Unchained Monk who uses a Katana - need Build Advice

[Nosta1300]

in another thread It was mentioned to me that there is a build that allows a Katana to be used by a monk.

I was told it could be done using the ascetic style and ascetic form feats

or taking a dip in cleric and taking the the crusader's flurry feat.

(I would prefer the first one so i do not have to Dip)

But i was wondering if those 2 feats are all i need for it to work?

I Know what the feats do but i was curious as how do i become proficient in it

[Coolwasabi]

I know a couple ways that it maybe be able to work with ascetic form.

Blade of the Sword-Saint counts as a monk weapon but is it expensive.

Versatile Design is another as a weapon modification to act as if it is in the monk weapon group for the style feats. Though i've seen dislike from other posters of this specific modification.

[Nosta1300]

Coolwasabi wrote:

I know a couple ways that it maybe be able to work with ascetic form.

Blade of the Sword-Saint counts as a monk weapon but is it expensive.

Versatile Design is another as a weapon modification to act as if it is in the monk weapon group for the style feats. Though i've seen dislike from other posters of this specific modification.

Ya i think i'll save it for another day.

[Slim Jim]

To the OP: A katana is only 5% better on crits than a stock temple sword. I.e., you could be a regular chained monk archetype with a temple sword who spends Ki for three attacks/round with it at 4th-level.

[Derklord]

To do it without any multiclassing, you definitely need Exotic Weapon Proficiency, Weapon Focus, Ascetic Style, and Ascetic Form, and you need to apply the Versatile Design weapon modification.

The weapon modification rules don't exactly cover the "dual proficiency" weapons. It could be rules in three different ways, from not working at all without either Weapon Adept or Modified Weapon Proficiency, to fully working even without either feat, but the by far most sensible interpretation is that you can wield the katana two-handed without either of those two feats, but need one of them to wield it one-handed.

You'd want WFocus, AStyle and AForm anyway, so you're behind one feat.

UnMonk is proficient with all weapons with the monk special property, which includes a bunch of swords, maybe you can find one to your liking? Unless there's a mechanical reason I haven't seen yet?

[Scott Wilhelm]

I'd do it by multiclassing. A Human, Half Elf, or Half Orc can take 4 levels in Fighter and/or Brawler and take Martial Versatility Human Feat. Then you can Ascetic Style for a 9 Ring Broadsword or Temple Sword, then take Martial Versatility for Ascetic Style, applying your Unarmed Strike Feats to any sword you want.

Maybe not even be a Monk at all and just be a Brawler? Or just dip 1 level in Monk so you can be a Master of Many Styles and use Ascetic and Snake styles at the same time, or Ascetic and Panther styles?

There is a Half Elf Alternate Racial Trait called Ancestral Arms, which gives you a free Exotic Weapon Proficiency.