High AC Monk - how best to do it?

[Notorious]

How much AC can you get out of being a pure monk? Assuming you start with a 20 dex and 18 wisdom and are halfling or elf...
Please include stances used and what it takes to get them.

In particular, how do you get a Dex or Wisdom out of a stance (air or water)?
What is the centered AC bonus monks get every few levels (which does not require being centered, only being unarmored and unshielded)?

Thanks,

[Borror0]

What are the drawbacks of this build?

It's a pure monk.:D

[Notorious]

I "may" build a 15 monk, 1 fighter - but that is neither, here nor there, I just want to see what the highest AC is for a pure monk and how to accomplish it - stances included.

[Silverjade]

Dex/wis based halfing for best ac i would think a bit weaker dps unless twf with kamas or stunning fist.

[Angelus_dead]

Focusing on character atrributes and no commentary about gear, what is the best AC build you can make a pure monk into? What are the drawbacks of this build?
Well, the "best" AC build is a harder question than the "highest" AC build, which is simply to be a halfling with starting scores of 20 dex and 17 wisdom.

Obviously, the drawback of that build is that it would leave your strength at 6, constitution and charisma at 8, and intelligence at 11. You'd barely be able to do anything, and then you'd die. Also obvious is that the build could be improved a lot by dropping points from dex and wis and putting them into str and con.

For the best pure-monk high AC build, I'd start with 11 intelligence, 18 dex, 13 wis, and 13 str. However if your AC is going to be huge, its a great idea to take a level of rogue or fighter so you can also have a high Intimidate to suck aggro to you.

[Silverjade]

Oh you want a break down.
Easy gear to get.
10base
4armor*blackwidows from WWs*
10*wis 18base 6enchs 6item*
11*dex 20base 2ench6item 4levs*
4*monk ac*
1*size*
1*dodge*
-----------
41 Easy to get.
----------------
5*bark
1*haste
4*shield clicky/wand if umd
----------
53
--------
2*rec from clr*
5*max paly arua*
-------------
60

Harder to get.
10*base*
11*dex*
10*wis*
4*monk*
2*size/dodge feat*
8*icy*
7/8*armor*
5*combat exp*
3*seal of earth*
2*chatte ring*
---------------
62/63
---------------
4*shield click/wand if umd*
2*bark skin*
1*haste*
-----------------
69/70
--------------
2 *rec from clr*
5*max ac arua paly*
---------------------
71/72 Thats all i can think of please note no tomes in stats using water with ops 20dex and 18 wis.:)

Id would not start with 20dex/18wis tho cuts to many of your points in other stats*halfling stats* 12str 17dex 14con 15wis 12int tome and tome for str combat exp and more damage.

[Theboz]

I know of a pure monk, who has a standing AC of about 62(no buffs) fully buffed 80.

My Halfling Monk10/ranger6 build has a standing AC of 63 the only items i have for AC are Chaos guards, protection +5, and Robe from one of the new raids(forgot which one)+6 Armor, +6 wisdom on it with the added AC ritual.

If can get a +3 dex tome and the Chatter ring that will give me another +4 to AC

So, my max will be 67 AC without any buffs

[Notorious]

I posted something and realized I mis-worded my request - so I will try to clarify.

Standing naked, with no concern about dps or hp - what monk only attributes provide a pure monk with the highest AC possible?

[Notorious]

[QUOTE=Silverjade;1847718]
4*monk ac*
QUOTE]

what is this exactly?

[Angelus_dead]

Standing naked, with no concern about dps or hp - what monk only attributes provide a pure monk with the highest AC possible?
What monk-only attributes? Well, there are three of them

1. Wisdom to AC
1b. +3 wisdom enhancement
2. Dex or Wisdom boosting stance (air or water)
3. Centered AC bonus every few levels (which does not require being centered, only being unarmored and unshielded)

[Silverjade]

35 I think with not a thing on and no tomes and using the 18wis/20dex water stance for 24wis and dex of 26 dodge feat and halfling 40 comp exp.
Monks starting at 5ith levs that goes up by 1 for every 5 levels so 3 at 16ith and 1more from being cent.

