Monk

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Monk
Starting a... Enhancements Tactics Equipment

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

Class Summary

Alignment: Lawful good, Lawful neutral Hit die: d8

Class Skills

Skill points at 1st level: (4 + Intelligence modifier) x4

Skill points at each additional level: 4 + Intelligence modifier

Balance (Dexterity)
Concentration (Constitution)
Diplomacy (Charisma)
Hide (Dexterity)
Jump (Strength)
Listen (Wisdom)
Move Silently (Dexterity)
Swim (Strength)
Tumble (Dexterity)
Spot (Wisdom)

Weapon and Armor Proficiencies

	Simple weapons (Club, Dagger, Heavy Crossbow, Light Crossbow, Quarterstaff, Unarmed)
	Martial weapons (Handaxe)
	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

Monk Advancement
Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special	Unarmed Attack bonus	AC bonus	Dodge bonus	Unarmored speed bonus
1st	+0/+0	+2	+2	+2	Armor Class Bonus, Flurry of Blows, Unarmed Strike, Martial Arts Feat, Monk Stances, Finishing Moves	+1	+0	2%	+0%
2nd	+1/+1/+6	+3	+3	+3	Armor Class Bonus, Evasion, Meditation, Martial Arts Feat	+1	+3	4%	+0%
3rd	+2/+2/+7	+3	+3	+3	Still Mind, Fast Movement*, Philosophy	+1	+3	6%	+5%*
4th	+3/+3/+8/+13	+4	+4	+4	Ki Strike: Magic, Slow Fall, Unarmed Strike	+2	+3	6%	+5%
5th	+3/+3/+8/+13	+4	+4	+4	Armor Class Bonus, Purity of Body	+2	+6	6%	+5%
6th	+4/+4/+9/+14	+5	+5	+5	Adept of Forms, Martial Arts Feat, Fast Movement, Slow Fall	+2	+6	6%	+10%
7th	+5/+5/+10/+15	+5	+5	+5	Wholeness of Body	+2	+6	6%	+10%
8th	+6/+6/+11/+16	+6	+6	+6	Slow Fall, Unarmed Strike	+3	+6	6%	+10%
9th	+6/+6/+11/+16	+6	+6	+6	Improved Evasion, Fast Movement	+3	+6	6%	+15%
10th	+7/+7/+12/+17	+7	+7	+7	Armor Class Bonus, Ki Strike: Lawful, Slow Fall	+3	+9	6%	+15%
11th	+8/+8/+13/+18	+7	+7	+7	Diamond Body	+3	+9	6%	+15%
12th	+9/+9/+14/+19	+8	+8	+8	Abundant Step, Fast Movement, Master of Forms, Slow Fall, Unarmed Strike	+4	+9	6%	+20%
13th	+9/+9/+14/+19	+8	+8	+8	Diamond Soul	+4	+9	6%	+20%
14th	+10/+10/+15/+20	+9	+9	+9	Slow Fall	+4	+9	6%	+20%
15th	+11/+11/+16/+21	+9	+9	+9	Armor Class Bonus, Fast Movement, Quivering Palm	+4	+12	6%	+25%
16th	+12/+12/+17/+22	+10	+10	+10	Ki Strike: Adamantine, Slow Fall, Unarmed Strike	+5	+12	6%	+25%
17th	+12/+12/+17/+22	+10	+10	+10	Timeless Body	+5	+12	6%	+25%
18th	+13/+13/+18/+23	+11	+11	+11	Fast Movement, Grandmaster of Forms, Slow Fall	+5	+12	6%	+30%
19th	+14/+14/+19/+24	+11	+11	+11	Empty Body	+5	+12	6%	+30%
20th	+15/+15/+20/+25	+12	+12	+12	Armor Class Bonus, Perfect Self, Perfect Slow Fall, Shining Star, Unarmed Strike	+6	+15	6%	+30%

*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 their 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.

