Balancing classes: Demon Hunter Patch Notes

Hey team! I decided to go through the changes I've made with the demon hunter lately. I put a lot of work into balancing my classes, and this kind of shows how many things switch around! Please note that the phrasing below is almost all paraphrased/short form--and the complete versions of each ability are in the main demon hunter page.

Patch Notes

Class mix added: Monk and Sorcerer.

Leveling abilities

Manifestations

Manifestations now can be chosen a second time, enhancing an existing manifestation with one of the following (only once per manifestation):

Increased damage (one step): Any damage dealing natural attack.

Increased DC: Sting poison only.

Increased fly speed: Wings.

Increased sight range: Eyes. (+10 ft. darkvision, +5 ft. blindsense at 12^th or later)

Increased natural armor: Hide. (+1)

Secondary to primary attack: Any secondary attack.

Some manifestations have had their effects changed or removed. All primary attacks (except sting) have no additional effects. All secondary attacks have additional effects to make up for the -5 penalty.

Eyes: Scales as the clouded eyes curse of oracles.

Hooves: grants vicious stomp, using only the hoof attack.

Horns: Bull rush ability removed.

Talons: Added. (Vrock only)

Fury forms

The innate energy pool abilities of each fury form has been changed. All attack-based energy abilities now bypass demon damage reduction.

Vengeance

+2 to one damage roll (before attack roll is made). Damage scaling has increased to +2 every 3 levels following 2^nd. (Was +1 per 2 levels following 2^nd)

+20 ft. movement speed for 1 round (+10 ft. per 4 levels following 2^nd) has been added.

+4 enhancement bonus to natural armor for 1 round has been removed.

Havoc

+2 to one attack roll (+1 per four levels following 2^nd) has been added.

+20 ft. movement speed for 1 round (+10 ft. per 4 levels following 2^nd) has been removed.

Energy pool

Energy is now a static number per day equal to ½ the demon hunter’s level + their charisma modifier.

Energy can be regenerated by killing or knocking a demon unconscious, or confirming a critical hit against a demon. (must have a hit dice of at least half the demon hunter’s level)

Demon talents

New talents

Burning flesh: Damages melee attackers when the demon hunter is struck while immolation aura is active for aura damage. Weapon attackers get a reflex save for half. Requires 10^th level.

Deceitful insight: The demon hunter can spend 1 energy to gain a bonus on a bluff or disguise check equal to their ½ their level. They can use disguise/alter self 1 additional time per day if they possess these spell-like abilities, and the DC to detect their disguise increases by 2.

Demon scales: The demon hunter gains a +1 enhancement to their natural armor for 10 minutes per level. Bonus increases by +1 for every 4 levels following 2^nd.

Demon hunter: Gain the demon hunter feat.

Determination: Gain DR/1 when they are below maximum hit points. +1 DR/- for every 4 levels following 8^th. Requires 8^th level.

Embrace the pain: Regenerate one energy when struck for ¼ their maximum hit points. Can be used once per 4 levels they possess. Requires 4^th level.

Essence sever: Fracture and soul cleave grant 2 soul fragments per hit instead of 1. Requires 14^th level.

               

Fiery soul: Confirming a critical hit while immolation aura is active increases the duration of immolation aura by 1 round. Does not stack above its normal duration.

Frightful presence: 30 ft. aura for 1 round per level, enemies are shaken (HD<4 panicked). Activates as a standard action, or charge. Costs 2 energy. Activates upon using metamorphosis without a cost. Requires 12^th level.

Infernal force: Enemies struck by infernal strike are subject to a bull rush attempt. Requires 10^th level.

Planar strikes: weapons gain planar special ability as long as they have 1 energy point. Increases to 10 DR of outsiders at 16^th level. Requires 8^th level.

Retributive wrath: If an ally is knocked unconscious or killed within sight, the demon hunter can make charge or move up to double their movement speed and make a single attack with a bonus to the damage roll equal to their charisma modifier. Usable once per day. If the target is killed by the demon hunter, grants one additional use. Vengeance only. Requires 14^th level.

Telepathy: Demon hunter can use 100 ft. telepathy for 1 minute per level in minute increments. Requires 14^th level.

