Iaijutsu

Practitioner

I
aijutsu is a martial art that trains the motions
associated with drawing a katana, striking an
opponent, flicking blood from the blade, and then re-
sheathing the katana with one fluidly controlled
movement. Iaijutsu is dominated by the philosophy
that a single, perfect cut was all one needed to be
victorious in combat.
The primary basis of Iaijutsu is the psychological state of
being present. The secondary emphasis is drawing the sword
and attacking as quickly as possible. Starting positions could
be from combative postures or from everyday sitting or
standing positions. The ability to react quickly from different
starting positions is considered essential for a samurai.
A very important part of iai, sometimes called the 'life of iai',
was nukitsuke. This was a very quick draw accomplished by
drawing the sword from of the saya (scabbard) while drawing
the saya itself back (saya biki). The blade could be brought
out of the scabbard and used in a slashing motion very
quickly using nukitsuke.
"Swords are made to return to their scabbards."
—Uesugi Kenshin describes this technique

One Cut
The intricate style of swordplay called iaijutsu is dedicated to
the martial art of drawing a weapon and attacking in the
same fluid motion. This iaijutsu master is based on speed
and agility to take down his foes, using momentum instead of
pure strength.
Balanced Warriors
The Iaijutsu practice requires a great deal of concentration,
presence of spirit and balance, so those skills are developed
through constant tranning. The students learn more than to
only draw the sword: The Iaijutsu practice teaches the
practicioners to be ready and aware at all moments, with deal
with difficult situations with serenity and security.
Community Inspired
This class is heavily inspired by the "Iaijustu Swordsman" class
by D&D Wiki user, Quel. Thanks to you and all contributors to
the class! For my table, I wanted to bring in a unique balance
of practical Iaijutsu techniques and Rule-of-Cool fantasy
elements - including 3.5e mechanics.
Similarly, playing the Iaijutsu Practioner is a balance of
offense and defense. Weapon and scabbard. Speed and
stillness.

Artist Credit: Poppupantsu

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 Iaijutsu Practioner
Level Proficiency Bonus Features Iai Weapon Damage
1st +2 Iai Weapon, Nukitsuke 1d6
2nd +2 Breathing Technique 1d6
3rd +2 Iai School, Weapon Refinement 1d6
4th +2 Ability Score Improvement 1d6
5th +3 Quick Hands 1d8
6th +3 School Feature, Precise Cuts 1d8
7th +3 Anticipation 1d8
8th +3 Ability Score Improvement 1d8
9th +4 - 1d8
10th +4 School Feature, Iai Deflect 1d10
11th +4 - 1d10
12th +4 Ability Score Improvement 1d10
13th +5 - 1d10
14th +5 School Feature 1d10
15th +5 Tatehiza and Seiza 1d12
16th +5 Ability Score Improvement 1d12
17th +6 Scabbard Strike 1d12
18th +6 Presence Mastery 1d12
19th +6 Ability Score Improvement 1d12
20th +6 Iai Perfection 1d20

Skills: Choose three between Acrobatics, Animal Handling,

Quick Build Athletics, History, Insight, Persuasion, Perception, Sleight-of-
You can make a Iaijutsu Practitioner quickly by following Hand, and Survival
these suggestions. First, Dexterity and Charisma should be Equipment
your highest ability scores. Second, choose the Outlander You start with the following equipment, in addition to the
background. Third, choose Leather armor and an Explorers equipment granted by your background:
pack. Lastly, choose Acrobatics, Persuasion, and Sleight-of- (a) Leather armor or (b) Scale Mail
Hand. (a) An Explorer’s Pack or (b) A Dungeoneer’s Pack
Iai Weapon with a scabbard
Class Features If you are using starting wealth, you have 5d4x10 in funds.
As a Iaijutsu Practitioner you gain the following class Multiclassing
features. Prerequisites: To qualify for multiclassing into the Iaijutsu
Hit Points
Practitioner class, you must meet these prerequisites:
Hit Dice: 1d10 per Iai Practitioner level Dexterity 13, Constitution 13
Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + Constitution modifier Proficiencies: When you multiclass into the Iaijutsu
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + Constitution Practitioner class, you gain the following proficiencies: light
modifier per Iai Practitioner level after 1st armor, medium armor, improvised weapons, iai weapon, and
sleight of hand.
Proficiencies
Armor: Light armor, Medium armor
Weapons: Improvised Weapons, Iai Weapon
Saving Throws: Dexterity, Charisma

