Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Monk Class Build

Of the 12 classes that will be playable in Baldur’s Gate 3, only one wasn’t ready for players for the Early Access: the Monk. Monks have a lot of options under their black belts, with three distinct sub-classes to choose from that could equally lead to a fantastic Monk build in BG3.

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Updated November 2, 2024 by Erik Petrovich: When going for the best Monk build BG3 players can make, you need to also consider factors beyond your character. After all, even with the best Baldur’s Gate 3 Monk build, it’s nearly impossible to beat BG3 without a balanced Monk party composition. Unless you are going for a solo run, it’s a good idea to consider your companion options before journeying out into the world – more often than not, this best BG3 Monk Build is improved with the right companions. This guide to the best Baldur’s Gate 3 Monk build has been updated to add a section covering our best BG3 Monk build companion and party composition recommendations, as well as to clarify some details so players can more easily follow this BG3 Monk Build guide.

Monk Class Introduction & Overview

The Baldur’s Gate 3 Monk Class, Explained

Monk Playstyle & Signature Abilities

“Channel your cosmic enlightenment by deftly dodging and efficiently disassembling your foes through stunning strikes and a whirlwind of martial art attacks.”

The Monk is one of three classes in Baldur’s Gate 3 that put a particular emphasis on melee combat in virtually all builds. Monks take the concept of hand-to-hand combat very literally, offering bonuses and special attacks that require players to be Unarmed. Monks gain Martial Arts abilities that change the flow of combat by granting new opportunities for attacks, as well as special evasive abilities like Deflect Missiles and Evasion as they level up.

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The unique Monk feature is Ki, a unique resource that refreshes with every Short Rest, and is used to fuel many of the best Monk abilities. Players start with just two Ki, then gain one for each level-up.

They also gain the Unarmored Defence passive, like the Barbarian class,which increases AC when not wearing traditional Armor. Robes and other Clothing are totally OK, though. Play a Monk to try a new approach to melee combat that’s a bit more complex, synergistic – and potentially more rewarding – than other melee classes.

Base Monk Class Proficiencies: Armor, Weapons, Saving Throws, & Skill Choices

When you first start creating your Monk Build, BG3 offers a selection of basic Class Proficiencies, and a choice of two Monk Skill Proficiencies.

In addition to Armor, Weapon, and Saving Throw proficiencies that vary for each class, the pool of Skills you can choose from are different for each class. These cannot be changed once you get past character creation without resetting your build.

All Monk Subclasses

There are a total of three BG3 Ways (subclasses) Monk players can try out, each of which focuses on different aspects of the class, and offers a selection of unique skills, proficiencies, and other features. As you level up in one of these BG3 Monk subclasses, you will gain more abilities that are unique to your subclass choice.

Your choice of Monk subclass can be changed by speaking with Withers, but you will start at Level 1 and have to make your BG3 Monk build from scratch. Though this chart displays information for all subclasses, if you want to make best Monk build BG3 has to offer, you should go for the Way of Shadow.

Monk Class Features – Level By Level

The max level in Baldur’s Gate 3 is Level 12, and most of the time, each level you gain will grant something new for your Monk build. On character creation you gain the basics for the Monk class, then steadily gain Feat Choices, new spells and abilities, subclass features, and increase your Proficiency Bonus.

This chart displays everything you can expect to get at each Level-Up as a Monk in your Baldur’s Gate 3 journey.

BG3 Monk Subclass Choice – Way of Shadow

Overview Of BG3 Monk Way of Shadow Subclass

What Makes Way of Shadow the Best BG3 Monk Subclass?

“Monks of the Way of Shadow follow a tradition that values stealth and subterfuge.”

Players can select their subclass at character creation as a Monk, and because Stealth is just so good in Baldur’s Gate 3, the Way of Shadow is a powerhouse of damage just like the Thief Rogue build. The Way of the Open Hand and Way of the Four Elements have plenty of options and playability in their own right, but because Sneak Attacks and Stealth are so strong when used to initiate combat (or join it from the outside), the Way of Shadow reigns supreme.

