Archives of Nethys
PFS Note Cavaliers can pledge to any organization with published edicts and anathema. This includes the Pathfinder Society, whose updated edicts & anathema are as follows:
Edicts explore important sites, report and record your discoveries, and cooperate with fellow Pathfinders
Anathema fail to explore, report and cooperate; betray your fellow agents
You are a skilled and dedicated warrior on the battlefield who specializes in fighting astride a powerful animal companion that serves as your mount. You and your mount are an unparalleled team, moving with shared intent to become a powerful force in combat. You might wield a banner in the name of an order of which you're a member, a liege to whom you've sworn your service, or an ideal you uphold. Or you might fight solely to further enrich your own prestige, reputation, and coffers. Traditionally, cavaliers are envisioned riding atop majestic or fearsome horses, but in reality, all kinds of animals can serve this honorable role, from riding dogs to dinosaurs. What's important is not the type of mount but the connection between the cavalier and their companion. This bond is their true strength.
Cavalier Pledges
Many cavaliers pledge themselves in service to a specific organization or individual, such as a noble family or sovereign ruler, a knightly order or another organization, or particular ideal. A cavalier pledged to an order or ideal must uphold its edicts and is beholden to any anathema it has; for example, a cavalier pledged to the druid's animal order would be tied to that anathema, while a cavalier pledged to the church of Abadar would be held to the same standards as a cleric of that god. If you pledge yourself to an entity or cause without a stated anathema, you should work with your GM to determine the edicts and anathema associated with your pledge. Cavaliers who have pledged themselves can gain access to certain abilities related to that pledge, such as Cavalier's Banner. If you violate the anathema of your pledge, you lose access to those feats until you benefit from an atone ritual. Changing the subject of your pledge is equivalent to retraining a class feature.Additional Feats
Source Player Core pg. 215Some 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.
Cavalier Dedication Feat 2
Archetype Dedication Source Player Core 2 pg. 192
Archetype Cavalier
Prerequisites trained in Nature or Society
You gain a young animal companion that serves as your mount. You can choose from animal companions with the mount special ability, as well as any additional options from your pledge (see Cavalier Pledges sidebar), as determined by your GM. You must choose an animal companion that’s at least one size larger than you, but if the animal usually starts as Small, you can begin with a Medium version of that animal (changing no statistics other than its size).
Special If you have pledged yourself to a cause, you can take a second dedication feat closely tied to that cause even if you haven’t taken two additional cavalier feats. For instance, if you pledged yourself to fight crime with a group of vigilantes, you could take the vigilante dedication without first completing the cavalier archetype. The GM determines what archetypes, if any, are valid choices.
Cavalier Pledges
Many cavaliers pledge themselves in service to a specific organization or individual, such as a noble family or sovereign ruler, a knightly order or another organization, or particular ideal. A cavalier pledged to an order or ideal must uphold its edicts and is beholden to any anathema it has; for example, a cavalier pledged to the druid's animal order would be tied to that anathema, while a cavalier pledged to the church of Abadar would be held to the same standards as a cleric of that god. If you pledge yourself to an entity or cause without a stated anathema, you should work with your GM to determine the edicts and anathema associated with your pledge. Cavaliers who have pledged themselves can gain access to certain abilities related to that pledge, such as Cavalier's Banner. If you violate the anathema of your pledge, you lose access to those feats until you benefit from an atone ritual. Changing the subject of your pledge is equivalent to retraining a class feature.Born In The Saddle Feat 4
Uncommon Archetype Source Cheliax, Infernal Inheritance pg. 153
Archetype Cavalier
Prerequisites Cavalier Dedication; trained in Nature
Access You’re from Nidal.
You’ve been riding so long that the saddle feels like solid ground. You take only a –1 circumstance penalty to Reflex saves while mounted. If your mount is knocked unconscious and falls prone, you can Mount to dismount your mount as a free action, standing in an unoccupied square of your choosing adjacent to your mount.
Cavalier's Banner Feat 4
Uncommon Archetype Aura Emotion Mental Visual Source Player Core 2 pg. 192
Archetype Cavalier
Prerequisites Cavalier Dedication
Requirements You have pledged your service to a specific organization or ideal.
