Curse

creelie · Feb 25, 2007, 04:34 PM // 16:34

I've read the stickied guide that covers monk equipment, but it's very PvP-oriented. PvE monsters are not quite as obsessed with monk-stomping; to their "eyes" I'm just one of several 60 AL targets that frequently casts spells.

As far as I can tell, the advice for PvP monks is to wear +hp armor and carry a -energy set, an ultra +energy set and 2 intermediate sets. Considering I'm strictly PvE, would I see any benefit to using a similar setup instead of Ascetic's Armor and Kepkhet's Refuge? Or is it truly overkill in PvE?

Burst Cancel · Feb 25, 2007, 09:32 PM // 21:32

HP armor and a shield set are default for both PvE and PvP. On top of that you'll want the emergency (15/1) set and a recharge set. -nrg is optional for PvE, since significant edenial is rare, but it certainly doesn't hurt.

Ensign · Feb 25, 2007, 09:53 PM // 21:53

Are there benefits to running a PvP-style weapon setup? Absolutely. Is it neccessary? No. Guild Wars is not balanced such that you need to optimize everything to complete it successfully. Plain white weapons are more than enough for PvE.

That said, what are you going to spend your money on if not equipment? I'd prioritize buys as follows (assuming you already have a functional 'base' set):

The +15/-1 wand a focus combination. You won't have to use this set very often in PvE, but when you have to it *will* save deaths and potentially keep you from wiping. You can buy the entire set at Maatu Keep for 10k plus materials, get it as soon as you want to start taking your weapon sets seriously.

A +5 energy / +30 health mainhand. This is going to be the best weapon you can have equipped a majority of the time, and you'll use it across multiple sets. Totem axes are fairly cheap, or you can buy a sexy custom model.

A good shield. Once you know how to manipulate your current and max energy, you'll understand that there's really no reason not to sit in a low energy, high defense set most of the time. Pick a shield with 30 health and another mod you like (Jacqui's Aegis, -2 while enchanted, is a decent shield if you're only going to have one), and get used to keeping it out most of the time.

After that, the weapon choices vary with what you want to be using on your other two 'casting' sets. For general purpose, I would suggest a +5>50, +30 HP focus (you'll have to craft it yourself), and a +60 HP, 15>50 staff (wanding is much more valuable in PvE, you'll have time).

There's a lot of specialized gear you can get for faster recharges on particular skills that can be valuable, but you should stick to the above sets until you're comfortable switching between sets regularly and can evaluate what specific equipment you'd want for the build you're running.

Peace,
-CxE

creelie · Feb 26, 2007, 01:15 AM // 01:15

I can think of one extremely good use for a -energy set: rebirthing.

Also I firmly believe that every character needs a longbow for pulling. You don't need it often, but when you do it saves your butt.

So do you think that the offhand you spend most of your time in should be a shield with an armor bonus instead of a focus with casting bonuses?

Age · Feb 26, 2007, 01:55 AM // 01:55

I use mostly collectors offhands and wands but I do use a Kephets,Totom Axe Jeoffors Bulwark shield for my weapons set up.I use an offhand sometimes with my axe.I wouldn't use a bow no need fro monks to use one unless you are farming.The part on armour ascetics is just fine for Monking in PvE some Monks just use that only and stick to minor runes with major in vigor.That is basically all you need.

Grammar · Feb 26, 2007, 02:26 AM // 02:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ensign

I would suggest a +5>50, +30 HP focus (you'll have to craft it yourself)

Wait, does that exist?
I wasn't aware of a focus with +30HP and +5e>50 bonuses?
A Nightfall thing maybe? Hmmm...(*runs to check wiki*)

Anyway, does anyone else use the green end-game spear Prayer of the Forgotten (+5e, +30HP) on their monk for certain sets? As far as I can tell, it's the only one-handed weapon in the game with +5e and +30 HP bonuses. I love it.

Effigy · Feb 26, 2007, 03:08 AM // 03:08

@Grammar: I think the focus Ensign is talking about is +30hp +5 armor over 50% (not +5 energy). This is the same focus I use, in PvP and PvE. Prayer of the Forgotten is a good weapon for your basic or defensive set, yes; you can also use a sword or axe with the same mods, but the Prayer is nice if you want to be able to attack at range (you won't deal any real damage though).

