Masters of Body, Mind, & Spirit

While most warriors work toward physical perfection, Monks hone body and mind to work in tandem. With both aspects of themselves mastered, a Monk is able to channel the spiritual energy within themselves, their Ki. Drawing upon this power, these reclusive warriors can perform supernatural feats.

Looking always inward, Monks often eschew any material possession they cannot carry on their backs, instead focusing on immaterial riches. Whether enlightenment, happiness, a challenging foe, or tests of might, all Monks have an ideal or goal that propels them to greater heights of spiritual mastery.

Mystic Asceticism

Often trained in hidden monasteries or by reclusive masters, Monks must often give up any inheritance or titles in order to be accepted as monastic students. Some grandmasters even require years of servitude and dedication to the monastery before they will even begin to train a new pupil. Once begun, a Monk's training does not stop until they die. They put all of their heart, mind, and soul into their quest for a perfect self.

Even the greatest monastic masters will sometimes seek out other monasteries, entering as a novice, even in old age. The quest for perfection is never ending, and despite great spiritual progress, the greatest view themselves as novices,
    eager to progress on the next step to enlightenment.

Hit Points

• Hit Dice: 1d10 per Monk level
• Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + your Constitution modifier.
• Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your Constitution modifier per Monk level after 1st

Proficiencies

• Armor: None
• Weapons: Simple weapons, shortswords
• Tools: One set of artisan's tools or musical instrument

• Saving Throws: Strength, Dexterity
• Skills: Choose two of the following: Acrobatics, Athletics, History, Insight, Nature, Religion, and Stealth

Equipment

As a Monk, you start with the following equipment, along with the equipment granted to you by your background:

• (a) a shortsword or (b) any simple weapon
• (a) a shortbow and 20 arrows or (b) 20 darts
• (a) a dungeoneer’s pack or (b) an explorer’s pack
• (a) a holy symbol or (b) a musical instrument

Quick Build

You can make a Monk quickly by using these suggestions. First, make Dexterity your highest ability score, followed by Constitution if you wish to focus on physical might, or your Wisdom if you wish to focus on spiritual abilities. Second,
    choose either the Acolyte or Hermit background.

Martial Arts

You honed your body into a weapon, mastering many styles of martial arts. For the purposes of your Monk abilities, Martial Arts attacks are your unarmed strikes and attacks with melee weapons without Heavy or Special properties.

Beginning at 1st level, so long as you are not wearing heavy armor, wielding a shield, or wielding a weapon with the Heavy property, your training grants you the following benefits:

• You can use your Dexterity, in place of Strength, for the attack and damage rolls or your Martial Arts attacks.
• You can use your Dexterity, in place of Strength, when you make an Athletics check to Grapple or Shove a creature.
• When you make a Martial Arts attack, you can roll your Martial Arts Die, a d6, in place of the normal damage die. As you gain Monk levels, the size of this Die grows, as shown in the Martial Arts column of the Monk table. If
  a feature uses this Die, always roll the Martial Arts Die.
• Whenever you take the Attack action and make at least one Martial Arts attack, you can use your bonus action
  on that turn to make a single unarmed strike attack.

Some styles of Martial Arts make use of exotic weapons like nunchaku (clubs), kamas (sickles), or sai (daggers).

Unarmored Defense

You have trained to defend yourself from deadly attacks even when unarmored. Beginning at 1st level, so long as you aren't wearing any armor or wielding a shield, your Armor Class is equal to 10 + your Dexterity and Wisdom modifiers.

Mystic Techniques

At 2nd level, you learn to manipulate the spiritual energy that resides within you, known as Ki. You can draw on your Ki to perform supernatural physical feats known as Techniques:

Upon reaching 5th level, you can attack twice, instead
of once, whenever you take the Attack action.

Moreover, if you use your action to Disengage or
Dash, you can make a single Martial Arts attack
as a bonus action on that same turn.

Arresting Strike

Once per turn when you hit a creature with a melee Martial Arts attack, you can spend 1 Ki to stunt its mobility and force it to make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, its speed is reduced to zero until the beginning of your next turn.

