Arcane Surges

Arcane Surges are manifestations of magical power that a Battlemage uses in combat. By learning to direct instinctive surges of energy, a Battlemage can achieve versatile feats that no other sect of more refined magic can accomplish. Charisma is your spellcasting modifier for Arcane Surges, even though they are magical abilities and not spells.

Each Surge is defined by two characteristics: its action type and its level. Level is fairly straight forward (if you're confused, read up on spellcasting as used by any spellcasting class; the rules are the same), and Offensive Actions are the only ones that differ from the normal ones. Offensive actions happen as part of an attack, and require no action (other than attacking) on your part. Two Surges with Offensive Action as their type cannot be used on the same attack.

## 1st Level Surges

### Arcing Strike

*1st Level Offensive Action*

Guide your strike to its target with an arc of magical lightning. Roll 1d8 and add the result to the attack roll. If it hits, also add that amount to the damage in lightning damage. If you use a higher level slot, the die becomes 1d10 for 2nd level, 1d12 for 3rd level, and 1d20 for 4th level.

### Eldritch Smite

*1st Level Offensive Action*

When you hit with an attack, cause an eruption of purple lightning. The target takes an additional 1d10 force damage. If you use a higher level slot, the damage increase by 1d10 for each slot level over 1st.

### Enhanced Weapon

*1st Level Bonus Action*

As a bonus action, imbue a weapon you are holding with arcane power. For 1 minute while you concentrate, this weapon grants you a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls and is considered a magic weapon. If you use a higher level slot, the bonus becomes +2 for 2nd level, +3 for 3rd level, and +4 for 4th level.

### Fiery Burst

*1st Level Offensive Action*

Whenever you hit with an attack, you can choose to cause every creature other than yourself within 5 feet of the original target to make a dexterity save, taking 2d6 fire damage on a failed save and half as much on a success. The damage is applied automatically to the initial target. If you use a higher level slot, the affected radius increases by 5 feet and the damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level over 1st.

### Frosty Smite

*1st Level Offensive Action*

When you hit with an attack, increase the damage by 1d10, and the target's speed is reduced by 10 feet until the end of their next turn as ice clings to their form. If you use a higher level slot, the damage increases by 1d10 for each slot level used over 1st.

### Instinctive Ward

*1st Level Reaction*

Whenever you take damage, use your reaction to reduce the triggering damage by 2d10. If you reduce the damage entirely, the offending creature takes force damage equal to the difference. This ability has no effect on psychic damage. If you use a higher level slot, the reduction increases by 2d10 for each slot level over 1st.

### Magic Sweep

*1st Level Offensive Action*

Spread the swing of a single attack out to a 10 foot cone with a spectral projection of the weapon. Make a single attack roll. If the result is higher than any target's AC, it takes regular damage from your attack, plus 1d8 force damage. If you use a higher level slot, the cone's size increases by 5 feet for each slot level over 1st.

### Thunderous Assault

*1st Level Offensive Action*

Add 1d12 thunder damage to the damage of an attack and push the target back 5 feet or knock them prone. If you use a higher level slot, the damage increases by 1d12 for each slot level over 1st.

### Whirlwind Charge

*1st Level Bonus Action*

Move up to 20 feet in a burst of movement, which does not provoke attacks of opportunity. If you hit with an attack immediately after this movement, that attack deals an extra 1d8 force damage. If you use a higher level slot, the damage increase by 1d8 for each slot level over 1st.

## 2nd Level Surges

### Arcane Push

*2nd Level Offensive Action*

When you hit with an attack, you may choose to not deal weapon damage, instead dealing 2d8 force damage and 1d4x5 feet of knockback. If you use a higher level slot, the knockback increases by 5 feet.

### Arcing Smite

*2nd Level Offensive Action*

When you hit with an attack roll, add an extra 2d12 lightning damage and apply the initial attack roll to an additional target within 15 feet of the initial target. If the attack would hit them, that target also takes 2d12 lightning damage as the charge arcs to them. If you use a higher level slot, choose an additional target within 15 feet of the secondary target for a 3rd level slot, and a fourth within 15 feet of the third for a 4th level slot.

### Blazing Weapon

*2nd Level Bonus Action*

For 1 minute, a weapon that you hold is wreathed in flames while you concentrate. It sheds bright light in a 10 foot radius and deals an extra 1d4 fire damage on a hit. If you use a higher level slot, the damage becomes 1d6 or 1d8 respectively.

### Chaotic Smite

*2nd Level Offensive Action*

When you hit with an attack roll, release a surge of crackling red energy. The target takes an additional 1d20 force damage. This Surge cannot be used more than once per round. If you use a higher level slot, the damage becomes 2d12 and 3d10, respectively.

