The wise and dexterous Ki Point users have a hierarchy to decide which is the BG3 best Monk subclass.
These disciplined warriors can use their Ki Points to fuel a variety of powerful abilities. As these recharge on Short Rest, it means that Monks have a large variety of options available to them every fight.
While they start slow, Monks can quickly grow into one of the most powerful and capable classes in Baldur’s Gate 3.
At level 3, Monks get to pick a subclass from three options. Here is a ranking to determine which is the BG3 best Monk subclass.
3) Way of the Four Elements
Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender weep bitter tears.
This subclass isn’t bad per se mechanically, as it basically turns the monk into a caster who uses Ki Points to fuel spells. As a result, Four Elements Monks will have a more ready resource than Spell Slots.
Further, their Harmony of Fire and Water level 3 feature to regain Ki Points means they’ll almost never run out of spells, and their level 9 Improved Elemental Casting gives them decent damage output.
Experience the comfort of a Secret Lab chair as you explore the wizarding world with their Harry Potter Collaboration Chair!
What makes this class underwhelming is that all of their Ki abilities are just renamed spells available to other casters.
It also means that Monks won’t really get to live out their fantasy of a martial magic class, and instead play identically to a Wizard or Sorcerer.
This all combines to make Way of the Four Elements a disappointing Monk experience in BG3.
2) Way of Shadow
The Way of Shadow transforms the Monk into a stealthy ninja to rival Rogues. At early levels, this subclass can be a bit underwhelming since its early levels just feels like a worse version of the Rogue’s Arcane Trickster subclass.
Level 5 has a nice bonus to turn invisible with Cloak of Shadows, but Level 6 is when this class starts distinguishing itself.
Shadow Step means Monks can teleport from shadow to shadow, hugely increasing their mobility.
Level 11 though is when this Monk subclass fully comes online as one of the best in BG3.
Shadow Strike is a great ability that lets a hiding Monk teleport to an enemy to deliver a devastating strike with extra 3d6 Psychic damage.
Since few enemies resist Psychic, this gives Shadow Monks a huge burst strike from long range, flitting in and out of vision.
The only things holding back Shadow Monks as the best BG3 monk subclass is that it takes a long time to really get good, and even at the highest level they’re somewhat constrained by lighting conditions.
1) Way of the Open Hand
The Way of the Open Hand is the classic Monk experience: high mobility, multiple attacks, great utility.
While the most straightforward to play, Open Hand Monks are by no means boring or limited.
Their Level 3 upgrade to Flurry of Blows unlocks the ability to knock enemies prone, stagger them to prevent reactions or knock them away. With great crowd control options to set up themselves or teammates, Open Hand Monks pull their weight in any party
The level 6 Manifestations allow Monks to choose an extra damage type to add to their punches: Psychic, Radiant or Necrotic.
The Logitech G502 X line features a new way to game with its innovative hybrid switches for speed, precision, and lightweight.
What makes this ability incredible is that they can switch to any other type at any moment for free, giving them huge flexibility in any fight to target an enemy’s weakness.
Their level 9 Resonating punches also gives a weaker version of the Quivering Palm technique.
Hit an opponent to plant a Ki bomb of sorts, then detonate it (again for free, no action or bonus action required) to set off an explosion of Force damage that damages that enemy and any others nearby.
The level 11 capstone is mildly underwhelming (free Sanctuary status after a Long Rest doesn’t mean much when Monks will typically have high Initiative anyway), but that pales in light of all their strengths.
Don’t Jinx yourself– enjoy the excellent lumbar support available from the Secret Lab x League of Legends Collaboration Chair!
Open Hand Monks are flexible with huge damage potential later on, consistent utility from start to finish, and many extra abilities independent of the action economy that gives them extra chances to impact the battlefield.
All of this combines to make the Way of the Open Hand the absolute best BG3 monk subclass.
