The RAREST CHARACTER - BG3 Four Elements Monk Build Guide

[@lancedooley9304]

Storywise you could make lae’zel a monk depending on your choices. Githzarai are typically monks, so if she turns away from Vlaakith and embraces Orpheus, her turning into a monk would work lore wise.

[@bru5142]

True but also when vlakith sent gith to go after u moving to sct 3 a monk if there before u go into the portal

[@jasonbrawn8347]

​@@bru5142 Those are Orpheus's Honor Guard not Vlakith's forces

[@ViChi12370]

I would just love to say that I absolutely dig your guides, they helped me a lot to understand the game more and make it more enjoyable as I am not running around like a headless chicken anymore. I hope you keep this up!

[@Cephalopocalypse]

Thanks so much! I really appreciate the kind words :D

[@schtii2]

I really appreciate your build videos, they are much in-depth and shine light on undervalued character classes. Still some critique: The show-off at the end could be acheived with any monk subclass, and would specifically have been exactly the same with way of the open hand monk. I would much rather have liked to see some of the subclass abilities in action than the standard monk acitons. Like the ice cube or some ranged melee attacks. Cheers.

[@fencer9469]

Currently entering Act 2 with this build with the first dip into rogue and it has been spectacular so far. I played a shadow monk in the past with an actual trickery Shadowheart but this build hits even harder than that. I found that for now, I did enough damage by picking the Club of Hill Giant Strength instead of using Elixirs, which you can get on top of the Arcane Tower in the Underdark, that way I can stockpile some Giant Elixirs until I really need them. Keep up the guides man, they are gold!

[@a-walpatches6460]

Shadowheart remembered you murdering Scraps in a previous demonstration, that's why she cast Sanctuary.

[@Cephalopocalypse]

I loved it, it was very in character!

[@thespianmask]

Four Elements monk? That was literally my first ever character I finished the game with. Clench of the North Wind on a melee fighter off-tank is a GODSEND.

[@n1ck_knack]

Camp cleric was a solid tip. Ive got a camp wizard for longstrider, darkvision, and potions. Gonna have cleric(s) too once i start honour mode

[@jeffhess8241]

This was my first go to monk class 😅. It’s a fun build utilizing weapons/weapon abilities and weaving unarmed. Instead of just pure unarmed you get some decent utility

[@northofself]

Good points about the ice shaping, water whip and fist of air. I tried a monk build like this on my first playthrough because I was using the club of hill giant strength most of the game and needed a weapon action/extra attack that took advantage of Tavern Brawler. Absolutely loved jostling enemies around, and regret not trying to block them away with the ice cube. What I found was my focus on carrying weapons but only attacking with fists especially came into its own in Act 3 with I eventually got the offhand Cold Snap Dagger that applies vulnerability to blunt and force damage. My ganeplay pattern went something like: 1) provoke enemies' opportunity attacks to miss, 2) aim to Freeze up to three of them by lobbying a water bottle or two, and then 3) collect doubled damage with a fist of the fire snake, bonus unarmed strike and the first hit of flurry. By character level 12, however, level 9 Open Hand Monk with Thief came back around to be more-efficient, since the Chilled status is sometimes there nerfing fire snake's fire damage and the vulnerability to Ki Resonation Punches' free explosion combos too awesomely to pass up

[@SoI_Badguy]

If you dont want to do tavern brawler shenanigans, you can actually take a 1 level dip into Warlock and grab hex. Fangs of the Fire Snake actually procs the damage of hex twice, once on the hit and once on the fire damage proc.

[@rustyjones7908]

I find most builds can benefit from a bit of warlock. I'm guessing that's how they get ya

[@generaljustinian1082]

I'm so glad you did a video for a way of the four elements monk, they are one of my favorite classes. I'm a huge Avatar the Last Airbender, and for RP reasons I love to play as a dragon born and exclusively do fire moves. I love the channel, keep up the great work!

