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[PoE 2] Martial Artist LEVELING Build Guide - IN DEPTH 0.5 League Starter Monk - Path of Exile 2

By ronarrayWatch videoDuration: PT12M59S

Summary

  • Early Game: Start as a Huntress to acquire necessary initial gear and skills, then transition to the Monk.
  • Twister Phase: Focus on a skill combo using Whirling Slash (to build stacks) followed by Twister.
  • Hollow Palm Technique Transition: Pivot to an unarmed playstyle around level 23 for mid-campaign progression.
  • Mechanics: Utilize Martial Artist ascendancy, power charges, and finishers like Falling Thunder for high damage.
  • Endgame Prep: Prepare for endgame swaps by acquiring high-elemental-damage staves and optimizing the passive tree.

Early Game Setup (Act 1)

  1. Creation: Create a Huntress character to obtain the initial spear and skill gems.
  2. Stash Prep: Place the spear, Whirling Slash, and Twister gems into the stash to retrieve them on the Monk.
  3. Initial Skills: Equip Whirling Slash, Twister, and Frost Bomb.
  4. Skill Rotation: Execute Whirling Slash three times, then immediately cast Twister to maximize damage.
  5. Early Supports:
    • Prioritize Rage and Retreat.
    • Add Rapid Attacks to Whirling Slash for increased attack speed.
    • Use Prolonged Duration with Twister if available.
  6. Weapon Tip: Replace the starter spear as soon as possible. Check “Rusted Arms” options in the Red Veil for a basic iron-head spear.

Leveling Progression and Tech

  • Level 5 Uncut Gem: Acquire Barrage. Use this in the combo: Whirling Slash (x3) $\rightarrow$ Barrage $\rightarrow$ Twister.
  • Ice-Steeped Arrows: Replace Fangs of Frost and Parry with Ice-Steeped Arrows (requires Dexterity). This creates frozen ground and imbuing twisters with cold damage.
  • Support Changes: Use Frost Nexus to support Ice-Steeped Arrows for better cold ground coverage.
  • Passive Tree:
    • Initially focus on attack damage nodes (e.g., “Flow Like Water,” “Flow State,” and “Canif Attack”).
    • Aim for Hollow Palm Technique by approximately level 23.

Hollow Palm Technique Swap (Level 23+)

Upon reaching level 23, remove your spear and buckler to go unarmed and allocate the Hollow Palm Technique node.

Skill Setup

  • Main Skill: Storm Wave supported by Rage and Lightning Attainment. Add Branching Fissures when available.
  • Finisher: Falling Thunder (requires power charges).
  • Charge Generation:
    • Pre-Ascendancy: Use Siphoning Strike to consume shocks on enemies.
    • Post-Ascendancy: Use Killing Palm on bells summoned by the Martial Artist ascendancy to generate power charges.
  • Buff Tech (Talisman):
    • Equip a low-level Talisman with Rant.
    • Use Rant when power charges are active to gain 50% of damage as extra lightning damage.

Spirit Gems and Defensive Options

  • Herald of Ash: Best for clearing large enemy packs (keep at a low level).
  • War Banner: Use as an alternative for increased boss damage.
  • Wind Dancer: Useful if additional survivability is needed.
  • Devour: An optional utility skill to consume corpses for power charges if other methods are not preferred.

Endgame Transition

  • Passive Tree Optimization: Focus on “Unbound Forces,” “Sweep” (for attack area), “Alternating Current” (for mana and shock magnitude), and “Eken Thunder” (for damage).
  • Waystones/Maps: Plan to transition to a high-elemental-damage quarterstaff for the Whirling Assault setup in the endgame.

Key References