Invulnerable Tank / Support zDPS Monk

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by Elkinsguy last updated Feb 25, 2015 ( Patch 2.1.2 )

Seasonal

Hybrid

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Skills

Crippling Wave Breaking Wave
- Crippling Wave
Generate: 12 Spirit per attack

Unleash a series of large sweeping attacks that deal 155% weapon damage as Physical to all enemies in front of you.

Every third hit also dazes enemies within 11 yards, slowing their movement speed by 30% and attack speed by 20% for 3 seconds.
Breaking Wave

Enemies hit by Crippling Wave take 10% additional damage from all attacks for 3 seconds.
Cyclone Strike Implosion
- Cyclone Strike
Cost: 50 Spirit

Pull up to 16 enemies within 24 yards towards you, followed by a furious blast of energy that deals 261% weapon damage as Holy.
Implosion

Increase the distance enemies will be pulled towards you to 34 yards.
Inner Sanctuary Forbidden Palace
- Inner Sanctuary
Cooldown: 20 seconds

Create a runic circle of protection on the ground for 6 seconds that reduces all damage taken by 55% for all allies inside.
Forbidden Palace

Enemies inside Inner Sanctuary have their movement speed reduced by 80%.
Serenity
- Serenity
Cooldown: 16 seconds

You are enveloped in a protective shield that absorbs all incoming damage for 3 seconds and grants immunity to all control impairing effects.

This ability does not start its cooldown until after its effects expire.
Epiphany Desert Shroud
- Epiphany
Cooldown: 60 seconds

Have an Epiphany, increasing your Spirit Regeneration per Second by 20 and enabling your melee attacks to instantly dash to your target for 15 seconds.
Desert Shroud

Infuse yourself with sand, reducing damage taken by 50%.
Mantra of Conviction Overawe
- Mantra of Conviction
Cost: 50 Spirit

Active: Damage bonus is increased to 16% for 3 seconds.

Passive: Enemies within 30 yards of you take 8% increased damage.

Only one Mantra may be active at a time.
Overawe

Passive: Increase the strength of Mantra of Conviction so that enemies take 12% increased damage.

Beacon of Ytar
- Beacon of Ytar
Reduce all cooldowns by 20%.
Harmony
- Harmony
40% of your single elemental resistances from items instead increases your resistance to all elements.
The Guardian's Path
- The Guardian's Path
While dual-wielding, you gain a 35% chance to dodge incoming attacks. While using a two-handed weapon, all Spirit generation is increased by 15%.
Sixth Sense
- Sixth Sense
Reduce all non-Physical damage taken by 25%.

Items

Leoric's Crown

Legendary Helm

72 - 89 Armor

Primary Stats

Sockets (1)

Secondary Stats

Increase the effect of any gem socketed into your helm by 100%. This effect does not apply to Legendary Gems.

+ 3 Random Magic Properties
Born's Privilege

Set Shoulders

Primary Stats

+6 Random Magic Properties

Born's Command
Born's Frozen Soul
Born's Privilege
Born's Furious Wrath
(2) Set: +15% Life
(3) Set: Reduces cooldown of all skills by +10%.+20% Experience. (0.2*10|1| % at level 70)
Overwhelming Desire

Legendary Amulet

Primary Stats

Reduces cooldown of all skills by 3.0–5.0%.
+3 Random Magic Properties

Secondary Stats

Chance on hit to charm the enemy. While charmed, the enemy takes 35% increased damage.
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+36–44 Dexterity

+36–44 Strength

+36–44 Intelligence
Inna's Vast Expanse

Set Chest Armor

398 - 472 Armor

Primary Stats

Sockets (1)

Inna's Mantra
Inna's Radiance
Inna's Reach
Inna's Vast Expanse
Inna's Favor
Inna's Temperance
Inna's Sandals
Inna's Hold
(2) Set: Increase the passive effect of your Mystic Ally and the base passive effect of your Mantra by 100%.
(4) Set: Gain the base effect of all four Mantras at all times.
(6) Set: Gain the five runed Mystic Allies at all times and your damage is increased by 150% for each Mystic Ally you have out.

