Curse

Nosveratau · Sep 27, 2008, 02:49 PM // 14:49

Hi All

Just got my Monk to level 20 and its the first time I have played as a Monk, what equipment do peeps recommend for Monks?

I know peeps use different equipment for different builds, but I havent settled on a build yet, so just looking for advice on the different equipments peeps use.

Cheers

Nos

Burst Cancel · Sep 27, 2008, 03:44 PM // 15:44

Read sticky: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...84&postcount=2

Tyla · Sep 27, 2008, 03:46 PM // 15:46

Full Survivor's armour. Minor runes only.

40/20/20 Prot Set.

40/40 Healing set.

Shield Set. (-5E +30HP martial, +10AL vs. X +30HP)

High Energy Set.

The shield set isn't really a need at all unless you PvP, but then niether are all the other equipment sets. This is usually the most decent set of weapons there are for Monks that can be used in this moment in time.

Keep in mind this is (mostly) for a WoH Hybrid, but change the first two weaponsets depending on your bar, for example if you're smiting use a 40/40 smiting set.

Trylo · Sep 27, 2008, 05:36 PM // 17:36

i find a 40/20/+30 staff for healing superior to a 40/40 set.

also, having that +8 armor from the shield makes enemies less likely to target you, making it really useful in pve as well.

also, search is your friend.

Tyla · Sep 27, 2008, 05:46 PM // 17:46

If you want more health, switch to your defensive set.

Snorph · Sep 28, 2008, 10:16 AM // 10:16

Well for me I can usually keep myself alive for quite sometime and keep my party healed without argo.

Sence I assume monks use energy, would it not make sence to use energy runes for extra energy ?

I got my monk to a level 20, max armor. I havent bought him runes yet because I am not sure what a good combo is for him yet.

While I think energy is important for a monk as he always either prots or heals his party.

What do you guys think?

Tyla · Sep 28, 2008, 11:25 AM // 11:25

Survivor's. Sure, extra energy is nice but then you've got your high set. That's where your high energy set comes in. Dipping into your high set is very, very rare in PvE if you know what you're doing.

cataphract · Sep 29, 2008, 07:15 AM // 07:15

Never in 3 years of monking have I encountered a situation where I'd need loads of equipment, much less a shield set. If you suck as monk, not even 80 energy with a high set won't save you. Neither will that shield if you dumb enough to get attacked and not to kite.

I've been running around with a Tengu Sword of Enchanting (+5 energy ofcourse) and a divine req Pronged Fan (+30 hp, 10% HSR) just because I like the skins. And I use them no matter what build I run. Do not worry about equipment. One can monk without it, anyway. Hell, you can even take off your armor and run around naked if you feel like it.

Xeng Suey · Sep 29, 2008, 04:13 PM // 16:13

Hi everyone!

In order to respond this question, i'm assuming ur willing to obtain a ideia for a general setup of your monk equipment. whith this, i mean ur not asking equipment for a farming build or a running build.

Important to say the folowing aswell: As a monk, you will be ALWAYS one of the primary targets (this is more apliable to pvp, but servs to pve aswell). Thus, u will need the most health u can get in all situation!

Being so, i would say you should use the folowing equipment:

Runes: Always use minor runes! this is very important so u can reserve the "most health u can get" rule.

Insignias: Always use Survivor Insignias! Dont worrie about energy, if you use correct builds and DONT SPAM your skills you will not have energy problems. Remeber to always look to the game and try to see where the damage suffered by your party is being apllied, the party panel should help you on this but dont stick on it or you will end up spaming skills

Weapon set 1: Use a 40/40 [insert Attribute name here] set. Attention to this: dont use 40/40 set on Divine Prayers, and a 40/40 Prot set should only be used if your elite is RC or ZB for example.

Weapon set 2: Use a Req 9 [ ________ Prayers] 40/20/20 staff here if your playing a Hybrid build (a hybrid build is a build where u use healing skills and prot skills, for instance the usual WoH monk bar used in GvG is a Hybrid build) or if u have enchantments on you skill bar(for instance you can use a pure healing bar whith Healing seed on it and, in this case, you will need a Q9 Healing prayers staff whith 40/20/20 mods)

Weapon set 3: Use a shield set as it was refered in one of the previous answers. Ideally u should use +10 AL Vs (fire, slashing, blunt, etc) with a +30Hp mod (note: u should use +10 ALVs. cold + 60Hp(while hexed) if your playing HA and face a IV team or a Golemway. In pve i dont know if u really need this, but i think its not prioritary)

Weapon set 4: Use a High energy set (wand + offhand whith 15/-1 mod and 20/20 mods)

Remember: the weapons sets alow u to take advantage from the skills you are using! This is very important, do not ignore weapon set swap when u cast your skills. Its hard on beginig, but u'll get used.

