One Underrated But Overpowered Baldur's Gate 3 Class Is Perfect For Your Next Playthrough (2024)

One of the least popular classes in Baldur's Gate 3 is also secretly its most powerful. Choosing a class for a repeat run can be difficult. Most players will want to ensure they have a different experience the second time around, and so naturally gravitate towards a class that specializes in different kinds of skills. But at the same time, they may want to choose a build that has good synergy with their favorite Baldur's Gate 3 party members, one that's easy to get acclimated to, or one that they know can use good equipment in the early game.

But one excellent, overlooked class flies in the face of all that. It makes for an excellent lone wolf, it has relatively complicated mechanics, and good equipment for it is few and far between. But it's an excellent choice for a seasoned player, simultaneously challenging them to learn a new playstyle while also melting enemies with an unprecedented damage output. And it'll be infinitely more interesting than yet another bard playthrough of BG3.

Monks Are Secretly BG3's Most Powerful Class

The Right BG3 Monk Build Is OP

Although many players seem to be averse to them, monks are some of the most powerful warriors in Baldur's Gate 3. Melee fighters by nature, monks use a pool of energy points, called Ki, to strengthen their strikes and improve their maneuverability. They usually prioritize speed over strength, but that's not true of every build, especially multiclassed monks, or those who take on certain feats.

But according to an early post-release Community Update, posted on BG3's Steam Community page August 11, 2023, monks are the third least-played class in Baldur's Gate 3, trailed only by druids and clerics. It's not clear exactly why: perhaps people are put off by the fact that monks don't usually use weapons, or that they attack with Dexterity instead of Strength. Maybe they're thinking more of peaceful, religious monks than they are the trained fighters of wuxia myth. But monks are just as powerful as their fellow melee classes, and even more so when equipped with the right features and gear.

Why Monks Are So Powerful In BG3

Monks & The Tavern Brawler Feat

There are many reasons why monks are overpowered: those that are carried over from Dungeons & Dragons 5e, and those that are exclusive to Baldur's Gate 3. First, consider the reasons why monks are so powerful in DnD. Monks are impossibly fast and strong. By level five, they're able to attack up to four times in a single turn, and their unarmed strikes deal at least 1d6 damage each. Depending on their subclass, they likely have a variety of options for parrying or dodging attacks. They gain natural defense when they're not wearing armor. Whether they're surrounded by a large enemy group, or facing off against a single powerful enemy, monks can hold their own with regard to both offense and defense.

Now, on to Baldur's Gate 3. One of its feats, Tavern Brawler, is positively broken, and meshes well with the monk's playstyle to the point of necessity. Tavern Brawler does two things: it allows the player to add one point to either their Strength or their Constitution, and adds an extra stack of their Strength modifier to any unarmed strike, throw, or improvised weapon attack they make. For a monk, this means adding both Strength and Dexterity to their already powered-up punches.

But here's the kicker: Tavern Brawler ignores buffs like Toughness, meaning that characters with this feat can slowly chip away at any locked door, chest, or load-bearing pillar regardless of any defensive bonuses it might have. This opens up infinite opportunities for breaking and entering. The Strength bonus can be further increased with the abundantly common Strength potions scattered throughout all three acts. This may be a simple glitch, but it doesn't seem to have changed through multiple hotfixes, so for the time being, it's still a valid strategy.

In addition, there are also a lot of great weapons, clothing, and armor for Baldur's Gate 3 monks. Ever find a high-rarity quarterstaff that doesn't seem to grant any special benefits to spellcasters, or a piece of githyanki armor that's no good for Lae'zel? It's almost certainly designed for monks. Knowing what stats and attributes to boost is half the battle; the rest is applying those limited resources correctly.

How To Build An Overpowered BG3 Monk

Best Races, Stats, & Equipment For Monks

First and foremost, building an OP BG3 monk starts in the character creator. The most important single stat for a monk is Dexterity. Those who want to take advantage of the Tavern Brawler exploit will ideally want high Strength as well. Constitution is helpful, since monks don't have terribly high AC, and may need to make up for that with high HP. As far as character race goes, a githyanki monk is incredibly lore-friendly, and may also be able to take advantage of githyanki-exclusive bonuses from certain pieces of monk equipment. Githyanki also have access to psionic spells like enhance leap and misty step, which can augment a monk character's maneuverability.

Next, players can choose a monk subclass at level three. There are no bad monk subclasses in BG3, but for the purpose of making an overpowered, unarmed strike-focused monk, Way of the Open Hand is the simplest and best option. At level three, it gives players the option to topple, stagger, or push enemies on a successful Flurry of Blows. Later, they can add extra Necrotic, Psychic, or Radiant damage to their unarmed strikes, or use Wholeness of Body to restore Ki and gain an extra bonus action. At level nine, they can implant Ki-infused bombs in their enemies, and detonate them at will. Finally, at level 11, they gain Tranquility at the start of each day, which makes them immune to damage until they attack an enemy.

Tavern Brawler is great, but each character is allowed up to three feats, and many other options can enhance a monk's playstyle. Alert is handy, granting a five-point bonus to Initiative and preventing Surprise. Athlete can make a monk even more maneuverable, granting them a longer jump and a point to Strength or Dexterity. If all else fails, Tough can increase a monk's HP, but is best taken as a final feat at level 11 to maximize its per-level HP increases.

Finally, equipment isn't terribly important for monks, who thrive without armor or weapons. But the right set of gear can provide some extra bonuses. Highlights to look out for include the Gloves of Soul Damage, which add 1d10 Force damage to each unarmed strike - multiply that by four attacks to get up to 40 extra damage per turn by level five. It's the player's reward for rescuing Hope in Baldur's Gate 3. The Vest of Soul Rejuvenation lets monks use their powerful unarmed strikes as reactions against attackers that miss them; it's sold at Sorcerous Sundries. And the Sentient Amulet, found in the Grymforge, allows them to restore their Ki at will.

So, for anyone looking for a new class in their next run of BG3 - why not try a monk? This unique class provides a wholly unique experience, allowing for incredible combat strategies that rely on freedom of movement and quick, powerful attacks. The monk's sheer speed and raw melee power makes even the most difficult fights a breeze, leaving the player plenty of time and energy to focus on what really matters in Baldur's Gate 3 - romancing one's companions.

Baldur's Gate 3

Developed and published by Larian Studios, Baldur's Gate 3 is an upcoming role-playing game set to release in August of 2023. Players will create a character to embark on a large-scale journey and can do so solo or cooperatively with a friend. Combat is a turn-based style this time around.

RPG

Systems

OpenCritic

Top Critic Rating:96/100 Critics Recommend:98%

Franchise

Baldur's Gate

Platform(s)

PC , macOS , PS5 , Xbox Series X

Released

August 3, 2023

Developer(s)

Larian Studios

Publisher(s)

Larian Studios

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence

How Long To Beat

100+ Hours

Metascore

96

Split Screen Orientation

Vertical Only

Number of Players

1-4

PS Plus Availability

N/A

Local Co-Op Support

1-2 Players