I have been looking at how to get Archery Fighting Style and Weapon Masteries for a Monk and essentially Fighter 1 is the only efficient way to do that.
Which opens up three weapon masteries and a Ranged Play-style with Crossbow Expert/Gunner at Monk 4… or Giff race
Something like:
Giff with Sailor/Wayfarer* (16 Wis and Tavern Brawler or Lucky) or Criminal* (14 Con & Wis and Alert) Background
Fighter 1: Weapon Mastery: Push, Nick and Vex, Archery Fighting Style
Monk 1: Swap out Studded Leather for Unarmored Defence (15ac to 16ac)
Monk 2: +10ft. movement, Free Disengage every turn
Monk 3: Not sure on Subclass… Kensei if that will work with backwards compatibility?
Monk 4: Great Weapon Master (hence 13 strength)
Monk 5: Extra Attack
How would you build it?
So I've just relooking at the Monk in the new PhB I realised that Martial Arts ONLY functions if you are unarmed or wielding a Monk Weapon... and Monk Weapons are 'simple melee weapons and martial melee weapons that have the light property' even Kensei monk would only allow the Hand Crossbow and Longbow to be used (it specifically names the Longbow)... so no bonus action attacks or synergy with Monk Weapons
Now, you can still use the disengage etc. I believe and use the movement... but Monks will no longer be the king of the gun :-(
Without having access to the 2024 PHB yet, I don't know if there is a compelling reason to start with Fighter at level 1. I would be shocked if they don't still give you weapon masteries if you dip into it later on. For (me), I've considered dipping into Fighter for Two-Weapon Fighting style and Nick.
If you're going for flavor, do whatever you want.
But if you want to optimize, I would not go with a ranged build on a Monk. It does not synergize well with the Monk. Also, Great Weapon Master does not work with Monk weapons.
A great option with 1 level Fighter is Nick + Two-Weapon Fighting Style. At level 5 you'll be able to make 3 action attacks, plus your bonus action martial arts attacks. A Nick weapon plus a light Vex weapon would be a great combination.
I would start with Fighter for THIS build because it gives more money, better saving throws and access right off the bat to guns (or more Mundane ranged weapons).
i believe that many people came to the conclusion that the MOST effective 5e monk was a ranged monk with a gun… I don’t believe that this has changed even though it looks like we will lose the bonus action attack from Tasha’s. The main reason is that actually, ranged combat makes much better use of mobility, and it allows Monk to compete with other martials for damage
Great Weapon Fighting is basically now this and Sharpshooter from 5e combined as it works for ranged weapons
I totally agree about Nick (and Vex) the joy of Fighter rather than other classes with mastery, is that you get three. So you can have the ranged option as well as these two (picking up a Scimitar/Dagger and a Shortsword/Hand Crossbow).
Edit: Also if the old Kensei monk doesn’t attract the new Shadow Monk Allie’s for permanent advantage with essentially the classic Darkness Devilsight combo
Edit 2: Try comparing melee to ranged, bearing in mind that you can draw a weapon as part of the attack now so doing both is not limited…
If you want to carry a ranged weapon as a backup, it appears Monks are only proficient with a hand crossbow. Keep in mind, you'll have to get within melee range anyway if you want to use your bonus action unarmed strikes. Lastly, most of the Monk's special abilities are with unarmed strikes.
In my opinion Kensai is pretty bad. Agile Perry is pretty good, but everything else is just bad. It will expand your weapon choices a bit, but with martial arts die there's negligible benefit at best.
Like I said, if you're just building for a cool factor do as you please. But mechanically, Monk isn't tuned to create a ranged specific build. Rangers, Rogues, and Fighters are better suited for that.
Monk/Ranger. combo is better than fighter. For weapon mastery. But I would choose (sap and vex) with Goliath (species) knock prone. Grapple feat, flurry blows not tied to attack action. Hunter’s mark plus couple spell slots (extra healing?? Depending on how far you want to go into ranger, but gloom stalker is looking real good not to consider.
Monk/Ranger. combo is better than fighter. For weapon mastery. But I would choose (sap and vex) with Goliath (species) knock prone. Grapple feat, flurry blows not tied to attack action. Hunter’s mark plus couple spell slots (extra healing?? Depending on how far you want to go into ranger, but gloom stalker is looking real good not to consider.
Does the 2024 Ranger get a fighting style + weapon mastery at level 1?
It’s all how you want the game experience. I’m building a mercy(monk) gloom (ranger). We as a playing group have multiple campaigns going with high leveled characters and bringers (when all 2024 books out). With interactions between both with the use.of bastions (etc). So multi class won’t affect getting level 20. With high wisdom, and what my style is custom, works well.
