The Parasite - Warlock Subclass (D&D 5E)

. . . but this disease isn't like anything you've experienced before. You can feel something moving within you. A bizarre energy courses through your blood, and your body is changing in ways it shouldn't be able to. You isolate yourself to keep your loved ones safe. Your appetite becomes insatiable, and you think you might be healing when a voice that is not yours enters your mind—

The Parasite patron is a subclass for D&D 5E based on stories of heroes locked in battle with the very things that give them power. The subclasses abilities are primarily based on creatures like Spider-Man's Symbiote, The Fly's Brundlefly, Prototype's Blacklight, The Thing's namesake alien, and Fullmetal Alchemist's Envy.

In order to get the most out of this subclass, I recommend that you work closely with your DM to determine some details about your parasite. Where it came from will heavily influence its goals, and since this patron is with you all the time it's likely to come up often in game.

Mechanically, The Parasite allows your warlock a high level of survivability so they can engage in melee combat. You're incentivized to get in close and take hits for your party. The subclasses most powerful feature is the ability to transform into monsters. Your character can use this power to gain access to unique abilities and beef yourself up in combat. Notably, your parasite gains greater control of your body while you use your powers of transformation. Be cautious about who could be in the line of fire if you let your parasite take control.

I hope you enjoy playing with your own parasite! I'd love to hear your experience playing with the subclass. At this time, the supplement has not been extensively tested, so balance issues should be covered with your DM.

This work wouldn't be possible without the following creators and resources for allowing me to use their art in this project. Thank you all!

Chaoclypse's Chao's Art Pack

Andrey Dykun's Moustache Font

Thomas Novosel's Beer Paper Scanpack

Exeunt Press's Rabbits & Demons Art Pack

Harry Clarke's Illustration, "The Monster Within the Tomb," hosted on oldbookillustrations.com

J.-J. Grandville's Illustration, "The Valvos," hosted on oldbookillustrations.com