Ultimate Monk (3.5e Optimized Character Build)/Variants
Introduction[edit]
The following are a few of the many variants of the Ultimate Monk possible with minor (or major) changes in emphasis.
Epic Progression: The Monks of the Fivefold Path[edit]
The Ultimate Monk progresses typically progresses in the the Way of the Fivefold Path as determined by his school: Earth (Stone), Water (Sea), Fire (Sun), Air(Wind), or Void (Heaven). Variant progression options for the Ultimate Monk are included below.
Variant #1: Abbot to Monster[edit]
Initial scores (28 point buy):
Human Str: 14 Int: 14 Wis: 14 Dex: 15 Con: 10 Cha: 8
Skills: Jump, Tumble, Escape Artist, Balance (ECL+1), Hide (ECL + 1), Move Silently, Spot, Concentration, Listen (Skill level = ECL +3 except as noted.).
| ECL | Class/HD/LA | Feats | Special | Dmg (charge) (other modifiers) | Move (focused) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Monk 1 | Improved Unarmed Strike, Danger Sense (best of 2 initiative rolls 1/day), Improved Initiative, Wild Talent, Danger Sense (best of 2 initiative rolls 1/day), Combat Style Feat (see below), Reckless Charge | Monk abilities | 1d6 (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 40 (40) |
| 2nd | Monk 2 | Combat Style Feat (see below) | Evasion | 1d6 (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 40 (40) |
| 3rd | Monk 3 | Overchannel | Still Mind | 1d6 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 50 (50) |
| 4th | Monk 4 | Ki strike, slow fall | 1d8 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 50 (50) | |
| 5th | Monk 5 | Purity of body | 1d8 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 50 (50) | |
| 6th | Monk 6 | Improved Natural Attack, Combat Style Feat (see below) | 2d6 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 60 (60) | |
| 7th | Monk 6/Psionic Fist 1 | Psionic abilities (Expansion available) | 2d6 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 60 (60) | |
| 8th | Monk 6/Psionic Fist 2 | 2d8 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 60 (60) | ||
| 9th | Monk 6/Psionic Fist 3 | Combat Style Feat (see below) | Still Mind | 2d8 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 70 (70) |
| 10th | Monk 6/Psionic Fist 4 | 2d8 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 70 (70) | ||
| 11th | Monk 6/Psionic Fist 5 | Quicken Power or Speed of Thought | 2d8 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 70 (80) | |
| 12th | Monk 6/Psionic Fist 6 | Two-weapon Fighting | 3d6 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 90 (100) | |
| 13th | Monk 6/Psionic Fist 7 | Enhanced expansion available: +2 size categories | 3d6 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 90 (100) | |
| 14th | Monk 6/Psionic Fist 8 | Evasion | 3d6 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 90 (100) | |
| 15th | Monk 6/Psionic Fist 9 | Expanded Knowledge | Metamorphosis (via Expanded Knowledge) | 3d6 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 100 (110) |
| 16th | Monk 6/Psionic Fist 10 | Up the Walls | 3d6 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 100 (110) | |
| 17th | Monk 7/Psionic Fist 10 | 3d8 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 100 (110) | ||
| 18th | Monk 8/Psionic Fist 10 | bonus feat | 3d8 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 110 (120) | |
| 19th | Monk 9/Psionic Fist 10 | 3d8 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 110 (120) | ||
| 20th | Monk 10/Psionic Fist 10 | 4d8 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 110 (120) | ||
| 21st | Monk 11/Psionic Fist 10 | Epic Feat | Greater Flurry, Diamond Body (immune to posions) | 4d8 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 120 (130) |
| 22th | Monk 12/Psionic Fist 10 | 4d8 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 120 (130) | ||
| 23th | Monk 13/Psionic Fist 10 | 4d8 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 120 (130) | ||
| 24th | Monk 14/Psionic Fist 10 | Epic Feat | 4d8 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 130 (140) | |
| 25th | Monk 15/Psionic Fist 10 | 4d8 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 130 (140) | ||
| 26th | Monk 15/Psionic Fist 11 | 4d8 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 140 (150) | ||
| 27th | Monk 15/Psionic Fist 11/Psychic Warrior 1 | Epic Feat, Psionic or fighter bonus feat | 4d8 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 140 (150) | |
