Monk viability at mid to late levels

Ralz

I am really enjoying monks at low level. I really like their feign death to split camps as well. I can also (sort of) tank for groups. At low levels, soloing seems fine.
Can someone with mid to higher level monk experience chime in how these things fare later in the game? Can they still solo and split camps?

Fubsy

You can still split pretty much anything you need to - solo is viable for some things but recently with mitigation changes we seem to take a lot more damage.

At 60 and pretty well geared I can handle most named in places like Grimtide. GF and Lower Saman. It just takes time, a lot of time and patience with a little bit of luck too . As far as soloing for decent exp post 55 probably not.

This class is very viable at the highest levels and a well played monk adds a lot of value to a group, despite the tweaks and adjustments we still need

Ralz

Fubsy thank you for the wonderful reply. I do wonder if the recent mitigation changes are purposeful and here to stay or not.

BobWendal

Just going to echo what Fubs has said. At 58 I've main tanked in most of the high level exp areas with little issue, it's not as good as a plate tank but it works.
With the new tools in the rework splitting groups is extremely easy.
I haven't soloed much since the rework but after this latest patch a light blue is doable but eats most of my hp and cool downs so you would have a lot of down time.
Mitigation changes are here to stay until they decide otherwise, sucks to lose 15% ac from our tank stance as they buff ac and I haven't noticed a difference on the latest agi change myself at 96 agi.

Graves

We've got people in the Fallen Watch thread on the Discord saying that Monks are mandatory there, so I think the class is probably pretty viable.

Ralz

Graves "Mandatory?" That's interesting. Why?

Mesh

Graves
Likely they mean FD pulling is mandatory and more than one class can FD.

Graves

For pulling, yeah. Not to say whether they're right or wrong, just that the sentiment existing at all is interesting and probably a good thing for future Monk mains.

Fubsy

Ralz

Monk FD splitting is really good in FW if you are creative enough. you can do some fun things and save the group a lot of headache - fleet of foot is a godsend indoors. I'm assuming an SK or necro can do a lot of it too, but they do have a cast time and then lull can be used as well but that can always go sideways.

I wouldn't say mandatory but its the path of least resistance.

Ralz

Fubsy This is great! Thanks. I am seriously considering Monk as a main for MAINLY Feign Death. It just seems SO GOOD for avoiding death, soloing, splitting camps, grouping, etc.

JankyJux

How good is Feign Death for corpse runs at mid-high levels?

I'm used to the rogue kit, which is excellent for that sort of thing.

BobWendal

JankyJux A lot worse than the rogue kit, but very doable. Just watch out for those crit fails. You will most likely be pulling around your cool downs to be safe depending on the area.

Fubsy

BobWendal

Yep - especially if you are retrieving your corpse too. The biggest key to monk gameplay in a lot of cases is patience and anticipating that FD is gonna fail so you better have cooldowns ready.

Fidric

Also for monk CR learn how sneak works I guess (hidden behind mobs, less potent range if higher, eg no range if 10 level above you) but not always relevant line of sight in cramped dungeon conditions.

Waffle_Goblin

Monk needs a small race to be viable. Ogre is laughably big, human is boring, and DE looks like they could die of starvation at any given moment.

JankyJux

Waffle_Goblin I would be partial to Dwarf myself. Ashira would be cool too if unlockable via a hidden quest.

Thanks all! Sounds like a lot of rogue skills will translate over. I've played low-level monk & seen some of what you all say.

Fubsy

Fidric

And you can sneak while FD - its a great tool for dropping agro when you can't find a corner or LoS on mobs.

Fell

Mesh No one can FD pull like Monks atm. SKs will die more, and I doubt a necro can even do it there: they'll usually die before they can get the spell off.

BobWendal

Fell yeah monks can do some wacky pulls in there. Had 4 nameds split for my group at osmund/osric/oswin/gravemaster and was able to split a 5th by pulling 3 separate groups together using roots and aoe stuns, then stone stance to tank them until the named caught up. Without the movement speed or instant roots an sk or necro would die halfway down the ramps before even attempting that split.

Unchainedfury

A good necro will utilize lulls and invulnerability to break and pull to camp.

FW should be a SoW'able zone as it is outdoors. Restricting SoW for the sake of testing is one thing, but consistency is important. Not having sow in there limits a camps' pull radius and mob density is still very high, thus limiting actual camps.

Try pulling High Priest to upper Armory (only somewhat safe area nearby).. there's 40 mobs in the way, essentially ensuring a crawl. /shrug