Oath of the Heretic (5e Subclass)
Oath of the Heretic
Paladins who swear the Oath of the Heretic reject the rigid doctrines of the gods and their servants, embracing forbidden knowledge and forging their own path to power. They are seen as apostates, rebels, or visionaries who challenge divine authority, often wielding magic and abilities that defy the sacred laws of traditional faiths.
Tenets of the Heretic
A paladin who follows this path does not adhere to conventional codes of honor, but instead embraces these tenets:
Defy the Divine. No god dictates your fate. You forge your own path and reject servitude to celestial forces.
Truth Above Dogma. Seek knowledge, even if it is forbidden. Do not let blind faith chain your mind.
Power is Earned. Strength comes not from divine favor, but from will, sacrifice, and understanding.
Break the Chains. Challenge the institutions that use faith as a tool of oppression. Free others from imposed beliefs.
Channel Divinity
When you take this oath at 3rd level, you gain the following Channel Divinity options:
Profane Rebuke. As a reaction when a creature within 30 feet damages you, you can use your Channel Divinity to curse them with eldritch backlash. The creature takes psychic damage equal to your paladin level + your Charisma modifier and has disadvantage on their next attack roll or saving throw before the end of their next turn.
Unshackled Mind. You can use your Channel Divinity to break the chains of influence. As an action, you end one effect on yourself or an ally within 30 feet that is charming, frightening, or possessing them. Alternatively, you can attempt to suppress a divine spell or effect for 1 minute, causing the caster to make a spellcasting ability check against your spell save DC; on a failure, the effect is nullified for the duration.
Aura of Defiance
At 7th level, you and allies within 10 feet gain resistance to radiant and psychic damage, as well as advantage on saving throws against divine spells and effects (such as cleric spells, celestial abilities, and divine smites). At 18th level, the aura extends to 30 feet.
Apostate’s Resilience
At 15th level, you have become adept at resisting divine retribution. You gain immunity to being charmed or frightened by celestials, fiends, or undead. Additionally, when you succeed on a saving throw against a spell cast by a divine spellcaster, you can regain hit points equal to half your paladin level.
Unbound Avatar
At 20th level, you fully embody the strength of the heretic, transcending mortal and divine constraints. As an action, you enter a state of unshackled power for 1 minute, gaining the following benefits:
You gain resistance to all damage except force.
When you hit with a melee weapon attack, the target takes extra psychic or necrotic damage (your choice) equal to your Charisma modifier.
You can cast Counterspell once per turn as a reaction without expending a spell slot.
If a celestial, fiend, or cleric targets you with a spell, they must make a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC or suffer disadvantage on all attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws until the end of their next turn.
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