@Creelie: Yes, I would recommend staying in your shield set with a +5e +30hp weapon most of the time. The only reason to swap to a focus set is if you run out of energy on the shield set or if you want 10% or 20% HSR. I use a +5 armor over 50% focus, so I only swap up when I need energy.

As to the longbow, you probably shouldn't be pulling when you play monk. Let an offensive character (warrior, dervish, ranger) break out the longbow and pull. If the monk pulls, there's a chance that the aggro will lock onto you rather than one of the meatshields.

So you'll generally want these types of sets for PvE:

Defensive
- +5e +30hp weapon
- +30hp shield with -2 enchanted, -5/20%, +10 vs slashing, etc.

Basic
- +5e +30hp weapon
- +30hp focus with +5 armor ^50% or 10%/20% HSR

High energy
- +15e/-1 wand with +5e^50% or 10%/20% HSR
- +15e/-1 +30hp focus

Low energy or offensive
- -5e +30hp weapon or 15^50% 10%/20% HSR wand
- +30hp shield with -2 enchanted, -5/20%, +10 vs slashing, etc.

creelie · Feb 26, 2007, 03:12 AM // 03:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grammar

Anyway, does anyone else use the green end-game spear Prayer of the Forgotten (+5e, +30HP) on their monk for certain sets? As far as I can tell, it's the only one-handed weapon in the game with +5e and +30 HP bonuses. I love it.

I have my eye on Spirit of the Forgotten myself. It's the only green spear with +5 energy and 20% enchanting. It would be a nice replacement for Rajazan's Fervor - when I'm 55ing and something runs away, I need to attack it to get it back, and that would be a lot easier with a ranged weapon. Plus, of course, extended enchantments when I'm in a party.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Effigy

As to the longbow, you probably shouldn't be pulling when you play monk. Let an offensive character (warrior, dervish, ranger) break out the longbow and pull. If the monk pulls, there's a chance that the aggro will lock onto you rather than one of the meatshields.

There are times when I'm the only human in the party. So long as I'm not shooting uphill, and run like blazes after firing, the monsters generally run into the henchmen's waiting arms.

Seef II · Feb 26, 2007, 05:48 AM // 05:48

Other equipment that may be nifty:

The Frozen/Forgotten Fan foci - +30 health, +5 armor, -2 net energy. Doesn't provide as much AL as a shield (and no damage reduction) but can be found cheap from, say, Ice Breaker farmers. The mesmer ones are easily farmed alongside Totem Axes, conveniently enough.
HSR 10% gear. Can be useful to hit a 50% recharge on Holy Veil or Remove Hex. Generally not worth it over 20% attribute, though.
20% enchants staff or 1-handed weapon. Awesome if you run shield of absorption, spirit bond, or (bleh) healing breeze.

I don't usually recommend having sets that play around with different HP values. You might swap down 30 health and suddenly find yourself on the butt end of a hammer in PvE or PvP - not good. Also, HCT mods aren't that great to rely on, but may periodically be useful to have. Practice preprotting, or healing as the damage comes in.

Taking Ensign's suggestions, you'd have:

+5e +30 spear/sword/axe and a +30/10% HSR or 5>50 focus
+60 staff, 15>50 inscription: nothing else is terribly attractive: +5e>50 isn't bad, 10% HCT isn't bad either, but 15>50 helps out your wanding, which you spend a large amount of time doing
+15/-1 gear. You may as well stick a HSR 20% or 10% on the wand, and please do put +30 on the focus. This set is 30 HP lighter than the others, but you shouldn't be spending much time in it anyway. If you use a +15/-1 staff, you can still get +60 health.
-5e/+30 spear/sword/axe and +30/inscription of choice shield. This is your negative swap, and you can use a -e focus if you're not rich enough to afford a shield. The Kaineng Center crafter one is pretty solid and only 5k + mats, if you need the most general-purpose one possible. Also consider the crafter in Ronjok if you're vain and like those skins better.

