The Spell Thief

I
n a busy marketplace a gnome sees a mage cast a
spell to find a foe. That might be useful later on, he
thinks. He taps his own magic and copies the mage’s
actions. You never know…
In a pitched battle, an enemy Wizard sends a fireball
towards a group of adventures. A human stands up from
behind a rock ledge and, tapping into the arcane weave,
redirects the attack.
A tiefling skulks along a ledge, watching a ritual take place.
She watches, muttering to herself, and when the ritual
completes, nothing happens. She sneaks away with a smile,
and eyes burning with arcane power.
Spell Thieves can literally steal the mystical energies of
other spell casters. Some are employed by thieves guilds, and
serve their masters as spies and assassins. Others are
stalwart adventures who know they are all that stands
between their comrades and death. They are sneaky,
deceptive, and confident.

The Spell Thief

Level Proficiency Bonus Features Cantrips Known Spells Known 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
1st +2 Spellweaving 3 2 2 — — — —
2nd +2 Arcane Manipulation, Arcane Understanding 3 2 3 — — — —
3rd +2 Spell Thief Cabal 3 3 3 1 — — —
4th +2 Ability Score Improvement 3 3 4 1 — — —
5th +3 Arcane Insight 3 4 4 2 — — —
6th +3 Weave Hostage 4 4 4 2 1 — —
7th +3 Improved Arcane Manipulation 4 5 4 2 2 — —
8th +3 Ability Score Improvement 4 5 4 2 2 1 —
9th +4 Cabal Feature 4 6 4 3 2 1 —
10th +4 Melee Magic 4 6 4 3 3 1 —
11th +4 Un-Arcanny Dodge 5 7 5 3 3 1 —
12th +4 Ability Score Improvement 5 8 5 3 3 1 1
13th +5 Cabal Feature 5 9 5 3 3 2 1
14th +5 Sneaky Spell (+1d6) 5 10 5 4 3 2 1
15th +5 Mental Bastion 5 11 5 4 3 3 1
16th +5 Ability Score Improvement 6 11 5 4 3 3 1
17th +6 Cabal Feature, Arcana-vasion 6 12 5 4 3 3 2
18th +6 Sneaky Spell (+2d6) 6 13 5 4 4 3 2
19th +6 Ability Score Improvement 6 14 5 5 4 3 2
20th +6 Arcane Channel 6 15 6 5 4 3 2

