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PFS LimitedRed Mantis Assassin

Source Prey for Death pg. 108
You are a Red Mantis assassin, inducted by Achaekek, He Who, and sworn to chase your prey to the end of the world and beyond. While many Red Mantis assassins hail from the city of Ilizmagorti and regard it as their hometown, the Red Mantis has agents throughout the world, some of whom have yet to visit their so- called capital city. Still, those who have never been to Ilizmagorti eventually realize that they should at least pay a the city visit at some point in their lives.

As a Red Mantis assassin, you'll periodically be asked to perform assassinations—but the organization is not without rules. The information presented on the previous page is important to understand if you choose to play a Red Mantis assassin as a result. This, plus the fact that the pursuit of murder-for-hire is generally seen as a criminal act that draws the interest of society's less- reputable and more sadistic members, means that this archetype may not be appropriate for all groups. More than most archetypes, this one requires the consent and permission of not just the GM, but of your fellow players. For an adventure like Prey for Death, though, this archetype can be considered to be unlocked for all who wish to join.

The rare feats presented in the archetype are typically available only for assassins who have received permission from the Blood Mistress to undergo the appropriate training.

Additional Feats

Source Player Core pg. 215 2.0
Some 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.


PFS LimitedRed Mantis Assassin Dedication Feat 2

Uncommon Archetype Dedication 
Source Prey for Death pg. 108
Archetype Red Mantis Assassin
Prerequisites trained in sawtooth sabers; worshipper of Achaekek; member of the Red Mantis assassins
Access You are from Mediogalti Island.

You have learned how to stalk your foes and slay them with a sawtooth saber. You become trained in Stealth and Assassin Lore; if you were already trained, you become an expert instead. Whenever your proficiency in any weapon increases to expert or beyond, you also gain that new proficiency with sawtooth sabers.

You become bound by Achaekek's anathema and can receive his sanctification.

PFS StandardTwin Feint [two-actions] Feat 2*

Rogue 
Source Player Core pg. 170 2.0
Archetype Red Mantis Assassin
Requirements You are wielding two melee weapons, each in a different hand
* This version of the Twin Feint feat is intended for use with an Archetype and has a different level for access than the original feat.

You use an attack with one weapon to distract your foe from a second attack coming at a different angle. Make one Strike with each of your two melee weapons, both against the same target. The target is automatically off-guard against the second attack. Apply your multiple attack penalty to the Strikes normally.

PFS LimitedBasic Red Mantis Magic Feat 4

Archetype 
Source Prey for Death pg. 108
Archetype Red Mantis Assassin

You have learned limited divine magic from your Red Mantis training. You gain the Cast a Spell activity. You can prepare two common cantrips each day from the divine spell list or any other divine cantrips you have access to. You also gain the basic spellcasting benefits. You're trained in the spell attack modifier and spell DC statistics. Your key spellcasting attribute for the Red Mantis archetype spells is Charisma, and they are divine Red Mantis spells. If you gain a Focus Pool from any Red Mantis Assassin class feats, you can Refocus by praying to Achaekek or researching your assigned kill.

You also have access to the Red Mantis magic school. In addition to preparing spells from the divine spell list, you can prepare spells from this school. Regardless of their usual magic tradition, when you prepare spells from this school, they are divine spells, as are any Red Mantis focus spells you gain.

PFS StandardQuick Draw [one-action] Feat 4*

Gunslinger Ranger Rogue 
Source Player Core pg. 159 2.0
Archetypes Alkenstar Agent, Butterfly Blade, Dual-Weapon Warrior, Red Mantis Assassin, Vigilante
* This version of the Quick Draw feat is intended for use with an Archetype and has a different level for access than the original feat.

You draw your weapon and attack with the same motion. You Interact to draw a weapon, then Strike with that weapon.

PFS StandardUnderhanded Assault [two-actions] Feat 4*

Rogue 
Source Player Core pg. 171 2.0
Archetype Red Mantis Assassin
Prerequisites trained in Stealth
* This version of the Underhanded Assault feat is intended for use with an Archetype and has a different level for access than the original feat.

You capitalize on the distraction provided by an ally. You Sneak up to a foe adjacent to one of your allies. You can roll against the foe you’re Sneaking up on, even if it’s currently observing you, as though you were hidden. You take a –2 penalty on your Stealth check. If your Stealth check against the chosen foe succeeds, you can make a melee Strike against that foe at the end of your Sneak.

PFS LimitedCrimson Shroud [one-action] Feat 6

Archetype 
Source Prey for Death pg. 108
Archetype Red Mantis Assassin
Frequency once per day
Prerequisites Red Mantis Assassin Dedication

You swathe yourself in a veil of red mist for 1 minute. While the shroud is active, you gain fast healing equal to half your level. You can Interact with your shroud, swirling it around you, to gain a +1 circumstance bonus to AC until the beginning of your next turn. Finally, if you die while the shroud is active, you can choose to have your entire body vanish into red mist, leaving behind only your gear; you make this choice when you activate Crimson Shroud.

At 10th level, you can use this ability once per hour instead of once per day.

PFS StandardPoison Weapon [one-action] Feat 6*

Manipulate Rogue 
Source Player Core pg. 171 2.0
Archetypes Assassin, Drow Shootist, Poisoner, Red Mantis Assassin
Requirements You are wielding a weapon.
* This version of the Poison Weapon feat is intended for use with an Archetype and has a different level for access than the original feat.

You apply a contact poison or injury poison to the required weapon; if you have a free hand, you can Interact to draw a poison as part of this action. This poison can be one of the simple injury poisons you can create due to this feat (see Special), or another contact or injury poison you’ve acquired (such as those in GM Core).

