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* If you want an exhaustive guide, read through it in order.
* If you want an exhaustive guide, read through it in order.
* If you want the opposite of an exhaustive guide, jump to the "Cookie Cutter" section at the end.
* If you want the opposite of an exhaustive guide, jump to the "Cookie Cutter" section at the end.
* If you're not sure whether you want an exhaustive guide, read the "Why Play a Monk" section to see if monks sound cool, then jump to the "Cookie Cutter Monk" section at the end. That final section provides an overview of ''what'' to do and acts like a small window into what the rest of the guide covers, which is ''why'' to do it.
* If you're not sure whether you want an exhaustive guide, read the "Why Play a Monk" section to see if monks sound cool, then jump to the "Cookie Cutter Monk" section at the end, then read the rest. That final section provides an overview of ''what'' to do and acts like a small window into what the rest of the guide covers, which is ''why'' to do it.


I've made each section collapsible so you can easily navigate to the portions you're most interested in. However, I do try to include nuggets of wisdom for all experience levels in each section!
I've made each section collapsible so you can easily navigate as you wish. I do try to include nuggets of wisdom for all experience levels in each section!


Speaking of experience, what's mine? I capped my monk Tarine before the various combat modernizations of 2020 and 2021, helped Saraphenia with her training (both on paper and as a hunting duo) from level 43 to about 9 million exp between 2022 and April 2024, and am now working on my monk Sariara to fill in my knowledge gap before level 43; she just reached level 30 early on June 17, 2024.
Speaking of experience, what's mine? I capped my monk Tarine before the various combat modernizations of 2020 and 2021, helped Saraphenia with her training (both on paper and as a hunting duo) from level 43 to about 9 million exp between 2022 and April 2024, and am now working on my monk Sariara to fill in my knowledge gap before level 43; she just reached level 30 early on June 17, 2024.


And speaking of Saraphenia, who created many monks and enjoyed them more than any other profession, I think of this guide like our joint project. She would have had the passion and interest to create it, but not the knowledge and time. I have the knowledge and time, but wouldn't have had the passion or interest--at least on my own.
And speaking of Saraphenia, who created many monks and enjoyed them more than any other profession, I think of this guide like our joint project. She would have had the passion and interest to create it, but not the knowledge and time. I have the knowledge and time, but wouldn't have had the passion or interest--at least on my own. When I say I've written this guide in loving memory, I truly mean that. If even a few more players find monks even half as exciting as Phenia did because of this guide, I'll call it a job well done!

When I say I've written this guide in loving memory, I truly mean that. If even a few more players find monks even half as exciting as Phenia did because of this guide, I'll call it a job well done!


No further ado. Let's get on with it!
No further ado. Let's get on with it!
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<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-unarmedcombat">
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-unarmedcombat">


Let's go over the unarmed combat system in more detail! If you're familiar with more conventional melee combat, put that knowledge aside because a great deal of it won't apply.
Let's go over the unarmed combat system in more detail! If you're familiar with more conventional melee combat, put that knowledge aside because a great deal of it won't apply and might even interfere with understanding!




===Beginner Basics===
===Beginner Basics===


JAB, GRAPPLE, KICK, and PUNCH are your primary tools of the trade. What's the difference? Have a look at this table (from the unarmed combat system page) and then I'll break it down.
JAB, GRAPPLE, KICK, and PUNCH are your tools of the trade. What's the difference? Have a look at this table from the unarmed combat system page.


{|{{prettytable}}
{|{{prettytable}}
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|}
|}


In short, the higher the decimal numbers, the stronger the attack, but the lower the RT numbers, the faster the attack. So we can summarize:
The higher the decimal numbers, the stronger the attack, but the lower the RT numbers, the faster the attack. Summarizing:


* '''<font color="green">Jabs</font>''': Weak, but fast.
* '''<font color="green">Jabs</font>''': Weak, but fast.
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Here we get into the other major component of unarmed combat: '''positioning'''. There are three positions: Decent, Good, and Excellent. As you improve them, it drastically increases the power of your attacks--all four types.
Here we get into the other major component of unarmed combat: '''positioning'''. There are three positions: Decent, Good, and Excellent. As you improve them, it drastically increases the power of your attacks--all four types.


