Knight/Knight Talents

As a knight gains experience, he learns a number of talents that aid him in defending himself and his allies. Starting at 2nd level, a knight gains one knight talent. He gains an additional knight talent for every 2 levels of knight attained after 2nd level. Unless specified otherwise, a knight cannot select an individual talent more than once.
== Table: Knight Talents ==
Knight Talent 	Prerequisites 	Benefits
Antagonistic Personality (Ex) 	Provoke Feat, Knight 4 	A knight who takes this talent gains the Improved Provoke feat as a bonus feat. He does not need to meet the prerequisites for this feat.
Armor Expertise (Ex) 	— 	When wearing armor, the knight can increase the maximum Dexterity bonus allowed by his armor and reduce the armor check penalty (to a minimum of 0). Each time the knight takes this ability, he picks one of the following choices:• Reduce his armor check penalty by 2 points.
• Increase his maximum Dexterity bonus allowed by 1 point and reduce his armor check penalty by 1 point.
• Increase his maximum Dexterity bonus allowed by 2 points.The knight’s total increase to his maximum Dexterity bonus allowed cannot exceed his total reduction to armor check penalty. When determining the knight’s total reduction to armor check penalty, include reductions from feats, traits, or class features (including this option). A knight can choose this option multiple times.
This does not work with Adamantine Body (Shindroid).
Armored Bastion (Ex) 	— 	When wearing heavy armor, the knight gains DR 1/—. At 7th level, the knight gains DR 1/— when wearing medium armor, and DR 2/— when wearing heavy armor. The DR from this ability stacks with that provided by armor and knight class features, but not with other forms of damage reduction.
Armored Confidence (Ex) 	— 	While wearing armor, the knight gains a bonus on Intimidate checks based upon the type of armor he is wearing: +1 for light armor, +2 for medium armor, or +3 for heavy armor. This bonus increases by 1 at 7th level and every four knight levels thereafter. In addition, the knight adds half his armored confidence bonus to the DC of Intimidate checks to demoralize or antagonize him.
Armored Master 	— 	The knight gains an armor mastery feat or a shield mastery feat as a bonus feat. He must meet all of the feat’s prerequisites. This talent may be taken more than once. Each time, a different feat must be selected.
Armored Sacrifice (Ex) 	— 	When damage would cause the knight or an adjacent ally to be knocked unconscious or killed, the knight can instead direct the damage to a suit of armor that he is wearing or a shield he is using as an immediate action. The original target takes no damage, but the armor or shield is treated as if it had only half its normal hardness. The knight can use this option once per day, plus one additional time each day at 12th level and every eight knight levels thereafter, to a maximum of three times per day at 20th level.
Armored Strike (Ex) 	— 	While wearing medium armor, heavy armor, or a pair of gauntlets, a knight is considered to be armed even when unarmed—he doesn’t provoke attacks of opportunity when attacking foes with unarmed strikes and he can choose to deal lethal or nonlethal damage with his unarmed strikes. While wearing medium armor or heavy armor, a knight’s unarmed strikes may be with elbows, knees, or feet. This means that he may make unarmed strikes with his hands full. Treat these attacks as weapon attacks made using the same special material (if any) as the armor or gauntlets. The knight increases his unarmed strikes’ damage die by one step when attacking with gauntlets or with unarmed strikes while wearing medium or heavy armor. This increase in damage die doesn’t stack with class features from other classes that increase the amount of damage done with unarmed strikes, such as black belts’ or monks’ unarmed strikes.
Barricade (Ex) 	— 	The knight adds his base armor's armor check penalty (before applying Armor Training) as a bonus to the DC of opponents attempting to feint him using Bluff and Acrobatics checks to pass by him without provoking an attack of opportunity for moving through spaces he threatens.
Citadel (Ex) 	— 	This talent allows a knight to grant temporary hit points to an adjacent ally. The knight must be conscious and able to take actions to grant this benefit. As a move action, the knight can grant an adjacent ally 1d8 temporary hit points + 1 per two knight levels. The knight must remain conscious, able to move, and adjacent to the ally or the temporary hit points end. A knight may do this a number of times per day equal to 3 + his Charisma modifier.