Class feats

Level 1

• Armor Class Bonus (passive): While unarmored and not equipping a shield, monks gain a passive bonus to Armor Class equal to their Wisdom modifier, if their Wisdom modifier is positive.
• Flurry of Blows (passive): When a monk is either unarmed or is wielding only monk weapons (Kama, Shuriken, Quarterstaff), the monk is treated as if they had a full Base Attack Bonus for all monk levels they possess rather than a 3/4 Base Attack Bonus. While centered (unarmored, unencumbered, and wielding monk weapons), you get an increase to your attack bonus, and a 2% dodge bonus at monk levels 1, 2, and 3 for a total of 6%. The attack bonus increase starts at +1 (at level 1) and increases by +1 for every four additional monk levels.
• Unarmed Strike (passive): Monks are tremendously skilled at unarmed combat and inflict more damage with their bare hands. As they increase in levels, so will the damage they will inflict with their unarmed attacks at level 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20.
• Choice of a Martial arts feat: A monk may select martial arts feat for free. They must meet all prerequisites of the selected feat.
• Monks get access to Monk stances as long as they are centered. Stances are improved Monk levels 6, 12 and 18. Multiclass characters can purchase the upgrades with feats. Stances are exclusive with Shifter Rage (and possibly other types of rages).
• Finishing moves (active): As your martial arts training continues, you will be able perform special finishing moves of great versatility and power. These finishing moves are unlocked by performing certain sequences of attack forms, and the finishing move icon will change (and a visible glow of Ki will appear about you) when you are ready to perform one.

Level 2

• Armor Class Bonus (passive): +3 bonus to Armor, and as you increase in power, you will receive +3 additional bonus to Armor Class at levels 5, 10, 15 and 20.
• Evasion (passive): When a monk makes a successful Reflex save to avoid damage, they suffer no damage instead of half damage. Evasion requires light or no armor.
• Meditation (active): twice per rest, monks can meditate to slowly regain Ki. It stabilizes when it reaches over three times their Concentration score.
• Choice of a Martial arts feat: At second level, a monk may select martial arts feat for free. They must meet all prerequisites of the feat they select.

Level 3

• Still Mind (passive): Training and meditation have improved the monk's resistance to mind-affecting attacks, granting you a +2 bonus on saving throws against enchantments.
• Fast Movement (passive): While centered (unarmored, unencumbered, and wielding monk weapons), a monk runs faster for every three monk levels they possesses.
• Choice of Philosophy: You have advanced far enough that you must make a choice – whether to follow the Path of Harmonious Balance and seek to be at peace with the world, or to follow the Path of Inevitable Dominion and seek to dominate the world. This choice will affect enhancement choices open to you and will affect what finishing moves you receive.

Level 4

• Ki Strike: Magic (passive): All of a monk's unarmed melee attacks are empowered with Ki and are considered magical for damage reduction purposes.
• Slow Fall (active): A monk's focus allows him to bend nature around him to reduce gravity's effect. This is an active feat, and can be turned off should you desire normal gravity to affect you. The Monk must be centered to use this ability, and its effectiveness increases as you continue to gain power, at every two level.
• Unarmed Strike (passive): While centered (unarmored, unencumbered, and wielding monk weapons), your fists and feet are lethal weapons.

Level 5

• Armor Class Bonus (passive): Your training improves your armor class, You gain +3 additional bonus to Armor Class.
• Purity of Body (passive): At this level, monks gain control over their body’s immune system and are now unaffected by all natural diseases.

Level 6

• Adept of Forms: You continue on the path to enlightenment, improving your elemental stances and learning new elemental strikes.
• Choice of a Martial arts feat: At sixth level, a monk may select martial arts feat for free. They must meet all prerequisites of the selected feat.
• Fast Movement (passive): While centered (unarmored, unencumbered, and wielding monk weapons), a monk runs faster for every three monk levels they possess.
• Slow Fall (active): Your focus allows you to bend nature around you to make gravity have less effect. This is an active feat, and can be turned off should you desire normal gravity to affect you.

Level 7

• Wholeness of Body (active): This feat allows monks expend 10 Ki to heal half their hit points over time. The formula for how many hit points is regained is (Monk level)/2 + Wisdom modifier every 2 seconds for 30 seconds. This feat cannot be used in combat, the monk must stand still and perform no action while they regenarate some of their hit points. There is a cool-down of 180 seconds. (Healing Amplification items and Improved Recovery enhancements may result in a full regeneration of HP.)

Level 8

• Slow Fall (active): Your focus allows you to bend nature around you to make gravity have less effect. This is an active feat, and can be turned off should you desire normal gravity to affect you.
• Unarmed Strike (passive): While centered (unarmored, unencumbered, and wielding monk weapons), your fists and feet are lethal weapons.

Level 9

• Improved Evasion (passive): When a monk fails to make a successful Reflex save to avoid damage, they suffer only half damage.
• Fast Movement (passive): While centered (unarmored, unencumbered, and wielding monk weapons), monks run faster for every three monk levels they possesses.

