lvl 6 monk/ninja/martial artist

[Ashera]

As the title says :)

Can someone help me create a lvl 6 monk/martial artist type character for a dungeon crawling 1 shot? I'm usually playing casters, and I would like to try something else. I don't have any experience with monks, so please help me out

We're using point buy and can use all books. All i know is I would like a monk'ish character, who can hit the orcs/trolls etc in melee

can someone help me make a viable character?

[Amnestic]

Shadow Monk 6.

That's all you need. It has stealth, it has ninja teleports, has ki-powers like Pass Without Trace and Silence. You can give yourself (and the rest of your party) Darkvision so you don't need to pick a Darkvision race, though you still can do. They don't need any feats to work, nor any specialist equipment for their build. A shortsword (ninja-to) and their unarmed strikes will work absolutely fine.

If you did want to get a feat you might want to take the invocation one for Devil's Sight so you can see through your own magical darkness, but it's not necessary.

Just make sure you're checking the lighting situation regularly, since pockets of dim light/darkness will be crucial for your teleports.

[Frozenstep]

If you did want to get a feat you might want to take the invocation one for Devil's Sight so you can see through your own magical darkness, but it's not necessary.

One alternative I often see (not that it's better or worse, just different) is getting the alert feat.


Always on the lookout for danger, you gain the following benefits:

You can't be surprised while you are conscious.
You gain a +5 bonus to initiative.
Other creatures don't gain advantage on attack rolls against you as a result of being unseen by you.

The third benefit means that similar to Devil's Sight, you can hang out in your darkness bubble and things will have disadvantage when attacking you (barring blindsight or something). You don't get the benefit of advantage when attacking, but in trade you get the other really, really good benefits of alertness. Also, any turn you use Shadow Step, you'll have advantage on the first attack anyway.

[Unoriginal]

As the title says :)

Can someone help me create a lvl 6 monk/martial artist type character for a dungeon crawling 1 shot? I'm usually playing casters, and I would like to try something else. I don't have any experience with monks, so please help me out

We're using point buy and can use all books. All i know is I would like a monk'ish character, who can hit the orcs/trolls etc in melee

can someone help me make a viable character?

Do you want a stealth Monk, or a flashy Monk?

If you want stealthy, Shadow Monk is the go-to. If you'd like flashier, then there is a lot of options.

[Ashera]

Do you want a stealth Monk, or a flashy Monk?

If you want stealthy, Shadow Monk is the go-to. If you'd like flashier, then there is a lot of options.


I hadn't really considered that :) what's the least stealthy monk type?

[Mastikator]

Mercy is pretty good, can heal and harm on the same turn.

Edit- kensei is also a solid option. If you take variant human, pick up fighting initiate and take duelist, then use your ASIs to raise your DEX you can use the longsword one handed for 2x 1d8+7 magical slashing damage + flurry of blows. Using Agile Parry your AC would be 10+dex (5) + wis (3) + 2 = 20, however it does drop your DPR since one of your attacks must be unarmed, which is 1d6+5 (which is 35% less for that attack)

[LudicSavant]

As the title says :)

Can someone help me create a lvl 6 monk/martial artist type character for a dungeon crawling 1 shot? I'm usually playing casters, and I would like to try something else. I don't have any experience with monks, so please help me out

We're using point buy and can use all books. All i know is I would like a monk'ish character, who can hit the orcs/trolls etc in melee

can someone help me make a viable character?

Shadow Monk is both the ninja class and IMHO one of the most effective Monk subclasses when built correctly.

If you want something less stealthy, consider Mercy.

Kensei really wants to be a ranged character.

[CTurbo]

I agree with Shadow Monk 6.

Start with 16 Dex and Wis and take +2 Dex at level 4.

Done.

[solidork]

Level 6 is the perfect level to play a Shadow Monk, because your at-will teleportation in dim light/darkness has just come online. Its one of the most exciting and unique abilities you can get on any 6th level character of any class.

