Beast Monk (3.5e Class)

The main contributor(s) of this page determined that this page should be reviewed. Reason: Newly created– other Improving, reviewing, or removing templates may be required. You can help D&D Wiki by reviewing this page. When this page has been reviewed so that this template is no longer applicable please remove this template. If you do not understand how to review this page please leave comments on this page's talk page before making any edits. All pages needing to be reviewed

Beast Monk

A beast monk is a monster that has trained it's body to become an efficient primal killer. They fight using their natural weapons to greater effect than normal and enhance their bodies to resist poisons and diseases as well as gaining extraordinary abilities that are put to great use while hunting.

Making a Beast Monk

As a monster class any PC that uses this must take a level adjustment for a monster race or template such as lycanthropy. This means that in order to have this class a PC's ECL will be higher than their hit die and some of their hit die will be racial. Those minuses aside the Beast Monk can be as or more powerful than a normal monk.(again still trying to play-test and balance.)

Pre-Reqs: In order to gain levels in Beast Monk you must have at least 2 natural attacks in at least one form (for lycanthropes and other shapeshifters) and have at least 1 racial hit die.

Abilities: Strength is important for extra damage and accuracy. Dexterity may be important based on your race. Some races with natural armor may prefer to use a higher score on an ability other than Dexterity. Wisdom is good for the class AC bonus feature.

Races: Most members of this class are lycanthropes or other predatory monsters that lack the focus to become normal monks.

Alignment: Any.

Starting Gold: Special. Use table 5-1 on page 135 of the Dungeon Master's Guide. Use your racial HD +1 to determine starting gold. This is because the monster was killing adventures long before they gained class levels. This is of course up to your DM's approval as a commoner who has recently become a lycanthrope would not have this kind of wealth. Various back stories blah blah. It might also make more sense to use the monster's treasure rules in the Monster Manual and Dungeon Master's Guide to determine this.

Starting Age: Moderate.

Table: The Beast Monk

Hit Die: d8

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special	Natural Strike	AC Bonus	Unarmored Speed Bonus
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	+0	+2	+2	+0	Beast Style, Multiattack, Natural Strike	+1 prim.	+0	+0 ft
2nd	+1	+3	+3	+0	Beast Style Imp., Evasion	+1 prim.	+0	+0 ft
3rd	+2	+3	+3	+1	Predator's Focus	+1 prim.	+0	+10 ft
4th	+3	+4	+4	+1	Natural Destruction, Nimble +2	+2 prim. +1 sec.	+0	+10 ft
5th	+3	+4	+4	+1	Predator's Body, Multiattack +1	+2 prim. +1 sec.	+1	+10 ft
6th	+4	+5	+5	+2	Beast Style Greater, Nimble +3	+2 prim. +1 sec.	+1	+20 ft (+5 ft fly)
7th	+5	+5	+5	+2	Predator's Regeneration	+2 prim. +1 sec.	+1	+20 ft (+5 ft fly)
8th	+6/+1	+6	+6	+2	Nimble +4	+3 prim. +1 sec.	+1	+20 ft (+5 ft fly)
9th	+6/+1	+6	+6	+3	Imp. Evasion, Multiattack +2	+3 prim. +1 sec.	+1	+30 ft (+10 ft fly)
10th	+7/+2	+7	+7	+3	Natural Destruction Imp., Nimble +5	+3 prim. +1 sec.	+2	+30 ft (+10 ft fly)
11th	+8/+3	+7	+7	+3	Predator's Body Imp. Predator's Fury	+3 prim. +1 sec.	+2	+30 ft (+10 ft fly)
12th	+9/+4	+8	+8	+4	Ambush Step, Nimble +6	+4 prim. +2 sec.	+2	+40 ft (+10 ft fly)
13th	+9/+4	+8	+8	+4	Predator's Soul	+4 prim. +2 sec.	+2	+40 ft (+10 ft fly)
14th	+10/+5	+9	+9	+4	Nimble +7	+4 prim. +2 sec.	+2	+40 ft (+10 ft fly)
15th	+11/+6/+1	+9	+9	+5	Rake	+4 prim. +2 sec.	+3	+50 ft (+15 ft fly)
16th	+12/+7/+2	+10	+10	+5	Natural Destruction Greater, Nimble +8	+5 prim. +2 sec.	+3	+50 ft (+15 ft fly)
17th	+12/+7/+2	+10	+10	+5	Ageless Predator, Beast Tongue	+5 prim. +2 sec.	+3	+50 ft (+15 ft fly)
18th	+13/+8/+3	+11	+11	+6	Nimble +9	+5 prim. +2 sec.	+3	+60 ft (+20 ft fly)
19th	+14/+9/+4	+11	+11	+6	Predator's Stalk	+5 prim. +2 sec.	+3	+60 ft (+20 ft fly)
20th	+15/+10/+5	+12	+12	+6	Perfect Predator, Nimble +10	+6 prim. +3 sec.	+4	+60 ft (+20 ft fly +1 maneuverability)
note the fly speeds only apply if the creature gets a fly speed from their racial HD. Class Skills (4 + Int modifier per level, ×4 at 1st level) Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Escape Artist (Dex), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex) and any racial skills.

