Ki

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

Differences between Ki and Spell Points
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 over time, but more slowly as the Monk levels up.
 * Unlike spell points, where resting or Elixirs of Mnemonic Enhancement can recharge spell points, ki can be generated only through fighting or Meditation.
 * Available ki is influenced by WIS but, unlike mages that use INT or CHA, ki is based on a skill, Concentration.

The Ki Bar
Characters with one or more levels of monk will possess a yellow bar under their HP meter, called the Ki Bar. It displays three numbers:


 * The first number shows the current ki available. This number will change based on the base ki that can be stored.
 * The second number shows the maximum ki the monk can achieve, which appears visually as a filled ki meter.

Your base maximum ki is equal to ten times the character's monk level, plus forty, plus five times your Wisdom modifier.


 * The third number, shown in parentheses, represents the rate at which a monk's ki regenerates or decays while not fighting. A rate of (+1) means you're gaining 1 ki per six seconds. A rate of (-2) means you're losing 2 ki at every six seconds.

The rate at how much you gain or lose ki is determined by your Concentration, a critical skill for the monk. If your ki is equal to or less than your Concentration skill, it does not decay. For each multiple of your Concentration skill that it exceeds it by, you receive -1 ki for every 6 seconds. If your Concentration score is zero or negative, it's treated as if it were 1, which makes retaining ki difficult. Your stable ki level, where you will no longer lose ki, is equal to your Concentration score.

Gaining and Losing Ki
There are different ways to generate ki that benefit a monk tactically. There are many ways to lose accumulated ki as well.

Your ki will reset to its base number if you:


 * Enter or exit a quest. Just as many buffs reset, so does your ki.
 * Rest at a shrine.

If your Monk becomes uncentered, you will rapidly lose ki until you're at 0 - which is effectively your base number while uncentered.

There are several ways to generate ki.

Attack or Be Attacked
The primary way to generate ki is by attacking an enemy. In general, a melee attack that does more than zero damage will generate 1 ki. Scoring a critical hit will net you 3 ki.

If you are in Fire Stance you gain 2 Ki on a normal attack, and between 5-8 Ki on a critical hit, depending on the rank of your Fire Stance. In Earth Stance, a monk will also gain ki should they be hit by an enemy.

The Way of the Tenacious Badger enhancement allows your monk to gain more ki while damaging an opponent for as long as the monk is below a certain percentage of health. The Way of the Elegant Crane increases the ki a monk will receive when scoring a critical hit.

Ranged weapon attacks, such as from shurikens, arrows or magic (if a multi-classed character), do not generate ki. As well, you won't generate ki when you attack an enemy but cause no damage.

Oremi's Necklace and the Dream Edge are the only items in the game to date that give you Enhanced Ki, giving +1 ki on each successful attack. In more improved Fire Stances and higher Monk attacks per round, Enhanced Ki can help rapidly fill a ki bar in seconds. Alchemist's Pendant also has an Enhanced Ki-like effect called Alchemical Conservation.

Meditate or Rest
The Meditation feat regenerates your ki based off the monk's wisdom modifier and monk level. While meditating you can go over your centered Ki up to three times your stable ki level. Monks receive two Meditation turns per rest.

Experienced monks rarely use shrines for an important reason: While a shrine restores their health points (HP), resting completely drains all excess ki, returning the monk to their stable pool of ki. Tactically, this isn't good, especially if the monk wants to use his excess ki in an upcoming fight.

Monks should only use a shrine when:


 * They are virtually out of ki needed to regenerate HP from ki itself, using the feat Wholeness of Body. Resting will bring their ki up to your centered ki level.
 * They have used up their two turns of the Meditation feat, which quickly regenerates ki in their bar
 * They must recharge needed "clickies" (Ring of the Ancestors, Gloves of Titan's Grip, Madstone Boots, Shard of Xoriat, Visor of the Flesh Render Guards, and the like)

One with Shadow
Monks who choose the Path of Inevitable Dominion might shrine more often than the Monk that chose the Path of Harmonious Balance, as these "Light Monks" can use Healing Ki to restore HP directly through their ki, often while fighting.

But Dark Monks that choose the Ninja Spy Prestige Enhancement have a special ability when in their version of Sneak mode. When in "One with Shadow" sneak mode, a Ninja Spy Monk regenerates ki, up to the character's centered ki level. This is a powerful tool to regenerate ki to heal between battles as well as using Stunning Fist or Quivering Palm attacks to remove enemies fast. Combined with Wholeness of Body, the stealthed Ninja Spy Monk can heal himself, albeit less often than a Light Monk, and not while in battle (Vampiric Stonedust Wraps notwithstanding).

Public Zones and Capstone
Unlike spell casters, monks do not get a recharge of ki while in cities or taverns, even when at rest. If a monk's ki is below their stable level (+0), ki will not generate. A monk can use Meditation or Wholeness of Body in a tavern, awaiting the 2 minute recharge of all abilities as taverns grant all players. Aside from Meditation and public items that can be attacked (such as a Guild Training Dummy), a monk can't recharge ki in a public instance.

Provided that a monk is diligent in keeping his Concentration high, they will be awarded a significant stability of ki by taking the Monk capstone at level 20, where their ki regeneration increases by 1 and get a +10 bonus to their Concentration score.