Duskblades are driven warriors who study arcane magic to expand their options on the battlefield. Unlike the paladins and rangers to which they are sometimes compared, spellcasting is a central focus of the duskblade's arsenal. They can wield most of the same offensive spells as an arcanist and can channel many of them through their weapons to empower their melee strikes. Duskblades give up a great amount of versatility and out-of-combat utility for this dual focus, but no other class can boast such a seamless blend of spellcasting and melee combat.
d8 Hit Die (8 + Con HP at 1st level, 5 + Con HP thereafter)
2 + Int skill points (x4 at 1st level)
Class Skills: Climb(Str), Concentration(Con), Craft(Int), Decipher Script(Int), Jump(Str), Knowledge(all, taken individually)(Int), Ride(Dex), Sense Motive(Wis), Spellcraft(Int), Swim(Str)
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Proficient with all simple and martial weapons and with all armor (heavy, medium, and light) and shields, except tower shields.
| Level | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Features | Spells Per Day (0th 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | Arcane Attunement, Armored Mage (light) | 3 2 - - - - |
| 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | Combat Casting | 4 3 - - - - |
| 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | Arcane Channeling | 5 4 - - - - |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | Armored Mage (medium) | 6 5 - - - - |
| 5 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 4 | Quick Cast 1/day | 6 5 2 - - - |
| 6 | 6/1 | 5 | 2 | 5 | Spell Power +2 | 6 6 3 - - - |
| 7 | 7/2 | 5 | 2 | 5 | Armored Mage (heavy shield) | 6 6 5 - - - |
| 8 | 8/3 | 6 | 2 | 6 | - | 6 7 6 - - - |
| 9 | 9/4 | 6 | 3 | 6 | - | 6 7 6 2 - - |
| 10 | 10/5 | 7 | 3 | 7 | Quick Cast 2/day | 6 8 7 3 - - |
| 11 | 11/6/1 | 7 | 3 | 7 | Spell Power +3 | 6 8 7 5 - - |
| 12 | 12/7/2 | 8 | 4 | 8 | - | 6 8 8 6 - - |
| 13 | 13/8/3 | 8 | 4 | 8 | Arcane Channeling (full attack) | 6 9 8 6 2 - |
| 14 | 14/9/4 | 9 | 4 | 9 | - | 6 9 8 7 3 - |
| 15 | 15/10/5 | 9 | 5 | 9 | Quick Casting 3/day | 6 9 8 7 5 - |
| 16 | 16/11/6/1 | 10 | 5 | 10 | Spell Power +4 | 6 9 9 8 6 - |
| 17 | 17/12/7/2 | 10 | 5 | 10 | - | 6 10 9 8 6 2 |
| 18 | 18/13/8/3 | 11 | 6 | 11 | Spell Power +5 | 6 10 9 8 7 3 |
| 19 | 19/14/9/4 | 11 | 6 | 11 | - | 6 10 10 9 7 5 |
| 20 | 20/15/10/5 | 12 | 6 | 12 | Quick Cast 4/day | 6 10 10 10 8 6 |
A duskblade casts arcane spells, which are drawn from the duskblade spell list. A duskblade can cast any spell she knows without preparing it ahead of time.
To learn or cast a spell, a duskblade must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a duskblade spell is 10 + the spell level + Int modifier.
A duskblade can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. The base daily spell allotment is given on the table. In addition, a duskblade receives bonus spells per day for having a high Intelligence score. A duskblade's caster level is equivalent to her class level.
A duskblade begins play knowing two 0-level spells and two 1st-level spells, chosen from the duskblade spell list. She also knows one additional 0-level spell for each point of Intelligence bonus.
Each time the duskblade gains a level, she learns one additional spell of any level she can cast, chosen from the duskblade spell list.
Upon reaching 5th level, and at every subsequent odd-numbered level, the duskblade can choose to replace a spell she knows with another spell from the duskblade spell list, in essence "forgetting" the old spell in favor of a new one. The spell to be replaced must be at least two levels lower than the highest spell level the duskblade can cast. The replacement spell must be the same level as the old spell.
A duskblade can use the spell-like powers dancing lights, detect magic, flare, ghost sound, and read magic a combined total of times per day equal to 3 + Int modifier. These spell-like powers do not count against the duskblade's total of spells known or spells per day.
Normally, armor of any type interferes with an arcane spellcaster's gestures, which can cause spells to fail if those spells have a somatic component. A duskblade's limited focus and specialized training, however, allows her to ignore the arcane spell failure chance of light armor and light shields. This ability does not apply to spells gained from a different spellcasting class.
At 4th level, this ability extends to medium armor.
At 7th level, this ability extends to heavy shields.
At 2nd level, a duskblade gains Combat Casting as a bonus feat.
Beginning at 3rd level, a duskblade may use a standard action to cast a touch spell through a melee weapon attack. Casting a spell in this manner does not provoke attacks of opportunity. The spell must have a casting time of 1 standard action or less. If the melee attack is successful, the attack deals damage normally; then the effect of the spell is resolved.
At 13th level, a duskblade may apply this ability during a full attack action, applying the touch spell to each melee weapon attack made. Doing so discharges the spell at the end of the round, even if the touch spell would otherwise last longer than 1 round.
Once per day, a 5th level duskblade may cast any spell with a casting time of 1 standard action as a swift action.
This ability can be used twice per day at 10th level, three times per day at 15th level, and four times per day at 20th level.
Starting at 6th level, a duskblade's attacks allow her to better pierce spell resistance. Whenever the duskblade deals damage to a creature with her melee weapons, she gains a +2 circumstance bonus on caster level checks to overcome that creature's spell resistance. This bonus increases to +3 at 11th level, to +4 at 16th level, and to +5 at 18th level.
Some content presented here is derived from the d20 System, a trademark of Wizards of the Coast. All d20 content is used according to the terms of the Open Game License. Zachary Kulp and merfolkstudio.com are not affiliated with Wizards of the Coast, Inc. in any way.