Looking for tips on playing monk. Do you prefer using high EE robes post 55 or dex for the damage?

So far this is how ive been playing it.

1-35 using +dex armor, after 35 using high EE padded robes with dex charm and using daggers

Skills I've been getting powershot and double strike to about 50% then pumping salv for heals.

Robes have such bad defense that im considering going full damage armor and just putting vit at 80-90, thoughts?

1. double strike.
2. twohitback
3. Salv

Dex charm obvs
EE weapons obvs

when it comes down to it, you get about an extra 10-35% dmg from a Stat Armor and an extra 100-200% Defense from a Robe.

which one gives you better utility over the long run particularly using Salv? Hands down EE Robe. unless you have insane EE weapons and you can kill enough to have enough shrines to no regen shrine, But you dont.

i still dislike salvation, however if you're getting good results from it, it's not a bad choice.

If i were to climb a monk i'd use
Double strike
Powerstrike
no third.

Vita all the way to 110, basically all starting stats into dex, then every level up stat into vita. Depending on how i'm feeling i might go dex or more vita at level 70.

Monk isn't a lot of fun to solo, my personal suggestion is go back to solo'ing a character which is easier to climb such as barb.
You lose out on progressing through the classes and get easier climbs instead. Finishing at level 71 is much nicer than 77.

Monk is an excellent solo character actually, it's one of the best imo

I love salvation, it's fantastic, but tbh it's only as good as your gear and your heal charm, if your gear and heal are mediocre salvation is pointless and a waste

i go all DS and salvation on solo monk all the way to MQ with stat gear and it's smooth AF, in a difficult event i might switch to an EE padded for the last couple levels but that's it

edit: oh and for vita, you have to pump vita, i go about 90 vita base, sometimes more

This post was edited by ToughGuy_TJ on Nov 20 2020 11:33am

Information below is based on HC only.

Stats: 100 Vita / 50 Intelligence.
Weapon: EE of course.

Armor: Try to make sure that the Tier is as high as your character level and Padded.
#1 Armor: Dex
#2 Armor: Int
... Note: Best would be both Dex / Intelligence
#3 Armor: EE

Why Intelligence? Because you are using Salvation, the more Intelligence = more healing capacity, which you will want.

Main Charm: Best is Dual stat = Dex + Intelligence when using Heal charm in ACC, other option is using your Healing charm in Main slot.
... Charm notes: When using EE Heal charm in ACC slot, you would need at least another 50 intelligence source to basically negate the -25%

Abilities: This is where you are getting hit more often, so the logical choices for Abilities are:

#1 Using only two abilities... Double Strike + Salvation
#2 Retribution + TwoHitBack + Salvation (Charge up on Hits Taken)
#3 TwoHitBack + Salvation (Charge up on Hits Taken) + Double Strike

Your abilities depend on your equipment EE, if you are using anything under 100% EE, then you will need higher charge up % from your abilities, so this means you may ONLY choose 2 abilities instead of 3 ... I never use 3 abilities unless I am in a group run (mind you, from level 25 to MQ I only use a level 25 Heal type charm)

Test these things out for yourself and the way you play... for myself, I only use heavy weapons & only stat armor, so I prefer abilities that charge up with hits taken. I hate the change that DoubleStrike / TwoHitBack where it does not work when only 1 monster is on the screen.

Trying this out and it's working pretty well. How do you split up your ability leveling? I got ds to 58%, then put in salv to 55%, and am now putting more in ds

That's exactly what i do, mainly because of the timing to make salvation useful by the time you get to around lvl 50 when you start using it. You'll be pumping salv for several levels before you really use it just to make it ready for when you need it

Monk is my favorite solo class hands down doublestrike as a natural skill and it has TD detection? Solid base int to make use of a heal in acc with or without salv as an ability (whistle a lvl 1 mob and heal up)!! Slap a tank robe on around the half way point of the climb and go from there

Its really a shame I never get to play one very long. ForeverLock

Took a look at your gear / stats: https://forums.d2jsp.org/user.php?c=3&i=408311&p=528863

Get to 1 more point in DS @ level 60 ... test your healing out after that... I am going to say you MAY want to add another ability point to Salvation by 65. and then rest DS... but that is after looking at your gear / stats.


Level 59 Monk
Core: Original
Life: 1975 / 5273
Mana: 3196 / 3196
Experience: 58,196,332
Strength: 58
Dexterity: 100
Intelligence: 50
Vitality: 95 (85 Base)


Rare ultimanium dagger
Level Req: 55
Damage: 226 to 396
+90% Enhanced Effect
+1% Damage Return

Magical spiderthread padded robe
Level Req: 55
Physical Defense: 0 to 95
Magical Defense: 73 to 182
+80% Enhanced Effect

Mystical lightning IX
Level Req: 30
Spell Damage: 13 to 130
Mana Cost: 69
+32 Dexterity
+10 Vitality
+173 Max Life

Rare focused heal XIII
Level Req: 50
Heals: 177 to 212
Mana Cost: 101
+88% Enhanced Effect
+2% Experience Gained

Thanks for the help