Monk BiS List for Classic Everquest
This page is my BiS (Best in Slot) list for Monk in Classic Everquest. I created this guide in 2024 after the Tower was released, this is a new zone which is available on Progression servers and it gives you an entire set of very powerful non-vis gear in early eras. For this reason I will have a (Pre-Tower) note for some items which let you know it was BiS before Tower. This makes the BiS list still useful for private servers.
Monks will want to get Haste and BiS weapons. You'll also want to get Strength and Dexterity for damage along with Stamina and Agility for surviving. AC/HP is important too, as is some resist gear if you plan to do pulling or raids. On the topic of pulling, you'll also want to get a 250 Range item.
Weapon Slots
Primary: Wu’s Fist of Mastery ( Plane of Sky Monk Test of Fists Quest)
Secondary: Wu’s Fist of Mastery ( Plane of Sky Monk Test of Fists Quest)
Range: Kerran Toy (Toxxulia Forest Gnomish Toy Quest)
Ammo: Antonian Javelin (Blacksmithing 112 Skill)
Visible Slots
Arms: Shiverback-Hide Armbands (a shiverback in Plane of Fear)
Chest: Shiverback-Hide Jerkin (a shiverback in Plane of Fear)
Feet: Shiverback-Hide Boots (a shiverback in Plane of Fear)
Hands: Gauntlets of Fiery Might (Lord Nagafen in Nagafen's Lair during Kunark it will drop from many other dragons)
Head: Executioners Hood (a ghoul executioner in Lower Guk)
Head (Magic Res): Crown of King Tranix (King Tranix in Nagafen's Lair)
Head (Fire/Cold Res): Crown of the Froglok Kings (the froglok king in Lower Guk)
Legs: Gorilla Hide Leggings (Lord Gongo in Toxxulia Forest)
Wrist (1): Back Straps of Mastery (Plane of Sky Monk Test of Strength Quest)
Wrist (2): Granite Bracer (Petrifin in Rathe Mountains)
You can wear two of these if you'd like
(Tower BiS) Non-Vis Slots
This section includes the best in slot items that come from Tower (aka Tides of Time), a dungeon added in 2024 which is available on the TLP servers. You can purchase a full set of non-vis armor from Tower which gets upgrades every 10 levels. During this era of EQ the best tower gear has the prefix "Excellent"; in order to make this gear BiS though you'll need to purchase the augs that go with it too. Each piece of gear from Tower has a slot 25, you'll need to put an aug in this slot to make the Tower gear exceptional.
If you're a melee class you'll want to use the aug with Vigorous on it. Casters will want to choose the aug with Brilliant on it.
Back: Excellent Cloak of Distant Echoes
Charm: Excellent Charm of Distant Echoes
Earring (1): Excellent Stud of Distant Echoes
Earring (2): Excellent Stud of Distant Echoes
Face: Excellent Mask of Distant Echoes
Fingers (1): Excellent Ring of Distant Echoes
Fingers (2): Excellent Band of Distant Echoes
Neck: Excellent Neck of Distant Echoes
Shoulders: Excellent Shawl of Distant Echoes
Waist(No Haste): Excellent Belt of Distant Echoes
Note: Allakhazam doesn't have links to this level tower gear atm, they have spotty database links to all of the Tower gear from what I have seen.
