#alchemist subclasses

A small number of renegade Alchemists elect to experiment on themselves, modifying their anatomy or even outright attaching new body parts. These experimenters are often considered unethical and dangerous, even by other Alchemists, and those that practice them are branded Xenoalchemists for their efforts. As Xenoalchemists progress in their studies, they invariably stumble upon the dangerous practice of alchemical necromancy, which allows them to imbue life upon amalgamations of body parts.

Level 3 Xenobiology: You gain proficiency in one of these skills of your choice: Arcana, Nature, or Medicine. Additionally, you have Advantage on all ability checks you make to identify or research monsters.

Level 3 Mad Scientist: Your experiments in xenoalchemy grant you the following benefits.

Two Grafts. You gain two Common or Uncommon monstrous grafts of your choice. Beast's Hide and Climbing Apparatus are recommended. Monstrous grafts are detailed at the end of this subclass.

Painless Attachment. You don't lose Hit Dice from installing or removing grafts, and it takes you no time to recover after the attachment of a new graft.

Intelligent Grafts. You can use your Intelligence modifier, instead of Strength or Dexterity, for the attacks and damage of Unarmed Strikes that are improved by a graft, such as Bestial Weapons. If a graft forces a creature to make a saving throw, it uses your Alchemist save DC.

Level 3 Sleep Bomb (Formula): By adding a tranquilizer to your Bomb, you can change it into a Sleep Bomb. This Bomb deals no damage. When you use the Bomb's Explode property, each creature within the explosion makes a Wisdom saving throw, instead of Dexterity. A target hit by this Bomb or that fails its saving throw against it has the Incapacitated condition until the end of its next turn at which point it must repeat the save. If the target fails the second save, the target has the Unconscious condition for 1 minute. The condition ends on a target if it takes damage or someone within 5 feet of it takes an action to shake it out of the Bomb's effect.

Creatures that don't sleep, such as elves, or that have Immunity to the Exhaustion condition automatically succeed on saves against this Bomb. A creature that succeeds on its saving throw against the Bomb is Immune to its conditions for 24 hours.

You can use this formula a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of once) and regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.

Level 6 Surgical Strike: You can take the Study action to examine a creature as a Bonus Action. You learn the target's creature type and make a DC 15 Intelligence check using a skill below, corresponding to the target's creature type. If you succeed, you learn one of the following pieces of information of your choice about the target: its AC, Immunities, Resistances, and whether it is Bloodied.

Whether you succeed or fail, you can't use this feature again to target that creature or another creature of its specific kind (such as humans or unicorns) until you finish a Short or Long Rest.

Arcana: Aberrations, Constructs, Elementals, Fey, and Monstrosities

History: Giants, and Humanoids

Nature: Beasts, Dragons, Oozes, and Plants

Religion: Celestials, Fiends, and Undead

Level 10 Necromantic Organs: You've augmented your body with reanimated organs that persist after your death. If you are reduced to 0 Hit Points but not killed outright, you can drop to a number of Hit Points equal to your Alchemist level.

Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a Long Rest.

Level 14 It's Alive!: Your research into necromancy has culminated in golem stitched together from discarded body parts. This golem uses the Alchemy Golem stat block. (Listed Below)

Creating or Replacing the Golem. You can make a golem using 3 Humanoid corpses in a process that requires 8 hours of work, which can be done during a Long Rest. If you already have a golem from this feature, the old one dies when the new one is completed.

Golem in Combat. The golem is under your control and is an ally to you and your allies. In combat, it takes its turn immediately before or after your turn each round (your choice). You can take a Bonus Action to mentally command the golem if it is within 500 feet of you. If you issue no commands, the golem takes the Dodge action and moves only to avoid harm.

Golem Grafts. You can attach up to three monstrous grafts to the golem.

Restoring the Golem. If the golem has died within the last hour, you can take a Magic action to touch it and expend 1 Reagent. The golem returns to life with a number of Hit Points equal to 1d10 plus your Intelligence modifier.

Alchemy Golem stat block

Large Monstrosity, Unaligned

AC 13 plus your Intelligence modifier

Initiative -1 (9)

HP 5 plus five times your Alchemist level (the golem has a number of Hit Dice [d8s] equal to your Alchemist level)

Speed 30 ft.

