Community Monk Guide

From FFXI Wiki

Latest Updates

  • Added Merits and updated JSE Prioritizing Equipment with Emp +2. Xagashi2 (talk) 11 August 2022 (EDT)
  • Added JSE prioritizing of equipment with some most basic recommendation, starting to migrate to new template --Neviskio (talk) 14:57, 31 July 2022 (EDT)
  • Added some alternative sets including Mpaca from various sources that are both more updated and less glass cannon for more difficult content--Neviskio (talk) 23:01, 16 January 2022 (EST)
  • Updated the raging fists and tornado kick sets --Neviskio (talk) 23:30, 16 January 2022 (EST)
  • Added new idle sets, especially one for when you're stunned/terrored/etc "incapacitated" to catch all --Neviskio (talk) 01:21, 25 January 2022 (EST)

General Information

Roles

Monk in current content plays as a heavy dd most of the time, that said there are plenty of opportunities to become a tank for lowman in the right circumstances. Having an easy way to cap subtle blow, monk is desirable for certain fights to limit TP generation of the enemy to prevent annoying or dangeorous tp moves from going off. As an example there's been multiple instances of omen bosses being tanked/soloed by monks and in more recent content such as Odyssey Gaol monk can be seen tanking in certain occasions. With the help of mantra monk is also a great addition to help the survivability of a party when high HP is needed.

Abilities and Traits

  • Boost Enhances the power of your next attack.
    • Should be macro'd with Ask Sash to generate TP prior to fights. Monk's mini Meditate.
    • Can see some really big numbers if you have Verethragna AM3 up. This is a DPS lost and only usefully for a 'ooh' big number moment.
  • Focus Enhances accuracy.
    • Anch. Crown +3 Focus grants an additional 21 accuracy and ranged accuracy if worn for activation.
  • Chakra Cures certain status effects and restores a small amount of HP to user.
    • Anch. Cyclas +3 Increases M by 0.66 and allows Chakra to remove paralysis.
    • Hes. Gloves +3 Increases M by 0.51 and allows Chakra to remove disease and plague.
  • Chi Blast Releases chi to attack an enemy.
    • Hes. Crown Augmented with Adds "Enhances 'Penance' effect". Enhances Penance by increasing Inhibit TP effect by 2% per merit level.
  • Counterstance Increases chance to counter but lowers defense.
    • Hes. Gaiters +3 Increases Counter rate during Counterstance by 21% if worn during activation.
  • Mantra Increases the max HP of party members within area of effect.
  • Formless Strikes While in effect, melee attacks will not be considered physical damage. No effect on weapon skills.
    • Hes. Cyclas Increases duration by 6 seconds per merit level.
  • Inner Strength Increases your maximum HP.
    • Doubles maximum HP for its duration
    • Gives a 100% Counter rate, similar to Perfect Counter, for its duration.
    • Appears to grant a 100% Guard rate as well.

Martial Arts

The amount of Martial Arts needed(Mastered) with magic haste capped and gear haste capped:

Weapon Martial Arts Needed
Spharai 4.56
Glanzfaust 8.16
Verethragna -8.04
Godhands 12.48
Sagitta 6.36

Too much Martial Arts decreases your TP gain. Be aware when setting up your sets. For more info check Attack Speed.

Merits

Merit Points
Name Description Level Notes
Group 1
Focus Recast Shorten recast time by 4 seconds. 0/5 Not worth it.
Dodge Recast Shorten recast time by 4 seconds. 0/5 Not worth it.
Chakra Recast Shorten recast time by 6 seconds. 0/5 Sadly no.
Counter Rate Increase counter attack rate by 1 percent. 5/5 Increases your counter rate when a mob is attacking you. This increases your survivability and damage output.
Kick Attacks Rate Increase kick attack rate by 1 percent. 5/5 More kick attacks = more damage.
Group 2
Mantra Increase the max. HP of party members within area of effect.
Recast: 10min
Increase effect by 4 percent.
4/5~5/5 Stacked with Hes. Gaiters which increases the amount by 2% per merit level, this can gain the party quite a bit of HP for 3 minutes. Very usefully when surviving burst damage.
Note: This does override a DRK's drain effect.
Formless Strikes While in effect, melee attacks will not be considered physical damage. No effect on weapon skills.
Recast: 10min.
Increase effect by 5 percent.
0/5~1/5 Has niche uses such as delve mobs that gain a resistance to that damage type. Allows you to do damage against Invincible mobs.
Invigorate Adds a Regen effect when using Chakra. Increase duration of effect by 24 seconds. 0/5 Used to be good, but with the addition of Trust and idle regen pieces, there is really no need for it.
Penance Adds an effect to Chi Blast that inhibits an enemy's TP accumulation. Increase duration of effect by 20 seconds. 5/5 This along with the the plague from Shijin Spiral with pretty much prevent a mob from gaining TP for about 90 seconds. Use Hes. Crown to increase the effect.

