Battlemages practice magic as a physical discipline: a spell is a feint, a ward is a parry, and a weapon is another line in the same argument. They combine disciplined weapon attacks with a measured progression of prepared spells, excelling at close-quarters combat where they can defend themselves and answer threats with force. Their magic is potent but less varied than a full spellcaster's, and their durability depends on timing rather than heavy armor.
Make every spell a stance and every strike a spell.
Hybrid spellcaster and weapon combatant: tactical damage, self-defense, and flexible battlefield response.
At a glance
Measured Parry
Hit die d8
Intelligence
DexterityYou gain proficiency with all Simple and Martial weapons, Light armor, Medium armor, and Shields. You can use an Arcane Focus or a weapon you're proficient with as a Spellcasting Focus for your Battlemage spells.
When a creature you can see hits you with an attack, you can use your Reaction and expend one use of this feature to attempt a parry. Make a Dexterity saving throw: DC 10 for Bludgeoning, Piercing, or Slashing damage; DC 15 for Fire, Cold, Lightning, Force, Poison, Acid, or any other damage type except Psychic or Thunder. For Psychic or Thunder damage, make an Intelligence saving throw against DC 15. On a success, reduce the attack's damage by 1d8 + your Intelligence modifier (minimum reduction of 1); on a failure, the attack deals damage normally. You have uses equal to your Proficiency Bonus and regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.
You learn to cast spells through weapon forms and battlefield practice. You use Intelligence as your spellcasting ability and prepare Battlemage spells as described in Spellcasting or Powers.
Choose a Battlemage subclass. Your subclass grants features at levels 3, 6, 10, and 14.
You can replace one of your attacks with a cantrip you know that has a casting time of an action.
Ability Score Improvement
You can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
You regain one expended use of Measured Parry when you finish a Short Rest. In addition, its damage reduction increases to 1d10 + your Intelligence modifier.
When you take the Attack action, you can expend a spell slot to charge one weapon hit that turn with force. The target takes an extra 2d8 Force damage for a 1st-level slot, plus 1d8 for each slot level above 1st, to a maximum of 5d8; the extra damage increases by 1d8 against a Fiend or Undead.
Ability Score Improvement
When you use Spellstrike, you can choose Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning, or Thunder instead of Force for its extra damage.
When you succeed on a saving throw to maintain Concentration, you can move up to 10 feet without provoking Opportunity Attacks. You can do so once per turn.
When you use Cantrip Assault, you can replace two attacks with the cantrip instead of one.
Ability Score Improvement
When you roll Initiative and have no uses of Measured Parry remaining, you regain one use.
When you succeed on a Measured Parry saving throw, you can move up to 10 feet without provoking Opportunity Attacks. This movement does not reduce the damage further.
When you use Spellstrike, you can expend a 1st-level spell slot instead of a higher-level slot to deal 3d8 extra damage.
Ability Score Improvement
When you use Spellstrike, you can charge up to two weapon hits that turn. The extra damage is rolled separately for each hit, and you expend a spell slot only once.
When you roll Initiative, you regain all expended uses of Measured Parry.
Ability Score Improvement and Epic Boon
Once on each of your turns when you hit with a weapon attack, you can deal an extra 2d8 damage of a type allowed by Elemental Edge. When you cast a spell of 1st level or higher, you can also make one weapon attack as a Bonus Action.
IntelligenceDexterityIntelligence
ConstitutionHit points per Battlemage level; Hit Points at 1st level equal 8 + your Constitution modifier, and at later levels equal (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per Battlemage level.
DefensesMeasured Parry uses a Dexterity saving throw for most damage types, or an Intelligence saving throw for Psychic and Thunder damage, as specified in the feature.
ArmorLight armor, Medium armor, Shields.
WeaponsSimple and Martial weapons.
ToolsNone. Choose two skills from Acrobatics, Arcana, Athletics, History, Insight, Investigation, Perception, and Survival.
