The Bow Monk, a Ranged Monk build for Dungeons and Dragons!

[@OpenWorldAddict0]

I am a bit confused by some of your choices and the things you are saying here, because the first 3rd level feature that Kensei Monk gets, called Kensei Weapon, reads as follows: Choose two types of weapons to be your kensei weapons: one melee weapon and one ranged weapon. Each of these weapons can be any simple or martial weapon that lacks the heavy and special properties. The longbow is also a valid choice. You gain proficiency with these weapons if you don’t already have it. Weapons of the chosen types are monk weapons for you. So.... with this feature you can get proficiency with a ranged weapon such as a Longbow, and that becomes a monk weapon for you.

[@ExploringtheBuild]

Well I stand corrected that is awesome! I missed that last sentence that they do become Monk weapons, in that case once we get Kensei as our subclass we can ignore the gameplay loop and just use a bow, no question. Plus we can Stunning Strike from range too! That is awesome, great catch! Can’t believe I missed that.

[@ExploringtheBuild]

Do you mind if I pin your comment so that others can see it? I think it will help others since Kensei Weapons are in fact Monk Weapons, and let people know that they can skip all that extra stuff I was saying.

[@vortigern7021]

Isn't longbow heavy?

[@OpenWorldAddict0]

@@ExploringtheBuild Go ahead. I don't mind.

[@ExploringtheBuild]

@@vortigern7021 Yes it is, but, it is the only Heavy weapon exception in the Kensei Weapon feature.

[@binho6600]

Call this the Bonk

[@higherqi13]

Kensei weapons become monk weapons. The new stunning strike works with "a monk weapon or an unarmed strike." Technically a kensei longbow build can now stun at range. That is amazing. Since weapons like dagger, spear, handaxe and javelins are listed under the "simple melee weapons" column they also can stun at range because they have the thrown property but are still considered simple melee weapons. A weapon like the dart however does not qualify for this because its listed under "simple ranged weapons" and is therefore not a monk weapon. DnD can be confusing at the best of times. Good video.

[@woutvanostaden1299]

If we want to use simple melee thrown weapon I could see going 3 or 4 barbarian/monk X. (Probably berserker has the most benefit for us, although I guess it depends on what our monk subclass is if we assume that we are only allowed the new subclasses. If we use mercy monk I reccommand berserker and if we use any other type of monk going with zealot at least helps with some self heals. If it's a gestalt campaign world tree is actually pretty nice and love the idea of combining it with elements warrior. 😊 "oh looks there's a flying tree"! 😮😂😅 summoning foes to you only for them to fall stunned on the ground.😊 as for the best monk subclass mercy and shadows are most likely to work well with weaopns, since others are heavy on unarmed strikes, but with elements being more flexible than hand) You would at least be able to ignore the disadvantage from thrown weapons long range by using reckless (since sharpshooter is now ranged weapon exclusive) and in 5.24 there aren't a lot of garanteed ways to do that. Or we could have fun with ranger. 😅😂😂😂😊 Gloomstalker 3/shadow monk could work, hunter 3/elements or just for theme we could have fun with fae wanderer 3/mercy to help with our "bedside manners". 😅😂😂😂 Ranger providing the thrown fighting style though is quite useful, we'll just have to make sure that we have enough of those weapons. A lightning javelin would really come in handy because of the returning property and since it would be a monk weapon, we can scale it. 😅😊

[@jasonbraine8743]

You can use unarmed strikes with the bow In hand unarmed strikes do not have to be with your fist. You can kick head butt etc. while the new rules for equipping and un equipping weapons is nice you do not have to do it to kick an enemy using dex not STR while Holding a bow or any other weapon

[@ExploringtheBuild]

Yes absolutely, an unarmed strike does not need to be a punch! I was referring to the wording of the Monk Martial Arts feature itself. The Monk Martial Arts feature specifically says "You gain the following benefits while you are unarmed or wielding only Monk weapons and you aren’t wearing armor or wielding a shield." So while an unarmed strike can be a kick or headbutt, we would not be able to use Dex or get the Martial Arts die if we have a weapon equipped that is not a Monk weapon. What I may have gotten wrong is whether or not our Bow is a Monk weapon based on the Kensei Monk feature. If it is a Monk weapon then we are golden and we can kick, headbutt or punch all we want. If it is not a Monk weapon, then we have to unequip it in order to use our Martial Arts feature.

