Kinetic Drifter

A Martial Archetype for the Fighter Class

A Dexterity-based Fighter Martial Archetype who can quickly navigate the battlefield and is
rewarded with magic ranged weapon attacks for successfully attacking enemies.

Inspired by the main character of the Heart Machine game, Hyper Light Drifter, and the Gunslinger
Fighter Martial archetype by Matthew Mercer

The kinetic drifter can quickly but hazardously skirt around and among their
enemies. They gain their arcane bestowed kinetic charge by striking their
foes, which they use to conjure and fire their arcane kinetic arms. These
kinetic arms have a variety of different abilities allowing the Kinetic Drifter to
make a puzzle of the enemies on the battlefield.

by Matthew R. Gemmell

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Drift
Starting when you pick this archetype at 3rd level
you can drift as an action, bonus action or a reaction.
A drift can be taken as a reaction to any attack.
With a loud whoosh you move in a straight line in
any direction at a distance of 20 feet in an incredible
short burst of arcane speed. This can be used to dash
over gaps as long as you start and end on a surface.
You cannot dash up into the air if you don’t have a fly
speed.
During a drift:
• Enemies have disadvantage on attacks against you.
• You have advantage against area of effect attacks
with dexterity saves (e.g. fireball) if you are no
longer in the area of effect at the end of your drift.
If you make the save you receive none of the
effects of the attack.
• If you cross paths with an object or creature that is
one size smaller than you or larger during your
dash you immediately stop and fall prone. The
creature or object is unaffected.
• The effect of rough terrain on a drift is
circumstantial and decided by the DM.
You cannot drift if:
• You are in armour you are not proficient in
• You cannot normally move e.g. if you are
restrained.
• You don’t have normal movement speed in your
current situation, i.e. you cannot dash underwater
if you don’t have a swim speed.
Max Kinetic Charge
Starting at level 3 you gain a max kinetic charge of 6
plus your Wisdom modifier. Kinetic Charge is gained
by attacking enemies. You gain 1 kinetic charge per
successful melee weapon attack. Your current
kinetic charge amount is not affected by short or
long rests.
Kinetic Arms
Also starting at 3rd level you become proficient with
Kinetic arms and can conjure and use Kinetic arms.
Kinetic arms are the arcane manifestation of a
fighter's skill. You must have one hand free to
conjure a kinetic arm, which you can do so as part of
the attack action.
You have ready access to a certain amount of kinetic
arms based on your fighter level.
• At 3rd level you gain the ability to equip one tier 1
Kinetic arm.
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• Additionally at 7th level you gain the ability to
equip two tier 2 Kinetic arms.
• At 10th level you gain the ability to use the
Alternative Attack of your kinetic arms.
Your equipped Kinetic arms can be changed after a
long rest.
Kinetic arms are a part of you and are dispelled if
they leave your grasp or if you become unconscious
or die. Kinetic arms are arcane and are dispelled by
antimagic effects such as the Dispel Magic spell or a
Beholder’s anitmagic cone. The user can dispel
kinetic arms at will.
Kinetic hands
Starting at level 7, you can use your kinetic arms
even if you have no hands free. When you conjure
your kinetic arms you may also conjure arcane
hands as part of the same conjuration. You control
the hands, which will hold and use the kinetic arms.
These arcane hands are dispelled when the weapons
are dispelled and they cannot leave your space. The
arcane hands can only interact with your Kinetic
arms.
Quick drift
Starting at level 10, you can perform 1 drift action
before initiative is rolled in an encounter if you are
not surprised. If you roll a natural 20 for initiative
you may drift once more. These drifts do not count
towards your available actions during your first turn
or the ability to carry out a reaction during the first
round of combat.
Lightning recharge
Starting at 15th level, you can recharge any Kinetic
arm as a bonus action.
Kinetic charge increase
Starting at 15th level, you gain 2 kinetic charges per
successful melee weapon attack.
Controlled drift
By 18th level you have mastered your drifting
abilities. Instead of taking one 20ft drift you can take
2 consecutive 10ft drifts instead. The second of these
drifts can be no more than a 90 degrees turn
compared to the first.
Increased Max Kinetic Charge
At level 18 your maximum kinetic charge is 12 plus
your wisdom modifier.
Kinetic Drifter 2
Kinetic Arms Properties Piercing. If the attack hits you make an attack roll
Due to their arcane nature Kinetic Arms have against every creature in a line directly behind the
various properties. Some properties are followed by target within the normal range.
a number, which indicates an element of the Water. This has none of the normal disadvantages
property (outlined below). for ranged weapons underwater.
Kinetic Arms act as Magic Ranged Weapons. Pinning. If a creature of large or smaller size is
Charge. The Charge score indicates how much successfully hit and there is a suitable object behind
Kinetic Charge needs to be spent per weapon attack. them they become grappled as they are pinned to
Recharge. Once an attack is made with the the object. To escape they must make a strength
weapon no Kinetic Arms can be used till your next saving of DC 8 + your proficiency modifier + your
turn. Dexterity modifier. They can make this save as an
Charging. The weapon's attack takes two attack action on their turn.
actions but only one attack roll. You cannot use the Siege. The weapon does double damage against
weapon during a reaction. objects and structures.
Scatter. An attack is made against each creature Gattling. If the weapon is used in consecutive
within a cone designated by the max range. These attacks on the same turn the amount of damage dice
attacks are simultaneous. There is no disadvantage used for damage is increased. On the second
for enemies 5 feet away who take full damage. consecutive attack the amount of damage dice are
Enemies between 10 feet and normal range take doubled, on the third and above the amount of
quarter damage, enemies between normal and long damage dice are quadrupled i.e. 1,2,4,4,4 etc.. This
range take one-eighth damage. increase occurs whether the attack rolls are
A scatter attack can give no more 100% damage successful or not.
total across the enemies it hits. The closest enemies
have the highest damage priority. The DM decides
this after all attack rolls.
Kinetic arms
Weapon Tier Primary Attack Alternative Attack
Damage Range Properties Damage Range Properties
Kinetic Pistol 1 1d6 piercing (30/60) Charge 1 3d6 bludgeoning (20/40) Charge 2
Blue Fire 1 1d6 fire (15/30) Charge 2, 1d6 ice (20/40) Charge 2,
Scatter Piercing
Bittersweet 1 1d8 radiant (10/20) Charge 2 1d8 necrotic (10/20) Charge 2
Shotgun 2 5d6 piercing (10/20) Charge 3, 4d6 piercing (15/30) Charge 3,
Recharge, Recharge,
Scatter Scatter
Rail Gun 2 2d6 piercing (30/60) Charge 2, 7d6 piercing (30/60) Charge 4,
Recharge, Recharge,
Piercing Charging,
Piercing
Spear Gun 2 1d8 piercing (30/60) Charge 2, 2d8 piercing (45/60) Charge 4,
Pinning Pinning
Cannon 2 4d10 bludgeoning (60/120) Charge 6, 1d8 force and 1d8 (45/60) Charge 3,
Recharge, thunder Recharge 1,
Charging, Charging,
Siege Scatter
Gattling Blaster 2 1d8 force (30/120) Charge 2, 5d12 force (60/120) Charge 6,
Gattling Recharge,
Charging

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