Adept

Class Features

As an adept, you gain the following class features.

Hit Points

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

Proficiencies

Armor: None
Weapons: Simple weapons, shortswords
Tools: Choose one type of artisan’s tools or one musical instrument
Saving Throws: Strength, Dexterity
Skills: Choose two from Acrobatics, Athletics, History, Insight, Perception, Religion, and Stealth

Equipment

You start with 20 gp, in addition to the equipment granted by your background. The following are good starting items for adepts:

A shortsword or any simple weapon
A dungeoneer’s pack or an explorer’s pack
10 darts

Table: The Adept
Level	Features	Martial Arts	Martial Disciplines	Techniques Known	Maneuvers Known	Focus Pool	Maneuver Degree
1st	Adroit Defense, Martial Arts	1d6	—	—	—	—	—
2nd	Combat Maneuvers, Inner Focus, Practiced Techniques	1d6	—	1	2	3	1st
3rd	Martial Disciplines, Monastic Tradition	1d6	3	2	3	4	1st
4th	Ability Score Improvement, Bonus Focus	1d6	4	2	3	7	1st
5th	Extra Attack	1d6	5	3	4	8	2nd
6th	Monastic Tradition feature	1d6	6	3	4	9	2nd
7th	—	1d6	7	4	5	10	2nd
8th	Ability Score Improvement	1d6	8	4	5	11	2nd
9th	—	1d8	9	5	6	12	3rd
10th	—	1d8	10	5	6	13	3rd
11th	Monastic Tradition feature	1d8	11	6	7	14	3rd
12th	Ability School Improvement	1d8	12	6	7	15	3rd
13th	—	1d8	13	7	8	16	4th
14th	—	1d8	14	7	8	17	4th
15th	—	1d8	15	8	9	18	4th
16th	Ability Score Improvement	1d8	16	8	9	19	4th
17th	Monastic Tradition feature	1d10	17	9	10	20	5th
18th	—	1d10	18	9	10	21	5th
19th	Ability Score Improvement	1d10	19	10	11	21	5th
20th	Perfect Self	1d10	20	10	11	22	5th

Table: The Epic Level Adept
Level	Martial Arts	Martial Disciplines	Techniques Known	Maneuvers Known	Focus Pool	Maneuver Degree
21st	1d10	21	11	12	23	5th
22nd	1d10	22	11	12	24	5th
23rd	1d10	23	12	13	25	5th
24th	1d10	24	12	13	26	5th
25th	1d12	25	13	14	26	5th
26th	1d12	26	13	14	27	5th
27th	1d12	27	14	15	27	5th
28th	1d12	28	14	15	28	5th
29th	1d12	29	15	16	29	5th
30th	1d12	30	15	16	30	5th

Adroit Defense

^{1st-level Adept feature}
You learn special defensive techniques. Choose one of the following options.

Agile Defense. While you are wearing no armor and not wielding a shield, your AC equals 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Wisdom modifier.

Brutal Defense. You are proficient with light armor. As long as you are not wearing medium or heavy armor or wielding a shield, you may use your Strength modifier instead of your Dexterity modifier when calculating your AC. If an Adept feature can only be used if you are not wearing armor, you may benefit from it while wearing light armor.

Martial Arts

^{1st-level Adept feature}
Your practice of martial arts gives you mastery of combat styles that use unarmed strikes and adept weapons, which are weapons you are proficient with that don't have heavy property.

You gain the following benefits while you are unarmed or wielding only adept weapons and you aren't wearing armor or wielding a shield.

You can use Dexterity instead of Strength for the attack and damage rolls of your unarmed strikes and adept weapons.
You can roll a d6 in place of the normal damage of your unarmed strike or adept weapon. This die changes as you gain adept levels, as shown in the Martial Arts column of the adept table.
When you use the Attack action with an unarmed strike or an adept weapon on your turn, you can make one unarmed strike as a bonus action. For example, if you take the Attack action and attack with a quarterstaff, you can also make an unarmed strike as a bonus action, assuming you haven't already taken a bonus action this turn.

Certain monasteries use specialized forms of the adept weapons. For example, you might use a club that is two lengths of wood connected by a short chain (called a nunchaku) or a sickle with a shorter, straighter blade (called a kama).

Combat Maneuvers

^{2nd-level Adept feature}
You gain the ability to use combat maneuvers. You gain proficiency in two combat traditions from the following list: Determination, Duelist, Nemesis, Skirmisher, Skulduggery, Templar. You learn two maneuvers of your choice from traditions you are proficient with.

The Adept table shows how much focus you have to use your maneuvers of 1st degree and higher. To use one of your maneuvers, you must expend focus from your focus pool. You regain all expended focus when you finish a short or long rest. Your maneuvers show how much focus they cost. The Maneuvers Known column of the Adept table shows when you learn more maneuvers from a tradition you are proficient with, while the Maneuver Degree column shows the highest degree you can select maneuvers from at a given level. You cannot know more maneuvers of a degree than you know of degrees below it.

