Thoroughbred (36 pt HO Epic Ready -Tank/DPS)

[Taimasan]

First I would like to say I will be borrowing a bit from Martens' format because simply a copy paste from the character generator is not going to be adequate. First I will discuss starting stats, then other breakdowns such as; gear, feats, enhancements, play-style, all suggestions, comments and questions are welcome.

Objective:

The point was to use Mountain Stance to its fullest potential, while trying to maximize attack score and dps as much as possible without gimping saves, ac, or other peripherals.

Starting Stats&&Full set of +2's at Level 7&&:

Strength - 18
Dexterity - 15 **+3 Dexterity needed for Wind IV, otherwise using Sun IV until you pull/buy a +3 may be a better option imo**
Constitution - 16
Intelligence - 6
Wisdom - 15
Charisma - 6

Standing Stats:



AC Breakdown(extra point into wisdom enhancement also*post-post changes*):

Smoke II Helm(+45 hp, Smoke II) is replaced by Mineral II helm(+45 hp, +5 Protection, Heavy Fort)

Standing Ac in Earth IV Stance:

53 + 1(Barkskin) + 1(Haste) + 4(Inspire Heroics) + 5(Paladin Aura) + 4(Shield Wand) + 2(Recitation) + 2(Defensive Fighting) = 72 AC
Fire III = 73 AC
Water III = 75 AC
Wind III = 75 AC
*Potential of more with a Chattering Ring or other gear swaps. One of the benefit's of having Earth IV is that you gain more ki by getting hit, so having unstoppable AC might start to affect ki gen*

Epic/Endgame Gear Load-out:




This is really the meat of the build and where the power comes from. The Epic Monk bracer's allow me to raise my unarmed dice step to 2d14, furthermore Earth Stance increases my critical multiplier by a factor of "1". For a total of 2d14 x3 19-20. Unarmed seems to be the most optimal choice for this build.
Even when using weapons which allow me to have a 4x multiplier seems lackluster compared to fists. The bursts on equipment when using my main wraps total 3(Holy Burst, Shocking Burst, and Flaming Burst) and a Force Damage Ritual. Also it is good to note that the Epic wraps display the radiant burst quite a bit, and the high enhancement bonus is most definitely a plus.
When I am using my stunner's it goes to 4(Holy Burst, Shocking Burst, Flaming Burst, Icy Burst) with Force Crit Ritual(1d4). Concerning the goggle slot, I will be swapping it with Raven's Sight as needed; and will be waiting to slot the rest of my equipment until I get the seal, hence the empty sockets.
Also the Shintao set allows for a nice boost in damage and attack score by +2. Ki generation is a issue sometimes but exercising patience is key when using Earth Stance, I have had to pick my strikes a bit more carefully from the Fire IV/Oremi combo and manage my Ki more diligently; but all in all I have seen a increase in dps - although the pace took some getting used to. P.S. Earth Finisher is lovely with its x5 crit.


Feats(listed in order taken):

Dodge, Stunning Fist, Power Attack, Past Life: Disciple of the Fist, Monk Path: Dark, Toughness, Two Weapon Fighting, Improved TWF, Improve Critical: Bludgeon, Greater TWF, Improved Sunder
Enhancements:

In a nutshell I wanted Void IV line, with good threat generation, and a Grandmaster in at least 1 stance. I choose fire to be able to switch as needed. Only choose to be a Master of Earth for obvious reasons. This can be switched around a bit, but getting the Void IV line is key. Crane is not the monster that it used to be but the extra Ki does indeed help and there is a difference I have found between having it and not having it.
Level 1 (Monk)
Enhancement: Improved Jump I
Enhancement: Improved Tumble I

Level 2 (Monk)
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom I
Enhancement: Orcish Brute Fighting I
Enhancement: Way of the Elegant Crane I
Enhancement: Void Strike I

Level 3 (Monk)
Enhancement: Orcish Strength I

Level 4 (Monk)
Enhancement: Static Charge
Enhancement: Improved Jump II
Enhancement: Improved Tumble II

Level 5 (Monk)
Enhancement: Porous Soul
Enhancement: Way of the Elegant Crane II

Level 6 (Monk)
Enhancement: Monk Ninja Spy I
Enhancement: Orcish Brute Fighting II

Level 7 (Monk)
Enhancement: All-Consuming Flame
Enhancement: Winter's Touch

Level 8 (Monk)
Enhancement: Orcish Strength II

Level 9 (Monk)
Enhancement: Adept of Wind
Enhancement: Void Strike II

Level 10 (Monk)
Enhancement: Orcish Brute Fighting III
Enhancement: Adept of Rock

