Way of the Eight Limbs

The Way of the Eight Limbs teaches practitioners to respond to violence not with aggression but rather a calm and detached outlook. Through mindfulness and disciplined training, a student of the Eight Limbs develops a preternatural ability to pacify their assailants. Elbows, fists, knees, and legs all become deadly weapons wielded with unparalleled skill and unwavering determination.

After completing their initiate training and taking the name of their monastery as their own, a monk following this tradition ventures out into the world seeking to perfect their art as a step on the path to Enlightenment.

Bonus Proficiencies

When you choose this tradition at 3rd level, your monastic training teaches you to captivate the laity with jaw-dropping displays of your martial prowess. You gain proficiency in the Intimidation and Performance skills if you don't already have it.

Iron Body

At 3rd level, you've trained to thread minuscule portions of your ki throughout your body, creating a defensive weave.  While you are wearing no armor and not wielding a shield, you may spend 1 ki add your Constitution modifier to your AC for 1 minute.

In addition, bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage that you take from nonmagical weapons is reduced by 3. 

Counter Strike

By 6th level, you learn to observe your opponent’s movements and use them to your own advantage. When you are hit with a melee attack, as a special reaction you may attempt to grapple it if both of your hands are free. A creature grappled in this manner is released at the end of your next turn. The attacker makes a Dexterity save versus your Ki save to avoid the grapple. If the strike is a critical the save is made at disadvantage.  If the grapple is successful, choose to spend one Ki point and choose one of the following strikes:

• Black Lion Knee: The target receives damage equal to two rolls of your Martial Arts die.
• Gazelle Strike: The target is pushed 10 ft in the direction of your strike and is no longer grappled.
• Sarakham Sweep: It is knocked prone and must expend an action to stand and is no longer grappled. You may also apply Sarakham Sweep to any successful attack of opportunity you make by expending 1 ki point.
• White Lotus Kick: It is blinded until the end of its next turn, and is no longer grappled.

Iron Body (Stage 2)

At 6th level, all bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage is reduced by 6.

Dance of the Masters

At 6th level, your continued training in the Way of the Eight Limbs teaches you the importance of honoring your masters and ancestors before trading blows with an adversary. During the first round of a hostile encounter you may set your speed to 0 and use your action to perform a ritual dance and recover a number of ki points equal to your proficiency bonus. You may use this ability a number of times equal to 1 + your Wisdom modifier per long rest.

Iron Body (Stage 3)

At 11th level, bludgeoning, elemental, piercing, and slashing damage is reduced by 9.

Master of the Eight Limbs

At 17th level, you have mastered the Way of the Eight Limbs and can strike with supernatural ferocity and precision. In addition to your Strength or Dexterity modifier, you may now add your Wisdom modifier to attack and damage rolls when performing an unarmed strike.

You may also add one of the following effects to one unarmed strike per turn for the cost of 2 ki points:

• 100 Stitches Strike
• Jade-faced Tiger Teep
• Sky Piercing Knee

Iron Body (Final)

At 17th level, all damage is reduced by 12.