Blood Hunter 5e: The Ultimate Guide to Hemomancy

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Blood Hunter Class Overview
3. Blood Curses
4. Blood Maledicts
5. Blood Rites
6. Tips and Tricks for Playing a Blood Hunter
7. Blood Hunter Subclasses
8. Blood Hunter Backgrounds
9. Blood Hunter Feats
10. Blood Hunter in the World

Introduction

The blood hunter is a unique and flavorful class in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition that harnesses the power of blood magic. Blood hunters are skilled combatants who use their own blood to fuel their abilities. This gives them a wide range of abilities, from healing to damage dealing.

Blood Hunter Class Overview

Blood hunters are a hybrid class, combining elements of the fighter, ranger, and warlock. They are proficient in martial weapons and light armor, and they have access to a variety of spells. Blood hunters also have a number of unique class features, including:

• Blood Curses: Blood hunters can inflict powerful curses on their enemies, which can weaken them or cause them damage.
• Blood Maledicts: Blood hunters can cast powerful spells that draw on their own blood.
• Blood Rites: Blood hunters can perform rituals that grant them temporary benefits.

Blood Curses

Blood curses are one of the blood hunter's most iconic abilities. They are powerful curses that can be inflicted on enemies using the blood hunter's Crimson Rite ability. There are four different blood curses available to blood hunters:

• Curse of the Leech: This curse drains the target's blood, dealing damage and healing the blood hunter.
• Curse of the Marked: This curse marks the target, making them easier to hit and causing them to take extra damage from the blood hunter's attacks.
• Curse of the Abyss: This curse banishes the target to the Abyss, dealing damage and potentially killing them.
• Curse of the Fallen: This curse reduces the target's saving throws and makes them more vulnerable to the blood hunter's attacks.

Blood Maledicts

Blood maledicts are powerful spells that blood hunters can cast. They are cast using the blood hunter's own blood, which gives them additional power. There are a variety of different blood maledicts available to blood hunters, including:

• Blood Curse of Draining: This maledict deals damage and heals the blood hunter for half the damage dealt.
• Blood Curse of Binding: This maledict restrains the target and makes them easier to hit.
• Blood Curse of Smiting: This maledict deals damage and imposes a penalty on the target's saving throws.
• Blood Curse of Wasting: This maledict deals damage and reduces the target's maximum hit points.

Blood Rites

Blood rites are rituals that blood hunters can perform. They grant the blood hunter temporary benefits, such as increased damage or healing. There are a variety of different blood rites available to blood hunters, including:

• Crimson Rite: This rite allows the blood hunter to inflict a blood curse on a target.
• Blood of the Vine: This rite heals the blood hunter and their allies.
• Blood of the Beast: This rite increases the blood hunter's damage output.
• Blood of the Demon: This rite grants the blood hunter resistance to fire and poison damage.

Tips and Tricks for Playing a Blood Hunter

Blood hunters can be a complex class to play, but they can be very rewarding. Here are a few tips and tricks for playing a blood hunter:

• Use your blood curses wisely. Blood curses are powerful abilities, but they can also be expensive to use. Make sure you're using them strategically to get the most out of them.
• Don't be afraid to use your own blood. Blood hunters can use their own blood to fuel their abilities. This can be risky, but it can also be very powerful.
• Be aware of your limitations. Blood hunters are not invincible. They can be killed if they take too much damage. Make sure you're aware of your limitations and don't overextend yourself.

Blood Hunter Subclasses

There are two blood hunter subclasses available in the Blood Hunter: Class Features expansion:

• Order of the Lycan: Order of the Lycan blood hunters can transform into werewolves. This gives them increased strength, speed, and durability.
• Order of the Mutant: Order of the Mutant blood hunters can mutate their bodies in a variety of ways. This gives them a wide range of abilities, from increased damage output to healing abilities.

