Skill Tricks

Those who are particularly adept at certain aspects of adventuring often learn ways to use their talents to perform tricks that seem supernatural or magical to outside observers. While they are not magical in the same sense as spells or invocations, per se, they do produce effects not normally possible.

Each skill trick detailed below shares some common characteristics:

Skill Trick DCs

The DC for any saving throws required by skill tricks is given by

8 + the relevant ability score + your proficiency bonus

regardless of whether the trick involves a proficiency or not. If you have expertise in the relevant skill or tool, targets have disadvantage on the saving throw.

Acquiring Skill Tricks

Some classes get native access to Skill Tricks as a class feature. If they grant access to more advanced skill tricks beyond the basic ones at particular levels, that access overrides any prerequisites in the skill trick. Everyone else can choose a skill trick that they qualify for whenever they acquire an Ability Score Improvement from their class. At the same time, they can trade out one skill trick they’ve learned for a different one they qualify for.

Basic Skill Tricks

Basic skill tricks only require a +2 proficiency bonus.

Alert

Wisdom (Perception OR Insight) Basic Skill Trick

You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks against being surprised as well as passive Wisdom (Insight).

Arcane Initiate

Intelligence (Arcana) Basic Skill Trick

You learn one cantrip of your choice from the Arcanist list, as well as one spell costing no more than 2 AET from that same list. Intelligence is your casting ability for these spells. You can pick this skill trick more than once. Each time you do, pick a different cantrip and spell.

Charge

Strength (Advanced Weapon Skill) Basic Skill Trick

When you move at least 15 feet toward an enemy and hit them with a melee weapon attack, you can choose between making a shove attack against them as part of that attack or dealing one extra die of damage against them.

Coordinated Strike

Charisma (Advanced Weapon Skill) Basic Skill Trick

As a bonus action you take when you take the Attack action and attack a target, expend 2 STA. Another creature of your choice that can hear you can use their reaction to make a weapon attack against that same target. If they hit, they deal additional damage equal to your proficiency bonus.

Craft Apprentice

Crafting Tool (any) Basic Skill Trick

You can make full progress with your chosen crafting skill while on the road. You learn the schema for one Journeyman magic item that requires that proficiency of your choice.

Diplomat

Charisma (Persuasion) Basic Skill Trick

When you attempt to persuade someone to bypass procedures or to stop hostilities, you always interact as if the opponent is at worst indifferent to you.

Disarm

Strength (Advanced Weapon Skill) Basic Skill Trick

When you hit with a melee weapon attack, you can spend 1 STA to attempt to disarm the opponent. The target must make a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, their wielded weapon falls at their feet. If they are at least two sizes larger than you, they make the save at advantage. If they are one size or more smaller than you, they do so at disadvantage.

Divine Initiate

Wisdom (Religion) Basic Skill Trick

You learn one cantrip of your choice from the Priest list, as well as one spell costing no more than 2 AET from that same list. Wisdom is your casting ability for these spells. You can pick this skill trick more than once. Each time you do, pick a different cantrip and spell.

Evasive Footwork

Dexterity (General) Basic Skill Trick

When you use the Deflect action against opportunity attacks provoked by moving, the cost is reduced by 1 STA. This is cumulative with the benefit from masterwork armor.

Feint

Charisma (Deception) Basic Skill Trick

You fake an attack as a bonus action, trying to misdirect the enemy. Expend 1 STA. The opponent must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, you have advantage on your next attack roll against them.

Frighten

Charisma (Intimidation) Basic Skill Trick

As an action, you can expend 1 STA to threaten one enemy that can hear you. The target must make a Charisma saving throw. On a failed save, they are frightened of you until the end of your next turn.

Haggler

Charisma (Persuasion OR Deception) Basic Skill Trick

You are particularly good at haggling. Any time you sell goods, you get 125% of the normal price, and you buy for 90% of the listed price.

Jump

Strength (Athletics) Basic Skill Trick

You always count as having a running start when jumping. Additionally, you can fall an additional 10 ft. before taking fall damage. Start counting fall damage from 20 ft = 1d6 instead of 10 ft = 1d6.

Linguist

Intelligence (General) Basic Skill Trick

When you listen to conversation in a language you don’t speak for at least 10 minutes, you can pick up the rudiments. Enough to be understood, but not enough to convey subtle details.

Additionally, you can make out the basic sense of any text written in a script for which you are fluent in at least one language. This does not help you decipher intentionally obfuscated or encoded messages.

Lung Capacity

Constitution (General) Basic Skill Trick

You can hold your breath for twice as long. In addition, you can spend 1 STA when you are exposed to a source of poison gas (such as cloudkill or a dretch’s Stench ability) that requires a Constitution saving throw to gain advantage on the Constitution saving throw.

