Way of the Open Hand Monk Guide for Beginners: Mastering the Open Hand Monk in D&D 5e

The Way of the Open Hand Monk is the ultimate martial artist, excelling at precision strikes, battlefield control, and powerful finishing moves. Introduced in the Player’s Handbook, this subclass is perfect for players who want to embody a pure hand-to-hand fighter, mastering the flow of combat through discipline and technique.

Unlike other Monks, Open Hand Monks specialize in disrupting enemy movement, healing themselves, and delivering powerful finishing strikes. If you love the idea of a disciplined martial artist who dominates enemies with precise strikes and unshakable defense, this subclass is for you!

Why Play a Way of the Open Hand Monk?

Key Benefits

• Best Monk for Unarmed Combat – Unparalleled control over Flurry of Blows and melee combat.
• Powerful Battlefield Control – Knock enemies prone, push them back, or prevent them from reacting.
• Self-Healing Ability – Use Wholeness of Body to recover HP and stay in the fight.
• Devastating Finishing Move – Quivering Palm is one of the deadliest single-target abilities in the game.
• Straightforward & Effective – Unlike other Monk subclasses, Open Hand doesn’t rely on external elements like magic or ki projections.

Compared to other Monks, Open Hand Monks have the best mix of offense, defense, and battlefield control.

Core Features

Key Mechanics and Abilities

Open Hand Technique (Level 3)

• When using Flurry of Blows, you can choose one of the following effects:
  • Knock the enemy prone.
  • Push the enemy 15 feet away.
  • Prevent the enemy from taking reactions until the end of your turn.
• Example: Knock an enemy prone to give allies advantage on attacks or push an enemy off a ledge.

Wholeness of Body (Level 6)

• As an action, heal yourself for 3 times your Monk level (usable once per long rest).
• Example: At level 6, heal yourself for 18 HP to sustain yourself in battle.

Tranquility (Level 11)

• At the end of a long rest, gain the Sanctuary spell, making enemies unable to attack you unless they succeed on a saving throw.
• Example: Activate Sanctuary before engaging in social encounters or to disengage safely from combat.

Quivering Palm (Level 17)

• Spend 3 ki points to plant vibrations inside a creature when you hit with an unarmed strike.
• At any point within 17 days, use an action to trigger the effect:
  • Force the creature to make a Constitution save. If they fail, they are instantly reduced to 0 HP.
  • If they succeed, they still take 10d10 necrotic damage.
• Example: Weaken a powerful boss fight enemy, then end them with Quivering Palm at the right moment.

These abilities make Open Hand Monks the most disciplined and powerful hand-to-hand fighters, capable of controlling combat and finishing fights with devastating precision.

Suggested Ability Scores

• Primary: Dexterity – Boosts attack rolls, AC, and damage with Monk weapons and unarmed strikes.
• Secondary: Wisdom – Improves Stunning Strike DC and defenses.
• Tertiary: Constitution – Increases HP and survivability.

Recommended Races

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

• Wood Elf – Increased speed, Dexterity bonus, and stealth advantages.
• Tabaxi – High Dexterity and extra mobility with Feline Agility.
• Variant Human – Gain a feat at level 1, such as Mobile or Tough.
• Kenku – Excellent Dexterity and skill proficiency for scouting.

Playing as a Way of the Open Hand Monk

Role in a Party

• Primary Melee Striker – Delivers high-speed, high-damage attacks.
• Battlefield Controller – Manipulates enemy movement with Open Hand Techniques.
• Self-Sufficient Fighter – Can heal and protect themselves while staying effective in combat.

Compared to other Monks, Open Hand Monks have the most direct and effective control over the battlefield, making them excellent at dictating the flow of battle.

Tips for New Players

• Use Open Hand Technique every turn – Knocking enemies prone or preventing reactions can completely turn a fight.
• Save Wholeness of Body for emergencies – It’s your only major self-healing ability.
• Quivering Palm works best against bosses – Save it for high-value targets.
• Always use Stunning Strike first – If an enemy is stunned, they auto-fail Quivering Palm’s save.

Roleplay Suggestions

• The Disciplined Master – A monk who seeks to perfect their fighting style through meditation and training.
• The Reluctant Warrior – A fighter who avoids violence unless absolutely necessary.
• The Wandering Avenger – A martial artist who travels the world seeking justice.

Gear and Dice Recommendations

Suggested Equipment

Weapons

• Quarterstaff – Versatile for both two-handed and unarmed strikes.
• Shortswords – Fast, precise weapons that complement Flurry of Blows.

Armor

• No Armor (Unarmored Defense) – Your Dexterity and Wisdom grant high AC without armor.

Magic Items

• Bracers of Defense – +2 AC while unarmored.
• Ring of Free Action – Prevents slowing effects, allowing you to move freely.
• Amulet of the Devout – Boosts your Stunning Strike and Quivering Palm DC.

Dice Recommendations from Runic Dice

Enhance your martial artist aesthetic with these monk-themed dice sets:

• Master’s Discipline: For a black and gold design symbolizing wisdom and power, consider the Black Inked Lightning Cracked Glass DND Dice Set. This set features a striking cracked glass design with black inked numerals, capturing the disciplined elegance of a master martial artist.
• Silent Striker: To embody precision and skill with dark blue and silver hues, the Blue Glitter Liquid Core Sharp Edge Resin DND Dice Set is an excellent choice. It showcases deep blue tones with shimmering accents, reflecting the stealth and accuracy of a silent striker.
• Dragon’s Fist: For fiery red and black colors representing devastating strikes, the Blood Red Glitter Liquid Core Resin DND Dice Set offers a dynamic liquid core with rich red hues, symbolizing the formidable power of a dragon's fist.

Advanced Tips and Tricks

Optimization Strategies

• Feats:

  • Mobile – Increases movement speed and lets you disengage freely after attacking.
  • Tough – Boosts HP, making you much harder to kill.
  • Lucky – Reroll bad rolls, ensuring your crucial Stunning Strikes and Quivering Palms land.

• Multiclassing:

  • Fighter (Battle Master) – Adds tactical maneuvers for even greater combat control.
  • Rogue (Swashbuckler or Assassin) – Boosts damage output with Sneak Attack and mobility.
  • Cleric (Peace or Twilight Domain) – Adds defensive and support options.

• Way of the Open Hand Advanced Build Ideas

  • The Stun Master: Max Wisdom and Dexterity, focusing on Stunning Strike and Quivering Palm.
  • The Relentless Fighter: Max Constitution and take Tough to stay in battle longer.
  • The Ultimate Striker: Boosts attacks with Mobile and uses Quarterstaff + Stunning Strike for battlefield control.

The Way of the Open Hand Monk is one of the most powerful and effective martial subclasses in D&D 5e, excelling at high-speed combat, enemy disruption, and devastating finishing moves. If you want to play as a disciplined martial artist who controls the flow of battle and lands precise, deadly strikes, this subclass is for you!