Inquisitor

Grim and determined, the inquisitor roots out enemies of the faith, using trickery and guile when righteousness and purity is not enough. Although inquisitors are dedicated to a deity, they are above many of the normal rules and conventions of the church. They answer to their deity and their own sense of justice alone, and are willing to take extreme measures to meet their goals.
Inquisitors tend to move from place to place, chasing down enemies and researching emerging threats. As a result, they often travel with others, if for no other reason than to mask their presence. Inquisitors work with members of their faith whenever possible, but even such allies are not above suspicion.

Alignment

An inquisitor’s alignment must be within one step of their deity’s, along either the law/chaos axis or the good/evil axis.

Hit Dice

1d8

Proficiencies

• Armor: light armor, medium armor, and shields (except tower shields).
• Weapons: All simple weapons, plus the hand crossbow, longbow, repeating crossbow, shortbow, and the favored weapon of their deity.
• Class Skills: Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (dungeoneering) (Int), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Knowledge (planes) (Int), Knowledge (religion) (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Stealth (Dex), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str).
• Skill Points Per Level: 6 + Int modifier.

Class Features

All of the following are features of the Inquisitor class.

Spells

An inquisitor casts divine spells drawn from the Inquisitor Spell List. They can cast any spell they know at any time without preparing it ahead of time, assuming they have not yet used up their allotment of spells per day for the spell’s level.
To learn or cast a spell, an inquisitor must have a Wisdom score equal to at least 10 + the Spell Level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against an inquisitor’s spell is 10 + the Spell Level + the inquisitor’s Wisdom modifier.
An inquisitor can cast only a certain number of spells of each Spell Level each day. Their base daily spell allotment is given on Table: Inquisitor. In addition, they receive bonus spells per day if they have a high Wisdom score.
An inquisitor’s selection of spells is extremely limited. An inquisitor begins play knowing four 0-level spells and two 1st-level spells of the inquisitor’s choice. At each new inquisitor level, they gain one or more new spells as indicated on Table: Inquisitor Spells Known. (Unlike spells per day, the number of spells an inquisitor knows is not affected by their Wisdom score. The numbers on Table: Inquisitor Spells Known are fixed.)
Upon reaching 5th level, and at every third inquisitor level thereafter (8th, 11th, and so on), an inquisitor can choose to learn a new spell in place of one they already know. In effect, the inquisitor “loses” the old spell in exchange for the new one. The new spell’s level must be the same as that of the spell being exchanged, and it must be at least one level lower than the highest-level inquisitor spell they can cast. The inquisitor may swap out only a single spell at any given level and must choose whether or not to swap the spell at the same time that they gain new spells known for the level.

Domain (or Inquisition)

Like a Cleric’s deity, an inquisitor’s deity influences their Alignment, what magic they can perform, and their values. Although not as tied to the tenets of the deity as a Cleric, an inquisitor must still hold such guidelines in high regard, despite the fact they can go against them if it serves the greater good of the faith. An inquisitor can select one domain from among those belonging to their deity. They can select an Alignment domain only if their Alignment matches that domain. With the GM’s approval, an inquisitor can be devoted to an ideal instead of a deity, selecting one domain to represent their personal inclination and abilities. The restriction on Alignment domains still applies.
Each domain grants a number of domain powers, depending on the level of the inquisitor. An inquisitor does not gain the bonus spells listed for each domain, nor do they gain bonus spell slots. The inquisitor uses their level as their effective Cleric level when determining the power and effect of their domain powers. If the inquisitor has Cleric levels, one of their two domain selections must be the same domain selected as an inquisitor. Levels of Cleric and inquisitor stack for the purpose of determining domain powers and abilities, but not for bonus spells.
A complete listing of domains can be found here: Domains. Inquisitors also have access to Inquisitions, which are similar to Domains but do not include Domain spells. A complete listing of Inquisitions can be found here: Inquisitions.