(Pre- Tower) Non-Vis Slots
Back: Back Straps of Mastery (Plane of Sky Monk Test of Strength Quest)
Back (Haste): Cloak of Flames (Lord Nagafen in Nagafen's Lair or Talendor in Skyfire Mountains)
Charm: N/A
Earring (1): Diamondine Earring (Lasna Cheroon or Princess Cherista in Castle Mistmoore)
Earring (2): Black Sapphire Electrum Earring (Jewelcrafting 140 Skill)
Earring (Magic Res): Blue Diamond Electrum Earring (Jewelcrafting 148 Skill)
Face: Ton Po's Eye Patch (Plane of Sky Monk Test of Sight Quest)
Face (Magic Res): Golden Diamond Mask (Jewelcrafting 215 Skill)
Fingers (1): Djarn's Amethyst Ring (Efreeti Lord Djarn in Nagafen's Lair)
Fingers (2): Platinum Fire Wedding Ring (Jewelcrafting 268 Skill)
You can use this in both slots if you'd like
Fingers (Magic Res): Platinum Diamond Wedding Ring (Jewelcrafting 287 Skill)
You can use this in both slots if you'd like
Neck: Bloodstar Pendant (Innoruuk in Plane of Hate)
Shoulders: Sode of Empowerment (Grandmaster R`Tal in Plane of Hate)
Shoulders (Magic Res): Ton Po's Shoulder Wraps (Plane of Sky Monk Test of Tears)
Waist: Golden Sash of Tranquility (Plane of Sky Monk Test of Tranquility Quest)
Gear Alternatives
This section includes some other gear ideas which may or may not be BiS during this era. During this early phase of EQ you can't cap all of your stats and what's BiS varies a bit depending on your situation. That's why I wanted to give you a couple more options for gear instead of only using what's best in slot.
[Group Gears]
Primary: Enameled Black Mace, Sharkbone Warhammer
Secondary: Enameled Black Mace, Sharkbone Warhammer
Range: Kerran Toy, Antonian Javelin
Ammo: N/A
Arms: Drake-hide Sleeves, Azure Sleeves
Chest: Foreman's Tunic, Lockjaw Hide Vest,Syythrak Hide Vest, Robe of the Lost Circle
Feet: Kobold-Hide Boots, Wolf Fur Slippers
Hands: Griffon Talon Gloves, Gem Inlaid Gauntlets, Lupine Claw Gauntlets, Treant Fists
Head: Fine Silk Turban, Executioners Hood, Crown of the Froglok Kings, Crown of King Tranix
Legs: Drake-hide Leggings, Gatorscale Leggings
Wrists: Symbol of Loyalty to Vox, Granite Bracer
Back: White Wolf-hide Cloak, Werewolf Skin Cloak, Cloak of Shadow, Hooded Black Cloak
Charm: N/A
Earrings: Diamondine Earring, Black Sapphire Electrum Earring, Sapphire Electrum Earring
Face: Carved Ivory Mask, Dented Brass Mask, Pearlescent Mask
Fingers: Djarns Amethyst Ring, Platinum Fire Wedding Ring
Neck: Collar of Undead Protection, Collar of Neshika, Runed Lava Pendant, Glowing Bone Collar
Shoulders: Cured Silk Mantle
Waist: Purity Belt, Thick Leather Apron, Thick Banded Belt, Flowing Black Silk Sash
[Raid Gears]
Primary: Wu's Fist of Mastery, Whitened Treant Fists
Secondary: Wu's Fist of Mastery, Whitened Treant Fists
Range: Forged Javelin
Ammo: N/A
Arms: Shiverback-hide Armbands, Azure Sleeves
Chest: Shiverback-hide Jerkin, Robe of the Lost Circle
Feet: Sandals of Alacrity, Shiverback-hide Boots
Hands: Basoon Haste Gauntlets, Shiverback-hide Gloves, Gauntlets of Fiery Might
Head: Crown of the Froglok Kings, Crown of King Tranix
Legs: Sarnak-hide Leggings, Crescent Pants, Gatorscale Leggings, Shiverback-hide Leggings
Wrists: Back Straps of Mastery, Shiverback-hide Wristbands, Hero Bracers, Granite Bracer
Back: Back Straps of Mastery, Cloak of Shadow, Hooded Black Cloak, Cloak of Flames
Charm: N/A
Earrings: Diamondine Earring, Black Sapphire Electrum Earring
Face: Ton Po's Eye Patch, Pearlescent Mask
Fingers: Djarns Amethyst Ring, Platinum Fire Wedding Ring
Neck: Runed Lava Pendant, Black Sapphire Platinum Necklace
Shoulders: Ton Po's Shoulder Wraps, Sode of Empowerment
Waist: Golden Sash of Tranquility, Belt of Tranquility