+ 4 Random Magic Properties
Strongarm Bracers

Legendary Bracers

Primary Stats

+220–349 Vitality
Critical Hit Chance Increased by 4.5–6.0%
+2 Random Magic Properties

Secondary Stats

Enemies hit by knockbacks suffer 20–30% increased damage for 6 seconds.
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+220–349 Dexterity

+220–349 Strength

+220–349 Intelligence
Asheara's Ward

Set Gloves

Primary Stats

+6 Random Magic Properties

Asheara's Vestments
Asheara's Custodian
Asheara's Ward
Asheara's Pace
Asheara's Finders
(2) Set: +100 Resistance to All Elements
(3) Set: +20% Life
(4) Set: Attacks cause your followers to occasionally come to your aid.
Inna's Favor

Set Belt

265 - 314 Armor

Primary Stats

+51 - 60 Resistance to All Elements

Inna's Mantra
Inna's Radiance
Inna's Reach
Inna's Vast Expanse
Inna's Favor
Inna's Temperance
Inna's Sandals
Inna's Hold
(2) Set: Increase the passive effect of your Mystic Ally and the base passive effect of your Mantra by 100%.
(4) Set: Gain the base effect of all four Mantras at all times.
(6) Set: Gain the five runed Mystic Allies at all times and your damage is increased by 150% for each Mystic Ally you have out.

+ 4 Random Magic Properties
Asheara's Finders

Set Boots

Primary Stats

+6 Random Magic Properties

Asheara's Vestments
Asheara's Custodian
Asheara's Ward
Asheara's Pace
Asheara's Finders
(2) Set: +100 Resistance to All Elements
(3) Set: +20% Life
(4) Set: Attacks cause your followers to occasionally come to your aid.
Ring of Royal Grandeur

Legendary Ring

Primary Stats

Attack Speed Increased by 2.0–3.0%
+27–60 Life per Hit
+2 Random Magic Properties

Secondary Stats

Reduces the number of items needed for set bonuses by 1 (to a minimum of 2).
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+24–29 Dexterity

+24–29 Strength

+24–29 Intelligence
Bul-Kathos's Wedding Band

Legendary Ring
Born's Furious Wrath

Set Sword

Primary Stats

+(981–1199)–(1175–1490) Holy Damage
+5 Random Magic Properties

Born's Command
Born's Frozen Soul
Born's Privilege
Born's Furious Wrath
(2) Set: +15% Life
(3) Set: Reduces cooldown of all skills by +10%.+20% Experience. (0.2*10|1| % at level 70)
Wall of Man

Legendary Shield

Primary Stats

+5 Random Magic Properties

Secondary Stats

20–30% chance to be protected by a shield of bones when you are hit.

More Details

Head
- Leoric's Crown
- Aughild's Spike
- Inna's Radiance
- Stat Priority: Socket Dex Life Vit
Shoulders
- Born's Privilege
- Asheara's Custodian
- Aughild's Power
- Stat Priority: CDR Dex Vit Armor +
Amulet
- Overwhelming Desire
- Countess Julia's Cameo
- Xephirian Amulet
- Stat Priority: CDR Socket Dex LOH
Torso
- Inna's Vast Expanse
- Aughild's Rule
- Born's Frozen Soul
- Stat Priority: Socket Dex AR Armor +
Wrists
- Strongarm Bracers
- Aughild's Search
- Stat Priority: Dex Vit LOH AR
Hands
- Asheara's Ward
- St. Archew's Gage
- Gloves of Worship
- Stat Priority: CDR Dex Vit Armor +
Waist
- Inna's Favor
- Captain Crimson's Silk Girdle
- Blackthorne's Notched Belt
- Stat Priority: Life Dex Vit AR
Legs
- Captain Crimson's Thrust
- Blackthorne's Jousting Mail
- Stat Priority: Socket AR Dex Vit
Feet
- Asheara's Finders
- Captain Crimson's Waders
- Blackthorne's Spurs
- Stat Priority: Dex Vit Armor + AR
Rings
- Ring of Royal Grandeur
- Bul-Kathos's Wedding Band
- Rogar's Huge Stone
- Stat Priority: Life LPS
Weapon
- Born's Furious Wrath
- Sledge Fist
- Stat Priority: CDR Socket Dex Vit
Offhand
- Wall of Man
- Stat Priority: CDR Armor + AR Life

