Monk

Version 0.28: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

The Monk is a member of an ascetic order dedicated to the perfection of one's body and soul through the discipline of the martial arts. Monks start with only a simple weapon and a robe. When they choose a god for the first time, their spiritual training gives them a piety boost.

Preferred Races

Hill Orc, Merfolk, Gargoyle, Troll, Demonspawn, Palentonga and Deep Dwarf are the recommended races if you pick a Monk Background.

Racial Restrictions

Demigods cannot be Monks, as they refuse to worship a god.

Starting Equipment

Some species may receive different items based on their unique restrictions.

• +0 robe
• +0 weapon of choice (hand axe, spear, short sword, falchion, mace, or unarmed)

Starting Skills and Stats

These are adjusted by your species' aptitudes.

• Fighting: 3
• Chosen Weapon's Skill: 3
• Dodging: 3
• Stealth: 2

Choosing Monk adds 3 to your starting Strength, 2 to your starting Intelligence and 7 to your starting Dexterity.

Special

• Monks do not start with a god, but automatically gain ** piety when they first convert to a god. The following gods have special properties with monks:
  • Ashenzari: Monks are provided the first set of curses much sooner.
  • Gozag: Monks skip the entry fee.
  • Ignis: Monks receive an additional 25 piety (for an effective ~155 piety).
  • Ru: Monks are immediately given a set of sacrifice options to make upon conversion.
  • Xom: No effect.
  • Yredelemnul: Create multiple allied derived undead to reach ** piety.

Strategy

The main appeal of this background is the piety boost you gain upon choosing a god, especially when worshiping a god who offers bonuses at 1* or even 2* of piety, such as Okawaru or Makhleb. On the other hand, surviving until you find a suitable god to worship can be more challenging than with better-equipped backgrounds like Fighter or Gladiator.

The Monk bonus does not stack with that of a faded altar; the monk bonus takes precedent.

History

• Prior to 0.19, monks could not choose a starting weapon - instead they always started with unarmed combat.
• Prior to 0.10, there was no piety bonus gained upon choosing a god.