MArtial + Air Approach
When fighting, an Air approach allows a character to feint, using their precision and grace to exploit flaws in their foe’s attacks and defenses. It focuses on maintaining control over the character’s body at every turn. Rather than trying to crush opposition head-on, it seeks opportunities to excel or gain an advantage that demand exact positioning and timing.

Details
The Air approach to Martial skills is opportunistic and evasive, using agility and cunning to create and exploit openings. It vaults over obstacles gracefully, taking advantage of new positions the enemy does not expect. This can allow a character taking the Air approach to a Martial skill to overcome an entrenched enemy, cleverly flanking them or feigning an attack on another target to open up the real target’s defenses. However, the Air approach to a Martial skill risks becoming an unnecessary flourish. In battle, the only objective is to destroy the enemy without hesitation; in the face of overwhelming force, a cunning plan can become a snare for the schemer who created it.
A character uses Feint when they want to:
  • Evade oncoming force with minimal effort.
  • Move precisely and subtly.
  • Slip past a foe’s defenses into an advantageous position.
  • Land acrobatically (and safely).
  • Practice a technique that relies on grace above all else.
 
Opportunity Uses
*
Add a kept Ring Dice set to an * result to your next Martial skill check.
* +
During a Movement action check, up to 1 range band of any distance you move per * spent this way may be along a vertical surface.
* *
Increase the TN of the next Martial Arts [Ranged] check targeting you before the start of your next turn by 2.
 
Opportunity Uses
*
 If you failed, determine the easiest way to accomplish the task you were attempting (skill and approach).
* +
Remove 1 strife you gained from this check per * spent this way.
* *
Provide assistance to the next character to attempt a check to accomplish something similar
*
If you failed, provide assistance to the next character trying to accomplish the same action (p. 298 CRB)
*
Learn another character in the scene’s demeanor (if an NPC) and current strife.
* +
Act subtly to attract minimal attention in your efforts. Extra * makes the attempt even subtler.
* *
Notice an interesting detail about a character in the scene, such as an advantage or disadvantage. At the GM’s discretion, you may establish a new detail for an NPC.
General Martial Technique Opportunities
Air Martial Technique Opportunities
Crescent moon Style (Rank 2 Kata) - Guard Action
Activation: When you perform Guard action (any Element):
*  After a character at range 1–2 performs an Attack action targeting you or another character you are guarding, you may perform a Strike action with one readied Martial Arts [Melee or Unarmed] weapon targeting that character (if they are within your weapon’s range). This effect persists until the start of your next turn, or until you perform a Strike action this way
Coiling Serpent Style  (Rank 2 Kata) - Snaring Only
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Melee] or Martial Arts [Unarmed] ( Any Element) check using a Snaring weapon:
* +: Choose one weapon a target has readied; that weapon cannot be used for Attack actions. This effect persists until the end of your next turn.
* * +: One target of your action per * * spent this way becomes Immobilized.
Iron Forest Style (Rank 2Kata) - Polearm Only
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Melee] check using a polearm:
* +  The area in range of your weapon counts as Dangerous terrain for one target of your action per * spent this way. When an affected character attempts to move closer to you, they must make a TN 4 Fitness check (Air 2, Water 5); if they fail, they cannot advance. This effect persists until the start of your next turn.
Open-Hand Style (Rank 2 Kata)  - Unarmed + Snaring Only
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Unarmed] check using a weapon with the Snaring quality
* * +: One target of your action per * * spent this way must switch to a different stance of your choice. Targets of silhouette 3 or greater may resist with a TN 3 Fitness check and ignore this effect if they succeed
Rushing Avalanche Style (Rank 2 Kata) - Blunt Only
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Melee] check using a blunt weapon:
*  If you fail with a shortfall of two or less, your target suffers physical damage equal to your ranks in Fitness. 
*  If you succeed and your target is Prone, increase the damage you deal by your ranks in Fitness.
Spinning Blades Style (Rank 2 Kata) - 2 Weapons Only
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Melee] or Martial Arts [Unarmed] Attack action check, if you have a second readied weapon you did not use for the attack:
* +: You must spend * equal to your target’s Vigilance to activate this technique. You use your second readied weapon against one target of your action, inflicting physical damage equal to its base damage. If that target is Dazed, increase this damage by your ranks in the skill you used for the check.
Veiled Menace Style (Rank 2 Kata) - One-handed Only
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Melee] or Martial Arts [Unarmed] Attack action check using a weapon in a one-handed grip:
* +: If you succeed, choose one unaware or Disoriented target of your action. That target suffers a critical strike with severity equal to your weapon’s deadliness plus 1 per * spent this way beyond the first.
Hawk's Precision (Rank 1 Kata)- Ranged Only
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Ranged] check:
* +  Treat the range of the weapon as 1 higher per * spent this way, to a maximum of range 6.
Pelting Hail Style (Rank 2 Kata) - Ranged Only
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Ranged] check:
* +  Choose a number of other characters at range 0–2 of your target equal to * spent this way. Each chosen character receives strife equal to the base damage of your weapon.
Bonebreaker Style  (Rank 5 Kata)- Cumbersome Only
Activation: When you make an Attack action check with a Cumbersome Weapon:
* *:  If your target would suffer a critical strike as a result of this check, instead of making a check to resist, they suffer the severity 5–6: Debilitating Gash result.
Piercing Bolt Style  (Rank 3 Kata)- Ax/Polearm Only
Activation: When you make an Attack action check using an ax or polearm:
* :  Treat the deadliness of your weapon as increased by the number of range bands you have traveled this round, and if you threw it, add the number of range bands it has traveled this round.
Swirling Tempest Style  (Rank 5 Kata)- Blunt/Polearm Only
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Melee] action check with a Blunt Weapon or Polearm:
* +:  Choose one character in range of your weapon other than your target with vigilance lower than or equal to * spent this way. That character suffers physical damage equal to your weapon’s base damage. You may activate this * multiple times, choosing a different character each time.
TWin STreams Style  (Rank 3 Kata)- TWo Sword/Two Ax Only
Activation: When you make a Attack action check using a sword or ax, if you have another readied weapon in the same category:
* *:  If your target suffers a critical strike as a result of this check, increase its severity by the deadliness of your other readied weapon.
Wasp's Spite Style  (Rank 4 Kata) - Ranged Only
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Ranged] check:
* * :  If you did not succeed, choose another target at range 0–2 of your target with vigilance lower than or equal to your target’s. The new target suffers physical damage equal to your weapon’s base damage.
Fierce Badger Style (Rank 2 Kata)- Unarmed Only
Activation: When you perform a Martial Arts [Unarmed] Check:
* + If the target is immobilized, they receive 1 strife per * spent this way.
* + If the targets' silhouette and vigilance both are lower than or equal to * spent this way, the target is thrown 2 range bands in a direction of your choice and suffers 3 fatigue.
Thicket's Embrace Style (Rank 3 Kata)- Unarmed or Fitness
Activation: When you perform a Martial Arts [Unarmed] or Fitness Check:
*  If you are in Entangling or Obscuring terrain, reduce the TN of the next attach check you make by 1 (to a minimum of 1). This effect persists until the end of your next turn.
* * If you are in Entangling or Obscuring terrain, you may ignore its negative effects. This effect persists until the end of your next turn.
Shattering Tide Style (Rank 3 Kata)- Unarmed Only
Activation: When you perform a Martial Arts [Unarmed] Check:
*  If you succeed, and both you and your target are in Confining or Dangerous terrain, treat the damage and deadliness of the weapon you used as 1 higher for each kept Strife result.
* * If both you and your target are in Confining or Dangerous terrain, your target suffers the Dazed condition.
Breath of Wind Style (Rank 1 Kata)
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Melee, Ranged, or Unarmed] (Air) check:
* +  One target of your action must resist with a TN 3 Fitness check (Earth 4, Fire 1) or suffer the Disoriented condition and fatigue equal to their shortfall. Increase the TN of the check to resist by 1 per * spent this way.

