Dungeons & Dragons: The Monastic Traditions, Ranked (2024)

The Monastic Traditions in offers plenty of variety for players looking to don a Monk's robes for their next campaign. Regardless of the discipline a Monk follows, each of them is masterfully trained in the practice of controlling the flow of Ki energy in their bodies, directing that energy into their carefully honed physical and magical attacks. Though most Monastic Traditions synergize with the Monk class' core features similarly, they all have notably different approaches to accomplishing such.

Some Monastic Traditions are more traditional in their practices. Some focus on mastery of their unarmed combat or doing battle with weaponry, while others focus on more mystical paths that manipulate shadows, channeling their true selves with Ki, or tapping into the very nature of death itself. While every Monastic Tradition has something about it to enjoy and all could make for a fun character to play, some are more awe-inspiring than others from a mechanical perspective.

Updated on Aug 27, 2024, by Jeremy Devoe: With D&D's 2024 Player Handbook releasing on September 17, 2024, and all of D&D 5e 2014's content being backward-compatible, we wanted to update this article with the most recent information on the Monastic Traditions, so players can readily take them into their upcoming D&D 2014 campaigns.

11 Way of the Four Elements Monks Bend the Elements to Their Whim

Player's Handbook, Pgs. 80-81

D&D 5e 2014's Way of the Four Elements monks draw power from the fundamental forces of the world. This Monastic Tradition for the Monk enables a Monk to act as a quasi-spellcaster, with their Ki maneuvers taking on a more mystical touch with their Elemental Disciplines. Many of these, such as Fist of Four Thunders or Flames of the Phoenix, are straightforward and have the Monk use their Ki points to cast spells like Thunderwave or Fireball, respectively.

On the other hand, there is Water Whip and Unbroken Air, which allow a Monk to manipulate the positioning of their enemies and bludgeon them with the forces of nature. However, the Way of the Four Elements monk is one of D&D 5e 2014's weakest Monastic Traditions. Its abilities are too expensive in Ki for the benefits they give, particularly as they often come at the cost of attacking. Even with Tasha's Cauldron of Everything indirectly buffing the subclass by introducing new features for the core Monk class, it still falls behind the others.

10 Way of the Cobalt Soul Emphasizes the Monk's Scholarly Nature

Tal'Dorei Reborn, Pg. 173

The D&D Way of the Cobalt Soul monk is an unofficial homebrew from Critical Role's Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn that remains widely accepted at many tables. It puts a different spin on the D&D 5e 2014 Monk by emphasizing the class' scholarly nature. The Way of the Cobalt Soul Monastic Tradition focuses on extracting and weaponizing information against foes and improving Intelligence-based skills.

The Way of the Cobalt Soul D&D 5e 2014 subclass has several interesting abilities, including the ability to prevent a creature from speaking lies if they fail a Charisma saving throw with Extort Truth, and the ability to gain a second reaction if one has already been used by expending a singular Ki point. However, Way of the Colbat Soul's features ultimately serve as more of a large suite of buffs to the core Monk class than a unique play-style — at least mechanically speaking — with most of its strength coming in the flavor it provides for a character's role-play opportunities.

9 Way of the Sun Soul Focuses on Ki-Based Ranged Attacks

Xanathar's Guide to Everything, Pg. 35

The Way of the Sun Soul Monk Monastic Tradition in D&D 5e 2014 enables a Monk to fight differently from most others. This subclass focuses on ranged attacks and area-of-effect abilities with radiant damage, with their Ki-fueled abilities calling on the sun's power. With its core feature, Radiant Sun Bolt, the Way of the Sun Soul lets a Monk fire radiant blasts up to 30 ft in place of unarmed strikes or attacks made with the D&D 5e 2014 Monk's Flurry of Blows feature.

While Searing Arc Strike is essentially a limited way to cast the Burning Hands spell, the Searing Sunburst and Sun Shield features lean much more into the radiant damage focus of the subclass. Searing Sunburst is notable in particular in that it is an action that doesn't require Ki points unless the player wishes to up the damage, able to take it from a base of 2d6 radiant damage up to a total of 8d6 by spending 3 Ki points. Able to hold its own at range and up close, the Way of the Sun Soul helps it fulfill a unique niche among D&D 5e 2014 Monk subclasses.

