Monk is a psionic striker class in 4th edition Dungeons & Dragons.[PH3:63]
The Monk class specialises in unarmed combat with the assistance of Ki Focuses. Some Monk powers have two options to choose from: attack style and move style. Each one requires a standard action or a move action respectively and can help the monk in various situations.
Class traits
A 1st-level monk begins with hit points equal to 12 plus the monk's Constitution score, healing surges per day equal to 7 plus the monk's Constitution modifier, and a +1 bonus to Fortitude, Reflex and Will defenses. A monk gains 5 hit points per level.
Class proficiencies
A 1st-level monk begins with cloth armor proficiency, club, dagger, monk unarmed strike, quarterstaff, shuriken, sling, and spear weapon proficiencies, and implement proficiency with ki focuses and weapons with which the monk is proficient.
Class skills
A 1st-level monk begins trained in four of the following skills.
- Acrobatics (Dex)
- Athletics (Str)
- Diplomacy (Cha)
- Endurance (Con)
- Heal (Wis)
- Insight (Wis)
- Perception (Wis)
- Religion (Int)
- Stealth (Dex)
- Thievery (Dex)
Class features
A monk gains the Monastic Tradition, Unarmed Combatant, and Unarmored Defense class features at 1st level.
Monastic Tradition
A monk with the Monastic Tradition class feature chooses one of the following options. Each option grants a "flurry of blows" at-will power and an additional benefit.
| Monastic Tradition | At-will power | Additional benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Centered Breath[PH3:63] | centered flurry of blows | Mental Equilibrium: The monk gains a +1 per tier bonus to Fortitude. |
| Desert Wind[HotEC:69] | desert wind flurry of blows | Mental Crucible: The monk gains resist 5 fire per tier. If the monk already has fire resistance equal to or greater than 5 per tier, that resistance is increased by 2. |
| Eternal Tide[HotEC:70] | eternal tide flurry of blows | Mental Balance: When the monk is affected by an enemy's pull, push, or slide, the monk reduces that forced movement by up to 1 square, and can shift 1 square as a free action after the forced movement. |
| Iron Soul[PsP:60] | iron soul flurry of blows | Mental Arsenal: The monk gains a +1 shield bonus to AC while wielding a weapon not in the unarmed weapon group. |
| Stone Fist[PH3:63] | stone fist flurry of blows | Mental Bastion: The monk gains a +1 per tier bonus to Will. |
Unarmed Combatant
A monk with the Unarmed Combatant class feature can use monk unarmed strike as a weapon for weapon keyword powers while having one hand free. The monk unarmed strike can't be enchanted as a magic weapon, but does benefit from a ki focus's bonus to weapon attack rolls and weapon damage rolls.[PH3:63]
Unarmored Defense
A monk with the Unarmored Defense class feature gains a +2 bonus to AC while not using a shield and wearing cloth armor or no armor.[PH3:63]
Monk powers
Monk powers, having a psionic power source, are also called disciplines.
| At-will attack disciplines | ||
|---|---|---|
|
1st level
| ||
| Encounter attack disciplines | Daily attack disciplines | Utility disciplines |
|
1st level |
1st level |
2nd level |