While there are many different character types to play as inDungeons & Dragons, but few are as obscure as the monk class. A martial class that uses their bodies as weapons and has magic-like abilities fueled by their ki points. They can be difficult to play because of the uniqueness of the class and the choices you must make to create one.
While the bulk of these choices are during your original character creation, there are higher-level decisions that must be made as your character gets stronger. One such decision is that of the epic boon. Much like feats, they can be devastating in the right hands, but some epic boons are better for monks than others.
This list uses epic boons not only from the 2024 edition of 5e but some older editions as well. Make sure to talk to your DM about which boons are available to your character!
10Boon Of Speed
Fast Hands
Being able to move across the battlefield is an often overlooked ability, but it’s also one that can come in handy a myriad of ways. In many ways, it is the crux to an easy use of action economy.
The Boon of Speed instantly gives your character an extra 30 feet to their movement speed. This is easily one of the most game-changing epic boons for its ability to be useful at all times and not connected to any sort of rechargeable action. This means every turn you can move what is more than likely 60 feet across the map to strike out against opponents.
9Boon Of The Night Spirit
Way Of Shadows
Stealth is often overlooked by classes like the barbarian, fighter, and monk. Stealth can be a great way to get the drop on your enemies for any class, or even avoid trouble if that’s the way you want to go.
The Boon of the Night Spirit makes this far easier for monks, regardless of their subclass, by giving them the ability to turn Invisible as a Bonus Action any time they enter Dim Light or Darkness. While in this invisible form, you also have resistance to all damage types except forPsychic and Radiant. Which means you’ll become harder to hit, and harder to kill.
8Boon Of Recovery
A Sound Body
With a monk, most of the time you will be on the front lines of combat. While they do have a pretty good natural AC, higher-level enemies can still get the best of them.
The Boon of Recovery comes to save the day when your health drops too low for your liking. When your HP hits zero, it stabilizes at one instead, and then you instantly go back to half your HP maximum. This means you avoid going unconscious and any Death Saving Throws once per Long Rest. You also get ten d10 touse as healingas a Bonus Action, making you much harder for your enemies to take down.
7Boon Of Magic Resistance
Arcane Soul
Spellcasters are the bane of many adventurers. Wily and unpredictable, the effects of the spells they use against your party are varied and, more often than not, incredibly deadly.
With the Boon of Magic Resistance your character has advantage against the effects of any spell cast against them or any other magical effects. This is a wide swath of the damage and effects that will come your character’s way, and while it does still require rolls, advantage on them may well be worth it to have a much larger chance of success against the many spellcasters you’ll face.
6Boon Of Fortitude
The Ki To Health
Some classes prioritize certain things over others, but a higher HP is never a bad idea, no matter the class. Monks aren’t without their healing and defensive abilities, but a little bit extra never hurts.
The Boon of Fortitude is simple in its effects, instantly giving the character an extra 40 HP to their maximum. This is a solid chunk of health, even at the highest levels. In addition though, once per turn, when you are healed, you gain extra healing equal to your Constitution modifier.
5Boon Of Irresistible Offense
Martial Prowess
At level six, you have the option of doing force damage instead of your normal damage with an unarmed strike. But, not all enemies take force damage the same.
The Boon of Irresistible Offense makes all of the normal damage types you do (bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing) overcome resistances to them. This is similar to that of magical weapon types of the same nature, which means you don’t have to do your best to figure out if an enemy is resistant to them.
4Boon Of Fate
A Helping Hand
Every character not only has the ability to survive on their own, but also has optional ways to help out the team dynamic as well. The monk isn’t commonly referred to as a support class, but certain choices you make in your character creation can sway that.
One such choice is to pick up the Boon of Fate. This gives you the ability to take 2d4 and either add or subtract the total to a d20 check you see a creature make within 60 feet of you. This resets for every rest or roll of Initiative, which pretty much means it can be used once per battle to weaken a foe or strengthen an ally.
3Boon Of Combat Prowess
Unerring Strike
While more dextrous than most fighters or paladins, monks are about hitting things hard with ki-fueled blows that can devastate and even paralyze their targets.
With so much riding on every blow, it can be a pain to miss an attack roll. With the Boon of Combat Prowess, you don’t have to worry about that nearly as much. Each turn, when you miss on an attack roll, you’re able to choose to hit instead. It is simplistic and yet incredibly deadly, especially at high levels when you can choose when and how to strike to maximize the potential of a sure hit.
2Boon Of Dimensional Travel
Fade Out Of Sight
As your character moves about the battle map, enemies will seek to contain them, which can be a lot easier for them to do, considering monks often have to be within five feet of their target to attack.
The Boon of Dimensional Travel eases the worry of your enemy forcing you into a corner or even flanking you. This boon gives you the ability to teleport to an empty space within 30 feet any time you make an attack or magic action. The best part is that this is a free action devoid ofany Bonus Actionor Reaction uses, and of any recharge as well. This means you may avoid having to make the choice of trying to move out of a dangerous situation and risking opportunity attacks.
1Boon Of The Fire Soul
Flaming Fists
There are plenty of damage types out there that your character will unfortunately be on the receiving end of. While there is no way to protect yourself against them all, Fire damage is one of the more likely you’ll come across, which means protecting against it is a definite help.
The Boon of the Fire Soul gives your character immunity from all Fire damage, which is a great help against fire-based spells andenemies like fiendsand red dragons. In addition, you can also cast Burning Hands at will without using a spell slot. This is a great spell considering you’ll be up-close with many of your enemies as a monk.
