[Disclaimer ]
The following guide is more of a testing/theoretical guide than a practical one. The reason for venturing this way is that I have reset potion to go crazy and I want optimize the utility/tank ability of the Monk relying in SPR rather than CON/DEX. Based on the mechanics, and gear we currently have, I will probably end gimping myself. HOWEVER, I want try my best to make it work and cry a river when I fail (I can always reset my skills/attributes)
[Overview]
-
This build FOCUS on priest utilities and STR/SPR.
-
The usefulness or lack of this build will be dependent on future buffs/nerf, changes after level 280, etc.
-
I am NOT a level 280 Monk. I will be running this build for testing and I am willing to spend $$ to reset skills and attributes to put the theory into practice.
-
This Is NOT an optimal build for leveling! At level 280 this build will probably suck massively.
-
I am a scientist in real life, and while this build seems like it will fail, I have the curiosity and the time to test it so why not.
I want to say thanks to @wenoweon and @Menech. They don’t know who I am but I been reading their comments/ideas/guides/tips in the cleric forum and they are very knowledgeable.
If you haven’t read Menech guide, please do so Proper PVE Monk Guide
[Stats Distribution]
Everything on STR and splash of SPR For now, I would allocate the points that other people in other Monk builds spend in DEX and CON toward SPR.
ARE YOU MAD DUDE!!??? WHERE IS MY DEX AND CON!?!?!?!
DEX is the most overrated attribute
-
For PVE, you don’t need any point in DEX. Level appropriate gloves should give you ENOUGH accuracy to hit everything at your level and even above your level (to a certain degree). You can always use gems to fill the gaps.
-
While Increasing DEX also increase evasion/dodge which in turn increases sustainability, our Monk have enough utilities for survival.
-
DEX vs STR as DPS modifier - Please read: [STR vs DEX Debate] (https://www.reddit.com/r/treeofsavior/comments/4hfddf/this_should_answer_almost_all_of_your_questions/) discussion by Reilet
tl;dr… It is likely STR is the way to go -
It just doesn’t fit the Spiritual Monk dude
CON vs SPR as a survival tool
-
In our current meta, CON is eesential but I will skip it in order to maximize SPR
-
My hopes are to find a middle ground between HP which plate end game gear provides and magic defense provided by SPR and other means.
Why SPR Monk?
-
Synergy/Scalability: Stoneskin, Aspersion, Mass Heal and other skills.
-
Sustainability: Magic Defense, status ailments resistance. Unfortunately, the current mechanics of magic defense provides minimal benefits.
-
In TOS Monk’s don’t meditate, and SPR helps them overcome evil by balancing their chakra and inner self.
-
I am bored…
[Skill Build ]
Cleric:
Nothing too different from others people builds.
Priest:
Here is where I depart from most Monk’s build and my reasoning behind it.
-
[Aspersion] – Underrated and yet one of the best priest buff in game. This buff scales well at endgame. At 15/15 an increase of 48% physical defense is nothing to sneeze at. Don’t forget that we will gear with plate which should make this buff even more powerful.
-
[Blessing] – Don’t spend a dime on it. This skill is a godsend for leveling early on but becomes quite useless later on. It is still a useful buff for the party, but that wouldn’t be your role. Also, Monk’s DPS depends on double punch which doesn’t synergize well with blessing or sacrament.
-
[Monstrance] – Nice boost of dexterity but putting more than 1 point is a total waste.
-
[Revive] – One of the most powerful priest buffs. The utility of this skill alone makes C3 Priest worth it. Maxing it provides 50% HP recovery, 10 seconds invincibility (more than enough to get out of AoE / recover from a possible wipe).
-
[Resurrection] – I put 4 points on this skill because I rather max revive/mass heal/ stoneskin
-
[Mass Heal] – Powerful heal that scales extremely well end game. Cooldown feels a bit long (30secs) but 28% of maximum HP heal is quite the thing. As an extra, it scales with SPR (not dramatically) but I take it
-
[Sacrament] – Same as blessing, 0 pts.
-
[Stone Skin] – Another underrated skill. Quite powerful by itself (maxed) it also scales very good with SPR.
Fun low level experiment Stoneskin vs Evasion done by a youtuber :
Evasion seems more reliable than Stoneskin regardless of spending points in SPR, BUT remember that Stoneskin benefit the party
–Summary–
Your support role is to provide revive, mass heals, aspersion and stoneskin. By not having blessing/sacrament, it should give you more breathing room to DPS instead of solely buffing.
Monk:
I pretty much follow Menech skills distribution with the exception of Palm Strike and Golden Bell shield. I might work on this section later