Way of the Sword Saint

Some monks dabble in using weapons to supplement their martial arts. A few delve deeper into the mastery of weapons as Kensei. But fewer still are talented and disciplined enough to reach the true pinnacle of swordsmanship: to be recognized as a Sword Saint. 

The Sword Saint is someone who deviated from the wider training of monk schools to focus almost exclusively on the blade. Sword Saints are peerless swordsmen, using speed as well as precision to defeat physically stronger opponents. The few persons to have truly mastered this path went on to found their own schools, become great generals, or died in the most celebrated of last stands. There is even speculation that the souls of such masters go on to guide the potential of future swordsmen after death, their souls having become attached to their blades or even achieving the spiritual power to become a patron to a hex blade warlock. 

Path of Discipline

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.

Chosen Weapons. Choose two types of weapons to be your Chosen 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 Chosen weapons. 

Quick Strike. In place of unarmed attacks for abilities such as Flurry of Blows or Martial Arts, you may use your Chosen melee weapon. You apply any effects of the weapon may have, but the damage dice of the weapon are replaced by the martial arts di.

Blade of Defense. If you make an unarmed strike or Quick Strike as part of the Attack action on your turn and are holding a Chosen Weapon, you can use it to defend yourself if it is a melee weapon. 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.

Serene Aim. You can use a bonus action on your turn to make your ranged attacks with a Chosen Weapon more deadly. When you do so, any target you hit with a ranged attack using a Chosen weapon takes an extra 1d4 damage of the weapon’s type. You retain this benefit until the end of the current turn. This damage bonus increases by 1d4 at levels 5, 11, and 17.

One with the Blade. You gain the ability to empower your blade with ki. You can expend 1 ki point to grant a +1 bonus to your Chosen Weapon. You can spend more ki for an increased bonus at later levels (2 ki for +2 at level 6, 3 ki for +3 at level 11). 

For the duration, this weapon counts as magical for the purposes of overcoming resistance to non-magical weapons.

 

Magnanimous Refinement

You gain proficiency with persuasion and intimidation checks. 

Ki infused Strike

At 11th level, you extend your ki into your Chose Weapons, granting you the following benefits.

Ki Infused Strike: You place more power into one of your strikes, pouring ki into the attack for greater damage. You may expend  up to 3 ki to add an equivalent number of martial arts di to the damage of one attack each turn. 

 

Masterful Aim

At 17th level, your mastery of weapons grants you extraordinary accuracy. If you miss with an attack roll using a monk weapon on your turn, you can reroll it. You can use this feature only once on each of your turns.