Monks have always been D&D’s go-to race for anyone who wants to feel directly superhuman (or superelf, superdwarf, etc.). They are able to keep up with other classes using only their bare hands and without armor! 

How do we take this concept to the next level? We start with an already superhuman race of course! Let’s build an aasimar monk.

The Aasimar race can be found in Volo’s Guide to Monsters. Click here to pick up your own copy of Volo’s Guide to Monsters!

The Monk class can be found in the Player’s Handbook. Click here to pick up your own copy of The Player’s Handbook!

How to Make an Aasimar Monk

Monks do everything that they do through a combination of dexterity and wisdom. It IS possible to split that with strength as well, but you may find yourself spread a bit too thin if you do this. 

Aasimar have a natural bonus to charisma which doesn’t help us much at all, but Protector Aasimar have a +1 to wisdom that we can make use of. 

Dexterity should be your highest stat, wisdom after, and after that, it’s up to you, though I’d recommend constitution third to increase your durability.

You have a lot of options for your monastic tradition (subclass), and they’re all pretty good, especially considering the extra abilities monks received in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything. 

Consider which options better fit your aasimar character. You’re a celestial, so Sun Soul makes sense, especially if you chose Scourge Aasimar. Long Death and Shadow suit Fallen Aasimar nicely, Astral Self and Open Hand are two delightfully superhuman feeling options, and Kensei is a good fit overall if you feel like wielding a weapon instead of using your fists.

How to Play an Aasimar Monk

What makes you special in combat are your martial arts, which allow your unarmed strikes to use a special die that grows as you get stronger. You also use KI points, a resource that grants you access to special maneuvers that can change the flow of battle, or that power your subclass features.

Regardless of your Monastic Tradition, almost all monks focus on melee and in delivering different flavors of pain through a series of strikes. Kensei monks may use ranged weapons instead, and Sun Soul monks may be firing bolts of sunlight instead. The Way of the Four Elements monks may find themselves with a bit of extra versatility in their limited spellcasting but ultimately will also want to be in the thick of the fight. 

As an aasimar, you have additional options on top of what monks already have to choose from through your racial powers, so don’t be afraid to make high risk plays.

How to Roleplay as an Aasimar Monk

Monks do not need spell-casting focuses or spellbooks, they aren’t beholden to any deity or patron, and they won’t be useless if you take away their magical weapons or armor. A high level monk is just as effective in a piece of sackcloth as one decked out with fancy equipment.

Consider how this might affect your roleplay. Has it made you cocky or humble? Do you look down on others or do you pity them? Perhaps this part of your character isn’t even something they think about at all. 

How does their aasimar heritage play a role in what they’ve learned to do? Do they believe divine strength and speed makes them special, or that this is the fruit of their training? 

The combinations you have available here really allow you to make an interesting character that’ll be fun for the whole party to interact with, just keep your fellow players in mind.