My 32 Point Dark Path Human Monk build.

[Taimasan]

I have decided to post the general build that I use in 32 point form. This is not meant as a "critique this" post or anything. Just posting something that dark monks who are just starting out can get some ideas from. This build is a dex based build that will have good AC, and do well in hitting mobs in epic quests. Also incorporates both Grandmaster Wind for combat, and Grandmaster Earth for the strikes, also providing a emergency hp and blocking DR mode. With good saves, and good HP, DC's are not amazing, but in my opinion endgame quests and epic dungeons stunning fist and quivering palm lose there overall value. And since Dark Path debuffs(All-Consuming Flame, etc.) don't go off a DC just on a landed hit, I feel alot of wisdom was not needed; myself I don't use any of the e.g. Dark/Earth/Dark attacks so me having high DC's on those finishers are moot. I am a firm user of Earth II-IV strikes and 3x Earth finisher, letting off a Touch of Death, Rinse and repeat. I believe this is a nice, solid build.

EDIT: 20 Strength Critical's Versus 32 Strength Critical's, http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=241491.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.34 
DDO Character Planner Home Page  

Superman  
Level 20 Lawful Neutral Human Male 
(20 Monk) 
Hit Points: 356 
Spell Points: 0 

BAB: 15/15/20/2525 
Fortitude: 16 
Reflex: 19 
Will: 16 

              Starting      Ending     Feat/Enhancement 
Abilities    Base Stats   Base Stats    Modified Stats 
(32 Point)    (Level 1)    (Level 20)      (Level 20) 
Strength           12             14                14 
Dexterity          17             24                25 
Constitution       16             18                19 
Intelligence        8             10                10 
Wisdom             13             15                18 
Charisma            8             10                10 

Tomes Used 
+1 Tome of Strength used at level 3(A must have to get Power attack, other +1 Tomes can wait)
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 3 
+1 Tome of Constitution used at level 3 
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 3 
+1 Tome of Wisdom used at level 3 
+1 Tome of Charisma used at level 3 
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7 
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7(A must have)
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7(A must have)
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7 
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 7 
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 7 
 
              Starting      Ending    Feat/Enhancement 
             Base Skills  Base Skills  Modified Skills 
Skills       (Level 1)    (Level 20)      (Level 20) 
Balance            7              30               30 
Bluff              -1             0                0 
Concentration      7              27               38 
Diplomacy          -1             0                0 
Disable Device     n/a            n/a              n/a 
Haggle             -1             0                4 
Heal               1              4                4 
Hide               3              7                7 
Intimidate         -1             0                0 
Jump               5              25               26 
Listen             1              4                4 
Move Silently      3              7                7 
Open Lock          n/a            n/a              n/a 
Perform            n/a            n/a              n/a 
Repair             -1             0                0 
Search             -1             0                0 
Spot               3              18               18 
Swim               1              2                2 
Tumble             5              29               29 
Use Magic Device   n/a            n/a              n/a 
 
Level 1 (Monk) 
Skill: Balance (+4) 
Skill: Concentration (+4) 
Skill: Jump (+4) 
Skill: Spot (+2) 
Skill: Tumble (+2) 
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Stunning Fist 
Feat: (Human Bonus) Toughness 
Feat: (Selected) Two Weapon Fighting 
Enhancement: Monk Concentration I 
Enhancement: Monk Jump I 
 
Level 2 (Monk) 
Skill: Balance (+1) 
Skill: Concentration (+1) 
Skill: Jump (+1) 
Skill: Tumble (+1) 
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Weapon Finesse 
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I 
Enhancement: Way of the Clever Monkey I 
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom I 
 
Level 3 (Monk) 
Skill: Balance (+1) 
Skill: Concentration (+1) 
Skill: Jump (+1) 
Skill: Tumble (+1) 
Feat: (Selected) Dodge 
Feat: (Monk Path) Path of Inevitable Dominion: Fists of Darkness 
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery I 
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I 
 
