Mind Killer

D&D Character Build Guide

A 1st-20th level build guide

suitable for any level of play

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only. MIND KILLER 1
 Mind Killer
D&D Character Build Guide

A 1st-20th level build guide suitable for any level of play

Writing: Doug Vehovec

Editing: Doug Vehovec
Layout and Design: Doug Vehovec

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 Step 3 — Ability Scores
Rogue is the Mind Killer STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
There's no big mystery here. Soulknife rogues and
8 (-1) 15 (+2) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 13 (+1) 14 (+2)
their Psychic Blades feature seem really cool and
we took a stab at a character story and build.
Step 4 — Background
— Nerdarchy
Faceless
Start to finish Skills: Deception, Intimidation, Disguise Kit, Orc
Languages: Dwarvish, Elvish
We know how rare it is to complete a 1st-20th
level campaign and how often players partici- Rogues are sneaky, changelings are sneaky and
pate in one shots and campaigns that might only putting the two together under the umbrella of a
reach 10th level or so. When we create these psychic assassin led to a narrative arc to follow
guides we focus on making them fun, interest- through their adventuring career. This charac-
ing, useful and effective from the start. You won't ter's power lies in their mysterious mind while
find characters who only "get good" at certain their physical persona stays ever shifting.
levels — these CBGs hit the adventuring road
with the abilities they need to thrive and quickly
develop a reliable collection of features that only
Step 5 — Class and Level Progression
continue to get better as they gain experience. Choice options that are of particular importance
to this character’s effectiveness are in bold.
Level Class Gains
Step 1 — Race
1 Rogue Expertise — Athletics, Stealth,
Changeling
Sneak Attack, Thieves Cant
A great number of race options present fun oppor-
2 Rogue Cunning Action
tunities for this character. There's some concern
for ability scores to meet multiclass requirements 3 Rogue Roguish Archetype — Soul
and improve particular aspects of the character Knife, Psychic Blades
we'll focus on. At the end of the day though it 4 Rogue Ability Score Improvement —
came down to a narrative concept. You can imag- Dexterity +2
ine your Mind Killer as any number of lineages but
for our guide we went with these expressive folk. 5 Bard Bardic Inspiration, Spellcasting,
Skills — Viol, Perception,
Spells — Dissonant Whispers
Proficiencies
6 Bard Jack of All Trades, Song of Rest
Skills: Insight, Persuasion 7 Bard Bard College — College of
Languages: Dwarvish, Elvish Shadows, Psychic Blades,
Words of Terror
8 Monk Martial Arts, Unarmored Defense
Step 2 — Class
9 Monk Ki, Unarmored Movement
1st level
10 Monk Deflect Missiles, Monastic
Start with Rogue
Tradition — Way of Shadow,
The thrust of this character lies in exploring Shadow Arts
the Soul Knife Roguish Archetype so we want 11 Monk Feat — Eldritch Adept (Armor
to reach that point as quickly as possible. The of Shadows), Slow Fall
choice here was clear.
12 Monk Extra Attack, Stunning Strike
13 Monk Ki-Empowered Strikes,
Proficiencies
Shadow Step
Armor: Light armor
14 Bard Ability Score Improvement —
Weapons: Simple weapons, hand crossbows, long- Dexterity +2
swords, rapiers, shortswords
15 Bard Bardic Inspiration (d8), Font
Tools: Thieves tools of Inspiration
Saving Throws: Dexterity, Intelligence 16 Bard Countercharm, Mantle of
Skills: Acrobatics, Athletics, Sleight of hand, Stealth Whispers
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only. MIND KILLER 3
 17 Rogue Uncanny Dodge Other Character Guides
18 Rogue Expertise — Deception, • Mind Breaker Paladin Character Build Guide
Thieves Tools • Zen Archery Master Character Build Guide
19 Rogue Evasion • Sewer Ninja Tortle Character Build Guide
20 Rogue Ability Score Improvement — • Nature Possessed Warforged Character Build Guide
Charisma +2
• Scaled Skald Character Build Guide

• Quick Strike Character Build Guide

Conclusion • Night Parade Character Build Guid

• Combat Medic Character Build Guide

The Mind Killer finds common ground and ef- • Ultimate Duelist Character Build Guide
ficacy from a curated handful of class features • Path of Justice Barbarian Character Build Guide
and options along the way. At the pinnacle of
• Ultimate Spell Duelist Character Build Guide
their power this character's Psychic Blades be-
come versatile and devastating weapons while • Extreme Adventurer Character Build Guide
their mastery of covert operations begin early • Whirling Devish
and become unmatched.
• Library Agent Character Build Guide

• Shadow-Haunted Rogue
Final Ability Scores
• Flesh Render Character Build Guide

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA • Stealer of Souls (Hexadin) Character Build Guide

