Pathfinder Monks: A Guide to Punching!

Oh, swarms. Yeah. I suppose they would be a problem. Luckily there isn't that many in the game.

 

Monk Equipment List:
Robes:
Censor's Robe:

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Artisan item from Sharel.
Envy of the Master:

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Artisan item from Sharel.
Prankster's Robe:
>+4 Deflection to AC.
>+2 Luck bonuses to saving throws.
>Cast blindness twice per day.
Artisan item from Sharel.
Draping Veil of Prow:
>Electricty resistance 10
>Cold resistance 10
>+2 Deflection to AC.
>Cast enlarge person once per day.
Artisan item from Sharel.
Robe of the True Master:

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Location:

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*You don't get access to the interior of the chambers until later in the game.
Protector's Robe:

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Location:

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Arbiter's Robe:

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Location:

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Enforcer's Robe:

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Location:

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Amulets:
Agile fists:

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Agile fists +2:

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Agile fists +4:

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Mighty fists +1:

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Location:

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Mighty fists +2:

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Mighty fists +3:

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Location:

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*Part of the main quest "Season of the Bloom".
Mighty fists +5

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Location:

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*On the second floor. In a chest near the Wriggling Man.
Quarterstaffs:
Masterwork Quarterstaff:

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*Sold by Oleg.
Quarterstaff +1:

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Quarterstaff +2:

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Frost shock quarterstaff +2:

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Frost quarterstaff +2:

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Corrosive quarterstaff +2:

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Location:

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*Either the Knurly Witch or Wriggling Man can drop it.
Speed quarterstaff +3:

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Location:

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Flaming speed quarterstaff +4:

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Black raven's staff:

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Artisan item from Irlene.
Prowling Cheetah:
>+1 speed quarterstaff.
>Cast feather step mass, three times a day.
Artisan item from Irlene.
Burned oak:
>+2 quarterstaff.
>Cast fire snake twice per day.
>Cast burning hands at will.
Artisan item from Irlene.
Crimson counselor:

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Location:

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*Can only be obtained during "Varnhold vanishing" chapter.
Necromancer's staff:

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Location:

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Rigid oak staff:

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Artisan item from Kimo.
The call:

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Artisan item from Irlene.
Will of the disciple:

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Artisan item from Kimo.
Staff of the whispering souls:

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Location:

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The undaunted:
>+4 flaming aberration bane quarterstaff
>+3 moral bonuses to persuasion when used to intimidate.
>Cast remove paralysis spell once per day.
Artisan item from Kimo.
Sais:
Masterwork sai:

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*Sold by Oleg.
Sai +1:

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Location:

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Shock sai +1:

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Sai +2:

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Sai +4:

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Heart piercer:

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Artisan item from Shaynih'a.
Tears of blood:
>+5 keen agile sai
>Chance to sun enemy on successful hit
>Cast sirocco once per day
Artisan item from Shaynih'a.
Steelwind:

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Location:

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Kama:
Masterwork Kama:

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*Sold by Oleg.
Kama +2:

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Location:

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Flaming kama +2:

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Location:

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Kama +3:

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Kama +4:

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Location:

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Monastic kama:

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Artisan item from Shaynih'a.
Talon of the wise:

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Location:

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Monastic Kama(Same name different kama):

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Artisan item from Shaynih'a.
Persecutor:
>+2 shock kama
>Cast thundering drums once per day
Artisan item from Shaynih'a.
Nunchaku:
Masterwork nunchaku:

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*Sold by Oleg.
Flaming nunchaku:

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Location:

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Nunchaku +2:

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Ardent:

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*Interior of chambers not accessible until later in the game.
Nunchaku +4:

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Location:

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Nunchaku +5:

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*Sold by fey merchant at the "House at the Edge of Time".

 

Added a couple of weapons that I missed and the fabled mighty fists +5 to the list.

 

talk about bad encounter design. Make a super boss don't even give him greater dispel to make martial characters useless. And since its also like a godlike ability it should have access to that super troll epic spell that makes magical items temporarily useless making martial even more useless.

 

Martial characters aren't useless.

 

First of all, the Spawn does have an AOE dispel attack. Second, martial characters aren't useless even without buffs. I bet a Sword Saint could beat the Spawn even without buffs on lower difficulties by using Dimension Strike+Power Attack+Perfect Critical+Axiomatic/Holy Weapon.

