Complete Monk (02 06)
Complete Monk (02 06)
Complete Monk (02 06)
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As the elven woman weaves between the strikes of the foes
that surround her, her calculating eyes search for openings.
In the blink of an eye, she leaps in the air and performs a
tornado kick that sends all of her enemies flying. As she
lands, another horde of warriors approaches her, and she
grins. Wiping her mouth, she takes on a fighting stance and
with a quick gesture of her fingers, urges the new challengers
to approach.
The warlord walks into his tent and starts revising the plan
of attack against the nearby settlement. An entire platoon of
guards surrounds the tent, but none of them witness the
black-clad orc lurking in the shadows. As the shadow master
spots the dim light of a torch burning inside the tent, his form
vanishes, only to reappear behind the focused warlord. With a
swift strike from the orc's hidden kunai, the warlord doesn't
even have time to consider his last breath, and the assassin's
form once again becomes one with the darkness.
A bald human faces the tyrant king atop a cliff. As the king
raises the cursed greatsword to strike, the human's tattoos
start glowing, and the elements of nature gather around his
form. The tyrant's blade meets stone, and does not find
purchase. Wind breaks his form and throws him aside, while
water uproots him, turning into ice that shackles him to the
ground. But it is fire that seals his fate, as the tattooed man
unleashes a fiery breath not unlike that of a greatwyrm upon
the tyrant.
Whatever their fighting style, all monks are spiritual As a result of this, most monks often embark on journeys
masters of body and soul alike, channeling their inner ki to to witness the world outside of their monasteries and test the
perform miraculous feats of martial prowess. boundaries of how their ideals hold in practice. After all, life
is another teacher they need to study under, and many
Masters of Ki grandmasters urge their more advanced students to
A monk's style varies from other warriors. Monks hone both undertake important missions or to seek a grand purpose on
body and spirit, seeking a harmony that gives rise to the their own, leading to year-long quests that take them to
esoteric power of ki. Drawing upon their ki, monks are able faraway places.
to perform mystical techniques and augment both their Leaving the structured and communal lifestyle of a
physical and spiritual defenses. As a monk masters the use of monastic order to become a wanderer can be difficult for
ki, they become able to even read the ki within others, many monks. The change is harsh, but those who leave their
sensing their intentions as well as predicting their moves cloisters understand the importance of their task, welcoming
within a fraction of a second. adventures as tests of their personal growth. Monks rarely
While ki isn't magic, some sages believe that it is a care for material wealth and possessions, or for the fame that
manifestation of the soul's will to achieve greater heights and accompanies monster slaying, but they do seek the
reach enlightenment. To reach a state where they are able to satisfaction of accomplishing greater missions that align with
fully take advantage of their ki, many monks leave material their ideals.
possessions behind and only focus on their ideals and goals.
Multiclassing and the Monk
Wandering Ascetics If your group uses the optional rule on multiclassing,
Monks are often trained in monasteries that seclude them here's what you need to know if you choose monk as one
from the flow of ordinary life. In these spiritual places, monks of your classes.
Ability Score Minimum. As a multiclass character, you
seek personal perfection and contemplate upon their place in must have at least a Dexterity score and a Wisdom score
the world, as well as try to understand the teachings passed of 13 to take a level in this class, or to take a level in
down among long lines of grandmasters. Once a student ears another class if you are already a monk.
the right to study in such a place, be it through the Proficiencies Gained. If the monk isn't your initial class,
recognization of their talents, or their own stuborness into here are the proficiencies you gain when you take your
being accepted among the ranks of the monks, the training first level as a monk: simple weapons, shortswords.
Ki Points. Add your levels in the monk class to the
never ends. A monk's path only ends when they take their last appropriate levels from other classes to determine your
breath; sometimes, not even then. total ki points.
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The Monk
Proficiency Ki Martial Stances Arts Unarmored
Level Bonus Points Features Arts Known Known Movement
1st +2 1 Ki, Martial Arts, Flurry of Blows d6 2 ─ +10 ft.
2nd +2 2 Ki Arts, Martial Arts Improvement, Ki Flurry d6 2 2 +10 ft.
3rd +2 3 Monastic Tradition, Ki Surge (1/Rest) d6 2 2 +10 ft.
4th +2 4 Ability Score Improvement d6 2 2 +10 ft.
5th +3 5 Extra Attack, Wandering Sage d8 3 3 +15 ft.
6th +3 6 Monastic Tradition feature, Ki Empowerment d8 3 3 +15 ft.
7th +3 7 Evasion, Tranquil Soul d8 3 3 +15 ft.
