Pure Way of the Open Hand Build | Baldur's Gate 3 Monk Guide | Level 1-12 & Combat Tutorial

Summary

This video script offers a detailed tutorial on building an Open Hand monk character from level 1 to 12 in Dungeons & Dragons. It covers combat strategies, key abilities like Stunning Strike and Fury of Blows, and optimal stat allocation. The guide also suggests useful items like the Mask of Soul Perception and Braces of Defense, emphasizing the monk's versatility in combat. The script concludes with a live fight demonstration, showcasing the monk's prowess with multiple attacks and abilities, especially when combined with Haste.

Takeaways

• 🥋 The script is a tutorial for creating an Open Hand monk character from level 1 to 12, focusing on combat abilities and item choices.
• 💪 At level 1, monks gain Fury of Blows, allowing two attacks as a bonus action, which uses a key point.
• 📊 The character's ability scores are highlighted, with strength at 10, dexterity at 16, and constitution at 15, among others.
• 🔑 Key points are essential for using special abilities like stunning strike and are a core mechanic of the Open Hand monk.
• 🏃‍♂️ Monks gain various movement and defensive abilities as they level up, such as patient defense and increased movement speed.
• 👊 The Open Hand specialization at level 3 grants abilities like topple, stagger, and push, enhancing combat effectiveness.
• 👣 The Tavn Brawler feat at level 4 adds strength to attack rolls and damage, doubling the effectiveness of unarmed strikes.
• 💥 At level 9, monks can resonate keys within enemies, allowing them to detonate these keys as a bonus action for massive damage.
• 🚶‍♂️ Monks' movement speed and abilities improve significantly with each level, culminating in features like evasion and stillness of mind.
• 🛡️ The script suggests various magical items to enhance the monk's capabilities, such as the Mask of Soul Perception and the Ring of Regeneration.
• 🤺 The gloves of soul catching are particularly highlighted for their ability to deal extra damage and restore health or provide advantage on rolls.
• 🌟 The tutorial concludes with a combat demonstration showcasing the monk's abilities, including the use of haste to maximize attack frequency.

Q & A

What is the class being discussed in the video script?

The class being discussed is the Open Hand Monk.

What is a key point in the context of the Open Hand Monk?

A key point is a special ability that allows the Monk to perform actions like stunning strike or Fury of blows.

What is the significance of the Fury of Blows ability at level one for the Open Hand Monk?

Fury of Blows allows the Monk to make two attacks as a bonus action, which uses a key point.

What ability points does the script suggest for the Open Hand Monk at the start?

The suggested ability points are 10 in strength, 16 in dexterity, 15 in constitution, 8 in intelligence, 15 in charisma, and either 8 or 10 in wisdom.

What is the benefit of the Patient Defense ability for the Open Hand Monk?

Patient Defense gives the Monk advantage on dexterity saving throws and makes attacks against them have disadvantage, helping them defend better in battle.

What is the Open Hand specialization and what does it offer?

The Open Hand specialization offers abilities like topple, stagger, and push, which are used to control enemies and deal additional effects.

What is the Tavn Brawler feat and how does it benefit the Monk?

Tavn Brawler is a feat that adds the Monk's strength modifier twice to damage and attack rolls, significantly increasing their unarmed combat effectiveness.

What is the significance of the Key Resonating Punch ability at monk level 9?

Key Resonating Punch allows the Monk to make a key in an enemy's body resonate with them, potentially detonating the key and turning the enemy into a 'human bomb'.

What is the effect of the Tranquility ability at monk level 11?

Tranquility grants the Monk sanctuary, preventing them from being targeted by enemy attacks or spells unless they harm another creature.

What items are suggested in the script for enhancing the Monk's abilities?

Items suggested include the Mask of Soul Perception, Flesh Melter Cloak, Disrupting Night Walkers, Braces of Defense, Gloves of Unarmed Strike, Ring of Regeneration, Sentient Amulet, and the Shelter of Aathal.

How does the script describe the Monk's combat effectiveness with the right items and abilities?

