The Hand of Dread is a Pugilist who has made a bargain with a malevolent power and carries the proof in their own flesh. Their warped limb lashes out at attackers, turns close combat into a brutal blur, and can eventually become a towering instrument of terror. The pact grants a little warlock magic, but this subclass remains a durable close-quarters striker whose supernatural gifts sharpen the Pugilist’s existing fists and Moxie.
A pact-marked fist that makes every close-quarters fight feel personal.
Durable close-quarters striker with retaliatory attacks, reliable Unarmed Strikes, limited pact magic, and a late-game single-target execution effect.
At a glance
Hit die d10
Strength
ConstitutionSubclass of Pugilist
Black Magic. Choose two cantrips from the Warlock spell list. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells. Choose one level 1 spell from the Warlock spell list; you always have it prepared and can cast it once without expending a spell slot, regaining that free use when you finish a Long Rest. You can also cast it using any spell slots you have. Whenever you gain a level, you can replace one spell chosen with this feature with a different Warlock spell of the same level. Dread Hand. When you take the Attack action on your turn, you can manifest your pact-mark in one limb for 1 minute. While it lasts, when a creature hits you with a melee attack, you can take a Reaction to make an Unarmed Strike against it if it is within your reach. When you hit with an Unarmed Strike, roll its damage dice twice and use either result. The first time you miss with an Unarmed Strike on each of your turns, you can reroll the attack, and you must use the new roll. Once you manifest the hand, you can’t do so again until you finish a Short or Long Rest.
Choose one benefit from the Deal with the Devil options. You can change your choice whenever you finish a Long Rest. Cloak of Shadows lets you cast Invisibility once without a spell slot, regaining that use when you finish a Short or Long Rest. Mask of Many Faces lets you cast Disguise Self without expending a spell slot. Otherworldly Walk lets you cast Misty Step once without a spell slot, regaining that use when you finish a Short or Long Rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
When you use Dread Hand, you also gain the benefits of the Enlarge effect of the Enlarge/Reduce spell for its duration, and your reach becomes 10 feet. You can use this enlarged manifestation once, regaining the use when you finish a Long Rest. Alternatively, when you have expended this use, you can take 1 level of Exhaustion (no action required) to regain it. This exhaustion cannot be prevented or removed until after you use the regained manifestation.
As a Magic action, expend 6 Moxie Points to drive your hand into a creature within your reach and tear at its innards. The target must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC 8 + your Strength modifier + your Proficiency Bonus). On a failed save, it takes 100 Piercing damage; on a successful save, it takes 50 Piercing damage. If this damage reduces the target to 0 Hit Points, it dies immediately. Each creature of your choice in a 30-foot Emanation originating from you must then succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against the same DC or have the Frightened condition for 1 minute. A frightened creature can repeat the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the condition on itself on a success. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a Long Rest.
StrengthConstitutionHit pointsAs a Pugilist, your Hit Point Die is per Pugilist level.
Saving throwsUse the Pugilist’s saving throw proficiencies and defenses. Spells granted by this subclass use Constitution as their spellcasting ability; the saving throw DC is 8 + your Constitution modifier + your Proficiency Bonus, and spell attacks use your Constitution modifier.
TrainingUse the Pugilist’s proficiencies and training. This subclass grants no additional proficiencies.
ResourceMoxie Points; you regain all expended points when you finish a Short or Long Rest. Fountain of Viscera expends 6 Moxie Points.
MulticlassingUse the Pugilist’s multiclassing prerequisites and proficiencies. Black Magic uses Constitution as its spellcasting ability; your Pugilist Moxie and subclass features scale with Pugilist levels as normal.
At level 3, learn two Warlock cantrips and one level 1 Warlock spell through Black Magic.
You can cast the chosen level 1 spell once without a spell slot per Long Rest, or with any spell slots you have. At level 6, Deal with the Devil grants one additional spell-like option. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for all spells granted by this subclass. These features do not grant a general spell slot progression.
Choose one supernatural gift at Pugilist level 6; you can change your choice after a Long Rest.
You can cast Invisibility once without a spell slot, regaining the use when you finish a Short or Long Rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for it.
You can cast Disguise Self without expending a spell slot. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for it.
You can cast Misty Step once without a spell slot, regaining the use when you finish a Short or Long Rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for it.
The Hand of Dread is a Pugilist who has made a bargain with a malevolent power and carries the proof in their own flesh.
Their warped limb lashes out at attackers, turns close combat into a brutal blur, and can eventually become a towering instrument of terror. The pact grants a little warlock magic, but this subclass remains a durable close-quarters striker whose supernatural gifts sharpen the Pugilist’s existing fists and Moxie.
Stay close and use Dread Hand to punish enemies who attack you or to make your Unarmed Strikes more reliable.
Your pact magic adds limited utility, while Moxie remains your main tactical resource. Save Grotesque Growth for encounters where its extra reach and enlarged form can shape the fight, and reserve Fountain of Viscera for a dangerous target whose defeat is worth the cost and consequences.
Most are made, not trained: a desperate fighter bargains with a dread power for the strength to survive, then learns to keep the resulting mark under control.
Some are inducted by a pact-bearer who teaches the discipline needed to channel the hand without surrendering to it. The bargain’s exact terms vary, but the power always expects something in return.
Ordinary people often regard a Hand of Dread as both a protector and a looming threat.
Those who have seen the transformed limb at work may be grateful for the help, but many worry that the pact’s price will eventually be paid nearby.
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