[@Thatbeardedguy86]

I want to try it so bad, but it's hard when you're new to the game and everyone just goes on and on about meta builds. OH or nothing and such

[@PuskasMarton]

Githyanki are naturally proficent with medium armor and Great/Longswords so Laezel can not only skip leveling Dex past 14, she can also use a ton of great magical items. My fav early build for her is Everburn Blade->Phalar Aluve, Boots of Stormy Clamour, Hide Armor+2 , The Sparkle Hands, Haste Helm, Bow of Awareness, crusher's ring. All of these can be bought/looted/stolen without combat. (Feather fall+sneaking and a decent enough pickpocket for the underdark items) Also worth noting that unequipping items costs nothing so you can strip the chest piece if you need some extra move speed, or unequip your weapon if you want bludgeoing dmg and/or higher hit chance once you unlock tavern brawler. Youre getting +5 to initiative from your dex+gear, longstrider and a free dash from the helm and ring, the rest is CC and damage. No need to restrict yourself to open hand monk eighter, since Four Elements has a significantly stronger lvl 3 and monk after lvl 5 is dogshit anyways IMO.

[@benross9174]

4 Elementa is really solid Early Game. Waterwhip being a Dex safe is really clutch as well, thats how I beat Grym in Honour Mode. Its really solid against low Dex targets

[@Cephalopocalypse]

Yeah! That combined with having strong ranged attacks before your movespeed comes online so you can play much safer I think make it as strong or stronger than the other monks at levels 3-5; it's only at 6 that you really fall behind because they get great features and 4e monk gets some more level 1 spells.

[@dwm721]

at the beginning: "slightly weaker subclass, sub-optimal build." then proceeds to describe the most broken build i've seen 😂

[@Cephalopocalypse]

Then you'll really like my other builds :D

[@jeromed.8804]

When you drop a stat to 8 it will give a neg 1 to ALL checks of that stat before adding the bonus from items/gear If its your main damage/defence stat you want to stop at 10 to avoid this.

[@senorelroboto2]

The game will compensate for that properly if you have a ability altering effect. A 17 INT gives a +3 modifier, and an 8 INT with 17 INT from the Warped Headband of Intellect will give +4 to Intelligence rolls.

[@Viktoria_Thaelin]

Warped Headband of Intellect ( sets Int to 17 ) Amulet of Greater Health ( sets Con to 23 ) Gloves of Dexterity ( sets Dex to 18 ) Club of Hill Giant Strength *in offhand* ( sets Str to 19)

[@PommesPeterZK]

Just recently finished my first ever playthrough on Four Elements Monk! Can't wait to find out how this differs to my setup. Edit: Quite a bit lul

[@itenshidoom]

Hey Ceph, BG3 is the first game i’ve ever played like this and I love it. I just wanted to say your videos have helped me a ton with understanding the mechanics of the game and I really enjoy your builds. I’ve listened to so many since I found your channel. Anyways, I was curious about how I can become a channel member to help support you and the content.

[@Cephalopocalypse]

Hey, thanks so much! I really appreciate that. Under the videos there should be a button that says "join." I've set the cost to the lowest amount youtube would let me so hopefully it's not too bad!

[@itenshidoom]

@@CephalopocalypseI’m not seeing that option unfortunately. Only the Super Thanks. Maybe it’s because i’m on mobile. If you ever set up a patreon or anything though I would love to support you there too.

[@PapaTanduo]

Great video bro.. gonna try that build, I have an open hand monk for long one of my favourites 🥃

[@MadAsTheHatterx2]

When multiclassing into rogue, wouldnt scrolls or spells from items then be casted with INT instead of wisdom? Since it is the most recent class take

[@kyleswimming]

I did something similar to this. Played a dex monk until i got the gloves of dexterity, then respec'd into strength to gain benefit from tavern brawler (i always forget to use elixirs so it helped me keep consistent damage lol)

[@ashleysigmon1223]

So I did a "magic monk" run with a main character that was a monk/cleric (which btw ended up being super fun) and then this one with Lae'zel as a Four Elements. I tried her on this build first but without the elixers, however I ended up respeccing her as a single class Four Elements. To be honest I would say, if someone does not want to do the elixer build then to go ahead and just do a pure Four Elements monk build without multiclassing. The reason is that Four Elements eats up SO MANY ki points so quickly and need a lot of them and ways to restore them. If they are not doing a ton of damage with their normal attacks because they have tavern brawler + high strength + really good gloves, and they have already used up all their ki points in the first few turns of combat, the Four Elements becomes very weak very fast. And for monks gloves are important. The strength gauntlets just mean you can't use any of the great options out there for monks. If you like the idea of a monk with spells, having a wisdom spellcaster + monk multiclass has also been really great. I do a Open Hand plus Light Cleric combo, and I can preserve both ki points and spell points by switching between the two kinds of attacks. Maybe would be fun to do another monk spellcaster build, but with someone like Jaheira or Halsin as a druid. Or like, "Shadowmonk" - a cleric monk hybrid focused on Shadowheart.

