D&D 5E Monk Weapons and Daggers

GravyFingerz

Gravymancer
So, shuriken are basically daggers, right? And monks can use their martial arts ability with monk weapons, right? So at high levels, a monk can throw four "shuriken" at d10 a piece by spending 1 ki.

I just got a flashback to the ninjas handbook and anime from my pubescent years. Excuse me while I change my pants, because that is friggin awesome!
 

log in or register to remove this ad

No, shuriken are basically darts, and paragraph one of Martial Arts specifically notes that Monk Weapons are short swords and Simple melee weapons without the two-handed or heavy properties.
 


I don't think it works that way. You could get 2 thrown daggers at 5th level.

Martial Arts gives you an unarmed strike as a bonus action when you attack with an unarmed strike or your monk weapon.

Flurry of Blows gives you two unarmed strikes as a bonus action after you take the attack action on your turn.

You can only do one bonus action on your turn, so they do not stack.

At 5th level you get Extra Attack which gives you two attacks from an Attack action

Attack action (2 thrown daggers) + Martial Arts bonus action(1 unarmed strike) or
Attack action (2 thrown daggers) + Flurry of Blows bonus action (2 unarmed strikes) for 1 ki
 

Well, it was a cool thought until I was informed of my uninformedness. Thanks [MENTION=6779742]Jargogle[/MENTION] and [MENTION=6777788]abelmort[/MENTION] for posting correct info.
 


But wait, there's more!

As far as using flurry of blows to throw daggers...you can't do it, as those specifically say your unarmed strike.


However, I would argue that a high level monk CAN throw daggers for d10 damage! Daggers are a melee simple weapon, they do not have the heavy or two handed requirements (aka Monk Weapon). Just because you are throwing them doesn't make this invalid.

If I recall, Mearls already agreed with a similar circumstance for the rogue.
 

But wait, there's more!

As far as using flurry of blows to throw daggers...you can't do it, as those specifically say your unarmed strike.


However, I would argue that a high level monk CAN throw daggers for d10 damage! Daggers are a melee simple weapon, they do not have the heavy or two handed requirements (aka Monk Weapon). Just because you are throwing them doesn't make this invalid.

If I recall, Mearls already agreed with a similar circumstance for the rogue.

The plot thickens!
 

No, shuriken are basically darts, and paragraph one of Martial Arts specifically notes that Monk Weapons are short swords and Simple melee weapons without the two-handed or heavy properties.

Interesting point.

Given that Darts and Dagger have almost identical stats (cost and weight are different), its odd that if you classify them as Dagger monks can hurl shuriken for d10 damage, but if you classify them as Darts they cannot.

You could speculate that either Monks are not supposed to be getting the increased Damage Dice on Ranged Attacks, or that Rule of Cool should triumph and shuriken should be Monk Weapons regardless.
 

If I recall, Mearls already agreed with a similar circumstance for the rogue.

Is this what you're thinking of (from Morrus' compilation that appeared today)?

Can thrown weapons be used for sneak attack damage? Seems to go against the qualifiers of sneak attack being Ranged-Finesse. yes, they can. basically, as a DM feel free to let the rogue sneak attack with anything that deals a d6 or less. -M


It's odd that this suggests it's the damage done (avg. 1-2 points less!), since you can sneak attack with a longbow or a heavy crossbow. But there it is.
 

Remove ads

Top