Additionally, whenever you learn a new maneuver, you can choose one of the maneuvers you know and replace it with another maneuver.

Inner Focus

^{2nd-level Adept feature}
Your training allows you to harness your mental energy into a supernatural state of focus. Some cultures refer to this energy as axé, prana, pneuma, or ki. Your access to this energy is represented by your focus pool granted by your Combat Maneuvers.

You can spend focus to fuel various Martial Disciplines in addition to your maneuvers. You also gain the following abilities.

Flurry of Blows. Immediately after you take the Attack action on your turn, you can spend 1 focus to make two unarmed strikes as a bonus action.

Focused Attack. If you spend 1 focus or more as part of your action on your turn, you can make one attack with an unarmed strike or an adept weapon as a bonus action before the end of the turn.

Patient Defense. You can spend 1 focus to take the Dodge action as a bonus action on your turn.

Step of the Wind. You can spend 1 focus to take both Disengage and Dash actions as a bonus action on your turn, and your jump distance is doubled for the turn.

Practiced Techniques

^{2nd-level Adept feature}
You have picked up a number of tricks in your path towards perfection. At 2nd level you gain a practiced technique of your choice. Your practiced techniques are detailed on the Practiced Techniques page. The Techniques Known column of the Adept table shows when you learn more practiced techniques. Unless otherwise noted, you can gain each technique only once.

Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the Practiced Techniques you know and replace it with another Practiced Techniques that you could learn at that level.

Martial Disciplines

^{3rd-level Adept feature}
Martial Disciplines stem from the mastery of your internal energies. Choose three options from the list below. Some features have Prerequisites, such as minimum adept level or another Martial Discipline. You must meet those Prerequisites before you choose that Martial Discipline. A level prerequisite refers to your level in this class. You gain an additional Martial Discipline at each level after 3rd.

Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the Martial Disciplines you know and replace it with another Martial Discipline that you could learn at that level. Some of your Martial Disciplines require your target to make a saving throw to resist the feature’s effects. The saving throw DC is calculated as follows:

Discipline save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier.

Additional Attack
Prerequisite: 11th level
You can attack three times, instead of twice, when you take the Attack action.

Avoidance
Prerequisite: 19th level, Diamond Soul, Evasion
When you are subjected to an effect that allows you to make a saving throw to take only half damage, you instead take no damage if you succeed on the saving throw, and only half damage if you fail.

Battle Meditation
As a bonus action, you can spend 1 hit die to regain 1d4 focus. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a short or long rest.

Dance of the Empty Void
Prerequisite: 5th level
You gain proficiency in the Performance skill if you do not already have it. As a bonus action, you can spend 2 focus to begin the Dance of the Empty Void. Take the Dodge action. Until the end of your next turn, you are under the effect of the mirror image spell. The dance ends early if your movement speed becomes 0.

Dance of the Heavenly Dragon
Prerequisite: 7th level
You gain proficiency in the Performance skill if you do not already have it. As bonus action, you can spend 2 focus to begin the Dance of the Heavenly Dragon. Until the end of your next turn, you have resistance against damage from spells. The dance ends early if your movement speed becomes 0.

Dance of the Immaculate Kirin
Prerequisite: 9th level
You gain proficiency in the Performance skill if you do not already have it. You can use a bonus action and spend 2 focus to begin the Dance of the Immaculate Kirin. Until the end of your next turn, when you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, they must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or the lowest-level beneficial spell affecting the creature ends. The dance ends early if your movement speed becomes 0.

Dance of the Rising Phoenix
You gain proficiency in the Performance skill if you do not already have it. You can use a bonus action and spend 2 focus to begin the Dance of the Rising Phoenix. Until the end of your next turn, the d20 die result required to activate a flourish is reduced by 2. The dance ends early if your movement speed becomes 0.

Dance of the Warding Tortoise
Prerequisite: 7th level
You gain proficiency in the Performance skill if you do not already have it. You can use a bonus action and spend 2 focus to begin the Dance of the Warding Tortoise. Until the end of your next turn, you have resistance against bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage. The dance ends early if your movement speed becomes 0.

Dance of the Whirling Dervish
You gain proficiency in the Performance skill if you do not already have it. As a bonus action, you can spend 2 focus to begin the Dance of the Whirling Dervish. Take the Dash action, and until the end of your next turn, opportunity attacks against you are made with disadvantage. When a creature misses you with an opportunity attack, you can use your reaction to make an unarmed strike against the creature. The dance ends early if your movement speed becomes 0.