Legendary Gems
- Molten Wildebeest's Gizzard
  Molten Wildebeest's Gizzard
  
  Gem
  
  Primary Stats
  
  Regenerates 10000 Life per Second.
  After not taking damage for 4 seconds, gain an absorb shield for 200% of your total Life per Second. (Requires Rank 25)
- Esoteric Alteration
  Esoteric Alteration
  
  Gem
  
  Secondary Stats
  
  Gain +10% non-Physical damage reduction.
- Gogok of Swiftness
  Gogok of Swiftness
  
  Gem
  
  Secondary Stats
  
  Gain Swiftness with every attack, increasing your Attack Speed by 1% and Dodge by 0.5% for 4 seconds. This effect stacks up to 15 times.

Focus on cooldown reduction first and foremost! Socket a flawless royal diamond in helmet, preferably Leoric's crown for even more cdr since it gives whatever gem is socketed into it an added 75-100% bonus. Use Inna's set on preferably chest, belt and legs to gain base abilities of all mantras. Use born's sword along with born's shoulders for added cooldown and life. Asheara's on feet and hands for bonus life and cooldown. If you don't have the inna's set or Leoric's crown then you can use Aughilds along with Captain Crimsons and an extra Asheaar's piece. This will give you reduced damage from elites, allow all of your followers to come to your aid even in multiplayer games, and even more cooldown reduction. Even without Inna's and just using crafted sets you can obtain near invulnerability and buff your party greatly. Inna's just takes it to the next level. Sledgefist helps you to keep all the enemies stunned and thus locked in one place for the damage dealers to do their thing, and of course reduces the amount of damage the enemy can do. If you do not have sledge fist or do not want to dual wield then the crafted shield Wall of Man is a good option as well. Socket flawless royal diamonds in all of your gear except for your weapons. Socket flawless royal amethyst in them for extra life on hit. Focus on defensive stats, life and life regen on all of your gear. You can replace gogok of swiftness with effacious toxin or stone of vengence but I highly recommend keeping the other two gems for pure defense since this is a tank / support build but they can be replaced with a gem of your choosing as well since you will have enough cooldown to be pretty much invulnerable anyway. They are just an extra added safety buffer. Also you want to have secondary resistances on all or most of your gear to make the most out of the harmony passive and thus increase your toughness even more. You want as much all res, armor and life as possible to make sure that you are truly invulnerable.

Paragon Priorities

Core

Primary Stat
Vitality
Movement Speed
Maximum Resource

Offense

Attack Speed
Cooldown Reduction
Critical Hit Chance
Critical Hit Damage

Defense

Life
Armor
Resist All
Life Regeneration

Utility

Area Damage
Resource Cost Reduction
Life on Hit
Gold Find

For core add points to cap your movement speed at 25%, then focus on vitality because life is good. For your offensive points you want more cooldown, then attack speed but cooldown is all that really matters. Crit chance and crit damage do not matter at all since you won't be doing any damage anyway and will just be a waste of points for this build. For defense focus on all res first and foremost, then add extra life because like I said, life is good. You should have a very high life per second from the molten wildebeast's gizzard and from your gear but if you don't then add life per second before armor unless your armor is extremely low which it should not be. For utility focus on life on hit, then resource cost reduction but life on hit is all that really matters in the utility category for this build.

Build Guide

This is my first build guide so hopefully it isn't too poorly done.

