You’ve seen the movies. Jackie Chan stumbling around with a wine jug, looking like he’s about to trip over his own feet, only to accidentally knock out a dozen bad guys with a bench. It’s iconic. In Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, the Way of the Drunken Master tries to bottle that exact chaos. But here is the thing: a lot of players think it’s a joke subclass. They see "drunken" and assume it’s just for comic relief or flavored roleplay.
They’re wrong.
Actually, when you look at the mechanics found in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, the Drunken Master is arguably the most "Monk" a Monk can be. It solves the biggest problem the class has—survivability in the middle of a mosh pit.
The Drunkard’s Technique: It’s Not About the Beer
Let’s get the flavor out of the way first. You don’t actually have to be drunk. Mechanically, the Way of the Drunken Master is about unpredictability and swaying movements. It’s performance art masquerading as a brawl. If you’re playing a character who follows this path, you’re basically a specialized dancer. You use jerky, off-balance motions to make enemies miss.
When you pick this at 3rd level, you get Drunken Technique. This is the "secret sauce" of the build. Whenever you use Flurry of Blows, you gain the benefits of the Disengage action automatically. Plus, your walking speed increases by 10 feet until the end of your turn.
Think about that.
Usually, a Monk has to choose: do I use my bonus action to Step of the Wind and get away, or do I stay and punch? If you stay and punch, you’re a "squishy" d8 hit-die character standing next to a Giant with a club. You’re gonna get smashed. The Drunken Master says, "Why not both?" You punch four times and then moonwalk 50 feet away without drawing a single attack of opportunity. It’s frustrating for DMs. It’s beautiful for you.
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Why People Think It Sucks (And Why They Are Mistaken)
Common wisdom on Reddit or Discord often puts the Way of Mercy or the Way of Shadow above this one. The argument is usually that the Drunken Master doesn't add "damage." And yeah, if you’re looking for a DPR (Damage Per Round) king, you might feel underwhelmed. You aren't getting the extra necrotic damage of a Mercy monk or the spellcasting utility of a Shadow monk.
But D&D isn't just a spreadsheet.
Tactical positioning is everything. In a real encounter, being able to hit three different enemies and then hide behind the Paladin is worth more than an extra 1d6 damage. You are the ultimate harasser. You're a mosquito with a black belt.
Tipsy Sway and Redirection
At 6th level, things get weirdly effective. You get Tipsy Sway. This gives you two specific perks. First, you can leap to your feet from prone by spending only 5 feet of movement. This is massive. Being prone is a death sentence for most melee fighters because it grants advantage to attackers. For you? It’s a minor inconvenience. You just pop back up like a spring.
Then there’s Leap to Your Feet’s brother: Redirect Attack. This is the most satisfying button to press in the entire game. If a creature misses you with a melee attack roll while you’re within 5 feet of another creature, you can spend 1 Ki point to make that attack hit the other creature instead.
Imagine a boss monster swinging a massive greataxe at you. You duck. You spend a Ki point. That axe slams into the boss’s own henchman. It doesn't matter what the henchman's AC is; the attack just hits. It turns the DM's high-damage monsters against their own side. Honestly, it’s the ultimate "stop hitting yourself" move.
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High-Level Chaos: Drunkard’s Luck and Beyond
By the time you hit 11th level, you get Drunkard’s Luck. It’s simple but saves lives. You can spend 2 Ki points to cancel disadvantage on an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw. In high-level play, DMs love to throw "frightened" or "poisoned" conditions at you, which grant disadvantage. Being able to just... ignore that? It keeps your momentum going.
And then there is the capstone: Intoxicated Frenzy.
At 17th level, when you use Flurry of Blows, you can make up to three extra attacks (for a total of five) as long as each attack is directed at a different creature.
Wait. Five attacks?
If you find yourself surrounded by a horde of goblins or skeletons, you become a whirlwind. You’re hitting five different targets, getting a free Disengage, and gaining extra movement speed to zip away before they even realize they’ve been hit. You are the master of crowd control through sheer volume of strikes.
How to Actually Build This Character
If you want to make this work, you can't just slap it on any Monk. You need to be smart about your race and feat selection.
- Race: Wood Elves are classic for the extra speed, but consider the Tabaxi. Feline Agility doubles your speed for a turn. Combine that with the Drunken Master’s free 10-foot boost, and you can cross the entire battlefield in seconds. If you're using the newer Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse rules, a Bugbear is actually terrifying because of the extra 5 feet of reach. You can punch people from 10 feet away and then run, meaning they can't even try to hit you back.
- Feats: Take Mobile if you want to be untouchable, though it slightly overlaps with your 3rd-level feature. A better choice might be Crusher. Since Monks deal bludgeoning damage, Crusher lets you move an enemy 5 feet when you hit them. It adds even more battlefield control to your "unpredictable" kit.
- Stats: Dexterity is your lifeblood. Wisdom is your soul. Keep them high. Don't worry too much about Strength; you're a willow, not an oak.
The Roleplaying Layer
Don't feel pigeonholed into the "bum who likes ale" trope. It’s tired. Instead, think about why your character moves like this.
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Maybe you’re a retired circus acrobat who learned to fight defensively. Or perhaps you’re a noble who practices a very flowery, "useless" looking martial art that turns out to be lethal. You could even be a klutz who is genuinely lucky. The "Drunken" part is just a label for a style that emphasizes fluid, non-linear movement.
Real-World Influence: Zui Quan
This isn't just something Wizards of the Coast dreamed up. It’s based on Zui Quan, or Drunken Fist, a collection of Chinese martial arts. Real-world practitioners use these off-balance postures to disguise their lines of attack. It’s about deception. When you play a Drunken Master, you aren't just a fighter; you're a liar. Every movement is a feint.
In a party, you aren't the tank. You aren't the primary damage dealer. You are the disruptor. You go in, you stun the spellcaster, you redirect the giant's swing into his buddy, and you leave before anyone can touch you.
Tactical Checklist for Your Next Session
- Don't Stand Still: If you end your turn next to an enemy, you’ve failed. Use that free Disengage and move.
- Position for Redirection: Always try to stand between two enemies. Give the DM a chance to miss you so you can use Redirect Attack.
- Stunning Strike Synergy: Don't forget you're still a Monk. Punch, stun, move to the next guy, punch, move.
- Save Your Ki: It’s tempting to Redirect every miss, but save some Ki for those late-game saves or when you really need to Flurry.
The Way of the Drunken Master is for the player who wants to be everywhere at once. It’s for the player who wants to laugh when the DM rolls a natural 1. It’s a high-skill-ceiling subclass that rewards creative movement over raw math.
Next time you’re rolling up a character and everyone says "Monks are weak," pick up the brewer’s supplies and show them how wrong they are. Grab the Crusher feat early to maximize your battlefield displacement, and focus on positioning yourself between two melee enemies to bait out a Redirect Attack as soon as you hit level 6. Check your Ki points often; you'll burn through them faster than a keg at a dwarven wedding if you aren't careful.