The Martial Artist

A rework of the Monk class for more flexibility & variety

 Martial Artist v18.1
Flexible Monk-like class; a lot more options, a bit fewer stuns.
Her fists a blur as they deflect an incoming hail of
arrows, a half-elf springs over a barricade and
throws herself into the massed ranks of hobgoblins
on the other side. She whirls through them, each
blow seeming to be more deadly than the last, until
at last she stands alone.
A group of explorers has fought their way
through the jungle to the abandoned temple, and
has stopped outside to prepare to enter. As the
others tend to minor wounds and sharpen their
weapons, one of their number, a tattoo-covered
human, begins to go through a series of graceful
poses. One by one, the others begin to follow his
lead, until, fortified and recentered, they all pass
through the dark door before them.
The Land's Defenders are finally facing the Dread
Archmage. As they draws weapons and prepares
magics, he cackles and releases a storm of fire
towards the group. But a black-clad halfling leaps
from the shadows into the very path of the flame,
shielding their friends from the worst of the
effects. The archmage recoils to see the small
figure so nearby, and they swiftly close the
remaining distance to pummel him with blows so
quick and accurate as to confound his spellcasting.
Flexibility and breadth
Martial Artists have studied to be able to harness an energy
known as ki that flows through all living bodies. Though very
similar to Monks, Martial Artists have sacrificed some of the
focus on stunning their enemies, and in return have gained a
far greater flexibility to use their ki for a wide variety of
techniques. They can choose to focus their physical and
mental training not just on attacking and defensive moves,
but also on expanding their senses, infiltration, or mobility.
INTRO Cover art credit: A monk I guess? by PuddingPack
1
Monk in the Underdark by RalphHorsley
Focus and Dedication
Martial artists follow many different traditions. One of them
might learn techniques honed by an oppressed people who
learned to wield their very chains against the overlords who
enslaved them; while another might have studied in a
mountaintop monestary, taught by veterans of a horrible
conflict who had turned to asceticism.
But each martial artist, whether they're aesthete noble who
insists on artistry in all things or a self-taught street brawler,
pushes their body beyond its normal limits through study of a
magical energy that most traditions call ki. Martial artists
harness this power within themselves to create magical
effects and exceed their bodies’ physical capabilities, and
some of their special attacks can hinder the flow of ki in their
opponents. Using this energy, martial artists channel uncanny
speed and strength into their unarmed strikes. As they gain
experience, their martial training and their mastery of ki
gives them more power over their own bodies and those of
their foes.
Still, each martial artist is unique. Like Monks, each select
a monastic tradition, a Way which gives them extra abilities
and features. But in addition, each one studies their choice of
individual techniques available to all Ways. One martial artist
might focus on techniques to guide and aid their allies;
another might hone their defensive techniques to become
almost untouchable in battle; while yet another might develop
such an array of different attacks that their enemies never
know what will come next.
With so many options to choose from, a martial artist is
most effective when they have the wits to choose the right
tool for each job. Though their attacks are physical rather
than arcane, in some ways they have more in common with a
Wizard than with a Barbarian. Like a Wizard with her spells,
they must choose wisely which techniques to learn; then, in
combat, choose which to use. This path of training and
discipline is not for everyone, but its rewards can be great.
Contents Hit Points
Intro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Hit Dice: 1d10 per martial artist level
Class Features (Simple version) Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + your Constitution modifier
Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your
Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Constitution modifier per martial artist level after 1st
Martial Arts Techniques (Simple) Proficiencies
Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Armor: None
Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Weapons: Simple weapons, shortswords
Martial Arts Techniques (Full) Tools: Choose one set of artisan’s tools or one instrument
Full table. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Saving Throws: Strength, Dexterity
Additional descriptions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Skills: Choose two from Acrobatics, Athletics, History,
Notes and recommendations Insight, Religion, and Stealth
Simultaneous rolls; Mage Slayer interactions; Ki
Initiate feat; Quest rewards; Multiclassing . . . . . . . 21 Starting equipment
Magic Items for Martial Artists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 In addition to the equipment granted by your background:
Subclasses and "Suggested Builds" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Acknowledgements and Changelog. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 (a) a shortsword or (b) any simple weapon
FAQ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
(a) a dungeoneer’s pack or (b) an explorer’s pack

10 darts

Class Features

The Martial Artist

Proficiency
Martial Ki Unarmored Special Techniques
Level bonus Features Arts Points Movement Known**
1 +2 Unarmored Defense, Martial Arts, 1d4 — — 1
Techniques
2 +2 Unarmored Movement,
1d4 2 +10ft 2
Ki, Basic Ki Techniques
3 +2 Monastic Tradition * 1d4 3 +10ft 2
4 +2 Ability Score Improvement
1d4 4 +10ft 3
Novice Ki Techniques
5 +3 Extra Attack 1d6 5 +10ft 4
6 +3 Monastic Tradition feature,
1d6 6 +15ft 5
Ki-Empowered Strikes
7 +3 Evasion * 1d6 7 +15ft 5
8 +3 Ability Score Improvement 1d6 8 +15ft 6
9 +4 — 1d6 9 +15ft 7
10 +4 Monastic Tradition feature (from L11) 1d6 10 +20ft 8
11 +4 Improved Basic Ki Techniques * 1d8 11 +20ft 8
12 +4 Ability Score Improvement 1d8 12 +20ft 9
13 +5 — 1d8 13 +20ft 10
14 +5 Diamond Soul * 1d8 14 +25ft 10
15 +5 — 1d8 15 +25ft 11
16 +5 Ability Score Improvement 1d8 16 +25ft 12
17 +6 Monastic Tradition feature * 1d10 17 +25ft 12
18 +6 — 1d10 18 +30ft 13
19 +6 Ability Score Improvement 1d10 19 +30ft 14
20 +6 Flexible Technique * 1d10 20 +30ft 14 (+1 flexible)

* : These features come in lieu of an additional technique known at their respective levels (3, 7, 11, 14, 17, and 20).

CLASS TABLE
2
 Unarmored Defense
Beginning at 1st level, while you are wearing no armor and
not wielding a shield, your AC equals 10 + your Dexterity
modifier + your Wisdom modifier.
Martial Arts
Your practice of martial arts gives you mastery of combat
styles that use unarmed attacks and martial artist weapons,
which are shortswords and any simple melee weapons that
don't have the two-handed or heavy property.
You gain the following benefits while you are unarmed or
wielding only martial artist weapons and you aren't wearing
armor or wielding a shield.
You can make one unarmed or one-handed martial artist
weapon attack as a bonus action. (Note: unlike a Monk,
you do not have to use the attack action first.)
For your unarmed and martial artist weapon attacks:
You can use Dexterity instead of Strength for attack
and damage rolls.
You can roll a d4 in place of the normal damage.
You can use a larger die as you gain martial artist
levels, as shown in the Martial Arts column of the
Martial Artist table.
You can use any feature which protects you or your allies
despite lacking the right weapon(s), armor, or shield to do
so. (Examples: Defensive Duelist; Protection fighting style.
Note that this feature is not available to Monks.)
Angela Hill/Sagat, by @JupsTheArtist
CLASS FEATURES
3
Techniques
In your study of martial and meditative arts, your dedicated
practice has let you choose to learn certain techniques.
At 1st level, you can choose one technique from the options
detailed at the end of the class description. As you gain levels
as a martial artist , you learn additional techniques, as shown
in the Techniques Known column of the Martial Artist table.
Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can
choose one of the optional techniques you know and replace
it with another technique. You can not replace a technique
that is a prerequisite for another technique you know, and
you can not choose a technique as a replacement unless you
already know one with a higher level prerequisite.
If a technique has prerequisites, you must meet them to
learn it. You can learn the technique at the same time that
you meet its prerequisites. A level prerequisite refers to your
level in this class. When a technique lets you cast a spell, your
spellcasting ability is Wisdom.
Unarmored Movement
Starting at 2nd level, your speed increases by 10 feet while
you are not wearing armor or wielding a shield. This bonus
increases when you reach certain martial artist levels, as
shown in the Martial Artist table.
Ki
Starting at 2nd level, your training allows you to harness the
mystic energy of ki, and to use the basic ki techniques below.
Your access to this energy is represented the maximum ki
points in the Ki Points column of the Martial Artist table.
You can spend these points to fuel the basic ki techniques
below, as well as many of the techniques you will choose.
When you spend a ki point, 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 points.
Some of your ki features, as well as certain martial arts
techniques (below), require your target to make a saving
throw to resist the feature's effects. The DC is calculated as:
Ki save DC: = 8 + proficiency bonus + Wisdom modifier
Basic (Active) Ki Techniques
Energy Reserves
As a bonus action, you can spend one hit die to regain up to
your wisdom modifier in ki points. Once you do this, you
cannot do so again until you finish a short or long rest.
Flurry of Blows
As a bonus action, you can spend 1 ki point to make two
unarmed attacks. At most one of these hits can have its
damage increased by a spell.
Patient Defense
As a bonus action, you can spend 1 ki point to take the
Dodge action. Unlike the ordinary Dodge action, the benefits
last until the end of your next turn.
Step of the Wind
As a bonus action, you can spend 1 ki point to take the Dash
or Disengage action. Until the end of your next turn:
You make Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks with advantage.
 You can use Dexterity (Acrobatics) instead of Dexterity
(Stealth) for skill checks to move silently. This does not
apply to hiding from sight.
Calculate your jump distance using your Dexterity in place
of your Strength, then double that. For example, your
running long jump can be twice your Dexterity in feet.
Monastic Tradition
When you reach 3rd level, you commit yourself to a monastic
(aka martial arts) tradition, chosen from the list of available
traditions for the Monk class.
Your tradition grants you features at 3rd level and again at
6th, 10th, and 17th level. Note that 10th level is one level
earlier than a Monk would gain the corresponding feature.
Anywhere the rules for your tradition say "Monk", you can
replace it with "Martial Artist".
There are a few new rules regarding traditions:
Kensei monks can use strikes when they hit with a martial
artist melee weapon.
Tradition features that add effects to unarmed strikes,
such as Way of the Open Hand's Open Hand Technique or
Quivering Palm, count as strike techniques and thus
cannot be combined with other strike techniques.
See the end of this document for optional rules to simplify
choosing techniques for each monastic tradition.
Ability Score Improvement
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and
19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice
by 2, or increase two abilities by 1, or take a
Feat from the subtracting from any saving throw and adding to damage.
Feat List. You can't get an ability above 20 using an ASI.
Novice (Reactive) Ki Techniques
Starting at 4th level, you have access to any of the following
techniques that you meet the prerequisites for:
Critical Strike (novice ki technique)
Prerequisite: 17 Wisdom or 17 Dexterity or 11th level
When you make a critical hit with an unarmed attack,
you can spend 1 ki point to roll your martial arts die and see
the amount. If you then choose to use a strike technique that
requires the target to make a saving throw, subtract the
amount from the saving throw result. Otherwise, add the
amount as extra damage.
Tumbling Dodge (novice ki technique)
Prerequisite: 17 Dexterity or 11th level
When a creature you can see hits you with a melee attack,
you can use your reaction to try to dodge. Roll your martial
arts die; if you get 4 or higher, you can use 5 feet of movement
without provoking opportunity attacks. If you successfully
move 5 feet, the attack misses.
Ki Shield (novice ki technique)
Prerequisite: 17 Wisdom or 11th level
After rolling a saving throw you aren't proficient in, you can
use your reaction and spend 1 ki point to roll your martial
arts die and add it to the result.
Extra Attack
Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once,
whenever you take the Attack action on your turn. If you
already have or later gain this ability from another source,
you can replace it with an extra technique.
Ki-Empowered Strikes
Starting at 6th level, your unarmed strikes count as magical
for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to
nonmagical attacks and damage.
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.
Improved Ki Techniques
Starting at 11th level, basic/novice ki techniques all improve:
When you use Flurry of Blows, you can make a total of
three unarmed attacks. The third attack cannot be
replaced or augmented using monastic tradition features.
When you use Step of the Wind, you get the benefits of
both the Disengage and Dash actions. Likewise, when you
use Critical Strike, you get both benefits: both
When you use Patient Defense or Energy Reserves, you
can use your reaction one extra time before the start of
your next turn. Doing so costs 1 ki unless your Monastic
Tradition lets you use your reaction extra times. (You can
never react more than once to the same triggering event.)
You can use up to 10 feet of movement with Tumbling
Dodge (when you roll a 4 or higher).
Ki Shield works on saving throws you're proficient in.
Diamond Soul
Beginning at 14th level, your mastery of ki grants you
proficiency in all saving throws. (Note: this is not identical to
the Monk feature of the same name; the ability to spend ki to
further improve your chances of success on saving throws
has been moved to Ki Shield.)
Flexible Technique
At 20th level, when you take a short rest, you can forego all
the normal benefits of the rest to learn a technique of your
choice. When you learn a new flexible technique in this
manner, you forget any previous flexible technique you knew.
Once you have used this feature, you can not do so again until
you finish a long rest.
If you use this feature to learn a technique that requires
18th level as a prerequisite, you can not use this feature again
for 1 year.
CLASS FEATURES
4
 Martial Arts Techniques (Table, Simple)
In this table, techniques are divided into three categories:
Non-Combat Techniques, Combat Non-Strike Techniques,
and Strike Techniques. This is for illustrative purposes only,
and has no mechanical impact on the game.
Techniques which have significant uses both in and out of
combat are classed as non-combat techniques.
There is another version of this table, with a few more
technique options that are not recommended for beginning
players, below.

