Element Bender: Way of the Four Elements

Quick Look

• Change between Stances in order to wield the elements;
• Gain mastery over every element while leveling up;
• Features that level up with monk levels;
• Unlock passives, new abilities and spells for each stance;
• 41 spells at level 17 (including cantrips);
• Wisdom and ki focused subclass;
• Wisdom determines power and duration of effects;
• Tactical combat;
• Designed with balancing in mind.
• Avatar themed power fantasy; That's why we're all here. 

Patch Notes: More Basic Bending

I have decided to do some changes that I have been avoiding, changes to the base class. I use these changes in my games and they fix some problems that monks have and they work really well for this subclass.

1. Grapples and Shoves are unarmed strikes. This is something that One DnD is trying to fix and it greatly benefits monks. I tried implementing these changes before One DnD, as seen in the previous versions. You can use the standard rules for grappling or you can use the One DnD ones where it takes AC into account.
2. Extra Ki points equal to your Wisdom modifier. Fixes early game resource management. 

3. Step of the Wind and Patient Defense don’t cost ki points. Why do rogues have the good life? This will make you consider passing out on Flurry of Blows.

4. Replaced Stunning Fist with another custom feature: Lightning Strikes (gives more opportunity attack triggers). This subclass has a lot of crowd control options, so might as well try something new.

These changes freed up a slot to introduce more non-spell bending from the beginning. Each stance has an attack that uses your Wisdom and has increased reach, plus some specifics to each stance.

• Air: Reach 10 feet; slashing damage; enhanced shoves.
• Earth: Reach 10 feet; bludgeoning damage; enhanced grapples.
• Water: Reach 5-15 feet; changing damage type; does all the things; unlocks at level 6;
• Fire: Reach 15 feet; fire damage; it does damage.

General Thoughts 

This subclass is inspired by Avatar - The last Airbender / Legend of Kora, the series. The original monk subclass, Way of the Four Elements, hinted at such a fantasy, but it never lived up to the expectations. Besides that, it is a terribly underpowered and underdeveloped subclass altogether.

If you are a fan of Avatar, the series, you will know that each of the 4 element benders use a certain style of martial arts in order to manipulate the respective element. Water bending may have more fluid motions, while earth bending may have shorter movements and a lower posture. These styles are translated to "Stances". In order to manipulate one of the four elements, you need to enter a stance and use certain patterns of movement. 

Unlike avatar Aang, who could intertwine the elements, this subclass is a little bit slower with using multiple elements. It's more in the lines of avatar Wan, the first avatar (from Legend of Kora), who had to get used to switching between elements.

Each stance focuses on certain combat techniques and offer passives, abilities and spells, while in that stance. They all have their own flavor, they have synergies between abilities and they all feel unique. In order to use spells from a different element you must first change your stance.

Balancing

I mean... You came here because you think the monk (and this subclass in particular more so) is underpowered, right?

That being said. The subclass is not unhinged and will not steal the fun of other players at the table. You gain a lot of power, but you need to know how to use it. 

The extra features eat your actions and your ki points. And the spells you gain have certain conditions or are limited. You need to be quick on your feet and decide what works best for each situation. It is a very adaptable class.

The duration and power of some effects are heavily dependent on your Wisdom score. This means that you have to split your stats or syphon more points from Dexterity or Constitution to make this subclass effective, leaving you with certain weaknesses. 

Recommendations

This subclass satisfies the Avatar - The Last Airbender power fantasy for me, while keeping things fair at my table. But it might not be the case for you. Talk to your DM and see if it goes. 

Each Stance could be a subclass on its own. If you want, you could just pick one stance and have that active at all times. You won't have to bother with spending resources on changing stances. But your arsenal will be limited. Another option would be to do away with the passives and the extra features and only use the spells.

Be creative and do what feels right at your table. Do take into consideration the opinion of your teammates.

DnD Beyond Integration

All spells and abilities have been integrated in your DnD Beyond character sheet. You may even cast spells at higher levels. There is one exception though. The platform will not allow me to add Ashardalon's Stride, because it is licensed content. Even though I own a copy of said content. So you need to add it manually or just add the values during gameplay.

Because the platform doesn't handle temporary effects, you will have to be aware of what features are available at a time and for how long. Be sure to make it easy on your DM and personally keep track of all the stats and effects. It may get messy at times. 

 

 

This project required a bit of time and effort to balance and to integrate with the platform, so if it's of good use to you… Cheers! See you in the Forgotten Realms!

 

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This subclass has been inspired by Way of the Four Elements Monk Reborn.

 

 

Ki-Fueled Attack

I recommend playing with the optional Ki-Fueled Attack feature.

Also at 3rd level, if you spend 1 ki point or more as part of your action on your turn, you can make one attack with an unarmed strike or a monk weapon as a bonus action before the end of the turn.