You fly the banner of your pledge from your mount, raising your allies’ spirits. You and all allies in a 30-foot emanation from your mount gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Will saves and DCs against fear effects. If your banner is destroyed or removed, allies within 30 feet become frightened 1.
Cavalier's Charge [two-actions] Feat 4
Archetype Flourish Source Player Core 2 pg. 192
Archetype Cavalier
Prerequisites Cavalier Dedication
Requirements You are riding your mount.
You Command an Animal to order your mount to Stride twice. At any point during this movement, you can Strike one enemy within reach or within the first range increment of a ranged weapon. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to your attack roll.
Cushion Landing [reaction] Feat 4
Archetype Skill Source Battlecry! pg. 70
Archetype Cavalier
Prerequisites Cavalier Dedication; trained in Nature
Trigger You fall from a height of 15 feet or higher.
Requirements Your mount can reach your landing location with a single Stride.
As you fall, your mount dashes to your rescue. Your mount Strides up to its Speed, positioning itself below you. Rather than falling on your mount, you Mount your mount. Treat the triggering fall as if it were 15 feet shorter, and you don't land prone (though both you and your mount both take damage from the fall based on what you would normally take for any remaining distance).
Impressive Mount Feat 4
Archetype Source Player Core 2 pg. 192
Archetype Cavalier
Prerequisites Cavalier Dedication
You've trained your mount to become a powerful force on the battlefield. The mount you gained through the Cavalier Dedication feat becomes a mature animal companion, granting it additional capabilities.
Your mount has greater independence. During an encounter, even if you don't use the Command an Animal action, your mount can still use 1 action that round on your turn to Strike or Stride (or Burrow, Climb, Fly, or Swim if it has that Speed). It can do this at any point during your turn, as long as you aren't currently taking an action. If it does, that's all the actions it gets that round—you can't Command it later.
Mounting Leap [one-action] Feat 4
Archetype Skill Source Battlecry! pg. 70
Archetype Cavalier
Prerequisites Cavalier Dedication; trained in Athletics
Requirements You're within 10 feet of a creature that is at least one size larger than you and is willing to be your mount.
You jump atop your mount from afar, landing comfortably astride it. Leap toward the creature and Mount it.
Quick Mount [one-action] Feat 4
Archetype Skill Source Player Core 2 pg. 193
Archetypes Cavalier, Mammoth Lord
Prerequisites Cavalier Dedication; expert in Nature
Requirements You are adjacent to a creature that is at least one size larger than you and is willing to be your mount.
You and your mount can spring into action at a moment’s notice. You Mount the creature and Command an Animal to issue it an order of your choice.
Reckless Riding Lunge [one-action] Feat 4
Uncommon Archetype Source Cheliax, Infernal Inheritance pg. 153
Archetype Cavalier
Prerequisites Cavalier Dedication; trained in Acrobatics
Requirements You’re mounted and wielding a melee weapon.
You leap up to stand on your mount and dig your heels in for stability, allowing you to lean horizontally to attack while remaining mounted. Until the end of your current turn, your reach with melee weapons increases by 5 feet.
Ride-by Recovery [reaction] Feat 4
Uncommon Archetype Source Cheliax, Infernal Inheritance pg. 153
Archetype Cavalier
Prerequisites Cavalier Dedication
Trigger Your mount moves within reach of an unattended item of 1 Bulk or less.
Requirements You’re mounted.
As you race past, you kick a fallen spear or other item up off the ground. You Interact to either pick the item up or bounce it off the ground into a sheath or other container on your person. You don’t need a free hand to do the latter.
Dashing Pickup [one-action] to [three-actions] Feat 6
Archetype Skill Source Battlecry! pg. 70
Archetype Cavalier
Prerequisites Cavalier Dedication; expert in Acrobatics or Athletics
You Command an Animal to order your mount to Stride (or to Burrow, Climb, Fly, or Swim if it has the corresponding movement type). At any point during this movement, it must move adjacent to you. As it passes you, you Mount your mount. You can increase the number of actions you use with Dashing Pickup to 2 to make your mount Stride twice, or to 3 to make your mount Stride four times; you must use enough actions to ensure your mount is able to move adjacent to you at some point during this movement, and you cannot use this activity if it is not possible for your mount to do so.