Str: 17 (+3) Dex: 8 (-1) Con: 18 (+4) Int: 6 (-2) Wis: 11 (+0) Cha: 5 (-3)

Immunities: Charmed, Exhaustion, Frightened, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned

Senses Blindsight 30 ft.

Languages Understands the languages of its creator but can't speak

Traits

Alchemical Bond. Add your Proficiency Bonus to any ability check or saving throw the beast makes.

Magic Resistance. The golem has Advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Actions

Multiattack. The golem makes one Slam and one Unarmed Strike.

Slam. Melee Attack Roll: Bonus equals your Intelligence modifier plus your Proficiency Bonus, reach 5 ft. Hit: 1d8 plus 3 plus your Intelligence modifier Bludgeoning damage.

Unarmed Strike. Melee Attack Roll: Bonus equals your Intelligence modifier plus your Proficiency Bonus, reach 5 ft. Hit: 1d6 plus 3 plus your Intelligence modifier Bludgeoning damage.

Monstrous Grafts:

Harvesting a Graft. Grafts are harvested from the fresh corpses of monsters, slain within the last 48 hours or preserved by Gentle Repose or a similar spell. Harvesting a graft from a corpse takes 10 minutes. Only one graft can be harvested from each corpse. If the graft is too large or too small for the target creature, it is alchemically enlarged or reduced to fit. You can't harvest grafts from Tiny or Gargantuan creatures.

Certain grafts can only be harvested from monsters with a specific creature type, attack, or trait, as specified in the graft's Donor section.

Body Slots. Each graft takes up one of the following slots: Arms, External, Head, Internal, or Legs. You can't have more than one graft in the same body slot. For instance, if you already have an arm graft, you must remove it before you can attach a different arm graft.

First Installation in a Body Slot. The first installation of a graft in a particular body slot is an invasive procedure that often necessitates removing a body part or organ. This installation, which can be done during a Short Rest, requires one hour of work, a Healer's Kit and a knife, and someone else to perform the procedure. You lose half of your Hit Points and all of your Hit Dice when it is completed. Further installations in that body slot have none of these ill effects.

Attaching a Graft. After the first installation in a body slot, you can attach a graft in 10 minutes, which can be done during a Short Rest. Whenever you attach a graft for the first time, you can't use its abilities for 24 hours, as your body adjusts to its presence. A graft is permanent until another graft is provided to replace it.

Monstrous Graft Choices:

Amphibious Adaptation: Donor: Any Creature With the Amphibious or Water Breathing trait

You have grafted the fins and gills of an aquatic creature to your body. You have a Swim Speed equal to your Speed and you can breathe air and water.

Arcane Synapsis: Donor: Any Creature with a Spellcasting Action

You have stolen a bit of arcane potential by inserting additional nerves into your brain. You learn one cantrip of your choice from the Wizard spell list. Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for this cantrip when you cast it with this graft (choose each time you install this graft).

Beast's Hide: Donor: Large or Larger Beast

You have transplanted the thick hide from a wild Beast onto your body. Your base Armor Class equals 13 plus your Dexterity modifier. You can wear armor on top of your Beast's Hide, and you can use either armor to determine your AC. You can use a Shield and still gain this benefit.

Bestial Weapons: Donor: Any Creature with a Bite or Claw Action

You have implanted either the teeth or claws from a monster into yourself, which you can use to make Unarmed Strikes. A set of claws occupy the Arms slot, whereas teeth occupy the Head slot.

You can use your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier for the attack and damage rolls of your Unarmed Strikes. When you deal damage with an Unarmed Strike, you can deal Slashing damage (for Claws) or Piercing damage (for Teeth) equal to 1d6 plus your Strength or Dexterity modifier instead of the strike's normal damage.

Charging Hooves: Donor: Any Creature with a Gore or Hooves Action

You have replaced your legs with those of a running creature. Once on each of your turns, when you move at least 15 feet in a straight line, you can move up to 10 additional feet in that direction without spending movement.

