Soul Scion
Soul Scion is a subclass that is heavily inspired by one of my favorite games and classes, the Cipher class from Pillars of Eternity. I had to change certain mechanics and port as best as possible to BG3. They do not use spell slots but reap Soul Essence (Focus) from enemies on successful weapon attacks which fuels their spell casting
This subclass has every Weapon Proficiency and can Single or Dual wield. Wielding both Melee and Ranged weapons works really well as the main emphasis is to deal damage and reap essence.
Soul Scion gets Extra Attack from Essence Reaping passive at level 4 but only for the purpose of consistently fueling their spell casting and because of this the second attack will always deal 1/3 of weapon damage. This triggers after a spell cast as well as long as your soul essence is not at maximum. Majority of your damage is spell casting and tons of buffs/debuffs so do not expect Wizard like damage because the amount of negative effects and statuses you can inflict is significant.
PassivesSoul Lash (Melee/Ranged)
Strike with a weapon, tearing at the target’s soul and harvesting Soul Essence. Only main hand weapon attacks can generate Soul Essence. (This replaces all standard melee weapon and ranged attacks)
Soul Essence: Soul Essence is the lingering energy of shattered spirits, torn from enemies by the Soul Scion’s attacks. This spectral force is absorbed and stored, fueling powerful Scion Invocations that disable, control, and destroy. Gained by dealing damage using Soul Lash attacks, Soul Essence is the key to the Scion’s dominion over mind, spirit and soul. Can only be gained in Combat and 50% is restored when Combat starts.
Ascendant: When the Soul Scion reaches their maximum Soul Essence, they transcend their mortal limits, unlocking a surge of untapped power. Once per combat, they may cast their highest-level spells at no Soul Essence cost, channeling the full force of their power.
Essence Reaping: The Soul Scion relentlessly harvests Soul Essence through combat. They can make two Soul Lash attacks per turn until you have gathered max Soul Essence to cast a spell, the second attack deals a third of Weapon Damage. If they already have enough Soul Essence and after casting a Scion Invocation, they can make an attack which also deals a third of Weapon Damage.
Level 1-6 each mainhand attack restores 5 Soul Essence and starting at Level 7 the first mainhand attack restores 10 Soul Essence and the extra attack 5 Soul Essence.
Essence Reaping activates when unable to cast a Scion Invocation based on total Soul Essence and Character level:
Soul Mind: Your connection to lingering soul energy grows unwavering. At the start of each turn in combat, you passively restore 5 Soul Essence, allowing your will to remain fueled in the heat of battle.
Cerebral EnhancementsScion’s Claim: When delivering a killing blow, you do not simply end a life, you consume the remnants of the fallen, siphoning fragments of their spirit into raw power. Each enemy slain restores 5 Soul Essence, ensuring that death only strengthens the Scion’s dominion over the battlefield.
Revenant’s Awakening: The Soul Scion’s attunement to lingering spirits deepens, allowing them to reclaim even greater essence as combat begins. By embracing their mastery over lost souls, they now restore an additional 10% of their maximum Soul Essence at the start of battle, ensuring their power is always within reach.
Mind Over Matter: Harness the power of your intellect to bolster your defenses. Your Armor Class is increased based on your Intelligence modifier, reflecting your ability to use mental acuity to anticipate and avoid attacks. When not wearing armor or using Light Armor you use your Intelligence Modifier for your Armor Class.
Fleet Of Mind: Your heightened mental acuity enhances your physical agility, increasing your movement speed by 3 meters and your jump distance by 1.5 meters. Move swiftly and outmaneuver your opponents with ease.
Intellectual Agility: Your sharp intellect enhances your reaction speed, improving your initiative based on your Intelligence Modifier. Start each encounter with heightened awareness and readiness.
CantripsNone
SpellsCurse of Entropy: Fracture the target’s essence with a volatile curse, leaving their soul in a state of chaotic disarray. This affliction is always inflicted initially and causes the target to take random X of Force, Lightning, Necrotic, Thunder, Psychic or Fire damage unless they succeeds a Wisdom Saving Throw as unstable energies surge from their shattered spirit.
