Melee Monk Builds?

[ricky4105]

So, I just came back recently and wanted to start up a monk. I plan to start fresh, first-life, 32 point build. I'm seeing various monk builds, but from the looks of it, they seem to be focused on ranged dps? At least that's what the monkcher sounds like. Forgive me if i'm incorrect, it's been 5 years and i'm trying to familiarize myself with these new builds. Are there any viable melee builds for a monk anymore? I don't really care what weapon I use, or race (But i'd prefer human or half-elf). I'm gonna keep looking, but if anyone can help me out that would be great. Thanks!

[AbyssalMage]

So, I just came back recently and wanted to start up a monk. I plan to start fresh, first-life, 32 point build. I'm seeing various monk builds, but from the looks of it, they seem to be focused on ranged dps? At least that's what the monkcher sounds like. Forgive me if i'm incorrect, it's been 5 years and i'm trying to familiarize myself with these new builds. Are there any viable melee builds for a monk anymore? I don't really care what weapon I use, or race (But i'd prefer human or half-elf). I'm gonna keep looking, but if anyone can help me out that would be great. Thanks!

Here you go:
Monk Challenge Farmer

I've ran two lives with this build. About to switch back to Ranger for a break but I have enjoyed it. Not sure if I will do my 3rd Monk life with this build or a 10k (or Bow) Monk but I was happy with this builds versatility.

[ricky4105]

Here you go:
Monk Challenge Farmer

I've ran two lives with this build. About to switch back to Ranger for a break but I have enjoyed it. Not sure if I will do my 3rd Monk life with this build or a 10k (or Bow) Monk but I was happy with this builds versatility.

Thanks, i'm surprised builds from a couple years ago still work, haha. I'll give it a go, but what should I do past 16? Also, these other monk builds... They seem to almost all be heavily multiclassed, does this cause them to lose the actual feel of monks? Granted, trying to find a first life build for them is a challenge, just curious.

[unbongwah]

Hi, welcome back to DDO.

You kinda missed the monk's heyday, unfortunately. Most of the monk builds you see on the forums nowadays are either ranged toons using shuriken or longbows (sometimes both); or multiclassed holdovers from when monk / kensei were the go-to minmax builds after Update 19 came out; or the occasional monk / druid wolf build like Woodchipper. Once in a while you'll find an unarmed build like Reiign which is kind of a square peg in a round hole, IMHO - and I'm the one who helped reverse-engineer it.

Fortunately, a typical unarmed pure monk build is still fine for most heroic content; it's in epics where they lag behind, in large part because the most powerful Epic Destinies (EDs) are biased in favor of weapons, IMHO.

[ricky4105]

Hi, welcome back to DDO.

You kinda missed the monk's heyday, unfortunately. Most of the monk builds you see on the forums nowadays are either ranged toons using shuriken or longbows (sometimes both); or multiclassed holdovers from when monk / kensei were the go-to minmax builds after Update 19 came out; or the occasional monk / druid wolf build like Woodchipper. Once in a while you'll find an unarmed build like Reiign which is kind of a square peg in a round hole, IMHO - and I'm the one who helped reverse-engineer it.

Fortunately, a typical unarmed pure monk build is still fine for most heroic content; it's in epics where they lag behind, in large part because the most powerful Epic Destinies (EDs) are biased in favor of weapons, IMHO.

****. Well, I guess i'll just have to find something else to enjoy until monks, hopefully, get back into a decent position! I really like druids, but i'm not sure how I feel about being mana reliant since i'd only play one if I could take advantage of their water form :P. I'll have to read into some more builds and see how the class plays. I do at least have the ability to start at level 7, so I don't need to worry about grinding my way up to get a decent preview of builds at least XD.

[unbongwah]

Since last summer, Turbine has significantly buffed bards, pallies, barbs, rogues, and rangers; barbs also acquired significant self-healing as well, ironically making them one of the more self-sufficient classes now. So any of those classes would be my choice for a first-life melee build; you can find plenty to choose from in the relevant class forums.

[ricky4105]

Since last summer, Turbine has significantly buffed bards, pallies, barbs, rogues, and rangers; barbs also acquired significant self-healing as well, ironically making them one of the more self-sufficient classes now. So any of those classes would be my choice for a first-life melee build; you can find plenty to choose from in the relevant class forums.

Hmm. That's interesting, I guess that does open up the opportunity for me to try something new. Surprisingly, Bards and Barbs interest me the most, even though they seem to be very different XD. Thanks for the tip!

[unbongwah]

For 2H barbs, the obvious choice is Zoda's build. It's actually really easy to do a first life version: max STR, 10-16 pts of CON, the rest into DEX for higher Reflex saves. Zoda uses mauls, but it predates the recent nerf to crit range bonuses, so mauls no longer have a significant endgame advantage over, say, greataxes. So I recommend taking IC:Slash for heroic leveling, just because there are a lot more named falchions / greataxes / g.swords to use.

Really the only downside to pure barbs is the best DPS builds are so cookie-cutter: Storm's Eye (FB capstone) + tier-5 Ravager (Blood Strength + Crit Rage) is almost impossible to beat, but that doesn't leave a lot of APs for other PrEs. There's still a few splashed builds on the forums, like Cetus's, but they're the exception to the norm.

Bards are potentially a lot more complicated, which makes them more fun (IMO). Most of the builds you'll find are Swashbucklers, built to exploit Single-Weapon Fighting (SWF) + Shield Mastery + Skirmisher synergies. Then it's a question of pure vs MC. A few build threads to give you some ideas:

• https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...e-swashbuckler
• https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...or-new-players
• https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...sed-Shadar-Kai

You'll still find the occasional Spellsinger caster build, though; or a Warchanter, often focused on freezing attacks.

[shawncthayer]

I've seen a few Monklock toons. Know of any builds posted on the forums yet? If so could you post a link so that I could check them out. I like melee toons and to get a Lock pl thru a melee build would interest me.

[Theolin]

So, I just came back recently and wanted to start up a monk. I plan to start fresh, first-life, 32 point build. I'm seeing various monk builds, but from the looks of it, they seem to be focused on ranged dps? At least that's what the monkcher sounds like. Forgive me if i'm incorrect, it's been 5 years and i'm trying to familiarize myself with these new builds. Are there any viable melee builds for a monk anymore? I don't really care what weapon I use, or race (But i'd prefer human or half-elf). I'm gonna keep looking, but if anyone can help me out that would be great. Thanks!

You can take a look at the goodmonkey I have in my sig, its a different type of monk.
It can be done as a first life (actually I did a first life with it to test it) says how in the thread.
On a first life you won't have the stunning fist for EE but you should have it for EH.
As a fist life its not really a EE build though it can survive there.

[Toro12]

You can take a look at the goodmonkey I have in my sig, its a different type of monk.
It can be done as a first life (actually I did a first life with it to test it) says how in the thread.
On a first life you won't have the stunning fist for EE but you should have it for EH.
As a fist life its not really a EE build though it can survive there.

6levels of monk qualifies as a monk build?

[unbongwah]

I've seen a few Monklock toons. Know of any builds posted on the forums yet?

Just the one I linked earlier.