Monks of the Way of the Kensei train relentlessly with their chosen weapon, to the point that the weapon becomes like an extension of the body. Founded on a mastery of sword fighting, the tradition has expanded to include many different weapons.

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

Path of the Kensei

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.

• Kensei Weapons. Choose one melee and one ranged weapon to be your Kensei weapons. You gain proficiency with these weapons if you don’t already have it. Your Kensei weapons are considered monk weapons for you, and they lose the Heavy property for you. When you reach 6th, 11th, and 17th level in this subclass, you can choose another type of weapon – either melee or ranged – to be a Kensei weapon for you, following the criteria above.
• Kensei Mastery. Your training with weapons allows you to use the mastery property of one Kensei weapon of your choice. Whenever you finish a Long Rest, you can practice weapon katas and change that weapon choice. (DnDBeyond doesn't allow for Weapon Mastery choices without the feat. Thus, do not select an ability score to increase)
• Agile Parry. If you make an unarmed strike on your turn and are holding a 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. At level 11 the bonus to ac you get is increased to +3. At level 17 the bonus to ac is increased to +4.
• Agile Strike. You can spend 1 Focus to make an attack with your Kensei weapon as a bonus action. If you spend 1 Focus point or more as part of your action on your turn, you can make one attack with an unarmed strike or your kensei weapon as a bonus action before the end of the turn. At Hit the creature or Objects takes extra damage equal to your wisdom modifier..
• Helm Spillter. When you hit the same creature with a weapon twice on your turn, before the beginning of your next turn, the next attack against that creature is made with advantage and takes extra damage equal to your wisdom modifier.
• Way of the Brush. You gain proficiency with Calligrapher’s Supplies and Painter’s Supplies.

One with the Blade

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

Magic Kensei Weapons. Your attacks with your kensei weapons count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.

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.

Kensei Weapon

When you reach 6th 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.

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 kensei weapon you touch a bonus to attack and damage rolls when you attack with it. 

This bonus equals the number of Focus points you spent, and can be combined with existing weapon bonuses, so long as the resulting attack bonus is no higher than three. For example, a monk with a +1 weapon can spend up to two Focus points, thereby creating a +3 weapon.

This bonus lasts for 1 minute or until you use this feature again.

Kensei Weapon

When you reach 11th 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.

Kensei Weapon

When you reach 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.

Level 17: Brutal Helm Splitter

At 17th level, when a creature attacks with your Helm Splitter, it deals extra damage equal to twice your Wisdom modifier. The attacker can forgo advantage to roll normally. On a hit, the attack becomes a critical hit and deals extra damage equal to twice your Wisdom modifier. If the roll was a natural critical, add one additional damage die.

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.