How do I build a tanky Monk in Baldur's Gate 3?
Building a tanky Monk in Baldur's Gate 3 requires a careful balance of defensive abilities, mobility, and damage output. Monks are typically known for their agility and speed, but with the right choices, you can create a Monk that can withstand heavy hits while still dishing out significant damage. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to achieve this.
First, letÔÇÖs talk about the mechanics involved. Monks rely on Dexterity and Wisdom for their core abilities. Dexterity boosts their Armor Class (AC) and attack rolls, while Wisdom enhances their AC through the MonkÔÇÖs Unarmored Defense feature and improves their saving throws. Constitution is also important for a tanky build, as it increases your hit points, making you more durable in combat. The MonkÔÇÖs Ki points allow you to perform special abilities like Flurry of Blows, Patient Defense, and Step of the Wind, which are crucial for both offense and defense.
To start, choose a race that complements a tanky Monk build. Githyanki is a strong choice due to their natural armor proficiency, which can be useful if you decide to wear light armor. Alternatively, Half-Orcs have Relentless Endurance, which can save you from being knocked out, and their Savage Attacks feature increases your damage output. Humans are also a solid option because of their versatility and extra skill proficiency.
When assigning ability scores, prioritize Dexterity and Wisdom. Aim for at least 16 in Dexterity and 14 in Wisdom at character creation. Constitution should be your third priority, with at least 14 points. Strength, Intelligence, and Charisma can be lower, as they are less critical for a MonkÔÇÖs performance. If youÔÇÖre using point buy, you might start with Dexterity 16, Wisdom 14, Constitution 14, and the remaining points distributed as needed.
For your background, choose one that provides useful skills for a tanky Monk. The Soldier background, for example, gives you Athletics and Intimidation, which can be helpful in combat and dialogue. The Outlander background offers Survival and Athletics, which are useful for exploration and physical challenges.
At level 1, youÔÇÖll gain the MonkÔÇÖs Unarmored Defense feature, which allows you to calculate your AC as 10 + Dexterity modifier + Wisdom modifier. This means that with Dexterity 16 and Wisdom 14, your AC starts at 15. YouÔÇÖll also gain Martial Arts, which lets you use Dexterity instead of Strength for attack and damage rolls with Monk weapons and unarmed strikes.
As you level up, focus on abilities that enhance your survivability. At level 2, you gain Ki points, which you can use for Flurry of Blows, Patient Defense, and Step of the Wind. Patient Defense is particularly useful for a tanky Monk, as it allows you to take the Dodge action as a bonus action, making you harder to hit. Step of the Wind can help you reposition quickly, avoiding dangerous areas or closing the gap to enemies.
At level 3, youÔÇÖll choose a Monastic Tradition. For a tanky build, the Way of the Open Hand is a strong choice. It enhances your Flurry of Blows with additional effects, such as knocking enemies prone or pushing them away, which can help control the battlefield. The Way of Shadow is another option, offering more utility and stealth, but itÔÇÖs less focused on tanking.
By level 4, youÔÇÖll get an Ability Score Improvement (ASI). Consider increasing Dexterity to 18, which will boost your AC and attack rolls. Alternatively, you could take the Tough feat to increase your hit points, making you even more durable. Another option is the Mobile feat, which increases your movement speed and allows you to avoid opportunity attacks after making a melee attack, enhancing your mobility and survivability.
At level 5, you gain Extra Attack, allowing you to make two attacks whenever you take the Attack action. This significantly increases your damage output. You also gain Stunning Strike, which lets you spend a Ki point to attempt to stun an enemy when you hit them with a melee weapon attack. Stunning Strike is a powerful tool for controlling enemies and reducing incoming damage.
As you progress further, continue to focus on abilities that enhance your tankiness. At level 6, you gain Ki-Empowered Strikes, which allows your unarmed strikes to count as magical for overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage. This ensures that your attacks remain effective against tougher enemies.
At level 8, you get another ASI. Consider increasing Wisdom to 16, which will boost your AC and saving throws. Alternatively, you could take the Resilient feat to gain proficiency in Constitution saving throws, making you more resistant to effects that require Constitution saves, such as poison or being knocked out.
