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# Half-Orc Monk


- [D&D Character Creation](https://www.wasd20.net/dd-character-creation/)
- [D&D 5E: LET’S BUILD A HALF-ORC!](https://www.norsefoundry.com/blogs/news/d-d-5e-let-s-build-a-half-orc)
- [D&D 5e: Half-Orc Monk Guide](https://sagegamers.com/dd-5e-half-orc-monk-guide/)

## Half-Orc

**Half-Orc**: Half-Orcs are the result of human and orc pairings, possessing strength and endurance. They have bonuses to strength and constitution, extra damage on critical hits, and resistance to certain conditions. Half-Orcs do not have subraces.

### Traits and Abilities

Half-Orcs in D&D 5e possess several unique traits and abilities that can greatly impact their abilities, skills, and role in the game world. Here are the key features of a Half-Orc character:

**Ability Score Increase**: Half-Orcs gain a bonus to their Strength score, which makes them naturally strong and suited for physical pursuits. This boost can enhance their combat prowess, melee attacks, and athletic abilities.

**Darkvision**: Half-Orcs have darkvision, allowing them to see in dim light within a range of 60 feet. This ability is particularly useful in dark dungeons, at night, or in other situations with limited visibility.

**Relentless Endurance**: Once per long rest, when a Half-Orc is reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, they can drop to 1 hit point instead. This resilience represents their tenacity and ability to push beyond their physical limits.

**Savage Attacks**: When a Half-Orc scores a critical hit with a melee weapon attack, they can roll one of the weapon's damage dice an additional time. This feature reflects their innate ferocity and ability to inflict devastating blows in combat.

**Intimidating**: Due to their imposing physical presence and fearsome reputation, Half-Orcs have proficiency in the Intimidation skill. This proficiency can help them in social interactions, intimidating opponents, or asserting their dominance.

These traits and abilities make Half-Orcs well-suited for martial classes such as barbarians, fighters, or paladins, where their strength, durability, and ability to deal significant damage can shine. Their darkvision can also be beneficial in exploration and infiltration scenarios, allowing them to navigate in low-light environments without the need for a light source. Half-Orcs' Intimidation proficiency can provide interesting role-playing opportunities, whether as intimidating enforcers, formidable leaders, or individuals who defy stereotypes and showcase their softer side.

It's important to note that while racial traits can shape a character's abilities and skills, it's ultimately up to the player to determine their character's personality, background, and how they interact with the game world. These traits serve as a foundation for character development and can be used to create a unique and engaging Half-Orc character.

## Monk

Monks are highly trained martial artists who rely on their agility, speed, and discipline. They possess extraordinary unarmed combat abilities, such as powerful strikes and enhanced mobility. Monks can harness ki energy to perform special techniques and gain supernatural abilities.

The monk class in D&D 5e is a highly agile and disciplined martial artist. Monks rely on their exceptional speed, precision strikes, and mastery of unarmed combat to excel in battle. Here are the key abilities, skills, spells, and overall playstyle of the monk class:

### Key Abilities

**Martial Arts**: Monks are proficient in unarmed strikes and can use their dexterity or strength modifier for attack and damage rolls. They can make additional attacks as they level up and gain the ability to use certain monk weapons.

**Ki**: Monks harness ki energy to perform extraordinary feats. They have a pool of ki points that they can spend to perform actions such as Flurry of Blows (extra unarmed attacks), Step of the Wind (bonus action to dash or disengage), Patient Defense (dodge as a bonus action), and more.

**Unarmored Defense**: Monks gain the ability to calculate their AC using their Dexterity and Wisdom modifiers, allowing them to fight without armor. This feature enables them to have a high AC while remaining agile and unencumbered.

**Deflect Missiles**: Monks can use their reaction to catch and potentially throw back ranged weapon attacks, reducing the damage taken.

**Evasion**: Monks gain the ability to evade area-of-effect spells and effects, taking half damage on a successful Dexterity saving throw.

### Skills

Monks are proficient in two skills chosen from Acrobatics, Athletics, History, Insight, Religion, and Stealth. Their choice of skills reflects their training and personal background.

### Spells

Monks do not have a traditional spellcasting ability. Instead, they have access to a set of unique abilities fueled by their ki, such as Stunning Strike (stunning opponents), Shadow Step (teleportation between shadows), and Empty Body (becoming ethereal).

### Overall Playstyle

Monks excel at hit-and-run tactics, mobility, and close-quarters combat. They are unmatched in unarmed strikes, but they can also use monk weapons such as shortswords and quarterstaffs. Monks can swiftly move across the battlefield, avoiding attacks and striking with exceptional precision. Their high speed and mobility make them excellent scouts and infiltrators.

