Archives of Nethys
Source Hellfire Dispatches pg. 24You've presented yourself to a Hellknight citadel as a candidate to become a fearsome Hellknight. You believe that all who live must be forced to obey the law, and you adventure as a test of your loyalty, discipline, and courage. You might aspire to become part of a specific order of Hellknights, or you might instead present yourself to any law-abiding authorities as an enforcer and quietly menacing emblem of order.
As such, you begin this career as an armiger. You hope to eventually take the Hellknight Test and battle a devil in single combat to prove your strength and fully join the Hellknight ranks. Until then, you prepare yourself for that day, training with your weapons and armor and meditating on the precepts of the Measure and the Chain.
Once you become a Hellknight, you're considered to be among the fiercest warriors in the Inner Sea region. You become a bastion of law wherever chaos threatens to rear. You've likely officially joined one of the many Hellknight orders, following their agenda and favoring their preferred weapon. Each order usually operates in a specific geographical region, but it isn't unheard of for a Hellknight from any order to travel across the world to deal with threats.
Instead of focusing on martial prowess, you can follow the path of the Hellknight signifer instead. These powerful and enigmatic Hellknight spellcasters support and sometimes lead their fellow knights on missions to enforce unwavering law. You're formidable in your own right, keeping your emotions hidden behind an unmistakable faceless mask and wielding magic as a force of order and authority.
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.
Hellknight Dedication Feat 2
Uncommon Archetype Dedication Source Hellfire Dispatches pg. 24
Archetype Hellknight
Prerequisites trained by a Hellknight Order
Access You're from Old Cheliax.
You've started walking the path toward becoming a true Hellknight, though you're currently considered only an armiger. You've been taught how to terrorize others into compliance, but you also continually study the structure and hierarchy of Hell. You must survive painful tests of fireball your body and mind called reckonings that steady your willpower against all sorts of trauma. You gain resistance to mental damage equal to 1 + your number of archetype class feats from the Hellknight archetype. You become trained in Intimidation; if you were already trained, you become an expert instead.
In addition, you gain the Additional Lore general feat for Hell Lore; if you were already trained in Hell Lore, you also become trained in a Lore skill of your choice.
Ardent Armiger Feat 4
Archetype Source Hellfire Dispatches pg. 24
Archetype Hellknight
Prerequisites Hellknight Dedication
You've trained to resist the manipulations of fiends, and your Hellknight discipline makes you difficult to influence. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to saves against effects that could inflict the controlled or frightened conditions.
If a mental effect would compel you to act in a way that violates your Hellknight order's tenets (as determined by the GM), you can attempt to break free from the effect as a free action triggered by receiving the violating order, and you gain a new Will save against the effect. You can attempt this save even if the effect would normally prevent you from acting of your own volition. You can attempt this new save only once for a given effect, even if you're compelled to violate your order's tenets multiple times. You can't receive a worse result on this Will save than you originally got against the compelling mental effect.
Armiger's Protection Feat 4
Archetype Source Hellfire Dispatches pg. 25
Archetype Hellknight
Prerequisites Hellknight Dedication
You've learned to wear the iconic Hellknight armor. You become trained in light armor and Hellknight breastplate, a medium armor. If you were already trained in light armor and medium armor, you gain training in Hellknight half plate and Hellknight plate. Whenever you gain a class feature that grants you expert or greater proficiency in any type of armor (but not unarmored defense), you also gain that proficiency in the armor types granted to you by this feat. If you have a class feature that grants you expert proficiency in unarmored defense and you're 13th level or higher, you also become an expert in the armor types granted to you by this feat.
In addition, when you choose this feat, you receive a non-magical suit of Hellknight armor of a type you become trained in (Hellknight breastplate, Hellknight half plate, or Hellknight plate).
Diabolic Certitude [free-action] Feat 4
Archetype Skill Source Hellfire Dispatches pg. 25
Archetype Hellknight
Prerequisites Hellknight Dedication
Trigger Your turn begins, and you can observe a devil.
Your Hellknight training drilled details of Hell's denizens deep into your mind. Attempt a check to Recall Knowledge about a devil you're observing. If you critically fail this check, you fail instead. If you succeed at this check, you critically succeed instead.
Mortification Feat 4
Archetype Source Hellfire Dispatches pg. 25
Archetype Hellknight
Prerequisites Hellknight Dedication
Your reckonings have prepared your body for physical punishment. Choose bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage, based on the nature of your physical reckonings. You gain resistance to the chosen damage type equal to your number of archetype class feats from the Hellknight archetype.
