Does defensive duelist work?

https://lemmy.world/post/22280111

Does defensive duelist work? - Lemmy.World

On tabletop I play a Way of the Astral Self Monk with defensive duelist. I thought I’d try that in the game and switched Astarion to open hand Monk. I’m not sure if I’m doing something wrong but it never seems to activate.

I don’t have an answer for you, but would defensive duelist work with a monk? Doesn’t it require a weapon in the main hand and an empty off hand?
Monks can use weapons, but not Open Hand. Elemental monk works better with weapons than bare-handed in BG3. I don’t think any martial weapons are also finesse weapons, though.

I was aware monks can (at the very least I was aware of Kensei), I’d just never considered it as advantageous enough to go Defensive Duelist, I guess.

In an MP save I’m in, I’m playing an open hand monk and am currently using that staff you can buy from Auntie Ethel in the grove because of the bonuses to unarmed damage.