Min Level Non-Combat Techniques Combat Non-Strike Techniques Strike Techniques

1 Ascetic Habits
Danica's Dance
Dizzying Strike
Iron body
Dedicated Weapon

Restoring Mantra
Ki Infusion

Sensei Two Heavens as One

2 Breath Control
Deflect Missiles *
Grasscutter Strike
Leopard's Grace
Double Echo

Owl's Senses
Flurry of Missiles

Slow Fall * Ribbon's Binding

5 Quickened Healing *
Abiding Will
Blinding Strike

Touch of Insight
Defensive Stance
Stunning Strike *
Tranquility of Mind * Martial Arcanist

Focused Aim *
8 Guided Meditation
Flow of the Wind
Bonding Strike

Lizard's Step *
Iron Palms
Subduing Strike
Tongue of the Stars Sensei (combat)
10 Purity of Body *
Dry in the Rain

Spider's Stillness Uncanny Stagger

13 Pure Mindfulness
Iron Skin Dispelling Strike
Tongue of the Sun and Moon *
Leaf on the Wind
Vigil's Virtue
18 Empty Body *
Adamantine Soul
Variable Strike
Focused Prescience
Extra Attack (2)

Unparalleled Speed Perfected Arts

*: Duplicates (exactly or nearly) a feature of the Monk class.

Note: The Sensei technique lets you have fun

giving wise or mysterious advice. But despite the
name, unless you're Asian, please avoid Asian
accents or other stereotyping. For more on this,
see the essay, “May I Play A Character From
Another Race?”, by James Mendez Hodes.

TECHNIQUES (TABLE, SIMPLE)

Monk, by 0BO
5
 Technique Descriptions
1st Level
Ascetic Habits
You have disciplined and strengthened your body with
habitual fasts and vigils. You require only half as much food
and drink as normal, and have advantage on saving throws
against exhaustion due solely to lack of food, drink, or sleep.
You can choose to ignore the effects of exhaustion levels up
to one fourth your martial artist level, rounded down. If so,
your ki point maximum goes down by 1 per exhaustion level
until the exhaustion is removed.
Danica's Dance
Developed by a famous monk long ago, this technique uses
an enemy's lunging strength against them. When a creature
of size Medium or smaller within 5 feet of you misses you
with a melee attack on their turn, you can use your reaction
to switch places with them. Until the start of its next turn, the
attacker's speed becomes 0 and it cannot take reactions.
Dedicated Weapon (Simpler Version)
You have learned to use your ki in armed combat as well as
unarmed. Whenever you finish a short or long rest, you can
touch one weapon, focus your ki on it, and then count it as a
monk weapon until you use this feature again. The weapon
must be simple or martial; you must be proficient with it; and
it must lack the heavy and special properties.
There is another optional version of this technique below.
Dizzying Strike
Your blows leave your enemies addled. When you hit with an
unarmed attack and choose to use this strike technique, then
until the end of its next turn, target can not take reactions
and its speed is reduced by 10 feet. Once this effect ends,
target is immune to it for the next minute. Targets immune to
the Stunned condition are immune to this technique.
This is a strike technique. You can not use more than one
strike technique on the same attack. Once you have used this
technique against a creature, you can not use it again against
the same creature until the end of the turn.
Dance With Me, by SesameFruit
Iron Body
Prerequisite: Base Strength score of 13 or higher
Your martial arts training is focused on the tangible, not
the spiritual; and though you are no stranger to finesse, brute
force is your weapon of choice. This has the following effects:
You must use Strength for the attack and damage rolls of
unarmed strikes and martial artist weapons.
While you are wearing no armor and not wielding a shield,
your AC equals 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your
Constitution modifier.
Your Ki save DC for strike techniques with a prerequisite
of 8th level or less is 8 + your proficiency bonus + your
Dexterity modifier.
Replace "Wisdom" with "Dexterity" for Ki Shield, and
"Dexterity" with "Strength" for Tumbling Dodge.
Ki Infusion (Simpler Version)
You can give your ki to others, restoring them to a stable flow
of life energy. You learn the cantrip spare the dying.
There is another optional version of this technique below.
Restoring Mantra
By sitting in unbroken concentration, quietly repeating a
mantra, you can get the effects of a short rest in 10 minutes
(one sixth of the normal time). Once you have used this
technique, you can not do so again until you finish a long rest.
Sensei
Your aphorisms help enlighten those around you. You learn
the cantrip guidance, with a range of 30 feet. The target must
be able to hear and understand you, and you cannot target
the same creature more than twice per short or long rest.
Two Heavens As One
You have studied the art of two-weapon fighting. Whenever
you are wielding a martial artist weapon in each hand, you get
the following benefits:
You can use weapon attacks with Flurry of Blows.
You can use Critical Strike with weapon attacks, with no
prerequisites or ki cost.
TECHNIQUES (SIMPLE)
6
 Starting at 11th level, if you have the Dual Wielder feat,
you also get the benefits of the Defensive Duelist feat.
As always, your unarmed attacks don't require a free hand.
When you hit a target of size Large or smaller with an
2nd level
Breath Control
Prerequisite: 2nd level
By attending to your breathing during meditation, you have
sharpened your control. Gain the following benefits:
As a bonus action you can use Focused Breathing. When
you do, before the end of your next turn, your next attack,
or ability check or saving throw to end an existing effect or
condition, has advantage.
You can hold your breath for an additional 30 seconds (5
rounds) per Martial Artist level.
As an action, you can spend 1 ki point to gain the effects
of feign death on yourself.
Feign Death
You enter a cataleptic state that looks like death.
For 1 hour, or until you use an action to dismiss
this, you appear dead to all outward inspection and
to spells used to determine your status. You are
blinded and incapacitated (except for dismissing
this spell), and your speed drops to 0. You have
resistance to all damage except psychic damage.
If you are diseased or poisoned while under the
effect, the disease and poison have no impact until
the effect ends.
Deflect Missiles
Prerequisite: 2nd level
You can use your reaction to deflect or catch the missile
when you are hit by a ranged weapon attack. When you do so,
the damage you take from the attack is reduced by 1d10 +
You can then
your Dexterity modifier + your Martial Artist level.
If you reduce the damage to 0, you can catch the missile if
you could hold in one hand and you have at least one hand
free. If you do so, you can spend 1 ki point to make a ranged
attack (range 20/60 feet) with the missile you just caught, as
part of the same reaction. You make this attack with
proficiency, using the missile as a martial artist weapon.
Double Echo
Prerequisite: 2nd level
Your practiced combinations of attacks are swift and
deadly. Whenever you can make an attack as a reaction, you
can spend 1 ki point to instead make two unarmed attacks.
Flurry of Missiles
Prerequisite: 2nd level
When you use Flurry of Blows, you can replace any of the
unarmed attacks with ranged attacks using one-handed
weapons (eg, daggers or throwing stars). If you are hidden
when you make these attacks, you can make a Dexterity
(stealth) check to remain so.
These are considered attacks with martial artist weapons,
using your Martial Arts die. Kensei monks can spend 1 ki to
get Kensei's Shot (+1d4 damage) for all these attacks.
TECHNIQUES (SIMPLE)
7
Grasscutter Strike
Prerequisite: 2nd level
You have tricks to leave your opponent prostrate or worse.
unarmed attack, you can spend 1 ki to attempt to take them
down. Target makes a Dexterity saving throw. If it fails, you
knock it prone. If it fails by more than 5, then until the end of
your next turn, it makes skill and ability checks and Strength
or Dexterity saving throws with disadvantage.
This is a strike technique. You can not use more than one
strike technique on the same attack. Once you have used this
technique against a creature, you can not use it again against
the same creature until the end of the turn
Leopard's Grace
Prerequisite: 2nd level
Your superlative control over your muscles gives your
movements a feline grace. After you roll a Dexterity saving
throw, skill check, or ability check (including initiative), you
can spend 1 ki to roll your martial arts die and add that
amount to the result.
If you know the Iron Body technique, you can also do this
for Strength skill or ability checks and saving throws.
Starting at 11th level, when you use Patient Defense or
Step of the Wind, and you are not already first in the initiative
order, then you can add your proficiency bonus to your
initiative count. This may change your position in the
initiative order for later rounds. If you do this, Improved Ki
Techniques does not apply.
Owl's Senses
Prerequisite: 2nd level
Your discipline and focus means you rarely miss a detail.
You can ignore any environmental circumstances (such as
dim lighting) that would cause you to make Perception
(Wisdom) checks with disadvantage.
As a reaction to making a Perception (Wisdom) check
without advantage, you can spend 1 ki. When you do, roll
your martial arts die and add it to the result.
concentrate for up to a total of 10 minutes to sustain this
effect. While this lasts, add +5 to your passive perception up
to a maximum of 20, and add a roll of your martial arts die to
any Perception (Wisdom) rolls you make.
Also while this concentration lasts, as a bonus action you
can use Focused Breathing. When you do, you can attack at
long range without disadvantage until the end of your next
turn.
Ribbon's Binding
Prerequisite: 2nd level
You have studied ways of wrestling that divert, rather than
overcoming, your opponent's strength. When you try to shove
or grapple, you can spend 1 ki to use Dexterity (Acrobatics)
instead of Strength (Athletics). For grapples, you also use
Acrobatics on checks to to hold the grapple, until it breaks.
Creatures that you have grappled have disadvantage on
saving throws against your strike techniques if you have not
made any other attacks or grapple checks so far this turn.
Slow Fall
Prerequisite: 2nd level
You can use your reaction when you fall to reduce falling
damage by an amount equal to 5 x your martial artist level.
5th level
Abiding Will
Prerequisite: 5th level
Even at death's door, your training and drive persists. When
you make a death saving throw, you can spend 1 ki point to
change a failure into a success, or 3 ki points to change a
success into a critical success. Once you use this technique,
you can't do so again until you finish a long rest.
Blinding Strike
Prerequisite: 5th level
When you know this technique, you can consider any
damaging cantrip from the druid or artificer spell lists as a
Martial Artist technique with this technique as a prerequisite.
Thus, when leveling up, you can learn such a cantrip as a new
or replacement technique, using the technique rules.
Quickened Healing (Simpler Version)
Prerequisite: 5th level. (another optional version below)
As a bonus action, you can spend 2 ki points and roll a
Martial Arts die. You regain the number rolled in hit points.

You can strike at a creature's eyes, temporarily blinding

them. When you hit with an unarmed attack, you can spend 1

ki point. Target makes a Constitution saving throw. If they

fail, up to two of their eyes are Blinded until the end of your

next turn. Creatures without eyes are immune to this effect.

If they fail by more than 5, the blindness lasts 1 minute, but

they can make another Constitution saving throw at the end

of each of their turns to end it.

This is a strike technique. You can not use more than one

strike technique on the same attack. Once you have used this

technique against a creature, you can not use it again against

the same creature until the end of the turn.

Defensive Stance

Prerequisite: 5th level

When you spend ki to use Patient Defense, you enter a

loose, mobile defensive stance for the next minute. While this

lasts, you get +1 AC, and Step of the Wind and Ki Shield cost
Come Drink With Me,

you no ki and have no prerequisites. If you use Flurry of

by Lord-Of-The-Guns
Blows, Double Echo, or the Hide action, or if your speed

becomes 0, these benefits end immediately.

Focused Aim

Prerequisite: 5th level

You can use your ki to give yourself pinpoint accuracy. After

you make an attack roll, you can spend ki points to change

the outcome in one of the following ways: For 1, 2, or 3 ki

points you can add +2, +4, or +6 to the result, potentially

turning a miss into a hit. Or instead, for 1 ki point, you can

increase the raw die roll by 1, potentially turning a hit into a

critical hit.

Martial Arcanist

Prerequisite: Way of the Four Elements or 5th level

You have trained to blend spellcasting with your attacks.

