Article-At-A-Glance
- The Hellknight[1]’s build mastery involves fear tactics and enhanced physical combat abilities.
- Hellknight Slayers evolve through multiclassing and strategic feat selection for intimidation tactics.
- Balances armor enhancements and combat skills of the Hellknight[1] to defend against diverse attack types.
- Effective in roleplaying scenarios that emphasize lawful codes and intimidating presence.
Click on the level for more information
This Level 1 Slayer Hellknight build emphasizes fear and damage. With massive 3d6+6 potential damage from a Butchering Axe and impressive Intimidate capability even at baseline, the character can one shot most foes. The primary strategy is instilling fear while maximizing damage, setting the stage for heavier builds in later levels.
Level 1 Stat Block
Hellknight Slayer: male, Half-Orc Slayer 1; CR 0.5; Medium humanoid (orc); HD 1d10+0; hp 10; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 15, touch 10, flat-footed 15; Base Atk +1; Grp +5; Atk Butchering Axe +5 melee (3d6+6/20×3) or Butchering Axe +3 melee; Full Atk Butchering Axe +5 melee (3d6+6/20×3); SA Intimidate (1 rank + 5 Strength + 0 Charisma); SQ Darkvision 60 ft., Orc Blood, Studied Target; AL LE; SV Fort +2, Ref +0, Will +0; Str 19, Dex 10, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 12.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats
Intimidate +6 (1 rank); Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Butchering Axe).
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Studied Target (bonus against designated enemy type).
Possessions:
Butchering Axe, Chain Shirt.
At level 5, this character specializes in using fear to control opponents while delivering significant melee damage. Equipped with a Butchering Axe and shrouded in proficiency with both intimidation and power, each attack not only threatens physical harm but also sows terror among foes. With the Executioner and Tyrant builds, you’re set to decimate enemies, enhancing each strike with fear inducing prowess.
Level 5 Stat Block
Hellknight Slayer: male, Half-Orc Slayer 2/Antipaladin 3; CR 5; Medium Humanoid (Orc subtype); HD 5d10+0; hp 47; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 19, touch 10, flat-footed 19; Base Atk +4; Grp +7; Atk Butchering Axe +8 melee (3d6+9) or Intimidate; Full Atk Butchering Axe +8 melee (3d6+9) or Intimidate; SA Power Attack, Cornugon Smash, Intimidating Prowess; SQ Executioner archetype, Tyrant archetype, Aura of Evil, Detect Good, Smite Good 1/day; AL Lawful Evil; SV Fort +6, Ref +1, Will +4; Str 20, Dex 10, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 13.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats
Intimidate +14, Acrobatics +7, Perception +7, Sense Motive +4, Knowledge (Planes) +3; Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Butchering Axe), Intimidating Prowess, Power Attack, Ranger Combat Style, Soulless Gaze.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Executioner and Tyrant archetypes enhance the fear effects causing enemies to become Shaken and potentially Panicked.
Possessions:
Masterwork Butchering Axe, medium armor, Hellknight Plate (future acquisition).
The level 10 Hellknight Slayer build excels at instilling fear while delivering massive damage. Equipped with a Butchering Axe dealing 3d6 base damage, the Half-Orc character focuses on Strength, using Intimidate tactics to maximize chaos. Utilizing Soulless Gaze to augment fear effects and wearing Hellknight Plate for superior protection, this build is a formidable force on the battlefield, rendering targets Frightened quickly.
