Beginner Guide: Monk
Master of Body and Mind
Why play a Monk?
Because at least in a game you can get away with trying to parry a sword with your fist.
Monks are highly mobile melee damage dealers who specialize in rapid attacks.
Through their three stances, Monks can change the way they approach battle.
- Sun Style: Increase Offense, for regular damage
- Moon Style: Increase Dodge and Block, for off-tanking
- Wind Style: Increase Movement Speed, for mobility and exploration
When you use your Celestial Strike ability, it will deal damage but also give you additional effects based on the stance.
- Celestial Sun Strike: Deal additional magic damage
- Celestial Moon Strike: Further increase block chance and reduce physical damage taken
- Celestial Wind Strike: Grant you a chance to hit twice for a duration
For mobility, Monks gain both Flying Kick as a gap closer and Fleet of Foot for a short duration sprint. Double-Handed Strike gives them a knockback with movement speed reduction and Pinning Throw allows them to immobilize an enemy.
Monks have access to the Feign Death skill, which guarantees they can escape from nearly any poorly thought out engagement.
Monks perform decently when solo, being able to stun with both Sweeping Kick and Hundred Fists. And again Feign Death will allow them to escape fights that do not go in their favour.
In groups, Monks are primarily there to provide damage, with a bit of off-tanking should the situation call for it.
When out in the world, Monks are able to gain several beneficial effects through their mastery of their bodies, of which only one can be active at once (until higher levels).
- Spiritual Sustenance: Reduces food and drink consumption
- Slow Breathing: Allows you to stay underwater longer
- Falling Petal: Reduce falling damage
- Ascendant Body: Allows you to activate all three aspects of body mastery at once.
In closing, choose Monk if you are really into the class of playing a person who has mastered their body and mind, who likes doing damage, prefers simple stance switching mechanics and who likes having access to a wide variety of short duration crowd control.
The full official deep dive on Monks can be found [here].
Starter Quest: Night Harbor
Before we begin: You can always reference what NPCs have told you by accessing your journal (default key: J) and you can always ask follow up questions to them by simply targeting them and writing in Say chat, as if they were players. For instance: “Where can I find [key word]?”
A full list of beginner tips can be found [here].
Open your inventory and memorize any spells you might’ve started with, then read the Humble Note.
Directions to: Chahaya Tam
Enter Night Harbor through the West Gate in front of you and continue down the road in front of you until you reach Seabreeze Park. Head down into the park and turn slightly to the right, crossing the park diagonally until you reach a doorway in the wall. Head through the door and circle around to the right until you reach the stairs. Go up the stairs and inside the build, around circular pit and down the stairs opposite the entrance. Follow the stone tunnel and walk along the ledge until you reach the area with the blue floor, then continue on a little further and head down into the sparring area where Chahaya Tam stands.
Hand Chahaya your Humble Note and she will hand you a Fourfold Sash and ask you to spar with the nearby Monks.
Interaction with: Sparring Monk
Equip the Fourfold Sash.
Hail (default key: H) one of the nearby sparring monks.
“Let’s spar!”
Once you have defeated three, return to Chahaya and hand her three Training Emblems along with your Fourfold Sash to gain the First Degree Fourfold Sash.
Chahaya will ask you to venture outside of Night Harbor to fight the Ashira and claim three of their Scouts’ necklaces.
Location of: Ashira Scouts
Head out the West Gate and follow the cobblestone road and you should see Ashira Scouts on either side of the road before you enter Shaded Dunes.
Gather three Ashira Scout Necklaces from them and return to Chahaya to hand them in along with your First Degree Fourfold Sash, which she will upgrade to a Second Degree Fourfold Sash.
Hand Chayaha your Second Degree Fourfold Sash and she will ask you to head out into the Shaded Dunes to find the Waterfall of Serenity, as well as an Elixir of Mental Focus you are to drink when you find it.
Directions to: Waterfall of Serenity
Exit Night Harbor through the West Gate and follow the cobblestone road until you enter Shaded Dunes. Continue along the cobblestone road until you pass the last of the ruins on your right, then turn left and you should see the palms of the oasis where the waterfall is. Head towards it and go near the waterfall until the message “The serene waterfall gently flows down the dune into the oasis below. It seems to match Chahaya's description.” appears. Make sure you are standing on solid ground and not in the water and drink the elixir. Do not fight back, simply wait it out.
Return to Chahaya and hand the medallion you were given along with your belt to her and she will give you a Third Degree Fourfold Sash.
Starter Quest: Ail’vorith
Before we begin: You can always reference what NPCs have told you by accessing your journal (default key: J) and you can always ask follow up questions to them by simply targeting them and writing in Say chat, as if they were players. For instance: “Where can I find [key word]?”
A full list of beginner tips can be found [here].
Open your inventory and memorize any spells you might’ve started with, then read the Imbued Parchment.
Location of: Head Toilmaster
Toilmaster Verrith can be found right behind you.
Hand him the note and he will ask you to find a working pickaxe.
Location of: Slave Pickaxe
They can be found in the crate just behind him. Write “/take pickaxe” to acquire one.
Hand the pickaxe to Verrith and he will tell you to go mine a stock of 20 rocks in the old quarry across the pond.
