It all started with me wanting to create a bard using martial weapons. I ended up with a homebrew class that combines the two... enjoy!
A highly mobile, acrobatic warrior whose combat revolves around spinning, twirling, and dancing with a glaive or polearm. They combine martial attacks with performance-style abilities and optionally minor spellcasting. Key Features:
• Martial weapon proficiency (all polearms)
• Medium armor proficiency
• Dexterity-based melee combat
• “Flourishes” and dance moves that buff allies and control the battlefield
• Optional spellcasting or magical effects tied to performance
Primary Stats: Dexterity & Charisma
• Martial Grace: Proficiency with all martial weapons, medium armor, shields
• Dance Step: Move up to 15 ft without provoking opportunity attacks; enemies you move through take 1d4 mental damage
• Glaive Mastery: Use Dex instead of Strength for glaive/polearm attacks
• Gain Flourish ability: once per turn, you can add a die to melee damage or trigger a special effect:
1. Whirling Strike: AoE 5 ft, 1d6 + Dex
2. Polearm Inspiration: Allies within 10 ft add 1d4 to attack/save
• Blade Dance: Extra melee attacks, Flourish bonus
• Spectacle: Focus on illusions, dazzle enemies, minor magical effects
Theme: Martial mastery with your glaive/polearm. A fast, lethal, precise style emphasizing combat elegance and offensive prowess.
• When you take the Attack action with a glaive/polearm, you can apply Flourish:
• Add 1d6 (scales with level) to damage
• Optionally push the target 5 ft back or knock prone (Strength save DC = 8 + proficiency + Dex)
2. Whirling Strike (AoE Melee)
• Once per turn, when you hit with a melee attack, you can spin your glaive:
• 5 ft radius: 1d6 + Dex damage (half on Dex save)
• 10 ft radius at level 10+: 1d8 + Dex, knock prone on failed Strength save
3. Elegant Recovery (Level 6)
• When you use Dance Step to move through enemies, you regain a number of hit points equal to your Dex modifier + Bard/Glaive Dancer level (once per short rest)
4. Blade Dance Mastery (Level 14)
• You can make an extra attack when you use your Attack action with a glaive/polearm
• All Flourishes deal +1d6 extra damage
• Spinning slashes, precise leaps, acrobatic strikes
• Each attack is choreographed like a deadly ballet
• Focused on killing or controlling enemies with movements and strikes
Theme: Performance and flair. Focused on illusions, mesmerism, battlefield control, and crowd-dazzling movements.
• When you move using Dance Step, enemies in 10 ft must succeed on Wisdom save or have disadvantage on attack rolls until your next turn
• Enemies that fail can also be charmed until end of their next turn (optional, higher level)
• When you make a melee attack with a glaive, you can create an illusionary duplicate of yourself in a space within 5 ft:
• Allies can move through the illusion as if it were an obstacle for cover
• Enemies must succeed on a Wisdom save or take 1d4 mental damage from the dazzling illusion
3. Spectacle Stage (Level 6)
• Once per short rest, you can create a 15 ft radius “stage” centered on you:
• Enemies have a disadvantage on attacks against anyone in the stage
• Allies have advantage on attacks against enemies inside the stage
• Optional flavor: stage glows with lights, smoke, or musical effects
4. Grand Performance (Level 14)
• As an action, create a 20 ft radius spectacular performance:
• All enemies must make a Wisdom save or be frightened or charmed for 1 round
• Allies gain temporary hit points equal to Dex or Cha modifier + level
• You can move through enemies safely during this performance
• Think Cirque du Soleil with weapons
• Emphasizes crowd control, battlefield manipulation, and dazzling performances
• Perfect for a character who is as much entertainer as warrior
• Attack twice when taking the Attack action or perform Flourish as bonus action
Level 6 – Flourishing Spins
• Melee AoE attacks when attacking with glaive/polearm:
• Crescendo Slash (10 ft, knock prone)
• Polearm Inspiration (buff allies)
Level 10 – Grand Performance
• Once per short/long rest, perform Grand Dance:
• 3d10 slashing, knock prone, allies gain temp HP
• Move through enemies safely
Level 14 – Master of Motion
• Dance Step now allows moving through multiple enemies, leave dazzling trails (buff allies or hinder enemies)
• Flourishes deal extra damage
• Performance Flow: After 3 successful melee attacks or dance moves, gain unlimited Flourish for 1 minute:
• Move through enemies freely
• Psychic damage aura (1d6)
Blade Dance Spells / Flourishes
Focused on melee, damage, and battlefield control through combat elegance.
1. Whirling Strike (1st-level)
• Range: Self, 5 ft radius
• Effect: Spin your glaive in a 5 ft radius.
• Damage: 1d6 + Dex modifier to all enemies
• Save: Dexterity save for half
• Scaling: +1d6 per 2 levels
2. Crescendo Slash (3rd-level)
• Effect: Powerful spin, enemies must make Strength save or be knocked prone
• Damage: 1d8 + Dex modifier
• Scaling: +1d8 per 2 levels
3. Blade Flourish (2nd-level)
• Casting Time: Bonus Action
• Effect: Add 1d6 extra damage to your next melee attack and optionally push target 5 ft back
• Scaling: Die increases with level (d6 → d8 → d10 → d12)
4. Pirouette Assault (4th-level)
• Range: 15 ft radius centered on you
• Effect: Spin and strike all enemies in range:
• Enemies must succeed Strength save or be pushed 10 ft
• Bonus: Allies in range gain advantage on attacks against pushed enemies
5. Grand Blade Dance (6th-level, Capstone)
• Effect: Legendary spinning attack:
• Knock prone on failed Strength save
• Allies gain temporary HP = Dex + level
Spectacle Spells / Flourishes
Focused on illusion, crowd control, buffs, and dazzling effects.
1. Dazzling Step (Cantrip / 1st-level)
• Casting Time: Bonus Action
• Range: Self, 10 ft radius
• Effect: Move using Dance Step; enemies in radius must succeed on Wisdom save or have disadvantage on attacks until your next turn
• Scaling: Psychic damage 1d4 → 1d6 → 1d8
2. Illusory Flourish (2nd-level)
• Range: 5 ft around target
• Effect: Create an illusion of yourself:
• Enemies make Wisdom save or take 1d4 psychic damage
• Allies can use illusion for cover
3. Spectacle Stage (3rd-level)
• Range: 15 ft radius centered on you
• Effect: Allies gain advantage on attacks against enemies in radius
• Enemies have disadvantage on attacks against anyone inside stage
4. Hypnotic Spin (4th-level)
• Effect: Enemies must succeed on Wisdom save or be charmed until end of their next turn
• Bonus: Can weave in minor illusions or lights for extra flair
5. Grand Performance (6th-level, Capstone)
• Effect: Dazzling display of movement and illusions:
• Enemies must succeed on Wisdom save or be frightened or charmed for 1 round
• Allies gain temporary HP = Dex or Cha modifier + level
• You can move freely through enemies during performance
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