The 2024 Monk is particularly proficient in unarmed combat, and they can use their impeccable discipline to land blow after devastating blow on an enemy. While the Monk was unbalanced and unpopular in the 2014 rules, the 2024 version is a much more appealing martial option. This guide offers a complete explanation of the Monk rules found in the 2024 Player's Handbook.
If you want to build a Monk from scratch, STOP reading here. Our DnD Monk 5e guide has all the information you need - this is simply a changelog of changes between the two versions of fifth edition. We can also help you compare with the other DnD classes, too.
Level one
- Core Monk Traits - Monks are now proficient in light martial weapons
- Core Monk Traits - Multiclassing as a Monk no longer gives you any proficiencies
- Martial Arts - Your Martial Arts die is a D6 rather than a D4, and it scales better, with its maximum size now being a D12 rather than a D10.
- Martial Arts - You can always make an unarmed strike as a bonus action, rather than only after taking the attack action with specified weapons.
- Martial Arts - You can now use Dexterity to set the DC for grapples and shoves.
Level two
- Monk's Focus - Renamed from Ki.
- Monk's Focus - Flurry of Blows now lets you make two unarmed strikes as a bonus action at any time, with no restriction on what action you take first.
- Monk's Focus - Patient Defense has been completely overhauled. It now lets you Disengage as a bonus action for free or spend a Focus Point to both Disengage and Dodge as a bonus action.
- Monk's Focus - Step of the Wind has been redesigned, now allowing you to Dash as a bonus action for free or spend one Focus Point to Dash and Disengage as a bonus action.
- Uncanny Metabolism - Completely new feature.
Level three
- Deflect Attacks - An entirely new feature that replaces Deflect Missiles.
- Monk subclass (Warrior of Shadow) - Shadow Arts has been completely redesigned.
- Monk subclass (Warrior of Elements) - The subclass has been remade from the ground up.
- Monk subclass (Warrior of the Open Hand) - Open Hand Technique's 'Addle' option now prevents opportunity attacks rather than reactions.
Level five
- Stunning Strike - Now halves a target's speed and gives you advantage against them.
Level six
- Empowered Strikes - Rather than unarmed strikes counting as magical attacks, you can now choose to have them deal force damage.
- Monk subclass (Warrior of the Open Hand) - Wholeness of Body now uses a Martial Arts die rather than your Monk level to determine HP regained.
Level seven
- Evasion - No longer works if you're incapacitated.
Level 10
- Heightened Focus - An entirely new feature.
- Self-Restoration - An entirely new feature.
Level 11
- Monk subclass (Warrior of Mercy) - Flurry of Healing and Harm now has limited uses per day.
- Monk subclass (Warrior of Shadow) - Now has the brand-new Improved Shadow Step feature.
- Monk subclass (Warrior of the Open Hand) - Fleet Step is a new feature that replaces Tranquility.
Level 13
- Deflect Energy - An entirely new feature.
Level 15
- Perfect Focus - An entirely new feature.
Level 17
- Monk subclass (Warrior of Shadow) - Cloak of Shadows has now replaced Opportunist as the subclass capstone.
- Monk subclass (Warrior of the Open Hand) - The Focus Point cost of Quivering Palm has increased, and it now deals force damage. It also no longer drops an affected creature to zero HP instantly.
Level 18
- Superior Defense - An entirely new feature.
Level 19
- Epic Boon - An entirely new feature.
Level 20
- Body and Mind - An entirely new feature.
For more on Dungeons and Dragons' character options, here's all you need to know about DnD races and DnD 2024 backgrounds. We can also remind you how the DnD level up rules work.