A level 1 Soulknife excels in agility and stealth. Their main weapon, the Mind Blade, allows them to deal swift psychic damage. With feats like Wild Talent and Dodge, they’re hard to corner. This build prioritizes speed and offense, perfect for a hit-and-run style.
Stat Block Level 1:
Unnamed Soulknife: Male, Human Soulknife 1; CR 1; Medium humanoid (psionic); HD 1d10+2; hp 12; Init +3; Spd 30 ft.; AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 13; Base Atk +0; Grp +1; Atk Mind Blade +4 melee (1d6+1/19-20); Full Atk Mind Blade +4 melee (1d6+1/19-20); SA Psychic Strike; SQ Wild Talent, Weapon Focus (Mind Blade); AL Any; SV Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +0; Str 12, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 10.
Psychic Strike (store energy in mind blade to add 1d8 to damage), Mind Blade (create a weapon of psychic energy).
Possessions: Light armor, basic adventurer’s kit.
This Soulknife build at Level 5 focuses on quick, stealthy movements and delivering powerful attacks with the Mind Blade. The character excels in avoiding direct confrontation, instead using Throw Mind Blade and Psychic Strike to disable enemies from a distance. With Free Draw and Shape Mind Blade, they can quickly adapt their weapon for different combat situations.
Stat Block Level 5:
Unnamed Male Human Soulknife 5; CR 5; Medium humanoid (psionic); HD 5d10+10; hp 37; Init +4; Spd 30 ft.; AC 16, touch 14, flat-footed 12; Base Atk +5; Grp +6; Atk Mind Blade +9 melee (1d8+1) or Throw Mind Blade +9 ranged (1d8+1); Full Atk Mind Blade +9 melee (1d8+1) or Throw Mind Blade +9 ranged (1d8+1); SA Psychic Strike +1d8; SQ Mind Blade, Free Draw, Shape Mind Blade; AL Neutral; SV Fort +5, Ref +8, Will +4; Str 12, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 10.
Mind Blade can be summoned as a free action and reshaped as needed. Psychic Strike allows the Soulknife to add extra damage when enhancements are charged.
Possessions: Light armor, battle belt (enhances damage output), a simple shield if needed.
This level 10 Soulknife specializes in speed and agility. With enhancements like Psychic Strike and Mind Blade enhancements, this build deals significant damage in melee combat and can effectively disrupt spellcasters. Equipment choices are crucial for mobility and ending encounters quickly with the Psychic Stab + Knife to the Soul combo.
Stat Block Level 10:
Unnamed: male, human soulknife 10; CR 10; Medium humanoid (human); HD 10d10+20; hp 75; Init +4; Spd 50 ft.; AC 21, touch 16, flat-footed 17; Base Atk +7; Grp +8; Atk +12 melee (1d6+3, Mind Blade) or +11 ranged; Full Atk +12/+7 melee (1d6+3, Mind Blade); SA Psychic Strike +3d8, Knife to the Soul; SQ Free Draw, Throw Mind Blade, Shape Mind Blade, Bladewind, Mind Blade Enhancement +2; AL CN; SV Fort +5, Ref +9, Will +3; Str 12, Dex 19, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 10.
Psychic Strike allows extra damage when the mind blade is charged with psychic energy; Knife to the Soul can drain mental ability scores.
Possessions: Some armor and a Battle Belt for tactical advantages.
At level 15, the Soulknife specializes in rapid movement and psychic strikes. With enhanced dexterity and multiple attacks, they can swiftly incapacitate enemies by draining their mental attributes using Psychic Stab and Knife to the Soul. The build’s key strength is the ability to reduce enemies’ Int, Wis or Cha by 10 points in a single round, potentially rendering spellcasters unable to cast spells.
