Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General Flurry of Blows? Monk bonus attack...

So a monk can:

1. Attack, and then
2. Use a bonus action to attack again, but with an unarmed strike this time. Or spend a ki point and make two unarmed strikes as a bonus action.

I believe that's the way it works from what I'm reading and seeing.

But does that work if the monk is carrying a two handed weapon or a shield? Or does the monk have to have a free hand?

How do you think it will work in BG3?

Planning a build right now is very difficult without knowing how the rules work, lol.

5e RAW, the monk can't use any martial arts while wielding non-monk weapons or a shield, or while wearing armor. RAW, unarmed attacks can be with any part of the body: "a punch, kick, head-butt, or similar forceful blow."

In BG3 the relevant questions are:
1.) Does becoming proficient with weapons make them into "monk weapons"? Signs point to yes.
2.) Does becoming proficient with shields mean that monks can still use martial arts while wielding them? Based on the above (and the loss of multiclassing restrictions), I'd guess yes.
3.) Does BG3 properly implement the 5e RAW monk restrictions? This is unclear. I'd like to say yes, but I could see the Bonus Action Unarmed Strike being usable no matter what (similar to how off-hand attack doesn't require you to make a main-hand attack first).
4.) Will you be able to make an Unarmed Strike while your hands are full? Also unclear. I'd guess no, just because it's not *that* common knowledge that you can kick/headbutt/etc as your unarmed strikes.

In summary, I think that being proficient in weapons/shields will allow you to use all martial arts, but you might need to have a hand free to use unarmed strike.

Yes, knowing the rules would be nice.

You can preform unarmed attacks while holding weapons. You just put the weapon away (stick it to your back).

And I’m going to predict you can’t use shields as a monk.

I mean if you multiclass so that you have the proficiency from another class.

Like a fighter splash, for example.

I hope they change at least change the visual animations, before release.

IMO, it is immersion breaking to make a weapon attack, holster the weapon on your back, and then make an unarmed flurry of blows with both hands, and then grab your weapon off your back.

Even if you are a multiclass wizard with shield proficiency, you still can’t cast spells while holding a shield.

I don't think this is correct, at least in 5e. Are you basing this off of your understanding of 5e rules or BG3's implementations?

As I understand it, Wizards in 5e don't have any restrictions on casting besides the need to have one free hand when casting spells with Somatic and/or Material components. If they gain shield (or armor) proficiency, then can wield/wear those just fine, as long as their other hand is free or holding a Spell Focus.

Hexblades, for example, gain proficiency in shields but nothing else specifically that says "in contrast to other spellcasters, you can cast while wielding a shield."

You are correct, however, that a spellcaster cannot wield a weapon in one hand and a shield in another hand and still cast spells. (However, 5e RAW they could drop the weapon, cast the spell, and then pick up the weapon. And in BG3 they could swap to their bow, cast the spell, then swap back)

Okay, I see now. It specifically says in the write-up that you can't use martial arts if you're wearing armor or carrying a shield. I missed that before somehow.

Monk may use martial arts while holding a 2h weapon, as long as it is also a monk weapon. This makes spear a good early weapon for monk, since it gets d8 damage when wielded with 2 hands, and uses piercing type. Quarterstaff also gets d8 damage, but has same damage type as unarmed, so it gives less flexibility. Either way, the damage beats monk unarmed damage die for quite a while.

Should not need to put the weapon away. Just kick them in the head.

Yes, sorry, I meant while holding a weapon. The point I was trying and not quite succeeding to make was that simple shield proficiency isn’t enough when there are other rules in play.

Yeah why would it be a problem? Just have your halberd float on over to your back and stick itself there while you go all pugilist, then float it back to your hands ready for your next move.

3) You mean "no heavy or two-handed"? Personaly i doubt that ... but i certainly hope so. :-/

4) This one seems to be clear tho, in Fextralife stream we have seen Monk in several combat encounters, and that Unarmed attack he can do was a kick ... not sure if allways, of if it swaped with some other animations, but i clearly remember him kicking his oponents while holding staff with both hands ... i believe it was in combat on risen road.

This sentence could be copied to almost every topic here on forum in last two years. :-/

//Edit:
Thats bcs in BG-3 you san swap your weapons, and sheat/unsheat them like a hyperactive hampster that just drinked galon of coffee.
(Meaning a lot.)

There is no reason to bother with this, since our casters just sheat their weapons and voila! Free hand.