Somarie Pafn (order #3853083)

The Hexblade

The Hexblade

Heroic-Tier Playtest

Huge Nerd Games

Words and Layout ✦ Brian Stinson

Art ✦ Anthony Cournoyer

Somarie Pafn (order #3853083)

The Hexblade

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The Hexblade

1

The Hexblade

“Watch your step, friend. Accidents happen to
those I dislike.”

Class Traits

Role: Defender. You are a highly competent

melee fighter who harasses enemies with
debilitating magic.

Power Source: Arcane. You study the fickle

patterns of luck, twisting fate in your favor
and exploiting it on the battlefield.

Key Abilities: Charisma, Constitution, Dexterity

Armor Proficiencies: Cloth, Leather, Hide
Weapon Proficiencies: Simple Melee, Military

Melee, Simple Ranged

Implements: Orbs, rods, wands
Bonus to Defense: +1 Reflex, +1 Will

Hit Points at 1st Level: 15 + Constitution score
Hit Points per Level Gained: 6
Healing Surges per Day: 8 + Constitution

modifier

Trained Skills: Arcana. From the class skills list

below, choose three more trained skills at 1st
level.
Class Skills: Acrobatics (Dex), Arcana (Int),
Athletics (Str), Bluff (Cha), Diplomacy (Cha),
Endurance (Con), Insight (Wis), Intimidate
(Cha), Streetwise (Cha)

Class Features: Aura of Unluck, Hexblade

Armor Talent, Hexblade’s Curse, Lucky Charm

Hexblades are vexing and clever foes who’ve
learned to manipulate the strands of fate.
Hexblades harass enemies with cunning tactics,
twirl opportunity around their blade, and curse
their foes with unlucky streaks.

As a hexblade, you walk a fine line between the
realms of the martial and the arcane, mixing
dirty tactics with inexplicable fortune to forge a
destiny all your own. Ultimately, it’s up to you
to decide whether the fears of the superstitious
are true. You could be a cursed knight who
uses his burden to his advantage, a former
cultist running from a pact gone wrong, a
vicious mercenary who’s traded safety for the
devil’s own luck, or a dabbler in the arcane
who’s stumbled across the secret to
providence.

One arm is wrapped around Lady Luck, the
other is shaking Fate’s hand. When Destiny
beckons, will you answer?

Hexblade Overview

Characteristics: You’re a tough customer,

with a high Armor Class and the martial
prowess to back it up. Your ability to mix melee
and short-range attack powers keeps enemies
on their toes, and your tricks have a way of
vexing your foes further. Your hex abilities
harass your opponents into attacking you
instead of your allies, keeping them safe.

Religion: Hexblades usually favor deities of

guile or expertise, such as Avandra, Ioun, Kord,
and Sehanine. Evil hexblades tend to worship
Lolth, Vecna, or Zehir.

Races: Wanderers, loners, and outsiders tend

to take the path of the hexblade, and halflings,
half-elves, and tieflings fit their ranks nicely.

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The Hexblade

2

Creating a Hexblade

Opportunistic Hexblade and Unlucky Hexblade
are the two starting builds. While all hexblades
rely on Charisma for their attacks, Constitution
and Dexterity are important as well.

Opportunistic Hexblade

You like powers that waylay your foes through
the art of the lucky guess. You’re interested in
fighting smart, not hard, and a little chance can
create opportunities from whole cloth. Your
attacks work off of your Charisma, so that
should be first. Otherwise, your Constitution
inflates your hit points and armor, letting you
keep both you and your allies safe.
Opportunistic Hexblades should choose the
tough luck Hexblade Armor Talent.
Suggested Feat: Adroit Hexblade (Human feat:
Human Perseverance)
Suggested Skills: Arcana, Athletics, Endurance,
Insight
Suggested At-Will Powers: Fate’s Hand, Lucky
Shot
Suggested Encounter Power: Brace Yourself
Suggested Daily Power: Wellspring of Luck

