2024 Monk and Subclass review
Added 2024-08-10 13:20:48 +0000 UTCI'm back from vacation! I'll be dropping videos covering the rest of the 2024 PHB as I complete them here. Enjoy them without ads until I make them public.
Comments
I think the Mage Slayer and grappler are my new go to feats for monks
john anderson
2024-08-20 21:46:01 +0000 UTCI am enjoying the potential caster monk synergy in this revision. Imagine a way of mercy monk and a caster using Summon Undead. Auto poisoned no save from mercy monk then autoparalyze from undead summon, no save. Legendary what?
Louis Manko Levite
2024-08-18 00:13:37 +0000 UTCThat’s how I read it too. So long as there’s a BPS element.
Benjamin Lowe
2024-08-15 02:42:39 +0000 UTCSo if I'm reading this correctly, if I do 1d6 piercing + 3d6 thunder damage (using my home-brew thunder arrows) on a monk LVL 3, they can deflect not just the piercing damage but also part of the thunder damage?
Disembodied Voice
2024-08-14 22:22:19 +0000 UTCWhat happens if you have the crusher feat and use empowered attacks?
Mike Hanson
2024-08-14 21:20:50 +0000 UTCjust go to level 20 and take the weapon mastery feat instead of multiclassing for it.
Aegis Vald
2024-08-14 20:06:03 +0000 UTCor a thri-kreen, which would have two arms to grapple an opponent each with while wielding two light weapons
Ian
2024-08-14 02:08:08 +0000 UTCOn the other hand, probably will take a second dip level at 18 regardless so I reach Bard 16 at level 19, grab Boon of Fate or smth- Combat Prowess works out to ~+35 DPR, but you have enough DPR, grab resistances.
4RoryVT
2024-08-13 19:46:36 +0000 UTCIn practice Agonizing Blast is only adding ~10 damage per round, might be worth taking a different invocation, or completely Skipping Warlock 2 for an extra Caster Level, depends how much mileage you can get out of 2 more Invocations, it just worked out well at 17. PotT > PotB for a dip though IMO
4RoryVT
2024-08-13 19:03:01 +0000 UTC58:30 17th level Conjure Minor Elementals? My Choice of Build is a Valor Bard, Dip Ranger for Nick Mastery (haven't seen bard video yet, so could change my mind), and enjoy Dual Wielder feat with the Sage Advice to get 4 attacks per round. Bard sets up first round, note Battle Magic will still let us make 1 attack, let's be conservative and use a 6th? So +6d8, Monk loses one attack to trigger QP, assume 50% hit/save (for simplicity), over rounds averages 15d12 + (4 x (1d12+5)) = 143; Just basic attacks with Bard roughly 0.5 x (5 x 7d8 +20+3d6 (True Strike)) = 107 including set up turn? So in a two turn window Monk is dealing more damage, and can do it any time they have a short rest, that's powerful for sure... but by turn 3 I catch up... And if I'm REALLY milking it, I'm taking 2 levels of Warlock, using PotT to get Shillelagh, ABEB, still only using my 6th level slot for CME, that's 3 Clubs @ 2d6, 1 Scimitar @ 1d6, and 4 EB @ 1d10, gonna pretend +5 Ability mod for all of them, and 6d8 CME... 0.5x (7d6+4d10+48d8+35) = 151, and I can maintain most of that damage each round of combat, only using one spell slot, and not even my highest level.
4RoryVT
2024-08-13 18:55:39 +0000 UTCI mean you can flurry of blows before your attack action now, being able to spend a Ki point to get free control effects on each attack of your BA, something you were likely going to use anyways. This means knocking your target prone before you take your attack action, being able to remove AoO, etc. I agree the lvl 6th feature sucks. They get a free boost to their 3rd level feature from lvl 11, by getting to make another control effect so you can technically do all 3 in one turn as a BA.
Keegan MBG
2024-08-13 12:43:26 +0000 UTCThis is when being a loxodon really comes into play.
Keegan MBG
2024-08-13 12:36:29 +0000 UTCCan a monk use grappling and (with a dip/feat) the nick weapon property on scimitars? I think no because they wouldn't have a free hand to grapple, but I hope I'm not misinterpreting because it would just further enhance the monk flavor of being THE multi-hitter.
