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 a 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:

• (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 your Constitution if you wish to focus on physical might, or your Wisdom if you wish to focus on spiritual enlightenment.
   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 unarmed strikes, and any attacks with melee weapons that lack heavy or special properties.

Starting at 1st level, so long as you are not wearing heavy armor, wielding a shield, or wielding a heavy weapon, your Martial Arts attacks gain the benefits listed below:

• You can use your Dexterity, in place of Strength, for the attack and damage rolls or your Martial Arts attacks.
• You can make a Dexterity (Athletics) check to grapple or shove in place of the normal Strength (Athletics) check.
• You can roll your Martial Arts die in place of the normal damage of a Martial Arts attack. This die starts out as a
  d6 and changes as you gain Monk levels, as indicated in the Martial Arts column of the Monk table above.
• When you take the Attack action on your turn and make a Martial Arts attack, you can use your bonus action on that same 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 strikes even when unarmored. Beginning at 1st level, so long as you aren't wearing armor and not wielding a shield, your Armor Class equals 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Wisdom modifier.

Ki

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.

Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead
of once, when you take the Attack action on your turn.

Eyes of Night

3rd-level Way of the Shadow Arts feature
You gain darkvision out to a radius of 60 feet. If you already have darkvision, its range increases by 30 feet.

In addition, you have advantage on any Dexterity (Stealth)
      checks you make while you are in dim light or darkness.

              Shadow Arts

                     3rd-level Way of the Shadow Arts feature
                          You can channel your Ki to cast the following
                                spells: darkness, darkvision, pass without
                               trace, or silence. You can see through the
                             magical darkness produced by your spells.

                                 You can cast each spell once, and you
                         regain the ability to cast them when you finish
                        a long rest. If you have no uses of a spell left,
                          you can spend 2 Ki Points to cast it again.

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 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.

Also, when a creature moves into your reach while you are invisible, you can use your reaction to make an opportunity attack. Finally, 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 have unlocked dark Ki powers which mark you as a true Master
of the Shadows. You gain the benefits listed below:

• You can cast your Shadow Arts spells at will.
• 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 or shadow of moil without expending a spell slot or material components. You can cast each spell once, and you regain the ability to cast them when you finish a long rest. If you have no uses of a spell left, you can spend 4 Ki Points to cast it again.

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 channel their Ki into displays of elemental power.

Fist of
the Five Ways

6th-level Way of the Wu Jen feature
You can infuse your fists with the power of the five elements. Whenever you make an unarmed strike, you can choose for it to deal bludgeoning, cold, fire, poison, or thunder damage.

In addition, when you empower an unarmed strike in this way, your reach with that unarmed strike increases by 5 feet.

Finally, when you use your action to cast a Wu Jen spell, you can make one unarmed strike attack as a bonus action.

Spiritual Flow

10th-level Way of the Wu Jen feature
You weave your martial arts with spiritual magic. When you cast a Wu Jen spell with a casting time of 1 action, you can expend 2 Ki Points to cast it as a bonus action instead.

Master of the Elements

17th-level Way of the Wu Jen feature
As an action, you can draw all five elements into yourself to take on an Elemental Form, gaining the following benefits:

• You gain a flying speed equal to your walking speed.
• You resist bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.
• Critical hits against you become normal hits.
• Opportunity attacks against you have disadvantage.
• You can gain temporary hit points equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of 1) at the start of each of your turns.

Your Elemental Form lasts for 1 minute, but it ends early
if you are incapacitated or use a bonus action to end it. Once you use this feature you must finish a long rest before you can use it again. When you have no uses remaining, you can
    expend 6 Ki Points to take on your Elemental Form again.

Arresting Strike

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

Crippling Strike

When you hit a creature with a melee Martial Arts attack, you can spend 1 Ki Point to cripple its senses and force the target to make a Constitution saving throw. On a failure, the target is either blinded, deafened, or unable to speak (your choice) until the beginning of your next turn.

Empowered Strike

When you hit a creature with a melee Martial Arts attack, you can spend 1 Ki Point to strike with great power and force the target to make a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, it is knocked back from in a straight line a number of feet equal to five times your Wisdom modifier (minimum of 5 feet), where it falls prone. A creature that is at least one size larger than you has advantage on its saving throw to resist this effect.

Mystic Healing

You can draw on your Ki to stimulate natural healing. As an action, you can spend 2 Ki Points to regain hit points equal
to one roll of 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 Point
to take the Dodge action as a bonus action on your turn.

Slow Fall

You move through the air as light as a feather. Any falling damage you would take is reduced by an amount equal to
five times your level, so long as you are conscious.

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.

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 Techniques for your Monk to learn and ten additional Monastic Traditions to choose from!

Way of the Astral Warrior

Focusing almost completely on the development of the spirit, disciples of this Tradition learn to manifest their inner selves into the world through Ki. With great dedication and practice these esoteric warriors learn to manifest their Astral Self, a luminescent projection of their Ki that covers them in armor.

Drunken Fist Techniques

3rd-level Way of the Drunken Fist 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.

Jovial Performer

3rd-level Way of the Drunken Fist feature
You use your unique style of martial arts to bring joy with your antics. You gain proficiency in Performance, brewer's supplies, and with improvised weapons. Also, your attacks with improvised weapons count as Martial Arts attacks.

Drunken Style

3rd-level Way of the Drunken Fist feature
You move about the battle with chaotic grace. On your turn, when you hit a unique creature with a Martial Arts attack, your speed increases by 5 feet until the end of that turn.

Also, when you hit a creature with a Martial Arts attack, that creature has disadvantage on any opportunity attacks it makes against you until the beginning of your next turn.

Unpredictable Sway

6th-level Way of the Drunken Fist feature
Your erratic movements have become more complicated and even harder to predict. You gain the benefits listed below:

• When you are prone you can stand up without expending movement, rather than expending half your movement.
• When a creature misses you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction to spend 1 Ki Point and force it to
  attack a creature of your choice within 5 feet of you,
                         that is also within range of its attack.

Reaper Techniques

3rd-level Way of the Reaper 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.

Often found in the service of ancient dragons, disciples of
the Rising Dragon learn to use their Ki to mimic the power
of dragons. These draconic warriors vary greatly based on
the dragons they emulate, but despite differences, they all
carry themselves with the regal bearing of a great dragon.

Elemental Breath

3rd-level Way of the Rising Dragon feature
You can channel your Ki into destructive elemental breath reminiscent of mighty dragons. When you take the Attack action on your turn, you can spend 1 Ki to replace one attack with an exhalation of elemental breath, choosing to breathe in an adjacent 20-foot cone or a 30-foot long, 5-foot wide line.

Creatures within the area of your exhalation must make a Dexterity saving throw. They take damage of your Element equal to two rolls of your Martial Arts die on a failed save, and half as much Element damage on a successful save.

Moreover, you can spend additional Ki Points (up to your Wisdom modifier) to increase the damage of your Breath by one roll of your Martial Arts die per Ki Point spent.

Starting at 11th level, you can use Ki Adept to use this feature at its base level without expending any Ki Points.

Ascendant Step

6th-level Way of the Rising Dragon feature
You can use your Ki and mystical Techniques to mimic the wondrous abilities of dragons. Whenever you use step of the wind, you gain a flying speed equal to your walking speed which lasts until the end of your current turn.

Draconic Mantle

10th-level Way of the Rising Dragon feature
Your training has begun to transform you into a true draconic being. You and creatures of your choice within 10 feet of you gain resistance to your Element damage and have advantage on saving throws to resist being charmed or frightened.

In addition, when you use your Elemental Breath, you add your Wisdom modifier (minimum of +1) to the damage roll.

Master of Draconic Might

17th-level Way of the Rising Dragon feature
Your mystical power and combat prowess rivals that of a trueborn adult dragon. You gain the following benefits:

• You manifest leathery draconic wings which grant you
  a permanent flying speed equal to your walking speed.
• When you use your Elemental Breath, you can choose for it to be a 30-foot cone or a 60-foot long, 5-foot wide line.
• The range of your Draconic Mantle becomes 30 feet.

Yin & Yang Techniques

3rd-level Way of Yin & Yang 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 Yin & Yang feature
In order to learn to heal with Ki, you first had to master the mundane medicinal arts. You gain proficiency with herbalism kits and in Insight and Medicine, and whenever you make an ability check with any of these proficiencies you gain a bonus
    to your roll equal to one roll of your Martial Arts die.

Touch of Life

3rd-level Way of Yin & Yang feature
You have learned to manipulate the Ki of other creatures to heal wounds. Whenever you would make an unarmed strike, you can instead expend 1 Ki Point to touch a creature other than yourself, and restore a number of its hit points equal to one roll of your Martial Arts die + your Wisdom modifier.

Beginning at 11th level, you can use your Ki Adept feature to use Touch of Life without expending a Ki Point. However, when you do so, you grant the creature temporary hit points.

Touch of Death

3rd-level Way of Yin & Yang feature
You have learned to manipulate the Ki of other creatures to inflict pain. When you hit a creature with an unarmed strike, you can spend 1 Ki Point to deal additional necrotic damage to the target equal to one roll of your Martial Arts die.

Beginning at 11th level, you can use your Ki Adept feature to use Touch of Death without expending a Ki Point.

Precise Manipulation

6th-level Way of Yin & Yang feature
Your ability to affect the Ki of others has grown. When you use Touch of Life, you end one of the following conditions: blinded, deafened, paralyzed, poisoned, or stunned.

Also, when you use Touch of Death, you can choose to
also poison the creature until the end of your next turn.

Mystical Touch

10th-level Way of Yin & Yang feature
Your ability to balance life and death grows with your spirit. Whenever you use Touch of Life or Touch of Death, you can expend additional Ki Points (up to your Wisdom modifier), to increase the hit points you restore or damage you deal by one roll of your Martial Arts die per additional Ki Point spent.

Master of Life & Death

17th-level Way of Yin & Yang feature
Your mystical abilities have grown so powerful that you can rebuke death itself. As an action, you can spend 6 Ki Points and touch a creature that has died within the last 24 hours, instantly restoring it to life with a number of hit points equal to your Monk level + your Wisdom modifier. Any conditions afflicting the creature at the time of its death are also ended.