The Metaru - Dark Path WF Fire DPS Monk

[Consumer]

Instead of taking tortoise for 15 extra HP would it not be better to take Hound for +4/+5 to hit flanking enemies.

I was originally worried about the to hit the build could reach but it looks like it is similar to an equally geared Rogue and is slightly less reliant on sneak attack.


Very nicely laid out build with good explanations, the best I've read on this forum.

[rodallec]

ive been wanting to TR my monk to this kind of build
thanks for the earth strike ideas. im currrently the old wind stance AC monk..

ive got past life rogue and tharnes gogs. just finished radiance boots.
hopefully get more DPS with aggro. so when i TR and get level 13: with (blind mob) and without aggro should be getting 6d6 +9 snk dmg a hit?
i noticed you had no boots in the build item list? or did i miss them?
i have madstones but they dont let you use light finishers.

sweet build, good work

[butlerfamilywa]

I was originally worried about the to hit the build could reach but it looks like it is similar to an equally geared Rogue and is slightly less reliant on sneak attack.

I'm sure hydro will pop up and comment on the relation to rogue, but from what i've seen. A Monk who is Centered, has FULL BaB. However it is a 3/4 progression. So at level 20, Centered, you're getting a 20 BaB, become Un-Centered, and you will have a 15 BaB.

i noticed you had no boots in the build item list? or did i miss them?
i have madstones but they dont let you use light finishers.

Madstone Boots are the #1 boots for a Dark Monk... the only finishers you use is Shinning Star & Triple Earth.

[Hydro]

ive been wanting to TR my monk to this kind of build
thanks for the earth strike ideas. im currrently the old wind stance AC monk..

ive got past life rogue and tharnes gogs. just finished radiance boots.
hopefully get more DPS with aggro. so when i TR and get level 13: with (blind mob) and without aggro should be getting 6d6 +9 snk dmg a hit?
i noticed you had no boots in the build item list? or did i miss them?
i have madstones but they dont let you use light finishers.

sweet build, good work

Your sneak attack numbers sound right, you can also use Halfling Cunning (if you are halfling) to get another +5 to hit and +8 to damage with SA.

Also I have added boots to the gear section above thanks for pointing that out.

[Hydro]

Instead of taking tortoise for 15 extra HP would it not be better to take Hound for +4/+5 to hit flanking enemies.

I was originally worried about the to hit the build could reach but it looks like it is similar to an equally geared Rogue and is slightly less reliant on sneak attack.


Very nicely laid out build with good explanations, the best I've read on this forum.

Depending on your gear level Hound is definitly an option. If you find you are missing to much in epics it is a great choice. The only time you would have any issue to hit is in epics and and it has a lot to do with the fact you will be using a bursting +1 or +2 Weighted +10 weapon.

With ship buffs and gear my monk sits over a 53 to hit in epics which is more then enough for any trash mobs. I still end up swapping to a destruction/imp destruction kama for orange names but everyone in the party is having trouble hitting at that point.

[Quijonsith]

Madstone Boots are the #1 boots for a Dark Monk... the only finishers you use is Shinning Star & Triple Earth.

Depends on who's behind the keyboard. My dark monk is a stunning fist build with enough wisdom for my finishers to matter (DC 40). I use the earth-dark-earth finisher (inflicts nausea, enemy can't cast/attack) and void-dark-void to charm enemies in the right situations. I don't use them all the time, but they are fun when I do use them.

Having said that, I still want madstone boots. For now I use 30% striders unless I have to have boots of anchoring on. Need to get kundarak delving boots too.

[Quijonsith]

Instead of taking tortoise for 15 extra HP would it not be better to take Hound for +4/+5 to hit flanking enemies.

If you find yourself missing in epics hound is great for being able to keep power attack on. I used it before I switched to crane for extra Ki as I'm a dex/wis build.

[Strik3r]

ok looks really appealing..
k my question is is it ok for a pally to TR into ur said build??..i always wanted a monk so i was thinking of TRing my old pally's into one(i already have a bettter capped pally)...but since i know squat about monks in term of 1st hand knowledge(i only read and learnt about monks)....is it risky me TRing into one??i dont wanna screw up my TR!!..lol

and dont worry about my playstyle..i like clicky classes.

