"I am the living embodiment of our traditions. Warrior, Magus, there is no such title for me. By my steel or by my power, my foes will burn."
The duskblade blurs the line between spellcaster and warrior, marrying the power of magic with hand-to-hand combat prowess. A student of ancient elven spellcasting techniques, the duskblade combines arcane spellcasting with the combat skills of a fighter. While the ability to cast arcane spells in armor originated with the elves, over the millennia the secrets of the duskblade have been disseminated to the other races and today members of any race can become a duskblade.
Alignment: Most are Chaotic Good but can be any.
Hit Die: d8
Class Skills: (2 + Int modifier per level, ×4 at 1st level): Climb, Concentration, Craft, Decipher Script, Jump, Knowledge , Ride, Sense Motive, Spellcraft, Swim.
Duskblades are Literate (see Languages for details).
| Level | BAB | Fort Save | Reflex Save | Will Save | Special | 0 | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +1 | +2 | +0 | +2 | Arcane Attunement, Armored Mage(light) | 3 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2nd | +2 | +3 | +0 | +3 | Combat Casting | 4 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3rd | +3 | +3 | +1 | +3 | Arcane Channeling | 5 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 4th | +4 | +4 | +1 | +4 | Armored Mage(medium) | 6 | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 5th | +5 | +4 | +1 | +4 | Quick Cast 1/day | 6 | 5 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 6th | +6/+1 | +5 | +2 | +5 | Spell Power +2 | 6 | 6 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 7th | +7/+2 | +5 | +2 | +5 | Armored Mage(heavy shield) | 6 | 6 | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 8th | +8/+3 | +6 | +2 | +6 | - | 6 | 7 | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 9th | +9/+4 | +6 | +3 | +6 | - | 6 | 7 | 6 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 10th | +10/+5 | +7 | +3 | +7 | Quick Cast 2/day | 6 | 8 | 7 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 11th | +11/+6/+1 | +7 | +3 | +7 | Spell Power +3 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 12th | +12/+7/+2 | +8 | +4 | +8 | - | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 13th | +13/+8/+3 | +8 | +4 | +8 | Arcane Channeling (full attack) | 6 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 14th | +14/+9/+4 | +9 | +4 | +9 | - | 6 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 15th | +15/+10/+5 | +9 | +5 | +9 | Quick Cast 3/day | 6 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 16th | +16/+11/+6/+1 | +10 | +5 | +10 | Spell Power +4 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 17th | +17/+12/+7/+2 | +10 | +5 | +10 | - | 6 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| 18th | +18/+13/+8/+3 | +11 | +6 | +11 | Spell Power +5 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 3 | - | - | - | - |
| 19th | +19/+14/+9/+4 | +11 | +6 | +11 | - | 6 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 5 | - | - | - | - |
| 20th | +20/+15/+10/+5 | +12 | +6 | +12 | Quick Cast 4/day | 6 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 6 | - | - | - | - |
Class Features:
All of the following are class features of the wizard.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Weapon and Armor Profi ciency: Duskblades are proficient with all martial weapons, as well as all armors and shields (except tower shields).
Spells: You cast arcane spells, which are drawn from the duskblade spell list. You can cast any spell you know without preparing it ahead of time. To learn or cast a spell, you must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the spell level (Int 10 for 0-level spells, Int 11 for 1st-level spells, and so forth). The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against your spell is 10 + the spell level + your Int modifier. You begin play knowing two 0-level spells and two 1st-level spells, chosen from the duskblade spell list. You also know one additional 0-level spell for each point of Intelligence bonus. Each time you gain a new class level, you learn one additional spell of any level you can cast, chosen from the Duskblade Spells list. Duskblades also get bonus spells for high spellcasting attribute as normal, see: Bonus Spells
Arcane Attunement: You 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 + your Int modifier. These spell-like powers do not count against your total of spells known or spells per day.
Armored Mage: 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 you to avoid arcane spell failure so long as you stick to light armor and light shields. This training does not extend to medium or heavy armors, nor to heavy shields.
This ability does not apply to spells gained from a different spellcasting class.
- At 4th level, you learn to use medium armor with no chance of arcane spell failure.
- At 7th level, you learn to use a heavy shield with no chance of arcane spell failure.
Combat Casting: At 2nd level, you gain Combat Casting as a bonus feat.
Arcane Channeling: Beginning at 3rd level, you can use a standard action to cast any touch spell you know and deliver the spell through your weapon with a melee 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, you can cast any touch spell you know as part of a full attack action, and the spell affects each target you hit in melee combat that round. Doing so discharges the spell at the end of the round, in the case of a touch spell that would otherwise last longer than 1 round.
Quick Cast: Beginning at 5th level, you can cast one spell each day as a swift action, so long as the casting time of the spell is 1 standard action or less. You can use this ability twice per day at 10th level, three times per day at 15th level, and four times per day at 20th level.
Spell Power: Starting at 6th level, you can more easily overcome the spell resistance of any opponent you successfully injure with a melee attack. If you have injured an opponent with a melee attack, you gain a +2 bonus on your caster level check to overcome spell resistance for the remainder of the encounter. This bonus increases to +3 at 11th level, to +4 at 16th level, and to +5 at 18th level.
