Monk: Guide to Weapons and Armor

Weapons
Note: Monk can equip both Clubs and Staves also. However, Hand-to-Hand delivers the same type of damage (blunt), has a generally higher Damage to second ratio, has A+ skill as a monk compared to B, and is also the only weapon affected by the Martial Arts trait. I may at a later time add some staves and clubs that Monks may use.

Hand to Hand

 * lvl 1 Cesti or
 * Cat Baghnakhs
 * lvl 5 Bronze Knuckles
 * lvl 9 Brass Knuckles and/or
 * lvl 10 Legionnaire's Knuckles
 * lvl 15 Bastokan Knuckles (+1 of lvl 10 Knuckles) or Republic Knuckles (+2 of lvl 10 knuckles)
 * Note- I seriously suggest the Republic Knuckles; these last you a long time, are relatively inexpensive, and are truely the best you can get.
 * lvl 20 Metal Knuckles +1 (only the +1 are possibly better than the Republic Knuckles, and some argue that this isn't even the case)
 * lvl 30 Boreas Cesti NM Drop. Wind dmg 100% of time for addition of up to 7 dmg per fist.  Great weapon.
 * lvl 32 Impact Knuckles
 * lvl 38 Mythril Knuckles (+1 is suggested, or else stick with Impact Knuckles)
 * lvl 40 Tourney Patas
 * lvl 48 Patas

The following level range is possibly the most controversial for a MNK. The top 3 choices will be listed here; however debate exists over what is truely 'best'.
 * lvl 50 Cross-Counters (note: often considered the most powerful for the purpose of single hits and WS damage, however very costly unless you camp Western Shadow to Obtain the Rare/Ex version Retaliators.)
 * lvl 50 Tactician Magician's Hooks (note: the NQ form is generally considered the weakest choice. However, the +2 form is argued by some to be better in Damage over Time.)
 * lvl 58 Spartan Cesti (Note: this is slightly less powerful than the Cross Counters, however alot more affordable to most people.)
 * lvl 60 Black Adargas +1 Awesome. These beat everything until Destroyers.
 * lvl 65 Shiva's Claws Dmg aint that good but Acc+8 never hurts
 * lvl 72 Wagh Baghnakhs (Good for TP Spamming parties)
 * lvl 73 Destroyers KS30 drop. Amazing weapon that beats everything that came before it.
 * lvl 73 Indra Katars Rare/Ex (Drops off Steam Cleaner) Triple Attack +1% not needed but nice to have
 * lvl 75 Spharai (Note: EXTREMELY hard to obtain)

Armor
Note: most of these armor selections are made on the assumption that the Monk you are designing will do what 99.99% of Monks do, dish out damage. You may wish to carry other pieces of equipment to offset the general rule that good armor for melee, is bad for defense.

Head

 * lvl 1 Bronze Cap
 * lvl 8 Hachimaki
 * or lvl 9 Compound Eye Circlet
 * or lvl 11 Monk's Headgear
 * lvl 20 Mercenary's Hachimaki
 * lvl 24 Empress Hairpin or Emperor Hairpin (note: very costly, and to many just not worth the sacrifice of +STR from gear for +DEX; this is completely optional gear.)
 * lvl 30 Mercenary Captain's Headgear
 * lvl 41 Voyager Sallet (note: this piece of headgear is AMAZING! however, only possible to get from a fairly hard set of NM's in a CoP area)
 * lvl 56 Temple Crown (note: Useful only for Chi Blast, Focus, and resisting debuffs)
 * lvl 70 Optical Hat
 * lvl 73 Shura Zunari Kabuto
 * lvl 75 Walahra Turban

Body

 * Lvl 1 Bronze Harness or RSE
 * lvl 8 Kenpogi (note: the +1 of this gear has +1 DEX, and is a fairly good investment till level 13)
 * lvl 13 Power Gi (note: Ironically, this is the best body piece for a MNK till level 40; this is one part of armor you will likely want to have a backup piece in case you pull hate, or else the low defense will show.)
 * Suggestions on defense gear: Beetle Harness at level 21, Federation Gi at level 25, Mercenary Captain's Doublet at level 30.
 * lvl 33 Mithra or Taru RSE body (note: STR boost is same, however has greater DEF and +VIT on Taru's)
 * lvl 40 Jujitsu Gi (note: This is a very good investment for a Monk with its +Accuracy. However, it is fairly costly.)
 * lvl 57 Scorpion Harness
 * lvl 58 Temple Cyclas
 * lvl 72 Pahluwan Khazagand
 * lvl 73 Shura Togi
 * lvl 75 Kirin's Osode