[Quijonsith]

ok looks really appealing..
k my question is is it ok for a pally to TR into ur said build??..i always wanted a monk so i was thinking of TRing my old pally's into one(i already have a bettter capped pally)...but since i know squat about monks in term of 1st hand knowledge(i only read and learnt about monks)....is it risky me TRing into one??i dont wanna screw up my TR!!..lol

and dont worry about my playstyle..i like clicky classes.

That would actually be helpful as you get 5% healing amp from the passive pali past life. If the build sounds like your style go for it. Pali is already abit heavy on the clicky side so it shouldn't be too much of a transistion for you. What you might want to do is start a lowbie monk and see how you like the more active style with the strikes.

[Hydro]

ok looks really appealing..
k my question is is it ok for a pally to TR into ur said build??..i always wanted a monk so i was thinking of TRing my old pally's into one(i already have a bettter capped pally)...but since i know squat about monks in term of 1st hand knowledge(i only read and learnt about monks)....is it risky me TRing into one??i dont wanna screw up my TR!!..lol

and dont worry about my playstyle..i like clicky classes.

Pally would be a great choice for a previous TR, the purchasable past life feat would actually be a great clickie since it give +3 to hit and Damage a day. Either way though I am still going to reccomend a Monk TR for the extra fist damage, but I have a feeling if you do a TR and find Monk is for you, you will want to do another TR for that past life feat.

[TheIvanovFamily]

my first thoughts upon seeing this was "oh, 'this' thread again," but then i actually read it and changed my mind ^.^

It's akin to what i was going for when i TR'd my midgit monk into a robot, but i then switched back to midgit on 2nd tr because i preferred the halfling for the amp and sneak attack. It's definitely a good build once you have it up and running and good for showing the "lolmonks" people what they can actually do when done properly.

[Khurse]

How are the two timers? (Stunning fist vs blow)
Sadly having run very few epics I've never really specced for either of them.
Although my understanding was that blow was nearly useless compared to fist.
(If you're speccd for it of course)

I do like this build, but I'm not sure if I want to turn Hekx into a Warforged.

[AylinIsAwesome]

How are the two timers? (Stunning fist vs blow)
Sadly having run very few epics I've never really specced for either of them.
Although my understanding was that blow was nearly useless compared to fist.
(If you're speccd for it of course)

I do like this build, but I'm not sure if I want to turn Hekx into a Warforged.

The Stunning Blow on my Fighter seems to have a longer cooldown than the Stunning Fist on my Monk does, but I can't say that for sure since I haven't actually measured either.

[Hydro]

How are the two timers? (Stunning fist vs blow)
Sadly having run very few epics I've never really specced for either of them.
Although my understanding was that blow was nearly useless compared to fist.
(If you're speccd for it of course)

I do like this build, but I'm not sure if I want to turn Hekx into a Warforged.

Stunning Blow is on a 15 second cooldown and stunning fist is on a 6 second cooldown. Stunning fist might have a shorter cooldown but I would have to sacrifice damage and hit points to get an actual wisdom score to make stunning fist usefull.

With how easy epics are now with Mass Hold Monster I have no reason to sacrifice anything for something as small as a shorter cooldown on my stunning ability.

[fervidsea]

Docent
Dragontouched Docent (Recommend a healing amp docent and a threat docent)
Upgraded Mind Sunder Docent (Superior False Life and Toughness good slot consolidation and +10 more hp then regular Greater False Life)
Epic Docent (Red Scale, Docent of Grace, Bladesmark Docent any of those with toughness in the blue slot is a good choice)

Hydro, with your current gear layout, what is the combination of DT Docents do you recommend? Can you expand on what the three tiers are for your healing amp and threat docents?

Thank you.

[Khurse]

Intro:


Rings
Your rings are your weapons, your rings will be dedicated to raid loot from Tower of Despair. I recommend enchanting your rings with Holy Burst and Shocking Burst and you can also have a couple of spare rings you can swap in for quests with elemental resists or that are neutral. Below are the ring sets that work with unarmed combat, any ring set I do not mention below will not work with fists.

Frenzied Berserker Set (+2 to damage)
War priest Set (+2 to hit)
Shintao Set (+2 to hit and damage that stacks)
Oremi's Set (Henshin Mystic)(1d6 Fire Damage an attack)

If you want a couple of extra rings with different elements it doesn’t matter which ones you use, just please don’t take a nice melee ring that won’t work with fists.