 

I got a couple more monk builds. Then after that, I won't be adding anything else to this guide. Nor will I be making any more videos. I am proud of this guide. I hope future pathfinder players find this guide and consider monks for their playthrough!

 

Pummeling Tripy Monk!
Race: Human
Class: 11 Traditional Monk/9 Fighter
Alignment: Lawful Good
Stats:
STR 16
DEX 16
CON 11
INT 7
WIS 18
CHA 7

Class/feat progression:
Level 1 - Traditional Monk - Feats: Power Attack, Dodge, Deflect Arrows - Skills: Perception, Mobility, Persuasion.
Level 2 - Traditional Monk - Feats: Combat Reflexes - Skills: Perception, Mobility, Persuasion.
Level 3 - Traditional Monk - Feats: Pummeling Style - Skills: Perception, Mobility, Persuasion.
Level 4 + 1 CON - Fighter - Feats: Improved Initiative - Skills: Perception, Persuasion.
Level 5 - Fighter - Feats: Outflank, Seize the Moment - Skills: Perception, Persuasion.

Level 6 - Traditional Monk - Skills: Mobility, Perception, Persuasion.
Level 7 - Traditional Monk - Feats: Weapon Focus (Unarmed), Shattering Punch - Skills: Mobility, Perception, Persuasion.
Level 8 + 1 STR - Traditional Monk - Feats: Blind Fight - Skills: Mobility, Perception, Persuasion.
Level 9 - Traditional Monk - Feats: Hammer the Gap - Skills: Mobility, Perception, Persuasion.
Level 10 - Traditional Monk - Skills: Mobility, Perception, Persuasion.

Level 11 - Traditional Monk - Feats: Pummeling Charge, Leg Sweep - Skills: Mobility, Perception, Persuasion.
Level 12 + 1 STR - Traditional Monk - Feats: Trip - Skills: Mobility, Perception, Persuasion.
Level 13 - Traditional Monk - Feats: Pummeling Bully - Skills: Mobility, Perception, Persuasion.
Level 14 - Fighter - Skills: Perception, Persuasion.
Level 15 - Fighter - Feats: Fury's Fall, Improved Blind Fight - Skills: Perception, Persuasion.

Level 16 + 1 STR - Fighter - Feats: Weapon Training(Natural) - Skills: Perception, Persuasion.
Level 17 - Fighter - Feats: Tandem Trip - Skills: Perception, Persuasion.
Level 18 - Fighter - Skills: Perception, Persuasion.
Level 19 - Fighter - Feats: Greater Weapon Focus (Unarmed), Improved Critical (Unarmed) - Skills: Perception, Persuasion.
Level 20 + 1 STR - Fighter - Feats: Many good fighter feats to pick here. I suggest: Fighter's Tactics, Armed Bravery, and Trained Initiative. Weapon Training (Natural) - Skills: Perception, Persuasion.

Screenshots:
Level 1:
STR 16 + Power Attack = Decent damage.

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Level 2:

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Level 4:

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Level 5:

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Level 6:

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Level 9:

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Level 10:

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Level 11:

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Level 12:

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Level 13:

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Level 14:
Leg Sweep + Pummeling Bully = 2 free trip attempts.

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Level 16:

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Level 17:

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Level 18:

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Level 19:

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Looks like fun.

One thing to keep in mind is that you're spending that +1 CON at level four for something you could have had for a single point at character creation. If you want that point, might as well get it then and use your level four boost for something that would have cost three at creation.

 

Yeah, stat blocks like 18 16 13 7 16 7 or 19 16 10 7 16 7 might be better. Also, if you're making a tripping monk, why not go motherless tiefling with the cloak for an extra trip?

 

I tried this build at the DLC dungeon. Loot is hard to get. But yeah, if you're planning on using a pummeling tripping monk for the main campaign, it'd be smart to go with motherless for extra trip from cloak.

 

I wanted to see if 16 STR can work. Turns out. It can. You just need to get Power Attack at level 1 though.
>One thing to keep in mind is that you're spending that +1 CON at level four for something you could have had for a single point at character creation.
Thanks! That's something to keep in mind for the next build.

