D&D 4E Optimized Monk Builds: 4e

[MwaO]

This is a companion thread to the Monk Handbook: Book of Five Traditions for 4th edition. It will have various Monk builds to illustrate what Monks can do. There will be more builds as time goes on.

1. 4th level Striker Monk
2. Human Unseen Hand Monk level 13
3. Elf Shock Trooper Monk 13
4. Satyr "Firegoat Sorcerer" Monk 13
5. Elf Radiant Fist Monk 13

 

[MwaO]

Low Level Builds

A Monk with a full-blown nova at low levels...

I've deleted other power choices outside of the at-wills - the build can do about 70 damage with relatively high accuracy - CA+Mighty Ki Focus+Elven Accuracy.


Minor: Sarifal's Blessing
Move: Move to target not adjacent to other enemies for Combat Advantage
Standard: Blistering Flourish(1d6+Dex+1(Ki Focus)+2(Iron Armbands) = +8
Centered Flurry of Blows(2+2(Wis)+Boosted +2 for Ki Weapon's property, 2 for Crashing Weapon Style)
AP: Lion's Den
Centered Flurry of Blows

This will do:
Blistering Flourish: 1d6+13
FoB: 14(4+2+2+1(BF)+5(SB))
Lion's Den 1d6+14
FoB: 14 - slide adjacent
Lion's Den moving adjacent: 7

That's 2d6+62. Anyone moves up adjacent to the Monk will also take 7 damage 1/turn. This opens up forced movement from other PCs or simply damaging targets trying to move up and hit the Monk. The Monk will be invisible to the target due to Cat & Mouse if it is alive - that amount of damage ought to kill a standard. If it doesn't, the next round, Lion's Den does 1d6+35.

After Sarifal's Blessing goes down, at-will damage looks like this:
1d6+8
8
+1(either from bonus fire damage or sliding the target)

i.e. 20.5 on an at-will attack.

Also, the same build works almost the same at level 1 if you initially take Resounding Flurry until you get a Blurred Ki Focus.

This will do:
Blistering Flourish: 1d8+10
FoB: 10(2+2+1(BF)+5(SB))
Lion's Den 1d6+11
FoB: 10 - slide adjacent
Lion's Den moving adjacent: 7
Next Round's Lion's Den = 1d6+11+10+7 = 31.5
Or about 56 damage on average with 2 hits. Will shut up anyone saying Monks are puny and weak - as you one shot an elite on round 1 and then follow up by one shotting a standard on round 2.

====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
level 5
Elf, Monk
Monastic Tradition Option: Centered Breath
Auspicious Birth (Auspicious Birth Benefit)
Theme: Sarifal Feywarden

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 8, CON 12, DEX 21, INT 10, WIS 15, CHA 12

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 8, CON 12, DEX 18, INT 10, WIS 12, CHA 12


AC: 21 Fort: 16 Ref: 20 Will: 16
HP: 53 Surges: 8 Surge Value: 13

TRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +12, Insight +9, Perception +11, Stealth +12

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Arcana +2, Athletics +1, Bluff +3, Diplomacy +3, Dungeoneering +4, Endurance +3, Heal +4, History +2, Intimidate +3, Nature +8, Religion +2, Streetwise +3, Thievery +7

POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Sarifal Feywarden Utility: Sarifal's Blessing
Elf Racial Power: Elven Accuracy
Monk Feature: Centered Flurry of Blows
Monk Attack 1: Lion's Den
Monk Attack 1: Blistering Flourish
Monk Utility 2: Cat and Mouse

FEATS
Superior Implement Training (Mighty ki focus)
Level 2: Cunning Stalker
Level 4: Crashing Tempest Style

ITEMS
Monk unarmed strike
Blurred Strike Mighty ki focus +1 x1
Rhythm Blade Dagger +1 x1(can be replaced with Dagger of Shielding if DM not okay with it)
Ki Club +1 x1
Spirit Fetch
Iron Armbands of Power (heroic tier) x1
Magic Cloth Armor (Basic Clothing) +1 x1
Amulet of Protection +1 x1
====== End ======

 

[MwaO]

A monk that turns invisible, has an okay MBA that marks, and then sucks most of a combat adjacent to him and then dazes them.