Starting equipmentchoose A or B: (A) Chain Shirt, Shield, one Martial weapon, two Daggers, Arcane Focus, Explorer's Pack, and 9 GP; or (B) 150 GP.
Skill choicesAcrobatics, Arcana, Athletics, History, Insight, Investigation, Perception, Survival
ResourceSpell slots, using the Paladin half-caster spell-slot progression, and Proficiency Bonus uses of Measured Parry per Long Rest (with the class features that restore uses).
MulticlassingPrerequisite: Intelligence 13. When you multiclass into Battlemage, you gain proficiency with Light armor, Medium armor, and one Simple or Martial weapon of your choice. Determine multiclass spell slots by adding half your Battlemage levels, rounded up, to your levels in other spellcasting classes, then consult the multiclass spellcaster table; your prepared Battlemage spells remain limited to what a single-class Battlemage of your level can prepare.
Spellcasting: You learn two cantrips of your choice from the Wizard spell list at level 1 and learn additional Wizard cantrips as shown by your class progression; at level 10, learn one additional Wizard cantrip.
You prepare a number of Battlemage spells equal to your Intelligence modifier plus half your Battlemage level, rounded down (minimum one spell), choosing from the Wizard spell list; each spell must be of a level for which you have spell slots. You can change your prepared spells when you finish a Long Rest. You use Intelligence as your spellcasting ability (Spell Save DC = 8 + Proficiency Bonus + Intelligence modifier; spell attack modifier = Proficiency Bonus + Intelligence modifier). You use the Paladin spell-slot progression: no slots at level 1; at level 2, 2 first-level slots; level 3, 3 first-level; level 4, 3 first-level; level 5, 4 first-level and 2 second-level; level 6, 4 first-level and 2 second-level; level 7, 4 first-level, 3 second-level; level 8, 4 first-level, 3 second-level; level 9, 4 first-level, 3 second-level, 2 third-level; level 10, 4 first-level, 3 second-level, 2 third-level; level 11, 4 first-level, 3 second-level, 3 third-level; level 12, same as level 11; level 13, 4 first-level, 3 second-level, 3 third-level, 1 fourth-level; level 14, same as level 13; level 15, 4 first-level, 3 second-level, 3 third-level, 2 fourth-level; level 16, same as level 15; level 17, 4 first-level, 3 second-level, 3 third-level, 3 fourth-level, 1 fifth-level; level 18, same as level 17; level 19, 4 first-level, 3 second-level, 3 third-level, 3 fourth-level, 2 fifth-level; level 20, same as level 19. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a Long Rest. The spell list field is a curated thematic selection, not a restriction on your full Wizard-list choices.
A protective duelist who turns defense into an opening.
An aggressive combatant who channels raw elemental power through weapon and spell.
A mobile skirmisher whose magic makes every angle a possible attack.
Battlemages practice magic as a physical discipline: a spell is a feint, a ward is a parry, and a weapon is another line in the same argument.
They combine disciplined weapon attacks with a measured progression of prepared spells, excelling at close-quarters combat where they can defend themselves and answer threats with force. Their magic is potent but less varied than a full spellcaster's, and their durability depends on timing rather than heavy armor.
Hold a position where you can reach enemies and protect allies, then choose between a weapon attack, a cantrip, or a limited spell for the moment.
Use Measured Parry against a dangerous hit rather than spending it on every small blow; reserve spell slots for versatile control, defense, and Spellstrike when a target needs to fall quickly. Your d8 Hit Die and medium armor reward careful positioning rather than standing alone in the center of a crowd.
Most battlemages begin as apprentices in a martial school, a wizardly college, or a military company, then train under an instructor who teaches both disciplines together.
Initiates learn weapon safety, spell theory, and how to read an attack before attempting a live parry. Some self-taught battlemages develop the craft through necessity, but established schools consider disciplined practice essential.
Ordinary people often see battlemages as reassuring protectors or unnerving duelists who make spellcraft look like violence.
Soldiers value their versatility, while traditional academies may dismiss them as insufficiently scholarly and martial orders may distrust their magic.
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