Directions to: Old Quarry
Turn left from Verrith and swim across the water towards the fire in the distance. Equip your pickaxe and mine 20 Fragile Quarry Rocks from the veins in the small cave.
Return to Verrith and hand him the rocks and the pickaxe. He will then ask you to bring the Pack of Stone to Supplier Jul within the foreign quarter. The weight of the pack will slow you down.
Directions to: Supplier Jul (from Head Toilmaster Verrith)
Head up the ramp next to Verrith and head across the bridge, into the foreign quarter. Once you enter, turn left and enter the first building on your left to find Supplier Jul.
Hand him the Pack of Stone and he will ask you to forge the sharpening stones that Verrith wants.
Interaction with: Supplier Jul
“I will do it.”
Directions to: Smithing House (from Supplier Jul)
Learn the recipe he gave you, use the command “/take stones” twice to take ten rocks, just so that you have spares, and head towards the smithing house. Exit Jul’s shop and turn right. Continue forwards through the gate and turn left before crossing the bridge. Follow along the edge and head down the small ramp, continue along and enter the last house on the left and take the first right to find the smithing house.
Right-click the grinding stone and make five Fragile Sharpening Stones. Place all five sharpening stones within the Sharpening Stone Satchel and press combine, then return to Jul and hand him the Full Sharpening Stone Satchel.
After talking to Jul, return to Verrith and hand him the Sharpening Stone Delivery Satchel.
Interaction with: Toilmaster Verrith
“Yes, I did.” / “No, I did not.”
“I am prepared.”
Verrith will then ask you to acquire six items:
- 2x bone chips
- 2x myconid caps
- 2x deep beetle legs
Locations of: Skeletons, Myconids & Beetles
Skeletons, myconids and deep beetles can all be found nearby to where Verrith is, as well as across the bridge past the beginner enemies. Small beetles can also drop the legs required,
Place all six items within the Leather Hunting Satchel that Verrith gave you and press combine. Return to Verrith and hand him the Filled Leather Hunting Satchel. He will give you a Satchel of Questionable Spoils and ask you to bring it to Vashuk, the cook at the inn, in the foreign quarter.
Direction to: Foreign Quarter Inn's Kitchen (from Head Toilmaster Verrith)
Cross the bridge and enter the foreign quarter, then turn right and enter the house after the fountain on the right. Cross the dining hall and enter the hallway slightly to the right. Head down the stairs until you enter the downstairs dining area, then turn right and enter the kitchen.
Hand Cook Vashuk the Sacthel of Questionable Spoils then return to Verrith.
Interaction with: Toilmaster Verrith
“Yes, I wish to rejoin the Houses.”
Verrith will send you to see Provost Xan’shorn within the Obsidian Academy to deliver his recommendation.
Directions to: Provost Xan'shorn (from Head Toilmaster Verrith)
Enter the foreign quarter and Provost Xan’shorn will be right next to the academy entrance to slightly to the left, as he wanders a bit.
Hand Xan’shorn the Toilmaster’s Recommendation and he will ask you to speak to the representatives of the seven houses within Ail’vorith.
- Vael’xirith
House Vael'xirith accepted classes & directions
Recruits Archers and Rangers.
Laren Drin’dar can be found in the training quarter building opposite Supplier Jul’s shop, against the wall opposite the entrance. Hail him and tell him “I am skilled with the bow” and then “I will prove myself.”
- Varros
House Varros accepted classes & directions
Recruits Elementalist and Necromancers.
Vaslir Naiyth can be found in the back right corner of the academy’s entrance hall. Hail her and say “I can find a patch.”
- Xal’tharn
House Xal'tharn accepted classes & directions
Recruits Inquisitors and Monks.
Klavel Sul can be found in the training quarter building opposite Supplier Jul’s shop, on the left once inside. Hail him and tell him you would serve “The Queen” and that “I wish to become a Cenobite.” Then ask him “Do you have a task for me?”
- Hal’kareth
House Hal'kareth accepted classes & directions
Recruits Spellblades and Wizards.
Myal Vehear can be found on the second floor of the academy. Take the ramp up from the entrance hall and turn either left or right up another ramp, then turn around. Hail her and say “I would like to assist.”
- Ith’vayen
House Ith'vayen accepted classes & directions
Recruits Enchanters and Rogues.
Amarah Ith’vayen can be found just inside the academy and to the left. Hail her and ask her “What task?” Then say “I am ready to go.”
- Drezzorith
House Drezzorith accepted classes & directions
Recruits Clerics and Paladins.
Zalethra Drezzorith can be found on the second floor of the academy. Take the ramp up from the entrance hall and turn either left or right up another ramp, then turn around. Hail her and ask “What problem?”
- Velgarrith
House Velgarrith accepted classes & directions
Recruits Fighters and Shadow Knights.
Xilonen Velgarrith can be found on the second floor the training quarter building opposite Supplier Jul’s shop. Head inside and enter the door on the left, then head up the ramp and enter the first room on the left. Hail him and tell him “I wish to prove myself.” and when he asks if you are ready, tell him “I am ready.”
The Obsidian Academy area contains all seven representatives and can be found directly opposite the entrance to the foreign quarter. Find the house representative that recruits your class and continue the quest-line.
