Unlocking the Monk’s Potential: Choosing the Best Weapon in Baldur’s Gate 3

The best “weapon” for a Monk in Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3) is a nuanced subject, as the class excels in unarmed combat. However, the most direct enhancement to a Monk’s capabilities typically comes not from a traditional weapon, but from gloves. Specific gloves offer bonuses to unarmed damage, hit chance, and even unique Monk-specific abilities, making them the prime choice for maximizing a Monk’s offensive and defensive prowess. While weapons can provide temporary boosts, the synergy gloves provide with the Monk’s core abilities makes them undeniably the best choice in most scenarios.

The Power of the Open Hand: Understanding the Monk’s Strengths

The Monk class in BG3 is a master of martial arts, relying on speed, agility, and the power of Ki to overcome their enemies. Their Unarmored Defense feature, which adds Wisdom to their Armor Class (AC) when not wearing armor, encourages a different kind of gameplay than other martial classes. Rather than relying on heavy armor, Monks focus on dodging attacks and overwhelming opponents with a flurry of blows. This inherent focus on unarmed strikes fundamentally shapes the optimal gear choices.

Why Gloves Reign Supreme

While swords, spears, and other weapons can certainly be used by Monks, particularly in the early game, they eventually become less impactful than dedicated Monk-enhancing gloves. Here’s why:

• Unarmed Damage Boost: The most obvious benefit. Gloves like the Gloves of Soul Catching, Helldusk Gloves, and Servitor of the Black Hand Gloves provide significant damage bonuses to unarmed strikes. This directly scales the Monk’s primary damage source.
• Hit Chance Improvement: Accuracy is key. Some gloves directly increase the chance to hit with unarmed strikes, ensuring that those powerful blows connect with the target.
• Monk-Specific Abilities: Several gloves grant abilities that specifically synergize with the Monk’s class features. This might include bonuses to Ki points, improved stunning capabilities, or extra attacks.
• Scalability: The Monk’s unarmed damage naturally increases with levels, scaling with Dexterity. Gloves further amplify this scaling, making them a superior investment compared to weapons that might quickly become obsolete.
• Versatility: While focused on unarmed combat, many powerful gloves don’t restrict the Monk’s action economy. They enhance core abilities instead of forcing the Monk to deviate from their preferred playstyle.

Beyond Gloves: When Weapons Can Shine

While gloves generally outshine traditional weapons, there are specific scenarios where using a weapon might be beneficial, especially in the early game.

• Early Game Damage: At lower levels, before the Monk’s unarmed damage has significantly scaled, a magic weapon with a high damage output can provide a temporary advantage.
• Weapon Abilities: Certain weapons possess unique abilities that can be useful, such as granting extra attacks, inflicting status effects, or providing tactical advantages. A Weapon +1 provides a direct bonus to attack and damage rolls.
• Proficiencies: Monks are proficient with simple weapons and shortswords. These weapons, especially when enhanced with magical properties, can offer benefits early in the game, such as extra range or additional damage types.

Ultimately, a well-rounded Monk should always prioritize gloves for maximizing their unarmed potential, but should keep an eye out for situationally useful weapons, especially during the early levels. Remember that Monk weapons are any weapons you are proficient with that are not heavy or two handed.

Stats to Prioritize for Optimal Monk Performance

• Dexterity: This is your bread and butter. Dexterity affects attack rolls, damage rolls, and armor class, making it the most crucial stat. Aim for at least 16 early on, and prioritize increasing it further as you level. The Baldur’s Gate 3 Monk relies heavily on Dexterity as a main stat for damage scaling due to the Dexterous Attacks feature.
• Wisdom: This directly influences your Unarmored Defense, providing a bonus to your AC. It also impacts certain Monk abilities and saving throws. Wisdom is also necessary because of Unarmored Defense.
• Constitution: Vital for hit points. Surviving long enough to unleash your flurry of blows is essential.
• Strength: Monks can use their Dexterity or Strength, whichever is higher when making melee Attacks while Unarmed or with Monk Weapons.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the best Gloves for Monks in BG3?

The Gloves of Soul Catching, Helldusk Gloves, and Servitor of the Black Hand Gloves are consistently ranked among the best. They provide significant bonuses to unarmed damage, hit chance, and offer unique Monk-specific abilities.

