Sir Lancelot du Lac — Arthur’s Champion
Sir Lancelot du Lac is one of King Arthur’s most capable knights. Raised by the Lady of the Lake, he serves the Round Table while hiding his love for Queen Guinevere. He can save a stranger without hesitation, yet one question about the queen may cost him the trust of his king.
At court: Lancelot is the son of King Ban of Benoic and an honoured knight of the Round Table. His loyalty to Arthur and devotion to Guinevere pull him in different directions; neither choice is painless.
At a Glance
- Identity
- Lancelot du Lac; son of King Ban and Queen Elaine of Benoic
- Rank
- Knight of the Round Table; champion and rescuer
- Fealty
- King Arthur and Camelot
- Raised by
- The Lady of the Lake (foster guardian)
- Immediate risk
- The queen’s enemies are gathering witnesses
- Campaign role
- Renowned knight; brave ally whose divided loyalties cause hard choices
Game Statistics
The four versions represent a powerful knight, but the older D&D 3.5e source is an optional epic build. Run the version for your table. Lancelot’s oath to Arthur and his bond with Guinevere should shape every encounter, not just his damage.
Sir Lancelot — D&D 2024
Medium Humanoid (Human), Lawful Good; legendary knight, campaign adaptation
Armor Class 22 (+2 plate, shield); Initiative +4 (14); Hit Points 252 (24d10 + 120); Speed 30 ft.; Challenge 18 (20,000 XP; PB +6).
Saving Throws Str +12, Dex +10, Con +11, Wis +8, Cha +10; Skills Athletics +18, Insight +8, Persuasion +10, Perception +8; Senses passive Perception 18; Languages Common and the court tongues of Britain and France.
Traits
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Lancelot fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.
Armour Mastery. While he wears heavy armor, each instance of nonmagical Bludgeoning, Piercing or Slashing damage he takes is reduced by 5 (minimum 0).
Master of the Lance. While mounted, Lancelot has Advantage on melee attack rolls against an unmounted creature smaller than his mount.
Actions
Multiattack. Lancelot makes three attacks with his longsword or two with his lance.
Longsword (Arondight). Melee Attack Roll: +14 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (1d8 + 8) Slashing plus 9 (2d8) Radiant damage while wielding the enchanted sword in one hand alongside his shield. An ordinary longsword instead makes a +12 attack for 10 (1d8 + 6) Slashing damage.
Lance. Melee Attack Roll: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (1d12 + 6) Piercing damage, or 19 (2d12 + 6) if Lancelot moved at least 20 feet straight toward the target while mounted this turn. He has Disadvantage when attacking a creature within 5 feet with this lance.
Challenge to Single Combat (Recharge 5–6). One creature within 30 feet that can hear him must make a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, it has Disadvantage on attack rolls against creatures other than Lancelot until the end of his next turn. A target immune to being Charmed is unaffected.
Bonus Action
Rally an Ally (2/Day). One ally within 30 feet that can hear Lancelot gains 15 temporary Hit Points.
Reaction
Parry. When a melee attack would hit Lancelot, he adds 4 to his AC against that attack; he must see the attacker and hold a weapon.
Legendary Actions
Lancelot has 3 legendary-action uses and regains them at the start of his turn. He can use one after another creature’s turn: Advance (1 Use) — move up to half his Speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks; Sword Strike (2 Uses) — make one longsword attack; Guard a Companion (1 Use) — one ally within 5 feet gains +2 AC until the start of Lancelot’s next turn.
Running Lancelot. He challenges a dangerous enemy and keeps allies out of harm. He can be defeated without being killed: protecting Guinevere, Arthur’s trust and an innocent person should be more important than defeating an unbeatable stat block. These are custom campaign stats, not official source material.
Sir Lancelot — D&D 5e / 2014
Medium humanoid (human), Lawful Good; legendary knight, campaign adaptation
Armor Class 22 (+2 plate, shield); Hit Points 252 (24d10 + 120); Speed 30 ft.; Challenge 18 (20,000 XP; PB +6).