By level 10, you gain Purity of Body, which makes you immune to disease and poison. This is a significant defensive boost, as it removes two common sources of damage and debilitation. At level 12, you get another ASI, which you can use to further increase Dexterity or Wisdom, or take a feat like Lucky, which can help you avoid critical hits or failed saving throws.
In combat, use your mobility to your advantage. Monks are fast, so you can move around the battlefield to engage key targets or protect allies. Use Patient Defense when youÔÇÖre in a tough spot, and donÔÇÖt be afraid to use Stunning Strike to disable dangerous enemies. Flurry of Blows is great for dealing damage, but remember that Patient Defense can be more valuable in situations where youÔÇÖre taking a lot of hits.
One common mistake is neglecting Constitution. While Dexterity and Wisdom are important, having a low Constitution will make you too fragile to be an effective tank. Make sure to invest in Constitution to increase your hit points and survivability.
Advanced techniques include using your environment to your advantage. Monks can jump and climb with ease, so use verticality to avoid melee enemies or gain a tactical advantage. You can also use Step of the Wind to disengage from combat and reposition without provoking opportunity attacks.
In terms of D&D rules, remember that Monks are designed to be versatile and mobile. They donÔÇÖt have the heavy armor or shields that other tanky classes might use, so their survivability comes from their high AC, mobility, and ability to control the battlefield. Make sure to use your Ki points wisely, as they are a limited resource that recharges on a short rest.
Specific examples of a tanky Monk in action might include using Patient Defense to draw enemy attacks while your allies deal damage, or using Stunning Strike to disable a powerful enemy caster. In a scenario where youÔÇÖre surrounded by multiple enemies, you might use Step of the Wind to disengage and move to a more advantageous position, then use Flurry of Blows to take out a key target.
In summary, building a tanky Monk in Baldur's Gate 3 involves focusing on Dexterity, Wisdom, and Constitution, choosing the right race and background, and making strategic use of your Ki points and abilities. By balancing offense and defense, you can create a Monk that is both durable and deadly, capable of holding the front line and protecting your party.
First, letÔÇÖs talk about the mechanics involved. Monks rely on Dexterity and Wisdom for their core abilities. Dexterity boosts their Armor Class (AC) and attack rolls, while Wisdom enhances their AC through the MonkÔÇÖs Unarmored Defense feature and improves their saving throws. Constitution is also important for a tanky build, as it increases your hit points, making you more durable in combat. The MonkÔÇÖs Ki points allow you to perform special abilities like Flurry of Blows, Patient Defense, and Step of the Wind, which are crucial for both offense and defense.
To start, choose a race that complements a tanky Monk build. Githyanki is a strong choice due to their natural armor proficiency, which can be useful if you decide to wear light armor. Alternatively, Half-Orcs have Relentless Endurance, which can save you from being knocked out, and their Savage Attacks feature increases your damage output. Humans are also a solid option because of their versatility and extra skill proficiency.
When assigning ability scores, prioritize Dexterity and Wisdom. Aim for at least 16 in Dexterity and 14 in Wisdom at character creation. Constitution should be your third priority, with at least 14 points. Strength, Intelligence, and Charisma can be lower, as they are less critical for a MonkÔÇÖs performance. If youÔÇÖre using point buy, you might start with Dexterity 16, Wisdom 14, Constitution 14, and the remaining points distributed as needed.
For your background, choose one that provides useful skills for a tanky Monk. The Soldier background, for example, gives you Athletics and Intimidation, which can be helpful in combat and dialogue. The Outlander background offers Survival and Athletics, which are useful for exploration and physical challenges.
At level 1, youÔÇÖll gain the MonkÔÇÖs Unarmored Defense feature, which allows you to calculate your AC as 10 + Dexterity modifier + Wisdom modifier. This means that with Dexterity 16 and Wisdom 14, your AC starts at 15. YouÔÇÖll also gain Martial Arts, which lets you use Dexterity instead of Strength for attack and damage rolls with Monk weapons and unarmed strikes.
