6ranger/14monk zen arcane archer

[RandomFireGuy]

viability?

took all enhancements at lv 20 because it's difficult to take all the right ones while leveling assume i did a enhancement reset

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Level 20 Lawful Neutral Half-Elf Male
(14 Monk \ 6 Ranger) 
Hit Points: 292
Spell Points: 300 
BAB: 16\16\21\26\26
Fortitude: 17
Reflex: 17
Will: 18

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(36 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             17                    26
Dexterity            12                    16
Constitution         14                    17
Intelligence          8                    11
Wisdom               17                    24
Charisma              8                    11

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Strength used at level 2
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 2
+1 Tome of Constitution used at level 2
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 2
+1 Tome of Wisdom used at level 2
+1 Tome of Charisma used at level 2
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 6
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 6
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 6
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 6
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 6
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 6
+3 Tome of Strength used at level 11
+3 Tome of Dexterity used at level 11
+3 Tome of Constitution used at level 11
+3 Tome of Intelligence used at level 11
+3 Tome of Wisdom used at level 11
+3 Tome of Charisma used at level 11

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               3                    21
Bluff                 1                     4
Concentration         6                    28
Diplomacy            -1                     0
Disable Device       n/a                    n/a
Haggle                1                    11
Heal                  3                     7
Hide                  1                     3
Intimidate           -1                     0
Jump                  3                    11
Listen                3                     7
Move Silently         1                     3
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform              n/a                    n/a
Repair               -1                     0
Search               -1                     0
Spot                  7                    30
Swim                  3                     8
Tumble                n/a                   n/a
Use Magic Device     n/a                    n/a

Level 1 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Giant
Feat: (Half-Elf Dilettante) Half-Elf Dilettante: Cleric
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Ranger
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Ranger
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Ranger
Feat: (Selected) Point Blank Shot


Level 2 (Ranger)


Level 3 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons


Level 4 (Ranger)


Level 5 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider


Level 6 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Mental Toughness


Level 7 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Zen Archery


Level 8 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Toughness


Level 9 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Path) Path of Inevitable Dominion: Fists of Darkness
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 10 (Monk)


Level 11 (Monk)


Level 12 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Stunning Blow
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Stunning Fist


Level 13 (Monk)


Level 14 (Monk)


Level 15 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons


Level 16 (Monk)


Level 17 (Monk)


Level 18 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Precision


Level 19 (Monk)


Level 20 (Monk)
Enhancement: Ranger Sprint Boost I
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Acid Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Explosive Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Force Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Force Burst Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Slaying Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Terror Arrows
Enhancement: Improved Cleric Dilettante I
Enhancement: Improved Cleric Dilettante II
Enhancement: Improved Cleric Dilettante III
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Strength I
Enhancement: Human Greater Adaptability Wisdom I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery II
Enhancement: Ten Thousand Stars
Enhancement: Way of the Patient Tortoise I
Enhancement: Way of the Patient Tortoise II
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery II
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery III
Enhancement: Adept of Wind
Enhancement: Adept of Rain
Enhancement: Master of the Sea
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage II
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +2 Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +3 Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +4 Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +5 Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer I
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion I
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion II
Enhancement: Ranger Energy of the Wild I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom I
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom II
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom III

[Feralthyrtiaq]

Your Dexterity is too low to qualify for Precise Shot and Improved Precise Shot which are HUGE for Ranged DPS.

Especially with a group of mobs and the Slayer Arrows high level AA gets.

That being said...

11 Levels of Ranger will get you Precise Shot and Improved Precise WITHOUT meeting the Dexterity requirement (same with 2WF feats).

And leave you 9 levels of Monk, or 8 Monk, 1 Something Else Maybe Fighter for a Feat.

With that 14 Monk/6 Ranger split and the Low Dexterity you miss out on A LOT of the power Ranged can have.

[MoreIdiotThanSavant]

Monk Arcane Archers are viable, yes. However, Monk 14 is a bit of an awkward split, to be honest. 12 Monk is a natural and pretty great split, though. Did you have a specific reason to go for monk 14?

What are your goals with this build?

Feralthyrtiaq is correct, as well, you will need Improved Precise Shot.

I would personally recommend stopping at monk 12 in order to pick up two levels of either fighter or artificer. I've personally played a 12monk/6ranger/2fighter AA and it is a fun build. I have yet to touch Artificer at all so I can't really comment on the second version but glancing over it it seems equal, maybe even better.

