I have a question about the monk feature martial arts.
We started a new campaign and just switched to 5e (from 3.0/3.5) and we still have to figure out the dynamics. The monk is using a quaterstaff, which is a versatile weapon, and thus in the monks abilities to use.
but to use the bonus action to make an unarmed attack, I (being the DM) think it should not be able to use it two handed (and getting the d8 dmg) but to use it with one hand (1d6 dmg) and being able to take the second attack.
Is this a good thought of things?
Thnx
As described in playerhandbook page 78
At 1st level, your practice of martial arts gives you mastery of combat styles that use unarmed strikes and monk weapons, which are shortswords and any simple melee weapons that don’t have the two- handed or heavy property.
You gain the following benefits while you are unarmed or wielding only monk weapons and you aren’t wearing armor or wielding a shield:
You can use Dexterity instead of Strength for the attack and damage rolls of your unarmed strikes and monk weapons.
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, ashown in the Martial Arts column of the Monk table.
When you use the Attack action with an unarmed strike or a monk weapon on your turn, you can make one unarmed strike as a bonus action. For example, if you take the Attack action and attack with a quarterstaff, you can also make an unarmed strike as a bonus action, assuming you haven’t already taken a bonus action this turn.
The Monk can use the quarterstaff with two hands and then, with a bonus action, use unarmed strike. In fact, the restriction is for weapons with the properties two-handed and heavy. Quarterstaff has neither.
Unarmed strike doesn't even have to be a punch. A monk can use his quarterstaff two handed, then kick for his unarmed strike bonus action.
Eventually, the monk's unarmed damage die will overtake the quarterstaff damage die and he'll stop using the quarterstaff entirely at that point anyway. He might even have to forego the quarterstaff, at least some of the time, as early as level 6 if the party encounters damage resistant monsters. At that point, the monk's unarmed strikes will count as magical for purposes of bypassing magic resistant, but his quarterstaff will not, unless of course it's a magic quarterstaff.
Unarmed strike doesn't even have to be a punch. A monk can use his quarterstaff two handed, then kick for his unarmed strike bonus action.
Eventually, the monk's unarmed damage die will overtake the quarterstaff damage die and he'll stop using the quarterstaff entirely at that point anyway. He might even have to forego the quarterstaff, at least some of the time, as early as level 6 if the party encounters damage resistant monsters. At that point, the monk's unarmed strikes will count as magical for purposes of bypassing magic resistant, but his quarterstaff will not, unless of course it's a magic quarterstaff.
The unarmed strikes damage die will never overtake that of the quarterstaff, bc monk weapons use their damage or the unarmed strike damage die (whichever is greater).
And, yes, if it is a mundane quarterstaff, the unarmed strikes will be better starting at level 6 (for overcoming damage reduction for non-magical weapons), but if the quarterstaff is magical in any way (even a +1 quarterstaff), the weapon continues to outshine the unarmed attack in every way.
“It is a better world. A place where we are responsible for our actions, where we can be kind to one another because we want to and because it is the right thing to do instead of being frightened into behaving by the threat of divine punishment.” ― Oramis, Eldest by Christopher Paolini.
What I mean is that, by the time the monk gets to level 11, his unarmed strikes are doing d8 damage anyway, so he doesn't gain anything by continuing to use the quarterstaff unless it's a magical quarterstaff.
That’s why I would use a spear over a staff as a monk because it gives you the option to throw it just in case you cannot get within range to hit in melee
I know this is a bit late, but does unarmed strike count against the duelist fighting style? I was thinking about a polearm master monk/fighter using a quarterstaff and bugbear as the race for reach.
I know this is a bit late, but does unarmed strike count against the duelist fighting style? I was thinking about a polearm master monk/fighter using a quarterstaff and bugbear as the race for reach.
Only the Quarterstaff would gain the +2 damage from the Duelling Fighting Style and only if you use it one-handed. If you use it with two hands (versatile) you lose the bonus. Your unarmed strikes will NOT gain the benefit from Duelling Fighting Styles because they are not melee weapons and not held in one hand.
Yeah, I knew the damage would only go for the quarterstaff. I just wanted to make sure the unarmed strike wouldn't count as a "weapon" in my other hand, so we're good there. It does seem a bit underwhelming though. Any advice of a better way to build this type of character?
I know this is a bit late, but does unarmed strike count against the duelist fighting style? I was thinking about a polearm master monk/fighter using a quarterstaff and bugbear as the race for reach.
Only the Quarterstaff would gain the +2 damage from the Duelling Fighting Style and only if you use it one-handed. If you use it with two hands (versatile) you lose the bonus. Your unarmed strikes will NOT gain the benefit from Duelling Fighting Styles because they are not melee weapons and not held in one hand.
But you should still be able to make the martial arts bonus act or the PAM bonus action attack.
I have a question about the monk feature martial arts.
We started a new campaign and just switched to 5e (from 3.0/3.5) and we still have to figure out the dynamics. The monk is using a quaterstaff, which is a versatile weapon, and thus in the monks abilities to use.
but to use the bonus action to make an unarmed attack, I (being the DM) think it should not be able to use it two handed (and getting the d8 dmg) but to use it with one hand (1d6 dmg) and being able to take the second attack.
Is this a good thought of things?
Thnx
As described in playerhandbook page 78
The Monk can use the quarterstaff with two hands and then, with a bonus action, use unarmed strike. In fact, the restriction is for weapons with the properties two-handed and heavy. Quarterstaff has neither.
Here a reference: https://www.sageadvice.eu/2015/08/28/monk-with-two-hands-quarterstaff-and-unarmed-strike/
Nice thnx!
Unarmed strike doesn't even have to be a punch. A monk can use his quarterstaff two handed, then kick for his unarmed strike bonus action.
Eventually, the monk's unarmed damage die will overtake the quarterstaff damage die and he'll stop using the quarterstaff entirely at that point anyway. He might even have to forego the quarterstaff, at least some of the time, as early as level 6 if the party encounters damage resistant monsters. At that point, the monk's unarmed strikes will count as magical for purposes of bypassing magic resistant, but his quarterstaff will not, unless of course it's a magic quarterstaff.
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“It is a better world. A place where we are responsible for our actions, where we can be kind to one another because we want to and because it is the right thing to do instead of being frightened into behaving by the threat of divine punishment.” ― Oramis, Eldest by Christopher Paolini.
What I mean is that, by the time the monk gets to level 11, his unarmed strikes are doing d8 damage anyway, so he doesn't gain anything by continuing to use the quarterstaff unless it's a magical quarterstaff.
That’s why I would use a spear over a staff as a monk because it gives you the option to throw it just in case you cannot get within range to hit in melee
I know this is a bit late, but does unarmed strike count against the duelist fighting style? I was thinking about a polearm master monk/fighter using a quarterstaff and bugbear as the race for reach.
Only the Quarterstaff would gain the +2 damage from the Duelling Fighting Style and only if you use it one-handed. If you use it with two hands (versatile) you lose the bonus. Your unarmed strikes will NOT gain the benefit from Duelling Fighting Styles because they are not melee weapons and not held in one hand.
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Yeah, I knew the damage would only go for the quarterstaff. I just wanted to make sure the unarmed strike wouldn't count as a "weapon" in my other hand, so we're good there. It does seem a bit underwhelming though. Any advice of a better way to build this type of character?
But you should still be able to make the martial arts bonus act or the PAM bonus action attack.
Yeah, so I figure it's ok, but I don't want it to be too sub-optimal. Any suggestions on subclass?
An unarmed strike can be a kick, especially if you are a martial arts kung-fu monk ....