Level 10

• Armor Class Bonus (passive): Your training improves your armor class, You gain +3 additional bonus to Armor Class.
• Ki Strike: Lawful (passive): Unarmed attacks from the monk are now considered Lawful and Magic weapons for damage reduction purposes.
• Slow Fall (active): Your focus allows you to bend nature around you to make gravity have less effect. This is an active feat, and can be turned off should you desire normal gravity to affect you.

Level 11

• Diamond Body (passive): This feat grants the Monk immunity to poison.

Level 12

• Abundant Step (active): At the cost of 10 Ki, a monk can use this ability to make horizontal leaps, closing to targets, traversing chasms, or zipping past enemies with less chance of being detected. There is a cooldown of three seconds on this feat and can only be used on yourself.
• Fast Movement (passive): While centered (unarmored, unencumbered, and wielding monk weapons), monks run faster for every three monk levels they possesses.
• Master of Forms: You continue on the path to enlightenment, further improving your elemental stances and learning new elemental strikes. These stance improvements replace those granted by Adept of Forms.
• Slow Fall (active): Your focus allows you to bend nature around you to make gravity have less effect. This is an active feat, and can be turned off should you desire normal gravity to affect you.
• Unarmed Strike (passive): While centered (unarmored, unencumbered, and wielding monk weapons), your fists and feet are lethal weapons.

Level 13

• Diamond Soul (passive): The Monk gains Spell Resistance equal to Monk Level +10

Level 14

• Slow Fall (active): Your focus allows you to bend nature around you to make gravity have less effect. This is an active feat, and can be turned off should you desire normal gravity to affect you.

Level 15:

• Armor Class Bonus (passive): Your training improves your armor class, You gain +3 additional bonus to Armor Class.
• Fast Movement (passive): While centered (unarmored, unencumbered, and wielding monk weapons), monks run faster for every three monk levels they possess.
• Quivering Palm (active): Starting at 15th level, a monk can set up fatal vibrations within the body of a living creature. Constructs, oozes, plants, undeads, incorporeal creatures such as wraiths, and creatures immune to critical hits cannot be affected, but other creatures must make a Fortitude Save after being struck by the Quivering Palm or die instantly. The saving throw is equal to DC of 10 + (monk level)/2 + wisdom modifier.

Level 16:

• Ki Strike: Adamantine (passive): Unarmed attacks from the monk are now considered Adamantine, Lawful, and Magic weapons for damage reduction purposes.
• Slow Fall (active): Your focus allows you to bend nature around you to make gravity have less effect. This is an active feat, and can be turned off should you desire normal gravity to affect you.
• Unarmed Strike (passive): While centered (unarmored, unencumbered, and wielding monk weapons), your fists and feet are lethal weapons.

Level 17:

• Timeless Body (passive): Your soul is balanced. No corrupt influences can possess your body after death - you are immune to the spawn effect of most undead.

Level 18:

• Fast Movement (passive): While centered (unarmored, unencumbered, and wielding monk weapons), monks run faster for every three monk levels they possess.
• Grandmaster of Forms: You continue on the path to enlightenment, further improving your elemental stances and learning new elemental strikes. These stance improvements replace those granted by Master of Forms.
• Slow Fall (active): Your focus allows you to bend nature around you to make gravity have less effect. This is an active feat, and can be turned off should you desire normal gravity to affect you.

Level 19:

• Empty Body (active): You are able to focus your ki and walk the edge of the Plane of Shadow, mimicing the effects of a Shadow Walk spell. While this effect is active, you move much faster than normal and your outline appears faint and you are harder to hit. Attacking another creature or otherwise interacting with objects shunts you back to the Material Plane.

Level 20:

• Armor Class Bonus (passive): Your training improves your armor class, You gain +3 additional bonus to Armor Class.
• Perfect Self (passive): You have transcended your former race, and are now considered a Lawful Outsider. You have gained damage reduction 10 / epic. Warforged retain most living construct traits.
• Perfect Slow Fall (active): You have perfected the ability to recover from a fall unharmed. You never take damage from falling no matter how far you fall. (This works whether your Feat: Slow Fall is toggled on or off)
• Shining Star (active): You use the combined power of Earth, Wind, and Fire to set up harmonic vibrations within your enemy that force them to dance. A successful Will save negates this effect. (DC 10 + Monk Level + Wisdom mod + Stunning bonuses)
• Unarmed Strike (passive): While centered (unarmored, unencumbered, and wielding monk weapons), your fists and feet are lethal weapons.

External links

• Dev Diary: The Way of the Monk archival of http://www.ddo.com/article/973
• The Book of Syncletica: A DDO Monk Guide