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halfling struggles to pull herself up a
jagged cliff face. Above her, the wind howls, shaman will even gain large leathery wings, allowing
but she pushes on. Once at the top she them to soar in the sky as any true dragon should.
pauses, as if awe-struck by the heavy, Most dragon shamans worship dragons in the
rhythmic breathing issuing from a cavern abstract, honoring them in much the same way a cleric
opening in the mountainside. Gathering might honor light as a symbol of purity. For many,
herself, she withdraws a beautiful gem from dragons are simply awe-inspiring, though they do not
her bag and carefully makes her way inside. apply any special treatment do them. Other dragon
A goliath opens his arms wide and takes the blow shamans worship dragons directly, from the race as a
from an orc’s greatsword. The sword pierces through whole to a specific individual.
metal and leather, but rebounds against hard scales
hidden beneath the armor. The goliath smiles, then Creating a Dragon Shaman
rears back and belches forth a stream of dragon fire When creating a dragon shaman character, think about
from his open mouth. your character’s connection to dragons. What set them
As a horde of skeletons descend upon a group of on this path of draconic influence? What relatinship do
adventurers, the human among them raises his sword they have with dragons? Are the habits and mannerisms
to the sky and shouts out a battlecry. His companions of the dragon they are attempting to emulate reflected in
feel a surge of empowering energy and shake off their their personality?
fear, then rush forward with renewed vigor.
To some, the passing shadow of a dragon overhead Quick Build
isn’t a sign that invokes fear; it’s a blessing that reveals You can make a dragon shaman quickly by following
you to be in the presence of greatness. Those who these suggestions. First, make Constitution your highest
become dragon shamans respect dragons as power ability score, followed by Charisma or Strength. Second,
incarnate. Some worship dragons, but most simply choose the outlander background.
aspire to gain dragon powers for themselves. In
assuming the abilities and the likeness of a dragon, one Class Features
seeks to emulate that might and embody that power As a dragon shaman, you gain the following class
within themselves. features.
Power for Power’s Sake Hit Points
Power is the ultimate goal for any dragon shaman; Hit Dice:1d10 per dragon shaman level
power allows one to effect their will in the world, 10 + your Constitution
Hit Points at 1st Level:
whether that be to the benefit of others or for malicious modifier
purposes. Dragons, with all their might, are the ultimate Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your
embodiment of power and the will to use it. Many a Constitution modifier per dragon shaman level after
dragon would not be not suprised to find mortals 1st
wishing they could become dragon themselves.
While dragons gain power naturally by living and Proficiencies
aging, a dragon shaman must seek it out. Unlike Armor: Light armor, medium armor, shields
dragonflesh grafters, who use bioalchemy to unnaturally Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons
fuse themselves with dragon parts, dragon shamans Tools: None
seek to prove their worth by searching for a totem
dragon to bless them. Saving Throws: Constitution, Charisma
Skills: Choose two from Athletics, Deception,
Draconic Influence History, Insight, Intimidation, Nature, Perception,
Every dragon shaman has a totem dragon. This may be Persuasion, and Survival
a draconic soul sent to guide the dragon shaman by Equipment
some more powerful entity, the lingering spirit of a You start with the following equipment, in addition to
dragon, or even the manifestation of some part of the the equipment granted by your background:
dragon shaman’s own psyche. This totem dragon bonds
with the dragon shaman, creating a unique entity whose (a) a martial weapon and a shield or (b) two melee
soul is now, in a very literal sense, part dragon. weapons
Over time, the dragon shaman’s body will become (a) two handaxes or (b) any simple weapon
more dragon-like. Hard scales grow out from beneath (a) scale mail or (b) leather armor
their skin, and they learn how to use a breath weapon An explorer’s pack
Additionally, you gain a swim speed equal to your Crystal Radiant Perception, Survival
up, down, and across vertical surfaces and upside Topaz Necrotic Intimidation, Perception
down along ceilings, while leaving your hands free. Skill Proficiencies
You also gain a climbing speed equal to your walking At 1st level, you gain proficiency in two skills
speed. determined by your totem dragon. If you are already
White – Ice Walker. You can move across and climb proficient in either of these skills, your proficiency
icy surfaces without needing to make an ability bonus for that skill is instead doubled.
check, and difficult terrain composed of ice or snow Additionally, emulating a gem dragon has sparked
doesn’t cost you extra movement. latent psionic power within you, allowing you to channel
Frightful Presence your dragon shaman abilities through the strength of
At 10th level, as an action on your turn you can use your your mind rather than the power of your will. Whenever
draconic presence to strike fear into your enemies. Each a feature you gain from this class uses your Charisma,
creature of your choice within 30 feet of you and aware you can use your Intelligence instead. Additionally,
of you must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw. The when you gain the Dragon Wings feature you can hover
DC is 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma when using your fly speed.
