Monks of the Way of Zen Breathing train themselves in esoteric breathing techniques which grant them greater control of their ki. With Zen Breathing, they are able to channel their ki into specific parts of their body to enhance their abilities. Even in the heat of battle, a monk of the Way of Zen Breathing is able to stay calm and focused.

Zen Breathing

When you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you take your first step towards understanding the state of Zen as you adopt your new breathing style. Your training helps you to master the first two forms of Zen Breathing. You learn to quickly focus your ki into one area of the body at a time. This path also includes instruction in the use of kenshi weapons. You gain the following benefits:

Kenshi weapons

Choose two types of weapons to be your kenshi 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. You gain proficiency with these weapons if you don’t already have it. Weapons of the chosen types are monk weapons for you. Some of this tradition’s features work only with your kenshi weapons.

Zen Breathing - First Form: Chakra

You gain the ability to heal yourself by channeling your ki into a wound. As an action, you can regain hit points equal to three times your monk level. You must finish a long rest before you can use this feature again.

Zen Breathing - Second Form: Focus

As a bonus action on your turn, you can spend 1 ki point to give yourself advantage on kenshi weapon attack rolls until the end of the current turn.

You can use this feature three times, and you regain all expended uses of it when you finish a long rest.

Total Zen Breathing

At 6th level, you learn how to fully control the ki within the entirety of your body as well as into your kenshi weapon. You gain the following benefits:

Magic Kenshi Weapons.

Your attacks with your kenshi weapons count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.

Zen Breathing - Third Form: Infused Strike

When you hit a target with a kenshi weapon, you can spend 1 ki point to cause the weapon to deal extra damage to the target equal to your Martial Arts die. You can use this feature only once on each of your turns.

Zen Breathing - Fourth Form: Deflection

If you make an unarmed strike as part of the Attack action on your turn and are holding a kenshi 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.

Total Zen Breathing: Constant

At 11th level, you are able to maintain your Zen Breathing at all hours of the day - constantly regulating the flow of ki within you, even while sleeping. In addition you progress in your martial arts training. You gain the following benefits:

Kenshi Weapon. You can choose proficiency in another type of martial weapon — either melee or ranged — to be a kenshi weapon for you, following the criteria above.

Zen Breathing - Fifth Form: Last Stand. When you take damage that would reduce you to 0hp you can instead spend 1 ki point to remain conscious at 1hp. This ability does not require an action but can only be used once before a short or long rest.

Zen Breathing - Sixth Form: Channeling. You gain the ability to heal others by channeling your ki into them. As an action, you can heal a target for hit points equal to three times your monk level. You must finish a long rest before you can use this feature again.

Total Zen Breathing: Extrasensory Perception

At 17th level, your mastery of Zen Breathing allows you to see into the bodies of living creatures as if they were transparent. This allows you to see the muscles, blood-flow, and vital organs within a living being. You gain the following benefits:

Bonus Proficiencies.

You gain proficiency in the Perception and Medicine skills if you don't already have them. You may double your proficiency bonus on ability checks that involve analysis of a living creature's body or health.

Zen Breathing - Seventh Form: Critical Strike. You can see your enemies' weak points clearly. Your weapon attacks score a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20.