"Agile Parry. If you make an unarmed strike as part of the Attack action on your turn and are holding a kensei weapon, you can use it to defend yourself if it is a melee weapon. You gain a +2 bonus to AC until the start of your next turn, while the weapon is in your hand and you aren’t incapacitated."
Where it says "as part of the attack" does that include bonus attack? So, could I use my main attack to hit someone with my staff, then as a monk use my bonus action to unarmed strike and be eligible for the +2 AC bonus?
"Kensei’s Shot. You can use a bonus action on your turn to make your ranged attacks with a kensei weapon more deadly. When you do so, any target you hit with a ranged attack using a kensei weapon takes an extra 1d4 damage of the weapon’s type. You retain this benefit until the end of the current turn."
Does that use up an entire bonus action to deal 1d4 damage? What's the point of this when, as a monk, I can use said bonus action to do a 1d6+3 unarmed strike? Is that only if I don't want to get up close? I'm a flying aarakocra with the mobile feat, I can get up close then fly away again, so this ability is basically useless?
Kensai's Shot becomes more useful if you can make multiple attacks as part of the Attack action, because it adds the d4 to each damage roll.
For Agile Parry, your bonus action unarmed strike does not count as part of the Attack action, so unless you made an unarmed strike as part of your action, it wouldn't do anything.
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Kensai's Shot becomes more useful if you can make multiple attacks as part of the Attack action, because it adds the d4 to each damage roll.
For Agile Parry, your bonus action unarmed strike does not count as part of the Attack action, so unless you made an unarmed strike as part of your action, it wouldn't do anything.
Where it says "as part of the attack" does that include bonus attack? So, could I use my main attack to hit someone with my staff, then as a monk use my bonus action to unarmed strike and be eligible for the +2 AC bonus?
No. It says "as part of the Attack action", and that means only the attack(s) made as part of that action - the one(s) you'd make even if you chose to do something else with your Bonus Action - count. So to use your example, if you want the AC bonus, you'd have to use your main attack to make an unarmed strike, even if you were also going to use your bonus action to make an unarmed strike.
Does that use up an entire bonus action to deal 1d4 damage? What's the point of this when, as a monk, I can use said bonus action to do a 1d6+3 unarmed strike? Is that only if I don't want to get up close? I'm a flying aarakocra with the mobile feat, I can get up close then fly away again, so this ability is basically useless?
Yes, it uses an entire bonus action - there is no such thing as a partial bonus action. And yes, the point is that this can boost your ranged damage even though that's not as much theoretical damage as using an unarmed strike on something. It is important to note it isn't just a single d4, though; it is 1d4 per attack until the end of the turn, so if you are high enough level to have Extra Attack, if someone has cast haste upon you, or you have some other way to get another attack with your ranged weapon that doesn't also require a bonus action, the extra 1d4 applies to all of those attacks.
Where it says "as part of the attack" does that include bonus attack? So, could I use my main attack to hit someone with my staff, then as a monk use my bonus action to unarmed strike and be eligible for the +2 AC bonus?
No, however once you gain an extra attack at level 5, you could hit once with your staff, then hit once with an unarmed strike.
What happen sniff you want to make two unarmed strikes as part of the attack action? Does the bonus AC stack, or would it just be one instance?
I know magic effects don’t stack so I doubt this would, but I can’t find anything that definitively disproves it.
Hi Son_of_Destiny o/
This type of effects only apply once in the turn, as it says "if you make A unarmed attack" (emphasis mine). Would it be possible to apply the effect multiple times, it would say "for every unarmed attack you make", or something along those lines.
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What happen sniff you want to make two unarmed strikes as part of the attack action? Does the bonus AC stack, or would it just be one instance?
I know magic effects don’t stack so I doubt this would, but I can’t find anything that definitively disproves it.
Hi Son_of_Destiny o/
This type of effects only apply once in the turn, as it says "if you make A unarmed attack" (emphasis mine). Would it be possible to apply the effect multiple times, it would say "for every unarmed attack you make", or something along those lines.
I agree with you both, in that it is not exactly clear, and that the correct interpretation is probably only once per turn. The language is usually more specific if something is usable multiple times, and even more specific if its bonus stacks with a previous usage. As usual it could come down to individual DM interpretation: I would not allow it by default, but might have to think harder about it if the monk was holding two Kensai weapons, or if the had access to two Attack actions (via Haste or similar).
It is worth noting that in early levels using Agile Parry is a bit of a trade off (damage for AC) but in later monk levels, when unarmed strikes are just as powerful as a longsword, allowing the +2 AC twice every turn is pretty much giving a monk a free +4 boost to AC while in melee.
I'd say that it follows the generic rule that bonuses from the same source (in this case being the Agile Parry feature) do not stack, therefore it is not further detailed. If multiple attacks would allow this, that would be a deviation of the standard rule. The same goes for instance for multiple uses of the Aid spell; it's not specified that the effect can stack with itself therefore it never does.
