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.

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.

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: This is a good body piece for a MNK till at least level 30; macro in a body piece with decent DEF until Federation Gi at level 25, then use Mercenary Captain's Doublet when you reach 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 +4 Accuracy.)
 * 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, and 34).
 * 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, but a must for those seriously wanting to take MNK to level 75.)
 * lvl 34 Horomusha Kote (-5 in ATK compared to O. Kote's) drops off Boroka need CoP 4-2 or greater to access. Not really an alternative for Ochiudo's Kote/Ochimusha Kote. The -5 in ATK is a huge difference.
 * lvl 40 Ogygos's Bracelets (note: another debatable piece for hands, but stick with Ochiudo's Kote).
 * lvl 50 Enkelados's Bracelets
 * lvl 54 Temple Gloves (note: Should not be used in exp parties. Used only for increased boost effect. There is no reason these should ever be used in parties).
 * 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, to most career MNKs prefer Federation Kyahan; the +3% haste is not worth sacrificing +4 attack.
 * 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
 * lvl 75 Denali Gamashes

Ear

 * lvl 1 Cassie Earring
 * lvl 10 Optical Earring
 * lvl 16 Bone Earring
 * lvl 21 Beetle Earring
 * lvl 55 Spike 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 Ulthalam's Ring
 * 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