Warrior of the Sword Saint

Sword-saints train relentlessly with their weapons, to the point where the weapon becomes an extension of the body. Founded on a mastery of sword fighting, the tradition has expanded to include many different weapons.

A sword-saint sees a weapon in much the same way a calligrapher or painter regards a pen or brush. Whatever the weapon, the sword-saint views it as a tool used to express the beauty and precision of the martial arts. That such mastery makes a sword-saint a peerless warrior is but a side effect of intense devotion, practice, and study.

Notes: This is a W.I.P. change to the Way of the Kensei monk subclass from Xanthar's Guide to everything, updating it to 2024 rules. At this time, the features are mostly the same but tweaked to try and bring it in line with other 2024 subclasses. Suggestions are welcome.

Some features of the old Way cannot be implemented in D&D Beyond yet since they involve modifier types that are not implemented with the 2024 Monk. As a temporary bodge, you can check the Pact Weapon option on your discipline weapons which will guarantee they use Dexterity. This may cause issues the character also has the Pact of the Blade invocation.

Path of the Sword Saint

When you choose this tradition at 3rd level, your special 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.

Discipline Weapons. When choosing this subclass at 3rd level, choose two types of weapons that lack the loading property to be your Discipline Weapons. You are proficient with your discipline weapons, they are considered monk weapons for you, and you can use their mastery properties. At the end of a Long Rest, you may spend 10 minutes in meditation to change one of your chosen weapon types to another eligible weapon type to be discipline weapons.

Flurry of Blades. You may attack with a wielded discipline weapon in place of any or all of the Unarmed Strikes granted by your Flurry of Blows monk feature. These attacks cannot use the weapon's mastery properties and use your martial arts die instead of the weapons normal damage die.

Agile Parry. If you take an Attack action on your turn and are holding a discipline 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.

Focused Shot. You can use a bonus action on your turn to make your ranged attacks with a discipline weapon more deadly. When you do so, any target you hit with a ranged attack using a discipline weapon takes extra damage of the weapon’s type equal to one roll of your martial arts die. You retain this benefit until the end of the current turn.

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

One with the Blade

At 6th level, you extend your Focus into your discipline weapons, granting you the following benefits.

Empowered Discipline Weapons. Whenever you deal damage with one of your discipline weapons, it can deal your choice of Force damage or its normal damage type.

Deft Strike. When you hit a target with a discipline weapon as part of an Attack, you can spend 1 Focus point to cause the weapon to deal extra damage to the target equal to your Martial Arts die.

Sharpen the Blade

At 11th level, 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 discipline 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. When used on a magic weapon this feature replaces any existing bonus to attack and damage rolls granted by the weapon for its duration.

Unerring Accuracy

At 17th level, your mastery of weapons grants you extraordinary accuracy. If you miss with an attack roll using a monk weapon on your turn, you can reroll it. You can use this feature only once on each of your turns.

Discipline Weapons

Choose your discipline weapons.

Battleaxe

Battleaxes are discipline weapons for you.

Club

Clubs are discipline weapons for you.

Dagger

Daggers are discipline weapons for you.

Dart

Darts are discipline weapons for you.

Flail

Flails are discipline weapons for you.

Glaive

Glaives are discipline weapons for you.

Greataxe

Greataxes are discipline weapons for you.

Greatclub

Greatclubs are discipline weapons for you.

Greatsword

Greatswords are discipline weapons for you.

Halberd

Halberds are discipline weapons for you.

Handaxe

Handaxes are discipline weapons for you.

Javelin

Javelins are discipline weapons for you.

Lance

Lances are discipline weapons for you.

Light Hammer

Light Hammers are discipline weapons for you.

Longbow

Longbows are discipline weapons for you.

Longsword

Longswords are discipline weapons for you.

Mace

Maces are discipline weapons for you.

Maul

Mauls are discipline weapons for you.

Morningstar

Morningstars are discipline weapons for you.

Pike

Pikes are discipline weapons for you.

Quartersaff

Quarterstaves are discipline weapons for you.

Rapier

Rapiers are discipline weapons for you.

Scimitar

Scimitars are discipline weapons for you.

Shortbow

Shortbows are discipline weapons for you.

Shortword

Shortswords are discipline weapons for you.

Sickle

Sickles are discipline weapons for you.

Sling

Slings are discipline weapons for you.

Spear

Spears are discipline weapons for you.

Trident

Tridents are discipline weapons for you.

War Pick

War Picks are discipline weapons for you.

Warhammer

Warhammers are discipline weapons for you.

Whip

Whips are discipline weapons for you.