Zendark Moncher - Yes I can

[korsat]

I was looking for an all-round character: high ranged and melee dps, ac, speed, able to tank and self heal... all in 1. and I succeeded Zendark was created before this type of build became popular, the main difference compared to other archers is that it possesses a very solid melee ability. I present you the original Moncher:

Zendark Moncher --> An Archer Zen, Monk Dark. 12Monk/6Ranger/2Fighter

NEW VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wDC...ature=youtu.be

GOALS:
-exceptional ranged dps using earth stance, manyshot and 10kstars (40sh wisdom=2-3 arrows x shot) haste+damage boosted.
-high melee dps, threat, ac, saves, cc (stunning fists) and damage mitigation using earth stance, able to tank any raid and hard epics.

REQUISITES:
-gear intensive.
-tomes(+2/+3 to +4/+5).

USEFUL PAST LIFES:
-any passive "melee" past life: fighter (to-hit and stun dc), monk (+damage), ranger (+ranged damage), barbarian (+hp).
-active past life: monk (higher fists damage), paladin (divine favor), if you can fit in.

Zendark, half-elf 12monk/6ranger/2fighter - lawful neutral or lawfu good. After UPDATE 19, the difference between h-elf and human is little: human looses some distance in point blank shot and 1d6 sneak but gains 1 free feat (can be used for completionist, monk past life or UMD focus on OC version - remember past lives feats cannot be selected at 1st level so you wanto to anticipate level 6 feat at level 1 and then get pl feat at 6) and more skills points to spend (can start with 8 int and max all the important skills).

32 point build with easy lvl 20 gears:

STR 34 (14+3tome+6item+1exc+2rams+2rage+2ship+1human+3ech rono)
DEX 28 (16+3tome+6item+1exc+2ship-2stance+2alchemical wraps)
CON 32 (14+3tome+7item+1exc+2ship+2rage+3stance)
INT 12 (8+2tome at lvl 7+2ship)
WIS 38 (16+3tome+6item+2monk+1human+2ship+5lvlup+1excepti onal+2insightful)
CHA 20 (8+3tome+7item+2ship)

36 point build, OC version and fully geared in fury ED:

STR 50 (16+6ome+8item+1exc+2rams+5primal scream+2ship+3insightful+1fury+2yugo+4tenser) --> 50 if no OC
DEX 32 (14+5tome+6item+1exc+2ship-2stance+2yugo+4tenser)
CON 48 (15+6tome+8item+1exc+2insightful+2ship+5primal scream+1fury+4stance+4tenser)
INT 17 (10+4tome(+2 at lvl 7 needed)+2ship+1exc)
WIS 52 (16+6tome+7lvlup+1human+11item+2monk+2ship+1except ional+2insightful+2fury+2yugo) --> 50 if no OC (all lvl up here)
CHA 24 (8+5tome+8item+1exc+2ship+2yugo)

PROGRESSION:
1 Ranger - precision or power attack (OC version) , fav.enemy: undead, rogue dilly
2 Monk - zen archery (monk)
3 Monk - stunning fists (monk), point blank shot
4 Monk - light path
5 Ranger
6 Ranger - thoughness or completionist or Cleave (OC version)
7 Ranger
8 Ranger - fav.enemy: construct/evil outsider/giant/dragon
9 Ranger - skill focus: UMD or Great Cleave (OC version)
10 Monk
11 Monk
12 Monk - ten thousand stars (monk), ic: bludgeon
13 Monk
14 Monk
15 Monk - ic: ranged
16 Monk
17 Monk
18 Monk - grandmaster of forms
19 Fighter - greater twf
20 Fighter - improved precise shot
EPIC
21 - Improved martial arts
24 - Vorpal strikes or OC (OC version)
26 - PTWF
27 - Blinding speed or Vorpal strikes (OC version) or Combat Archery (need to start with 16 dex+5 tome for this)
28 - +20 healing spellpower or elusive target or epic tactician

The idea is to level up using fists till lvl 9 when we get manyshot to use both melee and ranged weapons (manyshot+melee when ms is on cooldown). From level 12 we have 10k stars for better ranged dps.