Crippling Strike

Once per turn when you hit a creature with a melee Martial Arts attack, you can spend 1 Ki to cripple its senses and force it to make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, you choose if it is Blinded, Deafened, or unable to speak until the beginning of your next turn.

Dazing Strike

Once per turn when you hit a creature with a melee Martial Arts attack, you can expend 1 Ki to strike its head, forcing it to make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the target must subtract 1d4 from the first ability check, attack roll, or saving throw it makes before the start of your next turn.

Deflect Strike

When you are hit by a melee weapon attack, you can spend 1 Ki as a reaction and reduce the damage by your Monk level + your Martial Arts Die + your Dexterity modifier. If you reduce the damage to zero, you can make an unarmed strike against your attacker as part of the same reaction.

At 11th level, you can use this Technique against any melee attack, including melee spell attacks.

Empowered Strike

Once per turn when you hit a creature with a melee Martial Arts attack, you can spend 1 Ki to strike with great power and force it to make a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, it is knocked back horizontally from you in a line a number of feet equal to 5 times your Wisdom modifier, then falls Prone.

Creatures that are at least one size larger than you have advantage on this Strength saving throw.

Enhanced Grip

Each time a creature starts its turn Grappled by you it takes bludgeoning damage equal to your Martial Arts Die. You can also drag Grappled creatures up to your full speed.

Improvised Strikes

You are adept at fighting with whatever is at hand. You gain proficiency with improvised weapons, and your attacks with improvised weapons count as Martial Arts attacks.

Mystic Regeneration

You can draw on your Ki to stimulate natural healing. As an action, you can spend 2 Ki to regain hit points equal to your Martial Arts Die + your Wisdom modifier.

Patient Defense

You quiet your spirit, entering a defensive stance to better defend against incoming blows. You can spend 1 Ki to take
    the Dodge action as a bonus action on your turn.

Slow Fall

You move through the air as light as a feather. You reduce any falling damage you take by five times your Monk level, so long as you are not Grapled, Incapacitated, or Restrained.

Step of the Wind

You move with the speed of the wind. You can take the Dash or Disengage action as a bonus action. When you do so, your jump distance is doubled until the end of your current turn.

Typhoon Strike

As an action, you can spend 1 Ki strike out at every creature near you. All creatures within reach of an unarmed strike or melee Martial Arts weapon you are wielding must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or take damage of your attack's type equal to your Martial Arts Die + your Dexterity modifier.

Deflect Missile

Prerequisite: 5th-level Monk
When you are hit by a ranged weapon attack you can see, you can use a reaction to reduce the damage by your Monk level + your Martial Arts Die + your Dexterity modifier. If you reduce the damage to zero, you catch the projectile in a free hand.

If you catch it, you can spend 1 Ki to immediately make a ranged (20/60) Martial Arts attack with the projectile as part of the same reaction. You are proficient with this attack.

At 11th level, you can expend 1 Ki to use this Technique on any ranged attack, including ranged spell attacks.

Gentling Touch

Prerequisite: 5th-level Monk
Once per turn in place of an attack, you can expend 1 Ki to touch a creature and manipulate its Ki to put it to sleep. Roll five Martial Arts Dice. If the target's remaining hit points are less than or equal to the total roll, it falls Unconscious for 10 minutes. The creature wakes up if another creature uses its action to wake it, or if it takes any damage.

You can expend additional Ki (up to your Wisdom modifier) to empower this Technique, rolling an additional Martial Arts Die and adding it to the total for each additional Ki spent.

Seeking Strike

Prerequisite: 5th-level Monk
Your spirit can guide your strikes if your body fails. Whenever you miss with a Martial Arts attack, you can spend 1 Ki to roll your attack again, but you must use the new result.

This Technique does not count against the normal limit of one Ki feature or Technique per attack.

Slowing Strike

Prerequisite: 5th-level Monk
Once per turn when you hit a creature with a melee Martial Arts attack, you can spend 1 Ki to assault its Ki flow, forcing it to make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, it suffers the effects of the slow spell until the start of your next turn.

You do not need to concentrate on this effect.