Hellknight Dedication Feat 6
Legacy Content
Uncommon Archetype DedicationSource Character Guide pg. 84
Archetype Hellknight
Prerequisites Hellknight Armiger Dedication; lawful alignment; member of a Hellknight Order; passed the Hellknight Test
You have forged your body to comply with the commands of your mind—orders steeped in the Measure and the Chain. You gain expert proficiency in Intimidation (or in another skill in which you’re trained of your choice, if you were already an expert in Intimidation). You gain the armor specialization effects of Hellknight plate, and your resistance from that armor specialization is 1 higher than normal. In addition, you gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Intimidation checks while wearing your Hellknight plate.
Special You cannot select another dedication feat until you have gained two other feats from the Hellknight or Hellknight armiger archetypes.
Hellknight Preferment Feat 6
Archetype Source Hellfire Dispatches pg. 25
Archetype Hellknight
Prerequisites Hellknight Dedication; passed the Hellknight Test; trained in Hellknight plate
You've forged your body to be able to stand toe-to-toe with a devil, and your mind has been shaped by the strictures of the Measure and the Chain. You've become a true Hellknight. You gain expert proficiency rank in Intimidation (or in another skill in which you're trained of your choice, if you were already an expert in Intimidation). You gain the armor specialization effects of Hellknight breastplate, Hellknight half plate, and Hellknight plate, and your resistance from that armor specialization is 1 higher than normal. In addition, you gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Intimidation checks while wearing any Hellknight armor.
Special You can't take both this feat and Hellknight-Errant or Hellknight Signifer Preferment.
Hellknight Signifer Preferment Feat 6
Archetype Source Hellfire Dispatches pg. 25
Archetype Hellknight
Prerequisites Hellknight Dedication; passed the Hellknight Test; trained in Hellknight plate; you have a spellcasting class feature.
You've bolstered your force of will with the power of the Measure and the Chain. You've officially joined the ranks of Hellknight signifers, and you receive a signifer's mask, often devoid of eyeholes or other decorative features. The mask doesn't obscure your vision, though it makes it impossible for others to see your eyes. While wearing your signifer's mask, you gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Deception checks to Lie, Intimidation checks to Coerce, and Deception DCs against Sense Motive. You gain expert proficiency rank in Intimidation (or in another skill in which you're trained of your choice, if you were already an expert in Intimidation), as well as in your choice of Arcana, Nature, Occultism, or Religion.
Special You can't take both this feat and Hellknight-Errant or Hellknight Preferment.
Hellknight-Errant Feat 6
Archetype Source Hellfire Dispatches pg. 25
Archetype Hellknight
Prerequisites Hellknight Dedication; you've refused to take or have failed the Hellknight Test.
Either through unfortunate circumstances or your own choice, you remain a Hellknight armiger instead of entering the true ranks of your order, though you still believe in the tenets of law and order. You likely take on an adventuring life with a group of like-minded individuals who aren't Hellknights. The resistance to mental damage you gained from the Hellknight Dedication feat increases to 5 + your number of archetype class feats from the Hellknight archetype.
You also gain the Warding Shift action, which allows you to keep your allies from harm.
Warding Shift [one-action] Requirements You're adjacent to a willing ally; Effect You move the adjacent willing ally 5 feet in any direction and can Step into the space the ally vacated.
Special You can't take both this feat and Hellknight Preferment or Hellknight Signifer Preferment.
Fearsome Brute Feat 8
Fighter Source Player Core pg. 147
Archetype Hellknight
Fear makes your foes weak and more vulnerable to your attacks. You gain a circumstance bonus to damage rolls for Strikes against frightened creatures. The bonus is equal to double the target’s frightened value.
If you’re a master in Intimidation, increase the bonus to triple the target’s frightened value.
Hellknight Mobility Feat 8
Archetype Source Hellfire Dispatches pg. 25
Archetype Hellknight
Prerequisites Hellknight Dedication; expert in Hellknight half plate or Hellknight plate
You've learned how best to move in your heavy armor. When wearing heavy armor, if you meet the Strength requirement, instead of reducing the movement penalty by 5 feet, you reduce the penalty by 10 feet (typically reducing the penalty to 0). If you're a dwarf with the Unburdened Iron feat, increase your Speed by 5 feet.
Masked Casting [free-action] Feat 8
Archetype Source Hellfire Dispatches pg. 25
Archetype Hellknight
Prerequisites Hellknight Signifer Preferment
Trigger You begin Casting a Spell.
Requirements You're wearing your signifer's mask.