Level 10 Stat Block
Hellknight 10: male, half-orc slayer (executioner) 2/antipaladin (tyrant) 3/hellknight 5; CR 10; Medium humanoid (orc); HD 10d10+30; hp 90; Init +4; Spd 30 ft.; AC 20, touch 11, flat-footed 19; Base Atk +9; Grp +14; Atk +15 melee (3d6+10, Butchering Axe) or +10 ranged; Full Atk +15/+10 melee (3d6+10, Butchering Axe) or +10 ranged; SA Power Attack, Dazzling Display, Cornugon Smash; SQ Immunity to fear, Hellknight discipline, anti-chaos bonuses; AL LE; SV Fort +10, Ref +9, Will +7; Str 22, Dex 10, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 14.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats
Intimidate +20, Acrobatics +8, Perception +13, Sense Motive +12, Knowledge (Planes) +10; Power Attack, Dazzling Display, Intimidating Prowess, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Butchering Axe), Soulless Gaze, Cornugon Smash.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Intimidate checks to demoralize can make opponents Frightened instead of Shaken, immune to fear, summon Hellknight Plate.
Possessions:
Butchering Axe, Hellknight Plate, ring of protection +1, cloak of resistance +1.
This Level 15 Hellknight build excels at intimidating foes and dealing high damage with a Butchering Axe. The combination of Power Attack, Cornugon Smash, and Shatter Defenses ensures opponents are both frightened and injured swiftly. The build’s impressive armor class and strength from Hellknight Disciplines make it durable and overpowering in combat.
Level 15 Stat Block
Hellknight Slayer: male, Half-Orc Slayer (Executioner) 7 / Antipaladin (Tyrant) 3 / Hellknight 5; CR 15; Medium humanoid (orc); HD 15d10; hp 120; Init +7; Spd 30 ft.; AC 28, touch 10, flat-footed 28; Base Atk +15; Grp +23; Atk Butchering Axe +25 melee (3d6+10/×3) or Intimidating Glare +17 ranged; Full Atk Butchering Axe +25/+20/+15 melee (3d6+10/×3); SA Cornugon Smash, Dazzling Display, Shatter Defenses; SQ Darkvision 60 ft., Studied Target, Armor Training, Hellknight Armor, Fearsomeness; AL Lawful Evil; SV Fort +15, Ref +10, Will +8; Str 24, Dex 10, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 14.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats
Intimidate +22, Acrobatics +9, Perception +15, Sense Motive +14, Knowledge (Planes) +12; Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Butchering Axe), Intimidating Prowess, Power Attack, Soulless Gaze, Mask of Virtue, Weapon Focus (Butchering Axe), Shatter Defenses, Furious Focus, Dreadful Carnage.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Studied Target doubles targeting humanoids, Hellknight Armor allows best medium armor enhancement, call armor ability, Onslaught provides Strength bonus, and Fearsomeness upgrades Intimidate effects to Frightened.
Possessions:
Hellknight Plate, Butchering Axe, Unnatural Presence Trait, Reactionary Trait.
This build focuses on delivering frightening blows that send enemies into panic. The Slayer Executioner, paired with Tyrant Antipaladin and Hellknight prestige classes, excels in Intimidate tactics and damage dealing with a Butchering Axe. The Hellknight[1]’s armor and strength boosts enhance combat prowess, while a selection of feats and skills ensure enemies are easily demoralized and often incapacitated after a single hit.
Level 20 Stat Block
Hellknight Slayer: male, Half-Orc Slayer (Executioner) 7/Antipaladin (Tyrant) 3/Hellknight 10; CR 20; Medium humanoid (orc); HD 20d10; hp 200; Init +4; Spd 30 ft.; AC 28, touch 16, flat-footed 24; Base Atk +20; Grp +30; Atk +32 melee (3d6+18/19-20, Butchering Axe); Full Atk +32/+27/+22/+17 melee (3d6+18/19-20, Butchering Axe); SA Demoralize (Frighten), Power Attack, Shatter Defenses; SQ Studied Target, Hellknight Armor, Aura of Cowardice, Detect Good, Smite Good, Anti-Chaos Resistances; AL LE; SV Fort +18, Ref +14, Will +14; Str 26, Dex 10, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 14.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats
Intimidate +35, Acrobatics +10, Perception +15, Sense Motive +15, Knowledge (Planes) +10; Exotic Weapon Proficiency(Butchering Axe), Intimidating Prowess, Power Attack, Soulless Gaze, Cornugon Smash, Mask of Virtue, Weapon Focus(Butchering Axe), Dazzling Display, Shatter Defenses, Furious Focus, Dreadful Carnage.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Studied Target (provides insight bonuses against selected foes), Disciplines (Onslaught, Fearsomeness, Call Armor), Aura of Cowardice and Detect Good from Tyrant archetype.