The script describes the Monk as being extremely powerful in combat, capable of dealing massive damage with multiple attacks per round, stunning enemies, and using abilities like haste to further increase their attack frequency.

Outlines

00:00

🥋 Open Hand Monk Combat Tutorial and Level Progression

This paragraph introduces a detailed combat tutorial for an Open Hand monk character from level 1 to 12. It discusses the importance of key points for special abilities like stunning strike and Fury of blows. The summary includes the progression of abilities, such as disengage, Dash, patient defense, increased movement speed, and the use of key points for various combat maneuvers. It also covers the monk's stat allocation, including strength, dexterity, constitution, intelligence, charisma, and wisdom, and proficiency choices.

05:00

🛡️ Optimal Gear and Abilities for a Monk in Combat

The second paragraph delves into the selection of items and abilities that enhance a monk's combat effectiveness. It highlights the benefits of specific items like the mask of Soul perception, flesh melter cloak, disintegrating night Walkers, and gloves of soul catching. The summary explains how these items synergize with the monk's abilities, such as increased damage output, healing, and additional force damage. It also discusses the monk's level progression and the strategic use of key points for various combat advantages.

10:01

💥 Demonstrating Monk's Combat Prowess in Action

In this paragraph, the script transitions to an actual combat scenario to illustrate the monk's abilities in practice. It shows the use of mirror image for added defense, the significant damage output with key points like topple and push, and the monk's agility in combat. The summary emphasizes the monk's potential for high damage rounds, especially when combined with haste, and the strategic use of items and abilities to maximize combat efficiency. It also mentions the potential for even greater damage with Tavern Brawler feet and strength-boosting elixirs.

Keywords

💡Open Hand monk

The 'Open Hand monk' refers to a specific subclass within the Monk class in Dungeons & Dragons, known for its focus on unarmed combat and the use of 'key points' to enhance abilities. In the video, the presenter discusses a level 1 to 12 combat tutorial for this subclass, highlighting its progression and abilities such as stunning strikes and Fury of blows.

💡Key points

In the context of the video, 'key points' are a resource used by the Open Hand monk to activate special abilities, like stunning strikes or Fury of blows. They are a central mechanic of the subclass, allowing for enhanced combat options and are integral to the gameplay strategy discussed in the tutorial.

💡Fury of blows

'Fury of blows' is a combat ability available to the Open Hand monk at level 1, which grants the character two attacks as a bonus action, utilizing a key point. This ability exemplifies the monk's focus on swift and powerful unarmed strikes, as demonstrated in the script where it is used to deal significant damage.

💡Ability points

The term 'ability points' refers to the numerical attributes assigned to a character's abilities such as strength, dexterity, and constitution. In the video, the presenter outlines a suggested distribution of ability points for an optimal Open Hand monk build, emphasizing the importance of a high dexterity for combat effectiveness.

💡Stunning strike

'Stunning strike' is a combat maneuver that can incapacitate an enemy, causing them to lose their turn. The presenter mentions this as a beneficial ability for the Open Hand monk, which can be activated using key points, and it is used in the script to illustrate the monk's potential to control combat by disabling opponents.

💡Tav brawler

The 'Tav brawler' is a feat that the presenter suggests for the monk build, which adds the character's strength modifier twice to damage and attack rolls. This is crucial for enhancing the monk's unarmed attacks, as seen in the script where the presenter discusses the potential for high damage output with this feat.

💡Deflect missiles

'Deflect missiles' is an ability that the Open Hand monk gains at level 3, allowing them to redirect projectiles back at enemies. This showcases the monk's agility and defensive prowess, as mentioned in the script, and adds a layer of tactical depth to combat encounters.

💡Evasion

The 'evasion' ability, gained at monk level 7, allows the character to avoid full damage from area-of-effect spells and other damaging effects by making a successful dexterity saving throw. This ability is highlighted in the script as a significant boost to the monk's survivability in battles.

💡Key resonating punch

'Key resonating punch' is an ability that the presenter discusses at monk level 9, which allows the monk to make a key in an enemy's body resonate and potentially explode. This ability is a unique feature of the Open Hand monk, demonstrating the subclass's versatility and combat utility.

