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Planar Warden: An Archetype

Planar Warden: An Archetype

Planar Warden (Ranger Archetype)

In areas of the world where planar boundaries are thin, contact between the mortal races and extraplanar beings is commonplace. At times, this interaction is peaceful; at others, conflict the likes of which legends are made erupts. In these places, rangers are often called to mediate or, if necessary, eliminate threats from beyond. These rangers are planar wardens.

Warden Magic

Starting at 3rd level, you learn an additional spell when you reach certain levels in this class (see table below). The spell counts as a ranger spell for you, and it doesn’t count against the number of ranger spells you know.

Additionally, whenever a celestial, elemental, fey, or fiend makes a saving throw against your spells, add your Charisma modifier to the spell’s save DC.

Ranger Level Spells
3rd Protection from Evil and Good
5th See Invisibility
9th Protection from Energy
13th Banishment
17th Planar Binding

Mixed Martial Combat

Starting at 3rd level, you understand that many of the opponents you face are capable of closing great distances instantaneously by means of teleportation and other forms of dimensional travel. As such, you train to be a capable combatant up close and from afar.

You gain the following benefits:

  • You can use a ranged weapon while wielding a light melee weapon in one hand.
  • When you make an attack with either weapon wielded in this way, you can use a bonus action to make an attack with the other weapon.
  • Whenever you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, that creature does not impose disadvantage on ranged attacks made within 5 feet of it until the start of your next turn.

The UA Ranger

If you’re currently playing a ranger, add the following feature:

Extra Attack. Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

Unconventional Tactics

At 11th level, your knowledge of extraplanar beings and their capabilities gives you tactical advantages both on and off the field of battle.

You gain the following benefits:

A Way With Words. You have advantage on Charisma checks against celestials, elementals, fey, and fiends.

Expose Weakness. When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can use your reaction to take the Help action.

Pierce Resistance. When you hit a creature with a ranged weapon attack, you can use your reaction to choose one of cold, fire, or lightning. The next damage of the chosen type done to that creature ignores resistance to that type. This effect lasts until the start of your next turn.

Dimensional Strike

At 15th level, you’ve incorporated the fighting styles of planar beings into your own, allowing unprecedented mobility on the field of combat.

As an Action, you can expend a spell slot to teleport up to 10 feet per level of the expended spell slot. Then, you can make a number of weapon attacks equal to 1 plus half the level of the expended spell slot.

For even more player options, check out Midgard Heroes for 5th Edition.

3 thoughts on “Planar Warden: An Archetype”

  1. I like this ranger archetype concept a lot. Maybe I’m missing a key issue of balance here but I feel as though for an archetype built around the notion of teleportation as a combat technique, there is a striking lack of teleportation. It feels like misty step or dimension door belong in the expanded spell list.

    1. Adam Livingston

      I originally did have Misty Step and Dimension Door in the spell list for the Warden. However, I wanted combat teleportation to be one aspect of a more broad concept, rather than it being the whole concept itself.

      Having those spells available seemed to be putting too many eggs into one basket; teleportation overwhelmed the archetype. Plus they detracted from the coolness and impact of finally getting Dimensional Strike.

      Perhaps Horizon Walker needs a look for 5E, though…

      1. Horizon Walker got a UA treatment, and I believe is going to be in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything. I think the Planar Warden is in a good place to be a useful Ranger Archetype concept without stepping on the Horizon Walker’s toes.

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