Full Build Friday - Skeletor [Human Wizard] (Patreon)

Per a request and an upcoming movie, it felt like a fine time to put together a build for a certified classic evil overlord.

As always, this build is conceptualized entirely in a vacuum, with choices made in my best attempt to fit the character. These choices may not hold up in a campaign with different themes and should be adjusted accordingly.

Let's take a look at the build for Skeletor from He-Man and Masters of the Universe!

SKELETOR

CHARACTER Keldor

SOURCE Masters of the Universe

BUILD GOALS

o    A sorcerer with a skull face who seeks to harness the secrets of Castle Grayskull and conquer the planet of Eternia

o    He is usually depicted as the apprentice or underling of the demonic Hordak who he often betrays for his own ambitions though Skeletor is at times shown to be Keldor, the uncle to He-Man

o    As a sorcerer, he is best known for his wide array of mystical powers that are as varied as the writers of his home series

o    He is most commonly portrayed with a scepter called the Havoc Staff and could discharge bolts of mystic force and unleash lightning

o    His less-offensive magic is demonstrated through the ability teleport himself and others, communicate and observe from vast distances, and open gateways between dimensions

o    Surprisingly, he is a capable melee combatant able to go toe-to-toe with He-Man

o    He is sometimes portrayed with a villainous feline companion called Panthor, a giant purple panther

Summary of Goals: I’m just going to say it outright – Skeletor is one of the archetypal evil overlord characters. He had new powers based on toys the big wigs wanted to sell or that the plot demanded. However, I do think there’s enough of a core of the character to work with. He does tend to lean into being a caster, but one that can be terrifyingly capable in melee combat. He isn’t technically an undead despite his skeletal face and is honestly quite well built, and he’s also a surprisingly frequent pet owner.

LEVEL 1

Ancestry & Heritage: Versatile Human

o    Ability Boosts & Flaws: +Strength, +Intelligence

o    Ancestry Feat: Skull Creeper

o    General Feat: Adopted Ancestry – Ratfolk

o    Skill Feat: Intimidating Glare

o    Skill Increase: Intimidation (T)

Background: Necromancer’s Apprentice

o    Ability Boosts: +Intelligence, +Strength

o    Skill Increase: Arcana (T), Necromancer Lore (T)

o    Background Feat: Quick Identification

Class & Subclass: War Mage Wizard with a School of Battle Magic

o    Class Ability Boost: +Intelligence

o    Skill Increase: Athletics (T), Crafting (T), Deception (T), Occultism (T), Society (T), Stealth (T), Thievery (T)

o    Skill Feat: Shield Block

o    Spellbook: Cantrips – electric arc, message, phase bolt, shield, telekinetic projectile; 1st – breathe fire, force barrage, illusory disguise, summon undead

Details

o    Ability Boosts: +Strength, +Dexterity, +Constitution, +Intelligence (Str +3, Dex +1, Con +1, Int +4, Wis +0, Cha +0)

This build starts off a little bit weird. I want to represent Skeletor’s origins as Keldor, which leads to me using the human ancestry, but after that, things get a bit messier. In almost all instances, Skeletor isn’t an undead or anything of the sort, he’s simply transformed by dark magic. You could potentially tap into one of the more fiendish Nephilim heritages to resemble this, but I thought it would be much goofier to use the general feat from his versatile heritage to take an Adopted Ancestry general feat for the ratfolk and then use that to gain the Skull Creeper ancestry feat. To represent his original allegiance to Hordak, I did find myself favoring the necromancer’s apprentice background, which further feeds into his skeletal visage. When it comes to his class, Skeletor is first and foremost a mage, but he doesn’t shy away from a conflict that he thinks he can win and is seen wielding a sword only slightly less than he’s seen with his famous sceptre. The war mage archetype does lock him into using the school of battle magic, but I was looking at that anyway as a number of its spells honestly fit him. He most famously blasts out bolts of magical force and electricity, and for the former we can use phase bolt or force barrage while the latter can come through in the form of electric arc for the time being. I also included illusory disguise as a few of his schemes have involved him disguising his rather obvious features while some versions of him make liberal use of the summon undead spell as well.

