Rules scope: This build uses the legacy Goliath from Elemental Evil Player’s Companion with the 2014 Monk. The revised Goliath and Monk rules are different options; don’t mix their traits or features into this build.
Goliath Monk Build: Durability and Control
A Goliath Monk can lean into Strength and grappling, or use Dexterity and Wisdom for a more familiar Monk build. Either way, the legacy Goliath’s Stone’s Endurance gives you a limited way to reduce incoming damage, while Monk movement and control features help you choose where to fight. This combination rewards careful positioning more than standing still and trying to absorb every attack.
What the legacy Goliath contributes
The legacy Goliath is Medium and gains +2 Strength and +1 Constitution. Natural Athlete grants Athletics proficiency. Stone’s Endurance lets you use your reaction when you take damage to roll a d12, add your Constitution modifier, and reduce that damage by the total; you regain the use after a short or long rest. Mountain Born gives cold damage resistance and acclimation to high altitude.
Powerful Build counts you as one size larger only when determining carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift. It does not make you Large and does not increase the target size you can grapple. As a Medium Goliath, you can grapple a Large creature under the normal 2014 limit of one size larger, using a Strength (Athletics) check. Natural Athlete helps with that check, but a grapple does not require an ongoing check to maintain.
Ability scores and defenses
One legal 27-point-buy array before the legacy species increases is Strength 10, Dexterity 15, Constitution 14, Intelligence 10, Wisdom 14, Charisma 8. After the Goliath’s fixed increases, the scores are 12, 15, 15, 10, 14, and 8. At level 1, while unarmored and not using a shield, your AC is 14 (10 + Dexterity modifier + Wisdom modifier), and your Ki save DC is 12 (8 + proficiency bonus + Wisdom modifier). The Strength increase supports Athletics and Strength-based Monk attacks; Constitution adds hit points and improves Stone’s Endurance.
Monk’s Martial Arts lets you choose Dexterity instead of Strength for attack and damage rolls with eligible weapons and unarmed strikes; it does not require you to use Dexterity. Unarmored Defense still depends on Dexterity and Wisdom, and Monk features that call for a saving throw use Wisdom. Decide whether you want to emphasize Strength or Dexterity before spending your Ability Score Improvements.
If the DM uses Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything optional origin customization, you can ask to reassign the legacy increases. For example, moving +2 to Dexterity and +1 to Wisdom makes the same point-buy array Dexterity 17 and Wisdom 15. This is an optional rule, not the default printed Goliath array.
Choose a Monastic Tradition
- Way of the Open Hand: Use Flurry of Blows to push, knock prone, or deny reactions to a target you hit. It adds control without relying on Powerful Build to change grappling rules.
- Way of Mercy: Add healing and condition support alongside your attacks. This suits a character who wants to reach allies quickly and stay useful between fights.
- Way of the Astral Self: When your Astral Arms are active, you can use Wisdom for their attack and damage rolls. That can reduce your reliance on Strength or Dexterity for offense, though your AC still depends on Dexterity and Wisdom.
These are different play styles rather than a single ranking. Check each subclass’s level requirements and features before building around it; the Monk chooses a tradition at level 3.
Turn order, feats, and tactical choices
At level 5, Extra Attack lets you make two attacks when you take the Attack action. After that action, you can use your bonus action for one Martial Arts strike, or spend 1 Ki point for Flurry of Blows and make two unarmed strikes. These choices use the same bonus action. Stunning Strike also begins at level 5; it costs Ki when you hit with a melee weapon attack and can force the target to make a Constitution save.
Use Stone’s Endurance after you know how much damage you would take, and remember that it uses your reaction. If you use it, you can’t also use a reaction feature before your next turn. Mobile can help you leave a creature you made a melee attack against without provoking an opportunity attack from that creature for the rest of your turn. Step of the Wind can instead let you Disengage or Dash as a bonus action by spending Ki. Crusher is another option if you want to add movement control to bludgeoning attacks.
Grappling is a separate Strength-based option: it replaces one attack within the Attack action, uses a free hand, and contests your Athletics against the target’s Athletics or Acrobatics. The target must be within reach and no more than one size larger than you. Powerful Build does not remove that limit. Feats such as Grappler use their own text and do not make the Goliath Huge or expand the normal size limit.
Background and character concept
Outlander can suit a mountain traveler, but its Athletics proficiency overlaps with Natural Athlete. If your background choice would grant a proficiency you already have, follow the character-creation rules and your DM’s guidance for replacing it. A Goliath Monk might be a trail guide, a monastery student, a clan champion, or someone who left home to define achievement on their own terms. The species’ legacy lore offers prompts, not rules that every Goliath must follow.
For a 2014 character, use the 2014 Goliath and Monk features together. The revised Goliath and 2024 Monk have updated traits and class features; choose that rules set as a whole if that is what your campaign uses.