Level 11 (Monk)
Enhancement:: Touch of Death

Level 12 (Monk)
Enhancement: Fists of Iron
Enhancement: Monk Ninja Spy II

Level 13 (Monk)
Enhancement: Master of Thunder
Enhancement: Adept of Flame

Level 14 (Monk)
Enhancement: Orcish Brute Fighting IV

Level 15 (Monk)
Enhancement: Master of Stone

Level 16 (Monk)
Enhancement: Master of Bonfires
Enhancement: Adept of Rain

Level 17 (Monk)
Enhancement: Void Strike III

Level 18 (Monk)
Enhancement: Grandmaster of the Sun

Level 19 (Monk)
Enhancement: Master of the Sea

Level 20 (Monk)
Enhancement: Monk Serenity
Enhancement: Void Strike IV


General Bar setup and Combat Screen:



Good base number's imo. If you want to see how those hits would be as a critical hit, just do (First # x 3 = Critical Hit#). Also note that while in Earth Stance all of my bursts will hit for 2d10 instead of the usual 1d10, 3d10 when my 3x Earth Finisher connects and I roll a 19 or 20.

Example Bar Setup:

**PLEASE NOTE BY NO MEANS IS THIS THE BEST BAR SETUP, YMMV**



Here we have:
Void Strike IV, VS III, VS II, Fire IV, ToD, Water III, Earth III, Wind III, Dark Strike(Interchangeable), Wraps you are using.

I then have stunning fist keyed to my "F" key. And ToD is keyed to "Q" key, "E" key is used for pots, unbalancing strike, improved sunder or quivering palm when it can be used.

Keeps everything within reach.

There should never be a time when you are pressing nothing.

Conclusion:

All in all this build has been a blast. I have tried to minimize the weaknesses and play on the strengths of the toon. And I am satisfied as the final version of Quis. It took lots of time, grinding and xp, but it was worth it. Please post or PM with any questions, and please please please please. Let me know how I can update as needed and feel free to nitpick and criticize. We are here to learn eh?

Thanks,
Quis

[Taimasan]

11/11/11-U12 Build Edit:

At this point I have really fell into the build and a little bit closer yet always far away to a reliable tank and awesome dps Monk. Pulled a +3 Dex and am now a GM of Earth and Wind. Using Fabricators Gauntlets and while the proc rate is not super awesome it is enough. Staying in Earth IV most of the time but loving the stance utility of the Void IV path. Last feat ended up being improved sunder, a must have for almost everything now. And I have to admit, it is satisfying to give MOB casters the sunder-palm instakill combo. New Tunic will be replacing Epic Red and a shocking burst ring will be replaced by a Vorpal ring. With the hope everything works with unarmed combat. Furthermore I got the epic Raven's Sight, and seems to replace the Epic Time-Sensing entirely. It is just so much of a hassle to worry about blur/displacement as a Melee, and has gone into my list of "must haves". Will be updating this post as the Updates come out.


Will be posting updated build + pic's in this link asap after U12. Can't wait to see my new gear loadout's and performance reviews!

For a start will just post a updated Enhancement loadout. Already talked about gear and such but this should alleviate all of my concerns and change from sun=dps to wind iv. As I get challenge gear. Gear and stat pics will be updated accordingly.



Enhancements: ^^ Basic Void IV, Ninja Spy, With GM Earth and Wind, fine tuned to work great with U12.

[u][b]
Level 1 (Monk)
Enhancement: Improved Jump I
Enhancement: Improved Tumble I


Level 2 (Monk)
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom I
Enhancement: Way of the Elegant Crane I
Enhancement: Void Strike I


Level 3 (Monk)
Enhancement: Orcish Strength I
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery I


Level 4 (Monk)
Enhancement: Static Charge
Enhancement: Improved Jump II
Enhancement: Improved Tumble II


Level 5 (Monk)
Enhancement: Way of the Elegant Crane II
Enhancement: Porous Soul


Level 6 (Monk)
Enhancement: Monk Ninja Spy I
Enhancement: Winter's Touch


Level 7 (Monk)
Enhancement: All-Consuming Flame
Enhancement: Adept of Wind


Level 8 (Monk)
Enhancement: Orcish Strength II


Level 9 (Monk)
Enhancement: Touch of Death


Level 10 (Monk)
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery II


Level 11 (Monk)
Enhancement: Void Strike II
Enhancement: Adept of Rock


Level 12 (Monk)
Enhancement: Monk Ninja Spy II
Enhancement: Adept of Flame


Level 13 (Monk)
Enhancement: Master of Thunder
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I


