Path of Exile 2 Monk - Skills, Builds, and Mechanics

Dec-06-2024

 

As the early access for Path of Exile 2 draws near, many players are excited to dive into the newly revamped classes, especially the Monk. This class, which has made its mark in games like Diablo 3, is set to become one of the most dynamic and thrilling characters in PoE 2. But how does the Monk in PoE 2 compare to the one in Diablo 3? And more importantly, how can you make the most of this class when the game launches? Let's break it down!

 

 

What Makes the Monk Special in Path of Exile 2?

The Monk is a melee class with a unique blend of elemental magic and agile combat. It primarily relies on Dexterity and Intelligence attributes, making it a versatile and flexible class. If you're someone who enjoys quick movements, high damage, and crowd control, the Monk might be your perfect pick.

 

In terms of weapons, the Monk uses Quarterstaffs, which are great for both spellcasting and physical damage, and Quarterstaves, which focus more on physical attacks. Interestingly, Unarmed Combat is also an option, providing additional flexibility in how you engage with enemies.

 

Skills and Abilities

The Monk's skill set is designed to allow you to deal massive damage, crowd control enemies, and support your team through unique elemental effects. Here are some of the standout abilities:

 

- Falling Thunder: Strike the ground with lightning damage, scaling in both range and damage when you consume Power Charges.

- Glacial Cascade: Create sharp ice shards that slow enemies and deal damage, perfect for freezing and damaging groups.

- Killing Palm: Instantly execute enemies with low health while also generating Power Charges.

- Frozen Locus: Jump back and create an ice crystal that deals AoE damage when destroyed.

- Wind Blast: Knock enemies back to gain distance and reposition for better combat control.

- Whirling Assault: Spin rapidly, dealing damage while moving through enemies.

- Ice Strike: Imbue your weapon with frost, causing melee attacks to freeze enemies.

- Shattering Palm: Deliver a powerful unarmed strike that coats enemies in ice shards. These can be detonated with subsequent attacks for massive damage.

 

In addition to these, the Monk class has a variety of crowd-control and combo skills, such as Wave of Frost, Siphoning Strike, and Flicker Strike for teleporting to enemies and dealing high damage.

 

Ascendancies

Like other classes in PoE 2, the Monk has two ascendancies that define how you approach combat:

- The Invoker: This ascendancy focuses on elemental magic, enhancing the Monk's elemental skills for both offense and control. If you enjoy a magic-infused Monk who can quickly dispatch enemies with powerful elements, this might be your best bet.

- The Acolyte of Chayula: This path harnesses the power of the Spirit of Darkness, dealing damage while also absorbing power to fuel your abilities. It's ideal for those who want to mix damage-dealing with some defensive mechanics.

 

Recommended Monk Build: Frost Monk

The Monk's flexibility allows for a variety of builds, but the Frost Monk build stands out for its combination of crowd control and devastating single-target damage. By leveraging Glacial Cascade, Shattering Palm, and Ice Strike, you can freeze enemies and dish out massive damage.

 

This build revolves around managing your crowd control abilities while maximizing elemental damage. By focusing on Cold Damage and Elemental Damage nodes on the passive skill tree, you can enhance your damage output and debuff enemies effectively. Additionally, using defensive mechanics like Energy Shield, Evasion, and Spell Suppression will ensure you can survive in tough situations.

 

How to Build the Best Monk

To optimize your Monk build, you'll need to carefully select your Skill Gems. These gems correspond to different skills and can be customized to fit your playstyle. Focus on Melee Damage and Elemental Damage in your passive skill tree to increase your effectiveness in combat. From there, decide which Keystone is best suited for your build.

 

For the Frost Monk, prioritize:

- Cold Damage and Elemental Damage for enhancing your core abilities like Glacial Cascade and Ice Strike.

- Power Charges to boost your elemental abilities.

- Defensive Nodes like Evasion and Energy Shield to survive against tougher enemies and bosses.

 

Once you've mapped out your tree and equipped the right Skill Gems, you'll be ready to unleash the Monk's full potential!

 

The Monk in Path of Exile 2 offers a unique blend of melee combat, elemental magic, and crowd control abilities. It is an exciting class that's sure to bring both style and substance to your gameplay.