Multiclassing your monk in DnD can be a bit of a difficult call. In a nutshell, monks work best as a bonafide 100% monky monk. But where is the fun in that?

Using This Guide

Everything in this monk multiclass DnD guide has an emoji, ranking how useful or fun the monk multiclass is.

✅ Perfect Multiclass. A perfect combination for an interesting character

🆗 Solid Multiclass. Not everything works, but it’s solid throughout.

⚠️ Debatable Multiclass. More for flavor than the right combinations.

⛔ Pick this monk Multiclass if you love a challenge. You have been warned.

This emoji guide is just a guide. You can build your monk character however you like and sometimes a mad multiclass delivers a masterful character build.

Monk Multiclass Ideas

What we have here is some strategic, some fun, and some random multiclass ideas.

Monks tend to be better as a single class right through to level 20. But dipping into a few other classes can add a little flair and flavor to your build. We’ve gone a little further than just monk and rogue or monk and mage. We’ve taken a few of the monk subclasses and looked at not only what class but the subclass of that class. So you get a broader picture of how you can play your monk in DnD. You can check out our full monk guide, which shows you the pros and cons of any monk build.

One thing you’ve got to take into account is monk multiclass 5e requirements. Monks must have at least 13 in both Dexterity and Wisdom. That means monk rogues, ranged fighter monks, monk druids, and monk clerics are favorable because they all share these prerequisites. Whereas a sorcerer monk, monk mage, monk warlock, monk paladin, monk bard, or barbarian monk all need another prerequisite ability. All great if you get those sweet high rolls.

You can learn more about monk subclasses in our handy monk subclass guide.

⚠️ Astral Self / Druid: Circle of Spores – The Mushroom Ghost

Ok, so this isn’t technically an optimized build, but a lot of fun. This druid monk combo gives you the fighting capabilities of the Astral Self with their Arms of the Astral Self and Visage of the Astral Self with the madness of Druid: Circle of Spores.

Firstly, Halo of Spores works well with Arms of the Astral Self as both work within a 10-foot range, allowing you to double the damage on any enemy within that range.

Druids also get spells, so as well as punching in a ghost-like manner, you can heal or drop an entangle on their ass.

This build isn’t for those who like things to ‘work’ in the normal sense, but if you’re bored of the usual build suspects, maybe, just maybe, the Mushroom Ghost is for you.

🧘 Looking for a cool name for your next character? Check out our selection of the best monk names

⚠️ Ascendant Dragon / Ranger Drakewarden – Way of the Dragon

Both these subclasses come out of Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons, offering a Dragon-inspired build. There are no real major advantages to taking a few dips in Ranger, but it gives a nicely rounded build, offering flavor and character building.

What you get from this ranger monk build is an MMA fighter using Dragon-based attacks, including Draconic Strike and Breath of the Dragon, plus a Drake companion from the Ranger Drakewarden. It’s a full-on flavorsome build that gives you lots of options for backstory and character development.

As a bonus, you get some spells with this monk ranger to build. Hunter’s mark is an exceptional spell that you can use in all ranger monk builds.

I’d take the Drakewarden up to level 7 if you can. This gives you Bond of Fang and Scale, which offers additional bonuses to your Drake companion.

✅ Cobalt Soul / Cleric: Knowledge Domain – A Encyclopedia that Kicks Back

Knowledge is power, right? With the combination of the Cobalt Soul monk subclass and the Knowledge Cleric gives you ultimate knowledge! A completely solid multiclass build. You can be the DnD party encyclopedia that sees all and knows all. With some bonus combat abilities like Extract Aspects from Cobalt Soul mixed with Knowledge Cleric Channel Divinities Blessings of Knowledge and Read Thoughts.

What’s more, as a Cleric, you get a few spells like Command and Identify as well as old favorites like Cure Wounds and Inflict Wounds. As a Bonus, both monks and clerics need Wisdom as a dominant ability. So, you don’t need to waste higher ability scores for multiclassing.

What levels you put in each is entirely up to you, at least three in Cleric, so you can get the Knowledge Domain subclass. How much of a monk’s class you’re willing to lose is entirely up to you. You could go for an even 10/10, which would give you a nice balance between the two. For the cleric monk build, I would recommend more of a 12/8 in favor of the monk, so you get the monk’s Purity of Body at level 10 and Cobalt Soul’s Mind of Mercury at level 11. You will miss out on some higher Cleric spells, but you know, you can just punch your way out.

🆗 Drunken Master / Rogue Swashbuckler – Punchy Pirate

This ridiculous combination of monk drunken master, and rogue swashbuckler probably isn’t for everyone. But this one delivers the personality of a cocky monk and swaggering swashbuckler. You get the combat advantages of Drunken Technique and Tipsy Sway, with the dodge of Swashbuckler’s Fancy Footwork and the Rogues Cunning Action and Uncanny dodge.