Critical Deflection (Ex) 	— 	While wearing armor or using a shield, the knight gains a +2 bonus to his AC against attack rolls made to confirm a critical hit. This bonus increases by 1 at 7th level and every four knight levels thereafter, to a maximum of +6 at 19th level.
Cushioning Armament (Ex) 	— 	While wearing armor or using a shield, if the knight takes falling damage or takes bludgeoning damage from an area effect that doesn’t allow a saving throw to reduce the damage (such as ice storm or stone call), he can direct half of the damage to his armor or shield. This damage ignores the half the armor or shield’s hardness.
Defensive Training 	— 	A knight may take this talent to gain one of the following feats as a bonus feat: Armor Focus, Armor Specialization, Bodyguard, Combat Expertise, Covering Defense, Diehard, Dodge, Endurance, Greater Armor Focus, Greater Armor Specialization, Greater Shield Focus, Greater Shield Specialization, Improved Shield Bash, Improved Shield Focus, Missile Shield, Mobility, Mounted Shield, Saving Shield, Shield Focus, Shield Master, Shield Mastery, Shield Slam, Shield Specialization, Shield Wall, Shield Ward, and Stand Still. This talent may be taken more than once. Each time, a different feat much be selected. The knight must meet all prerequisites for the feat chosen.
Effortless Impetus (Ex) 	— 	A knight adds his total reduction to armor check penalty as a bonus on his initiative checks, (minimum +2, and up to a maximum of: +3 at up to 10th level, +4 at 11th level, +5 at 15th level, and +6 at 19th level). This total armor check penalty reduction includes reductions from feats, traits, or class features. This option functions even when the knight is not wearing armor.
Fearless Defense (Ex) 	Defensive Stance class feature 	While in a defensive stance, the knight is immune to the shaken and frightened conditions.
Halting Blow (Ex) 	— 	If a foe’s movement in the knight’s threatened area provokes an attack of opportunity and the knight successfully hits the foe with the attack, the foe’s movement ends immediately. The foe cannot move again until its next turn but can still take the rest of its action.
Immobile (Ex) 	Defensive Stance class feature 	While in a defensive stance, the knight adds his class level to his CMD against any bull rush, grapple, overrun, pull, and push combat maneuvers, as well as any attempts to move him.
Imposing Figure (Ex) 	— 	A knight adds his Strength modifier to Intimidate rolls.
Improved Armored Defense (Ex) 	Armored Defense class feature 	The knight counts his level as 5 higher when calculating the damage reduction provided by the knight's armored defense feature.
Increased Damage Reduction (Ex) 	Defensive Stance class feature 	The knight’s damage reduction from this class increases by 1/—. This increase is always active while the knight is in a defensive stance. He can select this power up to two times. Its effects stack. Prerequisite: The knight must be at least 6th level before selecting this talent.
Improved Threat Control 	Threat Control class feature or Antagonize feat	The knight gains Improved Antagonize as a bonus feat.
Intercept (Ex) 	— 	Once a round as an immediate action, when a melee or ranged weapon would successfully strike an adjacent ally, the knight can choose to have the weapon strike him instead of the intended target. The attack automatically hits the knight, regardless his AC or any miss chance in effect, and he suffers the normal consequences of the attack.
Internal Fortitude (Ex) 	Defensive Stance class feature 	While in a defensive stance, the knight is immune to the sickened and nauseated conditions.
Offensive Verbiage (Ex) 	Threat Control class feature or Provoke feat 	This talent allows the knight to make all around him feel anger towards him. When using the Provoke feat, use the same check against all enemies within a 30-ft.-radius of the knight.
Oversized Shield Wielder (Ex) 	Knight 8 	A knight may wield light and heavy shields, but not tower shields, designed for a creature one size category larger than himself. When using an oversized shield, he increases his shield bonus to AC by 1 and when he uses bulwark to grant an ally of his size or smaller a cover bonus to AC, the bonus increases by 2. At 11th level, the shield bonus increases by an additional 1 and the cover bonus increases by an additional 2. A knight cannot bash with an oversized shield unless he can bash with tower shields, treating it as a tower shield of his size for all purposes.