[sblock=Human Unseen Hand Monk level 13]
Link from WotC Discussion thread
====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Centered_Breath, level 13
Human, Monk, Unseen Hand
Monastic Tradition Option: Centered Breath
Versatile Expertise Option: Versatile Expertise (Crossbow)
Versatile Expertise Option: Versatile Expertise (Ki Focuses)
Human Power Selection Option: Heroic Effort
Auspicious Birth (Auspicious Birth Benefit)
Theme: Werebear

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 11, CON 12, DEX 23, INT 9, WIS 17, CHA 11

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 10, CON 11, DEX 18, INT 8, WIS 14, CHA 10


AC: 30 Fort: 26 Ref: 29 Will: 26
HP: 95 Surges: 8 Surge Value: 23

TRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +17, Diplomacy +11, Insight +14, Perception +14, Stealth +17, Thievery +17

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Arcana +5, Athletics +6, Bluff +6, Dungeoneering +9, Endurance +7, Heal +9, History +5, Intimidate +6, Nature +9, Religion +5, Streetwise +6

POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Werebear Utility: Bear Shape
Human Racial Power: Heroic Effort
Monk Feature: Centered Flurry of Blows
Monk Attack 1: Five Storms
Monk Attack 1: Lion's Den
Monk Attack 1: Whirling Mantis Step
Monk Utility 2: Cat and Mouse
Rogue Attack 3: Low Slash
Monk Attack 5: Water Gives Way
Monk Utility 6: Quicksilver Motion
Monk Attack 7: Feeding the Doves
Monk Attack 9: Lightning Leap
Monk Utility 10: Iron Dragon Defense
Unseen Hand Attack 11: Unseen Hunter’s Pounce
Unseen Hand Utility 12: Unseen Scrutiny
Monk Attack 13: Furious Bull

FEATS
Level 1: Unarmored Agility
Level 2: Versatile Expertise
Level 4: Sneak of Shadows
Level 6: Cunning Stalker
Level 8: Novice Power
Level 10: Two-Fisted Shooter
Level 11: Superior Implement Training (Accurate ki focus)
Level 11: Starblade Flurry
Level 12: Improved Defenses

ITEMS
Monk unarmed strike
Magic Cloth Armor (Basic Clothing) +3 x1
Amulet of Protection +3 x1
Rushing Cleats x1
Claw Gloves x1
Blurred Strike Accurate ki focus +2 x1
Shielding Blade Dagger +1 x1
Ki Wrist razors +1
Prime Shot Hand crossbow +3 x1
Siberys Shard of the Mage (paragon tier)
====== End ======

Default DPR = 29.05 damage to primary target, 7-12.5 to 3 additional targets - not optimized Striker for a 13th level character(should be 39) - but does target those additional targets - if we treat one target as taking the 12.5 and the other two as taking 7 each, that's 24.5 damage*.75, or basically an additional 18 damage. If we then just lop it in half to reflect that it is not focused damage, that's 9 - i.e. in effect, get one below where we ought to be. It is unfocused, true, but it is also sliding those 3 targets into positions to help better set up the party.
Lion's Den(with Hand Crossbow): 1d6+14+1d10+3+1d10= 31.5. +19 to hit with CA = .7*31.5+.05*55.5 = 24.8
Centered Breath FoB: 7+1d10 damage = 12.5*.75 = 9.4(but target up to 3 other targets for similar damage as well as sliding all targets 2). So Lion's Den does 34.2+3 other targets


AP Encounter Nova:
Free: Quicksilver Motion: Move Speed(moving 6)
Minor: Bear Up(take werebear form, boosting AC/Fort by 1 each)
Minor: Low Slash - slide target 2 to be in burst 1 formation - +19 vs Reflex - 1d4+8+1d10(75%, assume 95% for human special) = .9*26.5+.05*47= 26.2
No: Cat & Mouse - move adjacent to 2 targets
No: Flurry of Blows doing 7+1d10 to primary target and secondary, 8 to 2 other targets = 12.5
Standard: Five Storms doing 1d8+8 damage to targets, +19 vs Reflex 12.5 damage = .7*12.5+.05*23 = 9.9
Spend AP
No: Flurry of Blows doing 6+1d10 to all 4 targets = 10.5
AP: Furious Bull doing 2d6+14 damage, +19 vs Reflex 16.5 = .7*21+.05*36.5+.05(.7*10.5+.05*18) = 16.9
Chance of free shot = (1-.95^4)*(.65*14.5+.05*27.5) = 2 damage to primary
Furious Bull(continued) - effect has shift, so make hide check

Primary Target: 26.2+12.5+9.9+10.5+16.9+2 = 78 and is slid a total of 8 squares
Secondary Target: 12.5+9.9+10.5+16.5 = 49 and is slid a total of 6 squares
Tert and Quad: 7+10.5+16.5 = 36 and is slid a total of 6 squares