Stat Block Level 15:
Unnamed Soulknife: male, human Soulknife 15; CR 15; Medium humanoid (psionic); HD 15d10+30; hp 112; Init +4; Spd 50 ft.; AC 22, touch 16, flat-footed 18; Base Atk +15; Grp +16; Atk +20 melee (Mind Blade +3, 1d8+3/19-20) or +19 ranged (Thrown Mind Blade +3, 1d8+3); Full Atk +20/+15/+10 melee (Mind Blade +3, 1d8+3/19-20) or +19/+14/+9 ranged (Thrown Mind Blade +3, 1d8+3); SA Psychic Strike +4d8, Knife to the Soul; SQ Mind Blade Enhancement +3, Psychic Stab, Swift Mind Strike; AL N; SV Fort +11, Ref +15, Will +12; Str 12, Dex 23, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 10.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Hide +22, Move Silently +22, Autohypnosis +19; Wild Talent, Weapon Focus (Mind Blade), Dodge, Mobility, Weapon Finesse, Speed of Thought, Spring Attack, Greater Weapon Focus (Mind Blade), Combat Expertise, Whirlwind Attack, Swift Mind Strike, Bounding Assault.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Psychic Stab allows for devastating mental attribute damage during combat.
Possessions: Battle Belt, Mind Blade +3, leather armor, light shield.
Soulknife build focusing on speed and deception. With a ‘Battle Belt’, Psychic Stab, and Knife to the Soul abilities, this build deals devastating ability damage, rendering enemy spellcasters unable to cast spells. High agility aids in quick entry and exits in combat, making this character perfect for destabilizing enemy lines.
Stat Block Level 20:
Soulknife: male, human Soulknife 20; CR 20; Medium humanoid (psionic); HD 20d10+40; hp 150; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 25, touch 18, flat-footed 22; Base Atk +20; Grp +21; Atk mind blade +28 melee (1d8+8/19-20) or thrown mind blade +27 ranged (1d8+8); Full Atk mind blade +28/+23/+18/+13 melee (1d8+8/19-20) or thrown mind blade +27/+22/+17/+12 ranged (1d8+8); SA Psychic Strike +5d8, Knife to the Soul; SQ Mind Blade Enhancement +5, Free Draw, Shape Mind Blade, Speed of Thought, Multiple Throw; AL Neutral; SV Fort +14, Ref +18, Will +13; Str 12, Dex 22, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 10.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Hide +23, Move Silently +23, Autohypnosis +15; Wild Talent, Weapon Focus (Mind Blade), Dodge, Mobility, Weapon Finesse, Speed of Thought, Spring Attack, Greater Weapon Focus (Mind Blade), Combat Expertise, Whirlwind Attack, Swift Mind Strike, Bounding Assault.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Psychic Stab allows the Soulknife to deal significant psychic damage to impair enemies, while Knife to the Soul directly reduces mental stats rendering enemies incapacitated.
Possessions: +3 studded leather armor, Battle Belt for enhanced combat actions, and a cloak of resistance +4.
Milestones Of Character Development
Levels 1-5: The character begins developing their Soulknife abilities with foundational feats like Wild Talent, Weapon Focus (Mind Blade), and Mobility. Early mastery of the Mind Blade and Psychic Strike provides an edge in combat, while the ability to Throw Mind Blade enhances tactical flexibility.
Levels 6-10: Advancements include Speed of Thought, Spring Attack, and Mind Blade Enhancements. This phase introduces Bladewind, allowing multiple attacks, and empowers the character to engage and disengage effectively, increasing their influence in battle scenarios significantly.
Levels 11-15: The character sharpens their skills with Knife to the Soul and Swift Mind Strike, elevating their combat prowess with upgraded Psychic Strikes. The Whirlwind Attack and additional Mind Blade Enhancements further reinforce their capability to incapacitate spellcasters and handle multiple foes.
Levels 16-20: The pinnacle of character development is achieved with advanced skills like Multiple Throw and Bounding Assault, pushing the Mind Blade’s power to its peak. The exceptional combination of feats ensures dominance on the battlefield, with unparalleled attack speed and precision.
