Psionic Monk (3.5e Optimized Character Build)

Author: Ghostwheel (talk) Date Created: January 23rd, 2010 Status: Complete Editing: Clarity edits only please

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Introduction

A basic example of a psionic monk who gets pumped up and punches his enemies to death.

References

• Expanded Psionics Handbook
• Complete Psionics
• Eberron Campaign Setting
• Secrets of Sarlona
• Tome of Battle
• Races of Faerun
• Complete Warrior
• Sandstorm

Powers

1. Inertial Armor
2. Expansion
3. Vigor
4. Share Pain
5. Force Screen
6. Strength of My Enemy
7. Claws of the Beast
8. Hustle
9. Psionic Lion's Charge
10. Precognition (Offensive)
11. Freedom of Movement (Psionic)
12. Grip of Iron
13. Perfect Riposte
14. Dimension Door (Psionic)
15. Adapt Body
16. Form of Doom

Progression

Race (Templates): Human

ECL	Class/HD/LA	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Feats	Class Features	Special
			Fort	Ref	Will
1st	Monk 1	+0	+2	+2	+2	Improved Grapple, Jotunbrud, Scorpion's Grasp	AC Bonus, Flurry of Blows, Unarmed Strike
2nd	Monk 2	+1	+3	+3	+3	Monastic Training (Psychic Warrior)	Evasion
3rd	Psychic Warrior 1	+1	+5	+3	+3	Psicrystal Affinity (Resolved), Tashalatora
4th	Psychic Warrior 2	+2	+6	+3	+3	Link Power
5th	Psychic Warrior 3	+3	+6	+4	+4
6th	Psychic Warrior 4	+4	+7	+4	+4	Improved Natural Attack (Unarmed Strike)
7th	Psychic Warrior 5	+4	+7	+4	+4	Practiced Manifester
8th	Psychic Warrior 6	+5	+8	+5	+5
9th	Psychic Warrior 7	+6	+8	+5	+5	Improved Natural Attack (Claws)
10th	Psychic Warrior 8	+7	+9	+5	+5	Psionic Meditation
11th	Psychic Warrior 9	+7	+9	+6	+6
12th	Psychic Warrior 10	+8	+10	+6	+6	Multiattack
13th	Psychic Warrior 11	+9	+10	+6	+6	Overchannel
14th	Psychic Warrior 12	+10	+11	+7	+7
15th	Psychic Warrior 13	+10	+11	+7	+7	Expanded Knowledge (Schism)
16th	Psychic Warrior 14	+11	+12	+7	+7	Expanded Knowledge (Metamorphosis)
17th	Psychic Warrior 15	+12	+12	+8	+8
18th	Psychic Warrior 16	+13	+13	+8	+8	Snap Kick
19th	Warshaper 1	+13	+15	+8	+8		Morphic Immunities, Morphic Weapons
20th	Warshaper 2	+14	+16	+8	+8		Morphic Body

Final progression: Monk 2 / Psychic Warrior 16 / Warshaper 2

Items

• Torc of Power Preservation
• Monk's Belt
• Amulet of Mighty Fists

Highlights

Before buffs

• Strength: 36 (+13) = 16 (Base) + 5 (Level) + 5 (Tome) + 6 (Item) + 4 (Morphic Body)
• Dexterity: 20 (+5) = 14 (Base) + 6 (Item)
• Wisdom: 24 (+7) = 16 (Base) + 6 (Item) + 2 (Tome)

After using Metamorphosis to turn into a Firbolg (MM2)

• Strength: 50 (+20) = 36 (Base) + 6 (Item) + 4 (Expansion) + 4 (Morphic Body)
• Dexterity: 15 (+2) = 13 (Base) + 6 (Item) - 4 (Expansion)
• Grapple Modifier: +62 = 14 (BAB) + 4 (Size) + 8 (Expansion) + 20 (Strength) + 12 (Grip of Iron) + 4 (Jotunbrud)
• AC: 66 = 10 (Base) + 14 (Natural) - 1 (Size) - 2 (Expansion) + 7 (Wisdom) + 13 (Inertial Armor) + 8 (Force Screen) + 2 (Dexterity) + 5 (Monk AC bonus) + 5 (Deflection) + 5 (Enhancement to Natural Armor)
• Damage: 16d8+25 (97 on average) = 2d10 (Base) -> 4d8 (Improved Natural Attack) -> 6d8 (Metamorphosis) -> 12d8 (Expansion) -> 16d8 (Morphic Weapons) + 20 (Str) + 5 (Amulet of Mighty Fists)
• Attack Bonus: +41/+41/+41/+41/+36/+31 = 14 (BAB) + 20 (Strength) + 5 (Amulet of Mighty Fists) - 3 (Size) + 7 (Precognition, Offensive) - 2 (Snap Kick)
• Claws of the Beast damage: 24d6 + 15 (99 on average) = 4d6 (Base) -> 6d6 (Improved Natural Attack) -> 8d6 (Metamorphosis) -> 16d6 (Expansion) -> 24d6 (Morphic Weapons) + 10 (Str) + 5 (Amulet of Mighty Fists) at +39/+39
• Average DPR vs. AC 40: 726.65 = 97 * 4 + 97 * 17 / 20 + 97 * 12 / 20 (Unarmed Attack) + 99 * 2 (Claws of the Beast) = 388 + 82.45 + 58.2 + 198

