Martial Artist

The martial artist pursues a mastery of pure martial arts without the monastic traditions. He is a master of form, but lacks the ability to harness his ki.

Alignment: A martial artist may be of any alignment.

Pain Points (Ex)

At 3rd level, a martial artist’s advanced knowledge of humanoid anatomy grants a +1 bonus on critical hit confirmation rolls and increases the DC of his Stunning Fist and quivering palm by 1.

This ability replaces still mind.

Martial Arts Master (Ex)

At 4th level, a martial artist may use his monk level to qualify for feats with a fighter level prerequisite when those feats are applied to unarmed strikes or weapons with the monk special quality.

This ability replaces slow fall.

Exploit Weakness (Ex)

At 4th level, as a swift action, a martial artist can observe a creature or object to find its weak point by making a Wisdom check and adding his monk level against a DC of 10 + the object’s hardness or the target’s CR. If the check succeeds, the martial artist gains a +2 bonus on attack rolls until the end of his turn, and any attacks he makes until the end of his turn ignore the creature or object’s DR or hardness. A martial artist may instead use this ability as a swift action to analyze the movements and expressions of one creature within 30 feet, granting a bonus on Sense Motive checks and Reflex saves and a dodge bonus to AC against that opponent equal to 1/2 his monk level until the start of his next turn.

This ability replaces ki pool.

Extreme Endurance (Ex)

At 5th level, a martial artist gains immunity to fatigue. At 10th level, he also gains immunity to exhaustion. At 15th level, he gains immunity to stunning. At 20th level, he gains immunity to death effects and energy drain.

This ability replaces purity of body, diamond body, and perfect self.

Physical Resistance (Ex)

At 7th level, if a martial artist suffers any effect that causes ability damage, ability drain, or temporary ability score penalties, the effect is reduced by 1 point. This reduction increases by 1 for every three levels beyond 7th (to a maximum reduction of 5 at 19th level).

This ability replaces wholeness of body, timeless body, and tongue of sun and moon.

Bonus Feat

At 12th level, a martial artist gains a monk bonus feat.

This ability replaces abundant step.

Defensive Roll (Ex)

At 13th level, a martial artist may use the defensive roll advanced rogue talent once per day, plus once per three levels beyond 13th (to a maximum of 3 times a day at 19th level).

This ability replaces diamond soul.

Quivering Palm

A martial artist may use this ability one additional time per day per level above 15th, but may not have more than one in effect at a time.

Greater Defensive Roll (Ex)

At 19th level, a martial artist suffers no damage on a successful defensive roll, and only half damage if the Reflex saving throw fails.

This ability replaces empty body.

Editor’s Note

How can I use abundant step if this archetype replaces my ki pool?

The archetype should have replaced all ki-based abilities, but abundant step was left in by accident. The archetype should also replace abundant step with a monk bonus feat. This will be changed in the next printing of Ultimate Combat.

[Source]

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Ultimate Combat. © 2011, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Authors: Jason Bulmahn, Tim Hitchcock, Colin McComb, Rob McCreary, Jason Nelson, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, Sean K Reynolds, Owen K.C. Stephens, and Russ Taylor.

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