Dragonborn Warrior of the Open Hand Monk Build Guide

Levels 1-4

Start with 15 DEX, 14 WIS, and 13 CON. Levels 1 and 2 are standard Monk fare, but level 3 is where your build comes online with Open Hand Technique. Every time you spend a Focus Point on Flurry of Blows, you can force the target to make a Dexterity save or be knocked prone. Always use this to set up advantage for your subsequent attacks or for your melee allies. At level 4, take your first Ability Score Improvement. Split it to get 16 DEX and 14 CON, immediately boosting your hit points, AC, attack rolls, and damage.

Levels 5-10

Level 5 brings Extra Attack and Stunning Strike. A massive spike in power. You can now use Breath Weapon in place of one of your attacks, followed by an unarmed strike, and then a Flurry of Blows bonus action to trigger Open Hand Technique. At level 6, Wholeness of Body gives you a desperately needed self-heal. Remember it costs an Action, so use it preemptively before you drop to zero. At level 8, push your Dexterity to 18 to maximize your DPR and AC.

Levels 11-16

Level 11 introduces Fleet Step. When you Dash, you gain 10 extra feet of movement, ignore difficult terrain, and get Acrobatics advantage. If you have Draconic Flight, you are now the most mobile character on the grid. At level 12, max your Dexterity to 20. At level 16, start pumping your Wisdom to 16 to increase your Unarmored Defense and, more importantly, the saving throw DC for your Open Hand Technique and Stunning Strikes.

Levels 17-20

Level 17 grants the legendary Quivering Palm. For 3 Focus Points, you set up a delayed-fuse execution. Use your incredible flight speed to reach the biggest threat, apply the vibrations, and trigger it on your next turn for potentially lethal damage. Use your level 19 ASI to push Wisdom to 18, ensuring your Quivering Palm CON save DC is as high as possible. At level 20, you are a master of unarmed combat who can instantly delete a boss.

Dragon Fear

Available at level 4. Swap one of your Breath Weapon uses to roar, forcing enemies within 30 feet to make a Wisdom saving throw or become frightened. This is incredible crowd control that pairs perfectly with Open Hand Technique—frighten the swarm, then isolate and knock down the primary target.

Mobile

Take this at level 8 or 12 if you aren't playing a variant with Draconic Flight. Adding 10 feet of movement and ignoring opportunity attacks from enemies you swing at means you can hit a target with Flurry of Blows, trigger Open Hand Technique to push them, and retreat safely without spending Focus Points on Step of the Wind.

Crusher

If you start with an odd Strength or Constitution score, Crusher is a fantastic half-feat. Moving an enemy 5 feet when you hit them with bludgeoning damage stacks with the 15-foot push from Open Hand Technique, allowing you to easily shove enemies off cliffs or into area-of-effect spells like Wall of Fire.

Tier 1 (Levels 1-4)

Start with a simple Quarterstaff or Spear to use with two hands for 1d8 damage on your main attacks, relying on unarmed strikes for your bonus action. Keep some Darts handy for ranged combat when your Breath Weapon is on cooldown and you can't close the gap.

Tier 2 (Levels 5-10)

Seek out an Insignia of Claws or Wraps of Unarmed Prowess (+1) to bypass non-magical bludgeoning resistance and boost your hit rate. A Dragonhide Belt (+1) is absolutely mandatory for this subclass; it boosts the DC of your Open Hand Technique, Stunning Strike, and eventually Quivering Palm, while letting you regain Focus Points mid-combat.

Tier 3 (Levels 11-16)

Upgrade to a Dragonhide Belt (+2). Bracers of Defense are critical here, giving you a flat +2 to AC since you cannot wear armor. If your Dragonborn subrace doesn't have Draconic Flight, beg your DM for Winged Boots to ensure you can reach flying enemies to apply your unarmed strikes.

Tier 4 (Levels 17-20)

Aim for a Manual of Quickness of Action or a Tome of Understanding to push your DEX or WIS beyond 20. A Dragonhide Belt (+3) ensures your Quivering Palm lands almost every time. Wraps of Unarmed Prowess (+3) will keep your DPR relevant against endgame bosses.

As a Warrior of the Open Hand, your primary role is a Striker with heavy secondary battlefield control. Because you rely on Flurry of Blows and Open Hand Technique to knock enemies prone, you synergize best with heavy melee attackers. A Rogue (especially an Assassin or Phantom) will love you forever, as your prone targets grant them free advantage for Sneak Attack.

You also pair beautifully with area-control casters like a Druid or Wizard. When a Wizard drops a Sickening Radiance or Web, you can use Open Hand Technique to punch enemies 15 feet directly into the hazard. You need a dedicated tank, like an Oath of Conquest Paladin or an Ancestral Guardian Barbarian, to absorb hits while you dart in, apply crowd control, and retreat using your superior mobility.

Fighter 2 dip

A two-level dip in Fighter gives you the Unarmed Fighting Style (giving your punches a d8 damage die early on) and Action Surge. Action Surge is incredible for a Monk: you can use your Breath Weapon, Action Surge to attack twice, and then follow up with Flurry of Blows to trigger Open Hand Technique, delivering massive burst damage and control in a single turn.

Cleric 1 (Peace Domain)

A single level of Peace Cleric gives you Emboldening Bond, adding a 1d4 to attacks and saves for you and your allies. It doesn't cost Focus Points, scales with proficiency bonus, and helps patch up your saving throws while ensuring your Flurry of Blows connects.

• Pushing enemies out of melee range: Using Open Hand Technique to push a target 15 feet away is great for escaping, but if you do this before your Paladin or Fighter can attack, you force them to waste movement. Knock them prone instead when allies are close.
• Misusing Wholeness of Body action economy: Wholeness of Body costs a full Action. Do not try to use it in the middle of a damage-race against a boss. Use it before combat starts if you are low, or when you are stuck behind cover.
• Ignoring Open Hand Technique's reaction denial: Everyone remembers the prone and push effects, but the third option—preventing the target from taking reactions until your next turn—is vital. Use it to stop enemy spellcasters from casting Shield or Counterspell.
• Blowing Focus Points on Step of the Wind early: With Draconic Flight and Fleet Step at level 11, you rarely need to spend Focus Points to Dash. Save your points for Flurry of Blows and Quivering Palm.