The Dignified Windmill: Kensei

Monk/Battlemaster Fighter
Concept
Take a base of Monk and build on it by 1) Increasing the
number of attacks and 2) Increasing flat damage bonuses
to those attack, whilst retaining high AC.

Highlights
- At 20th level nova round of 8 attacks every short rest
- Entirely recharges on short rest
- Reliable 22AC every turn
- 6 ASIs with only 4 essential to the build

Race- Ghostwise Halfling

Skills
- Athletics
- Stealth (Monk)
- Other skills will be given by your chosen background

Recommended Maneuvers
Riposte: With such a high AC you should be able to
regularly take advantage of reaction attacks
Precision Attack: I mean why try to hit if you didn’t
REALLY want to?
Trip Attack: Bonus damage and set your subsequent
attacks all at advantage
Parry: Damage reduction is better than giving up our
Bonus Action attack to Second Wind

Recommended Kensei Weapons

Longsword: A strong opening option as you can two hand
it for that sweet d10, but only really useful for 5th level
Rapier: Finesse is a little redundant due to it being a
Kensei weapon, but it sets up a potential Rogue dip
Shortbow: As a short race the longbow is out for us, but
the shortbow does just fine for those Kensei Shots
 Level Progression and Play Advice

Levels 1-5 Straight Monk: Kensei

Level 1 - Two-hand a quarterstaff (d8) for your main
action and headbutt away for your Bonus Action. Remind
yourself you can speak telepathically, it’s easy to forget

Level 2 - Keep pace with that cocky Wood Elf, use your ki
sparingly as either nova (Flurry) or defense (Patient
Defense)

Level 3- Take Kensei as your subclass, unless you REALLY

want that extra damage, unarmed strike every action for
+2 AC (18 total) every turn

Level 4- Take Second Chance (XGTE) for your 4th level

ASI, bumping your DEX to 18 and giving you a once a fight
defensive reaction

Level 5- Now you have extra attack use that Kensei

weapon for extra damage, make your second attack
unarmed (now a d6) to retain the +2 AC bump
If you feel like you don’t have enough Ki or your DM is
throwing monsters with non-magical weapon resistance
at you, continue to Monk 6, otherwise continue as:

Level 6- We’re going to take a dip into Fighter here and

take the Dueling fighting style to raise our Kensei weapon
damage. Second Wind is good for emergency or between
encounters.

Level 7- Keeping it Fighter and getting that Action Surge

nova. Remember you only need to make one unarmed
attack to retain your +2 AC so make the other 3 with your
Kensei weapon (1d8+6)

Level 8-Take Battle Master for your subclass. For

maneuvers, I’d recommend Trip, Riposte and Precision to
start.

Level 9- For your Fighter ASI bump your Wisdom to +4

The order of the rest of the build depends on how

restricted on Ki you feel and how early you want to bring 3
standard attacks online. We will end up as a Monk
8/Fighter 12. My recommendation is as follows:

Level 10- Swing back into Monk for magic strikes,

another Ki point and Deft Strike to spend it on
Level 11- Moving back into Fighter, unfortunately mostly
a dead level

Level 12- Fighter ASI, max out your Wisdom for 22AC in
combat and a higher Stunning Strike DC
Level 13- Another Superiority Die (SD), two more
maneuvers (Pick up Parry and one of your choice) and the
situational but flavourful Know Your Enemy. Oh, and
you’re still TELEPATHIC!

Level 14- Fighter yields another ASI, I’d recommend

either Martial Adept for another SD, Tough for more HP or
Defensive Duelist to pump that AC to 27 once per turn.

Level 15- Indomitable becomes available, the defensive

aspect of this build increases even further

Level 16- Two more maneuvers (take whichever you

fancy) and our SD become d10s!

Level 17- Arguably the capstone of this build, we now have

3 attacks per attack action. Make two weapon attacks and
one unarmed to retain the AC bump.

Level 18- Our last Fighter level brings us another ASI,

either pump CON or take a feat you haven’t picked up yet.
Fighter has left us with 5 SD, 3 main attacks, 1
indomitable, and a Second Wind 0f 1d10+12!
Level 19- We’ll finish off with more Monk, boosting our
Ki and getting Evasion and Stillness of Mind.

Level 20- And finally another ASI and Ki point.