Path of the Shadow, Variant (5e Subclass)

Path of the Shadow

The ultimate companion to the Path of the Body and Path of the Mind, ultimately forming the legendary Ino-Shika-Cho formation. The Path of the Shadow focuses on mastering secret techniques, known as Hiden, rooted in Yin Style only known to a select few clans.

Basic Shadow Imitation

At 3rd level, you learn the first of your Hiden techniques. You gain the following Jutsu:

Shadow Possession

Cost: 1 Ki

Range: 30 ft. in bright light, 60 ft. in dim light, 120 ft. in darkness

As an action, your shadow stretches out from your own as a straight line, binding to another creature's shadow. The target must attempt a Dexterity saving throw, If your targets closer than half the maximum distance, they have disadvantage. On a failure, it becomes restrained, and mimics your actions while restrained in this way. The target can attempt a Strength saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending this effect early on a success. You don't need to expend Ki at the beginning of each of your turns to maintain this effect. If circumstances change so that the target is outside of your range, you must spend twice as much Ki, or the target has advantage on the saving throw. While the target is still within half the maximum normal distance, they have disadvantage on the escaping saving throw. If the target is beyond twice this Jutsu's range, it ends immediately.

Shadow Strangle

Cost: 1 Ki

As a bonus action while a creature is under the effects of Shadow Possession, you create an additional shadow that forms into a hand and creeps up to the target’s neck, beginning to strangle it. The target must attempt a Dexterity saving throw, If your targets closer than half the maximum distance, they have disadvantage. On a success, it must hold its breath. On a failure, it immediately begins suffocating. This Jutsu ends if Shadow Possession ends. The target may attempt a Strength saving throw at the end of each of its turns, taking 1d8 + your Intelligence modifier bludgeoning damage on a failure, or ending this effect early and taking half as much damage on a success.

Shadow Chain

At 7th level, while Shadow Possession is active, you can cast it again from the space of any creature affected, using their space for the beginning of its range. Additionally, you may cast Shadow Possession as a reaction when you are targeted by an attack for 1 additional Ki. You also gain the following Jutsu:

Ninja Art: Shadow Sewing

Cost: 1 Ki

Range: 30 ft. in bright light, 60 ft. in dim light, 120 ft. in darkness

As a bonus action or reaction, one creature of your choice must attempt a Dexterity saving throw, If your targets closer than half the maximum distance, they have disadvantage. On a failure, they take 1d12 + your Intelligence modifier necrotic damage and have disadvantage on rolls as your shadow forms spikes from the ground. On a success, they take half as much damage. You can use Shadow Possession immediately after using this Jutsu for an additional 4 Ki, which includes the cost of the Jutsu itself, without using any form of action.

Enhanced Shadow Sewing

At 10th level, your mastery of Ninja Art: Shadow Sewing increases, allowing for complex movements not otherwise possible through the Jutsu. You gain the following Jutsu:

Shadow Gathering

Cost: 1 Ki

Range: 30 ft. in bright light, 60 ft. in dim light, 120 ft. in darkness

As a bonus action, you grasp one object within range with a hand of shadow. You may manipulate it as if you were standing in its space. You don't need to expend Ki at the end of each of your turns to maintain this jutsu. If circumstances change so that the target is outside of your range, you must spend twice as much Ki.

Shadow Possession Shuriken

Cost: 1 Ki

Immediately before making an attack with a weapon, you imbue it with your Shadow Imitation. On a hit, you forgo dealing damage to instead hit your target's shadow, allowing you to cast Shadow Possession immediately after, with the target automatically failing the Dexterity saving throw.

Mastered Hiden

At 15th level, you master the full depth of your clan's developed Hiden. You gain the following Jutsu:

Shadow Imitation Shadow Bind

Cost: 1 Ki

Range: 30 ft. in bright light, 60 ft. in dim light, 120 ft. in darkness

As a bonus action, you lightly coat a creature's shadow in your Shadow Imitation. The target is not affected by Shadow Possession, but counts as a point for the sake of Shadow Bind. You don't need to expend Ki at the end of your turns to maintain this effect.

Shadow Imitation Field

Cost: 7 Ki

Range: 10 ft. radius in bright light, 20 ft. radius in dim light, 40 ft. radius in darkness

As an action, your shadow stretches out into a massive radius. Every creature within range is targeted by Shadow Possession. You must spend 2 Ki at the beginning of each of your turns to maintain this effect. If circumstances change so that the target is outside of your range, you must spend twice as much Ki, or they have advantage on the saving throw.