Climbing Apparatus: Donor: Any Creature with a Climb Speed

You have replaced or complemented your lower limbs with those of a climbing creature. You have a Climb Speed equal to your Speed.

Darkvision: Donor: Any Creature with Darkvision

You have replaced your own eyes with those of a nocturnal or subterranean monster. You have Darkvision with a range of 60 feet.

Doppel Blooded: Donor: Any Creature with the Shape-Shift Action

As a Magic action, you can alter your appearance for up to 1 hour. You decide what you look like, including your height, weight, facial features, sound of your voice, hair length, coloration, and other distinguishing characteristics, if any. You can make yourself appear as a member of another species, though none of your statistics change. You also can't appear as a creature of a different size than you, and your basic shape stays the same; if you're bipedal, you can't use this ability to become quadrupedal, for instance.

Draconis Fundamentum: Donor: Dragon, Humanoid, or Monstrosity with a Breath Weapon Action (such as Fire Breath)

You have installed the mighty source of breath weapons into your body. When you take the Attack action on your turn, you can replace one of your attacks with an exhalation of magical energy in either a 15-foot Cone or a 30-foot Line that is 5 feet wide (choose the shape each time). Each creature in that area must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC 8 plus your Constitution modifier and Proficiency Bonus). On a failed save, a creature takes 1d10 damage. The damage is the same type as the donor's breath weapon. On a successful save, a creature takes half as much damage. This damage increases by 1d10 when you reach character levels 5 (2d10), 11 (3d10), and 17 (4d10).

You can use this graft a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.

Heart of Steel: Donor: Any Construct

You have replaced your heart with a Construct's core. You don't need to sleep, and magic can't put you to sleep. You can finish a Long Rest in 4 hours if you spend those hours in a motionless state, during which you retain consciousness.

Horns: Donor: Any Creature with a Gore, Horns, Ram, or Tusks Action

You attach a sturdy pair of horns or tusks onto your body that you can use to make Unarmed Strikes. You can use your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier for the attack and damage rolls of your Unarmed Strikes. When you deal damage with an Unarmed Strike, you can deal damage equal to 1d6 plus your Strength or Dexterity modifier instead of the strike's normal damage. The damage is the same type as the donor's attack. If you move at least 20 feet straight toward the target immediately before the hit, the target has the Prone condition, if it is Large or smaller.

Indiscernible Anatomy: Donor: Medium or Larger Aberration

You have spliced aberrant genetics into your body, which have altered your internal organs. Any Critical Hit against you becomes a normal hit.

Leaping Legs: Donor: Any Creature with the Standing Leap Trait or Pounce Action

The distance of your Long and High Jumps increases by 10 feet (this extra distance costs movement as normal). You suffer no penalty for making a standing High or Long Jump.

You can take a Reaction when you fall to reduce any damage you take from the fall by an amount equal to five times your Proficiency Bonus.

Oversized Arms: Donor: Giant

You have replaced your arms with a Giant's massive limbs. Your reach is 5 feet greater whenever you make an attack with a Melee weapon or Unarmed Strike. Additionally, you have Advantage on Strength checks and saving throws.

Prehensile Tail: Donor: Any Creature with a Tail Action

You attach a muscular, prehensile tail, which you can use to make Unarmed Strikes. You can use your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier for the attack and damage rolls of your Unarmed Strikes. When you deal damage with an Unarmed Strike, you can deal Bludgeoning damage equal to 1d6 plus your Strength or Dexterity modifier instead of the strike's normal damage. Additionally, you can hold and manipulate objects and weapons with your tail, but you can't make attacks with weapons held by your tail or wield a Shield with your tail and gain its benefits.

Replacement: Donor: Any

For every Alchemist that devotes their life to healing the sick, another hears a darker calling. Commonly called poisoners or Venomsmiths, these Alchemists are masters in the art of crafting deadly and debilitating poisons. Whether employed by an assassin's guild or performing assassinations themselves, a Venomsmith's presence is usually accompanied by untimely death.

Level 3 Poisoner: You gain the Alchemy of Poison discovery and can ignore the prerequisite of Alchemist level 5 for brewing poisons. This discovery doesn't count against your number of discoveries known, and you can't later replace this discovery with a different one.

