Character Creation: Drow Half-Elf Monk 1 8/15/16/8/17/8 2 Ki Points +1 per Monk level Martial Arts: 1d4 unarmed, 1d6 at level 3, 1d8 at level 9 Actions: Flurry of Blows Dancing Lights Level 2: Monk 2 Unarmored Movement Bonus Actions Unlocked: Patient Defence Step of the Wind (Dash,Disengage) Level 3: Monk 3 Select Way of Shadow subclass Actions Unlocked: Faerie Fire from Drow race Shadow Arts (Pass Without Trace, Darkness, Darkvision, Silence) Minor Illusion (good for grouping/distracting) Bonus Actions Unlocked: Shadow Arts: Hide Reaction Unlocked: Deflect Missiles Level 4: Monk 4 Feat: ASI +1 Dex +1 WIS 8/16/16/8/18/8 (even out stats according to what you selected) Reaction Unlocked: Slow Fall Level 5: Monk 5 Extra Attack Actions Unlocked: Stunning Stike (Melee, Unarmed) Cloak of Shadows Darkness Level 6: Monk 6 Ki-Empowered Strikes Improved Unarmored Movement Bonus Action Unlocked: Shadow Step Level 7: Monk 7 Evasion Stillness of Mind Level 8: Monk 8 Feat: Tavern Brawler +1 CON 8/16/17/8/18/8 (if using hag hair, even out stats) Level 9: Monk 9 Advanced Unarmored Movement Level 10: Monk 10 Purity of Body Improved Unarmored Movement Level 11: Monk 11 Actions Unlocked: Shadow Strike (Melee, Unarmed) Level 12: Monk 12 Feat: ASI +2 WIS 8/16/17/8/20/8 (18 CON if using hag's hair) Gear: Mask of Soul Perception Cloak of Displacement/The Deathstalker Mantle (if Dark Urge) Vest of Soul Rejuvenation Gloves of Soul Catching Evasive Shoes Amulet of Restoration/Amulet of Greater Health Killer's Sweetheart Ring of Regeneration Suggestions: I'd personally start 8/16/14/10/16/10 if no hag hair and 8/16/14/10/17/8 or 8/16/14/8/17/10 if using hag hair use strength potions throughout the game swap the dex and con stats depending on if you want to hit more reliably (DEX) or want tankiness (CON). once you hit level 4 I'd respec to 8/16/15/10/16/8 or 8/16/15/8/17/8 and take the tavern brawler feat instead to bring CON up to 16 while doing a lot more damage overall. if choosing to use the amulet of greater health on this character, simply respec and dump the ASI stats into WIS/DEX>>INT/CHA (tavern brawler is still worth getting as it is just that strong). end game stats using elixir of hill giant strength, amulet of greater health and hag's hair should result in something like 27/18/23/12/20/13 (not including mirror of loss) edit: drow half elf is not the only choice as many different subraces have darkvision.
Constitution 16 is too much, I suggest to put Dex 17 then get at Lv4 feat Athlete or the gift from Ethel to rise it to 18. At the middle of Act 1 you can go easilly to Dex 20 with the agility monk armour from the merchant at Mountain Pass
One thing i hate with darkness spell is that unless you have devil sight it is completely useless, but you have go dump 3 levels into warlock which is not what you want with this.
not necessarily you can cast darkness around yourself and or party and run out of darkness to attack and run back in to avoid being hit despite being blinded while in it.
You can just use the helldusk helmet which gives magical darkness vision. Giving up the mask of soul perception kind of stinks but if you really want to lean into the darkness build it's probably better.
Dude I like your videos and Idk if you're still making these but you really gotta add some deomonstrations and show ppl how your builds actually play in combat
Shadow Monk isn't as strong as open hand monk? I don't know that depends if you pick it and stay with it without multiclassing and are mindful of your feats it does very well. It also allows you to be safer while you do it. I think it's stronger just for the fact of the safety you gain from stealth and crit bonuses. Monk is my favorite class I just wish we got more ki points to work with that would be great. Also way of the four elements is probably my least favorite it's just a spellcaster that uses ki points with renamed spells that cost too many ki points basically.
