The Spellsword

W
hether it is a long-lived elf soldier mastering
the blade and the spell over the course of
centuries, a human pushing his physical and
mental capabilities to the limit, or a
dragonborn using hidden arcane arts to be a
truly devastating warrior on the battlefield, all
Spellswords strive to perfect the unique art of
combining the brutality of melee with the power of the arcane
in ways no one thought possible.
Weapon and Spell Combined
Fluff here
Ceaseless Training
More fluff here
Creating a Spellsword
Even more fluff here

Quick Build
You can make a Spellsword quickly by following these
suggestions. First, Intelligence should be your highest score,
followed by either Strength or Dexterity, depending upon
what sort of weapon you wish to use. Second, choose the
acolyte background.

Class Features
As a Spellsword, you gain the following class features.
HIT POINTS
Hit Dice: 1d8 per Spellsword level
Hit Points at 1st level: 8 + your Constitution modifier
Hit Points at higher levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your
Constitution mod per Spellsword level after 1st
PROFICIENCIES
Armor: Light armor, Medium armor, shields
Weapons: All simple weapons, all martial weapons
Tools: None

Saving Throws: Constitution and Intelligence

Skills: Choose two from Arcana, Athletics, Acrobatics,
History, Survival, and Perception
EQUIPMENT
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the
items granted by your background:
(a) a martial weapon or (b) a longbow with 20 arrows
(a) a suit of studded leather armor or (b) a suit of leather
armor and a shield
(a) a explorer's pack or (b) a dungeoneer's pack
A shortsword

Spellsword 1
 The Spellsword
Level Proficiency Bonus Features Cantrips Known Spells Known 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
1st +2 Spellcasting, Spell Focus 2 — — — — — —
2nd +2 Fighting Style, Spellsword Archetype 2 2 2 — — — —
3rd +2 Spellsword Expertise 3 3 3 — — — —
4th +2 Ability Score Improvement 3 4 3 — — — —
5th +3 Extra Attack 3 5 4 2 — — —
6th +3 Intuitive Mind 3 6 4 2 — — —
7th +3 Archetype Boon 3 7 4 3 — — —
8th +3 Ability Score Improvement 4 8 4 3 — — —
9th +4 - 4 9 4 3 2 — —
10th +4 Greater Focus 4 10 4 3 2 — —
11th +4 Spell Recovery 4 11 4 3 3 — —
12th +4 Ability Score Improvement 4 11 4 3 3 — —
13th +5 - 4 12 4 4 3 1 —
14th +5 Mind Above Body 5 12 4 4 3 1 —
15th +5 Archetype Boon 5 13 4 4 3 2 —
16th +5 Ability Score Improvement 5 13 4 4 3 2 —
17th +6 - 5 14 4 4 4 3 1
18th +6 Improved Spell Recovery 5 14 4 4 4 3 1
19th +6 Ability Score Improvement 5 15 4 4 4 3 2
20th +6 Archetype Boon 5 15 4 4 4 3 2

Spellcasting Spell Save DC = 8 + your Proficiency bonus + your

As a student of arcane magic, you commit all your knowledge
of spells to memory. Through rigorous training, experience,
and a form of shorthand memorization, you can call upon this
knowledge at any time, even during the heat of battle. See Ch.
10 of the Player's Handbook for the general rules of
spellcasting. Below is a list of all spells a Spellsword can
learn. For more information on the spells themselves (unless
otherwise noted), check Ch. 11 of the Player's Handbook for
more information.
Spellcasting Ability
Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for your Spellsword
spells. The magic comes from years of study, memorization,
and customization of the arcane arts to combine their
energies with your weapon. 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 Spellsword spell you cast and when
making an attack roll with one.
Intelligence modifier
Spell Attack Modifier = your Proficiency bonus + your
Intelligence modifier
Ritual Casting
You can cast any Spellsword spell you know as a ritual if that
spell has the ritual tag.
Cantrips
At 1st level, you know 2 cantrips of your choice from the
Spellsword spell list. You learn additional cantrips of your
choice at higher levels, as shown on the Spellsword level list.
Spell Slots
Beginning at 2nd level, your knowledge of the arcane arts
grows, allowing you to cast spells of 1st level and higher.
Refer to the Spellsword table to see how many spell slots you
have, and when you gain more of them.

2 Spellsword
Spells Known of 1st Level and Higher
Beginning at 2nd level, you know two 1st level spells of your
choice from the Spellsword spell list. The Spells Known
column of the Spellsword table shows when you learn more
Spellsword spells of your choice. Each of these spells must
be of a level for which you have spell slots. For instance, when
you reach 5th level in this class, you can learn one new spell
of 1st or 2nd level.
Learning New Spells and Forgetting Old
Ones
As you level and continue your training as a Spellsword, you
may find that some spells that were useful in the beginning of
your training no longer benefit you. When you level up over
the course of a long rest, you may change up to two spells
from your Spells Known list for two new ones from the same
list.
Spell Focus
You can perform the somatic components of spells even when
you have weapons or a shield in one or both hands.
Spellsword Archetypes
Beginning at second level, you have gleamed new ways to
further enhance your martial and arcane prowess through the
fires of battle. Choose one of three options: Swordmage,
Duskblade, or Magus, and refer to the archetypes below as to
the benefits they grant you.
Your choice grants you features at 2nd level and again at
7th, 15th, and 20th level.
Fighting Style
At 2nd 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.
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.
Great Weapon Fighting
When you roll a 1 or 2 on a damage die for an attack you
make with a melee weapon that you are wielding with two
hands, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll, even
if the new roll is a 1 or 2. The weapon must have the two-
handed or versatile property for you to gain this benefit. This
can only apply to the physical damage die from your weapon,
not to the added magic damage if you use Arcane Channeling.
Protection
When a creature you see attacks a target other than you that
is within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to impose
disadvantage on the attack roll. You must be wielding a shield.
Two-Weapon Fighting
When you engage in two-weapon fighting, you can add your
ability modifier to the damage of the second attack.
Spellsword Expertise
At 3rd level, choose two of your skill proficiencies, or one of
your skill proficiencies and a proficiency with tools if you
have earned any. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any
ability check you make that uses either of the chosen
proficiencies.
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.
Intuitive Mind
By 6th level, your studies of battle and combat grant you as
even faster reaction time. You may use your Intelligence
modifier instead of your Dexterity modifier for when you roll
Initiative.
Greater Focus
At 10th level, you've learned how to maintain focus on any
spell you cast. You have advantage on Constitution saving
throws that you make to maintain your concentration on a
spell when you take damage.
Spell Recovery
At 11th level, you have attained a small level of understanding
over how the body and magical energies interact, and even
during a short break you can regain some of that lost magical
energy. Whenever you take a short rest, you regain 1 spell slot
of your choice, so long as that spell is 3rd level or lower. Once
you use this feature, you can't use it again until you take a
long rest.
Mind Above Body
At 14th level, your mind can intuit the angles and reactions
needed to dodge out of the way of a pwoerful blow. You may
use your Intelligence saving throw instead of your Dexterity
saving throw when you would normally have to make a
Dexterity saving throw.
Spellsword 3
 Improved Spell Recovery
By 15th level, you have attained an even greater level of
understanding over how the body and magical energies
interact, and how resting – even for short bursts – can let you
regain some of the expended energies. Whenever you take a
short rest, you regain 1d4 spell slots of your choice, up to 5th
level. Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until
you take a long rest. This replaces the Spell Recovery class
feature gained at level 10.
Spellsword Archetypes
You devote your studies of the arcane to one unique twist to
them, gaining further insight into previously hidden benefits
and effects that were hidden from other magic-users. Choose
one from the list below:
The Swordmage
You focus your training on spells to aid and protect, unlocking
spells that normally can not be cast by someone of the arcane
arts, and ways to amplify them.
Armor Proficiency
When you take this archetype at 2nd level, you gain
proficiency with heavy armor.
Swordmage Aegis
You have gleamed forth how to protect both yourself and your
allies with your magics. If you can normally cast a spell that
has a casting range of Self, you may instead cast it on an ally
that you can see within 60 feet of you. You must otherwise
meet the normal casting requirements of the spell in terms of
components.
In addition, you gain a +1 bonus to AC while the Aegis is
applied to you. This bonus increases to +2 at 15th level.
Swordmage Aegis Maneuvers
Beginning at 7th level, your continued studies have let your
figure out new ways to use your Aegis. You may expend a
spell slot to perform one of the maneuvers listed below.
You magically empower the defenses of an ally. As a
reaction you may transfer your Aegis to grant them
resistance to all types of damage other than Psychic
damage until the beginning of your next turn.
As a reaction, you may force a foe you see within 60 feet of
you to have Disadvantage on their attacks until the end of
the foe's turn.
