Of the 12 classes that will be playable in Baldur's Gate 3, only one wasn't ready for players for the Early Access: the Monk. Monks have a lot of options under their black belts, with three distinct sub-classes to choose from that could equally lead to a fantastic Monk build in BG3. Judging by what fans have seen in the early full release, though, it looks like Shadow Monks will reign supreme.
Monks who follow the Way of Shadow subclass will find themselves more easily able to pull off stealthy maneuvers and benefit from sticking to the shadows and out of sight. It's something between a melee and a ranged caster class, with lots of variety – now that the full release of Baldur's Gate 3 is here, fans are starting to understand just how strong this class can be.
Updated August 4, 2023 by Erik Petrovich: With the full release of Baldur's Gate 3 a lot of things have changed from the Early Access version. Thanks to the new subclasses and expanded maximum level, players' ideas about the best Monk build in BG3 have changed, and will very likely continue to evolve as fans get deeper into the game. This guide has been updated to be accurate to the full release version of Baldur's Gate 3, but the majority of its initial recommendations remain the same. Check back regularly for more advice on how to make the best Monk build as the Baldur's Gate 3 community continues to learn more about how the class plays at higher levels.
As a guide-in-progress, this build will be continually updated with more information about choices in the mid to late game as players make their way through the expansive Baldur's Gate 3.
Best Monk Build Overview
The Monk was not included in the Early Access version of Baldur's Gate 3, but Larian Studios was been shy about sharing information about this class. The Way of Shadow Monk build is one of its three subclasses, and plays like a mix of the Rogue and Gloomstalker Ranger classes. Way of Shadow Monks rely on Stealth and their bare fists to deal damage, and are most heavily inspired by Ninjas and other agile warriors of darkness and subterfuge.
In earlier levels, Shadow Monks can cast the Minor Illusion cantrip as well as Shadow Arts, special versions of Pass Without Trace, Darkness, Darkvision, Silence, and Hide as bonus actions. Later on, the Way of Shadow Monk can become invisible at will – and strike from the shadows in a very literal sense. The Shadow Monk is great for players who want a different approach to Stealth than the typical Dungeons and Dragons Rogue and Ranger archetypes.
Best Monk Choices in Character Creation
Best Monk Race: Drow
The Drow are a versatile race with racial passives that benefit virtually all playstyles in one way or another. For starters, they have advantage against being Charmed and cannot be put to Sleep. They get Drow Cantrips, including Darkness which goes a long way in helping create Stealth, and their Darkvision can help get through otherwise completely shrouded areas. Their proficiency in Perception is extremely useful when traversing the world normally as it will pick up Traps and the like much more often.
Best Monk Subclass: Way of Shadow
Players can select their subclass at character creation as a Monk, and because Stealth is just so good in Baldur's Gate 3, the Way of Shadow is a powerhouse of damage just like the Thief Rogue build. The Way of the Open Hand and Way of the Four Elements have plenty of options and playability in their own right, but because Sneak Attacks and Stealth are so strong when used to initiate combat (or join it from the outside), the Way of Shadow reigns supreme.
Best Shadow Monk Proficiencies and Background: Criminal or Outlander
Monks rely on DEX and WIS for the majority of their abilities, and Way of Shadow Monk builds are no different. Choose a background that either fits with these skills for further bonuses to your rolls, like the Criminal which grants proficiency to Stealth (used for Hide) and Deception. Players can also go for the Outlander background, which will give a nice buff to the outcomes of Athletics and Survival checks.
Baldur's Gate 3 is available for PC and will release for PlayStation 5 on September 6, 2023. A version for Xbox Series X/S is currently in development.