Yes, Stunning Strike can be used with Martial Arts. This was true in the original PHB and is still true when considering errata published in 2015. Although unarmed strikes are no longer listed as melee weapons on the weapons table.
How good is stunning strike?
Stunning Strike is, in my opinion, the monk’s signature ability in 5e. It allows you to spend a ki point to potentially stun the target of one of your melee weapon attacks. It’s particularly great because if a creature fails the save and is stunned then they are stunned until the end of your next turn.
When to use the monk’s stunning strike feature?
The monk’s Stunning Strike feature reads as follows: Starting at 5th level, you can interfere with the flow of ki in an opponent’s body. When you hit another creature with a melee weapon attack, you can spend 1 ki point to attempt a stunning strike.
Can a monk do stunning strike in D & D?
So long as there are “ki” points available, the Monk can keep attempting “Stunning Strike” more and more as they level. Being stunned in D&D is one of the worst status conditions a character can experience, and means that (barring a successful CON save) they can’t do anything at all.
Do you do damage with a stunning strike?
Stunning strike does not say you do not do damage. PHB page 79: Starting at 5th level, you can interfere with the flow of ki in an opponent’s body. When you hit another creature with a melee weapon Attack, you can spend 1 ki point to attempt a stunning strike.
How does the status of a monk work?
On top of that, the status lasts until the end of the Monk’s next turn. Basically, the Monk can hit an enemy with “Stunning Strike” until it works (which is especially easy at higher levels due to having more “ki”) and then that enemy can do pretty much nothing for an entire round of combat.
