Blackguard

A Blackguard epitomizes evil. They are nothing short of a mortal fiend, a black knight with the foulest sort of reputation. Many refer to Blackguards as anti-paladins due to their completely corrupted nature. No one class makes the best Blackguard, all that is required is a willingness to serve the forces of hell.

Properties

• Hit Die: d10.
• AB Progression: High.
• Primary Save: Fortitude.
• Skill Points: 3 + Int Modifier.
• Class Skills: Intimidate, Knowledge, Parry, Perception, Ride.

Requirements

• Alignment: Lawful or Neutral Evil.
• Base Attack Bonus: +5.
• Feats: Great Cleave.
• Skills: Intimidate 4.

Progression

Available

Lvl	BAB	Saves			Feats	HP range	Sneak attack
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	+1	+2	+0	+0	Dirty Fighting, Apply Poison	10±CON Modifier	-
2nd	+2	+3	+0	+0	Smite Good, Foul Touch	20±CON Modifier	-
3rd	+3	+3	+1	+1	Dark Blessing, Evil Presence	30±CON Modifier	-

Not Accessible

Lvl	BAB	Saves			Feats	HP range	Sneak attack
		Fort	Ref	Will
4th	+4	+4	+1	+1	Low Blow I, Souldrinker	40±CON Modifier	1d6
5th	+5	+4	+1	+1	Summon Fiend	50±CON Modifier	1d6

Feats

• Dirty Fighting - This combat mode can be activated to deal +1d4 damage on attacks, at the cost of making only one attack per round.
• Apply Poison - The Blackguard can apply poisons safely.
• Smite Good - 3x/day, the Blackguard makes an attack with a bonus to AB equal to their CHA modifier and a bonus to damage equal to their Blackguard level, if the victim is of Good alignment.
• Foul Touch - WIS times/day, make a melee touch attack. If successful, the target suffers 2d8 Negative damage and must save vs Disease.
• Dark Blessing - The Blackguard gains a saving throw bonus or penalty equal to their CHA modifier.
• Evil Presence - Once/day, the character can activate a large aura for 3 turns per level of Blackguard. Evil creatures inside the area gain +2 AB, whilst Good creatures suffer -2 AB.
• Low Blow - This ability is similar to the Rogue's Sneak Attack ability.
• Souldrinker - Once/day for 15 turns, the Blackguard's weapon gains Vampiric Regeneration 2.
• Summon Fiend - Once/day, the Blackguard can summon a devil to do their bidding.

Class Route to Prestige

This assumes the character has only a single class to meet the requirements and is non-human before taking the prestige class (PrC). Human characters will have greater flexibility in regards to feat progression due to the extra feat granted at character creation by their racial bonus, Quick to Master. Some class routes to prestige may also favour multi-classing in order to more effectively meet pre-requisites or to better synergise the character's skill set to suit the PrC, however caution is advised as most PrCs have strict skill requirements and the wrong combination of classes (due to cross-classing of skills) may result in further delaying and reducing the levels of a prestige class obtainable or render it entirely unobtainable for the character.

Base Class	Minimum Base Class Level	Maximum Prestige Class Level	Intimidate	Cleave	Great Cleave
Barbarian	5th Level	3rd Level	1st Level	Automatically granted at 3rd Level	3rd Level
Bard	7th Level	1st Level	1st Level	1st Level	3rd Level
Druid	7th Level	1st Level	5th Level	1st Level	3rd Level
Fighter	5th Level	3rd Level	1st Level	1st Level	3rd Level
Monk	6th Level	2nd Level	5th Level	Automatically granted at 2nd Level	3rd Level
Paladin	5th Level	3rd Level	5th Level	1st Level	3rd Level
Priest	7th Level	1st Level	5th Level	1st Level	3rd Level
Ranger	5th Level	3rd Level	5th Level	1st Level	3rd Level
Rogue	7th Level	1st Level	5th Level	1st Level	3rd Level

Notes

All prestige classes require a PC to met the real (unmodified) rank of a skill, refer to Skills for clarification, in order to progress into the prestige class.