LEVEL 2

o    Class Feat: War Mage Dedication

o    Skill Feat: Additional Lore - Warfare Lore, Trick Magic Item

o    Gear: ring of discretion

LEVEL 3

o    General Feat: Toughness

o    Skill Increase: Arcana (E)

o    Spellbook: 2nd – boneshaker, mist, resist energy

o    Gear: +1 longsword, psychopomp mask, ring of discretion

LEVEL 4

o    Class Feat: Bespell Strikes

o    Skill Feat: Magical Shorthand

o    Gear: staff of fire, +1 longsword, brooch of shielding, ring of discretion

LEVEL 5

o    Ability Boosts: +Strength, +Constitution, +Intelligence, +Charisma (Str +4, Dex +1, Con +2, Int +4.5, Wis +0, Cha +1)

o    Ancestry Feat: Haughty Obstinacy

o    Skill Increase: Occultism (E)

o    Spellbook: 3rd – earthbind, fireball, lightning bolt, paralyze

o    Gear: +1 striking longsword, pickled demon tongue, staff of fire, brooch of shielding, psychopomp mask, ring of discretion

We’re locked into taking the War Mage Dedication at second level, which causes his area effect spells to knock targets around while also providing him with Additional Lore for Warfare Lore. Unfortunately, none of the fourth rank feats for the class really strike my fancy, so I went for Bespell Strikes. It’s still by no means exact, but I think it fits him and works with the build just a bit better. The likes of Trick Magic Item and Magical Shorthand both suit Skeletor’s megalomaniacal pursuit of power as ways for him to gain new and more magical power. Toughness will help him stand against He-Man when he decides to challenge the hero in melee combat. Haughty Obstinacy also just suits an evil overlord that has problems with sharing power with others as he has demonstrated across multiple continuities. Lightning bolt is based on his powers to cast about lightning and fireball can cover the fire that he may also sometimes summon. He does somewhat regularly lock people down and hold them in place to justify the use of paralyze. I was actually originally looking at magical fetters given his use of chains in some series, but paralyze is generally just a better effect for our purposes.

LEVEL 6

o    Class Feat: Intimidating Spell

o    Skill Feat: Unmistakable Lore

o    Gear: +1 breastplate, +1 striking longsword, demon mask, staff of fire, brooch of shielding, trusty helmet

LEVEL 7

o    General Feat: Diehard

o    Skill Increase: Arcana (M)

o    Spellbook: 4th – suggestion, translocate, wall of fire, weapon storm

o    Gear: staff of elemental power, +1 breastplate, wand of shardstorm (1st-rank), +1 striking longsword, pickled demon tongue, staff of fire

LEVEL 8

o    Class Feat: Arcana of Iron

o    Skill Feat: Battle Planner

o    Gear: ring of wizardry (type I), endless grimoire, staff of elemental power, +1 breastplate, +1 striking longsword, demon mask

LEVEL 9

o    Ancestry Feat: Aeromancer

o    Skill Increase: Occultism (M)

o    Spellbook: 5th – howling blizzard, impaling spike, sending

o    Gear: +1 resilient breastplate, boots of bounding, ring of wizardry (type I), staff of elemental power, wand of shardstorm (1st-rank), +1 striking longsword

LEVEL 10

o    Ability Boosts: +Strength, +Constitution, +Intelligence, +Charisma (Str +4.5, Dex +1, Con +3, Int +5, Wis +0, Cha +2)

o    Class Feat: Beastmaster Dedication – Cat

o    Skill Feat: Bizarre Magic

o    Skill Increase: Nature (T)

o    Gear: wand of shardstorm (3rd-rank), +1 resilient breastplate, wand of paralytic shock (3rd-rank), ring of wizardry (type I), staff of elemental power, +1 striking longsword

When it comes to ruling his minions, Skeletor typically does so through fear. However, I don’t have quite enough skill increases to bolster his Intimidation, but he can take Intimidating Spell, which is a great way to debuff enemies while also afflicting them with the likes of fireball or lightning bolt. Arcana of Iron enhances his Bespell Strikes feat while also giving him some access to more weapons, but it’s mainly to finish off his archetype so that he can then take a Beastmaster Dedication. Skeletor is an admittedly rather straightforward evil overlord type character, which can make picking out feats and the like for him a bit rudimentary. But by taking a Beastmaster Dedication with a cat animal companion, we can attempt to resemble his common companion, Panthor, which also helps to spice up the build a bit. As the proactive character of his series, the one creating trouble for the heroes, I like Battle Planner helping him to lay out a plan for his minions while taking advantage of his Warfare Lore. The use of Bizarre Magic makes it harder for the heroes to figure out and therefore counter his spells. Diehard seems appropriate given his usual appearance, and Aeromancer just gives him even more magic. For his non-curriculum spells, suggestion gives him a means of controlling others, translocate lets him swiftly abandon the battlefield when things aren’t going his way, and sending allows him to issue orders to his minions from afar.