2. Do gloves count as armor for Monks in BG3?

Most gloves are not considered armor and do not interfere with the Monk’s Unarmored Defense feature. However, always check the item description to ensure it doesn’t count as light, medium, or heavy armor. For example an elf monk is proficient with certain swords and bows and so a monk can use them in place of unarmed strikes. Watch out for gloves and helmets that are considered armor though.

3. Can Monks use weapons effectively?

Yes, Monks are proficient with simple weapons and shortswords. Early in the game, weapons can provide a damage boost. However, as the Monk levels and their unarmed damage increases, gloves become the superior option.

4. What is a Monk weapon in BG3?

Monk weapons are weapons that a Monk is proficient with that are not heavy or two-handed.

5. Should I prioritize Dexterity or Wisdom for my Monk?

Both are crucial, but Dexterity generally takes precedence. Dexterity affects your attack rolls, damage rolls, and AC, while Wisdom primarily influences your AC and certain Monk abilities. Aim for a balance, but prioritize Dexterity for offensive power. The Monk’s priority ability is to reach at least 16 Dexterity with 16 Wisdom.

6. What are the best Monk subclasses in BG3?

The Way of the Open Hand is a classic and powerful choice, focusing on enhanced unarmed combat and impactful strikes. Without a doubt the most classic and reliable subclass of Monk, Open Hand is pretty much what people imagine when they think of Monk. Open Hand Technique enhances Flurry of Blows with ways to knock back, knock down or prevent reactions during a turn for enemies. Wholeness of the Body provides quick healing when needed.

7. Do Monks need armor in BG3?

No. The Monk’s Unarmored Defense feature makes wearing armor unnecessary and even detrimental. Focus on boosting your Dexterity and Wisdom to increase your AC.

8. How do I maximize damage as a Monk in BG3?

Focus on maximizing your Dexterity, equipping gloves that boost unarmed damage, and utilizing the Flurry of Blows action. Consider feats like Tavern Brawler (if your build allows) and Mobile to further enhance your damage and mobility. You unarmed damage increases naturally as you level as a monk up to 1d10. Further, increasing your dexterity which modifies this damage also can increase your unarmed damage. Magic items like Insignia of the Claw also can also do this.

9. Is Strength important for Monks in BG3?

Strength is generally less important than Dexterity, Wisdom, and Constitution. However, Monks can use whichever is higher between Strength or Dexterity for attack rolls and damage with Monk weapons and unarmed strikes. Also at this level, Monks can use their Dexterity or Strength, whichever is higher when making melee Attacks while Unarmed or with Monk Weapons. Monk Weapons are any Weapons they have Proficiency with that are not two-handed or Heavy.

10. What is the best race for a Monk in BG3?

Races with bonuses to Dexterity and Wisdom are ideal, such as Wood Elves, Githzerai, and Halflings.

11. Is Monk a difficult class to play in BG3?

No, Monk is a relatively straightforward class to play. It is not as easy as fighter, but monk’s combos before lv5 are, go in, punch, and run. The key is to understand your abilities and utilize your mobility effectively.

12. Can Monks heal in BG3?

Monks can heal. At Level 1, Monks can choose from the following Subclasses: Way of the Open Hand: Focuses on unarmed combat, using your hands to channel Ki to both heal allies and inflict damage on enemies.

13. What are good companions for a Monk in BG3?

The best companions for a Monk Multiclass build in BG3 are Lae’zel, Shadowheart, and Gale. This will give you a balanced team with a Cleric for support, Lae’zel for tanking, and a Wizard for ranged spellcasting and utility.

14. Should monk use weapon BG3?

During the early levels, a monk is definitely better with weapons than without. At the very first levels perhaps, but you wont be able to use the whole stunning attacks with it, wich imo is the biggest strenght of a monk. You can use stunning strike, unarmed attack etc. while wielding a weapon without problem.

15. Is Wisdom important for monk BG3?

Yes, Wisdom is important for monk BG3 because of Unarmored Defense. The Baldur’s Gate 3 Monk relies heavily on Dexterity as a main stat for damage scaling due to the Dexterous Attacks feature. Wisdom is also necessary because of Unarmored Defense.

By understanding these key concepts and prioritizing the right gear, you can unlock the full potential of the Monk class in Baldur’s Gate 3 and become a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. Dive deeper into the world of games and education at the Games Learning Society: GamesLearningSociety.org.