Tabaxi Kensei Monk Build- DM Tips - Dungeons and Dragons

Tabaxi Kensei Monk build review. How to utilize a Tabaxi Monk in your game.
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[@legithopecrew]

A correction, dash allows you to move your speed an additional time after modifiers, when you use feline agility, the way it is written it actually doubles your movement for that turn so instead of running 120 ft in a round with dash you would go 160 ft. There is actually a really funny speed build with the tabaxi using the boots of speed and something of haste to make the tabaxi go all the speed.

[@RollingWithAdvantage]

Nice!!

[@TheSkull06]

Holy crap that’s nuts.

[@ankh-es8os]

Holy hellfire! That is so amazing! I will definitely try to get my DM to allow me to have the boots of speed.

[@Klaital1]

@@ankh-es8os Don't forget you can also burn a ki point to dash again as your bonus action, so you can actually move 240ft in one round.

[@jdarokhajiit9153]

I'm fast as fuck boi....!

[@DragonZaid6]

Wow, that was fast. Thanks a bunch for this video! I think she's leaning more toward Way of Shadow now but there's still a ton of helpful stuff here!

[@RollingWithAdvantage]

Feline agility paired with shadow step is really good.

[@DragonZaid6]

@@RollingWithAdvantage that's the idea. I will be playing an Oath of Conquest Paladin in the party so I've got the tanking covered.

[@RollingWithAdvantage]

What race?

[@DragonZaid6]

@@RollingWithAdvantage Half-elf, Courtier background.

[@Sw-nn6le]

This is what I am going for. Now I just need to find a group to play with.

[@Rodrik18]

My current favorite monk build would work here. Kensei17/hexblade3 Pick up Polearm Master, max your dex and get wis high. Hexblade gets you some extra damage via hex and hexblade curse (which also increases your critical range) that goes off on every hit. It also lets you nab shield for the odd time you get hit.... and i say odd time because your ac will be huge. Warlock lets you attune to arcane staves, which function as magical quarterstaff. Im talking end game items like staff of power or staff of the magi. Even the earlier magic staff items work well here, and because you can make it your pact weapon, you will never be disarmed. Staff of power gets you +2 ac, on top of agile parry, and +2 to all saves... and monk is already proficient in all saves. Staff of the magi gets you better item spells, advantage on all saves, and the ability to absorb spells that only effect you. Pretty awesome. Polearm master works with quarterstaff, letting you make an attack as a reaction when someone enters your reach... and that attack qualifies for stunning strike. Being able to stun someone as a reaction is huge.

[@RollingWithAdvantage]

Very nice build! You are absolutely correct in the fact that stunning as a reaction can be a game changer.

[@rodneyrossow]

I have a Tabaxi open hand monk/hexblade warlock that I love. While only level 4 (4 monk/ 3 warlock), the flurry of blows with that extra d6 damage is quite potent.

[@Klaital1]

I am also just starting to play a tabaxi kensei monk, although I use rapier as my kensei weapon which lets me to also benefit from the Defensive Duelist feat for even more AC.

[@RollingWithAdvantage]

Rapier is a solid choice for sure!

[@ShardPF2e]

I really like the whip for a Kensai, the extra reach allows you to fish for a stun from 10ft with a first hit, then decide whether to close in or just attack with the whip again and fall back without needing to disengage. The damage die keeps increasing for all Monk/Kensai weapons, so the whip will eventually become a d10, and it's finesse so it works with the defensive duelist feat as well. The mobile feat is also great for any Monk (if you can spare an ASI) - basically gives a free disengage as a part of your attack (and of course also boosts speed and avoids difficult terrain), so it's really good for hit and run attacks and helping to save your ki points for flurry of blows and stunning strikes.

[@kevinjustason]

Got a tabaxi way of open hand for first campaign. He is doing well. Fighting devils. Great synergy. Used dex instead of strength for claws, has been great. Now one of the scouts for party with the ranger

[@RollingWithAdvantage]

I love tabaxi but I can’t play it without thinking of Thundercats.

[@kevinjustason]

@RollingWithAdvantage I leaned into that. Seen the new 2012 one and started getting ideas for future things I can do with mjol'ner.

[@ExtraWeirdable]

The claws are specifically noted as unarmed strikes, and the monk class makes all unarmed or monk weapons a dex check, so also the claws of a tabaxy

[@RollingWithAdvantage]

Nice!

[@cyberpunkzombie9461]

Nunchaku are flails. so in the end, you DID choose chucks..

[@RollingWithAdvantage]

Oh yea!!!

[@theonlymatthew.l]

I came up with a Shadow Monk 9 / Battlemaster 11 build. 3 attacks normally without using action surge or flurry of blows. The ability to disarm, trip and three or four other things as well as the added damaged from superiority dies. A Fighting Style. The ability to teleport via shadows, lots of feats...

[@RollingWithAdvantage]

I love battlemaster! Nice combo.

