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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Clint_L" data-source="post: 9067702" data-attributes="member: 7035894">There's loads of ways to tank. High HP. High AC. Action denial. Avoidance. Self-healing. Mitigation. Mobility.Barbarians: Very High HP and mitigation.Moon Druids: Mega-high HP.Fighters: High HP and AC, limited self-healing.Paladins: High HP, AC, and self-healing.Monks: Action denial (after stunning strike at level 5), avoidance (patient defence; evasion). Mobility (in theory)The problem with monk tanking is everything is tied up in a limited resource pool and action economy, which is overly reliant on the bonus action. Move patient defence to a reaction and give monks a bit more ki, and suddenly they become decent off-tanks. And they would tank in a very unique way, which is fun for the game, IMO.I see this in practice with my current Way of Mercy monk. Because she is able to automatically apply the poisoned condition along with damage from her flurry of blows, when fighting a single opponent she is basically getting the benefit of patient defence plus full offence, and she is able to go toe-to-toe very effectively. It feels like what a monk should feel like.These three simple changes will make the 2024 monk a much more viable off-tank:1. Flurry of Blows adds one extra unarmed strike to the attack action, rather than the bonus action.2. Patient defence becomes a reaction.3. Add wisdom bonus to Ki pool.Look at how that would open up opportunities for the monk to tank - let's say our monk is level 3, with a +3 wisdom modifier (so 6 ki points).Round one: bonus action step of the wind to leap at the enemy spellcaster in the back. Attack with staff and FoB. Enemies rush back to support the caster; monk uses patient defence as a reaction to keep them at bay (3 ki used).Round 2: Attack and FoB. Decision time: use the bonus action for an extra unarmed strike, or step of the wind to get back out of danger? If the former, will still be able to use patient defence (2 ki used either way; leaving one more to get out of there next round or stay in close and keep patient defence up).Suddenly we have a monk who plays like a monk - they aren't afraid to use their mobility to make that unexpected attack against a vulnerable opponent, can ably tank for a few rounds if needed, and can get back out if things get too hairy. They aren't taking over the main tank's job, they are adding an new element to the party.And we are so close to getting that monk. Just a few tweaks to the current 2024 iteration gets us there. Less than ten words.</blockquote>

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