Monks in Pathfinder 2: Fighting Styles & Ki

In the latest Pathfinder 2nd Edition news, we get a look at the monk! This is quite a long entry, with details on class features, class feats, fighting styles, and ki.

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• Monks choose between Str or Dex for their key ability
• Start with expert proficiency in all saving throws, and begin trained in unarmed attacks
• Powerful Fist increases their unarmed damage die size
• No Wis bonus to AC
• Expert proficiency in unarmored defense at 1st level, master at 13th, legendary at 17th
• Flurry of Blows (1st level) makes two attacks with an unarmed attack action (second at -4)
• Incredible Movement (3rd level) increases speed by 10' (+5'/3 levels) when unarmored
• Magic Strikes (3rd level) makes unarmed attacks magical and increases proficiency to expert
• Metal Strikes (5th level) makes unarmed attacks act as cold iron and silver
• Path to Perfection (7th level) increases a save's proficiency to master, and at 11th level treat a successful save as a critical success, and at 15th level increase another save to master or the first save to legendary
• Fierce Flurry (9th level) increases flurry of blows damage dice when both attacks hit
• Adamantine Strikes (17th level) makes unarmed attacks act as adamantine
• Perfected Form (19th level) makes any unarmed attack which rolls less than 10 be treated as a 10
• Monk feats --
  • Monastic Weaponry (1st level) use unarmed attack proficiency with simple/martial monk weapons
  • Brawling Focus (4th level) critical specialisation effect for brawling weapon group (crits cause a condition)
  • Stunning Fist require a save or be flat-footed (or stupefied if critically failed)
  • Deflect Arrow (4th level) reaction gives +4 AC vs a ranged attack
  • Flying Kick uses two actions to jump and strike
  • Ghost Strike uses two actions to target Touch AC
  • Wall Run up vertical surfaces at full speed.
• Fighting styles --
  • Crane Stance (1st level) gives +1 AC and increased jumping, but only allows crane wing attacks which do 1d6 damage
  • Crane Flutter is a reaction which increases AC against a melee attack and allows an immediate counter attack at -4
  • Mastery of Many Styles (16th level) allows you to enter stances as a free action rather than an action
• Ki --
  • Ki powers are spells which use Spell Points (equal to Wis modifier)
  • Ki Strike is a verbal free action which give s+1 to an attack roll
  • Abundant Step is a teleport
  • Ki Blast is a cone of force
  • Quivering Palms (16th level) allows you to slay your victim if they critically fail a save, or stun them on a normal fail

 

[David MacGillivray]

The ability to choose between strength or dexterity could be an interesting change. Can't wait to start a new 2e campaign.

 

[Henry]

Some of the changes I’m not happy with (deflect arrows for one) but I am interested in the new take on monks. Right now the consensus on the Paizo forums seems pretty split, and there is worry that again, as in the early days of PF1, AC and offenses will not be strong enough for the monk to survive in close combat.

 

[Sunseeker]

This is pretty much the Monk that exists in 3.5/Pathfinder, but worse. That Flurry of Blows penalty, OUCH!

5E may need to tweak the Ki point progression for the Elementalist, but fundamentally: 5E got the Monk right, above and beyond any other edition ever has.

What I'm reading here doesn't really feel like the Monk has gotten improved, just broken down into it's parts and had them renamed. If I want to play the 3.X Monk...I won't.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

I imagine ki powers or skills (for Pahtfinder or D&D) like the martial maneuvers like the ones from "Tome of Battle: Book of Nine Swords" or "Path of War" by Dreamscarred Press. I miss martial adept archetypes for "oriental" classes (monk, ninja, samurai, sohei..).

 

[Jhaelen]

This is pretty much the Monk that exists in 3.5/Pathfinder, but worse.

Yep. Given how 13th Age re-imagined the monk this is rather disappointing.

 

[Aguirre Melchiors]

the only thing i dont like in pathfinder 2 is the bunch of litle modifiers.

 

[Ghal Maraz]

Personal opinions (on the flavour of the class) aside, how's that "worse" than the 3.X Monk?

 

[Jacob Lewis]

I wonder if we'll see the return of prestige classes again? With so many options baked into the base classes already, they may ether redefine how they work or skip over them entirely.

Speaking of options, that seems to be a recurring theme that I have seen in these previews. The players have more options not only in building character classes and racial options, but also during play. Use an action to empower a spell, raise a shield, or two actions to activate another ability? This is definitely the advanced game. I anxiously await the release to see how it all comes together!

 

[Sunseeker]

Personal opinions (on the flavour of the class) aside, how's that "worse" than the 3.X Monk?

The flurry of blows penalty for one.
And the removal of Wis to AC, but keeping the "no armor proficiency".

Because nothing else in it is new, therefore if the only prominent changes are nerfs, it is worse.