Summary
Baldur’s Gate 3made a massive impact as one of the biggest games of 2023 and one of the most popular RPGs in recent years, and developer Larian Studios' commitment to honoring the genre’s staple classes has been a big part of this success. The Monk is one class that comes with the baggage of not having the best reputation within theDungeons and Dragonssource material, but players who come to understand the implicit ways that the Monk can thrive may end up with some of the highest damage inBaldur’s Gate 3.
As a class that is focused on simplicity and isn’t compatible with the vast majority of gear found throughout the game, it’s no surprise that the Monk has appeared towards the bottom ofBG3’s official popularity statistics. While not totally incapable of wielding weapons and wearing armor, Monks are meant to break away from the typical item progression in favor of developing their own internal strength. This class has the potential to sit somewhere between a martial attacker and a spellcaster due to its unique resource, but focusing on one particular subclass has yielded what several players considered some of the best builds in the game.
Building a Monk in Baldur’s Gate 3
Understanding Ki Points
All Monks have access to Ki Points no matter the route. These points are utilized for the unique class feature Actions that the Monk has access to. Additional Ki Points are gained with each level that the player takes in Monk after starting with two points at Level 1, meaning thatmulticlassing inBG3could reduce the overall potency of their primary kit. These are regained on a Short Rest, making planning around their use crucial for success in battle.
Subclasses and the Power of the Tavern Brawler Feat
While the Way of the Shadow and Way of the Four Elementssubclasses ofBG3’s Monkoffer more stealth and magic-flavored approaches to the class respectively, one aspect of gameplay has made the Way of the Open Hand the go-to choice for most players. There are several points whereBG3diverges from theDnD 5Erules, and the way the Tavern Brawler Feat works is one of the most significant. Tavern Brawler adds the player’s Strength modifier twice to damage and attack rolls of improvised, thrown, and unarmed attacks, while also acting as a ‘Half-Feat’ that can further offer a point in Strength. Monks are typically Dexterity-focused inDnD, but this Feat alone makes them powerhouses when Strength is prioritized instead, with the emphasis on unarmed making Open Hand the most ideal.
The Monk class was originally meant to primarily focus on the Ability Scores of Dexterity and Wisdom, but the advent ofBG3’s Tavern Brawler feathas introduced Strength into the mix. Taking that Feat comes at the cost of a potential Ability Score Improvement, increasing the likelihood of the player’s stats becoming inefficient on a “Multiple Ability Score Dependent” character. Avoiding this can leave behind stats like Dexterity and Constitution, making the Monk even more frail, but having the right gear can make up for the loss.
The Best Equipment and Magic Items for Monks
With access to Unarmored Defense,Baldur’s Gate 3’s Monk buildsare usually going to run nothing heavier than Clothing equipment. Furthermore, their focus on unarmed strikes means that weapons aren’t going to be equipped often either, but that doesn’t mean gear has no bearing on the class. There are several examples of items throughoutBG3that can serve to be build-defining for Monks, with some specifically meant for the class and others simply synergizing well.
Others Tips on Playing a Monk in Baldur’s Gate 3
Flurry of Blows and Step of the Wind Make Bonus Actions Crucial
An emphasis on attacking opponents with just the player’s fists seems simple, but theWay of the Open Hand Monk’s unorthodox approach to using Actions in combat makes it extremely unique. Most classes spend their Actions on their strongest features and use Bonus Actions for support, but this dynamic is largely reversed for Monks. Flurry of Blows is a multi-hitting attack with three different variations capable of inflicting different status conditions, while Step of the Wind is a feature that augments the player from a similar set of three options. These are both Bonus Actions, meaning the strongest maneuvers of a Monk can still be accompanied by normal Actions.
Multiclassing Enhances Baldur’s Gate 3’s Front-Loaded Monk
It’s in the player’s best interest to maximize their Ki Points as a Monk, but there may also be DPS potential in adding another class to the build. Given the undeniable effectiveness of having the Thief subclass’s extra Bonus Action, it’s likely that aMonk/Rogue multiclass inBaldur’s Gate 3is one of the most devastating combinations a player can assemble. There’s a loss associated with sacrificing at least three levels of Monk, but the features gained in its later stages such as Ki Resonation might struggle to compete with the raw damage of boosted, repeated Flurry of Blows. It might be one of the most unassuming classes of the entire selection, butBG3’s Monk can plow through the game with the right knowledge.
