Cultivator

Ki: Magic Refined

A cultivator will learn early in their training that ki is created when they condense the arcane energies that make up the magic in the world around them. It can be absorbed into the body and refined in one's core, which normally resides just above the navel.

Breathing techniques are used to refine ki, and there are as many breathing techniques as actual techniques. Regardless of how it's gathered, ki is the driving force behind a cultivator's power. It is used to augment their bodies and the world around them much like magic. This energy has birthed a multitude of techniques that cultivators use to prove themselves.

However, a true cultivator is someone who not only uses ki, but becomes it. This is the true goal of all those who follow this path.

Devoted Bodies. Devoted Minds

A cultivator will spend their entire life, often resolved to die training or fighting, focusing on their abilities. They will dedicate themselves to a single technique, spending their time improving it and making it their own. They train by fighting and constantly looking for the moment inspiration hits, driving their techniques to new limits.

A cultivator must have a strong body to handle the stress that training and ki cycling puts on it. They must also have a mind just as strong to learn, improve, and apply what combat teaches.

Hit Points

• Hit Dice: 1d8 per cultivator level
• Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier
• Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per cultivator level after 1st

Proficiencies

• Armor: Light armor, medium armor, shields
• Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons
• Tools: Calligrapher's Supplies

• Saving Throws: Intelligence, Constitution
• Skills: Choose three skills from Acrobatics, Athletics, Deception, History, Intimidation, Sleight of Hand, Stealth, Survival

Equipment

You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:

• (a) a martial weapon and a Shield or (b) two Martial Weapons
• (a) a Longbow and 20 arrows or (b) two handaxes
• (a) a scholar's pack or (b) an explorer’s pack

Fighting Style

You adopt a particular style of fighting as your specialty. Choose a Fighting Style from the list of optional features. You can't take the same Fighting Style option more than once, even if you get to choose again.

Iaijutsu

A master of the Iaijutsu spends their time standing or kneeling. Sitting is a past time for those asking to be killed. With bodies tensed like coiled springs, these cultivators are faster than lightning and just as deadly. Users of this technique have mastered the art of the sword draw to the point that most will never see the blade before their death. A speed born of talent, skill, or perseverance have made these cultivators some of the deadliest swordsman to hold a blade.

Stances

Starting at 2nd level, your technique allows you access to knowledge on how to use ki internally for defensive abilities and externally for offensive ones.

You can choose the external or internal stance when you roll for initiative. Switching between stances is a bonus action. Unless otherwise noted, you can only use the abilities and benefits granted by each stance while you're in it. Most stances have static passives that are active while in that stance and activated abilities.

You are unable to use stances while you are incapacitated. If you are incapacitated while in a stance, you may regain either stance as a bonus action

Internal Stance:

• You gain resistance to fire damage as long as you are in this stance.

• When you are attacked by an enemy adjacent to you, you may spend a ki point as a reaction. You gain a burning cloak that lasts until the beginning of your next turn. Any adjacent enemy who successfully hits you takes 1d6 fire damage.

• When an enemy makes an attack against you, you may spend a ki point as a reaction and cover yourself in flames to give the attacker disadvantage.

External Stance:

• As a bonus action, you may spend a ki point to cause your weapons to deal an extra 1d4 of fire damage until the end of the turn.

• As an action you can create a burst of phoenix shaped fire to rain on an enemy. This action is a ranged attack with a range of 30 feet. You are proficient with it, and you add your Intelligence modifier to its attack and damage rolls. It deals 1d6 fire damage plus an additional 1d6 fire for each ki point you spend. This attack ignores cover if the enemy is not under a structure or around a corner.

• You may spend a ki point as a bonus action to cause your weapon to deal fire damage instead of normal damage, and it gains 5 feet of reach. This reach cannot stack with any other abilities that cause you to gain reach.

Phoenix Fall

Starting at 6th level, you may call down a flock of phoenixes on a flock of foes. As an action, you may spend 2 ki points to rain flaming phoenixes in a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on a point. Each creature in range must make a Dexterity saving throw. A target takes 3d6 fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. You may spend ki in 2 point increments to increase this damage by 3d6.

Phoenix's Vestment

Upon reaching 10th level, you gain resistance to fire damage. Whenever you are in your internal stance you instead gain immunity to fire damage.

Weaving Wings

Beginning at 14th level, you gain the ability to produce phoenix wings to burn your enemies. As an action, you may spend 5 ki points to grow phoenix wings that spread 10 feet to each side of you, lasting until the end of the turn. You gain a fly speed of 60 feet while these wings are active. Also, any enemy that these wings touch must make a Dexterity saving throw. A target takes 4d6 fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. An enemy can only be hit by this ability once in a turn.

