 Monk
Source PRPG Core Rulebook pg. 56
For the truly exemplary, martial skill transcends the battlefield—it is a lifestyle, a doctrine, a state of mind. These warrior-artists search out methods of battle beyond swords and shields, finding weapons within themselves just as capable of crippling or killing as any blade. These monks (so called since they adhere to ancient philosophies and strict martial disciplines) elevate their bodies to become weapons of war, from battle-minded ascetics to self-taught brawlers. Monks tread the path of discipline, and those with the will to endure that path discover within themselves not what they are, but what they are meant to be.
Role: Monks excel at overcoming even the most daunting perils, striking where it's least expected, and taking advantage of enemy vulnerabilities. Fleet of foot and skilled in combat, monks can navigate any battlefield with ease, aiding allies wherever they are needed most.
Alignment: Any lawful.
Hit Die: d8.
Starting Wealth: 1d6 x 10 gp (average 35 gp).Class SkillsThe Monk's class skills are Acrobatics (Dex), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Escape Artist (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (history) (Int), Knowledge (religion) (Int), Perception (Wis), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Stealth (Dex), and Swim (Str).
Skill Points at each Level: 4 + Int modifier.Class Features| Level | Base Attack Bonus | Fort Save | Ref Save | Will Save | Special | Flurry of Blows Attack Bonus | Unarmed Damage | AC Bonus | Fast Movement | | 1st | +0 | +2 | +2 | +2 | Bonus feat, flurry of blows, stunning fist, unarmed strike | -1/-1 | 1d6 | +0 | +0 ft. | | 2nd | +1 | +3 | +3 | +3 | Bonus feat, evasion | +0/+0 | 1d6 | +0 | +0 ft. | | 3rd | +2 | +3 | +3 | +3 | Fast movement, maneuver training, still mind | +1/+1 | 1d6 | +0 | +10 ft. | | 4th | +3 | +4 | +4 | +4 | Ki pool (magic), slow fall 20 ft. | +2/+2 | 1d8 | +1 | +10 ft. | | 5th | +3 | +4 | +4 | +4 | High jump, purity of body | +3/+3 | 1d8 | +1 | +10 ft. | | 6th | +4 | +5 | +5 | +5 | Bonus feat, slow fall 30 ft. | +4/+4/-1 | 1d8 | +1 | +20 ft. | | 7th | +5 | +5 | +5 | +5 | Ki pool (cold iron/silver), wholeness of body | +5/+5/+0 | 1d8 | +1 | +20 ft. | | 8th | +6/+1 | +6 | +6 | +6 | Slow fall 40 ft. | +6/+6/+1/+1 | 1d10 | +2 | +20 ft. | | 9th | +6/+1 | +6 | +6 | +6 | Improved evasion | +7/+7/+2/+2 | 1d10 | +2 | +30 ft. | | 10th | +7/+2 | +7 | +7 | +7 | Bonus feat, ki pool (lawful), slow fall 50 ft. | +8/+8/+3/+3 | 1d10 | +2 | +30 ft. | | 11th | +8/+3 | +7 | +7 | +7 | Diamond body | +9/+9/+4/+4/-1 | 1d10 | +2 | +30 ft. | | 12th | +9/+4 | +8 | +8 | +8 | Abundant step, slow fall 60 ft. | +10/+10/+5/+5/+0 | 2d6 | +3 | +40 ft. | | 13th | +9/+4 | +8 | +8 | +8 | Diamond soul | +11/+11/+6/+6/+1 | 2d6 | +3 | +40 ft. | | 14th | +10/+5 | +9 | +9 | +9 | Bonus feat, slow fall 70 ft. | +12/+12/+7/+7/+2 | 2d6 | +3 | +40 ft. | | 15th | +11/+6/+1 | +9 | +9 | +9 | Quivering palm | +13/+13/+8/+8/+3/+3 | 2d6 | +3 | +50 ft. | | 16th | +12/+7/+2 | +10 | +10 | +10 | Ki pool (adamantine), slow fall 80 ft. | +14/+14/+9/+9/+4/+4/-1 | 2d8 | +4 | +50 ft. | | 17th | +12/+7/+2 | +10 | +10 | +10 | Timeless body, tongue of the sun and moon | +15/+15/+10/+10/+5/+5/+0 | 2d8 | +4 | +50 ft. | | 18th | +13/+8/+3 | +11 | +11 | +11 | Bonus feat, slow fall 90 ft. | +16/+16/+11/+11/+6/+6/+1 | 2d8 | +4 | +60 ft. | | 19th | +14/+9/+4 | +11 | +11 | +11 | Empty body | +17/+17/+12/+12/+7/+7/+2 | 2d8 | +4 | +60 ft. | | 20th | +15/+10/+5 | +12 | +12 | +12 | Perfect self, slow fall any distance | +18/+18/+13/+13/+8/+8/+3 | 2d10 | +5 | +60 ft. |
