Way of the Grasping Hand

The Way of the Grasping Hand teaches techniques oriented around strengthening and focusing the user's grip. This enhanced grip manifests in both grabbing opponents, grappling and holding beasts and monsters that would shrug off lesser combatants, and in holding items. A mundane item in the hands of a practitioner of the Grasping Hand becomes both defense and weapon, and any object can become a deadly implement once the monk awakens its inner ki, with destructive results.

Pressure Point

At 3rd level, your knowledge of ki flows allows you to be a more effective grappler. You may grapple with any creature up to two sizes larger than you, and you may make a Dexterity (Athletics) check in lieu of a Strength (Athletics) check when grappling. Whenever you make an ability check to initiate or maintain a grapple, you may spend 1 ki point to gain advantage on that check.

 

Ebb and Flow of Battle

Also at 3rd level, you learn to better use what is at hand, for offense and defense alike. While you are wielding a weapon, including an improvised weapon, you gain a +1 bonus to AC. In addition, you are proficient with improvised weapons, and they are considered monk weapons for you.

 

Spiritual Resonance

At 6th level, your strikes with improvised weapons count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage, and you can inflict the grappled condition to a creature, regardless of that creature's immunity to the condition. Whenever you strike an opponent with an improvised weapon, you may spend 1 ki point to turn that hit into a critical hit, but doing so destroys the improvised weapon.

 

Grasp of the Living Vine

Also at 6th level, you can use your Deflect Missiles ability when you or any friendly creature within 5 feet of you is hit by a ranged weapon attack to attempt to reduce the damage. When you use Deflect Missiles, roll the damage reduction twice and use one of those rolls, of your choice.

 

Strike Without Thought

At 11th level, once during each turn, whenever you score a critical hit on a creature with a weapon attack or grapple a creature, you may immediately make one attack against that creature.

 

Eagle's Takedown

At 17th level, a creature in your grasp is at your absolute mercy. As an action on your turn, you may spend 2 ki points while you are grappling a creature to force it to make a Constitution saving throw. If it fails, it immediately falls unconscious for 1 minute. The affected creature may make another Constitution saving throw whenever it takes damage. On a success, the effect ends.