### Hexblade

*2nd Level Bonus Action*

For 1 minute while you concentrate, your weapon grants a certain level of protection from magic. Cantrips and spells cast at first level and lower force their casters to make spellcasting ability checks (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your charisma modifier). If they fail, the spell fails.

### Sharpness

*2nd Level Bonus Action*

Magically increase the efficiency of a weapon you hold. For 1 minute while you concentrate, the weapon you hold scores a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20. Of you use a higher level slot, it scores a critical hit on an 18, 19, or 20 for a 3rd level slot and on a 17, 18, 19, or 20 for a 4th level slot.

### Sheath of Darkness

*2nd Level Bonus Action*

Surround a weapon you hold with wisps of darkness and shadow. For 1 minute while you concentrate, attack rolls made with this weapon have advantage if made in dim light or darkness. If you use a higher level slot, the weapon also deals an extra 1d6 or 2d6 psychic damage, respectively.

### Thunderburst

*2nd Level Offensive Action*

When you hit with an attack roll, apply the attack roll to every creature within 10 feet of the initial target. If the attack beats any of those creature's AC's, they take 2d8 thunder damage. If you use a higher level slot, the damage increases to 3d8 and 4d8 respectively.

## 3rd Level Surges

### Deathly Surge

*3rd Level Offensive Action*

When you hit with an attack, lash out with deathly energy. The attack deals an extra 3d8 necrotic damage and the target is unable to regain hit points until the start of their next turn.

### Eldritch Rush

*3rd Level Offensive Action*

Move up to 30 feet in any direction (including up or across walls, as long as there is something to step on) in a rush of eldritch lightning. If you hit with an attack immediately following this movement, the attack deals an extra 3d8 lightning damage.

### Freezing Strike

*3rd Level Offensive Action*

Charge up an attack with freezing energy. On a hit, the target takes 1d6 extra cold damage and is entombed in ice, being restrained until the start of their next turn. The tomb breaks if they take damage.

### Frostfire Sheath

*3rd Level Bonus Action*

Wrap your weapon in blue flames. For 1 minute while you concentrate, add 1d4 fire and 1d4 cold damage to the damage of attacks made with this weapon. This damage ignores damage resistance. If you use a 4th level slot, each energy damage type increases by 1d4.

### Lightning Speed

*3rd Level Bonus Action*

Make a single attack as a bonus action. On a hit, it deals an extra 3d10 lightning damage. Using a 4th level slot results in 5d10 lightning damage.

### Mageblade

*3rd Level Bonus Action*

Shape a weapon out of magical energy or sheath a weapon you hold in magical energy for 1 minute while you concentrate. If a shaped weapon, it deals twice its normal weapon damage dice in force damage and functions as a finesse weapon with which you are proficient. If you shape a ranged weapon that requires projectiles (like a shortbow) it produces spectral projectiles that disappear once they deal damage or miss. A sheathed weapon deals an extra one of its damage dice in force damage on a hit. If you use a 4th level slot, the weapon deals an additional extra one of its dice damage in force damage.

### Swiftness

*3rd Level Bonus Action*

Imbue a weapon you hold with the swiftness of the wind. For 1 minute while you concentrate, you may make one additional attack with this weapon whenever you take the attack action. This may only target light or finesse weapons, quarterstaffs, or spears unless you use a 4th level slot.

## 4th Level Surges

### Surge of Lightning

*4th Level Attack Action*

Add 1d8 to the attack roll of each attack, and add the same amount of lightning damage on a hit.

### Surge of Flame

*4th Level Attack Action*

Make a full round of attacks, adding 3d6 fire damage to the damage of each successful attack.

### Surge of Frost

*4th Level Attack Action*

Make a full round of attacks. Each attack successful attack adds a layer of frost to the target, dealing an additional 1d6 cold damage and decreasing their AC by 2 until the end of your turn.

### Surge of Thunder

*4th Level Offensive Action*

When you hit with an attack, release a thunderous blast. The target takes an additional 2d12 thunder damage and is knocked prone and stunned until their next turn.

### Surge of Wind

*4th Level Attack Action*

Make a full round of attacks. If any of those attacks miss, make a number of additional attacks equal to the number of attacks that missed. If any of those miss, make a number of attacks equal to that number minus one. Continue until you don't miss or you have no more chances.

### Surge of Magic

*4th Level Offensive Action*

Release a blast of eldritch energy upon a successful attack roll. The target takes 1d20 force damage and has disadvantage on saves against spells and magical effects for 1 minute.