Shaman (5e Class)/Bond of the Avatar
While most Shamans are content to hurl spells from afar while their Eidolon does the heavy lifting. However, some Shamans take a more direct approach, wearing their Eidolon like armor as they charge into the fray, shredding their foes with deadly weaponry and occult power alike in a form no longer quite mortal.
Shamans the choose the Bond of the Avatar most often have Biped, Quadruped, Avian or Serpentine Eidolons, typically of the Elemental, Fey, Dragon or Undead type.
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Bond Spells[edit]
Beginning at 2nd level when you select this Bond, you learn the Crystal Blade cantrip, and you learn additional spells of 1st level and higher when you reach certain levels of this class, as shown on the Avatar Spells table below. Each of these spells counts as a Shaman spell for you, but doesn't count against the number of Shaman spells you know.
You cannot use Bond Spells to Barter for a Retrieved spell, nor can you replace them upon gaining a Shaman level. Likewise, your Bond Spells are not affected by Restricted Casting, as they result from your connection directly to your Eidolon, rather than from your connection to the Other Side.
| Shaman Level | Spells Gained |
|---|---|
| 1st | Crystal Blade, Armor of Agathys |
| 3rd | Spiritual Weapon |
| 5th | Branding Smite |
| 7th | Staggering Smite |
| 9th | Banishing Smite |
Trained For War[edit]
Beginning at 2nd level when you select this Bond, you gain proficiency with all martial weapons. You retain this benefit while in Avatar Form.
Avatar Form[edit]
Beginning at 2nd level when you select this Bond, you gain the ability to meld seamlessly into your Eidolon, provided it meets the criteria for Restricted Casting]]. As a bonus action, you can temporarily dismiss your Eidolon (As described in the Find Familiar spell description), and take your Avatar Form, as your Eidolon's body engulfs your own like a second skin, until you disappear into its form. Your Avatar Form lasts for 1 minute, until you or your Eidolon is reduced to 0 hit points, or until you dismiss the form as a Bonus Action. You cannot re-summon your Eidolon while in your Avatar Form.
While in Avatar Form, the following rules apply:
- Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the Eidolon, but you retain your alignment, personality, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. You also retain all of your skill and saving throw proficiencies. This gives you access to all of your Eidolon's Evolutions as well.
- When you transform, your hit points and hit dice, and those of your Eidolon, remain unchanged. However, all damage you take is divided evenly (Rounded up) between you and the Eidolon, as it cannot fully protect you from all harm. If either you or your Eidolon drops to 0 hit points, the transformation ends.
- While transformed, your Eidolon is incapacitated, as it focuses all of its attention towards protecting you and lending you its power.
- You can't cast spells, unless they are Cantrips or spells available via your Eidolon's Evolutions, and your ability to take any action that requires hands is limited to the capabilities of your Eidolon form. Transforming doesn't break your concentration on a spell you've already cast, however, or prevent you from taking actions that are part of a spell, such as Magic Stone, that you've already cast.
- You retain the benefit of any features from your class, race, or other source, and can use them if the new form is physically capable of doing so. However, you can't use any of your special senses, such as darkvision, unless your new form also has that sense.
- You choose whether your equipment falls to the ground in your space, merges into your new form, or is worn by it. Worn equipment functions as normal, but the DM decides whether it is practical for the new form to wear a piece of equipment, based on the creature's shape and size. Your equipment doesn't change size or shape to match the new form, and any equipment that the new form can't wear must either fall to the ground or merge with it. Equipment that merges with the form has no effect until you leave the form.
Once the transformation ends, your Eidolon remains temporarily dismissed for 1 minute and cannot be summoned during this time, leaving you vulnerable as your Eidolon recovers from the strain of armoring you. You can enter your Avatar Form a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus, regaining all uses when you finish a Long Rest.
Extra Attack[edit]
Starting at 6th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn. Moreover, you can cast one of your cantrips in place of one of those attacks.
We Stand As One[edit]
Beginning at 14th level, your spellcasting is no longer restricted by your Avatar Form, and your Eidolon is no longer strained by the transformation, allowing you to call it forth once more as soon as the transformation ends.
Additionally, you can enter your Avatar Form as a reaction made in response to taking damage, causing the triggering damage to be divided evenly (Rounded up) between you and your Eidolon.
True Avatar[edit]
At 18th level, you and your Eidolon have formed such a close bond that you are nigh-inseparable, a Shaman more comfortable in its skin than your own. Your Avatar Form can now last indefinitely, and you may enter Avatar Form an unlimited number of times.