LEVEL 11

o    General Feat: Numb to Death

o    Skill Increase: Athletics (E)

o    Spellbook: 6th – chain lightning, disintegrate, scrying, teleport

o    Gear: +2 striking longsword, sanguine fang, wand of shardstorm (3rd-rank), +1 resilient breastplate, boots of bounding, ring of wizardry (type I)

LEVEL 12

o    Class Feat: Mature Beastmaster Companion

o    Skill Feat: Disturbing Knowledge

o    Gear: +2 resilient breastplate, +2 striking longsword, greater staff of elemental power, wand of shardstorm (3rd-rank), greater pickled demon tongue, wand of paralytic shock (3rd-rank)

LEVEL 13

o    Ancestry Feat: Shadow Pact

o    Skill Increase: Athletics (M)

o    Spellbook: 7th – energy aegis, true target

o    Gear: +2 greater striking longsword, +2 resilient breastplate, greater obsidian goggles, greater staff of elemental power, sanguine fang, wand of shardstorm (3rd-rank)

LEVEL 14

o    Class Feat: Incredible Beastmaster Companion – Nimble

o    Skill Feat: Alchemical Crafting

o    Gear: wand of shardstorm (5th-rank), +2 greater striking longsword, staff of arcane might, +2 resilient breastplate, greater demon mask, ring of wizardry (type II)

LEVEL 15

o    Ability Boosts: +Strength, +Intelligence, +Wisdom, +Charisma (Str +5, Dex +1, Con +3, Int +5.5, Wis +1, Cha +3)

o    General Feat: Incredible Initiative

o    Skill Increase: Arcana (L)

o    Spellbook: 8th – arctic rift, desiccate

o    Gear: +2 greater resilient breastplate, wizard’s tower, wand of shardstorm (5th-rank), +2 greater striking longsword, greater obsidian goggles, greater ash gown

We picked up Panthor a little late in the game, so we’ve got boost him up quickly with Mature and then Incredible Beastmaster Companion, obviously making it a Nimbly-bimbly feline. Disturbing Knowledge feels pretty on point for a character with a skull for a face, and I also added Alchemical Crafting as a skill feat as he honestly is something of an inventor in the series. I’d like to take something like Magical Crafting, but I feel like upping his Athletics is going to help him more in those situations where he’s forced into a melee conflict. With Skeletor being one of those villains that you can always count as coming back, I like Numb to Death for him. The use of Incredible Investiture is mainly inspired by Skeletor’s endless hunger for power as this lets him harness even more magical items and artifacts. The inclusion of Shadow Pact both gives him even more magical power while also providing him with a sacrifice for his magic, which is pretty on point for the character. With his spells for the block, the main ones that come to mind is chain lightning for some more direct damage, scrying so that he can spy on allies and enemies alike from afar, and then teleport for his ability to dip from those fights that aren’t going the way he wants.

LEVEL 16

o    Class Feat: Specialized Beastmaster Companion – Ambusher

o    Skill Feat: Unified Theory

o    Gear: major sanguine fang, +2 greater resilient breastplate, ring of wizardry (type IV), wand of shardstorm (5th-rank), +2 greater striking longsword, staff of arcane might

LEVEL 17

o    Ancestry Feat: Greater Than the Sum

o    Skill Increase: Occultism (L)

o    Spellbook: 9th – falling stars

o    Gear: +3 greater striking longsword, greater decaying weapon rune, major sanguine fang, +2 greater resilient breastplate, wizard’s tower, wand of shardstorm (5th-rank)

