Quarterstaff monk

[Shadowscale]

As it says on the tin, how would one go about optimizing the pathfinder unchained monk to fight exclusively with a quarterstaff?

Any help and ideas at all would be appreciated.

[avr]

Just using a two-handed weapon in a flurry with a decent strength & power attack is a good start. Perfect Strike is something to aim for, I guess.

You can go down the path of tripping with a staff, but it costs a bunch of extra feats for not a lot of benefit over someone using a better weapon for the job, and a lot of stuff is hard or impossible to trip.

Magic staffs tend to be far too expensive compared to magic weapons, but you might get some UMD and carry a second staff eventually. Just to have an odd trick or three available.

Edit: Martial Focus & Cut from the Air/Smash from the Air would seem to be completely appropriate.

[weckar]

A monk fighting with just a quarterstaff?

I think that's a fight the monk may actually win, although I'd still put some money on the quarterstaff...

[Shadowscale]

A monk fighting with just a quarterstaff?

I think that's a fight the monk may actually win, although I'd still put some money on the quarterstaff...

Not going to lie, I laughed.

[Shadowscale]

Just using a two-handed weapon in a flurry with a decent strength & power attack is a good start. Perfect Strike is something to aim for, I guess.

You can go down the path of tripping with a staff, but it costs a bunch of extra feats for not a lot of benefit over someone using a better weapon for the job, and a lot of stuff is hard or impossible to trip.

Magic staffs tend to be far too expensive compared to magic weapons, but you might get some UMD and carry a second staff eventually. Just to have an odd trick or three available.

Edit: Martial Focus & Cut from the Air/Smash from the Air would seem to be completely appropriate.

I couldn't find martial focus. Do you have any other recommendations as well? I'm putting this to a build for pathfinder society. Strength unchained staff monk.

[avr]

I couldn't find martial focus. Do you have any other recommendations as well? I'm putting this to a build for pathfinder society. Strength unchained staff monk.
Martial Focus (http://archivesofnethys.com/FeatDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Martial%20Focus)
Cut from the Air (http://archivesofnethys.com/FeatDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Cut%20from%20the%20Air)

Archives of Nethys suggests that Smash from the Air isn't PFS-legal though. Which is sad because that's the fun part of that little chain.

Difficult Swings (http://archivesofnethys.com/FeatDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Difficult%20Swings) is another Weapon Mastery feat which requires Martial Focus for your monk to use and which might be worthwhile to stop enemies wandering past to attack the squishies.

Dragon Style is handy for getting around in cramped conditions with allies in the way, which I've read is not uncommon in PFS. You'll qualify for it without trying.

[Shadowscale]

Martial Focus (http://archivesofnethys.com/FeatDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Martial%20Focus)
Cut from the Air (http://archivesofnethys.com/FeatDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Cut%20from%20the%20Air)

Archives of Nethys suggests that Smash from the Air isn't PFS-legal though. Which is sad because that's the fun part of that little chain.

Difficult Swings (http://archivesofnethys.com/FeatDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Difficult%20Swings) is another Weapon Mastery feat which requires Martial Focus for your monk to use and which might be worthwhile to stop enemies wandering past to attack the squishies.

Dragon Style is handy for getting around in cramped conditions with allies in the way, which I've read is not uncommon in PFS. You'll qualify for it without trying.

Oh fun, I actually own the physical copy of the weapon master's handbook now I feel dumb.
Why would you say smash from the air isn't legal?

[avr]

Why would you say smash from the air isn't legal?
Archives of Nethys puts that odd icon next to everything PFS-legal. It's not on Smash. Their accuracy is excellent with other stuff, I'd assume they're right about whether material is PFS legal, but you could always check the resources list for PFS yourself to be sure.

[Psyren]

Smash From The Air is not PFS-legal.

Source (http://paizo.com/pathfinderSociety/about/additionalResources)