Level 14 (Monk)
Enhancement: Master of Stone


Level 15 (Monk)
Enhancement: Master of Bonfires
Enhancement: Adept of Rain


Level 16 (Monk)
Enhancement: Void Strike III


Level 17 (Monk)
Enhancement: Master of the Sea


Level 18 (Monk)
Enhancement: Grandmaster of Storms


Level 19 (Monk)
Enhancement: Void Strike IV


Level 20 (Monk)
Enhancement: Monk Serenity
Enhancement: Grandmaster of Mountains

[paraplegic]

i envy your monk

[jilles.ragonha]

im thinking in my third life as monk.. and liked this build a lot
thats a lot of damage for a monk
but there is two questions....
1 - your abilities was increased in str? or anything else?
2 - what you use in your head? minos? or something else?

[Taimasan]

im thinking in my third life as monk.. and liked this build a lot
thats a lot of damage for a monk
but there is two questions....
1 - your abilities was increased in str? or anything else?
2 - what you use in your head? minos? or something else?

All stat raises were in Strength, and I accidently left out the helm picture for gear loadout, will update within the next 30 min. It is a Smoke II, +45 hp GS helm. Thanks and I will update as needed.

[rodallec]

I reckon drop fists of iron for unbalancing strike
Snk attack while tanking!
Fists of iron lost alot of it's power when auto crit was fixed*
after all you taught me about monks they ended up pretty different haha

[Taimasan]

I reckon drop fists of iron for unbalancing strike
Snk attack while tanking!
Fists of iron lost alot of it's power when auto crit was fixed*
after all you taught me about monks they ended up pretty different haha

The fists of iron was just a extra point. When Ninja Spy III comes out Fists of Iron will be dropped and most likely brute fighting IV. it was simply just filler, Unbalancing Strike is nice, but hell to land. And yea, monks are wayyyy strange than what we grew up on. But I like the changes myself, especially now.

Do you use earth stance without oremi's ? not having shintao set (-2 to-hit) and earth stance (-2 to-hit vs. fire stance) is the one thing that makes me doubt about it, my monk is a WF tho so i'm lacking 2 to-hit from start vs a horc.

I struggled with this for the longest time. I went between Oremi's and the Shintao set to test this out before posting. And my verdict is that the Shintao set is better. If you can't hit your mobs, you can't generate ki. The Shintao set gives me +2 to my attack along with +2 to damage. As i said before ki generation at first is a issue, but with patience and proper management it has not been a problem. And if it does, I have Fire stance to fall back on if needed. In some epics the extra ki is great(Devil Assault), but in everywhere else, coupled with gaining Ki when you get hit, and Crane, it was simply a learning curve to get used to not having a unlimited pool of ki.

[Malky]

I struggled with this for the longest time. I went between Oremi's and the Shintao set to test this out before posting. And my verdict is that the Shintao set is better. If you can't hit your mobs, you can't generate ki. The Shintao set gives me +2 to my attack along with +2 to damage. As i said before ki generation at first is a issue, but with patience and proper management it has not been a problem. And if it does, I have Fire stance to fall back on if needed. In some epics the extra ki is great(Devil Assault), but in everywhere else, coupled with gaining Ki when you get hit, and Crane, it was simply a learning curve to get used to not having a unlimited pool of ki.

Thanks a lot, i'm struggling with that point atm (a whole lot) and having an opinion from someone using a roughly similar build in the high end is very welcome.

My build being WF will still use fire stance in most cases due to him having a higher health pool, but i'll probably consider more using earth stance without oremi when to-hit isn't a concern.

Oh i've also noticed that you're not using epic claw set, probably due to to the +4 attack bonus from epic spectrals that would lack. I had a thought on that point viable for fire stance : epic claw bracer&gloves and +4 attack crafted trinket instead of litany. Epic claw covers the healing amp a bit more than jidz bracer, and this setup provides +4 to damage&to-hit as well.

In earth stance you would loose one die step from not having jidz bracer, but the +4 dmg from the claw set should still be worth it.

[Taimasan]

Thanks a lot, i'm struggling with that point atm (a whole lot) and having an opinion from someone using a roughly similar build in the high end is very welcome.

My build being WF will still use fire stance in most cases due to him having a higher health pool, but i'll probably consider more using earth stance without oremi when to-hit isn't a concern.

Oh i've also noticed that you're not using epic claw set, probably due to to the +4 attack bonus from epic spectrals that would lack. I had a thought on that point viable for fire stance : epic claw bracer&gloves and +4 attack crafted trinket instead of litany. Epic claw covers the healing amp a bit more than jidz bracer, and this setup provides +4 to damage&to-hit as well.