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Monks are proficient with the club, crossbow (light or heavy), dagger, handaxe, javelin, kama, nunchaku, quarterstaff, sai, shortspear, short sword, shuriken, siangham, sling, and spear.
Monks are not proficient with any armor or shields.
When wearing armor, using a shield, or carrying a medium or heavy load, a monk loses his AC bonus, as well as his fast movement and flurry of blows abilities.
AC Bonus (Ex): When unarmored and unencumbered, the monk adds his Wisdom bonus (if any) to his AC and his CMD. In addition, a monk gains a +1 bonus to AC and CMD at 4th level. This bonus increases by 1 for every four monk levels thereafter, up to a maximum of +5 at 20th level.
These bonuses to AC apply even against touch attacks or when the monk is flat-footed. He loses these bonuses when he is immobilized or helpless, when he wears any armor, when he carries a shield, or when he carries a medium or heavy load.
Flurry of Blows (Ex): Starting at 1st level, a monk can make a flurry of blows as a full-attack action. When doing so, he may make one additional attack, taking a –2 penalty on all of his attack rolls, as if using the Two-Weapon Fighting feat. These attacks can be any combination of unarmed strikes and attacks with a monk special weapon (he does not need to use two weapons to utilize this ability). For the purpose of these attacks, the monk's base attack bonus from his monk class levels is equal to his monk level. For all other purposes, such as qualifying for a feat or a prestige class, the monk uses his normal base attack bonus.
At 8th level, the monk can make two additional attacks when he uses flurry of blows, as if using Improved Two-Weapon Fighting (even if the monk does not meet the prerequisites for the feat).
At 15th level, the monk can make three additional attacks using flurry of blows, as if using Greater Two-Weapon Fighting (even if the monk does not meet the prerequisites for the feat).
A monk applies his full Strength bonus to his damage rolls for all successful attacks made with flurry of blows, whether the attacks are made with an off-hand or with a weapon wielded in both hands. A monk may substitute disarm, sunder, and trip combat maneuvers for unarmed attacks as part of a flurry of blows. A monk cannot use any weapon other than an unarmed strike or a special monk weapon as part of a flurry of blows. A monk with natural weapons cannot use such weapons as part of a flurry of blows, nor can he make natural attacks in addition to his flurry of blows attacks.
Unarmed Strike: At 1st level, a monk gains Improved Unarmed Strike as a bonus feat. A monk's attacks may be with fist, elbows, knees, and feet. This means that a monk may make unarmed strikes with his hands full. There is no such thing as an off-hand attack for a monk striking unarmed. A monk may thus apply his full Strength bonus on damage rolls for all his unarmed strikes.
Usually a monk's unarmed strikes deal lethal damage, but he can choose to deal nonlethal damage instead with no penalty on his attack roll. He has the same choice to deal lethal or nonlethal damage while grappling.
