D&D's Monk: Way of the Kensei in 'Xanathar's Guide to Everything'

[@TheGgghhht]

Didn't even mention Paladins once. Good job, Mike!

[@Neverfate]

This is the Paladin of the Monk class though clearly.

[@MrCompassionate01]

In a way Beholders are like the Paladins of the Monster Manual.

[@wolfnerd4984]

MrCompassionate01 I'd don't follow, I would have thought the paladin of the monster manual would be a Solar. That is stereotypical so please, please prove me wrong

[@Synkrotta]

Boulder traps are definitely the Paladins of any traps.

[@Neverfate]

The dojo fight between Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi in Crouching Tiger is just perfection on so many levels.

[@ASexyGeek]

I always thought of the Monk as a Paladin that uses his fists.

[@minhvo143]

Brit misconception that monk only uses their fists

[@Birbucifer]

Bruno Ferreira More like neither. Unless you’re a Sun Soul Monk.

[@carterhalo255]

SAME OMG

[@domzim6869]

Its interesting that its a “weapon focused” subclass when it has two abilities that encourage you to not use a weapon.

[@danniemiesse4643]

^ this

[@killcat1971]

You should really be able to use a polearm, Naginata or similar.

[@evidicus]

I’m honestly interested in the Kensai Monk / Ranger combo for a Zen Archer. Glad this subclass supports ranged weapons as well.

[@Kangstor]

or a monk kensei / fighter arcane archer :P

[@Silver_light77]

cool trick, hunter's mark goes off on every attack, so between kensei longsword, extra attack, and flurry of blows, you get 2(d10+dex)+2 unarmed strikes, +4d6 for archery, you get deft strike at 6th monk that lets you add monk die to your arrows, so with extra attack and hunters mark that is still 2d8, 2*dex, 2d6, and 2martial

[@briannaapling495]

Am the I only one who thought of Master Piando (Sokka's sword fighting master), from Avatar the Last Airbender?

[@rowanhawklan9707]

Lots and lots and lots of examples of martial arts styles/masters both historical and modern that use two handed weapons exclusively, too many to mention even but just off the top of my head: spear, pole arm (many many types), staff/Bo, naginata, mace, lion sword etc etc etc!!!

[@CalebWillden]

Rowan Hawklan I think you can still use versatile weapons with this subclasses, which you can wield two-handed, so that would work pretty well!

[@Crouza]

I mean, it's not like we got a weapon specifically named after such a person. Guan Yu and the Guan Dao? Nah, doesn't exist.

[@Chigen_Atomic]

Kanabo as well, hopefully I'm spelling that right.

[@davidbolton4930]

If i was your dm I be cool with that sort of stuff as long as you backed it up with story

[@markziff7234]

Use the spear with spear mastery feat. +1 to hit d6-d8/d8-d10, on your turn gain 5 ft reach. So effectively a finesse reach weapon rolling d10 damage.

[@scottmacdonald5020]

One of my players is a 1 foot tall senile 1000yr old kitsune fox that weilds a 6ft staff that extends to a naginata. However hes forgotten it extends. My favourite character by far. Think yoda from empire strikes back kind of senile. He occasionally fights our own party if he takes friendly fire dmg. I also gave him an all knowing sentient book that can talk. How ever these two old geezers spend all their squabbling instead of discovering all the lore thats tucked into the book. I love DnD.

[@Skyscraper125]

I have been in love the Kensei monk since our 2nd edition games a few years ago. It was the only other class I preferred melee to a paladin (then again monk & paladin were OP to begin with in 2e). I just love the idea of crouching tiger hidden dragon... and my Kensei monk in 2e had boots of flying so it was totally Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. It was so awesome.

[@DabIMON]

I really wanna play a Dragonborn Kensei

[@Crouza]

I can understand why they made their choice with the weapon restrictions, after all a d10 or d12 is like the max of your fists, so you'd have your full damage on attacks at a way earlier level then you are supposed to be. It just sucks that we can't use Naginatas or Guandaos with our monks. Still, at least we get more weapons than Shortswords and Spears.

[@Novenae_CCG]

Yeah, exactly! These are defining monk weapons that you see pop up all the time in eastern martial arts. Guess we gotta make do with what we have.