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 Iai Weapon
Starting at 1st level, you gain and attune to the Iaijutsu
Practitioner’s signature weapon, the Iai Weapon.
Traditionally these weapons are one handed katanas, though
you may choose a different weapon with a scabbard.
Regardless of its appearance, your Iai Weapon is considered
a martial weapon with the Finesse property, requires a free
hand to manipulate its scabbard, and deals 1d6 slashing
damage. This damage increases as you gain levels in this
class, as shown on the Iai Weapon Damage column on the Iai
Practitioner table.
Iaijutsu
Nukitsuke
Starting at 1st level, strikes with your Iai Weapon deal bonus
damage equal to your Charisma modifier if you had your Iai
Weapon stowed before making the attack. This damage
increases to two times your charisma modifier at 5th level,
thrice at 11th level, and quadruple at 16th level.
Chiburi
After hitting an enemy that bleeds you may perform Chiburi,
the symbolic shaking off blood from the sword, as a Free
Action. Some schools make use of a tissue or cloth, or even
their shoulder or hakama to remove the blood. Neglecting to
perform Chiburi invites dishonor, misfortune, and weapon
failure at the DM’s discretion.
Nōtō
You may stow your Iai Weapon during combat as a Bonus
Action during combat.
Breathing Technique
Starting at 2nd level, you establish your presence and
preparedness with slow inhales and quick exhales. When
your Iai Weapon is stowed during combat, you enter a
balanced state of breathing. Breathing like this gives you
advantage on Dexterity and Constitution saving throws.
Iai School
At 3rd level, you choose an Iai School. Choose between
Patience, Resilience, Persistence, and Silence. Your choice
grants you features at 3rd level and again at 6th, 10, 14th, and
20th level
Weapon Refinement
At 3rd level, you can perform a ritual to fuse a magical
weapon with your Iai Weapon. Performing the ritual costs 50
gold, and destroys the magical weapon, copying over the
effects of the magical weapon to your Iai Weapon, but not
altering the base damage. Only one magical weapon can be
fused at a time. Performing the ritual does not add additional
attunement slot requirements.
In addition, you gain the knowledge to instruct artisans in
the creation of disguised scabbards. Purchasing one for 100g
grants your weapon the Concealed/Hidden property.
Artist Credit: Hideo Yoshie

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 Ability Score Improvement Tatehiza and Seiza
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th and Starting at 15th level you have mastered sitting and kneeling
stances, and gain the following benefits:
19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice An attack roll does not have advantage on you from within
by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 5ft while you are prone and your Iai Weapon is sheathed.
1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 You do not have disadvantage on melee attack rolls while
using this feature. you are prone and your Iai Weapon is sheathed.
Standing up uses only 5 feet of your movement while you
Quick Hands are prone and your Iai Weapon is sheathed.
At 5th level, you gain proficiency in the Sleight-of-Hand skill.
If you are already proficient in the skill, you gain expertise in Scabbard Strike
the Sleight-of-Hand skill instead. Starting at 17th level, after performing a Nukitsuke, you can
use your bonus action to make a stunning strike with the
Precise Cuts scabbard of your Iai Weapon. The target must succeed on a
When you reach the 6th level, your Iai Weapon attacks count Constitution saving throw or be stunned until the end of your
as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and next turn. The saving DC is = 8 + your proficiency bonus +
immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage. your Charisma modifier.
Anticipation Presence Mastery
Starting at 7th level, you add your proficiency bonus to your Starting at 18th level, you have Truesight within 10 feet of
initiative rolls. You deal an additional 1d4 damage once per yourself.
turn against any creature with a lower initiative than you.
Iai Perfection
Iaijutsu Deflect At 20th level, the damage dice for your Iai Weapon becomes
Starting at 10th level, if your Iai Weapon is stowed, you can 1d20.
use your reaction to draw your Iai Weapon and deflect a
projectile targeting only you. Make a Sleight of Hand check
against your enemy's attack roll. On a successful roll you
deflect the attack, negating the damage, otherwise you take
full damage.

Artist Credit: Takashi Okazaki

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Subclasses
Patience School
Concentrated Blow
At 3rd level at the start of your turn, you can choose to stow
your weapon and skip your turn, and start to concentrate (as
if concentrating on a spell). If you do so, on the start of your
next turn using an action, or as an opportunity attack using
your reaction, you may perform a Nukitsuke with advantage
and double its damage.
Deterrence
At 6th level while your Iai Weapon is sheathed, you can
perform a special opportunity attack against other creatures
that enter your reach without expending a reaction. This
opportunity attack can only be made with your scabbard (1d4
Bludgeoning, Finesse) and does not gain bonus damage from
the Nukitsuke feature.
Yin Breathing
Starting at 10th level you improve your Breathing Technique
with long deep inhalations. When your Iai Weapon is stowed
during combat, you enter a state of slow breathing. Breathing
like this gives the first attack roll against you per turn
disadvantage to hit.
Always Prepared
Starting at 14th level whenever you enter combat, your first
Nukitsuke benefits from the Concentrated Blow feature and
deals additional damage equal to your Sleight-of-Hand
modifier.
Masterwork Slash
Starting at 20th level when performing a Concentrated Blow
attack roll with advantage, you can reroll one of the dice
once. On a critical hit you stow your Iai Weapon again. In
addition, if you kill a creature with a Concentrated Blow
during your turn, you may treat your turn as if your turn just
started after the killing blow.

