Monks have some impressive skills in Dungeons & Dragons, and a few select items can empower them to an incredible degree. On their own, monks have some of the most interesting perks in the game lying in their class skills. The best builds possible can take those advantages and emphasize them as much as possible.
Monks in Dungeons & Dragons are physical damage-dealers similar to fighters, but with a much different flavor to them. While fighters use their weapons combined with combat feats, and barbarians have their natural bulk combined with stat bonuses from rage, monks' skills lie elsewhere. Monks use their ki as a resource in order to perform various feats in battle, ranging from healing themselves to using Flurry of Blows to rain attacks on a single enemy. In addition, monks are more famous for fighting barehanded than with a weapon. With the right items equipped, DnD's monks can become incredibly powerful, whether they're fighting with their fists or a monk weapon.
D&D's Cloak Of Displacement Can Make A Monk Even Harder To Hit
The Cloak of Displacement is a valuable magic item with a phenomenal effect. All attack rolls against the cloak's wearer have disadvantage, but if they get hit, the effect wears off until their next turn. It's a solid ability that a lot of characters can put to good use. The downside is a reasonable one as well, although it does run the risk of the cloak being useless in some rounds. Monks have some options that can make it more useful, though.
Monks almost never want to wear armor in order to take advantage of Unarmored Defense and Unarmored Movement, so they need other ways to make themselves durable. Unarmored Defense on its own can give a monk a respectable AC if they have high Dexterity and Wisdom. Dexterity is already overpowered in DnD, and monks rely on it more than most, so almost every monk will have a respectable DEX score. Since the Cloak of Displacement doesn't count as armor, it won't take away the monk's bonuses for remaining unarmored, and it combines well with Unarmored Defense's AC boost. Adding a disadvantage to every enemy attack roll can let the monk potentially avoid a lot of attacks that would have hit otherwise.
Forcing every enemy to roll attacks at a disadvantage can be a lifesaver for monks, especially when they drop to low health in the middle of a fight. One of the biggest advantages to the cloak is that its effect is always active, with the monk having to do nothing but wear it to reap the rewards. While even DnD's wizards can thrive with armor, monks only stand to lose their powers from doing so. The cloak is not only better than any armor a monk could wear, it has more flair to boot.
The Staff Of Striking Is A D&D Monk's Ultimate Weapon
Monks typically have a more restricted weapon pool than other physical fighters in Dungeons & Dragons, because they can only use certain weapons in conjunction with their martial arts abilities and bonuses. One downside to these monk weapons is that most of them deal low damage, relying on their monk class skills to be effective in a fight. Thankfully, there is a magic item that can circumvent this problem, at least for one weapon type. The Staff of Striking stands out as a remarkable weapon even before monk abilities are included.
Unlike most magic items in Dungeons & Dragons, the Staff of Striking is designed solely for use as a weapon. It is a quarterstaff that grants a +3 bonus to all attack and damage roles, making it a strong and accurate weapon, a trait that is maximized by its synergy with a monk's Dexterity bonuses. The staff also has a second ability that allows it to spend up to three of its ten charges on hit to inflict 1d6 force damage per charge as extra damage. Since few enemies resist force damage, this is a highly useful tool in combat, especially since it recharges at least five charges per day.
The downside of the Staff of Striking is that it has a 5% chance of losing its magic, and therefore its bonuses, if all of its charges are ever expended. Since the staff is a rare and valuable DnD item, such a result could be disastrous. Thankfully, a diligent player can keep track of its charges and make sure to never use them all. The Staff of Striking may be the best weapon available for monks outside of those with full unarmed combat builds, since it can unlock some of their highest damage potential.
The Bracers Of Defense Are The Simplest, Best Items For Monks In D&D
The Bracers of Defense are among the simplest magic items in all of Dungeons & Dragons. Their effect can be explained with a single sentence, but it gels so well with the rest of the monk's skillset that it feels almost like an extension of their class abilities. In essence, they're the closest thing to armor that most monks will ever wear, but it may be all that they need even in a long-running Dungeons & Dragons campaign.
Bracers of Defense offer a +2 bonus to AC for the wearer, as long as they're not wearing armor or holding a shield. The requirement to be unarmored likely locks out fighters, but leaves it open for barbarians and monks to use. Monks in specific can gain plenty from the bracers, since they are actively discouraged from using armor. It also has perfect synergy with their Unarmored Defense ability, being one of the only ways that they can improve their AC without losing that bonus.
One extra advantage that the Bracers of Defense have is combining well with the Cloak of Displacement mentioned previously. With the bracers pushing the monk's AC even higher, the cloak can make the monk even more untouchable. With its simple yet useful ability and relatively low price tag for a magic item, the Bracers of Defense are one of the best items for any monk in DnD.
A monk's unique set of skills can reach their full potential when combined with the right magic items. By covering their weaknesses and maximizing their strengths, a properly-outfitted monk can be one of the most dangerous members a party could hope to have. Players looking to make a monk in their next game of Dungeons & Dragons should keep their best support items in mind.