Ruinous Blade (Legendary Magus Archetype)

These mages combine the devastating potential of magic with their martial talents, forming blades of pure energy to vanquish their foes.

#### **Spellcasting**

A ruinous blade may combine spheres and talents to create magical effects. A ruinous blade is considered a Mid-Caster and uses Intelligence as his casting stat modifier. (Note: All casters gain 2 bonus talents and may select a casting tradition the first time they gain the casting class feature.)

This replaces the spells and cantrips class features.

#### **Spell Pool**

A ruinous blade gains a small reservoir of energy he can call on to create truly wondrous effects, called a spell pool. This pool contains a number of spell points equal to his class level + his Intelligence modifier (minimum 1). This pool replenishes once per day after 8 hours of uninterrupted rest.

#### **Magic Talents**

A ruinous blade gains 1 magic talent every time he gains a caster level. This does not stack with caster levels gained from other sources.

#### **Arcane Training**

A ruinous blade is considered to be able to cast arcane spells of a level equal to the equivalent spell level of his sphere effects, and counts his legendary magus level as his arcane caster level for the Arcane Strike feat, and any feat or ability that has Arcane Strike as a prerequisite.

#### **Sphere Synergy**

If the ruinous blade has an ability that requires them to cast a magus spell or allows them to cast a magus spell as part of the ability, they can instead cast a sphere effect with a casting time of 1 standard action or maintain concentration on a sphere effect with a duration of concentration. This sphere effect is otherwise treated as a spell for all purposes of the ability, using the ruinous blades caster level, and the sphere effects effective spell level.

#### **Blade of Destruction**

At 1st level, ruinous blade gains the Destruction sphere as a bonus talent, with the Shape Focus drawback. He must select the Energy Blade shape as the talent gained by taking this drawback. The ruinous blade uses his legendary magus level as his caster level with the Energy Blade talent and all blast type talents applied to it. The ruinous blade does not provoke attacks of opportunity when using his Energy Blade talent and does not need to make concentration checks if damaged while casting it.

#### **Ruinous Potential**

A ruinous blade gains potential through the following methods (a ruinous blade cannot gain potential from each of these more than once per round and a ruinous blade must be in combat to gain potential):

**• Ruinous Potential:** Whenever the ruinous blade casts a sphere effect, or when he concentrates on a sphere effect to maintain its duration, he gains one point of potential.

**• Lingering Potential:** Whenever the ruinous blade begins his turn under the effects of a sphere effect he cast that cost 1 spell point or more, he gains one point of potential. This sphere effect be one that affects him directly, not his weapons or equipment.

• **Suffered Potential:** Whenever the ruinous blade takes damage from a spell or spell-like ability, or rolls a saving throw against a harmful spell or spell-like ability, she gains two points of potential. This modifies the arcane potential class feature.

#### **Legendary Concentration**

At 4th level, the ruinous blade gains Combat Casting as a bonus feat. At 7th level, and every 3 levels thereafter, the bonus when casting defensively granted by the ruinous blade’s Combat Casting feat increases by +2.

This replaces combat casting and legendary combat casting.

#### **Energy Siphon (Su)**

At 7th level, the ruinous blade gains the following potential technique:

##### 3 Potential - Energy Siphon

The ruinous blade has learned to directly siphon from their stored potential to fuel their spells. As a free action on his turn, the ruinous blade can gain 1 temporary spell point for every 3 points of potential he spends. Any unspent temporary spell points are lost at the end of his turn. An ability that uses spell points gained through this technique cannot cause the ruinous blade to gain potential from any ability.

This replaces spell recall.

#### **Improved Energy Siphon**

At 15th level, the ruinous blade’s ability to siphon potential to fuel their spells becomes more efficient. Their Energy Siphon technique has its potential cost reduced to 2, and now grants a temporary spell point for every 2 potential spent on the technique, rather than for every 3.

This replaces improved spell recall.