Level 3 Laughing Gas Bombs: You gain the Laughing Gas Bomb formula, which doesn't count against your total number of formulae known. If you already have it, gain another formula of your choice. For you, the Bomb is improved in the following ways.

Improved Damage. All of this Bomb's damage dice are d10s.

Side-Splitter. A creature that rolls a 1 on the d20 for its saving throw against the Explode property of this Bomb has the Prone condition and its Speed is 0 until the start of your next turn.

Level 6 Alchemical Assassin: You have a specially-designed needle ring for poisoning others. You can use a Bonus Action to deal 1 Piercing damage to a creature within 5 feet of you, subjecting the creature to contact and injury poisons on the ring. You have Advantage on Sleight of Hand and Stealth checks made to conceal and use this ring.

Level 10 Mithridatism: By administering small doses of poisons and toxins to yourself, you have Immunity to Poison damage and the Poisoned condition.

The explosive force of an Alchemist's Bomb isn't just fire—it is a wave that can be shaped and focused. Alchemists who realize this and pursue the science of waves are deemed Resonators for their oft-revisited subject, resonant frequencies. Perhaps such frequencies are at the center of all alchemical pursuits, for with the right frequencies, a Resonator can warp explosions, concuss dragons, and vibrate steel to pieces.

Level 3 Playback Device: You construct a clockwork device for recording and playing back audio. You can record anything you have heard within the last minute using this device and can store up to 8 hours of audio. Played back audio sounds identical to when it was recorded, but you can't use this device to replicate sounds loudly enough to deafen or deal damage. Additionally, you can playback audio up to three times as loud, allowing you to use the device as a megaphone. If you lose your Playback Device, you can build a new one using materials worth 100+ GP over the course of a Short or Long Rest.

Level 3 Conical Bomb (Formula): By attaching a waveguide to the exterior of your Bomb, you can change it into a Conical Bomb. This Bomb deals Thunder damage instead of Fire damage. When you use the Bomb's Explode property, the explosion is a 10-foot Cone originating from the Bomb's point of impact, extending in a direction you choose. Each creature within the Cone makes a Constitution saving throw, instead of Dexterity. You can extend the cone by 5 feet by expending Reagents as normal.

Level 6 Resonant Frequency: You have discovered that every material has a resonant frequency, a specific tone that compromises its structural integrity. As a Magic action, you can choose one type of solid material, such as wood, glass, metal, or stone, and begin playing the material's resonant frequency through your Playback Device. You can stop playing a resonant frequency on your turn (no action required).

When you take this action and at the start of each of your turns while playing the frequency, objects made of the specified material within 15 feet of you that aren't being worn or carried take Force damage equal to 1d8 plus your Intelligence modifier. Constructs or Elementals made predominantly of a single material, such as metal or stone, and components of objects, such as the metal lock of a door, can also be damaged by a resonant frequency.

Level 10 Flashbang: As a Bonus Action, you can throw a concussive explosive at your feet. Each Large or smaller creature of your choice within 10 feet of you can't make Opportunity Attacks until the start of your next turn.

One of the lesser-known duties of Alchemists is synthesizing new and increasingly vibrant pigments from mundane and magical materials—in many cases, creating new colors from whole cloth. Alchemists that specialize in this field are called Pigmentists. An artful and imaginative lot, they seek to brighten the world with their newly-invented hues, or failing that, simply splatter it with marvelous combinations of paint.

Level 3 Painter: You gain proficiency with Painter's Supplies and gain a bonus to checks using it equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum bonus of +1). Additionally, you can make a gallon of paint whenever you finish a Short or Long Rest.

Level 3 Paint Bombs: You gain the Paint Bomb formula, which doesn't count against your total number of formulae known. If you already have it, gain another formula of your choice. For you, the Bomb is improved in the following ways.

Extended Duration. Creatures remain coated in paint until the end of your next turn, instead of the start of your next turn.

Magical Pigments. When you throw a Paint Bomb, choose its color from below. Each color corresponds to a damage type. Whenever a creature coated in paint takes damage of the corresponding type, it takes an extra 1d6 damage of that type.