Stances

Starting at 2nd level, your technique allows you access to knowledge on how to use ki internally for defensive abilities and externally for offensive ones.

You can choose the external or internal stance when you roll for initiative. Switching between stances is a bonus action. Unless otherwise noted, you can only use the abilities and benefits granted by each stance while you're in it. Most stances have static passives that are active while in that stance and activated abilities.

You are unable to use stances while you are incapacitated. If you are incapacitated while in a stance, you may regain either stance as a bonus action

Internal Stance:

• All forms of movement increase by 10 feet. Your Long Jump and High Jump (See Athletics) distance is multiplied by your proficiency bonus rounded to the nearest 5 foot increment.

• When you are the target of a ranged attack, you may spend a ki point as a reaction to give the attacker disadvantage as a wind wall briefly springs up around you.

• As part of your movement you may spend a ki point to jump up to your movement speed. Your movement does not provoke opportunity attacks if you make a Strength (Athletics) check equal to half the total distance.

External Stance:

• As an action, you may spend a ki point to use the wind to push back all creatures within 10 feet of you. Each creature in range makes a Strength saving throw. On a failed save they are pushed back 10 feet + 5 feet for every 2 points they fail by.

• If you have moved at least 15 feet directly towards a creature this turn, you may spend a ki point and make a Strength (Athletics) check DC equal to that creature's AC. On a success, your next attack has advantage.

• After an attack action, you may spend a ki point as a bonus action to make an additional attack. If you're wielding two weapons you may spend 2 ki points and make two attacks instead.

Gale Force

Beginning at 6th level, you can create an intense burst of wind to accelerate your thrown weapons and projectiles. As a bonus action, you may spend 2 ki points to increase the damage die of your ranged weapons by one step. E.g. A longbow would instead deal 1d10 damage instead of 1d8.

Mounted Storm

At 10th level, you gain a fly speed equal to your walking speed. You must stay within 10 feet of the ground to use this ability.

Release the Cyclone

Upon reaching 14th level, you may spend 4 ki points to instantly call upon the power of a storm. You generate a 30 foot cone of wind. Each creature within the area must make a Strength saving throw. A creature takes 4d8 bludgeoning damage and is thrown 20 feet in a random direction on a failed save, or half damage and is not moved on a successful save.

Spectral Weapon

While assuming these stances, you can create a spectral weapon that floats next to you. You gain a new attack option that you can use with the Attack action. This special attack is a melee attack with a range of 10 feet. You are proficient with it, and you add your Intelligence modifier to its attack and damage rolls. It deals 1d6 of force damage. This die becomes a d8 at 5th level and a d10 at 15th.

When you gain the Extra Attack feature, this special attack can replace one attack you make as part of the Attack action.

Stances

Starting at 2nd level, your technique allows you access to knowledge on how to use ki internally for defensive abilities and externally for offensive ones.

You can choose the external or internal stance when you roll for initiative. Switching between stances is a bonus action. Unless otherwise noted, you can only use the abilities and benefits granted by each stance while you're in it. Most stances have static passives that are active while in that stance and activated abilities.

You are unable to use stances while you are incapacitated. If you are incapacitated while in a stance, you may regain either stance as a bonus action

Internal Stance

• When another creature damages you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction to roll your spectral weapon die. You reduce the damage by the number you roll on your spectral weapon die + your Intelligence modifier.

• As part of your movement, you can use your spectral weapon as a platform. You double your jump height and length. You may also spend a ki point to gain advantage on your next Athletics check.

• When a creature misses you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction and spend a ki point to throw that creature off balance with your spectral weapon. The next attack made against this enemy has advantage.

External Stance

• As part of an attack you make with your spectral weapon you may spend any amount of ki points. Give the weapon an additional 5 feet of reach for every ki spent.

• As an action, you can cause your spectral weapon to encircle you, attacking those around you. You may spend 2 ki points to make a spectral weapon attack on each creature adjacent to you.

• As a bonus action, you cover and enlarge your normal and spectral weapons with ki, making them even more destructive. Until the end of the turn, you may increase the damage die of your spectral weapon and the weapons you're holding by 1 step. For example, your spectral sword goes from a d6 to a d8, and your longsword goes from a d8 to a d10.

Precision Thrust

At 6th level, you can follow up devastating attacks with a spectral assault. When you score a critical hit with your normal weapons, you can immediately make an additional attack with your spectral weapon.

Journey Blade

Beginning at 10th level, you are able to solidify your spectral weapon to soar through the air. Once per day, you may spend 3 ki points as an action and gain a flight speed equal to your movement speed. This ability lasts for a number of minutes equal to half your level.

