The 15 Best Magic Items For Monks in D&D 5e [Ranked]

Since Monks have such a specialized kit, it’s quite easy to recognize which items are horrible and which items a Monk will love.

In most cases, they go for Dexterity and Wisdom, not having enough leeway to put points into Constitution, even though it’s needed.

Therefore, some of the best items for a Monk capitalize on ability scores they need and provide them with a bit more defensive options so that their low Constitution score doesn’t affect them that much.

Best Magic Items for the Monk in 5e

15. Eyes of the Eagle

Rarity – Uncommon (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

Wearing these crystal lenses gives you advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks relying on sight. 

In conditions where you have clear visibility, you can make out details of very distant objects and creatures as small as 2 feet across.

Explanation

If you’re tired of enemies sneaking up on you, then Eyes of the Eagle is perfect.

Having this item forces enemies to use magic if they want to get to you undetected, which most enemies don’t have anyway.

14. Delver’s Claws

Rarity – Rare (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

The back of this leather glove has three large metal hooks shaped like mole’s claws. A mountain rune is stitched into the palm of this glove.

The glove is a simple melee weapon with light and finesse properties dealing 1d4 Slashing damage on hit.

If attuned to the glove, you will gain a burrowing speed that is equal to your walking speed as well as blindsight to 15 feet.

Invoking the Rune – Using an action lets you invoke the glove’s rune and bolster yourself with the sturdiness of the earth.

If you spend and roll a number of unspent Hit Die up to a maximum of your Proficiency bonus, you regain HP equal to the total rolls plus your Constitution modifier.

After the rune has been invoked, it cannot be invoked again until the next dawn.

Explanation

The Delver’s Claws count as a Monk weapon, which means you don’t need anything extra to use it.

You also get Blindsight, so you don’t have to get it from a Feat, and then your fast Monk speed helps you burrow better than other classes who can also use this item.

13. Ring of Spell Storing

Rarity – Rare (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Ring

Description

Spells cast into the ring are stored (up to 5 levels worth of spells are able to be stored in the ring at one time), holding them until the attuned wearer decides to use them.  

When the ring is found, it can contain 1d6 -1 levels of stored spells (chosen by the DM).

Any creature is able to cast a spell of 1st to 5th level into the ring by simply touching it as the spell is cast. Doing this makes the spell have no effect other than being stored in the ring.

However, if the ring cannot hold the spell, it will be expended without effect. The level of the spell slot used to cast the spell will determine how much space it takes up.

Wearing the ring lets you cast any spell stored within it. The spell will use the slot level, spell attack bonus, spell save DC, and spellcasting ability of the original caster but is otherwise treated as a normal cast spell.

A spell cast from the ring is no longer stored within it, freeing up space in the ring.

Explanation

The Ring of Spell Storing has a lot of uses, but the best way to use it would be to pump it with defensive spells to increase your durability.

Spells like Absorb Elements or Shield work extremely well when put into a Ring of Spell Storing.

12. Eldritch Claw Tattoo

Rarity – Uncommon (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Wondrous item (tattoo)

Description

Eldritch Claw Tattoo is produced using a special needle that depicts a clawlike form and other jagged shapes.

Tattoo Attunement – Attuning to this item requires you to hold the needle to your skin where you want the tattoo to appear, pressing it there throughout the entire attunement process. 

When attunement is complete, the needle will turn into the ink used for the tattoo and appear on the skin. If your attunement ends, the tattoo vanishes, and the needle appears in your space.

Magical Strikes – While on your skin, your unarmed strikes are considered magical to overcome immunity and resistance to nonmagical attacks.

You will also gain a +1 bonus to damage and attack rolls using unarmed strikes.

Eldritch Maul – Using a bonus action lets you empower the tattoo for 1 minute. 

In that duration, each of your melee attacks using a weapon or unarmed strike can reach a target that’s up to 15 feet away from you, as inky tendrils will launch toward the desired target.

Your melee attacks will also deal an extra 1d6 Force damage on a hit. Once the bonus action has been used, it cannot be used until the break of the next dawn.

Explanation

Monks don’t really get too much out of treating their unarmed strikes as magic weapons, but getting a +1 from Eldritch Claw Tattoo to your attacks and damage greatly boosts your damage.

The Eldritch Maul ability is a great way for you to engage enemies while staying out of their melee range.

11. Cloak of Elvenkind

Rarity – Uncommon (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

Wearing this cloak with its hood up gives creatures who make a Wisdom (Perception) check to see you disadvantage.

You also have advantage on all Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide, as the cloak’s color will shift to camouflage you.

Pulling the hood up or down will require an action.

Explanation

The Monk is a pretty stealthy character, so the Cloak of Elvenkind fits him well.

The advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks and the disadvantage given to creatures on Wisdom (Perception) checks is a massive addition to your stealth.

10. Dragonhide Belt

Rarity – Uncommon (+1), Rare (+2), Very Rare (+3) (requiring attunement by a Monk)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

This belt is made from dragonhide and has fine detail.

While wearing the belt, you gain a bonus to saving throw DCs of your Ki features determined by the rarity of the belt.

You can also use an action to regain Ki points that’s to a roll of your Martial Arts die, but you cannot use this action again until the break of the next dawn.

Explanation

Getting a bonus to your Ki’s DC saves is an easy way to give Stunning Strike a massive boost in effectiveness.

You should also consider the fact that the Dragonhide Belt can also allow you to gain Ki by using an action, even if it can only be used once every day.

9. Manual of Bodily Health

Rarity – Very Rare

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

Spend 48 hours over a period of 6 days or less studying this book, increasing your Constitution score by 2, as well as your maximum for it.

After this, the manual will lose its magic, only regaining it in a century.

Explanation

Raising your Constitution score, as well as its maximum, makes it easier for you to focus on other Ability Scores, gain HP, or just raise your Constitution score and Constitution maximum.

So, if you don’t have an item that raises your Constitution and you don’t want to use it anyway, then Manual of Bodily Health is perfect for you.

8. Amulet of Health

Rarity – Rare (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

Your Constitution score rises to 19 while wearing this amulet. It will have no effect on you if your Constitution is at 19 or higher before wearing it.

Explanation

Amulet of Health is perfect if you either want to set your Constitution to 19 and keep it there or if you want to have a high Constitution so that you can focus on increasing other Ability Scores.

You’re also able to take more Feats since you won’t have to focus on increasing your Constitution so that you don’t die instantly at higher levels.

7. Broom of Flying

Rarity – Uncommon

Item Type – Wondrous item

A wooden broom weighing 3 pounds, functioning like a normal broom until the command word is spoken.

If spoken, it begins to hover, having a flying speed of 50 feet, and can carry up to 400 pounds, but, unfortunately, its flying speed becomes 30 feet if it’s carrying over 200 pounds. When you land, the broom will stop hovering.

You may also send the broom to travel alone to its destination within 1 mile of you if you speak its command word, name a location, and are familiar with the location.

When you speak another command word, the broom will come back to you, but only if the broom is still within 1 mile of you.

Explanation

The Broom of Flying is one of the best ways to obtain flight for your character (except for those who wear heavy armor or weigh more than 200 lbs).

Just note that buffs giving you improvement speed won’t increase the flying speed since you’re using the broom’s flying speed and not giving yourself your own flying speed.

6. Ioun Stone (Mastery)

Rarity – Legendary (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

Your Proficiency bonus increases by 1 while this pale green prism is orbiting your head.

Explanation

Your Proficiency bonus applies to a lot of rolls made in D&D, so having it increase by 1 increases all rolls made with Proficiency by 1.

The Ioun Stone (Mastery) might be difficult to find, but if you can find it, you should definitely look at attuning to it.