This build is only for group play and is viable in both hardcore and softcore. This build is a pure support / tank build and you will not be doing any damage with it. However you will be buffing your parties damage greatly and therefore kill much faster. The main focus of this build is cooldown. With 81.55% cooldown you can have serenity up almost constantly and thus be basically invulnerable. You can also keep epiphany and inner sanctuary up constantly as well. Since spirit shouldn't be much of an issue you can replace epiphany with a heal, crowd control skill or another party buff but the extra 50% damage reduction form desert shroud helps make sure that you truly are invulnerable.

Crippling wave with the breaking wave rune increases damage against enemies hit with it by 10% for 3 seconds. Thus increasing your parties damage.

Cyclone Strike with the implosion rune pulls up to 16 enemies within 34 yards to you. This keeps the enemies on you so your party can focus on straight damage without having to worry about healing, kiting or anything else. Cyclone strike in conjunction with Sledge Fist make sure that the enemies are on you and not your party and Sledge Fist keeps them there.

Inner Sanctuary with the Forbidden Palace rune decreases damage taken by you and any party member inside the runic circle by 55% and also increases damage taken by enemies inside of it by 30%, as well as slows their movement speed by 80%. So with this one skill you are cutting damage in half for you and your party, giving a huge damage boost to your party and providing even more crowd control.

Serenity absorbs all incoming damage for 3 seconds and the ascension rune ups it to 4 seconds and with enough cooldown you can basically keep it up constantly but even if you don't recast it immediately after 4 seconds then your life regen, armor, all res and other skills will still keep you alive and tanking without a problem.

Epiphany with the desert shroud rune ensures that you won't have any problems with running out of spirit and also reduces damage taken by 50%. You can replace Epiphany with another skill but I highly recommend keeping it since between it, serenity and inner sanctuary you will be invulnerable and able to tank any and everything easily.

Finally I use Mantra of Conviction with the Overawe rune to increase the damage my party is doing. The passive of Mantra of Conviction alone causes enemies within 30 yards of you to take 10% more damage, and the Overawe rune ups that to 16% while active the damage bonus is increased an extra 10%. You can swap this out for another mantra that may be more beneficial to your party. Of course with the Inna's set you can swap it out all together for an entirely different skill to heal, cc or buff. I just like adding the extra damage to my party for faster clear speeds and since surviving won't be an issue with this build then the extra damage bonus is a huge plus.

If you are able to obtain enough cooldown without beacon of ytar then feel free to switch it out for another passive, it is just more obtainable using it and allows you to focus on other stats on some of your gear. Sixth sense can be switched out as well.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR XBOX 360 AND PS3 PLAYERS

If you are a console player especially on Xbox 360 or PS3 then you can use this build as well except with a few changes since some of the passives are different and you don't have access to some of the items or any legendary gems. On those two systems you will want to use Aughilds helm and bracers for the 3 piece Aughilds bonus. Swap out crippling wave for deadly reach with the rune that adds 40% armor after the third strike. Also if you have the needed Inna's set pieces then definitely swap out the Mantra for Exploding Palm with the flesh is weak rune which will make enemies hit with Exploding Palm take an extra 20% damage. Also on those two systems Exploding Palm deals half of the tagged enemies total life as damage to all nearby enemies when they explode with Exploding Palm on them. T6 rift guardians have about 5 billion life. Thus if you kill a T6 rift guardian while Exploding palm is active on them then they will explode dealing 2.5 BILLION damage to all nearby enemies. Mobs literally melt away using this skill on console and it makes killing a whole lot easier and faster. Suck an elite pack in while battling a rift guardian, tag every enemy around with exploding palm and once one dies they pretty much all die. Exploding Palm is too good not to use on those two systems and the damage it causes is insane. For passives harmony replaced one with everything so just use it and stack the same single elemental resistance on all of your gear for extremely high all res. You won't be able to get the benefit of Leoric's cowns affix since it doesn't exist on those two systems so beacon of Ytar is a must to get higher cdr.

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