D&D 5e (2014) Class GuideMonk Guide: Build, Feats and Ratings

Overview

The monk fights unarmored with fists and simple weapons, moves faster than anyone and spends ki points on extra strikes, defense and mobility. It is the best class in the game at reaching the enemy's back line, and from level 5 Stunning StrikeStunning StrikeLevel 5 featureStarting at 5th level, you can interfere with the flow of ki in an opponent's body. When you hit another creature with a melee weapon attack, you can spend 1 ki point to attempt a stunning strike. can take a dangerous enemy out of a round. It needs two good ability scores, so it is less forgiving than a fighter.

Ability Scores

Dexterity, then Wisdom, then Constitution. Dexterity drives your attacks and your AC. Wisdom adds to your AC through Unarmored DefenseUnarmored DefenseLevel 1 featureBeginning at 1st level, while you are wearing no armor and not wielding a shield, your AC equals 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Wisdom modifier. and sets your ki save DC. In the 2014 rules your race gives your ability score increases, so pick one that adds Dexterity. With the standard array and a High Elf (+2 Dex, +1 Int), you start with:

That gives AC 15 at level 1. Put your level 4 Ability Score Improvement into Dexterity 18 and Wisdom 15, then reach 20 Dexterity by level 8 and raise Wisdom after that.

Best Races for a Monk

Elf (High Elf)

+2 Dexterity, Perception proficiency and Advantage against charm. The Wood Elf from the Player's Handbook (+2 Dexterity, +1 Wisdom, faster speed) is Legendary.

Epic

Human

+1 to every score covers Dexterity, Wisdom and Constitution at once. The variant human from the Player's Handbook can take Mobile at level 1.

Epic

Halfling (Lightfoot)

+2 Dexterity and Lucky. Monk weapons are not heavy, so being Small costs little, but the base speed is 25 feet.

Rare

Half-Elf

Floating +1s to Dexterity and Wisdom and two free skills. The +2 Charisma is wasted.

Uncommon

Dwarf (Hill Dwarf)

+2 Constitution and +1 Wisdom, and extra hit points. No Dexterity, and the slow speed hurts.

Uncommon

Half-Orc

+2 Strength, which a Dexterity monk does not use. Relentless Endurance helps a little.

Common

Gnome (Rock Gnome)

+2 Intelligence and a 25 foot speed. Gnome Cunning is the only useful part.

Common

Tiefling

Charisma and Intelligence. Nothing a monk needs.

Common

Dragonborn

Strength and Charisma. The breath weapon uses your action, which a monk wants for attacks.

Common

Best Feats

Feats are optional in the 2014 rules and only one is in the free SRD, so these come from the Player's Handbook. A monk needs every point for Dexterity and Wisdom, so most monks take a feat only after both are high.

Subclass: Way of the Open Hand

The Way of the Open Hand is the monk tradition in the free 2014 rules, and one of the strongest in any book. You choose it at level 3. It adds a free rider to every Flurry of Blows hit.

Open Hand TechniqueLEVEL 3

When you hit with a Flurry of Blows strike, choose one: the target makes a Dexterity save or falls prone, makes a Strength save or is pushed 15 feet, or can't take reactions until the end of your next turn.

Wholeness of BodyLEVEL 6

Use an action to regain three times your monk level in hit points, once per Long Rest.

T

TranquilityLEVEL 11

After a Long Rest you are under a sanctuary effect. Enemies must pass a Wisdom save to attack you until you attack or cast a spell that affects an enemy.

Quivering PalmLEVEL 17

Spend 3 ki on an unarmed hit to set lethal vibrations. Later, end them with your action: a failed Constitution save drops the target to 0 hit points, a success still deals 10d10 necrotic damage.

Spending Ki

From level 2 you have ki points equal to your monk level, and they all come back on a Short Rest. Ask for Short Rests; a monk without ki is a weak fighter. At level 1, use a quarterstaff two-handed for a d8 and make your bonus action unarmed strike from Martial ArtsMartial ArtsLevel 1 featureAt 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..

Where your ki goes

Unarmored DefenseLEVEL 1

AC 10 + Dexterity + Wisdom with no armor and no shield.

Unarmored MovementLEVEL 2

+10 feet of speed at level 2, rising to +30 at level 18. From level 9 you can run up walls and across water on your turn.

D

Deflect MissilesLEVEL 3

Use your reaction to reduce ranged weapon damage by 1d10 + Dexterity + monk level. Reduce it to 0 and you can catch the missile and throw it back for 1 ki.

K

Ki-Empowered StrikesLEVEL 6

Your unarmed strikes count as magical for overcoming resistance and immunity.

EvasionLEVEL 7

Take no damage on a successful Dexterity save against area effects, half on a failure.

S

Stillness of MindLEVEL 7

Use your action to end charmed or frightened on yourself.

D

Diamond SoulLEVEL 14

Proficiency in all saving throws, and 1 ki to reroll a failed save.

E

Empty BodyLEVEL 18

4 ki to become invisible for a minute with resistance to all damage except force.

Monk Builds

ControlThe High Elf Open Hand

Race

High Elf

Subclass

Way of the Open Hand

Weapon

Quarterstaff, then fists

12STR

17DEX

13CON

9INT

14WIS

10CHA

Run to the back line, Flurry to knock the caster prone, then Stunning Strike from level 5. Perception proficiency means you rarely get surprised.

Build this monk

Free to start. No card needed.

Beginner friendlyThe Human Skirmisher

Race

Human

Subclass

Way of the Open Hand

Weapon

Shortsword

13STR

16DEX

14CON

9INT

15WIS

11CHA

Even scores and more hit points than the elf. A forgiving monk for a first character, with Mobile at level 4 if your table uses feats.

Build this monk

Free to start. No card needed.

