You are correct, a rapier then. Or just ask your DM if you can count monk weapons as finesse weapons. S'not the most game breaking thing in the world. My DM said he'd allow it.
Martial Arts lets you use Dexterity for attack and damage rolls for unarmed strikes and monk weapons.
I disagree with some of the colours assigned to certain features, as you may expect, opinions being what they are. And with inquisitive coder standing up for the way of four elements this guide/thread really covers the class.
I'm stating a new adventure and character this week and I am heavily turning toward monk. A Tabaxi Monk to be honest, probably open hand. I just see a cat monk to have a lot of potential to have a fun RP element! Like an ADHD character that just jumps and punchs and kicks his way into a fight!
Why does wood elf say you get "bonuses to both your primary stats" but you only get a +2 bonus to dex as shown in the character creator?
All elves get +2 DEX. Wood elves also get +1 WIS.
Got it. Thanks for the correction. I was confused as heck lol. Building a monk right now so I was just trying to figure it out before committing anything.
So if Hypothetically you were a Kenku Monk of the Shadows and were allowed 1 magic item what one would be the best? (Edit:) Has to be Very rare and bellow
So if Hypothetically you were a Kenku Monk of the Shadows and were allowed 1 magic item what one would be the best? (Edit:) Has to be Very rare and bellow
Depending on silliness, bag of devouring could be an interesting option, teleport and stuff a body into it.
Boots/Cloak of Elvenkind for stealth bonuses would also be pretty good.
Goggles of Night since kenku don't have darkvision?
Mantle of Spell Resistance is good for anyone if you think your dm will ever use spells on you.
Ring of spell storing means that you can use your own concentration slot, maybe the party spellcaster stores a haste spell in it for you?
Staff of Striking or Staff of Thunder and Lightning for a more offensive option.
So I've got a question, I'm wanting to make a monk/barbarian build and looking at the RAW what I read is that to add rage damage you must use strength for your attacks but looking at the martial arts feature, the only stipulations for using the martial arts feature is that you must be wearing no armor, using no shield, using only unarmed attacks or monk weapons, but not that you have to use dexterity for you weapon attacks. So could I use strength to make my attacks and still use martial arts?
You've made a mistake with kensei's 'sharpen the blade'. It specifically points out it doesn't stack with a magic weapon that already has a bonus to attack an damage.
What would be interesting, is if it stacks with a defender weapon that has had all it's bonuses reduced to count as +AC. So technically while it's adding a bonus to AC, it wouldn't have a bonus to attack or damage. A defender rapier (finesse) combined with the defensive duelist feat could add a hefty situational bonus to AC. Let's say +3 to AC, +3 for defensive duelist (based on a mid-level proficiency bonus of a character) and +2 for the kensei agile parry. You could ramp up your AC by +8. An expensive combo, but effectively. Requires more investment than a wizard simply casting shield for +5, but likely worth the effort.
This means that Savage Attacker does allow a reroll of the damage. DON'T TAKE SAVAGE ATTACKER. The expected bonus scales with the size of the die, and can only be used once per turn. Monks use small dice many times per turn; SA is for people who use large dice a few times per turn. I would rate SA red, if it even rated a mention.
You say Open Hand Monks should use Open Hand Technique to knock their opponents prone "first". Open Hand Technique applies to attacks granted by your Flurry of Blows. Flurry of Blows can only be activated "immediately after you take the Attack action". So OHT can't be used on the first attack. Best case scenario, you use it on the second-to-last attack on your turn. You would then gain advantage on one attack. It doesn't cost ki, so it's ok. If you have allies who can melee the target before it stands up, knocking it prone is great.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
You can't use 2 handed or heavy weapons as a kensei monk, so the glaive and great sword don't work, as they are both heavy and 2 handed
Martial Arts lets you use Dexterity for attack and damage rolls for unarmed strikes and monk weapons.
That does not necessarily make the weapon you're using a finesse weapon according to Jeremy Crawford.
https://twitter.com/JeremyECrawford/status/608080238816296960
Great guide!
