wielders of red magick—the crimson duelists. Many a foe has been felled by these champions that charge forth at every opportunity, but dance back to the safety of their spells when need be. Not quite mage, not quite warrior—it bothers them not, for they know their arts have surpassed both.

The Truth of Magick

Unlike the practitioners of traditional black and white magicks, who drain their surroundings' energy, crimson duelists shape reality through the power they themselves bear. This spellcasting principle, known as red magick, dates back many millenia to a time when the Material Plane had nearly been run dry of mana. Mages were forced to learn how to draw out their own essence and amplify it with a little help from the world, a process that brought many to their deaths. Vital it was though to allow the world to heal. And so the duelists hold on to these ancient arts, knowing they will one day be needed again.

Creating a Crimson Duelist

It is important when creating a crimson duelist to understand how you learned of red magick. Were you a bibliophile who came across ancient knowledge, or were you a scholar of magicks that unknowingly redeveloped the art? Perhaps you are a scion of the crimson duelists and had a master to teach you the arts?

Once you understand your history, determine what part of your training led to the life of an adventurer. Why do you
travel the realms? Do you look to spread your knowledge, or have you dedicated yourself to helping others with your
esoteric powers? Maybe you just wish for recognition
and seek out challenges that will gain it?

Quick Build

You can make a crimson duelist quickly by following
these suggestions. First, make Strength or Dexterity
your highest ability score, depending on your weapon
choice. Your next highest ability score should be
Intelligence. Second, choose the sage background.

Class Features

As a crimson duelist, you have the following
class features.

Hit Points

Hit Dice: 1d8 per crimson duelist level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your

Constitution modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8

(or 5) + your Constitution modifier

per crimson duelist level after 1st

Proficiencies

Armor: Light armor, shields
Weapons: Simple weapons, longswords, rapiers,

shortswords, whips
Tools: None

Saving Throws: Dexterity, Intelligence
Skills: Choose two skills from Acrobatics, Arcana, Athletics,

History, Insight, Investigation, Medicine, and Religion

Equipment

You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
• (a) leather armor and a shield or (b) studded leather armor

and one simple weapon
• (a) a longsword, (b) a rapier, or (c) one simple weapon
• (a) an arcane focus or (b) a component pouch
• (a) a dungeoneer's pack or (b) an explorer's pack

Red Magick

Your ability to draw out and amplify your essence has given you the faculty for casting spells. See Spells Rules for the general rules of spellcasting and the end of the class listing for the crimson duelist spell list.

Cantrips

You know two cantrips of your choice from the crimson duelist spell list. You learn additional crimson duelist cantrips

of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Crimson Duelist table.

Spell Slots

The Crimson Duelist table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your crimson duelist spells of 1st through 5th level. The table also shows what the level of those slots is; all of your spell slots are the same level. To cast one of your crimson duelist spells of 1st level or higher, you must expend a spell slot. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a short or long rest.

For example, when you are 7th level, you have two 3rd-level spell slots. To cast the 1st-level spell burning hands, you must spend one of those slots, and you cast it as a 3rd-level spell.

Spells Known of 1st Level and Higher

At 1st level, you know two 1st-level spells of your choice from the crimson duelist spell list. The Spells Known column of the Crimson Duelist table shows when you learn more

crimson duelist spells of your choice of 1st level and higher. A spell you choose must be of a level no higher than what’s shown in the table’s Slot Level column for your level. When you reach 7th level, for example, you learn a new crimson duelist spell, which can be 1st, 2nd, or 3rd level.

Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the crimson duelist spells you know and replace it with another spell from the crimson duelist spell list, which also must be of a level for which you have spell slots.

Spellcasting Ability

Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for your crimson duelist spells, so you use your Intelligence whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Intelligence modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a crimson duelist spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.

Spellcasting Focus

You can use an arcane focus (see the Adventuring Gear section in the Player's Handbook) as a spellcasting focus for your crimson duelist spells.

Ritual Weapon

At 1st level, you learn a ritual that creates a magical bond between yourself and one weapon. You perform the ritual over the course of 1 hour, which can be done during a short rest. The weapon must be within your reach throughout the ritual, at the conclusion of which you touch the weapon and forge the bond.

Once you have bonded a weapon to yourself, it counts as an arcane focus for you. If it is on the same plane of existence, you can summon that weapon as a bonus action on your turn, causing it to teleport instantly to your hand.

You can have up to two ritual weapons, but can summon only one at a time with your bonus action. If you attempt to bond with a third weapon, you must break the bond with one of the other two.

Battledance

In your studies of crimson duelist history, you have learned of their fighting style known as the battledance.