Once on your turn, you can replace one attack with a cantrip,

without using any incidental material components. This

cantrip must have a casting time of one action, and does any
damage as if you were only first level.
You can reduce the ki cost to cast a spell by 1. If you do, you
can not cast that spell using ki again until you finish a short
or long rest.
You can use Ki Shield on concentration saving throws
Stunning Strike
Prerequisite: 5th level
Your strikes can block the natural flow of ki in the body of
your target, freezing them in place. When you hit with an
unarmed attack, you can spend 1 ki to try to slow or stun
them. Target makes a Constitution saving throw. If it

(once per saving throw) without using your reaction. fails, it is slowed (same effects as the slow spell) until

If you follow the Way of the Four Elements, when you
finish a long rest, you can learn 2 cantrips from the following
Creatures immune to being stunned
list: conrol flame, create bonfire, fire bolt, frostbite, gust,
magic stone, mold earth, produce flame, ray of Frost, or
shape water. When you do so, you forget any cantrips you
learned from this technique before. From 11th level, this
technique gives you 3 of these cantrips; from 17th level, 4 in
total.
the end of your next turn. If it fails by over 5, it is Stunned
until then instead.
succeed this saving throw automatically.
This is a strike technique. You can not use more than one
strike technique on the same attack. Once you have used this
technique against a creature, you can not use it again against
the same creature until the end of the turn.
TECHNIQUES (SIMPLE)
8

Effects of being slowed:
When a creature is slowed, their speed is halved,
they get a −2 penalty to AC and Dexterity saving
throws, and they can’t use reactions. On their turn,
they can use either an action or a bonus action, not
both. Regardless of their abilities or magic items,
they can’t make more than one melee or ranged
attack during their turn.
If the creature attempts to cast a spell with a
casting time of 1 action, roll a d20. On an 11 or
higher, the spell doesn’t take effect until their next
turn, and they must use its action on that turn to
complete the spell. If they can’t, the spell is wasted.
Touch of Insight
Prerequisite: 5th level
You have learned to feel how deception alters the flow of ki.
You immediately resist illusion effects if you touch them or
the spellcaster concentrating on them. If you are touching a
creature, its Charisma (Deception) checks against you are
made with disadvantage, and if your Wisdom (Insight) check
beats them, you clearly know it is lying.
Whenever you make a Wisdom (Insight) check against
possible deception, whether or not you are touching the
speaker, you can spend 2 ki points to roll your martial arts die
once and add it to the result. This bonus works against overt
deception, not concealed intentions.
Tranquility of Mind (Simpler Version)
Prerequisite: 5th level
You have refined your sense of mental calm. You can use
your action to end one effect on yourself that is causing you to
be charmed or frightened. You can choose to use this
technique even if you do not otherwise control your actions.
There is another optional version of this technique below.
Guided Meditation don't get the benefits of Restoring Mantra.
8th level
Bonding Strike
Prerequisite: 8th level
You can temporarily connect your ki to that of another
creature with a blow. When you hit with an unarmed attack,
you can spend 1 ki point and concentrate on establishing a
mental connection. If target's Intelligence is 2 or more, they
make an Intelligence saving throw. If they fail, then until the
end of your next turn, you have a mental connection to them.
If they fail by more than 5, or fail deliberately, this lasts for up
to 1 hour, as long as you maintain concentration.
While the connection lasts:
Their attacks against you are made at disadvantage.
You have advantage on insight checks against them, and
on Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma saving throws
against their spells or effects.
If they are within 1000 feet, you are aware of their general
state of mind, you have a rough sense of their direction
and distance, and they have a feeling of being watched.
Within 1000 ft, as an action from either side, you and they
can mentally send each other simple three-word messages
which are understood without needing a common
language. The one who takes the action sends first.
TECHNIQUES (SIMPLE)
9
This is a strike technique. You can not use more than one
strike technique on the same attack. Once you have used this
technique against a creature, you can not use it again against
the same creature until the end of the turn.
Flow of the Wind
Prerequisite: 8th level
Your movement is as light and free as the breeze. Once on
your turn you can spend 2 ki (as a free action) to get the
following benefits until the end of your next turn:
Your speed increases by 10 feet.
You are unaffected by difficult terrain.
You have advantage on any rolls to avoid or escape being
grappled, paralyzed, restrained, or petrified.
Step of the Wind costs you no ki.
Tumbling Dodge improves: you can use it regardless of
prerequisites; it is successful when you roll a 3 or higher
on the Martial Arts die roll; and when you do, you can use
up to 15 feet of movement.
Guided Meditation
Prerequisite: 8th level, Breath Control technique
Your meditation fortifies your body as it restores your
energy, and you can lead others in the same practice. When
you meditate to regain ki points, you can spend 1 ki (after
regaining ki) to gain temporary hit points equal to half your
martial artist level, rounded down. These THP last until you
finish a long rest or fail a Wisdom saving throw. While any
remain, add 1d6 to your Wisdom saving throws.
At the same time, you can guide other creatures within 30
feet in this meditation, for a cost of 2 ki points per creature
(spent after regaining ki); if they carry out verbal and somatic
actions as you instruct, they gain the same benefits you do
from this technique. They can not benefit from this technique
again until they finish a long rest.
If you have the Restoring Mantra technique, you can use
both of these together. Other creatures who participate in
Iron Palms
Prerequisites: 8th level, Deflect Missiles technique
Your study of ki has let you catch some spells as easily as
you catch arrows. When you are damaged by a spell that
targets you, you can use your reaction and spend 1 ki point to
reduce the damage by 1d10 + your Dexterity modifier + your
M.A. level.
If you reduce the damage from a spell to 0, this cancels any
other effects it might have. Starting at 12th level, you can
spend 2 ki points total to double the damage reduction. In
that case, if you reduce the damage to 0 and you were the
only target, you can spend 1 more ki point (3 total) to redirect
the spell (including its effects) against its source. If you make
an attack roll, use your Wisdom and proficiency bonuses.
Lizard's Step
Prerequisite: 8th level
You gain the ability to move along vertical surfaces and
across liquids on your turn without falling during the move.
Sensei (combat)
Prerequisites: 8th level, Sensei technique
When you use the attack action, you can spend 1 ki and
forego one attack to give wise combat advice to an ally.
Another creature of your choice within 30 feet who can hear
you can make their next attack or saving throw (before the
Range: 30-foot radius
Duration: 10 mins
end of your next turn) with advantage.
Subduing Strike
Prerequisite: 8th level
Your blows can be calculated not to physically wound, but
to humiliate and subjugate. When you hit with an unarmed
attack, you can spend 2 ki points. This attack does half
damage, then the target must make a Charisma saving
throw. If it currently has more hit points than 10 times your
level, it makes this save with advantage; if it has more than 20
times your level, or if it has successfully saved against this
technique in the last 24 hours, it automatically succeeds.
If it fails, its will to oppose you is broken, and it is charmed
by you for 1 minute. If it fails by 5 or more, this effect lasts for
an hour. You know which of those, if any, has happened.
Unlike the normal "charmed" effect, it does not see you as
a friend, merely as a threat to be appeased; but it still will
cooperate with you and obey reasonable requests or
demands as with a normal charm. It might try to escape if it
thinks it can get away cleanly, but will not do so if you or your
companions are watching it and within 30 feet.
If you or your companions do anything further to harm it,
the effect ends. When it senses you or your companions harm
its allies it sincerely cares about, it can make a Wisdom or
Charisma saving throw (its choice), up to once per time. If it
succeeds, the effect ends, without your knowledge.
This is a strike technique. You can not use more than one
strike technique on the same attack. Once you have used this
technique against a creature, you can not use it again against
the same creature until the end of the turn.
Tongue of the Stars*
Prerequisite: 8th level
You have learned to touch the ki of simpler beings, allowing
When you use Deflect
mutual understanding.
You can gain the effects of speak with animals at will; this
is not a spell. As an action, you can spend 3 ki points to cast
speak with plants.
damage from that effect.
The Cobra and the Mongoose,
Timeless Body: your ki sustains you so that you suffer none
by Donlavon1
Speak with Animals/Plants
Animals:
Range: Self
Duration: 10 minutes Prerequisite: Permanent blindness; OR 10th level and Owl's
You gain the ability to comprehend and verbally
communicate with beasts for the duration. The
knowledge and awareness of many beasts is limited
by their intelligence, but at minimum, beasts can
give you information about nearby locations and
monsters, including whatever they can perceive or
have perceived within the past day. You might be
able to persuade a beast to perform a small favor
for you, at the GM’s discretion.
Plants:
You imbue Plants within 30 feet of you with
limited sentience and animation, giving them the
ability to communicate with you and follow your
simple commands. You can question Plants about
events in the spell's area within the past day,
gaining information about creatures that have
passed, weather, and other circumstances.
You can also turn Difficult Terrain caused by
Plant Growth (such as thickets and undergrowth)
into ordinary terrain that lasts for the Duration. Or
you can turn ordinary terrain where Plants are
present into Difficult Terrain that lasts for the
Duration, causing vines and branches to hinder
pursuers, for example.
Plants might be able to perform other tasks on
your behalf, at the DM's discretion. The spell
doesn't enable Plants to uproot themselves and
move about, but they can freely move branches,
tendrils, and stalks.
You can communicate with plant creatures in
the area as if you shared a Common language, but
you gain no magical ability to influence them.
This spell can cause the Plants created by the
Entangle spell to release a Restrained creature.
10th level
Dry in the Rain (Simpler Version)
Prerequisite: 10th level, Deflect Missiles technique
Even in the stiffest shower of arrows, your hands become a
blur, protecting you from attacks.
Missiles or Iron Palms, you get +5 to your AC against further
ranged attacks until the start of your next turn.
There is another optional version of this technique below.
Purity of Body
Prerequisite: 10th level
Your mastery of the ki flowing through you makes you
immune to disease and poison. When you successfully make
a Constitution saving throw against an effect, you take no
Starting at 15th level as a Martial Artist, you also have a
of the frailty of old age, though you can still die of old age. You
can't be aged magically, and you no longer need food or water.
Spider's Stillness
Senses technique
You have heightened your hearing and other senses, giving
you blindsense with a range of 20 feet. This does not work if
you are deafened or in magical silence.
If you have this technique and are blind, understanding
light is a struggle for you. Whenever you cast the spell
darkness in any manner, the effect is that of the spell silence.
TECHNIQUES (SIMPLE)
10
 Uncanny Stagger
Prerequisite: 10th level, or Way of the Drunken Master
Your unpredictable movement can make you difficult to
attack. As an action, you can spend 2 ki points. While you
keep concentration on this effect, for up to a minute, any
creature that relies on sight has disadvantage to attack you.
Vigil's Virtue
13th level
Dispelling Strike (Simpler Version)
Prerequisites: 13th level; Two of the following: Meridian
Node Touch, Iron Palms, Touch of Insight, and Arcana skill
When you hit a creature with an unarmed attack, you can
spend 3 ki to cast Dispel Magic on them/it. This is cast at 3rd
level using Wisdom as your spellcasting modifier.
This is a strike technique. You can not use more than one
strike technique on the same attack. Once you have used this
technique against a creature, you can not use it again against
the same creature until the end of the turn.
Once you have used this technique a number of times
equal to your proficiency bonus, you can not use it again until
you finish a long rest.
Iron Skin
Prerequisite: 13th level, Iron Palms technique
You can concentrate to temporarily steel your body against
attacks. As a bonus action, you can spend 4 ki points to gain
resistance to the damage type of your choice, as long as you
maintain concentration, for up to a minute. You can use this
ability as a reaction to taking damage, instead, by spending 6
ki points; if so, your concentration automatically holds
against the initial triggering damage. You can not use this
technique to gain resistance to psychic damage, or to magical
bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage.
Leaf on the Wind
Prerequisites: 13th level, Slow Fall and Lizard's Step
techniques
Your power to leap from rooftop to rooftop or cliff to cliff
defies ordinary limits.
When you use Step of the Wind, you gain a flying speed
equal to your walking speed until the end of your turn. If you
end your turn without support, you fall.
Pure Mindfulness
Prerequisite: 13th level, Owl's Senses technique
Your enlightenment has reached a stage where you are
able to pierce the veil of worldly illusion.
You can spend 7 ki points to gain 60 feet of truesight for
ten minutes. Once you use this technique, you can't use it
again until you finish a long rest.
Truesight
With Truesight you can, out to a specific range, see
in normal and magical Darkness, see Invisible
creatures and objects, automatically detect visual
illusions and succeed on Saving Throws against
them, and perceive the original form of a
Shapechanger or a creature that is transformed by
magic. Furthermore, you can see into the Ethereal
Plane within the same range.
TECHNIQUES (SIMPLE)
11
Tongue of the Sun and Moon
Prerequisite: 13th level
You learn to touch the ki of other minds so that you
understand all spoken languages. Moreover, any creature that
can understand a language can understand what you say.
Prerequisite: 13th level; Ascetic Habits or Restoring Mantra
If you spend at least 4 hours resting, including at least half
the sleep you need, you can gain the benefits of a long rest,
then spend 7 ki points. For every level of exhaustion you have,
it takes one additional hour of rest before you can do this.
Until you complete a long rest without using this
technique, you can not use this technique again, and you only
recover half your ki points when completing a short rest.
18th level
Adamantine Soul
Prerequisite: 18th level; Ascetic Habits, Patient Response, or
Tranquility of Mind technique
Your mastery of ki allows you to resist even the most
powerful magics and effects. When you use Ki Shield but still
fail the saving throw, you can spend 5 more ki to succeed
instead. Once you have used this technique twice, you can't
use it again until you finish a long rest.
Empty Body
Prerequisite: 18th level, Purity of Body technique
You can use your action to spend 4 ki points to become
invisible for 1 minute. During that time, you also have
resistance to all damage but force damage.
Additionally, you can spend 8 ki points to cast the astral
projection spell, without needing material components. When
you do so, you can't take any other creatures with you.
Astral Projection
Necromancy, Casting Time: 1 hour
You project your astral body into the Astral Plane
(the spell fails if you are already on that plane). The
material body you leave behind is unconscious and
in a state of suspended animation; it doesn’t need
food or air and doesn’t age.
Your astral body resembles your mortal form in
almost every way, replicating your game statistics
and possessions. The principal difference is the
silvery cord that extends from between your
shoulder blades and trails behind you, fading to
invisibility after 1 foot. This cord is your tether to
your material body.
As long as the tether remains intact, you can find
your way home. If the cord is cut—something that
can happen only when an effect specifically states
that it does—your soul and body are separated,
killing you instantly.
Your astral form can freely travel through the
Astral Plane and can pass through portals there
leading to any other plane. If you enter a new plane
or return to the plane your body is on, your body
and possessions are transported along the silver
cord, allowing you to re-enter your body as you
enter the new plane.