Picket (Ex) 	— 	A knight with this talent gains bonus equal to half the knight's level to attack and damage rolls when readying one or more attacks against charging foe. The knight must be using a weapon with the brace quality.
Preferred Protection (Ex) 	Knight 6 	The knight selects one specific type of armor with which he is proficient, such as chain shirt or full plate. While wearing the selected type of armor, the knight adds +1 to the armor’s armor bonus. At 9th level, this bonus increases to +2. This increase to the armor bonus doesn’t increase the benefit that the knight gains from feats, class abilities, or other effects that are determined by his armor’s base armor bonus. A knight can choose this option multiple times. Each time he chooses it, he applies its benefit to a different type of armor.
Quick Insult (Ex) 	Provoke Feat, Improved Provoke Feat, Knight 8 	A knight who takes this talent gains Greater Provoke as a bonus feat. He does not need to meet the prerequisites for this feat.
Renewed Defense (Ex) 	Defensive Stance class feature 	As a standard action, the knight heals 1d8 points of damage + his Constitution modifier. For every four levels the knight has attained above 2nd, this healing increases by 1d8, to a maximum of 5d8 at 18th level. This power can be used only once per day and only while in a defensive stance.
Resist (Ex) 	— 	A knight can learn to maximize his armor’s effectiveness against unusual attack types. The knight selects one of the following damage types: earth, fire, ice, lightning, water, or wind. When wearing medium or heavy armor, the knight gains resist 5 against the selected damage type. If the knight is 10th level or higher, this resistance increases to 10. This talent may be taken up to five times. Its effects do not stack. Each time it is taken, a different damage type must be selected.
Resolute (Ex) 	— 	Whenever the knight takes damage from a melee or ranged attack while wearing heavy armor, the knight can convert 1 point of lethal damage to 1 point of nonlethal damage. He can use this ability once each time he takes damage. This ability cannot be used to convert ability damage, ability drain, or elemental damage to nonlethal damage. At 6th level, and every four levels thereafter, the amount of damage the knight can convert increases by 1.
Roused Defense (Ex) 	Defensive Stance class feature 	The knight may enter a defensive stance even if fatigued. If the knight enters a defensive stance while fatigued, he loses the fatigued condition and he does not gain temporary hit points from defensive stance. Once this stance ends, he is exhausted for 10 minutes.
Shelter of Steel (Ex) 	— 	This talent allows a knight to use his armor to absorb some of the inevitable punishment of battle. As a move action, a knight in medium or heavy armor can gain 1d8 temporary hit points + 1 per two knight levels. The knight may do this a number of times per day equal to his Constitution modifier (minimum 1).
Shield Defender (Ex) 	— 	A knight with this talent shields an adjacent ally from an incoming attack. As an immediate action, once per round, when a melee or ranged attack (physical attacks only) targets an ally that is adjacent to the knight, the knight causes the attacker to have the unlucky status effect against that ally for 1 round. The knight must be wielding a shield to gain the benefit of this talent.
Shield Wielder (Ex) 	— 	The knight can treat heavy shields as light weapons. He increases his shield’s damage die by one step when using a shield to make a shield bash attack.
Slam (Ex) 	— 	A knight with this talent throws himself bodily into foes and barriers, trusting his armor to protect him. The knight gains a bonus to all combat maneuvers made to bull rush or overrun foes, and to Strength checks made to break open doors and gates. This bonus is equal to his total armor bonus plus shield bonus, to a maximum of his class level.
Smash (Ex) 	Defensive Stance class feature 	While in a defensive stance, the knight may make an extra attack per round that is either a shield bash or a slam (even if he doesn’t normally have a slam attack). If used as part of a full attack action, the extra attack is made at the knight’s full base attack bonus –5. The smash deals 1d4 points of damage (if the knight is Medium, or 1d3 if he is Small) plus half the character’s Strength modifier. The character can make this attack as part of the action to maintain or break free from a grapple; this attack is resolved before the grapple check is made. If the attack hits, any grapple checks made by the knight against the target this round are at a +2 bonus.
