In the misty past of… exactly nine years ago… I wrote a Divine Trickster roguish archetype for a friend of mine to play in the Reborn campaign. That version is highly specialized toward that setting’s pantheon, but also – my grasp of subclass design has changed over the years. For the better, I think.

This, then, is a new version of the Divine Trickster, similar in just a few points. It takes lots of inspiration from the 4e Avenger class. The Avenger is, along with the Warlord, one of the things it was most surprising for WotC not to bring into 5e in 2014, because talk about your instant fan favorites. (Yes, you can back-form Avengers with a Vengeance paladin or maybe a War or Trickery cleric; it’s not the same.)

Divine Trickster

As a student of secrecy, vengeance, or both, you have entered into a vow of service to the Gods, likely a God of change, secrecy, or darkness. You have much in common with their clerics, except that you work the God’s will at the end of blade. Divine tricksters tear down corrupt forms of order, so that something new and clean can flourish; you comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.

Spellcasting

3^rd-level Divine Trickster feature

You gain the ability to cast spells. See the core rules for the general rules of spellcasting and the cleric spell list.

Cantrips. You learn guidance and three cantrips of your choice. You can choose minor illusion and cantrips from the Cleric spell list.

Spell Slots. (As Arcane Trickster – 1/3 spellcasting progression).

Spells Prepared of 1^st Level and Higher. You can prepare three 1^st-level cleric spells of your choice. The Spells Known column of the Arcane Trickster Spellcasting table shows when you can prepare more cleric spells of 1^st level and higher. Each of these spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots. For instance, when you reach 7^th level in this class, you can prepare 2^nd-level spells.

Whenever you finish a long rest, you can choose your prepared spells again.

Spellcasting Ability. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for your cleric spells. The power of your spells comes from your devotion to your deity. You use your Wisdom whenever a cleric spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Wisdom modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a cleric spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.

Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier

Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier

Ritual Casting. You can cast a cleric spell as a ritual if it has the Ritual tag and you have the spell prepared.

Spellcasting Focus. You can use a holy symbol as a spellcasting focus for your cleric spells.

Divine Trickster Spells

You can prepare additional spells when you reach certain levels in this class, as shown in the Divine Trickster Spells table. Each spell counts as a cleric spell for you and is always prepared for you.

Rogue Level – Spell

3^rd – Disguise Self
7^th – Invisibility
13^th – Gaseous Form
19^th – Greater Invisibility

Bond of Guidance

3^rd-level Divine Trickster feature

When you cast guidance, it does not use your concentration. If the target adds the die from guidance to a Dexterity (Stealth) or Wisdom (Perception) check, they can roll 1d6 rather than 1d4. The spell still ends early if you cast guidance again during the spell’s duration.

Bond of Wrath

3^rd-level Divine Trickster feature

When you cast a cleric spell using a spell slot of 1^st level or higher, you gain a Bond of Wrath. When you have a Bond of Wrath, the next time deal Sneak Attack damage before the end of your next turn, you deal an additional 1d6 radiant or necrotic damage and your Bond of Wrath ends. You can’t have more than one Bond of Wrath at a time.

Bond of Pursuit

9^th-level Divine Trickster feature

When you use Uncanny Dodge, you can also move up to half your speed without provoking opportunity attacks, and gain advantage on your next attack against the creature that triggered this reaction before the end of your next turn.

As Swift as Angels

13th-level Divine Trickster feature

You protect yourself or your allies as swiftly as a guardian angel. When you roll initiative and you are not surprised, you can use your reaction to cast a spell with a casting time of 1 action and a range of Self or Touch.

Left Hand of the Gods

17th-level Divine Trickster feature

The additional damage you deal with your Bond of Wrath increases to 2d6.

When you deal damage with your Bond of Wrath, you or a creature you can see within 60 feet can regain hit points equal to half of the total damage you deal with that attack. You can use this feature once, and you regain the use of it when you finish a long rest, or by expending a 3^rd-level spell slot.

Design Notes

The “Bond” terminology for features is certainly lifted wholesale from the Avenger, as is the general concept of adding a splash of radiant or necrotic damage on top of your stabbing (without going full-on paladin smiting). I decided that the cloth armor and greatswords aesthetic, while incredibly compelling, was going to be very difficult to fit into 5e, so I’m satisfied with finesse blades, ranged weapons, and light armor.

Working on this definitely reminded me of how long it has been since I wrote a subclass from the ground up. I’ve got another one coming up soon, so I hope this has knocked some of that rust off!

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