Tabaxi Monk D&D 5e | Tabaxi Monk Guide
It sounds like you were inspired to mix the tabaxi race and class with Kung fu panda or Ghibli’s The Cat Returns. Apart from the fact that they are humanoid cats that like a treasure or two—or more—not much is known about tabaxis. There are many great mix of tabaxi race like tabaxi rogue, tabaxi druid, tabaxi warlock and we will look at tabaxi monk here!
Although they occasionally veer toward evil, they are generally chaotic, just like our furry friends. The Tabaxi race is a favorite since it perfectly fits into the mechanics and roleplay of the Monk class.
If you are not sure how to use Tabaxi monk in your D&D 5e build, here is every bit of information you need to create a badass tabaxi monk.
How To Create A Tabaxi Monk?
1. Tabaxi Monk’s Starting Gear And Proficiencies
Monks can select two skills from the following list as their two proficiencies:
- Acrobatics
- Athletics
- History
- Insight
- Religion
- Stealth
| Starting Proficiencies | Starting Gear |
|---|---|
| Skills: Acrobatics, Stealth | A shortsword or any simple weapon |
| Tools: Choose one type of artisan’s tools or one musical instrument | A dungeoneer’s pack or an explorer’s pack |
| Weapons: Simple weapons, shortswords | 10 darts |
The above table assumes that the Tabaxi Monk is starting at level 1. We also assume that the player has selected the starting proficiencies and gear options suggested in the Player’s Handbook. As the player levels up, they can gain additional proficiencies and gear based on their class choices and features.
2. Tabaxi Monk Stats Distribution
Monks strive for a high Dexterity rating, and the Tabaxi race has racial traits that provide Dexterity with a +2 benefit.
If you’re rolling your stats, you should put an 18 into Dexterity, as this will get you to your Dexterity benchmark at the first level and give you a good start.
Before making any other decisions, you should focus on improving your Dexterity as much as possible for Standard Array and Point Buy. Users of Standard Array will wish to allocate 15 to Dexterity, but users of Point Buy will allocate 9 points to Dexterity.
Below table gives you an example of Tabaxi monk stats distribution at level 1. Also, the player is using the standard array of ability scores (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) and that the Tabaxi race grants a +2 Dexterity bonus and a +1 Wisdom bonus. It also assumes that the character is at level 1 and has not yet received any ability score increases from leveling up. The level bonus column reflects the proficiency bonus for a level 5 character.
| Ability Score | Initial Value | Racial Bonus | Level Bonus | Total Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | 10 | +2 | +3 | 15 |
| Dexterity | 16 | +2 | +4 | 22 |
| Constitution | 14 | +0 | +3 | 17 |
| Intelligence | 10 | +0 | +0 | 10 |
| Wisdom | 14 | +0 | +3 | 17 |
| Charisma | 10 | +0 | +0 | 10 |
3. Tabaxi Claws
Weapons of any kind are not Tabaxi Claws. According to Jeremy Crawford, they are classified as “natural weapons” under regulations, which count as a weapon attack but are not regarded to be weapons in and of themselves.
Unarmed Strikes are what the Tabaxi’s claw strike is classified as. Because of this distinction, they may be utilized using the Unarmed Strikes-compatible Monk’s Martial Arts function.
Due to this talent, the Tabaxi may attack with their claws and roll for both attack and damage using their Dexterity as their ability score. Martial arts also enable the Tabaxi’s claws to scale higher. The Tabaxi Monk may now transform their claws into an extremely lethal weapon thanks to this.
4. Tabaxi Monk Feats
There are over 12 tabaxi monk feats that you can use, but we will list the best 5 feats and just mention the remaining feats.
1. Luck
Everyone will enjoy this one. Lucky grants you three luck points, which you may use to basically re-roll a die in specific circumstances, like attack rolls, ability checks, or saving throws. Lucky is infamous amongst players and notorious among DMs.
One of the rare situations where rolling low values are really advantageous is when someone assaults you because you can spend a point, roll a die, and then demand that they use the value you rolled instead.