Unlucky Hexblade

You like powers that aggravate foes by
imperceptively altering their actions for the
worse. A quick twist of fate can turn a disaster
into a mere nuisance. Your best ability score is
Charisma, useful for taking advantage of
opportunities. Dexterity is next, to maximize
your Armor Class and Aura of Unluck. Unlucky
Hexblades should choose the hard knocks
Hexblade Armor Talent.
Suggested Feat: Weapon Focus (Human feat:
Toughness)
Suggested Skills: Arcana, Bluff, Intimidate,
Streetwise
Suggested At-Will Powers: Fortunate Stumble,
Trip Up
Suggested Encounter Power: Hex of the Harried
Suggested Daily Power: Evil Eye

Hexblade Class Features

All Hexblades have the following class features.

Aura of Unluck

If an enemy within a number of squares equal
to 3 + your Constitution or Dexterity modifier
makes an opportunity attack against one of
your allies, that ally is treated as if it had
concealment against the attack.

Hexblade Armor Talent

Choose Hard Knocks or Tough Luck.

Hard Knocks: While you are not wearing heavy
armor, you gain a +1 bonus to AC.
In addition, the first time you become bloodied
during an encounter, you gain a +2 bonus to
attack and damage rolls until the end of your
next turn. The bonus to damage rolls increases
to +4 at 11th level and +6 at 21st level.

Tough Luck: While you are not wearing heavy
armor, you can use your Constitution modifier
in place of your Dexterity or Intelligence
modifier to determine your AC.
In addition, the first time you become bloodied
during an encounter, you gain temporary hit
points equal to 3 + one-half your level.

Hexblade’s Curse

A hexblade can mark his opponents with bad
luck, frustrating them with magical misfortune if
they disregard it. You can use the hexblade’s
curse power to mark an enemy of your choice.

Lucky Charm

While you wield a hexblade implement in one
hand, you gain a +1 shield bonus to AC and
Reflex defenses.

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The Hexblade

3

Hexblade Powers

Hexblade powers are called tricks, a mix of
arcane spells and martial exploits. You wield an
implement in addition to your weapon, allowing
you to use overtly magical attacks in addition to
more conventional maneuvers.

Class Features

The hexblade has a class feature that works like
a power: hexblade’s curse.

Hexblade’s Curse

Hexblade Feature

You harshly taunt your opponent, cursing him

with misfortune if he ignores your challenge.
At-Will * Arcane
Minor Action

Close burst 5

Target: One creature in burst

Effect: You mark the target. The target

remains marked until the end of the
encounter, or until you use this power
against another target. A creature can be
subject to only one mark at a time. A new
mark supersedes a mark that was already in
place.
If your marked target makes an attack that
doesn’t include you as a target, it takes a -2
penalty to attack rolls. If that attack hits and
the marked target is within your Aura of
Unluck, you can use an immediate interrupt
to force the enemy to roll the attack again.
The enemy uses the second roll, even if it’s
lower.

Level 1 At-Will Tricks

Fate’s Hand

Hexblade Attack 1

A timely guess, or the hand of fate? Either way,

your swirling attack surprises everyone.
At-Will * Arcane, Weapon
Standard Action

Melee weapon

Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. AC

Hit: 1[W] + Charisma modifier damage, and

each enemy adjacent to you other than the
target takes damage equal to your
Constitution modifier.

Fortunate Stumble

Hexblade Attack 1

Your opponent stumbles right into your waiting

blade.
At-Will * Arcane, Weapon
Standard Action

Melee 2

Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. AC

Hit: You slide the target 1 square to a square

adjacent to you. Then, the target takes 1[W]
+ Charisma modifier damage.

Lucky Shot

Hexblade Attack 1

You make your own luck.

