Just started a Monk up on the weekend and wanted to make sure I have the basics right.
I have a Wizard and Demon Hunter in Hell mode so this is my first attempt at a melee class character.
So far I'am almost up to the Diablo fight in normal mode, still wearing lvl13 yellows and at lvl 26 still melting mobs.
Awesome dps the class has.
Anyway I appreciate there is a lot of threads and info out there on every class but I just wanted to make sure I have the basics right without having to read a ton of posts.
Firstly for the build stats, Dexterity is my friend for dps then I should stack as much Spirit regen as I can, Attack Speed and Vitality correct?
I'am not so sure I have the playstyle correct as I've read that the class is used for mobile dps attacks more than stand and deliver attacks.
I currently wait for a pack of mobs to come to me and I just blast through them, I dont move to much.
I know we have some mobility spells where we dart around and dps, its shutdown right now so I cant name them of the top of my head, is this how I should be playing the class?
Should I be darting around instead of being mainly stationery?
Any links to anyones build would be appreciated here .
And lastly companions, I use the Enchantress as she gives me a more ranged attack which I think blends in nicely with the melee class.
Plus I also read somewhere she has the most dps out of the 3 companions.
I also use my Mystic Ally, he doesnt do to bad but his no Hydra with Venom, is this a waste of a dps slot?
Should I be using something else instead of the Ally or is he my friend right through?
Thanks for any help.
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Even in the heart of Heaven angels can still feel fear...
As the game gets progressively harder, you start going from a heavy dex dude to a mix of dex/vit. This is basic.
Then its up to your playing style. Some people are going for Life on Hit which seems to be effective. I'm still trying to go with a heavy dex/IAS build, to some effect. Haven't hit Inferno yet though.
Mobility is key. But that comes in many shapes and forms... the only thing i'm using right now for mobility is Serenity, just to escape a bit and get my CDs ready to use again. Dashing Strike and FoT+Thunderclap are very nice as well.
I use the Air Ally a lot. Dude has some form of Sweeping Wind and has a chance to regen your Spirit. Also, looks kinda cool. It is a very cost effective skill, not a waste of a slot at all.
For the follower, any of the ranged ones are fine. Personally, I prefer the enchantress. CC, DoTs, packs quite a punch as well. Her voice is annoying, but all the followers get under your skin after some time.
Awesome mate thanks for taking the time out of your day to reply.
Very surprised only one person bothered though, the other classes seem to have a more active community going by this.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Even in the heart of Heaven angels can still feel fear...
Well, I was going to try to help, but then I realised that I don't remember anything about early difficulties. I remember mantra of healing being really useful, it allows to tank pretty much everything and boss fights are just stationary. Ofc stack dex, not sure about spirit regen though. It is handy, but 2-3/sec was enough for me. Attack speed and vitality are needed, yes. More attack speed = more spirit and more damage. Take as much as you can. Rings and amulets with damage (5-10 damage for example) are going to give you more dps than attack speed until some point in the game. Until hell maybe, I don't know the exact point. So on early difficulties you may want to wear those instead of ias ones.
As for offensive skills I really like cyclone strike, sweeping wind and any generator. I like way of the hundred fists because of it's animation =) But until hell there's really nothing mandatory.
As for passives I have been using Transcendence and Chant of Resonance for a veeeery long time. Chant gives you all the spirit regen you need (IMO) and Transcendence heals a lot, just try it.
Combat tactics are stand as long as you want and punch things =) Dashing strike is also very fun to use, a pity I can't stick it into my inferno build. With rune that lowers it's cost and some spirit regen (Chant) you can spam it as much as you want. Treasure goblins are doomed I also used it to dodge special attacks like Diablo's Inferno.
When mobs start hitting you really hard and you feel like kiting, you can try Deadly Reach. There's a thread in this forum where a monk uses Deadly Reach with Keen Eye rune (+50% armor) and Sweeping Wing on inferno, that's a viable tactic, you may want to use it in later difficulties. Here's the thread. Of course there are other builds, you can try to tank mobs using Crippling Wave with damage reducing rune and Resolve passive, but I don't think you really need all this atm.
Serenity is a must have when monsters are starting to be a threat. You can use it even when you are frozen, or to break prison if some prison desecrators try to catch you in their aoe. Also makes fight with Izual much easier. I think I would have taken it as soon as it became available, if I was levelling a new monk. Well, maybe a couple levels later, but anyway it's amazing.
