Monk (character class)

The Monk is a character class from the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game which is typically portrayed as a master of martial arts. It is loosely based on the stereotype of Shaolin Buddhist warrior monks. Many computer role-playing games, including EverQuest and the Final Fantasy series (see below), include warrior classes similar to the Dungeons & Dragons Monk. The Monk class has also found its way into NetHack, which borrows elements for the class from Dungeons & Dragons.

Conversely, in Guild Wars released in 2005, the Monk is similar to the Cleric class of other popular games, using spiritual powers to heal and purge disease.

In Final Fantasy

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The Black Belt (Final Fantasy I)

In Square Enix's Final Fantasy series of computer role-playing games, the Monk (Japanese: モンク) is a character class (or "job"). It is frequently also referred as the Black Belt. In Final Fantasy I and Final Fantasy III an upgraded, more powerful form of the class appears as the Karate Master (からてか).

The Monk is portrayed a master of martial arts (especially karate) who shuns heavy weapons or armor in favor of barehanded fighting. In the later games, it has also shown a proclivity towards certain meditative techniques which can improve its attack power, or heal its battle wounds. Frequently it has the ability to immediately counterattack against physical attacks directed at its person.

The Monk has appeared in the following games in the Final Fantasy series:

In addition, the characters Josef (Final Fantasy II), Sabin Rene Figaro (Final Fantasy VI), Tifa Lockhart (Final Fantasy VII) and Zell Dincht (Final Fantasy VIII) can be roughly categorized as Monk-type characters. Amarant Coral (Final Fantasy IX) incorporates a number of characteristics of both the Monk class and the Ninja character class.

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The Black Belt is also a regular character in the webcomic 8-Bit Theater whose sheer lack of intelligence once bent the space-time continuum. His appearance is based on the Monk as it was depicted in Final Fantasy I (which was referred to as "Black Belt" in the original English language localization).

In EverQuest

The Monk is a unique class which can be chosen only by either the human or lizardman Iksar races. He or she is an expert in hand combat, and can fight with or without weapons, pummelling foes with fists or staves, and able to use only leather armor and lighter.

The Monk's most noteworthy skill is the ability to feign death. This gives the Monk the ability to drop to the ground and cause enemies to forget about his presence, or in MMORPG terms, lose aggro. This technique is useful for pulling, or bringing monsters to a party of player characters to be killed. The Monk class also has the capability to mend wounds, which gives a small boost to his or her hit points, making him the primary puller and a competant off-tank.