A monk's unarmed strike is treated as both a manufactured weapon and a natural weapon for the purpose of spells and effects that enhance or improve either manufactured weapons or natural weapons.
A monk also deals more damage with his unarmed strikes than a normal person would, as shown above on Table: Monk. The unarmed damage values listed on Table: Monk is for Medium monks. A Small monk deals less damage than the amount given there with his unarmed attacks, while a Large monk deals more damage; see Small or Large Monk Unarmed Damage on the table given below.
| Level | Damage (Small Monk) | Damage (Large Monk) | | 1st-3rd | 1d4 | 1d8 | | 4th-7th | 1d6 | 2d6 | | 8th-11th | 1d8 | 2d8 | | 12th-15th | 1d10 | 3d6 | | 16th-19th | 2d6 | 3d8 | | 20th | 2d8 | 4d8 |
Bonus Feat: At 1st level, 2nd level, and every 4 levels thereafter, a monk may select a bonus feat. These feats must be taken from the following list: Catch Off-Guard, Combat Reflexes, Deflect Arrows, Dodge, Improved Grapple, Scorpion Style, and Throw Anything. At 6th level, the following feats are added to the list: Gorgon's Fist, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Disarm, Improved Feint, Improved Trip, and Mobility. At 10th level, the following feats are added to the list: Improved Critical, Medusa's Wrath, Snatch Arrows, and Spring Attack. A monk need not have any of the prerequisites normally required for these feats to select them.
Stunning Fist (Ex): At 1st level, the monk gains Stunning Fist as a bonus feat, even if he does not meet the prerequisites. At 4th level, and every 4 levels thereafter, the monk gains the ability to apply a new condition to the target of his Stunning Fist. This condition replaces stunning the target for 1 round, and a successful saving throw still negates the effect. At 4th level, he can choose to make the target fatigued. At 8th level, he can make the target sickened for 1 minute. At 12th level, he can make the target staggered for 1d6+1 rounds. At 16th level, he can permanently blind or deafen the target. At 20th level, he can paralyze the target for 1d6+1 rounds. The monk must choose which condition will apply before the attack roll is made. These effects do not stack with themselves (a creature sickened by Stunning Fist cannot become nauseated if hit by Stunning Fist again), but additional hits do increase the duration.
Evasion (Ex): At 2nd level or higher, a monk can avoid damage from many area-effect attacks. If a monk makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, he instead takes no damage. Evasion can be used only if a monk is wearing light armor or no armor. A helpless monk does not gain the benefit of evasion.
Fast Movement (Ex): At 3rd level, a monk gains an enhancement bonus to his land speed, as shown on Table: Monk. A monk in armor or carrying a medium or heavy load loses this extra speed.
Maneuver Training (Ex): At 3rd level, a monk uses his monk level in place of his base attack bonus when calculating his Combat Maneuver Bonus. Base attack bonuses granted from other classes are unaffected and are added normally.
Still Mind (Ex): A monk of 3rd level or higher gains a +2 bonus on saving throws against enchantment spells and effects.
Ki Pool (Su): At 4th level, a monk gains a pool of ki points, supernatural energy he can use to accomplish amazing feats. The number of points in a monk's ki pool is equal to 1/2 his monk level + his Wisdom modifier. As long as he has at least 1 point in his ki pool, he can make a ki strike. At 4th level, ki strike allows his unarmed attacks to be treated as magic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. Ki strike improves with the character's monk level. At 7th level, his unarmed attacks are also treated as cold iron and silver weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. At 10th level, his unarmed attacks are also treated as lawful weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. At 16th level, his unarmed attacks are treated as adamantine weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction and bypassing hardness.
By spending 1 point from his ki pool, a monk can make one additional attack at his highest attack bonus when making a flurry of blows attack. In addition, he can spend 1 point to increase his speed by 20 feet for 1 round. Finally, a monk can spend 1 point from his ki pool to give himself a +4 dodge bonus to AC for 1 round. Each of these powers is activated as a swift action. A monk gains additional powers that consume points from his ki pool as he gains levels.
