Pathfinder 1e Archetype Monk

Lifting Hand

Those studied in the art of grappling know that using their opponents' own weight and momentum to lift, disable, or throw them is impressive and effective.

Class
Monk
Kind
Archetype
Granted Spells
Replaces
2 features

Those studied in the art of grappling know that using their opponents' own weight and momentum to lift, disable, or throw them is impressive and effective. When facing a master of the lifting hand, an enemy is likely to find itself sailing through the air or locked in a tortuous compliance hold.

Replaces

Stunning FistAbundant Step

Archetype Features

Savage Toss Level 4

A lifting hand gains Savage Slam as a bonus feat, even if she doesn't meet the prerequisites. At 4th level, when the lifting hand succeeds at her grapple combat maneuver check while using the Savage Slam feat and her grapple combat maneuver check result exceeds the opponent's CMD by at least 5, she can throw the opponent into an non-adjacent square. The lifting hand can throw the opponent 10 feet, plus an additional 5 feet for every 5 by which her grapple check exceeds the opponent's CMD. For instance, if the lifting monk exceeds the target's CMD by 15, she can throw the target into a square 20 feet away. At 8th level, when using Savage Slam, the lifting hand's target no longer receives a bonus to its CMD when the lifting hand attempts to throw it into a dangerous area. This replaces stunning fist.

Bonus Feats Level 1

A lifting hand adds Whirling Hold* to her list of bonus feats at 1st level. At 6th level, she adds Dramatic Slam* and Overhead Flip*. At 10th level, she adds Savage Leap*. This alters the monk's bonus feats.

Joint Lock Level 10

At 10th level, when a lifting hand succeeds at a combat maneuver check to maintain a grapple, instead of choosing to damage, move, pin, or tie up the opponent, she can instead force one of the target's limbs into an agonizing position. The target becomes sickened as long as the lifting hand maintains the grapple. When the grapple is released or broken, the target is fatigued for a number of rounds equal to the lifting hand's level. This is a pain effect. This replaces the bonus feat gained at 10th level.

Counter-Throw Level 12

At 12th level, a lifting hand can ready an action to trigger if a creature tries to attack her. When the readied action triggers, the lifting hand can attempt a grapple combat maneuver check with a +2 bonus. If she succeeds, she grapples the creature and negates the triggering attack, and she can spend an immediate action to use the Savage Slam feat. This replaces abundant step.
Attribution

Rules content from Paizo Inc., reproduced by TheCrazyGM under the Open Game License v1.0a. Licensing for reproduced SRD content is covered by the site's Section 15 register.

Martial Arts Handbook · OGL-1.0a

Added to the library by eco_the_exploiter on Sept. 15, 2026.

Open Game Content reproduced from Martial Arts Handbook by TheCrazyGM under the OGL-1.0a. Copyright in the reproduced material is held by its original publisher, named in this site's Section 15 notice. The core designation is TheCrazyGM's assertion that the material faithfully matches its cited source; that attestation was recorded by Martial Arts Handbook on 2026-09-15.

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  • Based on class: Monk (Class) — core content under OGL 1.0a

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