Base Class: Monk
Kensei seek to unite their body, weapon, and mind, to make them one, and to use the weapon as naturally and without thought as any other limb.
Kensei devote their life to the service of a master or an ideal they accept as greater than themself. Some kensei become masters in their own right, but even those who go on to become an emperor see themselves as a servant to some higher power. A kensei can be a lone adventurer, serving an ideal or attempting to fulfill a lifetime goal. Some swear fealty to great lords and rise to become trusted bodyguards, warlords, or leaders in the lord’s service.
Level 3: Path of the Kensei
When you choose this tradition, your special martial arts training leads you to master the use of certain weapons. You gain the following benefits.
Kensei Weapons. Choose two types of weapons to be your kensei weapons: typically one melee weapon and one ranged weapon. These can be any simple or martial weapons. You learn proficiency with and the weapon mastery of each of these chosen weapons. Weapons of the chosen types are treated as monk weapons for you. Many of this tradition’s features work only with monk weapons, including your kensei weapons.
At 6th, 11th, and 17th level, you can choose one additional weapon to be treated as a kensei weapon, as described above.
Agile Parry. If you are attacked while armed with a monk weapon, you can spend your reaction to gain a bonus to your AC equal to your proficiency bonus. You retain this bonus until the start of your next turn.
Fighting Style. You adopt a fighting style from the following list that you do not already know, but its benefits only apply when wielding a monk weapon.
- Archery: You gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls you you make with a monk weapon.
- Dueling: When you are wielding a monk weapon in one hand and no other weapons, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls with that weapon.
- Great Weapon Fighting: When you roll damage for an attack you make with a melee monk weapon that you are holding with two hands, you can treat any 1 or 2 on a damage die as a 3. The weapon must have the Two-Handed or Versatile property to gain this benefit.
- Thrown Weapon Fighting: When you hit with a ranged attack roll using a monk weapon that has the Thrown property, you gain a +2 bonus to the damage roll.
- Two Weapon Fighting: When you engage in two-weapon fighting with two monk weapons, you can add your ability modifier to the damage of the second attack.
Way of the Artisan. You gain proficiency with one set of artisan's tools or a musical instrument of choice. Calligrapher's Supplies or Musical Instrument (Flute) are recommended.
Level 6: One With the Blade
At 6th level, you extend your Focus into your kensei weapons, granting you the following benefits. Despite the name of this trait, it applies to any weapons that you treat as a kensei weapon.
Empowered Weapons. Your attacks with monk weapons can deal force damage or its normal damage type. You determine the damage type each time you attack with the weapon.
Deft Strike. When you hit a target with a monk weapon, you can spend 1 Focus point to cause the weapon to deal an extra amount of damage equal to one roll of your martial arts die + your Wisdom modifier. You can use this feature only once on each of your turns.
Level 11: Sharpen the Blade
At 11th level, you gain the ability to augment your weapons further with your ki. As a bonus action, you can expend up to 3 ki points to grant one monk weapon you touch a bonus to attack and damage rolls when you attack with it. The bonus equals the number of ki points you spent. This bonus lasts for 1 minute or until you use this feature again. This feature does not stack with the bonus to attack and damage rolls granted by a magic weapon; use only the higher bonus.
Level 17: 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.