Stunning Strike

Prerequisite: 5th-level Monk
Once per turn when you hit a creature with a melee Martial Arts attack, you can spend 1 Ki to strike body, mind, and soul, forcing it to make a Constitution saving throw. On a failure, it is Stunned until the beginning of your next turn.

Master even more Techniques!

Want to master even more mystical or supernatural Techniques for your Monk? Make sure to check out the Alternate Monk: Expanded, a free supplement for the Alternate Monk that includes a multitude of additional Mystic Techniques for your Monk and nine more Monastic Traditions to choose from!

Way of the Drunken Fist

Where most Monks are serious and contemplative, students of the Drunken Fist seek out joy wherever they go. Masters of a style that mimics the unpredictable movements of a drunk, these Monks will use their considerable skills to play the fool, make others laugh, or bring embarrassment on the prideful.

Harmony Techniques

3rd-level Way of Harmony feature
You learn certain Techniques at the levels noted in the table below. They don't count against your number of Techniques Known and they cannot be switched upon gaining a level:

Monastic Healer

3rd-level Way of Harmony feature
You have studied healing arts both mystic and mundane. You gain proficiency in Insight, Medicine, and the Herbalism Kit. Whenever you make an ability check with these proficiencies you gain a bonus to your roll equal to your Martial Arts die.

Touch of Life

3rd-level Way of Harmony feature
You can stimulate the Ki of other creatures to mystically heal. Once on each of your turns, you can forgo an unarmed strike, spend 1 Ki, and touch another creature. It regains hit points equal to your Martial Arts Die + your Wisdom modifier.

This feature has no effect on Constructs or Undead.

Touch of Death

3rd-level Way of Harmony feature
You can also assault the Ki of others to cause harm. Once per turn when you hit a creature with an unarmed strike, you can expend 1 Ki to deal additional necrotic damage equal to your Martial Arts Die. This deals radiant damage to Undead.

Mystic Manipulation

6th-level Way of Harmony feature
Your ability to affect the Ki of others has grown, allowing you to manipulate more intricate afflictions. When you use Touch of Life, you can also cure a disease or end either the Blinded, Deafened, Paralyzed, Poisoned, or Stunned condition.

Moreover, whenever you use Touch of Death, you can cause the creature to be Poisoned until the end of your next turn.

Harmonious Touch

10th-level Way of Harmony feature
The harmony within your own spirit empowers your mystical abilities. When you use Touch of Life or Touch of Death, you can spend additional Ki (up to your Wisdom modifier) to add one Martial Arts Die to the hit points restored or the damage dealt per additional Ki spent.

Master of Harmony

17th-level Way of Harmony feature
You can restore harmony to life even if it has been shattered by death. As an action, you can touch a creature that has died within the last 24 hours and expend 6 Ki to return it to life.

When you do so, the creature also regains a number of hit points equal to your Monk level + your Wisdom modifier and any conditions afflicting it at the time of its death are ended.

                     Once you use this on a creature, that creature
                                     must complete a long rest before it can
                                               benefit from this feature again.

Open Hand Techniques

3rd-level Way of the Open Hand feature
You learn certain Techniques at the Monk levels noted in the table below, but they do not count against your total number of Techniques Known.

Also, each time you gain a Monk level, you can replace one of these Techniques with another Strike Technique that you meet the prerequisites for. Strike Techniques are those that can be used when you hit with a melee Martial Arts attack.

Practiced Strikes

3rd-level Way of the Open Hand feature
Rigorous discipline has made your abilities second nature. Once on each of your turns when you hit with an
unarmed strike, you can use a Strike Technique
you know without expending the normal Ki.

You can use your Strike Techniques in this way
a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier
(a minimum of once), and you
regain all expended uses
when you finish
a long rest.

Ebb and Flow

6th-level Way of the Open Hand feature
You have trained to redirect your enemy's momentum against them. When a creature you can see misses you with a melee attack, you can use one of the following reactions:

Toppling Blow. The creature must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw against your Technique save DC or it falls Prone and its speed is 0 until the end of its turn. Any creature larger than you has advantage on this saving throw.

