The dark Ki within you manifests itself as a dark misty figure, loosely resembling yourself. It follows your command in one of three forms, your choice will be carried through to levels 3, 6, 11, and 17 (These abilities do not require Ki points to use):

• Oni
  • Deadly, precise, and loyal.
  • This shadow will aide you in combat and will never leave your side.
• Marionette
  • Ruthless, Silent, and Watchful.
  • This shadow is an ally, independent and steadfast.
• Trickster
  • Cunning, Sly, and Deceptive.
  • This shadow will betray the senses of those who you deem fit.

Shadowkin

Starting when you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you can manipulate your ki to control your own shadow.

• Oni
  • As a bonus action, your shadow may copy any physical attack you have made this turn with a separate dice roll. (The attack is considered as an unarmed strike)
  • Even if your standard action attack has missed, your shadow has a chance to land the attack.
  • This works with any physical melee or ranged attacks.
• Marionette
  • As a bonus action, you may separate yourself from your shadow. Sharing initiative, your shadow may take their own actions under your control.
  • Your shadow can travel 30 feet from you and relays no information to you. If it travels beyond 30 feet, it will return to you.
  • This may be canceled as a free action.
  • It also shares your stats with half your hit points.
• Trickster
  • Your shadow becomes an exact copy of you. It can move freely as a bonus action, but cannot attack.
  • As a reaction, you may switch places with your shadow.
  • Your shadow is essentially an illusion, therefore, it cannot interact with anything.
  • Attacks directed towards your shadow will pass right through, although, it has half your hit points.

Shadow's Presence

At 6th level, your shadow gains the following ability based on your shadow choice:

• Oni
  • As a reaction, your shadow may take the damage of one attack targeted at you. 
  • This may happen once per encounter.
• Marionette
  • As a reaction, you may move your shadow to another location 30 feet from where it currently is (In a straight line).
  • During this movement, if it enters a square with an enemy, the enemy will take damage equal to your unarmed strike (roll for damage).
  • This may happen once per encounter.
• Trickster
  • As a reaction, your shadow may taunt all enemies within 30 feet of it. 
  • Roll a persuasion check with a +5 bonus.
  • This may happen once per encounter.

Enhanced Shadowkin

Beginning at 11th level, you can manipulate your ki to control your shadow to greater effect:

• Oni
  • As a bonus action, your shadow may copy any physical attack you have made this turn with a separate dice roll. (The attack is considered as an unarmed strike)
  • If your standard action attack misses, this action can be done as a free action instead.
  • If your standard action attack hits, you impose disadvantage onto your target for their next turn.
  • This works with any physical melee or ranged attacks.
• Marionette
  • As a bonus action, you may separate yourself from your shadow. Sharing initiative, your shadow may take their own actions under your control.
  • Your shadow can travel 1 mile from you and relays basic information to you. If it travels beyond 1 mile, it will return to you.
  • This may be canceled as a free action.
  • It also shares your stats with all your hit points.
• Trickster
  • Your shadow becomes an exact copy of you. It can move freely as a bonus action, but cannot attack.
  • As a reaction, you may switch places with your shadow.
  • Your shadow becomes tangible enough to perform basic actions.
  • Attacks directed towards your shadow will pass right through, although, it has all your hit points.

One with Shadows

At 17th level, your control over your shadows gives you one of the following abilities based on your shadow choice once per long rest:

• Oni
  • As a standard action, you may cover yourself in your shadow.
  • Enemies are given disadvantage when targeting you.
  • You gain advantage on Dexterity saving throws.
  • While standing on a shadow, your movement is doubled.
  • This effect lasts for 1d6 turns.
• Marionette
  • As a standard action, you may split your shadow into 5.
  • Each of the 5 shadows has full health, regardless of the original shadows hit points.
  • Each shadow has its own turn phase.
  • When this action ends, you designate one shadow to remain and it stays with its current hit points.
  • This effect lasts for 1d6 turns.
• Trickster
  • As a standard action, you may make a copy of your shadow one open square away with full hit points.
  • Each time one of your shadows is attacked, it will split with half your hit points.
  • While this ability is in effect, each of your shadows may make one unarmed attack.
  • These shadows share your unarmed attack damage. (Roll for damage)
  • This effect lasts for 1d6 turns.