I use the abilities in the following order:
10k stars (30sec) --> manyshot (20sec) --> melee (70 sec) --> 10k stars (30sec) --> manyshot (20 sec) --> melee (70 sec) --> and so on.
I find this the best progression because when I don't have 10k+ms ready on bow I loose dps by continuosly swap bow and wraps... and melee dps (that most archers ignore) is really awesome on this toon.

U22 SETUP:
-Dragon Masque (Y: +2 insight wis, C: globe of true imperial blood)
-Adamantine Cloak of the Wolf / EE Jeweled Cloak
-Loot Convalescence bracers (20% healing amp.) of Parring +4 / Dumathoin's Bracers
-EE Goatskin boots (115% fort or con +8, speed XV, G slot: heavy fort or cha +8 or con +8, C slot: +8 cha or con +8) / Epic innocent boots
-Black Dragon Robe (B: 16 prr) / Dragoncrafted
-Planar focus of prowless (+3 insightful str.)
-EE Shadowsight (+11 wis, +10 accuracy, ethereal, G slot: false life +40)
-Gilvenor's neckle (+2 competence to hit, +10%bow speed) / Alchemist Pendant (+1 ki, +20 hp, +1 boosts)
-Iron mitts (+30% healing amp., +8 strenght, +40 vitality, resistance +7, C slot: +2 insightful con.)
-GS belt (concordant opposition, +25 hp, +100sp, +2str +4con +6 cha skills)
-Ring1: Gilvenor's ring (+6 dex,+1exc. dex., slotted holy burst,+10% bow speed) / Djinni ring
-Ring2: EE Consuming Darkness (+12 seeker, +5 combat mastery, G slot: good luck +2)
-Weapons: Antipode (R slot: devotion) / Pinion (R slot: devotion) / Thunder-Craft

From this setup: +40 vitality hp +40 false life hp +25 GS hp and +100 GS sp, +16% dodge, +115% fortfication, speed XV, +6/+9 sneak attack, deception, deadly XI, +12 seeker +5 exceptional seeker, -20% armor bypass, +11 wisdom, +2 good luck, +6cha skills, concordant opposition, +10%bow speed, holy burst, +20+30%healing amp, +5 combat mastery. The bad thing is the lack of ghostly (still have ethereal on goggles and shadow walk to be activated) and the swap between necklaces for ki generation when needed, alchemist (+20 hp, +1 boosts, +1 ki generation) looks like a very good one for the case.

SKILLS: max balance, umd and heal, then concentration, 1 point into tumble and something into jump. (diplomacy is nice to have if you use shiradi for the tea with the queen). Having 10 starting int or being human helps to max all the skills.

AC is in the 90sh, survivability is enhanced by the 25% incorporeal, 50 prr and 18% dodge. AC is no more my priority, but you can work on it to hit a pretty good score (e.g. taking combat expertise and bulwark of defense).

NOTE: Dance of flawers, IMA and combat archery all work now with bow for a total of +1,5+0,5+1[w] = +3[w] so you may want to start with 16 dex+5 tome to qualify for it and take it in the place of blinding speed or vorpal strikes. I'm not gonna do it since dance of flawers and IMA already give me +2[w]. I will consider it if we will ever have lvl cap 30 and an additional epic feat.

ENHANCEMENTS
Check in the Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wDC...ature=youtu.be

EDs:
I personally love Fury of the Wild for the huge epic moment. Twists: Dance of flowers, Rejuvenation Cocoon, Legendary tactics/Balanced Attacks/Extra action boost/Pin/unhearty reactions/brace for impact/energy sheath electric (depending on situations and if you have 4th twist).
Legendary Dreadnought is a very good choice for blitzing, Pinion crits 15-20. Twists: Sense Weakness or Balanced attacks, Rejuvenation cocoon, Dance of flowers.
You may find full ranged option better for solo, especially if you don't have devotion slotted, loosing some dps when out of MS/10k stars. Twists: Rejuvenation Cocoon/Pin/Otto's Whistler. You would better spend ap into AA/DWS trees in this case.

