Guide to Blood Hunter 5e: Order of the Lycan
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Time to read 12 min
Are you ready to embrace your wild side? Look no further than the Blood Hunter 5e and its feral Order of the Lycan. In this guide, we will delve deep into the secrets of this primal subclass and explore its unique abilities. The Order of the Lycan allows Blood Hunters to tap into their inner animalistic nature, transforming into half-human, half-wolf hybrids. With heightened senses, razor-sharp claws, and powerful bite attacks, these ferocious warriors become fearsome foes on the battlefield. But going feral is not without its challenges. As a Blood Hunter, you must manage the delicate balance between your animal instincts and your humanity. The path of the Lycan is a double-edged sword, granting you incredible strength and agility, but also risking losing control to your primal urges. Join us as we navigate the wilds of the Blood Hunter's Order of the Lycan. From character creation to combat strategies, we'll guide you through every step of the transformation. Get ready to howl at the moon and claim your place as the ultimate predator in the world of Dungeons and Dragons.
Overview of Blood Hunter 5e
The Blood Hunter 5e is a unique class introduced in Matthew Mercer's "Critical Role" campaign. It offers players a chance to embrace their darker side and tap into the power of blood magic. The class specializes in hunting down supernatural threats and is known for its versatility and adaptability.
The Blood Hunter 5e can choose from several Orders, each with their own unique abilities and playstyles. One of the most enticing options is the Order of the Lycan. This subclass allows Blood Hunters to tap into their inner animalistic nature, transforming into fearsome half-human, half-wolf hybrids.
Hit Points
Hit Dice: 1d10 per blood hunter level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + your Constitution modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your Constitution modifier per blood hunter level after 1st
Proficiencies
Armor: Light armor, medium armor, shields
Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons
Tools: Alchemist’s supplies
Saving Throws: Dexterity, Intelligence
Skills: Choose three from Acrobatics , Arcana , Athletics , History , Insight , Investigation , Religion , and Survival
Level |
Proficiency |
Hemocraft |
Features Known |
Blood Curses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1st |
+2 |
1d4 |
Hunter's Bane , Blood Maledict |
1 |
2nd |
+2 |
1d4 |
Fighting Style , Crimson Rite |
1 |
3rd |
+2 |
1d4 |
Blood Hunter Order |
1 |
4th |
+2 |
1d4 |
Ability Score Improvement |
1 |
5th |
+3 |
1d6 |
Extra Attack |
1 |
6th |
+3 |
1d6 |
Brand of Castigation , Blood Maledict improvement |
2 |
7th |
+3 |
1d6 |
Blood Hunter Order feature, Crimson Rite improvement |
2 |
8th |
+3 |
1d6 |
Ability Score Improvement |
2 |
9th |
+4 |
1d6 |
Grim Psychometry |
2 |
10th |
+4 |
1d6 |
Dark Augmentation |
3 |
11th |
+4 |
1d8 |
Blood Hunter Order feature |
3 |
12th |
+4 |
1d8 |
Ability Score Improvement |
3 |
13th |
+5 |
1d8 |
Brand of Tethering , Blood Maledict improvement |
3 |
14th |
+5 |
1d8 |
Hardened Soul , Crimson Rite improvement |
4 |
15th |
+5 |
1d8 |
Blood Hunter Order feature |
4 |
16th |
+5 |
1d8 |
Ability Score Improvement |
4 |
17th |
+6 |
1d10 |
Blood Maledict improvement |
4 |
18th |
+6 |
1d10 |
Blood Hunter Order feature |
5 |
19th |
+6 |
1d10 |
Ability Score Improvement |
5 |
20th |
+6 |
1d10 |
Sanguine Mastery |
5 |
Understanding the Mechanics of Blood Hunter 5e
Before diving into the Order of the Lycan, it's important to have a solid understanding of the mechanics of the Blood Hunter 5e class. The class is a combination of martial prowess and blood magic, making it a potent force on the battlefield.
