In Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (5e), the Monk class is one of the most unique and versatile classes. Monks are skilled martial artists who use their bodies as weapons, relying on their agility, speed, and spiritual powers to outmaneuver and defeat their enemies. Monks do not need heavy weapons or armor to succeed in battle; instead, they focus on harnessing the power of their body and mind.
In this blog post, we will explore everything you need to know about the Monk 5e class. From its core features to combat strategies and optimal builds, we will cover it all so you can master the Monk and fully understand how to make the most out of this fascinating class.
Key Points:
- Monks rely on their Dexterity and Wisdom scores for combat effectiveness.
- The Monk class offers powerful martial arts abilities, including unarmed strikes and mobility.
- Choosing the right Monk subclass can enhance your playstyle and strategic options.
What Are the Core Abilities of Monk 5e?
Monks are unique in Dungeons & Dragons 5e because they don’t rely on heavy weapons or armor to deal damage. Instead, they focus on physical and spiritual abilities that make them swift and deadly in combat.
Unarmored Defense
One of the key features of the Monk is Unarmored Defense. This feature allows a Monk to use their Dexterity and Wisdom modifiers to calculate their Armor Class (AC) instead of relying on armor. This makes Monks more agile and harder to hit, as long as they have a decent Dexterity and Wisdom score.
For example, a Monk with a Dexterity modifier of +3 and a Wisdom modifier of +2 would have an AC of 10 + 3 (Dex) + 2 (Wis) = 15, instead of needing to wear armor to increase their AC.
Martial Arts
Monks are masters of martial arts, which allows them to make unarmed strikes with their fists or feet. The Martial Arts feature gives the Monk the ability to deal more damage with their unarmed strikes as they level up. Starting at level 1, Monks can use their Dexterity modifier instead of Strength for attack and damage rolls with unarmed strikes or monk weapons. Additionally, at higher levels, Monks can make unarmed strikes as a bonus action after attacking with an unarmed strike or monk weapon.
Examples:
- At level 1, a Monk’s unarmed strike deals 1d4 damage, which increases as they level up.
- At level 5, the Monk’s Martial Arts feature allows them to make an unarmed strike as a bonus action after an attack, making them more versatile in combat.
How Does the Monk’s Mobility Work in 5e?
Monks are incredibly fast and agile, and their mobility is one of their strongest assets. The Unarmored Movement feature grants the Monk increased movement speed when they are not wearing armor.
Unarmored Movement
Starting at level 2, the Monk gains an additional 10 feet of movement speed when not wearing armor or wielding a shield. This increases as the Monk levels up, providing a massive advantage in combat, allowing the Monk to move around the battlefield with ease.
At level 18, this feature becomes even stronger, providing the Monk with a +30 feet increase to their movement speed, making them extremely mobile.
Example of Mobility:
- A Monk at level 2 with a base movement speed of 30 feet would have a total movement speed of 40 feet.
- A Monk at level 18 with a base movement speed of 40 feet would have a total movement speed of 70 feet, allowing them to quickly close the distance or escape danger.
Step of the Wind
At level 2, Monks gain the Step of the Wind feature, allowing them to take the Dash or Disengage action as a bonus action. This increases their ability to move around the battlefield, avoiding attacks or quickly closing in on enemies.
What Are the Monk’s Subclasses in 5e?
Monks have several subclasses to choose from, each offering unique abilities and enhancing different aspects of the Monk’s playstyle. The Monk subclass is chosen at level 3, and each one has its own strengths and weaknesses.
Way of the Open Hand
The Way of the Open Hand focuses on unarmed strikes and martial arts techniques. This subclass allows Monks to use their unarmed strikes more effectively, with abilities that can knock enemies down, push them away, or even prevent them from casting spells. This makes it a great choice for players who want to focus purely on combat and physical strikes.
Example Abilities:
- Open Hand Technique allows you to impose various effects (like knocking enemies prone) when you hit a target with an unarmed strike.
- Wholeness of Body allows you to heal yourself, making you tougher in combat.
Way of Shadow
The Way of Shadow focuses on stealth, deception, and using the shadows to gain an advantage in battle. This subclass grants the Monk the ability to teleport through shadows, making them incredibly hard to pin down. It’s ideal for players who enjoy a more stealthy, trickster approach to combat.
Example Abilities:
- Shadow Step allows you to teleport up to 60 feet as a bonus action, making it perfect for hit-and-run tactics.
- Shadow Clone lets you create an illusion to confuse enemies and gain the upper hand.
Way of the Four Elements
The Way of the Four Elements combines martial arts with elemental magic, allowing the Monk to harness the power of fire, air, earth, and water. This subclass grants the Monk a range of elemental powers to enhance their combat and utility options.
Example Abilities:
- Fist of Unbroken Air lets you use your Martial Arts attack to create a blast of air, dealing damage and pushing enemies away.
- Water Whip allows you to create a whip made of water to deal damage and pull enemies closer.
How Do Monks Contribute to a Party in Dungeons & Dragons?
Monks are not just strong solo combatants; they also bring a variety of skills and support to their parties. Their mobility and unarmed combat abilities make them excellent at flanking enemies, while their high Dexterity and Wisdom make them hard to hit and effective at avoiding damage.
Party Contribution:
- Damage Dealer: Monks excel at dealing damage with their unarmed strikes and martial arts techniques.
- Tank: With high mobility and Unarmored Defense, Monks can avoid damage, even though they don’t wear heavy armor.
- Support: Monks can heal themselves and their allies with abilities like Wholeness of Body and Deflect Missiles.
Example Party Role: A Monk can enter the fray, quickly moving around enemies to create opportunities for their allies to strike. Their Deflect Missiles ability also allows them to protect others from ranged attacks by catching and redirecting projectiles.
Conclusion: Mastering the Monk 5e Class
The Monk class in Dungeons & Dragons 5e offers players a unique and dynamic way to approach combat. Whether you prefer the fast and mobile hit-and-run tactics of the Way of Shadow, the physical prowess of the Way of the Open Hand, or the elemental power of the Way of the Four Elements, the Monk class offers a wide range of playstyles to suit different preferences.
By mastering the Monk’s core abilities, selecting the right subclass, and leveraging your mobility and unarmed strikes, you can become a formidable force on the battlefield. Monks are versatile and capable of filling multiple roles in a party, from damage dealer to support.
FAQ’s
1. What is the best Monk subclass in 5e?
The best Monk subclass depends on your playstyle. Way of the Open Hand is great for unarmed combat, Way of Shadow is perfect for stealth and mobility, and Way of the Four Elements combines martial arts with elemental magic.
2. Can a Monk wear armor in 5e?
Monks can wear armor, but they don’t need to. Their Unarmored Defense feature allows them to rely on Dexterity and Wisdom to calculate their AC instead of wearing armor.
3. Do Monks need to use weapons?
No, Monks are proficient in unarmed strikes and can deal significant damage without the need for weapons. However, they can use Monk weapons if desired.
4. How does the Monk’s Unarmored Movement feature work?
Unarmored Movement increases your base movement speed when you aren’t wearing armor or wielding a shield. It starts at +10 feet at level 2 and can increase up to +30 feet at level 18.
5. Can a Monk heal themselves in 5e?
Yes, the Monk has the ability to heal themselves through features like Wholeness of Body, which allows them to regain hit points equal to three times their Monk level once per short or long rest.