I just started a campaign where I am playing my first ever Shadow Monk. However, this one is a little different; because of backstory reasons, my character does not use his hands to fight. So that means that he holds no weapons and my DM did not want to homebrew special feet only items for my character to use. My character does a little capoeira style of fighting, using his feet and does more of a breakdance look to it while attacking. But, because of this little change to the normal Shadow Monk class, going Rogue multiclass isnt the best options since I am using no weapons for this character. The two levels into Warlock seems to be the best and most interesting option but I am curious to see what you all can think of to make this character a bit more fun and not just stay on Shadow Monk. My DM is pretty strict on homebrew or things other than PHB. Im asking if he will allow TCE feats that I may be able to use in the future but for the sake of the responses, assume only PHB for possible multiclass and feats to use for this character.
So you're going with no weapons and preferably PHB only.
A couple of questions:
1. What level are you starting at?
2. What level will the campaign go to?
3. What are you thinking in terms of play style for this character?
Answers to these will help us give you some ideas
But off the top of my head, I think warlock isn't the best choice for monks. You are already MAD (multiple attribute dependent) needing DEX and WIS as well as CON. So adding CHA on top of that will make it more difficult. If you want caster levels, Cleric or Druid can give you some good buff, control, and utility options. Or you can go Ranger. Gloomstalker has some good abilities, although not PHB. Hunter Ranger has Colossus Slayer at level 3 for a damage boost. So it depends on if you want to be primarily a monk with a multiclass to augment them. Or a few levels of monk, with the multiclass as the primary class.
Have to agree about druid, clerics and rangers being the best options for multiclassing as monk. Monks are MAD, and either your Dex or Wis are the only stats that will play along with multiclassing.
A lot of options from Druid that could work to flavor texts.. Moon Druid being the most beneficial for wild shape, but they have a good spell list that works off of Wisdom. Monk Druids are my preferred hybrid, but you do need to make a tough decision of how to split your levels, as a minimum of 2 levels is necessary to get the subclass you want. Iwould usually say Monk Druid hybrids are better when you emphasize more on Druid rather than Monk, but you may think otherwise
Cleric is decent as well, as you will get the the subclass at a 1 level dip... but most cleric subclasses give armor or weapon proficiency bonuses which is a waste for your no-weapon no-armor monk. Spell selection is also decent with wisdom, especially with the numerous support spells. A single level dip technically works unless you want Channel divinity. For your build I would pass on cleric
Ranger will require 3 levels to get as a subclass, but it certainly could help with some utility... especially with Tasha's optional rules. Check to see if any of the subclasses work well with your character image. Gloom Stalker has some features pertaining to fighting creatures that rely on Dark Vision, which goes hand in hand with the Shadow Monk. Also Hunter will give the option for additional damage with Collosus slayer. Fighting style would probably be either blind fighting or druidic warrior, my choice would be blind fighting.. so not a lot of options there.. but the subclasses do provide a lot of depth.
A fighter is an option, but not my preferred.. you will need to commit 3 levels as well to get the subclass (similar to ranger) and the key walk away from the base class are action surge and second wind... Fighting styles for your PC are also limited, with only 2 reasonable options Blind fighting and unarmed fighting style, which is useful at low levels...
Again, look at the flavor that each of these subclasses brings, and not just the abilities. Multiclassing with MONK is generally not the best option for power games, as you need those ki points and each level of Monk brings a neat little feature... so its hard to decide how far in another class direction you want to go.
If PHB only, then both gloom stalker ranger and blind fighting style are off the table... so my tip would be towards Moon Druid or Hunter Ranger.
To add to what I said earlier, if you decide to go cleric some domains I think would be interesting are Knowledge for utility, Light and Tempest has some damage and defense abilities (although Tempest’s 2nd level Channel Divinity would only work with thunderwave and shatter unless you get another way to do thunder or lightning damage) and Trickery could be nice for the duplicate for advantage. I would go at least 2 levels for the Channel Divinity.
3 level dip into Warlock is great synergy with shadow monk.
At 3rd level warlock you can cast darkness twice per short rest with warlock spell slots. It saves your ki and you can see in it with devils sight invocation. Its a great combo but requires you to be careful because it can mess up your party if they cant see in it. Also take pact of the chain so your invisible familiar can take the help action and get you or your team mates advantage on attack rolls.
Three levels of warlock is a heavy investment but the amount of ki you can save by using warlock spell slots to cast darkness might be worth it. I would wait until at least level 5 monk to do this to get 2 attacks per round.
For feats sentinel is great for reaction attacks.
If you do plan on using darkness spell alot as a straight monk or multi class warlock you will have to concentrate on it, so resilient constitution is great to boost concentration saves and monk hit points.
If you can convince your dm that your hands count as finesse weapons then defensive duelist also is great for monks.
Lucky, tough and mobile are also good.
Having said all that, monks cant go wrong by taking ability score increases to boost ac, damage, attack rolls and save dc.