Saving Throws Str +12, Dex +10, Con +11, Wis +8, Cha +10; Skills Athletics +18, Insight +8, Persuasion +10, Perception +8; Senses passive Perception 18; Languages Common and the court tongues of Britain and France.
Traits
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Lancelot fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.
Armour Mastery. While he wears heavy armor, each instance of nonmagical Bludgeoning, Piercing or Slashing damage he takes is reduced by 5 (minimum 0).
Master of the Lance. While mounted, Lancelot has Advantage on melee attack rolls against an unmounted creature smaller than his mount.
Actions
Multiattack. Lancelot makes three attacks with his longsword or two with his lance.
Longsword (Arondight). Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (1d8 + 8) Slashing plus 9 (2d8) Radiant damage while wielding the enchanted sword in one hand alongside his shield. An ordinary longsword instead makes a +12 attack for 10 (1d8 + 6) Slashing damage.
Lance. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (1d12 + 6) Piercing damage, or 19 (2d12 + 6) if Lancelot moved at least 20 feet straight toward the target while mounted this turn. He has Disadvantage when attacking a creature within 5 feet with this lance.
Challenge to Single Combat (Recharge 5–6). One creature within 30 feet that can hear him must make a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, it has Disadvantage on attack rolls against creatures other than Lancelot until the end of his next turn. A target immune to being Charmed is unaffected.
Bonus Action
Rally an Ally (2/Day). One ally within 30 feet that can hear Lancelot gains 15 temporary Hit Points.
Reaction
Parry. When a melee attack would hit Lancelot, he adds 4 to his AC against that attack; he must see the attacker and hold a weapon.
Legendary Actions
Lancelot has 3 legendary-action uses and regains them at the start of his turn. He can use one after another creature’s turn: Advance (1 Use) — move up to half his Speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks; Sword Strike (2 Uses) — make one longsword attack; Guard a Companion (1 Use) — one ally within 5 feet gains +2 AC until the start of Lancelot’s next turn.
Running Lancelot. He challenges a dangerous enemy and keeps allies out of harm. He can be defeated without being killed: protecting Guinevere, Arthur’s trust and an innocent person should be more important than defeating an unbeatable stat block. These are custom campaign stats, not official source material.
Sir Lancelot — Pathfinder 1e
Sir Lancelot du Lac CR 19 (custom Fighter 20)
XP 204,800; Male human Fighter 20
LG Medium humanoid (human); Init +8; Senses Perception +17
Defense
AC 38, touch 16, flat-footed 34 (+14 armor, +5 shield, +4 Dex, +3 natural, +2 deflection); hp 210 (20d10 + 100); Fort +20, Ref +13, Will +13; DR 5/— while armored (armor mastery).
Offense
Speed 30 ft. in armor; Melee Arondight +38/+33/+28/+23 (1d8 + 20 Slashing, 17–20/×2), treated as a +5 longsword; Mounted masterwork lance +28/+23/+18/+13 (1d8 + 7, ×3); Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with lance).
Tactics
Before Combat Lancelot checks the route of retreat and arranges a rescue horse. During Combat he holds the enemy’s strongest fighter while others escape. Morale he risks defeat rather than surrender someone in his protection.
Statistics
Str 24, Dex 18, Con 20, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 16; Base Atk +20; CMB +27; CMD 43
Feats Weapon Focus (longsword), Greater Weapon Focus (longsword), Weapon Specialization (longsword), Greater Weapon Specialization (longsword), Improved Critical (longsword), Power Attack, Cleave, Great Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Shield Focus, Improved Shield Bash, Mounted Combat, Ride-By Attack, Spirited Charge, Leadership, Iron Will, Toughness, Critical Focus, Step Up, Lunge, Vital Strike (22 including human and Fighter bonus feats).
Skills Climb +28, Ride +25, Perception +17, Intimidate +26; Languages Common and court tongues.
Gear +5 full plate, +3 heavy shield, +5 longsword (Arondight adaptation), ring of protection +2, amulet of natural armor +3, cloak of resistance +3, masterwork lance.
Special Abilities
Bravery +5; Armor Training 4; Weapon Training (heavy blades) +4; Armor Mastery; Weapon Mastery (longsword). Base features follow the Pathfinder 1e Fighter. The sword’s name and enchantment are campaign equipment; this is not the same build as the preserved epic 3.5e Cavalier.
Sir Lancelot — D&D 3.5e, Epic
Sir Lancelot du Lac CR 30 (original author-permitted epic campaign adaptation)
Male human Fighter 20/Cavalier 10; LG Medium humanoid
Init +9; Senses Spot +8
Defense
AC 21, touch 11, flat-footed 20 (masterwork plate, shield and +1 Dexterity; corrects the flat-footed value in the preserved source); hp 350 (original adventure’s value, not a recalculated average); Fort +23, Ref +16, Will +14.
Offense
Speed 20 ft.; Melee lance +38/+33/+28/+23 (1d8+7, 19–20/×3) or longsword +37/+32/+27/+22 (1d8+7, 17–20/×2); Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with lance).
Tactics
Mounted Assault. This epic Fighter/Cavalier conversion includes charge abilities and a special mount. Challenge an enemy leader, but remember the knight’s loyalty to Guinevere may complicate any order from Arthur.
Statistics
Str 24, Dex 20, Con 20; Base Atk +25; Grapple +37; Gear lance, sword, three magical shields and ring. These values are retained from the original licensed fan campaign adaptation, not recomputed as a Pathfinder Fighter.
Special Abilities
Epic Cavalier. Burst of speed, full mounted attack, mounted weapon bonus +3, unstoppable charge 5/day and the original named equipment all remain in the detailed attributed source below. Use that full archival build to resolve specialised abilities; this compact block is a reference index, not a replacement.
What Is Lancelot Doing Now?
Lancelot has returned to Camelot after escorting an injured knight home. A servant has warned him that someone is questioning the queen’s messengers. Arthur has asked for his help on the borders, but Lancelot suspects leaving court will put Guinevere at risk. He has not yet decided whom to trust.
Two Letters, One Rider
A courier carries a sealed royal order and a private letter addressed to Lancelot. Both bear the same handwriting. The party can deliver the letters, compare the seals or stop a knight who wants to confiscate them. If the message reaches the wrong person, Guinevere may have to answer questions in open court.
A Knight at the Bridge
A wounded traveller says a mounted knight attacked him outside Camelot. Witnesses claim the attacker wore Lancelot’s colours. If the party investigates, Lancelot will help them find the impostor, but insists on keeping one name out of the inquiry. The culprit may be a rival knight—or someone testing whether Lancelot will break an oath to protect the queen.
Source context: Lancelot’s upbringing, arrival at Arthur’s court and devotion to Guinevere develop across the Old French Vulgate cycle. These encounters are original situations; they need not end like the romances.
In the French Lancelot romances, King Ban’s realm is lost, and the Lady of the Lake takes his infant son into her enchanted domain. She raises Lancelot and teaches him the skills of a knight before bringing him to Arthur’s court. This upbringing belongs to the later French romance tradition, not every early British account of Arthur.
At the age of eighteen, the Lady of the Lake gave him a magic ring (which modified his AC by +3 and bestowed a 10% magic resistance), presented him to King Arthur in the presence of Gawain whereupon having been knighted he undertook the healing of a badly wounded warrior. Although he was the model of honour, chivalry and fidelity he was latter the adulterous lover of Guinevere, Queen and wife to King Arthur,
Lancelot presents himself as Arthur’s best friend despite his desires and he tries hard to resist temptation. His initial resistance and his friendship with the King ultimately add impact to the manner in which Lancelot’s actions are viewed, and the depth of the King’s pain.
Guinevere’s favour gives Lancelot reason to win renown, yet returning to Camelot also makes him vulnerable. His greatest victories often occur away from court, rescuing prisoners or defeating other knights. In play, the characters can meet him on the road before either the queen’s secrets or his loyalty to Arthur becomes public.
Lancelot’s reputation is formidable, but he is not undefeated in every version of the story. His son Galahad surpasses him in the Grail quest. In the Vulgate and later romances, Galahad is conceived when Elaine of Corbenic uses an enchantment that makes Lancelot believe she is Guinevere. This is deception and sexual coercion, not a freely chosen love affair.
In Chrétien de Troyes’ The Knight of the Cart, Lancelot pursues Meleagant after Guinevere is abducted. Older Welsh traditions tell an abduction story involving Melwas; the details should not be silently combined. Lancelot’s love for Guinevere becomes the central conflict of the French romances. It does not automatically strip him of paladin class abilities unless the GM chooses that consequence for a particular ruleset.
Elaine of Corbenic desires Lancelot, but he does not freely choose her. In the later romances an enchantment makes him believe she is Guinevere. Their son is Galahad. The deception has lasting consequences for Lancelot, and his withdrawal from court is part of his wider troubled story.
His presence was missed so much that both King Arthur and Guinevere spent fabulous sums searching for him, eventually finding the sad knight and convincing him to return to Camelot and the Round Table. This proved disastrous, for having known Guinevere’s physical
love once, he was not be able to resist it forever.
Having learned of his true status Lancelot eventually returned to Arthur’s court and became Guinevere’s lover. Morgan le Fay revealed the truth of their relationship to Arthur, and Lancelot was sought. Again the same legend tells that he appeared at court many months later as a weakened man saying that he had been held prisoner by Morgan, who had stolen his ring, which she had used against him to prove of his affair. Peace resumed but the adulterous affair continued, and Lancelot was seen as a man who had lied to his king.
Launcelot is the perfect gentleman, always courteous to those he meets and willing to give all strangers the benefit of the doubt. He is extremely charming and will gladly befriend any person who would befriend him, provided that friendship does not encroach on his loyalties to Arthur or Guinevere. Those who mistake his mild manner for cowardice, however, will soon see that this is not the case, for Launcelot is fearless in battle.
Hellawes, also known as the Lady of the Castle Nigramours, of Necromancy, is said to be a spurned lover of Lancelot.
Original 5e and epic 3.5e Lancelot builds, art and extended equipment
Lancelot du Lac
Kain’s 5e Monstrous Manual – Page 10 – Dicefreaks
Lancelot du Lac
Medium humanoid (human), lawful good
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Armor Class 26 (plate, shield)
Hit Points 286 (22d8 + 110)
Speed 30 ft.
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STR 22 (+6) DEX 18 (+4) CON 20 (+5) INT 14 (+2) WIS 14 (+2) CHA 18 (+4)
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Saving Throws Strength +12, Con +11, Wis +8, Cha +10
Skills Athletics +18, Acrobatics +10, Intimidation +10
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, slashing from non-magical weapons
Senses passive Perception 12
Languages Common
Treasure Arondight, lance, plate armor, shield
Challenge 20 (25,000 XP)
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Armor Mastery Lancelot takes 5 less damage from weapon attacks when wearing heavy armor.
Indomitable. Lancelot has advantage on saving throws.
Mounted Combatant. While mounted, Lancelot has advantage on melee attack rolls against any unmounted creature that is smaller than his mount. He can force an attack targeted at his mount to target him instead. If his mount is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if it fails.
Weapon Mastery. A weapon deals two extra die of its damage when Lancelot hits with it (included in the attack).
ACTIONS
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Multiattack. Lancelot makes four melee attacks.
Arondight. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 25 (3d10 + 9) slashing damage and 27 (6d8) radiant damage.
Lance. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 25 (3d12 + 6) piercing damage.
Shield Bash. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (3d4 + 6) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a Medium or smaller creature, it must succeed on a DC 20 Strength check or be knocked prone.
