![[Pasted image 20250413155222.png]] ## What Is a Blood Hunter? The Blood Hunter is a warrior who uses forbidden techniques to hunt supernatural threats. Created by Matthew Mercer for the world of Exandria and later expanded for broader play, Blood Hunters specialise in tracking and destroying creatures such as undead, fiends, aberrations, lycanthropes, and other dangerous monsters. Unlike Paladins, they do not rely on divine power. Unlike Rangers, they do not draw strength from nature. Instead, Blood Hunters use a dangerous discipline known as **Hemocraft**—a form of blood magic that allows them to sacrifice their own vitality in exchange for greater power. Their abilities are effective, but rarely safe. Blood Hunters understand monsters because they study them, fight them, and sometimes use powers that resemble those of the creatures they hunt. --- ## Hunters of the Unnatural Most Blood Hunters belong to secretive organisations known as Orders. These groups train their members to confront threats that ordinary soldiers, adventurers, and townsfolk are often unable to handle. A Blood Hunter might be: - A veteran monster hunter - A member of a hidden order - A survivor seeking revenge against a supernatural creature - A scholar who turned forbidden knowledge into a weapon - A wandering protector hunting dangerous creatures - Someone transformed by the very forces they now oppose While many Blood Hunters are grim and serious, the class does not require a tragic or brooding character. What matters is their willingness to use dangerous methods in pursuit of dangerous enemies. --- ## Hemocraft The defining feature of the Blood Hunter is **Hemocraft**. Through specialised rituals and training, Blood Hunters learn to use their own life force to fuel supernatural abilities. Many of their powers require them to take damage in exchange for stronger effects. This creates a unique playstyle where the Blood Hunter constantly balances risk and reward. Their abilities are powerful, but every advantage comes at a cost. --- ## Crimson Rite One of the Blood Hunter's signature abilities is **Crimson Rite**. By sacrificing a small amount of their own vitality, a Blood Hunter can empower a weapon with magical energy. Depending on the rite chosen, the weapon may deal additional: - Fire damage - Cold damage - Lightning damage - Radiant damage - Necrotic damage - Other specialised damage types Once activated, the rite remains on the weapon, allowing the Blood Hunter to deal increased damage throughout a fight. Crimson Rite represents one of the class's defining themes: trading personal sacrifice for greater effectiveness. --- ## Blood Curses Blood Hunters also learn **Blood Curses**, supernatural techniques used to hinder enemies or manipulate a battle. These abilities can be used to: - Restrict enemy movement - Prevent healing - Weaken opponents - Disrupt attacks - Apply other specialised effects Many Blood Curses can be **Amplified**, making them more powerful at the cost of additional health. This further reinforces the class's central mechanic of sacrificing vitality for greater results. --- ## The Blood Hunter's Role in an Adventuring Party Blood Hunters are martial characters who specialise in eliminating dangerous targets. Within a party they often serve as: - Monster hunters - Damage dealers - Trackers - Skirmishers - Investigators of supernatural threats They are particularly effective against creatures that rely on unusual abilities, resistances, or magical powers. While they lack the raw durability of some martial classes, they compensate through versatility and specialised abilities. --- ## Blood Hunter Orders At 3rd level, Blood Hunters join an Order that reflects the methods they use to fight the darkness. ### Order of the Ghostslayer The oldest and most traditional Blood Hunter order. Ghostslayers specialise in combating undead, spirits, and other supernatural entities. Their abilities allow them to channel radiant energy and strike creatures that would otherwise be difficult to harm. For players who want the classic monster hunter experience, Ghostslayer is often the most straightforward option. --- ### Order of the Lycan Members of the Order of the Lycan embrace a controlled form of lycanthropy. They gain enhanced physical abilities, powerful natural weapons, and the ability to transform into a hybrid form. The challenge of the subclass is maintaining control over the beast within while using its power against dangerous foes. --- ### Order of the Mutant Mutants use specialised alchemical formulas called **Mutagens** to alter their bodies. These mutagens provide powerful benefits but also come with drawbacks. A Mutant Blood Hunter constantly adapts to different situations by choosing which strengths—and weaknesses—to embrace. --- ### Order of the Profane Soul Profane Soul Blood Hunters combine Hemocraft with limited Warlock-style spellcasting. They gain magical abilities tied to an otherworldly patron while continuing to fight as martial characters. This creates a hybrid playstyle that blends weapon combat, blood magic, and supernatural power. --- ## What It Feels Like to Play a Blood Hunter Playing a Blood Hunter means constantly weighing risk against reward. You have powerful abilities, but many of them require you to spend your own health to use them effectively. Success often comes from knowing when to push your limits and when to conserve your strength. The class rewards players who enjoy tactical decision-making and characters who operate in morally grey or dangerous territory. Whether you are tracking a vampire through a city, hunting a werewolf through a forest, or confronting a fiend in its lair, the Blood Hunter excels at facing threats that most people would rather avoid entirely. --- ## Should You Play a Blood Hunter? The Blood Hunter is an excellent choice if you enjoy: - Monster hunters and supernatural investigators - Risk-versus-reward mechanics - Martial characters with unique abilities - Dark fantasy themes - Tracking and eliminating dangerous creatures - Highly thematic character concepts You may prefer another class if you are looking for: - Traditional spellcasting - Simple mechanics - Heavy armour and maximum durability - A character who avoids self-inflicted risks For players who like the idea of using dangerous powers to fight even more dangerous enemies, the Blood Hunter offers one of the most distinctive martial experiences available in Dungeons & Dragons.