Way of the Sword Saint

Monks of the Way of the Sword Saint train in dedication to mastering a level of weapon expertise that surpasses normal limitations. They can strike like the wind, step into the sky, or even sunder stone. Though they most often treat their mastery of the weapons as an art, seeking spiritual understanding through martial perfection, turning this art to more practical ends can result in very deadly encounters for their foes.

Mystical Techniques

When you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you learn Mystical Techniques that allow you to unleash supernatural feats with your weapons. You learn three techniques of your choice, which are detailed in the "Mystical Techniques" section below. You learn two additional techniques of your choice at 6th, 11th, and 17th level.

Mystical Techniques can only be performed with unarmed strikes or monk weapons. If a Mystical Technique uses a DC, it uses your Ki Save DC.

Whenever you gain a new level in this class, you can replace one Mystical Technique you already know with a different technique.

You can spend a number of ki points on Mystical Techniques equal to your proficiency bonus, after which you cannot spend more ki on Mystical Techniques until the start of your next turn.

Agile Defense (1 Ki)

As a reaction to being attacked, you can attempt to parry the attack, rolling your Martial Arts die and increasing your AC by the value rolled against the attack. If the attack still hits, you reduce the damage taken by the value rolled + your proficiency bonus.

Cut the Weave (3 Ki)

You cast dispel magic with a range of 5 feet. Alternatively, as an attack as part of the attack action, you can attempt to open a 5-foot by 5-foot hole in a magical barrier, lasting until the start of your next turn. Make a weapon attack treating the magical effect as having an AC equal to the spellcaster’s spell DC (your DM determines what magical barriers this might work on).

Dancing Weapon (1 Ki)

As a bonus action, you infuse a monk weapon you are holding with ki causing it to animate with your will. Until the end of your next turn, when you make an attack, you can attack with it as if you were holding it, causing it to fly up to 30 feet before striking a target. It returns to you after any attacks made this way.

Deft Attack (1 Ki)

When you make an attack roll, you can gain advantage on the attack. If the attack hits, you can add your Martial Arts die to the damage dealt.

Instant Strike (1 Ki)

As a reaction to a creature moving within your reach, you can make a melee weapon attack against them.

Iron Wind Strike (2+ Ki)

Sharpen the Blade (1-3 Ki)

You can infuse a monk weapon you are holding with ki, granting it a bonus to attack and damage rolls equal to the ki spent for 1 minute (no action required). This bonus can stack with an existing bonus a weapon has, but the total bonus cannot exceed +3.

Steel Wind Strike (5 Ki)

Sword Spirit (2 Ki)

Spirit Echo

2nd-level conjuration

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• Classes: Occultist, Ranger, Wizard
• Casting Time: 1 bonus action
• Range: Self
• Components: V, S
• Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute

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You summon a ghostly echo of yourself. It shares your space and acts automatically on your intents. For the duration of the spell, the first time on your turn you make an attack, it attacks the same target. It makes a separate attack roll, but otherwise uses your statistics for the weapon attack and damage roll, besides that on a hit the target takes force damage equal to half the damage that it would have taken from your attack.

Weapon Mastery

Additionally at 3rd level, you can choose to master a weapon that would not normally be a monk weapon. Choose a simple or martial melee weapon that lacks the heavy and special properties. You gain proficiency in the weapon, and it becomes a monk weapon for you. You can choose another weapon in this way at 6th, 11th, and 17th level.

Perfect State

Empowered Weapons. Your attacks with your Monk Weapons count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.

Blade Flurry. When you make a Flurry of Blows, you can make the additional attacks with your Monk Weapon.

Empowered Techniques

Starting at 11th level, at the start of your turn, you gain 1 free ki point you can spend on a Mystic Technique before the start of your next turn. If it is not spent before the start of your next turn, it is lost.

Flawless Form

At 17th level, your mastery of the weapons allows you eliminate any room for error. If you miss with an attack roll using a monk weapon on your turn, you can reroll the attack. You can only do this once on each of your turns.