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One useful thing about monks is their multiple utilities in combat, as they can handle support, defense, and damage dealing. It’s the one class that rivals the deadly Rogue in mobility. Their ability to strike hard and fast, stunning single opponents before dodging the danger themselves, is what makes the monk a formidable foe in combat. Then, players should be ready to start their new Dungeons & Dragons campaign with the best Monk build in 5e.

Updated on March 10, 2022, by Kristy Ambrose: The concept of a class that doesn’t use a lot of weapons or armor in a game that’s all about accessories and customization might not seem like a good idea, but the Monk is a popular class in spite of these limitations. It was a playable class as early as the Blackmoor Supplement, which was released in 1975, and has gone through a lot of changes in that time. Here’s the latest updated information on the best Monk builds for 5e.

Best Monk Races

Every new D&D character needs a solid base, and that’s the choice of which race they’ll be. Of the standard 5th edition races, Hill Dwarves, Stout Halflings, Wood Elves, and Variant humans are some of the best Monk races in 5e based on their bonuses and racial features.

Wood Elves. The perfect bonuses that correspond to a monk’s ability stat needs; they’ve got a +2 Dexterity bonus and +1 to Wisdom, along with increased movement speed. Plus, the basic features of an Elf (including every elven subrace, not just Wood Elves) come in handy for Monks, and the wood elf-specific Mask of the Wild is great too. Stout Halflings. Good ability stat bonuses, plus the racial feats Lucky and Brave. Their lowered movement speed isn’t ideal, but it can be fixed later on. Hill Dwarves. Gain a +2 to Constitution, which isn’t the ideal bonus. However, if players can roll a high enough number to assign to Dexterity anyway (it should be at least a 16) Constitution is still an important thing to have, and the Dwarves’ +1 to Wisdom is always good too. Variant humans. Pretty much make any class list because they’re the perfect moldable race; players can choose which abilities to grant bonuses to, and choose an insanely useful level 1 feat, so there’s really no way to go wrong with this pick. Aarakocra. Players looking for something outside the primary D&D sourcebook can also check out Aarakocra, the avian-hybrid race with bonuses to Dexterity, Wisdom, and flying speed. With all that, it’s almost ridiculous how good a monk an Aarakocra would be, possibly the best Monk race in 5e. Kenku. Available in Volo’s Guide To Monsters, the mysterious Kenku has become a more popular choice thanks in part to the character of Kiri in Critical Role. They make ideal Rogues and Clerics along with the best Monks in 5e.

Ability Scores

After selecting race and class, it’s time to assign ability scores to the character. There’s a specific formula for creating an optimal build with a certain order to Monk stat priorities in 5e. While the most important three stats have a clear order of importance, the bottom three can get a little muddied. Basically, put those three stats below the others and the rest is up to players’ role-playing preferences.

Dexterity. As hinted at above, Dexterity should always be the monk’s primary and highest stat, for AC, damage rolls, and attack rolls. If the dice rolls alone can do that, great. If not, well, that’s what the racial suggestions above are for. Wisdom. The second most important stat is definitively Wisdom, for both AC and DCs, as Wisdom saving throws are extremely common. The Monk’s wisdom should start around a 16, but once the Monk starts reaching higher levels, players should work on getting that score up to an 18 or even 20. Constitution. Following Wisdom, Constitution gets third place in a monk’s scores. It’s less important than the two aforementioned stats, but shouldn’t be undervalued in any circumstances. That’s why, if the rolls are high enough to support a good Dexterity score, Hill Dwarves are still a solid choice for a Monk. Strength and Charisma. These would both rank about the same level of importance, above intelligence but below everything else. Strength is nice for a melee-oriented character, but Monks don’t always need it. Charisma. Good for ability checks, but if the party already has at least two high-Charisma characters, it could easily be the Monk’s dump stat. Intelligence. Generally the Monk’s dump stat (even more so if the party already has a high-intelligence character like a wizard), either Strength or Charisma could replace it depending on the rest of the party’s composition and the type of character players are looking to make.