As a reaction, you may magically force a foe to target you
instead of an ally that you are standing next to. The foe
must make an Intelligence saving throw versus your Spell
Save DC. If they fail, they must spend the rest of their turn
attacking you and no one else, tricking them into thinking
you are the biggest threat in the fight.
As a Move action, you may teleport up to 60 feet, so long
as you can see your destination.
4 Spellsword
Swordmage Aegis Buff
Beginning at 15th level, your augmentation of the Aegis
grows. So long as you are conscious, you have advantage on
saving throws against spells. In addition, as a reaction you
may transfer this benefit to an ally you can see within 60 feet
of you until the beginning of your next turn, when the Aegis
transfers back to you.
Swordmage Dual Aegis
20th level you have unlocked how to grant more allies the
benefits of your Aegis. You may now grant the benefits of the
Aegis to up to two allies within 60 feet of you.
Duskblade
You focus your training on ways to deal as much damage with
your spells as possible, granting access to spells that are
otherwise not known to you.
Expanded Spell List
When you choose this archetype 2nd level, you can select two
spells of your choice from the Sorcerer, Wizard, or Warlock
spell list and add them to your own. These spells do not count
against your normal limit of spells known. You may choose
another two spells at 7th and 15th level.
Arcane Might
At 2nd level, when you hit a creature with a melee weapon
attack, you can expend one spell slot to deal force damage to
the target, in addition to the weapon's damage. The extra
damage is 2d8 for a 1st-level spell slot, plus 1d8 for each spell
level higher than 1st, to a maximum of 5d8.
Arcane Channeling
At 7th level you have mastered how to entwine the power of
your magic into your weapon. As a bonus action, you can
channel the effects of a spell into your weapon. When your
weapon hits, all spell attack rolls for the imbued spell hit the
target automatically and are considered part of the weapon
attack. The target takes weapon damage and is subject to the
effects of the spell, expending that spell slot accordingly. The
opponent can still roll to save versus whatever other effects
the spell has, with the spell DC being as if you had cast the
spell normally.
If the spell would have an area of effect around it, it is
centered on the opponent you hit. If the spell is a cone attack,
it originates from the square you are standing in, with the
first person hit being the foe you struck with the weapon.
This can only be used once per round, and can only be
channeled into one weapon at a time. The spell used must be
of 1st level or higher, as cantrips do not possess the magical
power to be infused into a weapon in this manner.
Duskblade Cloak
Beginning at 15th level, you've begun to shroud yourself in
subtle illusions and blurred movements to make it harder to
hit you. Any creature that attacks you has disadvantage on
their attack rolls. If you take damage, the magical effect fades
until the start of your next turn. This effect is disabled if you
are unconscious, restrained, or otherwise unable to move.
Arcane Secrets
At 20th level, you have gleamed forth new spells that were
previously out of reach. Choose one 6th level spell from the
Wizard, Sorcerer, or Warlock spell list. You may cast this spell
twice per long rest. The spell may be used with Arcane
Channeling if need be, and functions as though it were cast
from a 6th level spell slot.
Magus
You focus your training on ways to augment your spells,
granting boons to allies and banes to foes.
Magus Brand
When you take this archetype at 2nd level, you learn how to
brand foes with a subtle curse that makes them susceptable
to various things. As a bonus action, you may expend a spell
slot and mark this foe with your brand, so long as they are
within 60 feet of you and you can see them. The brand can do
various things, and you may choose one of them below. Only
one brand can be applied at a time to a foe, and they cannot
stack.
The brand flares with magical power whenever an ally hits
the foe, amplifying the damage dealt. For the next minute,
if you or an ally hit the foe with an attack, the branded
target takes extra Force damage equal to your Intelligence
modifier.
Empowered Brands
Beginning at 15th level, you may choose two marks to curse a
foe with whenever you brand them. In addition, you learn of
more brands to apply to a foe. Refer to below to see what you
can now apply to foes. One brand must be from the base
version, the other brand one of the empowered ones.
Your brand weakens a foes defenses to a particular
element. Choose one of the following: fire, cold, lightning,
thunder, poison, acid, radiant, necrotic. For the next
minute, that foe takes more damage from that type of
damage (Immunity reduced to Resistance, Resistance to
none, none to Vulnerability).
Your brand attracts spells to the foe, making them
susceptable to magics aimed at them. For the next minute,
any ranged spell attack cast on that foe has Advantage,
and they lose any sort of spell resistance if they have it.
Your brand flares with arcane might, damaging the foe
occassionally. At the beginning of the foes turn, they take
2d6 Force damage.
Twincast
At 20th level you have learned how to entwine your spells
together and cast them in rapid succession. As an Action, you
may cast two cantrips - even the same ones - that normally
have a casting time of one Action. If you use this feature, you
cannot Quicken Spell afterward, as your body needs a
moment to adjust to the rapid-fire usage of these spells
performed in quick succession.