Good point about the way of the four elements, the ki point economy is not great for that I think open hand 9 rogue thief 3 is one of the best in the game. With tavern brawler and strength potions it can punch hard! Bonus action flurry of blows is pretty powerful Monk is an awesome class and surprisingly tanky. I rolled one of my dark urge characters as this
Yeah. The only pro about Way of the Four Elements is that you can use them while raging on a Barbarian. Not the strongest build, but quite fun from RP perspective (unironically works for lore-friendlier Karlach)
@@JasonDunna yeh gith monk looks awesome at start of act 3 thats why chose it and am doing monk rouge do you know whats the best gear to get for it in 2
My current playthrough is an a Githyanki warband (Lae'Zel, two Githyanki Tavs and the Withers hireling Monk, Sina'Zith.) I am Level 7 so far and the Monk is my MVP. I left the rest of the team at camp and solo'd Moonrise Towers, it was so awesome! Like being an alien female Corvo Attano 😄
Character Creation:
Drow Half-Elf Monk 1
8/15/16/8/17/8
2 Ki Points +1 per Monk level
Martial Arts: 1d4 unarmed, 1d6 at level 3, 1d8 at level 9
Actions:
Flurry of Blows
Dancing Lights
Level 2: Monk 2
Unarmored Movement
Bonus Actions Unlocked:
Patient Defence
Step of the Wind (Dash,Disengage)
Level 3: Monk 3
Select Way of Shadow subclass
Actions Unlocked:
Faerie Fire from Drow race
Shadow Arts (Pass Without Trace, Darkness, Darkvision, Silence)
Minor Illusion (good for grouping/distracting)
Bonus Actions Unlocked:
Shadow Arts: Hide
Reaction Unlocked:
Deflect Missiles
Level 4: Monk 4
Feat: ASI +1 Dex +1 WIS 8/16/16/8/18/8 (even out stats according to what you selected)
Reaction Unlocked:
Slow Fall
Level 5: Monk 5
Extra Attack
Actions Unlocked:
Stunning Stike (Melee, Unarmed)
Cloak of Shadows
Darkness
Level 6: Monk 6
Ki-Empowered Strikes
Improved Unarmored Movement
Bonus Action Unlocked:
Shadow Step
Level 7: Monk 7
Evasion
Stillness of Mind
Level 8: Monk 8
Feat: Tavern Brawler +1 CON 8/16/17/8/18/8 (if using hag hair, even out stats)
Level 9: Monk 9
Advanced Unarmored Movement
Level 10: Monk 10
Purity of Body
Improved Unarmored Movement
Level 11: Monk 11
Actions Unlocked:
Shadow Strike (Melee, Unarmed)
Level 12: Monk 12
Feat: ASI +2 WIS 8/16/17/8/20/8 (18 CON if using hag's hair)
Gear:
Mask of Soul Perception
Cloak of Displacement/The Deathstalker Mantle (if Dark Urge)
Vest of Soul Rejuvenation
Gloves of Soul Catching
Evasive Shoes
Amulet of Restoration/Amulet of Greater Health
Killer's Sweetheart
Ring of Regeneration
Suggestions:
I'd personally start 8/16/14/10/16/10 if no hag hair and 8/16/14/10/17/8 or 8/16/14/8/17/10 if using hag hair
use strength potions throughout the game
swap the dex and con stats depending on if you want to hit more reliably (DEX) or want tankiness (CON).
once you hit level 4 I'd respec to 8/16/15/10/16/8 or 8/16/15/8/17/8 and take the tavern brawler feat instead to bring CON up to 16 while doing a lot more damage overall.
if choosing to use the amulet of greater health on this character, simply respec and dump the ASI stats into WIS/DEX>>INT/CHA (tavern brawler is still worth getting as it is just that strong).
end game stats using elixir of hill giant strength, amulet of greater health and hag's hair should result in something like 27/18/23/12/20/13 (not including mirror of loss)
edit: drow half elf is not the only choice as many different subraces have darkvision.