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Monastic Traditions

Now it’s time to select the monk’s most favorable monastic traditions, or in other words, their subclass. There are several official subclasses to choose from and a few other options that can be found in Unearthed Arcana, and these are some of the best options.

Drunken Master. It sounds like a goofy option, but it’s actually a fantastic subclass. These monks fake out their enemies by presenting an unsteady exterior before going in for the kill, and they’ve got some of the best abilities out of the subclasses: Drunken Technique, which combines Flurry of Blows with Disengage; Drunkard’s Luck, which is exactly what it sounds like for the price of 2 ki points; and at higher levels Intoxicated Frenzy takes the monk’s drunken technique to a new level. The Way of the Open Hand. This Monk functions exactly as most expect, but it’s still a great option. There’s a reason plenty of players still believes it’s the best out of the monk subclasses. The Open Hand’s abilities give them the most well-rounded combat options than any other subclass and utilize the monk’s core abilities to maximum effect. Its key ability is the Open Hand Technique, which is just plain wonderful as abilities go, and another great one is Wholeness of Body–basically free healing. The Way of the Shadow. A choice for players who want some rogue-like abilities while still playing a monk; unsurprisingly, multiclassing a Shadow Monk with a Rogue is quite the deadly combination. The main downside is that, for all these Monks get to stealth like a rogue, they still don’t have any ability to rival a Rogue’s devastating sneak attack. The Way of the Kensei. Players that are keen on building a fighting Monk effective at close range with a variety of melee weapons should choose this monastic tradition. Players can choose two Kensei weapons in which to become proficient, and the choices include both melee and ranged options. Another nice perk is bonuses to artistry and calligraphy skills.

Backgrounds

There are several ideal choices for a Monk, so players can think about what would best fit the build they have so far when it comes to race, party role, and Monastic Tradition.

Athlete. Gives skill proficiencies in Athletics and Acrobatics, two of a Monk’s essential abilities, along with the ability to use land vehicles like wagons or carriages. Outlander. Important for Athletics and Survival, plus grants the ability to play a musical instrument. Sailor. Great for the Athletics and Perception, even better for the ability to use Navigator’s Tools. Urchin. Perhaps your Monk came from humble beginnings, so they can move more quickly through the city streets and use Stealth and Sleight of Hand.

Skills

Most of a monk’s must-have skills are class skills, meaning two of them can be selected during character creation simply for being a Monk. Certain choices of Background will guarantee that the Monk has some of these skills anyway, so choose carefully, and your character can easily select everything they need for the best Monk build in 5e.

Acrobatics. Based on the Monk’s Dexterity score, this Skill helps your character do things like jump over fences or climb ropes, along with doing actual acrobatics. Stealth. Also based on Dexterity, this helps a player stay hidden from enemies or sneak around guards. Insight. Related to Wisdom, this allows a character to tell if someone is lying or to predict their next action. Athletics. Only a viable choice for Monks with a high Strength score, this is about using physical prowess to escape a dangerous situation, like climbing a cliff or swimming across a deep, fast river. Medicine. A Skill that allows a player to give first aid to a companion without being a healing class, this makes sense from an RP standpoint and also makes sense with certain Backgrounds and Monastic Traditions. Sleight of Hand. Another Skill related to Dexterity, Sleight of Hand isn’t just about performing for a crowd or picking a pocket. This can also be used to covertly place objects in certain places or move things around.

Feats

Meanwhile, there are a few feats that Monk players should consider above all others for the best Monk build in 5e.

Alert. Grants a +5 to initiative (another dexterity-based skill check) and prevents the monk from being surprised, so there’s really no downside to choosing it. Lucky. Just works on anyone, as it’s three free redo rolls of the player’s choosing per long rest. Observant. Grants a +5 to passive perception–if players need to boost one of their monk’s wisdom skills, this would be how. Resilient. Gives a +1 to the chosen ability score and Advantage on saving throws of that ability, so choosing Wisdom for this feat is a Monk’s best option. Mobile. Grants an extra 10 feet of movement speed and prevents opportunity attacks in response to melee; for Monks, whose mobility is a key feature, this further strengthens them.

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