After using Metamorphosis to turn into a Sun Giant (MM2)

• Strength: 51 (+20) = 37 + 6 (Item) + 4 (Expansion) + 4 (Morphic Body)
• Dexterity: 16 (+3) = 14 (Base) + 6 (Item) - 4 (Expansion)
• Grapple Modifier: +66 = 14 (BAB) + 8 (Size) + 8 (Expansion) + 20 (Strength) + 12 (Grip of Iron) + 4 (Jotunbrud)
• AC: 62 = 10 (Base) + 10 (Natural) - 2 (Size) - 2 (Expansion) + 7 (Wisdom) + 13 (Inertial Armor) + 8 (Force Screen) + 3 (Dexterity) + 5 (Monk AC bonus) + 5 (Deflection) + 5 (Enhancement to Natural Armor)
• Damage: 24d8+25 (133 on average) = 2d10 (Base) -> 4d8 (Improved Natural Attack) -> 8d8 (Metamorphosis) -> 16d8 (Expansion) -> 24d8 (Morphic Weapons) + 20 (Str) + 5 (Amulet of Mighty Fists)
• Attack Bonus: +40/+40/+40/+40/+35/+30 = 14 (BAB) + 20 (Strength) + 5 (Amulet of Mighty Fists) - 4 (Size) + 7 (Precognition, Offensive) - 2 (Snap Kick)
• Claws of the Beast damage: 32d6 + 15 (127 on average) = 4d6 (Base) -> 6d6 (Improved Natural Attack) -> 12d6 (Metamorphosis) -> 24d6 (Expansion) -> 32d6 (Morphic Weapons) + 10 (Str) + 5 (Amulet of Mighty Fists) at +38/+38
• Average DPR vs. AC 40: 996.85 = 133 * 4 + 133 * 16/20 + 133 * 11/20 (Unarmed Attacks) + 127 * 2 * 19/20 (Claws of the Beast) = 576 + 106.4 + 73.15 + 241.3

Note: Some DMs may enforce the usual size modifier of creatures despite Expansion's specifications, giving the Firbolg a -4 size modifier from being Gargantuan and the Sun Giant a -8 size modifier from being Colossal. Some characters may not wish to take this extra penalty, which is why both the Firbolg and Sun Giant were statted out above.

Tactics

• Buff up
• Charge (Psionic Lion's Charge)
• Grapplepounce if you like, getting into grapples easily through Scorpian's Grasp
• Make extensive use of Link Power with your buffs to buff faster, as well as Hustle to regain your focus and your psicrystal's extra focus
• Share Vigor with your psicrystal and then use Share Pain on it to effectively double the temporary HP from Vigor
• Empty Mind combined with Link Power can be used to get powers off at the start of your turn

Further Optimization

• Haste and Greater Mighty Wallop are your friends.
• Fanged Ring (Dragon Magazine #308) will let your natural weapons count as one size larger.
• Beast Strike (Dragon Magazine #355) will let you add your Claw damage whenever you make an unarmed strike.

Limitations

• Getting debuffed will ruin your day
• Running out of PP

DM Counters

• Greater dispel targeted on the PsyMonk
• A number of encounters to wear down the PsyMonk's PP
• Concealment, cover, mobility, illusions, etc

Variants

• Psionic Containment will give you an extra psionic focus to use
• Intuitive Attack (BoED) will let you use Wisdom instead of Strength for attack rolls.
• Talented will stop you from taking damage when overchanneling
• Goliaths also work well if you can't access Races of Faerun
• Many of the feats can be switched around or even switched out, making this a rather flexible build
• Be a kalashtar and get a few Quori Shards of Ectoplasmic Fist (Eberron Campaign Setting)
• Be a warforged and get a Battlefist Warforged Component (Eberron Campaign Setting)
• An extra level of Psychic Warrior (at the expense of a level of Monk or Warshaper) can get you Mind Blank (Personal) or Steadfast Perception as a power.

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