Dance of the White Tiger
You gain proficiency in the Performance skill if you do not already have it. As a bonus action, you can spend 2 focus to begin the Dance of the White Tiger. Until the end of your next turn, if you hit a target with two or more melee weapon attacks in the same turn, the target takes additional damage equal to your martial arts die. The dance ends early if your movement speed becomes 0.

Dance of the Winding Serpent
You gain proficiency in the Performance skill if you do not already have it. As a bonus action, you can spend 2 focus to begin the Dance of the Winding Serpent. Until the end of your turn, your reach with unarmed strikes increases to 20 feet. The dance ends early if your movement speed becomes 0.

Dancing Expert
Prerequisite: any dance Martial Discipline
When the duration of one of your dances ends, you can spend 2 focus to make the effect last until the end of your next turn.

Dancing Maneuver
Prerequisite: 11th level, any dance \\ When you use a bonus action to activate an ability that costs focus, you can spend 2 focus to start one of your dances as part of the same bonus action.

Dancing Master
Prerequisite: Any two dance Martial Disciplines, Dancing Expert
You can spend 2 additional focus to activate two dances using the same bonus action. If you maintain these dances using Dancing Expert, you must spend focus for each dance to continue them.

Deflect Missiles
You can use your reaction to deflect or catch the missile when you are hit by a ranged weapon attack. When you do so, the damage you take from the attack is reduced by 1d10 + your Strength or Dexterity modifier + your adept level. If you reduce the damage to 0, you can catch the missile if it is small enough for you to hold in one hand and you have at least one hand free. If you catch a missile in this way, you can spend 1 focus to make a ranged attack with a range of 20/60 using the weapon or piece of ammunition you just caught, as part of the same reaction. You make this attack with proficiency, regardless of your weapon proficiencies, and the missile counts as an adept weapon for the attack.

Deflect Spells
Prerequisite: Defect Missiles, 9th level
When you are hit by a ranged spell attack that deals damage, you can use your reaction and spend 2 focus to deflect the magic. When you do so, the damage you take from the attack is reduced by 1d10 + your Strength or Dexterity modifier + your adept level. If you reduce the damage to 0, you can spend 1 focus to redirect the spell to another target within 30 feet of you as part of the same reaction. You make this attack with proficiency using your Wisdom modifier.

Diamond Soul
Prerequisite: 14th level, Empty Mind or Steel Body
Your mastery of your inner and outer focus grants you proficiency in all saving throws.

Distant Eye
When you make a ranged weapon attack, you can spend 1 focus to prevent attacking at long range from imposing disadvantage on your attack rolls until the end of the current turn.

Dual Stance
Prerequisite: 11th level, know at least 2 stance combat maneuvers
You can have two stances active at the same time. If you become incapacitated or finish a short or long rest, both stances end.

Empty Body
Prerequisite: 17th level, Empty Mind or Spiritual Journey
You can use your action to spend 4 focus to become invisible for 1 minute. During that time, you also have resistance to all damage but force damage.

Empty Mind
Prerequisite: 7th level
As an action, you can spend 1 focus to end one effect on yourself that is causing you to be charmed or frightened, and then enter a meditative state that lasts 1 hour. While in this state, Insight checks against you have disadvantage, you have advantage on saving throws made against enchantment spells, and resistance to psychic damage.

Evasion
Prerequisite: 7th level
When you are subjected to an effect that allows you to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, you instead take no damage if you succeed on the saving throw, and only half damage if you fail.

Focused Aim
Prerequisite: 5th level
When you miss with an attack roll, you can spend 1 to 3 focus to increase your attack roll by 2 for each of the focus you spend, potentially turning the miss into a hit.

Focused Strikes
Prerequisite: 5th level
Your unarmed strikes count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.

Maneuver Rush
Prerequisite: 7th level
When you use a maneuver that takes the Attack action, you can spend the focus cost for a second maneuver you know that requires the Attack action plus 1 additional focus to combine the bonus effects for both maneuvers. After you use this feature, you can't do it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Paralyzing Strike
Prerequisite: 9th level, Stunning Strike
When you hit another creature with a melee weapon attack, you can spend 2 focus to attempt a paralyzing strike. The target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or be paralyzed until the end of your next turn.

Powerful Blow
Prerequisite: 5th level
Whenever you force a creature to move with an attack or ability, you may spend 1 focus to increase the distance they are moved by a number of feet equal to 5 x you proficiency bonus.

Pressure Points
Prerequisite: 11th level, Stunning Strike or Paralyzing Strike
When you use Stunning Strike or Paralyzing Strike, you can spend 2 additional focus. If you do, your target has disadvantage on its saving throw to resist the effects.

Purity of Body
Prerequisite: 10th level'
Your mastery of the energy flowing through your body makes you immune to disease and poison.

