Why Doesnt Monk Martial Arts Die Go to D12
Monks in D&D may exist known for the lethality of their unarmed attacks, just that doesn't mean they're restricted to being unarmed!
Some Monks have been trained in the utilize of certain weapons in add-on to their unarmed martial arts grooming.
Using Monk Weapons is a dandy way to add more theme and spectacle to your Monk graphic symbol.
Notwithstanding, this can sometimes get a little confusing…
Then today nosotros're taking a closer look at Monk Weapons in D&D 5e. We'll expect at what they are and how you might reskin existing weapons in the game to match real-life Monk Weapons.
Contents
- i What Are Monk Weapons in D&D 5e?
- 1.1 Reskinning Monk Weapons in 5e
- 2 Computing Damage with Monk Weapons in 5e
- two.1 It Goes Both Ways!
- 3 Ranged Monk Weapons?
- four Defended Weapons – Optional Rule for 5e
- 5 Conclusion – Monk Weapons in D&D 5e
What Are Monk Weapons in D&D 5e?
As part of their Martial Arts training, Monks will commonly practice with weapons only as much they railroad train without them.
These weapons are typically very simple with a focus on practicality. The quarterstaff is likely the well-nigh well-known Monk weapon and is a great instance of this.
Shortswords and uncomplicated weapons tin can all be considered Monk weapons in D&D 5e.
To qualify as a Monk weapon, a weapon must meet the following criteria:
- Exist a uncomplicated weapon (i.e. not martial)
- Is not a two-handed weapon
- Is not considered a heavy weapon
And then a Greatclub, for instance, could not authorize despite being a simple weapon because information technology is two-handed. A flail would not authorize equally a Monk Weapon because information technology is a Martial Weapon.
Shortswords are martial weapons but are specifically mentioned as being allowed to take as Monk Weapons by the Thespian'southward Handbook.
A quarterstaff is "versatile" which ways that it can be wielded as either one-handed or ii-handed. Because information technology is not specifically ii-handed, it qualifies as a Monk weapon.
These restrictions on Monk Weapons employ to all Monks except for the Kensei which specializes in weapon combat. I'll exist releasing the subclass guide for the Kensei soon so brand certain you sign upwards for my newsletter so you don't miss that if y'all're interested!
Monk Weapons besides proceeds certain benefits:
- Use Dexterity instead of Force for the set on and damage rolls
- Benefit from Martial Arts Die (Run across the Calculating Damage department of this article.)
- Still permit you to make one actress unarmed attack as a bonus action with Martial Arts feature.
Reskinning Monk Weapons in 5e
There are enough of famous weapons that Monks are associated with that aren't presented in the official 5e books. In those cases, you'll need to piece of work with your DM to reskin existing weapons from the PHB.
Fortunately, it'southward pretty uncomplicated in most cases.
Daggers tin can be reskinned to be weapons like sai, chakram, or kama. Meanwhile, you can reskin the basic lodge to include chain and exist nunchaku or the quarterstaff to be a three-department staff!
You might also reskin the shortsword to instead exist butterfly swords, bladed War Fans, or a kusari-gama.
These don't necessarily modify the mechanics of your character, but can aid you achieve the wait/feel that you're going for.
A Monk chirapsia the daylights out of enemies with nunchaku sounds a lot libation than just smacking them with a club! Non to mention it'due south more on-make!
Calculating Damage with Monk Weapons in 5e
This is the part where people tend to get confused when it comes to Monk Weapons in D&D 5e.
There are two values that you need to be aware of: your Martial Arts Die and your weapon'south damage dice.
Your Martial Arts Dice is based on your level. Naturally, your weapon'due south damage die is plant on the Weapons tabular array of the Histrion's Handbook.
| Monk Level | Martial Arts Die |
| one – 4 | 1d4 |
| 5 – ten | 1d6 |
| eleven – 16 | 1d8 |
| 17+ | 1d10 |
Because of your Martial Arts grooming, you can roll your Martial Arts Dice for an attack in place of the normal impairment from an unarmed strike or your Monk Weapon.
Manifestly, you're going to want to go with whatever is college.
And then consider a shortsword. Upwards to level four, your Martial Arts die is 1d4 versus the shortsword's damage of 1d6. Naturally, you'll want to take the 1d6 from the shortsword instead of the 1d4.
(Subsequently all, when information technology comes to damage, every little bit helps!)
And so, y'all could now swing with your shortsword and so spend a ki point to follow the attack with your Flurry of Blows. Simply note that the attacks with your Flurry of Blows specifically have to be unarmed strikes.
