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[PoE 2] STRONGEST MONK? - Martial Artist Deep Dive for 0.5 League Start & Builds - Path of Exile 2

By ronarrayWatch videoDuration: PT15M31S

Summary

  • Martial Artist Overview: A new Monk ascendancy in version 0.5 designed as a versatile “all-rounder” with strong potential for various builds, including a potential revival of the “Hollow Palm” playstyle.
  • Key Node - Way of the Stonefist: The cornerstone of the ascendancy, providing powerful glove transformations, significant evasion/energy shield bonuses, and unique item synergy.
  • Bell Mechanics: The ascendancy features “Hollow” nodes (Focus, Resonance, Form) that introduce Ethereal Bell mechanics to automate damage and improve clear speed.
  • Survival & Utility: Defensive options like Way of the Mountain provide damage reduction and survival bonuses, while Runic Meridians offers flexible gear-based stat improvements through extra rune slots.
  • Meta Context: The Martial Artist arrives as a timely alternative to the Invoker, whose previous dominance has been reduced by the introduction of items like Beacon of Azis and Rakiata’s Flow.

Current Monk Meta Context

The Invoker ascendancy previously stood out due to critical hits ignoring non-negative elemental resistances (via Sunder My Enemies). However, its meta relevance has waned as similar bonuses became accessible through gear (e.g., Beacon of Azis) and new gems like Rakiata’s Flow. While the Invoker remains viable for specific builds like “Dragon Monk,” the Martial Artist is positioned to provide a fresh, powerful direction for the class.

Martial Artist Ascendancy Breakdown

Way of the Stonefist

  • Core Mechanics: Equipping gloves transforms them into “Fist of Stone.” Explicit modifiers are upgraded to more powerful variations.
  • Benefits: Provides substantial evasion and energy shield per level based on your equipped armor.
  • Build Potential: This node is expected to be a mandatory pick for almost every Martial Artist build due to its free, scaling power. It may enable unique glove interactions, potentially reviving the “Hollow Palm” playstyle by allowing players to stack defensive stats while maintaining high damage.
  • Hollow Focus Technique: Periodically creates Ethereal Bells nearby. These can be destroyed for additional damage and benefit from a solid shockwave radius, aiding area-of-effect (AoE) clearing.
  • Hollow Resonance Technique: Attaches an Ethereal Bell to the player’s back. Critical hits with other skills trigger the bell to ring out and damage nearby enemies. This is highly effective for bossing and works well with basic skills like Eye Strike.
  • Hollow Form Technique: Grants the “Hollow Form” skill, a powerful finisher. While impactful, it faces competition for limited passive points against more passive, automated damage sources like the bells.

Defensive & Utility Nodes

  • Way of the Mountain: Grants “Mountain Teachings” upon immobilizing an enemy (up to 30 stacks).
    • Effect: Each stack provides 15% more damage.
    • Survival: When hit, damage taken is reduced by 40% (if the hit is ≤ 30% of max life) and provides +50% stun threshold.
    • Strategy: Pairs well with evasion builds and deflection, creating a robust defensive layer against multiple incoming attacks.
  • Runic Meridians: Allows tattooing additional runes onto gear (Helmet: 1, Body: 2, Gloves: 1, Boots: 1). This is highly valuable for fixing resistances early and providing endgame optimization through advanced rune effects.

Niche Nodes

  • Martial Adept: Grants an additional combo and reduces energy shield recharge delay. Useful for combo-heavy playstyles but considered lower priority than core damage/defensive nodes.
  • Martial Master: Allows building/retaining combos regardless of weapon sets and grants combo from all attack hits. This is currently viewed as a niche option for builds utilizing complex weapon swaps.

For most players, the most efficient path will prioritize passive damage and survival over active channeling skills:

  1. Way of the Stonefist (Mandatory first pick)
  2. Runic Meridians (For early resistance and defensive scaling)
  3. Hollow Focus & Hollow Resonance (For automated AoE and boss damage)

Note: Players opting out of the bell-based playstyle may prefer substituting those points for Way of the Mountain to bolster survivability.

Key References