Way of the Iron Shirt (5e Subclass)
Way of the Iron Shirt
Monks of the Way of the Iron Shirt focus on pushing their ki outwards as a barrier against harm. They learn to absorb blows that would fell an ordinary person, eventually becoming as impervious and immovable as a mountain. In time, these monks may even learn to push their ki beyond the bounds of their physical body, turning their protective energy into an irresistible destructive force.
Iron Shirt Technique (Monk lvl 3)
- Fighting Stance
Starting when you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you can enter a meditative fighting stance to focus your ki outward to protect yourself from harm. As a bonus action you can spend 3 ki points to enter a meditative fighting stance for 1 minute. While in this stance and you gain resistance to slashing, bludgeoning, and piercing damage, and advantage on Constitution saving throws. Also, for the duration your Unarmored Defense may be calculated using your Constitution modifier instead of Dexterity.
Interposing Body (Monk lvl 6)
- Reaction
At 6th level, you gain the ability to shelter your allies from harm. As a reaction, when an creature attacks a target within 5ft of you or a ranged attack or spell attack passes within 5ft of you, you may spend 1 ki point to place your body in the way and force the attack to target you instead. You may use Deflect Missiles as a part of this reaction if the triggering attack would normally qualify.
Iron Mountain Technique (Monk lvl 11)
- Fighting Stance
Beginning at 11th level, you can enter a meditative fighting stance of even higher focus to better protect yourself from harm. As a bonus action, you can spend 5 ki points to enter a meditative fighting stance for 1 minute or until ended as a bonus action. When in this stance you gain resistance to all damage except psychic, advantage on Constitution and Wisdom saving throws, and your unarmed strikes bypass bludgeoning resistance and deal half damage versus bludgeoning immunity. Due to the intense nature of the focus required, you may not concentrate on a spell while under this stance's effect, however you are not required to make concentration saves to maintain it. Unless ended early as a bonus action at the end of the duration you gain 1 level of exhaustion.
- Immovable
Additionally when under the effect of Iron Shirt or Iron Mountain you may resist any attempt to be moved against your will. Any rolls to resist being moved or knocked prone are made at advantage. If an ability still moves you after the roll or if there is no roll you may subtract a distance up to your Unarmored Movement bonus from the distance you would have been moved. If the distance is reduced to 5ft or less additional effects such as being knocked prone do not trigger. You may use a reaction and expend 1 ki point to use this ability when an attempt at moving you against your will is made when not under the effect of Iron Shirt or Iron Mountain and enter into Iron Shirt Technique.
Outward Facing Force (Monk lvl 17)
- Force Damage
At 17th level, you gain the ability to focus your ki to such an extent that its bounds extend outside your body. When under the effect of Iron Shirt or Iron Mountain your unarmed strikes and monk weapon attacks deal additional force damage equal to your martial arts die and are treated as siege weapons for the purposes of damage versus objects or structures.
- Reach
As a free action on your turn you may spend 2 ki points to give your unarmed strikes 5ft additional reach until the start of your next turn.
- Irresistible Force
When under the effect of Iron Mountain the bludgeoning damage of your attacks bypasses all resistances or immunities against it and cannot otherwise be reduced.
Back to Main Page → 5e Homebrew → Character Options → Subclasses