Monks' ki points allow them to perform a variety of actions, granting them versatility in combat and non-combat situations. They can choose different monk traditions or paths, known as Monastic Traditions, which offer unique features and playstyles. Examples include the Way of the Open Hand (focusing on disabling foes), Way of the Shadow (mastering stealth and shadow manipulation), and Way of the Four Elements (tapping into elemental powers).

Overall, playing a monk involves embracing the discipline, agility, and mindfulness of a martial artist, using their unique abilities to outmaneuver opponents and deliver powerful strikes.

### What are the unique features, progression, and flavors of the monk class?

The monk class in D&D 5e has several unique features, a distinct progression, and a flavorful playstyle. Here are the key aspects that make the monk class stand out:

**Unarmored Defense**: Monks gain the ability to calculate their AC using their Dexterity and Wisdom modifiers, allowing them to fight without armor. This reflects their exceptional agility, reflexes, and focus.

**Martial Arts**: Monks have a unique unarmed combat style, gaining proficiency in unarmed strikes and using their Dexterity or Strength modifier for attack and damage rolls. They can make additional attacks with their bonus action and gain the ability to use certain monk weapons as well.

**Ki Points**: Monks harness ki energy, represented by a ki point pool. They can spend ki points to perform various actions such as Flurry of Blows (extra unarmed attacks), Step of the Wind (bonus action to dash or disengage), Stunning Strike (attempt to stun opponents), and more. As monks level up, they gain more ki points and access to powerful ki features.

**Monastic Traditions**: At 3rd level, monks choose a Monastic Tradition, which represents their chosen path and focus. Each tradition grants unique features, enhancing different aspects of the monk's abilities and playstyle. The available traditions include Way of the Open Hand, Way of Shadow, Way of the Four Elements, Way of the Long Death, and more. These traditions provide flavor and customization options for monks.

**Evasion, Stillness of Mind, and Purity of Body**: Monks gain several defensive abilities as they progress. Evasion allows them to take half damage on a successful Dexterity saving throw against area-of-effect spells and effects. Stillness of Mind grants the ability to end certain conditions, such as being charmed or frightened. Purity of Body makes them immune to disease and poison.

**Diamond Soul**: At 14th level, monks gain extraordinary mastery over their ki. They gain proficiency in all saving throws and can spend 1 ki point to reroll a failed saving throw.

**Timeless Body and Empty Body**: At higher levels, monks gain abilities that reflect their transcendent nature. Timeless Body slows their aging process, extending their lifespan. Empty Body allows them to become ethereal, gaining resistance to all damage, the ability to move through objects, and rendering themselves unseen.

**Quivering Palm**: At 17th level, monks gain access to the deadly Quivering Palm technique. By spending 3 ki points and succeeding on an unarmed strike, they can touch a creature and potentially cause it to explode with devastating damage if it fails a saving throw.

The progression of a monk involves steadily improving their combat abilities, mobility, and ki-powered techniques. They gain extra attacks, ki points, and access to more powerful monk features as they level up. Monks excel at unarmed combat, agility, and precision strikes, making them versatile skirmishers and masters of martial arts.

The flavor of the monk class is deeply rooted in Eastern-inspired traditions, emphasizing discipline, self-control, and a connection with inner energy. They often follow a strict code of conduct and seek enlightenment or mastery of their body and mind. Monks are often associated with monastic orders, temples, or hidden martial arts schools. Their abilities and playstyle reflect their dedication to physical and spiritual development, offering a unique and flavorful role to players in the game world.

### What is ki energy in D&D 5e?

In D&D 5e, ki energy is a mystical life force that monks tap into to perform extraordinary feats. Ki represents the monk's internal energy, focus, and spiritual power. It is a form of inner strength that allows monks to channel their energy into various physical and mystical abilities.

Ki energy is unique to the monk class and is represented by a pool of ki points. Monks start with a limited number of ki points and gain more as they level up. These points can be spent to activate specific monk features and abilities that enhance their combat prowess, mobility, and versatility.

The specific ways in which ki energy can be used by monks include:

**Flurry of Blows**: Monks can spend ki points to make additional unarmed attacks as a bonus action.

**Step of the Wind**: By spending ki points, monks can use their bonus action to take the Dash or Disengage action, enhancing their mobility and evasiveness.

**Stunning Strike**: Monks can spend ki points to attempt to stun their opponents, potentially rendering them incapacitated.

**Patient Defense**: By spending ki points, monks can use the Dodge action as a bonus action, granting them increased defense and making them harder to hit.