 

Crane Style Monk Woman:
Race: Aasimar (Plumekith)
Class: 12 Traditional Monk/ 7 Stalwart Defender/ 1 Duelist
Alignment: Lawful Good
Stats:
STR 7
DEX 19
CON 10
INT 13
WIS 20
CHA 7

Class/Feat Progression:
Level 1 - Traditional Monk - Feats: Weapon Finesse, Crane Style - Skills: Mobility, Perception, Persuasion, Lore (Religion).
Level 2 - Traditional Monk - Feats: Dodge - Skills: Mobility, Perception, Lore (Religion).
Level 3 - Traditional Monk - Feats: Piranha Strike - Skills: Mobility, Perception, Persuasion, Lore (Religion).
Level 4 + 1 DEX - Traditional Monk - Skills: Mobility, Perception, Lore (Religion).
Level 5 - Traditional Monk - Feats: Outflank, Defensive Spin - Skills: Mobility, Perception, Persuasion, Lore (Religion).

Level 6 - Traditional Monk - Feats: Deflect Arrows - Skills: Mobility, Perception, Lore (Religion).
Level 7 - Traditional Monk - Feats: Crane Wing - Skills: Mobility, Perception, Persuasion, Lore (Religion).
Level 8 + 1 DEX - Traditional Monk - Mobility, Perception, Lore (Religion).
Level 9 - Traditional Monk - Feats: Combat Mobility, Shattering Punch - Skills: Mobility, Perception, Persuasion, Lore (Religion).
Level 10 - Traditional Monk - Feats: Improved Blind Fight - Skills: Mobility, Perception, Lore (Religion).

Level 11 - Traditional Monk - Feats: Toughness - Skills: Mobility, Perception, Persuasion, Lore (Religion).
Level 12 + 1 DEX - Traditional Monk - Skills: Mobility, Perception, Lore (Religion).
Level 13 - Duelist - Feats: Crane Riposte - Skills: Mobility, Perception, Persuasion, Lore (Religion).
Level 14 - Stalwart Defender - Skills: Mobility, Perception.
Level 15 - Stalwart Defender - Feats: Wings, Internal Fortitude - Skills: Mobility, Perception, Lore (Religion).

Level 16 + 1 DEX - Stalwart Defender - Skills: Mobility, Perception.
Level 17 - Stalwart Defender - Feats: Combat Expertise, Smash - Skills: Mobility, Perception, Lore (Religion).
Level 18 - Stalwart Defender - Skills: Perception, Mobility.
Level 19 - Stalwart Defender - Feats: Shake it off, Increased Damage Reduction - Skills: Mobility, Perception, Lore (Religion).
Level 20 + 1 DEX - Stalwart Defender - Skills: Perception, Mobility.

Level 1:
This is how much AC you can get at level 1.

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Level 3:
Piranha Strike + Amulet of Agile Fists = Decent Damage.

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Level 4:
AC and damage you can expect at level 4.

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Level 6:

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Level 7:

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Level 8:

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Level 9:

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Level 11:

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Level 13:

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Level 15:

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Level 17:

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Level 20:
With a ring of circumstance you can reach 90 AC with this build.

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I tried call of the wild mod and then I saw that there is JABBING STYLE for monk. This would make monks damage INSANE and pure monk or pure BAB class even more worth.

 

Get that Duelist 2 Parry man! You've got attax to spare!

 

Lol. I'll go back and review the build. I knew I was missing something. Probably will want the build at 11 Traditional Monk/ 7 Stalwart Defender/ 2 Duelist. Bonus AC gained from the 12 levels in monk pales in comparison to parry.

 

Yeah, Jabbing style is the bee's knees.

 

Actually I was reading some discussion with some calculation for Scaled fist vs Jabbing style and it seems that Dragon style is almost the same even late levels ...

 

Unless you have screenshots to compare the two styles. Both in the early game and late game. Then all of that theory crafting is poop. Dragon Style might have an edge, if you can still gain more STR. The higher your STR the stronger the bonuses.

 

This thread's title is a tragic waste of opportunity to use the word "fisting".
Shameful is what it is!

 

I Appreciate it. Thanks for the comment.

 

Pummeling beats them all.