Way of the Long Death Monk Guide for Beginners: Mastering the Long Death Monk in D&D 5e

The Way of the Long Death Monk is a grim and terrifying warrior who draws power from death itself. Introduced in Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide, this subclass is perfect for players who want to be an unshakable, death-defying monk who instills fear and refuses to fall in battle.

Unlike other Monks who focus on speed and mobility, Long Death Monks are incredibly durable, capable of absorbing massive amounts of damage, frightening enemies into submission, and even surviving lethal blows. If you love the idea of an unyielding monk who harnesses death to fuel their own survival, this subclass is for you!

Why Play a Way of the Long Death Monk?

Key Benefits

• Best Monk for Durability & Tanking – Gain temporary HP whenever you kill a creature.
• Great at Crowd Control – Frighten enemies and control the battlefield.
• Unkillable at High Levels – Spend ki to survive at 1 HP instead of dropping to 0.
• Perfect for Fear-Based Roleplay – A master of death who uses fear as a weapon.
• Consistent Survivability – Less reliant on ki for defense compared to other Monks.

Compared to other Monks, Long Death Monks are the hardest to kill, making them excellent for frontline combat.

Core Features

Key Mechanics and Abilities

Touch of Death (Level 3)

• When you reduce a creature to 0 HP, gain temporary HP equal to your Wisdom modifier + Monk level.
• Example: After killing an enemy, instantly gain a buffer of HP to absorb the next hit.

Hour of Reaping (Level 6)

• As an action, force all creatures within 30 feet to make a Wisdom saving throw.
• On a failure, they are frightened of you until the end of your next turn.
• Example: Terrify an entire group of enemies before launching an attack.

Mastery of Death (Level 11)

• When you are reduced to 0 HP, spend 1 ki point to stay at 1 HP instead.
• Example: Survive what should be a killing blow and keep fighting!

Touch of the Long Death (Level 17)

• Spend 1 to 10 ki points to force a creature within 5 feet to make a Constitution saving throw.
• They take 2d10 necrotic damage per ki point spent (half damage on a success).
• Example: Spend 5 ki points to deal 10d10 necrotic damage, potentially dropping an enemy instantly.

These abilities make Long Death Monks incredibly hard to kill while terrifying enemies and dishing out devastating damage when needed.

Suggested Ability Scores

• Primary: Dexterity – Boosts attack rolls, AC, and damage with unarmed strikes.
• Secondary: Wisdom – Increases Frighten DC, temporary HP, and defenses.
• Tertiary: Constitution – Boosts HP and survivability.

Recommended Races

Since Long Death Monks rely on Dexterity and Wisdom, the best races include:

• Shadar-Kai Elf – Resistance to necrotic damage, teleportation, and bonus survivability.
• Githzerai – Psychic resistance and Wisdom bonuses for enhanced mental resilience.
• Variant Human – Start with a feat like Tough or Alert.
• Aasimar (Fallen or Scourge) – Extra necrotic damage and resistance to radiant and necrotic damage.

Playing as a Way of the Long Death Monk

Role in a Party

• Tanky Frontliner – Absorbs damage with temporary HP and near-invulnerability.
• Crowd Controller – Use fear effects to weaken enemies before striking.
• Survivor – Impossible to kill easily, able to endure otherwise lethal fights.

Compared to other Monks, Long Death Monks can take more hits and control fights by terrifying enemies.

Tips for New Players

• Kill weaker enemies first – Stack temporary HP by finishing off minions.
• Use Hour of Reaping before a big fight – Frighten enemies before engaging.
• Keep 1 ki point in reserve – Use Mastery of Death to avoid being knocked out.
• Touch of the Long Death works best against bosses – Use it to deal massive burst damage.

Roleplay Suggestions

• The Deathseeker – A monk obsessed with understanding and mastering death.
• The Fearmonger – A warrior who strikes terror into enemies before crushing them.
• The Reaper’s Disciple – A martial artist who sees death as a test of worthiness.

Gear and Dice Recommendations

Suggested Equipment

Weapons

• Quarterstaff – Fits the theme of a death monk wielding a simple but effective weapon.
• Unarmed Strikes – Your primary source of damage and control.

Armor

• No Armor (Unarmored Defense) – Your Dexterity and Wisdom provide natural AC.

Magic Items

• Bracers of Defense – +2 AC while unarmored.
• Cloak of Displacement – Makes enemies miss more often, improving survivability.
• Amulet of Health – Increases Constitution, making you even harder to kill.

Dice Recommendations from Runic Dice

Enhance your dark and foreboding aesthetic with these Long Death-themed dice sets:

• Reaper’s Touch: For black and gray hues representing the essence of death, consider the Inked Black Night Raised Obsidian Dice DND Set. Handcrafted from genuine black obsidian, these dice feature raised numbers inked in vibrant hues, capturing the somber and mysterious nature of the reaper's touch.
• Voidwalker: To symbolize fear and destruction with dark purple and silver tones, the Purple Gemstone Amethyst DND Dice Set is an excellent choice. Made from genuine amethyst, these dice showcase deep purple hues, reflecting the enigmatic and powerful presence of a voidwalker.
• Deathbound: For swirling black and red colors embodying necrotic energy, the Blood Red Glitter Liquid Core Resin DND Dice Set offers a dynamic liquid core with rich red tones, symbolizing the potent and deadly force of necromancy.

Advanced Tips and Tricks

Optimization Strategies

• Feats:

  • Tough – Boosts HP, making you even harder to kill.
  • Alert – Helps you go first in combat, setting up fear effects.
  • Lucky – Ensures you land key Stunning Strikes or Touch of the Long Death hits.

• Multiclassing:

  • Cleric (Grave or Death Domain) – Enhances necrotic abilities and survivability.
  • Rogue (Phantom or Assassin) – Boosts Stealth and Sneak Attack for an assassin-like playstyle.
  • Warlock (Hexblade or Undead Patron) – Adds dark magic to your toolkit for even more fear-based control.

• Way of the Long Death Advanced Build Ideas

  • The Undying Monk: Focus on survivability, stacking Tough, Constitution, and temporary HP.
  • The Fearmonger: Focus on debuffing enemies with Hour of Reaping and battlefield control.
  • The Death’s Hand: Use Touch of the Long Death and necrotic damage boosts for a devastating finisher.

The Way of the Long Death Monk is one of the most durable and fearsome subclasses in D&D 5e, excelling at absorbing damage, frightening enemies, and surviving impossible situations. If you want to play as a monk who is as terrifying as they are unkillable, this subclass is for you!