Monk inBaldur’s Gate 3is one of the most fun classes tobase your buildaround.Larian Studioshas spent a lot of time making sure that thisclassgets the love it deserves and attracts players to keep returning to it playthrough after playthrough.
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There are threesubclassesfor the monk that can be chosen once you reach level 3 in your base class. While each class is distinct, throwing punches unarmed andunarmoredis going to be your bread and butter as a monk. The core play style remains the same across subclasses, and you will still be dumping points intoDexterityto gain incrediblyhigh ACand damage.
Updated by Jeff Brooks on August 23, 2025:This guide has been updated to include new links throughout to help guide readers to relevant and valuable content to enhance their Baldur’s Gate 3 experience.
3Way Of The Four Elements
The Way of the Four Elements tries to fit the Monk class in thespellcaster archetype. Sort of like whatEldritch Knightdoes for theFighterclass and whatArcane Tricksterdoes for theRogue. However, where the Way of the Four Elements falls short is that it tries to put spellcasting as the main focus of the subclass rather than something complementary to what the monk already has going for it.
Don’t get it twisted; it’s a fun class with some unique mechanics that allow it to be distinct enough to be different from other subclasses. However, when choosing a subclass, players are looking for something different, something flavorful to spice up their play style. The Way of the Four Elements is a bland mix of martial arts and Ki spell casting that just don’t go together as well as they could. If you want to play a spellcaster,Wizardis more fun and with a lot more options. If you want to play a martial melee character,BarbariansandFightersare just straight-up better at it.
2Way Of The Open Hand
If you want to lean into the Monk roleplaying aspect of the character and lean intothrowing bosses off cliffs, the Way of the Open Hand does just that. It takes what a base monk is supposed to do; unarmed damage, and dials it up to eleven. Your character becomes more Monk-esque, so to speak. At level 3, Way of the Open Hand allows you to add modifiers to your Flurry of Blows ability, allowing you to push, topple, or stagger enemies, depending on which modifier you have toggled on (only one can be active at one time).
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At level 6, Way of the Open Hand Monk gets access to the incredibly powerful ability, Manifestation. There are three variations of Manifestation (Manifestation of Body, Manifestation of Mind, Manifestation of Soul), with each having a different type of additional damage type attached to them (Necrotic, Psychic, Radiant). These are passive, toggle-able abilities that you can turn on or off at any point without expending either anAction or a Bonus Action. This subclass also gets an ability called Ki explosion at level 6. This ability essentially functions like an AoE spell, but the point of impact of your punches is going to be the epicenter of the blast. Getting both these abilities up and running is going to give you a big power spike, and you might want to wait until after you get them before youmulticlassif you’re planning on doing that.
1Way Of Shadow
Definitely, the most fun subclass for the Monk, Way of Shadow, transforms your goody-two-shoes monk into a shadowy assassin out for blood and vengeance. In a game like Baldur’s Gate 3 where being good all the time is boring, having the option to lean into your darker tendencies is going to come in handy. Way of Shadow takes full use of all thoseDexterity pointsyou’ve been pumping into your character because that’s the monk’s preferred ability and puts it to use to combatstealth checks. If you were thinking ofmulticlassing to Rogueto take advantage of your character’s high DEX, the Way of Shadow does that in a unique way.
Way of Shadow monks also gain the option to learn spells like Way of the Four Elements, but their spells are much more focused on making them more effective at stealth. At level 3, you get Shadow Arts: Hide, which functions exactly as the Rogue’s Cunning Action: Hide makes hiding a bonus action you can take every turn. This ability alone transforms the play style of the monk entirely. Combined with Shadow Cloak at level 5, which gives you invisibility at command, you’ll be able to hide and strike at an advantage at every turn. At level 6, you get the ability you’re going to fall in love with: Shadow Step. This ability allows you to teleport anywhere in a massive area and maintains your stealth even after teleporting. Not only that, it also gives you an automaticadvantageon your next Attack Roll, no matter the condition.
Next:Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Items For Monks