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Beast Monk.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Special. Gets no extra weapon or armor proficiency unless they lose their natural attacks for some reason. (Lycanthropes in human form for example) If a Beast Monk loses their natural attacks they lose all class features that require natural attacks including: Multiattack, Natural Strike, Beast Style bonus special attacks and feats, Natural Destruction, Predator's Fury, and Rake. However they are proficient in simple weapons and use their base attack normally. A Beast Monk using manufactured weapons instead of available natural weapons cannot use the above class features and doesn't gain proficiency with simple weapons. A Beast Monk wearing any armor loses use of class features that require free movement: AC Bonus, Fast Movement, Nimble, Evasion, Imp. Evasion, Ambush Step, and Predator's Stalk.

AC Bonus (Ex): A Beast Monk has a sixth sense that lets him avoid even unanticipated attacks. When unarmored and unencumbered, the Beast Monk adds his Wisdom bonus (if any) to her AC. In addition, a Beast Monk gains a +1 bonus to AC at 5th level. This bonus increases by 1 for every five Beast Monk levels thereafter (+2 at 10th, +3 at 15th, and +4 at 20th level). These bonuses to AC apply even against touch attacks or when the Beast Monk is flat-footed. He loses these bonuses when he is immobilized or helpless, when he wears any armor, when he carries a shield, or when he carries a medium or heavy load.

Multiattack: A Beast Monk gains Multiattack as a bonus feat at 1st level which reduces the penalty to secondary attacks to -2 instead of -5. At 5th and 9th levels this penalty is further reduced to -1 and +0 respectively.

Natural Strike: A Beast Monk gains damage on its primary natural attacks as though it was one size larger. (Table 4-3 pg. 291 Monster Manual. For damage higher than 3d6 or 3d8 just add one more d6 or d8.) This bonus increases the damage of primary attacks by one more size at 4th level and every four levels after (4, 8, 12, 16, 20). A Beast Monk's secondary natural attacks increase at half the rate starting at 4th level (4, 12, 20). A Beast Monk may choose to deal non-lethal damage with a natural attack when he normally wouldn't. Treat the attack as a slam attack appropriate for it's size (1d3 for small, 1d4 for medium, 1d6 for large), or it's normal damage but bludgeoning only whichever is lesser, modified by Natural Strike.

Beast Style: At 1st level a Beast Monk chooses a style of fighting that they progress in as they gain levels in Beast Monk.