💡Tranquility

'Tranquility' is a level 11 ability that grants the monk sanctuary, preventing enemies from targeting them with attacks or spells. The presenter explains this as a powerful defensive tool in the monk's arsenal, as it can be used strategically to avoid damage and reposition during combat.

💡Haste

The 'haste' spell, not a direct ability of the monk but mentioned in the script, greatly benefits the Open Hand monk by doubling their action speed, allowing for more attacks in a round. The presenter demonstrates the effectiveness of this spell in conjunction with the monk's abilities, showcasing the potential for a high damage output in a single round.

Highlights

The Open Hand monk class focuses on using key points for special abilities like stunning strike or Fury of blows.

At level one, monks gain Fury of blows for two attacks as a bonus action, utilizing key points.

Ability score distribution for the build includes 10 in strength, 16 in dexterity, 15 in constitution, and varying points in intelligence, charisma, and wisdom.

Monk level two introduces features like disengage, Dash, and patient defense as bonus actions with key points.

Advantage on dexterity saving throws is gained at level two, enhancing battle survivability.

Monk level three introduces Open Hand specialization with effects like topple, stagger, and push.

Tavern Brawler feat at level four adds strength modifier twice to damage and attack roles, benefiting from strength-boosting items.

Level five brings an extra attack, allowing for up to four attacks per round with key point abilities.

Monk level six offers abilities like Hess of body for self-healing and key point restoration.

Evasion at level seven reduces spell or effect damage and provides Stillness of mind against charm and fear.

Advanced unarmored movement and key resonating punch are introduced at monk level nine.

Monk level ten grants immunity to poison damage and increased key points.

Tranquility at level eleven provides sanctuary, protecting the monk from being targeted by enemy attacks or spells.

Level twelve brings additional feats and key points, with the option to increase strength or wisdom.

Items like the mask of Soul perception, flesh melter cloak, and disintegrating night walkers enhance combat capabilities.

Gloves of soul catching provide additional force damage and constitution increase, with health regeneration on hit.

The Ring of regeneration and sentient amulet offer key point restoration and health benefits.

Graceful cloth and the shelter of Aathal are clothing items that boost dexterity and provide mirror image, respectively.

In-combat demonstration shows the monk's high damage output and utility with key point abilities and items.

Haste spell synergizes with the monk's multiple attacks, showcasing potential for massive damage in a single round.

Tavern Brawler feat's full potential is shown with strength buffs, significantly increasing damage output.

