Newb wep/fist question

[Ltldogg5]

<p>Hi all,</p><p>I have checked the new monk FAQ and did a search on the monk forums, but am still confused on this:</p><p>Should I be using weapons or fist?</p><p>Thanks in advance!</p>

[Appollyon]

Before TSO bare fist was an option if you took the STR aa line but after TSO they change the line and removed the bare fist requirement so using no weapon isn't really an option.

[Ltldogg5]

<p>Thanks for the reply.</p><p>Just to clarify, since TSO we can now use both bare hands or weapons going down the STR line, correct?  And in that case, it's more beneficial to use weapons, correct?</p><p>Maybe you can further help me.  I haven't found recent answers for this and it appears TSO changed things.  So I am a pure solo player and planned on going STR 4,4,8 then INT 4,4,8 and finally AGI 4,4,8.  Do you think this is still a viable start for a solo build?</p><p>Thanks again!</p>

[RoguePyro]

<p>Bare hand isn't really an option anymore. Before the STR AA line would give you 98% or so double attack when no items wer equiped in primary slots. Thus it was as if you had two weapons really. With RoK and the massivedly increased availibility of double attack boosts the option became much less attractive. Now that its changed its just.. not an option. Get yourself some fist wraps and go forth and pwn young one.</p><p>As for AA builds, I'm not up on latest solo spec's. Sorry.. if you can't find answer here, there's always the evil website.</p>

[Turb]

<p>STR+INT is still a solid build for levelling.</p><p>When you hit T8, INT loses it's appeal for the *end* ability because mobs hit so hard that 30% of your HP isn't such a 'comfortable' buffer.</p><p>My solo build for monk is 4-8-8-1 in STR and 4-4-8 in INT.    Before T8 it's fine to take INT to the end for the endline ability - you can then pop tsunami for 10-12s of 100% crit on a target.</p><p>This may change with LU51 of course, as our lines are being tweaked somewhat, including 24% AE autoattack in the WIS line.  I understand we're also losing Eagle Spin, which is a very nice spike damage handling tool for us at the moment.</p>

[Ltldogg5]

<p>Thanks RoguePyro and Turb0T for those helpful answers.</p><p>Question for Turb0T:  Are the CA timer decreases per the AGI line not useful in the later levels?</p>

[xKHONSx]

<p>The agility line is very useful.  The third one in the line lowers the reuse on everything (CAs, Heal, Rescue etc).  The second ability in agi line is also very useful because once it is applied you can easily get two CAs in between auto attacks instead of just one.....but this also depends on if you have a good connection with very little lag.</p><p>The stamina line is the only line that is a complete waste of points.  The other four lines have their advantages.  Your build is focused on dps which is good for soloing, but if you plan on tackling some harder mobs here or there you may want to look at some of the avoidance AAs and other survivability AAs in the other trees.  Also I highly recommend Chi as it provides good burst dps and should be quite powerful at lower levels.</p>