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Message: <blockquote data-quote="NotAYakk" data-source="post: 9615641" data-attributes="member: 72555">You cannot use the level one monk ability to justify using a bonus action to make an unarmed strike.If another feature in the game lets you use a bonus action to make an unarmed strike, nothing stops you from using that.  Ie, a feat that says "if you have a creature grappled, you can make an unarmed strike on it as a bonus action" wouldn't be blocked just because you are wearing armor and are a monk.That is one way they can make unarmed strikes as a bonus action, when unarmored, not using a shield, and only wielding monk weapons (or unarmed).The reason behind it?  Without these restrictions, a monk dip becomes quite strong for every class.  Just dip 1 level and get a 1d6+(str|dex) bonus action attack along side your usual attack routine.This doesn't apply to the flurry of blows; it is a resource limited by the number of monk levels you take.Martial Arts includes an option to use a bonus action to make an unarmed strike.  You lose that way to use a bonus action to make unarmed strikes if you don't qualify for it.Flurry of Blows is a separate ability than Martial Arts.  It is called Monk's Focus.Monk's Focus gives you 3 ways to use your bonus action.  Flurry of Blows, which is 1 Focus point to make 2 unarmed strikes, Patient Defence which is Disengage as bonus action (and for 1 Focus point, add Dodge).  And Step of the Wind, which is Dash as a bonus action (and for 1 Focus Point add in Disengage and 2x jump distance).While Monk's Focus does interact with other abilities, it doesn't depend on them.  Your Martial Arts ability gives you dex based Unarmed attacks and MA damage on unarmed attacks, which is quite useful for Flurry of Blows.It also gives you a Focus-point free alternative to Flurry of Blows.Now, this happens to not be a balance concern multi-class wise because Flurry of Blows is Focus-point limited.  You have to burn your Focus Points to get those attacks; a 2 level dip in Monk doesn't scale ridiculously well with other classes.The choice of which abilities require "monk gear" and which don't was actually made carefully.  You lose:+10' movementWall- and Water-running10+Wis+Dex AC1 unarmed attack as a BAMA-die for unarmed damage.Dex-based unarmed attacks.So your Flurry doesn't scale quite as well, but is otherwise untouched.Aside, the "there are other ways to get an unarmed strike as a bonus action" is not academic.  I have seen some UA type content that includes it, but in the actual game, note that a level 1 monk wearing platemail can make unarmed strikes as a bonus action via:Multiclass Berserker Barbarian (during Frenzy).Being a high enough level Valor Bard and Eldritch Knight (after casting a spell).Being a War Priest (wis times/day).Taking the Charger 2014 feat (and charging)Getting a critical hit and having Great Weapon MasterIn all of these cases, you are making a weapon attack (which you can replace with an unarmed strike).</blockquote>

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