[@cuspofexposure8242]

Will you please make an element monk who throws the ice block.; or just give me a reply 1) Exactly how much strength does it take to lift the ice block? 2) Does barbarian bear ability, make it easier to lift the ice block? 3) are there any potions or gear that make it easier to lift the ice block? 4) Can you electrify or poison the ice block for electric or poisoning? 5) Can you oil/ on the ice block and use fire to blow it up? 6) can it melt/shatter/explode with fire/bludgeoning/grenades? 7) does it leave a water puddle when destroyed; if poisoned, electrified or oiled. Will it leave a corresponding puddle? 8) Does water bottle throwing get the tavern brawler bonus? 9) How many hit points does it have? 10) how many times can you throw the ice block? 11) can you cast spells on ice block? 12) buff it; meaning AOE spells? 13) If you cast a spell on top of it, then throw it; will the spell move with the ice block? 14) can you put items or creatures on the ice block and throw it, gnome with reduce person on top or a bottle of water or oil. I hope you see my comment. Please a video or just a response would be appreciated.

[@ThanhLai5]

Interesting, I may start a honour mode with element monks and see how the game will punish me with that. Thanks for a nice vid!

[@StudlySoldier]

Been waiting for this vid, thanks

[@McJaews]

I went with four elements monk for my first character. I hated the restrictive ki points for spell casting, and found it very restrictive. Ended up playing a bad squishy caster with the Blood of Lathander until half way through act 3 before I found out about stunning strike open fist tavern brawler monk, and it was so much more fun.

[@brandonmeier1361]

This really makes me wanna party comp with four characters who all dip thief.

[@Cephalopocalypse]

The only good way to take 12 rogue levels :P

[@brandonmeier1361]

@@Cephalopocalypse absolutely brutal lol, sad but true

[@chriswho12345]

Oh with elixirs I can make my monk actually use gloves! I’m in act 3 with cloud giant gloves. In act 1 hill giant club prevented phalar equip, and my monk used dex gloves for init with respec to str for rolls in act 2

[@keyanmoore916]

Best way to play way of four elements is to synergies them with a team that is about controlling your enemies movement!!! You decide where they go and how they do it. Way of four monks can literally multi class into tempest cleric and grab the feats where everytime you do thunder or lightning damage you push people back and also increase is damage is pretty strong no elixirs needed. You can also build a mourning frost build around them with robe of frost as well... I can go on and on and on...

[@TT-ez1ws]

12fire monk with the fireball staff from act 2 is a lot of simple fun

[@IliumGaming]

i’d like to throw halfling into consideration for a racial pick. the free advantage on stealth is nice on a high dex build but the practical inability to roll a 1 on a build that can really only miss on a 1 (assuming you’re using elixirs/TB), is very much worth considering, especially given monk’s high number of attacks. move speed penalty is basically negated by unarmored movement also not sure if you’re aware but the diadem of arcane synergy lets monks *triple dip* on wisdom to damage making it possibly best in slot for headwear.

[@prismapsychosis8545]

Doesnt the arcane synergy only apply for weapon attacks

[@Cephalopocalypse]

Halfling is always great, though I think monks do suffer more from the lost movespeed than other classes, since your play pattern has you moving 50+ feet most turns of combat. What I really wanted was for there to be a reason to recommend dragonborn here, but sadly they don't really get anything that synergizes (other than maybe standing in all the fires you'll be lighting with your fists)

[@vincentvindevogel2368]

Lvl6 elemental monk gives you a hold person though. That turns your (and your allies') damage into crits. For 2 ki, at range, better than stunning, especially if the target doesn't die in 1 turn. Makes the monk do what it already does, but better. Instead of just increasing your own damage, like open hand-type stuff, you massively increase your party's damage. Mono classing will help you do your stuff better and help the game flow better if you want to play together as casuals. Very cool character though!

