One of the Five Animals of martial arts, the Crane’s Wings focus on a defensive approach, allowing the opponent to tire themselves out, then striking at the most opportune moment. A Crane’s Wing rarely strikes without their opponent attempting to strike first. Utilising their quick reflexes, the Crane’s Wings deflects the attack and immediately strikes at the attacker’s wrist. The attacker drops their weapon, which the Crane’s Wing quickly throws away, out of danger’s reach. A quick flurry of strikes in response to the opponent’s failure puts the pressure on the attacker. If the attacker cannot land an attack, they will continue to tire themselves out, they will become unable to defend themselves, and that is when the Crane’s Wing will capitalise.

 

Way of the Crane’s Wing features

Monk Level	Feature
3rd	Shaking Wings, Sleeping Heart
6th	Crying Talon
11th	Devouring Beak
17th	Flying Strikes

Shaking Wings

Starting at 3rd level, you are easily able to turn an enemy’s mistake to your advantage. When a creature misses you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction to immediately make an unarmed strike on the target.

Sleeping Heart

Starting at 3rd level, you have learnt to block as well as dodge, though dodging is still more preferable. When you take the dodge action, you can spend 1 ki point to brace yourself for the impact of an attack, granting you resistance to all the damage dealt by the next attack that hits you.

Crying Talon

Starting at 6th level, you have trained your ability to utilise your opponent’s mistakes. When a creature misses you with a melee attack and you hit them with an unarmed strike, as with Shaking Wings, you can spend 1 ki point to attempt to disarm the target. The target must make a Strength saving throw or drop whatever they are holding. You can choose to grab what is dropped or let it drop to the ground.

Devouring Beak

Starting at 11th level, your skill and speed now enable you to strike at every opportunity. If you have already used your reaction, you can spend 1 ki point to take an additional reaction. You can only use this ability once per creature’s turn. You can not use this feature the same turn you use your reaction.

Flying Strikes

Starting at 17th level, your speed has increased to the point that you are able to easily follow up your attacks on an open target. When you make an unarmed strike on a creature outside your own turn, as with Shaking Wings, Opportunity Attacks, or Sentinel attacks, you can spend 1 ki point to immediately make a second unarmed strike against the same target. You can only use this once per reaction.