Magic Stealers Game Changers

Spell Thieves are arcane robbers, learning how to use their
innate abilities to take mystic power by mimicry, and
redirection. They have strong minds and long memories.
Spell Thieves are handy to have in a fight, being nimble
and powerful by nature. Medium and Heavy armors interfere
with their arcane might, so they tend to shy away from them.
Spell Thieves are practical, and so train not only their minds
to be flexible, but their bodies as well.
Spell Thieves are rare, and thus highly sought after as
servants and allies. All Spell Thieves share a certain love of
mischief, and trickery. This causes most to gravitate to the
Chaotic alignments.
Some follow the teachings of those gods who look
favorably on tricks and deceit. Garl Glittergold, Olidamara,
even Kord or Corellion can inspire a Spell Thief. All Spell
Thieves enjoy the study of the arcane arts, but unlike
 Wizards, they specialize not in one area, but in the
manipulation of all mystical energies. To them Magic is a
commodity to be acquired and used.
CREATING A SPELL THIEF
As you create your Spell Thief, consider how your character
wishes to use their arcane ability. Do you come from a line of
Wizards, and seek to show them up? Did you cause a ruckus
in a city, and need to lay low? Were you raised by a den of
thieves and taught to sneak and steal?
How do you interact with other magic users? Do you learn
from them? Have lengthy debates? Do you seek to simply use
their power to augment your own?
You might be driven by an intense desire to learn as much
as possible about the nature of magic itself, to defend the
world, or to increase your own might.
QUICK BUILD
To quickly build your Spell Thief, Put your highest stat into
Intelligence, second into Dexterity. A high Constitution could
be very helpful to you as well, as could Charisma, depending
on your Cabal choice. Take the Charlatan Background.
Class Features
Hit Points
Hit Dice: 1d8 per spell thief level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution
modifier per spell thief level after 1st
Proficiencies
Armor: Light Armor
Weapons: Simple weapons, Scimitar, Shortsword, Whip,
Hand Crossbow
Tools: None
Saving Throws: Constitution, Intelligence
Skills: Choose three from Sleight of Hand, Stealth, Arcana,
History, Investigation, Insight, Perception, Deception,
Persuasion
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the
equipment granted by your background:
(a) a shortsword or (b) a dagger
(a) a component pouch or (b) an arcane focus
(a) an explorer's pack or (b) a dungeoneer's pack
leather armor
SPELLWEAVING
You have found your ability to manipulate the arcane forces of
the world. Through study and practice you have learned what
you need to in order to cast spells. While you study the
magical energies that exist throughout the world, you do not
put the intensive scrutiny into them that a wizard does. You
learn through practice and observation, as opposed to long
hours spent copying spells into a book. The result is that you
cannot cast as many spells as your more studious
counterparts, but you can do things through your arcane
manipulations that will frustrate and confuse other casters.
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See Chapter 10 in the PHB for the rules of spellcasting,
and Spell Thief Spell List at the end of this class description.
Cantrips
At first level you know three cantrips of your choice from the
spell thief spell list. You learn additional cantrips of your
choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known
column of the spell thief table.
Spell Slots
The Spell Thief table shows how many spell slots you have to
cast your spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of the spell
thief spells you must expend a spell slot of that spell’s level or
higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a
long rest.
For example, if you know the 1st-level spell burning hands
and have a 1st-level and a 2nd-level spell slot available, you
can cast burning hands using either slot.
Spell Thieves use their slots differently than other casting
classes. Many Spell Thief abilities require the expenditure of
additional spell slots beyond that of the spell being cast.
Spells Known at 1st and Higher Levels
You know two 1st-level spells of your choice from the spell
thief spell list at first level.
The Spells Known column of the Spell Thief table shows
when you learn more spell thief spells of your choice. Each of
these spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots.
For instance, when you reach 3rd level in this class, you can
learn one new spell of 1st or 2nd level.
Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can
choose one of the spell thief spells you know and replace it
with another spell from the spell thief spell list, which also
must be of a level for which you have spell slots.
Spellcasting Ability
Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for your spell thief
spells, since you learn your spells through observational
study and memorization, either on your own or from other
magic wielders. You use your Intelligence whenever a spell
refers to your spellcasting ability.
In addition, you use your Intelligence modifier when setting
the saving throw DC for a spell thief spell you cast and when
making an attack roll with one.
Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your
Intelligence modifier
Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your
Intelligence modifier
Spellcasting Focus
You can use an arcane focus (PHB Chapter 5) as a
spellcasting focus for your spells.
ARCANE MANIPULATION
At 2nd level, you first gain the ability to manipulate the arcane
energies surrounding you. You can expend one of your own
spell slots, as a Bonus Action, to increase the damage of your
spell by 1 damage die. You can expend multiple slots to
increase this feature by 2 or more. For each damage die
beyond the first, you must expend 2 spell slots. For example,
you can expend 5 additional spell slots to increase a fireball
spell by 3 damage dice. This must be done at the same time
as the casting, before damage is determined.
If used on a spell that has multiple attacks, such as
scorching ray, each attack gains the benefit of the expended
spell slots. A concentration spell, such as flaming sphere,
retains the benefits of the expended slots for the duration of
that spell.
You can only use this feature to manipulate spells of level 1
or higher, and the spell must be capable of damage increase
when cast at higher spell slot levels. You must be wearing
Light or no armor to use this feature.
ARCANE UNDERSTANDING
Starting at 2nd level, you are able to immediately discern the
level of any spell cast on you. You also know the school of
magic of that spell.