Deep Soul Surge: Release a volatile soul surge targeting three enemies, shocking their spirit dealing Lightning damage. For each successful hit, you absorb X HP, up to a maximum of X HP, drawn from the remnants of their unraveling souls.
Essence Implosion: Tear into a target’s spiritual core, dealing Necrotic damage as their essence begins to unravel. If the target is reduced below 50% Health, their soul implodes, triggering an explosion dealing Force damage to nearby enemies. If the target is reduced below 15% Health, they are instantly slain, and the eruption Frightens all nearby enemies, overwhelmed by the shock of witnessing the soul's violent collapse.
Wither and Wield: Manipulate the spiritual balance between yourself and a foe, inflicting a random negative condition on the enemy while gaining a random beneficial effect in return. As one soul withers, the other thrives.
Soul Ignition: Ignite the very core of an enemy’s soul, setting it ablaze with inner flame. The target suffers Fire damage at the start and end of their turns for X turns, as the burning intensifies rapidly, consuming them from within.
Pain Link: Forge a spectral bond between yourself and your allies, tethering pain to vengeance. While the link is active, 20% of any damage dealt to linked ally is reflected back to anyone who strikes them.
Borrowed Power: Reach into the essence of your foe, siphoning fragments of their physical and mental strength. The target suffers a negative reduction to Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, and Attack Rolls while you gain an equivalent increase up to a maximum of 22, temporarily bolstering your own power at their enemy’s expense.
Anima Shield: Envelop yourself or an ally in a protective veil of soul energy, granting Temporary HP and Armor Class. When the temporary HP are depleted, you absorb the remnants of the barrier, restoring Soul Essence.
Animus Treason: The Soul Scion seizes control of their target’s soul, dominating their will and forcing them to fight as an ally for the duration. The afflicted target is also silenced, rendering them unable to cast any spells while under the Scion’s control. The target resists with Wisdom Saving Throw each turn, but failure leaves them bound to the Scion’s command.
Spiritbrand: The Soul Scion ignites with soul-kindled fire, their form wreathed in spectral energy. Their weapons and body burn with the same ethereal glow, causing their weapon attacks to deal additional Fire damage until the effect ends.
Soul Shock: Harness the protective layer of an ally’s soul, converting it into raw energy. This transformation triggers a burst of electricity, striking all enemies in the area with Lightning damage as the unleashed power surges outward.
Tenebrous Blades: Conjure X number of greatswords infused with negative soul energy and hurl them at their foes. Each blade deals Necrotic damage preventing healing for living targets for one turn, and imposes Disadvantage on Attack Rolls for undead. Additional blades can be conjured at an increased Soul Essence cost.
Soul Annihilation (Melee/Ranged): The Soul Scion expels gathered Soul Essence in a devastating strike, channeling their weapon’s power into a surge of raw force. No armor, no reflex can stop the force of this soul-shattering blow and it never misses. This attack deals weapon damage as Force damage plus additional Force damage. Once unleashed, Soul Annihilation cannot be used again for 4 turns. This attack does not trigger Essence Reaping.
Mind lance: Project a blinding lance of soul-forged energy, firing it in a straight line through all in its path. The beam deals Psychic damage, overwhelming the minds of those it touches with the searing brilliance of the Scion’s will.
Psionic Anima: Forcefully convert your own mental energy into Soul Essence, tearing at the boundary between mind and spirit, converting 1 Mind Surge into 1 Soul Essence. By reshaping your own psionic force, you sustain the connection to the flow of soul energy.
Spiritual Eclipse: Overwhelm the target’s soul with a surge of negative energy, triggering a spiritual blackout pulse. The primary target and all enemies within X range are afflicted with Blindness, their vision consumed by the eclipsing force.
Progression
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
Level 6
Level 7
Level 8
Level 9
Level 10
Level 11
Level 12
Notifications
2 comments
The mind surge ability is broken on this class as the flight ability you get as a bonus action cannot be used due to mind surge also requiring the use of a bonus action. Maybe making it so the flight ability lasts two turns for Soul Scions could fix this but I'm not sure. Otherwise, maybe swap it for something more useful to tie into the mind surge?
Just my two cents, I really love the class otherwise