Way of the Crouching Tiger

In the wild places of the world, a few secluded monasteries dedicated to a primal monastic order still stand. The Way of the Crouching Tiger is an ancient order that trains it's followers to stalk their prey unseen until they are ready to strike, unarmed from the shadows. At these secluded monasteries, monks live alongside tigers as they train to channel their ki into the primal strength of the apex predators they revere. 

Of all the monastic traditions, the Way of the Crouching Tiger produces the greatest martial warriors with teachings honed over thousands of years focusing on fighting unarmed. Most Way of the Crouching Tiger monks are transient types, some travelling in search of noble causes to lend their martial prowess to, while others thirst to test their strength against the most fearsome creatures they can find.

It is rare to see a Way of the Crouching Tiger monk these days and it is rarer still to cross one in battle and live to tell the tale. Walkers of this path are often recognised by their orange robes and tattoos of animalistic design. 

 [credit to Mr Mike Draws for the art]

Strike of the Raking Claw

3rd-level Way of the Crouching Tiger feature

Your mastery of your ki allows you to manifest your ki as spectral claws around your fists when fighting unarmed. Your unarmed strikes now have a +1 bonus to attack and damage, this bonus improves by +1 at 6th and 11th levels and your unarmed damage type becomes force. Additionally, with your new feline grace, when you hit a creature with an unarmed strike on your turn you do not provoke opportunity attacks from that creature for the rest of your turn.

The bonuses granted by this feature do not stack with the Eldritch Claw Tattoo.

Grace of the Feline

3rd-level Way of the Crouching Tiger feature

You have learned how to channel your ki to meld into the shadow so you can stalk your prey unseen. You can use your ki to duplicate the effects of certain spells. As an action, you can spend 2 ki points to cast Invisibility or Pass without Trace without providing material components. 

You gain proficiency in the Stealth and Acrobatics skills and you gain an additional 5 ki points.

Prowess of the Hunter

6th-level Way of the Crouching Tiger feature

Your ki further attunes with the spirit of the apex predator as you progress in your Way of the Crouching Tiger training. You gain proficiency in the Perception, Intimidation and Survival skills, and you gain advantage on Survival checks to track a creature when on the prime material plane.

Additionally, your long jump and high jump distance permanently increase by 15 feet and you gain Darkvision of 60 feet (if you already have Darkvision its distance is increased by 60 feet). 

Call to the Spirits

6th-level Way of the Crouching Tiger feature

Your devotion to the Way of the Crouching Tiger allows you to call on the spirits of two legendary tigers to aid you in battle. As an action, you can spend 3 ki points to cast Conjure Tigers without providing material components. 

Torrent of Blows

11th-level Way of the Crouching Tiger feature

Beginning at 11th level, your cat-like speed enables you to make three unarmed attacks, instead of two, whenever you spend 1 ki point to take the Flurry of Blows bonus action.

Shadow of the Predator

11th-level Way of the Crouching Tiger feature

When you reach 11th level you have further honed the art of channelling your ki to duplicate certain spell effects. As an action, you can spend 3 ki points to cast Greater Invisibility or Phantom Tiger without providing material components. 

Fury of the Tiger

17th-level Way of the Crouching Tiger feature

Your connection to the apex predator is complete, allowing you to harness the fury of the tiger. As a bonus action, you can expend 6 ki points to channel your ki to call on the spirit of a legendary tiger, harnessing its power to assume the form of a Spectral Weretiger for 10 minutes. Your Spectral Weretiger Transformation ends early if you are incapacitated or die. 

While your Spectral Weretiger Transformation is active, you gain the following benefits.

Impenetrable Hide. Your Spectral Weretiger form grants you a +2 bonus to Armor Class.

Cascade of Claws. Whenever you use the Extra Attack feature to attack twice, you can instead attack three times.

Roar of the Apex Predator. As a bonus action, you let out a blood-curdling roar. Each creature of your choice that is within 60 feet of you and is aware of you must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to your Roar of the Apex Predator for the next 24 hours.