SPELL THIEF CABALS
When you reach 3rd level, you choose a Spell Thief Cabal to
join. You can join either the Mimic, Absorption, or Oversight
Cabal, all detailed later in this class description. Your choice
grants you features at 3rd level and then again at 9th, 13th,
and 17th level.
ABILITY SCORE IMPROVEMENT
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and
19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice
by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by
1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20
using this feature.
ARCANE INSIGHT
At 5th level, your Arcane Insight allows you to read the Weave
of Arcane Magic a little closer. You are now able to use a
reaction to know the level and school of any spell cast upon
an ally you can see within 30 feet of you.
WEAVE HOSTAGE
Beginning at 6th level, you are able to disrupt the Arcane
Flow around your enemies. Once per short rest, you can
delay the activation of an enemy spell by 1 round as a
reaction. The spell fires as normally at the beginning of the
caster's next turn and counts as their attack action for that
turn. You must be able to see the enemy casting the spell, and
you must be wearing Light or no armor to use this feature.
This ability cannot affect spells from the Divination School
of Magic.
IMPROVED ARCANE
MANIPULATION
At 7th level, your experiments with your own spells have
allowed you some more mastery over your spell weaving.
Once per long rest, you can expend spell slots to increase
damage via your Arcane Manipulation ability at a one to one
ratio. For example, if you cast a fireball spell, you can expend
3 spell slots to increase the damage by 3 damage dice, where
normally you must expend 5.
All other resitrictions of your Arcane Manipulation feature
apply.
MELEE MAGIC
MELEE MAGIC
Upon gaining 10th level, you learn how to cast a ritual that
bonds your spellweaving to a single, one-handed melee
weapon that you are proficient with. This ritual requires 75
gold worth of components and takes 2 hours to cast. You
must have the melee weapon within your reach, and must not
be distracted for the duration of the ritual, or else it fails, the
components are consumed, and you may start again only after
a long rest.
After completing the ritual, your weapon edge shimmers
like a mirage and counts as a magical weapon, if it wasn't
already. When attuned to and wielding this weapon in one
hand, and nothing in your other hand, you no longer have
disadvantage when making Spell Attack rolls while a hostile
creature is within 5 feet of you. Your DM may rule that some
weapons are unable to be bonded to.
You may only have one Melee Magic Weapon at a time. You
may perform the ritual on a new weapon, but doing so causes
the previous one to blink out of existance and be shunted to
another plane of the DM's choosing.
UN-ARCANNY DODGE
Starting at 11th level when an attacker that you can see hits
you with an attack, you can use your reaction to half the
damage against you. You must be wearing Light or no armor
to use this feature.
SNEAKY SPELL
Starting at 14th level you learn how to focus your spell
attacks with precision and surprise. If you cast a spell attack
while you are stealthed or hidden, you can deal an extra 1d6
damage to one creature you hit with the attack. You become
visible again after you cast your spell. You must be wearing
Light or no armor to use this feature.
The amount of extra damage increases to 2d6 at 18th level.
MENTAL BASTION
At 15th level, you gain advantage on concentration checks to
maintain spell effects after taking damage.
ARCANA-VASION
Beginning at 17th level, your familiarity with arcane energies
gives you early warning of certain area spell effects, such as
an ice storm spell. When you are subjected to a spell effect
that allows you to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only
half damage, you instead take no damage if you succeed, and
half damage if you fail. You must be wearing Light or no
armor to use this feature.
ARCANE CHANNEL
At 20th level, you have mastered the Arcane Energies that
flow through the world. If a target of a spell you cast would
succeed on a saving throw, you can redirect your spell to
instead make the target fail that throw. This feature cannot be
used to counter Legendary Resistances.
Once you use this feature, you cannot use it again until you
finish a short or long rest.
PART 1 | SPELL THIEF
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 SPELL THIEF CABALS
Spell Thieves gather in secret Cabals where they share the
knowledge they have garnered over practice and time.
Different spell thieves choose different cabals based on how
they wish to learn to manipulate magical energies. Your
choice of Cabal is a representation on how you will interact
with magic in the world, but not an advertisement of your
abilities.
Cabal of Mimic
You study the Verbal and Somatic components of other magic
users as they cast their spells. You also learn how to use your
natural charms to influence others and the world around you.
Stunning Specimen
Starting at 3rd level, once per round you can use a reaction to
make a Charisma Persuasion check to convince an enemy
you can see within 30 feet of you to redirect their attack to
another target. This is determined by an opposing Wisdom
check. The enemy selects the new target, which may include
you.
Arcane Mimicry
When you choose this Cabal at 3rd level, you gain the ability
to copy another spellcaster’s spell, provided you can see them
cast the spell. You can learn the spell they cast, as a reaction,
and retain the ability to cast it until you finish a long rest. You
must be able to cast the level of the stolen spell, and you can
only mimic one spell at a time. This spell does not count
towards your number of spells known.
Spell Swap
At 9th level, you can use your Arcane Mimicry to copy a spell
of a higher level than you can cast. In order to cast the
mimicked spell, you must expend spell slots equal to that
spell’s level. All other restrictions from Arcane Mimicry apply.
For example, a 9th level spell thief can mimic-cast a 6th level
spell as an action, by expending either; 2 level 3 spell slots; 1
level 3 spell slot and 3 level 1 spell slots, or; 1 level 2 spell slot
and 4 level 1 spell slots, etc.
Spells beyond level 7 are extremely difficult for you to
mimic cast, as a result, any spell you copy beyond level 7 can
only be mimic cast once per long rest before the nuances of
the spell leave your memory.
Intelligent Thief
At 13th level, you can add your Intelligence modifier to any
Dexterity Slight of Hand check, and any Charisma Deception
check.
Mighty Cantrip
At 17th level, this Cabal has instructed you in how to have
your cantrips mimic stronger spells. All damage dealing
