Sacred Fist of the Silver Flame (3.5e Optimized Character Build)

By Jason Engle

Introduction

Combining the Monk and Paladin with a hint of psionics for a wisdom-based character.

References

• Unearthed Arcana (Flaws)
• Dragon Compendium
• Book of Exalted Deeds
• Oriental Adventures
• Expanded Psionics Handbook
• Faiths of Eberron
• Secrets of Sarlona
• Tome of Battle

Game Rule Components

Powers

• Expansion
• Force Screen
• Strength of My Enemy

Progression

Starting Ability Scores (Before Racial Adjustments): (Assuming 32 Point Buy) 10 12 16 8 18 8

Race: Elan (though any race that has Power Points will do)

ECL	Class/HD/LA	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Feats	Class Features	Special
			Fort	Ref	Will
1st	Monk of the Passive Way 1	+0	+2	+2	+2	Alertness, Combat Expertise, Iron Will, Intuitive Attack	Flurry of Blows, Unarmed Strike
2nd	Paladin 1	+1	+4	+2	+2		Aura of Good, Detect Evil, Smite Evil 1/day
3rd	Paladin 2	+2	+5	+2	+2	Ascetic Knight	Divine Grace, Lay on Hands
4th	Paladin 3	+3	+5	+3	+3		Aura of Courage, Divine Health
5th	Paladin 4	+4	+6	+3	+3		Turn Undead
6th	Monk of the Passive Way 2	+5	+7	+4	+4	Serenity, Monastic Training (Warmind)	Evasion
7th	Shiba Protector 1	+5	+9	+4	+6		No Thought	Build begins to become truly combat-worthy
8th	War Mind 1	+6	+11	+6	+6		Chain of Personal Superiority +2
9th	War Mind 2	+7	+12	+7	+6	Tashalatora	Chain of Defensive Posture +2
10th	War Mind 3	+8	+12	+7	+7		Enduring Body I
11th	War Mind 4	+9	+13	+8	+7
12th	War Mind 5	+10	+13	+8	+7	Practiced Manifester (Warmind)	Sweeping Strike
13th	Argent Fist 1	+10	+15	+8	+9	Improved Natural Attack (Unarmed Strike)	Ki Focus, Stunning Smite
14th	Argent Fist 2	+11	+16	+8	+10		Holy Armor, Ki Strike (Silver)
15th	Argent Fist 3	+12	+16	+9	+10	Link Power	Balm of the Silver Flame
16th	Argent Fist 4	+13	+17	+9	+11		Smite Evil 2/day
17th	Argent Fist 5	+13	+17	+9	+11		Wrath of the Silver Flame
18th	Argent Fist 6	+14	+18	+10	+12	Snap Kick
19th	Argent Fist 7	+15	+18	+10	+12		Ki Strike (Cold Iron)
20th	Argent Fist 8	+16	+19	+10	+13		Mettle

At level 20: Monk 2 / Paladin 4 / Shiba Protector 1 / War Mind 5 / Argent Fist 8

Items of Note

• Monk's Belt

Highlights

• Assumed stats at level 20:
  • Damage is 8d8 when Expanded (2d10->4d8 (Improved Natural Attack)->8d8 (Size))
  • Wisdom: 18 (Base) + 6 (Item) + 5 (Level) + 5 (Tome) = 34
  • Dexterity: 12 (Base) + 6 (Item) - 4 (Expansion) = 18
  • Strength: 10 (Base) + 6 (Item) + 2 (Chain of Personal Superiority) + 4 (Expansion) = 22
  • AC: 10 (Base) + 2 (Dex) + 2 (Monk) + 12 (Wis - Monk) + 13 (+5 Full Plate) + 5 (+5 Ring of Protection) + 5 (+5 Belt of Natural Armor) + 2 (Chain of Defensive Posture) - 2 (Size) + 4 (Force Screen) = 53
  • Saves: +19+1 (Chain of Personal Superiority)/+10/+13+2 (Iron Will) (Base) +7/+2/+12 (Ability Scores) + 4 (Elan Resistance) + 5 (+5 Cloak of Resistance) + 12 (Serenity) = Fort +48, Ref +33, Will +48 with both Evasion and Mettle
  • Attack: 16 (BAB) - 1 (Flurry) - 2 (Snap Kick) + 12 (Intuitive Attack) + 12 (Shiba Protector) + 5 (Amulet of Mighty Fists) = +42/+42/+42/+37/+32/+28
  • Damage: 8d8 + 6 (Strength) + 12 (Shiba Protector) + 5 (Amulet of Mighty Fists) = 8d8+23 (55 damage on average)
    • On a full attack vs. an AC of 40, that's 272.25 damage on average, all the while enjoying a great AC, incredible saves, and more

Combat Sequence

• Charge in and try to keep enemies nearby so you can full-attack them with Snap Kick
• Try to attack foes who are adjacent to each other, since you can hit both with each attack through the use of Sweeping Strike.

Munchkin-Size Me

• Haste is always nice

Limitations

• Due to the large number of attacks adding up for the damage, high DR can severely limit this build

DM Counters

• Usual melee defences apart from AC (illusions, concealment, distance, deities, etc)

---

Back to Main Page → 3.5e Homebrew → Optimized Character Builds