Way of the Returning Fist

Those who follow the Way of the Returning Fist all follow one central doctrine: What goes around, comes around. While some may see this mantra as a threat of revenge, masters of the Returning Fist see it as a central truth of the universe. Similarly, the Way of the Returning Fists focuses on matching one's opponents blow-for-blow, bringing the fight to a deadlock until the opportunity to strike presents itself.

The Balance of Nature

Adherents to the Way of the Returning Fist often turn to the natural world as an example of how the universe is a self-sustaining, self-balancing system. You gain proficiency in the Nature and Survival skills at 3rd level, if you did not have them already.

Newton's Cradle

At 3rd level, you learn how to match each of your opponent's attacks with your own. As a reaction to a melee attack, you can spend 1 ki point to inflict the same amount the damage you have just been dealt; however, you do not inflict the same type of damage that has been dealt to you, and are restricted to the damage inflicted by your unarmed attack.

Immovable Object

Upon reaching 6th level, as a reaction to a melee attack, you can choose to use 1 ki point to reduce the damage by an amount equal to your Martial Arts die + your Dexterity modifier + your Monk Level.

If you reduce the damage to 0, you catch the melee weapon in your hands; your attacker must make a Strength (Athletics) check against your Strength (Athletics) check. Upon success, he yanks the weapon from your hands; upon failure, he is disarmed, and you now hold his weapon.

If your reaction is against an unarmed strike, and you have reduced the damage to 0, your attacker must make a Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check against your Strength (Athletics) check to avoid being grappled.

Roll with the Punches

You learn to use the momentum of an opponent to aid your retreat from battle. At 11th level, as a reaction to sustaining damage, you can Disengage and use your whole movement to get away from your aggressor. If you are prone while sustaining the damage, you can stand up as a reaction to the attack without spending any of your movement.

The Third Law

You have learned how to redirect the harmful energy you've sustained into one concentrated attack. By 17th level, you can spend 4 ki points to create a sphere of force with a 20 foot radius, centered on you. Any creature within this sphere must make a Strength save; if failed, they take 5d10 force damage and are knocked prone; if succeded, they take half damage and are not prone.