[BuzzSaw]

I know of a pure monk, who has a standing AC of about 62(no buffs) fully buffed 80.

My Halfling Monk10/ranger6 build has a standing AC of 63 the only items i have for AC are Chaos guards, protection +5, and Robe from one of the new raids(forgot which one)+6 Armor, +6 wisdom on it with the added AC ritual.

If can get a +3 dex tome and the Chatter ring that will give me another +4 to AC

So, my max will be 67 AC without any buffs

If you could please show how a monk can have 62 ac without buffs I would be interested to see this.

Otherwise I call shenanigans...
Buzz

[Notorious]

What monk-only attributes? Well, there are three of them

1. Wisdom to AC
1b. +3 wisdom enhancement
2. Dex or Wisdom boosting stance (air or water)
3. Centered AC bonus every few levels (which does not require being centered, only being unarmored and unshielded)

Yes this is it...

1 - ok, the monk Wisdom bonus becomes AC bonus
1b. 3 wisdom enchancments to boost wisdom and therefore AC
2. how does this work?
3. ever few levels... exactly how much every few lvls?

[Silverjade]

If you could please show how a monk can have 62 ac without buffs I would be interested to see this.

Otherwise I call shenanigans...
Buzz
Look up a bit i posted how it can be done just look at the harder to get ac stats with a 62/63.

[Theboz]

If you could please show how a monk can have 62 ac without buffs I would be interested to see this.

Otherwise I call shenanigans...
Buzz


its not that hard,

this is mine but the monk16 has similiar AC to mine

10 base
12 Dex
10 wisdom
+6 armor
+5 deflection
+3 dodge
+4 misc
+9 feat
+3 centered
+1 size

[Thrann]

If you could please show how a monk can have 62 ac without buffs I would be interested to see this.

Otherwise I call shenanigans...
Buzz

This is my lvl 16 monk Halfling Thranfu with a standing 62 AC
with a 34 dex and 24 wisdom with Icy Raiment and +4 insight to Ac from shroud kama,Thats it

Ac...
10 base
12 dex bonus
7 wisdom
7 armor bonus
5 deflection
5 dodge
4 misc
7 feat
4 center
1 size

Still have room to grow with ac,with a few more items and tomes so around 68 standing i should hit

[Notorious]

This is my lvl 16 monk Halfling Thranfu with a standing 62 AC
with a 34 dex and 24 wisdom with Icy Raiment and +4 insight to Ac from shroud kama,Thats it

Ac...
10 base
12 dex bonus
7 wisdom
7 armor bonus
5 deflection
5 dodge
4 misc
7 feat
4 center
1 size

Still have room to grow with ac,with a few more items and tomes so around 68 standing i should hit

how are you getting 4 from misc? 7 from feat? and 4 from center?

[Silverjade]

4 misc would be paly arua 7feat is porb dodge+twf def+combat exp 4from cent is normale as 3monk levs 1 extra ddo added.

how are you getting 4 from misc? 7 from feat? and 4 from center?

[Notorious]

4 misc would be paly arua 7feat is porb dodge+twf def+combat exp 4from cent is normale as 3monk levs 1 extra ddo added.

it is listed as lvl 16 monk - i am really curious as to what this break down is. For feats, I can see combat exp (5) and maybe, but i doubt it, two weap defence - plus he is lising a dodge total that might include the dodge feat in its calculations.

Plus, I am not sure how monk centering works - is it plus 1 ac for every 3 monk levels starting at 3 if centered?

[Silverjade]

Two wep/combat exp/dodge im sure 5dodge is one alc .
Okay search for ddo wiki go to the monk tab and look at the level table then at the monk ac at 16 a totale of 4 *3monk one ddo added* do you understand now ? As i don't recall any thing other then a paly giveing a misc to ac its got to be a paly or some thing rare.