If you make an martial arts attach with a Kensei weapon - do you get agile parry., or does it only work if you make an unarmed strike (kick or punch) and you are holding the kensei weapon but not actively using it.
As far as the RAW, agile shot makes no reference to what else you do with your turn with attacks. So if you satisfy the requirements of agile shot (unarmed attack with main attack action while holding kensei weapon) and continue to satisfy it (still holding it, not incapacitated) then there is nothing stopping you from making bonus action attacks or extra attacks with the kensei weapon as long as you’re still holding it and conscious to keep the bonus to AC.
I don't think a monk can make a main action Unarmed Strike and then use a Monk Weapon attack with a bonus action. I think its always the other way around.
A +4 AC each turn sounds OP, except when you consider that a +3 shield would grant a +5 boost to AC.
The power trade off for wielding a shield is that the combatant uses a hand, so they cannot wield a heavy weapon. The kensei has that restriction built-in.
"Yeah, but the monk's flurry allows for more attacks."
They still don't compare to the paladin's smite or the fighter's (up to) 4 free attacks.
As far as the RAW, agile shot makes no reference to what else you do with your turn with attacks. So if you satisfy the requirements of agile shot (unarmed attack with main attack action while holding kensei weapon) and continue to satisfy it (still holding it, not incapacitated) then there is nothing stopping you from making bonus action attacks or extra attacks with the kensei weapon as long as you’re still holding it and conscious to keep the bonus to AC.
Martial Arts rules are pretty clear on the bonus action attack needs to be an unarmed one.
A +4 AC each turn sounds OP, except when you consider that a +3 shield would grant a +5 boost to AC.
Agile Party activates IF one of the Attack Action attacks is an unarmed attack, not "each time" you make an unarmed attack as part of your attack action, so it can only be used once per turn (aside from the usual rule of bonuses from the same source not stacking).
Also, unless you are playing in a magic items heavy campaign and the DM is very generous with them, it would be pretty hard to find a +3 shield, and for sure it would not be in the first 8/10 levels.
The power trade off for wielding a shield is that the combatant uses a hand, so they cannot wield a heavy weapon. The kensei has that restriction built-in.
The power trade-off becomes inconsequential as soon as the Martial Arts die becomes the same as the chosen weapon.
If we look at the "best" weapons to use as a Kensei weapon, the Longsword or Battleaxe, the Monk is still able to use their Versatile property and use all their other features (Martial Arts features and Flurry do not need a free hand) until the Martial Arts damage evens out, so technically outperforming any other one-handed weapon used with a shield.
"Yeah, but the monk's flurry allows for more attacks."
They still don't compare to the paladin's smite or the fighter's (up to) 4 free attacks.
I do agree Smite is superior, if anything for the mere fact that you activate it when the attack has already hit and can do sh*t ton of damage, but then again it is one of the best features in the whole game.
Action Surge, on the other hand, is somewhat inferior when using it to attack and comparing it to Flurry, imho, as AS is once (max twice) every short rest, Flurry is up to Monk level per short rest.
Onthe other hand, though, Action Surge allows for more versatility, since it gives one additional Action, that can be used for more than just attacks, so I think they could be considered equivalent.
I don't think a monk can make a main action Unarmed Strike and then use a Monk Weapon attack with a bonus action. I think its always the other way around.
Nothing stops monks from using the regular two weapon fighting rules, and you don't need empty hands to make unarmed strikes. A Kensei 5 wielding two shortswords can make an unarmed strike as their first Attack Action attack, a shortsword (right hand) attack with their second Attack Action attack, and a bonus shortsword (left hand) attack with their Bonus action.
True, but (correct me if I'm wrong) they would be better off using their Bonus action to make an Unarmed Strike, as they would get 1d6+Modifier damage with it whereas they would only get 1d6 damage with their offhand shortsword using two-weapon fighting.
True, but (correct me if I'm wrong) they would be better off using their Bonus action to make an Unarmed Strike, as they would get 1d6+Modifier damage with it whereas they would only get 1d6 damage with their offhand shortsword using two-weapon fighting.
This is true, the monk needs to decide wether they use their bonus action for the Monk's Martial Arts feature (an unarmed strike) or the bonus action they get from two weapon fighting. And unless they have features that states otherwise, the unarmed strike follows regular damage (including dex/str modifier) whereas the off had does not.
Hey,
So,
"Agile Parry. If you make an unarmed strike as part of the Attack action on your turn and are holding a kensei weapon, you can use it to defend yourself if it is a melee weapon. You gain a +2 bonus to AC until the start of your next turn, while the weapon is in your hand and you aren’t incapacitated."
Where it says "as part of the attack" does that include bonus attack? So, could I use my main attack to hit someone with my staff, then as a monk use my bonus action to unarmed strike and be eligible for the +2 AC bonus?