2. Monk
One of the finest classes for avoiding spellcasters is the Monk. This implies that you could be the one to save your team from impending death when a potent spellcaster threatens them. You can do it with the aid of this accomplishment.
You gain certain advantages if a spellcaster is within 5 feet of you. Not to add that your assaults will make their concentration saving throws more difficult if they own any concentration spells.
3. Mage Slayer
One of the finest classes for avoiding spellcasters is the Monk. This implies that you could be the one to save your team from impending death when a potent spellcaster threatens them. You can do it with the aid of this accomplishment.
You gain certain advantages if a spellcaster is within 5 feet of you. Not to add that your assaults will make their concentration saving throws more difficult if they own any concentration spells.
4. Tough
The fact that monks have relatively low health is a major issue, especially when compared to other classes who rush their foes. You have a lot of ability scores to consider, and your hit die isn’t very huge. These ability scores include Dexterity, constitution, and wisdom. You can solve the issue with toughness.
5. Weapon Master
Speaking of this feat, if your DM lets you apply Tasha’s optional rules as you level up, it may be rather helpful. This one awards you one point for either Dexterity or strength because monks can never have too much Dexterity. However, it also gives you the option to select four martial or basic weapons and master them.
Some other good feats that can be used by tabaxi in Dnd 5e
| Feat | Effect |
|---|---|
| Athlete | Increase your Strength or Dexterity score by 1 (to a maximum of 20). You gain proficiency in the Athletics skill. You can also stand up from prone without using your movement and can climb difficult surfaces with normal speed. |
| Alert | Increase your Wisdom score by 1 (to a maximum of 20). You gain a +5 bonus to initiative rolls. You can’t be surprised while you are conscious, and other creatures don’t gain advantage on attack rolls against you as a result of being unseen by you. |
| Crusher | Increase your Strength or Dexterity score by 1 (to a maximum of 20). Once per turn, when you hit a creature with an attack that deals bludgeoning damage, you can move it 5 feet to an unoccupied space, provided the target is no more than one size larger than you. |
| Defensive Duelist | When you are wielding a finesse weapon and someone attacks you, you can use your reaction to add your proficiency bonus to your AC against that attack. |
| Durable | Increase your Constitution score by 1 (to a maximum of 20). When you roll a Hit Die to regain hit points, the minimum number of hit points you regain from the roll equals twice your Constitution modifier (minimum of 2). |
| Fey Touched | Increase your Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma score by 1 (to a maximum of 20). You learn the Misty Step spell and one 1st-level spell of your choice. You can cast the 1st-level spell once per day without expending a spell slot. |
| Fighting Innate | Increase your Strength or Dexterity score by 1 (to a maximum of 20). You gain proficiency in one martial weapon of your choice. |
| Gift of the Metallic Dragon | Increase your Strength or Dexterity score by 1 (to a maximum of 20). You gain resistance to one damage type associated with a metallic dragon (acid for brass, cold for silver, fire for gold, lightning for bronze, or poison for copper). You can also use your action to exhale destructive energy associated with your chosen type, dealing damage to creatures in a 15-foot cone (requires a short or long rest to use again). |
| Sentinel | Increase your Strength or Dexterity score by 1 (to a maximum of 20). When you hit a creature with an opportunity attack, the creature’s speed becomes 0 for the rest of the turn. Creatures within 5 feet of you provoke opportunity attacks from you even if they take the Disengage action before leaving your reach. |
The above table has listed some of the popular feats in D&D 5e, which can be useful for tabaxi monk. It is optional to use all of the feats mentioned above. A player can use feats as per their play style.
Tabaxi Monk Subclass
1. Way Of An Open Hand
The Way of the Open Hand’s overall concept may be summed up as “Monk, but more.” You might choose to select this subclass if it’s your first time taking the Monk class or if you believe the fundamental class abilities were adequate on their own.
