Monk Builds

[Tumbadoo]

I'm looking gather opinions on monk builds. Please post your builds here and thoughts about training as you move toward cap.

Thanks

[Mumblz]

Start with 3x fitness, 2x brawl, 2x CM, 2x dodge, 1x ambush, 1x perception (also took one rank of MOC and one rank of TWC)

Maneuvers that were most useful included 3-4 ranks surge, 3-4 ranks burst, 5 ranks perfect self, 3 ranks punch mastery, Inner Harmony was my preferred stance so I didn't learn a second.

.3x spells, harness and lore (Transformation lore iron skin tiers at 5, 15, 30, 50, and 75)

Don't train minor spiritual as all those spells can be accessed without learning them.

Aim for the head and punch.

[SpiffyJr]

.5x TWC is worth picking up for the additional DS and parry chance with 1214 (and cheap, too).

[Androidpk]

Inner Harmony was my preferred stance so I didn't learn a second.

Does this get rid of stuns?

[Mumblz]

It does work for a slew of effects, however a stun from melee might not be one of them. In that case, I don't think there's a move (Besides stun maneuvers) that will work for you.

[Gelston]

Combat Maneuvers...................| 196 96
Brawling...........................| 196 96
Physical Fitness...................| 196 96
Dodging............................| 244 144
Harness Power......................| 102 24
Mental Mana Control................| 45 9
Mental Lore - Transformation.......| 102 24
Perception.........................| 148 48
Climbing...........................| 102 24
Swimming...........................| 102 24


Spell Lists
Minor Mental.......................| 24

I got that at level 47. Working out excellent so far.

[SpiffyJr]

I think I'm going to give ranged a shot (lol puns).

[Aluvius]

Think I'm going to stick with this build. Goals are to .5x TWC and then pick up Transformation lore up to 30 at level 50 for chain, then start picking up the 100's in spells. After that buffing up Dodge/PF to 3x. Oh and pick up some MoC along the way, at least enough eliminate the FoF from 1 extra opponent.


Metog (at level 25), your current skill bonuses and ranks (including all modifiers) are:
Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Two Weapon Combat..................| 5 1
Combat Maneuvers...................| 154 54
Brawling...........................| 154 54
Physical Fitness...................| 154 54
Dodging............................| 154 54
Harness Power......................| 74 16
Mental Lore - Transformation.......| 25 5
Perception.........................| 62 13
Climbing...........................| 62 13
Swimming...........................| 62 13

Spell Lists
Minor Mental.......................| 20

[Jukes316]

Has anyone tried TWC/Edge route?

[Tumbadoo]

I've found that with 1x ambush that aiming for the head does pretty much jack shit.

[Androidpk]

I've found that with 1x ambush that aiming for the head does pretty much jack shit.

What level are you? Are you ambushing from hiding or aiming from the open? I've been aiming my punches to the head and have been having good success.

[Tumbadoo]

capped in nelemar, from the open.

[Mumblz]

it won't work with a decent, but you can get instant kills on good and excellent attempts.

PS: ambush is working if you are hitting the location you are aiming for, it doesn't increase crits unless you are ambushing from hiding.

[TheLastShamurai]

Here's the first build I'm going to run through Nelemar.


Mikoguchi (at level 100), your current skill bonuses and ranks (including all modifiers) are:
Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Two Weapon Combat..................| 302 202
Combat Maneuvers...................| 302 202
Brawling...........................| 302 202
Ambush.............................| 201 101
Multi Opponent Combat..............| 302 202
Physical Fitness...................| 403 303
Dodging............................| 403 303
Arcane Symbols.....................| 120 30
Magic Item Use.....................| 120 30
Harness Power......................| 201 101
Mental Lore - Transformation.......| 175 75
Perception.........................| 302 202
Climbing...........................| 150 50
Swimming...........................| 201 101

Spell Lists
Minor Mental.......................| 35


Mikoguchi, your Combat Maneuver training is as follows:

Skill name Mnemonic Ranks
Combat Focus focus 5
Feint feint 2
Charge charge 2
Combat Mobility mobility 2
Surge of Strength surge 5
Evade Mastery emastery 3
Cunning Defense cdefense 5
Duck and Weave weave 3
Punch Mastery punchmastery 3
Inner Harmony iharmony 3

[Jukes316]

How is Duck and Weave? Could you post a log of it?