Epic Monkey Battle · Feb 26, 2007, 07:54 AM // 07:54

I usually run around with +hp armor on my monk, sword with half casting 10% on it with +30hp, and a shield with +30hp and +10 armor vs. slashing. I also use a +5 energy axe with +30 health and a bzzyr's benediction. That gives me 605 health and 31 energy with the sword/shield combo, and 48 energy with the axe/focus. I also have my +15/-1 wand for emergencies, which drops me to 575 health. But I mostly GvG/PvP with my monk and dont want to buy another armor set

Rpgdutchie · Feb 26, 2007, 12:05 PM // 12:05

First choose a nice ( tested (see wiki for that) build ) you enjoy and than choose you’re equipment according to the build you run f.i if I run a build with enchantments than a +20% longer enchantments mod is nice.
For the rest I would say see what problems you encounter, energy problems ( if its not the build that causes these problems ) see that you get some energy mods on armor and weapons, if skills recharge is a problem maybe a HSR mod is something you’re looking for, if you’re health is a problem look for health and armor mods.

The thing is ( if you have a good build ) that if you don’t overheal, kite well, watch you’re position, have a good team etc. you can pick the equipment that optimize’s you’re build.
If you are an experienced monk I’d say you can play almost every build and in every area ( PvE ) with around 500 health and 30-40 energy.

I use a ZB GoLE hybrid build most of the time ( I use a Superior prot rune, since I hardly have health problems )

I need: + 20 % enchantment for the build, well I don’t need it but its better.
I use Rajazan’s fervor for that…… + 5 energy and + 20% ench.
I need a +30 health to get my base health to 485 so I don’t have problems with being prime target………….the rest of the mods are is “free “ to personal preference

1) I use a shield +30 health and +10 piercing…… 485 health 35 energy
2) offhand with 30 health and HSR 20 ( if i need a bit more energy ) 485 health 47 energy
3) +15/-1 for rebirth ( if i got it equiped )

on armor i have +10 against physical.

For bonding or as an infuser, ( runes insignias etc. ) or when you want to visit arena’s…. GvG....... equipment is far more important

me

Ensign · Feb 26, 2007, 12:20 PM // 12:20

I guess you could use a +15/-1 staff if you wanted your second set to be a bit deeper (+30 vs +27), but I don't think that's worth giving up the 30 HP or 20% enchanting for - which are the normal reasons for running a -1 pip set. Otherwise just go all in on the -2 pip set for the +42 energy.

If you have a wanding set, it's really a choice of staff (30/30 or 30/20% with 15>50) or wand+shield (15>50 or 15/-5). You should never be wanding below 50% health so 15>50 doesn't really have any conditional, but the 15/-5 version lets you hide a bit more energy and use that as a super-low energy set - your choice, really.

Peace,
-CxE

Effigy · Feb 26, 2007, 10:40 PM // 22:40

Great idea, Ensign. I hadn't though of using my wanding set as a negative energy set.

Age · Feb 26, 2007, 11:22 PM // 23:22

You really don't need to use a bow use your wand instead and back off.This is if you are playing with henchies /heros.

Y.T. · Mar 07, 2007, 10:50 PM // 22:50

hmmm, i guess i should try +hp armor set.... right now i'm using +energy (hardly ever wear it tho), +10AR when ench (i used to run boon prot all the time, it was the main armor) and i got +10AR vs elem set recently, i'm always trying to get max AR possible...
my fav weapons are:
incetols focus (20HSR heals 30hp)+ 5e collector spears with +hp and +ench mods - u can get end-game greens of cos but i prefer collectors spear skin, plus u can dye it to match ur armor color
miellas focus (+15/-1 30hp) + spear as emergency set for bonder/sb
incetols focus +20/20 healing wand

i used to use +hp +AR and +ench 5e axes/swords, but spear is better choice if u're the only human in ur patry and have to call targets for ur heroes/henchy.

right now i'm updating my collection of focuses - i got 30hp +10AR vs fire and 30hp +5AR^50 atm, and i'm trying to get my paws on perfect inscriptions +10AR vs light/cold/earth/physical. i'm not sure about +10AR vs slashing/piercing/blunt, cos its all physical damage, and my inv is almost full alrdy...