5e24:Monk
Monk is a class in 5th edition (2024).
Core Monk Traits
| Core Monk Traits [1][2][3] | |
|---|---|
| Primary Ability | Dexterity or Wisdom |
| Hit Point Die | D8 per Monk level |
| Saving Throw Proficiencies | Strength and Dexterity |
| Skill Proficiencies | Choose any 2 Acrobatics, Athletics, History, Insight, Religion, or Stealth |
| Weapon Proficiencies | Simples and Martial Weapons that have the Light property |
| Tool Proficiencies | Choose 1 Artisan's Tools or Musical Instrument |
| Armor Training | None |
| Starting Equipment | Choose A, or B: (A) Spear, 5 Daggers, Artisan's Tools or Musical Instrument chosen for the tool proficiency above, Explorer's Pack, and 11 GP; or (B) 50 GP |
Becoming a Monk
As a Level 1 Character
- Gain all the traits in the Core Monk Traits table.
- Gain the Monk’s level 1 features, which are listed in the Monk Features table.
As a Multiclass Fighter
- Gain the Hit Point Die trait from the Core Monk Traits table.
- Gain the Monk’s level 1 features, which are listed in the Monk Features table.
Monk Features
| Level | Proficiency Bonus |
Features | Martial Arts | Focus Points | Unarmored Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +2 | Martial Arts, Unarmored Defense | 1d6 | — | — |
| 2nd | +2 | Monk's Focus, Unarmored Movement, Uncanny Metabolism | 1d6 | 2 | +10 ft. |
| 3rd | +2 | Deflect Attacks, Monk Subclass | 1d6 | 3 | +10 ft. |
| 4th | +2 | Ability Score Increase, Slow Fall | 1d6 | 3 | +10 ft. |
| 5th | +3 | Extra Attack, Stunning Strike | 1d8 | 5 | +10 ft. |
| 6th | +3 | Empowered Strikes, Subclass feature | 1d8 | 6 | +15 ft. |
| 7th | +3 | Evasion | 1d8 | 7 | +15 ft. |
| 8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 1d8 | 8 | +15 ft. |
| 9th | +4 | Acrobatic Movement | 1d8 | 9 | +15 ft. |
| 10th | +4 | Heightened Focus, Self-Restoration | 1d8 | 10 | +20 ft. |
| 11th | +4 | Subclass feature | 1d10 | 11 | +20 ft. |
| 12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 1d10 | 12 | +20 ft. |
| 13th | +5 | Deflect Energy | 1d10 | 13 | +20 ft. |
| 14th | +5 | Disciplined Survivor | 1d10 | 14 | +25 ft. |
| 15th | +5 | Perfect Focus | 1d10 | 15 | +25 ft. |
| 16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 1d10 | 16 | +25 ft. |
| 17th | +6 | Subclass Feature | 1d12 | 17 | +25 ft. |
| 18th | +6 | Superior Defense | 1d12 | 18 | +30 ft. |
| 19th | +6 | Epic Boon | 1d12 | 19 | +30 ft. |
| 20th | +6 | Body and Mind | 1d12 | 19 | +30 ft. |
Martial Arts
1st level [1][2][3]
Your practice of martial arts gives you mastery of combat styles that use your Unarmed Strike and Monk Weapons, which are the following:
- Simple Melee Weapons
- Martial Melee weapons that have the Light property
You gain the following benefits while you are unarmed or wielding only Monk weapons and you aren’t wearing armor or wielding a Shield.
Bonus Unarmed Strike. You can make an Unarmed Strike as a Bonus Action.
Martial Arts Die. You can roll 1d6 in place of the normal damage of your Unarmed Strike or Monk Weapons. This die changes as you gain Monk levels, as shown in the Martial Arts column of the Monk Features table.
Dexterous Attacks. You can use your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier for the attack and damage rolls of your Unarmed Strikes and Monk weapons. In addition, when you use the Grapple or Shove option of your Unarmed Strike, you can use your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier to determine the save DC.