Hands

 * Lvl 1 Bronze Mittens or RSE
 * lvl 8 Tekko
 * lvl 10 Legionnaire's Mittens
 * lvl 14 Battle Gloves (note: a very good set of DD gloves because of its +ACC, these will last a long time. In the same ironic twist, these are the best hand gear till 25, 27, 30, 34, or 40.)
 * lvl 21 Beetle Mittens (note: for Defense only)
 * lvl 25 Federation Tekko (note: same +Acc as the Battle Gloves, however this has more DEF. The Windurstian have less +ACC and should not be used)
 * lvl 27 Wonder Mitts Taru only
 * lvl 30 Gigas Bracelets (note: with +STR and -DEX, this is up to the person entirely. I personally think Taru should use Wonder Mitts, Mithra the Gigas Bracelet, and Elvaan/Galka/Hume the Federation Tekko or Battle Gloves)
 * lvl 34 Ochiudo's Kote or Ochimusha Kote (note: This is considered the best piece for hands until possibly end game. However, this is a very pricy piece.)
 * lvl 34 Horomusha Kote (similar stats to O. Kote's) drops off Boroka need CoP 4-2 or greater to access
 * lvl 40 Ogygos's Bracelets (note: another debatable piece of armor)
 * lvl 50 Enkelados's Bracelets
 * lvl 54 Temple Gloves
 * lvl 60 Pallas's Bracelets
 * lvl 62 Creek M Mitts or Creek F Mitts (Taru Only)
 * lvl 70 Alkyoneus's Bracelets
 * lvl 73 Bandomusha Kote
 * lvl 73 Melee Gloves

Legs

 * Lvl 1 Bronze Subligar or RSE
 * lvl 8 Sitabaki
 * lvl 11 Brass Subligar
 * lvl 18 Cotton Sitabaki
 * lvl 21 Beetle Subligar
 * lvl 25 Republic Subligar (Although they are subligar, these are one of the best leg pieces in the game for Monk until end-game.)
 * lvl 31 Magna M Chausses (Elvaan Male only)
 * lvl 32 Wonder Braccae Taru only
 * lvl 50 Aikido Koshita (Tanking Only) An alternative to Republic Subligar
 * lvl 60 Strike Subligar
 * lvl 72 Melee Hose
 * lvl 73 Shura Haidate
 * lvl 75 Byakko's Haidate
 * lvl 75 Bahamut's Hose

Feet

 * Lvl 1 Bronze Leggings or RSE
 * lvl 8 Kyahan
 * lvl 11 Brass Leggings
 * lvl 13 Light Soleas
 * lvl 25 Federation Kyahan
 * lvl 29 Wonder Clomps Taru only or Savage Gaiters Mithra Only
 * lvl 39 Fuma Kyahan (Debated, generally accepted that this piece is not worth the gil, and Federation Kyahan is a better choice
 * lvl 51 Kung Fu Shoes (Kick Attacks shoes)
 * lvl 62 Creek M Clomps or Creek F Clomps or Marine M Boots or Marine F Boots
 * lvl 66 Wulong Shoes
 * lvl 70 Dune Boots
 * lvl 71 Melee Gaiters

Belt

 * Lvl 1 White Belt
 * lvl 18 Purple Belt
 * lvl 40 Brown Belt
 * lvl 48 Life Belt (Note: Only if you really need the accuracy.)
 * lvl 60 Potent Belt (replaces Life belt)
 * lvl 70 Black Belt
 * lvl 70 Jungle Sash (Note: Previous belts are usually better.)
 * lvl 71 Warwolf Belt (Note: Previous belts are usually better.)

Neck

 * Lvl 7 Wing Pendant
 * lvl 21 Spike Necklace
 * lvl 33 Peacock Charm or Peacock Amulet
 * lvl 59 Spectacles
 * lvl 60 Chivalrous Chain
 * lvl 75 Faith Torque

Ear

 * lvl 1 Cassie Earring
 * lvl 10 Optical Earring
 * lvl 16 Bone Earring
 * lvl 21 Beetle Earring
 * lvl 55 Fang Earring
 * lvl 61 Minuet Earring
 * lvl 63 Coral Earring
 * lvl 65 Diabolos's Earring
 * lvl 67 Triumph Earring
 * lvl 70 Fenrir's Earring
 * lvl 72 Bushinomimi
 * lvl 72 Ethereal Earring
 * lvl 75 Brutal Earring

Ring

 * lvl 14 Mighty Ring
 * lvl 14 Sardonyx Ring
 * lvl 30 Rajas Ring
 * lvl 34 Venerer Ring
 * lvl 35 Jaeger Ring
 * lvl 36 Garnet Ring
 * lvl 40 Sniper's Ring
 * lvl 40 Woodsman Ring
 * lvl 49 Kshama Ring No. 2
 * lvl 49 Kshama Ring No. 8
 * lvl 50 Garrulous Ring
 * lvl 54 Sun Ring
 * lvl 57 Toreador's Ring
 * lvl 72 Ruby Ring
 * lvl 74 Flame Ring
 * lvl 74 Vulcan's Ring
 * lvl 75 Mars's Ring

Back

 * lvl 4 Rabbit Mantle
 * lvl 12 Traveler's Mantle
 * lvl 24 Nomad's Mantle
 * lvl 47 Jaguar Mantle
 * lvl 55 Royal Army Mantle
 * lvl 61 Amemet Mantle
 * lvl 69 Psilos Mantle
 * lvl 71 Forager's Mantle

Ranged

 * lvl 1 Pebble (Note: Pellet Belt is useful to have)
 * lvl 1 Happy Egg
 * lvl 30 Attar Sachet Elvaan female only
 * lvl 30 Olibanum Sachet Elvaan male only
 * lvl 35 Tathlum
 * lvl 50 Optical Needle
 * lvl 58 Tiphia Sting
 * lvl 60 Bibiki Seashell (Note: Macro piece for Vit based Weapon Skills and Chakra)
 * lvl 70 Mamoolbane (Note: latent is activated while in Halvung, Mamook, or Arrapago Reef)
 * lvl 70 Trollbane (Note: latent is activated while in Halvung, Mamook, or Arrapago Reef)