Level 4 (Monk) 
Ability Raise: DEX 
Skill: Balance (+1) 
Skill: Concentration (+1) 
Skill: Jump (+1) 
Skill: Tumble (+1) 
Enhancement: Static Charge 
 
Level 5 (Monk) 
Skill: Balance (+1) 
Skill: Concentration (+1) 
Skill: Jump (+1) 
Skill: Tumble (+1) 
Enhancement: Way of the Clever Monkey II 
Enhancement: Porous Soul 
 
Level 6 (Monk) 
Skill: Balance (+1) 
Skill: Concentration (+1) 
Skill: Jump (+1) 
Skill: Tumble (+1) 
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Power Attack 
Feat: (Selected) Toughness 
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Dexterity I 
Enhancement: Winter's Touch 
Enhancement: Adept of Wind 
Enhancement: Adept of Rock 
 
Level 7 (Monk) 
Skill: Balance (+1) 
Skill: Concentration (+1) 
Skill: Jump (+1) 
Skill: Tumble (+1) 
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom II 
 
Level 8 (Monk) 
Ability Raise: DEX 
Skill: Balance (+1) 
Skill: Concentration (+1) 
Skill: Jump (+1) 
Skill: Spot (+1) 
Skill: Tumble (+1) 
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II 
 
Level 9 (Monk) 
Skill: Balance (+1) 
Skill: Concentration (+1) 
Skill: Jump (+1) 
Skill: Spot (+1) 
Skill: Tumble (+1) 
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting 
Enhancement: Touch of Death 
Enhancement: All-Consuming Flame 
 
Level 10 (Monk) 
Skill: Balance (+1) 
Skill: Concentration (+1) 
Skill: Jump (+1) 
Skill: Spot (+1) 
Skill: Tumble (+1) 
Enhancement: Way of the Clever Monkey III 
 
Level 11 (Monk) 
Skill: Balance (+1) 
Skill: Concentration (+1) 
Skill: Jump (+1) 
Skill: Tumble (+2) 
 
Level 12 (Monk) 
Ability Raise: DEX 
Skill: Balance (+1) 
Skill: Concentration (+1) 
Skill: Jump (+1) 
Skill: Spot (+1) 
Skill: Tumble (+1) 
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Bludgeoning Weapons 
Enhancement: Master of Thunder 
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom III 
 
Level 13 (Monk) 
Skill: Balance (+1) 
Skill: Concentration (+1) 
Skill: Jump (+1) 
Skill: Spot (+1) 
Skill: Tumble (+1) 
Enhancement: Master of Stone 
 
Level 14 (Monk) 
Skill: Balance (+1) 
Skill: Concentration (+1) 
Skill: Jump (+1) 
Skill: Spot (+1) 
Skill: Tumble (+1) 
Enhancement: Human Greater Adaptability Constitution I 
 
Level 15 (Monk) 
Skill: Balance (+1) 
Skill: Concentration (+1) 
Skill: Jump (+1) 
Skill: Spot (+1) 
Skill: Tumble (+1) 
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting 
Enhancement: Way of the Clever Monkey IV 
 
Level 16 (Monk) 
Ability Raise: DEX 
Skill: Balance (+1) 
Skill: Concentration (+1) 
Skill: Jump (+1) 
Skill: Spot (+1) 
Skill: Tumble (+1) 
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery II 
 
Level 17 (Monk) 
Skill: Balance (+1) 
Skill: Concentration (+1) 
Skill: Jump (+1) 
Skill: Spot (+1) 
Skill: Tumble (+1) 
 
Level 18 (Monk) 
Skill: Balance (+1) 
Skill: Concentration (+1) 
Skill: Jump (+1) 
Skill: Spot (+1) 
Skill: Tumble (+1) 
Feat: (Selected) Toughness 
Enhancement: Grandmaster of Storms 
Enhancement: Grandmaster of Mountains 
 
Level 19 (Monk) 
Skill: Balance (+1) 
Skill: Concentration (+1) 
Skill: Jump (+1) 
Skill: Spot (+1) 
Skill: Tumble (+1) 
 