Judgment (Su)

Starting at 1st level, an inquisitor can pronounce judgment upon their foes as a Swift Action. Starting when the judgment is made, the inquisitor receives a bonus or special ability based on the type of judgment made.
At 1st level, an inquisitor can use this ability once per day. At 4th level and every three levels thereafter, the inquisitor can use this ability one additional time per day. Once activated, this ability lasts until the combat ends, at which point all of the bonuses immediately end. The inquisitor must participate in the combat to gain these bonuses. If they are Frightened, Panicked, Paralyzed, Stunned, Unconscious, or otherwise prevented from participating in the combat, the ability does not end, but the bonuses do not resume until they can participate in the combat again.
When the inquisitor uses this ability, they must select one type of judgment to make. As a Swift Action, they can change this judgment to another type. If the inquisitor is evil, they receive profane bonuses instead of sacred, as appropriate. Neutral inquisitors must select profane or sacred bonuses. Once made, this choice cannot be changed.

• Destruction: The inquisitor is filled with divine wrath, gaining a +1 Sacred Bonus on all weapon damage rolls. This bonus increases by +1 for every three inquisitor levels they possess.
• Healing: The inquisitor is surrounded by a healing light, gaining Fast Healing 1. This causes the inquisitor to heal 1 point of damage each round as long as the inquisitor is alive and the judgment lasts. The amount of healing increases by 1 point for every three inquisitor levels they possess.
• Justice: This judgment spurs the inquisitor to seek justice, granting a +1 Sacred Bonus on all attack rolls. This bonus increases by +1 for every five inquisitor levels they possess. At 10th level, this bonus is doubled on all attack rolls made to confirm critical hits.
• Piercing: This judgment gives the inquisitor great focus and makes their spells more potent. This benefit grants a +1 Sacred Bonus on Concentration checks and Caster Level checks made to overcome a target’s Spell Resistance. This bonus increases by +1 for every three inquisitor levels they possess.
• Protection: The inquisitor is surrounded by a protective aura, granting a +1 Sacred Bonus to Armor Class. This bonus increases by +1 for every five inquisitor levels they possess. At 10th level, this bonus is doubled against attack rolls made to confirm critical hits against the inquisitor.
• Purity: The inquisitor is protected from the vile taint of their foes, gaining a +1 Sacred Bonus on all Saving Throws. This bonus increases by +1 for every five inquisitor levels they possess. At 10th level, the bonus is doubled against curses, diseases, and poisons.
• Resiliency: This judgment makes the inquisitor resistant to harm, granting DR 1/magic. This DR increases by 1 for every five levels they possess. At 10th level, this DR changes from magic to an Alignment (chaotic, evil, good, or lawful) that is opposite the inquisitor’s. If they are neutral, the inquisitor does not receive this increase.
• Resistance: The inquisitor is shielded by a flickering aura, gaining 2 points of Resistance To Energy against one energy type (acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic) chosen when the judgment is declared. The protection increases by 2 for every three inquisitor levels they possess.
• Smiting: This judgment bathes the inquisitor’s weapons in a divine light. The inquisitor’s weapons count as magic for the purposes of bypassing Damage Reduction. At 6th level, the inquisitor’s weapons also count as one Alignment type (chaotic, evil, good, or lawful) for the purpose of bypassing Damage Reduction. The type selected must match one of the inquisitor’s alignments. If the inquisitor is neutral, they do not receive this bonus. At 10th level, the inquisitor’s weapons also count as Adamantine for the purpose of overcoming Damage Reduction (but not for reducing Hardness).

Monster Lore (Ex)

The inquisitor adds their Wisdom modifier on Knowledge skill checks in addition to their Intelligence modifier, when making skill checks to identify the abilities and weaknesses of creatures.

Orisons

Inquisitors learn a number of orisons, or 0-level spells, as noted on Table: Inquisitor Spells Known. These spells are cast like any other spell, but they are not expended when cast and may be used again. Orisons prepared using other spell slots, such as those due to Metamagic Feats, are expended normally.

Stern Gaze (Ex)

Inquisitors are skilled at sensing deception and intimidating their foes. An inquisitor receives a Morale Bonus on all Intimidate and Sense Motive checks equal to 1/2 their inquisitor level (minimum +1).

Cunning Initiative (Ex)

At 2nd level, an inquisitor adds their Wisdom modifier on Initiative checks, in addition to their Dexterity modifier.

Detect Alignment (Sp)

At 2nd level, at will, an inquisitor can use Detect Chaos, Detect Evil, Detect Good, or Detect Law. They can only use one of these at any given time.

Track (Ex)

At 2nd level, an inquisitor adds half their level on Survival skill checks made to follow or identify tracks.

