Holy Fist (Monk/Paladin)

Through unshakable faith and transcendence of mind, body, and soul, holy fists have learned to penetrate the barrier between the mortal and the divine. Guided by strict laws of morality and nobility, the holy fist utilizes his vast mental discipline and heavenly powers to strike down his enemies, further the cause of righteousness, and transform into a sanctified being. The holy fist, while often viewed as a compassionate pacifist, is a staunch champion of justice, honor, and freedom. Those who seek to rule through tyranny or follow the edicts of dark powers quickly learn that these supposed pacifists are ferocious defenders of liberty, life, and the common people. (Original Concept by Elghinn Lightbringer)

Primary Class: Monk.

Secondary Class: Paladin.

Alignment: Lawful good.

Hit Dice: d8.

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The holy fist may select three paladin skills to add to his class skills in addition to the normal monk class skills. The holy fist gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 4 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The holy fist is proficient with all monk weapons listed in the Pathfinder source books. The holy fist is not proficient with any armor or shields. When wearing armor, using a shield, or carrying a medium or heavy load, a holy fist loses his AC bonus, as well as his fast movement and flurry of blows abilities. (*Advanced Player’s Guide)

Code of Conduct: A holy fist must adhere to the guidelines presented in the paladin’s code of conduct.

Aura of Good (Ex): At 1st level, the holy fist gains the paladin’s aura of good ability. Its power is equal to his holy fist level. This ability replaces bonus feat at 1st level.

Smiting Strike (Su): This is exactly like the paladin’s smite evil ability, except that the holy fist can use it once per day at 2nd level, and an additional time per day every four levels thereafter, to a maximum of five times per day at 18th level. A holy fist may only use smiting strike with unarmed strike, flurry of blows, and monk weapons. This ability replaces bonus feat at 2nd, 6th, 10th, 14th, and 18th level.

Aura of Courage (Su): This is exactly like the paladin ability of the same name. This ability replaces maneuver training.

Ki Bond (Su): At 4th level, a holy fist may form a strong bond between his ki pool and his unarmed strikes. A holy fist gains a ki pool, as normal, with a number of points equal to 1/2 his holy fist level + his Wisdom modifier. As long as he has at least 1 point in his ki pool, he can make a ki strike. At 4th level, ki strike allows his unarmed attacks to be treated as magic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.

At 7th level, a holy fist may also use his ki pool to enhance his unarmed strikes as a standard action by drawing upon his own divinely infused ki energy for 1 minute per holy fist level. As long as he has at least 1 point in his ki pool, his unarmed strikes gain a +1 enhancement bonus. A holy fist may spend 1 additional ki point for every three levels beyond 7th, to grant his unarmed strikes another +1 enhancement bonus, to a maximum of +5 at 19th level.

A holy fist may also spend ki points to add any of the following weapon properties to his unarmed strikes: axiomatic, brilliant energy, defending, disruption, flaming burst, flaming, holy, keen, merciful and speed. Adding these properties consumes an amount of ki points equal to the property's cost (see Table: Melee Weapon Special Abilities in the Pathfinder Core Rulebook) and may not exceed the maximum enhancement bonus for his level, as described above. Duplicate abilities do not stack. The holy fist must have at least 1 ki point remaining in his ki pool to ensure a +1 enhancement bonus before any other properties can be added to his unarmed strikes. The bonus and properties granted by expended ki points are determined when his ki points are spent and cannot be changed until the current effects have expired.

A holy fist can use this ability as often as he has ki points remaining in his pool. This ability may be used with flurry of blows, but only if the holy fist is wielding no weapons. The holy fist’s ki pool is replenished each morning after 8 hours of meditation; these hours do not need to be consecutive. This ability otherwise functions as and replaces ki pool.

Consecrated Body (Ex): At 8th level, a holy fist gains darkvision 60 feet. He also gains a +1 natural armor bonus, and increases by an additional +1 every six levels thereafter. This ability replaces slow fall.

Sanctified Soul (Su): At 12th level, a holy fist gains immunity to compulsion spells and spell-like abilities, and a +4 sacred bonus on saving throws against necromancy effects. This ability replaces abundant step.

Aura of Faith (Su): At 16th level, a holy fist’s weapons (including his unarmed strikes) are treated as good-aligned for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction. Any attack made against an enemy within 10 feet of him is treated as good-aligned for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction.

This ability functions only while the holy fist is conscious, not if he is unconscious or dead. This ability replaces tongue off the sun and the moon.

Heavenly Utterance (Ex): At 19th level, the holy fist gains tongue of the sun and moon. This ability replaces empty body.

Perfect Saint (Su): At 20th level, a holy fist becomes a divine creature. He is forevermore treated as an outsider (good) rather than as a humanoid (or whatever the holy fist's creature type was) for the purpose of spells and magical effects. He also gains DR 5/evil, acid resistance 5, cold resistance 5, and electricity resistance 5. Additionally, whenever he uses smiting strike and successfully strikes an evil outsider, the outsider is also subject to a banishment, using his holy fist level as the caster level (his weapon and the holy fist himself automatically count as objects that the subject hates). After the banishment effect and the damage from the attack is resolved, the smiting strike immediately ends. Unlike other outsiders, the holy fist can still be brought back from the dead as if he were a member of his previous creature type. This ability replaces perfect self.

Table: Holy Fist