[@OOOGrey_Bush]

You forget to mention Patient defense. Spend a ki point to use a dodge action as a bonus action on your turn. Combined with Agile parry you now have +2 to ac and attackers have disadvantage to hit until your next turn. The only other class I have played that can defend better was a Totem warrior Barb in rage mode. I have played my monk up to level 10 so far and the versatility is amazing!! I highly recommend taking sharp shooter and alert as feats to. With a long bow your damage will be on par with a ranger with the same feat and you can easily get in the 20's for initiative's. Foe's can run but they seldom escape a Kensei monk.

[@RollingWithAdvantage]

There is no running from a monk!

[@TrenchCoatDingo]

tabaxi horizon walker dual rapier melee build all the movement plus 10ft tele when you hit

[@noname-do5wo]

Duel wielding doesn't really work on horizon walker because you constantly need to spend your bonus action

[@vernonhampton5863]

I love the Panthro imagery. Next time I role a monk I will either go tabaxi, hobgoblin or tortle. But if you are going to role play Panthro from Thundercats, you have to dip into artificer battlesmith.

[@RollingWithAdvantage]

Great idea!

[@ListerWalkthroughs]

The cats claws I presume works with the monk. I set this exact race/class combo up on dndbeyond and it automatically uses my dex for my cats claws

[@RollingWithAdvantage]

It does. I think it’s great flavor for the character.

[@grizzlednerd4521]

Given that Martial Arts damage starts at 1d4, the same as Claws, I think the main thing would be the DMing OKing your Martial Arts damage being Slashing.

[@ListerWalkthroughs]

@@grizzlednerd4521 You could say that with most things - the fact that DNDbeyond alters it automatically would suggest that the wording of both Martial Arts and The Tabaxi unarmed strike can be utilised together.

[@artesque]

They are unarmed strikes. Not all natural weapons count as unarmed strikes, but these do, which then monks can use their martial arts die and dex.

[@NobodyDungeons]

honestly I'd use a melee weapon with a bit more of a punch to it for example a long sword used in two hands to get 1d10 damage and it uses your dex modifier as a kensei weapon so it works well

[@danielderamus9573]

I’m using a tabaxi Kensei in Descent to Avernus. Currently 5th level. I rarely use the speed bonus because I wind up completely separated from the party. I took darts as my Kensei ranged weapons bc I thought they had the ammunition property(Ug they don’t). And longsword as my melee. The whole trick with the thrown property really messes with Kensei. If you take dagger as a Kensei weapon you can throw it and technically make a stunning strike and also technically get the Kensei shot bonus damage too. The dagger is a melee weapon so it’s attacks are considered melee weapon attacks, the thrown property says you can make a ranged attack with the weapon (NOT a ranged weapon attack). The wordings of rules in 5e can get weird

[@RollingWithAdvantage]

It is weird but I would allow it at my table. DMs may rule differently but I like to rule on the side of the player if it makes sense.

[@danielderamus9573]

Rolling With Advantage oops left off the part about the action economy. Since darts don’t have the ammo property drawing ONE to throw it uses your free interact with object. You would need TWF feat to throw two darts and daggers work the same since they are melee weapons making a ranged attack (but not a ranged WEAPON attack to benefit from sharpshooter or archery)

[@jaymudie6761]

Glad I discovered this video. Nice work. Subbed.

[@RollingWithAdvantage]

Thanks!!

[@nathanyoung5530]

Would you take a level dip in rogue, may as 1st level, to gain more skill options (4) and expertise to double your proficiency in 2 skills, probably stealth and ether thieves tools or sleight of hand?

[@RollingWithAdvantage]

Not a bad idea!! Rogue/Monk is a great combo.

[@NobodyDungeons]

So I would probably use a heavy weapon such as a great axe or great sword with the Kensei monk as you can then add great weapon master to your attacks damage, or I'd use a rapier and get the defensive duelist feat to get an additional plus 6 to my AC.

[@RollingWithAdvantage]

All viable options which is what makes Kensei so much fun. You can tailor it to your preference.

[@artesque]

Monk weapons can’t have the heavy property, so no greataxe/greatsword. But Kensei monks really excel at long range combat anyways, so taking up the longbow with sharpshooter feat could be a good damage dealer. A monk with a rapier and the defensive duelist feat could be a good dodge tank, which will allow you to get in and stunning strike. I would rather go the mobile feat to use my terrifying monk speed to get in, pop off 3/4 hits, then zoom away. I haven’t played with the crusher feat, but that could also be fun to just push them away and then leave. Cheers!

[@NobodyDungeons]

I prefer using wood elves for monks as the boost to dex is nice and with how acrobatic monks are they can rather easily get advantage meaning elven accuracy is a good feat to pick up not to mention the constant plus five movement speed while not as strong as the double movement speed I feel is more reliable and allows combat to flow a bit better as you don't need to stop moving

[@NobodyDungeons]

in order to benefit from your boosted movement speed

[@PvPNecrash]

You could use disengage action and all the rest and run past 50 orcs in a corridor if you also took mobile and removed the difficult terrain also thats 10ft X what ever X you multiply

[@RollingWithAdvantage]

We have a monk in our game now and we are seeing some stuff like this.

