Monk with good ac/ survivabilty build request

[Millikill]

Im looking to roll either a pure monk or a 12 monk variant for my third life because monks are my favorite class. I want him to be able to solo quests throughout the lvling phase. I like the idea of being a dark monk for shadow fade. If someone wouldnt mind posting a build with the starting stats i would want (36 pts) and possibly an outlook on gear i would want for midgame to end game to get that would be awesome!

[Kinerd]

The first step for really any monk is to put 6 build points in Str, Con, Dex, and Wis. I don't think anyone really debates that.

The second step is to take stock of your race and tome situation, because you really want to hit 17 Dex for GTWF. (There are staff monks, but handwraps are much better). Usually this means spending 2 more build points to start at 15 Dex and use a +2 tome, but there are plenty of other options.

Because you want so many stats, it almost never makes sense to spend at 3 build points to 1 stat increase. With at least 8 build points left, you could put +2 in Str and Wis and call it a day.

.

Racially, it's hard to take anything but human or half-elf seriously. Damage Boost is good synergy, Healing Amp is great synergy, sneak attack is **great** synergy, albeit one that is undermined to some extent while soloing.

.

If you want dark, go dark. Dodge is a good enough feat to want anyway on a monk, and you have plenty of time between 12 and 24 to get a Shintao feat if you don't already have Precision and it turns out you hate dark. Your #1 tool for soloing is Stunning Fist. If you're true soloing (no hireling), a set of Vampiric handwraps are very handy, and you can get a named set for both in Vampiric Stonedust handwraps.

Gear-wise, you always want...
Constitution, False Life, Fortification
...on every character, so keep adding to those as you go. Minos Legens is a famous and awesome Heavy Fort + Toughness helm at ML 11. You also want...
Strength, DR breakers
...on every melee. Adamantine for certain Constructs (pre level 15), Silver for a few Vampires, Anarchic for the VoN 3 Marut, Silver & Good for super devils, Cold Iron and Good for super demons. Random gen material handwraps are few and far between, and the famous named set (Devout, not Devotion) is relatively annoying to farm. This is one of the things that makes Shintao so great: inherent material bypass for the big ticket materials. If you're looking for AC/survivability, you also want...
Dexterity/Wisdom/AC, Dodge, Healing Amp (Jidz Tetka bracers are great for this but restrict you to Fire stance)

[slimkj]

"You must spread some..." Good post, Kinerd.

Race-wise, I've also enjoyed Dwarf (for the tactics and + to spell saves) and Half-Orc (easy to get 4 GM stances, brute force) but yeah the heal amp on HElf/Human is hard to pass up.

I've found once you get to Vampirism from Lesser Vampirism, you're doing well enough with the incoming heals to not need worry so much about losing some heal amp from not being HElf/Human though. The monk I'm running Epics on at the moment whilst others lvl is a Dwarf and he does very well for himself. Earlier on, whilst levelling, I love HElf.

Just doing my first HElf life (17 atm, monk mutt with fighter levels) now and I wish I'd done it sooner!

[scottmike0]

Im looking to roll either a pure monk or a 12 monk variant for my third life because monks are my favorite class. I want him to be able to solo quests throughout the lvling phase. I like the idea of being a dark monk for shadow fade. If someone wouldnt mind posting a build with the starting stats i would want (36 pts) and possibly an outlook on gear i would want for midgame to end game to get that would be awesome!

sure, i have a build you will love for life :3

[scottmike0]

sure, i have a build you will love for life :3

 Monk 20
Male Halfling (Lawful Good)

HP: 444
SP: 0
AC: 29

SAVES
FORT: 25
REFL: 29
WILL: 26

BAB: +15/+15/+20/+25

STR: 22 (+6)
DEX: 31 (+10)
CON: 24 (+7)
INT: 14 (+2)
WIS: 25 (+7)
CHA: 16 (+3)

Balance: 33
Bluff: 3
Concentration: 36
Diplomacy: 25
Disable Device: n/a
Haggle: 3
Heal: 13
Hide: 14
Intimidate: 11
Jump: 29

Listen: 7
Move Silently: 10
Open Lock: n/a
Perform: n/a
Repair: 2
Search: 2
Spot: 7
Swim: 6
Tumble: 33
UMD: 14 


Character Generated Using: DDO Character Generator
Direct Link to Build: http://www.ddochargen.com/home.aspx?build=28723

Monk 20
Male Halfling - Lawful Good
________________________________________________________________

PAST LIVES SELECTED:
Monk (2)
________________________________________________________________

LEVEL 1
Race Selected: Male Halfling
Alignment Selected: Lawful Good
Class Selected: Monk (Monk 1)
Abilities Raised: STR: 14, DEX: 18, CON: 14, INT: 12, WIS: 14
Skills Ranks Raised: Balance +4 (4), Concentration +4 (4),
Jump +4 (4), Tumble +4 (4), UMD +2 (2)
Feats Selected: Toughness, Two Weapon Fighting
________________________________________________________________

LEVEL 2:
Class Selected: Monk (Monk 2)
Skills Ranks Raised: Balance +1 (5), Concentration +1 (5),
Jump +1 (5), Tumble +1 (5), UMD +0.5 (2.5)
Feats Selected: Weapon Finesse
________________________________________________________________

LEVEL 3:
Class Selected: Monk (Monk 3)
Skills Ranks Raised: Balance +1 (6), Concentration +1 (6),
Jump +1 (6), Tumble +1 (6), UMD +0.5 (3)
Feats Selected: Past Life (Disciple of the Fist),
Path of Harmonious Balance
Tomes Applied: STR: +1, DEX: +1, CON: +1, INT: +1,
WIS: +1, CHA: +1
________________________________________________________________

LEVEL 4:
Class Selected: Monk (Monk 4)
Abilities Raised: DEX: 20
Skills Ranks Raised: Balance +1 (7), Concentration +1 (7),
Jump +1 (7), Tumble +1 (7), UMD +0.5 (3.5)
________________________________________________________________

LEVEL 5:
Class Selected: Monk (Monk 5)
Skills Ranks Raised: Balance +1 (8), Concentration +1 (8),
Jump +1 (8), Tumble +1 (8), UMD +0.5 (4)
________________________________________________________________

LEVEL 6:
Class Selected: Monk (Monk 6)
Skills Ranks Raised: Balance +1 (9), Concentration +1 (9),
Jump +1 (9), Tumble +1 (9), UMD +0.5 (4.5)
Feats Selected: Combat Expertise, Stunning Fist
________________________________________________________________

LEVEL 7:
Class Selected: Monk (Monk 7)
Skills Ranks Raised: Balance +1 (10), Concentration +1 (10),
Jump +1 (10), Tumble +1 (10), UMD +0.5 (5)
Tomes Applied: STR: +2, DEX: +2, CON: +2, INT: +2,
WIS: +2, CHA: +2
________________________________________________________________

LEVEL 8:
Class Selected: Monk (Monk 8)
Abilities Raised: DEX: 22
Skills Ranks Raised: Balance +1 (11), Concentration +1 (11),
Diplomacy +1 (1), Jump +1 (11), Tumble +1 (11), UMD +0.5 (5.5)
________________________________________________________________

LEVEL 9:
Class Selected: Monk (Monk 9)
Skills Ranks Raised: Balance +1 (12), Concentration +1 (12),
Diplomacy +1 (2), Jump +1 (12), Tumble +1 (12), UMD +0.5 (6)
Feats Selected: Improved Two Weapon Fighting
________________________________________________________________

LEVEL 10:
Class Selected: Monk (Monk 10)
Skills Ranks Raised: Balance +1 (13), Concentration +1 (13),
Diplomacy +1 (3), Jump +1 (13), Tumble +1 (13), UMD +0.5 (6.5)
________________________________________________________________

LEVEL 11:
Class Selected: Monk (Monk 11)
Skills Ranks Raised: Balance +1 (14), Concentration +1 (14),
Diplomacy +1 (4), Jump +1 (14), Tumble +1 (14), UMD +0.5 (7)
________________________________________________________________

LEVEL 12:
Class Selected: Monk (Monk 12)
Abilities Raised: DEX: 23
Skills Ranks Raised: Balance +1 (15), Concentration +1 (15),
Diplomacy +1 (5), Jump +1 (15), Tumble +1 (15), UMD +0.5 (7.5)
Feats Selected: Improved Critical (Bludgeoning)
________________________________________________________________

LEVEL 13:
Class Selected: Monk (Monk 13)
Skills Ranks Raised: Balance +1 (16), Concentration +1 (16),
Diplomacy +1 (6), Jump +1 (16), Tumble +1 (16), UMD +0.5 (8)
________________________________________________________________

LEVEL 14:
Class Selected: Monk (Monk 14)
Skills Ranks Raised: Balance +1 (17), Concentration +1 (17),
Diplomacy +1 (7), Jump +1 (17), Tumble +1 (17), UMD +0.5 (8.5)
________________________________________________________________

LEVEL 15:
Class Selected: Monk (Monk 15)
Skills Ranks Raised: Balance +1 (18), Concentration +1 (18),
Diplomacy +1 (8), Jump +1 (18), Tumble +1 (18), UMD +0.5 (9)
Feats Selected: Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Favor Bonus Granted: Coin Lord Finishing School (400 Coin Lord Favor)
Favor Bonus Granted: Draconic Vitality (15 Agents of Argonnessen Favor)
________________________________________________________________

LEVEL 16:
Class Selected: Monk (Monk 16)
Abilities Raised: CON: 17
Skills Ranks Raised: Balance +1 (19), Concentration +1 (19),
Diplomacy +1 (9), Jump +1 (19), Tumble +1 (19), UMD +0.5 (9.5)
________________________________________________________________

LEVEL 17:
Class Selected: Monk (Monk 17)
Skills Ranks Raised: Balance +1 (20), Concentration +1 (20),
Diplomacy +1 (10), Jump +1 (20), Tumble +1 (20), UMD +0.5 (10)
________________________________________________________________

LEVEL 18:
Class Selected: Monk (Monk 18)
Skills Ranks Raised: Balance +1 (21), Concentration +1 (21),
Diplomacy +1 (11), Jump +1 (21), Tumble +1 (21), UMD +0.5 (10.5)
Feats Selected: Toughness
________________________________________________________________

LEVEL 19:
Class Selected: Monk (Monk 19)
Skills Ranks Raised: Balance +1 (22), Concentration +1 (22),
Diplomacy +1 (12), Jump +1 (22), Tumble +1 (22), UMD +0.5 (11)
________________________________________________________________

LEVEL 20:
Class Selected: Monk (Monk 20)
Abilities Raised: CON: 18
Skills Ranks Raised: Balance +1 (23), Concentration +1 (23),
Diplomacy +2 (14), Jump +1 (23), Tumble +1 (23)
Equipment Mods Changed To: HP: 30, SP: 300,
STR: 6, DEX: 6, CON: 6, WIS: 6, CHA: 6, FORT: 5, REFL: 5, WILL: 5
Enhancements Selected: Halfling Luck I (Will),
Halfling Luck I (Reflex), Monk Wisdom I, Way of the Patient Tortoise I,
Void Strike I, Halfling Dexterity I, Racial Toughness I,
Lifting the Veil, The Receptive Earth, Monk Improved Recovery I,
Restoring the Balance, Shintao Monk I, Monk Wisdom II,
Racial Toughness II, Halfling Dexterity II, Adept of Wind,
Way of the Patient Tortoise II, Way of the Patient Tortoise III,
Difficulty at the Beginning, Rise of the Phoenix, Shintao Monk II,
Monk Improved Recovery II, Adept of Rock, Master of Thunder,
Master of Stone, Fists of Iron, Way of the Patient Tortoise IV,
Monk Wisdom III, Shintao Monk III, Grandmaster of Storms,
Grandmaster of Mountains, Halfling Heros Companion I
Stats at End of Level 20:
HP:444 SP:300 AC:29 FORT:25 REFL:29 WILL:26 BAB:+15/+15/+20/+25
STR:22(+6) DEX:31(+10) CON:24(+7) INT:14(+2) WIS:25(+7) CHA:16(+3)
Balance:33, Bluff:3, Concentration:36, Diplomacy:25,
Disable Device: n/a, Haggle:3, Heal:13, Hide:14, Intimidate:11,
Jump:29, Listen:7, Move Silently:10, Open Lock: n/a,
Perform: n/a, Repair:2, Search:2, Spot:7, Swim:6, Tumble:33, UMD:14

leveling up is a cake walk
and this build can go through any traps without taking much damage
at level 20, you should be around 580 hp possible more, and this build literally is awesome :3
enhancements can be up to you
anyways, this build that im doing currently shall do the impossible and make it to
(hopefully) 1000 Hp easily!!!!!
Epic destinies on this guy is amazing as well
damage criting profile in earth is usually around 170-200 which is better than most builds i have used as a monk :3

Anyways, don't be shy, this build is (in my opinion) the best pure monk build