[Talionis]

Consider a two or three level dip in Ranger. You’ll get one expertise, fighting style, and first level spells for Hunter’s Mark to add damage to each your attacks.

[Hytheter]

If you did want to get a feat you might want to take the invocation one for Devil's Sight so you can see through your own magical darkness, but it's not necessary.

This does not work. Eldritch Adept requires the Spellcasting or Pact Magic feature, and monk has neither. Ability to cast spells =/= Spellcasting feature.

Incidentally I think that restriction is dumb and it should just be open to anyone, but alas...

[Amnestic]

This does not work. Eldritch Adept requires the Spellcasting or Pact Magic feature, and monk has neither. Ability to cast spells =/= Spellcasting feature.

Incidentally I think that restriction is dumb and it should just be open to anyone, but alas...

You're absolutely right, and I also forgot the restriction because I think it's dumb! \o/

[stoutstien]

I hadn't really considered that :) what's the least stealthy monk type?

Long death, dragon, and for thematic reasons, drunken.

4e and soul are close runner ups.

Saying that monks are inherently stealthy just due to their driving ability scores and the lack of noisy equipment.

[Unoriginal]

I hadn't really considered that :) what's the least stealthy monk type?

A very interesting question.

What stoutstien says is true, but I think the Astral Self Monk takes the crown here:


Astral Self Monk 6

Variant Human

STR:8
DEX:14
CON:14 (13+1)
INT:10
WIS:18 (15+1+2 (ASI))
CHA:12

AC: 16

HP: 45

Feat: Magic Initiate (Druid)

Cantrips: Thunderclap, Thorn Whip
Lvl 1 spell: Thunderwave

Proficiencies: at least Intimidation and Insight, probably worth taking Athleticism and other CHA and WIS skills too.


Arms of the Astral Self and Thorn Whip let you attack using WIS as your Mod, so you don't need DEX as much as other Monks. Thunderclap, Thunderwave and Visage of the Astral Self let you be *loud* and effective. And Magic Initiate helps make up for how Astral Self is kind of ki-expensive. Adding to that, it's rare for creatures to resist/be immune to thunder and force damages.

The Monk's mobility is also paired with the Astral Arms' increased range and the modify-enemy-positioning spells, which can lead to interesting situations.

Outside of combat, WIS and CHA (with proficiency bonus to the relevant skills) are useful.

All in all, a very flashy but still efficient build, fitting the mystical martial art theme.

Of course, that is one extreme of the "Monk Stealth" scale, with the Shadow Monk being on the other end. There are plenty of options that are less flashy than this and less stealthy than the Shadow Monk.

EDIT: Also worth noting that Visage of the Astral Self + 18 WIS + Perception proficiency would make this build very good at anti-stealth.

[stoutstien]

Oh yes I forgotten about booming astral monks

[animorte]

A very interesting question.
Least stealthy? Sure Astral is flashy, but the absolute "look at me" Monk is probably Sun Soul. Literally tossing balls of light all over the place. :smalltongue:

[Unoriginal]

Least stealthy? Sure Astral is flashy, but the absolute "look at me" Monk is probably Sun Soul. Literally tossing balls of light all over the place. :smalltongue:

Sure, but the Sun Soul will typically pursue as high a DEX as they can get as soon as they can, and as such making them more stealthy than the WIS-focused Astralf Self.

[animorte]

Sure, but the Sun Soul will typically pursue as high a DEX as they can get as soon as they can, and as such making them more stealthy than the WIS-focused Astralf Self.
See, stealthy and the brightest at the same time!

[Unoriginal]

See, stealthy and the brightest at the same time!

Well the question was for the least stealthy.

[Witty Username]

If you want the ninja, shadow monk is the ninja.

The important notes I would make is if you like stealth and support abilities, shadow monk does fine. The more big damage you want to go, monk generally will not deliver as much, but if that isn't a problem go for it. If it is, mercy monk has a better time of it.

PSA, don't use sun soul, trust me on this.