MyDDO Link for Metaru
http://my.ddo.com/character/khyber/metaru/

Wow, missed this.
Are you sure the Ravager set doesn't work with unarmed?
I was fairly certain I had seen an extra number when I had it equipped.

[Delacroix21]

I am sorry but ignoring stunning fist is foolish, and heres why=


1. at 38 strength your stunning blow is 37dc, NOT 38 (10base+10stunning+14str+3wf), yes rage/madstone/etc. can raise this
2. even at 12 wis your stunning fist is a 34dc (10base+10monk+10stun+1wis+3wf), drop strength to 16 and it becomes 37dc, good enough for epic, but can be raised through monk enhancement line, better tomes/gear/etc.
3. It is OBVIOUS, that taking a few points out of dex or strength would make stunning fist equal
4. Stunning fist has a 6second cooldown, and can perma-stun mobs
5. Stunning blow has a 15second cooldown, goodbye perma stun, hello lame 9 seconds of no stun



Take both! But if you can only take one then take stunning fist! In 30 seconds you can drop a lousy 2 stunning blows to any other monks 5 stunning fist. Any epic group would be wiser to take those monks over you even with a slightly lower DC, as 5 stuns beat your 2 by a wide margin. Mass Hold is amazing in Epic, but casters cant keep mobs stunned 100%. Even still if you are truly relying on caster with Mass Hold, then you wouldnt worry about stunning blow anyway and would fight with a Dreamspitter. 3-4 dreamspiter toons on a held mob= death in seconds.

[Hydro]

Wow, missed this.
Are you sure the Ravager set doesn't work with unarmed?
I was fairly certain I had seen an extra number when I had it equipped.

It doesnt those are the only rings that give melee effects that work with unarmed. I know quite a few monks who have Ravager rings that dont work. Thats one of the main reasons I stressed for monks to not take them from people who can use them.

[Hydro]

I am sorry but ignoring stunning fist is foolish, and heres why=


1. at 38 strength your stunning blow is 37dc, NOT 38 (10base+10stunning+14str+3wf), yes rage/madstone/etc. can raise this
2. even at 12 wis your stunning fist is a 34dc (10base+10monk+10stun+1wis+3wf), drop strength to 16 and it becomes 37dc, good enough for epic, but can be raised through monk enhancement line, better tomes/gear/etc.
3. It is OBVIOUS, that taking a few points out of dex or strength would make stunning fist equal
4. Stunning fist has a 6second cooldown, and can perma-stun mobs
5. Stunning blow has a 15second cooldown, goodbye perma stun, hello lame 9 seconds of no stun



Take both! But if you can only take one then take stunning fist! In 30 seconds you can drop a lousy 2 stunning blows to any other monks 5 stunning fist. Any epic group would be wiser to take those monks over you even with a slightly lower DC, as 5 stuns beat your 2 by a wide margin. Mass Hold is amazing in Epic, but casters cant keep mobs stunned 100%. Even still if you are truly relying on caster with Mass Hold, then you wouldnt worry about stunning blow anyway and would fight with a Dreamspitter. 3-4 dreamspiter toons on a held mob= death in seconds.

What you propose would take away from STR and hit point's which defeats the purpose of this build. Stunning Fist/Blow is nice but it is not worth changing this builds intention for.

Of course I am taking Yugloth Pots and rage spell into my stunning fist equation I am using thos full time in any serious quest.

[Delacroix21]

What you propose would take away from STR and hit point's which defeats teh purpose of this build. Stunning Fist/Blow is nice but it is not worth changing this builds intention for.

Trust me that taking 6 points out of strength (lowering it be a measly 2) is more then worth it for a +3 DC to stunning fist.


As others have pointed out, the VASTLY lower cooldown (6vs15) of stunning fist far outweighs a stilightly higher stuningblow DC. Lowering damage per swing by 1 point would hardly effect the goals of this build, in fact it would make it a much stronger character to group with in general, especially in Epics.


The true beauty and balancing act of character building is to never become ultra focused on just 1 thing (or stat) and to allow a bit of flexibility to make the build stronger overall. I mean realistically, if you were facing someone with the exact same build who swapped stunning blow for stunning fist, and str 16, your two builds would come down to=

You= "I do 1 more damage per hit/to-hit then you"
Them= "I stun 2.5 time to your one, and can keep mobs perma stunned"


Which do you think groups would prefer?