This damage is somewhat less respectable(in some ways) - the primary target will be heavily bloodied and the secondary target will likely be just bloodied. But all of them should be lined up in nearly burst 1 formation. Also, they’re dazed and next to an invisible, hidden, relatively high defenses PC - due to WereBear, the build has a (lousy) MBA for a +15(17 with CA) 1d8+6+1d10 damage attack that will mark the opponent.[/sblock]

More of a pure Striker Monk. Does a lot of damage via Dagger and elemental typed damage.
[sblock=Wood Elf Shock Trooper Monk 13]
Link from WotC Discussion thread
====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
shock_trooper_monk, level 13
Wood Elf, Monk, Shock Trooper
Monastic Tradition Option: Centered Breath
Versatile Expertise Option: Versatile Expertise (Light blade)
Versatile Expertise Option: Versatile Expertise (Ki Focuses)
Born Under a Bad Sign (Born Under a Bad Sign Benefit)
Theme: Werebear

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 19, CON 12, DEX 21, INT 9, WIS 16, CHA 11

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 16, CON 11, DEX 16, INT 8, WIS 13, CHA 10


AC: 28 Fort: 28 Ref: 27 Will: 25
HP: 93 Surges: 7 Surge Value: 23

TRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +16, Athletics +15, Perception +16, Stealth +16, Thievery +16

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Arcana +5, Bluff +6, Diplomacy +6, Dungeoneering +9, Endurance +6, Heal +9, History +5, Insight +9, Intimidate +6, Nature +11, Religion +5, Streetwise +6

POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Werebear Utility: Bear Shape
Elf Racial Power: Elven Accuracy
Monk Feature: Centered Breath Flurry of Blows
Monk Attack 1: Five Storms
Monk Attack 1: Lion's Den
Monk Attack 1: Whirling Mantis Step
Monk Utility 2: Cat and Mouse
Fighter Attack 3: Rain of Blows
Monk Attack 5: Water Gives Way
Monk Utility 6: Quicksilver Motion
Monk Attack 7: Feeding the Doves
Monk Attack 9: Lightning Leap
Monk Utility 10: Iron Dragon Defense
Shock Trooper Attack 11: Shocking Twister
Shock Trooper Utility 12: Assault Footwork
Monk Attack 13: Dance of the Stinging Hornet

FEATS
Level 1: Versatile Expertise
Level 2: Battle Awareness
Level 4: Novice Power
Level 6: Silvery Glow
Level 8: Cunning Stalker
Level 10: Nimble Blade
Level 11: Lasting Frost
Level 12: Improved Defenses

ITEMS
Monk unarmed strike
Shadow Master Ki Focus +2
Shielding Blade Dagger +1 x1
Magic Cloth Armor (Basic Clothing) +3 x1
Amulet of Protection +3 x1
Elven Chain Shirt (heroic tier)
Claw Gloves x1
Frost Dagger +3 x1
Siberys Shard of Merciless Cold (paragon tier)
Iron Armbands of Power (heroic tier) x1
Rushing Cleats x1
====== End ======

Default DPR = 36.2 hp of damage(40 damage if hit the target previous round to establish Cold Vulnerability) - so CharOp optimized striker if having hit the target the previous round(30/60/90 in h/p/e tiers), but especially if you hit the target the previous round, in the general ballpark.
Lion's Den: 1d6+10+3(cold feat)+1d10(claw gloves)+3(shard) = 25. +19 to hit with CA = .7*25+.05*44.5 = 19.7
Centered Breath FoB: 5+1d10 = 10.5*.75 = 7.9
Lion's Den: 1+1d10+5(vuln) = 11.5*.75 = 8.6

AP Encounter Nova:
Free: Quicksilver Motion: Move Speed(moving 7)
Minor: Bear Up(take werebear form, boosting AC/Fort by 1 each)
Move: Dance of the Stinging Hornet(expected move is 4-7)
No: Dance of the Stinging Hornet Standard as part of Move Action. ETV(see below)
No: Cat & Mouse(boost AC/Ref by 1 each due to Boots, make hide check against target)
Standard: Shocking Twister
No: Centered Breath FoB(on second swing if possible)
AP: Rain of Blows

