Subclass Monk Way of the Kensei
The Way of the Kensei is a Monk subclass built around specific weapon proficiencies and Ki-fueled weapon techniques, letting you fight as effectively with a blade or bow as with your fists.
Gain proficiency with Rapiers, Longswords, and Longbows. Being proficient with a weapon that isn't Heavy or Two-Handed is what makes it count as a Monk weapon, so this proficiency is what lets these three weapon types benefit from Martial Arts (Dexterity for attack and damage rolls, Flurry of Blows, and so on).
Whenever you make a melee attack (unarmed or with a weapon), you gain +2 AC until the start of your next turn. This isn't restricted to any particular weapon.
As a Bonus Action while a Longbow or Shortbow is equipped in your ranged slot, you can apply a status that adds 1d4 damage to your next ranged weapon attack this turn.
Your Slashing and Piercing attacks ignore resistance to those damage types. This applies to any attack, not just a specific weapon — it's the Kensei's counterpart to Ki-Empowered Strikes (which lets unarmed strikes deal Force damage instead of Bludgeoning to bypass resistance).
A prompt that appears once per turn when you hit with a weapon attack, melee or ranged. Spend 1 Ki Point to deal an extra Martial Arts die of damage in that weapon's damage type. The Ki is only spent if the attack lands, and it does not fire on a killing blow.
As a Bonus Action, spend 1 Ki Point to apply a +1 magical weapon enchantment to your equipped melee weapon for 10 turns. This requires wielding a Dagger, Longsword, Rapier, Scimitar, Shortsword, or Sickle — Longbows don't qualify.
The Way of the Kensei is a precision weapon striker that mixes unarmed strikes and weapon attacks, with Ki spent to squeeze extra damage or accuracy out of a landed hit rather than committed up front.
Your combat loop:
- Sharpen the Blade before a fight — 1 Ki for a 10-turn +1 weapon enchantment (dagger/longsword/rapier/scimitar/shortsword/sickle only)
- Attack with your weapon and mix in unarmed strikes — any melee attack triggers Agile Parry's +2 AC
- Deft Strike — once per turn, when a weapon attack lands, spend 1 Ki for bonus Martial Arts die damage
- Flurry of Blows — mix unarmed and weapon strikes
- Stunning Strike — still available and still devastating; save Ki for it
- Kensei's Shot — with a Longbow or Shortbow equipped, spend a Bonus Action for +1d4 on your next shot