Shadow Monk (Rogue/Monk)

(Original Concept by Byrdology)

Primary: Rogue.

Secondary: Monk.

Alignment: Any nonchaotic.

Hit Dice: d8.

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The shadow monk selects three monk skills to add to her class skills in addition to the normal rogue class skills. The shadow monk gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 6 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The shadow monk is proficient with all simple weapons, plus plus the hand crossbow, handaxe, kama, nunchaku, rapier, sai, sap, shortbow, short sword, shuriken, siangham, and temple sword*. A shadow monk is proficient with light armor, but not with shields. When wearing medium armor, heavy armor, using a shield, or carrying a medium or heavy load, a shadow monk loses his flurry of blows abilities. (*Advanced Player’s Guide)

Sneak Attack: This is exactly like the rogue ability of the same name, except that a shadow monk deals extra damage as indicated on Table: Shadow Monk.

Rogue Talents: This is exactly like the rogue ability of the same name, except that a shadow monk gains a rogue talent at 2nd level and every four levels thereafter.

Unarmed Strike: At 1st level, a shadow monk gains the monk’s unarmed strike ability and deals unarmed damage as shown on Table: Shadow Monk. This ability replaces trapfinding.

Flurry of Blows (Ex): At 4th level, a shadow monk gains the monk’s flurry of blows ability. This ability replaces the rogue talents gained at 4th, 10th, and 16th level.

Ki Pool (Su): At 4th level, a shadow monk gains the monk’s ki pool ability. In addition to the normal ki pool abilities, the shadow monk can spend ki points to perform one of the following abilities.

At 6th level, whenever a shadow monk makes a successful unarmed attack (including flurry of blows), she can spend 1 ki point as an immediate action to deal sneak attack damage in place of her normal unarmed damage. This sneak attack damage is only applied to a single attack. In addition, by spending 1 ki point, the shadow monk gains the ghost touch weapon property with all attacks made with a weapon she is proficient with, or her unarmed strike (including flurry of blows) for 1 minute.

At 10th level, a shadow monk can spend 2 ki points to reroll a single failed Bluff, Disable Device, Sleight of Hand, or Stealth skill check. The new roll must be taken.

At 16th level, a shadow monk can spend 3 ki points to reroll a single failed saving throw. The new roll must be taken.

This ability replaces uncanny dodge and improved uncanny dodge.

Ki Powers: Starting at 5th level, a shadow monk gains the monk’s qinggong archetype ki power ability. Ki powers are abilities that draw on the power of a shadow monk’s ki and allows her to select several abilities that expend ki points to use. These powers are divided into three categories: feats, monk abilities, and spells. A shadow monk can choose one of the following ki powers at 5th level and every three levels thereafter.

5th-Level Ki Powers

Acrobatic Steps (1 ki point)

Feather step (self only, 1 ki point)

Slow fall (monk ability, 0 ki points)

Vanish (self only, 1 ki point)

8th-Level Ki Powers

Invisibility (self only, 2 ki points)

High jump (monk ability, 1 ki point)

Sidestep† (1 ki point)

11th-Level Ki Powers 

Gliding Steps† (1 ki point) 

Shadow step (1 ki point) 

Spider Step (1 ki point)

14th-Level Ki Powers 

Improved Blind-Fight† (1 ki point) 

Shadowy Haven (2 ki points)

17th-Level Ki Powers 

Abundant step (monk ability, 2 ki points) 

Greater Blind-Fight† (2 ki points) 

Greater invisibility (self only, 3 ki points) 

20th-Level Ki Powers 

Blinding Critical (3 ki points) 

Shadow walk (3 ki points) 

This ability replaces sneak attack 2d6, 5d6 and 8d6, and rogue talents gained at 8th and 20th level. 

Advanced Talents: This is exactly the same as the rogue ability of the same name, except that a shadow monk may select Uncanny Dodge or Improved Uncanny Dodge as an advanced talent. A shadow monk must select uncanny dodge before selecting improved uncanny dodge. 

Perfect Strike (Su): This is exactly like the rogue’s master strike ability, except that whenever the shadow monk makes a successful sneak attack against a creature that is immune to sneak attacks, she can spend 4 ki points to deal her sneak attack damage against that creature. This sneak attack damage is only applied to a single attack. In addition, a shadow monk is always considered to have the ghost touch weapon property when making with weapon and unarmed attacks. 

Table: Shadow Monk