Artist Credit: Eddy Shinjuku

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 Resilience School
Stone Saya
Starting at 3rd level, when your Iai Weapon is stowed, you
gain a bonus of +1 to your AC. This bonus increases to +2 at
7th level, +3 at 11th level, +4 at 15th level.
Mountain Stance
At 6th level, once per turn you can choose to enter a defensive
stance using your bonus action, bolstering your defenses and
reducing your movement speed to 0 until the start of your
next turn. Doing so grants you resistance to slashing, piercing
and bludgeoning damage from non-magical sources, and you
have advantage on saving throws and ability checks against
effects that would cause you to move or be grappled.
Kiai Breathing
Starting at 10th level you improve your Breathing Technique
with spiritual shouts. When your Iai Weapon is stowed
during combat, you enter an indomitable state of breathing.
Breathing like this gives you advantage on all saving throws,
and if you are under the effects of the Mountain Stance
feature you may add your Charisma modifier to the saving
throws as well.
Guardian Statue
At 14th level when an enemy within your range attacks an
ally, you may make an stow your Iai Weapon and perform a
Nukitsuke as an opportunity attack against that enemy. You
may add your Sleight-of-Hand modifier to the attack's
damage.
Living Mountain
At 20th level, when using your bonus action to activate the
effects of Mountain Stance you may also stow your Iai
weapon. When under the effects of Mountain Stance you may
move up to half your movement, during this movement you
are not hindered by any difficult terrain including vertical
surfaces and liquid surfaces until the end of your next turn.

Artist Credit: Manzanedo

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 Kiriotoshi
Persistence School Starting at 14th level, you may roll to hit the last enemy you
Kiritsuke damaged with the Kiritsuke feature this turn. This attack
deals cumulative bonus damage equal to your Sleight-of-
Starting at 3rd level, whenever you perform a Nukitsuke, you Hand modifier for every 10 feet of additional movement
can move up to an additional 10 feet in one direction without beyond the first 30 feet you’ve traveled this turn. Hitting an
provoking opportunity attacks. This increases to 15 feet at enemy with Kiriotoshi does not gain bonus damage from the
20th level. You may use this movement to pass through one or Nukitsuke feature
more enemies if you are able to move through them entirely
and land in an empty space. If you do this, the attack deals Alpha Strike
bonus damage equal to your Sleight-of-Hand modifier. The
first target hit takes normal damage, and subsequent targets Starting at 20th level, when you kill an enemy with
take half damage. You must roll to hit for each target Nukitsuke, Kiritsuke, Kiriotoshi, or critically hit with any of
individually. Attacking enemies by passing through them does those features, you may stow your Iai weapon and you may
not gain bonus damage from the Nukitsuke feature perform another Nukitsuke.
You may only perform a
maximum of additional Nukitsuke equal to your Dexterity
Swift Sheathe modifier per long rest.
At 6th level, if you use a Nukitsuke as part of an opportunity
attack, you may stow your Iai Weapon at the end of the attack
as a Free Action.
Fast Breathing
Starting at 10th level you improve your Breathing Technique
with quick-succession breaths, delivering oxygen to your vital
organs. When your Iai Weapon is stowed during combat, you
enter a rapid state of breathing. While breathing like this, if
an enemy were to decrease your HP to 0 it is reduced to 1
instead, you may use this effect once per long rest.

Artist Credit: DrawRepulser

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 Silence School
Ninjutsu
At 3rd level, you trained the speed of your hands and blade
for theft and assassination. You gain the following benefits:
You gain proficiency in Stealth, Thieves’ Tools, and learn
Thieves Cant.
You can take the Hide Action as a Bonus Action on your
turn.
Neglecting to perform Chiburi no longer negatively affects
you.
Silent Nukitsuke
Starting at 6th level, once per turn, when performing a
Nukitsuke from stealth or while unseen, you deal bonus
damage equal to your Sleight-of-Hand modifier. On a critical
hit, this bonus damage is doubled. In addition, the attack is
rendered completely silent whether you critically hit or not.
Nothingness Breathing
Starting at 10th level you improve your Breathing Technique
by reducing it to one singular exhale. When your Iai Weapon
is stowed during combat, you enter a silent state of breathing.
While breathing like this your steps are rendered completely
silent, as if you were under the effect of a Silence spell.
Erase Presence
At 14th level, you can mask your presence for a short time by
holding your breath, making your heart almost completely
silent. If your Iai Weapon is stowed you can use your bonus
action to become invisible until the end of your next turn or
until you make an attack. You may use this feature a number
of times equal to your Charisma modifier each long rest.
Omae Wa Mou Shindeiru
Starting at 20th level, when critically striking using your
Silent Nukitsuke feature, you may yet again double the bonus
damage equal to your Sleight-of-Hand modifier, effectively
quadrupling the damage bonus.

You bring me great honor.

Thanks for taking the time to check out the Iaijutsu
Practioner! I hope it brings swift devastation to
your tabletop enemies.
For the latest updates and more brews, join the
community at r/BardicBrewery !

Artist Credit: Anarchic Fox

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