Home
Compendium
Classes
Dread Knight

Melee · Dark Knight

Dread Knight

A knight who walked into the dark and came back wearing it. Your blade remembers the grave.

Vanguard
d10 hit die
STR
Dread
Prestige

PRESTIGE — rebirth a hero once. Wear the dark like armour.

Overview

Role: Melee · Dark Knight
Archetype: Vanguard (melee basic attack)
Hit die: d10
Hit points: 30 at level 1, +18 per level (+3 per CON modifier point, every level)
Primary ability: Strength
Armour: Light, Medium, Heavy + shields
Weapons: Swords, Greatswords, Axes, Greataxes, Maces, Warhammers, Daggers, Spears
Resource: Dread: 90 + 4 per level, refills 10/s
Ability score improvements: Levels 4, 8, 12, 16, 19
Subclass: Level 3: Bloodreaver or Doomlord
Starting kit: Longsword, Hide Armor
Suggested scores: STR 15 · DEX 12 · CON 14 · INT 8 · WIS 12 · CHA 10

Class features

Lv 1
Knight of the Grave The dark holds no more fear for you.
- +20% Necrotic Resistance
Lv 1
Unquiet Rest You don't sleep. Your Dread never runs dry.
- +10% Resource Regen
Lv 2
Gravebound Blade Your weapon remembers every death.
- +2% Damage per Hit
Lv 5
Terrifying Visage What you are shows through the helm.
- +3% Dodge
Lv 5
Deathbound You strike twice when the blade sings.
Lv 6
Dread Reinforcements Dead things answer your arrival.
- +5% Cooldown Reduction
Lv 9
Soul Armour Wounds close around necrotic will.
- +5% Damage Reduction
Lv 10
Culling Edge Your strikes take a toll in blood.
- +3 Life on Hit
Lv 11
Relentless Knight Nothing stays you — not walls, not wounds.
- +2% Dodge
Lv 15
Ward of the Fallen The dead stand in front of you.
- +4% Damage Reduction
Lv 20
Unmaking You cheat death once each floor — it answers to you now.

Level 1–20 progression

Everything a Dread Knight gains each level, including both subclasses (chosen at level 3). Tap a skill to jump to its numbers.

Dread Knight level 1 to 20 progression
Level	Prof.	Gains
1	+2	Knight of the Grave Unquiet Rest Dread Cleave
2	+2	Gravebound Blade Soulrend
3	+2	Subclass: Bloodreaver or Doomlord First Cut Bloodreaver Hemorrhage Bloodreaver Court of the Dead Doomlord Doom Brand Doomlord
4	+2	Ability Score Improvement or feat
5	+3	Proficiency +3 Terrifying Visage Deathbound Dread Presence Dread Cleave 2d8
6	+3	Dread Reinforcements
7	+3	Grave Charge Red Harvest Bloodreaver Sovereign Dread Doomlord Soulrend 2d10 Hemorrhage 2d12 Bloodreaver Doom Brand 3d6 Doomlord
8	+3	Ability Score Improvement or feat
9	+4	Proficiency +4 Soul Armour Mark of Doom
10	+4	Culling Edge
11	+4	Relentless Knight Carver Bloodreaver Edict of Ruin Doomlord Dread Cleave 3d8 Grave Charge 3d6
12	+4	Ability Score Improvement or feat
13	+5	Proficiency +5 Raise Retinue Soulrend 3d10 Mark of Doom 3d8 Hemorrhage 3d12 Bloodreaver Doom Brand 4d6 Doomlord
14	+5	Stronger dice and mastery cap
15	+5	Ward of the Fallen Flaying Edge Bloodreaver Pall of Doom Doomlord Grave Charge 4d6
16	+5	Ability Score Improvement or feat
17	+6	Proficiency +6 Avatar of Ruin Dread Cleave 4d8 Mark of Doom 4d8
18	+6	Slaughter Lord Bloodreaver The Sentence Doomlord
19	+6	Soulrend 4d10 Hemorrhage 4d12 Bloodreaver Ability Score Improvement or feat
20	+6	Unmaking

Feature Skill Dice rank-up Subclass ASI or feat Proficiency · Subclass entries are tagged with the subclass name.

