Way of Pain (Studio Agate)

Most people seek to avoid it. Some try to ignore it. And others choose to embrace it, not out of perversion or because they enjoy it, but simply because they understand that it is inevitable and perhaps usable. According to certain sages, pain is even one of the components of ki. Monks of the Way of Pain look upon physical suffering as an inexhaustible resource, particularly on the battlefield, and learn to receive it to fuel their martial feats.

Gratitude

Starting when you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you learn to thank your opponents in accordance with the tenets of the Way of Pain. When a creature makes you lose a number of hit points (not temporary hit points) at least equal to your monk level through a weapon attack, you can immediately use your reaction to make a melee attack against any creature within range. When you reach 6th level, you can also use this feature when you lose hit points because of a spell, whether the spell targeted you directly or included you in an area effect. In this case, the damage you deal through your attack is of the same type as the damage you just took. Beginning at 11th level, you can also move up to your speed as part of your reaction, before or after attacking.

Moreover, if you use the optional rule on Wounds (see the Wounds section of the Health chapter), beginning at 3rd level, you can expend 1 ki point to ignore the effects of all your Wounds (exhaustion levels and penalties) until the start of your next turn. This costs you no action.

Sublimation

Starting at 6th level, as a reaction, when you take damage from any source, you can gain a number of ki points equal to one tenth of the hit points (not temporary hit points) lost, rounded down.

Abnegation

Starting at 11th level, pain focuses your senses, sharpens your reflexes, and stirs your fighting spirit. As long as your current hit points are less than or equal to half your maximum hit points, you have advantage on your weapon attacks (which includes your unarmed strikes) and a +2 bonus to your saving throws.

The Last Dance

When you reach 17th level, being at death’s door liberates within you a whirlwind of death. When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can spend 3 ki points to drop to 1 hit point instead. If you do so, until the end of your next turn, all your successful weapon attacks (which includes your unarmed strikes) are considered critical hits.