Monk: Way of the Open Hand
Primary Ability: Strength
Spellcasting Ability: none
Monks of the Way of the Open Hand are the ultimate masters of martial arts combat, whether armed or unarmed. They learn techniques to push and trip their opponents, manipulate ki to heal damage to their bodies, and practice advanced meditation that can protect them from harm.
Subclass (Monastic Tradition) of Monk
Monks are disciplined and agile warriors who have dedicated themselves to the mastery of martial arts and harnessing their inner ki energy. Through years of rigorous training and meditation, they attain extraordinary physical and mental abilities. Monks possess unparalleled speed and mobility, enabling them to move swiftly across the battlefield and evade attacks with incredible grace. Their unarmed strikes are deadly, as they use their body as a weapon, and they gain additional benefits as they advance in levels, such as the ability to make multiple attacks and stunning opponents with their strikes.
Monks also harness the power of ki, a mystical life force within themselves and the world. They can spend ki points to perform stunning feats, such as dodging with almost supernatural agility, becoming invisible, or unleashing a flurry of blows in rapid succession. Moreover, Monks gain access to unique traditions known as Monastic Traditions, which offer diverse focuses for their training. With their exceptional speed, unmatched martial prowess, and mastery of ki, Monks are extraordinary adventurers capable of achieving the seemingly impossible.
Core Way of the Open Hand Traits
Hit Points
Proficiencies
Weapon: Simple Weapon, shortswords
Tool: Artisan's Tool, Musical Instrument. Choose one type of artisan’s tools or one musical instrument
Saving Throw: Strength, Dexterity
Skills: You have 2 of the following skills: Acrobatics, Athletics, History, Insight, Religion, Stealth.
Starting Gold
You start with 0d4 x 10 gold pieces (GP) unless you choose to take the equipment below
Starting Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) a shortsword or (b) any simple weapon
- (a) a dungeoneer’s pack or (b) an explorer’s pack
- Dart (10)
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) shortsword or (b) any simple weapon
- (a) dungeoneer's pack or (b) explorer's pack
- (10x) dart
Way of the Open Hand Features Table
| LVL | Pro+ | Features | Martial Arts | Ki Points | Unarmored Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +2 | Unarmored Defense, Martial Arts | 1d4 | – | – |
| 2nd | +2 | Step of the Wind, Patient Defense, Flurry of Blows, Ki, Unarmored Movement | 1d4 | 2 | +10 ft. |
| 3rd | +2 | Open Hand Technique, Monastic Tradition, Deflect Missiles | 1d4 | 3 | +10 ft. |
| 4th | +2 | Slow Fall, Ability Score Improvement | 1d4 | 4 | +10 ft. |
| 5th | +3 | Extra Attack, Stunning Strike | 1d6 | 5 | +10 ft. |
| 6th | +3 | Wholeness of Body, Ki-Empowered Strikes | 1d6 | 6 | +15 ft. |
| 7th | +3 | Evasion, Stillness of Mind | 1d6 | 7 | +15 ft. |
| 8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 1d6 | 8 | +15 ft. |
| 9th | +4 | Unarmored Movement improvement | 1d6 | 9 | +15 ft. |
| 10th | +4 | Purity of Body | 1d6 | 10 | +20 ft. |
| 11th | +4 | Tranquility | 1d8 | 11 | +20 ft. |
| 12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 1d8 | 12 | +20 ft. |
| 13th | +5 | Tongue of the Sun and Moon | 1d8 | 13 | +20 ft. |
| 14th | +5 | Diamond Soul | 1d8 | 14 | +25 ft. |
| 15th | +5 | Timeless Body | 1d8 | 15 | +25 ft. |
| 16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 1d8 | 16 | +25 ft. |
| 17th | +6 | Quivering Palm | 1d10 | 17 | +25 ft. |
| 18th | +6 | Empty Body | 1d10 | 18 | +30 ft. |
| 19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 1d10 | 19 | +30 ft. |
| 20th | +6 | Perfect Self | 1d10 | 20 | +30 ft. |
Open Hand Technique
Starting when you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you can manipulate your enemy's ki when you harness your own. Whenever you hit a creature with one of the attacks granted by your Flurry of Blows, you can impose one of the following effects on that target:
- It must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or be knocked prone.
- It must make a Strength saving throw. If it fails, you can push it up to 15 feet away from you.
- It can't take reactions until the end of your next turn.
Level: 3
Actions Panel: Attack
Wholeness of Body
You gain the ability to heal yourself. 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.
Level: 6
Actions Panel: Healing
Tranquility
You can enter a special meditation that surrounds you with an aura of peace. At the end of a long rest, you gain the effect of a sanctuary spell that lasts until the start of your next long rest (the spell can end early as normal). The saving throw DC for the spell equals 8 + your Wisdom modifier + your proficiency bonus.
Level: 11
Quivering Palm
You gain the ability to set up lethal vibrations in someone's body. When you hit a creature with an unarmed strike, you can spend 3 ki points to start these imperceptible vibrations, which last for a number of days equal to your monk level. The vibrations are harmless unless you use your action to end them. To do so, you and the target must be on the same plane of existence. When you use this action, the creature must make a Constitution saving throw. If it fails, it is reduced to 0 hit points. If it succeeds, it takes 10d10 necrotic damage.
You can have only one creature under the effect of this feature at a time. You can choose to end the vibrations harmlessly without using an action.
Level: 17
Actions Panel: Attack
Subclass
Monastic Tradition
Traditions of monastic pursuit are common in the monasteries scattered across the multiverse. Most monasteries practice one tradition exclusively, but a few honor more traditions and instruct each monk according to his or her aptitude and interest. All traditions rely on the same basic techniques, diverging as the student grows more adept. Thus, a monk need choose a tradition only upon reaching 3rd level.
Way of the Cosmic Fist
Way of the Open Hand
Way of the Serene Mind
Monk Spells
No spells associated with this class yet.
Credits: WOTC (5.1)