Blade Squall

Starting at 14th level, you can create a deadly storm of blades. As an action, you may spend 5 ki points to make a number of spectral weapon attacks equal to your proficiency bonus. Once you use this feature, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.

Stances

Starting at 2nd level, your technique allows you access to knowledge on how to use ki internally for defensive abilities and externally for offensive ones.

You can choose the external or internal stance when you roll for initiative. Switching between stances is a bonus action. Unless otherwise noted, you can only use the abilities and benefits granted by each stance while you're in it. Most stances have static passives that are active while in that stance and activated abilities.

You are unable to use stances while you are incapacitated. If you are incapacitated while in a stance, you may regain either stance as a bonus action

Internal Stance

• You can manipulate the natural shadows to use the Hide action without cover in dim or dark light.

• When you are attacked, as a reaction, you may spend a ki point and roll a Deception check with a DC equal to the attack roll. If successful, the attack misses. You may use this only once per round.

• If you are stealthed or hidden, you can use an action to dash and stay hidden as long as you end your movement behind cover or in dim light or darkness.

External Stance

• As an action, you may spend a ki point and utilize the shadows around an enemy to blind them. The target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or be blinded until the end of their next turn.

• As a bonus action, you may spend a ki point to coat your weapons in darkness. They deal an additional 1d4 of necrotic damage until the end of your turn. At 5th level, this die becomes a 1d6.

• As part of your attack action, you may spend a ki point and forgo an attack to trip an enemy with shadows. The target must make a Dexterity saving throw or fall prone.

Shadow Slide

Beginning at 6th level, you can use the dark to slide along the ground like a living shadow. As part of your movement, you may spend 2 ki points to move up to your movement speed as a shadow on a surface as long as you are in dim light or darkness. You may move horizontally or vertically, but if your movement ends on a wall then you fall to the ground.

This movement does not provoke opportunity attacks.

Umbra's Cloak

Starting at 10th level, you begin to wear the dark like a mantle. You may use the Hide action as a bonus action.

Becloud the Sun

Upon reaching 14th level, when you attack an enemy who can't see you, you may spend 5 ki points and have the target make a Constitution saving throw if you hit. The target takes an additional 8d6 of necrotic damage on a failure or half as much on a successful save as you force wave after wave of shadow into the body.

Shield Throw

While assuming either of these stances, you gain a new shield attack option that you can use with the Attack action. This special attack is a melee or ranged attack with a range of 20 feet. You are proficient with it, and you add your Intelligence modifier to its attack and damage rolls. Its damage die is a d8. The shield returns to you at the end of your turn.

When you gain the Extra Attack feature, this special attack can replace one attack you make as part of the Attack action.

Stances

Starting at 2nd level, your technique allows you access to knowledge on how to use ki internally for defensive abilities and externally for offensive ones.

You can choose the external or internal stance when you roll for initiative. Switching between stances is a bonus action. Unless otherwise noted, you can only use the abilities and benefits granted by each stance while you're in it. Most stances have static passives that are active while in that stance and activated abilities.

You are unable to use stances while you are incapacitated. If you are incapacitated while in a stance, you may regain either stance as a bonus action

Internal Stance:

• You have advantage on all saves and checks against being moved.

• When you are hit by an opponent adjacent to you, you may spend a ki point as a reaction to push that enemy back. Make a Strength (Athletics) contest against your attacker. If you win then the enemy is pushed back 5 feet + an additional 5 feet for every 2 points you win by.

• When an attack is made against you, you may spend a ki point as a reaction to increase your AC by 1 until the start of your next turn, including against the triggering attack. At 5th, 10th, and 15th level, you may spend additional ki points for more AC. For example, at 10th level, you may spend up to 3 ki points for +3 AC.

External Stance:

• When you take the help action, you may spend a ki point and cause an enemy to gain disadvantage against target adjacent ally until the beginning of your next turn.

• You may spend a ki point as an action to make a shield charge. As part of this action, you must move at least 10 feet, but up to double your movement speed, towards an enemy and make a melee shield attack (as detailed above). This attack instead deals 1d8 bludgeoning damage + twice your Intelligence modifier.

  This ability can't cause you to move more than double your movement in a single turn. Starting at 5th level, you may add an extra 1d8 bludgeoning damage for each additional ki point you spend.

• As an action you may spend a ki point and make a single ranged shield attack (as detailed above). If hit, your target must make a Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. Regardless of this result, the next attack made against this target has advantage.

