Eldritch Knight
Description
Studying the martial and arcane arts to equal degree, the eldritch knight is a versatile combatant who can cast a fireball on her foes or charge them with sword drawn. The eldritch knight takes pride in her ability to use the right technique for the job: spells against physically tough foes and force of arms against spellcasting enemies.
Eldritch knights split their time between physical training to become better soldiers and arcane study to learn more powerful spells. They tend to be driven individuals, because simultaneously perfecting their spellcasting and combat prowess requires immense time and effort. Eldritch knights are never truly at home among arcane spellcasters or elite soldiers, so many drift from wizard school to mercenary unit to band of adventurers.
Every would-be eldritch knight must demonstrate both skill with a broad array of weapons and mastery of the basics of arcane spellcasting. Thus, almost all eldritch knights are multiclass characters already, with fighter/wizard the most common combination. A few eldritch knights were once bards, and even paladin/sorcerers aren't unheard of.
Eldritch knights can be found wherever there's a good fight or the promise of arcane lore. They find higher level fighters and wizards particularly interesting, and some eldritch knights apprentice themselves for a time to learn the finer points of arcane technique or weapons prowess.
Requirements
Feats: Weapon Proficiency (Martial)
Spellcasting: Able to cast 3rd-level arcane spells
Class Features
| Hit die: d6 |
| Proficiencies: None |
| Skill points: 2 + Int modifier |
| Class skills: Athletics, Concentration, Linguistics, Lore: Arcana, Lore: Local, Lore: Nobility and Royalty, Parry, Sense Motive, Spellcraft |
| Base attack bonus progression: High |
| Saving throws | high: | Fortitude |
| low: | Will, Reflex |
Class Progression
| Level | Features Gained |
|---|---|
| 1 | Combat casting, Skill Focus (Concentration) |
| 2 | +1 arcane spellcasting level |
| 3 | +1 arcane spellcasting level |
| 4 | +1 arcane spellcasting level |
| 5 | +1 arcane spellcasting level |
| 6 | +1 arcane spellcasting level |
| 7 | +1 arcane spellcasting level |
| 8 | +1 arcane spellcasting level |
| 9 | +1 arcane spellcasting level |
| 10 | +1 arcane spellcasting level |
Bonus Feats
The eldritch knight gains Combat Casting and Skill Focus (Concentration) at first level.
Arcane Spellcasting
At each level (except 1st level), an eldritch knight gains new spells per day, plus another effective casting level, as if they progressed in an arcane spellcasting class that they had prior to becoming an eldritch knight. If a character has multiple arcane spellcasting classes when becoming an eldritch knight, they must choose which arcane spellcasting class will benefit from all levels of eldritch knight.