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The Monk is an uncommon class in Dungeons & Dragons and Baldur’s Gate 3. Although it is a martial class with a specific concentrate on shut fight, the Monk cares not for trivial issues like costly weapons and armor.

The Monk’s biggest asset is their very own physique. It’s their temple, their fortress, and their weapon, and Monks can command a fist that may devastate foes as a lot as any sword or axe. Learn on to take a look at our full Monk Class information. If you would like extra, try our full slate of obtainable Baldur’s Gate 3 guides.

Earlier than You Start

Word that none of those factors are set in stone. Construct your character the best way you select, and see these notes extra as ideas than guidelines. For extra suggestions, try our Baldur’s Gate 3 Character Creation information.

This information may even assume that you’re constructing a customized character. Origin Characters have distinctive interactions and roleplaying choices out there due to their preset nature. Although there are not any Monk Origin Characters by default, chances are you’ll select The Darkish Urge and construct them as a Monk.

Moreover, this information presumes you might be constructing a single-class character. Multiclassing into completely different lessons as you stage up is an choice to realize new and helpful talents, however there’s additionally worth in specialization. We’ll have a number of multiclass ideas for you on the finish of the information.

The Monk Playstyle

In Baldur’s Gate 3 the Monk magically harnesses the power that flows via their physique, channeling it into hanging shows of fight prowess or a supernatural affinity for pace and protection. Infusing all that the Monk does, this power successfully takes the place of weapons and armor on extra mundane Martial characters.

Monks excel at combining mobility and energy, darting concerning the subject and delivering devastating unarmed strikes infused with supernatural “Ki” power. They will inflict damaging results on foes with their strikes and even have such honed reflexes that they will deflect incoming missile assaults.

That stated, Monks might be weak when caught flat-footed or when pushed right into a nook. Their lack of dependence on armor and weapons can go away them in a bind when their magical and evasive defenses are compromised. Thus Monks ought to play the function of cellular strikers and outriders in a gaggle struggle, concentrating on weak enemies and avoiding getting trapped.

That stated, Monks might be simply as sturdy and “tanky” as an armored Fighter when performed proper. Monk gamers ought to use their surfeit of actions judiciously, studying the fight scenario and profiting from their many talents.

Monk Class Options

• Key Talents: Energy and Dexterity
  
  • Monks use Energy to struggle, whereas utilizing their Dexterity to keep away from enemy blows.
  • A excessive Structure and Knowledge are additionally useful, to extend a Monk’s HP pool and to energy up a few of their class options.
• Gear Proficiency: Easy Weapons, Shortswords.
  • Monks don’t acquire armor proficiency.
• Ability Proficiency: At creation, Monks can acquire Proficiency in two Expertise from the next record. Most Monks could make good use of Athletics and Acrobatics proficiency, however a Monk’s Dexterity may even profit Stealth checks.
  • Acrobatics
  • Athletics
  • Historical past
  • Perception
  • Faith
  • Stealth
• Flurry of Blows: The signature Monk fight particular, Flurry of Blows launches two assaults in fast succession. The assault depend will increase as a Monk ranges up.
• Ki: A particular useful resource that the Monk attracts on to energy their particular options. At increased ranges, Ki empowers a Monk’s unarmed assaults, making them magical for overcoming enemy resistances. Ki factors are recharged on a brief relaxation.
• Unarmored Protection: Monks can add their Knowledge modifier to their Armor Class when not carrying armor. This differs from the Barbarian model, which makes use of the Structure modifier.
• Martial Arts: The core of the Monk’s specialised toolkit. Martial Arts characterize the Monk’s distinctive strategy to fight. Martial Arts are centered round using both Unarmed Strikes or “Monk Weapons”.
  • Assaults with Monk Weapons can profit from a Monk’s Dexterity bonus, if the bonus is increased than Energy. This is applicable even to weapons not tagged as “Finesse”.
  • Assaults with unarmed strikes and Monk Weapons will do 1d4 Bludgeoning Injury, except the traditional harm is increased.
  • Monks could make bonus unarmed assaults when making unarmed or Monk Weapon assaults.
• Unarmored Motion: Monks have elevated motion pace when not carrying armor or shields.
• Affected person Defence: As an motion Monks can impose drawback on incoming assault rolls and acquire benefit on Dexterity saves.
• Step of the Wind: Monks can quickly double their motion pace, bounce effortlessly, and disengage from an enemy.
• Deflect Missiles: Monks can scale back or completely deflect incoming ranged weapon harm utilizing their Dexterity modifier.
• Sluggish Fall: Monks can resist falling harm.
• Gorgeous Strike: With an unarmed or Monk Weapon assault, Monks can stun a goal if the goal fails a Structure save.
• Evasion: Monks can fully dodge some spells with a Dex save, taking solely half harm on a failed save.
• Stillness of Thoughts: Monks can mechanically clear Allure or Concern circumstances when affected by them.
• Purity of Physique: Monks can grow to be proof against poison harm.