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I have been looking at how to get Archery Fighting Style and Weapon Masteries for a Monk and essentially Fighter 1 is the only efficient way to do that.Which opens up three weapon masteries and a Ranged Play-style with Crossbow Expert/Gunner at Monk 4… or Giff raceSomething like:Giff with Sailor/Wayfarer* (16 Wis and Tavern Brawler or Lucky) or Criminal* (14 Con & Wis and Alert) BackgroundStr: 13 Dex: 17 (+2) Con: 12* Int: 8 Wis: 16* (+1) Cha: 8Fighter 1: Weapon Mastery: Push, Nick and Vex, Archery Fighting StyleMonk 1: Swap out Studded Leather for Unarmored Defence (15ac to 16ac)Monk 2: +10ft. movement, Free Disengage every turnMonk 3: Not sure on Subclass… Kensei if that will work with backwards compatibility?Monk 4: Great Weapon Master (hence 13 strength)Monk 5: Extra AttackHow would you build it?So I've just relooking at the Monk in the new PhB I realised that Martial Arts ONLY functions if you are unarmed or wielding a Monk Weapon... and Monk Weapons are 'simple melee weapons and martial melee weapons that have the light property' even Kensei monk would only allow the Hand Crossbow and Longbow to be used (it specifically names the Longbow)... so no bonus action attacks or synergy with Monk Weapons
Now, you can still use the disengage etc. I believe and use the movement... but Monks will no longer be the king of the gun :-(
Without having access to the 2024 PHB yet, I don't know if there is a compelling reason to start with Fighter at level 1. I would be shocked if they don't still give you weapon masteries if you dip into it later on. For (me), I've considered dipping into Fighter for Two-Weapon Fighting style and Nick.
If you're going for flavor, do whatever you want.
But if you want to optimize, I would not go with a ranged build on a Monk. It does not synergize well with the Monk. Also, Great Weapon Master does not work with Monk weapons.
A great option with 1 level Fighter is Nick + Two-Weapon Fighting Style. At level 5 you'll be able to make 3 action attacks, plus your bonus action martial arts attacks. A Nick weapon plus a light Vex weapon would be a great combination.
I would start with Fighter for THIS build because it gives more money, better saving throws and access right off the bat to guns (or more Mundane ranged weapons).i believe that many people came to the conclusion that the MOST effective 5e monk was a ranged monk with a gun… I don’t believe that this has changed even though it looks like we will lose the bonus action attack from Tasha’s. The main reason is that actually, ranged combat makes much better use of mobility, and it allows Monk to compete with other martials for damageGreat Weapon Fighting is basically now this and Sharpshooter from 5e combined as it works for ranged weaponsI totally agree about Nick (and Vex) the joy of Fighter rather than other classes with mastery, is that you get three. So you can have the ranged option as well as these two (picking up a Scimitar/Dagger and a Shortsword/Hand Crossbow).
Edit: Also if the old Kensei monk doesn’t attract the new Shadow Monk Allie’s for permanent advantage with essentially the classic Darkness Devilsight comboEdit 2: Try comparing melee to ranged, bearing in mind that you can draw a weapon as part of the attack now so doing both is not limited…If you want to carry a ranged weapon as a backup, it appears Monks are only proficient with a hand crossbow. Keep in mind, you'll have to get within melee range anyway if you want to use your bonus action unarmed strikes. Lastly, most of the Monk's special abilities are with unarmed strikes.
In my opinion Kensai is pretty bad. Agile Perry is pretty good, but everything else is just bad. It will expand your weapon choices a bit, but with martial arts die there's negligible benefit at best.
Like I said, if you're just building for a cool factor do as you please. But mechanically, Monk isn't tuned to create a ranged specific build. Rangers, Rogues, and Fighters are better suited for that.
Monk/Ranger. combo is better than fighter. For weapon mastery. But I would choose (sap and vex) with Goliath (species) knock prone. Grapple feat, flurry blows not tied to attack action. Hunter’s mark plus couple spell slots (extra healing?? Depending on how far you want to go into ranger, but gloom stalker is looking real good not to consider.
Does the 2024 Ranger get a fighting style + weapon mastery at level 1?
No Fighting Style is level 2
On that alone I would go Fighter dip. That's just me, and it's not to say Ranger is a bad choice.
It’s all how you want the game experience. I’m building a mercy(monk) gloom (ranger). We as a playing group have multiple campaigns going with high leveled characters and bringers (when all 2024 books out). With interactions between both with the use.of bastions (etc). So multi class won’t affect getting level 20. With high wisdom, and what my style is custom, works well.