Your astral form is a separate incarnation. Any
damage or other effects that apply to it have no
effect on your physical body and do not persist
when you return to it.
The spell ends when you use your action to
dismiss it. When the spell ends, you return to your
physical body, and awaken.
The spell might also end early. A successful
dispel magic spell used against an astral or physical
body ends the spell for that creature. If your
original body or astral form drops to 0 hit points,
the spell ends. If the spell ends and the silver cord
is intact, the cord pulls your astral form back to
your body, ending its suspended animation.
Extra Attack
Prerequisite: 18th level
When you take the Attack action, you can spend 1 ki to
attack three times, instead of twice.
If your initiative score is 5 or higher, then you can use this
technique without spending ki. If you do, then subtract 5 from
your initiative score; use this new score starting with the next
round of combat.
Focused Prescience
Prerequisite: 18th level; Two of: Ascetic Habits, Patient
Response, Tranquility of Mind, or Owl's Senses
Learn any 3 strike techniques, ignoring prerequisites.
techniques
You can spend 1 minute and 10 ki points to gain a limited
ability to see into the immediate future.
For one hour, you can't be surprised; you have advantage
on attack rolls, ability checks (including initiative rolls), and
saving throws; and other creatures have disadvantage on
attack rolls against you. You can end this effect at will, and
cannot rest until you end it.
When this effect ends, make a Constitution check. The DC is
5 + the number of times you've used this technique in the last
seven days. If you fail, suffer one level of exhaustion.
Perfected Arts
Prerequisite: 18th level
Gain expertise (2 times proficiency bonus) with up to 2 sets
of tools that you are proficient in.
Your Martial Arts die is 1d12.
Unparalleled Speed
Prerequisite: 18th level, Leopard's Grace technique
As an action, you can spend 7 ki points to gain +2
Dexterity, +2 initiative, and +15ft of speed, for 10 minutes.
During this time, you can use a reaction 1 additional time per
round.
When this effect ends, make a Constitution check. The DC
is 5 + the number of times you've used this technique in the
last seven days. If you fail, suffer one level of exhaustion.
You can not use this technique again if it is already active.
However, if you are a 20th level Martial Artist, you can spend
double or triple the ki costs (14 or 21 ki points) when
activating it. If you do so, this counts as two or three uses,
and all the bonuses, as well as the duration and the
exhaustion, are also doubled or tripled.
Variable Strike
Prerequisite: 18th level
These techniques each cost you 1 extra ki to use.
"Character Portrait[s]" by
YamaOrce TECHNIQUES (SIMPLE)
12
 Netero, by あかこっこ(@niro0324_2)
CALM BREATH
13
Techniques (Full Version)
The techniques listed above are fully playable, balanced, and
in accord with the simple design philosophy of D&D Fifth
Edition. Some people, though, prefer just a little bit more
"crunchiness" — that is, a greater variety of options, some of
which have slightly more-complex effects. The "full version"
below is intended for play groups that agree on that slightly-
more-complex play style.
All the options below are still intended to be clearly explained
and streamlined for smooth, easy play; but they may involve
just a bit more complexity. That may mean a bit more math; a
few more things to keep track of; or just abilities which
stretch the conventions of 5e design.
In general, though, the level of complexity is still lower than
many table-top role playing games, including most other
editions of D&D, as well as more-complex 5e add-ons such as
Darker Dungeons (giffyglyph.com/darkerdungeons ).

Martial Arts Techniques (Full; added techniques in italics)

Min Level Non-Combat Techniques Combat Non-Strike Techniques Strike Techniques

‡ * Spider's Stillness Uncanny Stagger, Martial Arcanist * Battlemaster Strike
1 Ascetic Habits †††
Danica's Dance †
Dizzying Strike †
Iron body ‡
* Dedicated Weapon †

* Meridian Node Touch ††

* Ki Infusion ††

Restoring Mantra †
* Slippery Escape †

Sensei †† Two Heavens as One

2 * Aspect of Clay ‡
Deflect Missiles ††
Grasscutter Strike †

Breath Control †
Double Echo
* Flying Strikes †
Leopard's Grace ††
Flurry of Missiles

Owl's Senses †††

Ribbon's Binding

Slow Fall † * Patient Response ††

5 * Hidden Ki
Abiding Will
Blinding Strike

* Meridian Sight ⸸
* Adder's Patience
* Boulder Strike ⸸

* Quickened Healing
Defensive Stance
* Picaro Strike ‡

Touch of Insight †
Focused Aim † Stunning Strike
* Tranquility of Mind †† Martial Arcanist
8 * Boon of the Wind
Flow of the Wind †
* Battlemaster Strike ⸸

Guided Meditation ⸸
Iron Palms ⸸ ††
Bonding Strike

Lizard's Step ††
Sensei (combat) ⸸
* Silent Strike

Tongue of the Stars * Protective Maneuvers Subduing Strike

10 * Ki Perfusion ⸸
* Boundless Compassion
* Deluding Strike

* Extra training
* Dry in the Rain ⸸
* Tornado Strike ⸸⸸
Purity of Body †
* Flow of the River †

Spider's Stillness ⸸ Uncanny Stagger

13 Pure Mindfulness ⸸⸸
Iron Skin ⸸
* Dispelling Strike ⸸‡

Tongue of the Sun and Moon

Leaf on the Wind ⸸⸸ * Slowing Strike ⸸
Vigil's Virtue ⸸
18 Empty Body ⸸
Adamantine Soul ⸸⸸
Perfected Arts

Focused Prescience ⸸⸸
Extra Attack (2)
Variable Strike
Unparalleled Speed ⸸ * Marilith's Reflexes

*: Described below (Italics: only described below.)

†: Is a prerequisite for another technique.
⸸: Has another technique as a prerequisite.
‡: Has a prerequisite other than level or techniques.

Knockout Lee Sin by UberWild,

©RIOT GAMES
TECHNIQUES (TABLE, FULL)
14
 Techniques (Optional Versions)
1st level
Dedicated Weapon (Optional Version)
You have learned to use your ki in armed combat as well as
unarmed. Whenever you finish a short or long rest, you can
touch one weapon, focus your ki on it, and then count it as a
monk weapon until you use this feature again. The weapon
must be simple or martial; you must be proficient with it; and
it must lack the heavy and special properties.
As a bonus action you can use Focused Breathing. When
you do, then until the end of your next turn, you can use your
chosen weapon in place of an unarmed strike, use strike
techniques when you hit with it, and, if you choose, use your
martial arts die for its damage.
Ki Infusion (Optional Version)
You can give your ki to others, restoring them to a stable flow
of life energy. You learn the cantrip Spare the Dying.
If you are at least 7th level as a martial artist, then when
you cast this cantrip, you can spend 3 ki points. If you do, the
creature also regains 1 hit point. The creature can't regain hit
points from this technique again until it finishes a short or
long rest.
Meridian Node Touch
You can find the nexuses of ki flow through your allies' bodies
to support their health. Add a roll of your Martial Arts die to
the outcome of Medicine skill checks on living targets.
As a bonus action, you can touch another creature who's
willing or unconscious, and concentrate on its ki. If you
maintain concentration, its next Constitution saving throw,
Constitution check, or death saving throw, has advantage or
disadvantage (your choice).
Once during a short rest, you can touch a creature and
concentrate on its ki. If that creature regains Hit Points by
spending Hit Dice during this rest, it regains extra hit points
equal to a roll of your Martial Arts die.
Slippery Escape
You move in ways that are hard to catch.
Any creature you have hit this turn has disadvantage on
opportunity attacks against you.
When you are allowed over 60 feet of movement in a turn
(such as through the Dash action), any opportunity attacks
against you have disadvantage.
If a creature has two sources of disadvantage in attacking
you, and no sources of advantage, its opportunity attacks
against you miss automatically. It will still attempt these
attacks if it would have otherwise.
2nd level
Aspect of Clay
Prerequisite: 2nd level; Way of Shadow or Drunken Master,
or Rogue
Your bodily training is so extreme that you can subtly alter
your visage, physical form, and gait. As an action, you can
spend 2 ki points to make such alterations for up to ten
minutes.
TECHNIQUES (OPTIONAL)
15
This can raise or lower your apparent age, change the bone
structure of your face to that of a different kind of humanoid,
make your face unrecognizable, change your hair pattern or
skin tone slightly, and even increase or decrease your height
by up to 6 inches. You can end this effect as an action. While
it lasts, you gain these benefits:
Add your proficiency modifier to any checks made to
disguise you (along with any tool proficiency that applies).
You can use your Dexterity modifier instead of your
Charisma modifier for deception and performance checks
from trying to pass yourself off as a different person.
Flying Strikes
Prerequisite: 2nd level
You learn the following two strike techniques. You can not
use more than one strike technique on the same attack. Once
you have used a strike technique against a creature, you can
not use it again against the same creature until the end of the
turn.
Hare Strike: You can launch yourself into movement with
a jump kick. When you make an unarmed attack, you can
spend 1 ki point to forcefully disengage.
Whether or not the attack hits, you gain the benefits of the
disengage action and immediately jump away from the target
up to a distance equal to your Strength score, without using
your movement.
If this attack hits, and target is Medium or smaller, it makes
a Strength saving throw or is knocked 5 feet away from you.
Sling Stone Strike: You have studied to make yourself a
living missile.
If an ally who is at least 1 size larger than you and has a
strength of 15 or more is within 5 feet, you can allow them to
throw you up to their strength score in feet.
This can use either one of their attacks from the "attack"
action along with your reaction, or vice versa. As part of this
technique, you can make a melee attack, adding both their
strength modifier and your dexterity modifier to the attack
roll and damage.
If you spend 1 ki point, this attack is made at advantage
and does 1 additional martial arts die as damage. In this
case, if target is Medium or smaller, it makes a Strength
saving throw, or is knocked prone. From level 10, this
applies to creatures Large or smaller.
Patient Response
Prerequisite: 2nd level
Your defensive readiness holds hidden surprises. When
you take the Dodge action (including via Patient Defense),
you gain the reaction options below until the end of your next
turn:
Counterstrike: If a creature misses you with a melee
attack, you can use your reaction to make one melee
attack against them.
You can use Tumbling Dodge regardless of level or
prerequisites.
If you can use Ki Shield, it costs you no ki.
5th level
Adder's Patience
Prerequisite: 5th level
You lay in wait to strike with blinding speed. You can forego
one attack as part of an action or bonus action, to ready a
melee attack as a reaction. You must choose one of the
following triggers and specify any givens:
Pirate,
The first time a creature you can see enters your melee
Rainbow-Foxy
range.
When a given creature you can see enters your melee
range.
When a given creature you can see, currently in your
melee range, does one pre-chosen thing from the
following list:
speaks (either generally, or in a given way such as
"replies in the negative")
casts a spell with verbal or somatic components.
attacks a target other than you
disengages or stands up
Boulder Strike
Prerequisites: 5th level, Slow Fall technique
You can strike from above with the force of a falling
boulder.
If you fall onto another creature, and use your Slow
Fall ability, then you can spend 1 ki point to attempt to
transfer the damage to them. Roll an attack. (As usual, if they
are not aware of you, you roll with advantage.)
If you hit, they make a Dexterity saving throw. If they see
you coming, and are not engaged with an ally of yours, they
may use their reaction to have advantage on this roll. If they
fail, they take the amount of damage that was prevented by
your slow fall. If they fail by more than 5, they are also
knocked prone. If they succeed, they take half this amount of
damage. If they succeed by at least 5, you also take half
damage.
You cannot use this technique on a turn where you used a
teleportation effect such as shadow step or misty step. Once
you have used this technique, you can't use it again until you
have finished a short or long rest.
Hidden Ki
Prerequisite: 5th level
You can use your ki to divert attention from yourself,
making you hard to notice. This grants two separate abilities:
Blend Into Crowd: Whenever you are in or near a group, you
can use your ki and concentrate (as on a spell) to direct
attention away from yourself to others.
As an action, spend 2 ki points to get +10 to your stealth
rolls for up to 1 hour whenever you are within 30 feet of 3 or
more humanoids. Anyone attempting to count the group, to
notice your differences from the others, or to look at you
specifically, must succeed on an Intelligence (Investigation)
roll against your modified Dexterity (Stealth) roll.
You roll with advantage if you are within 30 feet of 8 or
more non-hostile humanoids. For this benefit to apply, you do
not hide behind anything as usual, but instead act as the
others around you are. You immediately lose these benefits if
you begin to make an attack, use verbal components for spell,
or speak or act in a hostile or conspicuous manner.
Tiger
by
Smooth the Weave's Flow: When you reach 7th level as a
Martial Artist, your mastery of energy flows means you can
move through the world leaving nary a ripple in the weave of
magic. As an action, you can spend 3 ki points to hide
yourself from divination magic. For 2 hours, you can’t be
targeted by any divination magic or perceived through
magical scrying sensors.
If you know the Ki Infusion or Sensei techniques, then
while the effect of Smooth the Weave's Flow lasts, you can
extend it to up to 2 creatures of your choice as long as you
are touching each with a free hand.
Meridian Sight
Prerequisite: 5th level, 1 of: Meridian Node Touch, Ascetic
Habits, Touch of Insight (techniques) or Arcana (skill)
Your study of ki flows has taught you to see the flow of
arcane energy as well.
As an action, you can spend 2 ki points to sense the
presence of active magic within 30 feet of you for up to 10
minutes. Like the spell detect magic, this requires your
concentration, and can not penetrate 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of
common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood or dirt.
However, unlike detect magic, it will not tell you what
school magic comes from, and will not detect "passive" magic
items—unattuned items that have no effect without activation
or attunement.
On the other hand, if a non-permanent spell effect and its
caster, or an attuned magic item and its owner, are both
within 30 feet of you, you can see their connection. If only
one of them is within 30 feet, you can see one end of this
connection, so that you know the number of spell effects and
a general direction (off by no more than 45 degrees) for each.
If the other half of a spell/caster pair is on another plane of
existence, you know that, but not which plane. You can follow
these lines of connection, even if this takes you more than 30
feet from either end, if you make an Arcana check; the base
DC is 12, but the DM may add situational modifiers.
TECHNIQUES (OPTIONAL)
16
 A Moment of Calm, by @AhrunaArt
Picaro Strike

Prerequisite: 5th level; 13 Charisma or higher

Your blows can capture and command your opponents'

attention. When you hit with an unarmed attack, you can

spend 2 ki points. Target must make a Charisma saving

throw. If it fails, then until the end of its next turn, target has

disadvantage on attack rolls against any creature but you, but

any of their attack rolls against you ignore disadvantage.

