Martial Archetype: Blade Sage

While some warriors rely on their strength or instincts, Blade Sages rely on their meticulous study of battle. These warriors pore over tomes of weapon techniques and seek out masters to teach them how to perfect their skill with a blade. They are melee combat experts, usually focusing their training to obtain mastery over one type of weapon.

Through rigorous training and study, Blade Sages learn powerful techniques to strike hard, befuddle their opponents, and deftly maneuver themselves and their allies around the battlefield. They are reactive, close-quarters fighters who are trained to seek out opportunities to attack and take advantage of their enemies' mistakes and weaknesses .

Bonus proficiency

When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you gain proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: History, Arcana, Religion, Nature, or Insight.

Way of the Blade Sage

Many Blade Sages fight without armor, avoiding attacks by simply knowing where to be at the right time. When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, while you are wearing no armor and are not wielding a shield or a melee weapon with the Heavy property, your AC equals 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Intelligence modifier. If you have the Defense Fighting Style, you may still add the +1 bonus to your AC while you are unarmored this way.

In addition, when wielding a spear or longsword, you may choose to use Dexterity instead of Strength for attack and damage rolls with those weapons.

Blade Arts

When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you learn special weapon techniques called Blade Arts.

Blade Arts. You learn two Blade Arts of your choice, which are detailed under "Blade Arts" below. Blade Arts can enhance enhance your melee attacks or allow you to perform a special move. Blade Arts cannot be used with weapons that have the Heavy property. Each time you level up, you can replace a Blade Art you know with a different one.

You learn an additional Blade Art at 7th level.

Blade Dice. You have three blade dice, which are d8s. A blade die is expended when you use it. You can only expend one blade die per turn. You regain all expended blade dice after a short or long rest.

You gain another blade die at level 10, and your blade dice become d10s at level 15.

Saving Throws. If a Blade Art requires your target to make a saving throw, your Blade Art save DC equals 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier.

Weapon Sage

Your knowledge of weapon techniques extends to weapons themselves, as well. Starting at 7th level, you have advantage on any checks you make to recall information about weapons.

In addition, you are also able to more easily identify and attune to magic weapons. If you spend 1 minute with a magic weapon, you can learn its properties and, if you choose to, immediately become attuned to it (provided that you meet any requirements necessary).

Improved Blade Arts

Starting at 10th level, your relentless training and study cause your Blade Arts to become more deadly. Whenever you add a blade die to a damage roll, hit a creature after adding your blade die to the attack roll, or hit a creature with an additional weapon attack granted as a result of using a blade die (such as "Blade Counter"), you can cause the target to take an amount of damage equal to your Intelligence modifier. The damage type is the same as the weapon you are wielding. If a Blade Art damages multiple targets, choose one target to add this extra damage to.

Ever-Ready Blade

Starting at 15th level, whenever you roll for initiative and have no blade dice, you regain one blade die.

In addition, you gain a bonus to your initiative rolls equal to half your Intelligence modifier (rounded up).