Support Jobs

  • /WAR will be your preferred sub often due to Berserk and the passive 12% Double Attack at Master Level 5.
  • /DRG especially with Super Jump from Master Levels is the preferred Dynamis - Divergence subjob to avoid pulling hate and dying. Keep in mind your damage output will be lowered compared to /WAR but not dying is quite a perk if you don't have a THF stealing hate and Super Jumping themselves or your tank can't keep enmity for whatever reason.
  • /DNC still has the usual utility but it's mainly for being cheap and using Spectral Jig. You'll likely only use it for that

Prioritizing Equipment

Job Specific Equipment
Item Upgrade? Notes

Anchor. Crown +4366px link=
Maybe Macro piece and high acc. Grants an addition +21 accuracy during the 30 second duration of Focus

Anch. Cyclas +4366px link=
Yes, +2 is fine Macro piece and high acc. Increase the potency of Chakra and allows the remove of paralysis. Paired with the Relic gloves +3, the +2 body should be enough to cap your HP.

Anch. Gloves +4366px link=
Maybe Consider only making these if you do not have access to Path B Nyame and are using Spharai/Varga Purnikawa.

Anch. Hose +4366px link=
Maybe Macro piece and high acc. Useful in a very niche counter build.

Anch. Gaiters +4366px link=
Yes Used for when Footwork is up in TP and WS sets.

Hes. Crown +4366px link=
Enhances "Penance" effect
No Macro piece. NQ is fine for the the Penance effect. Consider only making the +4 if you are using Spharai/Varga Purnikawa.

Hesy. Cyclas +4366px link=
Enhances "Formless Strikes" effect
No Macro piece. NQ is fine for macro piece.

Hesy. Gloves +4366px link=
Enhances "Invigorate" effect
Yes Macro piece. Increase the potency of Chakra and allows the remove of disease and plague.

Hesy. Hose +4366px link=
Enhances "Hundred Fists" effect
Maybe If you don't have empy +3 yet they're your go to for TP but otherwise they've been dethroned and are not as relevant anymore. Used as a macro piece for Hundred Fists

Hesy. Gaiters +4366px link=
Enhances "Mantra" effect
Maybe Macro piece for Mantra and Counterstance. Increase your counter % as you upgrade the piece.

Bhikku Crown +3366px link=
Yes Macro piece and a solid DT piece with Subtle Blow. Useful in Hybrid sets

Bhikku Cyclas +3366px link=
Must Best piece to TP in while Impetus is up. Now with WSD (not that it really helps H2H weapon skills).

Bhikku Gloves +3366px link=
Yes Solid PDL piece for when you are attack capped.

Bhikku Hose +3366px link=
Must All hail our new TP legs. Kick Attacks +30 is hard to beat with Store TP +10 and Damage Taken -14%.

Bhikku Gaiters +3366px link=
Yes Solid DT piece and the macro Footwork piece.

Idle Sets

Idle Regen/DT/Regain
Notes:
  • For when strictly out of combat
  • Rao is overkill and totally not needed. Just showing BiS for Idle regen. Ideally you would be using DT gear in those slots.


Idle incapacitated
Notes:
  • When you get stunned/slept/etc. in combat, go full tank!

TP sets

While these are examples of TP set the usual rule to follow is to keep in mind how hard the content is you are doing when deciding what set to use. If the content is not particularly challenging or new you can get away with more glass cannon TP sets. If the content is very recent and dangerous such as odyssey you need to adjust with more tanky sets. Having better supports/more organized groups will help but a dead DD does no damage, so rock those hybrid/dt sets instead of eating dust on the floor with your "theoretical" max best DPS set. Or have good reflexes to macro in your DT sets. Monk has high HP to usually get away with it but if you're new to content try to error on the side of tankiness.


TP Impetus UP
  "Glass" Cannon
Notes:


TP Impetus UP Hybrid
  Mpaca
Notes:


TP Impetus DOWN
  "Glass" Cannon
Notes:


TP Impetus DOWN Hybrid
  Mpaca
Notes:


Old TP Hybrid
Notes:


Old TP Mid Accuracy
Notes:


Old TP Full Accuracy
Notes:

Post-Sortie Sets

At this point of the game, you are more likely fighting some of the hardest mobs in the game. Remember: An alive DD does more damage than a dead one. Be tanky.


Post-Sortie Hybrid
Notes:


Post-Sortie Engaged Set
Notes:


Post-Sortie Capped Subtle Blow Set (Impetus Down)
Notes:


Post-Sortie Capped Subtle Blow Set (Impetus Up)
Notes:

Weaponskill Sets


Victory Smite Impetus UP
Notes:


Victory Smite Impetus DOWN
Notes:


Raging Fists
Notes:


Raging Fists Hybrid
  Mpaca
Notes:


Shijin Spiral Magic Accuracy
Notes:


Shijin Spiral Max Damage
Notes:


Howling Fist
Notes:


Tornado Kick Footwork UP


Tornado Kick Footwork UP
Notes:


Final Heaven
Notes:

Staff Weaponskill Sets

Shell Crusher


Cataclysm
Notes:

Misc. Sets

Capped Counter and DT
Notes: 53% Counter Rate and 50% DT. With mastered Job Points, Monk only needs 53% counter (58% without counter merits) to hit cap.


Counter Options
Notes: 73% Counter and 30%PDT/20%DT. With mastered Job Points, Monk only needs 53% counter (58% without counter merits) to hit cap.


Counterstance


DT


Chakra


Fast Cast