I would reconsider the investment in melee feats and abilites. Between Manyshot and Ten Thousand Stars, there is not that much time you need to spend in melee. Stunning Fist is still good to have if you can get your DC up. I would personally drop Stunning Blow and Power Attack.

I would recommend picking up Dodge in order to qualify for Ninja Spy. 3d6 extra sneak attack and Shadow Fade are just too good to pass up if you're a 12+ Dark Monk.

[RandomFireGuy]

i feared someone would say that... i intentionally chose 6 ranger so i wouldn't need the dex for manyshot, but it seems that no matter what you do, unless you're a ranger, you won't be an archer without dex... i can think of quite a few archer builds if i could drop the dex a little...

and i honestly forgot the dark monk stuff... it was late

i know the answer already, but does imbue arrow work on crossbow bolts?

[unbongwah]

11 Levels of Ranger will get you Precise Shot and Improved Precise WITHOUT meeting the Dexterity requirement (same with 2WF feats).

Pre-U14, this was a fine option for easing the DEX requirement; but now as a monkcher (or any other ranged toon), you want the Combat Archery epic feat, which req's base DEX 21. So things got more complicated stat-wise for a monkcher w/U14.

i know the answer already, but does imbue arrow work on crossbow bolts?

Nope.

EDIT: I agree that monk 12 / rgr 6 / arty or ftr 2 is a better combo. Arty adds UMD (possibly trap skills too), W&S Mastery I, & meets AA casting pre-req; ftr adds 2 more feats, Haste Boost I, +1 STR enh, some HPs.

[Feralthyrtiaq]

When you look at just a few of the possibilities Monk/Ranger Splits of many flavors have

Strength for Ranged and Melee DPS
Dexterity for Feat Requirements
Wisdom for 10kStars Extra-Arrow Procs

Just to compare: Strength to base damage VS Extra Arrows from 10k Stars vs Combat Archery Point for Point hurts my brain.

There is a sweet spot for Wisdom to be for a higher chance of 2 to 3 extra arrows, with enough points into Dex for PS, IPS and CA.

Minimum Base Stats at 25 (or 20 or w/e)
Strength at 13 (plus whatever tomes u can muster) for Power Attack
Dexterity to 21 for PS,IPS and Combat Archery
Constitution 14
Wisdom AS MUCH AS YOU CAN MUSTER

Besides the Archery Feats (PBS, PS, IPS, CA, Rapid Shot, Bow Strength, ManyShot) I'd also want 3x TWF, Weapon Finesse, PA, Stunning Fist, Toughness. Not to mention Mental Toughness (but I guess PL Sorc qualifies too)

There is simply too much tastiness. Human 11 Ranger/9 Monk/4Epic offers 13 Feats IN ADDITION to the free ones Ranger Gets....

I guess I could juggle all that with +3 tomes for my Ranger life (or do I want something with Khopeshes errrggggg)

[FuzzyDuck81]

The version i went with was a 34pt half elf 12monk/6ranger/2fighter (1 ranger past life), and stat-wise i think the split was something like str15, dex16, con14, int13, wis13, cha 8, all level-ups in dex & a +3 supreme stat tome at level 11 (i stoned the gal so applied it mid-levelling) - the low wisdom was the bare minimum to qualify for zen archery & cleric dilly.

Shes level 24 now, maxed out in shiradi champion which is her primary destiny (fast healing from fury & enlightenment from GMoF are twisted) & i run her in earth stance for the crit multiplier & a little PRR. Shes fun to play, decent dps at range & i rarely melee with her except when i need to build a load of ki quickly (or just feel like it) & in those occasions, i use dual star of day swords (from cleric commendation turn-ins) which are pretty nice. Skills-wise, i went with concentration, diplomacy (no-fail crit success on tea drinking is nice), some mobility based ones & stealth, i also took dodge/mobility/spring attack & combat archery (nice amount of dodge chance there) & precision (couldn't think what to take at level 24 tbh, but i think it seems to work for ranged).

[Feralthyrtiaq]

I like that split too...

Do you use 10k Stars then?

If so, how many extra arrows do you notice with Wis gear and tomes?

[FuzzyDuck81]

Yeah I use 10k stars & i think i end up firing 2 arrows every 3rd shot or so, i don't pay all that much attention tbh though it certainly makes a noticeable difference - and rather handily in, say, a boss fight, 10k stars won't cancel the archers focus stance (unlike manyshot) so you can get some decent damage while manyshot is on cooldown, especially if combined with the damage action boost & the stand & deliver ability from shiradi.

[Feralthyrtiaq]

It's the "noticeable difference" I was after.

Really helpful Fuzz. +1