Warrior of the Blade

Warriors of the Blade follow the path of the kensei, training until their weapons become extensions of their body. Viewing combat as an art form, they wield their weapons with beauty and precision, channeling their focus into seamless and deadly strikes.

Path of the Kensei

Your martial arts training leads you to master the use of certain weapons. This path also includes instruction in the deft strokes of calligraphy or painting. You gain the following benefits.

Kensei Weapons. Choose two types of weapons to be your kensei weapons: one melee weapon and one ranged weapon. Each of these weapons can be any simple or martial weapon that lacks the heavy and special properties. The longbow is also a valid choice. You gain proficiency with these weapons if you don’t already have them. Weapons of the chosen types are monk weapons for you. Many of this subclass’ features work only with your kensei weapons. When you reach 6th, 11th, and 17th level in this class, you can choose another type of weapon — either melee or ranged — to be a kensei weapon for you, following the criteria above.

Agile Parry. If you make an unarmed strike as part of the Attack action on your turn and are holding a kensei weapon, you can use it to defend yourself if it is a melee weapon. You gain a +2 bonus to AC until the start of your next turn, while the weapon is in your hand and you aren’t incapacitated.

Deft Strike. When you hit a target with a kensei weapon, you can spend 1 Focus point to cause the weapon to deal extra damage to the target equal to your Martial Arts die. You can use this feature only once on each of your turns.

Way of the Brush. You gain proficiency with your choice of calligrapher’s supplies or painter’s supplies.

One with the Blade

You’ve learned to extend your Focus into your kensei weapons, granting you the following benefits.

Empowered Kensei Weapons. Whenever you deal damage with your kensei weapons, they can deal your choice of Force damage or its normal damage type.

Focused Strike. If you spend 1 Focus point or more as part of your action on your turn, you can make one attack with a kensei weapon as a bonus action before the end of the turn.

Kensei Weapon

You can choose another type of weapon — either melee or ranged — to be a kensei weapon for you, following the criteria above.

Sharpen the Blade

You gain the ability to augment your weapons further with your Focus. As a bonus action, you can expend up to 3 Focus points to grant one kensei weapon you touch a bonus to attack and damage rolls when you attack with it. The bonus equals the number of Focus points you spent. This bonus lasts for 1 minute or until you use this feature again. This feature has no effect on a magic weapon that already has a bonus to attack and damage rolls.

Kensei Weapon

You can choose another type of weapon — either melee or ranged — to be a kensei weapon for you, following the criteria above.

Flurry of Steel

Your mastery of weapons allows you to strike with blinding speed. When you use your Focused Strike to make an attack with a kensei weapon as a bonus action, you can make an additional attack with the same kensei weapon as part of that bonus action.

Kensei Weapon

You can choose another type of weapon — either melee or ranged — to be a kensei weapon for you, following the criteria above.