Shadowdancer
Shadowdancers operate in the border between light and darkness. These nimble artists of deception are never completely trusted but always induce wonder when met. Despite their link with shadows and trickery, shadowdancers are as often good as evil. They may use their incredible abilities as they wish.
Shadowdancers often work in troupes, never staying in one place too long. Some use their abilities to entertain. Others operate as thieves, using their abilities to infiltrate past defenses and dupe others. All shadowdancer troupes maintain an aura of mystery among the populace, who never know whether to think well or ill of them.
Requirements
Skills: Hide 10 ranks, Move Silently 8 ranks, Tumble 5 ranks
Feats: Dodge, Mobility
Hit Die: d8
Proficiencies: Armor (Light), Weapons (Simple)
Skill Points: 6 + INT
Class Skills: Bluff, Craft (Weapon, Armor, Building, Gemcutting, Locksmith), Decipher Script, Disguise, Escape Artist, Forgery, Heal, Hide, Knowledge (all), Listen, Lore, Move Silently, Perform, Persuade, Profession, Search, Spot, Tumble
Level progression
| Lvl | BAB | Saves | Feats | HP range | Shadow Evade | Shadow Summon |
Sneak Attack | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort | Ref | Will | Damage Reduction | Concealment | AC bonus | ||||||||
| 1st | +0 | +0 | +2 | +0 | Darkvision | 4-8 | 1d6 | ||||||
| 2nd | +1 | +0 | +3 | +0 | Evasion, Uncanny Dodge I | 8-16 | |||||||
| 3rd | +2 | +1 | +3 | +1 | Shadow Daze, Summon Shadow | 12-24 | Shadow Demon | ||||||
| 4th | +3 | +1 | +4 | +1 | Shadow Evade, Shadow Jump, Shadow Conjuration 1/day | 16-32 | 5/+2 | 10% | +2 | ||||
| 5th | +3 | +1 | +4 | +1 | Hide in Plain Sight, Defensive Roll, Uncanny Dodge II | 20-40 | 10/+2 | 20% | +2 | ||||
| 6th | +4 | +2 | +5 | +2 | 24-48 | 5/+3 | 30% | +3 | Nightwing | 2d6 | |||
| 7th | +5 | +2 | +5 | +2 | Slippery Mind | 28-56 | 10/+3 | 40% | +3 | ||||
| 8th | +6 | +2 | +6 | +2 | Swift and Silent +10% | 32-64 | 5/+4 | 50% | +4 | Nightwalker | |||
| 9th | +6 | +3 | +6 | +3 | Shadow Twin | 36-72 | 10/+4 | 60% | +5 | ||||
| 10th | +7 | +3 | +7 | +3 | Improved Evasion, Uncanny Dodge III | 40-80 | 5/+5 | 70% | +6 | Shadow Dragon | |||
Sneak Attack
Shadowdancers receive sneak Attack progression, starting at level 6 and gaining another 1d6 at level 9.
Note: Mechanically, this is Blackguard's Sneak Attack, so it will stacks with the damage bonus from the rogue's sneak attack and assassin's death attack.
Summon Shadow
This ability is on a 15-minute cooldown.
Shadow Evade
In addition to the chart above, Shadow Evade applies Haste and immunity to necromancy for its duration. The duration is equal to 5 rounds plus an additional round per Shadowdancer level. Shadow Evade works on a charge-based system, capping at a maximum of 3 charges that independently refresh 5 minutes after use. This ability is undispellable and is a free action to use.
Shadow Jump
The Shadowdancer may teleport a short distance similar to Dimension Door, but only while stealthed. This ability is a free action and does not break stealth.
Swift and Silent
Shadowdancers receive "Swift and Silent" at level 8. This increases movement speed in stealth mode.
Shadow Twin
As a free action, the Shadowdancer may create a simulacrum in their place while they become unseeable and untargetable for two rounds or until they perform a hostile act. The clone acts as an exact replica and attacks nearby enemies, lasting for two rounds before it vanishes. This ability has a 2-minute cooldown.
Tips: Becoming a shadowdancer
- Rogues, bards, and monks make excellent shadowdancers.
- Fighters, barbarians, rangers, and paladins also find that shadowdancer abilities allow them to strike at their opponents with surprise and skill.
- Wizard, sorcerer, cleric, and druid shadowdancers employ the defensive capabilities inherent in the prestige class to allow them to cast their spells from safety and move away quickly.