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The Way of Shadow Monk plays like a mix of the Rogue and Gloomstalker Ranger classes. Way of Shadow Monks rely on Stealth and their bare fists to deal damage, and are most heavily inspired by Ninjas and other agile warriors of darkness and subterfuge.

In earlier levels, Shadow Monks can cast the Minor Illusion cantrip as well as Shadow Arts, special versions of Pass Without Trace, Darkness, Darkvision, Silence, and Hide as bonus actions. Later on, the Way of Shadow Monk can become invisible at will – and strike from the shadows in a very literal sense. The Shadow Monk is great for players who want a different approach to Stealth than the typical Dungeons and Dragons Rogue and Ranger archetypes.

Way of Shadow Subclass Features – Level By Level

In addition to everything you unlock while leveling as a Monk, your Subclass also determines what you unlock at certain levels. As a Monk, you can select a subclass at Level 3.

For the purposes of this guide to the BG3 best Monk build, choose the Way of Shadow when prompted to choose a Subclass.

Best BG3 Monk Build Character Creation Choices

BG3 Monk Build Race, Background, Proficiency, Feats, & Stat Choices

Best BG3 Monk Race: Githyanki

Githyanki are an extremely powerful race in Baldur’s Gate 3, and a good default choice for just about any class thanks to its innately strong racial abilities. The Githyanki gain the Astral Knowledge ability, which grants Proficiency in every Skill that related to a chosen Ability Score – arguably the best racial ability for dialogue and roleplay in Baldur’s Gate 3. That’s just the start of it, though.

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Githyanki also gain three spells as they level up, and five extra Profiencies. The Githyanki Psionics racial grants a special version of Mage Hand at Level 1 that can go invisible. At Level 3, Githyanki gain Enhance Leap, an essential spell for Monks to travel across the battlefield quickly and quietly. Then at Level 5, Githyanki gain Misty Step, which can be used once per long rest to teleport to a target location.

For Way of Shadow Monks, stealth is the name of the game, and these two abilities give them more ways to get into position faster without being seen. Some other decent racial options for Monks include the Drow, for their proficiency in Stealth, or the Wood Elf, for their extra movement speed. Lightfoot Halfling can also be a decent choice thanks to the Lucky racial ability, which lets the player re-roll natural 1 on any dice rolls.

Best Monk Backgrounds in BG3: Criminal or Outlander

Monks rely on DEX and WIS for the majority of their abilities, and Way of Shadow Monk builds are no different. Choose a background that either fits with these types of skills for further bonuses to your rolls, like the Criminal which grants proficiency to Stealth (used for Hide) and Deception. Criminals trigger inspiration when they successfully commit crimes, perform evil-aligned acts (like siding with Minthara), or otherwise trick people out of what’s theirs.

Players can also go for the Outlander background, which will give a nice buff to the outcomes of Athletics and Survival checks. Outlanders trigger Inspiration from simply defeating big bads in the wilds (or the depths underneath Baldur’s Gate), exploring the game to its fullest, and discovering things out of the way of the norm, like secret entrances or rare enemies.

Best BG3 Monk Skill Proficiency Choices: Stealth and Insight

After choosing the Criminal or Outlander backgrounds, Monks get two more choices for skill proficiencies. If you choose to go with the Criminal background, Stealth is removed from the list of choices, while Outlanders already have Athletics covered.

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Either way, as a Way of Shadow Monk, the most important skill proficiency to have is Stealth. So, if you go with the Outlander background, select Stealth as one of your choices. Of the remaining options, Insight should be your next pick, followed by Acrobatics or Religion (for Criminal players with Stealth already trained).

Best BG3 Monk Feats: Tavern Brawler, Alert, and Savage Attacker

• Tavern Brawler Effects: When you make an Unarmed attack, use an Improvised Weapon, or throw an item, your STR value is doubled and added to the Damage and Attack Rolls of those attacks
• Alert Effects: You gain +5 to Initiative and can’t be Surprised
• Savage Attacker Effects: When making Melee Weapon attacks, roll all damage dice twice. The higher of the two results is used.