This subclass’s vanilla taste ensures it works nicely with the other monk-class powers. Your strikes with Flurry of Blows might subject adversaries to conditions and effects. While not the ideal use of an Action in a fight, self-healing can replenish your health points between battles.
2. Way Of Mercy
The monks who practice the Way of Mercy possess the capacity to both give and take life. After all, mercy might also mean a swift and painless demise. When deciding which party role to take, this subclass provides the player with more options than others. This Monk has the option of serving as both the primary healer and the damage dealer for the group.
There is a lot of room for roleplaying, as The Way of Mercy doesn’t have to be affiliated with a particular religious organization or doctrine, and there isn’t a certain church or deity that it is associated with.
3. Way Of Kensei
Monks can only use a few weapons, but this subclass gives them access to additional choices. The best possibilities among them are the whip (which has a good reach), the longbow (the only ranged weapon without the “loading” characteristic), and the longsword equivalent (1d10 damage). Any other weapon skills are only truly useful after that if you obtain a decent magic weapon.
Other skills largely revolve around matching the power of your Kensei weapon attacks to that of your standard monk strikes. The remaining skills are meagre, dealing more Ki points for less damage than you can gain by performing fundamental monk skills like Flurry of Blows.
Tabaxi Monk Features
1. Ki Points
Ki points are a monk’s attunement to their physical body as expressed numerically. Monks can employ a variety of monk features by spending Ki points.
Numerous blows – When the Monk uses the Attack action on their turn and either uses Unarmed Strikes or a Monk Weapon, they are able to make two Unarmed Strikes with 1 Ki point thanks to the Flurry of Blows ability.
Patient Protection – The Dodge Action is an additional action that the Monk can do for 1 Ki point when using Patient Defense.
The Wind’s Step – Step of the Wind enables the Monk to perform the Disengage or Dash action as a bonus action on their turn by using a 1 Ki point.
2. Martial Arts
When using unarmed strikes or monk weapons to attack, the player can employ Dexterity rather than Strength. When using an Unarmed Strike or a Monk Weapon on their turn, the player can additionally make an Unarmed Strike as a bonus action thanks to Martial Arts, which increases their damage output.
3. Deflect Missiles
When a ranged attack strikes the Monk, they can utilize their response to lessen the blow’s impact damage. With one Ki point, they can grab the missile and toss it back if Deflect Missiles decreases the damage to zero.
When doing so, regardless of what ammo was grabbed, the bullet counts as a Monk Weapon, and the throw is done proficiently.
Although Flurry of Blows deals considerable damage, it should only be used against vital enemies. You’ll utilize it as your main damage and save Flurry of Blows for when it matters most because after you reach the second level, you’ll automatically earn one bonus Unarmed Strike anytime you attack with another Unarmed Strike or a Monk Weapon.
Since it just reduces the damage you’re suffering, Deflect Missiles is essentially always a good reaction to employ if you haven’t already used yours.
How To Roleplay As Tabaxi Monk?
Although they are taller than humans, they have a similar life expectancy and share our ability to talk, read, and write. They make friends easily and have a passion for relics, legends, and riches.
Although it’s not impossible, it’s astonishing that a Tabaxi might become a monk, given how modest and pious they lead. Maybe a Tabaxi determined that living a service life was preferable to material wealth.
You’ve traveled far and wide and made progress, but how about emotionally? Spiritually? Additionally, there’s a significant probability that you were abandoned and reared in a monastery where you learned that there are more treasures than can be stored within oneself.
Conclusion
One of the most effective pairings for both the Tabaxi and the Monk is the Tabaxi Monk. Both race and class benefit from and balance out each other’s disadvantages. The Tabaxi Monk can be the game’s strongest choice for those wishing to develop the best hero in the numbers game.
Every player, DM, and the campaign is unique, as always. So, achieving the ideal balance between pleasure and numbers will depend on the specific circumstances. Do what feels right for you and your character; this advice is only designed to serve as a foundation. Have fun, good luck, and happy hunting!
