Way of the Kensei

Monks of the Way of Kensei train relentlessly with their weapons, to the point that the weapon becomes like an extension of the body. That such mastery makes a kensei a peerless warrior is but a side effect of intense devotion, practice, and study.

Path of the Weapons Master

Starting when you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you master the use of an incredible variety of weaponry.

You gain proficiency in all martial melee weapons and your choice of two unique weapons, depicted in the table below. When wielding a shortbow or a weapon that is not a lance and that lacks the heavy property, it is considered a monk weapon for you. While wielding a versatile weapon in two hands, you do not consider it a monk weapon for the purpose of attacking with them. At 6th, 11th, and 17th level, you choose an additional unique weapon to gain proficiency in.

At 17th level, you may make weapon attacks with any weapon on your person without having to draw or stow them. When you do so, you are considered to be wielding them during the duration of the attack.

Defensive Mastery

Also at 3rd level, you gain the following benefits.

You gain proficiency in light armor and do not lose the benefits of your Martial Arts class feature while wearing light armor.

If you make an unarmed strike as part of the Attack action on your turn and are holding a monk weapon, you can use that weapon to defend yourself. You gain a +2 bonus to AC until the start of your next turn while you are not incapacitated and the weapon is in your hand.

One with the Blade

At 6th level, you extend your ki into the weapons you hold, granting you the following benefits.

Precise Strike. You can focus your attention on a single target in battle to understand and overcome its defenses. As a bonus action, pick one creature you can see within 30 feet of you. The next weapon attack you make against that creature during the current turn adds double your proficiency bonus to the attack roll, rather than your normal proficiency bonus. Once you use this ability, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Weapon Flurry. When you use a bonus action to make an unarmed strike as detailed in your Martial Arts class feature, you can instead make a monk weapon attack. At 11th level, you can use your flurry of blows feature to make monk weapon attacks instead of unarmed strikes.

Sharpen the Blade

At 11th level, you gain the ability to augment your weapons with the strength of your ki. As a bonus action, you can expend up to 3 ki points to grant a weapon you touch a bonus to attack and damage rolls while you wield it. The bonus equals the number of ki points you spent. This bonus lasts for 1 minute.

Natural Weaponry

Also at 11th level, when you make an unarmed strike or monk weapon attack, you may choose whether the weapon deals bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage, independent of what the weapon would normally deal.

Wind Passing Through

At 17th level, you become an unparalleled master of weaponry, able to unleash a tornado of blows in an instant.

You can spend 3 ki points to make a special type of action on your turn. You move up to your speed in a line, at some point during which you target a single creature or object in the way of that line. You do not provoke opportunity attacks for this movement and if you could move around your target you can move through your target’s space instead. You cannot take any other type of action during this movement. You consume your movement as normal for this action.

At the end of your movement, roll 1d8. Take the result and roll that many d10s plus an additional 2d10 and deal that much in bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage to the target. If you are wielding a monk weapon that has a different damage property than the above at the time of this attack, you may add that damage property to the above. This action counts as an attack for the purposes of Stunning Strike.

Unique Weapons Name Cost Damage Weight Properties Unique Melee Weapons Eskrima Stick 10 gp 1d4 bludgeoning 1 lb Light, thrown (range 10/20), special Guandao 20 gp 1d8 slashing 5 lb Reach, two-handed Meteor Hammer 1 gp 1d6 bludgeoning 1 lb Reach, two-handed Rope Dart 1 gp 1d6 piercing 1 lb Reach, two-handed Kusarigama 25 gp 1d4 bludgeoning/1d4 slashing 4 lb Reach, two-handed, special Unique Ranged Weapons Shuriken 5 sp 1d4 piercing 1/4 lb Finesse, thrown (range 20/60) Boomerang 3 gp 1d6 bludgeoning 1/2 lb Finesse, thrown (range 60/120), special