The Monk class in Path of Exile 2 stands out as a unique melee-caster hybrid. Understanding how to effectively develop this class is crucial for harnessing its dynamic playstyle.
For players caught between the aggressive melee confrontation of the Warrior and the mystic elemental damage of the Sorceress, the Monk offers the best of both realms. It combines rapid melee maneuvers with area-of-effect (AOE) spells rooted in ice and lightning.
If you enjoyed the frenetic action of the Quill Volley Spiritborn in Diablo 4, then the Monk in Path of Exile 2 will be a familiar fit, sans the astronomical damage figures.
In the following sections, we’ll delve into the most effective Monk build available during the early access phase of Path of Exile 2. This includes recommendations on Ascendancy choices, optimal skills and support slots, as well as desirable gear modifiers.
This Monk build efficiently utilizes Power Charges to amplify lightning abilities.
Optimal Monk Build
Currently, the Tempest Flurry Invoker is regarded as the most potent Monk build in Path of Exile 2‘s early access. This build emphasizes elemental skills while stacking Power Charges for enhanced performance.
To gain Power Charges effectively, the build employs a popular skill combination: embedding Profane Ritual within Cast on Freeze. By blending your lightning skills with ice, you generate Power Charges from corpses, thereby amplifying the potency of attacks like Falling Thunder, Charged Staff, and Tempest Flurry.
The primary strategy is to eliminate enemies with powerful AOE attacks while maintaining a strong defense through Energy Shield and Evasion Rating, which can be enhanced by various passive bonuses.
Recommended Ascendancy
For this Monk build, you should choose the Invoker Ascendancy. Completing either the Trial of the Sekhemas or the Trial of Chaos is essential for unlocking this Ascendancy.
Interestingly, rather than focusing on elemental attacks directly from the skill tree, this build significantly benefits from enhancements to defense, key metas, and Critical Hits.
After securing the Invoker Ascendancy, prioritize the following abilities:
- Lead me Through Grace… – Gain 1 Spirit for every 6 Energy Shield on equipped Body Armor, and 1 Spirit for every 15 Evasion Rating on equipped Body Armor. Cannot gain Spirit from Equipment.
- …and Protect me from Harm – Evasion Rating provides Physical Damage reduction, with 40% less Evasion Rating.
- Sunder my Enemies… – Critical Hits bypass non-negative Enemy Monster Elemental Resistances.
- The Soul Springs Eternal – Meta Skills receive 35% more Energy.
This Monk build excels in AOE damage output, largely due to its high Critical Hit potential.
Key Skills for the Monk
In Path of Exile 2, skills are the cornerstone of any build. As you progress your Monk, you should prioritize acquiring the following skills to maximize your effectiveness in the endgame:
| Skill | Support Skill 1 | Support Skill 2 | Support Skill 3 | Support Skill 4 | Support Skill 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tempest Flurry | Ice Bite | Cold Infusion | Martial Tempo | Close Combat | Inspiration |
| Falling Thunder | Ambush | Longshot | Perpetual Charge | Ricochet | Acceleration |
| Charged Staff | Persistence | Innervate | Primal Armament | Rising Tempest | – |
| Tempest Bell | Rage | Concentrated Effect | Overabundance | Heavy Swing | – |
| Herald of Ice | Cold Mastery | Shock Siphon | Magnified Effect | – | – |
| Herald of Thunder | Lightning Mastery | Maim | Blind | – | – |
| Cast on Freeze | Profane Ritual | Profusion | Impetus | Energy Retention | – |
| Wind Dancer | Pin | Lockdown | – | – | – |
| Ghost Dance | Fast Forward | – | – | – | – |
Shadowing skills in Path of Exile 2 entails collecting Uncut Skill Gems and engraving them according to your strategic needs. To amplify these skills, you will need Uncut Support Gems for additional enhancements.
The skills listed above are ideal for endgame content, but securing them may take some time as some are level-gated. Use alternate skills as you level up, transitioning to the more advanced options as they unlock.