Blood Hunters rely on their Crimson Rite ability to infuse their weapons with elemental damage at the cost of their own hit points. This unique feature allows them to deal significant damage, but also requires careful resource management.
In addition to their Crimson Rite, Blood Hunters have access to a variety of Hunter's Bane features that grant them bonuses against specific creature types. These features make the class highly adaptable and effective against a wide range of enemies.
Strengths
Versatility in Combat: Blood Hunter 5e are designed to adapt to various combat situations. Their ability to choose different Blood Curses and the mutagens they craft allows them to tailor their approach to specific enemies or challenges.
Powerful Damage Output: Through the use of their Crimson Rite feature, Blood Hunter 5e can add additional damage of a chosen type to their weapon attacks at the cost of their own health. This ability scales with their level, leading to significant damage potential.
Monster Knowledge: Blood Hunter 5e excel in their knowledge of monsters, often gaining bonuses to tracking and identifying creatures that other classes might not have. This makes them invaluable in campaigns heavily featuring monsters and supernatural threats.
Self-Sufficiency: With abilities focusing on self-empowerment and resilience, Blood Hunter 5e can operate effectively without heavy reliance on other party members. Their skills and abilities allow them to heal themselves, remove curses, and deal with various afflictions.
Unique Roleplaying Opportunities: The Blood Hunter 5e thematic focus on sacrifice, darkness, and hunting evil creates rich opportunities for character development and storytelling. The class encourages complex moral dilemmas and personal quests.
Weaknesses
Self-Damage: Many of the Blood Hunter’s abilities, including their core feature, Crimson Rite, cost them hit points to use. This self-inflicted damage makes them more vulnerable, especially in prolonged or multiple encounters.
Lack of Heavy Armor: Typically, Blood Hunters don’t have access to heavy armor, which can make them less durable in direct melee combat than some other martial classes like Fighters or Paladins.
Resource Management: Managing the use of Blood Curses, Crimson Rite, and mutagens requires careful thought and planning. Mismanagement can lead to decreased effectiveness or unnecessary self-harm.
Dependency on Short and Long Rests: Many of a Blood Hunter’s abilities reset on short or long rests. In campaigns where rest opportunities are limited, this can significantly hamper their staying power and effectiveness over time.
Specialized Focus: While their focus on hunting monsters and dealing with supernatural threats is a strength in certain campaigns, it can also be a weakness in adventures where such elements are minimal or secondary, potentially making some of their abilities feel less impactful.
You may just be a mutant Blood Hunter 5e
Step-by-Step Guide on Creating a Feral Blood Hunter 5e
Creating a feral Blood Hunter 5e is an exciting process that allows you to tap into your animalistic nature. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you create the perfect feral Blood Hunter for your campaign:
1. Choose the Order of the Lycan: The first step is to select the Order of the Lycan as your subclass. This choice will define your character's transformation abilities and playstyle.
2. Determine Ability Scores: Next, allocate your ability scores to reflect your character's strengths and weaknesses. For a feral Blood Hunter 5e , prioritize Strength and Dexterity to maximize your combat prowess.
3. Select Proficiencies: Choose your proficiencies based on your character concept. Consider skills like Athletics and Survival to reflect your primal instincts.
4. Choose Equipment: Select your starting equipment, focusing on weapons that complement your feral playstyle. Consider weapons that deal slashing or piercing damage, like a longsword or a rapier.
5. Determine Background: Decide on your character's background, keeping in mind their backstory and how it ties into their feral nature. Backgrounds like Outlander or Hermit can be fitting choices.
6. Personalize Your Character: Once the mechanical aspects are complete, add flavor to your character. Give them a unique appearance, personality traits, and a backstory that explains their connection to the Order of the Lycan.