Grappler: At 1st level Grapplers gain Improved Grab. On a successful primary attack they can initiate a grapple as a free action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. If they have multiple primary attacks each additional successful hit with a primary weapon gives a +2 bonus to the grab attempt. If a Beast Monk already has Improved Grab from its race, they use the natural weapon(s) listed there and gains a +2 bonus to all grab attempts when choosing this style.
At 2nd level Grapplers gain Improved Grapple as a bonus feat.
At 6th level Grapplers gain Constrict. When successfully grabbing an opponent the Beast Monk deals an automatic slam that deals bonus damage as a secondary attack from Natural Strike. In addition by making a successful grapple check while grappling, a Beast Monk may deal damage equal to a primary slam attack as a free action. Neither action incurs a -4 penalty to the grapple check when making a natural attack as normal. If a Beast Monk already has constrict from its race, they use they natural weapon(s) listed there and deals primary damage on the grab and an additional size increase when constricting an opponent who is already grappled.

Charger: At 1st level Chargers gain Pounce. At the end of a charge a Beast Monk can make a full attack including any Rake attacks. If a Beast Monk already has pounce from its race it gains a +2 to attack rolls in addition to all bonuses and penalties when charging.
At 2nd level Chargers gain either Improved Bull Rush or Improved Overrun as a bonus feat. In addition they may make a Bull Rush or Overrun attempt after a Pounce attack where at least one hit landed.
At 6th level Chargers gain Powerful Charge. They make an additional primary slam attack as part of a Pounce attack. If the Beast Monk is attempting an Overrun this attack uses 1-1/2 (rounded down) times the Beast Monk's Strength Modifier instead of the normal 1 times. If the Beast Monk already has Powerful Charge from their race they use the stated damage, which replaces a primary or sometimes a secondary attack instead of giving another, with the exception that it uses 1-1/2 times Strength if it doesn't already do so. A Beast Monk that already has Powerful Charge from its race gains +2 to any Bull Rush or Overrun attempts if at least one hit from a Pounce attack landed.

Evasion (Ex): It's just evasion ok.

Fast Movement (Ex): At 3rd level, a Beast Monk gains an enhancement bonus to his speed, as shown in the above table. A Beast Monk in armor (even light armor) or carrying a medium or heavy load loses this extra speed. In addition a Beast Monk with a climb, burrow, or swim speed from their race gains half the stated speed bonus to those forms of travel. A Beast Monk with a fly speed from their race gain bonus fly speed equal to the stated bonus in parenthesis() and at 20th level their maneuverability improves by one rank with a max of perfect.

Predator's Focus (Ex): A Beast Monk of 3rd level or higher gains a +2 bonus on saving throws against spells and effects from the school of enchantment.

Natural Destruction (Ex): A Beast Monk's natural attacks ignore up to 5 points of damage reduction no matter what kind. This increases at 10th and 16th level to ignoring 10 points of DR and ignoring 15 points of DR and all Hardness respectively.

Nimble (Ex): A Beast Monk gains their Nimble bonus (+2 at 4th and increasing by +1 every 2 levels after) to all Balance, Jump, and Tumble checks. They also gain the same benefit to their Climb and Swim checks if they have a matching speed from their race. In addition when making a successful check to reduce falling damage, the damage is reduced by another 10 ft for every +2 Nimble bonus the Beast Monk has.

Predator's Body (Ex): At 5th level, a Beast Monk gains control over his body’s immune system. He gains immunity to all diseases except for supernatural and magical diseases (such as mummy rot and lycanthropy). In addition all extraordinary diseases and poisons your race can produce gains a +1 increase to its save DC.

Predator's Regeneration (Ex): At 7th level or higher, a Beast Monk can heal his own wounds. He can heal a number of hit points of damage equal to 2 x (Beast Monk level + Racial HD) each day, and he can spread this healing out among several uses.

Imp. Evasion (Ex): It's improved evasion c'mon guys. i'm tired of typing.

Imp. Predator's Body (Ex): At 11th level, a Beast Monk is in such firm control of his own metabolism that he gains immunity to poisons of all kinds. In addition any extraordinary diseases or poisons that your race can produce gains a +2 increase to its save DC. This replaces the similar bonus from Predator's Body.

