Aerial Assaulter

As staunch believers in the value of higher ground, the striker developed special fighting styles that capitalize on fighting from above. While many dismiss such techniques as a niche tactic, aerial assaulters leap to great heights and create higher ground where there is none.

Class Skills

An aerial assaulter gains Acrobatics and Fly as class skills. Knowledge (dungeoneering), Ride, and Swim are not class skills for an aerial assaulter.

This alters the fighter’s skills.

Aerial Expertise (Ex)

At 2nd level, an aerial assaulter gains a +2 bonus on Fly checks. Additionally, whenever they are affected by a spell or ability that grants them a fly speed, they treat that spell or ability as though its caster level were 2 higher for the purposes of determining its effects. At 6th level and every 4 levels thereafter, this bonus on Fly checks increases by an additional 2, to a maximum of +10 at 18th level.

This replaces bravery.

Take the High Ground (Ex)

At 2nd level, an aerial assaulter can leap above their foes to gain an advantage in combat. As a Move Action, they can attempt an Acrobatics check with the DC equal to the CMD of an adjacent enemy. If they succeed, the aerial assaulter is treated as if they had higher ground against that enemy until the beginning of their next turn. At 4th level and every 4 levels thereafter, an aerial assaulter increases their bonus from higher ground by 1, to a total of a +6 bonus at 20th level. At 12th level, an aerial assaulter can use this ability as a Swift Action.

This replaces the bonus feats gained at 2nd and 12th level.

Aerial Dodge (Ex)

At 19th level, an aerial assaulter can perform an aerial dodge that allows them to evade attacks while flying. As an Immediate Action, when an opponent attempts an attack against the aerial assaulter, they can attempt a Fly check with a DC equal to the result of the attacker’s attack roll. If they succeed, they can take a 5-foot step and gain a Dodge Bonus to their AC equal to their Dexterity modifier. This movement doesn’t negate the attack if the aerial assaulter remains in range of the attacking enemy’s reach at the end of the 5-foot step. If the Fly check fails, the aerial assaulter does not move, does not gain an AC bonus, and provokes an attack of opportunity from each creature that threatens them, including the initial attacker. The aerial assaulter must be flying to use this ability.

This replaces armor mastery.

High Ground Mastery (Ex)

At 20th level, whenever an aerial assaulter threatens a critical hit with an attack made from higher ground, they automatically confirm the critical hit, and the weapon’s damage multiplier is increased by 1. In addition, all Bull Rush, Dirty Trick, Drag, Grapple, Reposition, and Trip combat maneuver checks against the aerial assaulter fail when attempted by opponents on lower ground than they are.

This replaces weapon mastery.

Parent Class

Fighter