At-Will * Arcane, Weapon
Standard Action

Melee weapon

Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. AC

Hit: 1[W] + Charisma modifier damage. If the

target is marked by you, it takes a -2 penalty
to AC until the end of your next turn.

Trip Up

Hexblade Attack 1

Your foe doesn’t know it yet, but he’s about to

take a fall.
At-Will * Arcane, Weapon
Standard Action

Melee weapon

Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. AC

Hit: 1[W] + Charisma modifier damage, and if

the target starts its turn adjacent to you and
moves or shifts away, it takes damage equal
to your Dexterity modifier and is knocked
prone at the end of its movement.

Somarie Pafn (order #3853083)

The Hexblade

4

Level 1 Encounter Tricks

Brace Yourself

Hexblade Attack 1

Fortune favors the prepared. Do yourself a

favor.
Encounter * Arcane, Weapon
Standard Action

Melee weapon

Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. AC

Hit: 2[W] + Charisma modifier damage

Effect: You and one ally within 5 squares of you

gain 5 temporary hit points.

Gambler’s Throw

Hexblade Attack 1

Do you trust your luck?

Encounter * Arcane, Weapon
Standard Action

Melee weapon

Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma - 2 vs. AC

Hit: 3[W] + Charisma modifier damage.

Miss: You grant combat advantage until the

end of your next turn.

Hex of the Harried

Hexblade Attack 1

No matter how it dodges and parries, your foe

can’t seem to escape your allies’ attacks.
Encounter * Arcane, Weapon
Standard Action

Melee weapon

Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma + 2 vs. AC

Hit: 1[W] + Charisma modifier damage, and

the target takes a penalty to AC and Reflex
defenses equal to your Constitution or
Dexterity modifier.

Level 1 Daily Tricks

Evil Eye

Hexblade Attack 1

Your opponent quakes under your accursed

gaze.
Daily * Arcane, Fear, Implement
Standard Action

Ranged 5

Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. Will

Hit: 3d6 + Charisma modifier psychic damage,

and the target cannot make a saving throws
until the end of your next turn.

Miss: Half damage, and the target cannot

make saving throws against one effect that a
save can end of your choice until the end of
your next turn.

Tough Act to Follow Hexblade Attack 1

No matter how impressive your foe’s tricks,

you always have one better.
Daily * Arcane, Weapon
Standard Action

Melee weapon

Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. AC

Hit: 2[W] + Charisma modifier damage, and

the target is weakened (save ends).

Miss: Half damage, and the target is weakened

until the end of your next turn.

Wellspring of Luck

Hexblade Attack 1

Good luck finds you and your allies without

effort.
Daily * Arcane, Weapon
Standard Action

Melee weapon

Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. AC

Hit: 2[W] + Charisma modifier damage.

Effect: Until the end of your next turn, the first

time you or an ally within your aura of unluck
misses with an attack, you may roll a d20 as a
free action. If you do, you may substitute
your roll for the triggering attack roll.

Somarie Pafn (order #3853083)

The Hexblade

5

Level 2 Utility Tricks

Arcane Resistance

Hexblade Utility 2

You know the magical flow of fate like the back

of your hand.
Daily * Arcane
Minor Action

Personal

Effect: You gain a +5 power bonus to saving

throws until the end of your next turn.

Mettle

Hexblade Utility 2

There’s not a dirty trick that you don’t already

know.
Encounter * Arcane
Immediate Reaction Personal
Trigger: An enemy misses you with an attack

that has effects on a miss

Effect: Negate any effects the attack would

have caused you.

Phantom Threat

Hexblade Utility 2

Your foe can’t shake the feeling that it’s

surrounded.
Daily * Arcane, Fear
Minor Action

Range 5

Effect: The target grants combat advantage to

you and your allies (save ends). The target
takes a -2 penalty to saving throws against
this effect.

Level 3 Encounter Tricks

Deadly Riposte

Hexblade Attack 3

Your foe might have missed, but you won’t.