Undying: Demon hunter increases their death threshold from their charisma modifier to charisma score. Does not affect the furyborn ability. Vengeance only. Requires 10^th level.

Unity in chaos: Can choose one feat associated with one natural attack (e.g. weapon focus) and have it apply to all natural attacks. Requires 12^th level.

Unlimited power: Abilities have no energy cost at or below 0 hit points. Does not grant uses of abilities with limited uses per day.

Vengeance strike: use one energy as an immediate action to make an attack of opportunity to strike back at an enemy that struck them in melee combat. Must take damage for this ability to activate. Requires 8^th level.

Vengeance incarnate: +1 morale attack/damage/saves when ally unconscious in range. +1 additional at below 1/3 maximum hit points and when at or below 0 hit points. Bonus increases by +1 at 8^th/16^th.

Vengeful hunt: choose target, gain ½ charisma to attack/+1/2 level to damage to that target. Stays until the demon hunter attacks another creature/rests/target dies. Full cha/level if it’s a demon. Once at 8^th, +1 use at 12^th/16^th/20^th.

Whip tail: Can grapple one size higher than normal. Can grab 1 size higher than themselves. Constrict deals damage 1 step higher. Requires 10^th level.

Talent changes

Abyssal magic

Uses changed from twice per day (+1 per previous SLA) changed to unlimited uses with an energy cost.

1 energy for spell levels 1-3

2 energy for spell levels 4-5

3 energy for spell level 6

4 energy for spell levels 7-8

Blind as a bat

Changed to one feat per time taking the talent. Improved and greater blind-fight require the previous feats, and specific levels. (10^th and 15^th)

Bull rush

Renamed Demonic rush.

Now grants improved bull rush as a bonus feat.

Can now make a bull rush attempt in place of their gore attack rather than free on a gore.

If they take the quick bull rush feat, they get a free bull rush on a gore attack.

Demon spikes

Scaling natural armor changed from +2 (+1 per 4 levels following 2^nd) to +1. (no scaling)

Now is a permanent natural armor bonus that can be retracted as a full-round action.

Grapplers take damage 1 step lower than natural attack damage instead of normal damage.

Using one energy, can elongate the spikes to cause unarmed attackers to take damage.

Disarming horns

Bonus to disarms decreased to +2.

Eye beam

Now deals 1d6 damage + their level, +1d6 for every 2 levels following 1^st.

Now usable once per day, plus once per four levels following 2^nd.

Cost changed to 1 unholy energy.

Now requires the eyes manifestation.

Fueled by fire

Now grants the demon hunter fast healing 1 while they have immolation aura active.

Immolation aura

Damage now deals 1d6+level on burst, 1d6 each round

Damage scaling changed to +1d6 for burst/each round for every 3 levels after 6^th.

Now grants fire resistance 10, 20 at 10^th, and 30 at 15^th.

Infernal strike

Hoof manifestation requirement removed.

Distance halved to movement speed as a full-round action.

Now knocks adjacent targets prone, with no damage.

Deals hoof damage if they have the manifestation.

Reflex save now negates damage rather than halves.

Rake

Now available to talons, but cannot rake with both talons and claws in the same check.

Regeneration

Added scaling in order to increase healing at a heavier energy cost

+1d8 per four levels after 2^nd. Each 1d8 adds 1 energy to the cost.

Rend

Now available to talons, but cannot rend with both claws and talons in the same round.

Unrelenting

Now has conviction (previously unwavering) as a prerequisite.

Unwavering

Renamed to conviction.

Now is a full-round action (not standard).

Only grants a bonus to the save if the source of the effect is a demon.

Metamorphosis

Now has all attacks pierce demon damage reduction.

Added damage reduction (5/cold iron and good at 11^th, 10 at 17^th)

Removes the emptied pool cost at 17^th level, leaving with a 3 energy cost.

Specified metamorphosis as a polymorph effect.

Furyborn

Death threshold increase of vengeance has been changed to double the original increase (charisma modifier) rather than charisma score.

Innate energy abilities are free actions when this ability is acquired.

