Nightblades are fast and deadly, their blades slicing through enemies’ defenses—and throats—before they have time to react.
The nightblade is an archetype of the ninja class.
Archetype Main Ability Scores:
The nightblade mainly focuses on DEX for martial combat and CON and WIS for their class features.
Archetype Feature Replacements:
1st – Throw Anything. 2nd – Ninja Tricks. 4th – Ninja Trick. 6th – Ninja Trick. 8th – Ninja Trick. 10th – Ninja Trick. 12th – Master Trick. 14th – Master Trick. 16th – Master Trick. 18th – Master Trick. 20th – Master Trick.
Stamina Pool (Ex)
At 1st level, the nightblade gains a reservoir of stamina that he can draw upon to fuel his talents that he gains below. This stamina pool has a number of points equal to half his ninja level + his Constitution modifier (minimum 1). The pool refreshes once per day when the nightblade rests for a full 8 hours. Sustained modes take up a static amount of stamina points from the nightblade’s current and maximum stamina pool and most sustained modes stack.
Some talents are activated as a sustained mode. When activated, these talents both consume stamina and reduce the user’s maximum stamina by the listed amount. While active, they provide their listed bonuses until the user deactivates them as a free action, falls unconscious, or dies, at which point the reduction to the user’s maximum stamina is removed. Multiple sustained mode talents may be used at the same time as long as the user has enough stamina, though some talents may specify others that they cannot be used with.
By spending 1 stamina point as a swift action, the nightblade can do one of the following:
- Increase his speed by 10 feet for 1 round, or
- Delay and suppress his fatigue or exhaustion for 1 round, or
- Increase one saving throw by +1 for 1 round.
This ability replaces throw anything.
Talent Trees (Su)
The nightblade gets access to the dual weapon and double blades talent trees from below. At 2nd level and every two levels thereafter, the nightblade may choose to learn one talent or a ninja trick taken from the ninja’s trick list. The nightblade may pick up Extra Ninja Trick feats to select these talents. Weapon Requirement: Any manufactured two light melee weapons (not unarmed strikes).
Dual Weapon Specialization Talent Tree
- Dual-Weapon Finesse: As long as the nightblade has at least 1 stamina point in his stamina pool, when dual-wielding light weapons, he gains the benefit of the Weapon Finesse feat. In addition, while dual-wielding light weapons, he adds his Dexterity modifier instead of his Strength modifier to the damage roll. If any effect would prevent the nightblade from adding his Strength modifier to the damage roll, he does not add his Dexterity modifier.
- Dual-Weapon Expert: As long as the nightblade has at least 1 stamina point in his stamina pool, when dual-wielding light weapons, the penalties for any Two-Weapon Fighting feats are lessen by 1. In addition, successful attacks deal bleed damage equal to the nightblade’s Wisdom modifier. Prerequisite: Dual-Weapon Finesse.
- Dual Striking: As a swift action, the nightblade may activate this talent as a sustained mode. The nightblade doubles the amount of attacks he can do in a round while in this sustained mode. Dual Striking doesn’t double extra attacks gained through haste or any other similar effects that grants additional attacks except for Two-Weapon Fighting feats nor does it stack with any other class feature that doubles a number of attacks. He cannot make critical hits or deal precision damage, and Strength modifiers are halved (rounded down). This mode uses up 2 stamina points of the nightblade’s current and maximum stamina pool. Prerequisites: Dual-Weapon Finesse, Dual-Weapon Expert
- Flurry: At a cost of 1 stamina point, as a full-attack action, the nightblade can make one additional melee attack at his highest base attack bonus, but all such attacks receive a –2 penalty. This additional melee attack stacks with the bonus attacks from haste and other similar effects.
- Dual-Weapon Sweep: At a cost of 2 stamina points, as a standard action, the nightblade swings both of his weapons at his target, and hitting adjacent enemies within reach as well. The nightblade makes two attack rolls at each opponent that is within reach of the main target. Prerequisite: Flurry
- Whirlwind: At a cost of 2 stamina points, as a full-round action, the nightblade can strike all enemies adjacent to him with both of his weapons. The nightblade makes two attack rolls against every enemy adjacent to him. Can be used with Dual Striking. Prerequisites: Dual-Weapon Sweep, Flurry
- Twin Strikes: At a cost of 1 stamina point, as a standard action, the nightblade strikes at his opponent with both of his weapons, inflicting pain. The nightblade makes two attack rolls against his target. If successful, he deals double weapon damage with each attack.
- Low Blow: Twin Strikes also inflicts immobilized status unless the target makes a successful Fortitude save (DC 10 + half of the ninja’s level + his Wisdom modifier) for a number of rounds equal to his Wisdom modifier. Prerequisite: Twin Strikes
- Find Vitals: Twin Strikes now deals triple weapon damage with each attack and the critical hit range using Twin Strikes are increased by 2. This stacks with Improved Critical and similar abilities, but is calculated after all other modifiers. Prerequisites: Twin Strikes, Low Blow
- Unending Flurry: At a cost of 2 stamina points, as a swift action, the nightblade doubles his amount of attacks in the round against one target. If the target is affected by immobilize from Low Blow, all attacks gain a bonus equal to the nightblade’s Wisdom modifier. Cannot be used in conjunction with Dual Striking. Prerequisites: Twin Strikes, Low Blow, Find Vitals
Double Blades Specialization Talent Tree
- Flank Attack: At a cost of 2 stamina points, as a standard action, the nightblade jumps through the shadows and reappears behind a target within 30 feet. The nightblade makes a single attack with both weapons at his highest base attack bonus. The target is considered to be flat-footed to this attack.
- Bleeding Flanks: Flank Attack now deals bleed damage per round equal to the number of sneak attack dice used (if any) in the attack. Prerequisite: Flank Attack
- Skirmisher: As long as the nightblade has at least 1 stamina point in his stamina pool, after using Flank Attack, he may make an immediate Stealth check to become hidden. Prerequisites: Flank Attack, Bleeding Flanks
- Bloodied Prey: As long as the nightblade has at least 1 stamina point in his stamina pool, wounded enemies allow him to do an extra 1d6 precision damage on successful attacks. Prerequisite: Flank Attack
- Parry: At a cost of 2 stamina points, as an immediate action, the nightblade can negate a melee attack by rolling an opposed attack roll, DC = the opponent’s attack roll. He must have a melee weapon in hand, and he must be aware of his foe and not flat-footed.
- Riposte: Parry now allows the nightblade to make a counterattack. If successful in parrying an attack, he can make a single attack at his highest base attack bonus against the enemy that he parried. Prerequisite: Parry
- Effortless Riposte: If Parry was successful in parrying an attack, the stamina cost is reduced by half. Prerequisites: Parry, Riposte
- Dance of Death: As long as the nightblade has at least 1 stamina point in his stamina pool, each time he fells an enemy, the thrill of victory restores a larger than normal portion of the nightblade’s stamina. The nightblade gains a stamina point for every enemy death. Prerequisites: Flank Attack, Bloodied Prey
- Unforgiving Chain: As a swift action, the nightblade may activate this talent as a sustained mode. Each successful attack now increases critical hit range by 1 until a critical hit is rolled, then it resets. This bonus is applied after Improved Critical or Keen effects, but otherwise stacks. This mode uses up 2 stamina points of the nightblade’s current and maximum stamina pool. Prerequisites: Flank Attack, Bloodied Prey, Dance of Death
- Sneaky Attacks: As long as the nightblade has at least 1 stamina point in his stamina pool, when he makes sneak attacks against enemies, the critical hit range of his weapons are increased by 2. This stacks with Improved Critical and similar abilities, but is calculated after all other modifiers. Prerequisites: Flank Attack, Dance of Death, Bloodied Prey, Unforgiving Chain
These abilities may replace ninja tricks.
