Pure monk or split?

[Horkrux]

I currently have a level 12 monk and was debating between going pure monk or a split. Im looking for a dps monk be it a split or pure. (im a dark monk)

If i were to split i'd go 12 monk / 8 fighter. Are there any other splits that are more capable of higher dps? (with 12 monk)

Im looking for something that adds more dps umph into my current monk.

thanks!

[Horkrux]

bump.

[NinjaNeed]

I am currently leveling a monk/ranger/fighter 12/6/2 split which should have massive dps. Although he is only lv5 atm and has Rogue PL.

Going 6 fighter gives you kensai 1 which is massive. A friend of mine recently leveled his TR all the way to pure monk and is currently LR-ing him into a 12 fighter 8 monk.

If your toon is already a 12 monk then you need to think about what multiclassing will bring to your build. You need to check base stats to make sure you have what is required to do what you want from the other class. I personally would suggest going all the way as pure monk as you have not planned it before, but that is just me.

[TPICKRELL]

There are a lot of viable monk multi class splits, and many of them make sense. But I have a hard time saying that any of them will out dps a well geared and well played pure dark monk.

Here are the splits I have experience with (I'm sure there are others that work just as well):

1. 20 Dark Monk Pure -- Excellant and very consistant DPS once you hit GTWF, GrandMaster Stance, TOD Rings and good wraps. Solid stunning DC can be a big boost to the group's overall damage.
2. 20 Light Monk Pure -- Slightly less damage overall, but comes pretty close when fighting tainted if well equiped. Excellant stunning ability.
3. 12 Monk / 7 Rogue 1 Fighter -- Very good DPS when able to get sneaks, also easily able to get epic traps and locks and can UMD scrolls of Raise Dead/Heal (or Cleric Dilletante in place of UMD)
4. 12 Fighter (Kensai II/Monk8) -- Very good overall DPS, Medium Tank (tough to be Horoth tank on first life, but can easily tank most other bosses)... Very high burst damage when Power Surged and Haste Boosted.
5. 12 Monk/ 7 Fighter/ 1 Rogue -- Good DPS all the time, sneaks as kicker and can haste boost III for tough fights

These were all first life toons. TR'd monks bring more options in to play.

There are other splits that work, these are just the ones I've personally run. For most toons DPS is situational, and different mixes bring different things to the party in different situations.

You have to decide what else you monk is going to do. If it is pure support DPS, then there really isn't any reason to stray from pure monk. If it is something else, then you need to match the level splits to what else you want to bring to the party.

With a pure monk, pay attention to your to-hit. Make sure your primary to hit stat is high and you have gear to supplement that. This doesn't show up a lot until end game, but can be a real problem for monks while they are getting geared.

NOTE on 12 Monk / 8 Fighter, I would tweak this the next tie I do this build and do a 12 Monk/7 fighter / 1 Rogue... The 1 level of rogue brings more to the party than the 8th level of fighter.

[Rusty_Can]

I'm not an expert in this field, but I'll give it a try.

Reasons to stay pure (dark) monk:
- your unarmed combat will get better: its base damage output will increase from 2d6 (at lvl 12) to 2d10 (at lvl 20); going for the 12/8 split, with Greater Weapon Specialization and Kensai I (unarmed), will only partially offeset the difference;
- several of your attacks (e.g. ToD) rely on your monk levels: your DC would loose 8 points and foes will save much more often;
- monks (saves, running speed, AC, stances) keep getting better as they take more monk levels.

Reasons to multiclass:
- Ninja Spy III has not yet been released;
- U9 is changing how some combat maneuvers work: for instance, Stunning Fist will take into account character levels and not anymore monk levels.

If you are looking for a straight melee build, I would stay pure monk; I've seen plans for some 12 fighter - 8 monk "stunners", but since you have 12 monk levels, I'd stay pure.

[skullzz]

I have a 18/2 monk/rogue who has max intim and umd. He doesn't have the greatest str but he does and average of 30 sneak damage+50 crit+ elemental when I have stuff stunned. And because I have 36 wis I stun basically everything but svarath.

Kensia would be nice however you should weigh that versus lossing the grandmaster stances expecially wind which increases your attack speed even more.

[Horkrux]

Thanks for all your replies everyone.

Still debating between which route to take. how ever all the replies are very informative and should definetly help me in choosing which path to go

[unbongwah]

When it comes to monks, my rule of thumb is: when in doubt, stay pure. A pure dark monk puts out plenty of DPS; should have all the feats they need - Toughness, TWF x3, Stunning Fist, Dodge (Ninja pre-req), Imp Crit Blunt, PA, with 2 or 3 left over to round them out (e.g., Stunning Blow); Grandmaster stances & strikes (if stats high enough); and gets one of the more awesome capstones. Plus it leaves Ninja Spy III open as an option.

[stoerm]

What's the status with the monk bonus to crit range? Does that make for viable monk kensai or tempest splashes?

I'm asking because I've got a ranger I'll probably greater reincarnate, and am considering either monk or fighter to go with tempest I or II.

[Carpone]

There are a lot of viable monk multi class splits, and many of them make sense. But have a hard time saying that any of them will out dps a well geared and well played pure dark monk.

Math doesn't support your supposition. Read in order:

http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p...7&postcount=44

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php...29#post3428129

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php...15#post3432615

12 monk/8 fighter or 12 monk/7 fighter/1 [ranger|rogue] is more DPS than 20 monk and it has more HP to due multiple Toughness feats. Haste Boost is simply too good to ignore, especially with unarmed attacks. After multiple TRs, I'd consider 12 monk/6 fighter/2 paladin (for Divine Grace) to be superior survival while sacrificing very little DPS (20% haste boost v. 25% haste boost).

When Ninja Spy III is finally released, it may make 18 monk worth taking. Even then, you're still better off with 18 monk/2 fighter for the 15% Haste Boost and two extra feats.

[Horkrux]

Wow. very nice posts carpone. Thankyou for the information.

I have heard of 12 monk 8 fighter and the random 12/7/1 builds.

But what is the 12 monk 6 fighter 2 palidan build? What does the palidan offer?

[Carpone]

Wow. very nice posts carpone. Thankyou for the information.

I have heard of 12 monk 8 fighter and the random 12/7/1 builds.

But what is the 12 monk 6 fighter 2 palidan build? What does the palidan offer?

The 2 paladin is for Divine Grace (bonus to saves equal to your CHA bonus). Self-buffed 35 Will, Reflex and Fort saves (without crazy Yugo/DDO store pot usage) is very sexy especially if you solo alot. Even in raids, a 36 Reflex on a character with Evasion means you only take damage when you roll a 1 on the fire base in eVON6.

Characters with alot of past lives can benefit more from Divine Grace, since they'll have the spare points to bump up CHA initially. The Epic Helm of Frost is 7 CHA, and is a pretty popular melee item for the 3-piece Abishai set bonus.

2 (14 CHA base)
1 (+2 CHA tome)
4 (+7 CHA item, +1 exceptional CHA)
1 (+2 CHA ship buff)
==
+8 to all saves, just from Divine Grace

Paladin Charisma I enhancement is available too, if you have an odd CHA value.

Obviously you can use higher CHA tomes and more initial build points if they're available to increase the bonus further.