Have fun all

Tyla · Sep 29, 2008, 04:21 PM // 16:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by cataphract

Never in 3 years of monking have I encountered a situation where I'd need loads of equipment, much less a shield set. If you suck as monk, not even 80 energy with a high set won't save you. Neither will that shield if you dumb enough to get attacked and not to kite.

I've been running around with a Tengu Sword of Enchanting (+5 energy ofcourse) and a divine req Pronged Fan (+30 hp, 10% HSR) just because I like the skins. And I use them no matter what build I run. Do not worry about equipment. One can monk without it, anyway. Hell, you can even take off your armor and run around naked if you feel like it.

I've never really encountered a situation where I need the weaponsets in PvE either. They're supposed to boost your overall efficiency.

By the way, a shield set further mitigates damage. Not kiting at all is bad anyway.

Snorph · Sep 29, 2008, 11:28 PM // 23:28

So am I better off getting health runes rather then energy runes?

I just got that Deldamore Staff Of Healing and quite like it.

Burst Cancel · Sep 30, 2008, 03:14 AM // 03:14

If you're going to restrict discussion for what you need for PvE, then this thread is pointless, as is most of the forum. "Good enough" is rarely the relevant metric; most people are interested in "Best".

I don't see why you wouldn't use a shield when it prevents damage for free. I don't see the benefit of using a healing staff either, unless you're using healing enchantments with a +20% lengthening mod. Health mods on your casting sets aren't much use, as you're only in your caster set for the duration of the cast+aftercast anyway. The shield should be out whenever you aren't casting, and even when you are casting if you're under pressure.

Oh, and English please. Everyone makes typos, but some of the shit upthread makes the eyes bleed. Non-native speakers can disregard, as usual.

cataphract · Sep 30, 2008, 06:39 AM // 06:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyla

I've never really encountered a situation where I need the weaponsets in PvE either. They're supposed to boost your overall efficiency.
By the way, a shield set further mitigates damage. Not kiting at all is bad anyway.

From what I've seen - PvE monks use shields only to boost their e-peen. It's the latest fashion!

Xeng Suey · Sep 30, 2008, 08:40 AM // 08:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snorph

So am I better off getting health runes rather then energy runes?

I just got that Deldamore Staff Of Healing and quite like it.

Yes you should stick whith health runes because, as i said on my previous post, you as a monk ARE A PRIORITY TARGET. And yes, you should have a shield set in pve because, it gives more armor and more health to you whitch can not be underestimated only because your in pve!

As i said before as well the healing staff will only be usefull if u have Healing Enchantments on your monk bar. You should note, for instance, that Patient Spirit is not a enchantment you would like to se prolonged on you or one of your team mates (or H/H). However, i still think there are not very good enchantments in healing prayers that worth a 40/20/20 enchantment staff (excluding healing seed that could be usefull in some situations), so i belive ur staff is not much worth for you.

Again, imho, i think you should stick whith 4 weapon sets as i described before. That help you alot, specially if u want to play monk in a pvp environment.

cataphract · Sep 30, 2008, 10:55 AM // 10:55

Shields FTL in PvE. I mean, 95% of the time you'll be standing behind a wall of minions. 4% of the time you'll be behind a tank holding aggro. And that 1% of the time certainly does not require you to have a shield with you simply because you have PS. Stop it with the shields already, please. It doesn't make you a good, or even a better, monk.

Tyla · Sep 30, 2008, 02:48 PM // 14:48

And when something slips by, or you're not using aggro management?

Again, you don't need anything in PvE except a few heals and PSpirit, but it's good for extra damage mitigation if you're being hit.

By the way, taking different weaponsets doesn't make you a good player. It merely means you use everything you can get to your advantage.

Yichi · Sep 30, 2008, 11:20 PM // 23:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xeng Suey

Hi everyone!

In order to respond this question, i'm assuming ur willing to obtain a ideia for a general setup of your monk equipment. whith this, i mean ur not asking equipment for a farming build or a running build.

