Way of the Mantis

The Way of the Mantis is a path not many monks choose to tread. To master this tradition, one has to master absolute patience first. Only monks that achieve absolute serenity within themselves can focus their strikes precisely enough to disable the flow of ki in living creatures. Monks of the Way of the Mantis stay in perfect stillness, not moving a single muscle, waiting for just the right time to strike.

Mantis Stance

Starting when you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you can use your bonus action and spend 1 ki point to enter a defensive stance. You can end this stance by using a bonus action, and it otherwise lasts 1 minute. You can't move while you are in this stance and you can use your Patient Defense feature without spending ki points. Furthermore, when a creature misses you with a melee weapon attack, you can use your reaction to make an unarmed attack against it.

Pressure Strike

At 6th level, you learn how to debilitate your foes by cutting off their flow of ki. Whenever you hit a creature with one of the attacks granted by your Flurry of Blows feature, you can choose which body part you want to target. The creature must succeed on a Constitution saving throw (DC{{savedc:wis}}), or suffer the effects detailed in the table below. The creature can't suffer the effects of a body part it doesn't posess.

Reaching Counter

At 11th level, while you are in the Mantis Stance, the reach of your unarmed attacks increases by 5 feet.

Perfect Stillness

At 17th level, when you are in the Mantis Stance you regain 2 ki points at the start of each turn. Additionally, while in this Stance, you can spend 2 ki points to make additional reactions.