Blue: Cold

Green: Poison

Indigo: Thunder

Orange: Acid

Red: Fire

Violet: Necrotic

Yellow: Lightning

Level 6 Palette Portals: You mix your paint with conjuration magic. Once on each of your turns, you can use 10 feet of your movement to enter any area of wet paint within 5 feet of you, emerging from another area of wet paint of the same color within 60 feet of you. Both areas of paint must be at least the same size as you and must have been coated within the last minute.

Level 10 Pigment Potions: Whenever you brew a potion, you can add a pigment from the Magical Pigments table. When a creature drinks this potion, they also gain the benefits of a Potion of Resistance of the corresponding damage type for 1 minute.

Level 14 Splatter Bombs: Your Paint Bombs are improved in the following ways:

Rainbow Blast. You can add up to three colors from the Magical Pigments when you throw a Paint Bomb.

Unsurprisingly, Oozes, jellies, and slimes are a fascinating subject for Alchemists who wish to figure out how inanimate chemicals can form together and rise up in a moving, hungry mass. The answer to this question may very well be at the heart of alchemy itself. Alchemists who choose to research slimes in depth are called Ooze Ranchers, for they breed and keep numerous slimes upon which to experiment.

Level 3 Ooze Resilience: Your experience with Oozes grants you the following benefits.

Acid Resistance. You have Resistance to Acid damage.

Ooze Empathy. Additionally, whenever an Ooze tries to attack you, it makes a Wisdom saving throw against your Alchemist save DC. On a failed save, the attack automatically misses you. On a successful save, the Ooze is immune to this feature for the next 24 hours.

Level 3 Slime Bomb (Formula): By mixing your Bomb's explosive contents with the remnants of an Ooze, you can change it into a Slime Bomb. This Bomb deals no damage, but instead causes the target or each creature within the Sphere of the Bomb's Explode property to become coated in a viscous, green slime. A creature coated in slime can't take Bonus Actions or the Dash, Disengage, or Dodge action. This slime lasts for 1 minute or until it or another creature takes the Utilize action to remove the slime.

Level 6 Bottled Oozes: Whenever you brew potions, you can spend 2 Reagents to create a Bottled Ooze, which contains a Gray Ooze. This item retains potency until you finish a Long Rest, after which it becomes inert.

An Ooze produced by your Bottled Oozes uses your Intelligence modifier plus your Proficiency Bonus for its attack rolls. If the Ooze forces a creature to make a saving throw, it uses your Alchemist save DC.

Improved Bottled Oozes. At higher Alchemist levels, you can distill more powerful slimes into Bottled Oozes that you create, as shown. An Ooze by your Bottled Ooze can't take the Split Reaction (The number of Reagents needed is shown in parenthesis).

Alright so to tell you how Bottled Oozes work. As Bonus Action, you can throw the bottle up to 60 feet, shattering it on impact and releasing whatever Ooze is inside. The Ooze is friendly to you and your allies, and will otherwise attack the nearest creature it can detect. If there is no creature to attack, the Ooze will follow you. The Ooze dissolves into a lifeless sludge after 1 hour or when you release another Bottled Ooze.

At level 6: Bottled Ooze (Gray Ooze) (2)

At level 9: Bottled Ooze (Ochre Jelly) and Bottled Ooze (Gelatinous Cube) (Both 4)

At level 13: Bottled Ooze (Black Pudding) (6)

Level 10 Sacrificial Slime: Whenever you are targeted by an attack while an allied Ooze is within 5 feet of you, you can take a Reaction to command it to move in the way of the attack, causing the attack to target it instead.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (a minimum of once). You regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.

While many "Mad Bombers" aren't actually mad, it takes a special kind of crazy to devote one's life to studying explosives. Most Alchemists who specialize in this field are incorrigible pyromaniacs who take great pleasure in burning, blasting, and blowing things up. Mad Bombers are always working to improve their bombs' effectiveness.

Level 3 Blasting Specialty: Your Bombs deal double damage to objects and structures.