At 2nd level, you learn two battledance maneuvers of your choice. Your maneuver options are detailed at the end of the class description. When you gain certain crimson duelist levels, you gain additional maneuvers of your choice, as shown in the Battledance Maneuvers column of the Crimson Duelist table.

Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the maneuvers you know and replace it with another maneuver that you could learn at that level.

If a battledance maneuver has prerequisites, you must meet them to learn it. You can learn the maneuver at the same time that you meet its prerequisites. A level prerequisite refers to your level in this class.

Manafont

Beginning at 2nd level, you learn how to borrow and harness the essence of both black and white magicks within yourself and perform special techniques. Your battledance maneuvers either generate or expend mana. Certain spells you cast also generate mana. Any crimson duelist spell that harms or enfeebles an opponent generates 1 black mana, while spells that heal or aid you or an ally generate 1 white mana. The DM is the final arbiter of if a spell generates mana or not. Any cantrips cast outside of combat do not generate mana.

You can hold a maximum of 5 black mana and 5 white mana at any given time. You lose all held mana after finishing a short or long rest.

Balancing Mana

You also gain benefits and detriments depending on how much of each mana you have, as explained by the following. To gain these effects, you must have a combined total of at least 5 mana.

Balanced Mana. As long as your black or white mana never exceed the other's value by more than 1, you have advantage on all weapon and spell attacks.

Black Mana Dominant. If your black mana ever exceeds your white mana by 2 or more, your weapon and spell attacks deal additional damage equal to your proficiency modifier. Attacks against you are made with advantage.

White Mana Dominant. If your white mana ever exceeds your black mana by 2 or more, you gain a +2 bonus to AC and saving throws. All of your attacks and spells deal minimum damage.

Bonus Cantrips

You gain the following cantrips to aid you in generating mana. These do not count against your cantrips known.

Jolt

Evocation cantrip

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• Casting Time: 1 action
• Range: 60 ft
• Components: V, S
• Duration: Instantaneous

An eldritch explosion manifests around a creature that you can see within range. The target must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or take 1d8 force damage. The target gains no benefit from cover for this saving throw.

The spell's damage increases by 1d8 when you reach 5th level (2d8), 11th level (3d8), and 17th level (4d8).

Glimpse

Divination cantrip

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• Casting Time: 1 bonus action
• Range: 30 ft
• Components: V, S, M (a doll's eye)
• Duration: 1 round

You look at one ally within range, mystically sending them a blurry vision of the immediate future. The target gains a +1 bonus to AC against the first attack made against them within the next round.

Fighting Style

At 3rd 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.

Defense

While you are wearing armor, you gain a +1 bonus to AC.

Dueling

When you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand and no other weapons, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls with that weapon.

Two-Weapon Fighting

When you engage in two-weapon fighting, you can add your ability modifier to the damage of the second attack.

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.

Convert

At 6th level, you're able to alter your held mana. As a bonus action, you may switch the amount of all of your black mana and white mana with each other. For example, if you had 3 black mana and 1 white mana, after using this ability you would have 1 black mana and 3 white mana.

War Magic

Beginning at 9th level, when you use your action to cast a cantrip, you can make one weapon attack as a bonus action.

Acceleration

Starting at 11th level, you are able to draw in more mana at once. You activate this ability as a bonus action. For a number of rounds equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum 1), whenever you gain mana the amount is doubled. You have two uses of this ability, and you regain all expended uses of it when you finish a long rest.

Battleready

Beginning at 14th level, you gain 2 mana of any combination when you make an initiative roll.

Manafication

Starting at 17th level, you can temporarily surpass your limits. As an action, your current amount of mana is doubled. Any mana that would exceed your maximum is converted. For every black mana that exceeds your limit, you gain a +1 bonus to damage on your next successful weapon or spell attack. For every white mana that exceeds your limit, you gain 5 temporary hit points.

You have one use of this ability, and you regain its use when you finish a long rest.

Limit Break

At 20th level, you have discovered how to improve your battledance without reliance on black and white mana. As a bonus action, you activate this ability. For 1 minute, your battledance maneuvers don't expend mana. However, you aren't able to generate mana either.

You have one use of this ability, and you regain its use when you finish a long rest.

Battledance Maneuvers

When you reach 2nd level, you begin to learn battledance maneuvers, techniques that either generate or expend mana.

Effects

Some of your maneuvers require your target to make a saving throw to resist the maneuver’s effects. The saving throw DC is calculated as follows:

Maneuvers

The battledance maneuvers are presented in alphabetical order. Any maneuver that has a mana cost will list how much is required in the description. Some also have increased or additional effects depending on your mana balance (see the Balancing Mana section under Manafont). You are treated as having that particular mana balance until the end of your turn. For example, if you have 5 black mana and 2 white mana, and you spend 2 black mana on a maneuver, you count as being Black Mana Dominant for the rest of this turn, not Balanced Mana.

