Monk

Creating a Monk

As you make your monk character, think about your connection to the monastery where you learned your skills and spent your formative years. Were you an orphan or a child left on the monastery’s threshold? Did your parents promise you to the monastery in gratitude for a service performed by the monks? Did you enter this secluded life to hide from a crime you committed? Or did you choose the monastic life for yourself?

Consider why you left. Did the head of your monastery choose you for a particularly important mission beyond the cloister? Perhaps you were cast out because of some violation of the community’s rules. Did you dread leaving, or were you happy to go? Is there something you hope to accomplish outside the monastery? Are you eager to return to your home?

Class Features

As a monk, you gain the following class features.

Ki

At 2nd level, your training allows you to harness the mystic energy of ki. Your access to this energy is represented by a number of ki powers. The amount of ki power changes as you gain monk levels, as shown in the Ki Points column of the Monk table. Additionally, when you score a critical hit you regain 1 ki power.

You can spend these points to fuel various ki features. You start knowing four such features: Flurry of Blows, Ki Weapon, Reactive Defense, and Secret Technique. You learn more ki features as you gain levels in this class. Additionally, If you have a spell(s) granted through racial traits or other class features the spell(s) can be fueled by your ki. The amount of ki used is equal to the spell level.

When you spend a ki power, it is unavailable until you finish a short or long rest, at the end of which you draw all of your expended ki back into yourself. You must spend at least 30 minutes of the rest meditating to regain your ki powers.

Some of your ki features require your target to make a saving throw to resist the feature's effects. The saving throw DC is calculated as follows:

Unarmored Movement

At 2nd level, your speed increases by 10 feet while you are not wearing heavy armor or wielding a shield. This bonus increases when you reach certain monk levels, as shown in the Monk table.

At 9th level, you gain the ability to move along vertical surfaces and across liquids on your turn without falling during the move. You can use your reaction to not fall for a turn.

At 18th level, you gain the ability to move in the air on your turn without falling during the move.

Monastic Tradition

When you reach 3rd level, you commit yourself to a monastic tradition. Your tradition grants you features at 3rd level and again at 6th, 11th, and 17th level.

Deflect Missiles

Starting at 3rd level, you can use your reaction to deflect or catch the missile when you or an ally within your range are hit by a ranged weapon attack. When you do so, the damage take from the attack is reduced by 1d10 + your Dexterity modifier + your monk level.

If you reduce the damage to 0, you can catch the missile if it is small enough for you to hold in one hand and you have at least one hand free. If you catch a missile in this way, you can spend 1 ki power to make a ranged attack with a range of 20/60 using the weapon or piece of ammunition you just caught, as part of the same reaction. You make this attack with proficiency, regardless of your weapon proficiencies, and the missile counts as a monk weapon for the attack.

Ability Score Increase

When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 10th, 12th, 16th and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.

Slow Fall

Beginning at 4th level, you can use your reaction when you fall to reduce any falling damage you take by an amount equal to five times your monk level. Additionally, you can use the same reaction to give this power to up to 4 people within range of your movement by consuming 1 ki power.

Life Force

Also at 4th level, as an action, you can spend 2 ki powers and roll a Martial Arts die. You or one willing creature that you touch regain a number of hit points equal to the number rolled plus your proficiency bonus. Additionally, you can do the reverse operation to recover 2 ki points.

Extra Unarmed Attack

Beginning at 5th level, after attacking with your bonus action unarmed strikes or with your secondary weapon, you can make an unarmed strikes as part of the same bonus action.

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Stunning Strike

Starting at 5th level, you can interfere with the flow of ki in an opponent's body. When you hit another creature with a melee weapon attack, you can spend 1 ki power to attempt a stunning strike. The target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or be stunned until the end of your next turn.

At 17th level every time you make a critical hit the enemy is automatically stunned until the end of your next turn.

Ki-Empowered Body

Starting at 6th level, your hard training has made your body a weapon. Your unarmed strikes count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage. Additionally, if your weapon is enhanced by a spell, your unarmed strike are also enhanced in the as well.

Evasion

At 7th level, your instinctive agility lets you dodge out of the way of certain area effects, such as a blue dragon's lightning breath or a fireball spell. When you are subjected to an effect that allows you to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, you instead take no damage if you succeed on the saving throw, and only half damage if you fail.

Stillness of Mind

Starting at 7th level, you can use your action to end one effect that is causing you or one willing creature that you touch to be charmed or frightened.

Body Cultivation

At 10th level, your ki is so powerful that it is now part of your body, this makes you immune to diseases and poisons and allows you to use your Wisdom modifier in place of your Strength modifier when making Athletics checks. Additionally the knowledge that you have about your body and the ki energy, allows you as an action to make a Medicine check to cure a disease or a poison from one willing creature that you touch.

