Way of the Soul Society

The Way of the Soul Society is a slow methodical training process in which a Shinigami obtains their Zanpakuto. Zanpakuto are unique weapons that reflect the nature of the user's soul, and are capable of incredible powers. Warriors that undergo this training eventually learn to awaken the powers of their Zanpakuto in steps, hallmarking their journey to mastery of Zanjutsu.

Zanjutsu

Starting when you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you acquire the training necessary to effectively arm yourself for battle. You gain proficiency with all weapons.

Your training allows you to mystically channel your will through a weapon. Whenever you finish a long rest, you can touch one weapon that you are proficient with and that lacks the two-handed property. When you attack with that weapon, you can use your Wisdom modifier, instead of Strength or Dexterity, for the attack and damage rolls. This benefit lasts until you finish a long rest. This weapon is considered your Zanpakuto.

Kido

Also at 3rd level, you have mastered the use of Kido, the mystical arts used by Shinigami in combat. There are 3 types of Kido, and when you use your flurry of blows feature, you can instead choose to use one of these 3 options:

• Bakudo: Binding Seal - you can force a creature you can see within 60 feet to make a Wisdom saving throw. A creature that fails this saving throw has their speed reduced to 0 and can only make a single attack when they take the attack action. This effect lasts until the end of the creature's next turn.
• Hado: Destructive Blast - you can launch a blast of spiritual energy at a creature. Make a ranged spell attack against a creature you can see within 40 feet. This attack deals force damage equal to 2 rolls of your martial arts die.
• Kaido: Healing Calm - you can cause a creature you can see within 60 feet to regain a number of hit-points equal to 2 rolls of your martial arts die + your WIS modifier.

Shikai

Starting at 6th level, you have learned to release a portion of your Zanpakuto's power with the Shikai release. As a bonus action, you can activate your Zanpakuto's Shikai power for the next 10 minutes. When you do so, you must choose which of the 3 forms it takes: Power, Kido, or Elemental. When you activate this state, your Zanpakuto gains new abilities for the duration.

• Power - While in this state, your Zanpakuto changes shape in some way (perhaps growing larger, or longer). For the duration, your attacks made with your Zanpakuto deal additional force damage equal to a roll of your martial arts die. You can also choose to replace your flurry of blows attacks with a single weapon attack using your Zanpakuto. Additionally, once while in this state, you can use your reaction and 1 ki point upon taking damage from an attack or a spell to reduce the damage taken to 0 and move up to half your speed towards to the creature that dealt damage to you in this way.

• Kido - While in this state, your weapon attacks with your Zanpakuto can be made at a range of 60 feet in the form of spiritual energy blasts. The damage dealt in this way is force damage. You can also use an action and 2 ki points to trap a creature you can see in an illusion. The chosen creature must make a Wisdom saving throw or become Incapacitated until the end of your next turn. You can only do this a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier while in this state. When you use your action to do this, you can still use your bonus action to take the Flurry of Blows bonus action.

• Elemental - While in this state, your Zanpakuto becomes enwreathed in an elemental damage type of your choice (fire, cold, lightning, thunder, acid). Your weapon attacks are converted into the chosen damage type for the duration. Additionally, you can use your action and spend 2 ki points to cast the Wall of Fire spell without any components, except the wall is made of the corresponding elemental damage type you chose. The spell when cast this way does not require concentration, but can still be dismissed with no action by you.

Improved Shikai

Beginning at 11th level, your Shikai forms have improved. While in your Shikai forms, you can replace both attacks of your flurry of blows feature with weapon attacks using your Zanpakuto. Each form also gains the following benefits:

• Power - When you take your flurry of blows action and make 2 weapon attacks with your Zanpakuto, you can make a 3rd attack with your Zanpakuto as part of the flurry of blows. Additionally, you gain resistance to bludgeoning, slashing, and piercing damage while in this state.
• Kido - While in this form, you can now also use your action to spend 3 ki points to unleash a powerful arc blast in front of you. Each creature in a 60 foot line, originating from you, must make a Dexterity saving throw. Creatures in the area take force damage equal to 5 rolls of your martial arts die, halved on a successful save.
• Elemental - While in this form, you can now also use your action to spend 3 ki points to cast the Cone of Cold spell, except the damage type corresponds to your chosen type and the saving throw is a Dexterity save.

Additionally, while in this form, you can replace any of your Zanpakuto attacks with one of the Kido techniques from your Kido feature by spending 1 ki point.

Bankai

At 17th level, you have gained the Bankai form for you Zanpakuto. While in your Shikai form, you can use a bonus action to activate your Bankai form. Alternatively, if you aren't in your Shikai form, you can use your bonus action and spend 2 ki points to activate your Bankai form. When you activate Bankai while in your Shikai form, you enter the form associated with the Shikai form you are already in. Otherwise, you may choose one of the 3 forms upon activation. While in Bankai form, you have access to all Shikai abilities of the chosen form, as well as some new ones:

• Power - While in this Bankai form, your weapon attacks with your Zanpakuto deal entirely force damage and gain additional damage on each hit equal to 2 rolls of your martial arts die. Additionally, you move so fast that your movement during your turn functions as teleportation from your location to a location you can see within range of your speed. When you hit a creature with a weapon attack using your Zanpakuto, you can spend a number of ki points to deal additional force damage equal to rolls of your martial arts die equal to the number of ki points spent.
• Kido - While in this Bankai form, you can use your action and spend 5 ki points to cast the Mental Prison spell on any number of creatures you can see within range. The spell cast in this way does require concentration. Additionally, when you take the attack action, you can make additional attacks with your Zanpakuto by spending 2 ki points for each attack (up to a maximum of 4 total attacks made). 
• Elemental - While in this form, you can use your action and spend 5 ki points to unleash a powerful elemental blast in the area around you. Each creature of your choice that you can see within 90 feet of you must make a Dexterity saving throw. Affected creatures take 20d10 damage of the chosen elemental type, halved on a successful save.

Once you have activated your Bankai form, you cannot do so again until you complete a long rest.