To improve your monk's position, pay attention to the combat prompts and follow them. Here's an example:
To improve your monk's position, follow the combat prompts. Here's an example:


You attempt to jab a mezic!
You attempt to jab a mezic!
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Roundtime: 3 sec.
Roundtime: 3 sec.


This time the jab already started at good positioning because of Rolling Krynch Stance (more on that in the Combat Maneuvers section), but the followup grapple was still more than three times as powerful. Tiering up is crucial!
This time the jab started at good positioning because of Rolling Krynch Stance (more on that in the Martial Stances section), but the followup grapple was still more than three times as powerful. Tiering up is crucial!


<blockquote>
<blockquote>
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</blockquote>
</blockquote>


So, in unarmed combat's most basic form at the lowest levels, before things like mstrikes and weapon techniques throw all kinds of rules out the window, the use cases for each attack type are as follows:
So, in unarmed combat's most basic form at the lowest levels, before mstrikes and techniques throw all kinds of rules out the window, the use cases for each attack type are as follows:


* '''<font color="green">Jabs</font>''': Excel at digging for tier up opportunities to get away from decent positioning or even good positioning as quickly as possible.
* '''<font color="green">Jabs</font>''': Dig for tier up opportunities to get away from decent positioning or even good positioning as quickly as possible.
* '''<font color="blue">Punches</font>''': Excel at offering a half-and-half option during good positioning, in which they have some potential to kill but are also reasonably fast at digging for tier up opportunities toward excellent positioning.
* '''<font color="blue">Punches</font>''': A half-and-half option during good positioning, in which they have some potential to kill but are also reasonably fast at digging for tier up opportunities toward excellent positioning.
* '''<font color="red">Grapples</font>''': Only used when needed to tier up.
* '''<font color="red">Grapples</font>''': Only when needed to tier up.
* '''<font color="purple">Kicks</font>''': Excel at delivering the finishing blow during excellent positioning.
* '''<font color="purple">Kicks</font>''': Deliver the finishing blow during excellent positioning.


Grapple will have its day, by the way--just wait until the Combat Maneuvers section. For now, though, let's keep exploring the basics.
Grapple will have its day, by the way--just wait until the Combat Maneuvers section. For now, though, let's keep exploring the basics.
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The spectral shade shakes off a weak arm grab.
The spectral shade shakes off a weak arm grab.


This is why you almost have to unlearn what you know about AS-based combat to understand unarmed combat. UAF and UDF aren't irrelevant, but the most important number here is the '''multiplier modifier''', or MM. While melee weapons, ranged weapons, and bolts calculate outcomes by subtraction (DS - AS) and addition (+ CvA and + d100), unarmed combat calculates outcomes by division (UAF / UDF), multiplication (* MM), and addition (+ d100).
This is why you almost have to unlearn what you know about AS-based combat to understand unarmed combat.


UAF and UDF aren't irrelevant, but the most important number is the '''multiplier modifier''', or MM. While melee weapons, ranged weapons, and bolts calculate outcomes by subtraction and addition, unarmed combat calculates outcomes by division, multiplication, and addition.
In short, unarmed combat is primarily multiplicative instead of additive!


What does that mean in practice? The short answer is higher lows and lower highs.
In short, unarmed combat is primarily multiplicative instead of additive! What does that mean in practice? Higher lows and lower highs.


It's rare to find a scenario where a monk outright ''couldn't possibly'' land a blow against an enemy creature. Even in my spectral shade example, where my monk only has 68.3% as much UAF and its UDF, either improving my MM or getting a higher d100 roll could have easily turned that into a very powerful hit. On the flip side, division is a powerful mathematical operation. Improving UAF means comparatively much less than improving AS would since the latter only has to deal with a subtraction operation.
It's a rare time when a monk outright ''couldn't possibly'' hit an enemy creature. Even in my spectral shade example, improving my MM or getting a higher d100 roll could have easily turned that into a powerful hit. On the flip side, improving UAF means comparatively much less than improving AS since UAF ends up getting divided by enemy UDF.


