Monk 5eClass Guide & NPC Generator
Monastic traditions, the Martial Arts and ki tables, Stunning Strike and the stats that matter — then forge a finished monk NPC, portrait and all, without typing a thing twice.
A monk needs no armour and no weapon. Four attacks a turn by level 5, the fastest feet in the game, every saving throw by 14, and a single ki point that can take a boss out of the fight entirely.
Choose your subclass
Monk Subclasses — The Monastic Traditions
Six disciplines, six things ki turns into. Choose one; the forge follows.
The classic
Way of the Open Hand
Every Flurry punch can knock prone, push 15 feet, or deny reactions. The purest monk, and still one of the best.
Full Way of the Open Hand guide →The Forge
Forge Way of the Open Hand Monk
Everything you have chosen travels with you and arrives pre-filled. Nothing to type twice — just press Generate.
Way of the Open Hand · level 5 · pre-filled for you
Role in party
The Mobile Skirmisher
Monk = the party’s skirmisher — everywhere on the battlefield at once, ending a boss’s turn with Stunning Strike before it starts.
You want to be the fastest thing on the field — flank, isolate, and shut down whatever the party cannot afford to let act.
Forged this morning
The Sword-Saint
Way of the Kensei · Level 11 · Lawful Neutral
Kensei Oda
Treats the longbow and the fist as the same discipline. Has not lost since he stopped caring whether he won — which his students find deeply unhelpful advice.
Chosen lineage
Best Races for a Monk
Dexterity and Wisdom carry the class, so the best lineages raise both — or add mobility a monk already loves.
Wood ElfGUIDE →
Both monk stats in one line, plus 35 ft base speed and Mask of the Wild — the textbook skirmisher chassis.
Variant HumanGUIDE →
Mobile or Alert online at level 1 — a monk’s signature feats come together immediately.
Hill DwarfGUIDE →
Wisdom for your AC and stun DC, plus the hit points that ease the class’s fragile early game.
Lightfoot HalflingGUIDE →
Dexterity, Lucky and Naturally Stealthy — a slippery, hard-to-pin infiltrator monk.
KoboldGUIDE →
Pure Dexterity and Pack Tactics for advantage — a nimble flanking striker when you fight beside allies.
The whole class, in one hand
Ki & Martial Arts — How a Monk Works
Monks have no spell list. Ki is the resource that replaces it: a pool equal to your monk level, refilled on a short rest, spent on the moves that make the class.
Ki Points
A pool equal to your level that comes back on a short rest — so monks want more rests than anyone. Wisdom sets the save DC for every ki move.
Martial Arts
Unarmed strikes and monk weapons use Dexterity and the martial arts die, and every Attack action grants a free bonus-action unarmed strike. This is the engine.
What ki buys
Flurry of Blows (two more strikes), Patient Defense (Dodge as a bonus action), Step of the Wind (Dash/Disengage), and Stunning Strike — the strongest martial control in the game.
Where the points go
Monk Builds — Where the Points Go
The most stat-hungry martial in the game: Dexterity, Wisdom and Constitution all want to be first, and there is only one budget.
Any monk
The class’s real problem: Dexterity attacks, Wisdom is your armour class *and* Stunning Strike DC, and you still want Constitution. Three stats, one budget.
Stun-lock
Stunning Strike keys off Wisdom. If you intend to stun bosses, Wisdom is not optional — it is the second attack stat.
Astral Self
The only monk that escapes the squeeze: spectral arms use Wisdom to hit, so Dexterity is just armour class.
Top picks
Best Feats for a Monk
A monk wins by being where the enemy is not — so the best feats buy mobility, initiative, and lock-down.
Multiclass combos
Best Monk Multiclass Combos
Both monk stats live on a razor’s edge, so dips are small — a level or two that adds a trick without starving the build.
Monk / RogueGUIDE →
Expertise, Sneak Attack and Cunning Action bolt straight onto Dexterity — the mobile skirmisher, sharpened.
Monk / ClericGUIDE →
Wisdom already runs your AC and stun DC, so a cleric dip powers real spellcasting off the same stat.
Monk / BarbarianGUIDE →
Tempting (Unarmored Defense on both), but Rage forbids spells and monks lean on ki, not fury. Fun, but the two chassis fight each other; commit to one.
Armory
Best Monk Equipment by Tier
Monks favour no armour and light or no weapons — armour disables Unarmored Defense and Martial Arts. Carry less, hit more.
The Long Discipline
Features by Level
From the forge
Monks Made Here
Six traditions, six disciplines. Take any one — the whole build travels with it.
Brother Tam
Has knocked down every person who ever raised a hand to him, and apologised to each one afterwards.
Use this build →
Nightjar
Steps from one shadow to the next. The guards remember a draught, and nothing else.
Use this build →
Kensei Oda
Treats the longbow and the fist as the same discipline. Has not lost since he stopped caring whether he won.
Use this build →
Ashira Sunfist
Throws light across the field and closes the distance while it lands. Bright, in both senses.
Use this build →
Sister Quen
Wears the mask because the dying find it comforting. The same hand heals and stops a heart.
Use this build →
Vess of the Long Arms
The arms are much larger than he is, and much older. He does not explain, and they do not either.
Use this build →Counsel
Frequently Asked
What is a monk in D&D 5e?
An unarmoured martial artist powered by ki. Monks get four attacks a turn early, the best mobility in the game, proficiency in every saving throw by level 14, and Stunning Strike — the strongest martial control effect there is. No spells, no armour.
How do I build a monk in 5e?
Dexterity first — attacks, damage and half your armour class. Wisdom second: it is the *other* half of your AC and your Stunning Strike DC. Constitution third. Never wear armour; it disables Unarmored Defense and Martial Arts.
What is the best monk subclass?
Open Hand is still excellent and the simplest — prone, push or no-reactions on every Flurry punch. Shadow is the best infiltrator. Mercy is the only monk that heals. Astral Self is the best-designed, because it fixes the class’s stat squeeze.
How does Stunning Strike work?
1 ki on a hit: the target makes a Constitution save or is stunned until your next turn. Stunned means it takes no actions, cannot move, and auto-fails Strength and Dexterity saves — while every attack against it has advantage. It can end a boss fight.
Are monks weak in 5e?
They are MAD — needing Dexterity, Wisdom and Constitution on one budget — and ki runs out fast at low levels because they lean on short rests. But Stunning Strike, four attacks, Evasion and Diamond Soul are all genuinely strong. Weak early, excellent in the middle.
What are the best stats for a monk?
Dexterity first, Wisdom a close second — it is armour class *and* your stun DC, so it is not a dump stat like it is for other martials. Constitution third. Strength, Intelligence and Charisma are all skippable.
Monk vs Rogue — which should I play?
Both are Dexterity-based and unarmoured. Rogues do burst damage, Expertise and skills; monks do sustained attacks, mobility and Stunning Strike. Play a rogue to be the specialist; a monk to be everywhere on the battlefield at once.
Empty Hand, Full Turn
Read the rules, choose your tradition, and forge the monk — all on one page. Your first is free.
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