Monks inDungeons & Dragonshave come far in recent years. Once upon a time, the class was not highly regarded among the general community, being seen as a fairly underpowered option that did not emphasize customization as thoroughly as other build types. As such, Monks were not particularly popular for a fairly long while, offering less armor and weapon proficiencies than other classes; fortunately, they are now more viable, fun, versatile, and unique.
Monks have multiple utilities in combat and can fill a variety of party roles. They can handle support, defense, and damage dealing, and in social situations, the Monk makes a good “face.” It’s the one class that rivals the deadly Rogue in mobility and can have similar abilities, like Sleight of Hand. Their ability to strike hard and fast, stunning single opponents before dodging the danger themselves, makes the Monk formidable in combat.
Updated July 01, 2025, by Kristy Ambrose:Most players see the Monk as a contemporary addition to the playable classes of D&D, but it was a playable class as early as the Blackmoor Supplement, a module released in 1975. Thanks in part to high-profile video games like Baldur’s Gate 3, which also uses the 5e version of the Monk, it’s experiencing a renewed surge in popularity. Then you have theongoing changes to Dungeons & Dragons, which promises to include extra choices for the Monk’s subclasses, abilities, weapon proficiencies, and role-playing options.
To help players who are working onMonk D&D builds, new backgrounds, Feats, and a skill have been added.
Wood Elves
The Player’s Handbook
+2 Dexterity bonus and +1 to Wisdom, along with increased movement speed. Mask of the Wild is great too.
Githyanki
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
Some resistance to psychic damage, the ability to cast handy cantrips like Mage Hand and Enhanced Leap, and the option to increase three stats by 1, or choose two to increase, one by +2, and one by +1.
Air Gensai
Start by adding +3 to either two or three stats, plus abilities like Darkvision, Unending Breath, and Mingle With the Wind.
Stout Halflings
Good ability stat bonuses, plus the racial feats Lucky and Brave. Their lowered movement speed isn’t ideal, but it can be improved.
Hill Dwarves
Gain a +2 to Constitution, an important thing to have for extra hit points, and the Dwarves' +1 to Wisdom is always good too.
Eladrin
Creatures of the Feywild, these elves can choose a season to determine the nature of their powers, which are ideal for Monks and include powers like Fey Step and increased perception.
Variant Humans
The perfect moldable race; players can choose which abilities to grant bonuses to, and choose a useful level 1 feat.
Aarakocra
Elemental Evil Player’s Compendium
An avian-hybrid race with bonuses to Dexterity, Wisdom,andflying speed. An Aarakocra could be the best Monk race in 5e.
Harengon
The Wild Beyond The Witchlight
Start by adding +3 to either two or three stats, then get a boost to Dexterity and Perception with abilities like Lucky Footwork and Leporine Senses.
Tabaxi
Volo’s Guide To Monsters
Unique abilities like Cats' Claws and Feline Agility improve unarmed damage and fighting speed, and comes with a Dexterity bonus of +2.
Kenku
Popularized by the character of Kiri inCritical Role. They make ideal Rogues and Clerics along with some of the best Monks in 5e.
Forest Gnome
This variant gets a bonus to Dexterity and the Minor Illusion cantrip in addition to the usual Intelligence buff.
Ability Scores
While the most important three stats havea clear order of importance, the bottom three can get a little muddied depending on the Monk’s specific role. There’s a specific formula for creating an optimal build with a certain order to Monk stat priorities in 5e. Put those three stats below the others and the rest is up to players' role-playing preferences.
The Way of the Drunken Master
Xanathar’s Guide to Everything
These monks fake out their enemies by presenting an unsteady exterior before going in for the kill, and they’ve got some of the best abilities out of the subclasses: Drunken Technique combines Flurry of Blows with Disengage; Drunkard’s Luck is exactly what it sounds like for the price of 2 ki points; and at higher levels, Intoxicated Frenzy takes the Monk’s drunken technique to a new level.
The Way of the Ascendant Dragon
Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons
Emulate the elegant movements of the dragon to learn the ultimate fighting style. These Monks can channel draconic power for temporary flight with Wings Unfurled, and Breath of the Dragon gives the character resistances and powers related to the type of dragon they follow.
The Way of the Sun Soul
Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
These Monks train to use their Ki power to throw bolts of searing light, and it’s easy to imagine how great this would be for a DPS-focused Monk build. It includes abilities with names like Radiant Sun Bolt and Searing Arc Strike.
The Way of the Open Hand
The Open Hand’s abilities give them the most well-rounded combat options than any other subclass and utilize the monk’s core abilities to maximum effect. Its key ability is the Open Hand Technique, which is plain wonderful as abilities go, and another great one is Wholeness of Body, which is essentially free healing.
The Way of the Astral Self
Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
Use the powers of the astral plane to summon a double and do twice as much damage in a fight, a skill that becomes more powerful and precise as the Monk progresses.
The Way of the Shadow
A choice for players who want some rogue-like abilities while still playing a monk; unsurprisingly, multiclassing a Shadow Monk with a Rogue is quite the deadly combination. The main downside is that, for all these Monks who get to stealth like a Rogue, they still don’t have any ability to rival a Rogue’s devastating sneak attack.
The Way of Mercy
For those who want to build a Monk as a healer or combination class, this tradition includes mercy in the form of medical aid or a swift death. Monks can get Hands of Healing and Hands of Harm at third level.