The primary means to increase your MM are to reduce your foe's stance or decrease their ability to evade, block, and parry ("EBP") by reducing stats or inflicting conditions such as stunning them, blinding them, knocking them prone, and so on. Even though foes can't outright evade, block, or parry UC attacks, their skill at EBPing AS-based attacks gets reflected in their UDF, so it does still defend against unarmed combat--but only a little bit.
The primary means to increase your MM are reducing your foes' stances and decreasing their EBP ability by reducing stats or inflicting conditions such as stunning them, blinding them, knocking them prone, and so on.


<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<font color="green">'''Fun Sidebar!'''</font>
<font color="green">'''Fun Sidebar!'''</font>


Monks and unarmed combat have been around for almost twelve years, yet only a single hunting ground (the Atoll) has dared to release ''enemy creatures'' capable of using UC attacks. Why? Probably because no attainable amount of UDF--not 200, 300, 400, or even 500 more UDF than their UAF--can take you out of the range of being attacked and killed anyway since MM is what really matters.
Monks and unarmed combat have been around for almost twelve years, but only a single hunting ground (the Atoll for capped characters) has dared to release ''enemy creatures'' capable of using UC attacks. Why? Probably because no attainable UDF number--not even 500 more UDF than their UAF--can save you if those creatures get to a high MM number.
</blockquote>
</blockquote>


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Mstrikes enter a cooldown of 15-20 seconds (depending on training) after use. When not on cooldown, mstrikes cost no stamina at all! When on cooldown, you ''can'' still mstrike, but they'll consume a great deal of stamina if used on cooldown. I can't give an exact number because it depends on how many hits are in your mstrike and which attack types are used. Focused and unfocused mstrikes share the same cooldown timer.
Mstrikes enter a cooldown of 15-20 seconds (depending on training) after use. When not on cooldown, mstrikes cost no stamina at all! When on cooldown, you ''can'' still mstrike, but they'll consume a great deal of stamina if used on cooldown. I can't give an exact number because it depends on how many hits are in your mstrike and which attack types are used. Focused and unfocused mstrikes share the same cooldown timer.


Mstrike RT is frontloaded into a single burst, as all attacks fire off at once. It can reach times of 8 seconds or more early on in life, especially if you're a low Agidex race, so be aware! Exactly how much RT depends on the number of attacks and which attack types are used, but regardless of what RT outcome you get, it'll be more attacks than throwing single strikes would have been for that same amount of time. As an odd quirk of mechanics, mstrike RT doesn't increase no matter how encumbered you get.
Mstrike RT is frontloaded into a single burst and all attacks fire off at once. It can reach times of 8 seconds or more early on in life, especially if you're a low Agidex race, so be aware! How much RT depends on the number of attacks and which attack types are used, but it'll be more attacks than throwing single strikes in that same amount of time would have been. As an odd quirk of mechanics, mstrike RT doesn't increase no matter how encumbered you get.




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===Fury and Clash===
===Fury and Clash===


The unarmed combat assault technique is '''[[Fury]]''', which you learn with 25 ranks of Brawling. It attacks a single foe twice at 10 ranks of MOC, then adds one more attack at 24, 50, 100, 150, and 200. There's no bonus jab, however, so this time the numbers are as stated this time. Like with mstrikes, Fury is smart: you can specify an attack type via your command (e.g. WEAPON FURY KICK) and, once at good positioning or better, Fury will do what you said or switch as needed for a tier up. Using Fury also grants the monk and their party members a +10 Constitution effect for two minutes after being used, though it's not a major selling point.
The unarmed combat assault technique is '''[[Fury]]''', which you learn with 25 ranks of Brawling. It attacks a single foe twice at 10 ranks of MOC, then adds one more attack at 24, 50, 100, 150, and 200. There's no bonus jab, however. Like with mstrikes, Fury is smart: you can specify an attack type via your command (e.g. WEAPON FURY KICK) and, once at good positioning or better, Fury will do what you said or switch as needed for a tier up. Using Fury also grants the monk and their party members a +10 Constitution effect for two minutes after being used, though it's not a major selling point.


