Need tips on weapon sets to use

[charmor]

My ninja spy monk is lvl 9, and soon I'll start to face monsters with DR. My main weapon is currently an Acid Handwraps of Stunning, which I believe is a pretty nice all-around choice since it improves stuns and also work well on trolls. However, I need more options to deal with special mobs.

So, I would like some suggestions:

1. Can zombies eventually put enough treat so that I'll have to carry a pair of kamas (slashing) just for them? Or can I just go with raw strength against their DR?

2. Are mind flayers, vampires and devils rare enough so that I don't have to worry about Silver/Byeshk? If they usually only appear as bosses, my idea is just stun/trip them and don't worry about DR.

3. Are there adamantine and cold iron handwraps, so that I don't have to use metalline? I'm afraid I won't be able to ever find/buy a Metalline Handwraps of Pure Good to deal with demons. In this case, what about trying to get a pair of metalline/cold iron shortwords instead?

[Carpone]

1. Can zombies eventually put enough treat so that I'll have to carry a pair of kamas (slashing) just for them? Or can I just go with raw strength against their DR?

There's no content in the game where it really matters if you use slashing to break zombie DR.

2. Are mind flayers, vampires and devils rare enough so that I don't have to worry about Silver/Byeshk? If they usually only appear as bosses, my idea is just stun/trip them and don't worry about DR.

DDO should be called Dungeons and Devils. A majority of the top end content involves devils and demons. Yes, you need to concern yourself with bypassing silver DR. Byshek? No concern at all.

3. Are there adamantine and cold iron handwraps, so that I don't have to use metalline? I'm afraid I won't be able to ever find/buy a Metalline Handwraps of Pure Good to deal with demons. In this case, what about trying to get a pair of metalline/cold iron shortwords instead?

The optional end chest of Shadow Crypt in Necropolis can drop Devout Handwraps, which are +2 Metalline of Pure Good (bound to character). It's also the best XP/minute in that level range too, so it's worth running many times.

As a monk, you really want to use handwraps 100% of the time. Your fist damage increases every 4 levels unlike other weapons. Also, you have 10% more attacks with unarmed than you do with other weapons. Using short swords should be an absolute last choice and only as a temporary measure.

[Bodic]

smite,banish,disruptor
are good things to have in your bag for
constructs, non planer mobs, undead

all hand wraps sad for the banisher but if you can get the high crit range say a pair of SS's for the vale it may be easier 4u

[Impatiens]

Carpone pretty much answered everything. Silver DR is really important to be able to bypass, though on normal difficulty raids Holy of Greater Evil Outsider bane will do pretty much as much damage as metalline of pure good to bosses that you need that DR for. However, Holy of Great Evil Outsider bane wraps are probably more annoying to get than metalline of pure good now that there is a named pair of metalline ones you can go for. Try to get in on some runs with people farming Shadow Crypts. Get the Devout wraps and you'll be good to go.

[charmor]

The optional end chest of Shadow Crypt in Necropolis can drop Devout Handwraps, which are +2 Metalline of Pure Good (bound to character). It's also the best XP/minute in that level range too, so it's worth running many times.

Too bad I'm low on turbine points now and don't have access to Necro 2

Luckly, I just bought from AH a cheap metalline shortsword of pure good and already can start to have fun with demons and golems (except clay), till I find a good metalline handwrap. Since at level 12 I'll get Improved Critical with shortswords, maybe this increased critical threat can offset the lower damage output in comparison to handwraps.

I'm also looking for a Ghost Touch Handwrap of Undead Bane to use in quests full of undead.

[nolaureltree000]

1. Can zombies eventually put enough treat so that I'll have to carry a pair of kamas (slashing) just for them? Or can I just go with raw strength against their DR?

yeah, but only on epics and only if you can get some decent kamas that will offset the loss of dps from your ToD rings. on the zombies in Red Fens epic, my STR, dps monk does less than 10 damage per first hit, so all the dps comes from my rings and wraps.

2. Are mind flayers, vampires and devils rare enough so that I don't have to worry about Silver/Byeshk? If they usually only appear as bosses, my idea is just stun/trip them and don't worry about DR.

duel wielding vorpals for these mobs is usually pretty successful provided they arent epic warded. if they are epic warded, then breaking DR is quite helpful.