You harness the magical energy flowing through your eyeless mask to effortlessly protect you from visual effects. You Avert your Gaze. While Averting your Gaze in this way, you also gain a +2 circumstance bonus to saving throws and checks to disbelieve illusions.
Order Training Feat 8
Archetype Source Hellfire Dispatches pg. 26
Archetype Hellknight
Prerequisites Hellknight Dedication
You gain the lesser order benefit for the Hellknight order to which you belong.
Sense Iniquity [one-action] Feat 8
Archetype Concentrate Source Hellfire Dispatches pg. 26
Archetype Hellknight
Frequency once per hour
Prerequisites Hellknight Dedication
Your Hellknight training gives you the ability to focus your senses and root out those who would attempt to deceive or hide from you. For 1 minute, you gain a +2 status bonus to your Perception DC against attempts to Create a Diversion, Feint you, or Lie to you. During this time, if you Seek to locate a hidden creature or to see through a creature's Impersonate attempt, you gain a +2 status bonus to the Perception check.
Shatter Defenses [one-action] Feat 8
Fighter Press Source Player Core pg. 145
Archetypes Blackjacket, Hellknight
Requirements A frightened creature is in your melee reach
Your offense exploits your enemy’s fear. Make a melee Strike against a frightened creature. If you hit and deal damage, the target becomes off-guard until its frightened condition ends. If the target was already off-guard to you when you damaged it with this Strike, it can’t reduce its frightened value below 1 until the start of your next turn.
Steady Spellcasting Feat 8
Bard Cleric Druid Oracle Psychic Sorcerer Witch Wizard Source Player Core pg. 103, Player Core 2 pg. 140
Archetype Hellknight
You don’t lose spells easily. If a reaction would disrupt your spellcasting action, attempt a DC 15 flat check. If you succeed, your action isn’t disrupted.
Blade of Law [two-actions] Feat 10
Archetype Source Hellfire Dispatches pg. 26
Archetype Hellknight
Prerequisites Hellknight Preferment
Requirements The target has attempted a hostile action against you since your previous turn.
You call upon the power of law against a foe who would dare stand against you. Make a weapon or unarmed Strike against the target. This counts as two Strikes for your multiple attack penalty. The Strike deals one extra weapon damage die and 1d8 spirit damage. At 18th level, this spirit damage increases to 2d8.
Gaze of Veracity Feat 10
Archetype Source Hellfire Dispatches pg. 26
Archetype Hellknight
Prerequisites Hellknight Signifer Preferment
You can channel your mask's power to pierce through lies and see the truth in any situation. You learn the glimpse the truth focus spell. This has the same tradition trait as the spellcasting class feature used as a prerequisite for Hellknight Signifer Preferment. You gain a focus pool of 1 Focus Point if you don't already have a focus pool or increase your focus pool by 1 (to a maximum of 3). You can Refocus by studying tomes of law or by contemplating the Measure and the Chain.
Signifer's Sight Feat 10
Archetype Source Hellfire Dispatches pg. 26
Archetype Hellknight
Prerequisites Hellknight Signifer Preferment
The magic flowing through your signifer's mask allows you to see in the dark, and the mask dampens the distraction caused by sudden flashes of bright light. While wearing your signifer's mask, you gain darkvision; if you already have darkvision, you instead gain greater darkvision. Additionally, if you're dazzled while wearing your signifer's mask and the target is concealed only because you're dazzled, you reduce the flat check DC to target that creature from 5 to 3.
Advanced Order Training Feat 12
Archetype Source Hellfire Dispatches pg. 26
Archetype Hellknight
Prerequisites Hellknight Dedication
You gain the greater order benefit for the Hellknight order to which you belong.
Blade of Law [two-actions] Feat 12
Legacy Content
ArchetypeSource Character Guide pg. 84
Archetype Hellknight
Prerequisites Hellknight Dedication
You call upon the power of law and make a weapon or unarmed Strike against a foe you have witnessed breaking or disrespecting the law or otherwise acting disorderly. The Strike deals two extra weapon damage dice if the target of your Strike is chaotic. Whether or not the target is chaotic, you can convert the physical damage from the attack into lawful damage.
Conjure Hell [two-actions] Feat 12
Archetype Concentrate Divine Fire Manipulate Spirit Unholy Source Hellfire Dispatches pg. 26
Archetype Hellknight
Frequency once per day
Prerequisites Hellknight Signifer Preferment
Though you might not worship Asmodeus or other devils, you've studied enough of Hell to call forth a brief burst of its fire. Each creature in a 15-foot burst within 120 feet takes 9d6 fire damage with a basic Fortitude save against your spell DC. This fire damage ignores an amount of fire resistance equal to your level, but not immunity to fire. A creature that fails its save also has its soul set aflame, taking 2d6 persistent spirit damage (or 4d6 persistent spirit damage on a critical failure). At 14th level and every 2 levels thereafter, the initial fire damage increases by 2d6.