If it fails by more than 5, then additionally, for the same

period, in any turn where you are or were in range for one of

its possible attacks or spells, it cannot attack another

creature cast a spell targeting them that requires a saving

throw. This does not apply to area-of-effect spells.

Quickened Healing (Optional Version)

Prerequisite: 5th level

As a bonus action, you can spend 2 ki points and roll a

Martial Arts die. You regain hit points equal to the number

rolled. The next time you use another technique before the

end of your next turn, reduce its ki cost by 1 (minimum 0).

Tranquility of Mind (Optional Version)

Prerequisite: 5th level

You have refined your sense of mental calm, and through

ki, you can use voice and posture to project that calm to

others. You can use your action to end one effect on yourself

that is causing you to be charmed or frightened.

If you know the Ki Infusion, Sensei, or Meridian Node

Touch techniques, then as an action, you can spend 3 ki to

cast Calm Emotions, centered on yourself.

You can choose to use this technique even if you do not

otherwise control your actions.

Calm Emotions

Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
You attempt to suppress strong emotions in a
group of people. Each humanoid [who can either
see or hear you] in a 20-foot-radius sphere
centered on [you] must make a Charisma saving
throw; a creature can choose to fail this saving
throw if it wishes. If a creature fails its saving
throw, choose one:
You can suppress any effect causing a target to
be charmed or frightened. When this spell ends,
any suppressed effect resumes, provided that
its duration has not expired in the meantime.
You can make a target indifferent to creatures
of your choice that it is hostile toward. This
indifference ends if the target is attacked or
harmed by a spell or if it witnesses any of its
friends being harmed. When the spell ends, GM
decides if the creature becomes hostile again.
8th level
Battlemaster Strike
Prerequisite: Existing Battlemaster maneuvers,
Your touch can temporarily grant others your incredible
or 8th level and 1 of: Dedicated Weapon, Iron Body,
Grasscutter Strike, or Focused Aim
You learn 1 maneuver from the battlemaster fighter.
TECHNIQUES (OPTIONAL)
17
It must be a maneuver that can be used with an unarmed
attack. That is: Disarming Attack, Distracting Strike, Goading
Attack, Lunging Attack, Maneuvering Attack, Menacing
Attack, Pushing Attack, or Sweeping Attack. (Precision
Attack, Grappling Attack, and Trip Attack are also legal, but
are usually inferior to other martial artist techniques.)
Instead of spending superiority dice to use that maneuver,
you spend ki to use it when you make an unarmed attack. If
you spend 2 ki to use it, the superiority die is 1d4; if you
instead spend 3 ki, the superiority die is your Martial Arts die.
Subtract 1 from these costs when using this strike with a
critical hit.
You can take this technique more than once to learn more
maneuvers. If you have superiority dice, you can use any of
the maneuvers listed above you know by spending either ki or
superiority dice.
This is a strike technique. You can not use more than one
strike technique on the same attack. Once you have used this
technique against a creature, you can not use it again against
the same creature until the end of the turn.
Boon of the Wind
Prerequisite: 8th level
speed and grace. When you use Step of the Wind, you can
spend 2 more ki, touch one willing creature, and concentrate.
For up to a minute, as long as you maintain contact with the
target, they gain the following benefits:
 They have the same movement speed as you.
Whenever you take the dash action, including when you
start this effect, they can use their reaction to move a
distance equal to your movement speed (simultaneously).
They use your Dexterity modifier instead of their own for
acrobatics and stealth checks.
If you lose contact with them or lose concentration, these
benefits last until the end of the current turn. You can
concentrate on this technique for two targets at once.
Protective Maneuvers
Prerequisite: 8th level
You learn three maneuvers to protect nearby allies:
Protective Stance:
When you take the Dodge action Boundless Compassion
(including via Patient Defense), you can choose to change the
effect. Until the end of your next turn:
Attacks against you do not have disadvantage. Attacks
against your allies within 5 feet have disadvantage.
Attacks against your allies within 5 feet count as attacks
against you for the purposes of Danica's Dance, Deflect
Missiles, Iron Palms, and Patient Response.
Selfless Reflex:
You can use your catlike reactions for a When you gain temporary hitpoints from another source,
most un-catlike altruism, leaping towards danger.
When you or another creature within 20 feet of you must
make a dexterity saving throw against damage, you can move
up to half your speed as a reaction. You have two options, as
follows.
In either case, you are subject to the triggering effect, Prerequisite: 10th level
automatically failing your saving throw (and thus, due to your
Evasion feature, taking half damage). The options are:
Move to share the space of the triggering creature. In this
case, the triggering effect applies to you and not to them.
Move to the center or source of the triggering effect, if it is
within range. For effects without a clear source or center,
the DM will designate one. All creatures except you who
must save against the effect take half damage on a failed
saving throw, and no damage on a successful one, as if
they had your Evasion feature. If they already have
Evasion, they save with advantage.
Selfless Fall: If you have the Slow Fall technique, then
when you and another creature fall at the same time and
within 5 feet of each other, you can use your reaction to
reduce their falling damage by an amount equal to 5 x your
martial artist level, and yours by 2 x your martial arts level.
Silent Strike
Prerequisite: 8th level
You have studied how to disable or fight your enemies
without giving them the chance to raise the alarm. When you
hit with an unarmed attack, you can spend 2 ki points. This
attack makes no noise and does nonlethal damage. After
taking damage, if the target's hit points are less than your
level plus 10, it becomes unconscious for 1d8 minutes.
If target remains conscious, and is not already affected by
this technique, it must make a Constitution saving throw.
If it fails, then until the end of your next turn, it is unable to
speak, and it makes all melee attacks at disadvantage. It
cannot cast spells requiring a verbal component, and its
breathing comes in strained, quiet gasps.
If it fails by more than 5, this effect lasts for up to a minute.
At the end of each of its turns, it makes a Constitution
saving throw to end this effect. It can use its action to give
itself advantage on this saving throw.
Creatures without a mouth, creatures that do not breathe,
creatures that do not use their breath to speak, and creatures
immune to the stunned condition, are immune to this effect.
This is a strike technique. You can not use more than one
strike technique on the same attack. Once you have used this
technique, you cannot use it again on the same creature until
the end of the turn.
10th level
Prerequisite: 10th level
Your meditations on the unity of all life have taught you to
share both the joy of renewal and the sadness of death with
all living things. Whenever a creature within 30 feet of you
gains hit points, you can as a reaction gain up to the same
number of temporary hit points, or up to your martial artist
level, whichever is less. The cost is 1 ki point per 10
temporary hit points gained, rounded up.
roll your martial arts die and increase the number gained by
that amount. Whenever a creature within 30 feet of you falls
to 0 hit points, lose any temporary hit points you have.
Deluding Strike
You can strike to muddle your opponent's mind. When you
hit with an unarmed attack, you can spend 3 ki points. If
target has an Intelligence of 2 or more, they must make a
Wisdom saving throw. If they fail, they are confused until the
end of your next turn; their mind is overtaken by delusions.
If they fail by more than 5, this confusion lasts for 1 minute,
but they can make another Wisdom saving throw at the end
of each of their turns, ending the effect on success.
The effects of this confusion are:
If they attempt to cast a spell, roll on the table below.
They cannot distinguish friend from foe. If they take any
action on their turn, such as attacking, that targets a
creature besides themself, they roll randomly for what to
target. Assign each valid target a number and roll the
smallest die that includes all those numbers; if the
number rolled is higher than the number of valid targets,
DM decides if they target the air or reroll.
Any other effects of distorted perception and/or action as
the DM determines. For instance, if they try to move, they
may move in an unintended direction; if they hear speech,
they may hear something other than what was said.
Whether these mistakes are merely random (eg, speaking
nonsense) or emotionally-charged (eg, mistaking others
for figures who they love or fear) is up to the DM.
This is a strike technique. You can not use more than one
strike technique on the same attack. Once you have used this
technique against a creature, you can not use it again against
the same creature until the end of the turn.
TECHNIQUES (OPTIONAL)
18
 Spellcasting Confusion table
Roll (d20) Result
1-4 They cast a random spell they have a slot for.
5-11 They believe they cast a spell, and hallucinate
its effects, but they actually just say the name
of the spell, without using a spell slot.
12-20 They successfully cast their chosen spell, but
any target besides themself is still determined
randomly as specified above.
Dry in the Rain (Optional Version)
Prerequisite: 10th level, Deflect Missiles technique
Even in the stiffest shower of arrows, your hands become a
blur, protecting you from attacks. When you use your Deflect
Missiles or Iron Palms technique, you gain +5 to your AC
against other ranged attacks until the start of your next turn.
If you have the Iron Palms technique, you can use your
reaction to cancel a magic missile that targets you.
that they would ordinarily recover on a short rest.
Ryonosuke-the-Ronin, by yoritomodaishogun
• For 8 ki (min level 16): They recover 1 level of exhaustion.
• For 10 ki (min level 20): They recover one use of a feature
Extra Training
Prerequisite: 10th level
You find a teacher and use your ki to quickly master a new
trick. Choose a feat, and make any associated choices. The
first time you learn this technique, you get "half" the benefits
of the feat, as agreed with your DM. When you end a short or
long rest, you can spend 4 ki to have the whole feat until you
next end a short or long rest. You can learn this technique a
second time to have the full feat without spending ki, except
that this technique never increases any of your ability scores.
As its name suggests, taking this technique for the first
time requires actual extra training, with a teacher who has
mastered the feat in question.
This may be an NPC of any creature you pass within 5 feet of, up to a maximum number
level (including an opponent in combat who uses the feat
against you), but also, if your DM approves, a wild animal, a
natural phenomenon, the spirit of a departed hero, etc.
TECHNIQUES (OPTIONAL)
19
DMs are encouraged, but not required, to make such a
teacher available; especially if the character begins searching
for their teacher a level or two in advance. As always, the DM
has veto power over whether a given feat is available.
The initial training and practice takes a minimum of 4
hours, uses half your ki, and may happen at any time during
the levels just before or after you get this technique. The DM
may require more time if the plot of the adventure allows, but
not more than a week.
The fact that this technique exists should not discourage
DMs from giving extra training that the player did not
request, as a quest reward, without using a technique slot.
Flow of the River
Prerequisite: 10th level
You are able to slide across the battlefield like water; your
ability to move when needed is nearly legendary.
Whenever you take a reaction, you can spend 1 ki point to
also move up to half your speed. This movement does not
provoke opportunity attacks.
If you move in reaction to a spell being cast, and your
movement takes you out of the area of effect of the spell, you
can make a Dexterity saving throw to avoid the spell's effects
entirely. If you fail this saving throw, you automatically fail the
first non-Dexterity saving throw against the spell.
Note that this technique does not give you any ability to
take reactions you could not otherwise take.
Ki Perfusion
Prerequisite: 10th level, Ki infusion technique
You can give your ki to others in order to restore various
forms of energy they have depleted. You can touch another
creature for one minute and spend up to half your ki point
maximum in ki points to give them one of the benefits below.
Any ki you spend on this feature is not recovered at the end
of your next short rest. Once you use this technique, you can't
use it again until you finish a long rest. If you spend more
than 5 ki on this feature, the target can't benefit from this
feature again for the next 7 days. You can choose one of the
following benefits:
• For X ki (min level 2X): They regain X ki points, or X-2
sorcery points, or recover a spell slot of level X-1.
• For 6 ki (min level 12): They recover one use of a feature
that they would ordinarily recover on a long rest.
Tornado Strike
Prerequisite: 10th level, 2 of: Danica's Dance, Slippery
Escape, Double Echo, Lizard's Step, or Uncanny Stagger
You can streak across the battlefield in a whirlwind of
blows, drawing energy from each successful hit to make later
ones even more deadly.
As a bonus action, spend 3 ki points. Take a Step of the
Wind, moving up to your full movement speed. This
movement does not provoke opportunity attacks.
You can make one melee attack against each separate
of creatures equal to your proficiency bonus.
When you begin this technique, you can spend a number of
additional ki points up half your proficiency bonus (rounded
down). Attacks from this technique each get additional
damage equal to the number of additional ki point you spent
in this manner, times the number of your previous hits this
turn against hostile creatures.
This is a strike technique. You can not use other strike
techniques while using this technique.
Tornado strike example:
After successfully making two attacks this turn, Sai,
an 18th-level monk, spends 6 ki for this technique;
that is, the additional damage per previous hit is
+3. She begins by running past five kobolds. Since
the number of creatures is below her proficiency
bonus, she can attack all of them.
She previously made 2 hits this turn, so if she
hits the first kobold, she will get +6 damage.
Similarly, assuming she hits all the remaining
kobolds, she gets +9, +12, +15, and +18 damage,
respectively. After obliterating each kobold as she
speeds past, she reaches the dragon behind them.
She can still hit one more creature; if she hits the
dragon successfully, she will get +21 to damage.
In addition, target makes a Dexterity saving throw. If their
initiative score is higher than yours, they make this saving
throw with advantage; if it is less than yours by 10 or more
and/or their speed is 15 feet or less, they make it with
disadvantage.
If they fail, roll your martial arts die. Subtract this amount
from their initiative count, down to a minimum of 0, for the
remainder of the battle. If they have already had a turn this
round, they do not get another until next round.
If they fail by more than 5, and/or if that leaves them with
an initiative count of 0, they are slowed (same effects as the
slow spell, listed above) until the end of your next turn.
Targets with legendary actions can forego the use of their
next two legendary actions, to turn a failure by less than 5
into a success, or to avoid the effects of the slow spell.
This is a strike technique. You can not use more than one
strike technique on the same attack. Once you have used this
technique against a creature, you can not use it again against
the same creature until the end of the turn.
18th level
Marilith's Reflexes
Prerequisite: 18th level
Your reactions are unparalleled. Learn any 2 of the
following techniques that you did not have before 18th level:
Adder's Patience, Danica's Dance, Deflect Missiles, Double

