Samurai are the classic archetype wielding katana and wakizashi and while proficient with that they also have kiai to enhance their chances of striking and use intimidation to demoralize their foes.

Role: Tank

Characteristics: Warrior wielding katanas that uses fearsome war cries to control the battlefield

Source: Complete Warrior

Game Rule Information

The Samurai has the following game statistics.

Abilities: Strength is of paramount importance to the sword-wielding samurai, and Dexterity and Constitution help him survive in the midst of battle. Many of the samurai’s other class features depend on Charisma.

Alignment: Any Lawful

Hit Die: d10

Starting Gold: 5d4 x 10

Class Skills

The Samurai's class skills are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge(history) (Int), Knowledge(nobility and royalty) (Int), Listen (Wis) Ride (Dex), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis) and Spot (Wis)

Skill Points at 1st Level: (2 + Int modifier) × 4

Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2 + Int modifier

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Samurai.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Samurai is proficient with A samurai is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, and with all types of armor, but not with shields.

Daisho Proficiency Ex: In melee combat, a samurai favors the katana and the wakizashi. Many samurai receive an heirloom set of these two blades, known as the daisho. Because a samurai is trained in their use, he gains Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Katana) as a bonus feat.

Two Swords as One Ex: At 2nd level, a samurai has learned to wield the katana and wakizashi together. He is treated as having the Two-Weapon Fighting feat when wielding a katana and wakizashi, even if he does not meet the prerequisites for that feat.

Kiai Smite Ex: Once per day, a samurai of 3rd level or higher can give a great cry during combat that invigorates him. When a samurai shouts (a free action), his next attack gains a bonus on the attack roll and the damage roll equal to his Charisma bonus (minimum +1).

As a samurai gains levels, he can make a kiai smite more often. However, a samurai cannot make more than one kiai smite during any given round.

Iaijutsu Master Ex: By 5th level, a samurai has become adept at iaijutsu, a fighting technique that concentrates on drawing his weapon and striking a foe in one fluid motion. He is treated as having the Quick Draw feat, but only when he draws his katana or wakizashi.

Staredown Ex: At 6th level, a samurai becomes able to strike fear into his foes by his mere presence. He gains a +4 bonus on Intimidate checks and can demoralize an opponent (as described in the Intimidate skill description).

Improved Initiative Ex: At 8th level, the samurai has practiced iaijutsu techniques used in ritual duels between two samurai, and he is able to anticipate when any enemy will attack. He now has the Improved Initiative feat.

Mass Staredown Ex: At 10th level, a samurai has sufficient presence that he can cow multiple foes. Using a Intimidate check, the samurai can demoralize all opponents within 30 feet with a single standard action.

Improved Two Swords as One Ex: At 11th level, a samurai's prowess with the katana and wakizashi improves. He is treated as having the Improved Two-Weapon Fighting feat when wielding a katana and wakizashi, even if he does not meet the prerequisites for the feat.

Improved Staredown Ex: At 14th level, even a glance from the hard eyes of a samurai is enough to give his foes pause. The samurai can demoralize opponents within 30 feet as a move action, not a standard action.

Greater Two Swords as One Ex: At 16th level, fighting with a katana and wakizashi becomes second nature for a samurai. He is treated as having the Greater Two-Weapon Fighting feat when wielding a katana and wakizashi, even if he does not meet the prerequisites for that feat.

Frightful Presence Ex: A 20th-level samurai's bravery, honor, and fighting prowess have become legendary. When the samurai draws his blade, opponents within 30 feet must succeed on a Will save (DC 20 + samurai's Cha modifier) or become panicked for 4d6 rounds (if they have 4 or fewer Hit Dice) or shaken for 4d6 rounds (if they have from 5 to 19 Hit Dice). Creatures with 20 or more Hit Dice are not affected. Any foe that successfully resists the effect cannot be affected again by the same samurai's frightful presence for 24 hours.

Table 1-1: Samurai Progression

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special
1st	+1	+2	+0	+0	Daisho proficiency
2nd	+2	+3	+0	+0	Two swords as one
3rd	+3	+3	+1	+1	Kiai smite 1/day
4th	+4	+4	+1	+1
5th	+5	+4	+1	+1	Iaijutsu master
6th	+6/+1	+5	+2	+2	Staredown
7th	+7/+2	+5	+2	+2	Kiai smite 2/day
8th	+8/+3	+6	+2	+2	Improved Initiative
9th	+9/+4	+6	+3	+3
10th	+10/+5	+7	+3	+3	Mass staredown
11th	+11/+6/+1	+7	+3	+3	Improved two swords as one
12th	+12/+7/+2	+8	+4	+4	Kiai smite 3/day
13th	+13/+8/+3	+8	+4	+4
14th	+14/+9/+4	+9	+4	+4	Improved staredown
15th	+15/+10/+5	+9	+5	+5
16th	+16/+11/+6/+1	+10	+5	+5	Greater two swords as one
17th	+17/+12/+7/+2	+10	+5	+5	Kiai smite 4/day
18th	+18/+13/+8/+3	+11	+6	+6
19th	+19/+14/+9/+4	+11	+6	+6
20th	+20/+15/+10/+5	+12	+6	+6	Frightful presence

Ex-Samurai

A samurai who ceases to be lawful or who commits an act of grave dishonor loses all samurai class features that depend on Charisma or Charisma-based checks. Minor embarrassments don't count, but major breaks with the code of bushido do. Acts that could lose a samurai his status include disobeying an order from a superior officer or feudal lord, fleeing in cowardice from an important battle, being caught in a major lie or other breach of integrity, and appallingly rude behavior. A disgraced character may not progress any farther as a samurai. He regains his class features the ability to advance in the class if he atones for his violations (see the atonement spell), assuming the feudal lord offers a chance at redemption. (Some feudal lords demand ritual suicide as the only act that cleanses the stain of dishonor.)

Like a member of any other class, a samurai may be a multiclass character, but multiclass samurai face a special restriction. A samurai who gains a level in any class other than samurai may never again raise his samurai level, though he retains all his current samurai abilities. The way of the samurai demands constant adherence to the code of bushido. Samurai may sometimes take levels in particular prestige classes without violating this code. The iaijutsu master, the knight protector, and the dwarven defender are three such examples. The Dungeon Master may designate other prestige classes as available to a samurai.

Some disgraced samurai take levels in the ronin prestige class, which gives them a chance to regain their lost class features.