Devil Subdomain
The Devil Subdomain is a Pathfinder 1e replacement layer for the Evil or Law Domain. It represents infernal corruption and lawful evil outsiders, but it is not a standalone nine-spell domain and should not be presented as one.
At a Glance
| Rules Type | Pathfinder 1e subdomain |
|---|---|
| Associated Domains | Evil or Law |
| Theme | Devils, infernal corruption, manipulation and lawful evil outsider power |
| Source | Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Advanced Player’s Guide |
| Other Editions | No official same-named 3.5e, 5e/2014 or 2024 Cleric subdomain |
Edition Applicability
This is specifically a Pathfinder 1e subdomain. It modifies either the Evil Domain or the Law Domain. It does not replace the entire base domain, and it should not be copied into other editions as though it were a full domain.
Devil Subdomain — Pathfinder 1e
Rules status: published Pathfinder 1e subdomain associated with Evil and Law.
Replacement Power: Hell’s Corruption
This replaces Touch of Evil if you take the Devil Subdomain through Evil, or Touch of Law if you take it through Law. As a melee touch attack, you make a creature more susceptible to corruption. The target takes a –2 penalty on saving throws and rolls opposed skill checks twice, taking the worse result. The effect lasts for a number of rounds equal to half your Cleric level, minimum 1. Uses per day equal 3 + your Wisdom modifier.
The Base Domain’s Higher-Level Power Remains
If Devil modifies Evil, you retain Scythe of Evil at 8th level. If it modifies Law, you retain Staff of Order at 8th level. The subdomain replaces only the specified lower-level power.
Replacement Domain Spells
| 1st | Command replaces the base domain’s 1st-level spell |
|---|---|
| 3rd | Suggestion replaces the base domain’s 3rd-level spell |
| 6th | Planar Binding, devils only, replaces the base domain’s 6th-level spell |
All other domain-spell levels come from whichever associated base domain—Evil or Law—you selected.
How the Devil Subdomain Plays
Hell’s Corruption is a debuff aimed at setting up failed saves and losing opposed checks. Because only three spell levels are replaced, the rest of the build still behaves like its chosen Evil or Law base domain.
Who Grants the Devil Subdomain?
The subdomain belongs with powers whose established portfolio is specifically tied to devils, infernal hierarchy, corruption or lawful evil outsider politics. It should not be assigned to every evil deity or every fiendish power.
Related Domains and Character Options
Rules Sources and Licensing
The Devil Subdomain follows the Pathfinder 1e Advanced Player’s Guide: associated domains Evil and Law; Hell’s Corruption replaces the base domain’s first power; and only the 1st-, 3rd- and 6th-level domain spells are replaced.