Possessions:
Butchering Axe, Hellknight Plate, rings of protection, cloak of resistance +5.
Milestones Of Character Development
- Levels 1-5: Begin with Slayer Executioner 2 levels for stealth and execution bonuses. Multiclass into Antipaladin (Tyrant) gaining Intimidating Prowess and Power Attack feats to boost damage and intimidation efficiency.
- Levels 6-10: Enter the Hellknight[1] Prestige Class, gaining Hellknight Plate for superior defense. Acquire Soulless Gaze to escalate fear effects, along with Cornugon Smash for combined combat and intimidation proficiency.
- Levels 11-15: Enhance combat skills with Weapon Focus and Dazzling Display for intimidation display, Shatter Defenses for weakening enemy resolve, while maintaining fear dominance. Gain access to Fearsome Discipline for maximum intimidation power.
- Levels 16-20: Maximize combat prowess with Furious Focus and Dreadful Carnage, causing mass panic through attacks. Utilize Painful Strike as Slayer Talent to optimize damage, with Hellknight’s Call Armor for strategic defense deployment.
Core Abilities & Features
The Hellknight[1] Slayer is a powerhouse of terror and strength. By taking the Executioner Archetype, it enhances the slayer’s capacity to instill fear and execute foes efficiently. The multiclassing into Antipaladin with the Tyrant Archetype provides additional fear abilities, enhancing the build’s primary tactic: terrifying enemies into submission.
Strength is the cornerstone of this build, prioritizing it in ability scores to maximize physical prowess. Whether starting with a 15, 20, or 25 point-buy, Strength remains the focus, allowing the build to deliver devastating blows. The use of the Butchering Axe, combined with feats like Power Attack and Cornugon Smash, creates a reliable, fearsome attack strategy.
Key features of the Hellknight[1] prestige class further empower this build. Wearing Hellknight Plate offers superior protection, and its anti-chaos bonuses enhance survival against chaotic adversaries. Disciplines such as Onslaught, Fearsomeness, and Call Armor add layers of versatility and intimidation, transforming momentary fear into full-fledged panic in opponents. Ultimately, this makes the build exceptionally potent in combat.
Equipment Progression
| Level Range | Equipment | Details |
|---|---|---|
| L1-5 | Butchering Axe | Primary weapon; offers high damage output from the start with 3d6 base damage. |
| L6-10 | Hellknight Plate | Offers superior defense and bonuses to anti chaos abilities; a must for resilience. |
| L11-15 | Butchering Axe +2 | Further enhancement to weapon damage and attack, optimizing combat prowess. |
| L16-20 | Butchering Axe +3 | Maximized damage potential and attack efficiency for high level encounters. |
Combat Scenarios
- Dungeon Crawls:
- The corridors of a dungeon make the Hellknight[1]’s terrifying presence even more effective. Narrow spaces prevent enemies from fleeing, leaving them vulnerable to our Intimidate induced fear. Use the Butchering Axe to deal with any narrow passage foes swiftly, leveraging Intimidating Prowess paired with Cornugon Smash to keep them demoralized and Shatter Defenses for extra damage.
- Open Fields:
- In the vastness of open terrain, maneuverability and range are key. Sprint towards priority targets using Hellknight’s fearsome abilities to make enemies flee. Use Power Attack for increased damage as you charge. Keep Intimidate at the ready to prevent attackers from building confidence, leveraging Sorcerer gazes to ensure effectiveness from afar.