Echo, Dry in the Rain, Leopard's Grace, Patient Response,

Protective Maneuvers, or Slow Fall.
13th level Even if you have already taken one or more reactions, you
Dispelling Strike (Optional Version) can spend 1 ki per reaction you've taken this round to be able
Prerequisites: 13th level; Two of the following: Meridian to take another       reaction. You can not take more than one
Point Touch, Dedicated Weapon, Iron Palms, or Touch of reaction per                   trigger.
Insight (techniques), and/or Arcana (skill)
When you hit a creature with an unarmed attack, you can
spend 3 ki to cast Dispel Magic on them/it. This is cast at 3rd
level using Wisdom as your spellcasting modifier.
If target has used a non-spell effect such as Wild Shape to
change their form, then make a Wisdom check, with a DC
equal to 15 plus target's highest ability modifier. If you
succeed, target reverts to its original form.
If you use this strike on a critical hit, any rolls you make for
it are at advantage.
You can use this technique to hit an object or tangible
magical effect if you first make a DC15 Arcana check.
This is a strike technique. You can not use more than one
strike technique on the same attack. Once you have used this
technique against a creature, you can not use it again against
the same creature until the end of the turn.
Once you have used this technique a number of times
equal to your proficiency bonus, you can not use it again until
you finish a long rest.
Slowing Strike
Prerequisite: 13th level, Dizzying Strike technique
Your blows can slow your opponents by crucial moments.
When you hit with an unarmed attack, you can spend 2 ki
points. Until the end of its next turn, target can not take
reactions and its speed is reduced by 10 feet if it is not
already under the effect of Dizzying Strike.

Marilith, by kerembeyit; ⓒWOTC

TECHNIQUES (OPTIONAL)
20

Notes and Extra Rules
Ki Initiate Feat
For the purposes of this feat, Pugilist class levels count as
Martial Artist levels, and Ki counts as Moxie. (DMsGuild)
Ki Initiate (Feat)
Add 2 to your maximum ki points.
You learn 1 Martial Artist technique for which
you meet the prerequisites.
Flurry of Blows: After you take the Attack action
on your turn, or after you spend ki as part of
your action, you can spend 1 ki point to make
two unarmed attacks as a bonus action.
Whenever you hit a creature with an unarmed
strike, you can roll a d4 for the damage, instead
of the regular damage for this attack.
You can use Dexterity, instead of Strength, for
attacks and damage rolls with unarmed strikes.
Interrupting spells (eg, Mage Slayer
feat or Adder's Patience)
In various cases, you might be able to attack an enemy as a
response to spellcasting — due to ordinary readied actions,
Adder's Patience, or (especially) the Mage Slayer feat. If you
use a strike technique on such an attack, it might cause the
spellcasting to fail. Here are optional rules for these cases:
Short version: Silencing strike or Battlemaster Strike
(disarming) can interrupt casting without using up spell
slots; Blinding, Deluding, and Subduing strikes can
change targeting; Dispelling Strike becomes
This could be available through a magic item,
Counterspelling Strike; and other strikes can
immediately break concentration, but otherwise don't
affect the triggering spell.
1. A Martial Artist's unarmed attacks count as "melee
weapon attacks" for all purposes, including Mage Slayer.
(This is already the case, but bears clarification here.)
2. If, due to a strike technique on a reaction attack, the caster
gets a condition that would make that spellcasting illegal,
the spell is interrupted and no spell slot is used.
3. If, due to a strike technique on a reaction attack, the caster
gets a condition that would affect targeting of a spell, the
spell is cast, but targeting may be changed. Examples:
A mage attempts to cast misty step, and the martial
artist reacts with a successful Blinding Strike.
Since misty step requires a space "that you can
see", the mage simply disappears and reappears in
the same place, escaping any grapple.
A mage attempts to cast fireball, and the martial
artist responds with a successful Deluding Strike.
The spell succeeds, but the target is a random point
within range (roll d12 for clock direction, and
d12x10 feet for distance, stopping at walls).
A mage attempts to cast disintegrate against the
martial artist, who responds with a successful
Subduing Strike. The spell is cast, but the mage
must choose another target (such as the ground).
4. Reaction strikes that remove the ability to take actions or
initiate spellcasting do not interrupt spellcasting.
NOTES
21
5. If the caster attempts to cast a concentration-based spell, a
reaction attack causes a concentration saving throw
immediately after the spell first resolves.
6. When used to interrupt a spell as a reaction, a Dispelling
Strike casts counterspell instead of dispel magic.
Multiclassing
To multiclass as a Martial Artist, you must have a 13 in both
Dexterity and Wisdom. If your first technique is Iron Body,
you can instead use a 13 in both Strength and Dexterity.
When you become a Martial Artist, you gain proficiency in
simple weapons and shortswords.
If you gain a class feature (for example, Extra Attack) from
both Martial Artist and another class, in either order, you can
learn one additional technique to make up for it.
Possible related house rules
Switching mental stats
The Iron Body technique is designed to allow a purely-
physical martial artist who uses Strength, Dexterity, and
Constitution instead of Dexterity, Wisdom, and Constitution.
But you may instead want to house-rule a technique that
switches Wisdom for either Intelligence or Charisma. If this
works at your table and makes sense for your character
concept, go right ahead. For instance, a Cobalt Soul Martial
Artist could very reasonably use Intelligence instead of
Wisdom.
"Dead" levels and quest rewards
At levels 3, 7, 11, 14, 17, and 20, Martial Artists do not learn
an additional technique, because the base class features are
substantial. However, this is also a good chance for the DM to
offer an extra technique around one or two of those levels as
a quest reward.
such as one of those below; or as NPCs offering training.
Rolling Attacks Simultaneously
Some players or tables like to roll multiple attacks, such as
the two attacks from Flurry of Blows, together, in order to
speed up combat. Here is an optional rule for that case:
Status effects from one strike do not apply to "later"
attack rolls from the same action. Saving throws against
strikes still resolve sequentially.
Adding "bonus dice" to d20: Max only
Several abilities in 5e, such as the Guidance cantrip, Bless,
and Bardic Inspiration, add additional dice as bonuses to a
d20 roll. Even if these abilities are each well-balanced on
their own, combined they tend to break "bounded accuracy".
A few of the techniques above are of that nature, such as
Leopard's Grace and Touch of Insight. Thus, here is the
suggested rule: When you roll multiple bonus dice, only
use the highest one. Only use up expendable resources
for the die roll you actually use.
Bonuses on "long-term" skill checks
Say you have Owl's Senses active for 10 minutes, but are
rolling a perception roll for a 2-hour night watch. Or similarly,
with Leopard's Grace and a stealth roll for hours of travel.
You would not have to reroll when the bonus expired.
However, the DM may rule that short-term bonuses do not
apply to tool proficiency rolls to create a lasting object.
 Iron Knuckles
Magic Items Weapon, rare (requires attunement)
Belt of Martial Arts When wearing these magical knuckles, you get +3 to your
Wondrous item, rarity varies (requires attunement by a Strength, up to a maximum of 20. Your unarmed attacks can
Martial Artist) do 1d4 bludgeoning damage, and have a +1 bonus to attack &
While attuned to such a belt, you know one or more damage; but your weapon attacks have -1 to attack & damage.
additional Martial Arts techniques. The rarity (and in some If you are a Martial Artist, gain the advantages (and
cases, the color) of the item depends on the technique or drawbacks) of the Iron Body techniques. If you have the Iron
techniques available. A belt which grants more than one Palms technique, use 1d20 not 1d10 for the damage
technique will still generally only grant one technique with reduction.
the maximum level prerequisite shown.
Quarterstaff of Shelter
Number of Max level
techniques prerequisite Rarity Weapon, rare (allows attunement by a martial artist)
If you are wielding this quarterstaff, you can open it into a
1
1 Common (Can be attuned by parasol at one end. When it is open, you can not use it as a
(Specific) Rangers, Rogues, Fighters, or
Barbarians, if they are not wearing
weapon, but your fall speed is 60 feet; you take no fall
medium or heavy armor) damage; and you have 3/4 cover against radiant, poison, or
acid damage from ranged attacks, spells, or effects. It can be
1 (Any) 2 Uncommon opened as an action or as a reaction to being targeted by such
1
5 Uncommon (also increases your ki an attack, spell, or effect. It can be closed as a bonus action.
(Specific) point maximum by 1) The above effects do not require attunement, but they do
1 (Any) 8 Rare require having spent 10 minutes of familiarizing oneself with
the mechanism. If, however, this item is attuned by a martial
2 (Any) 10 Very Rare artist, it gains a +1 bonus to attack and damage, and gives its
2
13 Very Rare (also increases your ki owner understanding of the Protective Stance technique. If
(Specific) point maximum by 2, 1 minor the holder already knows that technique, they may use
beneficial property [DMG p219]) Patient Defense without spending ki.
3
18 Legendary (also increases your ki
(Specific) point maximum by 4, 1 minor Boots of Sidestep
and 1 major beneficial property)
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)
When you wear these split-toed boots, and are not wearing
Manual of Martial Arts medium or heavy armor, they provide the ability to disengage,
Wondrous item, various rarities dodge, or dash as a bonus action or as a reaction to being
targeted by an opportunity attack. If this ability is used to
dash, opportunity attacks against the wearer are made at
disadvantage until the end of the turn. If this ability is used to
disengage in response to an opportunity attack, the attack
automatically misses. Once you have used this ability, you can
not do so again until the following dawn.
If you are a Martial Artist, then when you wear these boots,
you gain the benefits of the Slippery Escape technique. If you
already know the Slippery Escape technique, you gain the
ability to use Step of the Wind without spending ki.
Waterbending Scroll,
Dominating Whip
by moptop4000
Weapon (whip), very rare (requires attunement)
This book or scroll (or tapestry, mosaic, etc.) offers This black leather bullwhip is considered a martial artist
instructions on one or more martial arts techniques. weapon. You gain a +2 bonus to its attacks and damage rolls.
If a martial artist spends 48 hours over a period of 6 days
or fewer studying the contents and practicing its guidelines, Leather Bullwhip,

they permanently learn the given technique(s). The manual by jonzou

then loses its magic, but regains it in a decade.

A non-martial artist may be able to gain the same benefits, This item has up

if they can pass a Dexterity or Wisdom check (DM's to 7 charges. It

regains

discretion) with a DC equal to 15 plus half the maximum 1d6+1 charges at sunset.

level prerequisite of the technique(s). In any case, this takes a When you hit with it, you can

total of 120 hours of study time over 14 days or fewer. expend 1 charge to gain
the effect of Bonding Strike,
or 2
If you ever study another manual of martial arts, you lose charges to gain the effect of Subduing Strike. In both cases,
any techniques you learned from the first one. the duration of any effects is tripled.
The rarity of such a manual is one level rarer than a
corresponding belt of martial arts would be.
NOTES
22
 When wielded by a martial artist, this weapon gains
additional properties:
The wielder is able to use the Bonding Strike and
Subduing Strike techniques. If they already know either of
these techniques, they can choose other strike techniques
they could learn, gaining the ability to use these
techniques until attunement ends.
When they hit with this weapon, the wielder can use the
weapon for a strike technique. This costs 1 ki point, plus
the technique's normal ki cost.
The wielder can spend 3 ki to add one charge to this
weapon, as a free action.
Curse (DMs option): Some, but not all, examples of this
item were used in an ancient conflict against a holy order,
and that order's patron deity was able to impose a powerful
curse on the ones which were used in this manner. If such an
item is used to help enslave any creature (that is, to force it to
perform work useful to others against its will), the curse is
activated for 7 years.
While this curse is activated, anyone If you are a variant human, get the Mage Slayer feat to
attuned to this weapon will not voluntarily unattune from it.
Remove Curse will deactivate, but not remove, this curse.
While under this curse:
They find healing magic to be painful; whenever they
magically recover hit points, they must succeed on a DC
18 Constitution saving throw, or be stunned until the end
of their next turn.
They are vulnerable to radiant damage, but they find
suffering this damage pleasurable.
"Suggested" builds
The wide variety of optional techniques above can tend to
paralyze some players with too many choices. To help
alleviate this problem, here are some "suggested" builds. If
DMs want to, they could limit players to the choices
suggested for their chosen subclass, or to an appropriate
"themed" build.
First, here's three "themed" builds, to give some idea of
what is possible:
Traditional Monk reproduces the 5e Monk. Note that
through 12th level, this class roughly even with the monk
in named abilities (though Stunning Strike is weaker, and
they have more hit points and basic ki abilities.)
Support: Focused on options that help others.
Mage's Bane: Optimized for shutting down enemy mages.
start out; replace Patient Response with Focused Aim at
level 5; and get a strike technique at level 10.