Hell's Armaments Feat 12
Legacy Content
ArchetypeSource Character Guide pg. 84
Archetype Hellknight
Prerequisites Hellknight Dedication
You’ve trained with your order’s weapon and your Hellknight plate long enough to apply your expertise from other weapons and armor. If you have expert proficiency in any weapon or unarmed attack, you gain expert proficiency in your order’s weapon as well. If you have expert proficiency in any armor or unarmored defense, you gain expert proficiency in Hellknight plate as well.
Hell's Armaments Feat 12
Archetype Source Hellfire Dispatches pg. 27
Archetype Hellknight
Prerequisites Hellknight Preferment; expert in at least one of your order's favored weapons
You've trained relentlessly with your order's weapon to maximize their deadliness. When you get a critical success on a Strike with one of your order's favored weapons, the target must attempt a Fortitude save against your class DC. If you have access to that weapon's critical specialization effect, you must choose whether to use that effect or this one.
Critical Success The target is unaffected.
Success The target takes a –10-foot circumstance penalty to its Speeds until the end of your next turn.
Failure As success, and the target is slowed 1 until the end of your next turn.
Critical Failure As success, and the target is slowed 2 until the end of your next turn.
Order Cross-Training Feat 12
Archetype Source Hellfire Dispatches pg. 27
Archetype Hellknight
Prerequisites Hellknight Dedication
You gain the lesser order benefit of a Hellknight order other than the one to which you belong. This represents your time spent training with members of that order to learn their techniques and teachings. If you aren't in good standing with a given order, you can't receive their training.
Special You can select this feat multiple times, gaining the lesser order benefit from a different order each time by training with members of that order.
March of Law [one-action] Feat 14
Archetype Emotion Fear Mental Visual Source Hellfire Dispatches pg. 27
Archetype Hellknight
Frequency once per round
Prerequisites Hellknight Preferment
Requirements The target has attempted a hostile action against you since your previous turn.
When faced with lawbreakers, you become almost unstoppable, and your purposeful steps instill terror. Stride toward the required target with a +10-foot status bonus to your Speeds and ignoring difficult terrain. If you end your movement adjacent to the required target, each enemy adjacent to you who saw your movement becomes frightened 2. You can use March of Law while Burrowing, Climbing, Flying, or Swimming instead of Striding if you have the corresponding movement type.
Unfetter Sight [one-action] Feat 14
Archetype Concentrate Source Hellfire Dispatches pg. 27
Archetype Hellknight
Frequency once per hour
Prerequisites Signifer's Sight
Requirements You're wearing your signifer's mask.
You release the magic within your mask in an invisible burst, allowing it to temporarily flow into your allies' minds. Each of your allies within a 30-foot emanation gains the benefits of Signifer's Sight for 1 minute, as if they were wearing a signifer's mask.
Branding Spell [free-action] Feat 16
Archetype Concentrate Curse Spellshape Source Hellfire Dispatches pg. 27
Archetype Hellknight
Prerequisites Hellknight Signifer Preferment
The flames of your magic mark a target as an enemy of order. If your next action is to Cast a non-cantrip Spell that deals fire damage, that spell brands the target with a mark only you can see if it fails its saving throw. This brand lasts for 1 week. For as long as the target is branded, you always know the general direction and approximate distance of the target's current location, as long as it's on the same plane. You also know the direction the branded target is currently moving, if any, as well as any conditions affecting it. You can have only one brand active at a time.
Infernal Interference [two-actions] Feat 16
Archetype Flourish Source Hellfire Dispatches pg. 27
Archetype Hellknight
Prerequisites Hellknight Preferment
Requirements You're wielding your order's favored weapon.
Your attacks force a foe to glimpse the iron, soul-wrenching landscapes of Hell. Strike an enemy with the required weapon twice. If either Strike hits, the target is stupefied 1 and can't use reactions until the beginning of your next turn. If both Strikes hit, the target is stupefied 3 instead.
Shelyn's Corner
×Classic Feel
Classic Feel
Classic Feel
The classic look for the Archives of Nethys.
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Book Feel
Book Feel
Book Feel
An alternative feel, based on the Rulebooks.
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Round Feel
Round Feel
Round Feel
A rounded, modern look for the archives.
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Slim Feel
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Slim Feel
A variant of the Round feel, more compact.
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