A bit off topic but it honestly baffles me how so may people think Rangers (pre tasha) were worse than Monks (pre tasha), guess Mike Mearls was right that people compare classes based on nova damage and lucky things than consistency
Kholo make great Wolf Stance grapple monks with their Crunch ancestry skill.you can also pair it with Absorb Strength to take a chunk out of an enemy you just killed for temp hp. Then tack on Wolf Drag for a combo trip/grapple.
My two problems with Monks (playing one atm) is that you can't build a Ki monk, but can only build a monk with a bit of Ki abilities due to the 3 total cap limit of Focus pools, and that you have to take Ki strike or Ki rush at first level to gain the prequisite Ki Spells, rather than picking a spell at any feat level and have that open up the focus pool. Otherwise I'm really enjoying my monk!
It's definitely a bit odd, but I think the way they intend "Ki Monks" to play in 2e is to take the "Wild Winds" stance at 8th level and then fight by shooting energy at range, but I understand the complaint. I love the focus system as far as most game mechanics, but it does limit the Monk's ability to rely solely on Ki as their primary combat style.
@@Nonat1s it just seems very odd they would create a template for something that doesn't exist. In a reply to the other comment talking about this (sorry my bad ! Ishould've checked if someone else had posted about it first!) My guess is there may be something in ultimate magic that allows it. Though I do take your point with the stances, and it seems they have created more with the APG, it's less about how you punch, and more the amount of focus points to spellcast with. If they wanted the monk to be martial with focus abilities, any focus ability feat should remove the prerequisite. As it stands, it feels like you are a below average monk and spellcaster till 8th, and then you become am average monk and a below level spellcaster. If I was home brewing, I'd either remove the prerequisite and say any focus point feat gives you a focus pool, or have a feat at 2nd which ups the cap at 8 to 6 focus points and at 16 to nine focus points.
Aww, that was a short one. Anyways, here's my thoughts on the Monk so far: I got really excited when I saw what they did with the rogues and how you now had the option of choosing how your Rogue would fontion: the typical Dex Thief, the Strength thug or the Charisma Scoundrel. That was amazing! I thought similar flexibility would be given to other classes, like the Monk, maybe this will bring back the Brawler if you grab the path for it, or make the Monk a fun and interesting class to play... Alas, it was not to be.
I would argue Monks have more flexibility than most classes because they don't have to be limited to some specific subset of class. They get to free build the class as they want. You never once have to touch Ki if you don't want to. You could build a grapple/maneuver focused character, a pure martial martial type, it's all up to how you want to do it. Crushing Grab, Flurry of Maneuvers, Whirling Throw, Mixed Maneuver, Knockback Strike, Sleeper Hold, Improved Knockback, lots of fun options if you want something less monk flavored. Could even call yourself a Brawler. Of course, if that's not enough, at least one of the archetypes in the Advanced Player's Guide is focused around hand to hand combat.
I actually think they've done just as well for monk! While rogues get the rackets, monks get Stances and Ki. Strength based monk? Mountain or Dragon stance. Dex based monk? Monastic weaponry or Tiger/Wolf stance? Wisdom based monk? Ki spells. There's really so many different ways to build this class.
@@Nonat1s as someone who is always ridiculed for having a powerful character in 5e, i love the idea of making a mega character in 2e and not being as ridiculed, and these vids help a lot! Heheheh
So a question about monks, from how I see the "powerful fist" feature is that only your fists are effected by this feature as pathfinder seems to be very specific on attacks. Like you can't use a greatsword like a longsword for example they aren't interchangeable. So my question is how do you head butt with a monk? Or knee or elbow by the rules? Would all of those just be at 1d4 unarmed attack? I'm more looking for information in the rulebook rather than what a DM would interpret the at his table.
"fist" is just a generic term for any kind of unarmed attack. For example dragon stance is built around kicks it would be useless if "powerful fist" only applied to their hands.
