Summary
- Build Focus: Utilizes the Martial Artist ascendancy for doubled combo generation and the ability to retain combo stacks while weapon swapping.
- Key Mechanics: Focuses on Mantra of Destruction, Stone Wave (leveling), Whirling Assault (maps), and Falling Thunder (single-target DPS).
- Single-Target Strategy: Employs a rotation of Mantra of Destruction with Charged Staff and Delayed Gratification support to generate power charges for massive Falling Thunder hits.
- Levelling Strategy: Highly flexible; begins with maces or various Monk-compatible gear before transitioning to Quarterstaffs around level 45.
Leveling Strategy (Acts 1–4)
- General Approach: The Monk tree provides generic attack damage and attack speed, allowing for flexible gear choices in Act 1.
- Early Skill Recommendations:
- Glass Shield Cascade with Frozen Locust and Herald of Ice for clear.
- Use Frost Bomb for exposure and Freezing Mark for marking targets.
- Frozen Locust should be paired with Armament and Magnified Area support to ensure screen-wide clear.
- Transition to Stone Wave (Level 22): Swap to Stone Wave for more stable damage compared to Glass Shield Cascade. Stone Wave also deals lightning damage, enabling shock procs.
- Mid-Game Gear: Focus on items providing +2 to skill levels. Transition to a Quarterstaff base around level 45 (gamble for “Hefty Quarterstaff” bases).
Ascendancy and Combo Generation
- Martial Artist: This ascendancy is essential for doubling combo generation and retaining stacks during weapon swaps.
- Bell Mechanics:
- Do not use until the second ascendancy point is acquired.
- Once active, use Stone Wave twice, place a Bell, and repeat to maintain three bells simultaneously.
- Position yourself to hit both the boss and the bells with Stone Wave for maximum DPS.
- Experimental Leveling (Rain of Arrows): If mechanics allow, use a low-level weapon swap with Rain of Arrows and Hailstone Rounds to automate combo generation while simultaneously triggering bells.
Endgame Mapping Setup
- Primary Skills: Whirling Assault serves as the main engine for combo generation, while Mantra of Destruction provides significant damage scaling.
- High-DPS Rotation:
- Use Whirling Assault to generate 20+ combo stacks.
- Cast Mantra of Destruction linked with Delayed Gratification and Elite Chimes to generate five power charges.
- Spend power charges on Falling Thunder for high-burst single-target damage.
- Defense: Transitioning to Chaos Inoculation (CI) is recommended for the endgame, though hybrid evasion/ES builds are considered viable.
Optimization and Flexibility
- Auras/Buffs: Herald of Ash or Ghost Dance can be swapped depending on personal preference and cool-down requirements.
- Staggering Palm: While powerful, it remains optional due to the difficulty of consistently proccing it against non-stunned targets.
- Testing: Final min-maxing, such as rune utilization or the efficacy of specific support gems like Staggering Palm, will be refined post-launch based on playtesting.
Key References