Way of the Aegis

Way of the Aegis

Monks of the Way of the Aegis view the shield not as a cumbersome piece of armor, but as a versatile tool of balance. They blend traditional martial arts with "Weight-Flow" techniques, using the shield's surface area for both devastating strikes and impenetrable defense.

Path of the Aegis

When you choose this tradition at 3rd level, your special martial arts training leads you to master the use of shields. This path also includes instruction in the deft strokes of calligraphy or painting. You gain the following benefits.

Aegis Weapon. You gain proficiency with shields if you don’t already have it, and they are treated as monk weapons for you.  Many of this tradition’s features work only with your Shields. When you reach 6th, 11th, and 17th level in this class, your ability with them expands.

Agile Parry. If you make an unarmed strike as part of the Attack action on your turn and are holding a shield, 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.

Aegis Fling. You can use a bonus action on your turn to make a ranged attack with your shield more deadly. When you do so, any target you hit with a ranged attack using a shield fling takes an extra 1d4 damage of the weapon’s type. You retain this benefit until the end of the current turn. When making a ranged attack, if it hits, you must succeed a DC 8 Dex check to catch the shield, otherwise it bounces back and lands beside you.

One with the Shield

At 6th level, you extend your ki into your Aegis weapons, granting you the following benefits.

Magic Aegis Weapons. Your attacks with your Aegis 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 Aegis 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.

One with the Plate

Your connection to your shield grows, granting you these benefits: 

• Magic Shield: Your attacks with your shield 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 shield strike, you can spend 1 Ki point to cause the strike to deal extra damage equal to your Martial Arts die.

Sharpen the Edge

As a bonus action, you can expend up to 3 Ki points to grant your shield a bonus to attack and damage rolls when you strike 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.

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.

Unerring Accuracy

our mastery of weight and leverage ensures you rarely miss. If you miss with an attack roll using a your shield on your turn, you can reroll it. You can use this feature only once on each of your turns.