[@fledgling9097]

I think we may be reading feline agility differently. Doesn't it say that it doubles your movement until the end of the turn? So feline agility+step of the wind at 2nd level would be 160ft. 40 becomes 80, then the dash is a 2nd movement, so it's 80+80.

[@NobodyDungeons]

I actually would play a grung over a tabaxi because you can get a huge jump distance if you use the jump spell in whatever form it may take giving you the ability to jump faster than you can walk

[@JefCollier]

You can never jump beyond your movement range though.

[@PvPNecrash]

Actually sir if you wanted to you could use Dash action Ki Dash bonus action and Feline agility and move 160ft

[@RollingWithAdvantage]

Yep that’s nuts

[@moifaamoimoi5927]

Cant tuch this

[@blnk20]

I am currently making a Tabaxi shadow monk and need help on a back story. Sorry, pretty much a newb here. Mainly is there a monastery in Maztica? And suggestions on how I made it over the ocean to Faerun? I’m assuming ship but who knows? Any suggestions would be awesome.

[@RollingWithAdvantage]

There isn't a list of where monasteries are so you and your DM could write in whatever you want. That is the beauty of an RPG is that it is just a rule set to frame whatever writing you want. As far as how your character got to the mainland? Port Nyanzaru is a major trade port so there are a lot of opportunities to catch a boat.

[@blnk20]

Rolling With Advantage, thank you. I’ll let my imagination roam then.

[@Sw-nn6le]

This is what I am playing. I made a giant character arch in the storyline that was open enough for the DM to use it to any degree or not at all. It allows for character development with reasons to change and grow. Things to think about. I had a tough time with a traditional Tabaxi name though.

[@Sw-nn6le]

I recommend an app for your phone called Character Story Planner. It asks a lot of questions to make you think about the motives of your character.

[@NobodyDungeons]

honestly I prefer to use tabaxi's as rogues since rogues what to naruto run past their opponents get in to hard hitting attack and then get out meaning you could do that at triple speed take a turn to do something else with out moving then do it again

[@jeredsizemore3108]

I got an urge to play a ninja tabaxi shadow monk

[@munchiesmushrooms2638]

Dont unarmed attacks become dex based when you choose monk class? Meaning all the more reason to go Unarmed to get 4 attacks of 2d4+Mod

[@happydays9352]

2d4?

[@munchiesmushrooms2638]

@@happydays9352 monks get an extra d4 to all unarmed strikes

[@AlexanderBaird]

I’ve been really looking into making a Tabaxi monk and this was super helpful! I’m still not sure about one thing though. The claws feature says your unarmed attacks deal 1d4 + strength, but is that in addition to the unarmed bonus that monks get or does that bonus replace the original 1d4? At 5th level for example, would each unarmed strike be [1d6+ 1d4 + Str] or just [1d6 + Str]?

[@RollingWithAdvantage]

It’s not in addition to. Which is why that class feature is lacking. I’d talk to your DM and see if you can use your claws for unarmed strikes. If nothing else just for flavor.

[@AlexanderBaird]

Rolling With Advantage Thanks! I’ve talked with a few of my friends who DM and they all said the same thing: the damage doesn’t stack and the die is replaced according to the monk table, but I could choose on any given strike to use bludgeoning or slashing damage

[@RollingWithAdvantage]

Alexander .Baird I think that’s fair. I would do the same at my tables.

[@J5andmann]

I'm using a Tabaxi monk build and I talked with my dm, he allows that my unarmed always add a d4 slashing to whatever my base attack is. So i have at level one 2d4+4 for unarmed attack

[@J5andmann]

And also i thought it was supposed to be Dex?

[@lucharmonmpddrummer4697]

My Tabaxi drunken monk Will. Carries a Naginata. Currently he is E3.5. He'll be a Kensei Monk for E5

[@RollingWithAdvantage]

How do you like drunken monk in 5e? I love the idea but I haven't seen one at the table yet.

[@lucharmonmpddrummer4697]

@@RollingWithAdvantage so far. It's made him much more of a tank

[@dontokoi30]

PUNCHCAT build fck yes

[@valkyrieace5768]

Wait a monk with a longbow i didnt know you could make a ranged weapon have the monk dice

[@thancrow]

An exception for the kensei.

[@matheusmartins7057]

ASDW and free camera dont work...

[@pappabear4977]

Reminds me too much of an anime cartoon.

[@RollingWithAdvantage]

Definitely does but for some that’s the fun of it.

[@ForgottenEssenceX]

Taboxxy :Giggles:

[@00784865]

Not Kensei. Go Drunken Master, its funnier.

[@RollingWithAdvantage]

But drunk on catnip for added flavor

[@ForgottenEssenceX]

FoAR RwA Frum T4B0XXXY