Monk gear advice

[Rayzor84]

I am gearing up my 38 monk again. So far he has a fungi, peacebringer, fbss, crescent shoes pants and arms, 3 str earrings and helm of rile. Also 2 55hp rings.

I have a max of about 5k I can put into this toon and need bracers, back, shoulders, and have no neck item. I'm looking for str stats if possible.

Also I'll have to buy a lesser wr bag so that's in that 5k too.
Thanks

[Kutsumo]

Assuming Iksar:

Bracer of erollisi + Golden Emerald Bracer (unless you're willing to do shackle quest)
Shoulders I would try to swing a little more plat and grab a Wurmscale Coat, but Drolvarg mantle is ok (heavy).
IMO Azure sleeves > Crescent arms, but I'm an AC fanatic.
Cloak of Shadows until 60, then possibly switch up to Hooded Black Cloak if you have enough stones to dedicate to it. With 14.9 cap, even items like drolvarg mantle are going to be a stretch, especially using that extremely heavy peacebringer and relatively heavy Fungi tunic.
Helm of rile is far too heavy (remember that your weight cap is 14.9 until level 55 when it goes to 18.9), IMO swap it out for a crown of froglok kings... or if you must give up the AC for stats, executioner hood.
Neck, I'd just go with a Glowing Bone Collar. Simple and effective. IMO, Runed Lava Pendant is way too pricey for the stats.

[Rayzor84]

Assuming Iksar:

Bracer of erollisi + Golden Emerald Bracer (unless you're willing to do shackle quest)
Shoulders I would try to swing a little more plat and grab a Wurmscale Coat, but Drolvarg mantle is ok (heavy).
IMO Azure sleeves > Crescent arms, but I'm an AC fanatic.
Cloak of Shadows until 60, then possibly switch up to Hooded Black Cloak if you have enough stones to dedicate to it. With 14.9 cap, even items like drolvarg mantle are going to be a stretch, especially using that extremely heavy peacebringer and relatively heavy Fungi tunic.
Helm of rile is far too heavy (remember that your weight cap is 14.9 until level 55 when it goes to 18.9), IMO swap it out for a crown of froglok kings... or if you must give up the AC for stats, executioner hood.
Neck, I'd just go with a Glowing Bone Collar. Simple and effective. IMO, Runed Lava Pendant is way too pricey for the stats.

Thanks for the advice!

I use helm of rile because of the added strength stat, my str right now is only like 110 or so. Would you still suggest switching to executioners hood?

[Kutsumo]

Helm of rile is simply not sustainable weight-wise. I wouldn't take the AC penalty just for a few strength. My focus for soloing is Raw HP=AC>str>resists, grouping is Raw HP>resists>AC>str. Your str will go up with Epic and planar gear, plus Robe of whistling fists clicky.

[Saludeen]

Why does everyone care about weight when you get more AC from items than you would from being under the weight limit? You'll get more AC and stats from helm of the rile despite its weight. And AC is more valuable than HP for grouping because AC helps mana efficiency while HP does nothing unless you get below 200 hp or the cleric is using CH.

[Rayzor84]

Ok good call, I'll start looking into some of these and trying to farm some zones to raise additional cash.

[Rayzor84]

Why does everyone care about weight when you get more AC from items than you would from being under the weight limit?

I thought I read once that AC was misreported in p99 in regards to weight, that it's actually a bigger penalty than the numbers indicate? I could be wrong.

[Kutsumo]

I thought I read once that AC was misreported in p99 in regards to weight, that it's actually a bigger penalty than the numbers indicate? I could be wrong.

As far as I know, that is still correct. The client seems to think your weight limit is higher than it actually is.

My monk is over 1000AC before clickies and buffs (major shielding, robe/epic) while weighing 7stones before pulling weapons out of bag.

[Rayzor84]

As far as I know, that is still correct. The client seems to think your weight limit is higher than it actually is.

My monk is over 1000AC before clickies and buffs (major shielding, robe/epic) while weighing 7stones before pulling weapons out of bag.

Yeah see I'd love to get my weight down, but between pb and Fungi I'm pretty much shot on it. I'll work it down on things like helm of rile, but i probably won't be able to get below 25.

[Kutsumo]

Yeah see I'd love to get my weight down, but between pb and Fungi I'm pretty much shot on it. I'll work it down on things like helm of rile, but i probably won't be able to get below 25.

Honestly, I'd swap the PB for IFS since you're over level 30. The DPS difference is negligible and the weight of IFS is similar to SoS in offhand (once you get epic), so it lets you wear the same gear and hit roughly the same weights with either weapon equipped. Once the Velious 2h damage bonus adjustments go in, the small DPS gap between PB and IFS will no longer exist. The benefits of 2h are simply amplified with a slower one - even less ripostes from mobs, even bigger ripostes from you.

Even when I'm farming in Dalnir (level 35ish greens), the increase in melee damage I take when my weight starts going up is pretty eye opening.