Shield Wall

Starting at 6th level, when you are in the area of an area spell or ability that requires a Dexterity saving throw, like fireball or a breath weapon, you may use your reaction to automatically succeed on it. If you are between the spell or ability and an ally when you use this ability (such as an ally being directly behind you while a dragon uses its breath weapon in front of you), then that ally gains advantage on their save.

Once you use this feature, you must finish a Long Rest before you can use it again.

Fortress Crash

Upon reaching 10th level, you may spend 4 ki points as an action to hurl your shield with all your might. Make a ranged melee shield attack (as detailed above). If the attack is successful the target takes 3d8 bludgeoning damage and makes a Strength saving throw or is knocked prone. Any creature of the same size as you or smaller has disadvantage on this save.

The Unstoppable Force

At 14th level, you have turned your immovable object into an unstoppable force. When you use your Fortress Crash ability, you may spend an additional 3 ki points to hit a number of targets equal to your Intelligence modifier. Each target must be no more than 20 feet from the previous.

Stances

Starting at 2nd level, your technique allows you access to knowledge on how to use ki internally for defensive abilities and externally for offensive ones.

You can choose the external or internal stance when you roll for initiative. Switching between stances is a bonus action. Unless otherwise noted, you can only use the abilities and benefits granted by each stance while you're in it. Most stances have static passives that are active while in that stance and activated abilities.

You are unable to use stances while you are incapacitated. If you are incapacitated while in a stance, you may regain either stance as a bonus action

Internal Stance

• When you are hit with radiant damage you may spend a ki point to capture some of the incoming energy, lessening its effect on you. You have resistance to the triggering damage until the start of your next turn.

• You may spend a ki point to add an additional 1d4 radiant damage to your unarmed strikes until the end of the turn. While this ability is active, your unarmed strikes may be used to heal for the additional radiant damage. This damage increases to 1d6 at 5th level, 1d8 at 10th, and 1d10 at 15th. You can only have one of these additional damage abilities active at a time.

• Whenever you use a class ability to reduce or negate any amount of damage done to you or an ally, you may use a bonus action to make an additional attack until the end of your next turn.

External Stance

• When you are hit with necrotic damage you may spend a ki point to capture some of the incoming energy, lessening its effect on you. You have resistance to the triggering damage until the start of your next turn.

• You may spend a ki point to add an additional 1d6 necrotic damage to your unarmed strikes until the end of the turn. This damage increases to 1d8 at 5th level, 1d10 at 10th, and 2d6 at 15th. You can only have one of these additional damage abilities active at a time.

• Whenever you use a class ability to reduce or negate any amount of damage done to you or an ally, you may use a bonus action to make an additional attack until the end of your next turn.

Duality

Upon reaching 6th level, you grow your knowledge of the whole in life's many aspects, allowing you to harness the world's numerous dualities. After taking a short or long rest, you may switch the elements of your stance from radiant and necrotic damage, to fire and cold damage respectively for internal and external stances. You may choose psychic and force damage respectively at 12th level.

Balance in Nature

Beginning at 10th level, you are able to enact your will upon elemental forces around you. When you and allies within 15 feet of you are subject to an area attack of an element which you have chosen for the day, as a reaction you may spend a ki point for yourself and each ally within range. You all gain resistance to the damage type for the attack.

Wuji

Starting at 14th level, you have reached the pinnacle of balance. When you are Ki Flooded you also gain immunity to both your stance elements for the duration of the ability. When you negate damage while Ki Flooded you deal an additional 1d4 damage of that type until the end of your next turn.

Stances

Starting at 2nd level, your technique allows you access to knowledge on how to use ki internally for defensive abilities and externally for offensive ones.

You can choose the external or internal stance when you roll for initiative. Switching between stances is a bonus action. Unless otherwise noted, you can only use the abilities and benefits granted by each stance while you're in it. Most stances have static passives that are active while in that stance and activated abilities.

You are unable to use stances while you are incapacitated. If you are incapacitated while in a stance, you may regain either stance as a bonus action

Internal Stance:

• You gain advantage on perception checks to see things over long distances as long as you are in this stance.

• When a physical projectile is shot towards you, you may spend a ki point as a reaction to try and knock it out of the air. Make an attack roll, if your roll is higher than the attacker's then the projectile is deflected. You must be using a ranged or thrown weapon to use this ability

• You may spend a ki point as you hit an enemy with a ranged or thrown weapon. If you successfully hit, then that opponent has disadvantage on their next ranged attack against you.

External Stance:

• You double the normal range increment of ranged and thrown weapons as long as you are in this stance.

• As you attack with a ranged or thrown weapon you may spend a ki point. If you're at least 30 feet from your target then your attacks deal an extra 1d4 of weapon damage. This becomes a d6 at 5th level.