Great points! Thanks so much for the detailed response!
Constitution 16 is too much, I suggest to put Dex 17 then get at Lv4 feat Athlete or the gift from Ethel to rise it to 18. At the middle of Act 1 you can go easilly to Dex 20 with the agility monk armour from the merchant at Mountain Pass
This sounds like you only watched the first minute of the video, there’s a reason for the stats being the way they are!
One thing i hate with darkness spell is that unless you have devil sight it is completely useless, but you have go dump 3 levels into warlock which is not what you want with this.
Yeah exactly. I agree with you on that
not necessarily you can cast darkness around yourself and or party and run out of darkness to attack and run back in to avoid being hit despite being blinded while in it.
You can just use the helldusk helmet which gives magical darkness vision. Giving up the mask of soul perception kind of stinks but if you really want to lean into the darkness build it's probably better.
@@plants.plants yeah that’s a good point! You could also use Shar’s spear of the evening but that’s exclusive to evil playthroughs
Or you can use the ring that allows you not to be blinded
I' d rather use the Boots of Uninhibited Kushigo than the Evasive Shoes, way more damage output if you have high Wisdom.
Totally a fair point
Literally doing this class currently , how did you know ? 😍
No way! That’s awesome you’re playing a class like this that doesn’t get much love
Dude I like your videos and Idk if you're still making these but you really gotta add some deomonstrations and show ppl how your builds actually play in combat
I recently starting doing combat in the videos!
Shadow Monk isn't as strong as open hand monk? I don't know that depends if you pick it and stay with it without multiclassing and are mindful of your feats it does very well. It also allows you to be safer while you do it. I think it's stronger just for the fact of the safety you gain from stealth and crit bonuses. Monk is my favorite class I just wish we got more ki points to work with that would be great. Also way of the four elements is probably my least favorite it's just a spellcaster that uses ki points with renamed spells that cost too many ki points basically.
Good point about the way of the four elements, the ki point economy is not great for that
I think open hand 9 rogue thief 3 is one of the best in the game. With tavern brawler and strength potions it can punch hard! Bonus action flurry of blows is pretty powerful
Monk is an awesome class and surprisingly tanky. I rolled one of my dark urge characters as this
Yeah. The only pro about Way of the Four Elements is that you can use them while raging on a Barbarian. Not the strongest build, but quite fun from RP perspective (unironically works for lore-friendlier Karlach)
Maybe next build is Black Widow? 🎉
Still working on that one! Trying to find the right fit for it
My shadow monk tps behind people to smack them down with a greatsword
You’re running a greatsword shadow monk? That’s cool
@JasonDunna playing as a gith give you proficiency with them and you can still flurry with your bonus action. It's pretty fun
Yeah that’s very true! Gith are so good
One of my current playthrough is a gith monk have been thinking to switch it to shadow monk 😂
Gith monk just makes sense, my favorite monk is open hand 9 / rogue thief 3! It’s probably the strongest one
@@JasonDunna yeh gith monk looks awesome at start of act 3 thats why chose it and am doing monk rouge do you know whats the best gear to get for it in 2
My current playthrough is an a Githyanki warband (Lae'Zel, two Githyanki Tavs and the Withers hireling Monk, Sina'Zith.) I am Level 7 so far and the Monk is my MVP. I left the rest of the team at camp and solo'd Moonrise Towers, it was so awesome! Like being an alien female Corvo Attano 😄
I thought your thumbnail was Veilguard.
@@user-zl6ps4rp9g can’t wait for that to release!
@@JasonDunna If they bring back the Inquisitor, what race/gender/etc is the most compatible to the story?
Your avatar looks like she has pinkeye.
Yeah one of the eyes is purple, the other is a fake eye because I had Volo stab me in act 1 😂
Why Wisdom? Dont understand
The monk adds the wisdom modifier to its armor class
@@JasonDunna aaah okay thank you!