Can a Monk Shove as a Bonus Action?
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Yes, a monk can shove as a bonus action, but only when they use the Attack action on their turn. This is a core feature of the Martial Arts ability, a defining characteristic of the Monk class in Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) 5th Edition. Let’s delve into the specifics and nuances of this powerful and versatile ability.
Understanding Martial Arts and Shoving
The Martial Arts feature, gained at 1st level, provides monks with a unique set of combat options. One of the key benefits is that when a monk uses the Attack action with an unarmed strike or a monk weapon on their turn, they can make one unarmed strike as a bonus action. Importantly, this bonus action attack can be replaced with a shove attempt. This is distinct from the Extra Attack feature many classes receive; it is a replacement for the bonus action unarmed strike, not an addition to the number of attacks you can make.
The Shove Action: A Quick Overview
The Shove action itself is a special melee attack. Instead of dealing damage, it attempts to either knock a creature prone or push it 5 feet away from you. To perform a shove, you make a Strength (Athletics) check contested by the target’s Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check (the target chooses which to use). If you win the contest, the target is either knocked prone or pushed 5 feet, as you choose. If you lose, the target remains standing and doesn’t move.
Combining Martial Arts and Shoving
The beauty of the monk’s Martial Arts feature lies in its flexibility. A monk can use the Attack action to make one or more attacks (depending on their level and features like Extra Attack) and then use their bonus action to either make an additional unarmed strike or attempt to shove an opponent. This allows for a variety of tactical options, from creating space to setting up allies for advantage.
Why is This Ability Important?
The ability to shove as a bonus action significantly enhances a monk’s battlefield control and tactical options. It allows them to:
- Create space: Pushing an enemy 5 feet away can break their engagement, prevent them from attacking a vulnerable ally, or even knock them off a ledge.
- Knock enemies prone: A prone enemy grants advantage on melee attack rolls against them, making them easier to hit for the monk and their allies. This can significantly increase the party’s damage output.
- Disrupt enemy formations: Shoving can break up tight formations of enemies, making them more vulnerable to area-of-effect spells or forcing them to move into unfavorable positions.
- Set up combos: A monk could potentially use their first attack to damage an enemy, and then use their bonus action shove to knock them prone, setting them up for further attacks from themselves or their allies.
- Utilize terrain: Monks can shove enemies into environmental hazards like fire, pits, or even just off of high ground, inflicting additional damage or potentially removing them from combat entirely.
FAQs: Mastering the Monk’s Shove
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the mechanics and intricacies of a monk’s ability to shove as a bonus action:
1. Can I use a monk weapon to shove as a bonus action after attacking with unarmed strikes?
Yes. As long as you use the Attack action and make at least one attack with either an unarmed strike or a monk weapon, you can use your bonus action to shove. The initial attack does not dictate the type of action for the bonus action.
2. Does Stunning Strike affect my ability to shove as a bonus action?
Yes. If you successfully stun a creature with your Stunning Strike feature, they automatically fail the contested check against your shove attempt because they are incapacitated. This makes stunning strike and shoving combo extremely potent.
3. Can I use Ki points to enhance my shove as a bonus action?
No, not directly. There is no specific Ki feature that enhances the Shove action itself. However, using ki points for abilities like Flurry of Blows (which grants two unarmed strikes as a bonus action) prevents you from using the shove as a bonus action, since you’re using a different bonus action option.
4. If I have Extra Attack, can I shove multiple times in one turn?
No. The Martial Arts feature only grants you one bonus action to make either an unarmed strike or a shove attempt after taking the Attack action. Extra Attack simply allows you to make more attacks as part of the Attack action.
5. Can I use my action to Dash and then still shove as a bonus action?
No. You must take the Attack action to be eligible to shove as a bonus action using the Martial Arts feature. Dashing consumes your action, so you cannot follow it with a bonus action shove derived from Martial Arts.
6. Does the Open Hand Technique subclass affect my ability to shove?
Yes. The Open Hand Technique subclass enhances your unarmed strikes and bonus action strikes (including replacing the strike with a shove) in several ways. At 3rd level, when you hit a creature with one of the attacks granted by Flurry of Blows, you can impose one of the following effects on that target: it must succeed on a Strength saving throw or be knocked prone; it must make a Strength saving throw or be pushed 15 feet away from you; or it can’t take reactions until the end of your next turn. This dramatically improves the utility of shoving and unarmed strikes.
7. Can I use a different bonus action on my turn if I choose not to shove?
Yes. If you meet the requirements for another bonus action (such as a spell or a feature from a feat), you can choose to use that bonus action instead of shoving or making an unarmed strike from the Martial Arts feature.
8. What happens if I try to shove a creature that is significantly larger than me?
The size of the creature doesn’t inherently prevent you from shoving, but larger creatures might have higher Strength scores, making it harder to win the contested check. Certain abilities or conditions might also impose disadvantage on your shove attempt if the target is much larger.
9. Can I use a weapon attack with a shove as a bonus action?
No. The bonus action can only be an unarmed strike or a shove, and the Martial Arts feature requires using the Attack action with unarmed strikes or monk weapons for the initial attack.
10. How do I determine the DC for the Strength saving throw if I’m an Open Hand monk using the push effect?
The DC for the Strength saving throw imposed by the Open Hand Technique is 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier. This is consistent with other monk abilities that require saving throws.
11. If I have disadvantage on attack rolls, does that affect my shove attempt?
No. Shoving is a special melee attack, and is resolved with an opposed Strength (Athletics) check rather than an attack roll. Disadvantage on attack rolls does not directly affect this check. However, abilities or conditions that impose disadvantage on Strength checks would apply.
12. Can I shove a creature that is grappled?
Yes, you can attempt to shove a creature that is grappled, assuming you are within melee range. The grappled condition doesn’t prevent a creature from being shoved. Keep in mind that shoving a grappled creature 5 feet away could end the grapple if you are the one maintaining the grapple and move outside their reach.
13. What is the difference between using the Attack action to make an unarmed strike and then a bonus action shove, versus using the Shove action itself?
If you use the Shove action you can’t attack at all. By using the attack action to attack, you can attack and potentially shove as a bonus action if you meet the qualifications of the Martial Arts trait. Also, if a creature takes the shove action, the target creature can only be pushed 5 feet or knocked prone. If the monk subclass is Way of the Open Hand, using Flurry of Blows gives the option of multiple effects as listed above.
14. Does having the Tavern Brawler feat affect my shove as a bonus action?
The Tavern Brawler feat allows you to make an unarmed strike or grapple as a bonus action after hitting a creature with an improvised weapon or unarmed strike. This does not apply to the Martial Arts feature, as it provides a separate and independent way to use a bonus action for unarmed strikes and grappling. It also doesn’t directly enhance your shove.
15. Can I shove an ally as a bonus action using the Martial Arts Feature?
While technically you can target an ally with a shove (the rules don’t explicitly prohibit it), it’s generally not a beneficial tactic. The primary use of shoving is to reposition opponents or knock them prone to benefit the party, not to move allies against their will. However, in very niche circumstances, a controlled shove could be strategically useful (e.g., moving an incapacitated ally out of danger).
Mastering the Monk’s ability to shove as a bonus action is crucial for maximizing their effectiveness in combat and their strategic options. By understanding the nuances of the Martial Arts feature and how it interacts with other abilities and conditions, you can unlock the full potential of this versatile and dynamic class.