Energy abilities are free when attacking demons/within 60 ft. of a demon they are presently in combat with. Abilities targeting non-demons retain energy cost.

The demon within

Added that they become an outsider (native) and radiate a powerful chaotic and evil aura as a cleric.

Chaos strikes

Added that all chaos strikes attacks pierce all damage reduction.

Feats added

Signature spell-like ability: The demon hunter chooses one spell-like ability they have learned through demon talents and have mastered as part of their demonic energies. When cast, it consumes one less unholy energy than it would normally use four times per day. If the spell-like ability's base cost is one unholy energy, this ability can be cast three times per day without consuming unholy energy. This feat cannot be taken a second time. Prerequisites: Spell-like ability demon talent, Demon hunter level equal to four levels above the required level to learn the spell-like ability chosen.

Mastered spell-like ability: The demon hunter's mastery of a single spell-like ability causes it to become part of their being. The spell-like ability's original cost is equal to two unholy energy, they can cast it without consuming unholy energy three times per day. If the base cost is one, they can use this spell-like ability at will for no cost. Prerequisites: Signature spell-like ability feat of the spell-like ability chosen, Demon hunter level equal to ten higher than when the spell-like ability can be learned.

Demonic avatars

New avatar: Yaenit

Skills: Intimidate and critical confirmation checks (not just demons)

Manifestations: Teeth, tail, eyes, hide, claws.

Teeth is taken at first level.

Abilities:

First level
Break bones: Critical hits with their bite reduce movement speed of the target by 10 ft. (minimum 5 ft.), negated by a fortitude save. At 5^th level and every 5 after, they deal increasing strength and dexterity damage, negated by the fortitude save.

Fifth level
Savage hunter: Gain +1/2 their level to tracking checks, and gain the use of see invisibility (5^th), blood scent (10^th), and true seeing (15^th) with 10 minutes, 1 minute, and 1 round per level, respectively, spent in those increments.

Tenth level

Hallucinatory aura: 1 round per level aura that grants -2 to will saves, caster level checks, and int/wis checks.

Fifteenth level

Deadly bite: Bite attack critical threat range increases to 19-20.

Nineteenth level

Decapitate: Bite critical hits are save-or-die else be decapitated. Enemies not affected by decapitation effects are immune to the effect.

Metamorphosis: +10 ft. movement, +2 to strength and constitution, and bite critical multiplier +1. Spell-like abilities from savage hunter are constant without using daily uses.

Balor

Whip mastery

Now has proper levels for acquiring whip feats, and regards whips as light weapons for two-weapon fighting.

Hezrou

Nausea

Increased uses of the ability to once per day +1 per 2 levels after first, and granted other ways to use it.

Noxious spit

Granted 1 + charisma modifier uses of the spit, and increased duration to 1 round + 1 round every 2 levels after 5^th.

Lilitu

Brand

Removed the 50% to act effect of the curse choice.

Reduced the curse penalty to -2 to attack rolls, skill checks, and ability checks.

Frighten: Duration now 1 round per level, frighten at half duration at 10^th level.

Sicken: Duration now 1 round per level, and nauseate at 10^th for half duration.

Tire: Duration added, instead of removal by rest or others.

Added specific spells that may remove the brand or suppress it.

Metamorphosis

Added that they can deliver a brand as a touch attack with their tail in place of their tail slap attack.

Marilith

Manifestations

Added that the tail is automatically taken at first level.

Multi-weapon fighting

Placed appropriate levels for two-weapon fighting feats they acquire.

Crushing coils

Added that the constrict demon talent is automatically taken at 10^th level, and that they gain the grab demon talent.

Nabasu

Manifestations

Added that the claws are taken at first level.

Steal life

Increased the number of uses per day to 1 + 1 per two levels after first.

Increased healing to damage dealt.

Metamorphosis

Added healing 1 hit point per attack while on this form, and +1 hit point to health gained from steal life in their form.

Nelfeshnee

Distracting lights

Increased uses per day to once per day + 1 per two levels following.

Nauseating ray

Increased duration to 1 round per level.

Succubus

Alter appearance

Changed from alter self at will to 1 hour per level spent in 1-hour increments.

Vrock

Manifestations

Added talons.