U73 Monk Handwraps Build and Reference Guide

[Nickodeamous]

I have scoured over this write up for a while now and the thing that I love about it is that it really shows you why things are being done. It's not just plugged in from a builder. It includes the why's and hows.

For me personally, I will be looking at a variant of the first gearset based on what I have and what curses i have. I was very fortunate to get a +2 imbue curse on one of the items, so I may use my mrr cap set augs instead of the imbue aug set. This would put me at 80 MRR.

I'm also a huge fan of quivering palm, so it does break my heart to not build for it. Lol. That being said, I may try a variant that incorporates the gloves from morgave. I am torn though.

Anyway, thanks again. I keep looking at this almost daily to study what I can improve on.

Nic

 

[Amideus]

The Monk class embodies the fantasy of a martial artist, a master of unarmed combat and physical discipline. It draws inspiration from Shaolin kung fu and other Eastern martial art traditions with a focus on meditation and self-mastery.

With Update 72, the Monk received an overhaul opening up new build options. Gone are the days of relying on Falconry and Vistani Knife Fighter. Henshin Mystic is now a Monk powerhouse compared to Falconry, and Ninja Spy provides access to Haste Boost that VKF once did.

Approach and Philosophy:

The build goal is twofold: Maximize damage and crowd control effectiveness, while maintaining sufficient defense to remain alive. This guide illustrates the art of the possible at level-cap in reaper difficulty after maximum investment in past lives and raid gear. You can still use this guide as a framework if you have few past lives or don’t have the gear.

The guide goes beyond listing starting attributes, feats and enhancements. It aims to be the definitive handwraps reference. You'll find insight about:

* Power Attack vs. Precision
* Is the Patience feat worth it
* Strength vs. Dexterity vs. Wisdom variants
* Which active attacks are worth it
* Selecting epic destinies based on your goals
* Three different gearset options
* Which stances should I use

It includes a breakdown by source of all important mechanics.

I hope you find this useful.

Build Guide (Google Doc)

Really glad to see this updated, been using this one for a while and now ready to dive back into Monk again with all the updates and bug fixes from the rework. (not all bugs were fixed, but most were)

 

[Hireling]

Next session I will be hitting level 20.
So far:
Way more damage than my Sacred Fist (pure) build. I had no idea how much damage I was missing out on.
I forgot how Abundant Step or Leap of Faith saves you time and let's you bypass stuff. Horn of Agility in Crucible was just 2 Abundant Steps for example.
This build gets pretty darn good saves right off the bat, but I do recommend Spell Absorption Item even for Heroic Leveling.
Multi spells, like magic missile, scorching ray(s) or that ice attack that Water Elementals do are dangerous if they are Cruelty Champs since you acquire a DoT for each missile/ray.
Those champs have been the only dangerous parts of this life.
Using crowd control on dangerous foes makes this sooo much safer than Sacred Fist or other DDs. Tomb of Jade on a Champ caster or a Famine or Carnage reaper really does help.
Like Ying said, pop a Kurkan du on a champ or reaper to park em <over there> really helps.
His write up really teaches how to play.
This is my first proper monk. I got Monk and Rogue past lives by doing Q Staff builds that split Monk and Rogue in the past.
This has been a 10/10 build for me. It's a lot of fun and having CC and AC means that even a bad melee player like me can run this.
I am glad I started as a regular life (non iconic) because I needed to start at level 1 (well 3...used XP stones). Because I was learning to play this.
I will probably run this for most racials. It's fast and enjoyable.
For gear I used random stuff until 5. Then it was Feywild and Jidz teka until 11.
At 11 I worked in Bloodstone,Golden Greaves and the Darude Sandstorm Glasses.
I did swap in the gloves from Eye Know Who Dunniy chain, and the Ik Thanor Ring and the Cape from there.
At 15 I swapped to part of the family and Moonrose Bracers.
EDIT: meant to say that I did about 90% of this life solo and about 80% at R1.
I occasionally push up to R4 just to test. It slows down a bit and I can't be quite as reckless on R4 vs R1. Also, I used my hirelings to top me off more on R4. Generally on R1 I wouldn't need healing for the whole quest, but I do have that auto healing past life from an ETR turned on.