Skills & spells

Numbers at mastery rank 1. Damage adds your weapon hit or ability modifier; "save" skills deal half damage when the foe makes its save (DC = 8 + proficiency + STR modifier). Open Mastery for every rank, perk and the rank-10 bonus.

Dread Knight skills

Dread Cleave

Lv 1 Melee strike necrotic

A sweeping cut laced with grave-chill that opens the ranks in front of you.

Type: Melee strike
Cost: 10
Cooldown: 4s
Damage: 1d8 + weapon hit necrotic
Hit: Attack roll vs AC
Reach: 1.3 tiles
Arc: 100°

Damage dice by level Lv 1 1d8Lv 5 2d8Lv 11 3d8Lv 17 4d8

Mastery: ranks 1–10, perks, mastered bonus

Each rank above 1: +3% damage, −1% cooldown, −1% cost. Ranks come from using the skill; your character level caps them (rank 10 needs level 16). Numbers below are without perks.

Dread Cleave mastery ranks
Rank	Needs	Cost	Cooldown	Dmg	What changes
1	Lv 1	10	4s	—	Learned
2	Lv 1	10	4s	+3%	Arc and reach +15% · radius 1.5 · arc 115°
3	Lv 2	10	3.9s	+16%	Damage +10%
4	Lv 4	10	3.9s	+19%
5	Lv 6	10	3.4s	+22%	Cooldown −10%
6	Lv 8	10	3.4s	+25%	Cuts chill (Chilled 25%) · Chilled 25% · 3s
7	Lv 10	9	3.4s	+38%	Damage +10%
8	Lv 12	9	3.3s	+41%
9	Lv 14	7	3.3s	+44%	Cost −20%
10	Lv 16	5	3.2s	+72%	Mastered (+15% damage, −25% cost, plus its signature bonus) · Chilled 45% · 3s

Rank 4: pick one

Wide Reaper Arc and reach +35%, damage −10%.
Grave Stroke Damage +25%, cooldown +10%.

Rank 8: pick one

Killing Rhythm Cooldown −20%, cost +15%.
Sepulchral Edge Chill chance +40%; chills last 50% longer.

Rank 10, Mastered: Reaper's Arc: damage +10% and Chill chance +20%.

Soulrend

Lv 2 Melee strike necrotic

A thrust that punches through flesh and shreds the soul behind it — survivors flee screaming.

Type: Melee strike
Cost: 14
Cooldown: 7s
Damage: 1d10 + weapon hit necrotic
Hit: Attack roll vs AC
Reach: 1.6 tiles
Arc: 55°
Applies: Feared 30% · 1.8s

Damage dice by level Lv 2 1d10Lv 7 2d10Lv 13 3d10Lv 19 4d10

Mastery: ranks 1–10, perks, mastered bonus

Each rank above 1: +3% damage, −1% cooldown, −1% cost. Ranks come from using the skill; your character level caps them (rank 10 needs level 16). Numbers below are without perks.

Soulrend mastery ranks
Rank	Needs	Cost	Cooldown	Dmg	What changes
1	Lv 1	14	7s	—	Learned
2	Lv 1	14	6.9s	+3%	Fear chance +10% · Feared 40% · 1.8s
3	Lv 2	14	6.9s	+6% +1d	+1 damage die
4	Lv 4	14	6.8s	+9% +1d
5	Lv 6	13	6s	+12% +1d	Cooldown −10%
6	Lv 8	13	6s	+15% +1d	Fear lasts 30% longer · Feared 40% · 2.3s
7	Lv 10	13	5.9s	+18% +1d	Reach and arc +20% · radius 1.9 · arc 66°
8	Lv 12	13	5.8s	+21% +1d
9	Lv 14	13	5.7s	+24% +1d	Fear chance +15% · Feared 55% · 2.3s
10	Lv 16	9	5.7s	+52% +1d	Mastered (+15% damage, −25% cost, plus its signature bonus) · Feared 80% · 2.3s

Rank 4: pick one

Gorethrust Damage +25%, fear chance −15%.
Dread Thrust Fear chance +35%; fears last 50% longer.