During our experience leveling the Monk, we found great utility in using Killing Palm for Power Charge generation and Contagion for crowd control, easing boss encounters against formidable foes like The Executioner and Rathbreaker.
This allows flexibility for experimentation before solidifying your chosen skills. Just keep your end goal in mind throughout the leveling process.
Top Passive Skills for Monk
Path of Exile 2 features an extensive Passive skill tree. To streamline your development, focus on both basic Passives and those classified as Notable Passives. The latter are significant nodes that grant substantial bonuses and have distinctive names.
While navigating the tree for the Tempest Flurry Invoker Monk, consider these Notable Passives:
- Flow Like Water – Increases attack and cast speed by 8% and grants +5 to Dexterity and Intelligence.
- Crashing Wave – 36% increased damage following a Critical Hit in the last eight seconds.
- Essence of the Storm – Grants 5% of damage as additional lightning damage and a 30% greater chance to Shock.
- Essence of the Mountain – Provides 5% of damage as extra cold damage and a 20% boost to Freeze buildup.
- The Power Within – Increases Critical Damage Bonus by 20% after gaining a Power Charge and adds +1 to maximum Power Charges.
- True Strike – Enhances Critical Hit chance by 20% and adds +10 to Dexterity.
- For the Jugular – Contributes +10 to Intelligence and provides a 30% increase in Critical Damage Bonus.
- Deadly Force – Grants a 30% damage increase following a Critical Hit in the last eight seconds and boosts Critical Hit chance by 12%.
- One with the Storm – Allows Quarterstaff skills that consume a Power Charge to count as using one additional Power Charge.
- One with the River – Increases Daze, Freeze, and Stun buildup by 30% while wielding a Quarterstaff alongside defense boosts.
- Falcon Technique – Boosts Attack Speed by 1% per 15 Dexterity.
- Overflowing Power – Expands maximum Power Charges by 2.
There are numerous other Notable Passives available as you hone your Monk build. Typically, you will acquire them along your path to the highlighted skills. When fully fleshed out, your Passive tree should resemble the following:
As you level your Monk, tailor your points and playstyle to align with this progression to limit the need for re-specing later in the game.
Ideal Monk Armor, Weapons, and Charms
Your initial focus when starting in Path of Exile 2 should be acquiring weapons and armor that support your class’s combat capabilities. Yet, as you advance, it’s crucial to target specific gear pieces that will vastly enhance your build’s effectiveness through beneficial augments.
Consider aiming for the following gear and strive to enhance them with the key attributes listed below:
| Item Type | Base Type | Benefit | How to Obtain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weapon | Gothic Quarter Staff | Boosts Physical Damage, Critical Hit Chance, and Cold Damage | Random drop / Vendor |
| Off Hand | – | – | – |
| Helm | Energy Shield and Evasion Rating base | Maximizes Energy Shield and Life | Random drop / Vendor |
| Armor | Energy Shield and Evasion Rating base | Maximizes Evasion Rating and Life | Random drop / Vendor |
| Gloves | Energy Shield and Evasion Rating base | Boosts Physical Damage and Critical Hit Chance | Random drop / Vendor |
| Boots | Energy Shield and Evasion Rating base | Enhances Movement Speed, Energy Shield, and Evasion Rating | Random drop / Vendor |
| Belt | Utility Belt | Increases Life and Resistances | Random drop / Vendor |
| Ring 1 | Resistance Ring | Enhances Resistances | Random drop / Vendor |
| Ring 2 | Resistance Ring | Enhances Resistances | Random drop / Vendor |
| Amulet | Bloodstone Amulet | Adds extra Lightning Damage to attacks | Random drop / Vendor |
| Charm 1 | Amethyst Charm | +18 to Chaos Resistance | Random drop / Vendor |
| Charm 2 | Thawing Charm | Grants Freeze Immunity | Random drop / Vendor |
| Charm 3 | – | – | – |
Incorporating any enhancement to Chaos Resistance through augments is valuable for any class as you approach the endgame.
With this guidance, you are now equipped with the knowledge to create the ultimate Monk build in Path of Exile 2.
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