I guess after watching this I feel better about turning my 5e monk into a pathfinder 2e monk. at the very least the penalty to flurry of blows is not as harsh as I thought.
I honestly hate the monk as written. Their abilities do not lend themselves to good action enonomy, their attacks do not scale well as levels progress except for Ki Strike, which is a one off ability. In my games i have made some changes to then that make them scale much better. Proficiencies: Monks begin trained in all simple and martial weapons with the monk trait, and Expert in unarmed strikes. Monastic Weaponry: you are now expert in all simple and martial weapons with the Monk trait. Ki Strike: Duration is sustained up to 1-minute. This scales their damage with other martial classes. These changes both fix their action economy as well as scale their damage with other martial classes.
Only gripe I have about this is while yes, both flurry blows count towards your multiple attack penalty, you don't apply them until after both blows. Otherwise great vid!
It does apply to each strike. It says that you apply them normally. If it would apply after the strikes, it would say so, like with Fighter's Double Slice
My biggest disappointment is that a Ki-based Monk doesn't feel very Ki-based in 2E. Because they have to share the Focus Spell system with other casters, they pretty much get to do one Ki-related thing per fight. This dissonance isn't felt in other classes with Focus Spells, because they can cast real spells. Only the Scorching Ray Monk who wants to fire Kamehameha waves suffers only regaining one FP up till Level 12 when they can finally... regain two FPs per encounter and cast two Scorching Rays? I really hope APG tries to address this with a Class Archetype of some kind just to make the build more viable. Even something as simple as give the Monk Cantrips so they don't feel punished for trying to have decent Wisdom for spells. Otherwise, even if you try to build a Ki Monk, you'll find you still end up punching with your fists 95% of the time. Otherwise, I am happy with the current flexibility of feats available. But that Ki Monk build that I love... not quite there. That or Paizo releases Kineticist and you can at least live out your Avatar the last Airbender Fantasy fulfilment.
It's actually not too hard to achieve 3 Focus Points as a monk, and they can achieve this by as early as 6th level by taking "Wholeness of Body" and "Ki Blast". The feat you're interested in, though, is definitely "Wild Winds Initiate". This unlocks a "Ki-Specific" feat that allows the monk to make "Crashing Winds" unarmed strikes which fire projectiles of wind with a 30ft. range as unarmed strikes! It definitely takes a few levels, but the Ki-Monk has a solid amount of support within the current feats! (Though even more in the APG would be freaking rad)
I forgot to add that "Wild Winds Initiate" grants the "Wild Winds Stance". It costs 1 focus point to activate, but then the monk has full access to the "Crashing Winds" attacks for the entire fight (or until they die/switch stances)
@@Nonat1s You can achieve 3 Focus Points relatively early on, but the Refocus activity still only restores 1 Focus Point after an encounter regardless of how many you used in the fight until you pick up Meditative Focus Feat at Level 12. I actually wished they offered this feat at an earlier level than the caster classes since it wouldn't imbalance the Monk by comparison due to how much more reliant they would be on Focus Points compared to the caster classes. Also since you get capped at 3 FP, if you were used to the decently large Ki pool you got in 1E, it's feels bad that the shtick that you hoped to define your character is capped more heavily than other themed builds. I could see a mid-level feat in the future that allows a Monk to once or twice per day spend an action or two to regain a Focus Point. The Wild Winds Initiate is definitely a great stance for a Spiritual Ki Monk theme but it doesn't appear until Level 8. Building out the Ki Monk and playing it leaves a bit to be desired if you were used to a dedicated Ki build from 1E, or an Elemental Monk from 5E. There are some parts there, but it's not quite all the way there. It's something I hope they eventually address in a supplemental release or hopefully the APG. This is comparatively to other Monk builds available which feel far more solid by comparison.
@@luminousmage damn I just posted this same complaint! Oops should have read down further. Playing a monk I totally agree, feels like there should be a first level or second level feat which expands your focus pool at certain levels, allowing for a more spell orientated Ki Monk. Like 3 total till level 8, 6 total till level 16, max 9 total. Call it Spiritual Awakening or something. My guess is Pazio is waiting until ultimate magic, then will charge you for Ki Monk DLC...