Rank 8: pick one

Scythe Rend Arc +60%: the rend catches everyone in reach.
Sundered Spirit Damage +20%, cooldown −10%.

Rank 10, Mastered: Soul-Stealer: fear chance +25% and damage +10%.

Dread Presence

Lv 5 Buff

For a while your footsteps sound like funeral drums. Enemies near you fear you.

Type: Buff
Cost: 24
Cooldown: 22s
Scales with: Strength
Duration: 10s
Allies within: 4.5 tiles
Applies: Feared 55% · 3s
Grants you: +4% Dodge

Mastery: ranks 1–10, perks, mastered bonus

Each rank above 1: +3% damage, −1% cooldown, −1% cost. Ranks come from using the skill; your character level caps them (rank 10 needs level 16). Numbers below are without perks.

Dread Presence mastery ranks
Rank	Needs	Cost	Cooldown	Dmg	What changes
1	Lv 1	24	22s	—	Learned
2	Lv 1	24	21.8s	+3%	Radius +10% · radius 5
3	Lv 2	24	21.6s	+6%	Fear chance +10% · Feared 65% · 3s
4	Lv 4	23	21.3s	+9%
5	Lv 6	23	21.1s	+12%	Duration +20% · 12s
6	Lv 8	23	20.9s	+15%	Dodge bonus +30% · +5.2% Dodge
7	Lv 10	23	20.7s	+18%	Fear chance +10% · Feared 75% · 3s
8	Lv 12	22	20.5s	+21%
9	Lv 14	22	18s	+24%	Cooldown −10%
10	Lv 16	16	17.8s	+42%	Mastered (+15% damage, −25% cost, plus its signature bonus) · radius 5.9 · Feared 90% · 3s

Rank 4: pick one

Reign of Terror Radius +40%.
Grave Stalker Dodge bonus +80%; duration +30%.

Rank 8: pick one

Unquiet Court Duration +50%.
Oppressor's Mask Fear chance +30%, fears last 50% longer.

Rank 10, Mastered: Pallbearer: radius +20% and fear chance +15%.

Grave Charge

Lv 7 Dash necrotic

You move like a landslide — through a foe and out the other side, leaving terror in the wake.

Type: Dash
Cost: 18
Cooldown: 9s
Damage: 2d6 + STR mod necrotic
Hit: Attack roll vs AC
Scales with: Strength
Distance: 5 tiles
Applies: Feared 35% · 1.5s

Damage dice by level Lv 7 2d6Lv 11 3d6Lv 15 4d6

Mastery: ranks 1–10, perks, mastered bonus

Each rank above 1: +3% damage, −1% cooldown, −1% cost. Ranks come from using the skill; your character level caps them (rank 10 needs level 16). Numbers below are without perks.

Grave Charge mastery ranks
Rank	Needs	Cost	Cooldown	Dmg	What changes
1	Lv 1	18	9s	—	Learned
2	Lv 1	18	8.9s	+3%	Distance +15% · range 5.8
3	Lv 2	18	8.8s	+21%	Damage +15%
4	Lv 4	17	8.7s	+24%
5	Lv 6	17	7.7s	+27%	Cooldown −10%
6	Lv 8	17	7.7s	+30%	Fear chance +15% · Feared 50% · 1.5s
7	Lv 10	17	7.6s	+33%	Distance +15% · range 6.5
8	Lv 12	17	7.5s	+36%
9	Lv 14	13	7.4s	+39%	Cost −20%
10	Lv 16	8	7.3s	+67%	Mastered (+15% damage, −25% cost, plus its signature bonus) · range 7.5

Rank 4: pick one

Relentless Pursuit Distance +40%.
Headstone Impact Damage +30%, distance −20%.

Rank 8: pick one

Momentum Cooldown −20%.
Dread Wake Fear chance +40%; fears last 50% longer.

Rank 10, Mastered: Cavalier of the Crypt: distance +20% and damage +10%.

Mark of Doom

Lv 9 Area necrotic

A brand of black light sears an area — what lives inside it is already marked for the grave.