Tips for Optimizing Your Feral Blood Hunter 5e Build
To make the most out of your feral Blood Hunter build, consider the following tips:
1. Maximize Physical Attributes: As a feral Blood Hunter 5e , your strength, dexterity, and constitution are essential. Focus on increasing these attributes to enhance your combat abilities and survivability.
2. Choose the Right Feats: Feats can greatly enhance your character's capabilities. Consider feats like Mobile or Savage Attacker to further augment your damage output and mobility.
3. Utilize Blood Maledicts: Blood Maledicts are unique spells that allow Blood Hunters to manipulate their own blood to gain advantages in combat. Experiment with different Maledicts to find the ones that best suit your playstyle.
4. Coordinate with Your Party: Communication and teamwork are vital for any successful campaign. Coordinate with your party members to maximize your effectiveness in combat and roleplaying scenarios.
5. Embrace the Roleplaying Opportunities: Playing a feral Blood Hunter opens up exciting roleplaying opportunities. Embrace your character's animalistic nature and explore the challenges of maintaining control over your primal urges.
Strategies for Roleplaying a Feral Blood Hunter 5e
Roleplaying a feral Blood Hunter 5e can be a rewarding experience. Here are some strategies to help you fully embody your character:
1. Emphasize Your Animalistic Traits: Focus on describing your character's heightened senses, feral movements, and instinctual reactions. Paint a vivid picture of your character's wild nature.
2. Struggle with Control: Explore the internal struggle between your character's human side and their animalistic instincts. Roleplay moments of temptation and the constant battle to maintain control.
3. Develop a Pack Mentality: Consider how your character interacts with others and how their feral nature influences their relationships. Are they protective and loyal like a wolf pack, or territorial and aggressive?
4. Lean into the Beast Within: Embrace the ferocity and brutality of your character's feral form. Roleplay moments of primal rage and unleash your inner beast when the situation calls for it.
Notable Abilities and Features of the Blood Hunter 5e
As a feral Blood Hunter 5e , you have access to several notable abilities and features that set you apart from other subclasses. Here are a few of them:
1. Hybrid Transformation: This ability allows you to transform into a hybrid form, gaining enhanced physical attributes, natural weapons, and resistance to damage. Embrace your inner wolf and unleash your animalistic power.
2. Bloodlust: Bloodlust allows you to regain hit points when you reduce a creature to 0 hit points or score a critical hit. This ability reflects your character's predatory nature and rewards you for taking down your foes.
3. Crimson Rite: This class feature allows you to imbue your weapons with elemental damage, enhancing your attacks. Choose the right element that aligns with your character's theme and playstyle.
4. Sanguine Mastery: At higher levels, you gain access to powerful abilities like the ability to transform into a full wolf, gaining even greater physical attributes and additional features. Embrace the true power of the Lycan.
Common Misconceptions about Playing a Feral Blood Hunter 5e
There are a few common misconceptions about playing a feral Blood Hunter 5e. Let's address them:
1. Loss of Control: While the feral Blood Hunter 5e has the potential to lose control to their primal urges, it is up to the player to decide how much influence their character's animalistic side has. You can choose to explore the struggle for control or maintain a balance between your human and wolf forms.
2. Limited Roleplaying Options: Some players may assume that a feral Blood Hunter 5e is limited to a one-dimensional character concept. However, there is plenty of room for depth and complexity in exploring the duality of your character's nature.
3. Overpowered in Combat: While feral Blood Hunter 5e have potent combat abilities, they are not invincible. Like any class, their effectiveness depends on the player's tactical decisions and the challenges presented by the Dungeon Master.
Conclusion
The Order of the Lycan offers Blood Hunters the opportunity to tap into their primal nature and become fearsome hybrids on the battlefield. By following this guide, you can create a feral Blood Hunter that embodies the raw power and untamed spirit of the Lycan. Embrace your wild side, navigate the complexities of your transformation, and howl at the moon as the ultimate predator in the world of Dungeons and Dragons.