3. Are there adamantine and cold iron handwraps, so that I don't have to use metalline? I'm afraid I won't be able to ever find/buy a Metalline Handwraps of Pure Good to deal with demons. In this case, what about trying to get a pair of metalline/cold iron shortwords instead?

silver handwraps drop in Devil Assault, but im not aware of adamantine or cold iron handwraps. metalline handwraps are pretty easy to come by so your best bet is to use metalline handwraps + a holy burst crafted ToD ring. in the meantime, you can try to grind out a pair of the metalline/PG wraps from necro4.

as long as you are long running raids on normal where DR breaking is required, you really dont 'need' DR breakers for the bosses. yeah, it makes things go alot easier, but its certainly not a prerequisite for a normal run, provided you are otherwise a competent player. i know alot of people get hung up about DR breakers, but there is no reason you cant wait until your ToD ring to get your DR breaker.


EDIT:

Too bad I'm low on turbine points now and don't have access to Necro 2

Luckly, I just bought from AH a cheap metalline shortsword of pure good and already can start to have fun with demons and golems (except clay), till I find a good metalline handwrap. Since at level 12 I'll get Improved Critical with shortswords, maybe this increased critical threat can offset the lower damage output in comparison to handwraps.

I'm also looking for a Ghost Touch Handwrap of Undead Bane to use in quests full of undead.

if you get some spectral gloves (if you dont have the sands pack, they are unbound so you can trade for them/buy off the AH) then you can use some uber undead wraps for even more dps.

[nicro]

Monks can break Adamantine DR naturally at level 16 when they get Ki Strike: Adamantine.

[Sebastrd]

Monks can also break DR/silver at level 18 if they take the Shintao PRE. In that case, you only need holy or pure good wraps to break any meaningful DRs.

[ka0t1c1sm]

I'm also looking for a Ghost Touch Handwrap of Undead Bane to use in quests full of undead.

There's a low-level set of handwraps in the Catacombs adventure pack called Eternal Rest. +1, Ghost Touch, Silver Threaded, Lesser Undead Bane. Those could hold you over until you get the Spectral Gloves like nolaureltree000 suggested.

[bonscott87]

Yep, I was going to suggest the Eternal Rest handwraps as they bypass Silver and available really early.

Right now my Light Monk is level 10 and I have the following set of handwraps:
* +5 Acid handwraps of Pure Good (got cheap off the AH, they are my main)
* Eternal Rest for undead...they may be only +1 but they do a ton of damage anyway
* I've also got a set of Flaming Burst and Icy Burst for situations where you need either Fire (vs. Trolls) or Frost (vs. Fire Elementals, Mehfits) to do more damage
* And I've got a +5 returning Shurikin for ranged

[stille_nacht]

I assume you are going Ninja Spy/ darkmonk because you mentioned shortswords...

1. Can zombies eventually put enough treat so that I'll have to carry a pair of kamas (slashing) just for them? Or can I just go with raw strength against their DR?

Not as of now, you may want to get blunt weapons if you plan on running epics in the sands. (epic skellies, yummy :P)

2. Are mind flayers, vampires and devils rare enough so that I don't have to worry about Silver/Byeshk? If they usually only appear as bosses, my idea is just stun/trip them and don't worry about DR.

Byeshk, not a problem. Silver is something you want for bosses, your "average" devil (orthon, bearded) only has DR silver/good, meaning either will do, while the bosses all have Dr silver and dr good. So really until you hit up the shroud raid and Amrath, having both silver and good isnt too much of a problem. Also, vampires have DR silver, no good reduction

3. Are there adamantine and cold iron handwraps, so that I don't have to use metalline? I'm afraid I won't be able to ever find/buy a Metalline Handwraps of Pure Good to deal with demons. In this case, what about trying to get a pair of metalline/cold iron shortwords instead?

Metalline shortswords with good are a good idea, however consider:
A- Necropolis part 2 (and in the ridiculous xp quest) can drop devout handwraps (+2 metalline, pure good). (farming it doesnt seem boring because its kinda interesting, and also it gives 30k xp...)

B-also on tower of despair rings you can add holyburst, so you dont necessarily need metalline of pure good in the first place (tower of despair is a level 20 raid, and you need to run it 7 times so... thats later then youll want met pg :P)