Str vs Dex vs Wis...Which is better to focus on?

[Phantomizer]

I still have my lvl 12 Monk lying around and i'm looking to do something with him...either continue using him, or delete him. I went Dex based (14 str, 16 dex, 14 con, 14 wis if i recall correctly?) with him, but i'm not sure if that was a wise decision? I feel i might have gotten a better outcome (yes, my Monk IS good...no, scrape that, great compared to most of my other characters) if i had gone Wis based (as i understand it, more Wisdom = better DCs for some of the monk abilities and better AC among other things).

So i need an expert opinion here?

Edit: Forgot to mention, I went Light Path, didn't care much for Dark Path.

[xoowak]

I'm currently favoring a fairly even Str/Wis split. Dex at the minimum you need for TWF. Your stats are close though, I wouldn't bother rerolling regardless of what you decide you want to do. It's not like you're one of those 6 STR/20 DEX halflings. Those stats make you look like a 28 pt? I'd try to get to 20 and TR. Those 6 extra points are huge on a monk, and the monk past life is very nice.

Just make sure to get to 18 (base+level+tome) in one of those stats this life so you can get your 4th tier stance.

[Phantomizer]

I'm currently favoring a fairly even Str/Wis split. Dex at the minimum you need for TWF. Your stats are close though, I wouldn't bother rerolling regardless of what you decide you want to do. It's not like you're one of those 6 STR/20 DEX halflings. Those stats make you look like a 28 pt? I'd try to get to 20 and TR. Those 6 extra points are huge on a monk, and the monk past life is very nice.

Just make sure to get to 18 (base+level+tome) in one of those stats this life so you can get your 4th tier stance.

Those stats i posted are base at lvl 1, right now Dex is 19 (base) since i put my 3 lvl up points (so far) into Dex.

[RabidApathy]

When U14 hit, all characters got a free Lesser Reincarnation. Have the best of both worlds by not deleting your toon, and yet changing him to fit your new vision. Just talk to Kruz in House Jorasco.

[MRMechMan]

I like wis. All will be pretty close to each other and I feel that +3 DC/ACare more valuable than +3 damage/+3 to-hit and definitely more valuable than +3 reflex/AC.


Dex is a clear loser now that a few points of AC are barely noticable. Str got cheapened a bit now that to-hit doesn't really matter. Wis is the way to go now more than ever IMO.

[unbongwah]

For pure monks I prefer either STR-based (aiming for Overwhelming Crit) or WIS-based (aiming for Vorpal Strikes); the former focuses on "raw" melee DPS while the latter focuses on higher DCs for monk atks like Stunning Fist. But you still need enough DEX for ITWF/GTWF (17) and ideally enough to get Grandmaster Wind stance (18). Unfortunately, squeezing all that into what looks like a 28-pt build is tough.

[HighPrior]

IMO minimum DEX for Greater 2 weapon fighting is all you really need, slot +6 dex somewhere or wear upgradded Madstone Boots and think no more of your dex score. Wisdom hands down is worth the most point for point; it affects your AC, the DC of Stunning Fist, Quivering palm, Jade tomb, and all Grandmaster of flowers attacks. A wisdom 23 is also required for Vorpal Strikes.

I don't think you're delete-worthy, but if you plan on doing EE content, and want to land Stunning Fist reliably you'll need a DC around 55-60.
DC=10+half level+WIS+other stuff
10 +12 +(wis) +10 stunning wraps/ring +5 exceptional combat mastery +3 GMoF passives +6 Legendary tactics (twist) = 46 + wisdom
So, a Wis modifier of 9 (total score 28) is the bare minimum with good gear resources.

[Phantomizer]

This is a 32pt I think? Gotta check to make sure when I get home. Wis does seem much better, so I think I'll go wis over str or dex, I can probably add in some tomes to ease everything

[RadioactivePiranha]

I would agree that wisdom is the most important statistic for a monk. However, monks definately have MAD(Multiple Attribute Dependency). Be careful not to neglect your other statistics too much. Low hit points is bad, lack of grandmaster wind or greater two weapon fighting is bad. You can semi-dump str without too much penalty if you have weapon finesse, but if it is too low a ray of enfeeblement can drop you to medium encumbrance and uncenter you. Monks can really benefit from the extra build points from a TR but I wouldn't recommend that if you think you'd find it a chore.

[t0r012]

Str over dex and wisdom over str.

Dex is really only important for meeting prerequisites.
Str is good but it is very linear. +1 to hit/damage isnt going to be noticeable pretty much ever. You will never enter an encounter and say , darn if I only had +1 damage I would have lived.

Don't get me wrong rarely will you go "darn all my wisdom helped me win" but when you don't has it you will miss it. When your jade tomb misses on that air elemental and you get tossed on your keister you will wish you had it. When you don't stun that mob on your way to the caster , you miss it.