Spear Brace (Ex) 	— 	This knight talent allows a knight to brace a pole-arm or spear on an equipped shield, to aid in handling and fighting with it. His increased stability gives the knight, when using a shield that prevents his hand from being free, he can use his shield-arm to hold (and fight with) a pole-arm or spear with which he is proficient.
Steel Headbutt (Ex) 	— 	While wearing medium or heavy armor, a knight can deliver a headbutt with his helm as part of a full attack action. This headbutt is in addition to his normal attacks, and is made using the knight’s base attack bonus –5. A helmet headbutt deals 1d3 points of damage if the knight is wearing medium armor, or 1d4 points of damage if he is wearing heavy armor (1d2 and 1d3, respectively, for Small creatures), plus an amount of damage equal to half the knight’s Strength modifier. Treat this attack as a weapon attack made using the same special material (if any) as the armor. The armor’s enhancement bonus does not modify the headbutt attack, but the helm can be enchanted as a separate weapon.
Take the Blow (Ex) 	Knight 6 	This knight talent, as an immediate action, allows the knight to absorb part of the damage dealt to an adjacent ally. Each time this ally takes damage from a physical attack before his next turn, the knight can take half this damage on himself. The target takes the other half as normal. The knight can only absorb damage from physical melee attacks and ranged attacks, such as an incoming arrow or a blow from a sword, not from spells and other effects.
Tempered Will (Ex) 	Defensive Stance class feature 	The knight may reroll a failed Will save. This power is used as an immediate action after the first save is attempted, but before the results are revealed by the GM. The knight must take the second result, even if it is worse. This power can only be used once per defensive stance.
Uncanny Block (Ex) 	— 	With uncanny block, a knight can interpose a shield between himself and danger before his senses would normally allow him to do so. When the knight has a shield equipped, he cannot be caught flat-footed even if the attacker is invisible. He still loses his Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized or if a foe successfully makes a Bluff check to feint against him.
Unexpected Strike (Ex) 	Defensive Stance class feature 	The knight can make an attack of opportunity against a foe that moves into any square threatened by the knight, regardless of whether or not that movement would normally provoke an attack of opportunity. This power can only be used once per defensive stance.
Unhindered Movement – Heavy (Ex) 	Unhindered Movement (Medium) knight talent 	The knight can move at his normal speed while wearing heavy armor. He can run in heavy armor as if he were wearing medium armor.
Unhindered Movement – Medium (Ex)	— 	The knight can move at his normal speed while wearing medium armor. While wearing medium armor, he can use movement based abilities such as the Fleet feat, as if he were wearing light armor.
Unmoving (Ex) 	— 	The knight selects two combat maneuvers from the following list: bull rush, drag, grapple, overrun, reposition, and trip. Whether using his armor as leverage against a grappling foe or using its weight to help him stop a bull rush, a knight can use his armor to protect him from the chosen maneuvers. While wearing armor, the knight gains a bonus to his CMD against these combat maneuvers. The bonus is +1 if he’s wearing light armor, +2 if he’s wearing medium armor, and +3 if he’s wearing heavy armor. This bonus increases by +1 at 7th level and every four knight levels thereafter, to a maximum at 19th level of +5 for light armor, +6 for medium armor, and +7 for heavy armor. Mithral armor provides a bonus 1 lower than normal for armor of its type. A knight can choose this option up to three times. Each additional time he chooses this option, he selects two combat maneuvers he hasn’t previously selected.
Vigilant Knight (Ex) 	Defensive Stance class feature 	While in a defensive stance, the knight can stand his ground against all enemies, warding the spot where he made his stand to prevent foes from slipping past and attacking those he protects. The knight adds his knight level as a bonus to the DC of opponents attempting to Bluff him and Acrobatics checks to pass by him without provoking an attack of opportunity for moving through spaces he threatens.