Important to say the folowing aswell: As a monk, you will be ALWAYS one of the primary targets (this is more apliable to pvp, but servs to pve aswell). Thus, u will need the most health u can get in all situation!

Being so, i would say you should use the folowing equipment:

Runes: Always use minor runes! this is very important so u can reserve the "most health u can get" rule.

Insignias: Always use Survivor Insignias! Dont worrie about energy, if you use correct builds and DONT SPAM your skills you will not have energy problems. Remeber to always look to the game and try to see where the damage suffered by your party is being apllied, the party panel should help you on this but dont stick on it or you will end up spaming skills

Weapon set 1: Use a 40/40 [insert Attribute name here] set. Attention to this: dont use 40/40 set on Divine Prayers, and a 40/40 Prot set should only be used if your elite is RC or ZB for example.

Weapon set 2: Use a Req 9 [ ________ Prayers] 40/20/20 staff here if your playing a Hybrid build (a hybrid build is a build where u use healing skills and prot skills, for instance the usual WoH monk bar used in GvG is a Hybrid build) or if u have enchantments on you skill bar(for instance you can use a pure healing bar whith Healing seed on it and, in this case, you will need a Q9 Healing prayers staff whith 40/20/20 mods)

Weapon set 3: Use a shield set as it was refered in one of the previous answers. Ideally u should use +10 AL Vs (fire, slashing, blunt, etc) with a +30Hp mod (note: u should use +10 ALVs. cold + 60Hp(while hexed) if your playing HA and face a IV team or a Golemway. In pve i dont know if u really need this, but i think its not prioritary)

Weapon set 4: Use a High energy set (wand + offhand whith 15/-1 mod and 20/20 mods)

Remember: the weapons sets alow u to take advantage from the skills you are using! This is very important, do not ignore weapon set swap when u cast your skills. Its hard on beginig, but u'll get used.

Have fun all

This, but for PvE purposes, I usually just run around with the Scar Eater and say meh to weapon swaps.

Burst Cancel · Oct 01, 2008, 02:59 AM // 02:59

There is essentially no disadvantage to using a shield. You can think what you want about why monks use them, but regardless of the motivation the fact remains that it's still the best default weapon choice.

cataphract · Oct 01, 2008, 06:55 AM // 06:55

I've never seen a shield with 20% Protection Prayers recharge. And I'd take that slight chance for a second Aegis over a shield I any day.

If something slips by, you kite. Slap that PS on yourself or just take a few steps back and around that Flare spamming ele and get the baddie to beat on him. When, and if, something manages to slip by it usually means of two things:

1) It's near death anyway and won't be alive long enough to pose a threat.
2) It's wreaking havoc to your midline with its massive melee damage and KD. In which case you're either screwed or timing your recharged Aegis just after you get up. How much armor I have at that time is the least of my worries.

What it all comes down is a personal preference and experiences. I prefer the recharge chance over 18 AL, you don't. In my experience, a vast majority of shield monks sucked hard and were too busy fapping over their shiny equipment than doing their jobs.

Best default protting weapon choice: +5 energy, 20% longer enchants (axe, sword), prot offhand +12 energy, +30 health, 20% HSR.

Tyla · Oct 01, 2008, 07:02 AM // 07:02

You are always supposed to kite. It doesn't make any more damage less effective less effective. Using that logic, we might aswell just not use Monks, because "we can kite". If something deals that much damage in melee, Guardian or PSpirit and heal when needed.

Quote:

What it all comes down is a personal preference and experiences. I prefer the recharge chance over 18 AL, you don't. In my experience, a vast majority of shield monks sucked hard and were too busy fapping over their shiny equipment than doing their jobs.

I'd rather have an extra 18 AL, a 36% HCT, 8% QCT and 20% HRT, and the ability to boost my energy to 72 for emergencies.

Yes, I use this tactic called "weaponswapping", nifty don't you think?

Quote:

Best default protting weapon choice: +5 energy, 20% longer enchants (axe, sword), prot offhand +12 energy, +30 health, 20% HSR.

No, it isn't. If you want more health, use a shield set. If you want enchantments, use a staff.

Staves are superior to Martial / Off-hand in an enchanting combo because of the HCT. You already have 20% HRT with this.

And even then, you could dump the enchanting mod and have 36% HRT, 36% HCT and 8% QCT if you're really so bothered about HRT.

Just because you don't know how to press F1, F2, F3 and F4 doesn't make having multiple weaponsets any less effective.