Defend Mount [reaction] Feat 6
Archetype Source Player Core 2 pg. 193
Archetype Cavalier
Prerequisites Cavalier Dedication
Trigger An enemy makes a Strike or spell attack against your mount while you’re riding it.
You interpose yourself between an attacker and your mount, defending your mount from harm. Use your own defense against the triggering attack instead your mount’s defense. If the triggering attack hits, you take the effects of the attack instead of your mount.
Galloping Launch [one-action] Feat 6
Flourish Ranger Source Cheliax, Infernal Inheritance pg. 153
Archetype Cavalier
Requirements You’re mounted, and your mount moved closer to your prey this round.
You use your mount’s momentum to hurl your weapon beyond normal limits. Make a ranged Strike with a thrown weapon. The weapon’s range increment increases by 15 feet for this attack, or 20 feet if your mount’s Speed is 40 feet or greater.
Mounted Shield Feat 6
Archetype Source Player Core 2 pg. 193
Archetype Cavalier
Prerequisites Cavalier Dedication
You’ve trained with your shield to defend both yourself and your mount. When you Raise a Shield while mounted, both you and your mount gain the shield’s circumstance bonus to AC. If you have the Shield Block reaction, you can use it when your mount would take physical damage, as long as you’re riding your mount. If you do, the shield prevents your mount from taking damage instead of preventing you from taking damage, following the normal rules for Shield Block.
Vaulting Gallop [two-actions] Feat 6
Archetype Source Battlecry! pg. 71
Archetype Cavalier
Prerequisites Cavalier Dedication
You've trained your mount to vault over obstacles at high speeds. You Command an Animal to order your mount to Stride twice. During this movement, your mount can Leap over obstacles of its size and smaller as well as creatures up to its size, though it must end this movement on solid ground. Leaps taken as part of this activity do not provoke reactions.
Chiardmar Steed Feat 8
Uncommon Champion Commander Druid Ranger Source Cheliax, Infernal Inheritance pg. 153
Archetype Cavalier
Prerequisites horse animal companion
Access You’re from Nidal.
Your steed is one of the free-spirited wild horses of the Atteran Hills. Your horse animal companion gains a +5 foot status bonus to its Speed and ignores the first 10 feet of difficult terrain it moves through each turn.
Special Your horse animal companion can’t gain the benefits of a different breed, such as Nidarrmar Steed.
Incredible Mount Feat 8
Archetype Source Player Core 2 pg. 193
Archetype Cavalier
Prerequisites Impressive Mount
Under your care and training, your mount has realized its innate potential. The mount you gained through the Cavalier Dedication feat becomes a nimble or savage animal companion (your choice), gaining additional capabilities determined by the type of companion.
Nidarrmar Steed Feat 8
Uncommon Champion Commander Druid Ranger Source Cheliax, Infernal Inheritance pg. 153
Archetype Cavalier
Prerequisites horse animal companion
Access You’re from Nidal.
Your steed was bred from the steadfast stock of the Atteran Ranches. Your horse animal companion reduces any penalties to its Speed by 10 feet, and if it would gain the fleeing or controlled conditions, you can choose to have it instead become slowed 1 for the same duration.
Special Your horse animal companion can’t gain the benefits of a different breed, such as Chiardmar Steed.
Stalwart Standard Feat 10
Legacy Content
Uncommon ArchetypeSource Knights of Lastwall pg. 81
Archetypes Cavalier, Knight Vigilant
Prerequisites Cavalier's Banner; Knight Vigilant
Access Knights of Lastwall have access to this feat.
Your banner makes it harder for your foes to push your allies around and encourages your allies to protect the innocent. Allies benefiting from your Cavalier's Banner feat also gain a +1 circumstance bonus to their Fortitude and Reflex DCs against attempts to Disarm, Grapple, Shove, and Trip. Each benefited ally also gains a +1 status bonus to attack rolls against any creature that has dealt damage to an innocent of a lower level than that ally within the last round; summoned creatures, companions, or any creatures you or your allies put into danger on purpose to attempt to gain this bonus don't count.
