Monk help

[Durrand]

Wondering what is better, str based unarmed monk or dex unarmed? Also, what lives do you need in order to make a monk, people have been telling me first life monks arent that great

[Steve_Howe]

Wisdom.

Get three Monk past lives (for extra damage) and three Fighter past lives (for extra Tactics DCs).

[Durrand]

Wisdom.

Get three Monk past lives (for extra damage) and three Fighter past lives (for extra Tactics DCs).

Is two weapon fighting a must?

[Khurse]

Is two weapon fighting a must?

For unarmed? Yes. (unless you want to be a kinda gimp DPS toon)

[Steve_Howe]

Is two weapon fighting a must?

As a feat? Yes, even using Handwraps.

If you were going to use Kamas or Shortswords (Ninja Spy), then I'd use DEX as your main stat. Otherwise, go WIS.

[Durrand]

As a feat? Yes, even using Handwraps.

If you were going to use Kamas or Shortswords (Ninja Spy), then I'd use DEX as your main stat. Otherwise, go WIS.

Thanks a bunch!

[Saekee]

keep in mind that you need a high Dex to qualify for the TWF line of feats.

[TeacherSyn]

For an unarmed Monk, STR still works.

You don't need a lot of DEX, but any bit helps for AC bonus and Reflex.

WIS is important, too, for Stunning bonuses that now also apply to special Shintao jade strikes, too, and WIS, too.

One initial answer requires you to get three past lives. That's a bit overboard. Some people just want to start playing.

A new Shintao Monk is often rather crazy-powerful with its self-healing ability. Play this first to learn the basics, then try the ninja and Mystic.

If you need some tips, my signature has a link to a guide I've built. It's not yet updated to Update 33 but the essentials are there.

[unbongwah]

Wondering what is better, str based unarmed monk or dex unarmed?

Deja vu.

I'll just quote myself:

I presume we're talking TWF melee pure monks, since for shurimonks the answer is always DEX-based. Going STR-based means you can potentially hit higher total dmg mod thanks to Primal Scream, Madstone Boots, etc.; it also opens up the other tactics feats like Stunning Blow. DEX-based means higher AC & Reflex saves, but the real advantage IMO is it makes your build less MAD; i.e., you only have to worry about DEX, WIS, and CON without STR on top of that. However, you don't necessarily want to dump-stat STR if you're planning to take Power Atk / CL / GC chain.

Also, what lives do you need in order to make a monk, people have been telling me first life monks arent that great

People are saying that "monks arent that great" because for a long time, they weren't; they are the last melee class to be buffed since the Prestige Enhancement overhaul 3 years ago in Update 19. Depending on who you ask, monks still "aren't that great," since a lot of forum posters seem to feel they didn't get enough buffage (so far). Since I haven't really had a chance to test my old monks yet, I don't have an opinion either way. Though I will remind the naysayers that a lot of people felt the Kensei buffs "weren't that great" until U31.1 significantly buffed One Cut. So it's premature to rule the monk pass a failure, IMO.