A Barbarian Monk Multi-class


Advice


What is the best way to have an unchained Monk/unchained Barbarian Multi-class. I don't have a major preference to which I take more levels in.
I was thinking probably the karmic and savage archetypes for the monk and barbarian respectively. Karmic for bypassing alignment restrictions and savage because I can't wear armor anyway.


As usual, what's best depends on what you actually want. Without knowing what your goals and wishes for the character are, it's absolutely impossible to say what is best.

The main issue for the level distribution is that any levels in the other class will delay or weaken the move-and-full-attack option of the first class. Both classes also have a lot of scaling things, and gain quite a lot of juicy stuff at higher (read: double digit) levels. Thus, an even spread between the classes makes absolutely no sense, but dipping could go both ways (into Monk into Bard for Rage, or Barb into Monk for Flurry).

RAW, unchained Monk can't take Karmic Monk. Either your GM makes an exception, or you should look into Bloodrager.


I don't think this is a good idea tbh-- these classes generally don't really synergize well as it represents significant MAD issues, it really depends on "what your goal is" and what exactly you're trying to create. Karmic Monk and Savage Barbarian both require significant level investment before they get a good toolkit, so I'd say these don't synergize very well-- you're going to end up "not doing either well", if that makes sense. Generally speaking, you want to have fully-fleshed out builds by level 9-13ish. That being said, Umonk8/BarbX for Abundant Step and getting Dimensional Dervish by lvl 13-- maybe Scaled Fist archetype + Power Attack/Cornugon Smash + Cruel Enchant + Intimidating Prowess would synergize well too. Or, only dip 1 level in UMonk for Flurry and go for Pounce at Barb10-- plan on getting Boots of Haste for uber 160ft charge + full attack.

But, if you give more deets, and then I can give better advice. Firstly, what campaign are you doing, and what level does it plan on ending at -ish? Decided/Undecided on Race? What's your Pt. Buy?

And most importantly, what's your end Goal for this character? Do you see yourself maximizing your Move Speed w/ Fast movement, or are you looking for Rage cycling? What's your goal with Flurry of Blows-- is Unarmed Strike going to be your primary attack or are you going to wield a Monk weapon-- or a Great Axe w/ Flurry as a backup if you get disarmed? Do you want to Intimidate?


Pathfinder Starfinder Society Subscriber

Also, what are you trying to get out of each class? If you are going for rage without that temporary Con boost that could kill you when you come out of it, Urban Bloodrager would be an option -- and since the Bloodrager class has no alignment restrictions, your Monk archetype options are wide open. If you want to make Charisma your best mental stat, the Scaled Fist archetype for the Unchained Monk class is a reasonable option.

With that combination, pick one of the classes as your primary class and take just enough levels in the other class to qualify for supporting feats such as Extra Rage or Monastic Legacy.

Another way to combine classes would be to take Unchained Monk all the way and combine it with VMC Barbarian. Since VMC Barbarian does not specify which type of Barbarian you are, you should be free to select the Unchained Barbarian's rage at 3rd level and go on from there.


To answer a couple of the questions, I was mainly looking for the flurry of blows and was considering a small barbarian dip because I like the strength boost you can gain from raging. I've never read the Scaled Fist archetype but I see it recommended a lot in other forms so I've been wanting to try it. My main concern is does it work with the UMonk because I like the style strikes and didn't realize some archetypes don't work with it.


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Critical Assessment wrote:
I've never read the Scaled Fist archetype but I see it recommended a lot in other forms so I've been wanting to try it. My main concern is does it work with the UMonk because I like the style strikes and didn't realize some archetypes don't work with it.

Scaled Fist is one of the few archetypes that are compatible with unMonk. Here is the full list, no other cMonk archetype works for it, not even those that you wouldn't even need to adjust.

However, unless you have a reason to take it (e.g. a race with cha bonus and wis penalty), I would advice against Scaled Fist - it's a downgrade compared to regular unMonk, and prevents taking one of the better archetypes.

If you're just looking for a dip for Rage, Bloodrager is clearly better than Barbarian. Going cMonk is not really an options for an ordinary damage-focussed Monk build, you'd loose too much.
A Bloodrager dip is indeed he only dipping or multiclassing I can at least somewhat recommend for an unMonk. The /VMC David knott 242 mentioned is a possibility, and is a perfectly viable and competitive build path, but you shouldn't expect it to be some amazing damage boost above and beyond what you could otherwise do with those feats.


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There are only a very few ways to do so.
The easiest is to take levels of bloodrager instead of barbarian.
Then there is taking a couple of levels of monk, changing alignment and the rest in barbarian.
Lastly you can be an Idylkin Aasimar with the enlightened warrior trait. This allows you to be neutral or neutral good as a monk, which still allows you to rage as a barbarian. And you can progress in monk at your leisure.

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