I disagree with some of the colours assigned to certain features, as you may expect, opinions being what they are. And with inquisitive coder standing up for the way of four elements this guide/thread really covers the class.
Good work!
Jesus Saves!... Everyone else takes damage.
I'm stating a new adventure and character this week and I am heavily turning toward monk. A Tabaxi Monk to be honest, probably open hand. I just see a cat monk to have a lot of potential to have a fun RP element! Like an ADHD character that just jumps and punchs and kicks his way into a fight!
Anyway, thank you for the post!
Why does wood elf say you get "bonuses to both your primary stats" but you only get a +2 bonus to dex as shown in the character creator?
All elves get +2 DEX. Wood elves also get +1 WIS.
Got it. Thanks for the correction. I was confused as heck lol. Building a monk right now so I was just trying to figure it out before committing anything.
So if Hypothetically you were a Kenku Monk of the Shadows and were allowed 1 magic item what one would be the best? (Edit:) Has to be Very rare and bellow
Go Away
Depending on silliness, bag of devouring could be an interesting option, teleport and stuff a body into it.
Boots/Cloak of Elvenkind for stealth bonuses would also be pretty good.
Goggles of Night since kenku don't have darkvision?
Mantle of Spell Resistance is good for anyone if you think your dm will ever use spells on you.
Ring of spell storing means that you can use your own concentration slot, maybe the party spellcaster stores a haste spell in it for you?
Staff of Striking or Staff of Thunder and Lightning for a more offensive option.
Winged Boots for high speed flying shenanigans.
Thank so much this will hypothetically help me a lot :P
Go Away
Tortle s?
I have just created a half elf variant high elf lineage with the cantrip fire bolt. It will be nice being able to be ranged until I can get in close.
Is there perhaps a guide as to what professions to use for monk, that goes well with their subclass? perhaps on another thread?
So I've got a question, I'm wanting to make a monk/barbarian build and looking at the RAW what I read is that to add rage damage you must use strength for your attacks but looking at the martial arts feature, the only stipulations for using the martial arts feature is that you must be wearing no armor, using no shield, using only unarmed attacks or monk weapons, but not that you have to use dexterity for you weapon attacks.
So could I use strength to make my attacks and still use martial arts?
absolutely. any monk can use strength OR dexterity to make attacks under the above conditions
Jesus Saves!... Everyone else takes damage.
Awesome thanks, that makes the quick barbarian dip worth it then
You've made a mistake with kensei's 'sharpen the blade'. It specifically points out it doesn't stack with a magic weapon that already has a bonus to attack an damage.
What would be interesting, is if it stacks with a defender weapon that has had all it's bonuses reduced to count as +AC. So technically while it's adding a bonus to AC, it wouldn't have a bonus to attack or damage. A defender rapier (finesse) combined with the defensive duelist feat could add a hefty situational bonus to AC. Let's say +3 to AC, +3 for defensive duelist (based on a mid-level proficiency bonus of a character) and +2 for the kensei agile parry. You could ramp up your AC by +8. An expensive combo, but effectively. Requires more investment than a wizard simply casting shield for +5, but likely worth the effort.
Your 'unarmed' doesn't count as a weapon, but attacks with it do count as weapon attacks (https://twitter.com/JeremyECrawford/status/608776737917263872).
This means that Savage Attacker does allow a reroll of the damage. DON'T TAKE SAVAGE ATTACKER. The expected bonus scales with the size of the die, and can only be used once per turn. Monks use small dice many times per turn; SA is for people who use large dice a few times per turn. I would rate SA red, if it even rated a mention.
You say Open Hand Monks should use Open Hand Technique to knock their opponents prone "first". Open Hand Technique applies to attacks granted by your Flurry of Blows. Flurry of Blows can only be activated "immediately after you take the Attack action". So OHT can't be used on the first attack. Best case scenario, you use it on the second-to-last attack on your turn. You would then gain advantage on one attack. It doesn't cost ki, so it's ok. If you have allies who can melee the target before it stands up, knocking it prone is great.