Tibia Introduces New 'Monk' Class After Nearly 30 Years

In a surprising move, CipSoft has announced the introduction of a brand-new class, the Monk, to the classic MMORPG Tibia, marking the game’s first new vocation in nearly three decades. The announcement came via a short teaser video, followed by a detailed blog post from Tibia’s product manager, Niadus, shedding light on the development process and the challenges behind this unexpected addition.

A Historic Milestone for One of the Longest-Running MMORPGs

Released in 1997, Tibia is one of the oldest MMORPGs still thriving today, maintaining a loyal player base despite being overshadowed by giants like World of Warcraft and RuneScape. Known for its open-ended progression system—thanks to no level cap—Tibia has always centered around exploration, combat, and social interaction. Since its launch, the game featured just four core vocations: Knight, Paladin, Druid, and Sorcerer. For nearly 30 years, these were the only options for players—until now.

Meet the Monk: A New Vocation with Unique Mechanics

The Monk will introduce a fresh fighting system to Tibia, focused on a unique “harmony” mechanic that sets it apart from existing vocations. According to Niadus, harmony serves as the Monk’s core resource, used to cast specific attack and healing spells. The gameplay will revolve around managing harmony effectively to balance offense and support, offering a dynamic experience for both solo adventurers and group play.

In addition to harmony, the Monk will leverage three distinct virtues, each providing both active and passive abilities. These virtues can enhance different aspects of the Monk’s abilities, with all of them offering some form of healing, either for the Monk or their allies.

Why the Monk? CipSoft’s Thought Process Behind the New Class

The decision to add a new class wasn’t taken lightly. Niadus explained that the melee role was chosen because Tibia already features three ranged vocations—Paladin, Druid, and Sorcerer. The development team wanted to ensure the new vocation brought balance to the game while introducing unique mechanics that would challenge both new and veteran players.

During development, CipSoft considered other classic RPG roles like the Rogue and Bard, but ultimately settled on the Monk as it aligned best with their vision for Tibia’s future. The Monk’s dual nature as both a damage dealer and healer was key to ensuring it could fit seamlessly into Tibia’s existing gameplay structure.

A Bold Move with High Stakes

Niadus admitted that adding a new vocation to such an established game felt like an almost impossible task. The complexity and risks involved were significant, but CipSoft believed that the Monk could rekindle the sense of discovery that long-time players cherish. As Tibia prepares to welcome this unexpected addition, it will be fascinating to see how the Monk reshapes the game’s dynamic and how it compares to other classic MMORPGs that continue to evolve.

For now, fans eagerly await more details about the Monk’s release date and in-depth gameplay mechanics. One thing is certain: after nearly 30 years, Tibia still has a few surprises up its sleeve.