In my 5E Catamaran campaign there are only twenty-five wizards in the world at one time; each time one is killed their "mage spark" goes to a mortal of suitable intelligence and knowledge (the specifics of this have been left purposefully vague), allowing that mortal to become a wizard. It is possible for a wizard to use so much of their power that they weaken their spark or force it to leave entirely, or for others to forcefully harvest a mage spark from a wizard given the right knowledge and willingness to commit acts of terrible torture. So of course one of the bad guy groups in the campaign, the Stormfeather order, is going around harvesting all the mage sparks it can and cramming them into the order's leader. Those who survive this removal process become what is called an unraveler; the void left by the mage spark allows them to actively consume and destroy magic, and the Stormfeather order brainwashes those poor unfortunates who survive the harvesting process into anti-magic footsoldiers that are really effective against spellcasters. These unravelers started out as a monster type, but a player got his mage spark weakened by being part of a ritual to cast a really high level spell, so I gave him the option to become an unraveler as it made a lot of sense for his character (he is a wizard who hates the Stormfeather order for killing his family). That led to me writing up unraveler as a base class unto itself, presented below.
This class would only work in campaigns where the players run into enough spellcasters to feel useful. The weird decision for obviously supernatural monster abilities to not be "magic" makes unravelers pretty focused on actual spellcasters, but I think it could work out. It certainly is not as universally useful a base class as fighter or rogue, but I think in the right campaign it could be a lot of fun.
Unraveler Dedication
At 1st level you select your unraveler dedication, which determines what type of magic user you specialize in hunting. This is usually determined by what led you to becoming an unraveler; was your family killed by wizards, or did the cleric of a dark god wrong you in the past? Your chosen dedication grants you features at 1st, 7th, 13th, and 17th level.
Unraveling
At 1st level, you learn how to harness your interior magical void, using it to aid you against magical effects. You can activate various abilities gained from this class, each of which adds unraveler points to your character. At 1st level,unraveler points can be spent in the following ways:
As a bonus action, gain one unraveler point to give yourself temporary hit points equal to your spellcasting ability score bonus. You can gain a number of unraveler points equal to your proficiency bonus in a single bonus action. These temporary hit points are lost when you take a short rest.
As a bonus action, gain one unraveler point and treat one weapon you wield as magic until the beginning of your next turn.
As a bonus action, gain one unraveler point and give yourself advantage on a saving throw against a spell or magical effect already active on you, such as hold person. If you are under a spell that has inflicted the stunned condition on you, you may use this option despite the fact you are stunned, but it is your only action for your turn.
As a reaction when making a saving throw against a spell or magical effect, you can gain one unraveler point to give yourself advantage on the saving throw.
You lose these unraveler points in the following ways:
When you are hit with spells you lose one unraveler point per spell level, but you can never have fewer than 0 unraveler points.
As a bonus action you can either consume a use or charge of a magic item or render a magic item inert until your next long rest to reduce your unraveler points by 1d6. You must be attuned to the item.
If your unraveler points are greater than your spellcasting ability score at beginning of your turn, you suffer 1d6 necrotic damage that ignores resistances, immunities, and temporary hit points. If your unraveler points are greater than the sum of your spellcasting ability score and your proficiency bonus at the beginning of your turn, you suffer 2d6 necrotic damage that ignores resistances, immunities, and temporary hit points. If your unraveler points are greater than the sum of your spellcasting ability score, your proficiency bonus, and your level, you suffer one level of exhaustion.
If you take a short or long rest, your unraveler points are reduced to 0.
Absorb Spell
At 1st level you gain the ability to try to absorb spells that hit adjacent allies as a reaction. Doing so gives the target advantage on their saving throw, and if they save successfully you lose unraveler points as if you had been hit by the spell.
Beginning at 9th level, when you successfully save against a spell that has multiple targets, you may use your reaction to give all targets within 5’ advantage on their saving throws against that spell. Beginning at 18th level, this expands to 10’.
Unravelling Spellcasting
Beginning at 2nd level, you have learned to harness your unravelling powers to effectively cast spells, mimicking common magical effects used by other spellcasters through destroying magical energy.
Cantrips
At 2nd level, you know two cantrips of your choice from the unraveler spell list. You learn additional unraveler cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Unraveler table.
Spell Slots
The Unraveler table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these unraveler spells, you must expend a slot of the spell’s level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest. For example, if you know the 1st-level spell shield and have a 1st-level and a 2nd-level spell slot available, you can cast shield using either slot.
