Ronin
Though they have been known by many names over the ages, Ronin are Fighters who have been expelled from the service of their lord or land. Regardless of the reason, these highly skilled warriors now roam the world seeking absolution through battle. With nothing to lose, these warriors fight with a deadly ferocity and ruthless focus unlike any other.
Ronin Throughout the World
Though the name Ronin is specific to the Samurai of Japanese culture in our world, here it is used to represent any exiled warrior or noble. The title may differ, but these exiles share many traits.
When playing a Ronin, talk with your DM about how you fit into their world. What position did you hold before your exile? Do you hail from a foreign land, or do you dwell close to your former home?
Exiled Courtier
3rd-level Ronin Archetype feature
You were once an influential member of a noble court or an important advisor. You learn to speak, read, and write one additional language of your choice, and you gain proficiency in one of the following skills: History, Insight, Performance, or Persuasion.
Ronin Exploits
3rd-level Ronin Archetype feature
You learn certain Martial Exploits at the Fighter levels noted in the table below. They don’t count against your total number of Exploits Known and can’t be switched upon gaining a level.
| Fighter Level | Exploit |
|---|---|
| 3rd | commanding presence, ruthless strike |
| 5th | heroic will, honor duel |
| 9th | heroic focus |
Unyielding Spirit
3rd-level Ronin Archetype feature
You fight with the unrivaled focus and ruthless ferocity of a warrior with nothing left to lose. As a bonus action, you can focus yourself to gain advantage on all weapon attack rolls and ignore any levels of Exhaustion you have until the end of your current turn. When you use this bonus action you also gain temporary hit points equal to your Fighter level.
You can use this feature once per short or long rest with no adverse effects. However, each additional time you use it, you suffer 1 level of Exhaustion at the end of that turn.
Lordly Bearing
7th-level Ronin Archetype feature
Your experience and former station shine through no matter how downtrodden you may become. Whenever you make an ability check with your Exiled Courtier skill, you gain a bonus to your roll equal to your Exploit Die.
You also gain proficiency in Wisdom saving throws. If you are already proficient in Wisdom saving throws, you instead gain proficiency in Charisma or Intelligence saving throws.
Unrelenting
10th-level Ronin Archetype feature
You can push through adversity that would defeat a lesser warrior. When you roll initiative with no uses of Unyielding Spirit remaining, you regain one expended use.
Moreover, whenever you finish a short rest, your current level of Exhaustion, if any, is reduced by 1.
Swift Strikes
15th-level Ronin Archetype feature
You rain blows down upon foes like the raindrops of a storm. Once per turn when you have advantage on a weapon attack roll against a creature, you can forgo your advantage to make one additional weapon attack against that creature.
Legendary Ronin
18th-level Ronin Archetype feature
Your battle focus is so absolute that you can avoid the grasp of death itself, if only for a short time. When you are reduced to 0 hit points, you can immediately take an extra turn.
During this extra turn, you remain at 0 hit points, and any damage you take causes you death saving throw failures as normal. At the end of this extra turn, you immediately fall to the ground unconscious with 0 hit points, and if you gained three death saving throw failures during that turn, you die.
Once you use this feature you must complete a long rest before you can use it again. If you have no uses left, you can expend a use of Action Surge to use this feature again.