Best Monk build in Baldur’s Gate 3: Race, skills, subclass & more

❘ Updated: 2024-04-11T17:30:10

Larian Studios

Monks are the masters of unarmed combat in Baldur’s Gate 3, making them incredibly versatile DPS machines. With the perfect build, your Monk will knock out foes left and right. Here’s what you need to know to create the best Monk build in BG3.

Monks offer a distinctive and satisfying gameplay experience in Baldur’s Gate 3, serving as the counterpart to non-weapon Fighters and delivering significant damage as the primary DPS role in any partysetup in the game.

However, with their complex Ki points and melee nature, crafting the best Monk build in Baldur’s Gate 3 can be a little tricky, especially considering it’s one of the newest classes in the game. So, to help out, here’s the best Monk build in Baldur’s Gate 3 from the ideal race, background, and multiclass options.

Contents

Best race to choose for a Monk in Baldur’s Gate 3
Best subclass for a Monk in Baldur’s Gate 3
Best background for a Monk in Baldur’s Gate 3
Best Deity for Monk class in Baldur’s Gate 3
Best Ability Score spread for a Monk
Best feats for a Monk in Baldur’s Gate 3
Best Illithid powers for a Monk
Best multiclass options for the Monk
Best build for a Monk in Baldur’s Gate 3

Best race to choose for a Monk in Baldur’s Gate 3

There are quite a few to choose from when playing a Monk as each can grant you a different way of playing:

Drow (Stealth)
Lightfoot Halfling (Lucky)
Wood Half-Elf (More movement speed)
Half-Orc (Relentless Endurance & Savage Attacks)

We recommend using the Wood Half-Elf for your Monk. This is due to the increased movement speed, Darkvision, and advantage on charmed saving throws.

Best subclass for a Monk in Baldur’s Gate 3

The best subclass for the Monk in Baldur’s Gate 3 is undeniably the Way of the Shadow. It’s extremely powerful due to the power of stealth in the game and will work perfectly in battle and while exploring.

On top of this, it works perfectly with the use of spells, adding a new layer to the character that grants it even more power.

Best background for a Monk in Baldur’s Gate 3

For a Monk as stealthy and sneaky as this one, the Urchin background is the best decision. It’ll grant you proficiency in Stealth and Sleight of Hand, two fantastic Dexterity skills.

Other than those, it’s worth looking to gain proficiency in these skills:

Insight
Acrobatics
History

Best Deity for Monk class in Baldur’s Gate 3

Choosing a Deity in Baldur’s Gate 3 affects how characters and various elements in the open world effect your character. Lathander is the best Deity to choose for a Monk. Lathander is the god of the dawn and of birth and beginnings. Followers of Lathander embrace growth and renewal which perfectly aligns with the Monk class.

Best Ability Score spread for a Monk

The Monk is relatively simple to create when it comes to Ability Scores so many can opt for the recommended spread. Alternatively, try these:

Strength: 10
Dexterity: 16
Constitution: 15
Wisdom: 16
Intelligence: 8
Charisma: 8

Just like the Rogue, the Monk focuses mainly on Dexerity which is naturally its highest stat. Then, the next two major elements are Consitution, for your health and Wisdom for the high Insight, and other key skills. There’s not much need to put many points into Intelligence, Strength, or Charisma here.

Best feats for a Monk in Baldur’s Gate 3

In Baldur’s Gate 3, after every four levels you get the option to either choose Ability Improvement or choose a feat. If you’re thinking of what feats are best for a Monk, here are some you can try:

Athlete

This feat increases your Strength or Dexterity by one, to a maximum of 20. Standing up will also use less movement when you’re prone. Additionally, your Jump distance also increases by 50 percent.

Mobile

Mobile increases your movement speed. Additionally, difficult terrain won’t slow you down when you Dash. After making a melee attack, you can move without provoking your enemy to launch an opportunity attack.

Mage Slayer

You have the advantage on all saving throws made against a creature that performs a spell within melee range of you. It also allows you to use a reaction to launch an instant attack against the spellcaster. When making Concentration Saving Throws, enemies you hit also have a disadvantage.

Best Illithid powers for a Monk

Mind Blast

Stunning the enemy as a Monk is a key element when you need to get the upper hand. That inability to make actions or reactions is key, especially when you can get so many hits in before getting out of there to a safe location.

Fracture Psyche

Being a melee character, an enemy’s armor class matters, and nothing is more frustrating than when it’s just a little too high. So, with Fracture Psyche equipped, you can take that AC down a little and get those powerful attacks to land.

Best multiclass options for the Monk

Monk and Cleric

From the offset it’s worth noting that the Monk works pretty effectively on it’s own, and you’re likely better off sticking with one class rather than multiclassing. Nevertheless, if you do want to combine the Monk, you should pair it with the Cleric.

This multiclass grants you a little bit of extra AC and protection along with the multiple hits you get as a Monk. Along with that you get some healing, a bit more move speed, and much more versatility than the base classes.

Monk and Druid

The Monk and Druid multiclass is extremely similar to the Cleric / Monk in the sense that it’s not as powerful as the base Monk class, but can still be pretty fun if you want to multiclass.

If you combine the Druid with the Monk you get a pretty unique creation, particularly if you choose Spores and Way of the Four Elements, to get that nature build. With this, you can combine certain spells like Thorn Whip or Water Whip to bring the enemy closer, before pummeling them with a Flurry of Blow. It’ll certainly change up your gameplay.

Best build for a Monk in Baldur’s Gate 3

Race: Wood Half-Elf

Background: Urchin

Skills: Insight, Acrobatics

Ability order from highest to lowest: Dexterity, Constitution, Strength, Wisdom, Charisma, Intelligence

Best Monk build:

Level	Features
1	Unarmored Defense — Martial Arts — Flurry of Blows
2	Ki — Unarmored Movement — Patient Defense — Step of the Wind
3	Deflect Missiles
4	Ability Increase: Dexterity — Slow Fall
5	Extra Attack — Stunning Strike
6	Ki-Empowered Strikes — Improved Unarmored Movement
7	Stillness of Mine — Evasion
8	Ability Increase: Dexterity to 20
9	Advanced Unarmored Movement
10	Purity of Body — Improved Unarmored Movement
11	—
12	Feat: Mobile

Check out some of our other Baldur’s Gate 3 guides: