A Zen Disciple begins his career with knowledge of three martial maneuvers. The disciplines available to him are Broken Blade, Elemental Flux, Mithral Current, Riven Hourglass, Shattered Mirror, Sleeping Goddess, Solar Wind, Steel Serpent, and Veiled Moon.

Once the Zen Disciple knows a maneuver, he must ready it before he can use it (see Maneuvers Readied, below). A maneuver usable by Zen Disciple is considered an extraordinary ability unless otherwise noted in it or its discipline’s description. A Zen Disciple’s maneuvers are not affected by spell resistance, and he does not provoke attacks of opportunity when he initiates one.

The Zen Disciple learns additional maneuvers at higher levels, as indicated on Table: Archetype Maneuver Progression. The maximum level of maneuvers gained through Zen Disciple levels is limited by those listed in that table as well, although this restriction does not apply to maneuvers added to his maneuvers known through other methods, such as prestige classes or the Advanced Study feat. A Zen Disciple must meet a maneuver’s prerequisite to learn it. See Systems and Use for more details on how maneuvers are used.

Upon reaching 4th level, and at every even numbered initiator level thereafter (6th, 8th, 10th, and so on), the Zen Disciple can choose to learn a new maneuver in place of one he already knows. In effect, he loses the old maneuver in exchange for the new one. He can choose a new maneuver of any level he likes, as long as he observes the restriction on the highest-level maneuvers he knows; the Zen Disciple need not replace the old maneuver with a maneuver of the same level. He can swap only a single maneuver at any given level. A Zen Disciple’s initiation modifier is Wisdom, and each Zen Disciple level is counted as a full initiator level.

This ability replaces Monk Bonus Feats

Maneuvers Readied

A Zen Disciple can ready all three of his maneuvers known at 1st level, and as he advances in level and learns more maneuvers, he is able to ready more, but must still choose which maneuvers to ready. A Zen Disciple must always ready his maximum number of maneuvers readied. He readies his maneuvers by meditating or performing martial katas for ten minutes. The maneuvers he chooses remain readied until he decides to practice again and change them. The Zen Disciple does not need to sleep or rest for any long period of time in order to ready his maneuvers; any time he spends ten minutes meditating, he can change his readied maneuvers.

A Zen Disciple begins an encounter with all his readied maneuvers unexpended, regardless of how many times he might have already used them since he chose them. When he initiates a maneuver, he expends it for the current encounter, so each of his readied maneuvers can be used once per encounter (unless he recovers them, as described below).

In order for the Zen Disciple to recover maneuvers, he shares his worldly experience with another. He must take a full-round action (3 acts) moving up to his speed, and can use aid another on an adjacent ally. He recovers a number of expended maneuvers equal to his Zen Disciple initiation modifier (minimum 2), whether or not he aids an ally. If the ally is successful with his or her aided action in the heat of battle (Attack Roll, Skill Check, or dodges an attack with the Aid Another AC bonus), the Zen Disciple regains 1 Ki point if he has the Ki Pool ability. Alternatively, the Zen Disciple may center himself and realign his ki, recovering a single maneuver as a standard action (2 acts).

This ability replaces Style Strikes

Flurry of Blows (Ex)

At 1st level, a Zen Disciple can make two attacks with the first attack simple action he takes during his turn when using a weapon with the monk special weapon quality. At 6th level, a Zen Disciple can make two attack rolls on both the first and second attack simple actions taken during his turn when using a Monk weapon; both of the attacks made on the second attack action are made at a -5 penalty. At 11th level, a Zen Disciple can make an additional attack on the first, second, and third attack simple action taken during his turn when using a Monk weapon; both attacks made on the third attack action are made at a -10 penalty.

This alters Flurry of Blows. (Ignore this ability if not using Pathfinder Unchained Action Economy

Zen-guided Strikes (Su)

At 3rd level, by spending 1 point from his ki pool as a free action, a Zen Disciple adds an insight bonus equal to his initiation modifier to his attack roll with a Strike maneuver. This bonus applies only to the first attack a strike allows.

This ability replaces Ki Strike (magic).

Zen Defense (Su)

At 5th level, by spending 1 point from his ki pool as part of a Counter, a Zen Disciple gains a +4 insight bonus to the result of any skill check or attack roll the counter requires. He can choose to use this ability after the roll has been declared, but before the results are revealed.

This ability replaces Purity of Body.

The unique blend of martial arts and ki power reaches a new peak. At 10th level, the Zen Disciple must select one of two paths. Once the choice is made, it cannot be changed.

• Be Like Water: The Zen Disciple is able to spend points from his ki pool as if they were Animus or Power Points. He may spend points from his ki pool in conjunction with his Animus or Power Point reserve. This ability does not allow the Zen Disciple to spend more than the maximum allowed amount of points.

• Path to Perfection: Through years of meditation and great effort, the Zen Disciple is capable of accomplishing the impossible, yet making it look so easy. Before rolling an Attack Roll, Skill Check, Ability Check, or Saving Throw, the Zen Disciple can spend an amount of ki from his pool. If he spends 1 ki point, he treats the roll as if it were a natural 10. If he spends 3 ki points, he treats the roll as if it were a natural 15. If he spends 5 ki points, he treats the roll as if it were a natural 20.

This ability replaces Ki Strike (Lawful) and Ki Strike (adamantine).

Always Wary (Ex)

At 13th level, the Zen Disciple gains the blindsense special ability with a range of 20 feet.

This ability replaces Tongue of the Sun and Moon.