Dragon Pact Kineticist (Kineticist)

Of the many sources assumed to provide kinetic power, one of the least understood is the influence dragons have in awakening these abilities. Draconic involvement isn’t as random or altruistic as most would assume though, as dragons are nothing if not enterprising in their involvement in mortal affairs. Some dragons use pacts to draw individuals into their labyrinthine schemes, toying with their pact bound, while others simply see it as an investment and often forget about it the moment the pact is sealed. The power that dragons bestow does always include one very important constant; it always has a cost.

## Archetype Features

### Draconic Pact (Ex)

The powers of a dragon pact kineticist are forged through the pact made with a true dragon of very old age or older, requiring both parties to agree on terms. Some dragon pact kineticists seek out such pacts, while others are born into them without any knowledge (this decision should be left up to the player to decide upon). This pact bestows the dragon with the ability to always be aware of their benefactor’s locations and actions, although most dragons rarely intercede in the affairs of their chosen pact bound, instead allowing them to do as they wish.

The dragon itself simply bestows the potential upon their pact bound, and the powers that manifest because of it are entirely the choice of the pact bound. It is not uncommon to see a red dragon with a number of pact bound toxikineticists or geokineticists, and dragons often encourage such deviation. The details of how such a pact is formed are best left up for the GM to decide, although it should require at least 7 days and a tribute of 500 gold per character level the pact bound possesses. This should only be used for characters whose pact has been broken and are searching for another; any character taking this archetype is assumed to have a pact in effect, even if they are unaware of it. This does allow a character to take this archetype after character creation though, replacing any other kineticist archetype the character may possess.

A dragon pact is incredibly powerful, and can only be broken by one party killing the other or by both agreeing to dissolve the pact. Dragons are rarely willing to voluntarily dissolve a pact, as it would require them to return the tribute that was paid to them for its establishment. As the dragon has already given its power to the pact bound, the death of the dragon through other circumstances will not remove their gift from the pact bound, although a pact bound may not form another pact with a different dragon so long as their current pact remains intact. A dead dragon is always treated as willing to dissolve their pact

Whenever a dragon pact kineticist selects their elemental focus, they also gain an element associated with their dragon pact.

The following dragons correspond to the following energy types:

* **Acid:** black, copper, green
* **Cold:** silver, white
* **Electricity:** blue, bronze
* **Fire:** brass, gold, red

Players can select other types of dragons to form pacts with at the GM’s discretion, although the dragon should have an associated energy type for the skin of the dragon and draconic fusion class features.

### Draconic Aspect I (Su)

At 1st level, a dragon pact kineticist must select one aspect of the dragon, gaining abilities based on their choice:

#### Breath of the Dragon

A breath aspect dragon pact kineticist gains either draconic breath (cone) and draconic breath (line) form infusions, reducing its burn cost by 1.

#### Form of the Dragon

A form aspect dragon pact kineticist gains the kinetic fist form infusion as well as the following utility wild talent:

> Draconic Form
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> **Element(s)** universal; **Type** utility (Su); **Level** 1; **Burn** —
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> Your features shift into those of a mighty dragon. You gain a bite attack that deals 1d6 damage. While your skin of the dragon is active, you also gain a pair of claw attacks that deal 1d6 damage. While making an attack with only your natural weapons, reduce the burn cost of the kinetic fist form infusion by 1.
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Both aspects of the dragon add the following form infusions to their list of available wild talents:

> **Draconic Breath (Cone)**
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> **Element(s)** universal; **Type** form infusion; **Level** 1; **Burn** 1
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> **Associated Blasts** any
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> **Saving Throw** Reflex half
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> Your kinetic blast erupts from your mouth in a 15 foot cone, damaging all creatures inside of it. This infusion deals half your normal amount of blast damage (or full damage for energy blast). The saving throw DC is dexterity-based.
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> **Draconic Breath (Line)**
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> **Element(s)** universal; **Type** form infusion; **Level** 1; **Burn** 1
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> **Associated Blasts** any
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> **Saving Throw** Reflex half
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> Your kinetic blast erupts from your mouth in a 30 foot line, damaging all creatures inside of it. This infusion deals half your normal amount of blast damage (or full damage for energy blast). The saving throw DC is dexterity-based.
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A dragon pact kineticist cannot use their kinetic blast without applying either the draconic breath (cone), draconic breath (line), or kinetic fist form infusion to it.

This ability alters kinetic blast and replaces the 1st-level infusion.