Encounter * Arcane, Weapon
Immediate Reaction Melee weapon
Trigger: An enemy within range misses with an

attack

Target: The triggering enemy
Attack: Charisma vs. AC

Hit: 2[W] + Charisma modifier damage.

No Such Luck

Hexblade Attack 3

Your opponents think they have you where

they want you. You think it’s the other way
around.
Encounter * Arcane, Weapon
Standard Action

Close burst 1

Target: Each enemy in the burst
Attack: Charisma vs. AC, or Charisma + 2 vs. AC

if you are granting combat advantage to the
target

Hit: 1[W] + Charisma modifier damage, and

the target grants combat advantage to your
allies until the end of your next turn.

Surprising Lunge

Hexblade Attack 3

You pounce when your opponent least expects

it, and your panicked foe flails wildly.
Encounter * Arcane, Fear, Weapon
Standard Action

Melee weapon

Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. Will

Hit: You slide the target 1 square, and the

target makes a basic attack against a creature
of your choice with a power bonus to the
attack and damage roll equal to your
Constitution or Dexterity modifier.

Level 5 Daily Tricks

Catch A Break

Hexblade Attack 5

It’s about time your luck improved.

Daily * Arcane, Reliable, Weapon
Standard Action

Melee weapon

Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. AC. You gain a bonus to

the attack roll equal to the number of rounds
since you last hit with an attack.

Hit: 3[W] + Charisma modifier damage.

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The Hexblade

6

Perfect Distraction

Hexblade Attack 5

At just the right moment, your unlucky aura

flares to create a calamity.
Daily * Arcane, Implement
Standard Action

Close burst 1

Target: Each enemy in the burst
Attack: Charisma vs. Reflex

Hit: 1d12 + Charisma modifier damage, and

the target is pushed 1 square and knocked
prone.

Effect: Until the end of the encounter, your

aura of unluck instead treats your allies as if
they had total concealment.

Spotlight Strike

Hexblade Attack 5

Your enemies, obviously jealous of your luck,

turn their attention towards you after this
impressive attack.
Daily * Arcane, Charm, Weapon
Standard Action

Melee weapon

Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma + 2 vs. AC

Hit: 3[W] + Charisma modifier damage.

Effect: Each enemy within 5 squares of the

target is marked (save ends). Whenever an
enemy marked by this power makes an
attack that does not include you, you gain a
+2 power bonus to attack rolls until the end
of your next turn. This bonus stacks.

Level 6 Utility Tricks

Auspicious Toughness Hexblade Utility 6

Taking in a deep breath, you channel your

arcane powers to provide a helpful buffer of
fortune.
Daily * Arcane
Free Action

Personal

Trigger: You use your second wind

Effect: You gain temporary hit points equal to

your healing surge value.

Know When To Fold Hexblade Utility 6

Knowing when your luck has finally run out is

an important skill for one such as you.
Daily * Arcane
Minor Action

Close burst 5

Target: You and each ally in the burst

Effect: The target gains a +2 bonus to speed

and all defenses until the end of the
encounter.

Lucky Shot

Hexblade Utility 6

As your weapon leaves your hand and streaks

through the air, you pray to Lady Luck that your
aim is true.
Encounter * Arcane
Minor Action

Personal

Effect: Your next melee weapon attack power

before the end of your next turn can be used
as a ranged attack, with a normal range of 5
squares and a long range of 10 squares. After
the attack, your weapon returns to your
hand.

Level 7 Encounter Tricks

Closing Act

Hexblade Attack 7

Like a flourishing stage magician, you save the

best trick for last.
Encounter * Arcane, Weapon
Standard Action

Melee weapon

Target: One bloodied enemy
Attack: Charisma vs. AC

Hit: 3[W] + Charisma modifier damage.

