Monks who follow the Way of Shadow subclass will find themselves more easily able to pull off stealthy maneuvers and benefit from sticking to the shadows and out of sight. It’s something between a melee and a ranged caster class, with lots of variety – now that the full release of Baldur’s Gate 3 is here, fans are starting to understand just how strong this class can be.
Inflicts Produce Flame. A flickering flame appears in your hand. It sheds bright light in a 3m radius and deals 1d8 Fire damage when thrown. Throwing the flame immediately after you conjure it does not cost an action. Extinguishing or throwing it on subsequent turns costs an action
Updated April 6, 2025 bladesinger by Erik Petrovich : Patch 8 for Baldur’s Gate 3 is right around the corner, and though lots of the new subclasses seem like a lot of fun to play, the base game still offers some very powerful options for the best Monk build in BG3. The Way of Shadow Monk is still the best Monk build in BG3 – but that could change with the release of Patch 8. Until then, stick with this Way of Shadow Monk guide to learn the best Monk build tips, what makes the Way of Shadow such a powerful subclass for the Monk, and other information that will help you min-max your Monk character. This Monk build guide has been updated to add in-game flavor descriptions of the class and subclass, as well as a new small section with the best consumables for the Monk, including both potions and elixirs, in the Equipment section.
Create a sphere of cold blackness, teeming with unknown horrors. Creatures starting their turn in the take 2d6 Cold damage. Creatures ending their turn in the area possibly take 2d6 Acid damage. The area is Difficult Terrain and creatures within are Blinded.
Some other races may offer more HP or Strength, which can be beneficial for a melee support role like the Oath of Devotion Paladin, but this single ability will unlock many more doors – figuratively and literally.
Summon a flaming sphere that deals 2d6 Fire damage to nearby enemies and objects. It also sheds bright light in a 6m radius, and dim light for an additional 6m. On a successful save, enemy creatures still take half damage.
Transform yourself or an ally into a cloud of mist to avoid attacks. The target becomes Resistant to all damage, gains Advantage on Constitution, Dexterity, and Strength Saving Throws, and becomes tiny in size.
Here’s a list of all the helmets that you can find in Baldur’s Gate 3. Click on the Item in the table below to learn more about each individual item. Each post shows a tooltip with more information, such as where to get it and other helpful information.
Your attack summons thorny vines, dealing Weapon Damage and possibly Ensnaring your target. Ensnared creatures cannot move and take 1d6 Piercing damage at the start of each turn. An ally can use its help action to try and tear away the vines.
The max level in Baldur’s Gate 3 is Level 12, and most of the time, each level you gain will grant something new for your Monk build. In character creation you gain the basics for the Monk class, then steadily gain Feat Choices, new spells and abilities, subclass features, and increase your Proficiency Bonus.
Searing Smite: Your weapon flares with white-hot intensity. It deals an extra 1d6 Fire damage and marks the target with Searing Smite. A target with Searing Smite takes 1d6 Fire damage everyt turn, until it succeeds on a Constitution saving throw.
The unique Monk feature is Ki, a unique resource that refreshes with every Short Rest, and is used to fuel many of the best Monk abilities. Players start with just two Ki, then gain one for each level-up.
Here’s a list of all the Level 3 Spells in Baldur’s Gate 3. Click on the Spell in the table below to learn more. Each post shows a tooltip with more information including Spell properties and other helpful information.
Armour is an important component of Baldur’s Gate 3. Specifically, you can outfit your character with headwear often referred to as Helmets that sometimes provide specific protections or abilities alongside boosting stats. Effects range from defensive measures such as protecting the wearer from Critical Hits to offensive postures like gaining a Bonus Action. Whatever the case may be, there are plenty of helmet items to consider in your character build.
Your attack summons thorny vines, dealing Weapon Damage and possibly Ensnaring your target. Ensnared creatures cannot move and take 1d6 Piercing damage at the start of each turn. An ally can use its help action to try and tear away the vines.
Alter the terrain around you, allowing nearby allies in the area to travel with ease. You and your allies aren’t affected by Difficult Terrain, can’t be Restrained or Paralysed, and gain Resistance to Poison damage.
Here’s a list of all the Conjuration Spells in Baldur’s Gate 3. Click on the Spell in the table below to learn more about each individual item. Each post shows a tooltip with more information including Spell properties and other helpful information.