One-Element Monk Build Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 6

[@joearnold6881]

How on earth did you manage to make an Oblivion character???

[@CasualVeteranGamer]

I would like to think with great skill and expertise... However, I picked the face at random and just wanted hair that looked remotely like a flame!

[@KingMadDog7]

I love pairing the thermo axe and gloves together, doing the drakethroat buff for fire on the axe helps too, but that's a trick I learned from you. 💪

[@CasualVeteranGamer]

That's a good tip! I guess we can actually use any other weapon as long as we use the drakethroat glaive along with the gloves.

[@christianjensen544]

Bros thumbnail looks like the loyal fan from oblivion

[@CasualVeteranGamer]

Hah! I didn't see it myself, but now I can't see anything else!

[@SirCharles12357]

Love your themed builds! They really push the envelope on what's possible. 4 Element Monk is just frustrating I've tried to like it, but it's too wonky. Similarly I've tried to make a viable Poison build, but it just won't synergize well. Hopefully come September we'll get someone to develop a 4E Monk mod to make it a viable subclass.

[@CasualVeteranGamer]

I agree with your overview of the four element monk. There's very little that can work well with the four element monk abilities because they are classed as class actions, which no items specifically interact with I don't think.

[@robjohnson3095]

I did something similar, but.. it was Tavern Brawler + Club of Hill Giant Str + Fangs of Fiery Punching. On Honor mode this was especially fun, because so many enemies get melee counter abilities, but this monk's "punch" has range, which ends up foiling many of those counters AND still hits like a truck. It really gobbles up Ki pts fast though, so that poor sentient amulet guy, he never got a rest...

[@CasualVeteranGamer]

Tavern brawler will make any monk character stronge! But the fangs of the fire snake are pretty awesome actually. It's sad that four element monks don't get a bit more ki than they already do.

[@marcoguenza2329]

My dude!!! I actually made a frost-monk build with a Breae'zel gith last week for Tav's Trials XD But I took 2 levels of old ones warlock instead and yes, elemental adept on this character is top quality flavour and I hope they will fix those feats to work also on monks, also for spell sniper. Also, to hold another creature with the north wind you need to spend two actions using the clench on two creatures, it doesn't work as hold person and it look way cooler :D

[@CasualVeteranGamer]

Bah, spending two actions to hold two people is too expensive for my tastes. However, it's good to know that it was a possibility. I really hope that four element monks get a small buff, but I really doubt they will actually make the abilities into spells :(

[@marcoguenza2329]

@@CasualVeteranGamer I think the enemy is also stuck for 10 turns without the possibility to escape from it with a saving throw, but I’ll have to double check that. No one ever escaped so far though ;) Usually I use it to literally hold my most AC enemies as I take care of the rest, if that strategy is valuable for the encounter that is

[@marcoguenza2329]

@@CasualVeteranGamer clench of the north wind is unfortunately bugged :( I thought it needed two actions but when I actually tried to hold another enemy with that I freed the previous one, with much discomfort :( poor monks need fixing

[@coldwetn0se172]

I really enjoy seeing (and doing) theme builds. Some of mine, which admittedly were inspired by you and other creators, have worked out nicely. Fun to play. However, a few of my themed builds....didn't. XD Have never used the Heat feature, but may do that for my next Sorcerer build. I should try and play around more with four element monk, but I just have too much fun punching or "moving in the shadows". lol! Unique builds working in conjunction with items can be a lot of fun, even if they don't hit the biggest numbers. Was doing these types of builds for so long, that I am currently in Act 2 with an all mono-build team. Single class for main character is Ranger (Gloomstalker, since I have never mono-classed that sub-class), and the rest of the party as the following: Karlach set as non-TB Open hand monk, Astarion as thief Rogue (dual wielding with the Gloves of Balanced hands), Lae'zel as GWM fighter, Shadowheart is a Tempest Cleric, Wyll sub-classed in Pact of the Tome (since I rarely use that sub-class), and Gale as a Ice themed Abjuration Wizard. Not sure if I will change one or both of the druids to something different, while still sticking with the mono build set up. Minsc will be set up as a Barb, but not sure what subclass to choose. Thanks for the content!

[@CasualVeteranGamer]

Thanks for the comment! I like the idea of characters being mono-classed or with a 1 level dip to try and make use of the power gained from each class. It's not always easy to do, but thankfully the game is forgiving enough once you've played it as much as we have. Your comment about the other monk sub-classes being more fun is painfully true. As cool as four element monks look, I also find the other sub-classes more satisfying to use.

[@clutchedbyanangel]

You could have started with even numbers for this build, just have 14+2 Dex, 14 Con, and 15+1 Wis instead of 15+2, 13+1, 15. I know there are some builds where it's better to start with odds, but that's only if you want three abilities at 16 ASAP, and you seemed to only want 14 Con.

[@CasualVeteranGamer]

Good point! This build will never be strong anyway, but that would certainly make it a bit better.

[@ProbeAway]

It sucks so much that the 4E abilities don’t count as spells. I had that same idea for a monk/thief build using fangs of the fire snake and the pyroquickness hat to get 3 bonus actions per turn. No dice 😕

[@CasualVeteranGamer]

Yep. I think it would really open up the class if they counted as spells, which I don't think is too much of a stretch considering most of the abilities are just reskins of actual spells.

[@Mayhap34]

They call it "The Way of Four Elements" and one of the symbols seem to suggest Earth. But there isn't any Earth? Edit: I did one level of Warlock for the hex option. What's great about that when a 4 elements is casting snake of the fire you get bludgeoning and fire damage--the 1-6 necrotic gets applied to both the physical AND the fire damage, woot!

[@lenam317]

@@Mayhap34 I think this only works below honor difficulty.

[@Mayhap34]

@@lenam317 Good to know. I've only really done tac mode, but eventually want to give Hone mode a shot. I'll have to read up on the differences.

[@CasualVeteranGamer]

You should read through this page: bg3.wiki/wiki/Damage_mechanics It explains the difference between different damage sources, and which ones can have damage riders added to them.

[@pihwht]

Always fun!

[@CasualVeteranGamer]

Thanks!

[@KudzuHaiku]

Also, when are you gonna do Tav-Earn Brawler? The bare knuckle boxer that fights for money?

[@CasualVeteranGamer]

When indeed!? I've already got a few more videos lined up, but I'll make it my next build video ;)

[@rrahl]

I'm going to try this out on Karlach for +soul coin synergy

[@KudzuHaiku]

What, no Firestoker, or whatever it is called? Hand xbow. Fire-themed.

[@CasualVeteranGamer]

I could certainly have added that, but I so rarely found myself with a bonus action left over for attacking with it that it's not so important. However, I missed it out more so because I forgot about it!