What role does Monk play in BG3/5e?

[Rex is back, baby!]

I saw a few youtube shorts of naked monks being absolute units, and recall the Githranki Honor Guard (monks) being devastating in combat against me.

I was thinking of doing a Lae'Zel focused run as a Monk. What role does the monk do?
are they just dps/bruisers? Do they tank? Do they offer any utility? OR is it all about minmaxing furry of blows to dish out the most damage?

Thank you in advance.

[Morgian]

Mobile DPS with various enhancements.

I have no clue what min-maxing flurry of blows is supposed to be. Flurry is the monks basic damage mechanic.

[Simbolic]

Been playing one for a while they seem generally good at regulating some enemies. The can also have excellent movement range and decent damage with some muti classing. They can also be decent at evading using the dex +18 gloves and clothing armor. I can usually avoid 1 out 3 attacks at best.

[Doomvora]

Monk is mobile dps, way of the four elements is the one that githyanki monks are. min maxing flurry of blows is STR tavern brawler way of the open hand monk shenanigans.

[Morgian]

Well, tavern brawler was kinda not working for me. I did not get the bonus damage on my main attacks, but I did on my bonus attack. That cannot be as intended....either all or none should get it.

[Haki]

Currently playing as tavern brawler monk LV 8 you can give 80 ~ 120 dps per turn
At lv 12 it is probably the highest dps without long reset

[Haki]

rest*

[Fringehunter7719]

Originally posted by Morgian:

Well, tavern brawler was kinda not working for me. I did not get the bonus damage on my main attacks, but I did on my bonus attack. That cannot be as intended....either all or none should get it.

If you're using a weapon, that's exactly how the feat is worded:-
When you make an unarmed attack, use an improvised weapon, or throw something, your Strength Modifier is added twice to the damage and Attack Rolls.

Your bonus attacks as a monk, either via Martial Arts: Bonus Unarmed Strike or Flurry of Blows are unarmed strikes.

[mrunuick]

Monks can also dodge tank sometimes, but that requires they target the monk, which in my experience is less common than you'd expect.

Don't be afraid of picking a race with less movement than others. I went halfling and I was still EASILY the fastest in the party. There was nowhere I couldn't get to in one or two turns.

[Morgian]

I am not sure what the game counts as unarmed or not. I have the wyrm staff equipped, and I get the fire damage on the bonus attack, too.

[MacKot۞]

Basicly b0ss killer medium dps, good one target control, good mobility, medium survalibility in DND

[Fringehunter7719]

Originally posted by Morgian:

I am not sure what the game counts as unarmed or not. I have the wyrm staff equipped, and I get the fire damage on the bonus attack, too.

The monk bonus actions "Martial Arts: Bonus Unarmed Strike" and "Flurry of Blows" are always unarmed strikes.

Other than that if you have a (melee) weapon equipped you are not unarmed and (unlike in the 5e ruleset BG3 is taken from) you cannot make unarmed attacks.

I have a vague feeling there are some improvised weapons lying around you can use to trigger the bonus that way instead, although since they won't have powerful secondary effects and enchantments there's not going to be much benefit to doing that rather than just not equipping weapons.

[Broan]

Monk is mainly a high mobility single target DPS Class, you can be quite Tanky if you want, probably sacrificing a bit of damage, but thats pretty much it.
Sure you can multiclassing into something else if you want, being more versatile, but
single class Monk is like i said mostly about dealing very good Damage to single Targets.

[Rex is back, baby!]

Thanks for all the information! o7

I traditionally go for the classes that are all about control/utiliy; but's good to sometimes feel amazing with high bursty damage!

Might even try a lone wolf run with monk!

[Hex]

Since the AC bonus from Wis no longer works in forms for Druids in 5e like it did in 3.5, there's honestly no reason to dip into monk for anyone. You should never multiclass monk, either go full monk or none at all.

[Rex is back, baby!]

Originally posted by Hex:

Since the AC bonus from Wis no longer works in forms for Druids in 5e like it did in 3.5, there's honestly no reason to dip into monk for anyone. You should never multiclass monk, either go full monk or none at all.

Truth be told, I never wanted to play monk before because of the constant "Dip a level into monk :B" threads in Owlcat's Pathfinder games xD. It was enough to dissuade me!