Well, I don't know what else I can say. Hope this helps.
Hey Rom,
Thank you for the post, excellent information.
I did find my lvl 13 gear was getting a little weak at Izual lol so ramped up on Dex, Attack Speed and Vitality and had something like a 2 minute fight with Diablo for all 3 phases.
No one mentioned Breath of Heaven, for me thats money in the bank if something does go astray.
I have tried Serenity but I remember on my Wizard trying to keep 2 buffs up made me a bit forgetful at times so having that and Mantra of Healing will keep me busy but I'll give it a go again.
Like you said Chant of Res. will help here.
Thank you for the reply.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Even in the heart of Heaven angels can still feel fear...
BoH+Blazing Wrath is in the build I posted. I use it always as both a heal and a damage buff. Transcendence covers the extra healing needed. Most cases, if i'm taking heavy damage, after BoH I usually spam whatever skill that costs spirit but has no CD, like the ally or mantras. Serenity is the ultimate life saver though.
Just read something from your previous post that caught my attention: I don't stack spirit regen. Not a single 0.1/second. Instead, I focus on improving my IAS so that my generators do that job. This is working rather well.
What I am dealing with right now actually is the choice in skills... there are some slots that are a given: a generator, a mantra, BoH and Serenity.
Sweeping Wind, Blinding Flash, Cyclone Strike, Mystic Ally, Lashing Tail Kick and SSS are having an epic battle.
Everything seems to have the right time to use and I used to love switching between them.... but then no valor buff. Guess I'll just replay areas over and over with a different set of skills until I hit the sweet spot for each of them.
Some combinations are killer... SW>CS>LTK(Scorpion Sting) is one of my favorites. Its like "everybody look at me, come closer now, there you go, NOW DIE TOGETHER". Killed 34 dudes with one blow once with this combo. Fun.
I read somewhere that Spirit regen on gear was important, its not?
I dont have a regen issue at the moment but I do have gear with it on
.
Heres my current build keeping in mind I dont have all the abilities as yet: http://us.battle.net/d3/en/calculator/monk#UgXTjQ!XcY!YYbZbb
I'am going to try some of both your suggestions and see how I go but your right finding the sweet spot can be hard.
I use a Razer Naga Hex mouse so everything is bound to that so once I start moving things around and starting new things it can get confusing
But at the moment everything is melting and thats all I ask.
Having said that what is a decent amount of dps to be pushing out?
I know that varies from different levels/modes but as an end goal what should I be looking at?
Only Dex. and Attack Speed will increase this correct, theres no other stat I should be looking at?
Naturally the more Vitality helps as I'll live longer to dps
One thing I have made a huge stuff up on was not looking at dps on weapons, I only looked at how much Dex. I could get.
So havent been using fist weps at all which is robbing me of dps.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Even in the heart of Heaven angels can still feel fear...
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Just started a Monk up on the weekend and wanted to make sure I have the basics right.
I have a Wizard and Demon Hunter in Hell mode so this is my first attempt at a melee class character.
So far I'am almost up to the Diablo fight in normal mode, still wearing lvl13 yellows and at lvl 26 still melting mobs.
Awesome dps the class has.
Anyway I appreciate there is a lot of threads and info out there on every class but I just wanted to make sure I have the basics right without having to read a ton of posts.
Firstly for the build stats, Dexterity is my friend for dps then I should stack as much Spirit regen as I can, Attack Speed and Vitality correct?
I'am not so sure I have the playstyle correct as I've read that the class is used for mobile dps attacks more than stand and deliver attacks.
I currently wait for a pack of mobs to come to me and I just blast through them, I dont move to much.
I know we have some mobility spells where we dart around and dps, its shutdown right now so I cant name them of the top of my head, is this how I should be playing the class?
Should I be darting around instead of being mainly stationery?
Any links to anyones build would be appreciated here .
And lastly companions, I use the Enchantress as she gives me a more ranged attack which I think blends in nicely with the melee class.
Plus I also read somewhere she has the most dps out of the 3 companions.
I also use my Mystic Ally, he doesnt do to bad but his no Hydra with Venom, is this a waste of a dps slot?
Should I be using something else instead of the Ally or is he my friend right through?
Thanks for any help.
Then its up to your playing style. Some people are going for Life on Hit which seems to be effective. I'm still trying to go with a heavy dex/IAS build, to some effect. Haven't hit Inferno yet though.
