Kensei Warrior (5.24)

Kensei monks 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 kensei sees a weapon in much the same way a calligrapher or 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.

Kensei Training

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.

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

Kensei Combatant

Your additional weapon training at 3rd level comes with new martial forms that can bolster your ability to engage with or fend off enemies.

Pushing the Attack. Due to a kensei monk's ability to handle their weapon with grace, when fully committing to using kensei weapons (melee or ranged) during their Attack action, kensei weapons gain a +2 to damage to successful strikes until the start of your next turn. 

Agile Parry. If you instead use your melee kensei weapon purely for defense (and therefore do not use it during the Attack action this round), 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.

Both of these features increase by +1 each time your monk die increases, at 5th, 11th, and 17th levels.

Ranged Focus

At 3rd level your kensei weapon attacks are also more effective at range. You can use a bonus action on your turn to make a ranged attack with your kensei weapon more deadly. When you do so, a target you hit with a ranged attack using a kensei weapon takes extra damage equal to your martial arts die of the weapon’s type. This effect can only occur once per turn. 

Power Behind Strikes

At 6th level, you further refine your skill with your kensei weapons, granting you the following benefits.

Forceful Kensei Weapons. Your attacks with your kensei weapons can apply force damage when used, regardless of weapon type.

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.

Honed Techniques

At 11th level, you continue to hone your attacking and defensive postures. While using Pushing the Attack, your kensei weapon attacks can score a Critical Hit on a roll of 19 or 20 on the d20. Or, while using Agile Parry, any enemies that you hit during your Attack action have disadvantage on any attacks that are not against you. 

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

At 17th level, your mastery of weapons grants you extraordinary accuracy. While using Pushing the Attack, you can spend 2 focus points to add a +5 to any weapon attacks made with a kensei weapon until the start of your next turn. Alternatively, while using Agile Parry, you can spend 2 focus points to make your attacks strike vital pressure points that disorient enemies; each creature that is hit by one of your unarmed attacks must make a Constitution saving throw against your Dexterity (8 + proficiency bonus + dexterity modifier). Whenever a target that fails this save makes an attack roll or saving throw before then start of your next turn, the target must subtract 5 from the roll.

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.