8th +3 8 Ability Score Improvement d8 3 3 +15 ft.
9th +4 9 Adamantine Soul d8 4 4 +20 ft.
10th +4 10 Purity of Body d8 4 4 +20 ft.
11th +4 11 Monastic Tradition feature d10 4 4 +20 ft.
12th +4 12 Ability Score Improvement d10 4 4 +20 ft.
13th +5 13 Martial Arts Improvement d10 5 5 +25 ft.
14th +5 14 Diamond Soul, Ki Surge (2/Rest) d10 5 5 +25 ft.
15th +5 15 Timeless Soul d10 5 6 +25 ft.
16th +5 16 Ability Score Improvement d10 5 6 +25 ft.
17th +6 17 Monastic Tradition feature d12 6 7 +30 ft.
18th +6 18 Immortal Soul d12 6 7 +30 ft.
19th +6 19 Ability Score Improvement d12 6 8 +30 ft.
20th +6 20 Perfect Self d12 6 8 +30 ft.
2
You also choose a Martial Art Style to specialize in,
choosing from the Martial Arts Style options detailed at the
end of the class description. You cannot select a Martial Arts
option more than once, even if a feature allows you to select
an additional Martial Arts Style option. The Martial Arts
Style option that you choose grants you benefits at 1st level
and again at 2nd and 13th level.
Stances
You learn two Stances; the Stance granted to you by your
Martial Arts Style at 1st-level, and an additional Stance of
your choice from the list of Stances detailed at the end of the
class description. When you gain certain monk levels, you
learn additional Stances of your choice as shown in the
Stances Known column of the Monk table.
Stances are unique combat forms that grant you certain
benefits while you're maintaining them. You can enter a
stance that you know as a bonus action, gaining its benefits
for 1 minute. You can only maintain one stance at a time. You
can end a stance at any time (no action required), and you
don't gain a stance's benefits while incapacitated.
Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can
Ki choose one of the Stances you know, except from the Stance
granted to you by your Martial Arts Style, and replace it with
1st-level monk feature another Stance that you could learn at that level.
Your training allows you to harness the mystical energy of
ki. This energy is represented by ki points. You start with one Flurry of Blows
ki point, and gain more as you reach higher levels in this
class, as shown in the ki points column of the Monk table. 1st-level monk feature
You can expend ki points to fuel various monk class Once per turn while you gain the benefits of your Martial
features, such as the 1st-level benefit of your Martial Arts Arts feature, when you take the Attack action or spend ki
feature and the various Ki Arts you learn from this class. points as part of your action, you can make one additional
You learn more ways to use your ki points as you gain unarmed strike as part of that action.
levels in this class. A ki point is expended when you use it. When you reach 11th level in this class, you can make two
You regain all your expended ki points when you finish a additional unarmed strikes with this feature, instead of one.
short or long rest.
Ki Arts
Martial Arts 2nd-level monk feature
1st-level monk feature You harness your inner ki and polish it into Ki Arts. You
Your practice of martial arts gives you mastery of combat learn two Ki Arts; the Ki Art granted to you by your Martial
styles that use unarmed strikes and monk weapons, which Arts Style at 2nd-level, and an additional Ki Art of your choice
are shortswords and any simple melee weapons that don't from the list of Ki Arts detailed at the end of the class
have the two-handed or heavy property. description. When you gain certain monk levels, you learn
You gain the following benefits while you are unarmed or additional Ki Arts of your choice, as shown in the Arts Known
wielding only monk weapons and you aren't wearing armor column of the Monk table.
or wielding a shield: Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can
Dexterous Attacks. You can use Dexterity instead of choose one of the Ki Arts you know, except from the Ki Art
Strength for the attack and damage rolls of your unarmed granted to you by your Martial Arts Style, and replace it with
strikes and monk weapons. another Ki Art that you could learn at that level.
Martial Arts Die. You can roll a d6 in place of the normal Exploits. Some of your Ki Arts are Exploits, special
damage of your unarmed strikes or monk weapons. This die techniques that represent your unique martial style. Once you
changes as you gain monk levels, as shown in the Martial use an Exploit on a turn, you can't use another Exploit that
Arts column of the Monk table. shares a type with that Exploit during that turn, and you can
Unarmored Defense. Your AC equals 10 + your Dexterity only use one Maneuver Exploit per attack.
modifier + your Wisdom modifier.