Warding Shield (Ex) 	— 	While wearing a heavy, light, or tower shield, if the knight makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack which normally deals half damage on a successful save, as an immediate action he can make a second Reflex save against the same DC to direct the remaining damage to his shield. He gains a bonus on this second saving throw equal to the total shield bonus (including enhancement bonuses) of this shield. The shield is treated as if it had only half its normal hardness against this damage.
Wordless Banter (Ex) 	Threat Control class feature or Antagonize feat	A knight with this talent can use the the Antagonize feat with creatures that can't understand the knight, provoking them as usual with a -4 penalty.
=== Advanced Knight Talents ===
At 12th level, and every two levels thereafter, a knight can choose one of the following knight advanced talents in place of a knight talent.
== Table: Advanced Knight Talents ==
Advanced Knight Talent 	Prerequisites 	Benefits
Aegis (Ex) 	— 	This talent doubles a knight’s damage reduction against successful critical hits and sneak attacks. It also grants the knight a bonus to AC against attack rolls made to confirm critical hits. This bonus is equal to half the knight’s level.
Counterattack Stance (Ex) 	Defensive Stance class feature 	While in defensive stance, the knight can enter a counterattack stance. In this stance, the knight cannot make any attacks other than attacks of opportunity or attacks from counterattack stance, any creature within reach of the knight that attempts to melee attack him, whether its a hit or miss, the knight can attack the creature immediately, using his full BAB. Using this stance consumes an additional round of defensive stance, however.
Daunting Challenge (Ex) 	— 	This talent allows the knight to call out opponents, striking fear into the hearts of his enemies. In this manner, the knight separates the strong-minded from the weak-willed, allowing him to focus on opponents that are worthy foes. As a swift action, the knight issues a daunting challenge. This ability affects all creatures within 100 feet of the knight that have a CR less than his character level minus 2. Targets must be able to hear him, speak or understand a language of some sort, and have an Intelligence score of 5 or more. All targets who meet these conditions must make Will saves (DC 10 + half of the knight’s level + his Charisma modifier) or become shaken. Whether a creature fails or succeeds on its save against the knight’s daunting challenge, it can only be targeted by this effect once per day.
Elemental Shield (Su) 	Resist knight talent 	Some knights access mystic powers of protection as they become paragons of defensive techniques. With this talent, as a swift action, a knight with a shield equipped gains resistance 10 against earth, fire, ice, lightning, water, and wind damage. This resistance lasts for one round per knight level. The knight may use this ability a number of times per day equal to his Constitution modifier (minimum 1). The resist talent stacks with the elemental shield.
Greater Armor Specialization (Ex)	Armor Specialization knight talent with the selected armor	The knight increases the bonus of the armor type chosen with armor specialization by an additional +1 (total bonus of +3). At 17th level this increases by +1 again (total bonus of +4). A knight can choose this option multiple times. Each time he chooses it, he applies its benefit to a different type of armor.
Greater Armored Strike (Ex) 	Armored Strike knight talent 	The damage die increase from the armored strike option improves to two steps of damage die increase. While wearing medium or heavy armor, the knight adds his armor’s enhancement bonus to attack and damage rolls made with unarmed strikes as if it were a weapon enhancement bonus.
Indomitable (Ex) 	— 	This talent allows a knight to add his Constitution modifier to his Will saving throws instead of his Wisdom.
Impetuous Endurance (Ex) 	— 	The knight’s fighting spirit enables him to push his body beyond the normal limits of endurance. The knight no longer automatically fails a saving throw on a roll of 1. He might still fail the save if his result fails to equal or beat the DC.
Improved Imposing Figure (Ex) 	— 	The knight becomes immune to demoralize and antagonize effects from spells, skills, and abilities. In addition, when the knight makes an Intimidate skill check, effects’ range are doubled.