The ki pool is replenished each morning after 8 hours of rest or meditation; these hours do not need to be consecutive.
Slow Fall (Ex): At 4th level or higher, a monk within arm's reach of a wall can use it to slow his descent. When first gaining this ability, he takes damage as if the fall were 20 feet shorter than it actually is. The monk's ability to slow his fall (that is, to reduce the effective distance of the fall when next to a wall) improves with his monk level until at 20th level he can use a nearby wall to slow his descent and fall any distance without harm.
High Jump (Ex): At 5th level, a monk adds his level to all Acrobatics checks made to jump, both for vertical jumps and horizontal jumps. In addition, he always counts as having a running start when making jump checks using Acrobatics. By spending 1 point from his ki pool as a swift action, a monk gains a +20 bonus on Acrobatics checks made to jump for 1 round.
Purity of Body (Ex): At 5th level, a monk gains immunity to all diseases, including supernatural and magical diseases.
Wholeness of Body (Su): At 7th level or higher, a monk can heal his own wounds as a standard action. He can heal a number of hit points of damage equal to his monk level by using 2 points from his ki pool.
Improved Evasion (Ex): At 9th level, a monk's evasion ability improves. He still takes no damage on a successful Reflex saving throw against attacks, but henceforth he takes only half damage on a failed save. A helpless monk does not gain the benefit of improved evasion.
Diamond Body (Su): At 11th level, a monk gains immunity to poisons of all kinds.
Abundant Step (Su): At 12th level or higher, a monk can slip magically between spaces, as if using the spell dimension door. Using this ability is a move action that consumes 2 points from his ki pool. His caster level for this effect is equal to his monk level. He cannot take other creatures with him when he uses this ability.
Diamond Soul (Ex): At 13th level, a monk gains spell resistance equal to his current monk level + 10. In order to affect the monk with a spell, a spellcaster must get a result on a caster level check (1d20 + caster level) that equals or exceeds the monk's spell resistance.
Quivering Palm (Su): Starting at 15th level, a monk can set up vibrations within the body of another creature that can thereafter be fatal if the monk so desires. He can use this quivering palm attack once per day, and he must announce his intent before making his attack roll. Creatures immune to critical hits cannot be affected. Otherwise, if the monk strikes successfully and the target takes damage from the blow, the quivering palm attack succeeds. Thereafter, the monk can try to slay the victim at any later time, as long as the attempt is made within a number of days equal to his monk level. To make such an attempt, the monk merely wills the target to die (a free action), and unless the target makes a Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + 1/2 the monk's level + the monk's Wis modifier), it dies. If the saving throw is successful, the target is no longer in danger from that particular quivering palm attack, but it may still be affected by another one at a later time. A monk can have no more than 1 quivering palm in effect at one time. If a monk uses quivering palm while another is still in effect, the previous effect is negated.
Timeless Body (Ex): At 17th level, a monk no longer takes penalties to his ability scores for aging and cannot be magically aged. Any such penalties that he has already taken, however, remain in place. Age bonuses still accrue, and the monk still dies of old age when his time is up.
Tongue of the Sun and Moon (Ex): A monk of 17th level or higher can speak with any living creature.
Empty Body (Su): At 19th level, a monk gains the ability to assume an ethereal state for 1 minute as though using the spell etherealness. Using this ability is a move action that consumes 3 points from his ki pool. This ability only affects the monk and cannot be used to make other creatures ethereal.
