Subclass Monk Way of Shadow

What Is the Way of Shadow?

The Way of Shadow is a Monk subclass that fights out of darkness. Shadow Arts at Level 3 turns Ki into a Darkness cloud you can see through and drag around the battlefield, Shadow Step at Level 6 is a free Bonus Action teleport between unlit spaces, and Shadow Strike at Level 11 turns that teleport into an attack.

Class Features

Progression Overview

LEVEL	FEATURE
3	Shadow Arts
6	Shadow Step
11	Shadow Strike

Level 3

Shadow Arts

• Darkness. For 1 Ki Point you cast Darkness without components. You can see inside your own cloud, and at the start of each of your turns you can move it to a space within 18 m.
• Darkvision. Your Darkvision range is at least 18 m, magical darkness doesn't blind you, and darkness clouds never block your line of sight.
• Shadowy Figments. You know Minor Illusion, cast with Wisdom.

Level 6

Shadow Step A Bonus Action teleport, free of Ki. You must be standing somewhere that isn't in clear light, and the destination has to be unlit as well. After the jump you have Advantage on your next melee attack roll.

Level 11

Shadow Strike A Bonus Action costing 1 Ki Point. Teleport to a creature up to 18 m away and hit it with your main-hand melee weapon. As with Shadow Step, you have to be out of clear light to use it.

Playstyle Notes

The Way of Shadow spends Ki on terrain rather than on extra strikes. One Darkness cloud does three jobs at once: it blinds everything inside that isn't you, it gives Shadow Step and Shadow Strike the unlit ground they require, and it can be walked across the battlefield every turn to follow whoever you are hunting.

Shadow Step costing no Ki is what makes the subclass work in practice — every turn you can reposition for free out of one shadow into another and swing with Advantage, which pairs directly with Stunning Strike on the target you land next to.

Shadow Strike at Level 11 folds the approach and the attack into a single Bonus Action, so a full turn becomes: teleport in and hit, then Flurry of Blows with your Action still spent on the Attack action.

Because everything keys off being out of clear light, a light source on an ally can switch the subclass off. Cast your own Darkness rather than relying on the room.