Think Captain Jack Sparrow, swaying and dodging, landing a hit or two on the enemy. You also get Rakish Audacity, which is, in my opinion, a better way of using the rogue’s Sneak Attack. As well as Charisma modifiers to your initiative. You don’t need an advantage when you attack an enemy as long as you are within 5 feet of it, no other enemy is within 5 feet of you, and you don’t have a disadvantage on the attack roll.

As a bonus, you get lots of skills thanks to the rogue’s side of the build.

This outlandish pairing is for those of you who love playing a player character that doesn’t quite fit perfectly but delivers on roleplaying. The Mix is up to you, but I’d recommend taking the rogue to level 5 to get that Uncanny dodge. Both classes get Evasion at level 7.

⚠️ Kensei / Fighter Arcane Archer – The Stunning Sniper

For those of you who love the monk class but want a more weapon-orientated build with a focus on ranged weapons. Then, the pairing of Kensei monk and Fighter Arcane Archer is a solid fighter monk build. You get the monky stuff you love with support from the Arcane Archer’s ranged skills. Imagine your monk running around in the background, pot-shotting the enemies at leisure.

Although you can focus on martial weapons, and some of the Kensei bonuses do that, I would be more inclined to use Ranger as a main. Preferably the longbow.

You get the advantages of the Kensei’s Kensei’s Shot, Magic Kensei Weapons, and Deft Strike. Alongside the Arcane Archer’s Arcane Shot. You also get supportive fighter bonuses such as fighting style — choose the archery fighting style for this, giving you a +2 to attack rolls.

Build this fighter monk 13/7 in the monk’s favor. You’ll get the Arcane Archer’s Magic Arrow and Curving shot at level 7, which are pretty good assets for this build. A good build that might need a bit of tweaking and imagination to make it great.

✅ Long Death / Undying – Dr. Death

If you want to play a character that is completely obsessed with death (And avoiding it), then the combination of Monk’s Long Death and Undying Warlock with its deathless patron might just be the build for you. More flavor and death than optimization, but fun nonetheless.

There are so many ways you can avoid dying with these two. You’ll get the Long Death’s Touch of Death and Hour of Reaping matched with the Undying Warlock’s Defy Death and Undying Nature, making you the ultimate coffin dodger. Extending your life indefinitely.

With all this time, you get to master a few things like hitting and some fun spells. Imagine being able to Stunning Strike the pants off your enemy before Eldritch Blasting them into oblivion. Glorious.

I would give yourself more monk levels over warlock for this build, probably around 14/6, but of course, this is entirely up to you. A 10/10 build would give you the warlock’s undying nature but lose out on Long Death’s Mastery of Death.

🆗 Mercy / Cleric of Peace – The Combat Medic

To bring this cleric monk build to life, you use the combination of fighting and the healing arts. You get to heal (and unheal) with the Mercy monk thanks to Hands of Healing and Physician’s Touch. The Peace Cleric side gives you the Channel Divinity, Balm of Peace, allowing you to heal your party and NPCs within 5 feet of you. The domain spells include Aid and Sanctuary. You also get your great healing and support spells from the cleric side, such as cure wounds and healing word.

The only decision you have to make is how much cleric and how much monk. It’s up to you, but I would at least get the monk to level 11 so you can get Flurry of Healing and Harm. An alternate take on Flurry of blows with healing. Protective Bond at Peace Cleric’s level 6 is worth it.

This build gives you a different take on a melee-fighting healer. Imagine bouncing around combat, punching, and healing — not necessarily in that order.

As a bonus, having the having Wisdom as a prerequisite for both cleric and monk means you don’t have to waste points on another ability just to make the multiclass work.

🆗 Shadow / Rogue Assassin – The Ninja

You couldn’t have a rogue monk multiclass build without putting these two together. A shadowy warrior that sneaks in and out of shadows before despatching the target.

Bringing Shadow monk abilities together like Shadow Arts, Shadow Step, and Cloak of Shadows with the rogue abilities of Uncanny Dodge and Assassin ability of Assassinate, this rogue monk build is for those of you that love sneaking about.

You’ll be the one that sneaks behind enemy lines, picking off Chaotic Evil Warlords and Despicable Wizard Generals going unnoticed—the silent killer.

A great multiclass build for those who want a different take on the standard Rogue Assassin builds. And as Dexterity is a prerequisite for both monks and rogues, it makes perfect sense.

A 17/3 in favor of monk should give you enough in rogue to make this build a successful ninja.

What’s the best Monk Multiclass?

I hope you enjoyed this article and gave you a lot of inspiration to build your own monk multiclass. Keep in mind those prerequisites for each class when you’re multiclassing, and make sure at least some of the abilities in two classes complement each other.