UMD: 11ranks+3tome+7cha+6gs+4gh+8epic levels+2good luck+3UMD focus=44 standing. 41 on OC version.

Stun DC: 10+14+21wis+10wraps+5exceptional combat mastery+6legendary tactics+3kensei= 69 no fail stun, 70+ in GMoF.

Saves: with convalescence bracers of superior parring and a gh all saves are higher than 50. Twist in unhearty reactions or brace for impact and use ocean stance4 to break 60.

Enjoy

[korsat]

After some gear farm I've finally hitted the best (in my opinion) set-up for this guy, so I've decided to update the build post.

I consider this build one of the top dps of the game, the kills score tells me ;p

Take a look and enjoy any feedback is apreciated!

[wax_on_wax_off]

My thoughts:
I prefer 2 Artificer over 2 fighter for self healing. Lose 1 feat (a melee feat).
Swap stalker ring to Anathema for ranged hate generation.
If you spec fully for ranged with max wisdom it should increase your DPS if you do a 20/10/30/30 cycle even if you don't swap to wraps for the 10 window between manyshot and 10k stars. At that point PA/GTWF/IC:B become very marginal (only 25% use) compared to other possible feats (quickdraw, PL: SotF).
Arcane Archer ToD set reportedly stacks with haste so I'll plan to swap between Kyosho's set and Gilvaenor's depending on the situation as stacking attack speed boost will be a considerable DPS increase.

[korsat]

My thoughts:
I prefer 2 Artificer over 2 fighter for self healing. Lose 1 feat (a melee feat).
Swap stalker ring to Anathema for ranged hate generation.
If you spec fully for ranged with max wisdom it should increase your DPS if you do a 20/10/30/30 cycle even if you don't swap to wraps for the 10 window between manyshot and 10k stars. At that point PA/GTWF/IC:B become very marginal (only 25% use) compared to other possible feats (quickdraw, PL: SotF).
Arcane Archer ToD set reportedly stacks with haste so I'll plan to swap between Kyosho's set and Gilvaenor's depending on the situation as stacking attack speed boost will be a considerable DPS increase.

This is for sure something I have to try, I thought that anathema ring increased only spells aggro generation!

Well your idea is more ranged oriented, But I love so much the melee dps of this guy...this is the main reason that brings me to use pa instead of ips. Cause for tanking I need to use wraps (out of the 20 ms seconds) for the +5(huge) ac bonus.

By the way the melee dps on a stunned mob are higher than 10k stars dps on a non-stunned mob and quite comparable to manyshot dps on non-stunned. I.E. epic arcanes are dead in 3 to 5 seconds if stunned, the same time manyshot takes.

Ty for the input, I follow your aa posts so I know you prefer to be full ranged dps and if I'll get the tod aa set then I can think about lr for the 2 arti levels and be more ranged spec. Don't know if it will be able to tank at the same way but it will have better ranged and self healing for sure!

[bruener]

Yep this build has been around for awhile. I have one myself. Its a lot of fun to play. Its a busy toon. I often wonder if I should of taken 2 lvls of arti myself. I might have to try that next time. The more I think about it the more I think I might like it better. This is still one of my favorite toons to play. Melee the trash and manyshot+10k stars the boss. Fun fun

The bow of sinew makes for some massive crits. As soon as the lds start dropping again for me ill make a lit 2.

[savingsoul]

Looks pretty solid to me. I like your leveling progression as well. I've often thought that it would make more sense to be more balanced between ranged and melee on this type of build, rather than to focus primarily on ranged, and your approach confirms it. Something like 1A/7M/12F http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=360460 *might* work better for a purely ranged focus build. At least, that way you won't feel like you are wasting all those excellent special attacks you get with 12 levels of monk.

[daniel7]

If you do 2 arty instead of fighter when would you take them? Level 1 and whatever the ML is for heal scroll?

[korsat]

If you do 2 arty instead of fighter when would you take them? Level 1 and whatever the ML is for heal scroll?

Hey I think you can start with 1 level of arti to max umd, then 1 monk for unarmed fight and 6 ranger for twf feats and ms. Then again 5 monk to qualify for 10k stars, 1 arti and then monk till lvl 20.