Expected Damage:
Dance of the Stinging Hornet: 2d10+10+3(cold feat)+1d10(claw gloves)+3(shard) = 32.5. +19 to hit with CA
Shocking Twister(frost dagger): 1d6+9+3(cold feat)+5(lasting frost)+1d10(claw gloves)+3(shard) = 29. +23 with CA.
Shocking Twister(shadow master ki focus): 1d6+8+1d10(claw gloves)+6(hidden) = 22. +20 to hit with CA vs AC.
Shocking Twister(frost dagger): 1d6+9+3(cold feat)+5(lasting frost)+1d10(claw gloves)+3(shard) = 29. +21 with CA.
Rain of Blows: 1d6+5+3(cold feat)+5(lasting frost)+1d10(claw gloves)+3(shard) = 25
Centered Breath: 5+1d10 damage

Chance of hitting(slightly rough estimates due to assuming Elven Accuracy being used primarily on Shocking Twister)
Dance of the Stinging Hornet hits on 6+. .70*32.5+.05*56.5 = 25.6
Shocking Twister(step 1): .80*29+.05*46.5 = 25.5
Shocking Twister(step 2): .96*(.65*22+.05*37) = 15.5
Shocking Twister(step 3): .868*(.7*29+.05*46.5) = 19.6
Rain of Blows: 3*(.7*25+.05*42.5) = 58.9
Centered Breath: 5+1d10 = 10.5

25.6+25.5+15.5+19.6+58.9+10.5 = 155.6. Enough to one-round a standard and potentially give an elite something to worry about. Plus, if you position yourself correctly, you might have two targets for your Centered Breath, letting you do a tiny bit of distributed damage.

ETV
There are approximately a hundred monsters who have nearly identical language to the Dance of the Stinging Hornet’s movement power, which in particular, is identical to Flyby Attack. Your DM may have a problem with this, even if it is RAW, so ask in advance. If he rules against it, basically Flyby Attack doesn't work.


Epic Expansion: Martial Mastery+Form Mastery means the build gains a mini-encounter nova of an extra use of Rain of Blows+Dance of the Stinging Hornet. It should keep acquiring cold package items so as to maintain damage and options to grant more APs.[/sblock]

A Monk who duplicates much of the Firegoat Sorcerer by Cazzeo
[sblock=Satyr "Firegoat Sorcerer" Monk 13]
====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
"Firegoat Wanna-be", level 13
Satyr, Monk, Demonskin Adept
Monastic Tradition Option: Centered Breath
Arcane Admixture Damage Type: Arcane Admixture Fire
Auspicious Birth (Auspicious Birth Benefit)
Theme: Sarifal Feywarden

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 9, CON 12, DEX 23, INT 11, WIS 11, CHA 19

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 8, CON 11, DEX 18, INT 10, WIS 10, CHA 14


AC: 29 Fort: 27 Ref: 29 Will: 27
HP: 95 Surges: 8 Surge Value: 23

TRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +17, Arcana +11, Diplomacy +15, Stealth +17, Thievery +19

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Athletics +5, Bluff +10, Dungeoneering +6, Endurance +7, Heal +6, History +6, Insight +6, Intimidate +10, Nature +10, Perception +6, Religion +6, Streetwise +10

POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Sarifal Feywarden Utility: Sarifal's Blessing
Satyr Utility: Lure of Enchantment
Monk Feature: Centered Flurry of Blows
Monk Attack 1: Blistering Flourish
Monk Attack 1: Lion's Den
Monk Attack 1: Light the Fire
Monk Attack 1: Whirling Mantis Step
Monk Utility 2: Cat and Mouse
Sorcerer Attack 3: Flame Spiral
Monk Attack 5: Water Gives Way
Monk Utility 6: Quicksilver Motion
Monk Attack 9: Lightning Leap
Diplomacy Utility 10: Cry for Mercy
Demonskin Adept Attack 11: Demon-Soul Bolts
Demonskin Adept Utility 12: Demonic Wrath
Monk Attack 13: Dance of the Stinging Hornet

FEATS
Level 1: Arcane Prodigy
Level 2: Staff Expertise
Level 4: Novice Power
Level 6: Unarmored Agility
Level 8: Improved Defenses
Level 11: Starblade Flurry
Level 11: Fiery Blood
Level 12: Arcane Admixture

ITEMS
Monk unarmed strike
Iron Armbands of Power (heroic tier) x1
Siberys Shard of the Mage (heroic tier)
Magic Cloth Armor (Basic Clothing) +3 x1
Amulet of Protection +3 x1
Spirit Fetch
Rushing Cleats x1
Defensive Staff +1 x1
Hellfire Staff +3 x1
====== End ======[/sblock]