Blood Hunter Backgrounds

There are a variety of backgrounds that can be appropriate for a blood hunter. Some good options include:

• Acolyte: Acolytes are priests or clergy members who have turned to blood magic to fight evil.
• Criminal: Criminals may turn to blood magic to gain power or to escape their past life.
• Folk Hero: Folk heroes may learn blood magic to protect their people from evil.
• Outlander: Outlanders may learn blood magic from their travels or from encounters with supernatural creatures.
• Urchin: Urchins may turn to blood magic to survive on the streets or to get revenge on those who have wronged them.

Blood Hunter Feats

There are a few feats that can be particularly useful for blood hunters. Some good options include:

• Blood Magic Initiate: This feat gives you access to a few blood hunter spells.
• Crimson Rite Adept: This feat makes your Crimson Rite ability more powerful.
• Blood Maledict Mastery: This feat gives you access to more blood maledicts.
• Blood Rite Adept: This feat makes your blood rites more powerful.

Blood Hunter in the World

Blood hunters are a unique and flavorful class that can add a lot of depth to your Dungeons & Dragons campaign. They can be used to fill a variety of roles, from damage dealers to healers. If you're looking for a class that's both powerful and flavorful, the blood hunter is a great option.

Call to Action

If you're interested in playing a blood hunter, I encourage you to check out the Blood Hunter: Class Features expansion. It's a great resource that will give you everything you need to know about playing a blood hunter.

Mastering the Blood Hunter: A Comprehensive Guide for 5th Edition D&D

Introduction

The Blood Hunter, introduced in Matt Mercer's Critical Role, is a unique and formidable class for players seeking a balance between martial prowess and the arcane arts. With their mastery of blood magic, Blood Hunters can strike fear into the hearts of their enemies while harnessing their own vitality to heal and empower themselves. This guide will delve into every aspect of the Blood Hunter, providing players with the knowledge and strategies needed to fully unleash their potential.

Step-by-Step Class Progression

1. Choosing a Background and Skills:

• Select a background that aligns with the Blood Hunter's role in the party.
• Choose skills that encompass investigation, survival, and combat prowess (e.g., Insight, Medicine, Stealth).

2. Determining Ability Scores:

• Dexterity (DEX) is essential for damage, initiative, and AC.
• Wisdom (WIS) governs spellcasting and Concentration checks.
• Constitution (CON) boosts HP, AC, and Concentration saves.
• Intelligence (INT) is beneficial for investigation and certain Blood Oath options.

3. Selecting a Fighting Style:

• Dueling enhances single-weapon damage.
• Two-Weapon Fighting improves dual-wielding capabilities.
• Great Weapon Fighting increases damage with two-handed weapons.

Blood Oaths and Cantrips

Blood Oaths:

• Order of the Lycan: Grants enhanced senses, damage resistance, and transformation abilities.
• Order of the Mutant: Allows for venom production, body deformation, and resistance to poison.
• Order of the Profane Soul: Empowers weapon attacks with a choice of energy damage and provides unique spellcasting options.

Cantrips:

• Blood Curse: Inflicts damage and applies a penalty to specific actions.
• Crimson Rite: Boosts the Blood Hunter's speed or senses.
• Heart's Sight: Detects undead or fiends.

Ritual Casting

Blood Hunters have a unique ability to cast rituals without material components, making them invaluable in a variety of situations:

• Aspect of the Beast: Grants advantage on Strength checks and resistance to nonmagical physical damage.
• Blood of the Vine: Heals allies or removes poison.
• Darkvision: Grants temporary darkvision.

Bloodmaledict Abilities

Blood Hunters possess a set of Bloodmaledict abilities that enhance their combat effectiveness:

• Rite of Castigation: Inflicts additional damage and applies a penalty to enemy saving throws.
• Righteous Fury: Grants advantage on attack rolls with an off-hand weapon.
• Hemocraft: Allows for the casting of powerful spells by sacrificing hit points.

