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Nerdarchy > Uncategorized  > Rogue Subclass: Veilborn Stalker

Rogue Subclass: Veilborn Stalker

“Scream Engines: When Monsters, Inc. Meets the Monster Manual”

“I am not alone in the dark. I am the dark.”

Some rogues master the art of vanishing through training, patience, and skill. But Veilborn Stalkers go further. They are no longer merely mortal tricksters—they are fused with living shadows, alien parasites, or fragments of the Veil itself.

Whether forged in chaos storms that rewrote their very bodies, or by willingly binding themselves to an otherworldly presence, these rogues are hybrids of flesh and shadow. They flicker at the edge of vision, blur between the tangible and the unreal, and strike from impossible angles. Check out our symbiotic ranger here.

When a Veilborn Stalker hunts you, light itself is not enough to save you. Check out the symbiotic Ranger here.


Veilborn Stalker Features

Rogue Level Feature
3rd Symbiotic Cloak, Living Shadow
9th Veil-Touched Reflexes
13th Shifting Form
17th Predator in the Veil

Symbiotic Cloak (3rd Level)

Your body blurs as the symbiote takes root. Shadows cling to you like a second skin.

  • You can take the Hide action as a bonus action, even when only lightly obscured.

  • You gain Darkvision up to 60 feet, or extend existing Darkvision by 30 feet.

  • When you hit a creature while hidden, that attack deals an extra 1d6 psychic damage.

  • Your form is unstable—edges shimmer, limbs blur, and eyes struggle to pin you down.


Living Shadow (3rd Level)

The symbiote mirrors you, extending your presence as an eerie double.

As a bonus action, you may summon a shadow afterimage within 15 feet that lasts until the start of your next turn.

  • Veil Step. When you Dash or Disengage, you may instantly swap places with the afterimage.

  • Echo Strike. You may strike from the afterimage’s position instead of your own, forcing the target to succeed on a Perception check (DC = 8 + Dex + Prof) or be considered surprised for that attack.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.


Veil-Touched Reflexes (9th Level)

The symbiote moves faster than your thoughts, pulling you out of danger.

  • You gain resistance to psychic and necrotic damage.

  • When a creature misses you with an attack, you may teleport 10 feet in any direction as a reaction.

  • When a creature hits you, you may impose disadvantage on its next attack against you as a reaction.

Even when still, your shadow flickers unnaturally—stepping ahead of you, twitching in ways you do not.


Shifting Form (13th Level)

Your body no longer obeys the laws of the material.

  • When you use Uncanny Dodge, you take no damage if the attacker misses its next attack against you.

  • You can spend 1 minute concentrating to become invisible until you attack, cast a spell, or take damage.

  • While in dim light or darkness, you can Spider Climb across walls and ceilings without needing your hands.

At this stage, your presence is less a certainty and more a suggestion.


Predator in the Veil (17th Level)

You are now one with your symbiotic shadow, existing both inside and outside reality.

  • You may teleport up to 60 feet to a space you can see in dim light or darkness as a bonus action.

  • When you hit a creature with Sneak Attack, it must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw (DC = 8 + Prof + Dex) or be frightened of you for 1 minute.

  • If you remain motionless for 1 minute, you cease to exist within normal reality until you move. While in this state, no divination or detection short of divine awareness can find you.

When you stand still, you cast no shadow. You do not breathe. You are not here.


Using the Veilborn Stalker in Your Game

The Veilborn Stalker is a rogue archetype for players who want stealth elevated into horror. They are designed for players who like the hit-and-fade style, weaving in and out of the battlefield while enemies struggle to track them.

As a DM, lean into the horror and alien side of the subclass: whispers in the dark, shadows that move when the rogue is still, or a parasitic symbiote that sometimes acts of its own accord.

This subclass is not just a thief or assassin—it is a predator from beyond the edges of light.

Thanks for reading. Until Next Time, Stay Nerdy!!

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Ted Adams

The nerd is strong in this one. I received my bachelors degree in communication with a specialization in Radio/TV/Film. I have been a table top role player for over 30 years. I have played several iterations of D&D, Mutants and Masterminds 2nd and 3rd editions, Star wars RPG, Shadowrun and World of Darkness as well as mnay others since starting Nerdarchy. I am an avid fan of books and follow a few authors reading all they write. Favorite author is Jim Butcher I have been an on/off larper for around 15 years even doing a stretch of running my own for a while. I have played a number of Miniature games including Warhammer 40K, Warhammer Fantasy, Heroscape, Mage Knight, Dreamblade and D&D Miniatures. I have practiced with the art of the German long sword with an ARMA group for over 7 years studying the German long sword, sword and buckler, dagger, axe and polearm. By no strecth of the imagination am I an expert but good enough to last longer than the average person if the Zombie apocalypse ever happens. I am an avid fan of board games and dice games with my current favorite board game is Betrayal at House on the Hill.

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