Best Monk Ability Scores & Stat Distribution

To create the best BG3 Monk build, we recommend putting the majority of points into your Wisdom and Dexterity, followed by Constitution. The primary stats for most Way of Shadow Monk spells and abilities in BG3 are Wisdom and Dexterity, but Constitution should follow closely behind for survivability and other skills. Charisma, Strength, and Intelligence are not essential for the Way of Shadow Monk build.

Best BG3 Monk Leveling Choices

Best Monk Spells, Feats, & Other Choices At Every Level

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Best Monk Build Companions & Party Composition

Best Companions For Way Of Shadow Monk Builds

The best Monk companions in BG3 are Shadowheart as a fellow hybrid damage dealer and Support, Lae’Zel as your primary melee Tank, and Wyll as your ranged DPS (and another source of CC). Though you can change the class and specialization of any of your companions, these three come with strong pre-determined class and spec combos to balance out your Monk party composition.

• Shadowheart: A Trickery Cleric, Shadowheart serves as a good companion for hybrid damage and support, which mirrors (and complements) the Circle of the Moon Druid playstyle well.
• Lae’Zel: Best suited for the Battle Master subclass, Lae’Zel can almost singlehandedly handle your front line, drawing attention from enemies and able to withstand attacks better than some other classes.
• Wyll: A Fiend Warlock, Wyll’s spell list is somewhat limited compared to Gale, being a Warlock comes with its own benefits. Play Wyll as a hybrid of both ranged damage and ranged control, inflicting CC on enemies as often as you attack them

If you are dead set on including a character in your party, simply talk to Withers to respec them to one of the optimal Monk companion classes listed above. This way, you won’t miss out on that character’s questline, and you won’t have to suffer from an improperly balanced party.

Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Monk Build Equipment

Get The Best BG3 Monk Gear In All Three Acts

This section covers the best equipment for Way of Shadow Monks in BG3 across all three Acts. Some pieces from early Acts may still be powerful in later ones, though, and will remain equipped through several Acts.

• Items with bolded names are new options for the build in each Act, and may replace older pieces of equipment.
• Items with unbolded names must be acquired in earlier Acts, but are strong enough that they don’t need to be replaced in Acts 2 or 3.

Best Way of Shadow Monks Items & Equipment: Act 1

Best Way of Shadow Monks Items & Equipment: Act 2

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Best Way of Shadow Monks Items & Equipment: Act 3

Best BG3 Monk Multiclass Choices

Maximize Your BG3 Monk Build With Complimentary Monk Multiclass Options

Rogue Multiclass – Monk 9/Rogue 3

When looking for the best multiclass for Monks in BG3, the Rogue – specifically the Thief subclass – is a natural complement to the Monk’s toolkit. By putting three points into the Rogue class, players will unlock a choice of Rogue subclass. The Thief subclass grants a second bonus action, which the Monk can use for additional unarmed attacks.

Choosing the Thief Rogue subclass as a Monk will bar the player from the Shadow Strike ability (Level 11 Shadow Monk) and the Purity of Body ability (Level 10 Monk). However, it unlocks the ability to Sneak Attack, which works perfectly in tandem with the Shadow Monk’s playstyle. The Thief Rogue subclass also works very well with the Way of the Open Hand subclass.

Fighter Multiclass – 10/Fighter 2

Choosing the Fighter multiclass in Baldur’s Gate 3 is a go-to for many looking to multiclass because, with two levels in Fighter, players unlock the Action Surge ability. With a bonus action, a character can use Action Surge to gain a second action that turn.

Monks already have the ability to attack several times in a single turn, but by losing out on the last two Ki point upgrades and a feat choice, Monks gain this extremely powerful Fighter-exclusive skill. Action Surge is especially good for Monk builds that rely on spellcasting, like the Way of the Four Elements subclass.

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence

Franchise

Baldur’s Gate

Released

August 3, 2023

How Long To Beat

100+ Hours

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