A laboratory contains magical and alchemical equipment suited to research and experimentation as well as various containers—crates, barrels, bottles—holding materials and reagents used in the experiments.

Stronghold Feat: You immediately learn one new cantrip or spell at the highest spell level which you have access to, chosen from one of your class spell lists. In addition, once between long rests you can use a bonus action to regain a spell slot of a spell level equal to half your proficiency bonus.

At Grade 4, while using your laboratory the time required to relearn a class feature from the sorcerer , warlock , or wizard class is reduced by half.

At Grade 5, while using your laboratory the time required to retrain an archetype from the sorcerer, warlock, or wizard class is reduced to 1 month.

Best Suited For: Sorcerer, warlock, wizard

Minimum Size: 1,001 square feet (Grade 2)

Minimum Quality: Luxurious

Followers Available: Apothecary, diviner, interpreter, porter, sage, torchbearer

A menagerie contains animals, monsters, and exotic wildlife from around the world. Usually these animals are kept for display, but many druids and rangers operate animal sanctuaries or veterinary services.

Rural: A menagerie can be either a building or a rural stronghold.

Stronghold Feat: Once per long rest , you can use an action to heal a familiar or animal companion you touch, which regains 3d8 hit points. In addition, you gain an expertise die whenever you make an ability check related to animals.

At Grade 4, you can heal a familiar or animal companion using your stronghold feat once per short or long rest. In addition, once per long rest you can spend 1 minute tending to a familiar or animal companion to restore it to its hit point maximum.

At Grade 5, you gain advantage on checks made to identify the lore and legends of a creature you can see.

Best Suited For: Druid , ranger

Minimum Size: 1,001 square feet or 6 acres (Grade 2)

Minimum Quality: Frugal

Followers Available: Healer, minstrel, teamster, torchbearer

A sacred grove which you tend to during downtime helps to attune you to nature. A sacred grove can be as small as a carefully cultivated herb garden or as large as an entire forest. Many castles have a small sacred grove on their lands, often with a symbolic tree or other feature.

Rural: A sacred grove is a rural stronghold.

Stronghold Feat: Choose one skill you are proficient with. If you are in natural, outdoor surroundings you gain an expertise die whenever you make an ability check using the chosen skill.

At Grade 2 and each Grade afterward, choose an additional skill you are proficient with to benefit from this stronghold feat.

At Grade 4, you learn the commune with nature spell if you do not already know it, and you may cast it once between long rests without expending a spell slot.

At Grade 5, you gain an expertise die whenever you make an ability check if you are in natural, outdoor surroundings.

Best Suited For: Druid

Minimum Size: 1 acre (Grade 1)

Minimum Quality: Frugal

Followers Available: Apothecary, diviner, healer, sage, teamster, torchbearer

A castle is a fortified building and a symbol of power; castles range from small wooden keeps to imposing citadels. Usually featuring reinforced walls and often surrounded by a moat or other defensive feature, a castle is designed to protect the occupants from invading forces.

Stronghold Feat: You gain a coat of arms, which can be displayed on your shield or on the flag of a squire bearing your standard (if you have one). Allies who can see your coat of arms gain advantage on saving throws against fear .

At Grade 5, your coat of arms can inspire your allies. When an ally able to see your coat of arms makes a successful saving throw against fear, they gain inspiration.

Best Suited For: Fighter , marshal

Minimum Size: 5,001 square feet (Grade 3)

Minimum Quality: Average

Followers Available: Cook, interpreter, minstrel, porter, smith, squire, torchbearer