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Second question,
"Kensei’s Shot. You can use a bonus action on your turn to make your ranged attacks with a kensei weapon more deadly. When you do so, any target you hit with a ranged attack using a kensei weapon takes an extra 1d4 damage of the weapon’s type. You retain this benefit until the end of the current turn."
Does that use up an entire bonus action to deal 1d4 damage? What's the point of this when, as a monk, I can use said bonus action to do a 1d6+3 unarmed strike? Is that only if I don't want to get up close? I'm a flying aarakocra with the mobile feat, I can get up close then fly away again, so this ability is basically useless?
3D Artist - www.charliepharis.com
Kensai's Shot becomes more useful if you can make multiple attacks as part of the Attack action, because it adds the d4 to each damage roll.
For Agile Parry, your bonus action unarmed strike does not count as part of the Attack action, so unless you made an unarmed strike as part of your action, it wouldn't do anything.
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What happen sniff you want to make two unarmed strikes as part of the attack action? Does the bonus AC stack, or would it just be one instance?
I know magic effects don’t stack so I doubt this would, but I can’t find anything that definitively disproves it.
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I'd say that it follows the generic rule that bonuses from the same source (in this case being the Agile Parry feature) do not stack, therefore it is not further detailed. If multiple attacks would allow this, that would be a deviation of the standard rule. The same goes for instance for multiple uses of the Aid spell; it's not specified that the effect can stack with itself therefore it never does.
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Agile Parry Question and Monk Weapon?
If you make an martial arts attach with a Kensei weapon - do you get agile parry., or does it only work if you make an unarmed strike (kick or punch) and you are holding the kensei weapon but not actively using it.
Diabex#1467
The feature specifically states that the character must make "an unarmed strike" to activate the agile parry feature.
I am pretty certain that making a martial arts attack with the Kensei weapon would not constitute making an unarmed strike.
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As far as the RAW, agile shot makes no reference to what else you do with your turn with attacks. So if you satisfy the requirements of agile shot (unarmed attack with main attack action while holding kensei weapon) and continue to satisfy it (still holding it, not incapacitated) then there is nothing stopping you from making bonus action attacks or extra attacks with the kensei weapon as long as you’re still holding it and conscious to keep the bonus to AC.
I don't think a monk can make a main action Unarmed Strike and then use a Monk Weapon attack with a bonus action. I think its always the other way around.
Diabex#1467
A +4 AC each turn sounds OP, except when you consider that a +3 shield would grant a +5 boost to AC.
The power trade off for wielding a shield is that the combatant uses a hand, so they cannot wield a heavy weapon. The kensei has that restriction built-in.
"Yeah, but the monk's flurry allows for more attacks."
They still don't compare to the paladin's smite or the fighter's (up to) 4 free attacks.
Quote from JCAUDM >>
Martial Arts rules are pretty clear on the bonus action attack needs to be an unarmed one.
Agile Party activates IF one of the Attack Action attacks is an unarmed attack, not "each time" you make an unarmed attack as part of your attack action, so it can only be used once per turn (aside from the usual rule of bonuses from the same source not stacking).
Also, unless you are playing in a magic items heavy campaign and the DM is very generous with them, it would be pretty hard to find a +3 shield, and for sure it would not be in the first 8/10 levels.
The power trade-off becomes inconsequential as soon as the Martial Arts die becomes the same as the chosen weapon.
If we look at the "best" weapons to use as a Kensei weapon, the Longsword or Battleaxe, the Monk is still able to use their Versatile property and use all their other features (Martial Arts features and Flurry do not need a free hand) until the Martial Arts damage evens out, so technically outperforming any other one-handed weapon used with a shield.
I do agree Smite is superior, if anything for the mere fact that you activate it when the attack has already hit and can do sh*t ton of damage, but then again it is one of the best features in the whole game.
Action Surge, on the other hand, is somewhat inferior when using it to attack and comparing it to Flurry, imho, as AS is once (max twice) every short rest, Flurry is up to Monk level per short rest.
Onthe other hand, though, Action Surge allows for more versatility, since it gives one additional Action, that can be used for more than just attacks, so I think they could be considered equivalent.
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@ danger Ryan
That was my question, and you answered it, thanks
Nothing stops monks from using the regular two weapon fighting rules, and you don't need empty hands to make unarmed strikes. A Kensei 5 wielding two shortswords can make an unarmed strike as their first Attack Action attack, a shortsword (right hand) attack with their second Attack Action attack, and a bonus shortsword (left hand) attack with their Bonus action.
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True, but (correct me if I'm wrong) they would be better off using their Bonus action to make an Unarmed Strike, as they would get 1d6+Modifier damage with it whereas they would only get 1d6 damage with their offhand shortsword using two-weapon fighting.
This is true, the monk needs to decide wether they use their bonus action for the Monk's Martial Arts feature (an unarmed strike) or the bonus action they get from two weapon fighting. And unless they have features that states otherwise, the unarmed strike follows regular damage (including dex/str modifier) whereas the off had does not.
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