Mikoguchi, your Combat Maneuver training is as follows:

Skill name Mnemonic Ranks
Combat Focus focus 5
Feint feint 2
Charge charge 2
Combat Mobility mobility 2
Surge of Strength surge 5
Evade Mastery emastery 3
Cunning Defense cdefense 5
Duck and Weave weave 3
Punch Mastery punchmastery 3
Inner Harmony iharmony 3[/QUOTE]

[TheLastShamurai]

Yeah sure, I'll post a log when I get home and get to rampaging through Nelemar.

[Androidpk]

I was wondering about duck and weave myself. As of now at level 64 I have for Cmans:



Combat Mobility mobility 1
Surge of Strength surge 3
Evade Mastery emastery 3
Burst of Swiftness burst 3
Perfect Self perfectself 5
Punch Mastery punchmastery 3
Rolling Krynch Stance krynch 3

I'm thinking either inner harmony next or d&w. Does anyone have a list of what exactly inner harmony works on?

[msconstrew]

Is anyone considering doing a stalk and hide build so we can ambush from hiding? Or is it just too many TPs for too little benefit?

[Androidpk]

Is anyone considering doing a stalk and hide build so we can ambush from hiding? Or is it just too many TPs for too little benefit?

The benefits seem pretty awesome but TPs are probably an issue for anyone not capped.

[Mtenda]

Is anyone considering doing a stalk and hide build so we can ambush from hiding? Or is it just too many TPs for too little benefit?

Do monks get a professional bonus to hiding similar to a rogue or ranger? If they don't, I can't imagine this being all that viable in most hunting grounds.

[Androidpk]

Do monks get a professional bonus to hiding similar to a rogue or ranger? If they don't, I can't imagine this being all that viable in most hunting grounds.

No but I don't think that would stop them. Warriors can use that tactic in capped areas, I'm sure monks could too, better in fact since they wouldn't have the armor penalty for hiding.

[Gelston]

There is no armor penalty for hiding.

You can go for hiding with a monk, but it will become increasingly difficult to actually hide. Rogues get a massive profession bonus to it... And I'll point you to this:

"Even if the Rogue does not avail himself of Shadow Mastery or Armored Stealth, a 2x S&H Warrior at 100th level trying to hide in front of a creature is significantly worse off than the 1x Rogue." - Warden

I don't expect a monk to be any better honestly. Doable, yes, tedious hunting? Maybe. Will it prevent you from training other things that would make you more efficient? Most likely.

[Mtenda]

This is my concern with monks hiding-

An old saved post on krakiipedia:

Beyond the points being made by the warriors in the previous posts, one critical point that is being overlooked is that at equal S&H skill, a Warrior is nowhere near as effective at hiding as a Rogue due to a massive profession bonus Rogues receive. Even if the Rogue does not avail himself of Shadow Mastery or Armored Stealth, a 2x S&H Warrior at 100th level trying to hide in front of a creature is significantly worse off than the 1x Rogue.

Warden

I realize that monks will be in robes because of Iron Skin but will it really make that much of a difference? I have tried rangers and rogues with 1x hiding and even that is not reliable at all from what I remember. I dunno, seems like a lot of training points to spend on something that will be more frustrating than anything.

[Androidpk]

Just aim from the open then and dodge dodge dodge.

[Mtenda]

To throw something out there for the OP...I would like to see a monk build that focuses on ambushing a huge weapon from the open like a lance and taking full advantage of burst of swiftness. Throw in some haste imbeds and open aim a lance in 3 seconds. That might be cool for a minute or two.

[TheLastShamurai]

You balance your posture and narrow your eyes, preparing to misdirect your foes' attacks.

A triton combatant thrusts with an oak-shafted silvery blue trident at you!
You manage to maneuver yourself such that when you dodge aside at the last moment, a triton combatant finds himself attacking a triton combatant, much to their mutual surprise!
AS: +424 vs DS: +204 with AvD: +11 + d100 roll: +85 = +316
... and hits for 37 points of damage!
Well placed shot to the neck!

You make a precise attempt to jab a triton combatant!
You have decent positioning against a triton combatant.
UAF: 591 vs UDF: 481 = 1.228 * MM: 108 + d100: 73 = 205
... and hit for 6 points of damage!
Glancing slap upside the head causes slight disorientation.
Strike leaves foe vulnerable to a followup kick attack!
Roundtime: 4 sec.
Roundtime changed to 2 seconds.

A triton combatant stands up with a grunt.

You make a precise attempt to kick a triton combatant!
You have good positioning against a triton combatant.
UAF: 591 vs UDF: 510 = 1.158 * MM: 99 + d100: 73 = 187
... and hit for 59 points of damage!
Rapid side kick knocks out several teeth! What we have here is a failure to communicate!
The triton combatant seems at a loss for words!
Roundtime: 6 sec.
Roundtime changed to 3 seconds.

You make a precise attempt to kick a triton combatant!
You have good positioning against a triton combatant.
UAF: 591 vs UDF: 460 = 1.284 * MM: 98 + d100: 7 = 132
... and hit for 30 points of damage!
Flying axe kick seriously rattles the triton combatant's noggin.
Roundtime: 6 sec.
Roundtime changed to 3 seconds.

A triton combatant thrusts with an oak-shafted silvery blue trident at you!
You manage to maneuver yourself such that when you dodge aside at the last moment, a triton combatant finds himself attacking a triton combatant, much to their mutual surprise!
AS: +424 vs DS: +224 with AvD: +11 + d100 roll: +15 = +226
... and hits for 29 points of damage!
Strike to the chest breaks a rib!

A triton combatant thrusts with an oak-shafted silvery blue trident at you!
AS: +404 vs DS: +407 with AvD: +30 + d100 roll: +7 = +34
A clean miss.

You make a precise attempt to jab a triton combatant!
You have good positioning against a triton combatant.
UAF: 591 vs UDF: 475 = 1.244 * MM: 102 + d100: 40 = 166
... and hit for 7 points of damage!
Minor strike to head puts the triton combatant momentarily off-balance.
Roundtime: 4 sec.
Roundtime changed to 2 seconds.

A triton combatant stares off into the air looking a bit pale.
R>
You make a precise attempt to jab a triton combatant!
You have good positioning against a triton combatant.
UAF: 591 vs UDF: 466 = 1.268 * MM: 102 + d100: 33 = 162
... and hit for 6 points of damage!
Minor strike to head puts the triton combatant momentarily off-balance.
Roundtime: 4 sec.
Roundtime changed to 2 seconds.

A triton combatant thrusts with an oak-shafted silvery blue trident at you!
You manage to maneuver yourself such that when you dodge aside at the last moment, a triton combatant finds himself attacking a triton combatant, much to their mutual surprise!
AS: +424 vs DS: +230 with AvD: +11 + d100 roll: +27 = +232
... and hits for 30 points of damage!
Nice puncture to the back, just grazed the spine!

[Tumbadoo]

I'm working a 2x hiding build right now. It's not actually too bad. I can't hide with an executioner or defender in the room but i'm good on the others. Being at work right now, I'm not sure I had 1x or .5x ambush. I think I can get away with .5x ambush. I'm going to play around with it more later tonight.

On a side note, I can't help but think of WOW when it comes to how monk's function and thier stances. Anyone else feel this way?

[Jukes316]

Thanks for the post Miko. Seems like it could be fun with a swarm.

Edit: AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY! :D

[TheLastShamurai]

Thanks for the post Miko. Seems like it could be fun with a swarm.

Edit: AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY! :D

Ha, thanks!

