ASSASSIN

A clever rogue knows the easiest battle to win is the one that’s over before your foe knows it has begun. Some rogues thus specialize in setting up ambushes to catch their opponents off guard.

Staggering Reflexes (Ex):

At 1st level, an assassin gains a bonus on initiative checks equal to 1/2 her level (minimum +1) if she acts in a surprise round, and is never flat-footed at the start of combat (even if she fails to act during the surprise round). This ability replaces skill specialty.

 

Ambusher (Ex):

At 2nd level, an assassin must select Ambusher as her instinct.

Ambuscading Sneak Attack (Ex):

At 4th level, an assassin becomes especially skilled at attacking unaware foes. When she makes a sneak attack during a surprise round, she uses d8s to roll sneak attack damage instead of d6s. This ability replaces the instinct gained at 4th level.

 

Death Attack (Ex):

At 5th level, if an assassin spends 3 rounds studying and then makes a sneak attack that successfully deals damage, the sneak attack has the additional effect of killing the target (Fortitude DC 10 + 1/2 the assassin's level + her Intelligence modifier negates). Studying the victim is a standard action. The death attack fails if the target detects the assassin or recognizes the assassin as an enemy (although the attack may still be a sneak attack if the target is denied his Dexterity bonus to AC or is flanked). If the victim fails his save against the death attack, he dies. Once the assassin has completed the 3 rounds of study, she must make the death attack within the next 3 rounds. If the death attack fails, or if the assassin does not launch the attack within 3 rounds of completing the study, 3 new rounds of study are required before she can make another death attack. This ability replaces rogue's edge.

 

Silencing Attack (Ex):

At 6th level, an assassin must select Silencing Attack as her rogue talent.

Instinctive Awareness (Ex):

At 8th level, an assassin must select Instinctive Awareness as her instinct.

 

True Death (Su):

At 10th level, anyone slain by an assassin’s death attack becomes more difficult to bring back from the dead. Spellcasters attempting to bring a creature back from the dead using raise dead or similar magic must make a caster level check with a DC equal to 15 + 1/2 the assassin’s level or the spell fails and the material component is wasted. Casting remove curse the round before attempting to bring the creature back from the dead negates this chance. The DC of the remove curse is 10 + 1/2 the assassin’s level.

Exceptional Reflexes (Ex):

At 12th level, an assassin can move up to her speed before taking her action in a surprise round. This replaces the rogue talent gained at 12th level.

Masterful Reflexes (Ex):

At 20th level, an assassin’s initiative roll is automatically a natural 20. This ability replaces the rogue talent gained at 20th level.