Way of Duality

Monks of the Way of Duality train to become embodiments of balance. These monks learn how to shift their form into one reflective of the positive and negative energy planes, taking on aspects of either. They must train intensly in order to prevent the planes from consuming them, but gain an incredible ability to use positive and negative energy in return.

Stance of Light and Shadow

When you choose the tradition at 3rd level, you gain the ability to take a stance reflecting the positive or negative energy plane. As a bonus action on your turn, you can spend 1 ki point to assume a stance for one minute. You can only benefit from one stance at a time. Your stances gain more benefits as you gain more levels in this class.

Light: While in the light stance, you channel the healing powers of the positive energy plane. At the beginning of each turn while you are in this stance and have 1 or greater hit points, you gain temporary hit points equal to your wisdom modifier. Additionally, you radiate bright light out to 15 feet and dim light out to 30 feet.

Shadow: While in the shadow stance, you radiate the necrotic power of the negative energy plane. Once per turn, when you hit a creature with an unarmed attack, you may deal an additional die of necrotic damage determined by the martial arts table. Additionally, all bright light within 15 feet of you becomes dim light, and dim light becomes darkness.

Stance of Sound and Silence

Beginning at 6th level, your stances manipulate the sonic energy around you.

Light: While in the light stance, your attacks become augmented by sonic energy. When you take the attack action on your turn, you may spend 2 ki points to have your unarmed attacks deal an extra amount of thunder damage equal to your wisdom modifier until the end of your turn.

Shadow: While in the shadow stance, you become much quieter, and you attack in a way that renders your enemies unable to speak. When you hit an enemy with an unarmed attack, you may spend 1 ki point to force them to make a constitution saving throw against your ki save DC or be unable to speak for 1 round. Additionally, you lose the ability to speak, and noises you make are quieter, giving you a +2 bonus on stealth checks to move silently.

Stance of Strength and Weakness

Beginning at 11th level, the effect of your stances on other creatures increase.

Light: While in the light stance, you can spend ki to use positive energy to weaken the effects of a creature's attack. When you see one of your allies take damage from an attack, you can use your reaction and 1 ki point to reduce the damage of that attack by your martial arts die + your wisdom modifier.

Shadow: While in the shadow stance, you can spend ki to use negative energy to weaken an enemy's defenses to an attack. When you see an ally take the attack action, you can spend your reaction and 1 ki point to give them advantage on the first attack they make as part of that action.

Stance of Life and Death

Beginning at 17th level, you gain the ability to draw on a huge amount of positive or negative energy in a moment of extreme stress.

Light: While in the light stance, if an attack would reduce you to 0 hit points or fewer, you can immediately spend 3 ki points and end your stance to regain half of your hit points (rounded down), drawing a huge amount of energy from the positive energy plane into your body. Additionally, each enemy within 10 feet of you must make a constitution saving throw against your ki save DC or be blinded until the end of your next turn. After using this ability, you can't assume the light stance again until you finish a long rest.

Shadow While in the shadow stance, if an attack would reduce you to 0 hit points or fewer, you can immediately spend 3 ki points and end your stance to force the creature making the triggering attack to make a constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 10d10 necrotic damage and is stunned until the end of it's next turn. On a successful save, the creature takes half damage and is not stunned. After using this ability, you can't assume the shadow stance again until you finish a long rest.