Zephyr

A Zephyr dedicates their life to the relentless pursuit of kinetic perfection. They hone their bodies into blurs of motion, training from a young age in remote wilds or mountain monasteries, wielding speed to unleash blows that echo through their foes and slip past attacks like a whispering wind. Speed is both their weapon and shield.

Through ceaseless training, they harness their inner momentum to achieve feats of supernatural agility, executing every motion with flowing precision. The Zephyr is:

Unarmed and Dangerous. When unarmed and unarmored, you’re a relentless force on the battlefield. Absorb blows and deliver devastating strikes, leaving foes in awe of your tenacity and speed.
A Graceful Combatant. Move with unparalleled speed and determination, outpacing your allies and foes alike. Seize the initiative and strike swiftly, ensuring you’re always at the forefront of combat. Your reflexes allow you to retaliate with precision and turn enemy strikes into opportunities for devastating counterattacks.

Key Stats: DEX, STR
Hit Die: d8
Starting HP: 13
Saves: DEX+, INT−
Armor: None
Weapons: melee
Starting Gear: Staff, Traveling Robes & Sandals

Class features

Level 1

Iron Defense.

Your armor equals DEX+STR as long as you are unarmored.

Swift Fists.

Your unarmed strikes are not subject to disadvantage imposed by Rushed Attacks, and their damage is 1d4+STR.

Level 2

Swift Feet.

While unarmored, gain +2 speed and +LVL Initiative.

Burst of Speed.

When you roll Initiative, gain DEX Bursts of Speed. (1/turn) Spend 1 Burst to use for free: Slipstream (Defend, attack misses), Whirling Defense (Defend, apply armor to every attack this round), Swiftstrike (Attack, ignore Rushed Attack disadvantage), or Windstep (Move, ignore difficult terrain).

Level 3

Subclass.

Choose a Zephyr subclass.

Kinetic Momentum.

Whenever you gain a Wound, gain a Burst of Speed.

Ethereal Projection.

(1/day) By meditating for at least 10 minutes, you can project an ethereal version of yourself up to 30 ft. away, passing through solid objects or barriers. You see through your projection’s eyes. It lasts for up to 10 minutes.

Level 4

Unyielding Resolve.

Ignore the first Wound you would suffer each encounter (when-Wounded abilities, such as Kinetic Momentum, still trigger).

Key Stat Increase.

+1 DEX or STR.

Martial Master.

Choose a Martial Arts Abilities.

Level 5

Reverberating Strikes.

You learn to focus your energy and transfer it as an additional concussive force into your foes. Add LVL bludgeoning damage to all of your melee attacks.

Secondary Stat Increase.

+1 INT or WIL.

Level 6

Martial Master (2).

Choose a 2nd Martial Arts Abilities.

Infuse Strength.

Action: Make an unarmed strike against an ally and infuse them with a portion of your own strength. Expend any number of Hit Dice and heal them as you would heal yourself during a Field Rest (roll them and add your STR to each).

Level 7

Subclass.

Gain your Zephyr subclass feature.

Level 8

Martial Master (3).

Choose a 3rd Martial Arts Abilities.

Key Stat Increase.

+1 DEX or STR.

Level 9

Swift Feet (2).

Gain an additional +2 speed as long as you are unarmored.

Secondary Stat Increase.

+1 INT or WIL.

Level 10

Martial Master (4).

Choose a 4th Martial Arts Abilities.

Unyielding Resolve (2).

Ignore the first 2 Wounds you would suffer each encounter.

Level 11

Subclass.

Gain your Zephyr subclass feature.

Level 12

Martial Master (5).

Choose a 5th Martial Arts Abilities.

Key Stat Increase.

+1 DEX or STR.

Level 13

Iron Defense (2).

Your armor is doubled while unarmored.

Secondary Stat Increase.

+1 INT or WIL.

Level 14

Martial Master (6).

Choose a 6th Martial Arts Abilities.

Level 15

Subclass.

Gain your Zephyr subclass feature.

Level 16

Martial Master (7).

Choose a 7th Martial Arts Abilities.

Key Stat Increase.

+1 DEX or STR.

Level 17

Unyielding Resolve (3).

Ignore the first 3 Wounds you would suffer each encounter. You have advantage on STR saves while Dying.

Secondary Stat Increase.

+1 INT or WIL.

Level 18

Martial Master (8).

Choose an 8th Martial Arts Abilities.

Level 19

Epic Boon.

Choose an Epic Boon.

Level 20

Windborne.

+1 to any 2 of your stats. +1 additional burst of speed when you roll Initiative. Permanently gain 1 action (while Dying, you have a max of 2 actions).

Martial Arts Abilities

Choose Martial Arts Abilities as you level up.

Airshift.
You cannot be Grappled while conscious. While moving, you may travel across all terrain as normal ground, ignoring all ill effects (e.g., walls/ceilings, water, treetops, lava, spikes, clouds).
Blur.
(1/encounter) When you Defend, you may first move up to half your speed away, taking no damage if you are now out of range or have Full Cover.
Bodily Discipline.
You may spend 1 action to end any non-Wound condition on yourself.
Enduring Soul.
Each time you roll Initiative, gain Hit Dice equal to the actions you get on your first turn. These Hit Dice expire at the end of combat if unused.
I Jump On His Back!
While moving with your Windstep, if you move into the space of a creature your size or larger, you may jump onto its back. While on a creature this way, gain advantage on melee attacks against it, and any damage you avoid is dealt to it instead.
Kinetic Barrage.
Whenever you miss an attack, gain a cumulative +STR bonus to all damage you do for the rest of this encounter.
Mighty Soul.
You cannot be moved against your will. Whenever you would fail a saving throw, you may gain a Wound in order to add your STR to the result you rolled. You may repeat this any number of times.
Quickstrike.
When you Interpose, you may first make an unarmed strike against the enemy for free.
Use Momentum.
Whenever you avoid all of the damage of a melee attack (whether it misses or you Defend), you may swap places with the attacker and then choose another target that is now within the attack’s reach, and they are hit instead.
Vital Rejuvenation.
When you receive healing for the first time on a turn, you may heal another target within 6 spaces HP equal to your STR.
Windstrider.
If you move through the space of a willing creature while using Windstep, they can move with you and choose any space adjacent to your path of movement to end in.

Subclasses

Flame

Level 3

Exploding Soul.

(1/round) On your turn, you may suffer a Wound. Whenever you gain a Wound, deal STR+Wounds damage to any creatures you choose within 2 spaces (ignoring armor) and give them the Smoldering condition.

Level 7

Blazing Speed.

Gain +2 speed while using Windstep. After you cease movement with Windstep, enemies you passed through take STR+DEX fire damage. You may have Smoldering enemies take double, ending the condition.

Level 11

Chain Reaction.

(1/turn) When you crit, deal fire damage equal to your STR+Wounds to creatures of your choice within 2 spaces of your target. Repeat any number of times, targeting creatures not yet damaged by this effect within 2 spaces of any already damaged.

Level 15

Burning Soul.

Double any fire damage you deal.

Pain

Level 3

Bring the Pain.

(1/round) You may turn any melee attack against you into a crit. Whenever you are crit, reduce the damage by half. The attacker takes the same amount of damage you took (ignoring armor). You may suffer 1 Wound to double the damage the enemy takes.

Level 7

Share My Pain.

Your Swiftstrike can also target a 2nd creature within Reach 2.

Level 11

Pain Sharpens the Mind.

While you are Bloodied, gain advantage on the first attack you make each turn, and on all saves.

Level 15

Echoed Agony.

Your Swiftstrike can also target a 3rd creature within Reach 4.