Predator's Fury (Ex): IT'S THE BIG BAD FLURRY OF BLOWS WITH CLAWS. A Beast Monk gains an additional secondary attack for each primary attack it has for every extra attack it would normally be entitled to from Base Attack Bonus (Normally natural attacks ignore extra attacks due to base attack bonus). Any other secondary attacks made before the start of the Beast Monk's next round take a -5 penalty that is unaffected by the multiattack feat. For example a werewolf in hybrid form has 2 primary Claw attacks, 1 secondary Bite, and a BA of +11/+6/+1. He would get 2 primary Claw attacks at +11/+11, 4 secondary Claw attacks at +6/+6/+1/+1, and one secondary Bite attack at +6 (normally would get with other class features 2 primary Claws at +11/+11 and 1 secondary bite at +11). Please note that the extra attacks are secondary and therefore deal less damage from Natural Strike than their primary copies. They also don't count towards things like the Improved Grab since they are secondary. THIS LAST SENTENCE WAS ADDED CAUSE I KNOW YOU BASTAGES WILL MAKE A MINDFLAYER WITH 12 TENTACLE ATTACKS.

Ambush Step (Su): At 12th level or higher, a Beast Monk can slip magically between spaces, as if using the spell dimension door except you may still take additional actions, once per day as a free action. His caster level for this effect is 1/2 x (Beast Monk level + Racial HD) rounded down. If the destination of this ability is within reach of an enemy, those enemies lose their Dexterity bonus to their AC as though it were a surprise round. Chargers can use this distance as part or all of the minimum distance needed to charge (effectively allowing charges against the back row, at any angle, and/or against enemies farther than your run distance.)

Predator's Soul (Ex): At 13th level, a Beast Monk gains spell resistance equal to (Beast Monk level + Racial HD) + 10. In order to affect the Beast Monk with a spell, a spellcaster must get a result on a caster level check (1d20 + caster level; see Spell Resistance, page 177 of the Player Handbook) that equals or exceeds the Beast Monk’s spell resistance.

Rake (Ex): The Beast Monk gains Rake. When using Pounce the Beast Monk gains 2 extra secondary Claw attacks suitable for its size. These secondary Claw attacks can be used as a standard action when grappling and do not incur the normal -4 penalty to the grapple check. If the Beast Monk already has Rake from its race it uses the weapons listed there and the damage is treated as primary.

Ageless Predator (Ex): Upon attaining 17th level, a Beast Monk no longer takes penalties to his ability scores for aging and cannot be magically aged. Any such penalties that he has already taken, however, remain in place. Bonuses still accrue, and the Beast Monk still dies of old age when his time is up.

Beast Tongue (Ex): A Beast Monk of 17th level or higher can speak with any living creature as long as it shares a type or sub-type with the Beast Monk.

Predator's Stalk (Su): At 19th level, a Beast Monk gains the ability to assume an ethereal state for (Beast Monk level + Racial HD) minutes per day, as though using the spell etherealness. He may divide these rounds over multiple uses during that day.

Perfect Predator: At 20th level, a Beast Monk has train their body to the point where nothing can stop it from completing it's hunt. The Beast Monk gains damage reduction 10/-, which allows him to ignore the first 10 points of damage from any attack.

Ex-Beast Monks

Beast Monks must be close to their natural state to use their class features. A Beast Monk that wears armor or uses manufactured weapons loses some or all of their class features for the duration (see armor and weapon proficiency above). In addition a Beast Monk must keep its body and primal senses sharp or they lose some of their strength. For every month a Beast Monk goes without regular strenuous exercise or hunting, they lose class feature as though they had lost a level in Beast Monk. This is not an actual loss of level (it doesn't affect HD, HP, BA, or Base Saves) and can be recovered at a rate of one level per week of similar activities as their body strengthens. This is mostly important if a Beast Monk were to spend extended amounts of time on a ship, in prison, or as a lycanthrope in humanoid form.