Kevin Smith
2024-08-12 20:20:37 +0000 UTCFinally a monk that I can use as a real martial. Been wanting that since the 0d&d version flavorful vaporwarePC.
Glenn Wilson
2024-08-12 15:18:41 +0000 UTCAh! I see that it's described in Monk's Focus, thanks!
Jesse Peterson
2024-08-12 14:15:20 +0000 UTC8 + WIS + PB as always with anything involving use of Focus Points (Ki)
john anderson
2024-08-12 13:31:10 +0000 UTCDo Deflect Attacks and Stunning Strike not specify how the DC is calculated?
Jesse Peterson
2024-08-12 13:04:16 +0000 UTCThat is good, but I'm a little sceptical about how often that scenario will come up (Other's mileage may vary). Still leaves the subclass severely lacking until level 11 which is a dealbreaker for me personally.
Uz Edgeworth
2024-08-12 11:55:29 +0000 UTCThere's a bit of extra value with Grapple combo builds at level 11, the Open Hand Monk can Flurry of Blows to Grapple and then still Step of the Wind to Dash and then Dash again as an Action.
Tessa Morecroft
2024-08-12 11:30:35 +0000 UTCI really disagree with your rating for the Open Hand subclass. I think it's closer to 2/5. I think it has the worst 3rd level feature of the lot by a mile. Being limited to flurry of blows hurts. Its 6th level feature is worse than one half of the Mercy monk's lvl 3 feature, and I'm not even sure if it's buffed, since if I have to heal myself in combat, I'd rather an action for a lot of healing than a BA for a third. Not to mention that using it as a bonus action prevents you from flurry of blows, which turns off your subclass for the entire turn. Level 11 also doesn't seem that good to me, you still have to pay an extra ki point to get the disengage, so it's possible that the free dash will go wasted a lot. Maybe I'm being too critical though. What do other people think?
Uz Edgeworth
2024-08-12 09:39:37 +0000 UTCSmall difference I noticed is in proficient and being able to use them as monk weapons, which is different. Monks are proficient in all Simple Weapons and all Martial Weapons with the Light property. Which would include ranged weapon options. However, Monk weapons are classified as only Simple Melee Weapons and Martial Melee Weapons with the Light Property, which would preclude using them for Stunning Strike.
john anderson
2024-08-12 08:01:40 +0000 UTCMonks are looking fantastic the only downsides I see atm is a lack of Skill/Ability Check enhancers. Barbarian, Fighters, and Rogues got some skill boosting features like Expertise and Tactical Mind and Primal Knowledge. Meanwhile Monks didn’t get anything like that. Still that’s okay! Can’t be good at everything right? And it’s not like you can’t get feats to help out.
Finalplayer14
2024-08-12 00:46:08 +0000 UTCThanks, Chris! Really enjoyed the video.
Nik Magnus
2024-08-11 21:26:44 +0000 UTCor just grapple it
Infinitejest
2024-08-11 15:16:02 +0000 UTCI know you hate the nerf to way of mercy, however I actually like the nerf they made to the lvl 11 class feature. Mainly because at this point the monk can make 3 hits with flurry of blows which turned the monk in my party to an insane healer. On average they would have 3 ki points remaining when they would short rest or getting ready to use the metabolism feature. They would then burn all of them prior to it to heal the party using flurry of blows due to no longer needing an attack to set it up. 3 ki points using flurry of blows is 9d10+ wisdomx9 healing on top of getting all his ki points back because they are taking a short rest. Now i will say that it does suck because it will limit them on the amount of times they can hand of harm for free.
Zak Stitts
2024-08-11 05:43:14 +0000 UTCFighter, Barbarian, Rogue, Ranger, Paladin
Treantmonk's Temple
2024-08-11 03:22:43 +0000 UTCMonk dip on Ranger sounds pretty good to me
Treantmonk's Temple
2024-08-11 03:22:14 +0000 UTCStraight Fighter - it's always been the best because it just attacks more and tbf that's literally what it's for is to be the best martial
Gregor McAlpine
2024-08-10 21:31:20 +0000 UTCInteresting thing about stunning strike is it is a once per turn ability. So there are cases where an enemy you're in melee with is trying to move away from you to hit the wizard, and you'll be able to stunning strike it on the opportunity attack and either stun it, of half its movement.