 

[MwaO]

Monk with way of establishing multiple vulnerabilities
[sblock=Wood Elf Radiant Fist Monk 13]
====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Burning Flame Striker Monk, level 13
Elf, Monk, Radiant Fist
Monastic Tradition Option: Centered Breath
Versatile Expertise Option: Versatile Expertise (Light blade)
Versatile Expertise Option: Versatile Expertise (Ki Focuses)
Auspicious Birth (Auspicious Birth Benefit)
Theme: Sarifal Feywarden

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 9, CON 14, DEX 23, INT 11, WIS 18, CHA 11

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 8, CON 13, DEX 18, INT 10, WIS 13, CHA 10


AC: 28 Fort: 27 Ref: 28 Will: 26
HP: 95 Surges: 9 Surge Value: 23

TRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +17, Perception +17, Religion +11, Stealth +17, Thievery +17

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Arcana +6, Athletics +5, Bluff +6, Diplomacy +6, Dungeoneering +10, Endurance +8, Heal +10, History +6, Insight +10, Intimidate +6, Nature +14, Streetwise +6

POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Sarifal Feywarden Utility: Sarifal's Blessing
Elf Racial Power: Elven Accuracy
Monk Feature: Centered Flurry of Blows
Feat Utility: Solar Enemy
Monk Attack 1: Lion's Den
Monk Attack 1: Five Storms
Monk Attack 1: Drunken Monkey
Monk Attack 1: Spinning Leopard Maneuver
Monk Utility 2: Cat and Mouse
Monk Attack 5: Water Gives Way
Monk Utility 6: Quicksilver Motion
Rogue Attack 7: Circling Predator
Monk Attack 9: Lightning Leap
Monk Utility 10: Iron Dragon Defense
Radiant Fist Attack 11: Divine Sun
Radiant Fist Utility 12: Undimmed Sun
Monk Attack 13: Dance of the Stinging Hornet

FEATS
Level 1: Cunning Stalker
Level 2: Crashing Tempest Style->Starblade Flurry @ 11th
Level 4: Superior Implement Training (Incendiary dagger)
Level 6: Sneak of Shadows
Level 8: Novice Power
Level 10: Versatile Expertise
Level 11: Fiery Blood
Level 11: Solar Enemy
Level 12: Improved Defenses

ITEMS
Monk unarmed strike
Shielding Dagger +1 x1
Spirit Fetch
Flaming Incendiary dagger +2 x1
Rain of Hammers Ki Focus +1 x1
Siberys Shard of the Mage (paragon tier)
Amulet of Protection +3 x1
Magic Cloth Armor (Basic Clothing) +3 x1
Iron Armbands of Power (heroic tier) x1
Rushing Cleats x1
====== End ======

Encounter Nova:
Free Action: Quicksilver Motion up to target
Minor: Sarifal's Blessing
Move->Minor: Solar Enemy
AP: Lion's Den(1d6+19+4 rad+10+5)
Standard: Lion's Den(1d6+19+4 rad+10+5)
Cat & Mouse on a hit
Flurry of Blows(6+4+5) - up to 3 targets
Lion's Den(2+10+5)*2 = 132 - and 34 damage 1/turn to any opponents who move up to him

Round 2:
Move: Dance of the Stinging Hornet(2d10+19+4 rad+10+5) = 49
Standard: Circling Predator(1d4+13+4 rad+10+5)*2 = 65
Flurry of Blows(6+4+5) = 15
129 damage
[/sblock]

 

[MwaO]

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[MwaO]

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[MwaO]

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[darkbard]

Ah, this is a most welcome addition to the 'boards! I was playing around with the builder and your handbook a few weeks ago and realized how outdated the linked builds were and how few monk builds I could find around the web that were built with any semblence of strong game knowledge.

 

[MwaO]

Ah, this is a most welcome addition to the 'boards! I was playing around with the builder and your handbook a few weeks ago and realized how outdated the linked builds were and how few monk builds I could find around the web that were built with any semblence of strong game knowledge.

Tweaked a couple of things to make the encounter powers for rounds 3+ better, but yeah, these builds should (eventually) show that Monks are anything other than weak strikers. One-shotting an at-level Standard on a nova tends to do that...especially at level 4. And that's before handing out 12 damage each turn to things moving up to the Monk to try to stop it...

 

[darkbard]

Do you think it might be necessary to throw an explanation as to what a Ki Club +1 is? I mean, I know because I've read your handbook carefully, but....