The Tiger is coiled, grounded and patient. Representing Yin, it lies in wait for the perfect moment to strike its prey. As such, the members of the Way of the Tiger can fortify their defense, weaken that of their foes, and even lay a ranged offense against an opponent if needed. Most members have a Tiger tattoo across the left side of their body, so that it may be on the viewer’s right. Your monk weapon must be made of metal in order to join. You must also choose if you are corrupted by shadow (evil) or not (non-evil).

Shadow's Corruption

When a monk adopts the Way of the Tiger, you can choose to allow evil spirits to influence your alignment, moves, and sometimes biology. The corruption changes your alignment to Chaotic Evil, turns the skin a shade of purplish gray, and can sometimes force you to fight your allies. Through seemingly cosmic forces, Shadow Tiger monks take +50% more damage from Bared Fang monks while normal Tiger monks take +50% more damage from Blood Talon monks.

Tiger's Defense

When you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you can manipulate your ki when you are attacked. On a creature’s turn you can spend one ki point as a reaction and do one of the following;

• Block: Increase your AC by 2. Lasts until the end of the round.
• Restore: Roll two Martial Arts dice. When the attack hits, its damage is reduced by the result of this roll plus your wisdom modifier.
• Reversal: Recover from being prone and stun the attacker before the attack is rolled if they fail a Dexterity save throw.
• Throw: Grapple and Restrain the target before the attack is rolled*
• Wake-Up: Use Tiger’s Fury before the attack is rolled* (at 11th level)
• Shadow Counter: Teleport behind the target, forcing the attack to miss and gaining advantage on your next attack roll* (only usable by Shadow Tiger monks)

*The target will also have disadvantage on saving throws

Exploit Defenses

At 6th level, intensive study of defensive techniques allow you to counter them. If you miss an attack roll, you can spend your bonus action to force them to make a Constitution saving throw. On a failure, you damage the target for 1d4 bludgeoning damage and lower their AC by 2 until the end of your next turn. On a success, they only take half damage and their AC is unchanged.

You can only use this feature a total of once per half your monk level before taking a long rest (or short rest for Shadow Tiger monks).

Metallic Mastery

Beginning at 11th level, you master the Tiger’s element; metal. While standing on the ground, you gain resistance to attacks made by metal weapons and add your wisdom modifier to attack rolls made with your metal monk weapon.

You also learn the Tiger’s Fury move, a rising uppercut that can hit any target that is within 5ft of you and up to 15ft above you. The targets that can be affected must make a Dexterity saving throw or take 2d6 in bludgeoning damage, are sent 5ft higher than you into the air (10ft to 20ft), and knocked prone when they land. You will not take falling damage while affected targets take half the normal falling damage.

Endokuken

Training at the 17th level allows the monk to learn an alternate version of the Eldritch Blast cantrip called the Endokuken. Similar in appearance to a yellow fireball, an Endokuken deals 2d8 + your wisdom modifier in force damage and adds your wisdom modifier + your proficiency bonus on attack rolls. If your monk spends four ki points, you go into an “uncoiled” mode, allowing you to create two Endokukens per cast. While “uncoiled”, each Endokuken gains lifesteal, healing you for half the damage they deal.

Alternately, Shadow Tiger monks instead gain the Shendokuken. These orbs of dark purple lightning deal 2d6 + your wisdom modifier in force damage and gain 3 + your wisdom modifier + your proficiency bonus on attack rolls. Their “uncoiled” mode costs six ki points. Hitting a creature with a Shendokuken while “uncoiled” links them to you. While linked, all ki point costs are halved and you can use Shadow Gift and the Annihilation actions. Shadow Gift costs a bonus action during “uncoiled” mode and restores two ki to you and your linked foe. Annihilation allows the monk to spend five ki points to deal 10d8 pure damage to your linked foe in a series of devastating hits.