Assassin
The Assassin's kit is reworked around poison, stealth, and scaling special abilities. Its signature ability, Contagion, becomes a true poisoning tool, and the class's stealth powers grow sharper the deeper you invest.
Durations
Assassin ability durations are measured in rounds (1 round = 6 seconds) and scale with your Assassin level. Recasting refreshes the duration.
Sneak Attack (level 7)
At 7th level the Assassin gains Sneak Attack, stacking with the sneak attack dice from Rogue and other sources. This also opens up the epic Improved Sneak Attack feats.
Contagion (active — poison your enemies)
Contagion no longer targets a single enemy. Instead, you activate it to coat your weapons with poison for a window of 5 rounds + 1 per Assassin level + your Intelligence modifier. While active, any creature you strike must make a Fortitude save (DC 10 + your Assassin level) or suffer wounding:
- 1d6 acid damage per 5 Assassin levels, every round
- Lasts 5 rounds (increases to 10 rounds at level 30)
- The wounding effect does not stack — striking an already-wounded target simply refreshes it
- The coating itself runs alongside your other weapon buffs (Envenom, Flame Weapon, a multiclass channel or daze) and keeps its own timer — a short Contagion no longer cuts a longer buff short
| Assassin Level | Gained |
|---|---|
| 10 | Contagion (1 use/day), 5-round wounding |
| 20 | 3 uses/day |
| 30 | 10-round wounding |
Envenom (active — weapon buff)
Envenom sheathes your weapons in deathly venom (a self-cast buff — no targeting required).
- Duration: 5 turns + 1 turn per 3 Assassin levels (1 turn = 1 minute)
- Damage: +1 negative damage, plus +1 per 3 Assassin levels, applied to the weapon(s) you are wielding
- Stacks with weapon buffs that add a different damage type (fire, sonic, acid). Another buff adding negative damage replaces it instead of adding to it
| Assassin Level | Uses per Day |
|---|---|
| 5 | 1 |
| 20 | 3 |
Ghostly Visage (active)
A protective shroud of disruption.
- Duration: 5 turns + 1 turn per Assassin level (1 turn = 1 minute)
- Epic Assassins (level 11+): the effect is upgraded to a full Ethereal Visage — stronger damage reduction, spell absorption, and concealment
Improved Invisibility (active — self only)
Bends light around you while leaving you free to act.
Duration: 5 turns + 1 turn per Assassin level (1 turn = 1 minute)
Concealment: 20%, plus +1% per point of base Move Silently over 20, capped by level:
Assassin Level Max Concealment up to 9 40% 10–14 40% 15–19 50% 20+ 60% Dodge AC: +1 per 5 Assassin levels, to a maximum of +5
Cat's Grace / Eagle's Splendor
These remain the standard buffs, granting their usual bonuses to Dexterity and Charisma respectively.