The Four Stances

Base Monk changes

• You can replace any of your unarmed strikes with a Shove, Grapple or Disarm.

They still count as being an unarmed strike for the purpose of monk abilities.

• Your Ki points are equal to your monk level + your Wisdom modifier.

It helps with early levels.

• Step of the Wind and Patient Defense don’t cost ki points.

Free skills + extra ki?! Crazy? I don't think so. Rogues have it, but you replace Hide with Dodge. This way it’s justified to have a d8 Hit die and still be a front liner. Considering the action economy, you are more probably going to use your bonus action for attack anyway.

Optional change

Since this subclass has a lot of crowd control options I would replace the level 5 feature, Stunning Strike, with a different custom feat:

Lightning Strikes

The monk trains in observing his opponents and in speed of reaction, allowing him to find openings in an opponent's guard. Creatures in your reach additionally provoke an attack of opportunity from you when:

• (Level 5) they get up from a prone position; they escape from a grapple, from being immobilized or restrained; they draw a weapon or when they pick up an item;
• (Level 8) they cast a spell;
• (Level 12) they miss an attack against you;
• (Level 16) they attack a creature other than you.

Whole body casting

Your features will allow you to cast spells. See chapter 10 for the general rules of spellcasting. To cast these spells you only require to do the somatic component. Ignore the material and verbal components the spell might have. You channel the elements through your whole body and direct it through your martial arts movement. In order to cast a spell you need to be unarmed or be wielding only monk weapons and not be wearing armor or be wielding a shield.

Most spells require you to be in a specific stance in order to cast them. Any ongoing effect from such spells will end when exiting the respective stance. Falling prone, being incapacitated or being restrained will end the stance and any ongoing spell effects.

All spells that you can cast, except for cantrips, cost ki points. You must spend the points mentioned next to each spell, be in the specific stance and execute the movements in order to cast the spell. The base ki cost of a spell is equal to the spell's level.

A spell can be upcast above its base level. Besides its normal cost, you may pay one additional ki point for each extra spell level. The maximum number of ki points you can invest in a single cast is equal to half your monk level - 1.

Some features will allow you to cast spells as a bonus action or as part as another action. If you do so, you cannot cast another spell that turn other than a cantrip.

Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier

Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier

Stances

To enter a stance and to be able to use stance features you need to be unarmed or be wielding only monk weapons and not be wearing armor or be wielding a shield.

Entering a stance requires a bonus action. You may end a stance at will. The stance lasts a number of turns equal to your wisdom modifier (minimum 1). Spending ki on any feature while in a stance will reset the stance's duration. A stance will end prematurely if you are prone,  incapacitated or restrained. Using a bonus action to enter a stance will end your active stance. 

Any passive bonuses or ongoing effects provided by stance features and spells will end when ending or changing a stance.

If you want to prolong the effect of a spell without interrupting it, you must spend ki points while in a stance.

Stances will allow you to "bend" its specific element and increase your reach with certain abilities. This will give you two simultaneous reach radiuses. One for element bending and one for your normal weapons. 

Starting at the 3rd level, you may choose 2 of the 4 stances. You may choose an additional stance at level 6 and add the final one at level 11. You unlock bonus features for each stance at level 6, 11 and 17.

 Elemental Attunement

When you learn one of the 4 stances you also gain access to one of their respective cantrips: Gust, Mold Earth, Control Flames and Shape Water. You cast these cantrips at any time you can perform an action, even while not being in the specific stance. However being in a stance will allow you to cast its respective cantrip as a bonus action.

Air Stance

The Air Stance focuses on freedom of movement and finding the perfect angle to strike from. Keep your opponents at the distance you want them to be and dance between them, striking with fury.

Air Stance features and spells:

Earth Stance

The Earth Stance focuses on keeping an unwavering position and locking your opponents in place. Plant your feet on the ground and become sturdy as a rock.  

Earth Stance features and spells:

Fire Stance

The Fire Stance focuses on offensive ability. Channel your inner fire and blaze through your opponents.

Fire Stance features and spells:

Water Stance

The Water Stance relies in versatility. Push and pull between offense and defense to either hurt your opponents or help your allies.

Water Stance features and spells: 

Water tendril details

Extra Stance

At level 6, you may learn an additional Stance.

Extra Stance

At level 11, You learn the final Stance.

Elemental Mastery

Absorb Ki

At level 17, if you would receive acid, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder damage you can use your reaction to absorb the energy from that attack in your body. You absorb damage of the chosen type equal to your monk level and you regain 1 ki point.

You can use this ability for a maximum number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum 1) and can regain these uses when you finish a long rest.

Become the Element

At level 17, you gain access to the following spells: Investiture of Flame, Investiture of Ice, Investiture of Stone and Investiture of Wind.

Once per long rest, you can cast one of these four spells. They may be used regardless of the stance you may or not be in. Casting one of these spells will lock you into their respective stance for its duration and will expend the ability until a long rest.