Epic Beast Monk

Table: The Epic Beast Monk

Hit Die: d8

Level	Special
21st	Unarmored Speed Bonus 70 ft (20 ft fly)
22nd	-
23rd	-
24th	Unarmored Speed Bonus 80 ft (25 ft fly)
25th	AC Bonus +5, Bonus Feat
26th	-
27th	Unarmored Speed Bonus 90 ft (30 ft fly)
28th	-
29th	-
30th	AC Bonus +5, Unarmored Speed Bonus 100 ft (30 ft fly), Bonus Feat
4 + Int modifier skill points per level.

AC Bonus: The Beast Monk’s bonus to Armor Class when unarmored increases by +1 every five levels higher than 20th (+5 at 25th, +6 at 30th, and so on).

Unarmored Speed Bonus: The epic Beast Monk’s speed when wearing no armor increases by 10 feet every three levels higher than 18th (+70 ft. at 21st, +80 ft. at 24th, and so on). In addition they gain 1/2 that benefit to any climb, burrow, or swim speed they have from their race and 1/3 (rounded down to nearest multiple of 5) to any fly speed they have from their race.

Bonus Feats: The epic Beast Monk gains a bonus feat every 5 levels after 20th.

Troglodyte Beast Monk Starting Package ECL: 5

Weapons: None. Has 2 claw attacks that deal 1d6 damage and 1 secondary Bite attack that deals 1d4 damage (after Natural Strike calculated in).

Skill Selection: Pick a number of skills equal to 4 + Int modifier. Also has 2 x (2 + Int) skill points from 2 Humanoid HD.

Skill	Ranks	Ability	Armor Check Penalty
Pick your own damn skills	<-4 for class skills and 2 for cross-class skills->	<-Abbreviated key ability->	"—"

Feats: Pick two dammit.

Bonus Feats: Multiattack, Improved Grab or Pounce

Gear: Some Gear using gold below. No armor.

Gold: 300 gp. (from Dungeon Master's Guide for a CR 1 creature like the Troglodyte.)

Racial Bonuses: -2 Dex, +4 Con, -2 Int, 90 ft Darkvision, 2 Humanoid HD, 2d8 HP, BA: +1, Fort: +3, Hide and Listen as class skills, +4 racial bonus to Hide (+8 in rocky or underground settings), +6 Natural Armor, Stench (Monster Manual pg. 247)

Campaign Information

Playing a Beast Monk

Religion: Beast Monks usually follow a racial god if any.

Other Classes: The more disciplined classes, like the paladin and the monk, view the Beast Monk as primitive and uncontrolled. Combat: <-Typical role in combat->.

Advancement: Lycanthropes tend to multiclass a normal class for when they are in human form usually a fighter or ranger. Some races may multiclass into a spell-casting class to provide more options than melee fighting.

Beast Monks in the World

“	Alright, we got him cornered. Let's end this.	”
—Last words of a werewolf hunter.

Beast Monks tend to follow the society of their race and can't really be generalized here.

Beast Monk Lore

Characters with ranks in Knowledge (Nature) can research Beast Monks to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

Knowledge (Nature)

DC	Result
5	Beast Monks are deadly hunters.
10	Beast Monks can cause much more injury with their natural weapons than normal.
15	Beast Monks are extremely agile and fast. they can attack with blinding speed.
20	Beast Monks' physical prowess allows them to perform supernatural feats like Ambush Step and Predator's Stalk.

Beast Monks in the Game

Beast Monks tend to make great melee DPS or Tanks. Depending on their race they may also have special attacks and/or spell-like abilities that can make them more flexible than a basic fighter.

Adaptation: Variants on a variant is just ridiculous please stop.

Sample Encounter: Boss monster or beefy bodyguard.

---

Back to Main Page → 3.5e Homebrew → Classes → Base Classes