cantrips you cast as a Spell Thief have their damage dice
permantely increased by 1. For example, if a 17th level spell
thief casts the cantrip Acid Splash, the damage increases
from 4d6 to 5d6.
PART 1 | SPELL THIEF
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Cabal of Absorption
This Cabal focuses on stealing the magical energies of other
casters. Absorbers use their intelligence to gain the upper
hand in battle and social situations.
Arcane Absorption
Starting at 3rd level, you can absorb an enemy’s spell energy.
As an action, once per round, you can expend a spell slot to
steal a spell slot of equal level from an enemy you can see
within 30 feet of you. You then gain this stolen spell slot. The
stolen spell slot must be of a level you can cast.
If the target has no spell slot of the level you expend, you
gain nothing and your spell slot is still expended.
In-Depth Analysis
At 3rd level, this Cabal grants you the ability to specialize in
investigative research. You gain advantage on all Investigation
checks in regards to magical devices, items, and spells.
Magical Funnel
At 9th level, you have learned how to absorb magical effects.
As an Action, once per round you can use your understanding
of the workings of magic to negate one spell effect on one
creature, within 60 feet of you, absorbing it into your spell
energies. You must expend a spell slot, or number of spell
slots, equal to the level of the effect causing spell in order to
absorb the effect. You can then use a Bonus Action to transfer
that effect to another creature of your choice that you can see,
within 30 feet of the originally affected creature. Any effect
transferred in this way lasts for only one round, until the end
of your next turn, and no saves are granted by the transfer,
though the target may save on their turn as allowed.
If you chose not to transfer the effect, or are unable to, then
the effect is lost to the arcane currents of the world at the end
of your turn, and your spell slot(s) is still expended.
Expert Arcane Investigator
At 13th level, this Cabal has taught you how to discern
magical information. You can add double your Intelligence
modifier to any Arcana check.
Arcane Sponge
At 17th level, you have learned how to read an enemy’s
magical aura. On a successful Investigation check, you can
learn how many spells and of what level an enemy you can
see within 120 feet of you possesses. DC is determined by 12
+ the enemy’s CR (minimum CR 1).
If succesful on the check, you can choose to absorb one
magical effect the creature has, such as an Adult Dragon's
Frightful Pressence, for 1d4 rounds. The effects you are able
to absorb are at your DM's discretion. This aspect of the
feature can only be used once per long rest.
Cabal Of Oversight
Members of this Cabal use their abilities to manipulate the
flow of arcane energy from others. They are experts at the
exploitation of other magic users.
Arcane Expertise
The teachings of this Cabal, at 3rd level, make you an expert
on arcane matters. You gain advantage on any Arcana checks
relating to spells.
Multiclassing as a Spell Thief
Flow Adept Because Spell Thieves shun the work that other
At 3rd level, you have been taught to read the arcane ebbs and casters put into their arcane studies, they have
flows in order to determine who an opponent targets with a difficulty changing their ways. Their experience of
spell. As a reaction when an enemy creature casts a spell, you manipulating the Arcane Weave leaves them
may make an insight check on that creature, provided you forever disconnected from the understandings of
can see it and it is within 30 feet of you. On a success, DC 10 other casters.
+ spell level, you can learn who the target(s) will be. If you have both the Spellcasting class feature
You can then expend a spell slot to give one target a +2 to and the Spellweaving class feature from the Spell
any save versus the spell and its effects until the end of the Thief class, you can use the spell slots you gain
from the Spellcasting class feature to cast Spell
caster’s next turn. This bonus only applies to the triggering Thief spells you know. However, you cannot use
spell and any associated effects. On a failure, you learn those slots to utilize Spell Thief abilities that
nothing. require you to expend spell slots, nor can you use
The range of this ability increases to 60 feet at level 12. your Spell Thief slots to cast any new spells you
learn or prepare from the class with the
Spellcasting class feature.
Flow Control To Multiclass as a Spell Thief requires an
At 9th level, you have learned how to redirect an enemy’s Intelligence score of 13, and you gain proficiency
spell. As a reaction, once per round, you can expend one spell in Light Armor and Simple Weapons.
slot to either: (a) add +4 per spell slot level to the saving
throw of either you, or any one allied creature that would be
affected by the spell, or (b) reduce the damage the spell does
to you or an ally by 5 per spell slot level. The allied target
must be within 60 feet of you. You can choose to apply this
feature after the dice are rolled, but before the outcome is
determined.
Magical Persuasion
At 13th level, you have seen and studied so much magic that
you can seemingly call to it and convince it to do something
else. Once per short rest, you can use your reaction to
attempt to interrupt a caster's spell. You must be able to see
the creature casting the spell. You expend a spell slot to force
the creature to make a saving throw using its spell casting
ability versus your spell save DC. On a failed save, the spell is
altered and becomes a 1st level cure wounds, affecting the
original target (if the altered spell is an area effect spell, it
affects the caster’s closest enemy), the creature’s spell is still
expended. On a successful save, the spell hits as normal and
your spell slot is still expended.
Redirectional Master
At 17th level, you have become a master of the magical
battlefield. Your Cabal has revealed closely held secrets unto
you. You are able to capture an enemy’s spell, and toss it back
at them. Once per round, as a reaction, when a creature you
can see casts a spell targeting you or your allies, you can
make a contest roll. You and the creature make an ability
check using your respective spellcasting ability modifiers. If
you succeed in the contest, you expend a spell slot of level 3
or higher, and capture the spell, redirecting it to target the
original caster. In the case of an area effect spell, such as a
fireball spell, the effect is centered on the creature who
originally cast the spell. The creature's spell is expended, and
it gets to make any saves the spell calls for as if you had cast
it using your spell save DC. If you fail, the spell hits as normal.

