Way of the Iron Fist

The Way of the Iron Fist differs from the styles of other Monks. While the fighting style of some monks evokes an image of water, flowing around and crashing down on on their enemies, the style of an Iron Fist monk evokes an image of rock, pushing back with equal force against that which strikes it and smashing the enemy with crushing weight.

Your muscles and bones have been hardened through rigorous training and exposure to impact. On the battlefield, your strength and explosive power make one of your punches or kicks as deadly as a blow from the heaviest battleaxe, and the force you can muster to counter a blow makes it difficult for attacks to find purchase in your flesh. Welcome to the Way of the Iron Fist.

Iron Fist Technique

Starting when you choose this tradition at 3rd level, your physical strength has come to exceed that of a normal person, and your training has prepared you to use this strength to great effect in battle. You gain the following benefits:

Expanded Unarmored Defense. You may substitute STR for DEX when using your Unarmored Defense trait to calculate your AC.

Deflect Blows. You may now use your Deflect Missiles ability when you are struck by a melee weapon attack. When you do, calculate the damage reduction as 1d10 + your Strength modifier + your Monk level. If the amount by which you reduce the incoming damage is greater than the incoming damage, the difference is dealt as damage to the attacker, as your deflecting strike is stronger than the incoming attack.

 

Iron Skin. Gain 1 HP per level you have in the Monk class. Whenever you gain a level in the Monk class, gain 1 HP.

Iron Fist. When you make a melee weapon attack using your STR modifier, add half your proficiency bonus to the attack.

The Strength to Protect, Ki Smite

At 6th level, you have watched your allies suffer from blows that you could have weathered. You have also learned that crushing your enemies is only one way to protect that which you value, and it is not always enough. By summoning your quick reflexes, explosive strength, and a smoldering will to protect, you may rush to an ally's aid when they are endangered.

When a creature within 60 feet of you is targeted with an attack, you may spend your reaction to move up to half your movement speed toward that creature and, if you are within 5 feet of the creature or between the attacker and the creature, force the attack to target you instead. If the attacker makes additional attacks against the same target as part of their attack action or on this turn, you may also force any of those attacks to target you instead so long as you are either within 5 feet of the targeted creature or between the attacker and said creature.

You must either be able to see the creature being attacked and the attacker, or have knowledge of their position through other means, to use this feature.

Additional Ki Feature

Ki Smite

When you hit a creature or object with a melee weapon attack, you can expend a ki point to deal additional force damage to the target, in addition to the weapon’s damage. The extra damage is 1d6.

Ki Armament

Whether through the path that life has laid before you or by your own will, your place is on the battlefield. As such, your relationship with the ki inside you has matured differently from other monks. The energy inside you, once wild and unfamiliar, is like a friend to you now. This energy has become your weapons and armor, and you wield it as deftly as any steel.

When you reach 13th level, you will not gain the benefits of the Monk Class feature "Tongue of the Sun and Moon." On your path, ki does not manifest in the mind in this way, and instead takes root in the body.

Improved Ki Smite

At 11th level, you now use d8s instead of d6s for the additional force damage of your Ki Smites. You can now spend additional ki points when you use your Ki Smite. The maximum number of ki points you can spend per attack is equal to your Wisdom modifier.

Improved Strength to Protect

When you are hit by an attack that was redirected to you from another target as a result of Strength to Protect, as part of the same reaction you may use Deflect Blows on the attack if it was a melee weapon attack or Deflect Missiles if it was a ranged weapon attack.

The Beast Within

You and the energies inside you have become as one. Indeed, a burning aura of ki suffuses your entire being, and even the greatest master cannot tell where you begin and ki ends. 

Once per day, while you have unused ki points remaining, you may enter a form. The ki inside you expands and takes the form of a beast extending from your body and hovering above you. You choose the appearance of this beast.

When you enter this form, you gain temporary HP equal to twice the number of unused ki points you have remaining. When you exit this form, any remaining temporary HP is lost.

While you are in this form:

• You appear one size larger, and have advantage on Intimidation checks.
• You have reach, and all your attacks deal force damage.
• When a creature within 10 feet of you is hit with an attack, you may reduce the damage dealt by that attack to the target creature by a number of damage up to the number of temporary HP you have remaining, and you take damage equal to the amount of damage reduced. Any remaining damage after reduction is dealt to the target of the attack.
• When you hit with an attack, you may deal additional force damage up to the number of temporary HP you have remaining, and you take the same amount of damage you deal in this manner.

You may exit this form at any time without using an action. You will exit this form early if you run out of unused ki points or if you have no temporary HP remaining.

You regain the use of this ability after a long rest.