I just started a campaign where I am playing my first ever Shadow Monk. However, this one is a little different; because of backstory reasons, my character does not use his hands to fight. So that means that he holds no weapons and my DM did not want to homebrew special feet only items for my character to use. My character does a little capoeira style of fighting, using his feet and does more of a breakdance look to it while attacking. But, because of this little change to the normal Shadow Monk class, going Rogue multiclass isnt the best options since I am using no weapons for this character. The two levels into Warlock seems to be the best and most interesting option but I am curious to see what you all can think of to make this character a bit more fun and not just stay on Shadow Monk. My DM is pretty strict on homebrew or things other than PHB. Im asking if he will allow TCE feats that I may be able to use in the future but for the sake of the responses, assume only PHB for possible multiclass and feats to use for this character.
So you're going with no weapons and preferably PHB only.
A couple of questions:
1. What level are you starting at?
2. What level will the campaign go to?
3. What are you thinking in terms of play style for this character?
Answers to these will help us give you some ideas
But off the top of my head, I think warlock isn't the best choice for monks. You are already MAD (multiple attribute dependent) needing DEX and WIS as well as CON. So adding CHA on top of that will make it more difficult. If you want caster levels, Cleric or Druid can give you some good buff, control, and utility options. Or you can go Ranger. Gloomstalker has some good abilities, although not PHB. Hunter Ranger has Colossus Slayer at level 3 for a damage boost. So it depends on if you want to be primarily a monk with a multiclass to augment them. Or a few levels of monk, with the multiclass as the primary class.
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
Have to agree about druid, clerics and rangers being the best options for multiclassing as monk. Monks are MAD, and either your Dex or Wis are the only stats that will play along with multiclassing.
A lot of options from Druid that could work to flavor texts.. Moon Druid being the most beneficial for wild shape, but they have a good spell list that works off of Wisdom. Monk Druids are my preferred hybrid, but you do need to make a tough decision of how to split your levels, as a minimum of 2 levels is necessary to get the subclass you want. Iwould usually say Monk Druid hybrids are better when you emphasize more on Druid rather than Monk, but you may think otherwise
Cleric is decent as well, as you will get the the subclass at a 1 level dip... but most cleric subclasses give armor or weapon proficiency bonuses which is a waste for your no-weapon no-armor monk. Spell selection is also decent with wisdom, especially with the numerous support spells. A single level dip technically works unless you want Channel divinity. For your build I would pass on cleric
Ranger will require 3 levels to get as a subclass, but it certainly could help with some utility... especially with Tasha's optional rules. Check to see if any of the subclasses work well with your character image. Gloom Stalker has some features pertaining to fighting creatures that rely on Dark Vision, which goes hand in hand with the Shadow Monk. Also Hunter will give the option for additional damage with Collosus slayer. Fighting style would probably be either blind fighting or druidic warrior, my choice would be blind fighting.. so not a lot of options there.. but the subclasses do provide a lot of depth.
A fighter is an option, but not my preferred.. you will need to commit 3 levels as well to get the subclass (similar to ranger) and the key walk away from the base class are action surge and second wind... Fighting styles for your PC are also limited, with only 2 reasonable options Blind fighting and unarmed fighting style, which is useful at low levels...
Again, look at the flavor that each of these subclasses brings, and not just the abilities. Multiclassing with MONK is generally not the best option for power games, as you need those ki points and each level of Monk brings a neat little feature... so its hard to decide how far in another class direction you want to go.
If PHB only, then both gloom stalker ranger and blind fighting style are off the table... so my tip would be towards Moon Druid or Hunter Ranger.
To add to what I said earlier, if you decide to go cleric some domains I think would be interesting are Knowledge for utility, Light and Tempest has some damage and defense abilities (although Tempest’s 2nd level Channel Divinity would only work with thunderwave and shatter unless you get another way to do thunder or lightning damage) and Trickery could be nice for the duplicate for advantage. I would go at least 2 levels for the Channel Divinity.
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
3 level dip into Warlock is great synergy with shadow monk.
At 3rd level warlock you can cast darkness twice per short rest with warlock spell slots. It saves your ki and you can see in it with devils sight invocation. Its a great combo but requires you to be careful because it can mess up your party if they cant see in it. Also take pact of the chain so your invisible familiar can take the help action and get you or your team mates advantage on attack rolls.
Three levels of warlock is a heavy investment but the amount of ki you can save by using warlock spell slots to cast darkness might be worth it. I would wait until at least level 5 monk to do this to get 2 attacks per round.
For feats sentinel is great for reaction attacks.
If you do plan on using darkness spell alot as a straight monk or multi class warlock you will have to concentrate on it, so resilient constitution is great to boost concentration saves and monk hit points.
If you can convince your dm that your hands count as finesse weapons then defensive duelist also is great for monks.
Lucky, tough and mobile are also good.
Having said all that, monks cant go wrong by taking ability score increases to boost ac, damage, attack rolls and save dc.