In earth stance you would loose one die step from not having jidz bracer, but the +4 dmg from the claw set should still be worth it.

I have had this discussion before wayyy in the past with other monks concerning the claw set. I think its a great set, but for me it simply does not work. Per ddowiki.com the set adds +4 to damage and %20 threat. I did not see the +4 to hit but i may be mistaken. This +4 from spectrals is so important, imo attack score is one of the most if not the MOST important thing for a monk to have. And I have not found anything in the game that makes me want to take off my Epic Spectrals yet. +4 to attack, +7 Dex, yellow slot. Yum.

[Munkenmo]

And I have not found anything in the game that makes me want to take off my Epic Spectrals yet. +4 to attack, +7 Dex, yellow slot. Yum.

I've got epic spectrals, epic gem of facets, and epic gloves of the claw. not sure if you've noticed or not yet, but as soon as there's a bard in the group, those epic spectrals aren't doing you a lot of good. Perfect time for the claws +4 damage and +30% healing amp

interesting seeing the ins and outs of your build and how different it is to mine though.

[Malky]

Do you use earth stance without oremi's ? not having shintao set (-2 to-hit) and earth stance (-2 to-hit vs. fire stance) is the one thing that makes me doubt about it, my monk is a WF tho so i'm lacking 2 to-hit from start vs a horc.

[Malky]

Uh no the +4 to-hit doesn't come from the claw set, but from a crafted +4 to-hit item (trinket or googles)

It would be kinda hard to do on your build due to litany making several abilities even, but my point is that crafting made that the epic claw set is not mutually exclusive with +4 to-hit gear anymore.

[Taimasan]

Uh no the +4 to-hit doesn't come from the claw set, but from a crafted +4 to-hit item (trinket or googles)

It would be kinda hard to do on your build due to litany making several abilities even, but my point is that crafting made that the epic claw set is not mutually exclusive with +4 to-hit gear anymore.

Ah yea sorry for the misunderstanding. Yea, with crafting stuff coming out it will be really awesome to see what you could make. But as of now, I really don't have much wiggleroom when it comes to gear. We need more high level content!!! =)

[Malky]

Btw how's your health pool when tanking ? mainly thinking about elite horoth here since as a non-WF, suulo is probably tanked by someone else.

[Taimasan]

Btw how's your health pool when tanking ? mainly thinking about elite horoth here since as a non-WF, suulo is probably tanked by someone else.

Off the top of my head I think am around 680ish. But with low 70s AC and shadowfade, it is not bad at all imo. I will tank a raid and get back to yah for a more accurate answer.

[jilles.ragonha]

this damage in the training dummy... was the first time?
or he is already down ... increasing the damage?

[Taimasan]

this damage in the training dummy... was the first time?
or he is already down ... increasing the damage?

Not sure what the question is. I don't have the training dummy buff yet so yea it was the "first time"??

[Malky]

Sometimes the dummy goes into a hjelpless state, increasing all incoming damage by 50%. Doesn't happen everytime he's killed tho.


Btw i found a gear setup that could work with earth stance :

Trinket : litany
Bracers : (epic) jidz
Gloves : epic brawling gloves with +6 dex slotted in
Googles : crafted +4 attack with a HP guild crystal slotted

With the brawling gloves giving +7 str, it could free the belt slot to complete the FB set for another +2 dmg. Heavy fort and toughness would have to go in another slot, minos on head and hp shroud item in the cloak slot maybe, cloak can be swapped with epic cloak of the rock when HP is less of a concern.

Uh that's quite some gear to farm on my monk My crafter should be able to make that +4 shard in a month or so but i'm still a tad far off for the rest of gear.

Humm... looks promising, any flaw you could detect ?

[hockeyrama]

one thing i was wondering about and may be wrong but your armor is nice but many things are immune to fire so I don't see where it helps. You alread have the +8ac on the jidz, you already have exc wis +1 on jidz, about the only thing i see it giving you is +2 to skills. Now i was wondering about the garments of equilibrium instead. This would move your damage even further. so that should put you at 2d16 if you at 2d14 now. So 4 more points of damage and more on all those crits.

I never tr'd my 20 monk so maybe the 2d14 is max but just figured I would add this observation so I know before tr'ing my monk for the 2d16 setup and extra dps.

[Zildoran]

Really like this build, but I'm not sure how you are reaching those low 70's ac raid buffed. 53 would be deflection, 58 bard buffs, add a few more from recitation (dont remember how many), and 1 from haste. Are you using Yugo wis/dex pots for a couple more points? That still ends at around 65 or so if my math is working. But this is still really nice AC for a Horc monk.