Medic

Wisdom (Medicine) Basic Skill Trick

When you make a Wisdom (Medicine) check to stabilize someone at 0 HP and succeed or expend a charge from a Healer’s Kit, the target regains 1 hit point and is conscious instead of being stable.

Misdirect

Dexterity (Stealth) Basic Skill Trick

When you are hidden, you can use your bonus action and spend 1 STA to force a number of creatures equal to your proficiency bonus to make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, they do not notice you even if you move out of heavy obscurement, as long as you end your turn behind heavy obscurement.

Piercing Wound

Dexterity (Advanced Weapon Skill) Basic Skill Trick

When you hit with an attack from a ranged weapon, you can spend 1 STA to try to hamper the offense of the opponent. The target must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, their next weapon attack is at disadvantage. If you have the Nimble Strike feature, you can use this with any weapon attack that uses Dexterity.

Primal Initiate

Wisdom (Nature) Basic Skill Trick

You learn one cantrip of your choice from the Shaman list, as well as one spell costing no more than 2 AET. Wisdom is your casting ability for these spells. You can pick this skill trick more than once. Each time you do, pick a different cantrip and spell.

Resourceful Combatant

Strength (Advanced Weapon Skill) Basic Skill Trick

You gain proficiency in fighting with improvised weapons and brawling. Improvised weapons wielded in one hand have a 1d6 damage die and count as Light; wielded in two hands have a 1d10 damage die and count as Two Handed. Additionally, you have advantage on attempts to grapple or shove, as well as checks made to escape a grapple or restraint.

Scholar: History

Intelligence (History) Basic Skill Trick

You can automatically identify significant family lines, crests, and recent events across the local setting (boundaries subject to GM discretion). Additionally, when you make an Intelligence (History) check to know information about more obscure facts, you do so at advantage.

Scholar: Nature

Intelligence (Nature) Basic Skill Trick

You automatically tell the creature type of beings you interact with for at least 10 seconds, as long as it is not masked by magic. In addition, when you make an Intelligence (Nature) check to recall information about habitats, patterns of life, or behaviors of natural or semi-natural creatures, you do so at advantage.

Scholar: Religion

Intelligence (Religion) Basic Skill Trick

You automatically recognize holy symbols of currently-active ascendants and know at least the basic tenants of that religion. Additionally, when you make an Intelligence (Religion) check to know information about dead or obscure religions or their worshippers, you have advantage on the check.

Sense Baleful Magic

Wisdom (Arcana) Basic Skill Trick

You are sensitive to the presence of hostile magics in your proximity. When you are within 30 ft. of a magical trap, spell glyph, or other hostile magical environment, you can use your passive Wisdom (Arcana) instead of your passive Wisdom (Perception) to determine their location and nature.

Additionally, you have advantage on checks made to determine the spell being cast.

Shield Bash

Strength (Shield) Basic Skill Trick

You lash out with your shield. Expend 1 STA and make an attack with your Melee Attack Modifier. On a hit, the opponent takes 1d4 bludgeoning damage and is staggered until the end of their next turn. If you score a critical hit, the target is staggered until the end of your next turn. This can replace an attack when you take the Attack action.

Soothe Domesticated Animal

Wisdom (Animal Handling) Basic Skill Trick

You can make a Wisdom (Animal Handling) check against a DC of 10 to alter the disposition of a domesticated animal to friendly toward you or prevent a domesticated animal from panicking. Trained guard animals have a DC of 15 if they were hostile toward you. This effect lasts for one hour unless you or your allies attack the animals or their friends.

Trap Finder

Intelligence (Investigation) Basic Skill Trick

You have advantage on Intelligence (Investigation) checks made to find trap triggers or figure out how to disable them. In addition, you can spend 1 STA to gain advantage on any Dexterity saving throws to avoid their effects.

Tumble

Dexterity (Acrobatics) Basic Skill Trick

You can move through opponents’ spaces if they are one size larger than you by expending 1 STA. They count as difficult terrain and you cannot willingly end your movement in their space.

Advanced Skill Tricks

Advanced skill tricks require a +4 proficiency.

Arcane Journeyman

Intelligence (Arcana) Advanced Skill Trick

You learn one cantrip of your choice from the Arcanist list, as well as one spell costing no more than 3 AET from the same list. Intelligence is your casting ability for these spells. You can pick this skill trick more than once. Each time you do, pick a different cantrip and spell.

Athlete

Strength (Athletics) Advanced Skill Trick

You can climb at full speed without making checks even on surfaces with few handholds or slick surfaces. You can expend 1 STA to climb even magically slick surfaces without needing hands or a check; if you are still on this surface at the start of your next turn, you must expend additional STA or use your hands.

Additionally, you gain a swimming speed equal to your normal speed and no longer need to make checks to swim even in very rough or fast waters.