Contre Sixte

Cost: 3 (any combination)
Effect: As an action, make one weapon attack against a creature. On a successful hit, mana bursts from your weapon. Every creature adjacent to your target, excluding you, must make a Dexterity saving throw or take half of the damage dealt to your target.
Balanced Mana: You may choose a number of creatures adjacent to your target up to your Intelligence modifier. These creatures avoid all damage from this maneuver.

Corps-a-Corps

Cost: 2 (any combination)
Effect: As an action, you may move up to half your movement speed and make one weapon attack. You ignore your advantage from having balanced mana in this case.
Balanced Mana: You may instead move your full movement speed.

Dedans-et-Dehors

Prerequisite: 15th level, corps-a-corps, displacement, redoublement
Cost: 10 mana (all)
Effect: Using both your action and bonus action at once, you perfrom the following in order.

• Corps-a-corps maneuver

• Attack action

• Redoublement maneuver

• Displacement maneuver

Displacement

Cost: 2 (any combination)
Effect: As a bonus action, you may move half your movement speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
Balanced Mana: Before moving in this way, you may make one weapon attack with disadvantage. You ignore your advantage from having balanced mana in this case.

Embolden

Cost: 5 (white)
Effect: As a bonus action, you heal 1d10 + your crimson duelist level. After using this maneuver, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.
White Mana Dominant: In addition to the above, you gain 5 temporary hit points.

Enchant Blade

Prerequisite: 7th level
Cost: 5 (black)
Effect: As a bonus action, choose one of the following: acid, cold, electricity, or fire. For 1 minute, you envelop one weapon in your possession in the essence of the chosen element, enabling you to deal an additional 1d4 damage of that type per attack. After using this maneuver, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.
Black Mana Dominant: Your weapon also counts as magical for the purpose of overcoming damage resistance.

Faucher

Prerequisite: 15th level, contre sixte, moulinet
Cost: 10 (all)
Effect Using both your action and bonus action at once, you perfrom the following in order.

• Contre sixte maneuver

• Moulinet maneuver
Creatures affected by these maneuvers make their saving throws with disadvantage.

Manège

Prerequisite: 12th level
Cost: 6 (any combination)
Effect: As an action, you make a sweeping attack that targets every space adjacent to you. Every creature in that area must make a Dexterity saving throw. A creature takes normal weapon damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Moulinet

Prerequisite: 5th level
Cost: 5 (any combination)
Effect: As an action, you channel mana into your weapon and attack everything in a 15-foot cone. Creatures inside this area must make a Dexterity saving throw or take normal weapon damage + 2d6 force damage.

Muse

Cost: None
Effect: As a bonus action, you take a short break from battle to draw out mana. Gain 1 mana of your choice.

Parry

Cost: 1 (any combination)
Effect: When attacked with a melee weapon, you can add a +2 to your AC against that one attack as a reaction.
Black Mana Dominant: On a successful parry attempt, you may make an attack against the aggressor with disadvantage.
White Mana Dominant: You may also parry ranged weapon attacks.

Persevere

Cost: 5 mana (white)
Efeect: As a bonus action, choose one type of saving throw. You have advantage on that saving throw once within the next minute.
White Mana Dominant: Choose a second saving throw to get advantage on. You only roll with advantage once between the two, not once each.

Redoublement

Prerequisite: 12th level
Cost: 3 (any combination)
Effect: When taking the Attack action, you may use this maneuver to gain one additional attack. You may use this maneuver once per round.

Riposte

Cost: None
Effect: Whenever you succeed on a weapon attack from using the Attack action or from two-weapon fighting, you gain 1 mana of your choice. Any additional attacks from using battledance maneuvers do not generate mana.

Crimson Duelist Spell List

Siphon

Prerequisite: 9th level
Cost: 5 (black)
Effect: As a bonus action, you can grant one weapon you wield the ability to drain another of their stamina. For 1 minute, everytime you successfully attack a creature with this weapon, they must make a Constitution saving throw or take one level of exhaustion. After using this maneuver, you must finish a long rest before you can use it again.
Black Mana Dominant: During this period the target takes an additional level of exhaustion when you perform a critical hit.
Special: The DM may rule that monsters significantly stronger than you can only incur up to three levels of exhaustion through this maneuver.

Zwerchhau

Prerequisite: 9th level
Cost: 4 (any combination)
Effect: When using the Attack action, you may instead choose to make one weapon attack. Whether you hit or not, the target must make an Intelligence saving throw. If they fail, your attack is treated as if you rolled a 20 on the d20.
Black Mana Dominant: You may make one additional attack with disadvantage. This attack deals maximum damage.