Way of the Vengeful Specter —D&D 5.5e (2024 Rules)

Monks of the Way of the Vengeful Specter walk a path paved with supernatural flame and driven by an unquenchable thirst for justice. They wield chain weapons wreathed in spectral fire and step through the Ethereal Plane to punish those who harm the innocent.

3rd Level: Hellfire Chain

You master the use of spiked chains and whips infused with supernatural force.

• Weapon Proficiency: You gain proficiency with the whip. For you, whips count as Monk weapons.
• Extended Reach: When you make an attack with a whip on your turn, your reach with it is 15 feet.
• Chains of Judgment: Once per turn, when you hit a creature with a whip or Unarmed Strike, you can spend 1 Focus Point to force it to make a Strength saving throw against your Focus Save DC (if Large or smaller). On a failure, it is pulled up to 10 feet straight toward you and takes additional fire damage equal to your Martial Arts die.

3rd Level: Strike of Vengeance

You can channel vengeful flames into your strikes.

• Once per turn, when you hit a creature with a Monk weapon or Unarmed Strike, you can deal extra fire damage equal to your Martial Arts die.
• Retributive Burning: If the target dealt damage to you or an ally since the end of your previous turn, the extra fire damage increases to two rolls of your Martial Arts die.

6th Level: Spectral Step

You phase through the Ethereal Plane to execute swift, supernatural strikes.

As a Bonus Action, you can spend 1 Focus Point to teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space you can see.

• Spectral Assault: If you take the Attack action immediately after teleporting, your first attack roll has Advantage.

11th Level: Judgment Eternal

Your conviction burns away your foes' vitality and grants you supernatural resilience.

• Hellfire Mark: When you deal fire damage with Strike of Vengeance, the target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw against your Focus Save DC or become marked by Spectral Flames for 1 minute. A marked target takes fire damage equal to your Martial Arts die at the start of each of its turns. It can repeat the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.
• Vengeful Flame: You gain resistance to fire damage.
• Fiendish Sight: You can see normally in darkness—both magical and nonmagical—up to a distance of 120 feet.

17th Level: Avatar of Retribution

You channel the ultimate manifestation of spectral rage. As a Bonus Action, you can spend 5 Focus Points to enter a terrifying spectral transformation for 1 minute (or until you are Incapacitated).

While transformed, you gain the following benefits:

• Ethereal Flight: You gain a Flying speed equal to your Speed, and you can hover.
• Aura of Judgment: Whenever you hit a creature with a Monk weapon or Unarmed Strike, Spectral Chains erupt from the target. Each enemy of your choice within 10 feet must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or take fire damage equal to your Martial Arts die.
• Unshackled Teleport: You can use Spectral Step without expending Focus Points.