Experience from Monk

[Hitome]

1) is it worth using dots apart from demolish?

Yes. Get GL3 up and then apply ToD. I'd even wait till you use BFB/IR before using it. What I do is build up GL3 and then go back to boot > truestrike > activate BFB/IR > demolish > dragon kick > twin > ToD

2) How can a monk use flank skills safely from 180 cones? Is it better to sacrifice flank damage and go safe by using only back skills? I used to die a lot from that.

Look at the picture above. You have plenty of room and shouldn't be near the cone.

3) Any advice on rotation - cross class skills?

Prior to GL3 and assuming perfect balance is down:

Bootshine to open. Some use dragon kick...but it will only have the same potency if you are on the flank. The start of the fight is generally pretty hectic so I just play it safe and BS.

Pre-GL3 and no perfect balance

BS > twin > snap GL1 > dragon > true > demolish GL2 > BS > true > snap GL3 > dragon > BFB + IR + true > demolish > dragon > ToD > twin > snap > howling fist + steel peak > IR wears off around here

From here it's simply:

BS > true > demo >
dragon > twin > snap

I personally like to line up my IR and BFB timers

Pre-GL3 and perfect balance

perfect balance > twin > snap GL1 > snap GL2 > dragon > demo GL3 > BS if you have time

Then it's just:

dragon > twin > snap
BFB + IR boot > true > demolish > apply ToD and repeat from dragon

You must get invigorate. BFB is a huge DPS increase. I don't have mercy stroke but I see the MNK I do turn 5 with on my BLM has it. It contributes about .5% to his DPS.

4) Regarding dps stats, strength is priority but for secondary crit.strike or skill speed? Crit strike is somehow fixed with internal release which makes monk a beast and it has very low cd but mby it needs a tiny boost? Skill speed seems more important since i want to alternate skills and combos fast to maximize dps quickly.

weapon damage > str > det = crit until you are at softcap for crit then det is better than crit > SS

Any other advice???

Make a macro for ToD.

/macroicon "Touch of Death"
/ac "Touch of Death" <t>
/wait 25
/echo ****TOD READY IN 5 S****<se.14><se.14><se.14>