[flute136]

I was wondering if PA gives bows +10 to damage instead of +5 since they technically are two-handers because you can't hold an off-hand weapon with a bow.

[korsat]

I was wondering if PA gives bows +10 to damage instead of +5 since they technically are two-handers because you can't hold an off-hand weapon with a bow.

PA doesn't apply to the bow damage unfortunalty for bow we have point blank shot.

After a lot of tests I can say PA worth it in the end-game raids n/h/e, expecially when you have to tank and have an heavy barb beating on the same boss, but in epics I have to turn it off when I have the aggro of the big bosses (echrono, elob, malicia, etc) so I'll swap to Improve Precise Shot now that I got the aa set to try it out and I'll let you know

[Brennie]

I was wondering if PA gives bows +10 to damage instead of +5 since they technically are two-handers because you can't hold an off-hand weapon with a bow.

Power Attack doesn't apply to ranged combat, unfortunately.

[Teharahma]

I consider this build one of the top dps of the game, the kills score tells me ;p

No doubt this build has decent DPS.

But killcount is NOT DPS.

[flute136]

Where is your Striding coming from?

[korsat]

Where is your Striding coming from?

LOL.

longstrider is lvl 1 ranger spell, that and rams might are the 2 lvl1 spells I use

[flute136]

True. But wouldn't you want more to make up for -10% from stance? It will make kiting Demon Queen alot more easier.

[Mangloid]

Quiver of Alacrity grants Striding 30% upon upgrade

[Thrudh]

If you don't have Improved Precise Shot, you're giving up a ton of ranged power. I got rid of Power Attack myself.

[Thrudh]

Also, ToD is very expensive, in terms of AP and Ki

I dropped it as well, since I range 75% of the time, and use all my Ki for 10k stars, Stunning Fist, and Shadow fade

[korsat]

Also, ToD is very expensive, in terms of AP and Ki

I dropped it as well, since I range 75% of the time, and use all my Ki for 10k stars, Stunning Fist, and Shadow fade

I agree on power attack, it could be dropped for ips. Have to try it now that I got the AA set.

I don't agree on touch of death, I melee 50% of the time if not more, my routine is 30sec 10kstars+20sec manyshot+melee till I have 30 sec cooldown on manyshot so I can restart with 10kstars+ms and finish to melee again and again. I found this extremely efficient. Plus while tanking melee is the priority to keep aggro cause I can't switch so often from bow to wraps and ToD helps a lot here!

ToD is ap intensive but it's too good to give up! 500+ damage every 15 sec or more on a stunned mob...I'll never renunce at this. This is the reson why I'm slotting all +1 exc stat and got all +3 tomes so that I can drop human adaptability and save ap for it.

Melee ability on an archer toon is often dropped for a little increase in ranged dps. I don't agree, with 6d6 sneak attack and the possibility to stun with an high dc, also without power attack you can litterally moleste trash!

[wax_on_wax_off]

I agree on power attack, it could be dropped for ips. Have to try it now that I got the AA set.

I don't agree on touch of death, I melee 50% of the time if not more, my routine is 30sec 10kstars+20sec manyshot+melee till I have 30 sec cooldown on manyshot so I can restart with 10kstars+ms and finish to melee again and again. I found this extremely efficient. Plus while tanking melee is the priority to keep aggro cause I can't switch so often from bow to wraps and ToD helps a lot to keep aggro!

ToD is ap intensive but it's too good to give up! 500+ damage every 15 sec or more on a stunned mob...I'll never renunce at this. This is the reson why I'm slotting all +1 exc stat and got all +3 tomes so that I can drop human adaptability and save ap for it.

Melee ability on an archer toon is often dropped for a little increase in ranged dps. I don't agree, with 6d6 sneak attack and the possibility to stun with an high dc, also without power attack you can litterally moleste trash!

Other reports suggest that the AA set alacrity bonus doesn't stack with haste, worth testing because it certainly should and is a bug if it doesn't.

ToD is only 500+ damage every 15 seconds if you are always using melee, but if you are always using melee perhaps a pure monk build is more suited to you?