Monk

Recommended races: Galka, Elvaan and Hume

The Monk is a martial artist, a strong job with distinct strengths and weaknesses. Monks prefer to attack using the unarmed combat skill - they focus on using their hands and feet to defeat their enemies. Where the warrior is a more defensive melee combatant (using shields and weapon parrying), the Monk is an offensive melee combatant, specializing in dishing out large quantities of quick melee damage. Monks do more melee damage than any other class - period. Unlike the Warrior, however, Monks can not take damage nearly as well as they deal it.

Monks begin their life with the 'martial arts' skill. This allows them to attack faster if they are not using a weapon (or if they are using a weapon that uses the 'hand to hand' skill). At lower levels, this means that they attack faster then other jobs, which translates directly to quicker leveling times.

Monks have decent defensive skills - in addition to their good evasion abilities, they can use Parry (allowing them to parry attacks with their weapon) when they use a weapon (though most Monks do not use weapons).

Monks can solo (fight by themselves) very effectively at lower levels, but as they enter the mid-levels, they will need to join groups. Also, as Monks have no magical healing abilities of their own, teaming up with White Mage (healer) is almost a necessity by mid to high levels. If you choose Monk, make sure to make friends with White Mages! (Don't worry, they will want to make friends with you too - White Mages have minimal offensive combat ability).
 

	Monk Starting Ability Scores
		Hume	Elvaan	Tarutaru	Galka	Mithra
	HP	33	35	27	38	33
	MP	0	0	0	0	0
	STR	7	8	6	8	7
	DEX	7	7	7	7	9
	VIT	8	9	8	10	8
	AGI	5	4	6	5	6
	INT	5	4	7	5	5
	MND	6	7	6	6	6
	CHR	6	6	6	5	5

Monks are an easy class to play through the low levels (you do not need much MMOG experience to play a warrior in FF XI).

Monk Job Ability
Name	LV	Dur	RU	Target	Effect
Hundred Fists	1		120	Self	Reduces the delay between attacks
Boost	5		0:15	Self	Increase the next attack by 12.5%
Evasion	15	2	5	Self	Evasion up
Concentrate	25	2	5	Self	Hit ratio up
Chacra	35		15	Self	Restore HP VIT*2
Ki (Chi) Projectile	41		3	Target	Attack with Ki
Ready	45		15	Self	Counter-attack percentage up and defense down
Job Traits
Martial Arts	1			Self	Shorten hand to hand attack delay
Counter	10			Self	Block attack and hit them (occasional)
HP Max Up	15			Self	Increase HP max
Martial ArtsⅡ?	25			Self	Shorten hand to hand attack delay
HP Max UpⅡ?	35			Self	Increase HP max
Kick	51			Self	When armed, random kick in auto attack mode.
HP Max UP III	55			Self	Increase HP max
					Dur = Duration; RU = Reuse Time (in minutes)

Monk combat skills: hand to hand, club, staff, throwing, guard, evasion and parry.