Monk Gear Suggestions

• Most Monk Martial Arts are restricted to utilizing unarmed strikes or “Monk Weapons”. In a departure from tabletop guidelines, Baldur’s Gate 3 considers any weapon the Monk is personally proficient in as a “Monk Weapon” for that character.
  
  • Although Monks have restricted weapon proficiencies, this variation signifies that racial proficiency bonuses can vastly enhance a Monk’s “Monk Weapon” arsenal. For instance, a Githyanki Monk can use a greatsword as their Monk Weapon, and an Elven Monk can use a longsword.
  • At early ranges, weapons will do extra harm than a Monk’s fists, so it is worthwhile to concentrate on your character’s proficiencies, and take into account feats that grant them.
• Monks additionally don’t have any armor proficiency of any form by default. Thus Monks ought to make the most of their dexterity bonus, and even take into account carrying magical clothes to get probably the most out of their worn gear. 

Monk Subclasses

At Degree 3, Monks will select a Monastic Custom to affect their class progress. Every subclass provides new options to emphasise one of many Monk’s distinctive class qualities. The Means of the Open Hand improves unarmed and Monk Weapon fight, the Means of Shadow emphasizes stealth and mobility, and the Means of the 4 Components embraces the Monk as a kind of Ki-powered “spellcaster” that offers magical and elemental harm with spell-like talents.

Means of the Open Hand

Open Hand Monks lean into the classical Monk archetype of an Asian-influenced martial artist whose fists are as potent as any sword. Open Hand Monks are highly effective melee fighters and unlock a flexible vary of fight choices, together with variations on the Flurry of Blows and strategies to imbue unarmed strikes with elemental harm. They’re additionally the best subclass to play within the early and midgame, with an easy combative playstyle and choices for therapeutic themselves unaided.

Subclass Options

• Flurry of Blows: The Monk’s commonplace Flurry of Blows good points variant actions that may knock targets inclined, stagger them and disable reactive strikes, or push them again.
• Manifestation: Open Hand Monks can infuse their strikes and physique with exterior Ki, selecting to do Necrotic, Radiant, or Psychic harm. These Injury sorts are exhausting for many mundane enemies to withstand, and are significantly efficient towards sure enemy sorts (like undead).
• Wholeness of Physique: The Open Hand Monk can shortly heal themselves, recharge their Ki, and even acquire a bonus motion on the identical flip. This is a superb “panic button” transfer for recovering after taking a tough hit.
• Ki Resonation: In what seems to be an adaptation of the tabletop model’s “Quivering Palm” transfer, Open Hand Monks can use a particular punch to do further harm and trigger a goal’s Ki to “resonate” for a time frame. The Monk can then select to set off a “Ki Resonation Blast” that causes any resonating targets to detonate, dealing drive harm to themselves and others round them. 

Means of the Shadow

The Means of the Shadow might properly be referred to as The Means of the Ninja as a result of that is how Monks on this path conduct themselves. Means of the Shadow Monks acquire entry to stealth-focused spells, in addition to the Shadow Arts, a department of Martial Arts targeted on making the Monk virtually undetectable till they select to assault, hanging with ferocious psychic harm.

Subclass Options

• Minor Phantasm: Entry to the Cantrip Minor Phantasm.
• Shadow Arts: Means of the Shadow Monks can use their Ki to energy a collection of supernaturally efficient stealth strikes. They will disguise from enemies immediately, solid a stealth enhancement on the entire occasion, summon a shroud of darkness that blinds creatures and stops ranged assaults, see at the hours of darkness, and silence themselves and others.
• Cloak of Shadows: Shadow Monks can use a method to show invisible, as per the spell.
• Shadow Step: Teleport from one shadow to a different, gaining Benefit for the following melee assault.
• Shadow Strike: Teleport subsequent to a foe, hanging them and dealing extra psychic harm.

Means of the 4 Components

Name this Monk the “Avatar” Monk, as a result of they’ve mastered 4 of the weather to control as they please. 4 Components Monks undertake a type of spellcasting that makes use of their Ki to deploy results that mimic many Wizard and Cleric spells. 

For the sake of readability we can’t record each spell, however will as a substitute make a set of suggestions, mentioning notable additions.

Subclass Options

• Disciple of the Components: Monks can select spells from a particular record of 4 Components spells. These are distinctive strategies to monks, and lots of ship Fireplace, Chilly, Thunder, and Lightning harm. These spells can enhance in effectiveness because the Monk ranges up.
  