Unarmored Defense
1st level [1][2][3]
While you aren’t wearing armor or wielding a Shield, your base Armor Class equals 10 plus your Dexterity and Wisdom modifiers.
Monk's Focus
2nd level [2][3] Your focus and martial training allow you to harness a well of extraordinary energy within yourself. This energy is represented by Focus Points. Your Monk level determines the number of points you have, as shown in the Focus Points column of the Monk Features table.
You can expend these points to enhance or fuel certain Monk features. You start knowing three such features: Flurry of Blows, Patient Defense, and Step of the Wind, each of which is detailed below.
When you expend a Focus Point, it is unavailable until you finish a short or long rest, at the end of which you regain all your expended points.
Some features that use Focus Points require your target to make a saving throw. The save DC equals 8 plus your Wisdom modifier and Proficiency Bonus.
Flurry of Blows. You can expend 1 Focus Point to make two Unarmed Strikes as a Bonus Action.
Patient Defense. You can take the Disengage action as a Bonus Action. Alternatively, you can expend 1 Focus Point to take both the Disengage and the Dodge actions as a Bonus Action.
Step of the Wind. You can take the Dash action as a Bonus Action. Alternatively, you can expend 1 Focus Point to take both the Disengage and Dash actions as a Bonus Action, and your jump distance is doubled for the Turn.
Unarmored Movement
2nd level [1][2][3]
Your speed increases by 10 feet while you aren’t wearing armor or wielding a Shield. This bonus increases when you reach certain Monk levels, as shown on the Monk Features table.
Uncanny Metabolism
2nd level [1][2][3]
When you roll Initiative, you can regain all expended Focus Points. When you do so, roll your Martial Arts die, and regain a number of Hit Points equal to your Monk level plus the number rolled.
Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a Long Rest.
Defect Attacks
3rdlevel [1][2][3]
When an attack roll hits you and its damage includes Bludgeoning, Piercing, or Slashing damage, you can take a Reaction to reduce the attack’s total damage against you. The reduction equals 1d10 plus your Dexterity modifier and Monk level.
If you reduce the damage to 0, you can expend 1 Focus Point to redirect some of the attack’s force. If you do so, choose a creature you can see within 5 feet of yourself if the attack was a melee attack or a creature you can see within 60 feet of yourself that isn’t behind Total Cover if the attack was a ranged attack. That creature must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or take damage equal to two rolls of your Martial Arts die plus your Dexterity modifier. The damage is the same type dealt by the attack.
Monk Subclass
3rd level [1][2][3]
You gain a Monk subclass of your choice. The Warrior of the Open Hand subclass is detailed after this class’s description. A subclass is a specialization that grants you features at certain Monk levels. For the rest of your career, you gain each of your subclass’s features that are of your Monk level or lower.
List of Monk Subclasses
Note: This section contains information beyond the SRD 5.2
4 official and unofficial subclasses.
| Subclass | Features | Flags | License | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warrior of the Elements | Elemental Attunement, Manipulate Elements, Elemental Burst, Stride of the Elements, Elemental Epitome | Canon, Pointer | Fair Use | Player's Handbook (5e24) |
| Warrior of Mercy | Hand of Harm, Hand of Healing, Implements of Mercy, Physician's Touch, Flurry of Healing and Harm, Hand of Ultimate Mercy | Canon, Pointer | Fair Use | Player's Handbook (5e24) |
| Warrior of Shadow | Shadow Arts, Shadow Step, Improved Shadow Step, Cloak of Shadows | Canon, Pointer | Fair Use | Player's Handbook (5e24) |
| Warrior of the Open Hand | Open Hand Technique, Wholeness of Body, Fleet Step, Quivering Palm | Canon | CC-BY | SRD 5.2 |
Ability Score Improvement
4th, 8th, 12th, 16th level [1][2][3]
You gain the Ability Score Improvement feat or another feat of your choice for which you qualify. You gain this feature again at Fighter levels 8, 12, and 16.