Trampling Charge [three-actions] Feat 10
Archetype Flourish Source Player Core 2 pg. 193
Archetypes Cavalier, Mammoth Lord*
Prerequisites Cavalier Dedication
Requirements You are riding a mount that has a melee Strike using its legs (claw, talons, hoof, etc.).
* This archetype offers Trampling Charge at a different level than displayed here.
You urge your mount to charge into the fray, trampling all enemies who stand in your path. You command your mount to Stride up to double its Speed (or to Burrow, Climb, Fly, or Swim, if it has the corresponding movement type), moving through the spaces of any foes in your path up to one size smaller than your mount. Your mount deals the damage of one of its melee Strikes to each creature whose space you move through, with a basic Reflex save against your mount’s Athletics DC. On a critical failure, the creature also becomes off-guard until the end of your next turn. Roll the damage only once. You can damage a given creature only once during this movement.
Unseat [one-action] Feat 10
Archetype Source Player Core 2 pg. 193
Archetype Cavalier
Prerequisites Cavalier Dedication
Requirements You are riding your mount and wielding a Jousting weapon.
With a mighty blow from atop your companion, you attempt to knock an opponent off their mount. Make a melee Strike against a mounted creature. If your attack hits, attempt an Athletics check against the target’s Fortitude DC. If you succeed, the target is knocked off its mount into a space of its choice adjacent to its mount. If you critically succeed, the target also lands prone.
Abrasive Drag [two-actions] Feat 12
Uncommon Archetype Source Cheliax, Infernal Inheritance pg. 153
Archetype Cavalier
Prerequisites Cavalier Dedication
Requirements You are mounted and have a creature grabbed or restrained.
Your mount attempts an Athletics check to Trip the creature you’ve grabbed or restrained, then Strides. The grabbed or restrained creature keeps that condition and is pulled to a space within your reach. This is forced movement. If the grabbed or restrained creature is prone, it takes 2 slashing damage for every 5 feet it moved.
Rearing Display [one-action] Feat 12
Archetype Flourish Source Battlecry! pg. 71
Archetype Cavalier
Prerequisites Cavalier Dedication; expert in Intimidation
Requirements You are riding your mount.
You've trained your mount to make an impressive attack and can leverage its presence to terrify your enemies. You Command an Animal to order your mount to rear up and make a melee Strike against a creature within its reach. On a successful hit, you can attempt an Intimidation check to Demoralize the target. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to this Intimidation check (+2 if the Strike was a critical hit).
Specialized Mount Feat 14
Archetype Source Player Core 2 pg. 193
Archetype Cavalier
Prerequisites Incredible Mount
You’ve trained your mount to perform in unusual or even extreme circumstances, granting it abilities far beyond others of its kind. Your mount gains one specialization of your choice.
Special You can select this feat up to three times. Each time, add a different specialization to your mount. Your mount can’t have more than three specializations.
Wave the Flag [one-action] Feat 16
Legacy Content
Uncommon Archetype Emotion Flourish Mental VisualSource Knights of Lastwall pg. 81
Archetype Cavalier
Prerequisites Cavalier's Banner
Access Knights of Lastwall have access to this feat.
You wave your banner, inspiring allies to throw off the shackles of fear. Each ally presently benefiting from your Cavalier's Banner feat reduces their current frightened condition by 1 and can choose to immediately attempt a new saving throw against any one mental effect currently affecting them. Regardless of the result, any ally that attempts a save is temporarily immune to Wave the Flag for 10 minutes.
Legendary Rider Feat 20
Archetype Source Player Core 2 pg. 193
Archetypes Cavalier, Mammoth Lord
Prerequisites Cavalier Dedication
You and your mount move like one being, effortlessly reading each other’s signals and synchronizing even in the thick of battle. Whenever you’re riding your mount, you are quickened; you can use the extra action only to command your mount using the Command an Animal skill action.
Shelyn's Corner
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