I personally use Quickening. I need the mana regen to spam my Overawe Mantra and Cyclone. Im very surprised you dont see alot more of people using Cyclone.
....and you use it quite well . I've played with Gangus several times and his CS build paired with my X-palm/Backlash means mowing through MP9 like a fucking boss. He bundles them with great skill, and the AoE damage from Backlash and EP is just off-the-charts when monsters are packed like sardines from CS..
I've been trying for a little while to make Deadly Reach work in place of FoT, but it's just not allowing me full up-time for double Overawe buff while spamming EP tags. I've switched to FoT/Quickening myself, and I'm able to spam EP at will while easily maintaining full Overawe up-time.
I get my DPS buff from Flesh Is Weak....I just don't have the nads to go without Serenity like Gangus does. To his credit, he doesn't die very often at all.
IMO Thunderclap is sloppy due to it's teleport, which often sucks you into undesirable positions.
I personally prefer Cyclone Strike with the 34yd radius Rune because its so easy to keep your Mana and health up and increases effeciency greatly when doing runs. Whats nice with CS is that if Plague/Desocrate/Archane is dropped its simply a matter of moving one step over, apply CS and continue hitting mobs. The only disadvantage to CS is that it wont work on the large Monsters and Some Champions(Gold Only). It works for all Blues and other monsters and is great for those running Pig Bastards and the Flying Whores in Act 3 or any ranged attacker.
What I have done on solo is added the Freeze Bow/Amulet to my Scoundrel and stacked AS on him. This nearly perma freezes things and when you can suck them all up to you I can apply AoE damage very effectively. Ive augmented this by adding a Sweeping Winds Buff Innas Helm to add just that much more damage.
Doing this Ive been able to ditch my Serentity and currently run MP9 with 1 or 2 deaths usually to some Vortex/Walling/Archane mob but Im completely fine with that. I run with the Resolve Passive because that damage reduction is huge when using CS because Im literally surrounded by mobs that Im doing damage to so they all suffer a 20% Damage Reduction which essentially is a 20% armor buff for me. Doing this I can run with a very low armor, currently 3500 unbuffed, and get items very cheap on the AH to help my character because Im not trying to stack armor on everything.
What Ive been thinking of is dropping my Ways of a Hundred Fist for Exploding Palm in conjunction with CS but Im worried that the loss of the AS buff may hurt me to much. Being able to run both CS and EP is a faceroll on any MP. I noticed that running with RuksaK. We completely dominate in our runs.
How does a CS based build "play"? I hate to boil "play" down to "how much effort is involved" b/c I don't mind more active play, but at the same time I don't like playing a concerto piano either.
I'm curious in alt builds and this is very intriguing. Without writing a guide, can you describe HOW you play a little more? Any other skills you have tried in your current build? Have any vids online?
As far as group play, most of my RL friends are WW barbs (of couse). Is it pretty friendly for most classes/builds?
Yup it really is. Its really good in the fact that it clumps monsters together. Especially if you use the 34 yd rune. I run with a WD alot and its great for him because it keeps monsters packed tight and allows his Zombie Bears to own. I also run with another monk and a properly timed Cyclone on a monster thats about to explode from Exploding Palm will kill even the toughest packs.
As far as group play, most of my RL friends are WW barbs (of couse). Is it pretty friendly for most classes/builds?
Yup it really is. Its really good in the fact that it clumps monsters together. Especially if you use the 34 yd rune. I run with a WD alot and its great for him because it keeps monsters packed tight and allows his Zombie Bears to own. I also run with another monk and a properly timed Cyclone on a monster thats about to explode from Exploding Palm will kill even the toughest packs.
Good stuff! Thanks! I will definitely be trying this out w/ my friends when I'm done drinking lol.
As far as group play, most of my RL friends are WW barbs (of couse). Is it pretty friendly for most classes/builds?
Yup it really is. Its really good in the fact that it clumps monsters together. Especially if you use the 34 yd rune. I run with a WD alot and its great for him because it keeps monsters packed tight and allows his Zombie Bears to own. I also run with another monk and a properly timed Cyclone on a monster thats about to explode from Exploding Palm will kill even the toughest packs.
Good stuff! Thanks! I will definitely be trying this out w/ my friends when I'm done drinking lol.
CS takes some getting used to for the people you play with, I know it did me.
I had to learn to stand on Gangus' heals and wait for the pull, then start sticking EP tags on everything in sight, as opposed to trying to chase them down. Your WW barb friends will love CS, they just need to learn not to get out of position.
Me, Gangus and his WD friend just straight clowned an MP10 run using this strategy.