Additionally, the distance you can jump doubles and the height at which you start taking fall damage increases to 30 ft (taking 1d6 for the first 30 ft you fall and 1d6 for every 10 ft above that).

Bait and Switch

Charisma (Deception) Advanced Skill Trick

As a bonus action, you expend 2 STA to swap places with one willing creature within 5 feet of you. This movement does not provoke opportunity attacks.

Befriend Wild Animal

Wisdom (Animal Handling) Advanced Skill Trick

As an action, you can attempt to soothe an angry creature that does not speak any language or befriend a wary one. The creature must make a Charisma saving throw, at advantage if it is actively hostile to you. On a failure, the creature becomes friendly. Originally non-hostile creatures may follow you and protect you as long as you feed them and do not harm them, although they are still wild animals and they are not under your control.

Bond Breaker

Strength (General) Advanced Skill Trick

You can spend 2 STA to break any non-magical shackles or bonds without a check. If the shackles are magical, you gain +10 on the Strength check to break free.

Delay Unconsciousness

Constitution (General) Advanced Skill Trick

As a reaction when you are brought to zero hit points, you can expend 3 STA and gain a level of exhaustion. If you do, you do not gain the unconscious condition and can act normally. You still make death saving throws as normal, including when you take damage. If you are still at 0 HP at the end of your next turn, you go unconscious at that point.

Demoralize

Charisma (Intimidation) Advanced Skill Trick

As an action, you expend 3 STA. You can either threaten a single enemy that can hear and see you or a group. If you threaten a single enemy, they must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, they suffer the consequences of failing a morale check and are broken until the end of your next turn. If you threaten a group of creature, they all are affected as if you used the Frighten skill trick on them.

Divine Journeyman

Wisdom (Religion) Basic Skill Trick

You learn one cantrip of your choice from the Priest list, as well as one spell costing no more than 3 AET from the same list. Wisdom is your casting ability for these spells. You can pick this skill trick more than once. Each time you do, pick a different cantrip and spell.

Fascinate

Charisma (Performance) Advanced Skill Trick

As an action, you begin a distracting performance. Expend 1 STA. Any number of creatures of your choice within 60 ft of you that can hear and see you must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, they can’t focus on anything but you and are effectively blinded and deafened to all other occurrences. Taking any damage breaks the effect, as does being shaken awake by someone else as an action. This effect lasts until you stop performing (using your action each round to maintain the distraction).

Find Weakness

Intelligence (Investigation) Advanced Skill Trick

As a bonus action, you can search for flaws in your opponent. Expend 2 STA and make an Intelligence (Investigation) check against a DC of 10 + half the target’s CR. On a success, you learn three of the following of your choice.

Alternatively on a success, you can temporarily remove any one damage resistance you know about by informing your allies how to bypass it. This lasts for one minute.

Like a Solid Snake

Dexterity (Stealth) Advanced Skill Trick

You can attempt to hide even if only lightly obscured. Additionally, missing with an attack does not remove the hidden or invisible status.

Mental Toughness

Charisma (General) Advanced Skill Trick

When you are afflicted by the charmed, frightened, or incapacitated conditions at the beginning of your turn due to an effect that caused a Wisdom saving throw, you can spend 2 STA to ignore the effects of those conditions until the end of your turn.

People Whisperer

Wisdom (Insight) Advanced Skill Trick

When you make a Wisdom (Insight) check and the result is above a 10, you gain one extra pertinent, specific detail about the target’s mental or emotional state for every 5 higher you rolled (ie 1 at 15, 2 at 20, etc.).

Primal Journeyman

Wisdom (Religion) Advanced Skill Trick

You learn one cantrip of your choice from the Shaman list, as well as one spell costing no more than 3 AET from the same list. Wisdom is your casting ability for these spells. You can pick this skill trick more than once. Each time you do, pick a different cantrip and spell.

Pocket Sand

Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) Advanced Skill Trick

As a bonus action, you can expend 1 STA and attempt to throw sand or dust into an opponent’s eyes. The target must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, they are blinded until the end of your next turn. This does not work on targets that don’t use eyes to see.

Resuscitation

Wisdom (Medicine) Advanced Skill Trick

As an action, you can attempt to resuscitate someone who died within the last minute. Make a Wisdom (Medicine) check against a DC of 15 + the number of rounds since they died. On a success, the creature is restored to 1 HP and any mortal wounds are closed, but gains a permanent injury. Both you and the target gain one level of exhaustion.

Snow Job

Charisma (Deception) Advanced Skill Trick

When you make a Charisma (Deception) check to convince someone you know something you don’t or are someone you are not, you do so at advantage. In addition, if you succeed by more than 5, the target willingly tells you the missing information.

Sunder

Strength (Carpentry, Mason’s, or Blacksmith’s Tools) Advanced Skill Trick

When you make an attack against an unattended object and hit, you ignore its Damage Threshold and deal double damage.

