D&D 5E Monk with Q-Staff -- why not?

Werebat · Feb 21, 2015

The quarterstaff appears to be a monk weapon (because it is a simple weapon that doesn't have the "Two-Handed" quality), even though it can be wielded in two hands.

If used with two hands, it does 1d8 damage.

If a monk makes their bonus martial arts attack with the quarterstaff (while wielding it with two hands), does it do 1d8 damage?

If so, why wouldn't every monk use the quarterstaff?

Lidgar · Feb 21, 2015

Their bonus action is an unarmed attack.

PnPgamer · Feb 21, 2015

The biggest problem is that using a quarterstaff attacks makes you use strength, it is NOT a finesse weapon. Meaning that you need to get strength into decent scores. using shortswords or unarmed gives less MAD.

Paraxis · Feb 21, 2015

Lidgar said:
Their bonus action is an unarmed attack.

This, the main attack can be with a monk weapon but the bonus action attack is an unarmed strike.

At levels 1-2 yes a staff is the most optimal choice, at 3rd you probably want a hand free to catch incoming missile weapons and throw them back by spending a ki point, some DM's (I wouldn't letting go of the staff with one hand is a no action to me) might want you to have not attacked using a two hands on the staff during the round.

At levels 11+ it doesn't matter because all your weapons are doing base damage d8 thanks to martial arts.

Other reasons you might want to use different weapons would be different damage types against some monsters, and the ability to throw the weapon. In fact I take back the whole staff is the most optimal weapon, the spear is. It does a different damage type, can be used versatile for a d8 just like the staff, and can be thrown.

Coredump · Feb 21, 2015

PnPgamer said:
The biggest problem is that using a quarterstaff attacks makes you use strength, it is NOT a finesse weapon. Meaning that you need to get strength into decent scores. using shortswords or unarmed gives less MAD.

It is a monk weapon, all monk weapons can use Dex instead of Str.

Werebat · Feb 22, 2015

Lidgar said:
Their bonus action is an unarmed attack.

It CAN use unarmed attack damage. It doesn't HAVE to. Page 78 of the PHB, Martial Arts.

GlobeOfDankness · Feb 22, 2015

nope, just read it, it says you can make "one unarmed strike as a bonus action."

Lidgar · Feb 22, 2015

Werebat said:
It CAN use unarmed attack damage. It doesn't HAVE to. Page 78 of the PHB, Martial Arts.

Read it again. Yes, it is optional to do the unarmed strike as a bonus action. But that bonus action is an unarmed strike. Can't use the quarterstaff as your bonus attack.

Leatherhead · Feb 22, 2015

Lidgar said:
Read it again. Yes, it is optional to do the unarmed strike as a bonus action. But that bonus action is an unarmed strike. Can't use the quarterstaff as your bonus attack.

But you can use your Attack Action with a quarterstaff, and then use a Bonus Action Unarmed Strike. So you would still want a quarterstaff.

It's even the example action they print in the third bullet point.

Lidgar · Feb 22, 2015

Leatherhead said:
But you can use your Attack Action with a quarterstaff, and then use a Bonus Action Unarmed Strike. So you would still want a quarterstaff.

It's even the example action they print in the third bullet point.

Absolutely. That is not the point. The OP was asking why not use the bonus action to make a two-handed attack with the quarterstaff.

Quarterstaff or spear is probably the "best" combo with the unarmed strike until 11th level.

D&D 5E Monk with Q-Staff -- why not?

Werebat

Explorer

Lidgar

Gongfarmer

PnPgamer

Explorer

Paraxis

Explorer

Coredump

Explorer

Werebat

Explorer

GlobeOfDankness

Banned

Lidgar

Gongfarmer

Leatherhead

Possibly a Idiot.

Lidgar

Gongfarmer

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