[Theboz]

i believe the +4 misc is the +4 AC from Gs kama

[Thrann]

how are you getting 4 from misc? 7 from feat? and 4 from center?

+4 Misc is insight bonus from shroud weapon

+7 feat is +5 for CE +1dodge +1TWFD

+4 Center is from the monk ac bonus
I also did the +1 ac ritual on my Raiment

[Inspire]

With No Chattering(+3) Ring And No GS Weapon(+4), (26Dex/30Wis), Untouchable Has Achieved A 78Ac.

[Desteria]

My tempests monks Unbuffed staring at a beholder AC is 70 now i belive now can i rember where it all came from .....
10 base
13 dex 18+2tome+2half+2rgr+2air+6item+4lvl.
10 Wis 16+2tome+3monk+6item+3shroud weapon.
1 dodge feat
1 Two Weapon defense feat
5 Combat Expertiese
4 shroud weapon Insight
6 Armor Bracers(VoD ones) could be 8's but takes another slot for Dex item
1 Haflign Size
4 Dodge Icy Remnant
1 Ritual on robe
3 Centered I had planed for 2 but seam to get 3.
2 Tempest
3 Chatterign Ring
5 Protection
-------
That 69 I'm purty sure I have 70 standing but can't think of where the last point is at work atm.

Add buffs
+5 barkskin
+4 bard
+1 haste
+2 recitation
+5 pally
86 total.
Some where I'm missing some other things because i know i had it charted out to perfect world hitting 90+ while fighting.

*EDIT* DUH TITAN yumyums or sheild clicky +4 sheild ac.
90 total

hum maby i just have hast SOOOO much I forget about it in my Ac ;) that would make the 69 a 70 that i seam to rember.

[Gratch]

100 ac buffed tempest monk insanity (non-realistic but possible) setup:

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=150704

Why can't people use the search function? :)

I've started a similar build, but AD's point of needing intimidation to make insane AC worth it should be a bigger concern than how high you can actually go. Getting closer to cap I've switched from a pure AC build to: manyshot + IC: ranged for named mobs and high-speed, high-ac kama-toy master for the rest of the mobs. With whirlwind to make it fun and draw a little initial aggro.

I'm almost more interested in the high ac aspects of the monk for making an untouchable cleric type. But then people would expect me to heal...

[augie]

Just remember that when you have a reasonably high AC (60+), you've obviously given up so much in your build that you've gimped yourself horribly and that you'll never be able to kill anything.

/rolleyes

(sorry, doesn't really apply to anything, it's just amusing every time I hear people say that in game)

[Theboz]

Just remember that when you have a reasonably high AC (60+), you've obviously given up so much in your build that you've gimped yourself horribly and that you'll never be able to kill anything.

/rolleyes

(sorry, doesn't really apply to anything, it's just amusing every time I hear people say that in game)



Lol, I log-in and without a single buff i can solo all the vale and then recall without using a single shrine or pot. and be fuly healed. I can solo alot of the Subterrainian(sp) until i run into a beholder:D.


I dont consider that being gimped one bit:)

[Desteria]

Lol, I log-in and without a single buff i can solo all the vale and then recall without using a single shrine or pot. and be fuly healed. I can solo alot of the Subterrainian(sp) until i run into a beholder:D.