| 28th | Monk 15/Psionic Fist 11/Psychic Warrior 2 | Psionic or fighter bonus feat | 4d8 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 140 (150) | |
| 29th | Monk 15/Psionic Fist 11/Psychic Warrior 2/Fighter 1 | Fighter bonus feat | 4d8 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 150 (160) | |
| 30th | Monk 15/Psionic Fist 11/Psychic Warrior 2/Fighter 2 | Epic Feat, Fighter bonus feat | 4d8 (+ 1d8) (+1d12 Flying Kick) | 150 (160) |
Combat Styles[edit]
The monk should chose one of the following four combat style options:
| Style | ECL 1 Feat Suggestion | ECL 9 Feat Suggestion | ECL 18 feat suggestion | ECL 24 Epic Feat Suggestion | ECL 27 Epic Feat Suggestion | ECL 30 Feat Suggestion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobra Strike | Speed of Thought | Psionic Charge | Whirlwind Attack | Superior Initiative | Any | Any |
| Denying Stance | Scorpion's grasp | Multigrip | Greater Multigrip | Improved Combat Reflexes (Epic) | Legendary Wrestler | Superior Initiative |
| Overwhelming Attack | Powerful Charge | Shock Trooper | Expanded Knowledge (Telekinetic Maneuver) | Superior Initiative | any, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting | Greater Two-Weapon Fighting, Perfect Two-Weapon Fighting |
| Standard monk bonus feats (Improved Grapple, Deflect Arrows, Combat Reflexes) | Any | Any | Improved Natural Attack (claw) | Infinite Deflection | Improved Combat Reflexes (Epic), Reflect Arrows | Exceptional Deflection, Any fighter bonus feat |
Gameplay notes: The loss of OA means the loss of several monk-favorable rules: free multiclassing, open unarmed combat bonus proficiency choice, and BAB stacking from monk prestige classes for purposes of calculating multiple attacks and flurry penalties (not to mention three of the prestige classes themselves.) All are missed, but the open unarmed combat bonus proficiency choice (semi-)lives on in the fighting style rules of UA (pg. 52).
Metamorphosis Forms[edit]
The forms the monk can take using his Metamorphosis power are limited only by the usual Polymorph rules (15HD, no outsiders, constructs, or undead). (This makes the Bear Warrior levels previously incorporated in this build superfluous; see the talk page.) A for a few suggestions, see Ultimate Monk (3.5e Optimized Character Build)/Metamorphosis Forms.
Variant #2: Drunken Master[edit]
Race: Human
Favored Class: Monk
Str: 14 Int: 14 Wis: 14 Dex: 14 Con: 12 Cha: 8
Skills: Jump, Tumble, Escape Artist, Balance (ECL+1), Hide (ECL + 1), Move Silently, Spot, Concentration, Listen (Skill level = ECL +3 except as noted.).
Monk fighting style note: trained in the Cobra Strike style (UA pg. 52).
| ECL | Class/HD/LA | Feats | Special | Dmg (charge) (other modifiers) | Move (focused) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Fighter 1 | Improved Initiative, Powerful Charge, Able Learner, Great Fortitude, Danger Sense | By weapon (+1d8 Powerful Charge) | 40 (40) | ||
| 2nd | Fighter 2 | Combat Reflexes | By weapon (+2d6 charge) | 40 (40) | ||
| 3rd | Fighter 2/Psychic Warrior 1 | Wild Talent, Overchannel | Expansion power available | By weapon (+ 3d6) | 50 (50) | |
| 4th | Fighter 2/Psychic Warrior 1/Monk 1 | Improved Unarmed Strike, Dodge | Monk abilities | By weapon (+ 3d6) | 50 (50) | |
| 5th | Fighter 2/Psychic Warrior 1/Monk 2 | Mobility | Claws of the Beast available | By weapon (+ 3d6) | 50 (60) | |
| 6th | Fighter 2/Psychic Warrior 1/Monk 2/Drunken Master 1 | Improved Natural Attack (unarmed strike) | Improvised Weapons do (1d4+unarmed strike) | 50 (60) | ||
| 7th | Fighter 2/Psychic Warrior 1/Monk 2/Drunken Master 2 | Need not travel in a straight line to charge | By weapon (+3d6) | 50 (60) | ||
| 8th | Fighter 2/Psychic Warrior 1/Monk 3/Drunken Master 2 | Still Mind | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (1d8 + 2d6) (+3d6) | 60 (70) | ||
| 9th | Fighter 2/Psychic Warrior 1/Monk 4/Drunken Master 2 | Quicken Power | Ki strike, slow fall | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (1d8 + 3d6) (+3d6) | 70 (80) | |
| 10th | Fighter 2/Psychic Warrior 1/Monk 5/Drunken Master 2 | Purity of body | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (1d8 + 3d6) (+3d6) | 70 (80) | ||
| 11th | Fighter 2/Psychic Warrior 1/Monk 6/Drunken Master 2 | Spring Attack | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (1d8 + 3d6) (+3d6) | 70 (80) | ||