Core Abilities & Features
The Sword of the Soul[1] core feature is the Mind Blade, a weapon formed from pure psionic energy. This customizable blade scales with your progression, starting with weapon focus at Level 1 and growing in bonuses and enhancements. By Level 20, it gains a +5 enchantment bonus, reflecting the Soulknife’s deep bond with it.
One standout level 13 ability is Knife to the Soul. This twist allows the Soulknife to deal severe ability damage to mental stats by expending psychic strikes. Stripping a spellcaster of 10 points of Int, Wis, or Cha in a single round could render them mute, outsmarting their defenses with raw mental prowess.
Mobility defines this build’s fighting style. With feats like Spring Attack and Bounding Assault, our Soulknife can dart in and out of melees, ensuring they’re a blade’s edge ahead. This strategy keeps foes on their heels, emphasizing their role as a swift and deadly combatant.
Equipment Progression
Level Range
Equipment
Details
L1-5
Psychic Focused Shortsword
Boosts Mind Blade abilities, enhancing initial psychic attacks.
L6-10
Belt of Battle
Increases action economy, allowing the use of Psychic Stab + Knife to the Soul more effectively.
L11-15
Gloves of Dexterity +4
Enhances Dexterity to improve hit chance and AC, crucial for a Soulknife’s evasive maneuvers.
L16-20
Greater Mind Blade Enhancement
Maximizes Mind Blade damage, key for high-level encounters with increased Psychic Strike.
Combat Scenarios as a Sword of the Soul
Dungeon Crawls:
In narrow corridors, leverage Mind Blade’s Psychic Strike to target key foes such as spellcasters or retreating enemies. Use your high Dexterity to duck behind cover and scout ahead, relying on the team for traps.
Open Fields:
In a vast space, benefit from Spring Attack and Speed of Thought to dart in and out, avoiding direct confrontation. Your enhanced movement allows you to hit from range with Throw Mind Blade, striking crucial adversaries efficiently.
Ambushes:
Utilize the Throw Mind Blade combined with the Knife to the Soul ability. By mentally assaulting an opponent, you can potentially incapacitate them before they respond. The initial strike is critical for disrupting enemy formations.
Defensive Stands:
In defending a position, Bladewind is essential. Strike multiple foes in proximity by focusing on areas of strategic importance. Combine with Psychic Strike to deter a rush and maintain the defensive line against an onslaught.
Urban Encounters:
Navigating alleyways, Multiple Throw becomes advantageous by raining energy blades on pursuers. The layout provides numerous escape routes, using Move Silently to evade search parties, keeping info safe until safe extraction.
Weaknesses & Counters
Weakness
Counter
Low Armor Class (AC)
Invest in Bracers of Armor or a Mithral Shirt, providing additional armor bonuses.
Low Hit Points
Utilize equipment like an Amulet of Health, enhancing Constitution for more HP.
Reliance on Dexterity
Use Gauntlets of Dexterity to boost Dexterity, improving hit rate and AC.
Vulnerability to Magic
Acquire a Ring of Protection or invest in Cloak of Resistance to provide saving throw bonuses.
Poor Long-range Capabilities
Equip with Psychic Weaponry Enhancement to extend range of Mind Blades for more flexible tactical options.
Dependence on Psychic Strike
Use Power Stones for alternative power sources to diversify combat tactics.
Limited Skill Points for Stealth
Leverage the Hat of Disguise to access disguise self spell-like effects for improved concealment.
Roleplaying the Sword of the Soul
As a Sword of the Soul[1], you’re a master of mental fortitude and agility. Your mind is your greatest weapon, allowing you to summon blades out of sheer psychic energy. Consider adopting an air of mysterious calmness, always hinting at the depths of your psychic prowess. People might view your character as enigmatic due to your ability to conjure weapons seemingly out of thin air. Engage others with an aura of confidence and a hint of mysticism.
Theme-wise, leverage the inner journey of mastery over the self. Your character can face challenges such as struggling with their identity outside of combat. Despite relying on their mind blade, they might yearn for acceptance beyond their martial prowess. This can lead to interesting character interactions where you explore vulnerability and connection with others, sharing your journey from novice to expert Soulknife while remaining a step ahead of your adversaries, just like the rooftop escape artist.