Level 3 Black Powder Bomb (Formula): By adding a charge of black powder to your Bomb, you can change it into an Black Powder Bomb. All of this Bomb's damage dice are d12s. If a target has Resistance to Fire damage, it loses that Resistance for this damage roll. If it has Immunity to Fire damage, it instead has Resistance for this damage roll.

You can use this formula a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of once) and regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.

Level 6 Timed Demolition: When you prime a Bomb, you can set a duration for its detonation, which can be any number of rounds (any increment of 6 seconds) up to 10 minutes. The Bomb detonates using the Bomb's Explode property at the end of your turn after this duration. If a creature is in the area of more than one Bomb's explosion simultaneously, the creature is only affected by one Bomb of your choice.

Level 10 Blast Shield: Choose one damage type from among Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning, or Thunder whenever you finish a Short or Long Rest. You have Resistance to that damage type until you choose a different one with this feature.

Many practically minded Alchemists assume the role of the Apothecary, for adventuring parties always need a healer and Clerics are often in short supply. During their downtime, such Alchemists have a marketable skill to depend upon for income and can do an indisputable amount of good with their knowledge. Apothecaries constantly study potions and herbology, preferring to learn how to mend the body, rather than destroy.

Level 3: Physician's Study: You gain proficiency in Medicine. Additionally, you gain a bonus to checks using this skill equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum bonus of +1).

Level 3 Painkiller Bomb (Formula): You can mix your Bomb's contents with analgesic oil, changing it into a Painkiller Bomb. This Bomb deals no damage, but instead causes the target or each creature within the Sphere of the Bomb's Explode property to gain Temporary Hit Points. These Temporary Hit Points equal your Alchemist level.

When you grant Temporary Hit Points using this Bomb, you can also expend Reagents to use Empowered Bomb. Instead of increasing the Bomb's damage, you increase the number of Temporary Hit Points by 1d10 for each expended Reagent.

You can use this formula a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of once) and regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.

Level 6 Concentrated Healing: When a creature regains Hit Points as a result of drinking one of your potions, it can instead replace up to half of the die rolled with the highest possible number for each die.

Level 10 Self Medication: Whenever you drink a potion that has the effect of restoring your Hit Points (even if you already have all of your Hit Points), you have Advantage on saving throws until the end of your next turn.

The study of mind-affecting alchemy is a delicate one, practiced only by a small number of Alchemists, known as Amorists. Often called "love doctors" by their clientele, Amorists specialize in the brewing of potions that produce strong emotional responses in their drinkers. While love potions are by far their most popular product, Amorists can also craft pungent pheromone bombs that can even soften the hearts of terrible monsters.

Level 3 Charmer: You gain proficiency in Deception and Persuasion. Additionally, when you make a Charisma check using these skills, you can make it as an Intelligence check.

When you brew potions, you can create a Philter of Love for 1 Reagent.

Level 3 Pheromone Bomb (Formula): By adding a potent pheromone to your Bomb, you can change it into a Pheromone Bomb. This Bomb deals no damage. When you use the Bomb's Explode property, each creature within the explosion makes a Wisdom saving throw, instead of Dexterity. A target hit by this Bomb or that fails its saving throw against it has the Charmed condition until the start of your next turn or until it takes damage.

Level 6 Magnetic Personality: You can take the Influence action as a Bonus Action.

Level 10 Beguiling Perfume: You wear a mind-altering perfume that endears others to you. When an enemy within 5 feet of you makes an attack roll against you, it must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your Alchemist save DC or either choose a new target or lose the attack. A creature that takes damage from you is immune to this feature for 1 hour.

Level 14 Alchemical Romance: When you use your Pheromone Bomb, you can expend 1-4 Reagents to improve it. Choose a number of benefits equal to the number of Reagents expended.

Dreamy Haze. Choose one creature that has the Bomb's Charmed condition. While Charmed, that creature falls into a dreamy state in which it regards every creature it sees as the condition's charmer.

Extended Charm. Choose one creature that has the Bomb's Charmed condition. The Charmed condition lasts for 1 minute for it or until it takes damage.

Ignore Immunity. Your Pheromone Bomb ignores Immunity to the Charmed condition.