Level 20 (Monk) 
Ability Raise: DEX 
Skill: Balance (+1) 
Skill: Concentration (+1) 
Skill: Jump (+1) 
Skill: Spot (+1) 
Skill: Tumble (+1) 
Enhancement: Monk Serenity 
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery II 
Enhancement: Racial Toughness III

[Taimasan]

17 Dex + 1 Human Adapt takes Dex to a 18 + level ups brings it to a 25 + Wind IV, your sitting at a 29, with a +2 Tome, your at a 31 Dex. Add in spectral gloves your at a 36 Dex. Since almost every monk I know incorporates the spectral gloves, I thought this would be the best way to set up the stats.

[Hydro]

Your going to get even less love for a 12 starting str build here then you did in the character build section.

So yeah have fun with your sub par damage build.

[Taimasan]

Heh, thanks dude. You obviously never have partied with my monk before.

[Hydro]

Sorry to sound harsh but me and lots of other monks out there have been trying to get rid of this monks are low DPS reputation. Unfortunatley as long as people are making monks with 12 starting STR that reputation will not go away.

16 Str should be minimum for any non halfling monk 18 preffered.

[Quijonsith]

Keep telling yourself that Hydro. 4 points of strength only equals 2 points of damage if you're gonna nitpick starting strength. monk's damage comes far more from equipment and feat selection than 12 vs. 16 str.

[AylinIsAwesome]

Keep telling yourself that Hydro. 4 points of strength only equals 2 points of damage if you're gonna nitpick starting strength. monk's damage comes far more from equipment and feat selection than 12 vs. 16 str.

2 points of damage on every hit.

With both fists.

Last time I checked, you attack pretty fast in Wind Stance 4. That damage adds up fast.

[Quijonsith]

News flash: I got far more of a DPS increase dropping my strength from 14 to 12 and upping my con to get tier 4 earth strike. In the scale of cycling strikes with high speed weapon effects 2 damage, even on every hit at high speed, doesn't make the difference between us being low DPS or high DPS.

[AylinIsAwesome]

News flash: I got far more of a DPS increase dropping my strength from 14 to 12 and upping my con to get tier 4 earth strike. In the scale of cycling strikes with high speed weapon effects 2 damage, even on every hit at high speed, doesn't make the difference between us being low DPS or high DPS.

Except...

You can still get Wind Stance 4, Earth Strike 4 and be STR-based too.

[Hydro]

News flash: I got far more of a DPS increase dropping my strength from 14 to 12 and upping my con to get tier 4 earth strike. In the scale of cycling strikes with high speed weapon effects 2 damage, even on every hit at high speed, doesn't make the difference between us being low DPS or high DPS.

Yeah lets see a Warforged or Dwarf Monk can easily start with an 18 STR, 16 Dex, and 16 Con, while a halfling monk can start with a 16 Str, 16 Dex, and 16 Con and take the sneak attack line for another 8 points of damage a swing. Human monks can also start with 16, 16, 16 but with the lack of any damage boosting enhancements (not counting Human Vesatility since it is slow to activate) I really cant reccomend a human monk build to anyone.

Also since my monk is sitting between a 38-40 Sr (18 Base +5 Level + 2 Tome + 2 TOD Pot + 2 Rage + 6 Item + 1 exceptional +2-4 Madstone) you are looking at a minimum 9-10 damage lost a swing and 18-20 damage lost a crit. So in Windstance 4 with lets say a conservative 200 swings a minute that is 1,800 damage lost every minute without counting any critical hits.

[Taimasan]

Yeah lets see a Warforged or Dwarf Monk can easily start with an 18 STR, 16 Dex, and 16 Con, while a halfling monk can start with a 16 Str, 16 Dex, and 16 Con and take the sneak attack line for another 8 points of damage a swing. Human monks can also start with 16, 16, 16 but with the lack of any damage boosting enhancements (not counting Human Vesatility since it is slow to activate) I really cant reccomend a human monk build to anyone.

