Kensai weapon+ unarmed: synergy or not?

[The Shadowdove]

Hey everyone,

Just looking to see if it was confirmed that using a bonus action unarmed attack while wielding a kensai weapon that is NOT a monk weapon makes the unarmed attack deal only 1 damage.

I've read a couple of posts saying that shortsword is the only martial weapon that allows for this.

Meaning a monk with a kensai weapon such as a great sword or whip that does not count as a monk weapon, as per the monk in the PHB, would gain the kensai benefits but without the added monk damage associate with unarmed strikes.

Thank you in advance,

Dove

[MeeposFire]

Hey everyone,

Just looking to see if it was confirmed that using a bonus action unarmed attack while wielding a kensai weapon that is NOT a monk weapon makes the unarmed attack deal only 1 damage.

I've read a couple of posts saying that shortsword is the only martial weapon that allows for this.

Meaning a monk with a kensai weapon such as a great sword or whip that does not count as a monk weapon, as per the monk in the PHB, would gain the kensai benefits but without the added monk damage associate with unarmed strikes.

Thank you in advance,

Dove

Yes since kensai weapons have no specific rule stating that it makes them into monk weapons as well using a non-monk weapon will cause you to lose access to martial arts of which the higher damage dice is one aspect as stated in the martial arts rules for the monk.

[King539]

Kensai weapons say that they count as monk weapons for the purpose of martial arts.

[Potato_Priest]

Where's it say that? All I see is that you can use the damage dice. Using martial arts damage dice and working with the martial arts feature are not the same thing.

[TheTeaMustFlow]

Where's it say that? All I see is that you can use the damage dice. Using martial arts damage dice and working with the martial arts feature are not the same thing.

Crawford said it in a tweet (https://twitter.com/JeremyECrawford/status/808851295985549312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw).

[Grod_The_Giant]

Crawford said it in a tweet (https://twitter.com/JeremyECrawford/status/808851295985549312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw).
On a mildly related note, what's with the repeated insistence that "it wouldn't have survived development?" Are you just randomly throwing crap at the wall (ie, the fans) without thinking about it? It reads to me like a sort of playground, "no, I totally knew that, I was just testing you!" excuse.

[Zalabim]

Crawford said it in a tweet (https://twitter.com/JeremyECrawford/status/808851295985549312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw).

Nowhere in that tweet chain does Crawford say "it". Kensei's weapons aren't monk weapons in this iteration. A kensei using a greatsword is the same as a regular monk using a Sun Blade.