Archetypes (Sword Saint)

Table: Sword Saint Archetypes

Archetype	Prerequisites	Description
Ace Striker	—	Agile and fleet of foot, these swordsman dances around their foes with unparalleled acrobatics to get the jump on their enemies. Their style of swordplay focuses on quick hits to disorient foes and leave them wandering where the swordsman will strike next.
Biskmatar	—	The world is full of dangerous magic, and many recoil in the face of such power. The biskmatar, by contrast, learns to recognize and resist certain types of magic, wading through waves of magic to reach her foes.
Blade Adept	—	A select group of sword saints are called to carry a rakshasa blade—a sentient weapon of often unknown and possibly unknowable purpose. These weapons become valuable tools and allies, as both the sword saint and weapon typically crave power, but as a rakshasa blade becomes more aware, its true motivations manifest, and as does its ability to influence its wielder with its ever-increasing ego.
Bladedancer	—	Swift and fearless on the battlefield, bladedancers are an exceptional kind of sword saint that forgo the safety of armor in order to instead be more mobile as they hit their targets with lightning fast speed.
Blademaster	—	Masters of the sword, these wandering swordsmen learn to focus their blade into precise and powerful strikes to take on armies. Rather than lead his allies’ midfield, he fights where the fighting is thickest. When not in war, these warriors wander aimlessly looking for a fierce challenge, ever honing their blade skills to perfection.
Heritor	—	Heritors are master swordsman that rely on the bound with their weapon and pure instinct to push themselves through the heat of combat and life it self.
Saint	—	Saints hail from lands where warriors are prevalent, and are often people who wander the world seeking new challenges to perfect their intricate style of swordplay.
Swordsman	—	A warrior of the sword. A swordsman focuses on unleashing the true potential in his swordplays and using his warrior spirit to fuel his skills and perfecting the style. Instead of learning to lead others, he instead focuses purely on his skill with swords.
Sworn Protector	Immortal	Some immortals take up the defense of a sole person, and protect them above all others. Be they hired, inspired, or simply forced into it, a sworn protector sword saint is known for devotion and service to their chosen ward. These sworn protectors are highly valued, as they are quite skilled and effective at deterring threats.
Thunder God	—	Sword saints who walk in the tempest unafraid, draw the power of the storm into themselves and become Thunder Gods.

Non-FF Archetypes

The following archetypes are based off of pop-culture references outside of Final Fantasy and may not fit within the theming of your campaign. Consult your DM before using them.

Table: Non-FF Sword Saint Archetypes

Archetype	Prerequisites	Description	Reference
Sword Captain	—	The sword captain is a warrior who has the knowledge to wield most swords in existence. they use mystical techniques long thought lost to the world to summon physical manifestations of swords to hinder foes from afar.	Blade-N-Soul
Unbending Blade	—	These warriors walk onto any battlefield, blade in hand, and devastate their foes with sheer force and skill. Other swordsmen may opt for flashy techniques, but unbending blades fight for the skill of it, using their swords in a more physical manner to become unmatched on the battlefield. A single unbending blade is known to fight like a score of men, and those are met with their challenge and think they can best them swiftly meet their end.	Olberic (Octopath Traveler)
Warmonger	—	The warmonger is a confident adversary, well-versed in taunting foes, cutting through them, and sending them to the dirt in a bloody heap. Warmongers are also experts in controlling enemy aggression, possessing abilities that draw foes toward them and that, through daze effects, cause enemies to forget who they were fighting.	Dragon Age Origins