8 Way of the Ascendant Dragon Monks Draw Upon Draconic Wisdom

Fizban's Treasury of Dragons, Pg. 13

The Way of the Ascendant Dragon D&D 5e 2014 Monastic Tradition draws from the wisdom and power of the game's iconic dragon creatures. Believed by some to have been actually formed by Bahamut in the guise of a monk, the tradition empowers a player with elemental attacks and a smattering of social features that many monks lack. These D&D 5e 2014 Monks can use their unarmed strikes to deal damage based on the breath weapons of dragons, like lightning, cold, acid, fire, or poison, able to be changed at will when dealing damage with an unarmed strike.

As if that wasn't enough, Way of the Ascendant Dragon Monks also gain access to a breath weapon all their own, which deals increasing damage based upon their Martial Arts Die, and they can even temporarily fly when using their Step of the Wind feature with Wings Unfurled. However, this Monastic Tradition in D&D 5e 2014 tends to sound more impressive than it is in practice, with even its later powers offering somewhat underwhelming returns for their cost, which keeps Way of the Ascendant Dragon ranked lower than other Monastic Traditions.

7 Way of the Kensei Incorporates the Use of Weapons

Xanathar's Guide to Everything, Pg. 35

Most Monks in all of D&D rely on Unarmed Strikes in combat. The Way of the Kensei is the best Monastic Tradition in for monks who prefer to use weapons. A monk on this path starts out learning to master the art of two weapons of their choice and gains maneuvers to perform with these weapons in combat. As the subclass progresses, the Monk studies and masters an additional weapon of choice each time they gain a new feature.

Unerring Accuracy makes a Way of the Kensei Monk a dangerous force in combat, as it allows them to re-roll an attack roll with a weapon once per turn when they miss such an attack roll, allowing them more opportunities to use their Deft Strike feature or land hits with Sharpen the Blade active. However, a lot of the particular wording in many of its features makes the Way of the Kensei a bit of an unwieldy Monastic Tradition choice in D&D 5e 2014, though this is somewhat mitigated by the optional features added to the Monk class in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything.

6 The Way of the Drunken Master Is Designed to Confuse Opponents

Xanathar's Guide to Everything, Pg. 34

The Way of the Drunken Master emphasizes using deceptive and fluid movement to mislead enemies and lash out at large groups of them at once. Reminiscent of characters from classic kung fu movies, these Monks tend to obfuscate their mastery of martial arts under the guise of being a bumbling drunkard. A D&D 5e 2014 Way of the Drunken Master Monk gains a superior Flurry of Blows that increases their movement by 10 ft and grants them the effects of the Disengage action, letting them freely maneuver around multiple foes in combat.

By level 6, they can exit the prone condition with far less movement expended to do so and redirect missed enemy attacks to nearby foes for a single Ki point. Drunkard's Luck even lets a Way of the Drunken Master Monk cancel disadvantage on an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw for 2 Ki points, while Intoxicated Frenzy greatly extends the number of Flurry of Blows attacks so long as each strike hits a different target. This Monastic Tradition is ideal for Monks who want to strike more often and weave throughout the battlefield.

5 Stealth and Subterfuge Guide Monks Using the Way of Shadow

Player's Handbook, Pg. 81

The Way of Shadow Monastic Tradition is D&D 5e 2014's most direct way of representing the role of a ninja for their Monk players. They rely on darkness, stealth, and mobility to keep up with the more direct combat options of other D&D 5e 2014 Monk subclasses. Starting with Shadow Arts, Way of Shadow Monks can replicate invaluable stealth spells like Darkness, Darkvision, Silence, or Pass Without Trace for 2 Ki points per casting, also granting them access to the Minor Illusion Cantrip.

As this D&D 5e Monastic Tradition advances in level, it unlocks the ability to teleport between areas of dim and darker lighting, while also allowing a Monk to use those same conditions to become invisible so long as they remain within them — at least until they make an attack or cast a spell. The Way of Shadows Monastic Tradition is one of the best choices for D&D monks who want to focus more on utility and mobility than direct combat power. However, many of the best Monastic Traditions do include features that enhance the combat capability of the Monk class.

4 Way of the Open Hand Exemplifies the Monk Class

Player's Handbook, Pg. 80

The Way of the Open Hand Monastic Tradition is one of the most straightforward and effective subclass options available to the Monk class, starting with the Open Hand Technique feature improving the Monk's Flurry of Blows features by giving them detrimental effects to inflict on successful Flurry of Blows attacks. The Wholeness of Body and Tranquility feats are similarly straightforward, with the former providing once per-long-rest healing equal to three times the Monk's level, and the latter automatically providing the Monk with the effects of the Sanctuary spell at the end of a long rest.