Dragon Shaman v4.0 | The Arcane Athenaeum 4
Draconic Adaptation Metallic Totem Dragon
At 6th level, you take on an aspect of your totem dragon. Among the wisest of all creatures, most metallic
These adaptations are always active, unless otherwise dragons are noble and altruistic. They acknowledge
stated. their own strength as that of one powerful race among
In addition, you gain darkvision out to a range of 60 the many that live in the world.
feet if you don’t already have it. If you already have Dragon shamans who emulate metallic dragons often
darkvision from another source, its range increases by use their strength to help others in need. Bonding with a
30 feet. metallic totem dragon connects the mortal to Bahamut
Amethyst – Amphibious. You can breathe air and in a way many clerics of the platinum dragon could only
water. Additionally, you gain a swim speed equal to dream of, and it is not uncommon to find such dragon
your current speed. shamans pledging a life of devotion.
Crystal – Light Bearer. You can use a bonus action to
Metallic Dragon
shed bright light in a 5- to 20-foot radius and dim When you choose this totem dragon at 1st level, you
light for an additional number of feet equal to the pick a true dragon to emulate. Your choice determines
chosen radius. You can alter the radius or completely the damage type associated with your totem dragon and
extinguish the light as a bonus action. some of the features you gain at later levels.
Emerald – Tunneler. You gain a burrowing speed
equal to your current speed. You can burrow through Metallic Dragon Type
solid rock at half your burrowing speed and can
leave a 5-foot-diameter tunnel in your wake. Dragon Damage Type Skill Proficiencies
Sapphire – Tunneler. You gain a burrowing speed
Brass Fire History, Perception
equal to your current speed. You can burrow through Bronze Lightning Insight, Stealth
solid rock at half your burrowing speed and can Copper Acid Perception, Stealth
leave a 5-foot-diameter tunnel in your wake. Gold Fire Insight, Persuasion
Topaz – Amphibious. You can breathe air and water.
Silver Cold Arcana, History
Additionally, you gain a swim speed equal to your
current speed. Skill Proficiencies
At 1st level, you gain proficiency in two skills
Energy Resistance Improvement determined by your totem dragon. If you are already
At 10th level, you have an improved version of the proficient in either of these skills, your proficiency
Energy Resistance feature, which grants you resistance bonus for that skill is instead doubled.
to an additional damage type. The second damage type
is determined your totem dragon. Draconic Adaptation
At 6th level, you take on an aspect of your totem dragon.
Energy Resistance Improvement These adaptations are always active, unless otherwise
stated.
Dragon Damage Type
In addition, you gain darkvision out to a range of 60
Amethyst Psychic
feet if you don’t already have it. If you already have
Crystal Cold
darkvision from another source, its range increases by
Emerald
Sapphire
Fire
Lightning
30 feet.
Topaz Cold Brass – Desert Dweller. You are considered naturally
adapted to hot climates. Additionally, you gain a
Psychic Step
At 15th level, as a bonus action you can magically burrowing speed equal to your current speed.
Bronze – Amphibious. You can breathe air and
teleport to an unoccupied space you can see within 60 water. Additionally, you gain a swim speed equal to
feet. You can bring along objects as long as their weight your current speed.
doesn’t exceed what you can carry. You can also Copper – Strong Climber. You gain the ability to
teleport one willing creature of your size or smaller who move up, down, and across vertical surfaces and
is carrying gear up to its carrying capacity. The creature upside down along ceilings, while leaving your hands
must be within 5 feet of you when you use this feature, free. You also gain a climbing speed equal to your
and there must be an unoccupied space within 5 feet of walking speed.
your destination space for the creature to appear in; Gold – Amphibious. You can breathe air and water.
otherwise, the creature is left behind. Additionally, you gain a swim speed equal to your
You can use this feature a number of times equal to current speed.
your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended Silver – Slow Faller. When you fall, you can choose
uses when you finish a long rest. to make your rate of descent 60 feet per round. If you
land while slow-falling in this way, you take no falling
damage and can land on your feet
5 Dragon Shaman v4.0 | The Arcane Athenaeum
Alter Appearance Draconic Auras
Starting at 10th level, you can magically change your These auras are presented in alphabetical order.
appearance. You can cast the alter self spell on yourself Energy Shield. Whenever a creature hits you or an ally
at will with this feature, using only the spell’s change with a melee attack, your aura erupts with energy.
appearance option. The attacker takes an amount of your totem dragon’s
Second Draconic Breath damage type equal to your Charisma modifier.
At 15th level, you gain a second Draconic Breath option Fortune. You and your allies gain a bonus to saving
determined by your totem dragon. When you use your throws equal to your Charisma modifier.
draconic breath, you can choose either option. Magic Resistance. When you and your allies suffer
Brass – Sleep Breath. You exhale sleep gas in a 15- damage from a spell or other magical effect, the
foot cone. Each creature in the area must succeed on damage is reduced by an amount equal to your
a Constitution saving throw versus your Draconic Charisma modifier.
Breath DC or fall unconscious for 1 minute. This Power. You and your allies gain a bonus to melee
effect ends for a creature if the creature takes damage rolls equal to your Charisma modifier.
damage or someone uses an action to wake it.
Bronze – Repulsion Breath. You exhale repulsion Presence. You and your allies gain a bonus to
energy in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in the area Deception, Intimidation, and Persuasion checks equal
must succeed on a Constitution saving throw versus to your Charisma modifier.
your Draconic Breath DC or be pushed 30 feet away Resistance. You and your allies have resistance to your
from you. totem dragon’s damage type. Starting at 10th level,
Copper – Slowing Breath. You exhale slowing gas in you instead have immunity and your allies have
a 15-foot cone. Each creature in the area must resistance to the damage type of your Energy
succeed on a Constitution saving throw versus your Resistance feature.
Draconic Breath DC. On a failed save the creature Resolve. You and your allies cannot be frightened. If
can’t use reactions, its speed is halved, and it can’t you or an ally are frightened when activating or
make more than one attack on its turn. In addition, entering the aura, the effect is suspended for the
the creature can use either an action or a bonus duration of the aura and while the ally remains within
action on its turn, but not both. These effects last for the aura.
one minute. The creature can repeat the saving
throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the Senses. You and your allies gain a bonus to Perception
effects on itself with a successful save. checks and Initiative equal to your Charisma
Gold – Weakening Breath. You exhale a strength- modifier.
sapping gas in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in the Toughness. When you and your allies suffer nonmagical
area must succeed on a Strength saving throw bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage, the
versus your Draconic Breath DC. On a failed save damage is reduced by an amount equal to your
the creature has disadvantage on Strength-based Charisma modifier.
attack rolls, Strength checks, and Strength saving
throws. These effects last for 1 minute. The creature Vigor. Allied creatures (including yourself) gain
can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its temporary hitpoints equal to your Charisma modifier
turns, ending the effects on itself with a successful at the start of their turn or the first time they enter the
save. aura on their turn. These temporary hit points last
Silver – Paralyzing Breath. You exhale paralyzing until they’re depleted or you finish a long rest.
gas in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in the area must
succeed on a Constitution saving throw versus your
Draconic Breath DC. On a failed save the creature is
paralyzed for one minute, but a creature can repeat
the saving throw at the end of each of its turns,
ending the paralysis with a successful save.
Alternate Starting Equipment
When you create a Dragon Shaman, you receive
equipment based on a combination of those available to
Dragon Shamans (as detailed at the beginning of this
class description) and your background. Alternatively,
you can start with a number of gold pieces, shown
below, and spend them on items from the lists in
Chapter 5 of the Player’s Handbook.
Starting Wealth for Dragon Shamans
Funds
3d4 x 10 gp
Multiclassing
When you advance in level, and at your DM’s discretion,
you may take the option to multiclass into a Dragon
Shaman. You must meet the following prerequisites to
qualify for a Dragon Shaman.
Multiclassing Prerequisites
Ability Score Minimum
Strength 13 and Charisma 13
Proficiences
When you first multiclass into Dragon Shaman, you
gain only some of the class’s starting proficiences as
shown below.
Proficiences Gained
Light armor, medium armor, shields, simple weapons, martial
weapons, one skill from the class’s skill list