The Way of the Kensei
Players who are keen on building a fighting Monk effective at close range with a variety of melee weapons should choose this monastic tradition. Choose two Kensei weapons in which to become proficient, and the choices include both melee and ranged options, along with bonuses to artistry and calligraphy skills.
The Way of the Four Elements
An excellent choice for a DPS-focused build, this Monk can control the elements and they know the Elemental Attunement discipline and one other elemental discipline. Spend Ki points to use these elemental powers to deal damage.
The Way of the Long Death
Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
The name is self-explanatory for this DPS melee fighter. For those who want a Monk that knows deadly moves like Touch of Death and Hour of Reaping.
Astral Drifter
Astral Adventurer’s Guide
Monks with this Background have better Insight and Religious skills and also have the Magic Initiate Feat. This gives them the ability to choose a spellcasting class and take two cantrips and one level-one spell from that same class. Druid or Cleric is recommended because they have the same high Wisdom stat.
Charlatan
Player’s Handbook
Includes handy tools like a disguise kit and a forgery kit. Roll a d6 to determine the character’s favorite grift, among other things.
Far Traveler
This character is from a faraway land unknown by most. Roll a d6 to choose between Emissary, Exile, Fugitive, Pilgrim, Sightseer, and Wanderer.
Secret Identity
State of Hillsfar
Create a secret identity that this player can use throughout the adventure, also includes a disguise kit and a forgery kit.
Folk Hero
These characters emerge from small towns to fight for the common folk. Includes a set of artisan tools and proficiency in land vehicles.
Cloistered Scholar
This Monk was raised in a library and saw little of the outside world growing up. They have access to a Library, a source of knowledge they can call on at any time.
Outlander
Important for Athletics and Survival, plus grants the ability to play a musical instrument.
Acolyte
Ideal for a Monk that’s dedicated to a deity or religious order. This Background includes a prayer book, a holy symbol, and other accessories like incense or prayer beads, and helps with Insight and Religion.
Sailor
Great for Athletics and Perception, and even better for the ability to use Navigator’s Tools.
Faceless
Baldur’s Gate: Descent Into Avernus
The art of intimidation, disguise, and espionage are the specialty of Monks with this background. Choose from 10 different Faceless personas.
Urchin
Perhaps your Monk came from humble beginnings, so they can move more quickly through the city streets and use Stealth and Sleight of Hand.
Skills
A Typical Monk Needs A Balance Of Wisdom And Athletics
Certain choices of Background will guarantee that the Monk has some of these skills anyway, so choose carefully. A character can easily select everything they need for the best Monk build in 5e.
Description
Insight
Just like in real life, this skill is based on the Monk’s Wisdom. This allows a character to notice small details and use the clues they find to draw useful conclusions about locations, objects, and people.
Perception
The ability to detect, hear, or even feel things before others do is because of a good Perception skill. This can include anything from hidden enemies to a change in the weather.
Acrobatics
Based on the Monk’s Dexterity score, this Skill helps your character do things like jump over fences or climb ropes, along with doing actual acrobatics.
Stealth
Also based on Dexterity, this helps a player stay hidden from enemies or sneak around guards.
Related to Wisdom, this allows a character to tell if someone is lying or to predict their next action.
Athletics
Only a viable choice for Monks with a high Strength score, this is about using physical prowess to escape a dangerous situation, like climbing a cliff or swimming across a deep, fast river.
Survival
Characters can track and hunt wild animals or find a trail through the wilderness along with other basic Survival skills like predicting the weather and avoiding dangerous terrain.
Medicine
Allows a player to give first aid to a companion without being a healing class, this makes sense from an RP standpoint and also makes sense with certain Backgrounds and Monastic Traditions.
Sleight of Hand
Another Skill related to Dexterity, Sleight of Hand isn’t just about performing for a crowd or picking a pocket. This can also be used to covertly place objects in certain places or move things around.
Charger
Gives the Monk a boost to their movement and speed with the Dash action, giving them a +5 bonus to their attack roll.
Elemental Adept
The Monk chooses a damage type, and every time they cast a spell with that damage, it ignores the spell-resistances of the target.
Fade Away
Only available to Gnomes, gives an additional +1 to either Dexterity or Intelligence, along with the option to become invisible as a reaction to taking damage.
Alert
Grants a +5 to initiative (another dexterity-based skill check) and prevents the monk from being surprised, so there’s no downside to choosing it.
Cartomancer
Any Monk who also has a spellcasting feature can take on this Feat at Level 4. Channel casting power through these cards and learn the Prestidigitation cantrip.
Lucky
Works for any build with three free redo rolls of the player’s choosing per long rest.
Grappler
Ideal for classes that don’t wear armor or use weapons and fight within melee range, this Feat allows the Monk to subdue an opponent in close quarters or escape from one.
Observant
Grants a +5 to passive perception–if players need to boost one of their monk’s wisdom skills, this would be how.
Resilient
Gives a +1 to the chosen ability score and Advantage on saving throws of that ability, so choosing Wisdom for this feat is a Monk’s best option.
Mobile
Grants an extra 10 feet of movement speed and prevents opportunity attacks in response to melee; for Monks, whose mobility is a key feature, this further strengthens them.
