VikingLegion
Explorer
I'm building a level 1 Monk to start in a new campaign next week using the updated 2024 PHB. The party is very light on front row tanks, just one Barbarian to hold the line, so I was looking at ways to make a Monk as something of a light/off-tank to help out.
I had originally started with what is probably a pretty standard Monk build. 15s in both Dex and Wis, 14 in Con, 10 Str, 8s in Int and Cha. After applying the Sailor background (it actually fits perfect with his story, believe it or not!) I raised Dex to 17 and Wis to 16 for a starting AC of 16. So far, pretty unsurprising build, as I said.
But then I started looking into Magic Initiate: Wizard from the Sage background. Unfortunately the stats don't work as well, I can't raise Dex but instead have to put it on Wis and Con, so I'll have starting stats of:
Wis 17
Dex 15
Con 15
I lose out on one AC this way, but I can make it up with my cantrip and spell selections. I'm thinking Blade Ward as the primary cantrip, which effectively raises AC by 1-4 against attacks. Yes, I know it costs some action economy to get it going, but Monks can still attack with the Bonus Action, so round 1 would look something like this:
Action = Blade Ward
Move = advance up to the frontline along the Barbarian to take some heat off of her
Bonus Action = Unarmed Strike (Flurry in later levels)
Then in Round 2 I can go into my full attack+bonus attack mode.
Also, I would select Shield as my level 1 spell. Sure it's only 1/day, but during that round I would have anywhere from a +6 to +9 AC bonus!! (5 from Shield stacking with 1-4 from Blade Ward). I'd likely take Fire Bolt as my other cantrip just to provide a range option, unless anyone has a better defensive suggestion.
At level 4, I'm looking at three ability scores that are at odd numbers (Wis 17, Dex 15, Con 15), so improving any of them nets me a bonus. I would probably take the Mage Slayer feat to bring that lagging Dex up to 16, getting back the +1 AC I missed out on at level 1. At level 8 I think I might take the +2 ASI feat to bring Wis to 18 and Con to 16, getting 1 AC and a bonus 8hp in the same level-up for a big boost in survivability. I would now have Wis 18, Dex 16, Con 16 with more feats available at 12, 16, and the Epic at 19.
Has anyone tried anything similar to this and what did you think? Any regrets? I've spoken to my DM about whether or not the +2 Tomes/Manuals are something that will exist in his world and whether they could be purchased at the listed DMG price. He said he believes something like those are EXTREMELY rare and hard to come by, but not impossible. So with that thread of hope dangling in front of me, I think it's possible I could end with 20s or at least 18s in Dex/Wis by the end without having to always take the +2 ASI.
Thoughts?
I had originally started with what is probably a pretty standard Monk build. 15s in both Dex and Wis, 14 in Con, 10 Str, 8s in Int and Cha. After applying the Sailor background (it actually fits perfect with his story, believe it or not!) I raised Dex to 17 and Wis to 16 for a starting AC of 16. So far, pretty unsurprising build, as I said.
But then I started looking into Magic Initiate: Wizard from the Sage background. Unfortunately the stats don't work as well, I can't raise Dex but instead have to put it on Wis and Con, so I'll have starting stats of:
Wis 17
Dex 15
Con 15
I lose out on one AC this way, but I can make it up with my cantrip and spell selections. I'm thinking Blade Ward as the primary cantrip, which effectively raises AC by 1-4 against attacks. Yes, I know it costs some action economy to get it going, but Monks can still attack with the Bonus Action, so round 1 would look something like this:
Action = Blade Ward
Move = advance up to the frontline along the Barbarian to take some heat off of her
Bonus Action = Unarmed Strike (Flurry in later levels)
Then in Round 2 I can go into my full attack+bonus attack mode.
Also, I would select Shield as my level 1 spell. Sure it's only 1/day, but during that round I would have anywhere from a +6 to +9 AC bonus!! (5 from Shield stacking with 1-4 from Blade Ward). I'd likely take Fire Bolt as my other cantrip just to provide a range option, unless anyone has a better defensive suggestion.
At level 4, I'm looking at three ability scores that are at odd numbers (Wis 17, Dex 15, Con 15), so improving any of them nets me a bonus. I would probably take the Mage Slayer feat to bring that lagging Dex up to 16, getting back the +1 AC I missed out on at level 1. At level 8 I think I might take the +2 ASI feat to bring Wis to 18 and Con to 16, getting 1 AC and a bonus 8hp in the same level-up for a big boost in survivability. I would now have Wis 18, Dex 16, Con 16 with more feats available at 12, 16, and the Epic at 19.
Has anyone tried anything similar to this and what did you think? Any regrets? I've spoken to my DM about whether or not the +2 Tomes/Manuals are something that will exist in his world and whether they could be purchased at the listed DMG price. He said he believes something like those are EXTREMELY rare and hard to come by, but not impossible. So with that thread of hope dangling in front of me, I think it's possible I could end with 20s or at least 18s in Dex/Wis by the end without having to always take the +2 ASI.
Thoughts?
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