When you reach higher levels in this class, the way you Saving Throws
determine your AC with this feature improves: at 5th level (11 Some of your ki features require your target to make a saving
+ modifiers), at 11th level (12 + modifiers) and at 17th level throw to resist the feature's effects. The saving throw DC is
(13 + modifiers). calculated as follows:
Unarmored Movement. Your speed increases by 10 feet. Ki save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Dexterity
This bonus increases when you reach certain monk levels, as or Wisdom modifier (your choice).
shown in the Monk table.
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Ki Flurry Extra Attack
2nd-level monk feature 5th-level monk feature
Once per turn, while gaining the benefits of your Flurry of You can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take
Blows feature, you can forgo one of the unarmed strikes the Attack action on your turn.
granted by it to reduce the ki point cost of the next Maneuver
or Tactical Exploit you use before the end of that turn by 1, to Wandering Sage
a minimum of 0. 5th-level monk feature
Through your adventures, you've met and interacted with
Monastic Tradition many warriors, learning their ways and understanding their
3rd-level monk feature motivations. Whenever you make a Wisdom check against
When you reach 3rd level, you commit yourself to a another warrior, you gain a bonus to the roll equal to one roll
monastic tradition. Choose one of the following: Way of the of your Martial Arts die.
Astral Spirit, Way of the Four Elements, Way of the Open In addition, if you spend at least 1 hour in a specific
Hnad, or Way of Shadow. Your tradition grants you features at location, such as a forest or a village, you can add your
3rd level and again at 6th, 11th, and 17th level. Martial Arts die to any Wisdom checks you make to find your
path through that location or to discern the ongoing public
Ki Surge affairs of creatures inhabiting it.
For the purposes of this feature, a warrior is any creature
3rd-level monk feature that is proficient with all martial weapons, can use at least
You can draw out your inner ki even at the direst situations. one Maneuver Exploit ability, can initiate at least one martial
As a bonus action, you can choose to regain a number of technique or has ki points.
expended ki points up to your Wisdom modifier.
Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you
finish a short or long rest. When you reach 14th level in this Ki Empowerment
class, you can use it twice before a rest. 6th-level monk feature
Your unarmed strikes count as magical for the purpose of
Ability Score Improvement overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks
and damage.
4th-level monk feature
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 14th, Evasion
16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of
your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of 7th-level monk feature
your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability Your instinctive agility lets you dodge out of the way of
score above 20 using this feature. 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.
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Tranquil Soul Perfect Self
7th-level monk feature 20th-level monk feature
At the start of your turn while you aren't incapacitated, if You've reached the pinnacle of your craft, honing your ki to
you're charmed, or frightened, you can spend 1 ki point to end perfection. You gain the following benefits:
the charmed or frightened condition on yourself (no action When you roll initiative, you regain a use of your Ki Surge
required). feature.
In addition, once on each of your turns, you can enter a Whenever you finish a short or long rest, you can choose
Stance you've learned from this class at the cost of an one of the Stances or Ki Arts you know except from the Ki
amount of your movement equal to half your speed (no action Art and Stance granted to you by your Martial Arts Style
required). and replace it with another Stance or Ki Art that has the
same level prerequisite.
Adamantine Soul Your Wisdom score increases by 4, as does your
9th-level monk feature maximum for that score.
Whenever you make a saving throw and fail, you can spend
1 ki point to reroll it, adding your Martial Arts die to the roll,
and take the second result. Exploit Rules
In this document, we present a new mechanic, or
Purity of Body more accurately a keyword/tag, namely the Exploit
10th-level monk feature keyword. There are three types of Exploits:
Your mastery of the ki flowing through you makes you Maneuver Exploits. A Maneuver Exploit can be
immune to disease and poison. used only as part of an attack (no action
required), and usually enhances the attack in
Diamond Soul some way. You can only use one Maneuver
Exploit per attack.
14th-level monk feature
Your mastery of ki grants you proficiency in all saving Swift Exploits. A Swift Exploit can be used as a
throws. bonus action on your turn.
Tactical Exploits. A Tactical Exploit can be used
Timeless Soul either as an action on your turn, or in place of
15th-level monk feature one of your attacks when you take the Attack
Your ki sustains you so that you suffer none of the frailty of action on your turn.
old age, and you can't be aged magically. You can still die of
old age, however. In addition, you no longer need food or Each Exploit details any conditions regarding
water. when or how it can be used in its description. .
Once you use an Exploit on a turn, you can't use
Immortal Soul another Exploit that shares a type with that Exploit
18th-level monk feature during that turn.
When you would be reduced to 0 hit points, you can
expend any amount of ki points, roll your Martial Arts die a
number of times equal to the ki points you spent, and add the
dice together (no action required). You drop to a number of
hit points equal to the total rolled, instead.