The Monk has finally received the justice it deserves. Often considered the weakest class in D&D 5e in the 2014 rules, the 2024 Player's Handbook transformed the Monk into an absolute battlefield terror. Ki has been renamed to Focus Points, your Martial Arts damage die starts at a d6 (and scales up to a d12), and most importantly, you can now use your Dexterity modifier to determine the DC for Grappling and Shoving!

Additionally, Deflect Missiles has been upgraded to Deflect Attacks, meaning you can now use your Reaction to block and counterattack melee attacks as well. Because the Monk's base kit is now so incredibly strong and resource-efficient, your feat choices should focus on locking down enemies, increasing your survivability, and maximizing your unarmed strikes.

Here is my ranking of the best feats for the 2024 Monk based on battlefield control, synergy with martial arts, and actual play experience.

Understanding the New Feat Types

As with all 2024 classes, feats are now categorized:

• Origin Feats: Typically acquired at Level 1 via your Background or Species. You can select them at higher levels, but keep in mind they do not provide a +1 stat boost like General Feats do.
• General Feats: Taken at Level 4 or higher. Almost all combat feats are now "Half-Feats," meaning they grant a +1 to a core stat (like Dexterity, Wisdom, or Constitution)!

10. Magic Initiate (Origin Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 1 | Best for: Self-Buffing Monks

Monks rarely use magic, but grabbing Magic Initiate (Cleric) gives you massive utility. You can pick up Guidance and Resistance for out-of-combat checks, and you get one free cast of Bless or Shield of Faith. Since Monks attack 3-4 times per turn natively, adding 1d4 to every single attack roll via Bless dramatically increases your overall damage output.

9. Tough (Origin Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 1 | Best for: Frontline Brawlers

Monks are melee skirmishers with a d8 Hit Die. Even with high AC from Unarmored Defense and the amazing new Deflect Attacks reaction, you are eventually going to take damage—especially from saving throw spells. Tough grants you 2 extra Hit Points per level, bringing your health pool closer to that of a Fighter or Paladin.

8. Alert (Origin Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 1 | Best for: Tactical Strikers

Monks have incredibly high Dexterity, meaning they naturally roll high on Initiative. Alert adds your Proficiency Bonus to Initiative, almost guaranteeing you go first. You can use the Initiative Swap feature to give your high roll to your party's Wizard so they can drop a crowd-control spell, or keep it yourself to rush the enemy archer and stun them before they even draw an arrow.

7. Speedy (General Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 4, Dex or Con 13+ | Stat Bonus: +1 Dex or Con

Replacing the old Mobile feat, Speedy is a phenomenal upgrade for a class that already moves fast. It grants +1 Dexterity, increases your speed by 10 feet, allows you to ignore difficult terrain when you Dash, and imposes Disadvantage on Opportunity Attacks made against you. It allows you to run across the entire battlefield, strike the enemy boss, and retreat to safety.

6. Charger (General Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 4, Str or Dex 13+ | Stat Bonus: +1 Str or Dex

Because Monks have such high movement speed, triggering Charger is effortless. If you move 10 feet in a straight line before hitting a creature, you can either deal an extra 1d8 damage or push the target 10 feet. Hitting an enemy with a flying kick and launching them into a Wall of Fire or off a cliff is a perfectly viable (and hilarious) strategy in 2024.

5. Crusher (General Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 4, Str or Con 13+ | Stat Bonus: +1 Str or Con

All of your Unarmed Strikes deal bludgeoning damage. Crusher lets you boost your Constitution by +1 and allows you to move a creature 5 feet once per turn when you hit them with bludgeoning damage (no saving throw required). Better yet, if you score a critical hit, all attacks against that creature have Advantage until the start of your next turn. It's a fantastic, resource-free control tool.

4. Mage Slayer (General Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 4, Str or Dex 13+ | Stat Bonus: +1 Str or Dex

At Level 14, Monks get Disciplined Survivor (proficiency in all saving throws), but what do you do before then? Mage Slayer gives you +1 Dexterity and Guarded Mind, which acts as a Legendary Resistance for your mental saves (Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma). You can automatically choose to succeed on a failed save once per rest, ensuring you never get mind-controlled and turned against your party.