 

[Hobgoblin]

one small thing - i would suggest crystal bypass in 2nd core of grandmaster.

as a 20 monk you get addy naturally and you get byshek silver cold iron from cores in shintao

 

[Hireling]

In epics now. Noticed some holes in my gear that I didn't notice before.
Mainly MRR and a little PRR.
When I did Sacred Fist, I'd get free MRR and PRR from a Paladin Spell and Sacred Defender and I'd hit the 50/60 cap pretty easily.
What I did to fix this was slot a +24 Defense Sapphire for the 24 of each.
And I am using 2 Epic Sets. Epic Bloodstone plus Epic Bracers of Deftness. And then Epic Darude Sandstorm Gloves and Epic Golden Greaves. The Glasses and Greaves give an Artifact of +10 PRR/MRR and +HAMP.
The Bloodstone and Btacers give some extra Sneak Attack.
Cruising to mid epics. Plan on hitting 30/34 Tomorrw. I will then copy/paste to the best of my ability The gear listed on the guide.

EDIT: don't forget to turn on your Epic mantle

 

[Ociosto]

Your build looks linteresting. I'll try it once I finish DDM lives. Why not use DDM or tabaxi? I find the tabby feats incredibly useful.

 

[Hobgoblin]

tab actually doesnt add much to monk - no wis bonus you get deflect arrows already evasion already only thing you get is even more zoom.

ddm is underpowered at cap at levels ying plays at

 

[Ying]

Your build looks linteresting. I'll try it once I finish DDM lives. Why not use DDM or tabaxi? I find the tabby feats incredibly useful.

Tabaxi is a fine choice. I prefer the DCs, hit/dmg, hamp and healing hands with Aasimar over 2 SA dice and action boost movement speed.

If I wanted to play a spellcaster, I'd play my Warlock.

 

[Mindos]

 

[hent]

Hi Ying! I have been copying the build so far level 27 and amazed at what revamped monk can do.

Just a couple of questions, I don't get why you took Arcane Warrior, how are you stacking it? If it was explained in the Doc I missed it.

Also, I really like your ED split which is what I'm aiming for, but i would drop 6% DS from fury to get primal scream heal, how are you healing besides Lay on Hands? Do you not solo as much or you find LoH just enough?

Last question why are you not taking the Henshin mystic attack that makes enemies dance just for an extra CC? i know you have plenty but I think that the enhancement that gives MRR is not needed at all (at least with my available gearset)

Thanks !

 

[Hobgoblin]

yings has a very solid group he runs with. I think he only solos if he wants to

 

[Ying]

I don't solo. I prefer to play with friends. Like I mentioned in the guide, you need a way to heal if you're gonna solo. What you chose with Primal Scream is one way to do it. If I was gonna solo raids, then I'd likely build it like Jorye did in the LH VoD solo he posted.

Arcane Warrior is answered earlier in the thread, and a video of it in action. It procs from Cauldron.

What do you suggest as Sophie's Choice to get Otto's Irresistible? You have to sacrifice something for it.

 

[hent]

I don't solo. I prefer to play with friends. Like I mentioned in the guide, you need a way to heal if you're gonna solo. What you chose with Primal Scream is one way to do it. If I was gonna solo raids, then I'd likely build it like Jorye did in the LH VoD solo he posted.

Arcane Warrior is answered earlier in the thread, and a video of it in action. It procs from Cauldron.

What do you suggest as Sophie's Choice to get Otto's Irresistible? You have to sacrifice something for it.

Just realized now and checked it, thanks for your responses!

 

[saekee]

Just realized now and checked it, thanks for your responses!

yes if you have capped your MRR then take the Dance CC. Its wording and shortcut symbol seem like it is the same attack with a modification but in fact (for 1 AP) you gain a new attack. I believe Ying needed the 20 MRR to cap his gearset; sounds like that is not your case!