Type: Area
Cost: 26
Cooldown: 15s
Damage: 2d8 + STR mod necrotic
Hit: CON save vs your spell DC (half damage on a save)
Scales with: Strength
Radius: 2.3 tiles
Range: 7 tiles
Applies: Marked 90% · 5s

Damage dice by level Lv 9 2d8Lv 13 3d8Lv 17 4d8

Mastery: ranks 1–10, perks, mastered bonus

Each rank above 1: +3% damage, −1% cooldown, −1% cost. Ranks come from using the skill; your character level caps them (rank 10 needs level 16). Numbers below are without perks.

Mark of Doom mastery ranks
Rank	Needs	Cost	Cooldown	Dmg	What changes
1	Lv 1	26	15s	—	Learned
2	Lv 1	26	14.9s	+3%	Radius +10% · radius 2.5
3	Lv 2	25	14.7s	+6%	Marks last 25% longer · Marked 90% · 6.3s
4	Lv 4	25	14.6s	+9%
5	Lv 6	25	14.4s	+12% +1d	+1 damage die
6	Lv 8	25	14.3s	+15% +1d	Radius +10% · radius 2.8
7	Lv 10	24	12.6s	+18% +1d	Cooldown −10%
8	Lv 12	24	12.5s	+21% +1d
9	Lv 14	24	12.3s	+34% +1d	Damage +10%
10	Lv 16	17	12.2s	+52% +1d	Mastered (+15% damage, −25% cost, plus its signature bonus) · radius 3.1 · Marked 90% · 7.8s

Rank 4: pick one

Doombringer Radius +45%, damage −10%.
Execution Mark Damage +30%; marks last 30% longer.

Rank 8: pick one

Gallows Brand Brands hit +25% harder and linger +30% longer.
Sign It in Blood Cooldown −20%, cost +15%.

Rank 10, Mastered: Doomsayer: radius +15% and marks last 30% longer.

Raise Retinue

Lv 13 Summon slashing

Two sworn blades of bone fall in beside you — a knight is never alone at court.

Type: Summon
Cost: 45
Cooldown: 38s
Damage: 1d8 per summon hit slashing
Summons: 2
Lasts: 45s

Mastery: ranks 1–10, perks, mastered bonus

Each rank above 1: +3% damage, −1% cooldown, −1% cost. Ranks come from using the skill; your character level caps them (rank 10 needs level 16). Numbers below are without perks.

Raise Retinue mastery ranks
Rank	Needs	Cost	Cooldown	Dmg	What changes
1	Lv 1	45	38s	—	Learned
2	Lv 1	45	37.6s	+3%	Retinue +20% HP · summon HP +20%
3	Lv 2	44	37.2s	+6%	Retinue damage +10%
4	Lv 4	44	36.9s	+9%
5	Lv 6	43	36.5s	+12%	Duration +25% · 56.3s
6	Lv 8	43	36.1s	+15%	+1 blade · 3 summons
7	Lv 10	42	35.7s	+18%	Retinue +20% HP · summon HP +40%
8	Lv 12	42	35.3s	+21%
9	Lv 14	32	35s	+24%	Cost −20%
10	Lv 16	21	34.6s	+42%	Mastered (+15% damage, −25% cost, plus its signature bonus) · 4 summons

Rank 4: pick one

The Honour Guard Retinue +50% HP.
Blades of the Vanquished Retinue +30% damage.

Rank 8: pick one

Champions Sworn +1 blade; blades −15% HP.
Oathbound Dead Duration +50%.

Rank 10, Mastered: Court of the Fallen: +1 blade; retinue +15% damage.

Avatar of Ruin

Lv 17 Buff

For fifteen seconds you are what they fear: faster, harder, hungrier.

Type: Buff
Cost: 42
Cooldown: 36s
Scales with: Strength
Duration: 15s
Applies: Hasted · 15s
Grants you: +20% Damage, +10% Damage Reduction, +4 Life on Hit

Mastery: ranks 1–10, perks, mastered bonus

Each rank above 1: +3% damage, −1% cooldown, −1% cost. Ranks come from using the skill; your character level caps them (rank 10 needs level 16). Numbers below are without perks.

