Monk
Disciplined unarmed combat and supernatural stances turn an unarmored body into a mobile, hard-to-pin-down weapon.
Monks are disciplined martial artists who fight with their bodies and focus ki. They have excellent defenses, high mobility, and access to powerful supernatural stances.
Key Ability: Strength or Dexterity
Hit Points per Level: 10 + Constitution modifier
Perception Proficiency: Trained
Saving Throws: Expert Fortitude, Expert Reflex, Expert Will (best saves at level 1)
Skills: Acrobatics or Athletics (trained), plus 4 + Intelligence modifier additional skills
Attacks: Trained with simple weapons and unarmed attacks (unarmed attacks deal 1d6 damage with the agile and finesse traits)
Defenses: Trained in unarmored defense only (but unarmored proficiency advances uniquely — reaches Legendary by level 17)
Spellcasting: Focus spells powered by Ki (optional, gained through feats)
Key 1st-Level Features:
- Flurry of Blows (1 action): Make two unarmed Strikes with a single action. Apply your Multiple Attack Penalty normally to each Strike. Has the flourish trait, so you can use it only once per turn. This is uniquely powerful action economy.
- Powerful Fist: Unarmed attacks never have the nonlethal trait and deal 1d6 damage.
- Stances: Bonus class feats include combat stances like Tiger Stance (claws, bleed), Crane Stance (defensive), Gorilla Stance (defensive wrestling), and Mountain Stance (immovable, crushing).