I dont consider that being gimped one bit:)

I bekive you missed the sarcasim that was drippign off auggies post ;) He full knows how effective high AC monks can be there are several in our guild :)

[Theboz]

I bekive you missed the sarcasim that was drippign off auggies post ;) He full knows how effective high AC monks can be there are several in our guild :)


Nope, did not miss it

[Trapdoor]

halfling monk, high Dex (take weapon finesse) high Wisdom, (Both Dex and Wisdom will go towards your ac, take the feat that gives you +1 ac , and then grind for the good stuff to boost your ac, as you lvl youll get balanced ac, put ya skill ups at 4 8 12 16 into dex for more ac and to hit with weapon finesse
i took 16 dex, 16 wis, etc, with some str and con , so i wont get max dex, and also was human not halfling /shrug.

prot+5item,
Ac +6 - +8 bracers
stability ring from invaders hand in
dex 6, wis 6 items for more ac
defensive fighting will add 2 to ac /shrug, youll still hit with weapon finesse
(i dont use this much)
potions of barkskin will add 1 more on top of your invaders ring
chattering ring
stuff like that

/shrug

[twoton]

standing naked on a halfing full monk build no items or tomes

base 10
dex 7
wis 5
monk centered bonus 4
twd 1
size bonus 1
dodge bonus 1
ce 5
___________
= 34 ac

now with loot and a wis tome

base 10
dex 11
wis 9
monk centered bonus 4
twd 1
size bonus 1
dodge bonus 1
ce 5
protection cloak 5
chaos guards 2
lowbie crafting insight bonus 1
armor bonus 4
_____________
= 54ac

buffed with a barkskin pot and a haste
= 58ac
full pally around
=63ac
cleric buff
65ac
ranger +5 barkskin
67ac
now with crafting and raid loot (mind you minus what the ac was with the lower loot ac bonuses)
+6 armor bonus 69ac
+4 insight bonus crafting item 72ac
chattering ring +3 dodge bonus 75ac
now with +3 tomes
+3 wis tome on top of a 21 base wis 76ac
+3 dex tome 77ac

I think thats right now thats from ground zero all the way up if I missed anything let me know

[augie]

If you have the third tier of wind/ocean stance, that boosts your DEX/WIS up another 3 points respectively which will boost your AC bonus from either of those up 1 or 2, depending on if you're sitting at an odd or even stat without the stance. Otherwise looks pretty solid.

[twoton]

did they change that? I know when they first came out with monks after the first tier it didnt boost the stats anymore

[Desteria]

If you have the third tier of wind/ocean stance, that boosts your DEX/WIS up another 3 points respectively which will boost your AC bonus from either of those up 1 or 2, depending on if you're sitting at an odd or even stat without the stance. Otherwise looks pretty solid.

I thought the 3rd tier was nto an adition 3 point but increases the bonus by 1 so a net gain of 0-1 Ac, if they start givign 5 stats pointsthats crazzy, in a good way btu crazzy still.

[augie]

Hmmm... now you have me thinking. I'm nearly positive my standing buffed DEX is 27 and when I'm in wind stance 3 it boosts DEX up to an even 30. At least I'm about 98% sure of that as my AC is bumped up +2 in wind stance which would make sense.

Can't recall how much the first and second tiers boosted stats anymore. Hard to keep all the stats of my various chars in memory heh.

[scottmike0]

standing naked on a halfing full monk build no items or tomes

base 10
dex 7
wis 5
monk centered bonus 4
twd 1
size bonus 1
dodge bonus 1
ce 5
___________
= 34 ac

now with loot and a wis tome

base 10
dex 11
wis 9
monk centered bonus 4
twd 1
size bonus 1
dodge bonus 1
ce 5
protection cloak 5
chaos guards 2
lowbie crafting insight bonus 1
armor bonus 4
_____________
= 54ac

buffed with a barkskin pot and a haste
= 58ac
full pally around
=63ac
cleric buff
65ac
ranger +5 barkskin
67ac
now with crafting and raid loot (mind you minus what the ac was with the lower loot ac bonuses)
+6 armor bonus 69ac
+4 insight bonus crafting item 72ac
chattering ring +3 dodge bonus 75ac
now with +3 tomes
+3 wis tome on top of a 21 base wis 76ac
+3 dex tome 77ac