 

[Hireling]

Just popping in, wrapping up my 3rd Life as this/variation of this.
I was a "Light Monk Forever" type of guy.
Back in the day, I loved the healing curse thing, but stuff either:
Dies too fast for it to matter
or
It lives so long...that it is dangerous and getting a few HP back doesn't really matter.

Once I tried Dark Monk, there is no turning back.
So many more Crowd Control options.
Kata of Ice
Hands of Harm (the Blind and Nausea is nice)
(these are in addition to Stunning Fist ofc)
I use the Combat Mastery Necklace from MD along with the Stat Ring that gives Combat Mastery and got lucky on a +2 Tactics Curse on the Necklace (it appears to only help Stunning Blow, Trip, and Sunder?) Because of this I have a workable trip as well.

Having a second Stun is really nice. The Kata of Ice is GREAT on Skeleton Wizards (esp champs that can be really dangerous if they are Cruelty Champs) that seem to proliferate MD.
The Kata of Ice also works well on those Dangerous Water Elementals (think about the last hallway in Portal Below).

The higher the reaper, the more likely you end up with 2+ champs. Having Stunning Fist, Kata of Ice and Tomb of Jade allows me handle them pretty safely (usually).
Also, Kurkan-Do that monster that doesn't wanna run in to get AoE'd. If it doesn't wanna participate, it can hang out <over there>

Anyway if anyone is on the fence on whether to give this a shot...I'd say definitely. But it will spoil you. You get used to the funning fast and the abundant steps.

 

[Ociosto]

Just popping in, wrapping up my 3rd Life as this/variation of this.
I was a "Light Monk Forever" type of guy.
Back in the day, I loved the healing curse thing, but stuff either:
Dies too fast for it to matter
or
It lives so long...that it is dangerous and getting a few HP back doesn't really matter.

Once I tried Dark Monk, there is no turning back.
So many more Crowd Control options.
Kata of Ice
Hands of Harm (the Blind and Nausea is nice)
(these are in addition to Stunning Fist ofc)
I use the Combat Mastery Necklace from MD along with the Stat Ring that gives Combat Mastery and got lucky on a +2 Tactics Curse on the Necklace (it appears to only help Stunning Blow, Trip, and Sunder?) Because of this I have a workable trip as well.

Having a second Stun is really nice. The Kata of Ice is GREAT on Skeleton Wizards (esp champs that can be really dangerous if they are Cruelty Champs) that seem to proliferate MD.
The Kata of Ice also works well on those Dangerous Water Elementals (think about the last hallway in Portal Below).

The higher the reaper, the more likely you end up with 2+ champs. Having Stunning Fist, Kata of Ice and Tomb of Jade allows me handle them pretty safely (usually).
Also, Kurkan-Do that monster that doesn't wanna run in to get AoE'd. If it doesn't wanna participate, it can hang out <over there>

Anyway if anyone is on the fence on whether to give this a shot...I'd say definitely. But it will spoil you. You get used to the funning fast and the abundant steps.

I was a Light Monk forever, too.

 

[Ociosto]

Does filigree order make a difference?

 

[QuantumFX]

I was a Light Monk forever, too.

You can be both now. The 4th core in Grandmaster allows you to have both philosophies. I'm doing Inevitable Dominion for the feat choice, and Disciple of Philosophy: Light for the Epic enhancement. This allows me to have Kata of Ice and Fist of Light/Hand of Healing.

 

[Hireling]

Does filigree order make a difference?

I think just stack melee power filigree.
I did use Prowess though because I like the melee power boost upon action boost

 

[Aaumini]

You can be both now. The 4th core in Grandmaster allows you to have both philosophies. I'm doing Inevitable Dominion for the feat choice, and Disciple of Philosophy: Light for the Epic enhancement. This allows me to have Kata of Ice and Fist of Light/Hand of Healing.

This is what I’ve done too. But I was wondering if there’d be a way to get the light version of split soul in T5 GMoF - it seems to default to the dark version (which is also good for decimating packs).