Also since my monk is sitting between a 38-40 Sr (18 Base +5 Level + 2 Tome + 2 TOD Pot + 2 Rage + 6 Item + 1 exceptional +2-4 Madstone) you are looking at a minimum 9-10 damage lost a swing and 18-20 damage lost a crit. So in Windstance 4 with lets say a conservative 200 swings a minute that is 1,800 damage lost every minute without counting any critical hits.

Well, I think thats a good build man, great stuff, and i think I have a good build too. No need to get hostile.

[Hydro]

Well, I think thats a good build man, great stuff, and i think I have a good build too. No need to get hostile.

Please dont take what I am saying as hostile, I just dont understand the point of your build and neither do the rest of the people that have posted.

The build you posted is going to do way less DPS then a strength based monk, its going to do less DPS then a Wisdom/Dex based halfling monk (with the same str) since you are missing the sneak attack damage, and its going to have less AC and lower DC's then a Halfling monk.

I just dont see the point of the build sorry.

[Taimasan]

Please dont take what I am saying as hostile, I just dont understand the point of your build and neither do the rest of the people that have posted.

The build you posted is going to do way less DPS then a strength based monk, its going to do less DPS then a Wisdom/Dex based halfling monk (with the same str) since you are missing the sneak attack damage, and its going to have less AC and lower DC's then a Halfling monk.

I just dont see the point of the build sorry.

Ok, cool story bro.

[Hydro]

Ok, cool story bro.

Ok now you are the person being hostile, people come to these forums looking for advice and builds and to be bluntly honest this is probably one of the least optimal monk builds I have ever seen...

[Taimasan]

Ok now you are the person being hostile, people come to these forums looking for advice and builds and to be bluntly honest this is probably one of the worst monk builds I have ever seen...

Dude, you have made your point several times over, and your said over and over again that you think my build is the worst you ever seen. Man, my monk is pretty **** good imo, of course he is not going to do the dps that he would do if he was sitting at 30 strength, I never claimed that. I would like to know the name of your monk, and would like to see some people from the Sarlona community come forward and see how they feel about my build and my performance as a monk. If it is overtly negative, I will take the original build down.

[Hydro]

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

I have no doubt that you are a skilled player and that you pull your weight I am just saying its not an optimal build. That is my monk build above he is 18 now on his second life and is a Maximum DPS machine.

Here is his build below:

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.34
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Metaru 
Level 20 Lawful Good Warforged Male
(20 Monk) 
Hit Points: 406
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 17
Reflex: 16
Will: 11

                  Starting            Ending          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats         Base Stats         Modified Stats
(34 Point)       (Level 1)          (Level 20)           (Level 20)
Strength             18                 25                   25
Dexterity            16                 18                   18
Constitution         17                 19                   21
Intelligence          8                 10                   10
Wisdom                6                  8                    8
Charisma              6                  6                    6

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 7

                  Starting            Ending          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills        Base Skills        Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)          (Level 20)          (Level 20)
Balance               7                 27                   27
Bluff                -2                 -2                   -2
Concentration         7                 28                   45
Diplomacy            -2                 -2                   -2
Disable Device       n/a                n/a                   n/a
Haggle               -2                 -2                   -2
Heal                 -2                 -1                   -1
Hide                  3                  4                    4
Intimidate           -2                 -2                   -2
Jump                  4                 20                   21
Listen               -2                 -1                   -1
Move Silently         3                  4                    4
Open Lock             n/a               n/a                   n/a
Perform              n/a               n/a                   n/a
Repair               -1                  0                    0
Search               -1                  0                    0
Spot                 -2                 -1                   -1
Swim                  4                  7                    7
Tumble                7                 27                   27
Use Magic Device     n/a               n/a                   n/a

Level 1 (Monk)
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Monk
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Toughness


Level 2 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Two Weapon Fighting


Level 3 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Past Life: Disciple of the Fist
Feat: (Monk Path) Path of Inevitable Dominion: Fists of Darkness


Level 4 (Monk)


Level 5 (Monk)


Level 6 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Toughness
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Bludgeoning Weapons


Level 7 (Monk)


Level 8 (Monk)


Level 9 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting


Level 10 (Monk)