I think thats right now thats from ground zero all the way up if I missed anything let me know
yes u didnt miss anything :D
I Have now justed threoritically reached 96 ac mark. once im done with that, i will then reach my 42 UMD which is purely awesome :) and remember i build ac monk that are tr's this monk that is built is a fully geared monk and has a max of 42 umd which right now is all i need to obtain. the only thing that is harsh with this monk is due to his hp, and his hitpoints unbuffed are in the 450's which is fully survivable tanking since of my high ac. Yet this monk isnt an intim monk so its hard to keep the aggro away from others sake.
and remember im not counting "choatic ac " nor any buffs under 2 minute.
Ac standing = 69 and not counting haste
so then adding the rest = 99
69
+5 barkskin
+4 dodge song
+2 yugo potions
+5 pally arua
+2 store buffs
+1 haste
+4 sheild
+5 ship buffs
+2 recitation
__________________
= 99 if haste guard activated then its 100 but unlikly it will

[SpiritBoy]

way2necro

[DevHead]

way2necro

This. lol

And they probably forgot about this thread.

[TheKeeper1981]

If you could please show how a monk can have 62 ac without buffs I would be interested to see this.

Otherwise I call shenanigans...
Buzz

Mine's pretty close, with a standing AC of 61. Erm... not quite sure I recall all of what contributes to it, at the moment, though. If I can get a +4 dex and/or Wis tome, that could boost my AC to 62. =D

http://my.ddo.com/character/khyber/oryara/

[TheKeeper1981]

its not that hard,

this is mine but the monk16 has similiar AC to mine

10 base
12 Dex
10 wisdom
+6 armor
+5 deflection
+3 dodge
+4 misc
+9 feat
+3 centered
+1 size

Oh, okay, my monk's a human, so she doesn't get that extra +1 for size. But... I like getting the extra human bonus feat.

[TheKeeper1981]

Lol, I log-in and without a single buff i can solo all the vale and then recall without using a single shrine or pot. and be fuly healed. I can solo alot of the Subterrainian(sp) until i run into a beholder:D.


I dont consider that being gimped one bit:)

I can solo a lot of the subterrane just fine, beholders included. They... don't scare me, anymore, as a Shintao III monk. But--ahem--I have a bad tendency to suffer from Ryoga Syndrome: I get lost, very easily, in the Subterrane.

[NaturalHazard]

necro much?

[TheKeeper1981]

Hmmm... now you have me thinking. I'm nearly positive my standing buffed DEX is 27 and when I'm in wind stance 3 it boosts DEX up to an even 30. At least I'm about 98% sure of that as my AC is bumped up +2 in wind stance which would make sense.

Can't recall how much the first and second tiers boosted stats anymore. Hard to keep all the stats of my various chars in memory heh.

Tier 1 and 2 boosts it by 2. Tier 3 by +3, and Tier 4 by +4.

Yeah, this subject piqued my interest, and I'm just randomly responding to certain posts.

[TheKeeper1981]

necro much?

Hey, it was on the front page of the melee forum, and I tend to read a forum thread from the beginning. If something strikes my fancy, making me want to answer, I will. I actually don't post very much. I think I just got a bit bored, today, and wanted to see what people were talking abut. =D

[t0r012]

10 base
5 centered monk
10 dex (30 dex)
8 wisdom (26 wis)
8 armor (bracers epic siren set)
5 protection (epic siren set)
4 insight (epic siren)
4 dodge (icy)
1 alch dodge(ritual on icy)
3 dodge (chattering ring)
2 dodge (mabar cloak)
1 dodge (nimble trinket)
1 dodge feat
----
62 standing


want more 5 from ship buffs 3 from defensive fighting bumps you to 70
CE bumps it another 2 over DF for 72
make it a halfer for another +1

want shorter term buffs throw in 4 for shield wand or clickie 3 from barkskin pot for 79 then top it off with a haste for 80.

Edit:
oops made a booboo.
Wis should be 24 (16base+6itm+2tome = 24) for a +7 but the dex is easy to hit 32 from a 16 base with +2 tome that i didn't add (16+6itm+5lvl+4 wind+2tome = 33) so it winds up being a wash as far as the end result.