Way of the Open Hand Monks also get access to one of D&D 5e 2014's rare one-hit kills in the form of Quivering Palm, which drops a target's hit points to 0 if they fail a constitution saving throw, but still deals 10d10 necrotic damage if they succeed. It only costs 3 Ki points to enable this feature's potent effects, which is much more valuable than many high Ki-point expenditure features in other Monastic Traditions. Way of the Open Hand greatly enhances the standard Monk class and is more effective than the simplicity of its features let on.

3 Way of the Astral Self Monks Channel Their Astral Bodies

Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, Pg. 51

The Way of the Astral Self Monastic Tradition is one of D&D 5e 2014's most distinctive Monk subclasses. Monks who practice it believe that their physical bodies are little more than an illusion, and the Ki inside them represents their true nature and form. They believe their Ki manifests mechanically as a Monk, which focuses much more on their Wisdom score to enhance their capability in and out of combat. Early on, they gain the ability to summon spectral arms to use for their unarmed strikes, extending their range to 10 ft and allowing the player to use their Wisdom modifier for the attack and damage rolls.

As they advance and further hone the connection with their Ki, Way of the Astral Self Monks learn how to summon larger portions of their astral body that can aid them like protective armor and confer other utility benefits, even granting an extra attack with their astral arms through Awakened Astral Self. The Way of the Astral Self is the best Monastic Tradition in D&D 5e 2014 for Monks who want to reduce some of the strain of being MAD (Multi Ability Score Dependent) and still be viable.

2 The Way of the Long Death Monk Can Take Out Multiple Enemies

Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide, Pg. 131

The Way of the Long Death Monastic Tradition in D&D 5e 2014 focuses primarily on outlasting enemies rather than killing them quickly. It's the most tank-oriented D&D 5e 2014 Monk subclass, with additional abilities centered around gaining benefits from invoking the presence of death and straddling the line between life and death. Starting with Touch of Death, whenever a D&D 5e 2014 Way of Long Death Monk reduces a creature to 0 hit points, they gain temporary hit points equal to their Wisdom modifier plus their Monk level.

Mastery of Death lets a Way of the Long Death Monk spend a single point Ki to avoid being knocked unconscious from level 11 onward, and Touch of the Long Death provides the potential for massive necrotic damage (2d10 Necrotic per Ki point spent, up to 10 Ki points) when the target fails Constitution saving throw. Though a D&D 5e 2014 Way of the Long Death Monk doesn't get that damage until level 17, it otherwise remains one of the best Monastic Traditions, especially for surviving the thick of combat; only outdone overall by one other subclass available to the Monk.

1 The Way of Mercy Monastic Tradition Manipulates the Forces of Life

Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, Pg. 71

Much like the Cleric class, and other support-focused subclasses, Monks with the Way of Mercy Monastic Tradition manipulate the energy of life itself to both heal and harm. Starting at level 3 with Hand of Healing, a Monk can use their action to spend 1 Ki point and restore hit points to a creature equal to their Martial Arts die plus their Wisdom modifier. Additionally, if the Monk replaces a Flurry of Blows attack with the Hands of Healing feature, it costs no Ki points, which makes access to their fairly powerful healing incredibly frequent.

However, the Way of Mercy Monastic Tradition in D&D 5e 2014 goes just beyond the ability to heal others, despite the ability to resurrect allies later on with Hand of Ultimate Mercy. It can deal a straight damage bonus on attacks by spending Ki with Hand of Harm. Furthermore, outside its ability to end many negative conditions, Physician's Touch can temporarily inflict the Poisoned condition with no saving throw. Many fans consider the Way of Mercy the best Monastic Tradition in D&D 5e 2014 due to its powerful support and combat abilities.

Dungeons and Dragons

A fantasy roleplaying tabletop game designed for adventure-seekers, the original incarnation of Dungeons & Dragons was created by Gary Gygax in 1974.

Franchise

Dungeons & Dragons

Original Release Date

January 26, 1974

Publisher

Wizards of the Coast , TSR Inc.

Designer

E. Gary Gygax , Dave Arneson

Player Count

4-8 Players Recommended

Age Recommendation

12+

Length per Game

3 hours +

Expansions

Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition , Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition , Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition , Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition