Way of the Iron Avenger

Inspiration: Karate

(3rd Level) 

Rooted Foundation

Iron Stance
You learn to fight from an enduring, powerful base. When not wearing armor and not wielding a shield:

• You gain a +1 bonus to AC while standing on solid ground and not Grappled or Prone.
• You have advantage on checks to resist being shoved or knocked prone.
• While you’re Grappled, you gain advantage on saving throws against spells or effects that would move you.

Kata Discipline
You learn Kata, a 3-part chain system using your Martial Artist strikes. Each part can only be used once per turn. Each Kata move costs 1 Focus Point and must be used in order:

• Ippon (Opening Form): An initiating strike.
• Nidan (Flow Step): A reactive or controlling follow-up.
• Sandan (Finisher): A powerful ending technique.

You can only use one of each Kata type per turn. At 3rd level, you learn:

• Ippon: Forward Kick – As part of an attack, deal an extra Martial Arts die and the target must succeed on a Strength save (DC = 8 + Prof + Wis) or be pushed 5 feet and fall prone.
• Nidan: Reverse Elbow – If you hit a creature with an unarmed strike or grapple it, make another unarmed strike as a bonus action against the same target. On hit, the target can’t take reactions until the start of your next turn.
• Sandan: Iron Chop – You may immediately strike with advantage and deal double Martial Arts dice if the target is Prone or Restrained.

(6th Level)

Horse Stance Discipline

Immovable Root
While you’re not moved during your turn, your strikes grow more forceful:

• After remaining in place for a full round (no teleportation, push, pull, or forced movement), your next unarmed strike or grapple deals an extra Martial Arts die of force damage.
• You gain resistance to bludgeoning damage from opportunity attacks.

Kata Expansion
You learn:

• Ippon: Cross Step Palm – As an action, make a Wisdom (Athletics) check to Grapple. If successful, you may deal a Martial Arts die in damage and reposition the target 5 feet to an unoccupied space adjacent to you.

(10th Level)

Iron Root Grappling

Flow Through Form
When you successfully grapple or shove a creature, you may use Nidan or Sandan strikes against them as part of that same action (even outside your turn, like with a reaction grapple or shove). If both strikes hit, the target is Staggered (speed halved, disadvantage on Dex saves) until the start of your next turn.

New Kata Learned:

• Sandan: Sidekick Snap – If your target is using a shield or has an AC bonus from cover, your strike ignores those bonuses and, on hit, forces a Constitution saving throw or the target drops a weapon or shield (your choice).

(14th Level)

Spirit of the Iron Root

Kime – Explosive Focus
You master the principles of Kime, explosive, final technique. As a bonus action once per short rest, enter Kime Mode for 1 minute. While in Kime Mode:

• You can use Ippon, Nidan, and Sandan in one turn without spending Focus Points once per round.
• Your unarmed strikes deal an extra Martial Arts die of force damage.
• When you reduce a creature to 0 HP with a Kata strike, you may immediately move up to 10 feet and use a bonus action to Grapple or Shove another target.

Final Kata (Unique Sandan – no FP cost in Kime Mode):

Sandan: Root Break Combo – You make two unarmed strikes as a single action against a target you have Grappled or Prone. If both hit, the target becomes Weakened (disadvantage on Str-based attacks and saves) until the end of your next turn.