Paladin Subclass: Oath of the Cursed Guardian

Paladins who take the Oath of the Cursed Guardian are solemn warriors who understand the true power and danger of curses. They seek out cursed items and beings, not to destroy them, but to understand, control, and sometimes protect them. These Paladins believe that curses, while perilous, can be harnessed for the greater good. They themselves bear curses as a testament to their commitment.

Oath Tenets

• Burden of the Cursed: Embrace curses as a part of your being, understanding their power and potential.
• Guardian's Vigilance: Protect the world from the dangers of unchecked curses, but also from the overzealous who seek to destroy all cursed beings and items.
• Measured Sacrifice: Recognize that power often comes with a cost, and be willing to pay it if it serves the greater good.
• Balance of Power: Strive to maintain a balance between the curses you wield and the purity of your soul.

Oath Spells

Channel Divinity

When you take this oath at 3rd level, you gain the following two Channel Divinity options:

• Reveal the Cursed: As an action, present your holy symbol to magically sense the presence of curses within 60 feet of you.
• Curse Manipulation: As an action, you can touch a cursed item or creature to temporarily suppress or alter the effects of its curse. This effect lasts for 1 minute, or you can also expend a spell slot to extend the time the curse is suppressed or altered, increasing the time by 10 minutes per spell slot expended to extend the time suppressed or altered.

Baleful Curses

Upon reaching 3rd level, you can select one curse from the following list. You have the flexibility to exchange this curse for another when you gain a level in this class.

• Curse of Agony: Each curse you bear increases your damage output, granting you a +1 bonus to damage rolls for each active curse.
• Curse of Aptitude: Your resilience is enhanced by your curses. You gain a +1 bonus to all skill checks for each curse affecting you.
• Curse of Alacrity: The energy of your curses quickens your movements, providing an additional +5 feet to your movement speed per active curse.
• Curse of Detection: Gain the ability to detect whether an item is cursed by touch.
• Cursed Crafting: Gain the ability to imbue items with curses or create a custom curse to afflict a creature. This process should be detailed and intricate, requiring rare components and a ritual. (DM Advised)
• Divine Curse: Gain an additional use of Channel Divinity.
• Curse of the Martial: Gain an additional fighting style.
• Curse of the Darkness: Gain darkvision up to a range of 60 ft.
• Critical Curse: Whenever you critically hit you roll one additional damage die based on the base damage type.
• Arcane Curse: You gain an additional spell slot equal to one fourth your level rounded down (minimum 1).

As you grow in power and understanding of your oath, you gain the ability to bear additional curses. At 7th level, you can choose a second curse, at 15th level, you gain the capacity for a third and at 20th level, you gain the capacity for a fourth. These curses can be the same as or different from your initial choice, allowing you to tailor your powers to suit your journey and challenges."

Oath Features

Aura of Cursed Resilience (7th Level)

At 7th level you emit a 10 ft aura, any allies within this aura receive a +1 bonus to their attack rolls equal to the amount of curses actively effecting you rounded down (minimum 1).

Curse Bearer (15th level)

You can cleanse yourself of all curses and nullify any cursed effects on you. This effects any ability that would grant a bonus or empowerment from cursed effects.

Master of Curses (20th level)

As an action, you unleash the power of all curses affecting you generating a 30 ft aura in which all curses within this aura are nullified. For the next 1 minute, you and any ally within this aura gains a bonus to damage and attacks equal to the number of curses nullified by this aura. You gain a free use to cast the Heal or Harm spell once without expending a spell slot. Once this ability is used it can not be used again until you finish a long rest.