Monks who adhere to the Way of the Serpent fight like venomous snakes; striking with an unparalleled level of swiftness and reach; being able to lunge with lightning speed at foes several feet away. They are also masterful poisoners, and are taught an ancient technique that allows them to transform their ki into a special kind of venom capable of wreaking havoc on their foes.

Bonus Proficiencies

Beginning when you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with the Poisoner's Kit and the Dexterity (Stealth) skill.

Serpent Stance

Also at 3rd level, you’ve learnt a special martial arts stance that mimics the striking speed, deadly toxins and range of a serpent. As a bonus action, you can spend 1 ki point to enter a special stance for up to 10 minutes. While in this stance, you gain the following features:

• Your unarmed strikes deal piercing damage instead of bludgeoning damage.
• Your reach with your unarmed strikes increases by 5 feet.
• Once per turn when you hit a creature with an unarmed strike, you can cause the attack to deal additional poison damage equal to one roll of your Martial Arts die.
• You have advantage on Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks made to avoid or escape being grappled.

You can use this feature once per short rest.

Potent Toxins

At 6th level, the poisons you create with your ki have grown stronger. Whenever you deal poison damage as part of your Serpent Stance feature, you ignore resistance to poison damage.

Viper’s Lunge

At 11th level, you can strike with the swiftness of a viper. While in your Serpent Stance, a hostile creature that enters the reach of your unarmed strikes triggers an attack of opportunity from you. If you hit with this attack, you can apply the extra poison damage of your Serpent Stance feature, even if you’ve already used it this turn.

Overwhelming Toxins

At 17th level, you’ve perfected the poisons you create with your ki. Whenever you deal poison damage as part of your Serpent Stance feature, you treat immunity to poison damage like resistance. Additionally, a creature that has taken poison damage from your Serpent Stance feature takes additional poison damage at the beginning of its next turn equal to one roll of your Martial Arts die.