As you level up, focus on abilities that enhance your survivability. At level 2, you gain Ki points, which you can use for Flurry of Blows, Patient Defense, and Step of the Wind. Patient Defense is particularly useful for a tanky Monk, as it allows you to take the Dodge action as a bonus action, making you harder to hit. Step of the Wind can help you reposition quickly, avoiding dangerous areas or closing the gap to enemies.
At level 3, youÔÇÖll choose a Monastic Tradition. For a tanky build, the Way of the Open Hand is a strong choice. It enhances your Flurry of Blows with additional effects, such as knocking enemies prone or pushing them away, which can help control the battlefield. The Way of Shadow is another option, offering more utility and stealth, but itÔÇÖs less focused on tanking.
By level 4, youÔÇÖll get an Ability Score Improvement (ASI). Consider increasing Dexterity to 18, which will boost your AC and attack rolls. Alternatively, you could take the Tough feat to increase your hit points, making you even more durable. Another option is the Mobile feat, which increases your movement speed and allows you to avoid opportunity attacks after making a melee attack, enhancing your mobility and survivability.
At level 5, you gain Extra Attack, allowing you to make two attacks whenever you take the Attack action. This significantly increases your damage output. You also gain Stunning Strike, which lets you spend a Ki point to attempt to stun an enemy when you hit them with a melee weapon attack. Stunning Strike is a powerful tool for controlling enemies and reducing incoming damage.
As you progress further, continue to focus on abilities that enhance your tankiness. At level 6, you gain Ki-Empowered Strikes, which allows your unarmed strikes to count as magical for overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage. This ensures that your attacks remain effective against tougher enemies.
At level 8, you get another ASI. Consider increasing Wisdom to 16, which will boost your AC and saving throws. Alternatively, you could take the Resilient feat to gain proficiency in Constitution saving throws, making you more resistant to effects that require Constitution saves, such as poison or being knocked out.
By level 10, you gain Purity of Body, which makes you immune to disease and poison. This is a significant defensive boost, as it removes two common sources of damage and debilitation. At level 12, you get another ASI, which you can use to further increase Dexterity or Wisdom, or take a feat like Lucky, which can help you avoid critical hits or failed saving throws.
In combat, use your mobility to your advantage. Monks are fast, so you can move around the battlefield to engage key targets or protect allies. Use Patient Defense when youÔÇÖre in a tough spot, and donÔÇÖt be afraid to use Stunning Strike to disable dangerous enemies. Flurry of Blows is great for dealing damage, but remember that Patient Defense can be more valuable in situations where youÔÇÖre taking a lot of hits.
One common mistake is neglecting Constitution. While Dexterity and Wisdom are important, having a low Constitution will make you too fragile to be an effective tank. Make sure to invest in Constitution to increase your hit points and survivability.
Advanced techniques include using your environment to your advantage. Monks can jump and climb with ease, so use verticality to avoid melee enemies or gain a tactical advantage. You can also use Step of the Wind to disengage from combat and reposition without provoking opportunity attacks.
In terms of D&D rules, remember that Monks are designed to be versatile and mobile. They donÔÇÖt have the heavy armor or shields that other tanky classes might use, so their survivability comes from their high AC, mobility, and ability to control the battlefield. Make sure to use your Ki points wisely, as they are a limited resource that recharges on a short rest.
Specific examples of a tanky Monk in action might include using Patient Defense to draw enemy attacks while your allies deal damage, or using Stunning Strike to disable a powerful enemy caster. In a scenario where youÔÇÖre surrounded by multiple enemies, you might use Step of the Wind to disengage and move to a more advantageous position, then use Flurry of Blows to take out a key target.
In summary, building a tanky Monk in Baldur's Gate 3 involves focusing on Dexterity, Wisdom, and Constitution, choosing the right race and background, and making strategic use of your Ki points and abilities. By balancing offense and defense, you can create a Monk that is both durable and deadly, capable of holding the front line and protecting your party.