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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

Pathfinder RPG (1st Edition) Pathfinder RPG (2nd Edition) Starfinder RPG

Rules Index | GM Screen | Player's Guide
Dark Archive / Deviant Abilities

Deviant Classifications

Source Dark Archive pg. 99
The Dark Archive classifies deviant abilities into broad categories, typically filing them according to their ultimate effects, since the source of the deviations range so widely. If you are advancing your deviant ability, you can do so with the below deviant feats. Feats with the deviant trait are class feats, but can be taken by any class. When you take the feat, it gains the trait appropriate for your class.

Deviation Saves and Attack Rolls

Source Dark Archive pg. 99
Many deviations allow for a saving throw or have other abilities that change as you go up in level. The DC for any saving throw called for by a deviation is the higher of your class DC or spell DC. The attack modifier of a deviation is 10 lower than that DC, unless the deviation calls for a Strike, in which case the attack modifier is the normal attack modifier of the Strike. A deviation's counteract modifier is equal to your counteract modifier.

Backlash

Source Dark Archive pg. 100
The same blood that lets one of the dragon-descended spit out a gout of flame is precisely what keeps the inside of their mouth from being singed in the furnace. Deviations, unfortunately, lack these safeguards, their powers coming from haphazard circumstance and interactions rather than intentional design. A character using their deviation always risks the chance of backlash.

Whenever you attempt to use a deviation, roll a DC 5 flat check. On a success, you use your deviation and the DC for subsequent checks increases by 5, to a maximum of 20; on a failure, you use your deviation and then suffer a backlash effect, after which your flat check DC resets to 5. Backlash progresses from mild, to moderate, to severe. When you have already taken mild backlash in a given day, the next time you would take backlash, you take the moderate backlash instead, and if you have already taken moderate backlash, you take the severe backlash instead, and your deviation can't be used for the rest of the day— attempting to use it simply brings pain. When you make your daily preparations, your flat check DC returns to 5 and your next backlash returns to mild.

Any effects from backlash can't be reduced, prevented, or otherwise bypassed. Conditions and damage you take from backlash can't be reduced or prevented by resistance or immunity, but still triggers any weakness you have to it.

Awakened Powers

Source Dark Archive pg. 100
A deviant ability's unstable nature means it can grow in power at a later point, responding to a stressful moment or continuing to evolve along a mysterious path. “Awakening” lines in deviant feats represent possible paths the power's awakening can take. You don't gain the awakening unless you take a feat that grants you those benefits. You can gain only one awakening for a given deviant feat.