LEVEL 18

o    Class Feat: Overwhelming Energy

o    Skill Feat: Legendary Professional

o    Gear: crown of intellect, +3 greater striking longsword, greater staff of arcane might, major sanguine fang, +2 greater resilient breastplate, ring of wizardry (type IV)

LEVEL 19

o    General Feat: Incredible Initiative

o    Skill Increase: Athletics (L)

o    Gear: +3 greater resilient breastplate, crown of intellect, wand of shardstorm (7th-rank), +3 greater striking longsword, greater decaying weapon rune, major sanguine fang

LEVEL 20

o    Ability Boosts: +Constitution, +Intelligence, +Wisdom, +Charisma (Str +5, Dex +1, Con +4, Int +6, Wis +2, Cha +4)

o    Class Feat: Archwizard’s Might

o    Skill Feat: Break Curse

o    Skill Increase: Acrobatics (T)

o    Gear: +3 major striking longsword, +3 greater resilient breastplate, archivist’s gaze, major boreal staff, quickstrike weapon rune, wand of paralytic shock (7th-rank)

Through the use of the Specialized Beastmaster Companion feat, we can make a Panthor an ambusher so that he’s as duplicitous as his master. We then get back to some feats focusing on Skeletor with Overwhelming Energy letting him simply punch through the defenses of his foes. Somewhat surprisingly, Skeletor can be a bit of a brute when it comes to using his powers and this represents that decently. Despite taking this, I don’t think he’s got enough feats to really warrant Spellshape Mastery though you could definitely go that way if you want. However, I think Archwizard’s Might best captures his desire for power and his attempt to master his world. With the slight focus on Arcana we’ve had, Unified Theory is always a great pick-up that mainly means he can wield staves, wands, and scrolls of any sort with Trick Magic Item using his Arcana instead of the proper skill. Legendary Professional feels fun for him, and then I use Break Curse, which might be a bit backwards for him as he’s usually the sort to create curses rather than break them. I then included Incredible Initiative to help him get the jump on his enemies – again, because as a villain, he’s the more proactive character in his show. Speaking of classic villains, does it get anymore class than super-sizing ones’ minions, as he can potentially do with Greater Than the Sum? It feels like a funny fit, but I’m honestly a fan.

FREE ARCHETYPE SUGGESTIONS: By using a free archetype game, you should hopefully be able to pick up a Beastmaster archetype a good bit earlier, and might still have room to use something like a marshal or commander archetype based on the way that he bosses about his Masters of Evil. I think the Dread Marshal Stance and the like suits him just a bit better, but I could see commander as well. I think the big this is that you would get more wizard feats, and those would probably mostly be spent on Spellshapes and just generally useful wizard feats to help out his spellcasting. If you want to commit to the skeletal nature of our Master of Evil, I think you could make Lich Dedication work fantastically with its undead design and focus on magic mastery.

BUILD CONCLUSION

Skeletor is a versatile human war mage wizard who has studied the school of battle magic despite him serving as a necromancer’s apprentice. By way of Adopted Ancestry, Skeletor can take Skull Creeper to try to demonstrate his infamous visage, which is a difficult to represent through anything other than flavor otherwise. I liked the necromancer’s apprentice background as a way to represent his ties to Hordak, most notably the time he spent as an apprentice or underling to him. Given the fact that he is best known for being a sorcerous overlord, I decided to lean into building him as a caster with the wizard class. I did favor wizard due to him specifically studying under Hordak and this is kind of the classic magic master. However, he’s also seen frequently facing He-Man directly on the battlefield, so I did buff him up a bit with a focus on Strength and the use of the war mage archetype. When it comes to his magic, the likes of force barrage is probably the easiest way to demonstrate his typical bolts of mystic energy and he also features a host of electricity spells ranging from electric arc to lightning bolt before eventually evolving into chain lightning. He does plenty of less offensive spells with translocate and teleport letting him transport himself and his allies, scrying and clairvoyance letting him spy on foes from afar, and illusory disguise letting him hide his identity to pull off his schemes. Along with all those spells, he can wield his staff and sword alike thanks to his war mage archetype while his Beastmaster archetype can provide him with his crepuscular, combat kitty, Panthor.

With mighty musculature and momentous magic, this malicious mage makes mayhem and misery for many while mostly maintaining a maniacal mirth.

Have a fantastic Friday!