Once you hit 60 and get a Wu's fist from Sky, it opens up a lot of heavy item options. Humans can throw on Efreeti legs and hero bracer, while Iksar can wear stone of morid fulltime (and probably other stuff, I haven't really looked into it seriously yet since I'm still so far from 60 haha).

[Rayzor84]

Honestly, I'd swap the PB for IFS since you're over level 30. The DPS difference is negligible and the weight of IFS is similar to SoS in offhand (once you get epic), so it lets you wear the same gear and hit roughly the same weights with either weapon equipped. Once the Velious 2h damage bonus adjustments go in, the small DPS gap between PB and IFS will no longer exist. The benefits of 2h are simply amplified with a slower one - even less ripostes from mobs, even bigger ripostes from you.

Even when I'm farming in Dalnir (level 35ish greens), the increase in melee damage I take when my weight starts going up is pretty eye opening.

You don't find that the delay from ifs is too much? I have fbss for haste, that's it.

[Saludeen]

As far as I know, that is still correct. The client seems to think your weight limit is higher than it actually is.

My monk is over 1000AC before clickies and buffs (major shielding, robe/epic) while weighing 7stones before pulling weapons out of bag.

What level? And how much AC would you have with full AC gear despite its weight?

[Kutsumo]

You don't find that the delay from ifs is too much? I have fbss for haste, that's it.

Not at all. The increase in damage per hit makes up for them coming less often. You'll have a slightly wider range of DPS per fight (sometimes it will be lower, sometimes higher, than PB on average) due to less total swings to finish each fight, but the overall average is within ~3% or so. My monk went 30-52 (when I got epic) with IFS.

[Kutsumo]

What level? And how much AC would you have with full AC gear despite its weight?

55. What items, exactly, are you suggesting that I wear to increase AC more? I really can't think of many. Maybe some 3.0 weight legs to gain 4-5 AC. Idol of thorned would probably be worth it, but I have a hard time being bothered to equip it when I usually have shuriken or javs equipped. Iksar hide boots are kinda baller status with their price, not worth the investment to me when I still need a tranix crown and fungi. I wouldn't sacrifice 5stone in order to pick up 4ac with Dwarven Work Boots over Crescent boots. Not sure where else I'm going to gain much of anything? Humans could do efreeti stuff and hero bracer I guess...

It's nice being able to carry some coin and/or a few shralok packs full of bandages/Shuriken without going over limit. That's why I keep it as low as I can.

[Rayzor84]

Not at all. The increase in damage per hit makes up for them coming less often. You'll have a slightly wider range of DPS per fight (sometimes it will be lower, sometimes higher, than PB on average) due to less total swings to finish each fight, but the overall average is within ~3% or so. My monk went 30-52 (when I got epic) with IFS.

Hmm maybe I'll switch it up then, if the slowness/range is better offset by having lower weight especially solo. Did people complain in groups? Lol

[Kutsumo]

Hmm maybe I'll switch it up then, if the slowness/range is better offset but having lower weight especially solo. Did people complain in groups? Lol

There's no real loss in DPS, can't imagine why they would complain. Tanks (specifically, warriors) complain a lot less when I'm using IFS than fist+SoS or fist+Ada club. lol

[Kutsumo]

Also if you don't have a SoS, it's definitely worth having in the bag. Major Shielding is a great buff and lasts a long time - makes up somewhat for our lack of easy to attain MR (Why MR so easy for you rogues!?) and the AC/HP is gravy.

[Rayzor84]

Also if you don't have a SoS, it's definitely worth having in the bag. Major Shielding is a great buff and lasts a long time - makes up somewhat for our lack of easy to attain MR (Why MR so easy for you rogues!?) and the AC/HP is gravy.

True I should pick one up, I didn't be a use I don't have epic yet.

[Kutsumo]

True I should pick one up, I didn't be a use I don't have epic yet.

Even pre-epic, Adamantite Club + SoS will beat out the 2her options. It's a more expensive combo, and high agro, so it's easier to just stick to 2hb.

SoS buff is worth it alone, even if you only use it long enough to proc it.

[Rayzor84]

Even pre-epic, Adamantite Club + SoS will beat out the 2her options. It's a more expensive combo, and high agro, so it's easier to just stick to 2hb.

SoS buff is worth it alone, even if you only use it long enough to proc it.

Shit maybe I should just sell the pb and pick up ad club and SoS then for pure output?

[Kutsumo]

Shit maybe I should just sell the pb and pick up ad club and SoS then for pure output?

It's better DPS, and the stun can save you taking a good bit of damage when solo. Helps with runners, etc. High 30s is the perfect time to make the switch.

[Rayzor84]

It's better DPS, and the stun can save you taking a good bit of damage when solo. Helps with runners, etc. High 30s is the perfect time to make the switch.

Which of the 2 goes in main?

Now I have to try to find a really good deal on those 2 and sell the pb :x

[Tipsyer]

Ad club main. SoS offhand.

[Donruss]

I found the IFS to be very underwhelming. I still have it in my bag for riposte disc and dmg shields, but it gets almost no use.

ac/sos is the way to go for sure

I do not have an epic yet at 55 =/