Eldritch Knights are a prestige class and are those who mix blade and magic into their fighting style. Eldritch knights blend the abilities of fighting classes and spellcasters, hurling magic at the enemy one moment and hewing down their opponents with steel the next. They are just as comfortable fighting in the thick of combat as they are casting spells at foes while remaining safely behind their compatriots. Their versatility makes them valuable allies when the nature of an upcoming battle is unclear.
Gameplay[ | ]
Eldritch Knight combines the best features of martial and spellcasting class (i.e. full BAB and 9 levels of spellcasting progression). The downside is that the character loses 1 level of spellcasting progression, any spellcaster bonus feats and does not progress class-specific features (e.g. Bard Song) and Bloodlines.
While similar to the Magus, characters that multiclass to Eldritch Knight are not capped at level 6 Arcane Spells and Wizards and Sorcerers that add Eldritch Knight levels can potentially get all the way to level 9 spells. However, unlike Magi, the Eldritch Knight class does not learn how to cast spells in armor naturally and has to take Arcane Armor Training and Arcane Armor Mastery as perks if planning to use an armor and an shield.
Since the Eldritch Knight does not progress the class features of the base spellcaster class, it is generally inefficient to multiclass from a Magus. Multiclassing from a Sorcerer might be ineffective as well, as the Bloodline progression will be locked. This means that Wizard and Bard are probably the best classes to progress into Eldritch Knight.
- Hit Die: d10
- Skill Ranks per Level per Level: 2 + 1/2 Intelligence modifier
| Level | Base Attack Bonus | 
|
|
|
Special | Caster Levels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +1 | +1 | +0 | +0 | Bonus Combat Feat, Diverse Training | |
| 2nd | +2 | +1 | +1 | +1 | Arcane Spellcasting | +1 |
| 3rd | +3 | +2 | +1 | +1 | +1 | |
| 4th | +4 | +2 | +1 | +1 | +1 | |
| 5th | +5 | +3 | +2 | +2 | Bonus Combat Feat | +1 |
| 6th | +6 | +3 | +2 | +2 | +1 | |
| 7th | +7 | +4 | +2 | +2 | +1 | |
| 8th | +8 | +4 | +3 | +3 | +1 | |
| 9th | +9 | +5 | +3 | +3 | Bonus Combat Feat | +1 |
| 10th | +10 | +5 | +3 | +3 | Spell Critical | +1 |
Prerequisites[ | ]
- Proficiency with martial weapons
- Ability to cast 3rd level Arcane spells
Base features[ | ]
Diverse Training[ | ]
An eldritch knight adds his level to any levels of fighter he might have for the purpose of meeting the prerequisites for feats (if he has no fighter levels, treat his eldritch knight levels as levels of fighter). He also adds his level to any levels in an arcane spellcasting class for the purpose of meeting the prerequisites for feats.
Bonus Combat Feat[ | ]
At 1st level, an eldritch knight may choose a bonus combat feat. This is in addition to the feats that a character of any class normally gets from advancing levels. The character must still meet any prerequisites for these bonus feats. An eldritch knight gains an additional combat feat at 5th and 9th level.
Spells per Day[ | ]
At 2nd level, and at every level thereafter, an eldritch knight gains new spells per day as if he had also gained a level in an arcane spellcasting class he belonged to before adding the prestige class. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained, except for additional spells per day, spells known, and an increased effective level of spellcasting. If a character had more than one arcane spellcasting class before becoming an eldritch knight, he must decide to which class he adds the new level for purposes of determining spells per day.
Spell Critical[ | ]
At 10th level, whenever an eldritch knight successfully confirms a critical hit, the next spell he casts within 2 rounds will be cast as swift action, as if quickened.