The AoE unarmed combat technique is '''[[Clash]]''', which you learn with 50 ranks of Brawling. It has the same thresholds as unfocused mstrikes, so it attacks two foes at 5 ranks, then adds more at 15, 35, 60, 100, and 155. However, like Fury, Clash doesn't include a bonus jab. It does still use your specified UC attack type or switch to the appropriate tier type. However, since Clash only throws one attack per creature, the tier up opportunity would have needed to exist ''before'' Clash was used. (Fury and mstrikes, on the other hand, can find tier ups and then seize the opportunity within their own string of attacks.)
The AoE unarmed combat technique is '''[[Clash]]''', which you learn with 50 ranks of Brawling. It has the same thresholds as unfocused mstrikes, so it attacks two foes at 5 ranks, then adds more at 15, 35, 60, 100, and 155. However, like Fury, Clash doesn't include a bonus jab. It does still use your specified UC attack type or switch to the appropriate tier type. However, since Clash only throws one attack per creature, the tier up opportunity would have needed to exist ''before'' Clash was used. (Fury and mstrikes, on the other hand, can find tier ups and then seize the opportunity within their own string of attacks.)

Revision as of 21:03, 20 June 2024

By Leafiara Autumnwind, in loving memory of Saraphenia Autumnwind.

Last updated June 20, 2024.

Please note: if you're reading this sentence, you've found this guide in a third draft form not fully fit for public eyes (which is why it's not linked from my main character page yet).

I know of a few things I still need to add and change, including a conclusion section, the interaction between Kai's Strike and 1-4 ranks of Sanctify, a little more on the topic of Iron Skin, and maybe further elaboration about held unarmed combat weapons.

That said, feel free to send me feedback on anything you think is working, not working, clear, unclear, helpful, distracting, etc. within the guide.


Introduction: How to Use This Guide

This guide is for all magical monks from 0 exp to 39,000,000! (What do I mean by a magical monk? One not using Kroderine Soul. Somebody else will have to write that guide!) I'll go over monks' strengths, weaknesses, other unique qualities, things to consider, others' perspectives that I hear about, training plans, and so on.

This guide is exhaustive within its scope, or at least it can be.

  • If you want an exhaustive guide, read through it in order.
  • If you want the opposite of an exhaustive guide, jump to the "Cookie Cutter" section at the end.
  • If you're not sure whether you want an exhaustive guide, read the "Why Play a Monk" section to see if monks sound cool, then jump to the "Cookie Cutter Monk" section at the end, then read the rest. That final section provides an overview of what to do and acts like a small window into what the rest of the guide covers, which is why to do it.

I've made each section collapsible so you can easily navigate as you wish. I do try to include nuggets of wisdom for all experience levels in each section!

Speaking of experience, what's mine? I capped my monk Tarine before the various combat modernizations of 2020 and 2021, helped Saraphenia with her training (both on paper and as a hunting duo) from level 43 to about 9 million exp between 2022 and April 2024, and am now working on my monk Sariara to fill in my knowledge gap before level 43; she just reached level 30 early on June 17, 2024.

And speaking of Saraphenia, who created many monks and enjoyed them more than any other profession, I think of this guide like our joint project. She would have had the passion and interest to create it, but not the knowledge and time. I have the knowledge and time, but wouldn't have had the passion or interest--at least on my own. When I say I've written this guide in loving memory, I truly mean that. If even a few more players find monks even half as exciting as Phenia did because of this guide, I'll call it a job well done!

No further ado. Let's get on with it!


(Want to read the entire guide? Click here to uncollapse all sections at once!)


Why Play a Monk or Why Not Play a Monk?

Pondering the appeal of why to play a monk at all? Click here!


Character Creation

Need to walk through the creation of your monk? Click here!


Unarmed Combat Primer

Still figuring out how unarmed combat works? Click here!


Training Plan: Exclusive Choices

Looking for information about combat maneuver decisions and their opportunity costs, plus meditation resistance? Click here!


Further Character Progression

Curious about feats, meditating, or upgrading your monk's gear later? Click here!


Odds and Ends

Can I interest you in the weirdest inner workings of my mind re: monks? If so, click here!


TL;DR: Making Cookie Cutter Monks

Low on time or thought processing power and just want a cookie cutter build you don't need to put much thought into? Click here!
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