Slow Fall
4th level [1][2][3]
You can take a Reaction when you fall to reduce any damage you take from the fall by an amount equal to five times your Monk level.
Extra Attack
5th level [1][2][3]
You can attack twice instead of once whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
Stunning Strike
5th level [1][2][3]
Once per turn when you hit a creature with a Monk weapon or an Unarmed Strike, you can expend 1 Focus Point to attempt a stunning strike. The target must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the target has the Stunned condition until the start of your next turn. On a successful save, the target’s Speed is halved until the start of your next turn, and the next attack roll made against the target before then has Advantage.
Empowered Strikes
6th level [1][2][3]
Whenever you deal damage with your Unarmed Strike, it can deal your choice of Force damage or its normal damage type.
Evasion
7th level [1][2][3]
When you’re subjected to an effect that allows you to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, you instead take no damage if you succeed on the saving throw and only half damage if you fail.
You don’t benefit from this feature if you have the Incapacitated condition.
Acrobatic Movement
9th level [1][2][3]
While you aren’t wearing armor or wielding a Shield, you gain the ability to move along vertical surfaces and across liquids on your turn without falling during the movement.
Heightened Focus
10th level [1][2][3]
Your {iplink|Flurry of Blows}}, Patient Defense, and Step of the Wind gain the following benefits.
Flurry of Blows. You can expend 1 Focus Point to use Flurry of Blows and make three Unarmed Strikes with it instead of two.
Patient Defense. When you expend a Focus Point to use Patient Defense, you gain a number of Temporary Hit Points equal to two rolls of your Martial Arts die.
Step of the Wind. When you expend a Focus Point to use Step of the Wind, you can choose a willing creature within 5 feet of yourself that is Large or smaller. You move the creature with you until the end of your turn. The creature’s movement doesn’t provoke Opportunity Attacks.
Self-Restoration
10th level [1][2][3]
Through sheer force of will, you can remove one of the following conditions from yourself at the end of each of your turns: Charmed, Frightened, or Poisoned.
In addition, forgoing food and drink doesn’t give you levels of Exhaustion.
Deflect Energy
13th level [1][2][3]
You can now use your Deflect Attacks feature against attacks that deal any damage type, not just Bludgeoning, Piercing, or Slashing.
Disciplined Survivor
14th level [2][3]
Your physical and mental discipline grant you proficiency in all saving throws.
Additionally, whenever you make a saving throw and fail, you can expend 1 Focus Point to reroll it, and you must use the new roll.
Perfect Focus
15th level [1][2][3]
When you roll Initiative and don’t use Uncanny Metabolism, you regain expended Focus Points until you have 4 if you have 3 or fewer.
Superior Defense
18th level [1][2][3]
At the start of your turn, you can expend 3 Focus Points to bolster yourself against harm for 1 minute or until you have the Incapacitated condition. During that time, you have Resistance to all damage except Force damage.
Epic Boon
19th level [2][3]
You gain an Epic Boon feat or another feat of your choice for which you qualify. Boon of Irresistible Offense is recommended.
Body and Mind
20th level [1][2][3]
You have developed your body and mind to new heights. Your Dexterity and Wisdom scores increase by 4, to a maximum of 25.
Description
Unofficial Description: Monks are individuals trained in a religious or philosophical order. Their power derives from discipline and training.
Sources and Notes
- Wizards RPG Team. SRD 5.2 (5e 2024) (2025-04-22). Wizards of the Coast. p. 49-52. Licensed: CC-BY. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21
- Wizards RPG Team. 2024 D&D Free Rules (5e 2024) (2024-09-03). Wizards of the Coast, D&D Beyond.. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24
- Wizards RPG Team. Player's Handbook (5e24) (5e 2024) (2024-09-17). Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 9780786969821. p. 100-107.. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24
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Attribution:SRD 5.2 CC-BY
This work includes material from the System Reference Document 5.2 (“SRD 5.2”) by Wizards of the Coast LLC, available at https://www.dndbeyond.com/srd. The SRD 5.2 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode].