Handwraps or Kamas

[drwho1985]

For the last 2 monk lives I have used only handwraps. Handwraps that all the forums say are borked 6 ways to Sunday.

In your humble opinions, handwraps or dual kamas? If you say kamas, what are your suggested combinations?

I am a strength build, Lawful Good Light monk. Thanks!

[Dexol]

Handwraps, kama's suck donkey b@[[z

kamas have terrible base damage and crit profile and don't scale with level, handwraps are far superior.

[inspiredunease]

Kama's have a vague use at lower levels for bluedgeon-resistant stuff (basically just zombies), but the effort in swapping out to them and then back to use martial arts is just a pain in the bum. I have a couple of dream edges that I never use. Such a waste. I really wish they would provide some incentive to actually use the other Ki weapons.

[katz]

handwraps.

you can't use stunning fist with a kama

[JOTMON]

Handwraps are superior in every way.

The new Forrester kama's look promising with higher base damage and 3x crit range.. but still limited vs a good set of handwraps/TOD Ring craft.

[sebastianosmith]

Kama's have a vague use at lower levels for bluedgeon-resistant stuff (basically just zombies), but the effort in swapping out to them and then back to use martial arts is just a pain in the bum. I have a couple of dream edges that I never use. Such a waste. I really wish they would provide some incentive to actually use the other Ki weapons.

I agree totally with this assessment. Beyond level eight or so, kamas lack any practical use as even with DR v. Bludgeon most mobs will fall quickly to a wrap-equipped monk. Aside from insufficient die and crit base, kamas also decrease attack speed (as do all other Ki weapons except wraps) which is a major component of monk DPS. If the animations and attack chains were modified for other Ki weapons to more closely resemble that of wraps, they might become viable options at later levels. But then monks would be considered even more OP.

[MRMechMan]

Wraps generally, the new foresters bushwhacker thingies are the only reason to ever spec for kamas.

[Feralthyrtiaq]

This is what doesn't work with Handwraps Currently (but there may be more)


1. NEITHER Random Loot Gen NOR Cannith Crafted Holy Burst effect stack with Holy Burst on a ToD ring.

2. Cannith Crafted Holy effect does NOT stack with Holy Burst ToD ring.

3. Random Loot Gen Holy DOES stack with Holy Burst ToD ring

4. MOST Random Loot Gen and Named Handwraps work properly. The UNSTABLE handwraps never seem to do the appropriate damage vs the opponent they are supposed to but havn't tested em thoroughly just banked em in favor of others.

5. Cannith Crafted "Bane" effects on Handwraps (like Greater Evil Outsider Bane) will apply the 1d6, 2d6, or 3d6 but will not apply the Enhancement part of the Bane Effect (the +1, +2, +4 to hit and damage)

These issues *may* have been fixed but havn't played a toon that I would have seen them on in a while.

6. At one time you could not assassinate with Random Loot Gen HW but could assassinate with Cannith Crafted HW.

7. Artificer buffs like elemental weapons, deadly weapons, silver weapons etc would prevent Ghost Touch from working on any wraps.

HW aside though..you will get much better damage from HW over the range of your character levels but a pair of Cannith Crafted Holy of Undead Bane Kamas are very handy for zombies for level 12ish and under. Can add +1 or +2 enhancement bonus as you gain character levels. Prolly level 7 when crafted or 5 if you have Cannith Favor to get the Cannith Marks needed for Shard of Masterful Craftmanship.

[drwho1985]

Thanks for the input guys and gals. Forgot about losing the stun ability with kamas. Handwraps win!

[TheHolyDarkness]

Right now, the only (potential) ki weapons worth looking at are the new swords they've added in update 14.

And even then, you'd need to be some kind of WSS build. And there's no point in WSS if you are a pure monk anyway. The fists scale too well.

~TheHolyDarkness Out~

[t0r012]

Only 2 times I have ever felt compelled to pull out kamas ( excluding vorpals in Amarth pre nerf)
Caverns of koormar for the zombies and the house J quest right across from Mira's just as you enter the compound. The dread zombies there have massive blunt DRthat prevents ki generation.
Don't think I ha e been back to either since mabar but I doubt I'd even pull out kamas there now ( previously on a dex/wis monk)