The Way of the Monkey King is a monk subclass that emphasizes unparalleled strength and resilience. Inspired by the legendary figure from Eastern mythology, this path channels the Monkey King's immense power and indomitable spirit. Monks who follow this tradition gain abilities that enhance their physical might, allowing them to perform incredible feats of strength and durability. They are able to channel their inner energy to shatter obstacles, overpower opponents, and withstand immense damage. As they advance, they unlock the Monkey King's legendary toughness and unstoppable force, making them formidable warriors on the battlefield.

Monkey's Guile

Your playful and unpredictable nature allows you to avoid danger with remarkable ease. When you take damage from an attack, you can use your reaction to reduce the damage by an amount equal to your Monk level.

Yeuoi's Harmony

You can summon a magical quarterstaff, Yeoui, which enhances both your staff and unarmed strikes. You can choose one of the following abilities when you attack:

 

• Staff and Fist: When you hit a creature with Yeoui, you can use your reaction to make an unarmed strike against the same target. If both attacks hit, you can spend 1 ki point to deal additional damage equal to 1 roll of your Martial Arts die.

• Thunderstrike Impact: When you hit a creature with Yeoui, you can spend 1 ki point to release a burst of lightning energy. The target and all creatures within 5 feet must make a Dexterity saving throw against your ki save DC. On a failed save, they take lightning damage equal to 1 roll of your Martial Arts die and are knocked prone.

• Vortex of Blows: When you hit a creature with an unarmed strike, you can use a bonus action to make a staff attack with Yeoui against the same target. If both attacks hit, you can spend 1 ki point to create a vortex of swirling energy around the target, forcing them to make a Strength saving throw against your ki save DC. On a failed save, the target is pulled 10 feet closer to you and has disadvantage on its next attack roll.

 

 

Cloud Step

Drawing inspiration from the legendary ability of the Monkey King to traverse great distances effortlessly, you gain the following benefits:

• Aerial Agility: As a bonus action, you can spend 1 ki point to gain a flying speed equal to your walking speed until the end of your turn. If you are still within the air by the end of your turn, you gracefully float back to the ground.
• Evasion Mastery: Your mastery of movement extends to avoiding danger. When you use Step of the Wind, you can also gain the benefits of the Dodge action until the start of your next turn.

 

Ruyi Jingu Bang Mastery

At 11th level, your control over the Ruyi Jingu Bang reaches new heights, granting you the following additional offensive capabilities:

• Whirlwind Smash: As an action, you can spend 2 ki points to perform a powerful spinning attack with the staff. Each creature within a 15-foot radius of you must make a Dexterity saving throw against your ki save DC. On a failed save, a creature takes 4d10 bludgeoning damage and is pushed 10 feet away from you. On a successful save, a creature takes half damage and isn’t pushed.
• Thunderclap Strike: As an action, you can spend 2 ki points to channel a burst of thunderous energy through the Ruyi Jingu Bang. Make a melee weapon attack with the staff. On a hit, the target takes an additional 3d8 thunder damage, and each creature within 10 feet of the target must make a Constitution saving throw against your ki save DC or be deafened until the end of their next turn.

The True Monkey King

At 17th level, you invoke the might of the Monkey King, with a radiant aura of divine energy, gaining the following benefits: 

• Ascendant Form: As a bonus action, you can spend 4 ki points to transform into the Monkey King’s true form for 1 minute. While in this form, you gain the following benefits:
  • Enhanced Attributes: You gain a +2 bonus to Strength and Dexterity, and your movement speed increases by 20 feet.
  • Monkey King’s Might: Your unarmed strikes deal an additional 2 rolls of your Martial Arts die as damage.
  • Divine Resilience: You gain resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from non-magical attacks. You also have advantage on saving throws against being stunned or paralysed.
• Geundoowun (Thunderstorm Cataclysm): While in the Monkey King’s Ascendant Form, you can use an action to unleash a massive burst of thunderstorm energy. Spend 6 ki points to create a cataclysmic burst of lightning and thunder. Choose a point within 120 feet of you. Each creature within a 30-foot radius of that point must make a Dexterity saving throw against your ki save DC. On a failed save, a creature takes 10d10 lightning damage and is stunned until the end of your next turn. On a successful save, a creature takes half damage and is not stunned. The area around the point is scorched, and creatures who fail their saving throws are pushed 20 feet away from the center of the burst. This ability can only be used once per long rest.