Way of Suffering

Monks of the Way of Suffering recognize that pain is a part of life—indeed, the only ones that don’t feel pain are the dead. These monks accept their pain and turn it to their advantage.

It is not that they receive pleasure from their own suffering (though some do), but these monks perceive a kind of spiritual aspect to it. Their meditations might be looked upon with horror by the unenlightened, but those who take a chance on this philosophy come to understand that pain is one of the only ways to feel truly alive.

Masochistic Vigor

Starting when you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you can draw power from the pain you experience. Whenever you take damage, you can expend a number of ki points and the use of your reaction and gain temporary hit points equal to the damage taken, up to a total of five times the number of ki points expended. 

In addition, the sharpness of pain allows you to see the world more clearly, and react with alacrity. Whenever you take damage from a creature, your next attack against that creature has advantage, provided you take it before the end of your next turn. Alternatively, when you take damage from any source, the next Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution check or saving throw you make before the end of your next turn has advantage.

Sensitive Durability

Starting at 6th level, you have such familiarity with various forms of suffering that pain meant to be debilitating has little effect on you. You have advantage on any saving throw you make to avoid being stunned or paralyzed. You also suffer no ill effects from the pain effect of the symbol spell, or any other effects that are described as inflicting debilitating pain.

In addition, your openness to sensation allows you to open your senses to the world. By meditating for at least one minute and expending one ki point, you can gain advantage on Wisdom ability checks and Intelligence (Investigation) checks for the next hour.

Sadistic Awareness

By 11th level, you have experienced so much pain yourself that you can recognize it in others. Whenever you complete a long rest, you may select a number of creatures you can see equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of 1). Until the end of your next long rest, you know whenever the chosen creature takes damage, even if you cannot directly perceive them.

In addition, you can help others through their pain. Whenever a creature you have chosen with this ability takes damage and is able to see or hear you, you can expend your reaction and ki points to grant them temporary hit points, as with your Masochistic Vigor feature. You may choose to do this with a creature you have not previously designated with this feature, but they gain only half the number of temporary hit points.

Noble Sufferer

At 17th level, you have mastered pain, and your mastery of it has opened your senses to all the world as few others can ever experience. You have advantage on all Wisdom ability checks and Intelligence (Investigation) checks.

Additionally, you are unmatched at moving beyond the physical into the spiritual. Starting at 18th level, when you use your Empty Body feature to become invisible and gain resistance to all damage, it uses your bonus action, not your action. When you use your Empty Body feature to cast astral projection, you can cut the casting time in half, and expend only 4 ki points to cast it.