Shinobi subclass
Path of Elemental Ninjutsu
Elemental chakra techniques focused on offensive and environmental control.
Path of Elemental Ninjutsu changes how the Shinobi applies chakra, techniques, reactions, and path features during play.
This page collects the path overview, feature progression, subclass features, and playstyle guidance.
Path Overview
The Path of Elemental Ninjutsu is followed by Shinobi who dedicate themselves to transforming chakra into natural forces.
These Shinobi create fire, water, earth, lightning and wind through practiced hand signs and precise chakra control. Some specialize in one nature, while others combine several elements to answer different threats.
Path Features
| Shinobi Level | Feature |
|---|---|
| 3 | Elemental Adept |
| 6 | Secondary Nature |
| 10 | Elemental Shaping |
| 14 | Nature Mastery |
Elemental Adept
Learn two additional Nature Techniques associated with a Chakra Nature available to you. These techniques must be of a rank you can use and do not count against your number of techniques known.
Once on each of your turns when you roll damage for a Nature Technique, add your Wisdom modifier to one damage roll of that technique.
Secondary Nature
Choose one standard Chakra Nature you do not already possess.
- Fire Release.
- Wind Release.
- Lightning Release.
- Earth Release.
- Water Release.
You can learn Nature Techniques associated with the selected nature and learn one additional Nature Technique from that nature. It must be of a rank you can use and does not count against your number of techniques known.
Elemental Shaping
When you activate a Nature Technique, you can expend 1 additional Chakra Point to apply one modification.
- Distant: Double the technique range. If its range is Self, this option has no effect.
- Expanded: Increase a sphere or cylinder radius by 5 feet, a cone length by 10 feet, or a line width by 5 feet.
- Careful: Choose creatures up to your Wisdom modifier. They automatically succeed on saves against the technique and take no damage if they would normally take half damage on success.
- Piercing: The technique ignores resistance to its damage type.
Nature Mastery
Your Nature Techniques ignore resistance to their damage types.
When a creature is immune to damage dealt by a Nature Technique, treat that immunity as resistance instead.
Once on each of your turns, reduce the Chakra Point cost of one Nature Technique by 1, to a minimum cost of 1.
Play This Path If You Want To
- Use large elemental attacks.
- Fight effectively at range.
- Control areas of the battlefield.
- Learn multiple Chakra Natures.
- Modify the shape and range of techniques.
FAQ
What is the Path of Elemental Ninjutsu?
The Path of Elemental Ninjutsu is a Shinobi Path built around Nature Techniques, elemental damage and battlefield shaping. It gains Elemental Adept at 3rd level, Secondary Nature at 6th, Elemental Shaping at 10th and Nature Mastery at 14th, while retaining the base Shinobi's Chakra, Fortune Dice, Extra Attack and technique progression.
Read more: Path of Elemental Ninjutsu 
D&D Portal - What is the Path of Elemental Ninjutsu? Path of Elemental Ninjutsu FAQ The Path of Elemental Ninjutsu is a Shinobi Path built around Nature Techniques, elemental damage and battlefield shaping. It gains Elemental Adept at 3rd level, Secondary Nature at 6th, Elemental Shaping at 10th and Nature Mastery at 14th, while retaining the base Shinobi's Chakra, Fortune Dice, Extra Attack and technique progression. Full link: https://dnd-portal.com/faq/path-of-elemental-ninjutsu/what-is-the-path-of-elemental-ninjutsu/
What are the main Path of Elemental Ninjutsu features?
Its four Path features are Elemental Adept, Secondary Nature, Elemental Shaping and Nature Mastery. Together they add extra Nature Techniques, a second standard Chakra Nature, metamagic-like shaping options for Nature Techniques and strong resistance or immunity penetration at high level.
Read more: Path of Elemental Ninjutsu D&D Portal - What are the main Path of Elemental Ninjutsu features? Path of Elemental Ninjutsu FAQ Its four Path features are Elemental Adept, Secondary Nature, Elemental Shaping and Nature Mastery. Together they add extra Nature Techniques, a second standard Chakra Nature, metamagic-like shaping options for Nature Techniques and strong resistance or immunity penetration at high level. Full link: https://dnd-portal.com/faq/path-of-elemental-ninjutsu/what-are-the-main-path-of-elemental-ninjutsu-features/
How do you build and play a Path of Elemental Ninjutsu Shinobi?
Keep Wisdom and Dexterity high, learn Nature Techniques that cover different jobs instead of only raw damage, and use Chakra aggressively when an area, range or resistance interaction can change the encounter. Secondary Nature and Elemental Shaping reward a versatile elemental toolkit more than repeating nearly identical attacks.
Read more: Path of Elemental Ninjutsu D&D Portal - How do you build and play a Path of Elemental Ninjutsu Shinobi? Path of Elemental Ninjutsu FAQ Keep Wisdom and Dexterity high, learn Nature Techniques that cover different jobs instead of only raw damage, and use Chakra aggressively when an area, range or resistance interaction can change the encounter. Secondary Nature and Elemental Shaping reward a versatile elemental toolkit more than repeating nearly identical attacks. Full link: https://dnd-portal.com/faq/path-of-elemental-ninjutsu/how-do-you-build-and-play-a-path-of-elemental-ninjutsu-shinobi/
How does Path of Elemental Ninjutsu interact with Chakra Natures and Techniques?
The Path expands access to Nature Techniques rather than replacing the normal technique system. Elemental Adept grants two extra Nature Techniques from a nature already available to you, Secondary Nature adds access to another standard nature and another free technique, and later features modify or discount Nature Techniques specifically.
Read more: Path of Elemental Ninjutsu D&D Portal - How does Path of Elemental Ninjutsu interact with Chakra Natures and Techniques? Path of Elemental Ninjutsu FAQ The Path expands access to Nature Techniques rather than replacing the normal technique system. Elemental Adept grants two extra Nature Techniques from a nature already available to you, Secondary Nature adds access to another standard nature and another free technique, and later features modify or discount Nature Techniques specifically. Full link: https://dnd-portal.com/faq/path-of-elemental-ninjutsu/how-does-path-of-elemental-ninjutsu-interact-with-chakra-natures-and-techniques/
How does Elemental Shaping work?
At 10th level, Elemental Shaping lets you spend 1 additional Chakra Point when activating a Nature Technique to apply one of four modifications: Distant, Expanded, Careful or Piercing. Only one listed modification is applied by this feature to that activation unless another rule explicitly says otherwise.
Read more: Path of Elemental Ninjutsu D&D Portal - How does Elemental Shaping work? Path of Elemental Ninjutsu FAQ At 10th level, Elemental Shaping lets you spend 1 additional Chakra Point when activating a Nature Technique to apply one of four modifications: Distant, Expanded, Careful or Piercing. Only one listed modification is applied by this feature to that activation unless another rule explicitly says otherwise. Full link: https://dnd-portal.com/faq/path-of-elemental-ninjutsu/how-does-elemental-shaping-work/