Avatar of Ruin mastery ranks
Rank	Needs	Cost	Cooldown	Dmg	What changes
1	Lv 1	42	36s	—	Learned
2	Lv 1	42	35.6s	+3%	Duration +15% · 17.3s
3	Lv 2	41	35.3s	+6%	Power +15% · +23% Damage, +11.5% Damage Reduction, +4.6 Life on Hit
4	Lv 4	41	34.9s	+9%
5	Lv 6	40	31s	+12%	Cooldown −10%
6	Lv 8	40	30.6s	+15%	Duration +15% · 19.5s
7	Lv 10	39	30.2s	+18%	Power +15% · +26% Damage, +13% Damage Reduction, +5.2 Life on Hit
8	Lv 12	39	29.9s	+21%
9	Lv 14	30	29.5s	+24%	Cost −20%
10	Lv 16	19	29.2s	+42%	Mastered (+15% damage, −25% cost, plus its signature bonus) · 22.5s · +30% Damage, +15% Damage Reduction, +6 Life on Hit

Rank 4: pick one

Relentless Duration +50%.
Ravenous Power +40%, duration −25%.

Rank 8: pick one

Ruinous Rapture Cooldown −20%.
Ruin Ascendant Power +25%, cost +25%.

Rank 10, Mastered: The Last Knight: power +20% and duration +20%.

Bloodreaver skills

Hemorrhage

Lv 3 Melee strike necrotic Bloodreaver

A diagonal rip that opens every vessel it touches.

Type: Melee strike
Cost: 16
Cooldown: 8s
Damage: 1d12 + weapon hit necrotic
Hit: Attack roll vs AC
Reach: 1.4 tiles
Arc: 90°
Applies: Bleeding 70% · 4s

Damage dice by level Lv 3 1d12Lv 7 2d12Lv 13 3d12Lv 19 4d12

Mastery: ranks 1–10, perks, mastered bonus

Each rank above 1: +3% damage, −1% cooldown, −1% cost. Ranks come from using the skill; your character level caps them (rank 10 needs level 16). Numbers below are without perks.

Hemorrhage mastery ranks
Rank	Needs	Cost	Cooldown	Dmg	What changes
1	Lv 1	16	8s	—	Learned
2	Lv 1	16	7.9s	+3%	Bleed chance +15% · Bleeding 85% · 4s
3	Lv 2	16	7.8s	+6% +1d	+1 damage die
4	Lv 4	16	7.8s	+9% +1d
5	Lv 6	15	7.7s	+12% +1d	Bleeds last 40% longer · Bleeding 85% · 5.6s
6	Lv 8	15	6.8s	+15% +1d	Cooldown −10%
7	Lv 10	15	6.7s	+18% +1d	Arc and reach +20% · radius 1.7 · arc 108°
8	Lv 12	15	6.6s	+21% +1d
9	Lv 14	15	6.6s	+24% +1d	Bleed chance +15% · Bleeding · 5.6s
10	Lv 16	11	6.5s	+52% +1d	Mastered (+15% damage, −25% cost, plus its signature bonus)

Rank 4: pick one

Wide Hemorrhage Arc +50%, damage −10%.
Deep Cut Bleeds last 80% longer.

Rank 8: pick one

Butcher's Rhythm Cooldown −20%, cost +15%.
Savage Rip Damage +30%; bleed chance −20%.

Rank 10, Mastered: Bloodletter: bleed chance +25% and damage +10%.

Doomlord skills

Doom Brand

Lv 3 Projectile necrotic Doomlord

A thrown sigil of black fire brands the target — the mark is a promise.

Type: Projectile
Cost: 14
Cooldown: 8s
Damage: 2d6 + STR mod necrotic
Hit: CON save vs your spell DC (half damage on a save)
Scales with: Strength
Projectiles: 1
Range: 9 tiles
Applies: Marked · 6s

Damage dice by level Lv 3 2d6Lv 7 3d6Lv 13 4d6

Mastery: ranks 1–10, perks, mastered bonus

Each rank above 1: +3% damage, −1% cooldown, −1% cost. Ranks come from using the skill; your character level caps them (rank 10 needs level 16). Numbers below are without perks.