[@getefix3]

reskin an existing weapon like a staff or spear to deal slashing damage, or make a new weapon thats essentially a longsword with reach or that can be used with polearm master feat

[@carlosbarreto4695]

I think the real deal is *Great Weapon Master* feat. +10 to two weapon attacks + 2 unarmed attacks + Stunning Strike would be too powerful. I think that was what they were thinking.

[@InquisitorThomas]

Alakai Souza Put you can still use a long sword, Battleaxe, and Warhammer which if used two handed deals d10 Damage, the same as a Glaive, Halberd, and Pike, restricting these thematic weapons isn’t maintaining game balance since other weapons in the exact same damage range aren’t restricted.

[@DocEonChannel]

When he asked the question about reference material, my mind immediately went to The Swordsman (Tsui Hark, 1990). CTHD is OK, I guess...

[@mactireliath2356]

I would have chose the movie "Hero", as the mastery of the weapons themselves took on both a spiritual and political overtone that affected the whole narrative.

[@adammakey3047]

My mind went to House of Flying Daggers. I hope I can make a throwing blade monk. Possibly multi class with rogue for Assassin's Creed style.

[@liamphill2873]

Adam Makey Cool Idea

[@kerik6380]

They are already proficient with daggers and darts, shouldn't be much of a problem

[@kabobawsome]

I've been planning exactly that. A rich, insane Forest Gnome Arcane Trickster Rouge/Way of the Kensei Monk whose main weapons are darts, reflavored as coins.

[@MoarCheeseBirb]

I'm stoked Shaw Brothers got a shoutout, love that stuff.

[@MisterSmith00]

Darts make for an interesting "ranged" monk weapon... Since they are considered "ranged", they make for solid shuriken-esque weapons. Add the "Sharpshooter" feat, and they become heavy-hitting throwing weapons. It's a good warm-up until the swords come out. : )

[@TheUniverseHead]

Hill Dwarf Kensei from a Russian Orthodox inspired monastery is going to be my next character

[@gorter23]

iajitsu master + this = win

[@thethirdflash]

Been waiting for 2 weeks to hear this.

[@Crazymehahahaha]

Sounds like Samurai Jack

[@Apophis40K]

You are thinking to sinple. I think about a King Bradley charakter but my last shadow monks was a viking so what do I know

[@mysticmidgit6795]

@@Apophis40K While I can respect the Viking monk greatly, King Bradly was the physical embodment of wrath. Not something I see filling in the spiritual balance monks need to do monk thing

[@Apophis40K]

@@mysticmidgit6795 You do not have to play hin as spiritzal ballanced. You could do the opisit and use wraith points instead of Ki

[@Brothershadowfist]

Makes me think of Zatoichi more than anything.

[@DarkBanks3]

I know I'm going to allow ANY Martial weapons, including Greataxe, because it just doesn't make sense (besides balancing issues) for it NOT to work. If you had a guy train all his life with swords, it'd be the same as the guy training all his life with an axe, I would definitely restrict, like give it a rule where you have to either have a STR score that meets or exceeds 14-15 or a DEX score that meets or exceeds 18-19 to balance the usage of Heavy Weapons (or make it so they can only use special designed/magic heavy weapons)

[@DarkBanks3]

Any thoughts on this?

[@temojin9489]

This is my future class!

[@Greyshadow_17]

I based my Kensei Monk off of a Wudang Daoshi. It just made me think of the movie Hero.

[@chrissoto7187]

I’m trying to build a PC with levels in (warlock fiend)+(fighter battle master)+(monk kensei)

[@nicknorris4488]

Are we getting bladed chain swords from the Shadar-kai for our new monks? Those weapons are sweet.

[@GremiasV]

Im hyped for xanathars. hi mike!

[@lorewriter1776]

Really hoping there's some leeway to allow a Kensei to wield a Naginata. If not, I will be highly disappointed.

[@Kangstor]

in the playtest material it was saying heavy and special and mike already said if he remembers correctly.They might have changed that but i highly doubt it.

[@DJonesDixon]

Time to cross-class with a sorcerer (Shinigami) and wield a Zanpakutō~ :)

[@kounurasaka5590]

Bankai?

[@nicolassagrillo1442]

I think wizard would be a better thematic fit, or war/death/grave cleric, slecially for stat efficiency

[@TVMAN1997]

You can flavor this monk as a samurai, considering most swordsmen who were consider kensei were samurai

[@Phanto5692]

Kensei or Sun Soul, I can't decide.

[@cameronpearce5943]

Imagine this monk, but they use a gun.

[@jemm113]

Literally Baiken from Guilty Gear if you do sword and gun, and that's who I built!

[@Staff7]

hope they redo this one for 2024

[@quintinsteevessenior5568]

How about mithral weapons? Does this make them lighter?

[@CatharsisChaser]

@D&D Beyond will there be new weapons in XGE? There is still tons of design space for new weapons and the base set has become somewhat stagnant. Exotic weapons mby? :P

[@TravistheGREAT03]

There is a whole table in the DMG for exotic weapons.

[@bobfortewsevin4711]

There are very very few exotic weapons that aren't just reskinned base weapons.

[@TravistheGREAT03]

THANK YOU. Don't know why they always want some super special stuff. Especially given that most exotic weapons are inferiour to european weapons *sorrynotsorryfact*

[@Vasey105]

is there? what page?

[@bobfortewsevin4711]

"I don't think you understand, when they make a katana they FOLD the METAL."

[@SatansWerewolf]

Why is a Twitch account manditory to see anything store-related on your website?

[@idasowa9225]

What a nice beard.

[@eblancho871]

No more class option? Use to getting a new video

[@Xion_Toshiro]

So... what about Staffs, Naginata, Guan Dao, Glaives, Kanabo and Long Swords or Katana? Those usually 2 Handed Weapons. Unless they mean "no Heavy 2 Handed Weapons"

[@Xion_Toshiro]

Immediately - every Martial Arts Film and Anime involving a Weapon and Wu Shu comes to mind, while watching this video.

[@Xion_Toshiro]

Just wanna throw this out there -- A Monk and Gunslinger Mix -- Gun Kata, anyone?

[@AdeptN7]

Bring back the swordsage

[@drakkonusfrostburn4038]

To everyone talking about not being able to use two handed weapons as a Kensei Monk; I think Mike Mearls meant to say "two handed and heavy." Not "or heavy", like great swords. Since he used longswords as an example, which are versatile and therefore both one handed and two handed.

[@Theycallmetomu]

Wait, can't be two handed? So no Naginata wielders? That's really disappointing!

[@grantcongdon7612]

i think he meant the weapon trait “two-handed” which shows up on greatswords and halberds. versatile weapons like spears and longswords are ok.

[@lorewriter1776]

A naginata is basically a japanese Glaive. It's a two handed weapon and would count as a glaive, so two handed.

[@Theycallmetomu]

Yeah, but a Naginata is probably most akin to a glaive.

[@Theycallmetomu]

Now, if he misspoke and it IS just heavy weapons, that makes perfect sense: you don't want to give Monks the ability to use Great Weapon Master or whatever it's called (-5 to hit +10 to damage) while using dexterity. So, maybe two handed non-heavy weapons are kosher?

[@Skyscraper125]

Not really, a Naginata was used originally by the samurai class in Japan... so the Naginata fits more of the Fighter concept than a monk. Another thing to note is that Naginata's ranged in size from 5-10 feet in length (I own one that's 6 feet long)... so it stands to reason that you could have a Naginata that functions similar to a glaive OR a spear. So, if you want your Kensei monk to use a Naginata, just have it be shorter version that's a spear and have it do slashing damage instead of piercing... problem solved. :)

[@PureGoldNeverCorrodes]

Are guns legal Kensei weapons? Can you be a Gunsei Monk?

[@MaskofFayt]

Hoping the wording is less strict because monk's should be more than the punching or 'monk' weapon guy when in reality warrior monks used more than sticks and fists. I felt this was more like another version of a samurai because of the name and the whole way of the sword motif but the video makes it sound more like a Chinese martial arts film inspired class which is really confusing. Again, hoping the written format makes more sense and isn't restricting for the sake of 'themes' and being a restriction.