Spells Known of 1st Level and Higher
You know two 1st-level spells of your choice from the unraveler spell list. The Spells Known column of the Unraveler table shows when you learn more unraveler spells of your choice. Each of these spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots. For instance, when you reach 5th level in this class, you can learn one new spell of 1st or 2nd level. Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the unraveler spells you know and replace it with another spell from the unraveler spell list, which also must be of a level for which you have spell slots.
Spellcasting Ability
Your spellcasting ability is determined by your dedication, as listed below. You use that ability whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use that ability modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a unraveler spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.
Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your ability modifier
Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your ability modifier
Spellcasting Focus
You can use an unravelers totem as a spellcasting focus for your unraveler spells.
Unraveler Fighting Style
At 2nd level, you adopt a style of fighting that incorporates your unraveler abilities as your specialty. Choose one of the following options.
Bolt Slinging
You gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls you make with cantrips.
Distraction
When wielding a melee weapon with two hands, you can specify one hostile creature adjacent to a you that you can see as a bonus action each round. Until the end of its next turn, that creature suffers disadvantage on all spell attack rolls and targets of its spells have advantage on their saving throws against those spells.
Interference
When you make a successful ranged weapon attack against a target maintaining concentration, the target has disadvantage on their Constitution save to maintain concentration. If the target fails its Constitution saving throw, it takes takes force damage equal to your spellcasting ability score bonus.
Spell Shield
When wielding a shield, as a reaction to an adjacent ally being hit by a spell attack roll made by an enemy you can see, you can impose a penalty on spell attack rolls against that character equal to your spellcasting ability score bonus until the beginning of your next turn. If the attack still hits, your ally has resistance to that spell’s damage.
Spellparry
Beginning at 3rd level, when you are targeted with a spell attack roll, you can spend your reaction to increase your Armor Class by your spellcasting ability score until the beginning of your next turn, but only against cantrips and spells.
Ability Score Improvement
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.
Extra Attack
Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the action on your turn.
Magic Sense
The presence of magic registers on your senses like the pressure of a storm about to strike. As an action, you can open your awareness to detect such forces. Until the end of your next turn, you know the location of any constructs, undead, fey, or elementals within 60 feet of you. You know the type (construct, undead, fey, or elemental) of any being whose presence you sense, but not its identity. Within the same radius, you also detect the presence of any place that has an active spell on it, such as a teleport circle, antimagic field, etc. You can use this feature a number of times equal to 1 + your spellcasting ability modifier. When you finish a long rest, you regain all expended uses.
Spell Evasion
Beginning at 6th level, you can use your unravel powers to deflect area of effect spells away from you. When you are subjected to an spell effect that allows you to make a saving throw to take only half damage, you instead take no damage if you succeed on the saving throw, and only half damage if you fail.
Cannibalize Power
Beginning at 6th level, you can consume your unraveler spell slots to reduce your unraveler points by the level of the spell consumed as a bonus action.
Channel Power
Beginning at 10th level, you know a limited number of spells drawn from the spell list for the class which your dedication specializes in, so at 10th level God Killers select two spells from the cleric list. These spells cannot be higher in level than your highest unraveler spell slot. Also you can gain unraveler points to take these additional actions.
Cast a spell from your available dedication spells, following the normal rules for that spell, gaining one unraveller point per spell level.
Beginning at 15th level, gain 6 unraveler points to cast one of the following spells using the normal rules for that spell: Forbiddance, Globe of Invulnerability, True Seeing
Beginning at 17th level, gain 7 unraveler points to cast one of the following spells using the normal rules for that spell: Sequester
Beginning at 19th level, gain 8 unraveler points to cast one of the following spells using the normal rules for that spell: Anti-Magic Shell, Feeblemind, Mind Blank
Unsettling
Beginning at 11th level, your lack of innate magical spark is so striking that others find it disconcerting, if not out right frightening. People can feel there is something “wrong” about you by just looking at you. You can gain an unraveler point as a bonus action to get advantage on an Intimidation check.
Drain Spells
Beginning at 14th level, you can drain spells from those you strike in combat. When you hit an enemy who can cast spells with a melee or ranged weapon attack, you can spend a bonus action and gain an unraveler point to try and drain spells from the target. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw against your spellcasting DC; if this save fails, the victim loses one of their lowest level unexpended spell slots and you gain lose one unraveler point per spell level. If the Wisdom save is successful, no spells are lost.
