T.G. Oskar
2020-12-17, 12:47 AM
As I've read Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, I've noticed that a Rogue/Monk multiclass build ends up having a lot of synergies.
For starters, with Dedicated Weapon, you can choose Rapiers, Light Crossbows, Darts, Shortbows, Slings, Hand Crossbows and (if you're an Elf) Longbows as Monk Weapons. While this may not seem as much, it means you can wield more powerful weapons and get that bonus action attack from Martial Arts, or improve certain weapons (i.e. Darts and Slings) in terms of damage. Plus, you get a solid ranged attack which, if you happen to have at least 3 levels in Rogue, can benefit from Steady Aim - in case you're on a comfy spot and don't need to move. And, since you always have access to Unarmed Strikes, you can deal pretty solid Opportunity Attacks.
Second, Ki-Fueled Strikes. If you have a way to use your Action to use Ki, you can use that bonus action attack with a Monk weapon - which, if you make one of the choices above, means you can actually get your Sneak Attack damage from the get-go.
Third, the new subclasses. Phantom, with Wails from the Grave, allows you to deal half SA damage whenever you make SA damage. This includes the SA you can potentially trigger from Ki-Fueled Strikes, or if you go the classic choice (Way of Shadow), even when using Opportunist to spend your reaction on an attack. Granted - the SA damage you'll deal is very small (1d6 at the very least), but it's a good way to spread damage and really make proper use of this move. Soulknife, on the other hand, has its Psychic Blades treated as Simple Melee Weapons with the Finesse and Thrown properties - meaning, perfectly legal for both Martial Arts and Sneak Attack. If you take at least 11 levels in Monk (yeah, a lot), you can improve that Psychic Blade damage to a base 1d8.
So, what do you think? Personally, I'm currently playing a Rogue 2/Monk 2 build that was aiming for Assassin/Way of Shadow, and I'm seriously considering switching to Phantom instead (Phantom Rogue 3/Way of Shadow Monk 6, considering the highest level on the campaign will be 9th), and I'm seeing a lot of stuff I can do - such as getting a free ranged attack with Sneak Attack while using Shadow Arts or Quickened Healing with the potential of activating Wails from the Grave (and maybe stick a Stunning Strike on top?), switch between Investigation, Insight or Survival depending on whether I'm on the city or in a dungeon through the Whispers from the Dark feature, or combine Steady Aim and Focused Aim with Sharpshooter to essentially never miss.
For starters, with Dedicated Weapon, you can choose Rapiers, Light Crossbows, Darts, Shortbows, Slings, Hand Crossbows and (if you're an Elf) Longbows as Monk Weapons. While this may not seem as much, it means you can wield more powerful weapons and get that bonus action attack from Martial Arts, or improve certain weapons (i.e. Darts and Slings) in terms of damage. Plus, you get a solid ranged attack which, if you happen to have at least 3 levels in Rogue, can benefit from Steady Aim - in case you're on a comfy spot and don't need to move. And, since you always have access to Unarmed Strikes, you can deal pretty solid Opportunity Attacks.
Second, Ki-Fueled Strikes. If you have a way to use your Action to use Ki, you can use that bonus action attack with a Monk weapon - which, if you make one of the choices above, means you can actually get your Sneak Attack damage from the get-go.
Third, the new subclasses. Phantom, with Wails from the Grave, allows you to deal half SA damage whenever you make SA damage. This includes the SA you can potentially trigger from Ki-Fueled Strikes, or if you go the classic choice (Way of Shadow), even when using Opportunist to spend your reaction on an attack. Granted - the SA damage you'll deal is very small (1d6 at the very least), but it's a good way to spread damage and really make proper use of this move. Soulknife, on the other hand, has its Psychic Blades treated as Simple Melee Weapons with the Finesse and Thrown properties - meaning, perfectly legal for both Martial Arts and Sneak Attack. If you take at least 11 levels in Monk (yeah, a lot), you can improve that Psychic Blade damage to a base 1d8.
So, what do you think? Personally, I'm currently playing a Rogue 2/Monk 2 build that was aiming for Assassin/Way of Shadow, and I'm seriously considering switching to Phantom instead (Phantom Rogue 3/Way of Shadow Monk 6, considering the highest level on the campaign will be 9th), and I'm seeing a lot of stuff I can do - such as getting a free ranged attack with Sneak Attack while using Shadow Arts or Quickened Healing with the potential of activating Wails from the Grave (and maybe stick a Stunning Strike on top?), switch between Investigation, Insight or Survival depending on whether I'm on the city or in a dungeon through the Whispers from the Dark feature, or combine Steady Aim and Focused Aim with Sharpshooter to essentially never miss.