Doom Brand mastery ranks
Rank	Needs	Cost	Cooldown	Dmg	What changes
1	Lv 1	14	8s	—	Learned
2	Lv 1	14	7.9s	+13%	Damage +10%
3	Lv 2	14	7.8s	+16%	Mark lasts 25% longer · Marked · 7.5s
4	Lv 4	14	7.8s	+19%
5	Lv 6	13	7.7s	+22%	+1 brand (spread 18°) · 2 projectiles
6	Lv 8	13	7.6s	+35%	Damage +10%
7	Lv 10	13	6.7s	+38%	Cooldown −10%
8	Lv 12	13	6.6s	+41%
9	Lv 14	10	6.6s	+44%	Cost −20%
10	Lv 16	6	6.5s	+72%	Mastered (+15% damage, −25% cost, plus its signature bonus) · Marked · 9.3s

Rank 4: pick one

Triple Sentence +1 brand; brands −20% damage.
Searing Brand Damage +30%; marks last 40% longer.

Rank 8: pick one

Piercing Judgement Brands pass through their targets.
Sentencing Speed Cooldown −20%.

Rank 10, Mastered: Seal of Doom: damage +10% and marks last 30% longer.

Subclasses

Chosen at level 3. Each adds its own skill and a feature every few levels.

Bloodreaver

A butcher-knight: the dread is the weapon, not the armour.

Skills

Hemorrhage Lv 3

Features

Lv 3
First Cut The deepest wounds go first.
- +3% Crit Chance
Lv 7
Red Harvest Bleeding victims give up a little life.
- +2 Life on Hit
Lv 11
Carver Your blade finds the soft places.
- +20% Crit Damage
Lv 15
Flaying Edge Every cut goes wider.
- +10% Area Damage
Lv 18
Slaughter Lord Blood work becomes rhythm.
- +8% Damage
- +3% Crit Chance

Doomlord

A courtier of the grave — your presence is a sentence, and your blade is the appeal denied.

Skills

Doom Brand Lv 3

Features

Lv 3
Court of the Dead The marked stand less chance.
- +1 to Hit
Lv 7
Sovereign Dread Your mere shadow unsettles foes.
- +4% Dodge
Lv 11
Edict of Ruin Judgements strike harder.
- +8% Skill Damage
Lv 15
Pall of Doom Death refuses the marked company.
- +6% Damage Reduction
Lv 18
The Sentence Every working reaches deeper.
- +8% Cooldown Reduction
- +15 Max Resource

Dread Knight unique weapons

The Mourning Bell Starter

Flail · Weapon · drops from level 5

+8–24% Damage
+2–6 Strength
+12–36 Necrotic Damage
+1 random affix

Frozen in Dread. Foes you Frighten don't run — they freeze in terror: Stunned and Vulnerable instead.

“It tolls once for every soul it takes. It has never once been quiet.”

Gravesworn

Executioner's Blade · Weapon · drops from level 13

+8–24% Damage
+2–6 Strength
+2–10 Life on Hit
+1 random affix

Oathbound Dead. Kills have a 55–65% chance to raise the fallen as a skeleton soldier (up to 8) for 60s.

Shield of the Sworn. 50% of the damage you take is split among your summons instead.

“Every soldier it cut down swore an oath on its edge. Most of them kept it.”

Crown-Cleaver

Greataxe · Weapon · drops from level 16

+8–24% Damage
+2–6 Strength
+15–45% Crit Damage
+1 random affix

Not Yet. Lethal damage can't kill you: for 6s you can't drop below 1 health and you heal 65–75% of damage dealt. Once every 60s.

Ruin Rises. Dropping below 70% health casts a free Avatar of Ruin, even if you haven't learned it. Once every 15s.

“Forged to end a dynasty. It ended three, and is still hungry.”

Dread Knights are Vanguards: they can also wear the 7 Vanguard unique armour and off-hands, and any unique jewelry. Power values show the range they roll in.