Consume Magic
At 15th level you gain the ability to subsist on magical power alone. If you lose three unraveler points due to spells being cast on you, you do not need food or water for that day. If you lose six unraveler points due to spells being cast on you, you gain advantage on all Constitution saves against inclement weather, including extremes of hot and cold, until your next long rest.
Spellbreaker
At 20th level you become the incarnation of anti-magic, becoming permanently magic resistant. You have advantage on all saving throws against spells, all spell attack rolls against you have disadvantage, and you reduce your unraveler point total by one at the beginning of each of your turns.
Unraveler Dedications
Your ability to undo magic comes with a particular focus, making you more effective against a specific type of magic. This may be a result of how you gained your unraveler powers, such as gaining the dedication of a godkiller by bathing in the blood of a dead deity, or could be a product of specific training.
Beast Slayer
Beast Slayers seek to end the power of the druids, seeing these magicians of the primal world as nothing but a threat to themselves, their people, mortalkind, etc. Some Beast Slayers are from urban areas and see druids as impediments to the growth of civilization, while others are from rural areas and have more personal grudges against druids; not every druid is a kindly nature guardian and more than a few subscribe to the power of blood sacrifices.
Primal Hunter
At 1st level, you gain proficiency in the Nature skill and Wisdom and Intelligence saving throws. Your spellcasting ability score is Wisdom.
As a reaction to being hit, you can gain an unraveler point to gain resistance to any of the following damage types until the beginning of your next turnt: poison, lightning, fire.
As a bonus action, you can gain unraveler points up to your proficiency bonus to gain +1d6 force damage per unraveler point to a single melee, ranged, or cantrip attack made against a target with druid spellcasting abilities or the beast or fey creature types. This damage bonus may be added to an attack after the attack hits.
You lose 1d4 unraveler points when you reduce a target with druid spellcasting abilities or the beast or fey creature types to 0 hit points, but to use this ability you must kill the target.
Talonbreak
Beginning at 7th level, you can gain unraveler points to do the following:
As a reaction when hit by an attack using natural weapons (bite, claw, tentacle, beak, tail, etc), gain two unraveler point to gain resistance to slashing, bludgeoning, and piercing damage from natural weapons until the beginning of your next turn.
As a bonus action, gain one unraveler point to ignore any difficult terrain created by magical effects until the beginning of your next turn.
True Form
At 13th level you gain the ability to force creatures not in their true form to revert to their true form, whether they were changed by spell, monster ability, or by a druid’s wildshape ability. As an action, you can gain three unraveler points to force a target within 60 feet not in their true form to make a Wisdom saving throw against your spellcasting DC; if they fail the saving throw they revert to their original form immediately as if the spell or ability used to change shape had ended and the target is stuck in its true form until it takes a short rest. If the target succeeds at the saving throw, it retains its altered form. If the creature is in its true form when this ability is used and it fails its save, it may not change shape until it completes a short rest.
Primal Endings
Beginning at 19th level, as long as you have five or more unraveler points, allies within 30 feet of you are immune to magically created difficult terrain and have advantage on saving throws against poison and charm effects.
God Killer
God Killers have been wronged by the gods or their agents and now seek to end their presence in this world. Some God Killers only oppose a single god and its followers, while others hate the concept of divinity itself and seek to end the interference of any divine being in the mortal world.
Divine Hunter
At 1st level, you gain proficiency in the Religion skill and Wisdom and Charisma saving throws. Your spellcasting ability score is Wisdom.
As a reaction to being hit, you can spend an unraveler point to gain radiant damage resistance until the beginning of your next turn.
As a bonus action, you can gain unraveler points to gain +1d6 force damage per unraveler point to a single melee, ranged, or cantrip attack made against a target with cleric spellcasting abilities or the fiend or celestial creature types. This damage bonus may be added to an attack after the attack hits. You may gain up to your proficiency bonus in unraveler points in a single bonus action using this ability.
You lose 1d4 unraveler points when you reduce a target with cleric spellcasting abilities or the celestial or fiend creature types to 0 hit points, but to use this ability you must kill the target.
Block Divinity
Beginning at 7th level, you can spend unraveler points to do the following:
As a reaction when the use of a channel divinity ability is declared within 30 feet of you, spend two unraveler points to attempt to block it. This requires the creature trying to use channel divinity to make a Wisdom save against your spellcasting DC; if this save fails the channel divinity ability fails to activate but is still consumed.