**Deflect Missiles**: Monks can use their reaction and expend ki points to catch and potentially throw back ranged weapon attacks.

These are just a few examples of how ki energy can be utilized by monks. As monks progress and gain more levels, they unlock additional ki features and abilities that further expand their options in combat and other situations.

The concept of ki energy draws inspiration from Eastern martial arts and philosophy, emphasizing the connection between the body, mind, and spirit. It reflects the monk's disciplined training, control over their inner energy, and their ability to channel that energy into extraordinary actions. Ki adds a distinct flavor to the monk class, setting them apart from other martial characters in the game.

### What are monk weapons in D&D 5e?

In D&D 5e, monks are proficient in a specific set of weapons known as monk weapons. These weapons are designed to complement the monk's martial arts abilities and playstyle. Monks are proficient with their unarmed strikes and can also use monk weapons effectively. Here are the types of weapons considered monk weapons:

**Simple Weapons**: Monks are proficient in all simple weapons. This includes weapons like daggers, clubs, quarterstaffs, javelins, slings, and light crossbows. Monks can use these weapons proficiently while benefiting from their martial arts abilities.

**Shortswords**: Monks are proficient with shortswords, which are one-handed weapons that deal slashing damage. Shortswords are lightweight and versatile, allowing monks to strike swiftly and effectively.

**Simple Ranged Weapons**: Monks are proficient with simple ranged weapons, such as darts. Darts are throwable weapons that monks can use as ranged options when necessary.

Monks can choose to use monk weapons or rely solely on their unarmed strikes, which scale with their martial arts abilities. When using monk weapons, they can still apply their unarmed strike damage bonuses and features like Flurry of Blows and Martial Arts.

It's important to note that some monk traditions, such as the Way of the Kensei, expand the list of weapons that can be considered monk weapons. These expanded weapon options provide additional versatility and customization for monks who follow those paths.

Overall, monk weapons in D&D 5e are a specific selection of simple weapons, shortswords, and simple ranged weapons that monks can use proficiently while incorporating their martial arts abilities into their attacks.

### What are the Monastic Traditions of the monk class in D&D 5e?

In D&D 5e, Monastic Traditions represent the different paths or disciplines that monks can follow to specialize in specific techniques, philosophies, and combat styles. Each Monastic Tradition offers unique features and abilities that further define the monk's playstyle and provide customization options. Here are the Monastic Traditions available to monks in D&D 5e:

Way of the Open Hand: Monks who follow the Way of the Open Hand specialize in mastering unarmed combat and applying devastating techniques. They gain access to powerful Open Hand Techniques such as the ability to knock opponents prone, push them away, or stun them with their strikes. At higher levels, they gain the ability to heal themselves and even negate death.

**Way of Shadow**: Monks who choose the Way of Shadow are stealthy infiltrators and masters of deception. They gain the ability to teleport between shadows, become invisible in dim light or darkness, and summon shadows to aid them. They can also cast spells from the Shadow Arts feature, expanding their versatility beyond martial arts.

**Way of the Four Elements**: Monks who follow the Way of the Four Elements harness the elemental forces of nature. They can manipulate fire, water, earth, and air, using their ki to cast elemental spells and perform powerful elemental attacks. By spending ki points, they can unleash devastating elemental abilities, such as creating walls of fire or summoning a torrent of water.

**Way of the Drunken Master**: Monks who embrace the Way of the Drunken Master adopt an unconventional and unpredictable fighting style. They mimic the movements of a drunkard to confuse and confound their opponents, gaining enhanced mobility and the ability to disengage from combat without provoking attacks of opportunity. They can redirect attacks and gain advantage on subsequent strikes.

**Way of the Kensei**: Monks who choose the Way of the Kensei become weapons masters, specializing in a particular weapon or weapons. They gain the ability to make their chosen weapons monk weapons, allowing them to use them with their martial arts abilities. They also gain unique weapon-focused features and can parry and deflect incoming attacks.

**Way of the Long Death**: Monks following the Way of the Long Death embrace the inevitability of death and use it to their advantage. They gain the ability to harness fear and temporary hit points when dealing fatal blows, as well as the power to strike fear into their enemies. At higher levels, they gain the ability to resist death itself.

**Way of the Sun Soul**: Monks who follow the Way of the Sun Soul embody radiant energy and have the ability to unleash bursts of radiant light and energy. They gain access to Sun Bolt attacks, which allow them to project radiant energy at range, and they can eventually explode with radiant fury, damaging enemies around them.

These are the core Monastic Traditions available in the Player's Handbook. Additional options and variations can be found in other official supplements and sourcebooks, allowing for further customization and specialization within the monk class.