Alternatively, you can target attended objects as follows, expending 2 STA:

  • Armor: Make an attack against the target’s AC. On a hit, the target takes half damage from the attack but any other attacks against the target have advantage until the target uses an action to realign the damaged piece.
  • Weapons: Make an attack against the target’s AC. On a hit, the target takes half damage from the attack and has disadvantage on all attacks made with that weapon.
  • Wielded spell foci or other objects in hand: Make an attack at disadvantage against the target’s AC. On a hit, the focus is knocked from their grasp and lands 1d6 × 5 ft away in a random direction.

Wrestler

Strength (Athletics) Advanced Skill Trick

You can grapple and shove creatures two sizes larger than yourself. If you expend 1 STA, you can remove the size limit entirely.

Additionally, when you start your turn with a creature grappled, you can expend 1 STA and attempt a second grapple check. If you succeed, the target is restrained until the grapple ends.

Expert Skill Tricks

Expert skill tricks require a +5 proficiency bonus.

Blindfighter

Wisdom (Perception) Expert Skill Trick

Invisible or unseen enemies no longer have advantage to hit you. In addition, you do not have disadvantage to hit invisible or unseen enemies and gain blindsight out to 10 ft. If you already have blindsight or gain it later, this stacks.

Break Will

Charisma (Intimidation) Expert Skill Trick

This skill trick acts like Demoralize except that you can force any number of creatures that can see and hear you to make a Wisdom saving throw, becoming broken on a failure and frightened of you on a success. The broken state lasts until the end of your next turn and broken creatures become frightened of you as if they had succeeded once the broken status ends; The frightened state lasts for 1 minute in either case.

Comprehend Dweomer

Intelligence (Arcana) Expert Skill Trick

You gain the following benefits:

Dungeoncrasher

Strength (Athletics) Expert Skill Trick

When you move at least 10 feet before attempting to shove a creature, you can shove any size of creature. In addition, the distance you can shove creatures increases by 5 ft. for every STA you expend when making the check. If the creature is stopped short of the full distance by a hard surface, they must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failure, they are stunned until the end of their next turn. If they are stopped by running into a creature of their size or smaller, the other creature is knocked prone unless they succeed on a Strength saving throw.

Find Portal

Wisdom (Survival) Expert Skill Trick

You search for signs of an accessible planar portal within 1 mile of you. Make a Wisdom (Survival) check and expend 2 AET, with advantage if you also are proficient in Arcana. The result determines your success:

Find Portal

Check Total Result
< 10 You find a portal to a plane of the GM's choosing. The location on that plane that it leads to is dangerous.
10-14 You find a portal to a plane of the GM's choosing. The location on that plane that it leads to is not inherently dangerous.
15-19 You find a portal to a plane of your choosing. The location on that plane that it leads to is chosen by the GM, but is not inherently dangerous.
20+ You find a portal to a plane of your choosing. You can choose the approximate location that it leads to.

Like a Ghost

Dexterity (Stealth) Expert Skill Trick

When you are hidden, you no longer need to be concealed to remain hidden, but you must expend 1 STA for every turn you spend hidden without concealment. Missing with an attack no longer breaks stealth, although casting a spell with verbal components or hitting with an attack does reveal your position.

Slippery

Dexterity (Acrobatics) Expert Skill Trick

You can no longer be grappled or restrained by non-legendary effects as long as you spend 1 STA when the effect is applied.

Master Skill Tricks

Master skill tricks require a +6 proficiency.

Balance on Thin Air

Dexterity (Acrobatics) Master Skill Trick

You can expend 1 AET per turn to walk on air as if it was solid ground.

Dragon’s Fear

Charisma (Intimidation) Master Skill Trick

This skill trick works as Break Will, but with the addition that creatures whose CR is less than half your level automatically fail the saving throw and creatures higher than that have disadvantage on the saving throw.

Friend to All

Charisma (Persuasion) Master Skill Trick

As an action, you can magically call for a truce even during combat, expending 3 AET. All creatures that can understand your language must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, they become non-hostile until someone takes a hostile action. This ability does not work on mindless creatures, including zombies and skeletons.

Alternatively, if you are not actively fighting someone, you can force them to make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, their disposition to you increases by one step for 10 minutes or until you take hostile action against them. Once the effect ends, they will still follow through on any bargains struck during that time, but their disposition toward you may change.

Force Portal

Wisdom (Survival) Master Skill Trick

As an action and expending 4 AET, you force a micro-fissure in the fabric of the planes to form a full-fledged portal that lasts for 6 seconds. You can choose what plane it exits to, but only a rough description of the location on that plane.

Healing Hands

Wisdom (Medicine) Master Skill Trick

As an action you can expend 4 AET to magically do one of the following to a creature you touch: