The mutation manifests in stages. The crown darkens. The back broadens. The musculature hardens into ridged slabs beneath the skin. When fully realized, the dorsal musculature forms a visible pattern, like hammered bronze beneath flesh.

This is called **The Iron Back.**

At Level 1, the player is an Ironback in designation only. The mutation has not fully awakened.

Iron Back progression is permanent and independent of Talents and Mantras.

Tier I is unlocked at level 3
Tier II is unlocked at level 8
Tier III is unlocked at level 15

# IRON BACK
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## Tier I - Dense Plating
- Maximum Posture increases by **+4**.
- Posture Regain per Turn increases by **+1**.
- Reduce Chip Damage taken while Blocking by 10% (after mitigation).
---
## Tier II - Siege Frame
- When Blocking, reduce posture damage taken by an additional **10%** (total 35% reduction).
- When reduced to 0 Posture, you are not Staggered until the **end of the current attack sequence**.
- Maximum HP increases by **+10**.
---
## Tier III - Bastion Physiology
- Once per combat, when reduced to 0 Posture, immediately restore **25% of maximum Posture** instead of becoming Staggered.
- While above 50% Posture:
    - Gain **+5 Blunt AC**
    - Gain **+5 Pierce AC**
    - Gain **+5 Slash AC**
- Blocking an Unblockable attack no longer doubles posture damage (still cannot reduce below 0 AC).


## IRON ARMS
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## Tier I - War Grip
- You count as **two size categories larger** for grapple, pull, shove and drag checks.
- Creatures grappled by you have:
    - -2 to Dodge Throws
    - -2 to Parry Throws
- Unarmed attacks gain **+2 Posture Damage**.
---
## Tier II - Breaker’s Leverage
- When you successfully Block an attack, your next melee attack deals:
    - +1d4 Blunt Damage
    - +3 additional Posture Damage
- When you initiate a grapple, immediately deal posture damage equal to your Constitution Modifier.
- Creatures you shove are pushed an additional **2 meters**.
---
## Tier III - Legion Crusher
- Grappled creatures are treated as **Staggered** against your attacks.
- When you reduce a creature to 0 Posture:
    - You may immediately Grapple or Shove as a free action.
- Unarmed attacks gain **+5% Penetration and +2 posture damage**.


## IRON LEGS
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## Tier I – Rooted Advance
- Gain permanent **Advantage on all forced movement resistance checks**.
- Your movement cannot be reduced below **3 meters** by terrain or slow effects.
- Creatures attempting to move through your space must treat it as difficult terrain.
---
## Tier II – Chokepoint Authority
- Creatures within **3 meters** of you:
    - Have their movement speed reduced by **1.5 meters**.
- When you Block an attack:
    - Adjacent enemies lose **2 Posture**.
- You cannot be flanked.
---
## Tier III - Living Rampart
- Your occupied space counts as **impassable terrain** for enemies unless they win a contested Strength check.
- When you are attacked by 2 or more creatures in one round:
    - Gain **+3 Posture Regain** next turn.
- While you have at least 1 Posture:
    - You cannot be knocked Prone or forcibly displaced by creatures of Large size or smaller.

## Related notes
- [[Players/IRONBACK KHAN/IRONBACK KHAN|Character sheet]]