As a reaction to spells or channel divinity being used for healing within 30 feet of you, spend two unraveler points to reduce the effectiveness of all healing due to spells or channel divinity used within 30 feet of you by half until the beginning of your next turn.
Drain Divinity
Beginning at 13th level, when any clerical spell is cast within 30 feet of you but does not target you, you lose one unraveler point.
Shield of the Godless
Beginning at 19th level, as long as you have five or more unraveler points, allies within 30 feet of you have advantage on saving throws against clerical spells and resistance to radiant damage.
Line Ender
You hunt those born with the gifts of sorcerous blood, seeking those who abuse the powers of their ancestors for their own ends. To this end you have some knowledge and power over those non-human entities that empowered the sorcerer’s bloodline in the first place, possibly adding them to your list of existences to end.
Blood Hunter
At 1st level, you gain proficiency in the Arcana skill and Constitution and Charisma saving throws. Your spellcasting ability score is Charisma.
As a reaction, you can gain an unraveler point to gain resistance to any of the following damage types until the beginning of your next turn: fire, cold, lightning, acid, or thunder.
As a bonus action, you can gain unraveler points to gain +1d6 force damage per unraveler point to a single melee, ranged, or cantrip attack made against a target with sorcerous spellcasting abilities or one of the following creature types, chosen at first level: dragon, celestial, fiend, elemental, fey. This damage bonus may be added to an attack after the attack hits. You may gain up to your proficiency bonus in unraveler points in a single bonus action using this ability.
You lose 1d4 unraveler points when you reduce a target with sorcerous spellcasting abilities or the creature type selected previously to 0 hit points, but to use this ability you must kill the target.
Sorcerous Manipulation
At 7th level, you can gain unraveler points to do the following:
Sorcerous Drain
Beginning at 13th level, if sorcery points are expended within 30 feet of you, you lose one unraveler point per sorcerer point spent.
19th level ability TBD
Mage Hunter
You hunt those who study the arts arcane, putting an end to their abuse of power,
Arcane Predator
At 1st level, you gain proficiency in the skill Arcana and Wisdom and Intelligence saving throws. Your spellcasting ability score is Intelligence.
As a reaction, you can gain an unraveler point to gain resistance to any of the following damage types until the beginning of your next turn: fire, cold, lightning, necrotic, thunder, or acid.
As a bonus action, you can gain unraveler points to gain +1d6 force damage per unraveler point to a single melee, ranged, or cantrip attack made against a target with wizard spellcasting abilities or one of the following creature types, chosen at first level: elemental, construct, or undead. This damage bonus may be added to an attack after the attack hits. You may gain up to your proficiency bonus in unraveler points in a single bonus action using this ability.
You lose 1d4 unraveler points when you reduce a target with wizard spellcasting abilities or the creature type selected previously to 0 hit points, but to use this ability you must kill the target.
Bastion Against Spells
Beginning at 7th level, you can gain unraveler points to do the following:
As a bonus action, gain an unraveler point to grant an ally within touch range an immediate saving throw against against one ongoing spell affecting the ally. An additional point can be gained to give them advantage on that saving throw.
As a reaction when you succeed in a saving throw against a spell that your Spell Evasion applies to, you may gain two unraveler points redirect that spell at another target that is in range of the original caster. The target of the redirected spell is treated as if he were the original target of the spell. You do not gain unraveler points for the redirected spell.
Dimensional Lock
At 13th level you can gain three unraveler points to block any attempts to teleport into or out of a thirty foot radius around you, or summon creatures into that radius. This block must be sustained by concentration. Characters wishing to teleport into or out of this radius, or summon a creature inside it, must succeed at a Intelligence save against your spell save DC. Failure means the teleport ability used is consumed but it is not successful.
19th level ability TBD
Pact Breaker
Kills warlocks.
At 1st level, you gain proficiency Insight skill and Wisdom and Charisma saving throws. Your spellcasting ability score is Charisma.
As a reaction, you can gain an unraveler point to gain resistance to any of the following damage types until the beginning of your next turn: fire, cold, lightning, necrotic, or acid.
As a bonus action, you can gain unraveler points to gain +1d6 force damage per unraveler point to a single melee, ranged, or cantrip attack made against a target with warlock spellcasting abilities or one of the following creature types, chosen at first level: celestial, fey, fiend, or abomination. This damage bonus may be added to an attack after the attack hits. You may gain up to your proficiency bonus in unraveler points in a single bonus action using this ability.