Quickened Healing
As an action, you can spend 2 focus and roll a Martial Arts die. You regain a number of hit points equal to the number rolled plus your proficiency bonus.

Share Focus
Prerequisite: 11th level
As an action, you can share your spiritual fortitude with a creature you touch. That creature adds your martial arts die to its next saving throw. After you use this feature, you can’t do so again until you finish a short or long rest. If you use this ability before the first target makes a saving throw, it ends for that creature.

Sixth Sense
Prerequisite: 11th level
You have advantage on initiative checks.

Spiritual Journey
Prerequisite: 15th level
You can spend 8 focus to cast the astral projection spell, without needing material components. When you do so, you can't take any other creatures with you.

Steel Body
Prerequisite: 9th level
Whenever you make a saving throw and fail, you can spend 1 focus to reroll it and take the second result.

Stunning Strike
Prerequisite: 5th level
When you hit another creature with a melee weapon attack, you can spend 1 focus to attempt a stunning strike. The target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or be stunned until the end of your next turn.

Timeless Body
Prerequisite: 15th level, Empty Body or Steel Body
Your energy sustains you so that you suffer none of the frailty of old age, and you can’t be aged magically. You can still die of old age, however. In addition, you no longer need food or water.

Total Combat
Prerequisite: 11th level, Powerful Blow
When you successfully Grapple, Overrun, Shove, or Tumble, you deal damage equal to your unarmed strike to the target.

Undefeated
Prerequisite: 11th level, Quickened Healing
When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead. If you were reduced to 0 hit points by a creature in your reach, you may use your reaction and spend 2 focus to make a single unarmed strike against them. On a hit, you regain hit points equal to a roll of your Martial Arts die plus your proficiency bonus. Once you use this ability, you can't do so again again until you finish a long rest.

Vengeful Spirit
Prerequisite: 15th level, Quickened Healing, Empty Mind or Spiritual Journey
When you drop to 0 hit points but are not killed outright, you can spend 4 focus to set your spirit loose as a vengeful ghost to stalk your prey. The spirit acts on your initiative, has your statistics, ethereal copies of your equipment, full hit points, and half your focus pool. Your vengeful spirit is resistant to piercing, bludgeoning, and slashing damage from nonmagical weapons. It can move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain, but it takes 1d10 force damage if it ends its turn inside an object. If it is reduced to 0 hit points, you immediately die.
The spirit disappears if you die, you are healed above 0 hit points, or after 1 minute. While active, the spirit only takes hostile action against the creature who reduced you to 0 hit points. If the creature is reduced to 0 hit points, the spirit returns to your body, and you regain hit points equal to a roll of your Martial Arts die plus your proficiency bonus. While the vengeful spirit is active, you don’t make death saving throws, but you still suffer automatic failures if you are hit. Once you use this ability, you can't do so again again until you finish a long rest.

Weapon Mastery
Choose two weapons. If you are not proficient with them, you become proficient with them.

Monastic Tradition

^{3rd-level Adept feature}
You commit yourself to a monastic tradition, chosen from the list of available traditions. Your tradition grants you features at 3rd level and again at 6th, 11th, and 17th level.

Way of the Ascendant Dragon	As in Fizban's Treasury of Dragons except can now spend 1 focus to use Wings Unfurled once free uses are used.
Way of the Astral Self	As in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything except Astral Barrage is now triggered on Flurry of Blows.
Way of the Cenobite	ROYal Brews. Altered.
Way of the Cobalt Soul	As in Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn
Way of the Drunken Master	As in Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Way of the Four Elements	Player's Handbook. Complete Rework.
Way of the Illidari	Homebrew
Way of the Kensai	As in Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Way of the Living Weapon	Exploring Eberron. Altered.
Way of the Long Death	Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Altered.
Way of Mercy	Tasha's Cauldron of Everything. Altered.
Way of the Open Hand	Player's Handbook. New feature added.
Way of Shadow	Player's Handbook. New feature added.
Way of Sun Soul	Xanathar's Guide to Everything. New feature added.
Way of Zerth	ThinkDM. Altered.

Ability Score Improvement

^{4th-level Adept feature}
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th, level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature. In addition, you may select a single Feat you meet the prerequisites for.

You may also replace one of your skill proficiencies with a skill proficiency offered by your class at 1st level. The proficiency you replace needn't be from this class.

Lastly, you may choose to replace the option you chose for the Adroit Defense feature with one of that feature's other options, representing a change of focus in your combat style.

Bonus Focus

^{4th-level Adept feature}
Your self-awareness and discipline allow you draw upon deeper reserves of willpower than other warriors. Your focus pool increases by the amount equal to half your Adept level (Included in the Adept table).

Extra Attack

^{5th-level Adept feature}
You can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

Perfect Self

^{20th-level Adept feature}
At the beginning of your turn during combat, you regain 1 focus.