Quartz 5

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  • Black Rider
    created: 2026-03-09T12:15:33.992-04:00
    modified: 2026-03-09T12:15:33.992-04:00
    published: 2026-03-09T12:15:33.992-04:00
    tags:
  • ttrpg-cli/compendium/src/5e/valdaspire24extras
  • ttrpg-cli/subclass/necromancer/black-rider
    cssclasses:
  • json5e-class
    obsidianUIMode: preview

Black Rider

Necromancer: Subclass Feature
Source: Valda’s Spire of Secrets Extras (2024)

Class and Feature Progression

LevelPBFeatures
1st+2
2nd+2
3rd+2Black Rider
4th+2
5th+3
6th+3Extra Attack
7th+3
8th+3
9th+4
10th+4Gruesome Charge
11th+4
12th+4
13th+5
14th+5
15th+5
16th+5
17th+6
18th+6
19th+6
20th+6Dullahan [Lichdom]

Command and Battle Atop a Skeletal Steed

The rhythmic drumbeat of galloping hooves and the searing pinpoints of red eyes signal the arrival of a Black Rider. Such Necromancers embrace mounted combat, commanding their thralls from the back of a skeletal steed and terrorizing countrysides with unparalleled swiftness. Mastering this discipline means not only commanding an Undead mount, but also requires sure mastery over weapons while on horseback and on foot. However, the reward is immense: a Black Rider isn’t a plodding marshal of shambling masses, but a wind of death that blows across the battlefield at a moment’s notice.

Subclass Features

Corpse Cavalry (Level 3)

Your training for mounted combat grants you the following benefits.

Martial Training. You gain proficiency with Martial weapons and training with Light armor, Medium armor, and Shields.

Charnel Strike. When you take the Attack action, you can use your Charnel Touch as a Bonus Action.

Intelligent Armor. While you are wearing armor, you can add your Intelligence modifier, instead of your Dexterity modifier, to your Armor Class.

Skeletal Mount. Additionally, when you perform your Animate Thralls ritual, you can animate the skeleton of a horse or similar animal as a Warhorse Skeleton. In combat, it functions as a controlled mount while you ride it (as defined in the rules on mounted combat).

Charnel Shield (Level 3)

When you take damage from a creature you can see, you can take a Reaction and expend a number of points from your Charnel Touch pool up to half the damage dealt. Reduce the damage by the number of points expended.

Extra Attack (Level 6)

You can attack twice instead of once whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

In addition, in place of one of those attacks, you can cast one of your cantrips that has a casting time of an action or, if you are riding a controlled mount, you can command your mount to take a Reaction to make an attack.

Gruesome Charge (Level 10)

As a Magic action, you can give each of your thralls that isn’t a controlled mount a spectral steed that it rides into combat. Each such thrall has a Speed of 60 feet for 10 minutes.

Dullahan [Lichdom] (Level 20)

You have reached the pinnacle of Necromancy and transformed yourself into a lich. Through a vile ritual and a guillotine, you have severed your own head to act as your spirit jar, allowing you to see without eyes. Liches of your kind are known as dullahans or headless horsemen. You gain the following benefits in addition to those of your Lichdom feature.

Skull Jar. Your spirit jar is your own magically preserved head. Even without your head, your senses aren’t inhibited. You can see and hear from where your head once was and your disembodied voice booms from the stub of your neck.

Blindsight. If you are carrying your skull jar, you have Blindsight with a range of 120 feet.

Damage Resistance. You and youe mount have Resistance to Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing damage.

Nightmare. When you perform your Animate Thralls ritual, you can summon a Nightmare. You command this creature as your thrall and it counts as Undead for the purpose of your Necromancer features. In combat, it functions as an independent mount while you ride it (as defined in the rules on mounted combat).

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