Which style paths to choose?


Advice


Hey together, another question for my favorite class - the monk!

Which combat style paths work good for you in practice?
Are the elemental strike buffing style feats worth to take?
Are there combinations with great synergy that REALLY work in your game?

Thanks for answers!

Scarab Sages

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Snake is the best style for DEX or WIS based monks.
Dragon is the best for STR based monks.
Boar is good as an ancillary style to add some extra damage you you have the feat to change styles as a free action or are a Master of Many Styles, but I wouldn't use it as my only style.
Snapping Turtle is great for Tetoris.
Wolf is good for everyone if it's allowed.


A Dexterity focused Flowing Monk using Snake Style. You can get Snake Style at level 4 if at level 4 you take unarmed fighter archetype as a 1 level dip. Basically jump in the middle of the fight (dodge bonus for the number of enemies around you up to your Wisdom modifier), trip them and make AoOs when they stand up, and make AoOs when they attack and miss you. With a high dex and combat reflexes, you should be making lots of AoOs on their turn, and then you get to do flurry and trip on your turn.

The whole build is get a high Sense Motive, high AC and high Dex and as decent trip bonus as you can.


If you want to consider an elemental style, the best bet is Djinni style, IF the damage applies to all electricity attacks and not just those made with elemental fist. Djinni Style is worded differently than the other elemental styles and RAI may be that the bonus only applies to elemental fist attacks like the other elemental style feats, but the other elemental style feats don't force your elemental fist attacks to do that type of elemental damage so RAI might be otherwise - check with your DM. Using a weapon with the shocking attribute and Djinni style would add 1d6+WIS to damage which is not to be sneered at for a high wisdom monk (although last time I saw Djinni style abused this way was to make an OP synthesist even more OP).


Thank you for the answers.

Does someone use Snake style? Is the Sense Motive AC thing really so good. Because to get Snake Fang, these are 3 feats, and the first two don't sound so good to me! I don't know if it's worth?

I read about Wolf. But it seems very situational. How is it in playing practice?

THe Djinni thing sounds interesting!

With the Efreeti style, I read, I will do damage, also if I miss. Okay its 1d6, but it's something! What do you think?


I'm using Snake Style on a Martial Artist right now. At Level 2, I'm rocking 13 Sense Motive; I only have to roll a 4 to outdo my AC.

Granted, I'm a half-elf so I get free Skill Focus, but yeah it a pretty great feat.


I have a kitsune wizard/monk with that style, it is wonderful style.

Shadow Lodge

Crane Style *rimshot*


The first feat in the chain isn't bad for some builds. Aldori swordlords can use it pretty well, for example. You can now skip the second one and go to the third right away to get some extra AoOs.


Hm? I was under the impression that only the Master of Many Styles could skip the second feat in the style chain.

Shadow Lodge

LoneKnave wrote:
The first feat in the chain isn't bad for some builds. Aldori swordlords can use it pretty well, for example. You can now skip the second one and go to the third right away to get some extra AoOs.

Yeah, in fact, the full chain is kinda useful, if you forget how awesome it was before. Its just not useful for Monks, who typically have an insane AC already.

Shadow Lodge

Arachnofiend wrote:
Hm? I was under the impression that only the Master of Many Styles could skip the second feat in the style chain.
Aye, and its a very very common dip for unarmed striking non-monks.
Arachnofiend wrote:

I'm using Snake Style on a Martial Artist right now. At Level 2, I'm rocking 13 Sense Motive; I only have to roll a 4 to outdo my AC.

Granted, I'm a half-elf so I get free Skill Focus, but yeah it a pretty great feat.

Might I ask how you got Snake Style at level 2 on a Martial Artist? From what I can tell, only MoMS and Unarmed Fighters can get it before 3.


