Bloodline

A sorcerer with an infernal bloodline.

A bloodline is a taxonomic term for identifying the inherited source of certain abilities. In the most common examples, bloodragers, sorcerers, and some arcanists derive their magic abilities from their bloodlines.

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As magical abilities

As a bloodline-derived spellcaster gradually masters their abilities, they may learn spells, gain supernatural powers and spell-like abilities, and sometimes even manifest physiological characteristics reflecting the historical source of their inherited power. Sorcerers claiming an aquatic bloodline, for example, have demonstrated a marked affinity for water-based magic, and there are verifiable accounts of such aquatic sorcerers whose very bodies have developed abilities to withstand the cold and pressure of a deep-water environment.

Sorcerer and bloodrager bloodlines

Although both are called bloodline, and can even derive from similar backgrounds—for example, celestial or arcane—bloodlines exhibit themselves in bloodragers differently from how they manifest in sorcerers. Furthermore, some bloodlines seem to manifest in sorcerers only or bloodragers only.

On Golarion

At least 30 independent bloodlines are widely known to exist across Golarion, most involving a progenitor of highly advanced magical ability or belonging to an arcane or extraplanar race. Some theorize that a few regions may have additional bloodlines native to and largely confined to such regions, but it is well-established that certain regions tend to spawn bloodline-derived spellcasters claiming to have descended from specific bloodlines: the sorcerers of Geb, for example, are highly likely to assert that their powers derive from undead bloodlines, although this is by no means a theory of wide scientific acceptance.

Races and bloodlines

Gnome sorcerers are often of the primal tradition, drawing power from their connection to their fey origins.

Kobolds have a special connection to dragons, possibly making them become draconic sorcerers more often than other races.

Due to azarketi's connection to alghollthus' occult magic, it is not uncommon for azarketis to be aberrant sorcerers.

Changelings carry the potential for occult sorcery via their hag blood.

Dhampir sorcerers are often of the undead bloodline.

cambion sorcerers usually draw their powers from their fiendish blood.

Fetchling sorcerers are usually of the shadow bloodline due to their connection to the Netherworld.

Many sylphs are sorcerers with draconic or elemental bloodlines.

Most undine sorcerers possess the elemental or genie bloodlines.