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Path of the Alpha • Path of the Shepard

About these subclasses

The Path of the Alpha embodies the predator pack: relentless, coordinated, and instinctive, using overwhelming aggression and focused attacks to bring down prey. The Path of the Shepherd embodies the guardian pack: watchful, supportive, and adaptable, using its beasts to protect allies, scout dangerous territory, and shape the battlefield. Both paths should feel like commanding a living network of creatures rather than simply having animal companions, the Beastmaster’s strength comes from directing the pack as a unified whole.

Designed for class

Beastmaster
Homebrew class
Beastmaster
Path of the Alpha

Path of the Alpha

Spellcast Trait: Instinct

Play Path of the Alpha if you want to drive your swarm into relentless assault, and debilitating enemies through pack dominance.

Foundation

Alpha's Might: Your bonded Beasts remain within Very Close range of you. After you hit a target while using Pack Bond to Attack, the target becomes temporarily Vulnerable.

Blood in the Water: When you deal damage to a Vulnerable target, you can mark a Stress to increase the Pack Bond Attack damage die to a d10. If the target is reduced to 0 HP, gain a Hope or clear 1 HP.

Specialization

Alpha's Command: When you use Pack Bond to Attack, you can choose one additional command:

  • Pounce: If you succeed on the Attack, the Beast moves to Very Close range of the target and they are temporarily Restrained.

  • Rend: If you deal damage, the target marks a Stress.

Pack Tactics: When two or more Beasts assist the same action, gain Advantage on the action. When a Beast assists you with Attack, you can forgo the Pack Bond damage to instead force the target to mark a Stress.

Mastery

Predator's Dominion: When you reduce an adversary to 0 HP, immediately command a Beast to use any Pack Bond option without spending Hope.

Relentless Hunter: When you use Call of the Wild, you can command each Beast to Attack the same target. When at least two Beasts do so, increase the damage to a d12.

Path of the Shepard

Path of the Shepard

Spellcast Trait: Instinct

Play Path of the Shepard if you want to guide your swarm to care for allies, scout, and control the battlefield.

Foundation

Shepard's Care: You have one additional bonded Beast. When you use Pack Bond to Protect, you can choose two allies within Close range instead of one.

Watchful Pack: Your Beasts can scout independently while remaining within Far range. You can perceive through their senses and communicate with them telepathically while they scout.

Specialization

Driving Herd: When a Beast uses Hinder, you can also force the target to make a Reaction Roll (15). On a failure, move the target a Very Close distance in a direction of your choice.

Guarding Instinct: When an ally within Close range would mark HP, you can sever your bond with one Beast. That Beast takes all the damage instead, then disappears until your next rest.

Shepard's Command: When you use Pack Bond to Protect, you can choose one additional command:

  • Rescue: Move the protected ally to Very Close range of you.

  • Distract: The next attack against the protected ally has Disadvantage.

Mastery

Endless Watch: Your bonded Beasts can remain active while you sleep or rest. You can perceive through any number of them simultaneously, and they can communicate what they perceive to you regardless of distance.

One with the Pack: When you use Call of the Wild, you can command your Beasts to assist different allies with the same action. Additionally, you can choose the same Pack Bond option more than once.

Printable cards

Foundation / Specialization / Mastery
Grace domain icon Sage domain icon
Path of the Alpha
Beastmaster

Path of the Alpha

Foundation

SPELLCAST TRAIT: Instinct

Alpha's Might: Your bonded Beasts remain within Very Close range of you. After you hit a target while using Pack Bond to Attack, the target becomes temporarily Vulnerable.

Blood in the Water: When you deal damage to a Vulnerable target, you can mark a Stress to increase the Pack Bond Attack damage die to a d10. If the target is reduced to 0 HP, gain a Hope or clear 1 HP.

Daggerheart Compatible. Daggerheart.comDaggerheart Compatible Logo
Card Backing
Grace domain icon Sage domain icon
Path of the Alpha
Beastmaster

Path of the Alpha

Specialization

Alpha's Command: When you use Pack Bond to Attack, you can choose one additional command:

  • Pounce: If you succeed on the Attack, the Beast moves to Very Close range of the target and they are temporarily Restrained.

  • Rend: If you deal damage, the target marks a Stress.

Pack Tactics: When two or more Beasts assist the same action, gain Advantage on the action. When a Beast assists you with Attack, you can forgo the Pack Bond damage to instead force the target to mark a Stress.

Daggerheart Compatible. Daggerheart.comDaggerheart Compatible Logo
Card Backing
Grace domain icon Sage domain icon
Path of the Alpha
Beastmaster

Path of the Alpha

Mastery

Predator's Dominion: When you reduce an adversary to 0 HP, immediately command a Beast to use any Pack Bond option without spending Hope.

Relentless Hunter: When you use Call of the Wild, you can command each Beast to Attack the same target. When at least two Beasts do so, increase the damage to a d12.

Daggerheart Compatible. Daggerheart.comDaggerheart Compatible Logo
Card Backing
Grace domain icon Sage domain icon
Path of the Shepard
Beastmaster

Path of the Shepard

Foundation

SPELLCAST TRAIT: Instinct

Shepard's Care: You have one additional bonded Beast. When you use Pack Bond to Protect, you can choose two allies within Close range instead of one.

Watchful Pack: Your Beasts can scout independently while remaining within Far range. You can perceive through their senses and communicate with them telepathically while they scout.

Daggerheart Compatible. Daggerheart.comDaggerheart Compatible Logo
Card Backing
Grace domain icon Sage domain icon
Path of the Shepard
Beastmaster

Path of the Shepard

Specialization

Driving Herd: When a Beast uses Hinder, you can also force the target to make a Reaction Roll (15). On a failure, move the target a Very Close distance in a direction of your choice.

Guarding Instinct: When an ally within Close range would mark HP, you can sever your bond with one Beast. That Beast takes all the damage instead, then disappears until your next rest.

Shepard's Command: When you use Pack Bond to Protect, you can choose one additional command:

  • Rescue: Move the protected ally to Very Close range of you.

  • Distract: The next attack against the protected ally has Disadvantage.

Daggerheart Compatible. Daggerheart.comDaggerheart Compatible Logo
Card Backing
Grace domain icon Sage domain icon
Path of the Shepard
Beastmaster

Path of the Shepard

Mastery

Endless Watch: Your bonded Beasts can remain active while you sleep or rest. You can perceive through any number of them simultaneously, and they can communicate what they perceive to you regardless of distance.

One with the Pack: When you use Call of the Wild, you can command your Beasts to assist different allies with the same action. Additionally, you can choose the same Pack Bond option more than once.

Daggerheart Compatible. Daggerheart.comDaggerheart Compatible Logo
Card Backing

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