DPS Dark Monk/Assassin

[Shade_z]

I am looking for a high DPS dark monk build, who will have decent saves and HP. This is what I came up with.
I am new to monks, so any input will be appreciated.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.7.3 (Pre-Release)
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Level 20 Lawful Good Human Male
(1 Fighter \ 12 Monk \ 7 Rogue) 
Hit Points: 302
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 15
Reflex: 17
Will: 14

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             16                    24
Dexterity            16                    18
Constitution         14                    16
Intelligence          8                    10
Wisdom               14                    18
Charisma              8                     8

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          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               7                    20
Bluff                -1                     1
Concentration         6                    24
Diplomacy            -1                    -1
Disable Device       n/a                   21
Haggle               -1                    -1
Heal                  2                     4
Hide                  3                     8
Intimidate           -1                    -1
Jump                  7                    23
Listen                2                     6
Move Silently         3                     8
Open Lock             n/a                   5
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair               -1                     0
Search                0                    24
Spot                  2                     4
Swim                  3                     7
Tumble                5                     8
Use Magic Device     n/a                   14

Level 1 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Dodge
Feat: (Human Bonus) Toughness
Feat: (Selected) Two Weapon Fighting


Level 2 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Stunning Fist


Level 3 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Path) Path of Inevitable Dominion: Fists of Darkness
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 4 (Monk)


Level 5 (Monk)


Level 6 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Quick Draw
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Toughness


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 (Rogue)


Level 14 (Rogue)


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


Level 16 (Rogue)


Level 17 (Rogue)


Level 18 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Oversized Two Weapon Fighting


Level 19 (Rogue)


Level 20 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Hamstring
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost II
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost II
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost III
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Strength I
Enhancement: Human Greater Adaptability Wisdom I
Enhancement: Rogue Subtle Backstabbing I
Enhancement: Way of the Faithful Hound I
Enhancement: Way of the Faithful Hound II
Enhancement: All-Consuming Flame
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery II
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery III
Enhancement: Monk Ninja Spy I
Enhancement: Monk Ninja Spy II
Enhancement: Eagle Claw Attack
Enhancement: Adept of Wind
Enhancement: Master of Thunder
Enhancement: Adept of Flame
Enhancement: Master of Bonfires
Enhancement: Adept of Rain
Enhancement: Master of the Sea
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Rogue Assassin I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training II
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training III
Enhancement: Improved Hide I
Enhancement: Improved Hide II
Enhancement: Improved Jump I
Enhancement: Improved Jump II
Enhancement: Improved Move Silently I
Enhancement: Improved Move Silently II
Enhancement: Improved Tumble I
Enhancement: Improved Tumble II
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom I
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I

[DevHead]

Are you going unarmed or using weapons? If unarmed, get rid of Oversized TWF, you won't need it. If you're using weapons, why are you taking IC:B? Slashing is generally more useful.

[Shade_z]

I'm mainly gona go unarmed, but might use shortswords if needed since Nija Spy II gives some perks using shortswords.

[Soleran]

I'm mainly gona go unarmed, but might use shortswords if needed since Nija Spy II gives some perks using shortswords.

Since short swords are light weapons you don't need the otwf feat so you can replace that one with another toughness perhaps depending on your goals.

[Quarterling]

If you really want to be considered an Assassin, you should go for at least 12 levels of rogue so that you can get the Assassinate ability - the staple of the PrE.

Something like this perhaps: 12 rogue/7 monk/1 fighter

But you did say that you are looking for a high dps dark monk build. While this isn't exactly a monk build anymore since the highest class is rogue, the dps is significantly higher. Hmmm...

[Mumu720]

If you really want to be considered an Assassin, you should go for at least 12 levels of rogue so that you can get the Assassinate ability - the staple of the PrE.

Something like this perhaps: 12 rogue/7 monk/1 fighter

But you did say that you are looking for a high dps dark monk build. While this isn't exactly a monk build anymore since the highest class is rogue, the dps is significantly higher. Hmmm...

Nah, no need to multiclass. Quivering palm will be his "assassinate" skill. Also by going with that build he will lose touch of death, while not something that makes or breaks the dps it is a big boost to it, especial in wind IV with a decent wis. I am consistantly seeing it proc 4 times and depending on the mob will hit mostly 500s. I like the rockan robin sort of builds, mine is fairly similar to it( just swaped some enhancements and stats around) also if you do something with the starting stats of 12/18/14/12/14/8(32 pt these numbers might be off, int might be 10. Also if u only have 28 u could just get rid of int and ull be fine) you can take full levels in sneak and hide, other wise if u arent gonna use sneak and hide u can go 12/18/14/8/16/8(32pt). Of course u could go for a more str focused build but what ever u do dont dump stat wis!!! Its the difference between being an effective monk and being a gimped barbarian. Google rockan robin.

[Shade_z]

Will Monk 7 give me ToD?

[Mumu720]

Will Monk 7 give me ToD?

No it is monk level 9.

[DevHead]

I'm mainly gona go unarmed, but might use shortswords if needed since Nija Spy II gives some perks using shortswords.

There are very very very few situations in which shortswords *might* be better than unarmed, assuming pure monk.

[DrakmireTS]

Lower your balance, cap UMD. High balance isn't really needed in the game really (unless you running the Titan a lot), but UMD is often very helpful, even if you're not shooting for that 39 milestone.

