Pathfinder monk weapons.

[Idea7366]

I was looking at monks and their weapons and something that i was wondering is if weapons such as the brass knuckles or even if the gauntlets scaled with the monks unarmed damage.

I believe its unlikely that the brass knuckles do as they are considered light weapons but they do the same damage as an average characters unarmed strike just made lethal.

[CharonsHelper]

No - there is a specific FAQ saying that they do not scale with monk damage. If you want unarmed scaling damage then you have to actually fight unarmed.

[Hunter Noventa]

Yep, it's one of the larger problems with monks, that their options for overcoming DR are limited, even as their Ki Strike improves.

I'd be in favor of a feat that lets a monk use their unarmed progression with a single type of monk weapon myself.

[Psyren]

FYI - the Ascetic Strike (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/ascetic-strike-combat) style chain feat will grant you (slightly reduced) unarmed scaling with any monk weapon. Alternatively, you can play a Brawler for Close Weapon Mastery or a Warpriest for Sacred Weapon, both of which have scaling damage with non-unarmed weapons built in.\


Yep, it's one of the larger problems with monks, that their options for overcoming DR are limited, even as their Ki Strike improves.

Overcoming DR is actually very easy in PF; a flat enhancement bonus on your weapon will do it. (+3 beats silver/cold iron, +4 beats adamantine, and +5 beats alignment.) Ranged weapon users can also pick up Clustered Shots.

[CharonsHelper]

Yep, it's one of the larger problems with monks, that their options for overcoming DR are limited, even as their Ki Strike improves.

Just take Pummeling Style and DR doesn't matter much anymore.

The other big disadvantage of unarmed is the increased enchantment cost, but you can just do the Allying weapon trick. Use the Amulet of Mighty Fists for specials (Agile/Flaming/etc.) and carry an Allying weapon for pure enchantment.

Basically just carry an Allying cestus, and as you are your own ally, have it boost your foot or fist. Eventually you get enchantments cheaper than a normal martial does. (Some GMs may make you burn an iterative on the cestus, but by level 6-8 you have an iterative to burn, or you could potentially use an Allying Body Wrap of Mighty Strikes if you really want to, but you don't save as much $ that way, and it uses up your body slot.)

[Psyren]

While you can do that, you might as well just use the Cestus at that point. Sure it'll have less base damage than your IUS (at least, without the style chain mentioned above), but you'll save yourself the +1 you'd need for Allying on it that you could put somewhere else.


Allying Body Wrap of Mighty Strikes

This is a neat trick :smallbiggrin:

[Kurald Galain]

Basically just carry an Allying cestus, and as you are your own ally, have it boost your foot or fist. Eventually you get enchantments cheaper than a normal martial does. (Some GMs may make you burn an iterative on the cestus,

The GMs would be quite correct to have you burn an iterative on the cestus, because the text for allying weapon says you have to use that weapon when transfering its bonus. The body wrap gets around that restriction, but it works only a few times per round (allying doesn't override that restriction).

Still a nice trick though, although having Greater Magic Weapon / Fang cast on you may be easier.

[Psyren]

The GMs would be quite correct to have you burn an iterative on the cestus, because the text for allying weapon says you have to use that weapon when transfering its bonus. The body wrap gets around that restriction, but it works only a few times per round (allying doesn't override that restriction).

It's a GM call actually - Allying says:

"The bonus to the ally's weapon lasts until the allying weapon's wielder's next turn."

which seems to override the Bodywrap's restriction.


Still a nice trick though, although having Greater Magic Weapon / Fang cast on you may be easier.

Those won't beat DR (other than Magic).

[NightbringerGGZ]

Don't forget that while the Monk maintains at least one point of Ki his unarmed strikes bypass various types of DR, dependent upon his level.

In addition to the other options for scaling weapon damage, a Fighter can pick up Focused Weapon at level 5 to gain scaling damage dice. You can build a very good brawler type character as a Fighter if you're interested in that type of build.