The knight is a warrior aristocrat, skilled in war and steeped in social grace. Most come from powerful noble families, while others are minor nobles or even commoners who evince some skill at arms. The iconic knight's arms are the lance, sword, and hand weapons, but other knights may favor the katana and bow or the lance and spatha. A knight is distinguished from the fighter by his embrace of a code of honor that embodies the traditions of his society, order, or school. Emboldened and exalted by these principles, the knight exists as an inspiration to others, a match of valor and elegance who rises above his frailties to achieve great glory.

Role: A knight, much like a fighter or barbarian, excels at melee. They are also capable mounted warriors. A knight's special strength, though, is in using their resplendent powers to protect themselves and their allies against the attacks of their foes. Because of their sense of of personal honor, knights operate under some restrictions relative to fighters or rogues, although a knight does not necessarily apply this code rigidly to the behavior to others, particularly to less chivalric friends and servants.

Alignment: Any.

Hit Die: d10.

Class Skills

The knight's class skills are Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (nobility) (Int), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), and Swim (Str).

Skill Ranks per Level: 4 + Int modifier.

Table: Knight

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the knight.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: knights are proficient with all simple weapon and martial weapons and with all armor (heavy, light, and medium) and shields (including tower shields).

Quality

A knight gains a +2 bonus on Knowledge (nobility) and Diplomacy checks.

Resplendent Power

A knight is able to harness his powerful resolve to strengthen himself, inspire his allies, and dismay his foes. A knight initially has access to one resplendent power and gains an additional power every odd level. A knight can use his resplendent powers for a number of rounds per day equal to 4 + his Cha modifier. At each level after 1st a knight can use his qualities for an additional 2 rounds per day. The knight can have only one resplendent power active at a time. Once each round the knight can initiate the use of a resplendent power as a free action. Resplendent powers end automatically if the knight is killed or knocked unconscious.

A knight cannot use a resplendent power in the same round he makes a dishonorable attack. If he makes a dishonorable attack, his resplendent power automatically ends. A dishonorable attacks is defined as an attack against an opponent who is surprised or helpless, who cannot see the attacker due to total concealment, involves poison, is a ranged attack against a foe who has no ranged weapon or special abilities, or uses lethal force against an opponent who cannot respond in kind (lacking a weapon, natural weapon, or other credible ability such as spellcasting or a monk's unarmed abilities).

All resplendent powers that grant a morale bonus or cause fear are mind-affecting.

Mounted Combat

At 2nd level, the knight gains Mounted Combat as a bonus feat. If the knight already has the feat, he may select another feat for which he qualifies.

Coat of Glory (Ex)

A knight of at least 2nd level can, once per day as a free action, grant himself a number of temporary hit points equal to his level. These hit points fade after one minute, if he kills or knocks unconscious an opponent, or if he makes a dishonorable attack.

Lionhearted

A knight gains Lionhearted as a bonus feat at 3rd level.

Weapon Focus

At 4th and again at 6th level, the knight gains Weapon Focus as a bonus feat.

Expert Rider

Starting at 4th level, a knight gains a +1 bonus on Ride checks. This bonus increases by +1 every four additional levels to a maximum of +5 at level 20.

Chivalric Bond

At 5th level, a knight gains either Signature Mount or Signature Weapon as a bonus feat.

Iron Will

At 8th level, the knight gains Iron Will as a bonus feat.

Diehard

At 10th level, the knight gains Diehard as a bonus feat.

Greater Weapon Focus

At 14th and 18th level, the knight gains Greater Weapon Focus with a weapon for which he already has Weapon Focus.

Immunity to Fear

A knight of at least 19th level is immune to fear.

Compleat Knight (Ex)

At 20th level, the knight is an embodiment of grace and martial valor. He gains a +1 competence bonus to all Cha checks and Charisma-based skill checks. If he has the Leadership feat, he gains a permanent +1 to his Leadership score. He may use his glory ability twice per day and it grants 2x his level in temporary hit points.

Favored Class Bonuses

Instead of receiving an additional skill rank or hit point whenever they gain a level in a Favored Class, some races have the option of choosing from a number of other bonuses, depending upon their Favored Classes. The following options are available to the listed race who have knight as their Favored Class, and unless otherwise stated, the bonus applies each time you select the listed Favored Class reward.

Archetypes & Alternate Class Features

When a character selects a class, he must choose to use the standard class features found or those listed in one of the archetypes presented here. Each alternate class feature replaces a specific class feature from its parent class. For example, the elemental fist class feature of the monk of the four winds replaces the stunning fist class feature of the monk. When an archetype includes multiple class features, a character must take all of them—often blocking the character from ever gaining certain familiar class features, but replacing them with equally powerful options. All of the other class features found in the core class and not mentioned among the alternate class features remain unchanged and are acquired normally when the character reaches the appropriate level (unless noted otherwise). A character who takes an alternate class feature does not count as having the class feature that was replaced when meeting any requirements or prerequisites.

A character can take more than one archetype and garner additional alternate class features, but none of the alternate class features can replace or alter the same class feature from the core class as another alternate class feature. For example, a paladin could not be both a hospitaler and an undead scourge since they both modify the smite evil class feature and both replace the aura of justice class feature. A paladin could, however, be both an undead scourge and a warrior of the holy light, since none of their new class features replace the same core class feature.

Archetypes are a quick and easy way to specialize characters of a given class, adding fun and flavorful new abilities to already established adventurers. Characters may take more than one archetype if they meet the requirements.

Table: Knight Archetypes / Alternate Class Features