Monks in Dungeons & Dragons have come far in recent years. Once upon a time, the class was not highly regarded among the general community, being seen as a fairly underpowered option that did not emphasize customization as thoroughly as other build types. As such, Monks were not particularly popular for a fairly long while, offering less armor and weapon proficiencies than other classes; fortunately, they are now more viable, fun, versatile, and unique.