Nicholas Comeau
2024-08-10 19:26:34 +0000 UTC1 level monk dip on a druid looks good. Focus on Dex/Wis and you can take magician to sure up your skills. Now you have a decently armored spellcaster who can make two attacks per turn.
L Holliday
2024-08-10 18:41:37 +0000 UTCMonk is in suuuuuch a better place. And totally agree, looks like alot of fun to play!
Jon Landry
2024-08-10 18:07:05 +0000 UTCThe Warrior of the Elements article on D&D Beyond stated that you could grapple the target at range and keep them there. Here's the quote: Reach Out and Grab 'Em If you're looking to spice things up, the new Grappler feat combines exceptionally well with the Warrior of the Elements' extended reach and the 2024 Monk's ability to grapple using Dexterity. With the Grappler feat, you can attempt to grapple a creature you hit as part of the same Attack action you use to make an Unarmed Strike. Seeing as being Grappled reduces a creature's Speed to 0, you can easily hold them out of reach and wail on them with your elemental strikes, which you'll now get Advantage on thanks to Grappler. On top of being a mechanically powerful ability, this adds to the power fantasy of wielding the elements against your foes. You can flavor your grapples to be temporary ice chunks that hold your foes in place or swirls of air that catch your enemies and prevent them from moving.
Thomas LeBoeuf
2024-08-10 17:55:08 +0000 UTCWelcome back! Excited to hearing all your opinions and hidden facts from the rest of the PHB!
Lukes AndadorDoCeu
2024-08-10 16:37:57 +0000 UTCI haven’t seen enough people talk about this, but monks who take the grappler feat and can fly via race or subclass can inflict insane fall damage. Open hand with dragonborn or aasimar can do like 163 damage a turn since they can attack 4 times, activate quivering palm and bonus action dash even if they use flurry of blows. Fly 120 feet into sky after you grapple and drop.
Kevin Grimm
2024-08-10 15:54:04 +0000 UTCWelcome back! Super excited about the monk! You mentioned that monks might be the strongest martial class. What else is in the competition?
Rob Agnew
2024-08-10 15:53:07 +0000 UTCI was thinking with warrior of the elements, booming blade then unarmed strike with push this would be very effective against melee targets... But it would mean sacrificing extra attack
Cory Thurman
2024-08-10 15:21:39 +0000 UTCUnless you figure you're going to trigger the secondary damage, probably not.
Treantmonk's Temple
2024-08-10 14:59:45 +0000 UTCIf I used magic initiate or a multi class level to get booming blade, would this be better than using the monks extra attack at level 5?
Cory Thurman
2024-08-10 14:57:34 +0000 UTCFINALLY the Monk got some love
Michael Geyer
2024-08-10 14:53:14 +0000 UTCWelcome back! Hope you had a good vacation. Thank you for the goated coverage of the book.
Mac Tonight
2024-08-10 13:51:25 +0000 UTCWhat I wanting out of the monk. 1. D6 to all simple weapons and ability use all simple weapons with dex. This will boost my weapons mastery options significantly. So dagger short sword does become more power especially if I combine it with the piercer feat. But also hand axe and sickle option becomes way better too to combine with the slasher feat. Also moon sickle the item that increases spell dc for rangers becomes a viable weapon in combat. Everything else is just a bonus
Adam Gillis
2024-08-10 13:49:04 +0000 UTCI was thinking the opposite, ranger dip on monk also would be nice to get HM on flurry of blows
Kbeazy
2024-08-10 13:43:32 +0000 UTCI am thinking about taking a 1 level monk dip on my 2024 ranger. Only problem is needing to be unarmored so super focused on dex and wisdom.
Adam Gillis
2024-08-10 13:27:59 +0000 UTCWelcome back from vaycay! I’m so excited to try out the new monk
Kleyo
2024-08-10 13:24:32 +0000 UTCWelcome back from vacation. Hope you enjoyed it.
Adam Gillis
2024-08-10 13:23:41 +0000 UTCYee ha!! Welcome back
Falcon_Neil
2024-08-10 13:23:24 +0000 UTCSo much better than before
Eric McDaniel
2024-08-10 13:22:49 +0000 UTC