I have a question about monastic weaponry. Does it apply to the fighting fan? It has the uncommon trait. If not, how does one become trained with a fighting fan. A player is using wanderer's guide app to make a monk with that feat and weapon, and we cannot get it to apply any bonus aside from dex mod. Made me think the feat doesn't work for the fan because it is not simple or martial.
Don't get me wrong I will be allowing them to add the bonus anyways, because it is the entire reason the feat was chosen, but I was curious for the RAW of the issue.
In Wanders Guide I Click the + by attack and add the specific weapon proficiency. Since weapon is Martial and has monk trait you should be trained in it with feat.
Either by taking future monk feats that grant more focus points, or taking an archetype like "Blessed One" that grant focus points. Just remember that, no matter how many feats grants focus points, you can never have more than 3.
Well, they definitely treat Monks way better in this game than in D&D 5e from what I can see and what I've heard
A bit off topic but it honestly baffles me how so may people think Rangers (pre tasha) were worse than Monks (pre tasha), guess Mike Mearls was right that people compare classes based on nova damage and lucky things than consistency
Sounds like a skill issue
This is awesome, my brother is currently trying to make a slow STR based mushroom(leshy) monk and this is gonna be really useful for him
Oh that's awesome!! I want to see a Mountain-Stance leshy just pound people into the ground lol. Thanks for watching!
People are here to talk about pathfinder not how untrusting you are, so too answer you question, no one gives a shit
Kholo make great Wolf Stance grapple monks with their Crunch ancestry skill.you can also pair it with Absorb Strength to take a chunk out of an enemy you just killed for temp hp. Then tack on Wolf Drag for a combo trip/grapple.
My two problems with Monks (playing one atm) is that you can't build a Ki monk, but can only build a monk with a bit of Ki abilities due to the 3 total cap limit of Focus pools, and that you have to take Ki strike or Ki rush at first level to gain the prequisite Ki Spells, rather than picking a spell at any feat level and have that open up the focus pool. Otherwise I'm really enjoying my monk!
It's definitely a bit odd, but I think the way they intend "Ki Monks" to play in 2e is to take the "Wild Winds" stance at 8th level and then fight by shooting energy at range, but I understand the complaint.
I love the focus system as far as most game mechanics, but it does limit the Monk's ability to rely solely on Ki as their primary combat style.
@@Nonat1s it just seems very odd they would create a template for something that doesn't exist. In a reply to the other comment talking about this (sorry my bad ! Ishould've checked if someone else had posted about it first!) My guess is there may be something in ultimate magic that allows it. Though I do take your point with the stances, and it seems they have created more with the APG, it's less about how you punch, and more the amount of focus points to spellcast with. If they wanted the monk to be martial with focus abilities, any focus ability feat should remove the prerequisite. As it stands, it feels like you are a below average monk and spellcaster till 8th, and then you become am average monk and a below level spellcaster. If I was home brewing, I'd either remove the prerequisite and say any focus point feat gives you a focus pool, or have a feat at 2nd which ups the cap at 8 to 6 focus points and at 16 to nine focus points.
@@Merc1987 I know this is two months late, but I just wanted to say, that I like that idea! (The feat that ups the focus pool cap)
@@kelvinphillips7140 Hey no worries! I don't know if it would break the game, but it'd be interesting at least!
@@Merc1987 True! Also, it would give more to those who like a Ki-Monk build something to work with.
These videos are very cool brother! Appreciate you taking the time to do them :-)
I appreciate you watching!! Thanks so much!
I hope you do a lengthy Monk Class guide.