The only thing I don't like about Gangus....the son of a bitch won't die. Makes me look bad when I get all sloppy.
Loving Cyclone Strike for partyplay so far! The people I'm playing with are quite fond of it aswell. I've been trying several builds, and still experimenting a bit tho I found a build that works quite well.
Cyclone Strike - Implosion (34y range). I've tried the other ones - the one with the heal and the one with the reduced spirit cost - but I keep coming back to this one. Having the extra range is a huge convience.
Crippling Wave - Rising Tide (5 spirit per crit). Pretty explanatory. Since Cyclone strike constantly pulls mobs in a circle around you I found this to be the most effective spiritgenerator. Rising Tide run for the much needed extra spirit regen.
I took Blinding Flash instead of Serenity for the extra damage, the blind itself also has some group utility.
Breath of Heaven - Blazing Wrath in combination with the Beacon of Ytar (20% CD reduction) and Guiding Light (20% damage boost for 15 seconds for you and recipient when healing) passive is the key for this build. This only works properly if you have someone in melee range with you, then you can just spam Breath of Heaven of CD, but you have a 3 second window due to it only having a 12 second CD. Gives you some room to breath (ha) before you have to refresh it.
Mantra and Sweeping wind choice are nothing special.
All in all I found this spec great fun to play and it provides huge utility for the group:
- Cyclone Strike makes sure that almost all mobs are nicely packed together
- 24/48% more damage taken by all enemies near the monk
- 20% more damage for all in melee range of the monk
- Enemies slightly less deadly thanks to Crippling Wave and Blinding Light
I'm really keen to see what kind of builds others are using!
Last note: I find using 4piece inna's works well for this build. When SW falls off it's quite expensive to put back up and that's spirit you could be spending on CSing mobs!
One hint;
If you find yourself in party play and there's another Monk......Have him run Overawe and you run MoE with the Backlash rune. There's not so much pressure for double Mantra buff with Evasion, allowing you far more spirit to operate with. Your function with CS is to bundle them packed around you, therefor, the excellent AoE damage of Backlash adds a huge hidden damage buff and doesn't require spending spirit.
Add Guardians Path Passive for extra dodge if you have the slot for it, or find bonus +% to dodge from some other utility (Dodge triggers the Backlash proc~a very effective and constant blast).
Loving Cyclone Strike for partyplay so far! The people I'm playing with are quite fond of it aswell. I've been trying several builds, and still experimenting a bit tho I found a build that works quite well.
Cyclone Strike - Implosion (34y range). I've tried the other ones - the one with the heal and the one with the reduced spirit cost - but I keep coming back to this one. Having the extra range is a huge convience.
Crippling Wave - Rising Tide (5 spirit per crit). Pretty explanatory. Since Cyclone strike constantly pulls mobs in a circle around you I found this to be the most effective spiritgenerator. Rising Tide run for the much needed extra spirit regen.
I took Blinding Flash instead of Serenity for the extra damage, the blind itself also has some group utility.
Breath of Heaven - Blazing Wrath in combination with the Beacon of Ytar (20% CD reduction) and Guiding Light (20% damage boost for 15 seconds for you and recipient when healing) passive is the key for this build. This only works properly if you have someone in melee range with you, then you can just spam Breath of Heaven of CD, but you have a 3 second window due to it only having a 12 second CD. Gives you some room to breath (ha) before you have to refresh it.
Mantra and Sweeping wind choice are nothing special.
All in all I found this spec great fun to play and it provides huge utility for the group:
- Cyclone Strike makes sure that almost all mobs are nicely packed together
- 24/48% more damage taken by all enemies near the monk
- 20% more damage for all in melee range of the monk
- Enemies slightly less deadly thanks to Crippling Wave and Blinding Light
I'm really keen to see what kind of builds others are using!
Last note: I find using 4piece inna's works well for this build. When SW falls off it's quite expensive to put back up and that's spirit you could be spending on CSing mobs!
Here are my suggestions for your build and reasons why. Ive used Cyclone Strike Extensively and have tried dozens of combinations.
1. Switch Crippling Wave to FoT:Quickening. Its a much better spirit generator and that slight knockback it produces isnt enough to scatter everything but gives you enough room to escape if needed. Remember you will be in control of the fight in group play. Its up to you to move when the Plague/Archane/Desercrate/etc. gets to thick. If you are stuck though you are screwed.
2. Remove Blinding Flash for Way of a Hundred Fists:Blazing Fists. This in conjunction with Combination Strike will make you a spirit regen god. You will be spamming Cyclone Strike non-stop. As I said you are the center of the battle and the other players in your group will position themselves based on where you are.