[@Cephalopocalypse]

The issue is that the save DC will be based on wisdom, so unless you really focus on boosting it, you're not that likely to actually land hold person - and of course it takes a full action, which represents a lot of damage in itself, so you need to make up quite a lot of damage from the critical hits just to break even. It's not a bad option, but I think most of the time will be hard to use

[@vincentvindevogel2368]

@@Cephalopocalypse I just realized that stunning strike doesn't actually work off of wisdom save dc despite tooltip saying it does :( my bad

[@Cephalopocalypse]

@@vincentvindevogel2368 Yeah - it's wis based in tabletop and they just copy pasted the description, but changed it to work off of the higher of your str or dex like the battle master maneuvers. I wish they'd done the same for the 4e spells, it would be cool for them to have a niche as a physical-stats-based caster, but those are still wisdom sadly

[@nicholasbaxter8547]

Can you please do a spore Druid build?! I think it would be a cool melee and caster class also I was thinking like 5 level fighter for an extra attack and maybe a dual wield but idk I think you could make it really cool!! 😁😁

[@Cephalopocalypse]

On the way! I also did use a spore druid/fighter split for my lore-friendly Jaheira build, so that may be what you're looking for!

[@Cleptomancer]

YES!! Way of elements is my scroll Caster 😂 secretly OP especially with tavern brawler & elixirs. Honorable mention for giant strength club if you don't want to burn an elixir. Damage goes down a bit, but 17 strength from equipping a monk weapon is pretty good.

[@Psathionoukous]

It’s actually 19 strength! And you can put it in your off-hand only by having a weapon equipped in your main hand, putting the club in your off-hand, and then equipping your main hand weapon to another character through their character sheet directly (on PC, right click their empty main weapon slot and select the weapon in your monk’s main hand). Now you get free 19 strength and your main attacks are now unarmed and get all those benefits too

[@hugodogobob]

You can get a load of giant elixirs for high strength and being unarmed

[@hugodogobob]

You can get a load of giant elixirs for high strength and being unarmed

[@hugodogobob]

You can get a load of giant elixirs for high strength and being unarmed

[@hugodogobob]

You can get a load of giant elixirs for high strength and being unarmed

[@tavinitiamana441]

Nice vid ty for the sharing and be safe :)

[@Cephalopocalypse]

Thanks very much!

[@Zubatticus]

I've been using a 4e monk and I multiclassed into Fighter. Heavy armor, sheild, and elixers make it much less MAD. Action Surge is always great too. Feats are Tavern Brawler and alert. I've also been tempted to try a 4e barbarian because I think you can still use the 4e spells while raging.

[@isaiah2696]

Would Tavern Brawler work for a Monk with low strength? Or not at all. Like 8 or 10 Strength

[@Zubatticus]

@@isaiah2696 It wouldn't, that's why I use giant elixirs to boost strength to 20+ until long rest. Definitely more of an act 3 respec though

[@isaiah2696]

@@Zubatticus ah thank you!

[@EpicErwin777]

Awesome Video! Yeah, exactly what I was looking for. Thx man. Sub +1

[@lolimmune]

The "I'm not like other girls" of bg3.

[@murderycatdoll1380]

SHIT.....now i have to make ANOTHER Char, because that one looks so cool! I will never Finish this Game 😅

[@mjdblue7]

Great video! Do you think there's any greater benefit to sinking some points into Fighter for action surge vs Rogue for the extra bonus actions? I'm playing as a four element monk at level three currently and I need to make this decision soon and I'm torn lol

[@romeorogers9314]

The Monk is a real monster in BG3.

[@itenshidoom]

Thanks!

[@Cephalopocalypse]

Hey thanks so much! I really appreciate the generosity! :D

[@verybrownsalmon]

Could you do lore bardlock optimised build?

[@Yobolight]

Barbarian is great with 4 Elements Monk because its elmental attacks don’t count as “spells”

[@thatMisks]

Id love an updated 4e build for patch 7

[@MrThaumaturgical]

I really wanted them to get some kind of Thunder Punch...