Perfect Self: At 20th level, a monk becomes a magical creature. He is forevermore treated as an outsider rather than as a humanoid (or whatever the monk's creature type was) for the purpose of spells and magical effects. Additionally, the monk gains damage reduction 10/chaotic, which allows him to ignore the first 10 points of damage from any attack made by a nonchaotic weapon or by any natural attack made by a creature that doesn't have similar damage reduction. Unlike other outsiders, the monk can still be brought back from the dead as if he were a member of his previous creature type.Ex-MonksA monk who becomes nonlawful cannot gain new levels as a monk but retains all monk abilities.Alternate CapstonesSource Chronicle of Legends pg. 28
When a character reaches the 20th level of a class, she gains a powerful class feature or ability, sometimes referred to as a capstone. The following section provides new capstones for characters to select at 20th level. A character can select one of the following capstones in place of the capstone provided by her class. Some capstones are for specific classes, while others are for a range of classes that qualify for them. In some cases, a capstone specifies what ability it replaces. A character can’t select a new capstone if she has previously traded away her class capstone via an archetype. Clerics and wizards can receive a capstone at 20th level, despite not having one to begin with.
Ki Sage (Su)Source Chronicle of Legends pg. 31
At 20th level, the character is fully attuned to his own body and the ki that flows within. The character gains two ki powers from those available to the unchained monk, treating his character level as his monk level for the purpose of any requirements. In addition, his ki pool increases by four. This capstone is available to any class with a ki pool.
Old Dog, New Tricks (Ex)Source Chronicle of Legends pg. 31
At 20th level, the character shows that a true warrior always has one more surprise the enemy hasn’t seen. The character gains four combat feats. This capstone is available to characters of any class that gains at least four bonus combat feats.
Old Master (Ex)Source Chronicle of Legends pg. 29
At 20th level, the monk has reached the highest levels of his martial arts school. The monk gains one additional attack at his highest base attack bonus when using flurry of blows, and his dodge bonus to AC increases by 2.
Perfect Body, Flawless Mind (Ex)Source Chronicle of Legends pg. 31
At 20th level, the character’s endless training and study has resulted in an unmatched mastery of the self. The character increases her ability scores by a collective total of 8. For example, she can increase one score by 8, or one score by 5 and another by 3, or four scores by 2, and so on. Characters of any class can select this ability.
The Boss (Ex)Source Chronicle of Legends pg. 30
At 20th level, the character has become more than just a lone hero—she has become one of the senior figures of her field, with powers and responsibilities to match. The character becomes one of the leading figures in some manner of group or organization, as appropriate to the campaign and the setting. A wizard might become the dean of an arcane university or mages’ guild, a fighter could command a mercenary army or a city guard, a cleric might lead a major temple or her own sect, and so forth. The player and the GM should work together to determine the specifics. The character gains the Leadership feat if she does not already have it, and the number of followers that the feat grants is multiplied by 10 (although depending on the campaign and setting, the position may grant other powers as well). If multiple characters in a party select this capstone, the GM may consider pooling them to grant the players a particularly large and powerful organization, such as a small kingdom. Characters of any class can select this ability.
With This Sword (Ex)Source Chronicle of Legends pg. 31
At 20th level, the character’s blade has become as well-known as the character herself. The character selects one item she has—preferably something iconic and significant, such as a weapon or arcane bond. The item becomes a minor artifact and gains 100,000 gp worth of new powers. The player and the GM should work together to select the new powers, with an eye towards making something memorable yet campaign-appropriate. Characters of any class can select this ability.
Won’t Stay Dead (Ex)Source Chronicle of Legends pg. 31
At 20th level, the character becomes a paragon of resilience. Once per week, if the character is killed, petrified, or otherwise removed from play, the character manages to survive by some dint of skill or luck and returns at the end of the combat or the scene (GM’s discretion). The player and the GM should work together to ensure that the method of the character’s survival is at least vaguely plausible, if unlikely. Characters of any class can select this ability.
Favored Class Options Catfolk (Blood of the Beast pg. 4): Add 1/2 to the monk’s damage rolls with claw attacks and claw bladesARG. A monk who selects this bonus at 1st level also treats claw bladesARG as a monk weapon. If he is an unchained monk, he can use his style strikes with unarmed strike or claw blade attacks.
