Fire Stance

[negative]

Thoughts? Personally, I think it's a bit weak, moreso with tier 4 stances coming. The additional Ki isn't as huge a benifit as may have been originally intended, and neither is +4 str compared to +4 dex and 10% stacking attack speed.

I feel like fire stance could really use something considering it pairs better with a monk whose primary stat is str, rather than dex. Probably something to increase the amount of damage you deal.

It's not a huge deal, but with Mod 9 coming its been on my mind. I currently have a fire monk, but I am constantly tempted to reroll as an air monk.

[Delacroix21]

Reroll air monk. If +2 damage a swing beat +10% attack speed, we would see allot less 6 ranger splashes. You have TWF dont you? I mean it may take a LONG while, but with at least 14 dex you should be able to take your level 20 stat point into dex and pray for a +3 tome. I had to do this on my monk (+1 dex at 16) when they added TWF working with unarmed.

[Brother_Solar]

Fire Stance provides two benefits:
1) Additional Strength (+melee hit and +melee damage)
2) An absurd amount of Ki generation

If we do not have a way to utilize that Ki, then yes, Fire Stance is largely a waste. That is one of the main reasons I have several times advocated the reduction (or removal, if feasible) of the cooldown on Ki strikes. A tier 4 Fire Stance monk could potentially use Ki strikes exclusively and indefinitely while attacking and never run out of Ki. That is one way that they could potentially keep up with Air Stance monk damage output.

[negative]

I have managed to get my fire monks dps equal to the air stance build I would make if I rerolled, but I find something conceptually wrong with a finesse build's dps being on par with a str build's.

I agree that the increases ki generation isn't the great benefit it would seem. One of the biggest problems is the global cooldown timer. If you chain all your ki strikes together one after another you attack slower than just holding down right click. A better way to use ki strikes faster would help, but I still think fire stance needs something more, like maybe just +X damage per hit per tier as well.

Edit: I will say, there is some benefit to going str as far as overcoming DR and the like that should be noted as well.

[Gum]

If you go to the top tier of fire, the ki strike wont work on the new shavarath stuff though will it, since they are immune to fire?

[Greydeath]

If you go to the top tier of fire, the ki strike wont work on the new shavarath stuff though will it, since they are immune to fire?

Correct, but you can use others rather than just Fire strikes...


Generally yes, Fire Stance is very weak compared to Wind and is not helped by the fact that most of our current end game mobs are immune to Fire strikes

Arguably Stunning Fist and/or Blow paired with Crane Style generates Ki faster on trash, but Fire is better on Bosses.

I do think that the slow cool down should be removed with only the 1 sec (?) global timer remaining on Ki strikes. They also need to buff the Dark finishers to work on Bosses (where appropriate).

[rimble]

Fire Stance provides two benefits:
1) Additional Strength (+melee hit and +melee damage)
2) An absurd amount of Ki generation

If we do not have a way to utilize that Ki, then yes, Fire Stance is largely a waste. That is one of the main reasons I have several times advocated the reduction (or removal, if feasible) of the cooldown on Ki strikes. A tier 4 Fire Stance monk could potentially use Ki strikes exclusively and indefinitely while attacking and never run out of Ki. That is one way that they could potentially keep up with Air Stance monk damage output.

This. They're screwing Fire Monks by not having enough stuff to spend Ki on, with the +1 Ki regen at level 20, and even by reducing the Ki cost of Wholeness of Body. I'll never be able to spend all this Ki, most likely I'll join the collective and go Air stance now. I and others were throwing this warning out long ago...MAYBE there's some secret thing we haven't heard from in Mod 9 that will benefit from high Ki, but I really doubt it...every time I muster up some new hope they sneak up and jack me in the back.

[Mobeius]

I still have fire stance.

1. Use it to build Ki fast and then usually switch to Air Stance.

2. Allows me to use Eagles Claw (fire attack)

3. Qualifies to get Rise of the Phoenix

4. Eagles Claw +Fist of Light + Eagles Claw = -4 AC, Healing Curse, +1 Comp Bonus to Hit, Saves and Skill checks.

Will. I get Grand master Fire Stance? More than likely I wont, I am debating whether to keep Masters Stance. They might have a PRE available if you have all stances at GM level, who knows.

[MrCow]

I've always found Fire Stance useful for utilizing Improved Trip and Stunning Blow, or those cases where I'm attacking while moving and my to-hit is suffering. Other than those cases the Fire Stance is a temporary state for me, usually for when I stun something and load up on ki for later.