A spear is a monk weapon right?  Simple weapon, doesn't have the heavy or two-handed properties . . . it's versatile d8 just like a quarterstaff but you can also throw it in an emergency, why don't I ever see monks picking up one?  Is it because it isn't iconic?  Because This beautiful fight from the movie 'hero' begs to differ!

Just wondering why you don't see monk spear builds as much as, say, monk quarterstaff builds (or the rigamaroll to get a monk with a d10 longsword).  Any thoughts?

I think it's just because the quarterstaff is more iconic... anyone who doesn't want a sword tends to just go for a quarterstaff. I have played a campaign, though, with a Monk who used a spear as her primary weapon, although she reflavored it as a naginata... and once she hit level 11 she pretty much just used unarmed strikes, since they deal the same damage after that point anyway.

My previous campaign had a monk using a qiang spear. 

My grung monk uses a spear. That is mostly so he can lick the blade for extra damage on a hit. 

Quarterstaff is more iconic and does the same damage, but spear isn't a bad choice.

Quote from Pantagruel666 >>

Quarterstaff is more iconic and does the same damage, but spear isn't a bad choice.

 I think that's also why it's odd that Quarterstaff is so much more common than a spear... they do the same amount of damage and are both iconic enough to feel like classic monk weaponry... but the spear also has a thrown range, making it superior to the Quarterstaff on a purely mechanical level. So considering the spear is just a straight-up upgrade from the quarterstaff, it's odd that it's less popular than the technically inferior quarterstaff.

I'm using a Yklwa (short spear from Tomb of Annihilation) for my current monk, it is basically a Spear but does 1d8 one-handed instead of 1d6 one-handed damage.

Quote from VampByDay >>

A spear is a monk weapon right?  Simple weapon, doesn't have the heavy or two-handed properties . . . it's versatile d8 just like a quarterstaff but you can also throw it in an emergency, why don't I ever see monks picking up one?  Is it because it isn't iconic?  Because This beautiful fight from the movie 'hero' begs to differ!

Just wondering why you don't see monk spear builds as much as, say, monk quarterstaff builds (or the rigamaroll to get a monk with a d10 longsword).  Any thoughts?

 You've been playing with incompetent monks.  The spear is the best monk weapon unless you have access to longsword/battleaxe/warhammer proficiency.

Quote from quindraco >>

Quote from VampByDay >>

A spear is a monk weapon right?  Simple weapon, doesn't have the heavy or two-handed properties . . . it's versatile d8 just like a quarterstaff but you can also throw it in an emergency, why don't I ever see monks picking up one?  Is it because it isn't iconic?  Because This beautiful fight from the movie 'hero' begs to differ!

Just wondering why you don't see monk spear builds as much as, say, monk quarterstaff builds (or the rigamaroll to get a monk with a d10 longsword).  Any thoughts?

 You've been playing with incompetent monks.  The spear is the best monk weapon unless you have access to longsword/battleaxe/warhammer proficiency.

 CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING THE FIRST TOXIC POSTER TO RESPOND TO THIS THREAD! 

Here's your placard, your ribbon, and your flowers!  Yes, they come already killed off and withered because you are so toxic.

Here I am asking why I don't see monks using the spear so often and you call every single monk I've ever played with incompetent even if they decide they like the flavor of a bo staff better, or maybe they want to start play with a magic sword and so have a moon-touched shortsword at level 2.  But no, they are all thrown under the bus!  GOOD JOB SIR!

And even though i was talking about not SEEING monks use spears, a.k.a. in live streams or when talking to other DnD players in other groups, you assume I only associate with incompetent players!  Man, good job, just . . . top quality toxicity for the boards.  Mwa.  Par Excelance.

I mean that's just quin. They speak in terms of mechanical optimization, and its both trivial and optimal for a monk to carry both a spear and a quarterstaff and use either one when the situation demands it. They're not wrong, they just have a different standard of competence.

I also think your experience is entirely subjective and anecdotal. Several people here have chimed in with their own anecdotes of monks with spears, and my experience has been more like theirs.

