Blackguards are paladins who became assholes and broke their sacred oath to indulge in their dark fuckeries. They became best friends with fiends and undead and reject anything that’s good just to keep up with the motif.

So really they are basically an Oathbreaker Paladin, if you want to make a villainous NPC out of them.

Number-Ella-Ella-Ella

STR: 18 (+4): Can rip out the hearts of their enemies

DEX: 11 (+0): Can walk

CON: 18 (+4): Is like Rocky but with Armor

INT: 11 (+0): Knows 1+1

WIS: 14 (+2): Is rarely duped by the a nutmeg

CHA: 15 (+2): Can intimidate even the smallest child

Armor Class: 18 (plate)

Hit Points: 153 (18d8+72)

Speed: 30ft.

So this anti-good guy is just a full on block of armor with its high AC, high HP, and high in STR and CON. Perfect if you want combat a tank with a tank.

Spellcasting: Spell save DC 13, +5 to hit with spells

1st level (4 slots): Command, Protection from Evil and Good, Thunderous Smite

2nd level (3 slots): Branding Smite, Find Steed

3rd level (2 slots): Blinding Smite, Dispel Magic

The anti-paladin’s spells are pretty straight-forward. They are specifically made to hurt and destroy others with all that smiting they can do, which can be very dangerous for a party without a clear tank. Find Steed is a really cool spell since they can arrive on horseback and fuck up your day so you have that to look forward too. What’s a Paladin without a horse?

ACTION ME BABY

Multiattack: Three attacks with its Glaive or Shortbow.

Glaive: Melee weapon attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d10+4) slashing damage.

Shortbow: Ranged weapon attack: +3 to hit, range 80/320 ft., hit: 5 (1d6+2) piercing damage

Dreadful Aspect(recharges after a rest).

The Blackguard exudes magical menace. Each enemy within 30 feet of the Blackguard must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. If a frightened ends it turn more than 30 feet away from the Blackguard , the target can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on a success.

The fact that the Black Knight wannabe has three attacks for an average of 9 damage along with Dreadfull Aspect, which can frighten those around them, the Blackguard is not one to be trifled with.

I’m the Idea Man

• Use a Blackguard as some morally gray or recently turned evil paladin NPC that the party is forced into helping or having them tag along with them for some quest. If the party latches onto the NPC, see if you can get the party to “redeem” then. (Killing the loves le NPC is optional later on. Would make a really case for the group if the Blackguard was once a henchman on the BBEG, and then the BBEG kills the henchman later!)

• Use the Blackguard as a mini boss. We all know how badass the Death Knight can be, but maybe we need something a little on the not-tpk-your-group kinda boss. Blackguard makes a very good scorned bad guy.

• If your party is part of an organization that preaches good, have a paladin go rogue. The organization will want to get rid of this person as it could leave a “black eye.” However l, there’s a TWIST. turns out the guy became a Blackguard BECAUSE of the how corrupt and evil the organization actually was! It kinda corrupted the paladin. I know, cool! Right?

• For combat’s sake, the Blackguard makes a great tank. Use them! Works great for a powerful mercenary group, BBEG henchman, or just some crazy ass strong bandit group where the Blackguard is seen as the crazy ass muscle guy with armor on that he has taken from enemies they have defeated and stolen. Well how can a bandit smite then? Well – paladins oath can come from conviction rather than a God so think of it as an Oath of Conquest.