Baldur’s Gate 3 came out of the gate swinging with a wide variety of classes players could choose from. This number has only expanded as the game has continued on, with its final patch adding twelve new subclasses to the hit RPG. However, not every class is for every player. Subclasses in many TTRPGs, and similarly in Baldur’s Gate 3, exist so that players can experiment with different roles. Once a player has determined which main class they’re comfortable with, finding a niche within its subclasses becomes fairly easy.
The new subclasses added in Baldur’s Gate 3’s final patch, aka Patch 8, include College of Glamour Bard, Arcane Archer Fighter, Circle of Stars Druid, Oath of the Crown Paladin, Way of the Drunken Master Monk, Swashbuckler Rogue, Death Domain Cleric, Swarmkeeper Ranger, Bladesinging Wizard, Hexblade Warlock, Shadow Magic Sorcerer, and Path of Giants Barbarian. These new subclasses give practically every player a new subclass to try on, but one of these subclasses may not be the best choice for players more dedicated to damage than roleplaying.
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The Monk's Way of the Drunken Master Has Its Own Unique Strengths
Baldur’s Gate 3’s adaptation of Way of the Drunken Master features several changes despite the game’s take on Monks being fairly true to Dungeons & Dragons 5e. For example, once per day, players can regain half of their Ki Points (rounded down) after drinking alcohol. The subclass further includes small bonuses like Drunken Performance, new fighting moves like Intoxicating Strike that can leave enemies inebriated, and the game-changing Drunkard’s Luck at Level 11, which allows players to spend two Ki Points to negate any Disadvantage they have against an Ability Check, Attack Roll, or Saving Throw.
These moves are incredible, but more importantly, lean into the roleplaying aspects of Baldur’s Gate 3. Unlike subclasses that assign players their power based on their background, Drunken Master is a subclass based on where the player draws their strength. There are other subclasses that fit into this category, with the subclasses for Druids and Clerics specifically coming to mind, but Drunken Master allows for more humor than a subclass like Circle of Stars. The Way of the Drunken Master is therefore incredibly fun for players who want to develop backstories for their characters.
Other Monk Subclasses Deal More Damage than the Way of the Drunken Master
However, one could easily argue that Way of the Drunken Master is one of the weaker Monk subclasses. Monks were quickly deemed one of Baldur’s Gate 3’s heaviest hitting classes by players. Class Actions like Flurry of Blows, combined with standard Martial Arts combat, can be a lethal combination, and these moves are only the base set that Monks receive. Choosing a subclass once players hit Level 3 can boost a Monk’s damage output even further.
The Way of Shadow is perfect for Monks who also love the stealthy abilities of a Rogue, with Minor Illusion, Silence, and other shrouding abilities available at Level 3. The Way of the Four Elements lets Monk players live out their Avatar: The Last Airbender dreams, combining magical element-based spells involving fire or air with the traditional martial arts moves of a Monk. But the Way of the Open Hand is perfect for players hoping to do massive amounts of damage and take as many actions as possible. The Level 6 bonuses available in the Way of the Open Hand subclass also grant players the extra amount of 1d4 + Wisdom Modifier of either Necrotic, Psychic, or Radiant damage during unarmed combat.
All three of these Monk subclasses arguably pack a stronger punch than Way of the Drunken Master, which Larian seems to have included due to fan requests for the subclass. The Drunken Master may add some great elements to roleplaying, but it trades raw combat power for its unusual utility and playstyle. Players that are dedicated to roleplaying should certainly give Way of the Drunken Master a shot, but Baldur’s Gate 3 players that want to deal damage should maybe give the other Monk subclasses a try.
Baldur's Gate 3
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
- Engine
- Divinity 4.0
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Full cross-platform play.
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- RPG