Level 11 (Monk)


Level 12 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Bludgeoning Weapons


Level 13 (Monk)


Level 14 (Monk)


Level 15 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting


Level 16 (Monk)


Level 17 (Monk)


Level 18 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 19 (Monk)


Level 20 (Monk)
Enhancement: Monk Serenity
Enhancement: Static Charge
Enhancement: Way of the Patient Tortiose I
Enhancement: Way of the Patient Tortiose II
Enhancement: Way of the Patient Tortiose III
Enhancement: Way of the Patient Tortiose IV
Enhancement: Touch of Death
Enhancement: Fists of Iron
Enhancement: Porous Soul
Enhancement: All-Consuming Flame
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery II
Enhancement: Winter's Touch
Enhancement: Adept of Wind
Enhancement: Grandmaster of Storms
Enhancement: Master of Thunder
Enhancement: Adept of Rock
Enhancement: Grandmaster of Mountains
Enhancement: Master of Stone
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness III
Enhancement: Racial Toughness IV
Enhancement: Monk Concentration I
Enhancement: Monk Jump I
Enhancement: Warforged Brute Fighting I
Enhancement: Warforged Constitution I
Enhancement: Warforged Constitution II
Enhancement: Warforged Healer's Friend I
Enhancement: Warforged Healer's Friend II
Enhancement: Warforged Power Attack I
Enhancement: Warforged Power Attack II
Enhancement: Warforged Power Attack III

[Quijonsith]

to be bluntly honest this is probably one of the worst monk builds I have ever seen...

I have no doubt that you are a skilled player and that you pull your weight I am just saying its not an optimal build.

Wow, went from worst monk to not optimal. W/E. Noone claimed it was optimal nor was the OP asking for a critique. Thanks for playing, glad you enjoy your strength build.

[Hydro]

Wow, went from worst monk to not optimal. W/E. Noone claimed it was optimal nor was the OP asking for a critique. Thanks for playing, glad you enjoy your strength build.

Worst was a bit of exageration on my part the op will still be able to hit things but the build does nothing to optimize DPS, AC or DC of abilities.

Generally when builds are posted on the forums they are optimal builds that work to maximize a classes strengths while minimizing their weaknesses. This build does not do that.

Any time you post something on the forums it is going to be critized, if you didnt want your build critized you shouldnt of posted it.

Normally I wouldnt care so much about low dps builds being posted but I am trying to help the community realize that a Max str monk can do great DPS, and yes I do believe a Max DPS Dark monk can easily keep up with a fighter, ranger or pally on a raid boss and depending on difficulty and bosses fortification a good DPS Dark monk can even outdps allot of classes.

I will edit my post above to make it sound less harsh, I was honestly just a little frustrated by the "Cool story bro" comment...

[Taimasan]

I really cant reccomend a human monk build to anyone.

From that one statement it is obvious your not going to think the build is "optimal" no matter what the stats are. I welcome criticism, and I said you had a good build. Its not the build I would choose because its lacking AC, and to me that does not seem "optimal" on a monk. But thats just it, its my opinion, not fact, and I realize it; and if you have fun playing your character and don't have a problem getting into groups and epics, awesome, godspeed. Its just when you start to run it into the ground over and over again that it becomes annoying. Hence the "cool story bro" comment on my end.

[AylinIsAwesome]

From that one statement it is obvious your not going to think the build is "optimal" no matter what the stats are. I welcome criticism, and I said you had a good build. Its not the build I would choose because its lacking AC, and to me that does not seem "optimal" on a monk. But thats just it, its my opinion, not fact, and I realize it; and if you have fun playing your character and don't have a problem getting into groups and epics, awesome, godspeed. Its just when you start to run it into the ground over and over again that it becomes annoying. Hence the "cool story bro" comment on my end.

You could switch from Human to Halfling, and get the Sneak Attack enhancement line. It would be the loss of a feat (though you could not take Dodge and have no loss of AC, or drop Stunning Fist since your DC won't be high enough to make it work most of the time), but your DPS would go up, which really is the point.