3. Resilient - Wisdom (General Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 4 | Stat Bonus: +1 Wis

Monks need Wisdom for their AC and the save DC of their abilities (like Stunning Strike). Resilient bumps your Wisdom by 1 and gives you proficiency in Wisdom saving throws. Since 90% of campaigns end before Level 14 (when Monks natively get all save proficiencies), taking this feat early ensures you are virtually immune to the most dangerous control spells in the game.

2. Fey Touched (General Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 4, Int, Wis, or Cha 13+ | Stat Bonus: +1 Wis

A phenomenal half-feat that boosts your Wisdom to increase your Stunning Strike DC. Fey Touched gives you a free cast of Misty Step and a 1st-level spell (like Silvery Barbs or Hex). Combining Hex with a Monk's Flurry of Blows (which allows up to 3 unarmed strikes as a Bonus Action at higher levels) adds massive necrotic damage to your combo.

1. Grappler (General Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 4, Str or Dex 13+ | Stat Bonus: +1 Str or Dex

This is the undisputed best feat for the 2024 Monk, and it completely breaks the game in your favor. In the 2024 rules, Monks use Dexterity to calculate their Grapple DC. Grappler gives you +1 Dexterity and allows you to deal damage AND grapple a target simultaneously when you hit with an Unarmed Strike. Furthermore, you have Advantage on all attack rolls against creatures you are grappling, and your speed isn't halved when you drag them around! You can punch a boss, grab them by the throat, and then unleash a Flurry of Blows with Advantage on every single strike. It turns the Monk into an unstoppable martial arts master.

Monk Build Paths (Level 1-20)

With the new tools available to the class, Monks are no longer just "stun bots." Here are three optimized paths for the 2024 Monk.

Path 1: The Jade Wrestler (Grapple & Control)

This build abuses the new Grappler mechanics and Dexterity-based grappling to lock down the deadliest targets.

• Level 1 (Origin): Tough. You will be holding enemies close to you, so you need the extra HP.
• Level 4: Grappler (+1 Dex). Attack, deal damage, and grapple on the same strike. Follow up with Advantage!
• Level 8: Crusher (+1 Con). Reposition grappled enemies into spell hazards and round out your Constitution.
• Level 12: Fey Touched (+1 Wis). Boost your Wisdom for higher save DCs and get Misty Step for vertical grappling drops.
• Level 16: Resilient (+1 Wis). Cement your mental defenses before Disciplined Survivor kicks in.
• Level 19 (Epic Boon): Boon of Speed. Increases your movement speed by 30 feet, allowing you to drag grappled enemies across the entire map.

Path 2: The Wind Runner (Hit-and-Run Skirmisher)

This build maximizes movement, allowing you to strike key targets and retreat before they can counterattack.

• Level 1 (Origin): Alert. Ensure you go first to bypass the enemy frontline.
• Level 4: Speedy (+1 Dex). Become impossibly fast and impose Disadvantage on Opportunity Attacks.
• Level 8: Charger (+1 Dex). Add heavy burst damage to your strikes as you dash around the battlefield.
• Level 12: Mage Slayer (+1 Wis). Give yourself Legendary Resistance to avoid being frozen in place.
• Level 16: Fey Touched (+1 Wis). Grab Hex to add 1d6 necrotic damage to your rapid-fire punches.
• Level 19 (Epic Boon): Boon of Irresistible Offense. Ensure your physical strikes bypass all magical resistances.

Path 3: The Zen Inquisitor (Anti-Magic Striker)

A specialized build designed to hunt down and completely shut down enemy spellcasters.

• Level 1 (Origin): Magic Initiate (Cleric). Learn Bless to buff your party's saves against magic.
• Level 4: Mage Slayer (+1 Dex). Guard your mind and shred casters who try to cast near you.
• Level 8: Grappler (+1 Dex). Grab the wizard. If they try to cast, pummel them with Advantage.
• Level 12: Fey Touched (+1 Wis). Gain the teleportation you need to catch evasive mages.
• Level 16: Crusher (+1 Con). Push casters out of their protective glyphs or auras.
• Level 19 (Epic Boon): Boon of Combat Prowess. Turn a missed Stunning Strike attempt into a guaranteed hit.

Expand Your Table with Custom Homebrew

Whether you are adopting the new 2024 core rules or sticking with classic 2014 5E, you don't have to limit your builds. If you want to surprise your DM with insane new feats, unique Monastic Traditions, and custom campaign supplements, explore our homebrew PDF collection here!