Bloodlust Marks

The Blood Hunter's Bloodlust Marks are essential for maximizing their damage output:

• Mark of Injury: Adds damage to attacks against specific creatures.
• Mark of Death: Grants bonus damage to critical hits.
• Mark of the Hunter: Improves tracking and stealth against specific targets.

Equipping the Blood Hunter

Weapons:

• One-handed weapons (e.g., longsword, rapier)
• Dual-wielding weapons (e.g., daggers, shortswords)
• Two-handed weapons (e.g., greatsword, maul)

Armor:

• Light or medium armor for mobility and AC
• Heavy armor for increased protection but reduced stealth

Magic Items:

• Crimson Rite ability (e.g., Amulet of Health)
• Blood Curse enhancements (e.g., Ring of Protection)
• Bloodlust Marks bonuses (e.g., Bracers of Archery)

Tactics and Gameplay

Skirmishing and Mobility:

• Use Crimson Rite to enhance speed and agility.
• Take advantage of Two-Weapon Fighting for multiple attacks.
• Position yourself strategically to maximize the effects of Bloodlust Marks.

Sustained Damage:

• Apply Blood Curse to weaken target defenses.
• Sacrifice hit points through Hemocraft to cast powerful spells.
• Utilize Bloodlust Marks to increase damage output.

Hybrid Class Synergies:

• Pair with Barbarian for increased damage and toughness.
• Combine with Rogue for stealth and finesse.
• Consider multiclassing into Fighter for additional combat bonuses.

Combat Feats

• Sharpshooter or Crossbow Expert for long-range options.
• Dual Wielder for increased damage with two weapons.
• Sentinel to prevent enemy mobility.
• Great Weapon Master for enhanced damage with heavy weapons.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Versatile combat abilities: Melee, ranged, and spellcasting options
• Sustained damage: Bloodlust Marks and Hemocraft empower attacks
• Unique class mechanics: Blood Oaths and Bloodmaledict abilities add depth

Cons:

• Limited spellcasting: Rituals are the primary source of spells
• HP sacrifice: Hemocraft requires careful HP management
• Multiclassing challenges: Blood Hunter levels are essential for Bloodmaledict and Blood Oath progression

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can Blood Hunters cast regular spells?

• Yes, through the Blood Curse ability, but they lack prepared spell slots like other spellcasters.

2. Which Blood Oath is the best?

• It depends on the desired playstyle and party composition.
• Order of the Lycan provides enhanced senses and damage resistance, while Order of the Profane Soul grants spellcasting options.

3. How do Bloodlust Marks work?

• Bloodlust Marks apply additional damage or bonuses against specific creatures.
• They can only be applied once per long rest.

4. What is Hemocraft, and how is it used?

• Hemocraft allows the Blood Hunter to sacrifice hit points to cast powerful spells.
• It is a risky but rewarding ability that can turn the tide of battle.

5. Can Blood Hunters multiclass effectively?

• Yes, but it is important to consider the potential loss of Blood Oath and Bloodmaledict progression.
• Pairings with Barbarian, Rogue, and Fighter can be particularly effective.

6. How does the Crimson Rite ability work?

• Crimson Rite grants a temporary buff to speed or senses.
• It is a versatile ability that can be tailored to the current situation.

7. What are some good magic items for Blood Hunters?

• Amulet of Health for Crimson Rite bonuses
• Ring of Protection for Blood Curse enhancements
• Bracers of Archery for Bloodlust Marks damage

8. How do I play a Blood Hunter effectively in a party?

• Utilize mobility and versatility to support frontline melee or ranged combat.
• Apply Blood Curses and Bloodlust Marks to maximize damage output.
• Use Bloodmaledict abilities and Hemocraft wisely to control the battlefield and deliver decisive blows.

Conclusion

The Blood Hunter is a multifaceted and engaging class for 5th Edition D&D. By understanding their unique abilities, equipment choices, and strategic gameplay, players can unleash the full potential of this formidable class and become the scourge of the supernatural and the guardians of the realm.