Mercenary vs Monk
vs
The Mercenary is a Strength/Dexterity class (11/11/7 Str/Dex/Int) that starts with a Makeshift Crossbow; the Monk is a Dexterity/Intelligence class (7/11/11) that starts with a Wrapped Quarterstaff. They begin at different points of the passive tree. Across their ascendancies the biggest differences are energy shield (0 vs 7 nodes), armour (7 vs 1 nodes) and critical hits (1 vs 6 nodes). Patch 0.5.5, from the game files.
Side by side
| Mercenary | Monk | |
|---|---|---|
| Attributes | Str11 Dex11 Int7 | Str7 Dex11 Int11 |
| Trait | Totems remain for longer | Trained to evade incoming attacks |
| Starts with |  Makeshift Crossbow |  Wrapped Quarterstaff |
| First skill gem |  Fragmentation Rounds |  Falling Thunder |
| Gems that need its weapon | 28 (crossbow) | 20 (quarterstaff) |
| Ascendancies |  Tactician Witchhunter Gemling Legionnaire |  Martial Artist Invoker Acolyte of Chayula |
Their ascendancies' nodes by theme
| Nodes about… | Mercenary | Monk |
|---|---|---|
| Minions | 2 | – |
| Spells | – | 1 |
| Melee | – | 2 |
| Projectiles | 3 | 1 |
| Attack speed | 2 | 4 |
| Critical hits | 1 | 6 |
| Fire | 1 | – |
| Cold and freeze | – | 2 |
| Lightning and shock | – | 4 |
| Chaos | – | 5 |
| Physical | 1 | 1 |
| Elemental | – | 5 |
| Totems | 4 | – |
| Life | – | 3 |
| Energy shield | – | 7 |
| Mana | – | 1 |
| Armour | 7 | 1 |
| Evasion | 7 | 5 |
| Resistances | 1 | 4 |
| Spirit | 2 | 3 |
| Charges | – | 2 |
| Stun | – | 1 |
| Area of effect | 3 | 2 |
| Movement speed | 1 | – |
| Cooldowns | 3 | – |
| Leech | – | 2 |
| Strength stacking | 1 | 1 |
| Dexterity stacking | 1 | 1 |
| Intelligence stacking | 1 | 1 |
Nodes of all the class's ascendancies added up; each ascendancy's own counts are on its page.
Mercenary ascendancies
- Tacticiantotems 4, armour 4 and evasion 4
- Witchhunterarmour 3, evasion 3 and cooldowns 3
- Gemling Legionnaireattack speed 1, critical hits 1 and resistances 1
Tactician vs Witchhunter · Gemling Legionnaire vs Tactician · Gemling Legionnaire vs Witchhunter
Monk ascendancies
- Martial Artistattack speed 2, critical hits 2 and energy shield 2
- Invokercritical hits 4, elemental 4 and energy shield 4
- Acolyte of Chayulachaos 5, life 3 and resistances 3
Invoker vs Martial Artist · Acolyte of Chayula vs Martial Artist · Acolyte of Chayula vs Invoker
More class comparisons: Druid vs Mercenary · Druid vs Monk · Huntress vs Mercenary · Huntress vs Monk · Mercenary vs Ranger · Mercenary vs Sorceress · Mercenary vs Warrior · Mercenary vs Witch · Monk vs Ranger · Monk vs Sorceress · Monk vs Warrior · Monk vs Witch.