[@Wreckers_B]

For some reason reading your comment made think you saying thunder punch in that crazy Jack Black voice whenever you obliterated another enemy with your thunda punch

[@TheUlquiorraCifer]

There's the Way of the Ascendant Dragon subclass mod, which you can make Thunder Punches with. If you're into mods.

[@IliumGaming]

there is a set of gloves you can buy from the gnomes in act 3 that let you do thunder damage with unarmed attacks. combine with the boots of stormy clamor from act 1 for reverberation and the ring of spiteful thunder from act 2. Thunder punches on any monk subclass!

[@brianlau4821]

So that's why people say 4 element is bad. She've burned more than half of her Ki in one turn.

[@IcyeFaethyvve]

It's still just a punch monk with augmented damage, wish there was more of the "four elements" part of it, weaving lots of spells

[@isaiah2696]

Tavern Brawler doesn't work with an 8 or 10 Strength Monk though right? Cause that means the modifier is just -1 or 0. So nothing would double right? I'm confused

[@Cephalopocalypse]

This build uses the Elixir of Hill Giant Strength to set its strength to 21 daily - you can buy enough in act 1 to last all game. if you don't like the idea of doing that, that's why I included the alternate stat split for non-elixir users.

[@isaiah2696]

@@Cephalopocalypse Ah I was just wondering for my personal playthrough but make sense, thank you!

[@isaiah2696]

@@Cephalopocalypse I guess my question was really about how Tavern Brawler works with Dex. I'm pretty new and everyone says it's the best but I don't understand it I think

[@darthmalicex4118]

Yeah you’re right, Tavern Brawler does nothing without strength.

[@isaiah2696]

@@darthmalicex4118 Thank you! 🥹

[@dododimitrov9657]

Why don't you use the staff from act one which boost the unarmed attacks? I was torn if to give this build to Karlach or Laezel. In the end i gave it to Laezel and made Karlach Oathbreaker Paladin so I can use her racial smites.

[@cyrt2889]

my first monk was four elements because i thought it was cool and good lol

[@alvinbgyt5143]

Yeah four elements monk consume so much ki and dmg improvement is on the 9th lvl and more powerful magic

[@blackman2101]

I've spent two playthroughs trying to make 4E feel unique and "do its thing" it's a bit disappointing that you still just end up doing stunning strike into flurry of blows (twice if possible). I am still looking for a build that actually uses the spells you have access to, to control the battlefield and apply elemental effects like burn, shock, reverberation, or chilled. I feel like you could use the Pyroquickness hat in act 3, but I haven't tested if the monk spells count as "leveled spells" yet. I deleted my old saves and only currently have a level 6 monk in honor mode rn.

[@Cephalopocalypse]

I tend to agree - the core gameplay loop of stunning strike is just too strong, and tavern brawler is too broken, so it just eats everything else monks might want to do. I originally wanted to make this a dex/wis build and focus on the spells, but it ended up so much weaker I just couldn't recommend it in good conscience. One thing they do get is that they want to raise wisdom to 20 and already benefit from spell dc gear, so they're one of the best characters for casting from scrolls and items. That can let you do some cool stuff

[@ProperCh]

You can do it but the issue is you cant do it as well as any other caster class. Hence why 4E monk ends up below the tier list of all other caster. Because its half a caster half a monk. I think it either needs unique spells or be able to cast its spells as bonus action or something. To give it a distinct advantage.

[@blackman2101]

Casting a few select monk spells (doesn't need to be all) as a bonus action would be perfect imo. I'd be completely happy with just that as a class perk around level 4-6

[@formatomi]

I have good news for you, there IS something unique about 4E monks! Water whip is the only *permanent* prone condition in the game. Other prone conditions can be ended early with half move speed but unfortunately they end by themself too even maimed. One exception is Water Whip, as long as you keep the enemy maimed, frightened or in Plant Growth, they just skip their turn. And one extra thing is Water whip scales with str/dex and not wisdom even if the tooltip says so

[@Czesnek]

If the monk is going to be your party face I would recommend to start as level 1 Rogue for expertise and increase your persuasion and then multiclass into monk. When you dip into level 1 rogue as a monk you will not get expertise points.

