History Main / BareFistedMonk

** FinalFantasyTacticsA2 has the upgrade of the White Monk (which use knuckles and gloves): the Master Monk, which is strongest when they're unarmed, but can equip poles (that weaken them) to learn some really strong attacks.
*** Have you tried having yours DualWield [[GameBreaker shields]]?
*** Actually, their unarmed attack is their level, so until your level gets higher than the best pole's attack strength he's better off using one.

->''"He can't use [[FunctionalMagic Ninjutsu]] or [[MasterOfIllusion Genjutsu]]. That's why...he spent all his time on [[BareFistedMonk Taijutsu]]. He worked hard and [[CripplingOverspecialization concentrated everything on Taijutsu.]] Even if he can't do any other Jutsu, he won't lose to anyone. He's a Taijutsu specialist."''

* Scar from ''FullmetalAlchemist'' was a monk before he became a [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge counter-genocider]]. He still fights with his bare hands after forsaking God in favour of revenge, but adds in explosive alchemy to the mix.

** Also, all of the fighting until now in ''ViVid'' has been carried out in melee (at most, with magic-augmented melee attacks).

** The main contributors to the BareFistedMonk department in ''{{StrikerS}}'' are the Nakajima sisters, Subaru and Ginga, who turn out to be [[spoiler:[[HollywoodCyborg Type Zero Combat Cyborgs]]]].

** Half a minute after that, he cuts a 4-micres wire with the side of his hand to save two of his students from being sliced with it. Just to make his opinion stand.

* The Monk Class in ''DungeonFighterOnline'' sheds his weapon in the battlefield (by implanting it into the ground for myriad bonuses), then goes on to use those fistcuffs. Doing so gives the Monk unparalleled [[GlassCannon speed and juggling capability]], and makes the class quite popular despite the base class being unfinished. However, one can still break their equipped weapon after shedding it like any other class.

* Ty Lee from [[AvatartheLastAirbender Avatar]].

->''"He can't use [[FunctionalMagic Ninjutsu]] or [[MasterOfIllusion Genjutsu]]. That's why...he spent all his time on [[BareFistedMonk Taijutsu]]. He worked hard and concentrated everything on Taijutsu. Even if he can't do any other Jutsu, he won't lose to anyone. He's a Taijutsu specialist."''

** ''DragonQuestVI'' also has a Fighter class, though it's arguable whether it fits since weapon and armor selections are not based on class in that game.

** Most of the FinalFantasy games have Monk-type characters (Sabin from ''FinalFantasyVI'', Yang from ''FinalFantasyIV'', Tifa from ''FinalFantasyVII'', and Prishe from ''FinalFantasyXI'', for example). Of course, most of these don't go without weapons, per se: they are typically given claws or gloves to help them keep up with more traditionally-armed allies.

* Toyotomi Hideyoshi in ''SengokuBasara 2''. [[TookALevelInBadass Tokugawa Ieyasu]] in the third game.

** Most of the FinalFantasy games have Monk-type characters (Sabin from ''FinalFantasyVI'', Yang from ''FinalFantasyIV'', and Tifa from ''FinalFantasyVII'', for example). Of course, most of these don't go without weapons, per se: they are typically given claws or gloves to help them keep up with more traditionally-armed allies.

* Toyotomi Hideyoshi in ''SengookuBasara 2''. [[TookALevelInBadass Tokugawa Ieyasu]] in the third game.

->''"He can't use [[FunctionalMagic Ninjutsu]] or [[DopplegangerSpin Genjutsu]]. That's why...he spent all his time on [[BareFistedMonk Taijutsu]]. He worked hard and concentrated everything on Taijutsu. Even if he can't do any other Jutsu, he won't lose to anyone. He's a Taijutsu specialist."''

*** Ayla is notable also because she is an exception to the "weakens by endgame" tendency. At higher levels she can still do more damage with her bare fists than ''Crono with his InfinityPlusOneSword.'' And at level 96+ [[hottip:* :Way higher level than you'll ever need to be in order to win the game, but whatever]], critical hits with her fists do a ''guaranteed'' [[Cap 9999 damage]].

*** Ayla is notable also because she is an exception to the "weakens by endgame" tendency. At higher levels she can still do more damage with her bare fists than ''Crono with his InfinityPlusOneSword.'' And at level 96+ [[hottip:* :Way higher level then you'll ever need to be in order to win the game, but whatever]], her fists will always hit the damage {{cap}} when she criticals. ''ALWAYS''.

** In edition 3.5, monks make up for their general lack of magic items by simply developing those powers naturally. By level 20, a monk can attack five times a turn with fists that deal more damage than any light/handheld weapon, punch through adamantium, teleport, avoid at least half of the damage from most magic attacks, heal himself, and has actually ascended to a higher state of existence, rendering him immune to several effects. [[LinearWarriorsQuadraticWizards A shame that the wizard did this at level 10]].
*** New players to 3.5 often look at the great big list of class features a monk gets and assume it is a high-powered class. [[{{Understatement}} Not so much.]] If you're looking for a powerful class with certain ascetic features, make a [[GameBreaker druid.]]

** In edition 3.5, monks make up for their general lack of magic items by simply developing those powers naturally. By level 20, a monk can attack five times a turn with fists that deal more damage then any light/ handheld weapon, punch through adamantium, teleport, avoid at least half of the damage from most magic attacks, heal himself, and has actually ascended to a higher state of existance, rendering him immune to several effects. [[LinearWarriorsQuadraticWizards A shame that the wizard did this at level 10]].

->-- '''Might Guy''' talking about Rock Lee, ''{{Naruto}}''

* Believe it or not [[YourHeadAsplode Scar]] was actually one of these during the [[FullmetalAlchemist Ishval Extermination]]. That is of course until that whole encounter with [[MadBomber Kimbley]] and receiving his brother's [[LifeOrLimbDecision right arm]].

** In edition 3.5, monks make up for their general lack of magic items by simply developing those powers naturally. By level 20, a monk can attack five times a turn with fists that deal more damage then any light/ handheld weapon, punch through adamantium, teleport, avoid at least half of the damage from most magic attacks, heal himself, and has actually ascended to a higher state of existance, rendering him immune to several effects.