| 12th | Fighter 2/Psychic Warrior 1/Monk 6/Drunken Master 2/Psionic Fist 1 | Two-Weapon Fighting | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (1d8 + 3d6) (+3d6) | 80 (90) | ||
| 13th | Fighter 2/Psychic Warrior 1/Monk 6/Drunken Master 2/Psionic Fist 2 | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (1d8 + 3d8) (+3d6) | 80 (90) | |||
| 14th | Fighter 2/Psychic Warrior 1/Monk 6/Drunken Master 2/Psionic Fist 3 | Still Mind | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (2d6 + 3d8) | 80 (90) | ||
| 15th | Fighter 2/Psychic Warrior 1/Monk 6/Drunken Master 2/Psionic Fist 4 | Deflect Arrows | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (2d6 + 3d8) | |||
| 16th | Fighter 2/Psychic Warrior 1/Monk 6/Drunken Master 2/Psionic Fist 5 | Up the Walls | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (3d6 + 3d8) | |||
| 17th | Fighter 2/Psychic Warrior 1/Monk 6/Drunken Master 2/Psionic Fist 6 | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (3d6 + 6d6) | ||||
| 18th | Fighter 2/Psychic Warrior 1/Monk 6/Drunken Master 2/Psionic Fist 7 | Expanded Knowledge | Enhanced Expansion available: +2 size categories | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (3d8 + 6d6) | 100 (110) | |
| 19th | Fighter 2/Psychic Warrior 1/Monk 6/Drunken Master 2/Psionic Fist 8 | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (3d8 + 6d6) | ||||
| 20th | Fighter 2/Psychic Warrior 1/Monk 6/Drunken Master 2/Psionic Fist 9 | Metamorphosis power available | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (6d6 + 6d6) |
Gameplay notes: The Drunken Master has maximal mobility, skills and feats, at the cost of exchanging Able Learner for Reckless Charge, delaying the acquisition of monk abilities, and delaying his ability to assume Colossal alternate forms until ECL 20 (as in contrast to ECL 15, above.) The result is a slower-starting but very versatile Ultimate Monk who is still as Ultimate as one could wish by the end of 20 levels.
The primary benefit of the Drunken Master prestige class is the ability to move in any direction and in any pattern while charging, up to double base move.
A useful secondary power is the ability to use improvised weapons and do unarmed strike damage. While a character might (should) lose the benefit of stacked claw damage by so doing, this ability provides the monk with powerful reach and range attacks, especially while expanded (see Highlights, Colossal size, below.)
The trade-off of Int and Wis for Str or Con by taking a drink is irrelevant at higher levels, and not very useful even at the beginning.
The Drunken Master's broad base of combat feats ensures he will enjoy the broadest possible range of useful Epic feats.
Variant #3: Monster to Abbot[edit]
This variant has two stages: first, chose a 5-level Ultimate Monk monster class. After the completion of the first five levels, follow the progression given below.
| ECL | Class/HD/LA | Feats | Special | Dmg (charge) (other modifiers) | Move (focused) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6th | Monk 1 | Improved Unarmed Strike, Combat style feat | Monk abilities | 40 (40) | Jump 4, Tumble |
| 7th | Monk 2 | Combat style feat | Evasion | 40 (40) | |
| 8th | Monk 3 | Quicken Power | Still Mind | 50 (50) | |
| 9th | Monk 4 | Ki strike, slow fall | 50 (50) | ||
| 10th | Monk 5 | Purity of body | 50 (50) | ||
| 11th | Monk 6 | Improved Natural Attack (Unarmed Strike), Combat style feat | 60 (60) | ||
| 12th | Monk 6/ Psionic Fist 1 | Psionic abilities (Expansion available) | 60 (60) | ||
| 13th | Monk 6 /Psionic Fist 2 | 60 (60) | |||
| 14th | Monk 6/ Psionic Fist 3 | Improved Multiattack or Improved Multigrab | 70 (70) | ||
| 15th | Monk 6/ Psionic Fist 4 | 70 (70) | |||
| 16th | Monk 6/ Psionic Fist 5 | Psionic or fighter bonus feat | 70 (80) | ||
| 17th | Monk 6/ Psionic Fist 6 | Up the Walls | 80 (90) | ||
| 18th | Monk 6/ Psionic Fist 7 | Enhanced expansion available: +2 size categories | 80 (90) | ||
| 19th | Monk 6/ Psionic Fist 8 | 80 (90) | |||
| 20th | Monk 6/Psionic Fist 9 | Expanded Knowledge | 80 (90) |
Variant #4: Foundling Monk[edit]
Race: Mongrel Giant
Half-Giant, (LA +1), Half-Ogre (LA +1)
Natural armor progression: +1/level (+3 max)
Initial scores (28 point buy):
Str: 14 (16) Int: 14 (12) Wis: 14 Dex: 14 (12) Con: 12 Cha: 10 (8)
Str: 14 Int: 10 Wis: 14 Dex: 16 Con: 12 Cha: 6
Monk fighting style note: trained in the Overwhelming Attack style (UA pg. 52).
