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.

[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.