Tongue of the Sun and Moon

Starting at 13th level, your way of speaking and your gestures are influenced by your powerful ki. You learn to touch the ki of other minds so that you understand all spoken languages and when you make Charisma checks, you can use instead your Wisdom modifier. Moreover, any creature that can understand a language can understand what you say.

Soul Cultivation

Beginning at 14th level, your mastery of ki grants you proficiency in all saving throw. Additionally, whenever you make a saving throw or an ability check and fail, you can spend 1 ki power to reroll it and take the second result.

Timeless Body

At 15th level, your ki sustains you so that you suffer none of the frailty of old age, for every 10 years that pass, your body ages only 1 year and you can't be aged magically. You no longer need food or water, but you can still die of old age, however.

Dao of Slaughter

At 15th level, the mastery on martial arts and ki grants you the ability to exploit the weak points of the opponents. You gain a bonus damage equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of +1) on all enemies you have an advantage over.

Dao of Void

Starting at 18th level, you can use your bonus action to spend 4 ki powers to become invisible for 1 minute. During that time, you have resistance to all damage but force damage. Additionally, you can spend 8 ki powers to cast the Astral Projection spell, without needing material components. When you do so, you can't take any other creatures with you.

Enlightenment

At 20th level, you to go beyond the human limit. Your body is so used to certain movements that has become one with your being. You can take two reactions in each of your turns. Additionally, every time you roll for initiative and you have less than 5 ki point, you regain 5 + your Wisdom modifier ki.

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Monastic Traditions

Three traditions of monastic pursuit are common in the monasteries scattered across the multiverse. Most monasteries practice one tradition exclusively, but a few honor the three traditions and instruct each monk according to his or her aptitude and interest. All three traditions rely on the same basic techniques, diverging as the student grows more adept. Thus, a monk need choose a tradition only upon reaching 3rd level.

Shadow Control

At 11th level, you learn to split your mind. You have more control over your shadow clone, now even in battle it can become a lethal weapon.

• Shadow Swap: As an action, you can magically swapping places with your Shadow clone at a cost of 30 feet of your movement, but only if the distance between the two of you is no more than 60 ft.
• Shadow Attack: When you Attack on your turn, any attack you make can originate from your space or the shadow's space, but only if the distance between the two of you is no more than 60 ft. You make this choice for each attack.
• Shadow Reaction: When a creature that you can see within 5 feet of your shadow moves at least 5 feet away from it, you can use your reaction to make an opportunity attack against that creature as if you were in the shadow's space, but only if the distance between the two of you is no more than 60 ft.
• Mind Trap: You can perform your Stunning Strike as a Genjutsu. You can make a ranged attack, and if hit the target, it must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or being trapped in your illusion and is stunned until the end of your next turn.

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Way of the Combat Master

Those who seek the Dao of Combat employ martial art, also called MMA techniques passed down through history. To a Combat Master, martial arts is a way of life, sometimes including subjects beyond battle such as philosophy and calligraphy. Not every monk absorbs the lessons of history, theory, and artistry that are reflected in the way of Combat Master, but those who do are well-rounded monk of great skill and knowledge.

MMA techniques

• Ninja When you make a Dexterity (Stealth) check or an initiative roll, you can add one Martial die to the roll, provided you aren't incapacitated.

• Bait and Switch When you're within 5 feet of a creature on your turn, you can switch places with that creature, provided you spend at least 5 feet of movement and the creature is willing and isn't incapacitated. This movement doesn't provoke opportunity attacks. Roll the Martial die. Until the start of your next turn, you or the other creature (your choice) gains a bonus to AC equal to the number rolled.

• Tactical Strike On your turn, you can forgo one of your bonus unarmed attacks to direct one of your companions to strike. When you do so, choose a friendly creature who can see or hear you. That creature can immediately use its reaction to make one weapon attack, adding the Martial die to the attack's damage roll.

• Ki Emamation When you make a Charisma (Intimidation), a Charisma (Performance), or a Charisma (Persuasion) check, you can add the Martial die to the ability check.

• Disarming Strike When you hit a creature with a weapon/unarmed attack, you can attempt to disarm the target, forcing it to drop one item of your choice that it's holding. You add the Martial die to the attack's damage roll, and the target must make a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, it drops the object you choose. The object lands at its feet.

• Distracting Strike When you hit a creature with a weapon/unarmed attack, you can distract the creature, giving your allies an opening. You add the Martial die to the attack's damage roll. The next attack roll against the target by an attacker other than you has advantage if the attack is made before the start of your next turn.

• Evasive Footwork When you move, rolling the Martial die and adding the number rolled to your AC until you stop moving.

• Feinting Attack You can use one of your bonus unarmed attacks to feint, choosing one creature within 5 feet of you as your target. You have advantage on your next attack roll against that creature this turn. If that attack hits, add the Martial die to the attack's damage roll.