The foe feels their senses dull, slowing their reaction time.
For the next minute, the foe loses their Reaction
capabilities.

The magical brand flares brightly, signaling where they

are at at all times. For the next minute, the foe cannot hide
or turn invisible.
If the foe should die while still branded, you can shift the
brand to a new foe as a bonus action, so long as the new
target is within 60 feet of the old one.
Quicken Spell
When you take this archetype at 7th level, you may cast any
spell you know that normally takes an Action of casting as a
bonus action. You can only do this once per short or long rest.
This increases to 2 per short or long rest at 15th level, and 3
per short or long rest at 20th level.

Spellsword 5
 5th Level
Duskblade Spell List Cone of Cold
Cantrips (0 Level) Creation
Acid Splash Dream
Fire Bolt Mislead
Light Wall of Force
Mage Hand Seeming
Prestidigitation Multiclassing into Spellsword
Ray of Frost Requirements: 13 Strength, 13 Intelligence
Shocking Grasp
True Strike Proficiencies Gained: Light armor, Medium armor,
Eldritch Blast simple weapons, martial weapons
Greenflame Blade *
Lightning Lure *
Sword Burst *
Booming Blade *
The * means it originates from the Sword Coast Adventure
Guide book.
1st Level
Burning Hands
Color Spray
Chromatic Orb
Detect Magic
Disguise Self
Inflict Wounds
Mage Armor
Magic Missile
Shield
Silent Image
Thunderwave
2nd Level
Blur
Flaming Sphere
Levitate
Invisibility
Melf's Acid Arrow
Mirror Image
Ray of Enfeeblement
Scorching Ray
Shatter
3rd Level
Blink
Counterspell
Dispel Magic
Fireball
Fly
Haste
Major Image
Sleet Storm
Lightning Bolt
4th Level
Fabricate
Fire Shield
Ice Storm
Stoneskin
Hallucinatory Terrain
Banishment
Blight
Otiluke's Resilient Sphere
5th Level
Spellsword
6