Lack of DR bypassing handwraps

[Syntax42]

Please tell me Turbine has at least acknowledged this issue.

My monk is almost level 10 now and I have not seen a single handwrap to bypass any form of damage reduction on the auction house. Golems are common enough in level 8-15 quests that I should be able to pick up a metalline or adamantine handwrap by then.

Waiting until level 16 to bypass adamantine is too late in the game. If they aren't going to make handwraps with DR bypassing more available, they should give monks the feats to bypass anything available on a weapon at a reasonable level. By reasonable, I mean at least by the level it is frequently needed in the game's content.

[Oolung]

there are some simple +2 metaline of pure good, they are great dr bypassers, called Devout Handwraps ML 8

[Syntax42]

there are some simple +2 metaline of pure good, they are great dr bypassers, called Devout Handwraps ML 8

I read that thread. People end up running that quest 20 times and don't see them or get lucky and get three in a row. That is not something I would consider to be decent availability. You don't see other classes running specific quests repeatedly to get a metalline weapon. I'll probably have to shelf my monk and maybe the game until they fix some issues I consider game-breaking.

[Missing_Minds]

You don't see other classes running specific quests repeatedly to get a metalline weapon.

Shroud count?

[Syntax42]

Shroud count?

I don't see how it would count. You have access to metalline weapons and other DR bypassing weapons long before you need them if you aren't using unarmed. This isn't an issue of wanting something. It is an issue of needing something to be effective in the game's current content and needing access to it before or by the time you are able to run that content.

[mjrepro]

Join the que, that is the one waiting for some decent handwraps.

A friend pointed out at one point that monks are best when tweaked, and it holds a bit true.
Handwraps are hard to come by, the decent ones that are, and you have to buy them off the ah usually. That is not always easy for a lower level character, but we learn to deal.

While it is not ideal for everyone to get Devouts asap, it is a quest with GREAT xp from it, so should be run more often, and while some take 20 runs, most don't. That is like never sending your kid out of the house to play because 1/1000000 get abducted. . . . wait . . . .you mean they don't let kids out of the house today?

P.s. If you are on sarlona, look up Gobar. I will see what I can do to help you out with running it. The worst is not the fact that the loot might not drop, it is being denied a spot in a party, because the guy leading it wants no other monks in for the chance that they might get the drop.

[Aerendil]

Don't forget you can use kamas and quarterstaves.
And pretty soon shortswords and longswords too.

Handwraps might be a Monk's best damage source, but don't neglect your other weapon options either.
I've seen +1 metalline kamas and QSs sitting in the AH for super cheap before, and you can also pick some up from certain quests that work just as well (i.e. Threnal end-reward = theurgic staff : adamantine and elemental bane).
Just an FYI.

[stainer]

I used qstaffs and kamas until I got my ToD ring with Holy Burst. It is not an optimal solution, but it is a solution.

[TPICKRELL]

Don't forget you can use kamas and quarterstaves.
And pretty soon shortswords and longswords too.

Handwraps might be a Monk's best damage source, but don't neglect your other weapon options either.
I've seen +1 metalline kamas and QSs sitting in the AH for super cheap before, and you can also pick some up from certain quests that work just as well (i.e. Threnal end-reward = theurgic staff : adamantine and elemental bane).
Just an FYI.

Note that is only an option if you are Lawful Good or have sufficient UMD to bypass the alignment restrictions on kamas and qstaffs, and presumably shortswords and longswords.

[DemonMage]

There is no alignment restriction on Metalline.

[Baahb3]

Catacombs have Silver handwraps, Co6 have Cold Iron handwraps, Delara's have Flametouched Iron hand wraps.

Pretty much all of them are covered except for adamant, byeshk and crystal, two of witch are needed so rarely that you don't really worry about them and Adamant you get at lvl 16, if that is to late for you, like others have said Metaline Q-staves and Kamas are cheap.

[TheKeg]

While it is not ideal for everyone to get Devouts asap, it is a quest with GREAT xp from it, so should be run more often, and while some take 20 runs, most don't.

20 runs? I wish, 32 and counting. But I have abysmal luck with drops. My friend on the other hand has Devouts, Docent of Defiance, and a bloodstone.

[Drakos]

Catacombs have Silver handwraps, Co6 have Cold Iron handwraps, Delara's have Flametouched Iron hand wraps.

Pretty much all of them are covered except for adamant, byeshk and crystal, two of witch are needed so rarely that you don't really worry about them and Adamant you get at lvl 16, if that is to late for you, like others have said Metaline Q-staves and Kamas are cheap.

I'm keeping my eye on the Shinto line of enhancements. This may help us alot if the give Cold Iron and Silver in the later teirs. Then all we would nee is the 'of good' qualifier, and there seem to be plenty of those.

[Taimasan]

There is no alignment restriction on Metalline.

But to bypass DR against horned devils and pit fiends you need good+silver. Some monks like to go lawful neutral for a chance to use litany. And to avoid some of the damage that evil mobs can do.

[AaronB]

Around lvl 10 when I started running into golems, I picked up a metalline quarterstaff. Much easier to find than handwraps - affordable even for a non-twink. I'm really happy with it; it'll serve until I get a Devout.

[vVAnjilaVv]

I really think this is more of an issue for light monks than dark monks....Touch of Death let's you one shot or almost one shot a lot of monsters in the game.

I'm pretty sure metalline handwraps are in the loot tables...they are just rare.

I do agree that monk handwraps in the loots tables need a massive revamp...so do shurikens dropping for end rewards......just have to work around it for now.

[vVAnjilaVv]

Around lvl 10 when I started running into golems, I picked up a metalline quarterstaff. Much easier to find than handwraps - affordable even for a non-twink. I'm really happy with it; it'll serve until I get a Devout.

Don't u lose a lot of attacks from not using your wraps tho?....unless you are a THF.

Too me unless your fighting something with a really high DR, I think handwraps are still your best option, just find stuff with nice prefixes and suffixes. If u have Power Attack and a high to-hit, I find DR is hardly ever an issue with wraps......unless like I say it's something with really high DR. Most trash golems are not that tough at all and you should be able to handle them until level 16.

[AaronB]

Even in lvl 9-11 quests, iron golems and clay golems have such high DR that it's a massive difference trying to kill them with regular handwraps vs. killing them with a QS that bypasses their DR, even if you lose attacks. With handwraps I was usually hitting them for 0.

[vVAnjilaVv]

Even in lvl 9-11 quests, iron golems and clay golems have such high DR that it's a massive difference trying to kill them with regular handwraps vs. killing them with a QS that bypasses their DR, even if you lose attacks. With handwraps I was usually hitting them for 0.

Do you have power attack...I never had any problems killing golems before level 16. The only exception I can think of is flesh golems....you just get a couple adamantine of metalline kama's for those....or u can use smiting handwraps........ur right tho, a qstaff is a lot easier to obtain.

[Aerendil]

Even in lvl 9-11 quests, iron golems and clay golems have such high DR that it's a massive difference trying to kill them with regular handwraps vs. killing them with a QS that bypasses their DR, even if you lose attacks. With handwraps I was usually hitting them for 0.

Those are the few times playing a STR-based Human Monk make me smile.
I remember that named golem in Tear of Dhakaan tearing up our level 9 party. My str + PA was enough to punch through his DR, despite not having the right handwraps for the job, and then I clicked my human versatility for an extra +4 or 5 damage per punch.

The other WIS-based halfling in the group could only watch and sigh.


Sometimes brute force is the way to go