• Goading Attack When you hit a creature with a weapon/unarmed attack, you can attempt to goad the target into attacking you. You add the Martial die to the attack's damage roll, and the target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the target has disadvantage on all attack rolls against targets other than you until the end of your next turn.

• Grappling Strike As an action you can try to grapple the target . Add the Martial die to your Strength (Athletics) check, and for each unarmed attack you make in your bonus action, you can add your wisdom modifier to the damage (minimum of +1).

• Lunging Strike When you make a melee weapon/unarmed attack on your turn, you can increase your reach for that attack by 5 feet. If you hit, you add the Martial die to the attack's damage roll.

• Maneuvering Attack When you hit a creature with a weapon/unarmed attack, you can maneuver one of your comrades into a more advantageous position. You add the Martial die to the attack's damage roll, and you choose a friendly creature who can see or hear you. That creature can use its reaction to move up to half its speed without provoking opportunity attacks from the target of your attack.

• Murderer Intent When you hit a creature with a weapon/unarmed attack, you can attempt to frighten the target. You add the Martial die to the attack's damage roll, and the target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, it is frightened of you until the end of your next turn.

• Absorb Force When another creature damages you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction to reduce the damage by the number you roll on your Martial die + your Dexterity modifier.

• Precision Strike When you make a weapon/unarmed attack roll against a creature, you can add your Martial die to the roll. You can use this technique before or after making the attack roll, but before any effects of the attack are applied.

• Pushing Strike When you hit a creature with a weapon/unarmed attack, you can attempt to drive the target back. You add the Martial die to the attack's damage roll, and if the target is Large or smaller, it must make a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, you push the target up to 15 feet away from you.

• Quick Toss In one of your bonus unarmed attacks, you can make a ranged attack with a weapon that has the thrown property. You can draw the weapon as part of making this attack. If you hit, add the Martial die to the weapon's damage roll.

• Energy Transfer On your turn, you can use a reaction to give some of your inner energy to one of your companions. When you do so, choose a friendly creature who can see or hear you. That creature gains temporary hit points equal to one Martial die roll + your Wisdom modifier.

• Counter-Strike When a creature misses you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction to make a unarmed attack against that creature. If you hit, you add the Martial die to the attack's damage roll.

Way of the Asura

The monks of this order use a particular form of martial arts in the guise of hypnotic dance that deceives the sight, mind and spirit of those who perceive its movements in some way. The Asura's dance is composed of movements of extreme beauty but at the same time terrible for those who are facing them in battle. The illusory movements of this dance give the impression that the arms, legs and head of the dancer are multiplied making it very difficult to read his movements.

Asura Third Eye

Starting at 6th level, on your turn, you can spend 1 ki power as an action, and for 10 minute you can open your third eyes. The third eye is located on the forehead positioned vertically. While the third eye is present, you gain the following benefits.

• You can see normally in darkness, both magical and nonmagical, to a distance of 120 feet.
• You have advantage on Wisdom (Insight) and Intelligence (Investigation) checks. If you already have advantage in this skills, instead you can take instead a bonus equal your proficiency in the skill check.
• You have advantage on saving throws against illusions and charms.

Awakening of the Asura

Starting at 11th level, your dance becomes even more incomprehensible to the senses of your enemies and its beauty even more illusory. You can spend 3 ki power as an action and for 10 minutes you can awaken the Asura spirit that resides in your dance. When you perform this advanced dance your Asura Third Eye automatically open and you receive the following benefits as long as the dance continues.

Deflect Energy When you take acid, cold, fire, force, lightning, or thunder damage, you can use your reaction to deflect it. When you do so, the damage you take is reduced by 1d10 + your Wisdom modifier (minimum reduction of 1). Also, the first time you hit with a melee attack on your next turn, the target takes an extra damage equal to one martial die of the triggering type.

Asua Ferocity Every time you hit a different target and you move at least 15 feet, you can deal extra damage to the target equal to your Martial Arts die.

True Asura Dance

Starting at 17th level, your Asura dance is complete. You can spend 6 ki power, and for the next 10 minutes as an action you can perform the true Asura dance. The third eye of Asura is open, when you dance your body have 6 illusory arms and 3 illusory heads and your skin is blue or red. While performing the true Asura dance, you gain the benefits of awakening of the Asura, plus the following benefits.

Asura Skin You gain a +2 bonus to AC while you aren’t incapacitated.

Asura Barrage In the this Assura's dance, you can make one more unarmed attacks as a bonus action.

Ki Absorption When a creature within 30 ft. of you is reduced to 0 hit points you can use your reaction to regain ki power equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum 1), and when you score a critical hit you regain 1 ki.

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