### Draconic Defense (Su)

At 2nd level, a dragon pact kineticist gains the following defensive wild talent:

> **Skin of the Dragon**
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> **Element(s)** universal; **Type** defensive (Su); **Level** —; **Burn** 0
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> Your skin is as thick and resistant as a dragon’s hide. You gain resist 1 to your draconic pact element and a +1 enchancement bonus to your natural armor. This resistance increases by 1 for every 2 kineticist levels you possess past 2nd. By accepting 1 point of burn, you can increase this enchantment bonus by 1. For every 3 levels beyond 2nd, you can accept 1 additional point of burn to further increase this enchantment bonus by 1 (to a maximum of +7 at 20th level). Whenever you accept burn using a wild talent, your scales grow far more resistant, granting you immunity to your resisted element for 1 round. You can dismiss or restore this effect as an immediate action.
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This ability replaces elemental defense.

### Draconic Aspect II (Su)

At 7th level, a dragon pact kineticist gains the following abilities based on which aspect of the dragon was selected in addition to an infusion or utility wild talent:

#### Breath of the Dragon

A dragon pact kineticist can increase the burn cost of draconic breath (cone) or draconic breath (line) form infusions by 2 to increase their area of effect by either 15 feet for draconic breath (cone) or 30 feet for draconic breath (line). They also gain the following composite blast (if the dragon pact kineticist does not have a physical blast, they gain this composite blast if they later gain one):

> **Brutal Breath**
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> **Element(s)** universal; **Type** composite blast (Sp); **Level** —; **Burn** 2
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> **Prerequisite(s)** any physical blast, any draconic breath form infusion
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> **Blast Type** physical; **Damage** special (see text)
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> You can channel the power of your breath, even with a physical blast. Your physical blasts do full damage instead of half when using either draconic breath (cone) or draconic breath (line). At 15th level you can apply this to a composite blast by increasing the burn cost of the blast by 1.
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#### Form of the Dragon

At 7th level, a pact bond kineticist gains the following utility wild talent:

> **Tail of the Dragon**
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> **Element(s)** universal; **Type** utility (Sp); **Level** 3; **Burn** 0
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> While your skin of the dragon is active, you grow a tail that can be used to make a secondary tail slap that deals 1d6 damage. You can accept 1 point of burn to instead have your tail slap be treated as primary, as well as being able to be used as a prehensile tail.
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Both aspects of the dragon pact kineticist gain the following composite blast:

> **Draconic Fusion**
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> **Element(s)** universal; **Type** composite blast (Sp); **Level** —; **Burn** 2
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> **Prerequisite(s)** any simple blast, draconic aspect II
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> **Blast Type** special; **Damage** special (see text)
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> You can draw from the power granted to you, dealing both the damage type of your simple blast and the energy type of your draconic pact. If your simple blast is physical, this is a physical blast; if it is energy, this is an energy blast.
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This ability replaces the 7th-level expanded element.

### Draconic Flight (Su)

At 8th level, a dragon pact kineticist gains the following utility wild talent:

> **Wings of the Dragon**
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> **Element(s)** universal; **Type** utility (Su); **Level** 4; **Burn** —
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> You grow a set of majestic wings, granting you a flight speed of 60 with good maneuverability.
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This ability replaces the 8th-level utility wild talent.

### Expanded Element (Su)

At 10th level, a dragon pact kineticist gains the expanded element class feature.

This ability replaces the 10th-level utility wild talent.

### Draconic Aspect III (Su)

At 15th level, a dragon pact kineticist gain the following abilities based on which aspect of the dragon was selected in addition to an infusion or utility wild talent:

* **Breath of the Dragon:** A dragon pact kineticist can increase the burn cost of draconic breath (cone) or draconic breath (line) form infusions by 4 to increase their area of effect by either 45 feet for draconic breath (cone) or 90 feet for draconic breath (line).
* **Form of the Dragon:** A dragon pact kineticist treats their tail slap as a primary attack, and all of their natural attacks gained from this archetype have their critical range doubled. This increase does not stack with any other increase to critical range.

Both aspects of the dragon pact kineticist gain a fear aura that extends out 30 feet. This aura has a save DC of 10 + their Constitution modifier + ½ their kineticist level, frightening creatures inside of it for 1 round per 4 kineticist level they possess. A creature can only be affected by this fear aura once per day, and a dragon pact kineticist can dismiss or resummon this aura as a free action.

A dragon pact kineticist can also select the elemental eater utility wild talent regardless of their elemental focus, being able to absorb the energy type associated with their pact.

This ability replaces the 15th-level expanded element.

### Pact Unbound (Su)

At 20th level, a dragon pact kineticist has mastered the power bestowed upon them, and is no longer bound by the terms of their pact. They gain the benefits of Draconic Aspect I, II, and III for whichever aspect they did not select as well as gaining immunity to the energy type of their dragon pact.

Dragons rarely like to let a dragon pact reach this level of power, and will often engineer the dragon pact kineticist’s downfall before they can reach such a point.

This ability replaces omnikinesis.