Wait, I didn't read that before! But it's right! As MomS I don't have to take the whole style chain! Great, I have to rethink me character (although It's a Talented Monk from Rogue Genius, but it takes the Style Feats like MomS!)
But as EvilPaladin mentioned: I am Lvl 4 and have already an AC of 20. With all buffs, that I can use (Barkskin, Exploit Weakness, Mage Armor from a Wand/friendly Wizard) I have 28, if I spend a Ki Point 32. I must be very lucky to get that with a Sense Motive Check with a bonus of +10.
I am just asking because everywhere I read: Take Snake style, it's a no discussion point, since Crane Wings are nerved now.
For now I have Dragon Style and later Ferocity and want to go three lines to be useful in combat:

1. Damage in general
2. Stunning Fist
3. Trip

So the first two are touched by Dragon Style, no I thought about Mantis or Snake.

mhm...

Sczarni

Aradhel Curunipar wrote:

Hey together, another question for my favorite class - the monk!

Which combat style paths work good for you in practice?
Are the elemental strike buffing style feats worth to take?
Are there combinations with great synergy that REALLY work in your game?

Thanks for answers!

On Paper and Practice, Snake Style/Sidewind/Fang work out insanely well. Nothing feels as good as 12 extra attacks per round that you can sub out with any monk ability like punishing kick, stunning fist, etc. or a combat maneuver :) You can always go straight damage too. Did I mention you still keep your 6+ attacks from a full-attack with FoB too? The only tough part about this, is you can only get Snake Fang at level 9 at the soonest due to the pre-requisites. If you are a MoMS, you can have it by level 2. I recommend a Dex/Wis build for Snake Fang purposes. Also, a Dex/Wis build is literally perfect when using the Flowing Monk Archetype. With that archetype, you'll find it especially easy to flat-foot your opponents, sicken them, and gain an untyped(or dodge) AC bonus for each opponent adjacent to you. It's... beautiful.

Elemental Strike is Meh IMO. It feels like it's really one of those Flavor mechanics, more so than a really helpful one.

Combinations with Great Synergy? Yes, there are.

Take a look at my Monk and Monk/Druid :) Ignore that 3rd sheet though.

If you have any questions, please ask before making assumptions. With these builds, a truly great defense makes a wicked offense.


@Kazumetsa
How do you get 12 extra attacks? So you have a DEX bonus of +6 and have Combat Reflexes? Is it right this way?
Thank you for sharing your builds! But it's hard to get out which boni are because of items and what spells you take as druid! What are the stats? But very interesting indeed! How does Snake Fang synergize with your Druid dips?

Sczarni

12 Extra(just a random and more minimized guess) comes from bonuses to Dexterity.

Let's say I start at level 1 with a +4 modifier, at a total score of 19 Dex after Racials. Throughout my "growth" I put my bonus attribute points all into Dex. Bringing it up to 24(+7 mod) at level 20. Then you add in the incredible belt of dexterity +6, and Huge Air/Fire Elemental(+6) form as well. It brings it up to a total score of 36, leaving me at a a +13 total modifier. Since combat reflexes is a 1+ your Dex Mod(even though mythic combat reflexes is infinite no matter your dex), you would have a total of 14 AoO a round.

You're welcome! Please test one out one day and let me know the results! One-shots included.

Druid and Monk(melee on both) blend together very well in general. The only difference is you're less of a caster in combat with this build, and more aimed towards being martial. Think of the Druid part as purely enhancing your martial abilities(these rolls can certainly be reversed too). Since the Monk is there for his martial controlling prowess, the Druid is there to greatly enhance his ac, attack, and damage. In your different wildshape forms, you can use Unarmed or Natural attacks, and with Feral Combat Training you can interchange them, or use your unarmed damage in place of natural attack damage. Strong Jaw works on both the Monk's Unarmed and any Natural Attacks. You'd hit Colossal sized damage no matter what at some point. His AC would be quite high due to Armor/Shield with Wild Enchantment, Monk's AC bonuses, Druid's Natural Armor and the Barkskin ability(qinggong monk can also get barkskin), then all of the dodge bonus from Dex and deflect from the ring of protection. It can get into the high 70s. The higher your AC means the more attacks you'll likely get to dish out via Snake Fang. Since I kept FoB in this build, the full attack option is still viable and available.
The fantastic saves speak for themselves. As you can see though, the build is quite feat starved, but gets the essentials out of the way.
If you see any "xxxx", those are where I am undecided.

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