- Ambushes:
- When ambushed, quickly retaliate with the Butchering Axe, making immediate use of Intimidate and Cornugon Smash to break the enemy’s initiative. Call Armor can be used if separated from protection, and Painful Strike can weaken attackers. Maintain presence to mitigate surprise losses, turning ambush situations into gains.
- Defensive Stands:
- Hold ground using Hellknight Plate for superior defense while instilling fear. Use Mask of Virtue to maintain morale among allies while the enemy is weakened by fear. The Call Armor ability ensures immediate preparedness. Maintain Shatter Defenses to punish enemy advances, creating a protective perimeter with your presence.
- Urban Encounters:
- In crowded urban areas, control the flow of battle by intimidating crowds through Dazzling Display. Use Fearsomeness to ensure crowd compliance as the battle starts. Cornugon Smash helps maintain control over chaos, while the Butchering Axe clears paths. The Intimidating Prowess feat maximizes exploit of fear in these tight, unpredictable settings.
Weaknesses & Counters
| Weakness | Counter |
|---|---|
| Low Constitution resulting in low health | Invest additional points in HP through Favored Class Bonus and acquire defensive magic items such as an Amulet of Health (+2 to Constitution) |
| Reliance on melee combat strategies | Always carry a Composite Longbow (for Strength bonus) to engage distant enemies effectively; consider a Cloak of Displacement for ranged defense. |
| Poor Initiative and low dexterity | Take Reactionary trait (+2 Initiative) and invest in the Improved Initiative feat or use scrolls or potions of Cat’s Grace to temporarily boost Dexterity. |
| Limited use of Hellknight Disciplines per day, reliant on Strength boost for damage. | Focus on acquiring an Efficient Quiver with scrolls/potions of Bull’s Strength for additional Strength boosts during critical encounters. |
| Overreliance on Intimidate leaves build vulnerable to creatures immune to mind-affecting effects. | Utilize Weapon Enhancements such as a Holy weapon to overcome creatures immune to fear. |
Roleplaying
Embodying the intimidating presence of a Hellknight is central to roleplaying this character. Picture your Half-Orc clad in imposing Hellknight Plate, wielding a Butchering Axe, and adopting a demeanor that commands respect and fear. Use your racial heritage and armor to craft a presence that turns heads and silences rooms.
Consider the moral complexity of a Hellknight who follows strict codes while also embodying the chaotic executioner’s zeal. Your character can struggle privately with the rigid laws they enforce contrasted against the fervor of their executioner role. Publicly, let this create tension and intrigue in interactions, revealing layers as they grow both feared and, surprisingly, respected.
FAQ
Which ability scores should I focus on for a Hellknight Slayer build?
Strength is crucial for the Hellknight[1] Slayer build, as it maximizes physical power. This enables devastating attacks using the Butchering Axe. Constitution is also essential to enhance durability in combat. Investing in charisma enhances intimidation tactics and boosts abilities from the Antipaladin class.
Why choose the Executioner Archetype for a Hellknight Slayer?
The Executioner Archetype intensifies the Slayer’s ability to instill fear and execute efficiently. This synergizes well with the Hellknight[1] Slayer’s combat strategy, focusing on melee strength and intimidation. It amplifies prowess in delivering lethal strikes. Fear becomes both a weapon and a defense against foes.
How does the Hellknight[1] Plate benefit my Slayer build?
Wearing Hellknight Plate offers superior protection and boosts anti-chaos defenses. This armor complements the Slayer’s front-line combat role, increasing survivability. Its imposition creates an intimidating presence, essential for executing fear-based strategies. It enables you to withstand chaotic onslaughts much more effectively.
How does Intimidate contribute to a Hellknight Slayer’s strategy?
Intimidate is pivotal, incapacitating foes through fear and lowering combat resistance. Combined with Cornugon Smash, it maintains opponent demoralization. This synergy disrupts foes, leaving them vulnerable for strategic strikes. Intimidate ensures dominance over battles, making fear your ultimate ally.