[@jasonbraine8743]

@@ExploringtheBuild thanks for the clarification and yes if you select the long bow etc with the Kensei monk as the ranged weapon it becomes a monk weapon

[@jaffarfromaladdin8620]

Alex we've got brod on the ropes

[@jaffarfromaladdin8620]

I'm gonna build 2 war sun's to move all my home units towards him

[@jaffarfromaladdin8620]

Him swapping planets has altered my plans slightly but the war sun's will still come

[@bponcho414]

Can also just disengage for free now that Monks have 2/3 of Cunning Action

[@impishinformation7237]

I love this idea! As a DM, I’m curious whether you think that allowing any weapon the character is proficient with to count as a monk weapon would be too breakable? I don’t think it would change too much for most players and it would open up some versatility for those wanted to multiclass into monk.

[@ExploringtheBuild]

I'm glad you liked it! As far as monk weapons go, in my mind I don't think it would be too broken. There probably are some combos that appear very powerful on paper like stunning strike on a longbow or using heavy two-handed cleave weapons while also using flurry of blows. But in practice I think it would be fine if the DM is okay to allow it. There are far more broken combos that do work rules as written than whether or not a monk player can use their favourite weapon.

[@ricka3856]

@@impishinformation7237 it was an option from Tasha's

[@troydejong6206]

Next Longbow build, try Warlock...

[@ExploringtheBuild]

The next Longbow build up will be Ranger, from a previous request but don't worry! I will add Warlock Longbow to the list and start playing around with some ideas for it!

[@troydejong6206]

​@ExploringtheBuild I just did a Ranger Longbow/Shortbow build... Levels 1 and 2 Rogue Then 3 to 7 as Ranger (Gloom) Next 8-10 in War Cleric End with remaining levels in Rogue. At 10th level round 1 is 4 attacks. Without any tricks...

[@sohkaswifteagle2604]

7:00 wrong, holding a bow do not prevent you from using your martial art... martial art apply if you are not wearing armor and when using monk weapon or unarmed strike. unarmed strike can be ANY body part use to attack. So if you hold a bow in your hand (holding require just 1 hand. wielding the bow require 2 hand but only when shooting with it, once you are done attack with the bow you have a free hand. SO you can shoot a target with your bow, then punch an other target (using your dexterity and your martial art dice for the punch) then finally use your bonus action to kick using your dexterity and your martial art dice

[@OpenWorldAddict0]

Yay!

[@BarnJake1]

A monk with a ranged attack? Perhaps optic blasts dealing force damage would be interesting.

[@jaffarfromaladdin8620]

Barn

[@jaffarfromaladdin8620]

Barn

[@jaffarfromaladdin8620]

Barn I'm gonna get a war sun and move in on brod

[@jaffarfromaladdin8620]

Ok him relocating mekatol has slightly changed my plans but not much

[@BarnJake1]

@@jaffarfromaladdin8620 I can help

[@woutvanostaden1299]

Damn they really nerfed sharpshooter (besides the -5+10 damage nerf I mean) having removed the option ignore the disadvantage on the long range of melee throwing weapons. 😮😢

[@ExploringtheBuild]

Yea they really did thrown weapons dirty with Sharpshooter.

[@woutvanostaden1299]

If we do play a shadow monk, we could benefit from the darkness cheese to have a base 60 up to 120 ft thrown range depending on whether we want to use a light weapon. (Bad luck though if the foe has devils sight, true sight or tremor sense)

[@The_RealWilliam]

Whoa! You are absolutely wrong about monks being unable to use bows or any ranged weapon both martial and light properties. The monk has never been limited to only melee weapons. Not even in 2014. Hopefully some of your readers corrected you on this also.

[@generalsci3831]

Why are you making this more complicated than it needs to be? The Way of the Kensei specifically states that the longbow becomes a monk weapon for your character. There's no need to weapon juggle there and the damage will scale with your martial arts die.

[@ExploringtheBuild]

Yea I missed that last sentence. Luckily that was pointed out though and the pinned comment discusses it.

[@ricka3856]

How about you read Kensi weapons again Kensei Weapons. Choose two types of weapons to be your kensei weapons: one melee weapon and one ranged weapon. Each of these weapons can be any simple or martial weapon that lacks the heavy and special properties. The longbow is also a valid choice. You gain proficiency with these weapons if you don't already have it. Weapons of the chosen types are monk weapons for you. Many of this tradition's features work only with your kensei weapons. When you reach 6th, 11th, and 17th level in this class, you can choose another type of weapon-either melee or ranged-to be a kensei weapon for you, following the criteria above. No need to juggle weapons

[@OpenWorldAddict0]

Did you read the other comments? There was a whole post and discussion about that.