Mobility is key. But that comes in many shapes and forms... the only thing i'm using right now for mobility is Serenity, just to escape a bit and get my CDs ready to use again. Dashing Strike and FoT+Thunderclap are very nice as well.
I use the Air Ally a lot. Dude has some form of Sweeping Wind and has a chance to regen your Spirit. Also, looks kinda cool. It is a very cost effective skill, not a waste of a slot at all.
For the follower, any of the ranged ones are fine. Personally, I prefer the enchantress. CC, DoTs, packs quite a punch as well. Her voice is annoying, but all the followers get under your skin after some time.
Current build: http://us.battle.net/d3/en/calculator/monk#WijgXh!YdX!ZZbaba
Very surprised only one person bothered though, the other classes seem to have a more active community going by this.
As for offensive skills I really like cyclone strike, sweeping wind and any generator. I like way of the hundred fists because of it's animation =) But until hell there's really nothing mandatory.
As for passives I have been using Transcendence and Chant of Resonance for a veeeery long time. Chant gives you all the spirit regen you need (IMO) and Transcendence heals a lot, just try it.
Combat tactics are stand as long as you want and punch things =) Dashing strike is also very fun to use, a pity I can't stick it into my inferno build. With rune that lowers it's cost and some spirit regen (Chant) you can spam it as much as you want. Treasure goblins are doomed I also used it to dodge special attacks like Diablo's Inferno.
When mobs start hitting you really hard and you feel like kiting, you can try Deadly Reach. There's a thread in this forum where a monk uses Deadly Reach with Keen Eye rune (+50% armor) and Sweeping Wing on inferno, that's a viable tactic, you may want to use it in later difficulties. Here's the thread. Of course there are other builds, you can try to tank mobs using Crippling Wave with damage reducing rune and Resolve passive, but I don't think you really need all this atm.
Serenity is a must have when monsters are starting to be a threat. You can use it even when you are frozen, or to break prison if some prison desecrators try to catch you in their aoe. Also makes fight with Izual much easier. I think I would have taken it as soon as it became available, if I was levelling a new monk. Well, maybe a couple levels later, but anyway it's amazing.
Well, I don't know what else I can say. Hope this helps.
Thank you for the post, excellent information.
I did find my lvl 13 gear was getting a little weak at Izual lol so ramped up on Dex, Attack Speed and Vitality and had something like a 2 minute fight with Diablo for all 3 phases.
No one mentioned Breath of Heaven, for me thats money in the bank if something does go astray.
I have tried Serenity but I remember on my Wizard trying to keep 2 buffs up made me a bit forgetful at times so having that and Mantra of Healing will keep me busy but I'll give it a go again.
Like you said Chant of Res. will help here.
Thank you for the reply.
Just read something from your previous post that caught my attention: I don't stack spirit regen. Not a single 0.1/second. Instead, I focus on improving my IAS so that my generators do that job. This is working rather well.
What I am dealing with right now actually is the choice in skills... there are some slots that are a given: a generator, a mantra, BoH and Serenity.
Sweeping Wind, Blinding Flash, Cyclone Strike, Mystic Ally, Lashing Tail Kick and SSS are having an epic battle.
Everything seems to have the right time to use and I used to love switching between them.... but then no valor buff. Guess I'll just replay areas over and over with a different set of skills until I hit the sweet spot for each of them.
Some combinations are killer... SW>CS>LTK(Scorpion Sting) is one of my favorites. Its like "everybody look at me, come closer now, there you go, NOW DIE TOGETHER". Killed 34 dudes with one blow once with this combo. Fun.
I read somewhere that Spirit regen on gear was important, its not?
I dont have a regen issue at the moment but I do have gear with it on
.
Heres my current build keeping in mind I dont have all the abilities as yet:
http://us.battle.net/d3/en/calculator/monk#UgXTjQ!XcY!YYbZbb
I'am going to try some of both your suggestions and see how I go but your right finding the sweet spot can be hard.
I use a Razer Naga Hex mouse so everything is bound to that so once I start moving things around and starting new things it can get confusing
But at the moment everything is melting and thats all I ask.
Having said that what is a decent amount of dps to be pushing out?
I know that varies from different levels/modes but as an end goal what should I be looking at?
Only Dex. and Attack Speed will increase this correct, theres no other stat I should be looking at?
Naturally the more Vitality helps as I'll live longer to dps
One thing I have made a huge stuff up on was not looking at dps on weapons, I only looked at how much Dex. I could get.
So havent been using fist weps at all which is robbing me of dps.