Monk Features by Level

Lvl	PB	Features	Ki Points	Martial Arts	Unarmored Movement
1	+2	Martial ArtsMartial ArtsLevel 1 featureAt 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. Unarmored DefenseUnarmored DefenseLevel 1 featureBeginning at 1st level, while you are wearing no armor and not wielding a shield, your AC equals 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Wisdom modifier.	–	1d4	–
2	+2	KiKiLevel 2 featureStarting at 2nd level, your training allows you to harness the mystic energy of ki. Your access to this energy is represented by a number of ki points. Your monk level determines the number of points you have, as shown in the Ki Points column of the Monk table. Unarmored MovementUnarmored MovementLevel 2 featureStarting at 2nd level, your speed increases by 10 feet while you are not wearing armor or wielding a shield. This bonus increases when you reach certain monk levels, as shown in the Monk table.	2	1d4	+10 ft.
3	+2	Deflect MissilesDeflect MissilesLevel 3 featureStarting at 3rd level, you can use your reaction to deflect or catch the missile when you are hit by a ranged weapon attack. When you do so, the damage you take from the attack is reduced by 1d10 + your Dexterity modifier + your monk level. Monastic TraditionMonastic TraditionLevel 3 featureWhen you reach 3rd level, you commit yourself to a monastic tradition such as the Way of the Open Hand. Your tradition grants you features at 3rd level and again at 6th, 11th, and 17th level. Open Hand TechniqueOpen Hand TechniqueLevel 3 featureStarting when you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you can manipulate your enemy's ki when you harness your own.	3	1d4	+10 ft.
4	+2	Ability Score ImprovementAbility Score ImprovementLevel 4 featureWhen you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature. Slow FallSlow FallLevel 4 featureBeginning at 4th level, you can use your reaction when you fall to reduce any falling damage you take by an amount equal to five times your monk level.	4	1d4	+10 ft.
5	+3	Extra AttackExtra AttackLevel 5 featureBeginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn. Stunning StrikeStunning StrikeLevel 5 featureStarting at 5th level, you can interfere with the flow of ki in an opponent's body. When you hit another creature with a melee weapon attack, you can spend 1 ki point to attempt a stunning strike.	5	1d6	+10 ft.
6	+3	Ki-Empowered StrikesKi-Empowered StrikesLevel 6 featureStarting at 6th level, your unarmed strikes count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage. Wholeness of BodyWholeness of BodyLevel 6 featureAt 6th level, you gain the ability to heal yourself. As an action, you can regain hit points equal to three times your monk level. You must finish a long rest before you can use this feature again.	6	1d6	+15 ft.
7	+3	EvasionEvasionLevel 7 featureAt 7th level, your instinctive agility lets you dodge out of the way of certain area effects, such as a blue dragon's lightning breath or a fireball spell. Stillness of MindStillness of MindLevel 7 featureStarting at 7th level, you can use your action to end one effect on yourself that is causing you to be charmed or frightened.	7	1d6	+15 ft.
8	+3	Ability Score ImprovementAbility Score ImprovementLevel 4 featureWhen you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.	8	1d6	+15 ft.
9	+4		9	1d6	+15 ft.
10	+4	Purity of BodyPurity of BodyLevel 10 featureAt 10th level, your mastery of the ki flowing through you makes you immune to disease and poison.	10	1d6	+20 ft.
11	+4	TranquilityTranquilityLevel 11 featureBeginning at 11th level, you can enter a special meditation that surrounds you with an aura of peace. At the end of a long rest, you gain the effect of a sanctuary spell that lasts until the start of your next long rest (the spell can end early as normal).	11	1d8	+20 ft.
12	+4	Ability Score ImprovementAbility Score ImprovementLevel 4 featureWhen you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.	12	1d8	+20 ft.
13	+5	Tongue of the Sun and MoonTongue of the Sun and MoonLevel 13 featureStarting at 13th level, you learn to touch the ki of other minds so that you understand all spoken languages. Moreover, any creature that can understand a language can understand what you say.	13	1d8	+20 ft.
14	+5	Diamond SoulDiamond SoulLevel 14 featureBeginning at 14th level, your mastery of ki grants you proficiency in all saving throws. Additionally, whenever you make a saving throw and fail, you can spend 1 ki point to reroll it and take the second result.	14	1d8	+25 ft.
15	+5	Timeless BodyTimeless BodyLevel 15 featureAt 15th level, your ki sustains you so that you suffer none of the frailty of old age, and you can't be aged magically. You can still die of old age, however. In addition, you no longer need food or water.	15	1d8	+25 ft.
16	+5	Ability Score ImprovementAbility Score ImprovementLevel 4 featureWhen you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.	16	1d8	+25 ft.
17	+6	Quivering PalmQuivering PalmLevel 17 featureAt 17th level, you gain the ability to set up lethal vibrations in someone's body. When you hit a creature with an unarmed strike, you can spend 3 ki points to start these imperceptible vibrations, which last for a number of days equal to your monk level.	17	1d10	+25 ft.
18	+6	Empty BodyEmpty BodyLevel 18 featureBeginning at 18th level, you can use your action to spend 4 ki points to become invisible for 1 minute. During that time, you also have resistance to all damage but force damage.	18	1d10	+30 ft.
19	+6	Ability Score ImprovementAbility Score ImprovementLevel 4 featureWhen you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.	19	1d10	+30 ft.
20	+6	Perfect SelfPerfect SelfLevel 20 featureAt 20th level, when you roll for initiative and have no ki points remaining, you regain 4 ki points.	20	1d10	+30 ft.

Your Martial Arts die is a d4 at level 1, d6 at 5, d8 at 11 and d10 at 17. Ki points equal your monk level from level 2.

Leveling Your Monk, 1 to 20

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