Champion

Champion

(Class)

Region

Any

Races

Any

Alignment

LG	NG	CG
LN	N	CN
LE	NE	CE

Iconic character

Seelah

Images of champions

Source: Core Rulebook (Second Edition), pg(s). 105

Pathfinder Second Edition content This article covers a class that is relevant to the Pathfinder campaign setting only in the context of Pathfinder Second Edition or Pathfinder Lost Omens.

This article is for the Pathfinder Second Edition class. For the champion mythic path, see Champion (Mythic Path). For the similar Pathfinder First Edition class, see Paladin.

Champions are divine servants of a deity. A champion fully devotes themselves, body and mind, to their deity and cause, from which they draw their righteous zeal.

A righteous defender of good, good champions protect the innocent and vanquish evil. Fully committed to their beliefs, deity, and the aspect of good, they follow a strict code and work to make the world a better place.

Just as there are champions of good, there are those who fight for far more vile causes. These villains devote themselves to truly evil gods and are embodiments of destruction, control, or unfettered self-interest. While many evil champions embraced their unholy path by their own desire, many others were once champions of good who were led astray by the forces of evil and became the very thing they once fought against.

Abilities

Champions follow a code of conduct and tenets of their cause. Deities often add additional tenets related to their beliefs. If a situation places two tenets in conflict, a champions first follows tenets of good or evil, and then tenets of their cause. If a champion strays from their cause's alignment or breaks their code of conduct, they lose their powers until they repent and conduct an atone ritual.

A champion's deity's power grants them special divine spells called devotion spells.

Champions of Good/Holy

Most importantly, all champions of good must never perform actions that are anathema to their deity or willingly commit evil acts, including casting evil spells. Second in importance, they must never knowingly harm innocents or allow them to be harmed by not taking action, if they knew about the danger and could have reasonably prevented it. They are still not forced to account for all possible harm that may come to innocents sometime in the future, or to sacrifice their life to protect them.

Paladin (LG)

See also: Paladin

Paladins are honorable, forthright, and committed to pushing back the forces of cruelty. Paladins must always act with honor, and never take advantage of others, lie, or cheat. They respect the laws of whatever lands they find themselves in, and its legitimate leadership.

Redeemer (NG)

Redeemers are kind and forgiving. Redeemers try to save those who do evil, fighting to give them a chance at redemption rather than destroying them outright; they still take lives of those who have denied their offer of redemption or are already too far gone. Redeemers are compassionate to all people, no matter their status or importance.

Liberator (CG)

A liberator champion of Calistria.

Liberators are committed to defending the freedom of others, respecting an individual's right to live life the way they desire, and never force others to act a certain way. They demand freedom for all people to make their own decisions, harboring especially strong hatred for slavery and tyranny.

Champions of Evil/Unholy

Most importantly, all champions of evil must never perform actions that are anathema to their deity or willingly commit good acts, including casting good spells. Champions of evil never put another's need before their own, except for the needs of their deity, who always comes first. Though sometimes they perform acts others may see as helpful, they always do it with their own or their master's benefit in mind.

Tyrant (LE)

Tyrants subjugate the weak to keep them in their proper place. They let no one they consider lesser than them command or lead them, and ruthlessly enforce the divide of masters and servants. Tyrants topple and seize control of illegitimate hierarchies and fill power vacuums by taking that power for themselves. A tyrant is rarely seen without servants.

Desecrator (NE)

Desecrators take what they want, no matter whom it hurts, and spread the influence of evil everywhere they go. They fight the notion of good itself, vanquishing hopes and dreams, and corrupting those who uphold such ideals.

Antipaladin (CE)

See also: Antipaladin

Antipaladins are dishonorable, dishonest, and committed to breaking the false hopes of kindness. Antipaladins are not bound by any laws or honor, except for the code of the antipaladin itself. They employ all methods, no matter how dirty, to get what they want, and destroy everything that offends them or gets in their way. They have no directed hatred towards the forces of good like the desecrator has, instead simply focusing on whatever stands in-between them and their goals.

On Golarion

Knights of Lastwall count many champions and other divine followers in their ranks, and the Pathfinder Society's Envoy's Alliance and Vigilant Seal factions both attract champions.

Notable champions

See also: Category:Champions

• Irabeth Tirabade, paladin of Iomedae, is one of the greatest heroes of the Fifth Mendevian Crusade, former knight of the Eagle Watch, and one-time ruler of Drezen.
• Kalabrynne Iomedar is a paladin of Iomedae and advisor to the Knights of Lastwall.
• Clarethe Iomedar, the Crimson Reclaimer, is Kalabrynne's child, and a liberator.
• Codwin I of Augustana is a paladin of Iomedae and the former Supreme Elect of the nation of Andoran, along with being the mayor of the capital of Almas.
• Ulthun II is a paladin of Iomedae and the former Watcher-Lord of Lastwall.

Races

There are no restrictions on the race of a champion, but empyrean, changeling, dhampir, duskwalker, fleshwarp, ganzi, shoony, poppet, and conrasu adventurers often become champions.

Religion

All champions receive their special powers from gods and sometimes even whole pantheons, though champions of some religions are more common than of others. Champions can gain power from deities only if they share a similar worldview, and every deity has edicts and anathemas their followers must abide by, or risk losing their divine powers.

References

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.