Duskwalker (Plane-Hopper's Handbook pg. 17): Add 1/4 point to the monk’s ki pool.
Dwarf (Advanced Race Guide pg. 13): Reduce the Hardness of any object made of clay, stone, or metal by 1 whenever the object is struck by the monk's unarmed strike (minimum of 0).
Elf (Advanced Race Guide pg. 23): Add +1 to the monk's base speed. In combat this option has no effect unless the monk has selected it five times (or another increment of five). This bonus stacks with the monk's fast movement class feature and applies under the same conditions as that feature.
Fetchling (Blood of Shadows pg. 7): Add a +1/2 bonus on Escape Artist and Stealth checks attempted while in dim light or darkness.
Gillman (Blood of the Sea pg. 9): Add 1 foot to the monk’s swim speed. In combat, this option has no effect unless the monk has selected it five times (or another increment of five).
Gnome (Advanced Race Guide pg. 33): Add +1 to the monk's Acrobatics check bonus gained by spending a point from his ki pool. A monk must be at least 5th level to select this benefit.
Half-Elf (Advanced Race Guide pg. 43): Add +1/2 on Escape Artist checks and on Acrobatics checks to cross narrow surfaces.
Halfling (Advanced Race Guide pg. 63, Advanced Player's Guide pg. 21): Add +1 to the monk’s CMD when resisting a grapple and +1/2 to the number of stunning attacks he can attempt per day.
Halfling (Horror Adventures pg. 41): Gain a +1/4 bonus to CMD against trip and on damage rolls against prone targets that add the monk’s Strength modifier.
Half-Orc (Advanced Race Guide pg. 53): Add +1 to the monk's CMD when resisting a grapple and +1/2 to the number of stunning attacks he can attempt per day.
Hobgoblin (Advanced Race Guide pg. 121): Add a +1/4 bonus on combat maneuver checks made to grapple or trip.
Human (Advanced Race Guide pg. 73, Advanced Player's Guide pg. 23): Add +1/4 point to the monk’s ki pool.
Kitsune (Blood of the Beast pg. 12): Gain 1/6 of a new Magical TailARG feat. Any kitsune character can choose this bonus upon gaining a level in her favored class.
Kobold (Advanced Race Guide pg. 133): Add +1/3 to the monk’s AC bonus class ability.
Locathah (Blood of the Sea pg. 11): Add 1/4 point to the monk’s ki pool.
Merfolk (Blood of the Sea pg. 13): Add a +1/4 bonus on combat maneuver checks to grapple or trip.
Nagaji (Advanced Race Guide pg. 196): Add +1/4 point to the monk’s ki pool.
Oread (Advanced Race Guide pg. 145): Add +1/3 on critical hit confirmation rolls made with unarmed strikes (maximum bonus of +5). This bonus does not stack with Critical Focus.
Ratfolk (Advanced Race Guide pg. 151): Add +1 feet to the speed the monk can move while making a Stealth check without taking a penalty. This has no effect unless the monk has selected this reward five times (or another increment of five). This does not allow the monk to use Stealth while running or charging.
Samsaran (Advanced Race Guide pg. 198): Add a +1/2 bonus on the monk’s saving throws to resist death attacks.
Strix (Advanced Race Guide pg. 200): Add +1/4 point to the monk’s ki pool.
Suli (Advanced Race Guide pg. 203): Add +1/2 point of damage to elemental assault.
Tengu (Advanced Race Guide pg. 163): Add +1/4 point to the monk’s ki pool.
Undine (Advanced Race Guide pg. 176): Add +1 to the monk’s CMD when resisting a grapple and +1/3 to the number of stunning attacks he can attempt per day.
Vanara (Advanced Race Guide pg. 206): Add a +1 bonus on Acrobatics checks made to jump.
Wayang (Blood of Shadows pg. 11): Add 1/6 to the monk’s AC bonus.
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