8 (-1) 20 (+5) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 13 (+1) 18 (+4) • Spell Savant Character Build Guide

• Master of Undeath Character Build Guide

Proficiencies • Champion of the Wild Characters Build Guide
Armor: Light Armor • Adopted Trash Panda Character Build Guide
Weapons: Crossbow, Hand, Longsword, Rapier, • Illusion Warrior Character Build Guide
Shortsword, Simple Weapons
• Storm Herald Character Build Guide
Tools: Disguise Kit, Thieves' Tools*, Viol
• Hell's Enemy Character Build Guide
Saving Throws: Dexterity, Intelligence
• Purveyor of Peace Character Build Guide
Skills: Acrobatics, Athletics*, Deception*, Insight*,
• Beast Binder Character Build Guide
Intimidation, Perception*, Persuasion, Sleight of
Hand, Stealth* • Ultimate Gladiator Character Build Guide

*Expertise • Slayer of Evil Character Build Guide

Languages: Common, Dwarvish, Elvish, Orc, • Witch Doctor Character Build Guide
Thieves’ Cant • Drunken Tactician Character Build Guide

• Centaur Templar Character Build Guide

Further Resources • Real Heal Bot Character Build Guide

• Holy Paragon Character Build Guide

We discuss character creation, roleplaying tips
• Mystic Seer Character Build Guide
and more in a video on the Nerdarchy YouTube
channel here. In the video description, you can • Indomitable Defender Character Build Guide
find a link to this character build on D&D Be- • Hypnotist CBG
yond.
• Mage Slayer of the Fey Court CBG

• Deadshot Sniper CBG

D&D Encounters
• Tiniest Wrestler CBG
• The Roper Wrangler Monster BFF Series
• Kobold Cavalry Encounter • Unkillable Character Build Guide

• The Hag's Apprentice Encounter • Dagger Master CBG

• Druid Circle from the Beyond • Know It All

• Bardbarian CBG

4 MIND KILLER Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
For Dungeon Masters
Covert Psion. Mind killers can be anyone and any-
where, blending into populations to carry out what-
ever esoteric goals they pursue. Supreme discipline
and focus allows mind killers to assume the persona
of any other humanoids and manifest deadly weap-
ons of psychic energy. Mind killers make incredibly
effective assassins and spies and there are whispers
they are agents of a mysterious organization but its
goals and if it even exists at all remain uncertain.

Mind Killer
Medium humanoid (shapechanger), any alignment
Armor Class 16
Hit Points 132 (24d8 +24)
Speed 30 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

8 (-1) 22 (+6) 13 (+1) 11 (+0) 12 (+1) 18 (+4) Ego Edge. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +11
Skills Athletics +3, Deception +8, Insight +5, Percep- to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 60 ft., one target. Hit:
tion +5, Stealth +14 20 (4d6 + 6) psychic damage and the target must
succeed on a DC 17 Intelligence saving throw or
Senses passive Perception 15 suffer disadvantage on attack rolls, ability checks,
Languages Common, Dwarvish, Elvish, Thieves’ and saving throws, and it can’t cast spells until the
Cant plus any one language start of the mind killer's next turn.
Challenge 11 (7,200 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +4 Reactions

Psionic Veil. When the mind killer is hit with an attack

Change Appearance. The mind killer can use its ac- it can use its reaction to manifest a veil of psionic
tion to polymorph into a Medium humanoid it has static and gain one of the following benefits (mind
seen, or back into its true form. Its statistics, other killer's choice):
than its size, are the same in each form. Any equip- • The mind killer magically becomes invisible, along with
ment it is wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. It anything it is wearing or carrying, for 1 hour or until it
reverts to its true form if it dies. dismisses this effect (no action required). This invisibil-
ity ends early immediately after it deals damage to a
Actions creature or forces a creature to make a saving throw.
• The attacker must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom sav-
Multiattack. The mind killer makes three Psionic ing throw or be frightened for 1 minute. A creature
Blade attacks. can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its
turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Psionic Blade. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: • The attacker must make a DC 17 Intelligence saving
+11 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 60 ft., one target. throw. On a failed save, the target takes 3d6 psychic
Hit: 20 (4d6 + 6) psychic damage. As a bonus ac- damage, and it can’t take a reaction until the end
tion can teleport to an unoccupied space within of its next turn. Moreover, on its next turn, it must
5 feet of a target. The mind killer can use one of choose whether it gets a move, an action, or a bonus
its Psionic Blade attacks to throw the blade at an action; it gets only one of the three. On a successful
unoccupied space it can see within 60 feet. It then save, the target takes half as much damage and suf-
teleports to that space. fers none of the other effects.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only. MIND KILLER 5