But yeah, it fires off pretty frequently for me during the 30 seconds it's running. However, aside from my INF stat, I'm perfectly trained for its use.

[Suppressed Poet]

With dodge being so insanely cheap for monks, I can't think of why any build would not 3x in it.

[Suppressed Poet]

To throw something out there for the OP...I would like to see a monk build that focuses on ambushing a huge weapon from the open like a lance and taking full advantage of burst of swiftness. Throw in some haste imbeds and open aim a lance in 3 seconds. That might be cool for a minute or two.

That's what bards are for.

[Mtenda]

That's what bards are for.

You would have to have an AGIDEX bonus of 83 to do that. Not that easy for everyone.

[mgoddess]

That's what bards are for.You would have to have an AGIDEX bonus of 83 to do that. Not that easy for everyone.
Elf/b.gnome/halfling with max AGI/DEX (70-75), down to 5 second swing time, add on 1035 (with max EL:A lore), down to 2 second base swing... add a second for open aiming, that's 3 second swing. Get some 506, and you could be back down to 2 seconds or less.

[Suppressed Poet]

You would have to have an AGIDEX bonus of 83 to do that. Not that easy for everyone.

Lance builds are not for me, but there are lots that do. 1035 + haste imbeds and pretty much any race with decent agidex can do that.

[Jukes316]

Do you get a parry advantage when using TWC?
Have one rank on Mongoose just to try out, running with a claid tho, have not once parried an attack in offense. Usually dodge or a hit.

[Androidpk]

I believe you get the advantage of being able to parry with your offhand.

[Mtenda]

Elf/b.gnome/halfling with max AGI/DEX (70-75), down to 5 second swing time, add on 1035 (with max EL:A lore), down to 2 second base swing... add a second for open aiming, that's 3 second swing. Get some 506, and you could be back down to 2 seconds or less.

ambush xxx left leg

You thrust with a golvern framea at xxx!
AS: +23 vs DS: +256 with AvD: +37 + d100 roll: +17 = -179
A clean miss.
Roundtime: 8 sec.

Aiming any melee weapon whether open or hiding adds 3 seconds. That is with a 60 AGIDEX bonus. I would need a bonus of 83 to ambush a lance in 6 seconds which would then allow me to be self hasted down to 3. You cannot use 506 and 1035 together. Only a wizard with MJE ranks on top of air lore would be able to haste a 6 second round time to lower than 3.

[Suppressed Poet]

ambush xxx left leg

You thrust with a golvern framea at xxx!
AS: +23 vs DS: +256 with AvD: +37 + d100 roll: +17 = -179
A clean miss.
Roundtime: 8 sec.

Aiming any melee weapon whether open or hiding adds 3 seconds. That is with a 60 AGIDEX bonus. I would need a bonus of 83 to ambush a lance in 6 seconds which would then allow me to be self hasted down to 3. You cannot use 506 and 1035 together. Only a wizard with MJE ranks on top of air lore would be able to haste a 6 second round time to lower than 3.

Maybe that is true. I wasn't aware or haven't tested that 1035 +506 don't work together. My giant bard is ohe. I also preferred mstriking as opposed to aiming because of sonic flares. Right now with 1035 he swings a handaxe in 3 secs and focused 2 swing mstrike in 5. My 1035 lasts 80 seconds and also gets a significant bonus to DS through the added dodge. I'll shave off another second once I get to 75 ranks of air, and by that time I'll have trained telepathy to make it last about a 90 seconds. With sonic flares and the quickness of attacks, even right now it pretty much decimates anything while the song is active.

If swiftness does work with haste, I guess it would be a build worth testing for monks. Just remember, lances is the hardest weapon to successfully aim.

[loxe]

im currently running a polearm/hurl build using a 6x chainspear and having a blast.

[Middian]

UAC is quite hard for the grims, I have a hard time with the croawds even with duck and weave up

[Middian]

P.S. Even with max combat focus and sigil of focus up, I get slaughtered by the spells as well.