[@Kangstor]

well in one of playtest material it specifically says both knight and samurai is based on pop culture not on historical figures so kensei might be influenced with Chinese martial arts movies more than something like Miyamoto Musashi

[@mactireliath2356]

Kensai roughly translates to " Sword Saint", and first appeared in 1st ed. Oriental Adventures. The mythology descends from ancient Chinese history, where scholar warriors would transcend mortality with their pure skill. Mu Guiying is an excellent example of this.

[@jackservans6906]

I would have loved to see a mention of the change from Kensei being fighters to monks.

[@Xx_BoogieBomber_xX]

Hopefully whips will be allowed this time unlike the base monk. Kobold whip-monks sound cool.

[@danniemiesse4643]

As someone who always wanted to play a character who wields a variety of swords with the grace and manueverability of a martial artist; this subclass has been the biggest disappointment in the game. Now I know that I'm never going to get another subclass that actually DOES do what I want, since it'll be thought of as too similar to Kensei. For a "Way of the Sword" monk, it's incredibly jarring that, not only can monks' signature Flurry of Blows not use their kensei weapon, but benefiting from the AC gain also requires not using the weapon. And the bonus d4 damage only applies to ranged weapons. And now with Tasha's, every monk with the right feat, multiclass or legacy race has the same variety of melee weapons that formerly were exclusive to Kensei, and can use them as a bonus action just as effectively. If someone wants to play a monk with a shield or a bow, this is the subclass. If you want your character to follow the Way of the Sword; probably just multiclass at about 5th, or go look for homebrew.

[@hiygamer]

I'm probably going to be asking my DM if he minds if I just use the Unearthed Arcana version of the Kensei. I've got a character that I designed who I was really looking forward to playing, who will not work at all if he can't use 2 handed weapons.

[@OADStokes]

First class that I feel is too similar to another class in the book.samurai

[@TVMAN1997]

Skilled samurai were considered Kensei Not all Samurai wore heavy armor so this monk can fulfill that role.

[@yomama211]

Is it key or chi?

[@NoirLouisStream]

Richard Jitters basically body mana flow. Qi usually pronounced Chi in Chinese or Ki in Japanese. How you pronounce it is right if you spell it a little like kee.

[@jemm113]

Do it based on setting/origin. If Chinese in origin (or setting equivalent) go Qi (chi). If Japanese go Ki to make your character more grounded in their backstory.

[@Krelos1114]

Kudos on pronouncing 'Kensei" correctly!

[@frescopino7866]

I still don't understand why they didn't make monk weapons an exception to the "not heavy" rule. Like, I'm a monk who started with a bo staff, but I have to change weapon to something my character doesn't have much proficiency with in his background to be a Kensei

[@chaddixon9764]

Taking out the heavy weapons... thank you...

[@drmann15]

Great, now we have a sword fighting option for people who don’t want to play a monk. Now DND is finally complete.

[@jemm113]

Actually one of the class features is balanced around wanting to use one of your 2 main attacks as an unarmed hit for an AC boost, encouraging swords with fists and kicks. I know this post is a year old. But I find it very fitting for the monk.

[@das_ttv3411]

If you ain't first you're last....like me. 😩

[@Malkor13]

Not being able to use two handed weapons is the dumbest most unnessacary restriction ever. This class sounds like a straight rip from that useless water down Pepsi joke of bland crap in UA. The concept is so cool how did they make it so mundane!?

[@ashlynx1]

Malcolm Grant if your two handed you can't use unarmed strikes, you may aswell play a Samurai Fighter.

[@MiniKirblett]

It's for balance. From playtesting, they realized a monk that can use dex for a greatsword or greataxe is not balanced. You can still use 2 hands with versatile weapons, though.

[@jessep3571]

Why can't you make Unarmed Attacks? Legs are still a thing.

[@bahhumbug2072]

Because Mechanics and Balance. Feel free to change it in your own games but you don't get to complain when you have issues balancing encounters because of it.

[@jessep3571]

No, that's the actual rules. It mentions that Unarmed Attacks can be from a fist, knee, leg, elbow, headbutt etc. It's why a Dual-Wielding Monk can still use Flurry of Blows. What you did was substitute an actual rule with a homebrew rule.

[@superbrad3716]

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