One other factor is magic item availability. There's just a lot more options for magic staves than there are magic spears. My monk started with a spear, then found a magic swordsword, then found a better magic staff.

Quote from TransmorpherDDS >>

I think that's also why it's odd that Quarterstaff is so much more common than a spear... they do the same amount of damage and are both iconic enough to feel like classic monk weaponry... but the spear also has a thrown range, making it superior to the Quarterstaff on a purely mechanical level.

 In practice, a thrown range of 20/60, particularly on a rather large weapon like a spear, might as well not exist -- most of the time you're better off using a light crossbow or a shortbow for range 80/320, and if you really need to mix ranged and martial arts, use a javelin (same damage, better range, and lighter).

You're not wrong... A spear is not an optimal throwing weapon. If you want to have a ranged weapon almost anything else is a better option. But it's still a benefit that the spear has over a quarterstaff, even if it's not a big one, the option of throwing still adds versatility and, if nothing else, opens up potential for some flashy combat.

People don't use the spear? I don't see many monks in my games, but I've seen almost all of them with spear. It is the best basic weapon they can use. Versatile, and can be thrown.

I just started a new campaign yesterday, and one of the other players had a monk, with a spear, who in the first round of the first combat (he was actually the first creature to act in that combat) threw it at the enemy. The very first attack of the campaign was a monk throwing a spear. 
Mostly because level 1, so no ki points and no step of the wind.

Quote from VampByDay >>

A spear is a monk weapon right?  Simple weapon, doesn't have the heavy or two-handed properties . . . it's versatile d8 just like a quarterstaff but you can also throw it in an emergency, why don't I ever see monks picking up one?  Is it because it isn't iconic?  Because This beautiful fight from the movie 'hero' begs to differ!

Just wondering why you don't see monk spear builds as much as, say, monk quarterstaff builds (or the rigamaroll to get a monk with a d10 longsword).  Any thoughts?

 The reason is obvious. Didn’t you watch the video? The dude with the spear lost.

I laughed at the statement that Monks NOT using spears made them incompetent.  That's the elitist, self-righteous tone that isn't welcome in any civil discussion and should be ignored entirely (aside from laughing at it)  Spears offer.....thrown, as a benefit over a staff.  Not a single thing else, just thrown.  And to a range most Monks can easily cover with their movement, so in the one encounter of 50 where throwing your weapon is the best choice, a spear is superior.  Otherwise, it's equal to a staff.  The staff is certainly "more" thematic for a Monk that a spear would be, but a lot of lore includes Monks using spears, so while the staff is a little more prevalent, spears are out there and this thread has shown a decent number of Monks use spears.  Mine doesn't, he used a staff until my martial arts die reached the d8, now he uses his bare hands most of the time

Try to separate the wheat from the chaff, as it were, and filter out egomaniacs who claim anyone NOT doing what THEY do is incompetent.  Folks like that tend to be pretty stagnant IRL too.  My vote is to pick the weapon that suits YOUR Monk and that might be a crappy old dagger.  Sure, some other options are maybe more optimal ( longer dagger - Short Sword) but if your Monk prefers the nimble, easily concealed dagger, then that is what's BEST for YOUR Monk.

I only played a Monk once, but I used a spear. But the two Monks I've seen other people play, no spears.

I'm inclined to pin the reasoning on miniatures.

Quote from Falwith >>

My vote is to pick the weapon that suits YOUR Monk and that might be a crappy old dagger.  Sure, some other options are maybe more optimal ( longer dagger - Short Sword) but if your Monk prefers the nimble, easily concealed dagger, then that is what's BEST for YOUR Monk.

 The nice thing about monk is that your dagger scales with your martial arts die, so it's actually a decent pick once you get into d6-d8 range.

if you really need to mix ranged and martial arts, use a javelin (same damage, better range, and lighter).

It's not the same damage though. Monks are meleeing with the spear in both hands for the d8.

Quote from scatterbraind >>

It's not the same damage though. Monks are meleeing with the spear in both hands for the d8.

 Same damage when used at range. You generally don't want to throw away your primary weapon anyway.