• As an action, you may spend ki points to shoot multiple projectiles at once. Make one attack for each ki point spent up to your Intelligence modifier. Every attack after your second in this turn has disadvantage. This disadvantage cannot be negated.

Ki Charged Projectiles

At 6th level, any projectile you shoot or weapon you throw counts as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.

Angled Assault

Upon reaching 10th level, if you successfully deflect a ranged attack with your internal stance, you may spend an additional ki point and use your attack roll on the enemy who made the attack or someone with 10 feet of that enemy. If the roll hits their AC then roll weapon damage as normal.

The Eternal Shot

Beginning at 14th level, you have begun to master the technique's namesake ability. You may spend 5 ki points as an action and shoot or throw a projectile that forms a line 100 feet long and 5 feet wide blasting out from you in a direction you choose. Each creature in the line must make a Dexterity saving throw. A creature takes 8d6 weapon damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Spirit Animals

Starting at 2nd level when you choose this subclass, you gain two spiritual companions. These spirits can be either existing beasts, or ones summoned to you through a special ritual during a long rest, but upon becoming your companions, gain a magical bond with you that grants them special powers. Your spirits can have the general appearance of any beast, but their stats are determined by the stat block below and the traits selected.

Your spirits share the same health pool, but count as different targets in regards to single target and area effects. Getting both spirits in one area of effect ability or spell, does not deal double the damage.

While in or out of a single stance only one spirit is summoned. Switching spirits is done whenever you would switch stances. Using your Ki Flood ability summons your second spirit to this plane. Both spirits will act on your initiative, following the normal rules stated below. If a class ability costing ki would apply to one spirit, you may spend double that amount for it to affect both.

You can add two of the following traits to the stat block, you may pick a separate two traits for each spirit:

Amphibious

Your Companion gains a swimming speed equal to its movement speed, and the ability to breathe underwater.

Blindsight

Your Companion gains a Blindsight of 10 feet.

Tunneling

Your Companion gains a burrowing speed equal to half its movement speed. It can choose to leave a tunnel behind when it burrows or not.

Flying: Prerequisite: selected beasts appearance must have have wings.

Your Companion's size is Small, and it gains a flying speed equal to its movement speed.

Keen Senses:

Your companions can add twice their proficiency in the Perception skill.

Pack Tactics:

Your Companions have advantage on an Attack roll against a creature if at least one of your Companion's allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't Incapacitated.

Quick

Your companions are particularly swift, their movement speed becomes 40 feet.

Sneaky

Your companions gain proficiency in the Stealth and Deception skills.

Simian Nature

Your companions gain a climbing speed equal to their movement speed, proficiency with throwing rocks (ranged weapon, 1d4 bludgeoning damage, thrown(20/60), and the ability to hold small items.

Spiderclimb

Your companions can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make ability checks, and ignores movement restrictions caused by webbing.

Venomous:

Your beasts' attacks deal an additional 1d4 poison damage.

Internal Stance

• You can use your reaction to have your companion use the Help action.

• When you are the target of an attack you may, as a reaction, spend a ki point to swap places with your spirit. The attack is made against the spirit in your place.

• As long as you are within 10 feet of your spirit you add +1 to both your ACs. This increases to +2 at 10th level.

External Stance

• Once per round, if your spirit is within 10 feet of someone who successfully attacks a creature adjacent to the spirit you may spend a ki point. Your companion can make a free attack against that same enemy.

• As an action you may spend a ki point to have your spirit pounce an enemy. It can move up to twice its movement speed and make one attack at advantage. The next attack made on your spirit is made at advantage.

• Whenever your spirit makes a successful attack with advantage, the target of the attack must make a Strength saving throw DC 8 + Proficiency Bonus or be knocked prone.

A Pack as One

At 14th level, your pack has reached new spiritual heights. Whenever you would use your Ki Flood ability, you may instead spend 5 ki points to fuse your two spirits with yourself. You gain a number of temporary hit points equal to half your companions hit points. Your attacks deal an additional 1d6 damage, and you gain up to two traits from your spirits. This ability lasts for one minute or until your temporary hit points are depleted.

If you revert as a result of dropping to 0 hit points, any excess damage carries over to your normal form and you are separated from your spirits.

While this ability is active you may also activate your Infused Spirits ability targeting yourself, but no stance abilities can be used in this form passive or otherwise.

Multiclassing

Should you want to multiclass into Cultivator, the prerequisites and proficiencies are listed below:

• Prerequisite: 13 Intelligence and 13 Strength or Dexterity
• Proficiencies gained: Light armor, Medium armor, Shields, Simple weapons, Martial weapons