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Monastic Traditions

At third level, a monk gains the Monastic Tradition feature. The following options are avaiable to a monk, in addition to those offered in the Player's Handbook: the Way of the Natural Elements

Way of the Natural Elements

Monks of the Way of the Natural Elements learn to merge their sense of self with their connection to the natural environments. Practitioners of this art channel their natural energies and the energies in the elements around them to bend the force of nature. Powerful monks of this way can even strengthen their spells with their innate ki. Monks following this tradition often adorn themselves with animal furs, and scavenged plant material.

Way of the Natural Elements Features
Monk Level Features
3rd Spellcasting, One with Nature
6th Monastic Casting
11th Force of Nature
17th Incarnation of the Elements

Spellcasting

When you choose this monastic tradition at 3rd level, you augment you martial arts with spellcasting abilities. See chapter 10 for general rules of spellcasting, and chapter 11 for the druid spell list. When you cast spells you ignore material components, however you cannot cast spells that have a monetary material.

Cantrips. You learn two cantrips of your choice from the Druid spell list. You choose a third cantrip at 11th level.

Spell Slots. The Way of the Natural Elements spellcasting table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your spells of 1st level or higher. To cast one of these spells, you must a slot of the spell’s level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest.

Spells known of 1st-level or higher. You know three 1st-level druid spells of your choice, two of which you must choose from the evocation and transmutation spells on the druid spell list.

The Spells Known column of the Way of the Natural Elements Spellcasting table shows when you learn more druid spells of 1st level or higher. Each of these spells must be an evocation and transmutation spell of your choice, and must be of a level for which you have spell slots. For instance, when you reach 7th level in this class, you can learn one new spell of 1st or 2nd level.

The spells you learn at 8th, 14th, and 20th level can come from any school of magic.

Whenever you gain a level in this class, you can replace one of the druid spells you know with another spell of your choice from the druid spell list. The new spell must be of a level for which you have spell slots, and it must be an evocation and transmutation spell, unless you’re replacing the spell you gained at 8th, 14th, or 20th level.

Spellcasting Ability. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for your druid spells, since you learn your spells through your meditation and communing with nature. You use your Wisdom whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Wisdom modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a druid spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.

Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier

Spell attack modifier = Your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier

One with Nature

At 3rd level, you strengthen your bond with nature. You may expend a ki point as a bonus action to give yourself advantage on an animal handling check, a survival check, or a nature check.

Monastic Casting

At 6th level, you combine your martial arts abilities with you casting abilities. After using an action to cast a spell, you may make an unarmed strike as a bonus action. Additionally, you may expend a Ki point to use Flurry of Blows, Patient Defense, or Step of the Wind.

Force of Nature

At 11th level, you learn to combine your magical and monastic abilities to strengthen your spells. When you expend a spell slot to cast a spell, you may use 2 ki points to increase the level of the spell cast by one.

Incarnation of the Elements

At 17th level, your mastery of natural energies allows you to infuse your being with the fury of one of the elements. As an action, you may expend 8 ki points to cast a spell from the following list: Investiture of Flame, Investiture of Ice, Investiture of Stone, or Investiture of Wind.

Way of the Natural Elements Spellcasting
Monk Level Cantrips Known Spells Known 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
3rd 2 3 2
4th 2 4 3
5th 2 4 3
6th 2 4 3
7th 2 5 4 2
8th 2 6 4 2
9th 2 6 4 2
10th 2 7 4 3
11th 3 8 4 3
12th 3 8 4 3
13th 3 9 4 3 2
14th 3 10 4 3 2
15th 3 10 4 3 2
16th 3 11 4 3 3
17th 3 11 4 3 3
18th 3 11 4 3 3
19th 3 12 4 3 3 2
20th 3 13 4 3 3 2