Monk

Monk — summary

Game version: 4.1.1 (Patch 8) · Last updated: 3 August 2026

• Hit die — d8
• Main ability — Dexterity and Wisdom together
• Saving throws — Strength, Dexterity
• Armour — None: wearing armour switches off all your features
• Weapons — Simple weapons plus shortswords, though your fists are the real weapon
• Resource — Ki, which refreshes on a short rest
• Feat levels — 4, 8, 12
• Ability scores — Strength 8, Dexterity 17, Constitution 14, Intelligence 8, Wisdom 16, Charisma 10
• Party role — In a party this class covers: Melee damage, Frontline.

Two ready-made builds

• Easy path: Open Hand — Punch Machine — One class. Run in and throw four punches. No armour, no weapon, no clutter.
• Strong path: Open Hand + Thief — The same punch machine plus the Thief's extra bonus action, which means two Flurries a turn. It mixes two classes.

Subclasses

• Way of the Open Hand — Unlocks at level 3. Adds a knockdown, a push or a defence break to each punch: the highest-damage way.
• Way of Shadow — Unlocks at level 3. Teleports from shadow to shadow and turns invisible, for playing like an assassin.
• Way of the Four Elements — Unlocks at level 3. Spends Ki on elemental spells, but the damage is low so it is not for beginners.
• Way of the Drunken Master — Unlocks at level 3. Staggers out of the way of attacks and weaves between enemies.

Recommended races

• Wood Elf — +2 Dexterity, +1 Wisdom and extra movement speed: tailor-made for a Monk.
• Githyanki — Free Misty Step, so an already fast Monk can reach anywhere on the battlefield.
• Halfling — The Lucky trait rescues the punches you would have missed.

Recommended backgrounds

• Urchin (Sleight of Hand, Stealth) — Sleight of Hand and Stealth come from Dexterity, the Monk's main ability, which directly serves an unarmoured, quiet playstyle.
• Folk Hero (Animal Handling, Survival) — Animal Handling and Survival run off Wisdom, which the Monk already keeps high for its armour class.

Companions who play this class

No story companion plays this class: if you want it in the party you have to play it yourself.

Resource rhythm

• Ki returns on a short rest, making the Monk the class that wants short rests most. Make resting between fights a habit.
• Do not fear spending Ki to zero: a short rest is cheap, while hoarded Ki is a punch you never threw.

In Honour Mode

• Unarmoured Defence comes from Dexterity plus Wisdom; unless you raise both you cannot hold the front line in Honour Mode.
• Stunning Strike depends on a saving throw and bosses save well; spend Ki on the adds around the boss rather than the boss itself.

Level by level: Open Hand — Punch Machine

• Level 1 — Skills: Acrobatics, Perception · Gain: Flurry of Blows Tip: Keep your hands empty: holding a weapon switches off Martial Arts.
• Level 2 — No choice · Gain: Step of the Wind Tip: Spend Ki to dash or disengage as a bonus action. The Monk's job is getting behind the line, and this is how you arrive there for free.
• Level 3 — Subclass: Way of the Open Hand · Gain: Open Hand Technique Tip: Attaches an extra effect to each Flurry of Blows hit: knock down, push, or block healing. Knocking a target prone hands the rest of the party advantage.
• Level 4 — Feat: Mobile · Gain: Mobile
  • Mobile
• Level 5 — No choice · Gain: Stunning Strike Tip: This is the key to boss fights, so save your Ki for it.
• Level 6 — No choice · Gain: Ki-Empowered Strikes Tip: Your fists count as magical, so enemies resistant to physical damage now take full damage. Go back to the enemies that stonewalled you before this level.
• Level 7 — No choice · Gain: Evasion Tip: On area damage you take nothing on a successful save and half on a failure. You no longer need to fear standing in a Fireball.
• Level 8 — Ability Improvement: Dexterity +2 (17 → 19) · Gain: Ability Improvement
  • Ability Improvement (Dexterity +2)
• Level 9 — No choice · Gain: Unarmoured Movement Tip: The speed bonus grows until you can run up walls and across water. This is where the Monk stops having trouble reaching ranged enemies.
• Level 10 — No choice · Gain: Purity of Body Tip: Immunity to poison and disease. In areas full of poisonous enemies the party can leave the front line to you.
• Level 11 — No choice · Gain: Manifestation of Body Tip: Adds extra elemental damage to your unarmed strikes: the final layer on the single-target damage Open Hand piles up.
• Level 12 — Ability Improvement: Wisdom +2 (16 → 18) · Gain: Ability Improvement
  • Ability Improvement (Wisdom +2)

