Monks of the Way of the Observed Form follow the belief that the best style of combat is to have no style at all. Instead, their belief is that one should learn from their opponents, adapt their methods, and then throw them back at them with deadly results. These monks are known to be almost impossible to predict on the battlefield, possessing as many techniques as there are creatures in the world.
As part of their emphasis on observing and adapting to one’s opponent, these monks tend to have a keen interest in biology and anatomy. They use their keen senses to study the bodies of others and are often able to pick out the minutest detail in a creature’s bone or muscle movement. These traits make these monks renowned as warrior- scholars that are sought out as much for their knowledge as they are for their martial ability.
| Monk Level | Feature |
|---|---|
| 3rd | Mirrored Stance |
| 6th | Observant Fist |
| 11th | Adaptive Defence |
| 17th | Hybrid Stance |
Starting when you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you learn to observe your opponents through battle and adopt their strengths into your fighting style. As a bonus action, you may expend 1 ki point to focus on a hostile creature you can see within 60 feet of you. If you do so, you learn their creature type and you adopt one of the stances below based on that type. You remain in this stance for 1 minute ending it early if you are incapacitated, if you use this feature again, or if you end it as a free action.
Your erratic stance makes it difficult for your opponent to read your movements, preventing them from getting an edge on you in battle. While in this stance, if a creature attempts to make an attack roll with advantage against you, you can use your reaction to cancel that advantage and any other advantages they may have on attack rolls against you for the rest of the turn.
Your primal stance imbues your strikes with greater ferocity. When you hit a creature with an unarmed strike while in this stance, you may add your Strength modifier as a bonus to the damage roll. You may only use this ability once per turn.
Your graceful stance allows you to move easily around the battlefield. While in this stance, you act as if you are under the effect of the Freedom of Movement spell.
Your sturdy stance makes you harder to knock down and to be moved around. While in this stance, you have advantage on saving throws and ability checks against being knocked prone or moved against your will.
Your ancient stance grants you mystical abilities drawn from the most powerful creatures in the multiverse. When you adopt this stance, you choose to gain either a flying or swimming speed equal to half your current speed. On subsequent turns, you may use your bonus action to change your choice to the other movement type.
Your chaotic stance makes the primordial forces of creation regard you as one of their own, bestowing you their protection. While in this stance, you have resistance to one of the following damage types of your choice: fire, lightning, cold, or thunder.
Your elusive stance allows you to slip between opponents easily and avoid harm. While in this stance, melee weapon attacks against you are made at disadvantage if you are within 5 feet of two or more hostile creatures.
Your vicious stance allows you to capitalise on your opponent’s mistakes and punish them accordingly. Whenever you hit a creature with an opportunity attack while in this stance, you may immediately use your Flurry of Blows feature as a free action. You still need to spend 1 ki point to use it in this way.
Your large stance leverages internal forces that allow you to fight against even the biggest opponents. While in this stance, your size is considered huge regardless of the actual dimensions of your body.
Your natural stance allows you to fight freely and utilise your energy efficiently. While in this stance, whenever you spend 1 or more ki points to use an ability, you may roll a d20. If you roll an 18, 19, or 20 on this roll, you instantly regain the ki points you just spent.
Your versatile stance allows you to be prepared for any situation. While in this stance, whenever you make a saving throw, you may use your reaction to add your Wisdom modifier as a bonus to the result. You may choose to do this after making the roll but before the DM says whether you succeeded or failed.
Your flexible stance allows you to move through the battlefield unimpeded and with ease. While in this stance, you can move through spaces occupied by hostile creatures, and you have advantage on saving throws and ability checks against being grappled and being restrained.
Your rooted stance allows you to gather power and energy from the ground. While in this stance, you have advantage on attack rolls so long as you have not moved since the end of your last turn.
Your rigid stance allows you to suffer large damage and continue fighting. Whenever you take damage, you may use your reaction to expend 1 ki point to reduce the total damage taken by an amount equal to your monk level.
Beginning at 6th level, you learn to study your opponent through combat. Whenever you hit a creature with an unarmed strike, you may spend 1 ki point to gain the benefits of a successful Appraise check on that creature as well as learning that creature’s Armor Class, current hit points, and any damage resistances and immunities they may have.
Starting at 11th level, you are able to adapt quickly to your opponent’s attacks, allowing you to mitigate potential harm that comes your way. Whenever you are hit by a spell or weapon attack, you may use your reaction to spend 2 ki points and gain resistance to all damage types inflicted by that attack until the start of your next turn.
At 17th level you learn how to weave your stances together into greater and more powerful combinations. When you enter a stance, you may choose to spend up to 2 additional ki points in order to gain the benefits of the same number of additional stances of your choice. You retain these benefits so long as you remain in the original stance.