Monks and damage feats

[bsnead666]

So, I was wondering if I am looking at things incorrectly, but they way I interpret the Monk and feats such as power attack and weapon focus is that they really don't do much to help the monk. I know that Monks are strikers and many strikers take those feats and others to increase their damage potential.

But since most monk powers are implement and not weapon attacks, I don't believe that power attack or weapon focus will work with any of their powers. Are there any feats that can help them? I haven't played a monk yet, so maybe they don't need it?

Just wondering if I'm missing something here if anyone has any input.
thanks!

 

[No Name]

Power Attack says it works with melee attacks. It won't work with monk powers that are bursts or blasts, but melee touch attacks are fine.

Weapon Focus works also, even if you're using a ki focused weapon. Implement attacks with weapons is in the FAQ (#15). http://wizards.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wizards.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1396

 

[Mort_Q]

This is not an attempt to threadjack but...

Is there any reason why Coordinated Explosion wouldn't work for a Monk?

 

[No Name]

This is not an attempt to threadjack but...

Is there any reason why Coordinated Explosion wouldn't work for a Monk?

It should work just fine.

 

[bsnead666]

ok, thanks, I was thinking that both power attack and weapon focus required an actual weapon.

Does this mean that a sorcerer with power attack or weapon focus can use sorc. powers if they are also melee powers and include PA and WF bonuses to them with a dagger implement?

 

[mneme]

Can't think of a reason why coordinated explosion wouldn't work for a monk; they're all implement powers.

Aside from weapon focus, monks can invest in superior implement proficiency. At the moment, the most obvious one is an Accurate Staff, as most of the rest aren't that useful for a monk (whose at-wills lack damage types) -- though if you're looking for more focused accuracy + damage, getting Superior Implement Proficiency (Incendiary Dagger), and focusing on attacks against reflex, getting you +2 damage and +1 to hit vs reflex, or SIP(Lancing Dagger) and acquiring a Lightning Lancing Dagger (and getting a +1d10 (in heroic) on crits and +2 damage is mighty attractive.

 

[bganon]

For superior implements, a Quickbeam Staff (+1 square to push/pull/slide) is good for some monk builds too. Even better, this should stack with the magic item Staff of Forceful Rebuking (+1 square to push/pull). Turning Crane's Wings into an at-will push 3 is nice.

 

[DracoSuave]

So, I was wondering if I am looking at things incorrectly, but they way I interpret the Monk and feats such as power attack and weapon focus is that they really don't do much to help the monk. I know that Monks are strikers and many strikers take those feats and others to increase their damage potential.

But since most monk powers are implement and not weapon attacks, I don't believe that power attack or weapon focus will work with any of their powers. Are there any feats that can help them? I haven't played a monk yet, so maybe they don't need it?

Just wondering if I'm missing something here if anyone has any input.
thanks!

Weapon Focus only cares that you're using a specific weapon group, it does not care that you're using it for weapon powers.

Feats that are restricted to weapon powers -say- 'weapon powers' or 'weapon attacks'. 'Attacks with a weapon' are not the same thing.

 

[evilbob]

Aside from weapon focus, monks can invest in superior implement proficiency.

I think this is incorrect. Monks do not possess the ability to use staffs as implements, so they cannot take that feat.

However.

They do have the ability to use quarterstaves as implements. So they can use a staff as an implement, since a staff is also a quarterstaff.

Effectively, only a class that can specifically use staff implements (wizards, invokers, etc.) can take the superior implement feat. However, anyone who can use weapons as implements can use a quarterstaff as a staff implement.

Extremely confusing.

 

[mneme]

I think this is incorrect. Monks do not possess the ability to use staffs as implements, so they cannot take that feat.

Don't buy it.

Benefit: You can use a single superior implement of your choice. The implement must be of a type you are already able to use.

That's pretty general, and the intent is super-clear.

RAW: In order to take Quickbeam Staff as a superior implement, you must be able to wield -a- type of implement that includes Quickbeam Staff. As a monk, you can -- a Quickbeam staff is a weapon you're proficient in. Remember that an implement can exist in more than one category -- Sorcerers can use Superior Implement Daggers -- but so can Swordmages, who are proficient in Light Blades, not Daggers.

RAI: This feat is intended to let you use a specific type of superior implement without letting you gain the ability to wield it if you're not already able to do so -- the restriction is clearly intended to avoid letting you take, say, Superior Implement (Cinder Wand) without actually being able to use Wands as implements. It's not intended to lock monks out of the SI game -- particularly given that monks are pure implement wielders, and introduced in the same book.