Let's say you're level 4. If all three attacks hit, you're rolling 1d6 for the shortsword plus 2d4 for the Flurry of Blows (based on your Martial Arts die) plus your Dexterity modifier for each attack.
So, yes, information technology's not a bad idea to still have a weapon at lower levels if you want to squeeze as much damage as possible out of your attacks.
It Goes Both Means!
Keep in listen that this means your Martial Arts Die can also help otherwise weaker weapons deal some crazy damage!
For example, a level 18 Monk's Martial Arts Die is 1d10.
Not but are their unarmed strikes going to hit for 1d10 each, simply y'all're able to apply that dice in place of the damage from a qualifying Monk Weapon besides.
So using nunchaku (a reskinned club) isn't going to do a measly 1d4 damage. Y'all're still smacking enemies for 1d10 per hit!
Is in that location a mechanical benefit to this? Well… not really…
Does it expect epic and open up all kinds of new ways to describe yourself in combat? ABSOLUTELY!
If knocking a dragon out with nunchaku isn't on your saucepan listing, information technology should be now. Bruce Lee would be proud of you lot!
Ranged Monk Weapons?
Monks rely heavily on their mobility to close in on enemies. Unfortunately, this comes at the cost of not particularly being suited to using typical ranged weapons.
Mostly speaking, your best bet for a ranged option that qualifies as a Monk Weapon would exist something like a dagger or low-cal hammer. These meet the requirements of Monk Weapons and are able to be thrown to deal damage based on your Martial Arts Die.
Funny enough, darts actually don't qualify as Monk Weapons. This is because darts are simple RANGED weapons and not simple MELEE weapons.
I never actually noticed this until I was writing this article and had to fact-check myself! Considering they're part of the Monk's starting kit, I idea this was a bit surprising!
You tin can see rules-boss Jeremy Crawford'due south explanation of this here.
When information technology comes to ranged weapons for your Monk, you can widen your options by either taking the Kensei bracket at level 3 or by bringing in an optional class characteristic.
Dedicated Weapons – Optional Dominion for 5e
Tasha'southward Cauldron of Everything introduced several new Monk features. One of these new additions is the Dedicated Weapon feature.
This allows you to treat a specific weapon as a Monk Weapon. This weapon isn't held to the same requirements of Monk Weapons, merely it does have to meet certain other requirements to be used in this style.
Specifically:
- The weapon must be a simple or martial weapon.
- Yous must exist good with the weapon.
- The weapon must not take the "heavy" or "special" properties.
In most cases, that second requirement is going to be the about of import part to be aware of.
For case, you lot could utilize the Dedicated Weapon feature with a shortbow because it is a elementary weapon with which you lot are proficient and doesn't have the "heavy" or "special" property.
Withal, you couldn't do this with a longbow because information technology is a martial weapon that you lot do not have proficiency with. If you can gain proficiency with longbows, you'll be able to make information technology your Dedicated Weapon.
To use the Dedicated Weapon feature on a weapon, you focus your ki on a weapon afterwards a short or long rest. The benefit lasts until you utilise this feature again.
Go on in mind that you are treating that specific weapon equally a Monk weapon and not all weapons like information technology. If you utilize this on a dart, just that one dart volition be a Monk Weapon for you. The next darts you lot throw will function as normal darts.
Decision – Monk Weapons in D&D 5e
Information technology's pretty rare (in my experience anyway) to encounter players taking advantage of what Monk Weapons have to offer. Whether mechanically or only thematically, there are plenty of benefits to working them into your character's build!
Personally, I'm still kind of shocked about the fact that darts don't count as Monk weapons. Sure, you lot might every bit well just use a dagger, but it but caught me so off-guard!
If that's the case, I might only take my side by side Monk character focus on throwing hammers at enemies! Though I'g non certain if that'southward a joke or not all the same…
Anyhow…
I hope you've found this article helpful! If you still have any questions near Monk Weapons in D&D 5e or but want to share some crawly Monk stories, leave me a comment beneath!
Bank check out my full ranking of every Monk bracket in D&D 5e to see how each subclass stacks upward against the others!
Want all the latest D&D news, player guides, DM tips, and more? Sign up for the Tabletop Joab newsletter below!
Yous have Successfully Subscribed!
Source: https://tabletopjoab.com/monk-weapons-5e/
Post a Comment for "Why Doesnt Monk Martial Arts Die Go to D12"