D&D 5E Kung Fu Shenanegans.....

[Jhyarelle]

Hi guys we just started a 5th Ed game and came across a rules call problem. Our monk uses quarter staff which is versatile (does extra damage used two handed). We know monks gets an extra unarmed attack when using monk weapons or unarmed strike. Can he then get the extra unarmed attack if he uses the quarter staff using it versatile ability by kicking instead of having the need of an empty hand?

Also can 5th Ed Flurry of Blows be used with monk weapons and kicks? Doesn't Chun Li's Lightning Kick count as Flurry of Blows?

We often count unarmed strikes as attacking with any part of the body that could deal damage. Has anything changed in 5 TH Ed?

 

[GameDoc]

The description never defines "unarmed strike" as using your hand so, I'd assume it remains any type of punch, chop, kick, knee, elbow smash, headbutt, or combination thereof.

 

[evilives]

Get an extra unarmed strike as a bonus action while getting extra damage from a quarterstaff used in both hands? Sure.

The rules say that to gain the extra attack, your monk friend only has to "use the Attack action with an unarmed strike or a monk weapon." (PHB, 78) So perfectly legit.

Flurry of blows is also triggered by using the Attack action, but the monk is limited to making unarmed strikes for his or her extra attacks. No other weapons allowed.

 

[jadrax]

Also can 5th Ed Flurry of Blows be used with monk weapons and kicks? Doesn't Chun Li's Lightning Kick count as Flurry of Blows?

The flurry of blows gives you two extra unarmed attacks. I do not see anything saying you have to be unarmed or armed only with monk weapons to use this, so you could flurry of blows while using a great sword should you so desire.

 

[Paraxis]

The flurry of blows gives you two extra unarmed attacks. I do not see anything saying you have to be unarmed or armed only with monk weapons to use this, so you could flurry of blows while using a great sword should you so desire.

For flurry of blows that is true, but that is only when you spend ki to use that ability, most rounds the monk will be just using his base martial arts ability to gain a bonus action for 1 unarmed strike and that requires making an attack action with an unarmed strike or monk weapon.

But yes, say a monk for whatever reason has a great sword and attacks with it he could then spend a point of ki and get to make 2 unarmed strikes as a bonus action.