Monastic Tradition
Comments from the Knuckle: Of all the reasons I’m sad I didn’t start playing D&D until 5th Edition, the soul knife is up there close to the top. Like how the Feral Ravager Barbarian was based on Wolverine, the following soul knife takes inspiration from Psylocke of the X-Men Comics. Inspired by her abilities and the classic abilities of the 3.5 soul knife, this version encompasses what the Palm and I personally feel the soul knife is. I present the 5e Soul Knife from Middle Finger of Vecna!
Also, recently I can’t shake the feeling when writing content that WotC’s Unearthed Arcana is competing with us for conceptual space, but I swear we started writing this long before they dropped the Mystic class! The Palm and I have been working on this for weeks, because I wanted to play a soul knife in a game he’s running.
Way of the Soul Knife
Though monks of every tradition are known for their immense force of will, only those that devote themselves to the Way of the Soul Knife can truly say that their mind is their deadliest weapon. Warriors who follow this ancient tradition learn to focus their own willpower into a scintillating weapon, capable of cleaving through armor and flesh with relative ease.
Philosophy of War
Starting when you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you gain proficiency in the Arcana and History skills, and you can add twice your proficiency bonus to any Arcana or History check you make. If you are already proficient with one or both of these skills, you can gain another Intelligence skill in its place.
Ki Blade
Also at 3rd level, you can weaponize your ki into a scintillating blade of ki energy that projects from your fist. This blade is created as a bonus action on your turn, and remains in existence until you dismiss it (no action required). You can’t hold anything in the hand that is occupied by your ki blade.
While your ki blade is manifested, you gain a melee spell attack (attack bonus equals your proficiency bonus plus your Strength or Dexterity modifier) that you can use with the Attack action. You are proficient with this weapon, and it counts as a monk weapon for you. This weapon has a reach of 5 feet, deals psychic damage, and has a d6 damage die. This die changes as you gain monk levels, becoming a d8 at 5th level, a d10 at 11th level, and a d12 at 17th level.
When you use the Attack action on your turn to use this special attack, you can spend 1 ki point to make two additional attacks with it as a bonus action.
Psionicist
Starting at 6th level, you can spend 2 ki points to cast the spell blur, hold person, or misty step. When you cast spells gained through this feature, you do so without providing the components. You must follow all other rules of casting spells, such as the rules for casting time and casting more than one spell per turn. If a spell requires a saving throw to avoid its effects, the saving throw is made against your Ki save DC. Additionally, you know the psychic strike cantrip.
Elemental Ki
Also at 6th level, when you manifest your ki blade you can alter the damage type of the blade. Choose from cold, fire, lightning, necrotic, or radiant damage. Until you dismiss your ki blade, it deals the chosen damage type.
Bladewind Attack
Starting at 11th level, you can use your action to make a melee attack with your ki blade against any number of creatures within 10 feet of you, with a separate attack roll for each target.
Knife to the Soul
Starting at 17th level, you can unleash the unbridled power of your ki blade. Once per turn, when you make a melee weapon attack with your ki blade, you can spend 3 ki points to channel your ki into that creature. On a hit, the target takes an additional 8d10 psychic damage.
New Spell
The following cantrip is intended for sorcerers, warlocks, and wizards.
Psychic Strike
Evocation cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 5 feet
Components: V, M (a weapon)
Duration: 1 round
As part of the action used to cast this spell, you must make a melee attack against one creature within the spell’s range, otherwise the spell fails. On a hit, the target suffers the attack’s normal effects, and it becomes assaulted by psychic energy until the start of your next turn. If the target willingly makes an attack against a creature other than you, it immediately takes 1d8 psychic damage and the spell ends.
This spell’s damage increases when you reach higher levels. At 5th level, the melee attack deals an extra 1d8 psychic damage to the target, and the damage the target takes for attacking a creature other than you increases to 2d8. Both damage rolls increase by 1d8 at 11th and 17th level.
Changelog: 6/16/17: Knife to the Soul: 1/turn
6/19/17: Ki Blade: Attack bonus is clarified
Bladewind Attack: Reach extended to 10 feet, only works with Ki Blade
Knife to the Soul: Saving throw removed, damage reduced to 8d10
