Undead MasterLegacy Content
Source Book of the Dead pg. 41Not everyone with an interest in the
undead raises a vast army of faceless, disposable minions. You prefer to cultivate a more personal relationship with a small number of undead companions, personalized to your needs and expectations. Those companions with minds trust you implicitly; those without are extensions of your will. Perhaps they see you as a teacher or caretaker, shepherding them on the path to peace and passing on, or perhaps they are your protectors, bound to aid you by negotiation and magical spells. Whatever the case, they will fight for and alongside you without question, throwing themselves into danger without hesitation if it will provide a means to your desired end.
This archetype works well for a necromancer capable of raising undead but isn't exclusive to them. You could be a warrior who befriended an undead, an evil champion granted an undead companion by your deity, or an undead bloodline sorcerer undead are drawn to. The additional feats below are found in the
beastmaster archetype. Whenever one of these additional feats refers to an animal companion, as an undead master, you apply it to your undead companion instead.
Additional Feats
Source Player Core pg. 215 2.0Some archetypes include a list of “Additional Feats” that appear in other sources. The list includes each feat’s level, which might be different than normal when gained from the archetype. You can take the feat as an archetype feat of that level, meaning it counts toward the number of feats required by the archetype’s dedication feat. When selected this way, a feat that normally has a class’s trait (such as the fighter trait) doesn’t have that class trait.
Click here for the full rules on Additional Feats.
Legacy Content
Uncommon Archetype Dedication Source Book of the Dead pg. 41Archetype Undead MasterPrerequisites evil alignment
You gain the services of an
undead companion that travels with you and obeys your commands. The rules for undead companions are under
Undead Companions and utilize those for
animal companions.
Contrary to the usual rules for companions, as an undead master it's possible for you to have more than one undead companion at a time. However, only one of those companions, your “active companion,” follows you during exploration and encounters; the rest are reduced to an “inactive” state that can be easily tucked into an inventory or stored in a nearby crypt. If you ever have more than one undead companion, you gain the Call Companion action, with your undead companions taking the place of animal companions.
Special You can't select another dedication feat until you have gained two other feats from the undead master archetype.
Legacy Content
Archetype Source Advanced Player's Guide pg. 160 2.0Archetypes Beastmaster,
Undead MasterPrerequisites Beastmaster Dedication
Another animal joins you in your travels. It is a young animal companion that has the
minion trait. See
Beastmaster Animal Companions for rules on how having multiple animal companions works.
Special You can select this feat more than once, gaining an additional animal companion each time, to a maximum of four total companions (including the one you gained from Beastmaster Dedication and possibly one you gained from sources other than the beastmaster archetype).
Legacy Content
Archetype Source Advanced Player's Guide pg. 160 2.0Archetypes Beastmaster,
Undead MasterPrerequisites Beastmaster Dedication
All of your animal companions grow up, becoming
mature animal companions and gaining additional capabilities. During an encounter, even if you don't use the
Command an Animal action, your animal companion can still use 1 action on your turn to either Stride or Strike.
Legacy Content
Ranger Source Core Rulebook pg. 172 4.0Archetypes Beastmaster,
Mammoth Lord,
Undead MasterPrerequisites an animal companion
* This version of the Companion's Cry feat is intended for use with an Archetype and has a different level for access than the
original feat.
You can urge your companion to do its utmost. You can spend 2 actions to Command an Animal instead of 1 when commanding your animal companion. If you do, your animal companion uses an additional action.
Legacy Content
Archetype Divine Necromancy Source Book of the Dead pg. 41Archetype Undead MasterFrequency once per 10 minutes
Prerequisites Undead Master DedicationTrigger You would take damage from a Strike while one of your undead companions is adjacent to you.
You magically divert some of the harm from an incoming attack away from yourself, forcing your undead companion to take it in your stead. Reduce the damage you take from the triggering Strike by 2 + your level. Your adjacent undead companion loses a number of Hit Points equal to the amount of damage reduced. If you have more than one adjacent undead companion, you choose which one loses Hit Points. You can't divert the damage to a temporary fragment from Their Master's Call.
Legacy Content
Archetype Source Advanced Player's Guide pg. 160 2.0Archetypes Beastmaster,
Undead MasterPrerequisites Mature Beastmaster Companion
Your mature animal companions continue to grow and develop. They each become
nimble or
savage animal companions (your choice, choose for each companion, including those that become mature after you take this feat), gaining additional capabilities determined by the type of companion.
Legacy Content
Archetype Concentrate Divine Necromancy Source Book of the Dead pg. 41Archetype Undead MasterPrerequisites Undead Master Dedication; Call Companion, at least one inactive undead companion whose remains or anchor are currently in your possession.
In a pinch, you pull one of your inactive companions from their rest to provide a companion's support benefit. A fragment of your companion materializes or assembles itself in an unoccupied square of your choice within 30 feet of you, grants you its support benefit, and then disappears on your next turn. If it takes any damage before your next turn, it disappears or collapses (as applicable) and the support benefit ends immediately.
Legacy Content
Archetype Source Advanced Player's Guide pg. 161 2.0Archetypes Beastmaster,
Undead MasterPrerequisites Incredible Beastmaster Companion
Your nimble and savage animal companions become cunning enough to become specialized. Each companion gains one
specialization of your choice (choose separately).
Special You can select this feat more than once. Each time, add a different specialization to your nimble and savage companions. Your nimble and savage companions can have up to three specializations each.
Legacy Content
Uncommon Archetype Source Advanced Player's Guide pg. 161 2.0Archetypes Beastmaster,
Undead MasterPrerequisites Mature Beastmaster Companion; you have multiple animal companions
You can have up to two animal companions active at once. However, when you do, it's slightly more difficult to
Command them. If you don't Command either of your companions, one of the two (your choice) can still use 1 action on your turn to Stride or Strike, as per
Mature Beastmaster Companion, but not both. When you Command an Animal, either choose one of the companions to take 2 actions, as normal, or else both companions can take 1 action to Stride or Strike. Either way, you can't Command an Animal to make either companion act again until your next turn.