Lvl Traditional Monk Support Mage's Bane

1 Dedicated Weapon Ki Infusion Dizzying Strike
2 Deflect Missiles Sensei Deflect Missiles
3 — — —
4 Slow Fall Breath Control Leopard's Grace
5 Stunning Strike Leopard's Grace Blinding Strike
6 Tranquility of Mind Tranquility of Mind Tranquility of Mind
7 — — —
8 Quickened Healing Guided Meditation Iron Palms
9 Lizard's Step Sensei (combat) Lizard's Step OR Silent Strike
10 Purity of Body Ki Perfusion Extra Training (Mage Slayer)
11 — — Replace Patient Response with Focused Aim
12 ?? (Tornado Strike) Protective Maneuvers Slow Fall OR Stunning Strike
13 Tongue of the Sun and Moon Boon of the Wind Leaf on the Wind OR Deluding Strike
14 — — —
15 ?? (Leaf on the Wind) Tongue of the Sun & Moon Dispelling Strike
16 ?? (Guided Meditation) Silent Strike Flow of the River
17 — — —
18 Empty Body Pure Mindfulness Adamantine Soul
19 ?? (Focused Prescience) Marilith's Reflexes Variable Strike
20 — — —

SUGGESTED PROGRESSIONS (SPECIFIC

PURPOSE)
23
Here are suggested technique progressions for Way of Mercy, Way of Shadow, Way of the Astral Self, Way of the Cobalt Soul, and
Way of the Drunken Master. The remainder of the Ways are on the next page.

Default Technique Progression

Way Mercy Shadow Astral Self Cobalt Soul Drunken Master
1 Ki Infusion OR Meridian Dedicated Weapon OR Sensei OR Dizzying Strike Sensei OR Restoring Dizzying Strike OR
Node Touch Patient Response Mantra Iron Body
2 Breath Control OR Slow Fall Ascetic Habits Owl's Senses Slow Fall
Restoring Mantra
3 — — — — —
4 Owl's Senses Aspect of Clay OR Flurry Ribbon's Binding OR Deflect Missiles OR Uncanny Stagger
of Missiles Deflect Missiles Flying Strikes
5 Stunning Strike OR Blinding Strike OR Stunning Strike OR Blinding Strike OR Grasscutter Strike
Tranquility of Mind Defensive Stance Grasscutter Strike Stunning Strike OR Picaro Strike
6 Deflect Missiles OR Hidden Ki OR Martial Hidden Ki OR Tranquility Tranquility of Mind Quickened Healing
Defensive Stance Arcanist of Mind OR Adder's OR Aspect of Clay
Patience
7 — — — — —
8 Guided Meditation OR Lizard's Step OR Silent Iron Palms * OR Meridian Bonding Strike OR Tongue of the Stars
Boon of the Wind Strike Sight Subduing Strike OR Slippery Escape
9 Subduing Strike OR Abiding Will OR Owl's Flow of the Wind OR Meridian Sight OR Silent Strike OR
Protective Maneuvers Senses Sensei (combat) * Touch of Insight Patient Response
10 Purity of Body Uncanny Stagger OR Purity of Body OR Guided Abiding Will OR Lizard's Step
Spider's Stillness Meditation Double Echo
11 — — — — —
12 Ki Perfusion OR Leopard's Grace OR Owl's Senses OR Tongue Sensei (Combat) * Tornado Strike OR
Boundless Compassion Focused Aim of the Stars OR Protective Double Echo
Maneuvers
13 Tongue of the Sun and Tornado Strike * OR Deluding Strike OR Tongue of the Sun Danica's Dance OR
Moon OR Tongue of the Battlemaster Strike: Dispelling Strike * and Moon Boundless
Stars Disarming * Compassion
14 — — — — —
15 Pure Mindfulness OR Flow of the Wind Pure Mindfulness * OR Pure Mindfulness Leaf on the Wind
Vigil's Virtue Tongue of the Sun and
the Moon
16 Dry in the Rain OR Leaf on the Wind * OR Vigil's Virtue OR Flow of Spider's Stillness Tranquility of Mind
Strike of Sympathy Deluding Strike the River OR Strike of OR Leopard's Grace
Sympathy
17 — — — — —
18 Focused Prescience OR Unparalleled Speed OR Empty Body OR Focused Prescience Variable Strike OR
Empty Body Perfected Arts Adamantine Soul OR Marilith's Marilith's Reflexes
Reflexes
19 Extra Attack OR Extra Attack OR Extra Attack OR anything Extra Attack OR Extra Attack OR
anything above anything above above anything above anything above
20 — — — — —

*: These techniques have prerequisites above that are optional; make sure you choose valid combinations.

Note: copy/paste from this pdf may give backwards characters.

You can either use a service like http://spellbackwards.com/ to switch it to forwards, or go to
https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/N9JpbncOJJjp for the original source of this document.

SUGGESTED PROGRESSIONS
24
 Next, here are suggested technique progressions for Four Elemnts, Kensei, Long Death, Open Hand, and Sun Soul.

Default Technique Progression

Way Four Elements Kensei Long Death Open Hand Sun Soul
1 Ki Infusion OR Dedicated Weapon OR Dizzying Strike OR Danica's Dance OR Dizzying Strike OR Ki Infusion
Dedicated Weapon Two Heavens as One Dedicated Weapon Slippery Escape
2 Slow Fall Leopard's Grace OR Deflect Missiles Slow Fall Ascetic Habits OR Deflect
Flurry of Missiles Missiles
3 — — — — —
4 Martial Arcanist Deflect Missiles Flurry of Missiles Patient Response Slow Fall
OR Leopard's Grace OR Dizzying Strike
5 Stunning Strike Stunning Strike OR Stunning Strike Stunning Strike OR Blinding Strike
Focused Aim Blinding Strike
6 Breath Control OR Breath Control OR Hidden Ki OR Boulder Strike OR Touch of Insight
Deflect Missiles Adder's Patience Focused Aim Flying Strikes
7 — — — — —
8 Adder's Patience Battlemaster Strike OR Silent Strike OR Double Echo OR Battlemaster Strike OR Martial
OR Iron Palms * Silent Strike Bonding Strike Ribbon's Binding Arcanist
9 Flow of the Wind Iron Palms OR Adder's Iron Palms Lizard's Step Lizard's Step
OR Defensive Patience
Stance
10 Boon of the Wind Dry in the Rain Deluding Strike OR Tornado Strike * OR Danica's Dance OR Double
OR Flow of the Extra Training Tranquility of Mind Echo
River
11 — — — — —
12 Lizard's Step Extra Training Purity of Body Protective Tornado Strike
Maneuvers OR Extra
Training
13 Leaf on the Wind Patient Response OR Slowing Strike * OR Slowing Strike * Leaf on the Wind
OR Tornado Strike * Iron Skin Breath Control
14 — — — — —
15 Dispelling Strike * Uncanny Stagger Dry in the Rain Leaf on the Wind Abiding Will OR Vigil's Virtue
OR Ki Perfusion
16 Iron Skin Protective Maneuvers Dispelling Strike * Boon of the Wind Tongue of the Sun and the
OR Danica's Dance OR Uncanny Stagger OR Flow of the River Moon OR Tongue of the Stars
17 — — — — —
18 Adamantine Soul* Perfected Arts OR Perfected Arts OR Variable Strike OR Adamantine Soul OR
OR Variable Strike Unparalleled Speed Variable Strike Marilith's Reflexes Perfected Arts
19 Extra Attack OR Extra Attack OR Extra Attack OR Extra Attack OR Extra Attack OR anything
anything above anything above anything above anything above above
20 — — — — —

*: These techniques have prerequisites above that are optional; make sure you choose valid combinations.

These default progressions can be used in several ways:

As suggestions/guidance for players, who could still be
allowed to choose any technique.
If the DM decides, each player could be required to
choose only from the choices given for their subclass.
If the campaign is starting at other than first level, players
could be restricted to the choices given for initial levels,
but allowed to choose for levels gained during play.
SUGGESTED PROGRESSIONS
25