Aww, that was a short one. Anyways, here's my thoughts on the Monk so far:
I got really excited when I saw what they did with the rogues and how you now had the option of choosing how your Rogue would fontion: the typical Dex Thief, the Strength thug or the Charisma Scoundrel. That was amazing! I thought similar flexibility would be given to other classes, like the Monk, maybe this will bring back the Brawler if you grab the path for it, or make the Monk a fun and interesting class to play... Alas, it was not to be.
I would argue Monks have more flexibility than most classes because they don't have to be limited to some specific subset of class. They get to free build the class as they want. You never once have to touch Ki if you don't want to. You could build a grapple/maneuver focused character, a pure martial martial type, it's all up to how you want to do it.
Crushing Grab, Flurry of Maneuvers, Whirling Throw, Mixed Maneuver, Knockback Strike, Sleeper Hold, Improved Knockback, lots of fun options if you want something less monk flavored. Could even call yourself a Brawler.
Of course, if that's not enough, at least one of the archetypes in the Advanced Player's Guide is focused around hand to hand combat.
I actually think they've done just as well for monk! While rogues get the rackets, monks get Stances and Ki. Strength based monk? Mountain or Dragon stance. Dex based monk? Monastic weaponry or Tiger/Wolf stance? Wisdom based monk? Ki spells. There's really so many different ways to build this class.
@@Nonat1s Ah... I didn't realize that. Good to know!
@Kai Houston You forget the uncommon "Cha Monk" who simply brews tea for his enemies and talks them down from a fight.
@@Nonat1s Hell, even Constitution Monks
My minmax senses are tingling >:D
Pathfinder 2nd Edition brings out the min-maxer in all of us lol. There's so many crazy builds you can make with just the core rules.
@@Nonat1s as someone who is always ridiculed for having a powerful character in 5e, i love the idea of making a mega character in 2e and not being as ridiculed, and these vids help a lot! Heheheh
Playing an Orc Luchador Monk of the Mountain style for a lvl 5 one shot next week. I look forward to suplexing vampires like a boss.
So a question about monks, from how I see the "powerful fist" feature is that only your fists are effected by this feature as pathfinder seems to be very specific on attacks. Like you can't use a greatsword like a longsword for example they aren't interchangeable.
So my question is how do you head butt with a monk? Or knee or elbow by the rules? Would all of those just be at 1d4 unarmed attack?
I'm more looking for information in the rulebook rather than what a DM would interpret the at his table.
"fist" is just a generic term for any kind of unarmed attack. For example dragon stance is built around kicks it would be useless if "powerful fist" only applied to their hands.
I guess after watching this I feel better about turning my 5e monk into a pathfinder 2e monk. at the very least the penalty to flurry of blows is not as harsh as I thought.
I honestly hate the monk as written. Their abilities do not lend themselves to good action enonomy, their attacks do not scale well as levels progress except for Ki Strike, which is a one off ability. In my games i have made some changes to then that make them scale much better.
Proficiencies:
Monks begin trained in all simple and martial weapons with the monk trait, and Expert in unarmed strikes.
Monastic Weaponry: you are now expert in all simple and martial weapons with the Monk trait.
Ki Strike: Duration is sustained up to 1-minute. This scales their damage with other martial classes.
These changes both fix their action economy as well as scale their damage with other martial classes.
Only gripe I have about this is while yes, both flurry blows count towards your multiple attack penalty, you don't apply them until after both blows. Otherwise great vid!
It does apply to each strike. It says that you apply them normally. If it would apply after the strikes, it would say so, like with Fighter's Double Slice
It doesn’t say apply the multiple attack penalty to each strike it says to the strikes as a whole.
Coming into this late. Sounds like we need another unchained Monk lol
you don't need wisdom unless you plan to use ki powers that is one of your options. so only need if you plan to go that way.