Hex of the Graceless Hexblade Attack 7

No matter how hard they try, your foes can’t

seem to find their balance once your hex takes
hold.
Encounter * Arcane, Implement
Standard Action

Area burst 1 within 5

Target: Each enemy in the burst
Attack: Charisma vs. Reflex

Hit: 1d6 + Charisma modifier damage, and you

slide the target up to 3 squares closer to you
and knock it prone.

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The Hexblade

7

Mocking Blow

Hexblade Attack 7

It’s impossible to contain your laughter at the

sight of your pathetic opponent’s feeble
attacks.
Encounter * Arcane, Weapon
Standard Action

Melee weapon

Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. AC

Hit: 1[W] + Charisma modifier damage, and

the target deals half damage against
creatures other than you until the end of
your next turn.

Level 9 Daily Tricks

Calculated Risk

Hexblade Attack 9

With luck on your side, you can shake off your

reckless attack’s effects before your opponent
does... hopefully.
Daily * Arcane, Weapon
Standard Action

Melee weapon

Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. AC

Hit: 3[W] + Charisma modifier damage, and

you and the target are both dazed (save
ends).

Miss: Half damage, and you and the target

both grant combat advantage (save ends).

Glancing Blow

Hexblade Attack 9

A grazing attack turns deadly when blood

flows from the wound without end.
Daily * Arcane, Weapon
Standard Action

Melee weapon

Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. AC

Hit: 1[W] + Charisma modifier damage and

ongoing 10 damage (save ends). If the target
takes more than one action on its turn, it
can’t save against the ongoing damage at the
end of its turn.

Miss: Half damage and ongoing 5 damage

(save ends). If the target takes more than one
action on its turn, it can’t save against the
ongoing damage at the end of its turn.

Hex of the Feckless Hexblade Attack 9

Your enemy’s nerve gone thanks to your hex,

you and your allies descend on easy prey.
Daily * Arcane, Fear, Implement
Standard Action

Ranged 5

Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. Will

Hit: 1d10 + Charisma modifier psychic damage,

and the target is feckless (save ends). While
feckless, whenever the target attacks, it
makes two attack rolls and takes the lower
result. If the target misses, it falls prone.

Miss: Half damage, and the target is feckless

until the end of your next turn.

Level 10 Utility Tricks

I Meant To Do That Hexblade Utility 10

It’s all part of the plan, you see?

Daily * Arcane
Free Action

Personal

Trigger: You miss with an encounter attack

power

Effect: The power is not expended, and you

can use an at-will attack power of your choice
as a free action.

Lies and Slander

Hexblade Utility 10

You always know just what to say. It might not

be true, but it’s certainly the right thing to say.
Encounter * Arcane
No Action

Personal

Trigger: You make a Bluff, Diplomacy, or

Intimidate check

Effect: You roll twice and take the better

result.

Roll with the Dice

Hexblade Utility 10

Sometimes bad luck just happens. It’s up to

you, however, to decide how to deal with it.
Daily * Arcane
Immediate Interrupt Personal
Trigger: You take damage

Effect: You take half damage.

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The Hexblade

8

Feats

Adroit Hexblade
Prerequisite: Hexblade
Benefit: You can use your Charisma modifier
instead of your Strength modifier when making
a basic attack with a melee weapon.

Even Tougher Luck
Prerequisite: Hexblade, tough luck class feature
Benefit: Add your Constitution modifier to the
temporary hit points granted by your tough luck
class feature.

Extended Unluck
Prerequisite: Hexblade, aura of unluck class
feature
Benefit: The range of your aura of unluck is
increased by 2 squares.

School of Hard Knocks
Prerequisite: Hexblade, hard knocks class
feature
Benefit: Add your Dexterity modifier to the
bonus to damage rolls granted by your hard
knocks class feature.

Hex Initiate
[Multiclass Hexblade]
Prerequisites: Charisma 13
Benefit: You gain training in one skill from the
hexblade’s class skill list.
Once per encounter, you can use the hexblade’s
curse power.

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