Transcripts

can be an insane class to use in borders

Gate 3 if you know what you're doing so

this is my way of the Open Hand monk

level 1 to 12 Combat tutorial as well as

items so let's crck this out now the

monk is really good and it focuses on

using key points now these key points

allow you to use special things things

like stunning strike or Fury of blows

and whatnot and as you can see with

level one we do get Fury of blows which

means we get two attacks as a bonus

action really good and this will use a

key point so bear that in mind but of

course when it comes to our ability

points we are going to have something

that looks like this 10 in strength 16

in deex 15 Constitution eight

intelligence this could be Charisma 15

wisdom and then either eight or 10 like

I

said and then SK proficiencies take

whatever you want okay monk level two

and look at all the extra features that

we now have as a bonus action with a key

point we can disengage we can Dash and

we can do patient defense which means

attacks against us have disadvantage we

also have advantage on uh dexterity

saving throws so this is really good if

you are in the thick of a battle instead

of trying to and you don't think you

could take out an enemy with two hits

patient defense so you can defend

yourself better and then work them on in

the next

round and your movement speed increased

by three while you're not wearing armor

or using a shield monk level three now

we have more things such as deflect

missiles Harmony of fire and water based

on your specialization now for us we are

going to take open hand which gives us

topple stagger and push so this is like

a punching Thunder Wave this makes the

enemy stagger and this will topple them

to knock them prone both do two attacks

so even if you fail to knock them prone

for example you still get the damage

from two attacks which brings us to monk

level four now for our feet the only

choice here is tavn brawler now this is

really good because it adds your

strength modifier twice to damage and

attack roles which you might be thinking

is currently zero however for this build

to work optimally you need to use things

such as the H drant Elixir stuff like

that this will boost your strength to

like 23 or even in some cases if you get

the giant ones will drop you to 27 which

is like a plus six or a plus 8 I believe

off the top of my head trying to do

quick math while filming not really

working and because of this we can bump

our constitution up to 16 and here we

are level five we have an extra attack

now so this means if you do this and you

have

uh your bonus action for your um top hes

and that sort stuff you can do four

attacks per round or stunning strike and

these are really good cuz if you can

stun an enemy they lose their whole

turn okay we're now monk level six and

look at all these bonus features so we

can do Hess of body and heal ourselves

up as well as well as regain our key

points we can Infuse our strikes with

radiant damage with psychic damage with

necrotic damage and this uses key points

we also get better movement while not

wearing armor or a shield and as you'll

notice while we're doing this monks are

so easy to level up now monk level seven

we have evasion so when a spell or

effect would deal half damage on a

successful dexterity saving throw it

deals no damage if we succeed and only

half damage if you fail as well as

Stillness of mind which means we'll

automatically cast this if we become

Charmed or frightened stopping us from

being Charmed or frightened okay monk

level eight now we have more Asis and we

are going to take that for this one and

bump our decks up to 18 now monk level 9

Advanced unarmored movement but more

importantly we get these extra abilities

key resonating punch hit a creature with

your bare fist making the key in its

body resonate with you you can make the

key explode with the blast which is down

here detonate the key of a creature

resonating with you so this will it's

basically turning the enemy into a human

bomb really really good and as a bonus

action we can also do this monk level 10

we get more key points we get more

movement speed and purity of body which

means we're now immune to poison damage

which is

amazing monk level 11 again more key

points but we get Tranquility so long

rest surrend you an order of Peace

granting you sanctuary and Sanctuary is

is amazing basically we cannot be

targeted by enemy attacks or spells we

can take damage from spells that will do

a large area like Cloud kill that sort

of things but this will only end if we

hurt another creature which means when

we start combat if our turn isn't first

or if we want to get into the right

position we cannot be

targeted okay monk level 12 we have a

new feat again and more key points and

for the feet you could bump your decks

up to 20 or you could bump your wisdom

up it kind of depends theoretically what

you should have done here instead of the

10 8 10 is have8 or sorry 2 eights and

11 10 and then bump your wisdom up to 16

but it's not too bad for this I will

bump my decks up to

20 okay so that was our level 1 to 12

build all done now when it comes to

items there are a few options here for

helmet you could have the mask of Soul

perception this give you plus two bonus

to attack rolls initiatives and

perception checks as well as detect

thoughts which in my opinion detect

thoughts does seem like a very Monkish

ability however it does look like that

so bear that in mind um for a cloak I

really like the flesh melter cloak get

one to four acid damage on anyone that

hits you with a melee weapon I think

that's a really good ability for Boots

the dising rating night Walkers I think

are phenomenal just for the ability to

have Misty step now when it comes to

gloves in the early stages of the game

you ideally would like to take the

braces of the fence this will give you a

plus two bonus to armor glass while

you're not wearing armor or holding a

shield which we will not be I would wear

this uh up until you get these the

gloves are soul catching unarm strikes

deal an additional 1 to 10 Force damage

now that alone is amazing but this also

bumps your Constitution up by two which