Legal notice
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast,
Forgotten Realms, Ravenloft, Eberron, the dragon
ampersand, Ravnica and all other Wizards of the Coast
product names, and their respective logos are trademarks of
Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other countries.
This work contains material that is copyright Wizards of
the Coast and/or other authors. Such material is used with
permission under the Community Content Agreement for
Dungeon Masters Guild. All other original material in this
Blows,
work is copyright 2019 by AllOlive and published under the
Removed
Community Content Agreement for Dungeon Masters Guild.
Moved L13-
Sensei (Combat),
Acknowledgements
Thanks to the excellent artists: Lord-Of-The-Guns,
@AhrunaArt, SesameFruit, RalphHorsley (artwork copyright
WotC, used under noncommercial license), PuddingPack,
UberWild, 0BO, あかこっこ, @JupsTheArtist, Donlavon1,
Rainbow-Foxy, yoritomodaishogun, YamaOrce, kerembeyit,
jonzou, moptop4000. (I found most of this art on DeviantArt.
I've reached out to all of these artists offering a small
payment, but only some have gotten back to me to give
permission. If any declines permission later, I'm sorry.)
Some ideas here inspired by DrewTheDruid.
Thanks v12.1: Allowed weapons as part of Martial Arts attack;
especially to SamuraiHealer, Spellcastermaster,
archDeaconstructor, marcos2492, DedicatedPedestrian,
Suspenderz, ThatOneThingOnce, DiscipleofTzeentch,
Lord_Longface, etc. on r/UnearthedArcana for their
comments/suggestions.
Changelog
v18.1: Slight streamlining, moving minor extra subfeatures
between Martial Arts, Patient Defense, Step of the Wind, and
Flow of the Wind. Point out differences from Monk.
v18.0: Moved Focused Breathing to techniques. Martial
Arcanist, Breath Control, Dedicated Weapon, Quickened
Healing. —Pushy.
v17.2:
Small changes to simplify Danica's Dance, Patient v11.0: Added features: Lithe Serenity (L9) & Bonus Attack
Response, Boon of the Wind, Flurry of Missiles, Defensive
Stance, Pushy, Flow of the River. "Humble Ki"->Hidden Ki.
Merged Flying Strikes; +Picaro Strike (like old Transfixing)
v17.1: Ki Shield, Adder's Patience, Martial Arcanist,
Defensive Stance, Silent Strike, Meridian Node Touch,
Subduing Strike, —Twist of the Rapids, —Crescendo
v17.0: Tumbling Dodge, Novice Ki Techniques, Ki Shield,
Improved Ki Techniques, -Fluidity, Extra Attack, Iron Skin,
Leopard's Grace, Owl Senses, Focused Aim, Protective
Stance, Purity of Body.
v16.1: Novice->Basic w/ prereqs. L3: no new technique.
Danica's Dance. 2ha1. Owl's Senses. Grasscutter Strike.
+Defensive Stance. Merge: Protective Maneuver. Boon of the
Wind. Flow of the River. Boots of Sidestep. Defaults.
v16.0: d10 hit dice! Changed: Martial Arts. Step of the
Wind. Novice Ki Techniques (Ki Shield, Critical Strike,
Tumbling Dodge). Two Heavens as One. Flurry of Missiles.
Leopard's Grace. Owl's Senses. Pushy. Meridian Node Touch
Aspect of Clay. Belt of M.A.
v15.0: Added magic items. toned Muscles into Leopard's Grace. Strike of Sympathy
v14.2: Overall proofreading, smoothing wording. Tweak
Ascetic Habits, Focused Prescience, Unparalleled Speed,
Meridian Node Touch. + Twist of the Rapids, Vigil's Virtue.
v14.1: Technique Mastery -> Fluid Mastery. Focused
breathing w/subclass spells. Tweaked Leopard's Grace, Owl's
Senses, Martial Arcanist (!). Added Improved Unarmored
Defense. Added optional rule: keep highest bonus die.
v14.0: Bonus Attack -> Improved Basic Ki Techniques
v13.2: DM gets a veto for Extra Training. Nerfed Patient
Response (Spirit Dodge).
v13.1: Changed dodging (Martial Arts, PD, Pati, Response,
Slippery Escape). -2nd class table. Adamantine Soul.
v13.0: Action economy: Martial Arts, Flurry of
Patient Defense, Step of the Wind, Bonus Attack.
Lithe Serenity, Sustained Focused Breathing.
>L10. Tweaked Guided Meditation,
Dispelling Strike, Adamantine Soul, Unparalleled Speed,
Patient Response, Slippery Escape, Adder's Patience, Boon
of the Wind, Prot. Stance, Extra training, Tornado Strike.
v12.6: Tweaked Unparalleled Speed.
v12.5: Tweaked Patient Defense, Step of the Wind, Lithe
Serenity; Breathtaking Strike, Ki Infusion, Sensei, Martial
Arcanist, Spider's Stillness, Iron Skin, Patient Response,
Slippery Escape.
v12.4: Tweaked Marilith's Reflexes, Technique Mastery,
subclass builds. Replaced Nova Strike with Perfected Arts.
v12.2-12.3: + Extra Attack Technique. Fixed Echo Strike.
changed Flurry of Blows so it doesn't work with items;
Tweaked Martial Arcanist to work with new FoB. Moved
"subclass spells count as techniques" to base class. Swapped
L11 and L13. Tweak Technique Mastery, Flexible Technique.
Added concentration to Uncanny Stagger.
v12.0: Echo Strike, Extra Training. 2Ha1. Redid prereqs for
Martial Arcanist, Sensei(combat), Flow of the River
v11.4: ThatOneThingOnce: Strike of Sympathy--; simplified
Leopards Grace, Subduing Strike; nerfed Pure Mindfulness,
Guided Meditation, Hare Strike; changed Iron Skin.
v11.3: Added Martial Arcanist; tweaked 2 Heavens as 1
v11.2: Tweak battlemaster strike, focused aim, slowing
strike, leopard's grace
v11.1: Improved subclass default techniques. Tweaked
Battlemaster Strike and Focused Aim
(L13). Reworked Flurry of Blows, Flurry of Missiles, Ribbon's
Binding, subclass defaults
v10.5: Reordered techniques, Added Restoring Mantra
v10.4: Simplified Deluding Strike (thanks, Suspenderz)
and Iron Body; Added Pushy and Two Heavens as One;
Tweaked Adder's Patience, Ascetic Habits, rules for
interrupting spells
v10.3 Added Wily Sidestep and Meridian Node Touch.
Tweaked Danica's Dance.
v10.2: Clarified interaction with Mage Slayer feat in notes;
Changed Silencing Strike to Breathtaking Strike; Created
optional version of Leopard's Grace; Adder's Patience,
Meridian Sight, & Unparalleled Speed
v10.1 Reorganized into simple and "optional" versions
V9.1: Techniques that combine into one after a certain
level: Hare and Sling Stone Strikes; Protective Stance and
Selfless Reflex; Merged Smooth the Weave's Flow and Blend
into Crowd into Humble Ki; Mongoose's Quickness and Well-
down to level 10, other level prereq changes. Weakened
Spider's Stillness. Fixed default progressions to fit with
NOTES
26
 above. Moved Critical Strike to L6. Removed Venerable. v4.0: Several changes
Reworked/rebalanced basic
v9.0: More work on refining prerequisites; Sample builds techniques, especially Moment of Clarity.
Focus bonus
for each subclass; Ki Initiate feat
v8.1: Replaced temporary ki example (and s/modifier/bonus/).
Moved basic technique
with "reduce the cost". (Thanks, DedicatedPedestrian). rules to correct place in level progression.
Removed separate
Merged Enervating & Hindering>Dizzying Strike; Tranquil limit on strike techniques known by level.
New technique:
Presence & Stillness of Mind>Tranquility of Mind.
Removed Depth of Field.
Substantial fixes to Selfless Reflex and Flow
Truth between Suffering and Pleasure.
Added Critical Strike; of the River.
Table of techniques by level.
Several new art
Well-toned muscles; Variable Strike.
Various rewordings for pieces.
clarity.
Added mention on class table. v3.5: Added intro page. Rebalance "Align Ki Flow".
v8.0:
Add Blinding Strike, Deluding Strike, Dispelling v3.4: Reworded "Flow of the River" so it could work against
Strike, Hindering Strike, Slowing Strike, Silencing Strike, forecage. Added "Align Ki Flow". Reworded "Combat Focus"
Protective Stance, Well-honed Reflexes, & Boon of Wind.
X to feel less math-y (same effects).
Vigilant Sleep, Transfixing Strike, Tumbling Recovery. v3.3: Flavor text and more art
Completely reworked Flow of the Wind.
Reworked level and v3.2: Switched name to "Martial Artist"
other prerequisites.
Added index and sample builds. v3.1: fixing formatting, A few minor wording tweaks, Art
v7.1
Various minor changes suggested/inspired by more integrated and better-placed.
SamuraiHealer.
Moved Dedicated Weapon to technique. v3.0: rework damage. Further analysis suggested
Prerequisites for several techniques, especially high level sustainable damage was a touch high. So returned the
ones. Marked in table.
Added Crescendo of Blows.
Merged martial arts die progression to base Monk, made crits a
Purity of Body and Timeless Body
Tweaked Abiding Will, choice between crit-damage and disadvantage-on-save, and
Aspect of Clay, Blend into Crowd.
Changed to Trained added optional strike rule to prevent advantage cheese.
Breathing. Renamed Sling Stone Strike.
Simplifying: Features: Added Basic Ki Strike, simplified Improved
Removed Bob and Weave; second Compassion technique; Combat Focus, rewording to Nimble Sidestep.
Techniques:
Let the Moment Blossom; Wildcat's Sidestep; Staggering Iron Skin; Venerable just half, Danica's Dance can be
Strike; second half of Double Echo; 20 / 1 rule for strike combined with Nimble Sidestep.
Strikes: added Penetrating
saves.
Moved "roll simultaneously" rules to optional box. Strike.
Changed some level prereqs to have around 6-7 new
v7.0
Removed Combat Focus, Focus Bonus, Wanderer's options at each relevant level.
Voice.
Added Staggering Strike, Focused Aim.
Tweaked v2.2: Simplified Focus and temporary ki. More analysis.
Focused Breathing, Basic Ki Strike, Wildcat's Sidestep, v2.1: Analysis; tweaking Focus for balance; added
Perfect Focus, Purity of Body, Ki Infusion, Focused Quickened Healing and "forego temp ki for damage", as ki
Prescience.
Combined Deflect Missiles and (previous) Iron sponges.
Palms; renamed & reworked Ironstone Palms
Reworked v2.0: Focus modifier and associated changes
level prereqs to simplify L1 choice of techniques. v1.2.2: Cleanup to Tornado Strike and example. (Technique
v6.0:
Moved the "optional" monk features to be techniques, count: 55. 19/27/9 non-combat/combat-non-strike/strike)
to simplify.
One new technique per level, unless you get a v1.2.1: New techniques: Abiding will, Selfless Reflex,
really good technique-like feature.
Added Nova Strike. Wildcat's Sidestep, Venerable, Star Strike (Technique count:
Changed a few level prereqs. 55. 19/27/9 non-combat/combat-non-strike/strike)
v5.0 Rewritten/refactored for clarity/simplicity (note: for a v1.2:
Changes to class features (Martial Arts, temporary Ki
while I was adding these changes without bumping version points, Nimble Sidestep, [Improved] Combat Focus).
Non-
past 4.2, so "4.2" is somewhat of an arbitrary label on a combat class features may be exchanged for non-combat
random state in the past).
Smoothed out the common rules techniques. Defined the latter.
New techniques: Danica's
for strikes (at start of strike section). Clarified that natural Dance, Dry in the Rain, Iron Palms, Ironstone Palms, Sensei
20s/1s automatically succeed/fail to save against strikes. (Combat).
Changed some techniques: Well-honed Senses,
Reordered 2nd level feature descriptions to seem less Focused Breathing.
Renamed: Hare Technique, Iron Body.
complicated. Simplified focus bonus and temporary ki.
Added Copyediting.
technique flexibility on long rest at L20. Total techniques at
L20 back down to 8 (like Warlock).
Added: Transfixing Strike,
Bob and Weave.
Changed saving throw for Subduing Strike
to Wisdom. Now there are 2 strikes each for each major
saving throw, and 1 each for each minor saving throw, and
IMO they're all differentiated yet make sense.
Added text to
clarify Flow of the River (hopefully).
Ki cost for Sensei
(Combat), but it comes back on a crit.
v4.2
Refined exhaustion price for Focused Prescience.
Minor tweak to Bewildering Strike. And whoops — I'd
mistakenly removed the level prerequisite.
Fixed wording for
general strike technique limitations.
v4.1
Added FAQ and "don't be racist" reminder next to
Sensei.
Removed Moment of Clarity; added Focused
Prescience.
Moved Nimble Sidestep be part of Wildcat's
Sidestep.
Added Bonding Strike.
Total: 60 optional
techniques! 6 class features / basic techniques.

NOTES
27

FAQ
Why did you make this?
I think that the Monk archetype in D&D has great potential to
be distinctive and fun, with ways to keep up in frankly
superhuman power with other classes without relying on
"magic". But in practice, playing a Monk too-easily turns into
a matter of just "I attempt a stunning strike... again." That's
not really fun, for three reasons: it's monotonous; if it doesn't
work, you feel useless; and if it does work, the bad guys' cool
abilities feel useless.
So, inspired by the flexibility of Warlock invocations, I tried
to make a more-flexible, yet still balanced, version of the
class. I think that nerfing Stunning Strike by a bit (though it's
still definitely a substantial ability) opens up a lot of room to
add options without breaking balance.
Yes, but why spend so much time on it?
Good question...
Aside from techniques, how does this
differ from Monk? Why?
In descending order of impact:
Nerfed stunning strike:. You can only attempt it once per
turn, and if the target fails the DC by 5 or less, they are
only slowed, not stunned.
New Basic/Novice Techniques: In addition to Flurry of
Blows, Patient Defense, and Step of the Wind, I've added
Energy Reserves: Some ki recovery without
whining about short rests.
Tumbling Dodge: Monk-style Uncanny Dodge.
Critical Strike: Slight increase to damage and/or
control. Rewards saving ki, not blowing it all early.
Ki Shield: Increase survivability; fits with Diamond
Soul, but early enough to matter.
1d10 hit dice: Most 1d8 classes are casters (cleric, druid,
bard, warlock); and Rogue & Artificer are often ranged. A
Martial Artist's two most signature moves (flurry of blows
and stunning strike) both require melee combat, and their
AC is not top-tier. There's no good excuse for not giving
them 1d10; the fighter still wins with 2nd Wind.
New features at level 10/11: Improved Basic Ki
Techniques makes your basic tools... more of themselves.
Changed Martial Arts: Bonus action doesn't depend on
action, and combines better with feats/fighting styles.
Flexible Technique and Fluid Mastery: Better capstones
to help you better keep up in high-tier play.
All in all, the purpose of these changes is similar to the
purpose of adding techniques: in order to make playing this
class more varied and fun, hopefully without overshadowing
the rest of the party.
Has this been playtested?
Only a little, at lower levels. But I'm a professional number-
cruncher, so I've done ... probably more white-room scenarios
and damage calculations than most canon 5e content gets.
If you playtest it, please let me know how it goes. Contact:
drquinn at mit dot edu.
How's the balance?
As compared to a standard Monk:
Levels 1-4: Slightly better, but doesn't overshadow anyone.
Levels 5-8: Substantially less chance of an encounter-
winning stun, but slightly less needy about short rests, and
more flexible.
Levels 9-14: Begins to catch up and pass the standard
Monk, though still doesn't flat-out dominate it.
Levels 15-20: Clearly dominates the standard Monk. But
so do most spellcasters, so that's OK.
But isn't 15 techniques by L20 too many?
Not really. First, consider that you could spend 8-10 of these
15 just on techniques that reproduce standard and/or
existing alternate features of the Monk class — and in the key
case of Stunning Strike, the technique version is notably
weaker. Second, consider that in some ways, techniques are
comparable to spells; and that, eg, a Level 20 Warlock has 15
spells known, 4 cantrips, 4 mystic arcana, and 8 invocations.
In other words: you could even give 2 or 3 techniques as
quest rewards by level 12, and this wouldn't be broken.
Is this a Mary Sue/Marty Stue class?
Compared to Hexblade? No way, don't be ridiculous.
Compared to full casters or paladins? No.
Compared to Barbarian? Clearly more flexible, but doesn't
touch the barbarian at the thing the barbarian does best.
Compared to Fighter, Rogue, or Ranger? This might begin
to outshine a poorly-built fighter or rogue, even in their own
niche; but it won't overshadow a well-built one. It will
dominate a poorly-built Ranger, but isn't the same niche.
Isn't this class (still) kinda orientalist/
exoticizing?
It's hard to get away from that issue. I've tried to draw from a
true variety of martial arts from around the world; for
instance, "Grasscutter strike" is named for a Capoeira
technique, not a Judo one. But one basic part of the appeal of
playing a monk is the fantasy of being like somebody from a
kung fu movie, so stereotypes are going to come into play.
Ultimately, though, it's up to the players and the DM what
they do with this. You can make your Martial Artist character
anyone you want them to be, and stuff like Iron Body is there
to encourage a variety of play-styles. It's a game, so have fun,
and take care of each other.
More: “May I Play A Character From Another Race?”.
Any tricky rules?
Tumbling dodge uses up movement for the current turn
only. You still get your full movement on your next turn.
If you have more than your ki point maximum — for
reasons such as exhaustion with Ascetic Habits — then
you immediately lose any excess ki points.
When combining Adder's Patience with Flow of the River,
you can prepare to attack if a given creature casts a spell,
then use the resulting reaction to move (such as out of the
way of the spell), even if you have no valid target for your
reaction attack.
Iron Skin still applies to the damage that breaks your
concentration.
Breath Control's Focused Breathing works on Dispelling
Strike.
FAQ
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