Swift Reprisal. You make one unarmed strike against it.

Open Hand Strike

10th-level Way of the Open Hand feature
Your strikes disrupt the flow of Ki. If you score a critical hit with an unarmed strike, the creature has disadvantage on any saving throw that you force it to make as part of that attack.

Master of Many Forms

10th-level Way of the Open Hand feature
During each long rest, you can spend 10 minutes practicing martial arts to replace one Technique you know with another Technique which you meet the prerequisites for.

Master of the Open Hand

17th-level Way of the Open Hand feature
You have become an unparalleled master of unarmed martial
     arts and are able to strike with overwhelming power and
            wondrous speed. Whenever you use Flurry of Blows,
                   Swift Reprisal, or make an opportunity attack you
                          can make one additional unarmed strike.

Way of Radiance

Legends tell of wandering sages who channel bursts of light from within their bodies. These disciples of Radiance have such fine control over their spirit that they can assault others with luminous blasts of Ki. These wondrous warriors travel the land promoting harmony and justice among all peoples.

Reaper Techniques

3rd-level Way of the Reaper feature
You learn certain Techniques at the levels noted in the
table below. They do not count against your number of Techniques Known and they cannot be switched out:

Frightful Touch

3rd-level Way of the Reaper feature
You can channel deathly Ki to infect foes with fear of
death. Once per turn when you hit a creature with
a melee Martial Arts attack, you can spend 1 Ki to
force the creature to make a Wisdom saving throw
against your Technique save DC. On a failure, it is
Frightened of you until the start of your next turn.

Warrior of Death

3rd-level Way of the Reaper feature
Your affinity with deathly Ki has completely suffused
your body, mind, and spirit, granting certain benefits:

Necrotic Body. You can cause your unarmed strikes to deal necrotic damage in place of bludgeoning, and you gain resistance to necrotic damage.

Necrotic Mind. You have advantage on saving throws to resist and end the Frightened condition.

Necrotic Spirit. Should you die, your corpse falls under the effects of the gentle repose spell for a number of days equal to the Ki you had remaining when you died.

Pierce the Veil

6th-level Way of the Reaper feature
Your deep knowledge of death allows you to communicate with creatures who have passed. As an action, you can touch a corpse and expend Ki (up to your Wisdom modifier). For each Ki spent, you can ask the corpse a single question, as per the rules of the speak with dead spell.

However, once you use this feature on a corpse, you can't target that corpse with this feature again. Like speak with dead, the corpse is not required to respond to you.

Sinister Vitality

6th-level Way of the Reaper feature
The pain of death gives you life. Once per turn when you deal necrotic damage to a living creature, you can gain temporary hit points equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of 1).

While you have temporary hit points from this feature, you are resistant to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage
    from non-magial and non-silvered attacks.

Alternate Rule: Gem Dragons

In some settings, esoteric Gem Dragons can impart psionic power to Rising Dragon Monks. If your DM agrees, you can choose force, necrotic, psychic, or radiant as your Element with Draconic Disciple.

DMs should note, these rarely resisted Element options would mark an increase in power if used.

Eyes of Night

3rd-level Way of the Shadow Arts feature
You have adapted to use your skill under cover of darkness. You gain Darkvision out to a radius of 60 feet, and you have advantage on Stealth checks to hide in darkness.

If you already have Darkvision from your race or another feature, its range increases by 30 feet.

Shadow Techniques

3rd-level Way of the Shadow Arts feature
You learn certain Techniques at the levels noted in the table below. They don't count against your number of Techniques Known and they cannot be switched upon gaining a level:

Shadow Arts

3rd-level Way of the Shadow Arts feature
You can use your Ki to reproduce the effects of certain spells: darkness, darkvision, pass without trace ^ll, or silence. Your body is your Spellcasting focus for the spells,
and Wisdom is your Spellcating ability. You
can see through darkness you create with
these spells as if it were daylight.

You can cast each of these spells once in
between each long rest at no cost, after that,
you can muse expend 2 Ki
to cast it again.

