Multiclassing Into Same Class Archetypes


Rules Questions


When I multi-class into archetypes of the same class how do I advance my character?

For example if I am a Lv. 3 Bladebound / Lv. 2 Spellblade am I considered a Lv. 5 Magus or a Lv. 3 Magus?


You can't multiclass into the same class.

Lantern Lodge

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You cannot multi-class in the same class, but you can apply more than one archetype to a class if the archetypes do not replace or alter the same class features.

"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."

I looked up the Bladebound archetype and the Spellblade archetype and they do not overlap, so you can apply both archetypes to the same character.

So, what you really have is a 5th Level Magus with the Bladebound and Spellblade archetypes.

Hope this helps.


Captain Zoom wrote:

You cannot multi-class in the same class, but you can apply more than one archetype to a class if the archetypes do not replace or alter the same class features.

"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."

I looked up the Bladebound archetype and the Spellblade archetype and they do not overlap, so you can apply both archetypes to the same character.

So, what you really have is a 5th Level Magus with the Bladebound and Spellblade archetypes.

Hope this helps.

Can you point me to where it says I'm considered a 5th level Magus?

My DM says I am a 3rd level Bladebound and 2nd level Spellblade which means I get bonuses of both but that I don't gain the bonuses of a 5th level Magus.


You can't multi-class into the same archetype. So instead of Lv. 3 Bladebound / Lv. 2 Spellblade if you wanted both archetypes you'd be a lv5 Bladebound AND Spellblade magus. But you'd trade out everything that either archetypes trade out. Does this make sense? Do you understand?


Chess Pwn wrote:
You can't multi-class into the same archetype. So instead of Lv. 3 Bladebound / Lv. 2 Spellblade if you wanted both archetypes you'd be a lv5 Bladebound AND Spellblade magus. But you'd trade out everything that either archetypes trade out. Does this make sense? Do you understand?

So instead of calling it multiclassing it would be more like multi-archetyping in the sense that I'm only 1 class, Magus. Also instead of leveling as a regular Magus I would level based on any changes the archetypes did to the base class. Meaning the following:

Bladebound & Spellblade Magus
1st Level - Arcane pool (changed from Bladebound), Cantrips, & Spell Combat

2nd Level - Force Athame (Spellblade replaces Spellstrike)

3rd Level - Black Blade (Bladebound replaces 3rd Level Magus Arcana)

This means that I don't have to specify that I'm X Level Bladebound and X Level Spellblade. Am I correct on this?


You cannot do this. It is illegal.

You cannot multiclass with the same class, even if you change archetypes.

The question is moot, because what you are attempting to do is impossible.


Zhayne wrote:

You cannot do this. It is illegal.

You cannot multiclass with the same class, even if you change archetypes.

The question is moot, because what you are attempting to do is impossible.

So it isn't called multiclassing but I can still take both archetypes correct? Which means I will only be leveling 1 class instead of 2.


Riother wrote:
So it isn't called multiclassing but I can still take both archetypes correct? Which means I will only be leveling 1 class instead of 2.

Exactly. You have one class modified by 2 archtypes.

You would have to start this when you took your first level of Magus though. You can't add archtypes later on.


Riother wrote:
Chess Pwn wrote:
You can't multi-class into the same archetype. So instead of Lv. 3 Bladebound / Lv. 2 Spellblade if you wanted both archetypes you'd be a lv5 Bladebound AND Spellblade magus. But you'd trade out everything that either archetypes trade out. Does this make sense? Do you understand?

So instead of calling it multiclassing it would be more like multi-archetyping in the sense that I'm only 1 class, Magus. Also instead of leveling as a regular Magus I would level based on any changes the archetypes did to the base class. Meaning the following:

Bladebound & Spellblade Magus
1st Level - Arcane pool (changed from Bladebound), Cantrips, & Spell Combat

2nd Level - Force Athame (Spellblade replaces Spellstrike)

3rd Level - Black Blade (Bladebound replaces 3rd Level Magus Arcana)

This means that I don't have to specify that I'm X Level Bladebound and X Level Spellblade. Am I correct on this?

This is correct.

However, you cannot do this with two archetypes that both replace the same ability, so it's impossible to be, say, a 5th level Hexcrafter and Kensai, because both replace Spell Recall.


Thank you so much guys. It took me a while to realize that each archetype is still considered the base class which makes it impossible to take with other archetypes of the same class.


Riother wrote:
Thank you so much guys. It took me a while to realize that each archetype is still considered the base class which makes it impossible to take with other archetypes of the same class.

It's not impossible to take with other archetypes as long as they don't replace or alter the same ability like Kestral said that you can't combine Hexcrafter and Kensai since they both replace Spell Recall but you can combine Kensai with Bladebound since they don't replace the same ability


Oops, I meant impossible to level into archetypes of the same class.


it's not impossible to take with other archetypes of the same class...

You can take two archetypes for the same class so long as neither class modifies/replaces the same class ability.

Say you take archetype A and archetype B from class X...neither modifies the same class ability from the parent class so you're good. If you have 7 levels in class X, then you count as 7th level for archetype A and B.

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