Shadow Kage

At 20th level, you develop the ultimate combination of your Hiden. You gain the following Jutsu:

Black Spider Lily

Cost: 1+ Ki

Range: 20 ft. in bright light, 40 ft. in dim light, 80 ft. in darkness

As an action, your shadow stretches in many directions, ultimately resembling a black spider lily. For every Ki point spent above 1, one creature within range is targeted by Shadow Possession, or one object is targeted by Shadow Gathering. For each instance of the previous effects, you don't need to expend Ki at the beginning of each of your turns to maintain this effect. If circumstances change so that the target is outside of your range, you must spend twice as much Ki to a maximum of 10, or it has advantage on the saving throw.

Weapons affected by Shadow Gathering automatically benefit from Shadow Possession Shuriken. As an action, you can target every creature under the effects of this Jutsu with Ninja Art: Shadow Sewing or Shadow Strangle without spending additional Ki.

Path of the Shadow Unique Jutsu

Hiding in Shadow

Cost: 2 Ki

As an action, you become one with one area of darkness at least as large as your size category you can touch. You become invisible and paralyzed until you end this jutsu at will. If this darkness moves, such as a creature's shadow, you move with it. If the darkness you are within is no longer as large as your size category, you take 2d8 psychic damage and this jutsu ends. When this jutsu ends, you appear anywhere within the darkness, or where the darkness was immediately before its size changed. You don't need to expend extra Ki at the end of each of your turns to maintain this effect.

Human Bullet Yo-Yo

Cost: 1 Ki

Range: 40 ft. in bright light, 80 ft. in dim light, 160 ft. in darkness

As a bonus action, you release two tendrils of shadow, manipulating one willing creature of your choice. It moves up to your remaining distance. You can continue to do so as a bonus action for no additional Ki for as long as you maintain this Jutsu. You don't need to expend extra Ki at the beginning of each of your turns to maintain this Jutsu. If circumstances change so that the target is outside of your range, you must spend twice as much Ki.

Shadow Network

Cost: 2 Ki

Duration: 1 minute

As an action, you coil a string of shadows into a tight ball in one fist-sized or larger area of darkness you can touch. When a creature comes within 10 ft. in bright light, 20 ft. in dim light, or 40 ft. in darkness of the ball, you may target them with Shadow Possession as a bonus action or reaction without spending Ki.

Shadow Sheep Cloud

Cost: 4 Ki

Range: 10 ft. radius in bright light, 20 ft. radius in dim light, 40 ft. radius in darkness

Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute

Jutsu Type: Genjutsu

As an action, you shape one of the most esoteric uses of Yin Style shadows, a black sheep. One creature within range must attempt a Constitution saving throw. On a failure, they become unconcious until this Jutsu ends. At the end of each of their turns, the target can repeat the saving throw.

Shadow Sword

Cost: 1 Ki

Duration: 1 minute

As an action while within darkness, the shadows around you create a solid weapon of your choice. Weapons created in this way can not be magic items. The weapon counts as magical and has a +1 bonus to attack or damage rolls.

Moon Shadow Technique

Cost: 1 Ki

Requirements: Shadow Clone

Range: 30 ft. in bright light, 60 ft. in dim light, 120 ft. in darkness

When you create a shadow clone while within your range of another humanoid creature, you may imbue the clone with the Shadow Imitation Technique. One creature per clone within range must attempt a Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, the shadow clone is a clone of them, using their statistics instead of your own. The clone can not speak, is visibly made of shadows, can still only use Jutsu you know, and has 60 ft. of darkvision. In bright light, the shadow clone loses 3 hit points at the end of each of its turns, in dim light it acts normally, and in darkness it regains 3 hit points at the end of each of its turns. This also causes you to not regain the base Ki spent to create the clone.

Pink Lightning

Cost: 1+ Ki

Range: 30 feet in bright light, 60 feet in dim light, 120 feet in darkness

You create a blast of collected shadows, taking the form of black lightning with a pink hue. Make an attack roll against 1 creature within range. On a hit, the target takes 1d12 lightning damage (per key points spent) and is pushed 10 feet in a direction of your choice.

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