PART 1 | SPELL THIEF

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 SPELL THIEF SPELL LIST
Cantrips (0 Level) Detect Magic Misty Step Compulsion
Acid Splash Feather Fall Pass Without A Trace Dimension Door
Blade Ward Hex Silence Evard’s Black Tentacles
Dancing Lights Magic Missile Web Greater Invisibility
Eldritch Blast Tasha’s Hideous Laughter Otiluke’s Resilient Sphere
Fire Bolt Tenser’s Floating Disc 3rd Level Staggering Smite
Frostbite Thunderwave Blink Watery Sphere
Light Witchbolt Call Lightning Wall of Fire
Mage Hand Counterspell
Poison Spray 2nd Level Dispel Magic 5th Level
Prestidigitation Arcane Lock Fear Bigby’s Hand
Ray of Frost Blur Fireball Cone of Cold
Shocking Grasp Cloud of Daggers Fly Flame Strike
Vicious Mockery Darkness Gaseous Form Legend Lore
Darkvision Lightning Bolt Mislead
1st Level Find Traps Sleet Storm Modify Memory
Alarm Flaming Sphere Vampiric Touch Passwall
Burning Hands Heat Metal Water Breathing Telekinesis
Charm Person Invisibility Teleportation Circle
Chromatic Orb Locate Object 4th Level Wall of Force
Command Magic Weapon Arcane Eye

A class for Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition

Created by DarkZomB
Made Using The Homebrewery

PART 1 | SPELL THIEF

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