You lose 1d4 unraveler points when you reduce a target with sorcerer spellcasting abilities or the creature type selected previously to 0 hit points, but to use this ability you must kill the target.
7th level ability TBD
13th level ability TBD
19th level ability TBD
Unraveler Spell List
Cantrips
Disenchanting Bolt
Extinguish
Resistance
Shredding Ray
Unravelling Bolt
1st Level
2nd Level
Golembreaker Strike
Hold Person
Lesser Cleanse Mind
Lesser Restoration
Magic Weapon
See Invisibility
Silence
3rd Level
Counterspell
Dispel Magic
Feign Death
Magic Circle
Nondetection
Protection from Energy
Remove Curse
Track Magician
4th Level
Banishment
Freedom of Movement
Invisibility Purge
5th Level
Antilife Shell
Banishing Smite
Circle of Power
Dispel Good and Evil
Greater Cleanse Mind
Greater Restoration
Hold Monster
New Unraveler Spells
Disenchanting Bolt
Cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 ft.
Components:
Duration: Instant
You fire a bolt of unraveling energy, inflicting 1d6 force damage on the target with a successful ranged attack roll. If the target is a construct, undead, fey, celestial, fiend, or other innately magical creature, it takes 2d6 force damage. The damage increases to 2d6/4d6 and 5th level, 3d6/5d6 at 11th level, and 4d6/6d6 at 17th level.
Dispelling Strike
The next time you hit a creature with a weapon attack before this spell ends, they are struck with a burst of unraveling energy. The target has disadvantage on Concentration checks resulting from the attack, and suffers +1d6 force damage. Any 1st level spells active on the target end; if these spells are triggered by an attack, they end before they can activate.
At Higher Levels. If you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level above 1st.
Extinguish
Cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components:
Duration: Instant
You end the effect of any of the following cantrips if the caster fails a Wisdom save against your spellcasting DC: druidcraft, light, minor illusion, prestidigitation, thaumaturgy.
Golembreaker Strike
The next time you hit a creature with a weapon attack before this spell ends, the target is struck with a burst of unraveling energy that tries to unmake their very being. If the target is a construct, it suffers +1d12 force damage and ignores any damage resistances; otherwise the target suffers +1d6 force damage..
At Higher Levels. If you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the damage increases by 1d12/1d6 for each slot level above 1st.
Lesser Cleanse Mind
2nd Level abjuration
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S
Duration: Instantaneous
Remove the charmed, stunned, or frightened condition from the target.
Greater Cleanse Mind
5th level abjuration
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S
Duration: Instantaneous
Remove the charmed, stunned, and frightened condition and end all of the following spells affecting the target: confusion, modify memory, feeblemind.
Invisibility Purge
4th level abjuration
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 120 feet radius
Components: V, S
Duration: Instantaneous
Any creature in range at the time of casting that is invisible must make a Wisdom saving throw against your spellcasting DC or become visible. The source of the invisibility does not matter; invisibility, greater invisibility, or a monster ability are all purged.
Sense Magician
While this spell is active, you can use a bonus action to determine if a target in range has spellcasting abilities. The target can resist the attempt if they are aware of it with a Wisdom save against your spellcasting DC. If the save fails or the target does not resist you learn if the target has spellcasting abilities, the source of their spellcasting ability, and their highest level spell slot.
Shredding Ray
Cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 ft.
Components:
Duration: Instant
You hurl a penetrating ray of unraveling power at the target. With a successful ranged attack, you inflict 1d8 force damage and remove all temporary hit points from the target. The damage increases to 2d8 and 5th level, 3d8 at 11th level, and 4d8 at 17th level.
Track Magician
While this spell is active, you can use a bonus action to determine if a target in range has spellcasting abilities or if such a target has passed through the area within the last 24 hours. if the target is still present in range, they can resist the attempt if they are aware of it with a Wisdom save against your spellcasting DC. If the save fails, the target does not resist, or the target is not present, you learn if the target has spellcasting abilities, the source of the spellcasting abilities, and their highest level spell slot. If the target is not present, you learn the direction they left by and can track them duration of the spell. You do not know their final location, only what direction they went they left the range of this spell at any given point.
Unraveling Bolt
Cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 90 feet
Components: S
Duration: Instant
You throw a bolt of unraveling force at the target, ripping at their natural magic aura. With a successful ranged attack, you inflict 1d8 force damage and cause the target to have disadvantage on spell attack rolls until the end of its next turn. The damage increases to 2d8 and 5th level, 3d8 at 11th level, and 4d8 at 17th level.
