Way of the Katana (HB)

Monks who practice the Way of the Katana choose to hewn their martial art skills with a blade. These monks treat the katana as an extension of their arm, and as such can wield the blade with such dexterity that few can match their prowess in combat. The Way of the Katana teaches a monk how to rapidly draw their blade when surprised, defend against incoming assault, and cut their opponents down with terrifying efficiency. Monks are also taught to respect their blade as they would themselves. They learn to clean it, sharpen it, and treat it with the utmost care, for they must understand that the katana could very well save their life one day.

One with the Blade

From 3rd level, the katana becomes a key weapon in your arsenal, both as a protectorate of your life and an instrument of your foe's death. You gain proficiency with the longsword if you don't already have it, and it becomes a monk weapon for you.

While you are wielding a longsword, you gain the following properties:

• You gain a +1 bonus to your AC. **This must be done manually on DDB**
• When a creature misses you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction and expend 1 ki point to make a melee weapon attack with your longsword against the creature.

Perfectly Balanced

From 6th level, you have learned to channel your ki through your katana. You are immune to the prone condition while you are wielding a longsword. Additionally, when you hit a creature with a melee attack with a longsword, that creature is considered to be bleeding. While a creature is bleeding, it takes necrotic damage equal to half your monk level (rounded down) + your proficiency bonus at the start of each of its turns. The bleeding ends if the creature receives healing from any source. Constructs and undead cannot be affected.

Your attacks with a longsword count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.

Techniques of the Katana

From 11th level, you learn a number of techniques that utilise your katana and your ki to great effect.

• Create Opening. When you hit a creature with a melee attack with a longsword, you can expend 2 ki points to give yourself advantage on all melee attacks against that creature for the rest of your turn.
• Knock off Balance. When you hit a creature with a melee attack with a longsword, you can expend 1 ki point to force that creature to have disadvantage on all Strength and Dexterity saving throws until the end of your next turn.
• Parry Weapon. When a creature hits you with a melee attack while you are wielding your longsword, you can expend 1 ki point to attempt to push the attack aside. When you do this, you reduce the damage taken by 1d10 + your Dexterity modifier + your monk level. If you reduce the damage to 0, you can expend 1 ki point to make a melee attack with your longsword against the creature.

Deadly Blow

From 17th level, your skills with the katana are lethal. Your melee attacks with a longsword score a critical hit on an 18 or higher, and you regain 5 ki points on a critical hit. Additionally, when you score a critical hit with a melee attack with a longsword, you roll two additional damage die when determining the extra damage.