Improved Take the Blow (Ex) 	Take the Blow knight talent 	The knight’s ability to absorb damage increases. Once per round, the knight can absorb all the damage from a single attack directed against an adjacent ally. In addition, he continues to absorb half the damage from other physical attacks on an adjacent ally, if he so chooses. The knight must decide whether to use this ability after the attacker determines that an attack has succeeded but before he rolls damage.
Improved Uncanny Block (Ex) 	Uncanny Block knight talent 	When the knight has a shield equipped, he cannot be flanked. This defense denies a thief the ability to sneak attack the knight by flanking him, unless the attacker has at least four more thief levels than the target has knight levels.
Last Word (Ex) 	Defensive Stance class feature 	Once per day, while in a defensive stance, a knight can make one melee attack against an opponent within reach in response to an attack that would reduce him to negative hit points, knock him unconscious, or kill him. For example, a knight has 1 hit point left when a fire dragon bites him; the knight may use this ability even if the dragon’s bite would otherwise kill him instantly. If the attack hits, roll the damage dice for the attack twice and add the results together, but do not multiply damage bonuses from Strength, weapon abilities (such as from Fire materia), or precision-based damage (such as sneak attack). This bonus damage is not multiplied on a critical hit (although other damage bonuses are multiplied normally). Once the knight’s attack is resolved, he suffers the normal effect of the attack that provoked this ability.
Master Armorer (Ex) 	— 	The knight can use his base attack bonus in place of his ranks in the Craft (armor) skill. The knight need not be wearing armor or using a shield to use this option. The knight substitutes his total base attack bonus (including his base attack bonus gained through levels in other classes) for his ranks in this skill, but adds the skill’s usual ability score modifier and any other bonuses or penalties that would modify that skill. Additionally the knight is treated as having the Craft Magic Arms and Armor and Master Craftsman feats, but only for the purpose of making magic armor/shields. The knight does not need to meet these feats’ prerequisites.
Mighty Resilience (Ex) 	Defensive Stance class feature 	The knight automatically negates the additional damage of one successful critical hit or sneak attack, as well as other abilities or effects that rely on a successful critical hit or sneak attack (such as blinding from Blinding Critical or bleed from sneak attack). The knight takes only normal damage from the attack. This power may only be used once per defensive stance.
Protect the Meek (Ex) 	— 	With this talent, the knight can move to intercept foes. As an immediate action, he can move up to his speed (or his mount’s speed, if mounted) and make a single melee attack. This movement provokes attacks of opportunity as normal. The knight must end his movement adjacent to an enemy. On his next turn, the knight is staggered and cannot use this ability again for 1 round.
Reactionary (Ex) 	— 	This talent allows a knight to add his Constitution modifier to his Reflex saving throws instead of his Dexterity.
Reflect (Ex) 	— 	With this talent, a knight can maximize the protection his armor gives him to reduce the damage area attacks deal him. A knight in medium or heavy armor takes only half damage from any attack, spell, or ability that allows a Reflex saving throw. The knight is still allowed a normal saving throw; he simply takes half of the damage he normally would base on the result of that saving throw. If the attack, spell, or ability has a non-damaging effect, the knight suffers the appropriate effect based on his saving throw result.
Retributive Attack (Ex) 	— 	If an adjacent ally of a knight is rendered helpless or unconscious, the knight with this talent can make a retributive attack against the creature that felled his ally. When making a retributive attack, the knight adds his Charisma bonus (if any) to his attack roll and deals an extra 1 point of damage per knight level on a successful hit. A knight can make a number of retributive attacks per day equal to his Charisma bonus (minimum of one), but never more than once per round. He may make more than one retributive attack against the same foe.
Shield Guard (Ex) 	— 	With this talent, as a swift action, a knight may designate one square adjacent to him. He may designate two squares if using a heavy shield or three squares if using a tower shield, but these squares must be contiguous. Enemies in these squares cannot flank the knight and do not count for flanking with other creatures. This effect lasts until he moves from his position or uses another swift action to change the affected squares.
Unkillable (Ex) 	— 	The knight gains a number of hit points equal to 12 plus his Constitution modifier. This talent can be taken multiple of times.