High Guard (Elf, Fighter Archetype)
Elves are most renowned for their skill with magic and forest lore. However, within the ranks of their warriors are those specifically trained in combat with the weapons of their elven heritage. The high guard merges elven agility with the specialized training of the elven curved blade, elven war blade, or elven war knife to create a deadly and efficient swordsman.
Class Features
The high guard has the following class features.
Graceful Blademaster
At 1st level, a high guard gains Weapon Finesse as a bonus feat with the elven curved blade,
elven war blade, or elven war knife. This ability replaces the bonus feat gained at 1st level.
Sword Guard (Ex)
At 2nd level, a high guard gains a +1 bonus to any combat maneuver checks made with an elven curved blade, elven war blade, or elven war knife. This bonus also applies to the high guard's CMD when defending against disarm and sunder attempts made against an elven curved blade, elven war blade, or elven war knife. This bonus increases by +1 for every four levels beyond 2nd. This ability replaces bravery.
Elven Blade Training (Ex)
Starting at 3rd level, a high guard is specially trained to use the elven curved blade, elven war blade, or elven war knife. Whenever he attacks with an elven curved blade, elven war blade, or elven war knife, he gains a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls. Every four levels thereafter (7th, 11th, and 15th), a high guard gains an additional +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls when using an elven curved blade, elven war blade, or elven war knife. This ability replaces armor training.
Defensive Parry (Ex)
At 5th level, when a high guard makes a full attack with an elven curved blade, elven war blade, or elven war knife, he gains a +1 bonus to AC against melee attacks until the beginning of his next turn. This bonus increases by +1 every four levels after 5th. This ability replaces weapon training 1 and 4.
Keen Edge (Ex)
Starting at 9th level, whenever a high uses his elven curved blade, elven war blade, or elven war knife, it is treated as if it had the keen special weapon property. This ability replaces weapon training 2.
Adamantine Sword (Ex)
At 13th level, a high guard's elven curved blade, elven war blade, or elven war knife is treated as adamantine for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction. This ability replaces weapon training 3.
Whirlwind Blade (Ex)
At 19th level, a high guard can make a full-attack action with his elven curved blade, elven war blade, or elven war knife as a standard action. He may also use the Whirlwind Attack feat as a standard action. This ability replaces armor mastery.
Elven Blade Mastery (Ex)
At 20th level, whenever a high guard makes an attack with an elven curved blade, elven war blade, or elven war knife, all critical threats are automatically confirmed and its damage multiplier is increased by 1. In addition, he cannot be disarmed while wielding an elven curved blade, elven war blade, or elven war knife. This ability replaces weapon mastery.
Table: High Guard