5. Cloak of Invisibility

Rarity – Legendary (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

Wearing the cloak lets you pull down its hood over your head and become invisible. While invisible, anything you’re wearing or carrying is also invisible.

When you stop wearing the hood, you become visible, and pulling the hood up or down requires an action.

The cloak’s maximum duration is 2 hours, so deduct the time you’re invisible using increments of 1 minute.

After being used for 2 hours, the cloak stops functioning. If a period of 12 uninterrupted hours passes without the cloak being used, 1 hour of duration is regained.

Explanation

Having invisibility, especially invisibility that doesn’t get canceled after you cast a spell or attack (which Cloak of Invisibility has), is too powerful not to take.

However, it’s not only for attacks, as it can work well if you just want to sneak around or even gather information without being seen.

Note: Combining Cloak of Invisibility with an ability that muffles your footsteps or gives you advantage on Stealth checks makes it even better.

4. Winged Boots

Rarity – Uncommon (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

Wearing these boots gives you a flying speed equal to your walking speed. The boots can be used to fly for up to 4 hours, all at once, or used in several short flights using a minimum of 1 minute from the duration.

If you’re flying when the duration expires, you’ll descend at 30 feet per round until you’ve landed. The boots will regain 2 hours of flying capacity for every 12 hours they aren’t being used.

Explanation

Monks have no difficulty in exceeding the speed of Broom of Flying. 

Therefore, if you want a faster flying speed, the Winged Boots might be a better option.

3. Cloak of Displacement

Rarity – Rare (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

Wearing this cloak projects an illusion that makes it look like you’re standing in a place close to your actual location, giving creatures disadvantage on attack rolls against you.

Taking damage will stop this function until the start of your next turn. This property is also suppressed while you are restrained, incapacitated, or unable to move.

Explanation

The Cloak of Displacement is considered to be one of the best defensive items for any character in D&D.

Giving creatures who want to attack you disadvantage is amazing, but try to take care of enemies who can damage you without having to expend an attack roll.

2. Blood Fury Tattoo

Rarity – Legendary (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Wondrous item (tattoo)

Description

The magic tattoo is produced using a special needle.

Tattoo Attunement – Hold the needle to your skin where you want the tattoo, pressing it to the spot throughout the entire attunement process.

When completed, the needle will become the ink that becomes the tattoo, then appear on the skin.

Ending your attunement will make the tattoo vanish, and the needle will reappear in your space.

Bloodthirsty Strikes – The tattoo holds 10 charges, regaining all expended charges each day at dawn. You gain the following benefits with the tattoo on your skin:

• Hitting a creature with a weapon attack lets you expend a charge and deal an extra 4d6 Necrotic damage to the creature, regaining HP equal to the Necrotic damage dealt.
• Being damaged by a visible creature lets you expend a charge and use your reaction to perform a melee attack against the creature with advantage on your attack roll.

Explanation

The Blood Fury Tattoo is probably one of the best tattoos for any weapon-wielding character in D&D.

It not only lets you deal a ton more damage (Necrotic, which has a low resistance count), but it also heals you for the damage done, letting you continue the fight for longer.

The ability where you can use your Reaction to punish creatures who damage you is also a great addition.

1. Manual of Quickness of Action

Rarity – Very Rare

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

Spend 48 hours over a period of 6 days or less studying this book, increasing your Dexterity score by 2, as well as your maximum for it.

After this, the manual will lose its magic, only regaining it in a century.

Explanation

There isn’t really another item that is so broadly effective for the Monk than the Manual of Quickness and Action.

Monks struggle a ton with getting enough Ability Scores, and this manual just makes it so much easier for them to get the Ability Scores they need.

Final Thoughts

Monks might be one of the most deserving classes of a powerful magic item, so if you’re playing a Monk, be sure to pick up one of these items.

It won’t only improve your class, but it’ll make your gameplay a lot more enjoyable for you and those in your party.