Jump is also suspect, maybe trade it for Open Lock (it's handy), as any time you'll really need it, you'll either have a caster with it or can clicky Morah's for +30. Since Jump cap is 40, that leaves you needing very little of it usually.

Also, Lawful Neutral instead of Lawful Good. Only go Good if you're doing pally levels, or are building the character to RP. Neutral allows you to use evil items, such as the Litany, without ill effect.

[Shade_z]

Thanks for the help guys.

I'm gona roll both Monk/Rogue/Ftr 12/7/1 and a Rogue/Monk/Ftr 13/6/1 and see which one is better.

[nicro]

There are very very very few situations in which shortswords *might* be better than unarmed, assuming pure monk.

Update 9 will let you make them khopeshes while in earth stance. I haven't run the numbers, but the DPS might be passable at that point.

[DevHead]

Update 9 will let you make them khopeshes while in earth stance. I haven't run the numbers, but the DPS might be passable at that point.

Oh geez, that could be sexy.

[Soleran]

Nah, no need to multiclass. Quivering palm will be his "assassinate" skill. Also by going with that build he will lose touch of death, while not something that makes or breaks the dps it is a big boost to it, especial in wind IV with a decent wis. I am consistantly seeing it proc 4 times and depending on the mob will hit mostly 500s. I like the rockan robin sort of builds, mine is fairly similar to it( just swaped some enhancements and stats around) also if you do something with the starting stats of 12/18/14/12/14/8(32 pt these numbers might be off, int might be 10. Also if u only have 28 u could just get rid of int and ull be fine) you can take full levels in sneak and hide, other wise if u arent gonna use sneak and hide u can go 12/18/14/8/16/8(32pt). Of course u could go for a more str focused build but what ever u do dont dump stat wis!!! Its the difference between being an effective monk and being a gimped barbarian. Google rockan robin.

Quivering palm is so terrible at 20 expect it to work on a 1 or 5% of the time and that's assuming he can keep up the ki with the changes coming on a multiclass build.

If you are thinking of making a multiclass I would use the 12 rogue 7 monk or just go pure monk, the rogue build would be more dps but at 20 you do get dr 10/epic for the monk.

If you make the 12 rogue version then yes forget about your wisdom and even on a 12 monk your monk special abilities are typically based off monk lvls plus wisdom so you might as well just let wisdom go there too.

One nice thing about the monk is that you can get an ability called unbalancing strike that will allow you to land sneak attack hits if the mob fails their save which is super nice for soloing especially with some rogue lvls for enhanced SA.

[Kinerd]

Update 9 will let you make them khopeshes while in earth stance. I haven't run the numbers, but the DPS might be passable at that point.

This is not quite accurate. Earth Stance increases the critical multiplier only on 19 and 20, so really the comparison is (as far as critical profiles go):

Shortsword - 15 + 2 * 2 + 2 * 3 = 25 (versus 23)
Unarmed - 17 + 2 * 3 = 23 (versus 21)

Unarmed actually closes the critical profile gap on shortswords with the change, and since we know that shortswords' critical profiles aren't (nearly) enough to match unarmed normally, we can infer that shortswords will be further behind unarmed in mountain stance than no stance.

[wax_on_wax_off]

This is not quite accurate. Earth Stance increases the critical multiplier only on 19 and 20, so really the comparison is (as far as critical profiles go):

Shortsword - 15 + 2 * 2 + 2 * 3 = 25 (versus 23)
Unarmed - 17 + 2 * 3 = 23 (versus 21)

Unarmed actually closes the critical profile gap on shortswords with the change, and since we know that shortswords' critical profiles aren't (nearly) enough to match unarmed normally, we can infer that shortswords will be further behind unarmed in mountain stance than no stance.

I think I'm in love.

Yes, shortswords will never be useful besides for some very very specific applications (banishing, WoP etc).

If you want an unarmed build with sneak attack then dump the half assed stuff and go 1 monk, 18 rogue and 1 something else (either another rogue, another monk, ranger or fighter).

In U9 you're stunning fist can still hit 41-42 before significant gear investment (as half-elf, dwarf or warforged), the DPS will be stupid high (better DPS than a pure assassin vs higher fort mobs, better DPS than a monk vs lower fort mobs; I'm not sure where 50% fort fits in but likely better than both).

It's hard to know what constitutes a monk though. For me it is the unarmed attack animation and stunning fist. For others it might be the monk icon (pretty ambiguous) or ToD (only dark monks have this) or abundant step (only useful regularly for a pure monk with the capstone imo, useful out of combat for all though).

[Cold_Stele]

Update 9 will let you make them khopeshes while in earth stance. I haven't run the numbers, but the DPS might be passable at that point.

Khopeshes on a Monk? Sorry explain please, this is something in the U9 crafting I've missed...

[nicro]

Khopeshes on a Monk? Sorry explain please, this is something in the U9 crafting I've missed...

I originally thought Earth Stance would increase the critical multiplier of any equipped weapons by one (making short swords 19-20x3 like khopeshes). However, this is incorrect as Kinerd pointed out. The Earth Stance will function in the same manner as Frenzied Berserker II and will increase the critical multiplier by 1 when you roll a natural 19 or 20 that is confirmed critical hit regardless of the base weapon's critical profile.