[@formatomi]

You get expertise tho, thats just wrong

[@christopherstoeffel4811]

Do you have my brain downloaded? I was looking up Four Elements builds last night lolol

[@Cephalopocalypse]

I'll never tell!

[@Supergusy2000]

Is it necessary to put 14 on dex if u have gloves of dexterity?

[@sossioaruta8509]

How do you have honor mode balances in a normal game? Do you start honor mode and then when you wipe you continue? Is this the only way? I don't see a way in custom settings

[@Cephalopocalypse]

Mods!

[@Reed1527]

Standard monk build but you grab 4 elements this time

[@Cephalopocalypse]

Monks benefit from things that are good for monks, news at 11

[@ProperCh]

This build showcased nothing that was special to 4E monk. Altho its a weaker class you couldve made a build that focused on the casting aspect of 4E monk. The gameplay you showed literally only used 1 spell from the subclass and then regular monk cheese. Just some constructive feedback ​@Cephalopocalypse

[@Cephalopocalypse]

@@ProperCh This build uses literally all of the unique spells.

[@dussan2]

I don't know about this build. Your combat tutorial is sound but you lose out on those meaty spells in later monk levels. I have been rocking a monk since the game released and in terms of mobility and utility 4E monk is my go to. It lacks the one shot power of Paladin and Sorlocks, but it's fun as heck.

[@frankwhite51]

This build is not that good in the mid game. Enemies start to resist non magical damage in act 2 and this build leaves monk at 5 right near the start of act 2.

[@Cephalopocalypse]

I didn't find it an issue since a lot of your damage is magical already, but if you are you can move monk 6 a level earlier like I say in the video.

[@n1gtwhisper158]

Now do this with karlach

[@Cephalopocalypse]

I meant to mention karlach at the beginning - soul coins are bugged and work with unarmed strikes all the time, not just when raging or at 1/4 hp, so she and astarion actually make the best monks

[@n1gtwhisper158]

@Cephalopocalypse yeah and since it's fire it fits thematically.

[@heyokah]

While I appreciate your desire to showcase this subclass, I would never recommend this over the other two. Ever. Also, never take athletics or acrobatics on any character unless it is acrobatics on a halfling. There is no need to shove, and you can position yourself so an enemy shove is mitigated. Perception and insight are always better when available. If you have to take athletics or acrobatics due to available options, then sure. Good explanation of the subclass, though.

[@MultiZernez]

I think the reason that nobody plays four elements monk because it’s just kinda bad

[@serdarmirzaseyyar3218]

A githyanki monk is the most unthematic thing you can do

[@Cephalopocalypse]

There's over a dozen in this very game :P

[@serdarmirzaseyyar3218]

@@Cephalopocalypse those are githzerai. As dnd lore goes a githyanki like lae'zel would find a githyanki monk utterly disgusting. But you do you i lovw your builds. Just this one isnot thematicly strong. Would love to see more

[@BlueFoxXT]

@@serdarmirzaseyyar3218 can you expand on this? i neither agree or disagree, i'm running lae'zel as an open hand in my honour mode run because it made sense to me, but i'm curious to hear the lore.

[@serdarmirzaseyyar3218]

@@BlueFoxXT after the war with mindflayers was over and gith was missing some giths said that war only brings slavery so they shouldnt fight if necessary so they became monks. Vlaakhir call them traitors and they are called githzerai. So neither githzerai nor githyankis love each oder

[@kittydaddy2023]

aren't pretty much all of Orpheus' honour guard monks?

[@Gerdoch]

Sorry man, you lost me at 'Be a drug addict and chug elixirs all game'. That's a not a build, that's exploiting a stupid mechanic. You certainly couldn't run like that in tabletop.

[@Cephalopocalypse]

That's why I included versions both with and without elixirs

[@Hauxe]

Good thing this isn’t on tabletop

[@stevenmitchell785]

Angry nerd

[@Morghast]

Bro this is what the community chooses to cheese, I'm not big on it either. That's why he gives a low cheese version

[@Anaomilfairbanks]

You lost me at by far most underplayed monk subclass 0:24… when it’s obviously way of shadow