Monk

Originally a premium class, the monk was made free with Update 53.

Class Summary
Alignment: Lawful good, Lawful neutral Hit die: d8

Weapon and Armor Proficiencies



 * Feat simpleweaponproficiency.png
 * Simple weapons (Club, Dagger, Heavy Crossbow, Light Crossbow, Quarterstaff, Unarmed)
 * Feat martialweaponproficiency.png
 * Martial weapons (Handaxe)
 * Feat exoticweaponproficiency.png‎
 * Exotic weapons (Handwraps, Kama, Shuriken)
 * }
 * Feat exoticweaponproficiency.png‎
 * Exotic weapons (Handwraps, Kama, Shuriken)
 * }

Note: Monks become uncentered if they use any armor other than cloth (or any plating other than Composite, if Warforged), or if they equip any weapons other than handwraps, kamas, a quarterstaff, or shurikens, or are at Medium encumbrance or higher. With the right feats or enhancements, monks can remain centered using longswords (Feat: Whirling Steel Strike), shortswords (Ninja Spy: Ninja Master), longbows and shortbows (Feat: Zen Archery), daggers {except throwing daggers} (Vistani Knife Fighter: Deadly Blades) or any Kensei Focus melee weapon (Kensei: One With The Blade.)

Paths

 * Shintao Monk
 * Ninja Spy
 * Henshin Mystic

Prestige Enhancements

 * Henshin Mystic
 * Ninja Spy
 * Shintao Monk

Advancement table

 * *Gives 10% the first time and then 5% each time afterwards

Ki
Ki is the mystical energy that powers a Monk's attacks or abilities.

Ki (pronounced "kee") works similarly to spell points but with notable exceptions.


 * Ki is a renewable but temporary resource, generated as a monk attacks enemies (or, in some cases, if the monk is struck).
 * Accumulated ki drains away from the monk. The more ki, the more rapid the drain.
 * Unlike spell points, where Elixirs can be found to recharge spell points, ki can be generated only through fighting or meditation.
 * Available ki is influenced by Wisdom, but, unlike casters whose spellpoints are based on a stat, Ki is based on the Concentration skill.

For more information, see the Ki article.

Being Centered
A Centered state of being is a critical component of the Monk class. The most obvious sign of being uncentered appears when a Monk fights awkwardly and slowly when unarmed. Uncentered monks lose their ability to use many of their special abilities, such as ki attacks, and cannot generate ki.

To be Centered, a Monk must:
 * wear only a robe, outfit, docent (Warforged only), or nothing in his armor slot
 * Warforged Monks must also have a body type no heavier than Composite Plating
 * not wear a shield
 * wield only kamas, shurikens, a quarterstaff, handwraps or special weapons such as Filthy Kukris (with exceptions, noted below)
 * not be encumbered (The Ray of Enfeeblement spell can weaken STR, leaving a monk uncentered)

For Centered weapons, there are exceptions. With the right feats or enhancements, longswords (with Feat: Whirling Steel Strike); shortswords (with Ninja Spy: Basic Ninja Training); daggers (with Vistani Knife Fighter: Deadly Blades) and longbows/shortbows (with Feat: Zen Archery) can be used. With at least 5 levels of Fighter, and 12 character levels, Monks can take the enhancement One with the Blade and use any melee weapon in their Kensei Focus group as a Ki weapon.

For more, see the Centered article.

Philosophy
At level 3, a Monk must choose a martial arts philosophy path (not to be confused with character build Paths) that determines specific attacks or abilities: These philosophies are represented as unique feats, similar to Ranger favored enemies, or Cleric Domain abilities.

These Philosophies are the Path of Inevitable Dominion or the Path of Harmonious Balance. Each philosophy gives you an optional subset of enhancements in the Ninja Spy enhancement tree or Shintao Enhancement tree respectively that augment the effectiveness of their respective philosophy. (This is noted by a prerequisite in the enhancement tree)

Monk Martial Arts Feats
At levels 1, 2, and 6 a monk gets to select a bonus martial arts feat. All prerequisites of the selected feat must be met.