Solo Tactics (Ex)

At 3rd level, all of the inquisitor’s allies are treated as if they possessed the same Teamwork Feats as the inquisitor for the purpose of determining whether the inquisitor receives a bonus from their Teamwork Feats. Their allies do not receive any bonuses from these feats unless they actually possess the feats themselves. The allies’ positioning and actions must still meet the prerequisites listed in the teamwork feat for the inquisitor to receive the listed bonus.

Teamwork Feat

At 3rd level, and every three levels thereafter, the inquisitor gains a bonus feat in addition to those gained from normal advancement. These bonus feats must be selected from those listed as Teamwork Feats. The inquisitor must meet the prerequisites of the selected bonus feat.
As a Standard Action, the inquisitor can choose to learn a new bonus teamwork feat in place of the most recent bonus teamwork feat they have already learned. In effect, the inquisitor loses the bonus feat in exchange for the new one. They can only change the most recent teamwork feat gained. Whenever they gain a new teamwork feat, the previous teamwork feat becomes set and cannot be changed again. An inquisitor can change their most recent teamwork feat a number of times per day equal to their Wisdom modifier.

Bane (Su)

At 5th level, an inquisitor can imbue one of their weapons with the bane weapon special ability as a Swift Action. They must select one creature type when they use this ability (and a subtype if the creature type selected is humanoid or outsider). Once selected, the type can be changed as a Swift Action. This ability only functions while the inquisitor wields the weapon. If dropped or taken, the weapon resumes granting this ability if it is returned to the inquisitor before the duration expires. This ability lasts for a number of rounds per day equal to the inquisitor’s level. These rounds do not need to be consecutive.

Discern Lies (Sp)

At 5th level, an inquisitor can Discern Lies, as per the spell, for a number of rounds per day equal to their inquisitor level. These rounds do not need to be consecutive. Activating this ability is an Immediate Action.

Second Judgment (Ex)

At 8th level, whenever an inquisitor uses their judgment ability, they select two different judgments, instead of one. This only consumes one use of their judgment ability. As a Swift Action, they can change one of these judgments to another type.

Stalwart (Ex)

At 11th level, an inquisitor can use mental and physical resiliency to avoid certain attacks. If they make a Fortitude or Will saving throw against an attack that has a reduced effect on a successful save, they instead avoid the effect entirely. This ability can only be used if the inquisitor is wearing light armor, medium armor, or no armor. A Helpless inquisitor does not gain the benefit of the stalwart ability.

Greater Bane (Su)

At 12th level, whenever an inquisitor uses their bane ability, the amount of bonus damage dealt by the weapon against creatures of the selected type increases to 4d6.

Exploit Weakness (Ex)

At 14th level, the inquisitor learns to take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself. Whenever the inquisitor scores a critical hit, they ignore any Damage Reduction the target might have. In addition, if the target has Regeneration, the creature loses Regeneration on the round following the critical hit and can die normally during that round. Creatures whose Regeneration always functions are immune to this ability. Finally, if the inquisitor deals energy damage to a creature with vulnerability to that energy type, they deal +1 point of damage per die rolled.

Third Judgment (Ex)

At 16th level, whenever an inquisitor uses their judgment ability, they select three different judgments, instead of just two. This only consumes one use of their judgment ability. As a Swift Action, the inquisitor can change one of these judgments to another type.

Slayer (Ex)

At 17th level, an inquisitor learns to focus their judgment. Whenever an inquisitor uses their judgment ability, they must select one type of judgment. They are treated as if they were 5 levels higher for the purposes of determining the bonus granted by this judgment. Unlike other types of judgment, the one enhanced by this ability cannot be changed for the remainder of the judgment.

True Judgment (Su)

At 20th level, an inquisitor can call true judgment down upon a foe during combat. Whenever an inquisitor uses their judgment ability, the inquisitor can invoke true judgment on a foe as a Swift Action. Once declared, the inquisitor can make a single melee attack (or Ranged Attack, if the foe is within 30 feet) against the target. If the attack hits, it deals damage normally and the target must make a Fortitude Save or die. The DC of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 the inquisitor’s level + the inquisitor’s Wisdom modifier. Regardless of whether or not the save is made, the target creature is immune to the inquisitor’s true judgment ability for 24 hours. Once this ability has been used, it cannot be used again for 1d4 rounds.

Inquisitor Variants

Many variations exist that alter or replace aspects of the Inquisitor class.