D&D5E: SHADOW MONK GUIDE

[@kongmongo]

A couple of nice shadow monk builds: -Aarakocra Shadowmonk with the Mobile feat. Incredible hit and run capabilities with 70ft flyspeed at level 4. Also does not provoce an attack of oppurtunity from enemies you have Melee attacked that round. -Tabaxi multiclass Shadow monk / Soulknife. This truly become an assassin after a few levels.

[@TheSinisterheroes]

Arakocra work really well as monks, also because of their talon unarmed strike work with martial arts on top of everything else. They’re just naturally great at being monks.

[@LawrenceDomkowski]

Bugbear is my preferred race when playing a Shadow Monk.

[@TheSinisterheroes]

People love the bugbear like a lot. How often have you played the shadow monk.

[@LawrenceDomkowski]

@@TheSinisterheroes When played correctly a Way of the Shadow Monk is a lot of fun to play. I've played a Shadow Monk twice, so far ( +one in BG3 ). I like multi classing with Rogue Assassin.

[@kwaksea]

You may not turn into unsuspecting little critter, but you can spam Pass without Trace more than any Druid can. This is luxury no Rogue can even dream of.

[@TheSinisterheroes]

That’s very true and those short rests become very powerful also cat nap

[@Reepicheep-1]

Rogue 1 for skills. Shadow 6 for spells/teleports. Remainder 7-20 whatever upclose sabotage & mischief you want. Rogue 2024 cunning strikes & weapon mastery are outstanding to add to your shadow. (Ignore the spell list gutting for New Shadow.)

[@TheSinisterheroes]

Rogue and shadow monk really lend them selves well to a multiclass. As you do not need to use unarmed attacks with the shadow monk, and it will up the damage of a dagger.

[@xiongray]

Shadow Monk ki-Spells are a great spread. Though very often waived, Minor Illusion does requires Material Component: Fleece. While fleece can easily be obtainable, if you don't ever want to worry about it, grab the background Feat, Scion of the Outer Planes so you can cast it without any Material Components. There are tons of tools to take out foes, martial or magical. You'd also want a Bullseyes Lanturn when traveling to keep close Darkness while holding a light source. I would make a Loxodon a Shadow Monk. So we ain't going to talk about the Elephant in the room. The Trunk can make an Unarmed attack or hold the lanturn.

[@TheSinisterheroes]

lol we’re not gonna talk about the elephant in the room 😂🤣😂 I agree

[@xiongray]

@jamesdeer3129 Material Components are not required for the Spells except for Minor Illusion. Even in Playtest 6.

[@xiongray]

@jamesdeer3129 Yes. There's no material component discount for "Additionally, you gain the Minor Illusion if you don't already know it."

[@xiongray]

@jamesdeer3129 Minor Illusion requires S, M. Shadow Monk's Shadow Art removes Material for Darkness, Darkvision, Pass without Trace, & Silence. This leaves Darkness with V. Silence, Pass without Trace, & Darkvision with both V, S. The Silence Spell is incredible to counter Mages. Sure, you run the risk of losing Concentration with Darkness, Pass without Trace, or Silence but Monk's eventually gain proficiency in all Saving Throws with Diamond Soul at 14th level. If you wanted cover the other Spell Components, go for a little multiclass since we cannot grab the Feat: Metamagic Adept because its prerequisites are: Spellcasting or Pact Magic feature, which despite Shadow Monk's knowing how to cast spells, they do not have Spellcasting Feature and are not Spellcasters. Two levels in Artificer and grab the Infusion: Replicate Magic Item for the common Magic Item: Mind Crystal (Subtle), replicating Metamagic: Subtle Spell. Once a day is good enough but the best part is, after use, it creates a gem with a static value of 50g. I'd also pick up the Infusion: Mind Sharpener on some Robes so should I fail a Concentration CON Save, I'll succeed automatically with a Reaction. 4 charges and recharges 1d4 daily at dawn. As an Artificer, you could get really creative with Magical Tinkering & Prestidigitation and other Cantrips.

[@xfearedx834]

Currently making a grung monk/rogue. Nothing quite like annoying you dm so much since he has to do a con save against poison every time i punch the baddies

[@TheSinisterheroes]

Oh those are gonna chew up that legendary resistance, which is awesome for your own saves, as well as any other spells and abilities with big saves

[@josephsorrendino4920]

This has Dark Elf written all over.😂

[@TheSinisterheroes]

Lore wise it makes sense, also with there weapon training you could use the rapier as a monk weapon, because they always have proficiency with it. So it works really well

[@Siegsoul]

Bugbear

[@TheSinisterheroes]

Lol that’s not the first time today some one mentioned bugbear LOL you are gonna start a revolution of bugbear monks

[@n.a.nameless5435]

I was thinking shadar-kai more than drow; though, drow does fit.

[@TheSinisterheroes]

It is definitely SHADAR Kai esq

[@ericpeterson8732]

I'm sorry, how does Tavern brawler improve your unarmed strikes? Edit: oh, for BG3! Yeah, I don't play that yet.

[@TheSinisterheroes]

Yes it definitely changed things a lot in bg3 and so I can definitely see DM’s now allowing it cus it dose help monks alot

[@douglaspope-gz1eq]

Ok today I have 5 character concepts for you all and today's inspiration for all of them is TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and we are starting off with Leonardo this character's name is Luke Softshell a Tortle Shadow monk who was trained and raised alongside his 3 younger brothers by their father and mentor figure (name undecided) Luke is the serious and stoick one out of him and his brothers and was chosen by their master to lead the group and Luke always constantly hounds and reminds his brothers about their father's lessons usually to the annoyance of them and he is very overprotective of his family and always thinks of their well-being first often to his own detriment and now an evil rival of his master is threatening the safety of his family and now has to rally his brothers and get everyone to band together to defeat their master's old friend turned enemy Luke Softshell is Lawful good

[@TheSinisterheroes]

You know as a shadow monk I like the not assassin aspect where your wise and stealthy.

[@douglaspope-gz1eq]

@@TheSinisterheroes yeah I tried to avoid that sense killing is not Leonardo's thing

[@Siegsoul]

Bugbear shadow monk untimate ass hat

[@TheSinisterheroes]

Ass hat you say? Ohhh please tell a story!

[@Siegsoul]

@@TheSinisterheroes you probably all ready know that bugbear monks are great 10 foot punches and all that plus there as long as i take my torn before you I do 2d6 ....per attack ultimate nuker as you get hit with 6d6 bull crap damage first turn

[@Siegsoul]

@@TheSinisterheroes though i may have used the shadow monks abilities to play a slasher villain

[@TheSinisterheroes]

I am with it man I love slashers!!!

[@Siegsoul]

@@TheSinisterheroes teleporting behind people silencing people's screams pure brutality dragging people into the shadows