Warrior of Kensei

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.

Level 3: 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 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 it. Weapons of the chosen types are monk weapons for you. Many of this tradition's 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

Weapon Mastery. You can use the mastery properties of your kensei weapons. Once per turn, you can replace a kensei weapon's mastery property with one of the following properties:

• Agile Parry. 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.
• Kensei's Strike. Any target you hit with an attack using a kensei weapon takes an extra 1d4 + Wisdom Modifier, damage of the weapon’s type. 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

Level 6: One with the Blade

 Deft Strike. When you hit a target with a kensei weapon, you can spend 1 ki 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.

 

 

Level 11: Sharpen the Blade

Sharpen the Blade. You gain the ability to augment your weapons further with your focus. As a bonus action, you can expend 2-5 focus points to empower all kensei weapons you’re wielding for 1 minute or until you use this feature again. When you activate this feature, the range required to score a critical hit with those weapons is reduced by 1. Additionally, you gain a bonus to attack and damage rolls with those weapons equal to the number of focus points expended beyond the initial 2.

A magic weapon that already has a bonus to attack and damage rolls has its bonus replaced for the duration.

Level 17: Sword Saint

At 17th level, you have reached true mastery of your Kensai Weaponry.

Sword Saint. The range required to score a critical hit with those weapons is reduced by 1. When you use flurry of blows, use 2 focus points replace the unarmed strikes with kensei weapon attacks.