Special During your daily preparations, you can prepare a number of simple injury poisons equal to your rogue level. These follow the rules for injury poisons (GM Core, page 248), except that they deal 1d4 poison damage with no saving throw. Only you can apply these poisons properly, and they expire the next time you prepare.

PFS LimitedRed Mantis School Spell Feat 6

Archetype 
Source Prey for Death pg. 108
Archetype Red Mantis Assassin
Prerequisites Basic Red Mantis Magic

You gain the Red Mantis magic school's initial school spell. If you don't already have one, you gain a focus pool of 1 Focus Point.

PFS StandardTwin Distraction Feat 6*

Rogue 
Source Player Core pg. 172 2.0
Archetype Red Mantis Assassin
Prerequisites Twin Feint
Requirements You are wielding two melee weapons, each in a different hand
* This version of the Twin Distraction feat is intended for use with an Archetype and has a different level for access than the original feat.

Your movements with two weapons are so swift and disorienting that they befuddle your opponent. When using Twin Feint, if both your Strikes deal damage to a targeted creature, the target must succeed at a Will saving throw against your class DC or become stupefied 1 until the end of your next turn.

PFS LimitedAchaekek's Grip Feat 8

Rare Archetype 
Source Prey for Death pg. 108
Archetype Red Mantis Assassin
Prerequisites Basic Red Mantis Magic

You sense if a creature you have slain in the last year has been restored to life, as long as you and that creature are on the same plane. You also gain the Achaekek's clutch focus spell. If you don't already have one, you gain a focus pool of 1 Focus Point.

PFS StandardGang Up Feat 8*

Rogue 
Source Player Core pg. 172 2.0
Archetype Red Mantis Assassin
* This version of the Gang Up feat is intended for use with an Archetype and has a different level for access than the original feat.

You and your allies harry an opponent in concert. You can flank an enemy if it’s within reach of both of you and an ally—you and your ally don’t have to be on opposite sides. This benefits your allies as well as you, but only if they’re flanking with you, not each other. The other requirements for flanking must still be met.

PFS LimitedMantis Form Feat 8

Archetype 
Source Prey for Death pg. 108
Archetype Red Mantis Assassin
Prerequisites Basic Red Mantis Magic

You gain the mantis form focus spell. If you don't already have one, you gain a focus pool of 1 Focus Point.

PFS StandardAdvanced School Spell Feat 10*

Wizard 
Source Player Core pg. 203 2.0
Archetype Red Mantis Assassin
* This version of the Advanced School Spell feat is intended for use with an Archetype and has a different level for access than the original feat.

You gain access to the advanced teachings of your arcane institution, learning a powerful new school spell. You gain the advanced school spell for your arcane school.

PFS LimitedFading [reaction] Feat 10

Rare Archetype Teleportation 
Source Prey for Death pg. 108
Archetype Red Mantis Assassin
Frequency once per Crimson Shroud
Prerequisites Crimson Shroud
Trigger You are targeted with a Strike by someone you can detect.
Requirements Your Crimson Shroud is active.

You partially fade from reality. The attacker must attempt a DC 11 flat check; on a failure, the attack passes harmlessly through the image of your body that remains behind. An instant later you return to reality, and your Crimson Shroud ends

PFS StandardOpportune Backstab [reaction] Feat 10*

Rogue 
Source Player Core pg. 174 2.0
Archetype Red Mantis Assassin
Trigger A creature within your melee reach is hit by a melee attack from one of your allies
* This version of the Opportune Backstab feat is intended for use with an Archetype and has a different level for access than the original feat.

When your enemy is hit by your ally, you capitalize upon the distraction. Make a Strike against the triggering creature.

PFS LimitedExpert Red Mantis Magic Feat 12

Archetype 
Source Prey for Death pg. 109
Archetype Red Mantis Assassin
Prerequisites master in Religion; Basic Red Mantis Magic

You gain the expert spellcasting benefits.

PFS LimitedVernai Training Feat 12

Rare Archetype 
Source Prey for Death pg. 109
Archetype Red Mantis Assassin
Prerequisites Achaekek's Grip; Basic Red Mantis Magic

To resurrect a creature you've slain, a spellcaster must counteract your influence on its death. The DC of this check is equal to your class DC or spell DC, whichever is higher.

In addition, you've undergone training to better make use of your magic. Increase the spell slots you gain from Red Mantis assassin archetype feats by 1 for each spell rank other than your two highest Red Mantis spell slots. You can prepare only spells from the Red Mantis magic school curriculum in these extra slots.

PFS LimitedPrayer Attack [one-action] Feat 14

Archetype Concentrate 
Source Prey for Death pg. 109
Archetype Red Mantis Assassin
Prerequisites Red Mantis Assassin Dedication
Requirements You are wielding a sawtooth saber in each hand.

You've mastered the signature assassination style of the Red Mantis. Attempt to Feint an enemy within 30 feet. If your Feint is successful, when you use Prayer Attack on subsequent turns you automatically make the target flat-footed against your melee attacks for that turn without rolling a check to Feint, so long as you remain visible to the target and the target remains within 30 feet of you. If you use your Prayer Attack against a different target, you must attempt to Feint the target normally.

When you use Prayer Attack, your next successful Strike with a sawtooth saber that turn deals 2d6 persistent bleed damage to the target.

PFS LimitedMaster Red Mantis Magic Feat 18

Archetype 
Source Prey for Death pg. 109
Archetype Red Mantis Assassin
Prerequisites legendary in Religion; Basic Red Mantis Magic

You gain the master spellcasting benefits.