Iaidoka

You and your family developed and were trained in a special martial art focused around adept awareness of ones surroundings and decisive quick-draw sword attacks. This style utilizes a special blade called a katana (use the attributes of a rapier), which is used to swiftly strike or cut, and, in a fluid motion, is usually returned to its scabbard between combinations.

Awareness

When you choose this archetype at 3rd level you have +1 to your Armor Class as long as you are wielding a katana.

Readied Blade

When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you can use special features depending on the position of your katana.

If your sword is not in your scabbard it is considered unsheathed. If your sword is unsheathed, you can use a bonus action to clean the blade and return it to the scabbard. The sword is then considered sheathed. While your sword is sheathed, you have access to special techniques. You gain more of these techniques as you level up in this class. These techniques are detailed in their respective sections.

Anytime you make an attack roll, or take any action that involves removing the sword from its scabbard, your sword becomes unsheathed.

 

Fighter Level	Sheathed Technique
3rd	Pommel Thrust
7th	Deflection
10th	Improved Critical
15th	Enhanced Pommel Thrust

Pommel Thrust

When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you can attempt to find an opening on an opponent to deliver decisive strikes.

If you are wielding a katana, you can use a special melee weapon attack with the pommel of your sword, potentially setting up for devastating follow ups. This attack can only be used while the sword is sheathed. This attack uses your Dexterity modifier, and deals 1d4 bludgeoning damage. Pommel Thrust does not cause your sword to become unsheathed. If you hit a creature with Pommel Thrust, you can not use Pommel Thrust on that same creature again until the start of your next turn.

If you hit a creature with your Pommel Thrust, you can choose to roll on the Swordplay table to indicate what kind of follow up attack you can do.

Swordplay

d100	Effect
01	Your opponent is able to keep up with your movements. Attacks on this turn are made with disadvantage.
02-30	No additional effects, you may resume your turn as normal.
31-80	Spot Weakness. You spot an offensive opening. All attacks on this turn deal an extra 1d10 damage.
81-99	Combination Strike. You stagger the opponent, allowing a deadly combination strike. Your attacks this turn are made with advantage, and you can take one additional attack this turn.
00	Death Blow. You manipulate the opponent into exposing a vital area such as the heart or head. If the opponent has less than 100 current hit points, you can cause your next attack on this turn to automatically hit and reduce them to 0 hit points. If they have 100 hit points or higher, your next attack automatically hits, and forces your target to make a Constitution saving throw. They take 10d6 slashing or piercing damage on a failed save, and half as much on a successful one.

 

 

Deflection

At 7th level, you can parry strikes directed at you or nearby allies. If you or a creature you can see within 5 feet of you is hit by an attack, you can use your reaction to add 5 to the target's Armor Class against that attack. Your katana must be sheathed  to use this feature, and performing this technique causes your sword to become unsheathed.

Quickdraw

When you reach 7th level, you gain +3 to your initiative.

Improved Critical

Starting at 10th level, your attacks score a critical hit on a d20 roll of 19 or 20. When your sword is sheathed, your next attack with it scores a critical hit on a d20 roll of 18, 19, or 20.

Enhanced Pommel Thrust

When you reach 15th level, your Pommel Thrust techniques are improved. You now deal an extra 1d12 damage with Spot Weakness, and you can take two additional attacks with Combination Strike instead of just one.

Katana Master

When you reach 18th level, your mastery of the katana has become unsurpassed. All of your features and abilities can now be used whether your sword is sheathed or unsheathed. Additionally, you can now wield katana as if they had the light property.