| ECL | Class/HD/LA | Feats | Special | Dmg (charge) (other modifiers) | Move (focused) | Skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Mongrel Giant 1 | Improved Initiative, Powerful Charge, Reckless Charge | By weapon (+1d8 Powerful Charge) | 40 (40) | Jump 4, Tumble 4, | |
| 2nd | Mongrel Giant 2 | LA level, Powerful Build, Stomp (1/day), +2 Con | By weapon (+2d6 charge) | 40 (40) | ||
| 3rd | Mongrel Giant 3 | LA level, Large size, +2 Str, | By weapon (+ 3d6) | 50 (50) | ||
| 4th | Mongrel Giant 3/Psychic Warrior 1 | Combat Reflexes | Expansion power available | By weapon (+ 3d6) | 50 (50) | |
| 5th | Mongrel Giant 3/Psychic Warrior 2 | Speed of Thought, Expeditious Dodge | Claws of the Beast available | By weapon (+ 3d6) | 50 (60) | |
| 6th | Monk 1 | Power Attack | Monk abilities | By weapon (+ 3d6) | 50 (60) | Jump 4, Tumble |
| 7th | Monk 2 | Improved Bull Rush | Evasion | By weapon (+3d6) | 50 (60) | |
| 8th | Monk 3 | feat (ECL) | Still Mind | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (1d8 + 2d6) (+3d6) | 60 (70) | |
| 9th | Monk 4 | Ki strike, slow fall | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (1d8 + 3d6) (+3d6) | 70 (80) | ||
| 10th | Monk 5 | Improved Natural Attack | Purity of body | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (1d8 + 3d6) (+3d6) | 70 (80) | |
| 11th | Monk 6 | Improved Overrun | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (1d8 + 3d6) (+3d6) | 70 (80) | ||
| 12th | Monk 6/Fist of Zukon 1 | Psionic abilities (Expansion available) | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (1d8 + 3d6) (+3d6) | 80 (90) | ||
| 13th | Monk 6/Fist of Zukon 2 | Shock Trooper | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (1d8 + 3d8) (+3d6) | 80 (90) | ||
| 14th | Monk 6/Fist of Zukon 3 | Still Mind | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (2d6 + 3d8) | 80 (90) | ||
| 15th | Monk 6/Fist of Zukon 4 | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (2d6 + 3d8) | 90 (100) | |||
| 16th | Monk 6/Fist of Zukon 5 | Speed of Thought | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (3d6 + 3d8) | 90 (100) | ||
| 17th | Monk 6/Fist of Zukon 6 | Up the Walls | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (3d6 + 6d6) | 90 (100) | ||
| 18th | Monk 6/Fist of Zukon 7 | Enhanced expansion available: +2 size categories | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (3d8 + 6d6) | 100 (110) | ||
| 19th | Monk 6/Fist of Zukon 8 | Evasion | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (3d8 + 6d6) | 90 (100) | ||
| 20th | Monk 6/Fist of Zukon 9 | Quicken Power | By weapon or unarmed + Claws of the beast (6d6 + 6d6) | 100 (110) |
Gameplay notes: This is the build for the player who can't bear to wait for ECL 5 to hit like a Gargantuan creature. The combination of the Powerful Build of the Half-Giant and the Large size brought by the Half-Ogre template is further enhanced by the ECL 4 level of Psychic Warrior, bringing with it the Expansion power. A few levels later, when the character picks up Improved Natural Attack, he deals the unarmed damage of a Colossal creature.
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