Level by level: Open Hand + Thief

• Level 1 — Skills: Acrobatics, Stealth · Gain: Flurry of Blows
• Level 2 — No choice · Gain: Step of the Wind Tip: Spend Ki to dash or disengage as a bonus action. The Monk's job is getting behind the line, and this is how you arrive there for free.
• Level 3 — Subclass: Way of the Open Hand · Gain: Open Hand Technique Tip: Attaches an extra effect to each Flurry of Blows hit: knock down, push, or block healing. Knocking a target prone hands the rest of the party advantage.
• Level 4 — Feat: Tavern Brawler · Gain: Tavern Brawler
  • Tavern Brawler
  Tip: With this feat, an item or potion that raises Strength becomes very valuable.
• Level 5 — No choice · Gain: Stunning Strike Tip: A stunned enemy loses its turn and attacks against it gain advantage. Bosses save well, so spend it on the adds.
• Level 6 — No choice · Gain: Ki-Empowered Strikes Tip: Your fists count as magical, so enemies resistant to physical damage now take full damage. Go back to the enemies that stonewalled you before this level.
• Level 7 — No choice · Gain: Evasion Tip: On area damage you take nothing on a successful save and half on a failure. You no longer need to fear standing in a Fireball.
• Level 8 — Ability Improvement: Dexterity +2 (17 → 19) · Gain: Ability Improvement
  • Ability Improvement (Dexterity +2)
• Level 9 — No choice: the Monk half ends here · Gain: Unarmoured Movement Tip: The speed bonus grows until you can run up walls and across water. This is where the Monk stops having trouble reaching ranged enemies.
• Level 10 — SWITCH CLASS NOW: choose Rogue · Gain: Sneak Attack
• Level 11 — No choice · Gain: Cunning Action Tip: Dash, disengage or hide as a bonus action. This is where Rogue damage comes from: hide every turn, then guarantee your Sneak Attack.
• Level 12 — Subclass: Thief · Gain: Fast Hands Tip: The whole build pays off at this level, so be patient until here.

Key equipment

• Gauntlets of Hill Giant Strength (Act 3) — In the Tavern Brawler build this sets Strength to 23 and your punches explode. Where: House of Hope, in the Archive — on a pedestal.
• Amulet of Greater Health (Act 3) — Raises Constitution to 23, covering the unarmoured Monk's biggest weakness. Where: House of Hope, in the Archive — on one of the pedestals.
• Hellrider's Pride (Act 1) — Makes staying alive at the front much easier. Where: The Secluded Chamber — from Zevlor (a quest reward, or take it by theft or by force).
• Helldusk Gloves (Act 3) — Adds fire damage to every punch. Where: Act 3, House of Hope — worn by Haarlep in the Boudoir.

Combat tips

• Save Stunning Strike for bosses and do not waste it on ordinary enemies.
• Never wear armour: the moment you do, both your defence and Flurry of Blows switch off.
• You are very fast, so reaching the enemy's back-line caster is your job.
• Ki returns on a short rest, so do not be shy about spending it at the end of a fight.

Common mistakes

• Do not equip a weapon: your fist hits harder than most and a weapon disables Martial Arts.
• Do not put points into Strength unless you take Tavern Brawler: Dexterity already drives your punches.
• Do not dive alone into the middle of the enemy: you are fast, but you are not tough.

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