Monk

Monks are priests who are specialised in barehanded fighting, though they can use the same weapons as thieves, without the two handed weapons with many things in common with the warrior group. But unlike all other warriors, who can wear armor, specialise in all weapons, monks cannot, as they can become only proficient with daggers and throwing daggers, short swords and long swords, clubs, darts and slings, which is a major disadvantage. Also, they can only specialise in the single weapon style and the other weapon styles are disabled to them.

But they get compensated for this by a large amount of different bonuses and abilities they can learn. Monks are famous for their special abilities, such as Kai, which is an attack with fists which may stun the opponent and Quivering Palm. Monks can use some thieving skills as well, they can hide in shadows, find and disarm traps and they can move silently while stealth mode.

Monks have the experience table for Clerics and have the same hitpoints dice as well, which explains why they are in the priest group. But they have the same high-level class abilities pool as figthers, barbarians and paladins and Gorion's Ward earns the same stronghold as fighters. Monks only have lawful alignments available to them.

This class can be seen as a hybrid of warriors, thieves and priests.This class is not available in Baldur's Gate.

Stunning blow
Monks can use Stunning blow once per day for every four levels. All the monk's attacks in the six seconds following the ability's activation that are successful, the opponent must make a save or be stunned.

Quivering palm
When a monk reaches the 13th level, they get the ability 'Quivering Palm'. The first time a monk attacks with their fists after activating Quivering Palm, if the attack is successful then the opponent must make a save vs death or die. The ability can be used once per day.

Lay on hands
They the ability to lay on hands at lvl 7, which heals 2 hitpoints per level.

Armor class bonuses
The armor class of the monk is 9 at the start. This decreases by one point every two levels and at high levels, a monk gains an (additional) bonus to armor class at lvl 21, 24, 30 35 and lvl 40.

Deflect Missiles
This gives a monk a -1 armor class bonus against missile attacks every three levels.

Saving throw bonus
Monks have +2 bonus when they need to making saving throws against spells right from the start. At lvl 9, they gain +1 bonus to all saving throws

Immunities
At level 5, they gain immunity to all diseases and they can't be hasted or slowed down. At lvl 9, they also become immune to status effect charm as well. At lvl 11, they become immune to poison too. At lvl 20, they become immune to non-magical weapons.

Movement speed and speed factor
Monks move +2 points faster than normal units from the start. They gain +1 for every five levels.

At level 8, they receive -1 bonus to speed factor.

Unarmed attacks
The monks starts at doing 1 attack each round. Every three levels, this is improved by 1/2 attack per round. At lvl 18, a monk can attack with his fists 4 times each round.

Magical resistance
Monks gain at lvl 14 3% resistance to magic for every level, which adds 42% magic resistance immediatly and it continues grow up to level 26, at which they have 78%.

High-level class abilities
High level class abilities are added the expansion Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal. For all monks and warriors, the pool of abilities consist of abilities which are accesses from the special abilities menu which can be used during battle. These abilities are available to monks at level 20, despite what the manual states.
 * Power Attack, this ability can be selected as many times you like.


 * Critical Strike, requires power attack. This ability can be selected as many times you like.


 * Smite, requires power attack and critical strike. This ability can be selected only one time.


 * Deathblow, this ability can be selected as many times you like.


 * Greater Deathblow, requires deathblow. This ability can be selected as many times you like.


 * Whirlwind, this ability can be selected as many times you like.


 * Greater Whirlwind, it requires whirlwind. This ability can be selected as many times you like.


 * Battle Cry, this ability can be selected as many times you like.


 * Hardiness, this ability can be selected as many times you like.


 * Resist Magic, this ability can be selected as many times you like.