Leadership (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). For 10 minutes, Lancelot can utter a special command or warning whenever a non hostile creature that he can see within 30 feet of him makes an attack roll or a saving throw. The creature can add a d6 to its roll provided it can hear and understand Lancelot.
A creature can benefit from only one Leadership die at a time. This effect ends if Lancelot is incapacitated.
REACTIONS
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Parry. Lancelot adds 6 to his AC against one melee attack that would hit him. To do so, he must see the attacker and be wielding a melee weapon.
Sir Lancelot
Used with permissiom from Paolo
As seen in Paolo’s thread at Dicefreaks
| Lancelot | |
| fighter 20, Cavalier 10 | |
| Medium humanoid | |
| Hit Dice | 30 d10 + 30 + 150 (350 hp) |
| Initiative | +9 (+4,+5 Dexterity) |
| Speed | 20 ft |
| AC | 21 (+8 full plate mastersmith armour, +1 Dexterity, +2 heavy steel shield), touch 11, flat-footed 21 |
| Base Attack/Grapple | +25/37 |
| Attack | lance +38 (1d8 + 7, 19-20 x3) or longsword +37 (1d8 + 7, 17-20×2) melee, or +35 ranged |
| Full Attack | lance +38/33/28/23 (1d8 + 7, 19-20×3) or longsword +37/32/27/22 (1d8 + 7, 17-20×2) melee, or +35/30/25/20 ranged |
| Space/Reach | 5 ft. x 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks | full mounted attack, mounted weapon bonus (lance, sword) +3, unstoppable charge 5/day, |
| Special Qualities | burst of speed, special mount, |
| Saves | Fort +23, Ref +16, Will +14. |
| Abilities | Strength 24, Dexterity 20, Constitution 20, Intelligence 12, Wisdom 11, Charisma 22 |
| Skills | Climb +17, Diplomacy +16, Handle Animal+21, Intimidate +21, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) + 21, Jump +17, Ride +33, Swim +16, |
| Feats | Cleave, Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Initiative, Improved critical (lance), Improved critical (longsword), Improved Shield Bash, Improved Sunder, Mounted Combat, Power Attack, Ride-by-attack, Spirited charge, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus (lance, +1), |
| Epic Feats | Dire Charge, Epic Prowess x5, Epic Toughness |
| Climate/Terrain | Camelot or wandering in a quest |
| Organization | Solitary, or with Arthur and 1d6 knights |
| Challenge Rating | 30 |
| Treasure | see possessions |
| Alignment | lawful good |
Note as the best warrior of the round table in the time before his banishment Lancelot may have access to masterwork armor and weapons, giving him an additional +1 bonus on attack rolls and a +1 bonus on armor check penalties
Full mounted attack
Lancelot can make a full attack when his mount moves more than 5 feet, but no farther than a single move action would carry it. He cannot combine this full attack with a charge
Burst of speed
Lancelot may urge his mount to greater than normal speed when charging, doubling the maximum distance the mount can travel when making a charge, up to four times its speed.
Mounted weapon bonus: Lancelot has a +3 bonus on attack rolls with sword and lance while mounted.
Unstoppable charge
5/day, while mounted and using the charge action, Lancelot may attempt an unstoppable charge. If he hits, he deals quadruple damage with a melee weapon, or quintuple with a lance. If he misses the attack roll, the attempt is failed and can’t be tried again. This ability does not stack with the spirited charge feat.
Possessions
Magic ring of 50% Spell Resistance
Three magic shields
- The first, with a single red band, may cure 2d8 + 10 hp once per day and rise by five points the strength of the wielder once per day for ten rounds.
- The second, with two red bands, may cure 3d8 + 15 hp once per day and rise by seven points the strength of the wielder twice per day for ten rounds.
- The third, with three red bands, may cure 5d8 + 20 hp once per day and rise by nine points the strength of the wielder three times per day for ten rounds.
Arondight
The sword of Lancelot
Lancelot on Screen
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