My biggest disappointment is that a Ki-based Monk doesn't feel very Ki-based in 2E. Because they have to share the Focus Spell system with other casters, they pretty much get to do one Ki-related thing per fight. This dissonance isn't felt in other classes with Focus Spells, because they can cast real spells. Only the Scorching Ray Monk who wants to fire Kamehameha waves suffers only regaining one FP up till Level 12 when they can finally... regain two FPs per encounter and cast two Scorching Rays? I really hope APG tries to address this with a Class Archetype of some kind just to make the build more viable. Even something as simple as give the Monk Cantrips so they don't feel punished for trying to have decent Wisdom for spells. Otherwise, even if you try to build a Ki Monk, you'll find you still end up punching with your fists 95% of the time.
Otherwise, I am happy with the current flexibility of feats available. But that Ki Monk build that I love... not quite there. That or Paizo releases Kineticist and you can at least live out your Avatar the last Airbender Fantasy fulfilment.
It's actually not too hard to achieve 3 Focus Points as a monk, and they can achieve this by as early as 6th level by taking "Wholeness of Body" and "Ki Blast". The feat you're interested in, though, is definitely "Wild Winds Initiate". This unlocks a "Ki-Specific" feat that allows the monk to make "Crashing Winds" unarmed strikes which fire projectiles of wind with a 30ft. range as unarmed strikes! It definitely takes a few levels, but the Ki-Monk has a solid amount of support within the current feats! (Though even more in the APG would be freaking rad)
I forgot to add that "Wild Winds Initiate" grants the "Wild Winds Stance". It costs 1 focus point to activate, but then the monk has full access to the "Crashing Winds" attacks for the entire fight (or until they die/switch stances)
@@Nonat1s You can achieve 3 Focus Points relatively early on, but the Refocus activity still only restores 1 Focus Point after an encounter regardless of how many you used in the fight until you pick up Meditative Focus Feat at Level 12. I actually wished they offered this feat at an earlier level than the caster classes since it wouldn't imbalance the Monk by comparison due to how much more reliant they would be on Focus Points compared to the caster classes. Also since you get capped at 3 FP, if you were used to the decently large Ki pool you got in 1E, it's feels bad that the shtick that you hoped to define your character is capped more heavily than other themed builds. I could see a mid-level feat in the future that allows a Monk to once or twice per day spend an action or two to regain a Focus Point.
The Wild Winds Initiate is definitely a great stance for a Spiritual Ki Monk theme but it doesn't appear until Level 8. Building out the Ki Monk and playing it leaves a bit to be desired if you were used to a dedicated Ki build from 1E, or an Elemental Monk from 5E. There are some parts there, but it's not quite all the way there. It's something I hope they eventually address in a supplemental release or hopefully the APG. This is comparatively to other Monk builds available which feel far more solid by comparison.
@@luminousmage damn I just posted this same complaint! Oops should have read down further. Playing a monk I totally agree, feels like there should be a first level or second level feat which expands your focus pool at certain levels, allowing for a more spell orientated Ki Monk. Like 3 total till level 8, 6 total till level 16, max 9 total. Call it Spiritual Awakening or something. My guess is Pazio is waiting until ultimate magic, then will charge you for Ki Monk DLC...
Pissed that they don’t get expert
According to the stances, it says unarmoured (wearing no armour) rather than unarmed (empty handed) Is it just me 🤔🤨?
I have a question about monastic weaponry.
Does it apply to the fighting fan? It has the uncommon trait. If not, how does one become trained with a fighting fan.
A player is using wanderer's guide app to make a monk with that feat and weapon, and we cannot get it to apply any bonus aside from dex mod.
Made me think the feat doesn't work for the fan because it is not simple or martial.
Help me Nonat, you're our only hope.
Don't get me wrong I will be allowing them to add the bonus anyways, because it is the entire reason the feat was chosen, but I was curious for the RAW of the issue.
In Wanders Guide I Click the + by attack and add the specific weapon proficiency. Since weapon is Martial and has monk trait you should be trained in it with feat.
❤
Can anyone tell me how I can increase the focus pool of the monk to perform other spells like wholebody
Either by taking future monk feats that grant more focus points, or taking an archetype like "Blessed One" that grant focus points. Just remember that, no matter how many feats grants focus points, you can never have more than 3.