Can Blood Hunters be played in official D&D settings?
While not part of the official D&D rulebooks, Blood Hunters can be integrated into any D&D setting with the DM’s permission. The class's themes are flexible enough to fit into the lore of settings like Faerûn, Eberron, or custom worlds created by the DM.
what book has blood hunter 5e
As of my last update in April 2023, the Blood Hunter class for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, created by Matthew Mercer, is not included in any official D&D sourcebooks published by Wizards of the Coast. Instead, it was made available through third-party platforms such as D&D Beyond and Mercer's own materials.
The Blood Hunter class has undergone several revisions since its initial release. The most updated version is often found on D&D Beyond, where Matthew Mercer has published it as a homebrew class for players and Dungeon Masters to incorporate into their games. Since it's considered homebrew, it's important to get approval from your Dungeon Master before creating a Blood Hunter character for your campaign.
For the latest version and any potential updates or changes, checking D&D Beyond or sources directly associated with Matthew Mercer or Critical Role is recommended. Keep in mind that because it's a homebrew class, its availability or version might change, and it might not be included in traditional print materials or books that compile official D&D rules and classes.
What is a Blood Hunter 5e?
A Blood Hunter is a martial class in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, created by Matthew Mercer. It combines elements of dark fantasy with a focus on monster hunting. Blood Hunters use forbidden rites and their own blood to empower themselves, taking on great risks for greater rewards.
How does the Crimson Rite feature work?
The Crimson Rite allows a Blood Hunter to imbue their weapon with elemental energy at the cost of their own health. When activated, the player reduces their maximum hit points by a specified amount, and in return, their weapon deals extra damage of a chosen elemental type with each hit. This effect lasts until a short or long rest, or if the weapon leaves the Blood Hunter’s hand.
Can Blood Hunters cast spells?
Depending on the subclass chosen, Blood Hunters can gain access to spellcasting. For example, the Order of the Profane Soul subclass allows a Blood Hunter to cast spells and cantrips from a specific list, similar to a Warlock, including the ability to bind with a lesser patron for additional powers.
Are Blood Hunters good for beginners?
Blood Hunters are considered more complex than some other classes due to their unique mechanics of self-harm for power boosts and the strategic use of their abilities. They are recommended for players who have some experience with D&D and are comfortable managing resources and risks.
How do I choose a Blood Hunter Order?
Choosing a Blood Hunter Order depends on your preferred playstyle:
- Order of the Ghostslayer: Focuses on fighting undead and ethereal creatures, with abilities to deal radiant damage and pass through objects.
- Order of the Profane Soul: Combines martial prowess with limited spellcasting, ideal for players who want a mix of combat and magic.
- Order of the Mutant: Offers various mutagens that can enhance physical and mental abilities at a cost, suited for those who enjoy customization and versatility.
- Order of the Lycan: Provides werewolf-like abilities, enhancing physical combat and resilience, best for players who want to excel in melee and are willing to manage the risk of losing control.
What races work well with Blood Hunter?
Races that offer bonuses to Dexterity, Strength, or Constitution are typically beneficial for Blood Hunters, considering their reliance on physical combat and the self-damage from their abilities. Examples include Humans (for versatility), Half-Orcs (for resilience), and Dwarves (for durability). However, character concept and role-playing goals should also guide race selection.
Can a Blood Hunter work in a non-combat-focused campaign?
Yes, Blood Hunters can be adapted to fit into more role-play or intrigue-heavy campaigns. Their knowledge of monsters and the supernatural can be invaluable in investigations or dealing with curses and dark magic. The class's dark thematic elements also offer rich role-playing opportunities.
How do Blood Hunters fit into a party?
Blood Hunters can fill various roles depending on their Order and build, from front-line fighters to versatile support characters. Their monster-hunting abilities make them excellent scouts and strategists against supernatural threats, while their unique skills can complement the abilities of other party members in combat and exploration.