  • Notable Spells:
    • Clench of the North Wind – Immobilizes targets, making them weak to crucial hits
    •  Fist of 4 Thunders – A wave of thunder harm that pushes away enemies
    • Blade of Rime – an ice knife that explodes, dealing space chilly harm and leaving a frozen floor
    • Shaping of the Ice – creates a dice of ice that may be climbed or used as cowl
    • Water Whip – Does harm and pulls a goal towards you or knocks it inclined
• Concord of Fireplace and Water: Monks can regain a few of their spent Ki factors.

Monk Degree Development

These are the category options you’ll get as you stage up as a Monk. The utmost stage cap in Baldur’s Gate 3 at launch is Degree 12. Use this to see what you’ll get at every stage and plan accordingly, in case you want to multiclass.

This information may even spotlight class options you acquire primarily based in your subclass selection. For extra detailed data concerning the subclasses, see the sections above. Options gained by a Subclass are labeled with the Subclass identify. 

Word: Unlabeled advantages are “commonplace” class options and customary to all subclasses.

Degree 1

• HP: 8 HP + Structure Modifier, gaining minimal of 5 HP + Con modifier per stage.
• Flurry of Blows
• Ki
• Unarmored Protection
• Martial Arts

Degree 2

• Unarmored Motion: Pace elevated when unarmored
• Affected person Protection: Drawback incoming assault rolls, benefit your Dex saves
• Step of the Wind: Enhance motion pace and disengage freely.

Degree 3

• Deflect Missiles: Mitigate or nullify incoming ranged assaults.
• Subclass Alternative: Select Means of the Open Hand, Means of the Shadow, or Means of the 4 Components.
• Open Hand: Improved Flurry of Blows: Unlocks extra Flurry of Blows actions.
• Shadow: Shadow Arts: Unlock Shadow Arts strikes
• Shadow: Minor Phantasm cantrip
• 4 Components: Disciple of the Components: Select 3 spells from the Disciple of the Components spell record to study.
• 4 Components: Concord of Fireplace and Water: Recharge Ki

Degree 4

• Feat Choice: Can choose a Feat from All Courses Feat record. Whereas any class at stage 4 can choose any of the Feats, not all can be related to the category. You may also select a capability enchancment to spice up a bonus or get rid of a penalty. Try our full Feats information for extra recommendation on Monk-appropriate Feats.
  • Really useful Monk Feats:
    • Potential Enchancment
    • Athlete
    • Fortunate
    • Cellular
    • Polearm Grasp
    • Expert
    • Tavern Brawler
    • Powerful
    • Weapon Grasp

Degree 5

• Additional Assault: Could make an extra free assault when making an unarmed or weapon assault.
• Gorgeous Strike: Stun a goal
• Shadow: Cloak of Shadows: Turn into invisible

Degree 6

• Improved Unarmored Motion
• Ki-Empowered Strikes: Unarmed assaults are thought of magical vs. resistances and immunities.
• Open Hand: Manifestation: Unlock Manifestation of Physique, Thoughts, and Soul.
• Open Hand: Wholeness of Physique: Restore well being and recharge Ki
• Shadow: Shadow Step: Teleport from shadow to shadow
• 4 Components: Select a brand new Disciple of the Components spell (whole 4 identified).

Degree 7

• Evasion: Improve Dex saves towards some spells; take half harm from a failed save, no harm on profitable save.
• Stillness of Thoughts: Clear your thoughts when affected by worry or appeal.

Degree 8

• Feat Choice: Can choose a Feat from All Courses Feat record

Degree 9

• Superior Unarmored Motion
• Open Palm: Ki Resonation: Punch a goal and trigger it to resonate with Ki. Set off a blast to trigger all resonating targets to detonate.
• 4 Components: Improved Elemental Casting: A number of 4 Components spells enhance. For instance, Embrace of the Inferno spawns a fourth ray, whereas Clench of the North Wind can maintain two targets.

Degree 10

• Purity of Physique: Proof against poison harm and illness.

Degree 11

• Shadow: Shadow Strike: Teleport from a shadow and assault with extra psychic harm.
• Open Hand: Tranquility: Applies the impact of a Sanctuary spell.

Degree 12

• Feat Choice: Can choose a Feat from All Courses Feat record

Multiclass Monks

Monks can have a tough time multiclassing as a result of they’re depending on gaining as a lot Ki as they will via Monk ranges to energy their talents. Monks are additionally extremely depending on having excessive Potential Scores, needing Energy, Dexterity, Structure, and Knowledge to all be excessive to be able to benefit from their toolkit. Which means each feat is treasured, and a poorly-planned multiclass dip can imply lacking out on a chance to spice up key Potential Scores through Potential Enchancment or related feats.

Means of Shadow Monks can profit from dipping right into a Rogue stage or two to unlock Sneak Assault. Rogues even have entry to abilities a Monk doesn’t, increasing their potential toolkit.

Monks may have the ability to choose up a stage or two of Fighter to realize entry to Combating Kinds and Martial Weapons, vastly growing a weapon-wielding Monk’s gear choices.