

The Way of the Drunken Master is a powerful subclass option for the Monk class in 5th Edition. Want to skip our list and just see our top pick? Here you are! Versatility is a key factor in our assessment of subclasses. While it is important to excel at a specific skill or task, the ability to adapt and perform a range of roles is even more valuable. When evaluating subclasses, we prioritize those that offer versatility and the ability to create a variety of character builds. All other factors being equal, subclasses with interesting and well-defined themes are considered more favorably. When evaluating subclasses, we give more consideration to those with strong themes rather than those that lack any sense of unity or concept. It is generally preferred for subclasses to have a clear and cohesive theme that ties all of its features together. The subclass you choose should provide a balance between optimization and enjoyment. It’s important to choose a subclass that is both enjoyable to play and offers meaningful choices that won’t put you at a disadvantage compared to other members of your group. Using complex or confusing language can create difficulties and conflicts, so it is best to avoid it when designing a subclass. This will make the subclass more enjoyable to play and prevent misunderstandings between players and the Dungeon Master. It is important for a subclass to be easy to understand and straightforward in its language.

Subclasses with features that are not effective or likely to be rarely used will not be highly ranked in our list. This includes giving special attention to low-level abilities, as most characters will not reach the maximum level. We look for subclasses that offer mechanics that are useful and frequently used by players.

That means the highest-ranked option on this list might not stack up to a middling option for another class. It is worth noting that we only compare these subclasses against each other and not to archetypes from different classes. We consider each subclass based on five factors, which we outline below. When we rank these subclasses, we don’t do it on a whim. Our Criteria for Ranking the Monk Subclasses Concluding our Monk Archetypes 5E Rankings.What is the Best Monk Archetype for 5E?.Our Criteria for Ranking the Monk Subclasses.
