Way of the Sun Soul
Most monks channel their ki inward, shaping it into speed, precision, and resilience. Sun Soul monks take a different approach: they push their ki outward, igniting it into radiant light that can be hurled at enemies across open ground. Where a conventional monk closes the distance, a Sun Soul monk can keep it.
The tradition draws on an understanding of ki as inherently luminous — a light that normally burns only within, but can, with sufficient mastery, be coaxed into the world as visible, damaging brilliance. Advanced practitioners become walking sources of light, capable of unleashing explosive bursts of solar force that illuminate and incinerate in equal measure.
Sun Soul monks are often drawn to monasteries perched high in the mountains, where the sun is unobstructed and the sky feels close. They are not reclusive by nature — most believe that light is meant to be shared, and many serve their communities as healers of a different sort, burning away corruption along with its hosts.
| Monk Level | Features |
|---|---|
| 3rd | Radiant Sun Bolt |
| 6th | Searing Arc Strike |
| 11th | Searing Sunburst |
| 17th | Sun Shield |
Subclass Features
Radiant Sun Bolt
3rd-level Way of the Sun Soul feature
You can hurl bolts of radiant energy as though they were unarmed strikes. As an attack, you can make a ranged spell attack using your Dexterity modifier. On a hit, the bolt deals \(1d4\) + your Dexterity modifier radiant damage. The range of this attack is 30 feet. This attack counts as an unarmed strike for the purpose of your monk features.
When you use Flurry of Blows, you may make two Radiant Sun Bolt attacks instead of two unarmed strikes. You can also spend 1 ki point to make your Radiant Sun Bolt attack twice when you take the Attack action.
Searing Arc Strike
6th-level Way of the Sun Soul feature
You have learned to release concentrated heat in a wave from your body. Immediately after taking the Attack action on your turn, you can spend 2 ki points to cast burning hands as a 1st-level spell (no components required). For each additional ki point you spend above 2, the spell is cast at one slot level higher, up to a maximum of 3rd level.
Searing Sunburst
11th-level Way of the Sun Soul feature
You can detonate a sphere of radiant light at a point you choose. As an action, you release a 20-foot-radius burst centered on a point within 150 feet of you. Each creature in the area must succeed on a Constitution saving throw against your ki save DC or take \(2d6\) radiant damage. You can spend up to 3 ki points when you use this feature; each ki point spent adds \(2d6\) radiant damage to the burst.
Sun Shield
17th-level Way of the Sun Soul feature
You shed bright light in a 30-foot radius, and dim light for an additional 30 feet beyond that. You can dismiss or restore this light as a bonus action.
When you are hit by a melee attack, you can spend 1 ki point as a reaction to sear the attacker with radiant energy. The attacker takes radiant damage equal to \(5\) + your Wisdom modifier.