[Persnoody]

This is my AC on Shortpop of Thelanis, halfling pure monk

67 unbuffed:
16 Dex (42 total, base of 20 + 5 from levels + 6 item + 1 exc + 1 litany + 3 tome + 2 feat + 4 wind stance)
10 Wis (31 total, base of 15 + 6 item + 3 exc + 1 litany + 3 tome + 3 feat)
8 Armor (Epic Jidz)
5 Natural (Epic Chimera's Crown)
5 Deflection (Min II belt)
3 Dodge (1 Alchemical + 2 Epic Cloak of Night)
4 misc (Insight from Dragontouched)
5 Centered
1 size

I can bump it up to 76 with some more items:
7 Dodge (3 Chattering Ring + 4 Epic Nat Gann Staff)
2 Defensive Fighting

Self buffed goes to 85:
2 Dex (1 Yugo + 1 DDO Store Lasting Elixir)
2 Wis (1 Yugo + 1 DDO Store Lasting Elixir)
1 Haste
4 Shield (clickie)

Then with ship buffs added it is 90:
1 Dex
1 Wis
1 Sentinel's Bulwark
1 Blessing of the Three Dragons
1 Dwarven Stoutness

Remember this is all before I get party buffs, this is just with what I have on him right now.

[voidstar2k10]

I plan on building a pure dark path halfling monk.
I definatly want the highest ac I can get.
I have limeted recorces, a lvl 15 wiz so tomes are not really a option at this time.
What would be the best starting stats? I have 32 point and vet statice.
also what feats,ap, and gear should I get? on gear if at all possable could I get a level break down on when and where to get items?
thanks

[scottmike0]

I plan on building a pure dark path halfling monk.
I definatly want the highest ac I can get.
I have limeted recorces, a lvl 15 wiz so tomes are not really a option at this time.
What would be the best starting stats? I have 32 point and vet statice.
also what feats,ap, and gear should I get? on gear if at all possable could I get a level break down on when and where to get items?
thanks

well when you plan to build best ac monk on a 32 point for sure your able to reach the 80's try starting stats of this
14 str
18 dex
14 con
8 int
14 wis
8 cha or
14 str since any lower your hiting will be really gimped
16 dex
14 con
8 int
16 wis
8 cha
or if you want to gimp your con to 12 then
15 str
16 dex
12 con
8 int
16 wisdom
8 cha
____________________-
in air stance doing the first one would get you at a 60 ac unbuffed if you gear right
18 + 5 levels + 7 item + 3 exceptional + 2 tome + 4 air stance + 1 Lotd + 2 ship buff + 2 yugo potions + store potions = 43 dex
con = 14 + 6 item + 2 rage = 22 + 2 ship buff = 24
and then you can add the rest -_- i hate doing this

[voidstar2k10]

14 str
18 dex
14 con
8 int
14 wis
8 cha
Ok I have the begining stats, now I assume all level ups would go into wis for the wis to ac and touch of death,stunning fist,ectra.
Dodge is a obiouse choice on the feats, what others? with a int of 8 combat expertise is out. what other feats should I take?
then theres the AP points I know the prerecs for ninja spy what others should i take?
then theres the gear ???
any help with this half of the build?

[scottmike0]

14 str
18 dex
14 con
8 int
14 wis
8 cha
Ok I have the begining stats, now I assume all level ups would go into wis for the wis to ac and touch of death,stunning fist,ectra.
Dodge is a obiouse choice on the feats, what others? with a int of 8 combat expertise is out. what other feats should I take?
then theres the AP points I know the prerecs for ninja spy what others should i take?
then theres the gear ???
any help with this half of the build?

wrong, put the rest in dex not wis all u do is need either 3 in dex and 2 in any stat you would like since 3 dex points are able to get you anywhere. also what does necro mean?