Shadow Step

6th-level Way of the Shadow Arts feature
You move undetected through the darkness, and can step from one shadow into another. When you are in dim light or darkness, you can use a bonus action to teleport up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space you can see that is also in dim light or darkness. After teleporting, you have advantage on the first Martial Arts attack you make before the end of that turn.

Cloak of Shadows

10th-level Way of the Shadow Arts feature
You can cloak yourself with Ki and merge with the shadows. When you are in dim light or darkness, you can use an action to become invisible, and you remain invisible until you attack, cast a spell, or move into an area of bright light.

If a creature moves into your reach while you are invisible, you can make one opportunity attack against it as a reaction. These opportunity attacks only end your invisibility if you hit the target. If the attack misses, you remain invisible.

Master of Shadows

17th-level Way of the Shadow Arts feature
You are an unrivaled master of the Shadow Arts, and wield dark powers which mark you as a true Master of Shadows. You gain the following benefits:

• You can cast your Shadow Arts spells at will, without Ki.
• The range of your Shadow Step increases to 120 feet.
• You can use your Cloak of Shadows as a bonus action.
• You can cast both greater invisibility and shadow of moil once between each long rest at no cost, after which, you must spend 4 Ki to cast that spell again.

Shining Techniques

3rd-level Way of Shining Steel feature
You learn certain Techniques at the levels noted in the table below. They don't count against your number of Techniques Known and they cannot be switched upon gaining a level:

Signature Weapons

3rd-level Way of Shining Steel feature
While every weapon is deadly in your hands, you strive for mastery over a select few. Choose one melee weapon without the Heavy or Special properties and one ranged weapon to be your Signature Weapons. You are proficient in your Signature Weapons if you were not already, and your attacks with these weapons count as Martial Arts attacks.

You can choose an additional Signature Weapon when you reach 6th, 10th, and 17th level in this class.

Deadly Perfection

3rd-level Way of Shining Steel feature
Your relentless pursuit of perfection allows you to use the following features while wielding a Signature Weapon:

Masterful Aim. As a bonus action, you can calm your
spirit to mystically increase your accuracy. Until the end
of your current turn, you treat Signature Weapon attack
rolls of 7 or lower on the d20 as 8s.

Masterful Parry. When a creature you can see hits
you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction
to add your Wisdom modifier (minimum of +1)
to your Armor Class against that attack.

Shining Steel

6th-level Way of Shining Steel feature
Mastery over your Signature Weapons allows your Ki to flow through them as if they were an extension of your body. Your Signature Weapons gain the following benefits:

Ki Blade. You can choose for your Signature Weapons to deal radiant damage in place of their normal damage type.

Perfect Strike. Once on each of your turns when you hit with a Signature Weapon attack you can spend 1 Ki to deal bonus damage equal to your Martial Arts Die.

Steel Wind. When you Flurry of Blows you can replace one unarmed strike with a Signature Weapon attack.

Spirit Blade

10th-level Way of Shining Steel feature
You can imbue your Signature Weapons with deadly Ki. Over the course of a long rest, you can spend 1 hour performing a mystical ritual on your Signature Weapons, infusing each of them with Ki (up to your Wisdom modifier).

The critical hit range of your Signature Weapons increases depending on the Ki you infuse each with, as shown below:

Way of the Wu Jen

Rather than focus inward, some Monks attune themselves to the forces of nature. Known as Wu Jens, these primal sages augment their skills with the power of the five elements; Air, Earth, Fire, Water, and Wood. Through meditation, they can learn to manifest their Ki in displays of elemental power.

Want more Alternate Monk?

The Alternate Monk: Expanded is a free expansion to the Alternate Monk that includes a multitude of additional content for the class presented here:

Additional Techniques. Fourteen new Techniques for your Monk to choose from, including mystical, magical, and esoteric options that push the limits of what a master of the mystic arts is capable of!

Monastic Feats. Increase the versatility and power of your Monk, or allow others to share the mystic power of the Alternate Monk with two new Feats!

Nine Monastic Traditions. Many new options for Monks. Master heavy weapons with the Way of the Hurricane, unleash your bestial power with the Way of Ferocity, or channel the serenity of water with the Way of the Flowing River, and many more!