Monks do their Martial Arts damage when striking unarmed. A character with the Unarmed Fighting FS gets 1D8 if they are otherwise unarmed. Does this mean that a Monk with a 1-level dip into Fighter with the Unarmed FS does 1D8 with their MA attacks?
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To give a slightly more specific answer, use of the Monk's Martial Arts dice in place of damage is optional:
You can roll a d4 in place of the normal damage of your unarmed strike or monk weapon. This die changes as you gain monk levels, as shown in the Martial Arts column of the Monk table.
So if your unarmed strike or monk weapon would normally do better damage, you don't need to use the Martial Arts dice if you don't want to.
Since the unarmed fighting style sets your unarmed strike damage to d6 (or d8 with both hands free) you're unlikely to want to use the Martial Arts dice until you reach 11th-level in Monk (d8) or 17th-level Monk (d10 to beat the both hands free damage).
As a side note, it's a bit silly that they made the unarmed fighting style so obviously better than the Martial Arts dice, as it puts Monks in an awkward spot of trying to judge whether they should take levels in Fighter (and there are plenty of other reasons to do so like Action Surge and Second Wind) or to take the Fighting Initiate feat which is arguably a harder sell (Monks really need their ability score increases, and the feat on its own is harder to justify for an extra 1 or 2 points of damage per hit that eventually becomes obsolete).
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I mean, it's only marginally better really, and that's dependent on the character only using unarmed attacks, while basic Monks can use a d6 or d8 weapon for everything but the bonus action attacks. And they've already said they're going to tune up the damage die in 1D&D, so it's pretty well a non-issue by this point. I wouldn't waste a feat on it, or even the Fighting Style from a dip. Dueling is a better pick if you're using a weapon, Blindfighting is niche but handy and can get some nice synergy with Way of Shadows, and Thrown Weapon Fighting helps keep you relevant in a standoff fight. Imo the whole issue of Monk performance gets really overblown as people cherry pick the comparative builds.
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Monks do their Martial Arts damage when striking unarmed. A character with the Unarmed Fighting FS gets 1D8 if they are otherwise unarmed. Does this mean that a Monk with a 1-level dip into Fighter with the Unarmed FS does 1D8 with their MA attacks?
Not all MA attacks, no. Only unarmed strikes.
Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
Don't be mean. Rudeness is a vicious cycle, and it has to stop somewhere. Exceptions for things that are funny.
Go to the current Competition of the Finest 'Brews! It's a cool place where cool people make cool things.
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat Off - Mod Hat Also Off (I'm not a mod)
I agree with Quar1on Monk can combine Martial Art work with Unarmed Fighting Style when making unarmed strikes.
To give a slightly more specific answer, use of the Monk's Martial Arts dice in place of damage is optional:
So if your unarmed strike or monk weapon would normally do better damage, you don't need to use the Martial Arts dice if you don't want to.
Since the unarmed fighting style sets your unarmed strike damage to d6 (or d8 with both hands free) you're unlikely to want to use the Martial Arts dice until you reach 11th-level in Monk (d8) or 17th-level Monk (d10 to beat the both hands free damage).
As a side note, it's a bit silly that they made the unarmed fighting style so obviously better than the Martial Arts dice, as it puts Monks in an awkward spot of trying to judge whether they should take levels in Fighter (and there are plenty of other reasons to do so like Action Surge and Second Wind) or to take the Fighting Initiate feat which is arguably a harder sell (Monks really need their ability score increases, and the feat on its own is harder to justify for an extra 1 or 2 points of damage per hit that eventually becomes obsolete).
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
I mean, it's only marginally better really, and that's dependent on the character only using unarmed attacks, while basic Monks can use a d6 or d8 weapon for everything but the bonus action attacks. And they've already said they're going to tune up the damage die in 1D&D, so it's pretty well a non-issue by this point. I wouldn't waste a feat on it, or even the Fighting Style from a dip. Dueling is a better pick if you're using a weapon, Blindfighting is niche but handy and can get some nice synergy with Way of Shadows, and Thrown Weapon Fighting helps keep you relevant in a standoff fight. Imo the whole issue of Monk performance gets really overblown as people cherry pick the comparative builds.