now means we have 18 Constitution and we

get Soul catching so once per turn on an

unarmed hit we regain 10 hit points or

we can forgo the healing and have

advantage on attack rolls and Save

throws until the end of our next turn

these gloves are just insanely good I

cannot stress this enough these are the

best monk gloves you can

wear for a ring I really like the Ring

of regeneration just to get that extra

Health points every time as well as the

sentient amulet this gives us key

restoration and that in itself is

amazing we also have access to shatter

which is another really good

ability if you really wanted to you

could s that for the Amulet of Greater

strength to get your con up to 23 but

honestly I think the key point

restoration is better now when it comes

to gear there are a few options you

could wear the graceful cloth and this

is one of my favorite Monk and just

clothing items in general bump your

dexterity score up by two to a maximum

20 now this is really good so for

example at the end there we instead of

bumping our decks up to 20 we could have

gone with uh a plus two to wisdom and

won this and then we'd have 20 decks 18

con and 18 wisdom me personally I really

like the shelter of aathal however you

say it just because it gives you a

mirror image and I think to bump your AC

up mirror image is amazing especially in

a tough fight you could also for example

wear the robe of the weave if you wanted

to it gives you a plus two to Armor

class so you'd get 19 overall but I'm

not as sold on that personally and in

the early stages of the game I do think

the ice bite ropes are really good just

for the simple fact you get a cast of

armor of agathys and since you're going

to be in melee this can be really good

for me personally I am going to use the

shelter of this though so that was my

guide along with items let's go pick a

fight and we'll show you how this works

okay as you can see we're in the fight

and our Monk Is jointed with our Rogan

initiative so let's get this going and

for me personally I would start with

mirror

image now de you want to save this for a

really tough fight this isn't going to

be a tough fight per se but I do just

want to show off this off now that has

you lot action but the joy is we have

our bonus actions we can do here so

let's close the distance

come over here and let's do one of our

key points and we'll do

topple and there you go you'll see how

much damage we did in two hits an insane

amount that 10 extra Force damage from

using the gloves is

amazing now as you see Mirror Image just

came in there they made have Miss the

arrow

shot okay so our monk is going to start

picking off some enemies now the camera

is a little janky in this fight for some

reason

but there you go we did 15 damage with

one normal hit and because the insane

movement the monk has we can come up

here and we can start beating enemies up

here and thanks to our key points we

still have all of these abilities we

could do so let's start with now

unfortunately I was going to try and

push the enemy off but it won't let us

because the clothing uh whatever you

want to call the fabric is in the way

for for example you could do this and

potentially we could have pushed him off

the edge and then he would take full

damage as

well but you saw just how much damage we

did to the enemy there the monk is so

powerful especially with these gloves

equipped okay let's try and show off the

push again just see if we can do it this

time and there you go so not only did we

hit them we then push them off and it

was to push them off that actually just

did enough damage to kill them and

thanks to the monks insane movement once

again again we can start closing the

distance a

bit and because that used our bonus

action we do still have our main actions

available now can we get close

enough we can excellent and because

we're in here we now can show off the

stunning strike so if we were to do

this he's saved but we get two attacks

so we can try

again and once again he's saved which is

unfortunate easy but we can finish them

off on our next turn

now what pairs really nicely with a monk

is haste so I have used gaale to put

haste on our Monk and you're going to

see just how many attacks we can do

strike you down so there's our

first there is our

second oh there you go you so catching

Boon there is our

third there is our fourth and we still

have our bonus action which means we

could do another

two just like that so with haste you can

do six attacks in one round which is

insane that is enough to take out most

enemies if not two enemies sometimes if

you get lucky with your

crits and as you can see we still have

the moment we can start chasing this one

down too these days now you have to

remember this is all without using our

Tav brawler feet to its main

capabilities if we were to come in here

and drink a alexir here you're about to

see just how much damage we can do try

me

there you go 19 with one hit so we

really can capitalize on doing that and

I just showed you how you did most of

the fight without even having the

strength buff we would get from Tav

brawler if we would have had Tavern

brawler from the start we would have

been outp so much more damage in fact

let's see if I can show you on one of my

characters so let's take Shadow heart

for example and let's do a push or you

know let's take Gail cuz Gail's here

ow or not cuz that went very wrong accid

then let's do topple on Shadow

hop and there you go you'll see with the

Tav brawler stacked we do even more

damage enough to take out a bunch of

enemies and it's an amazing form of

having a fighter without having to have

a extra like Barbarian or something on

the battlefield you can have a more Dex

based uh person who can do your

stealthing your lock picking and be an

upfront

dpser so if you have enjoyed please drop

this a like helps me amazingly let me

know in comments below what you change

what the items where you put your stats

and all that sort of stuff if you're new

and you haven't subscribe but youd like

to that would also be amazing and

hopefully I'll see you guys in the next

one bye guys

[Music]

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