How Does the Hellknight[1] Slayer Perform in Urban Settings?
In urban environments, control battles by intimidating and dispersing crowds. Utilize Dazzling Display and Fearsomeness to assert dominance. The Hellknight[1] Slayer excels in chaotic urban scenarios, managing adversaries through fear. This builds a presence that curtails enemy morale and crowds effectively.
Join us at Stellar Dragons with the Hellknight!
Try playing a Hellknight in your next Pathfinder 1E game. Do you think Hellknight could be the best build in Pathfinder 1E? Join the discussion on the Stellar Dragons Discord server: https://discord.gg/uAPvgEq6Z7.
Author
Terms definitions
1. ↑ Slayer – The Hellknight – Pathfinder 1E ( The Hellknight )
The Hellknight
Okay, that Intimidate build we previously made was cool, and very thematic for stealth, but what if we wanted to be out there in public and slicing people in twain to scare them?
Well, I do in fact have a build for us here.
We will be taking the Executioner Archetype, multiclass into Antipaladin with the Tyrant Archetype and take levels of the Hellknight Prestige Class. Our leveling should look like the following:
Class
Slayer (Executioner) 2/Antipaladin (Tyrant) 3/Hellknight 10/Slayer (Executioner) +5
Race
We’re going Half-Orc, putting our floating +2 into Strength.
Ability Scores
15Point-Buy
Str 19/Dex 10/Con 10/Int 10/Wis 10/Cha 12 Put everything in Strength
20Point-Buy
Str 20/Dex 10/Con 10/Int 10/Wis 10/Cha 13 Round up Charisma, then everything in Strength.
25Point-Buy
Str 20/Dex 10/Con 13/Int 10/Wis 10/Cha 14
Round up Constitution then everything else in Strength.
Traits
Take Reactionary to help our poor Initiative and Unnatural Presence to Intimidate animals and Vermin.
Favored Class Bonus
Our Constitution is low, put em in HP.
Skills
Intimidate, Acrobatics, Perception, Sense Motive, we also need Knowledge(Planes).
Feats by Level
1-Exotic Weapon Proficiency(Butchering Axe) Ranger Combat Style
2-Intimidating Prowess
3-Power Attack
5-Soulless Gaze
7-Cornugon Smash
9-Mask of Virtue
11-Weapon Focus(Butchering Axe)
13-Dazzling Display
15-Shatter Defenses
17-Furious Focus
19-Dreadful Carnage
Power Attack+Cornugon Smash+Shatter Defenses is pretty self-explanatory at this point, Soulless Gaze lets us increase the fear status on Intimidate and with our massive Strength, Intimidating Prowess is just a no-brainer.
Slayer Talents by Level
2-Ranger Combat Style
17-Painful Strike
19-Poison Use
Hellknight
As a Hellknight we get to wear Hellknight Plate which is pretty much the best armor in the game before enchantments, plus we get some neat anti-chaos bonuses and three Disciplines at the following Levels:
8-Onslaught
11-Fearsomeness
14-Call Armor
We can summon our armor to us, gain a +4 bonus to Strength for a few times a day and we can, three times per day, when we make an Intimidate to Demoralize someone, make them Frightened instead of Shaken.
Equipment
A Butchering Axe and the best medium armor you can get. Eventually we’re getting Hellknight Plate.
Final Thoughts on the Build
We can send targets panicking in less than one round and no one, no one is immune to our fear effects. Plus with a Butchering Axe we are doing stupid damage (3d6 base). Even at lvl 1 without Power Attack we deal 3d6+6/7 damage which is enough to pretty much one shot anything at this level. And this will keep being the case for a few levels between Power Attack, Studied Target(which doubles for us as Executioner vs humanoids, but admittedly lowers to 0 against others). We are super resilient with Hellknight Armor and did I say we are sending everyone cowering as part of attacking? This build is one of the strongest I have made so far weirdly enough.
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