Striking as Air  (Rank 1 Kata)
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Melee, Ranged, or Unarmed] (Air) check:
* +   Reserve one of your rolled dice, plus one additional die per * * spent this way. These dice become dropped dice. When making a check with the same skill before the end of your next turn, you may roll one fewer RING DICE per reserved RING DICE and one fewer SKILL DICE per reserved SKILL DICE, then add the reserved dice to your roll. These dice count as rolled dice, but are added set to the results they had when they were reserved.
Skulk (Rank 1 Ninjutsu)
Activation: When you perform an Initiative or Attack (Air) Check:
* If you are in Obscuring terrain, a crowd, or otherwise concealed from sight, one character with vigilance lower than or equal to your ranks in Skulduggery loses sight of you.
Special Circumstance Opportunities
In the Shadowlands
*+ You detect a subtle sign in your environment that lets you get your bearings, such as a stream that runs slightly less Tainted than the environment around it or the growths on the twisted trees that point toward the Festering Pit. This landmark helps guide you for one scene, plus one additional scene in the Shadowlands per * spent this way
Against Tainted Threats
** Confronted with the horrors of the Taint, you remain alert and able to discern a weakness in your foe. Reduce the TN of your next check made to oppose or harm a Tainted character by 1, as you examine the threat before you and formulate an appropriate response.
While Tainted
** Your newfound cunning is able to redirect attention away from you, potentially concealing your Tainted nature or letting you avoid scrutiny. The TN of the next check made to scrutinize you or your actions is increased by 1.
In Negotiations
**+ Your careful verbal trap ensnares someone in a position in which they must either give up ground or give you a boon. They must offer you a minor concession unrelated to your current social objective unless they give up 1 momentum point per ** spent this way
In Romance
** The conversation turns to mutual friends or acquaintances. Name a character you and your intended both know. They must tell you what they think of that character, revealing one of that person’s advantages or disadvantages.
In Espionage
*+ Your subtlety allows you to step out of sight of people, whether by hiding in a crowd or within convenient terrain. Designate a number of Minion NPCs equal to * spent this way or a single Adversary NPC with vigilance lower than or equal to * spent this way. Those characters lose sight of you (and do not notice your absence unless actively looking for you).
In Contested Territory
*  You discern subtle signs of incoming trouble and can take steps to avoid it. The next time you enter a conflict scene this session, you may add a kept die showing *  to your initiative check.
**  You create a clever disguise or ruse to get the jump on potential foes. The next time you enter a conflict scene this session, after initiative has been determined, choose one character in the scene. On that character's next check, they must reroll all results containing non-explosive Success symbols.