The primary feature of a Sword of the Soul[1] is the Mind Blade. This weapon is unique because it is formed from pure psionic energy, crafted from the power of the mind. It grows stronger as you level up, gaining enhancements. At Level 1, you start with the Weapon Focus feat for your Mind Blade. As you progress, enhancements make your Mind Blade deadlier.
Low AC can be a challenge for any Soulknife. To counter this, invest in Bracers of Armor or a Mithral Shirt. This will provide additional armor bonuses to help mitigate the threat of incoming attacks. Utilizing defensive feats such as the Mobility feat can also improve your AC by aiding in dodge attempts.
The feats Spring Attack and Bounding Assault are crucial for enhancing mobility. They enable the Soulknife to move fluidly during combat, creating dynamic opportunities to strike and reposition. This mobility allows you to keep opponents off balance, turning your Mind Blade into a relentless, agile force.
How does Knife to the Soul affect opponent spellcasters?
Knife to the Soul is a powerful ability that targets a caster’s mental stats. By expending psychic strikes, you can drain up to 10 points from Int, Wis, or Cha. This could seriously hinder a spellcaster, potentially rendering them unable to cast spells in a single round, changing the tide of battle.
In urban environments, the ability to Multiple Throw is invaluable. It allows the Soulknife to rain down psychic energy blades on pursuers. Use the alleyways to your advantage and maintain distance. The Move Silently skill becomes essential, helping you escape or avoid detection until reaching safety.
Join us at Stellar Dragons!
As you delve into your D&D adventures, consider playing a Soulknife with their versatile and psychic sword abilities. Do you think the Sword could be the best build in D&D 3.5? Join us for discussions on the Stellar Dragons Discord server: https://discord.gg/uAPvgEq6Z7.
Writer, Editor, GM, Technologist – Andrew’s been playing TTRPGs since as far back as he can recall… at least sometime in the nineties… or was it the early 2000s?
The man jumped from one roof to another. The guards, hot on his tail, the booted stomp of his pursuers close behind. He had vital intelligence on the Duke’s infernal patron and he could not be taken alive.
He stopped suddenly, the next roof was a hard distance to simply jump.
As he hesitated, he heard the footsteps and the armors of the guards finally close the gap.
–“Stop, you are under arrest in the name of his excellency the Duke”.
He turned around slowly, his arms in the air. There were four of them, two with heavy crossbows and two with pikes. He smiled.
–“You think you caught me? Catch these”.
Blades of pure energy erupted from his hands towards the guardsmen. Four mind-blades and each were as fast as lightning as they struck their targets.
As they recoiled in pain he used the opportunity to run past them, jumped down from the roof into a darkened alley. He finally managed to lose them in the maze of streets of the city.
As the man crumbled in a back alley, exhausted, he smiled. He had managed to escape. Maybe his employer would have a shot at taking down the Duke with the information he could hand over.
–“You have mastered your mind blades, truly impressive”. A voice called from the dark, which made the young man jump.
–“Who are you? Show yourself!”
A figure emerged from the shaded alleyway, clad in a dark coat, a white mask on his face.
–“You? Your order doesn’t exist! It’s a myth.”He screamed in terror, the man’s instinct for survival took over as he sprinted for the street beyond.
The morning came, the man’s body was found floating in the river, his secrets gone with him.
Race
Human
Class
Soulknife 20
Ability Scores
Str 12/Dex 17/Con 14/Int 13/Wis 10/Cha 10
Skills
Hide, Move Silently, Autohypnosis
Equipment
Some armor, maybe a shield.
Goal
You are a speed fighter, capable of rapidly jumping in and out of a fight very rapidly, and you can, with a Battle Belt, end encounters in a single round with your Psychic Stab+Knife to the Soul abilities. Dealing 10 points of Int, Wis or Cha in a single round can be enough to make a spellcaster unable to cast spells straight up.
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