3. Personally I would use Montra of Conviction:Overawe over any other Mantra in a party. The reason being is that you will have infinate spamming capabilities of your Cyclone Strike and Mantra. I personally find it better to always have that buff available to other parties and always for yourself. Like I said before you are the center of battle and the extra damage will help you to survive. If another monk uses it and has to run and you are surrounded in a shitstorm that loss of damage could screw you.
4. Passives-Switch out Becon of Ytar for Resolve. The 20% reduction in damage is essental for you and your survivability. Remember if you die your party gets broken up as you are no longer using Cyclone Strike and not the center of battle.
Id switch Guiding Light for Combination Strike. Yes the damage bonus is good for the party but you need the damage bonus all the time for your survivability. Also if your group isnt close by and you dont heal its a waste. IMHO.
5. If anyone in the group has a stupid ass echo tell them to ditch it. Echos completely screw this build up by causing everything to run. A major pain in the ass when your trying to suck everything into a small area.
6. I personally dont find a 4 piece Innas set a must. I actually find it a waste. I would just use the pants and a Helm with some Sweeping Wind damage buff. Swap the belt for a Witching hour for the AS and the chest for a Tal-Rashas for the AS. With those your Spirit Regen will be huge and the Life Steal you will get from your weapons will keep you alive longer.
Those are my suggestions. I can assure you that it works freaking wonders. I can run in a party without dying much if a t all and you can faceroll MP10 with average DPS.
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I personally prefer Cyclone Strike with the 34yd radius Rune because its so easy to keep your Mana and health up and increases effeciency greatly when doing runs. Whats nice with CS is that if Plague/Desocrate/Archane is dropped its simply a matter of moving one step over, apply CS and continue hitting mobs. The only disadvantage to CS is that it wont work on the large Monsters and Some Champions(Gold Only). It works for all Blues and other monsters and is great for those running Pig Bastards and the Flying Whores in Act 3 or any ranged attacker.
What I have done on solo is added the Freeze Bow/Amulet to my Scoundrel and stacked AS on him. This nearly perma freezes things and when you can suck them all up to you I can apply AoE damage very effectively. Ive augmented this by adding a Sweeping Winds Buff Innas Helm to add just that much more damage.
Doing this Ive been able to ditch my Serentity and currently run MP9 with 1 or 2 deaths usually to some Vortex/Walling/Archane mob but Im completely fine with that. I run with the Resolve Passive because that damage reduction is huge when using CS because Im literally surrounded by mobs that Im doing damage to so they all suffer a 20% Damage Reduction which essentially is a 20% armor buff for me. Doing this I can run with a very low armor, currently 3500 unbuffed, and get items very cheap on the AH to help my character because Im not trying to stack armor on everything.
What Ive been thinking of is dropping my Ways of a Hundred Fist for Exploding Palm in conjunction with CS but Im worried that the loss of the AS buff may hurt me to much. Being able to run both CS and EP is a faceroll on any MP. I noticed that running with RuksaK. We completely dominate in our runs.
Anyone else out there run Cyclone Strike?
This new monster density has made it a Cyclone Strike Orgy out there!! Holy damn Im loving it!!
I'm curious in alt builds and this is very intriguing. Without writing a guide, can you describe HOW you play a little more? Any other skills you have tried in your current build? Have any vids online?
LOL, sorry for all the questions btw.
To sum up how I play....
Run into group of badguys
Fire off Way of A Hundred Fists
Hit my Breath of Heaven
Hit my Mantra of Conviction
Hit my Sweeping Winds
Hit my Cyclone
Then...
Its Way of a Hundred Fist once to keep the 3 stack
Overawe
Cyclone
Breath of Heaven as needed
Repeat until all monsters are dead move to next group repeat.
Personally I love the play with it. Works wonders especially in group play.
Yup it really is. Its really good in the fact that it clumps monsters together. Especially if you use the 34 yd rune. I run with a WD alot and its great for him because it keeps monsters packed tight and allows his Zombie Bears to own. I also run with another monk and a properly timed Cyclone on a monster thats about to explode from Exploding Palm will kill even the toughest packs.
Good stuff! Thanks! I will definitely be trying this out w/ my friends when I'm done drinking lol.
CS takes some getting used to for the people you play with, I know it did me.
I had to learn to stand on Gangus' heals and wait for the pull, then start sticking EP tags on everything in sight, as opposed to trying to chase them down. Your WW barb friends will love CS, they just need to learn not to get out of position.
Me, Gangus and his WD friend just straight clowned an MP10 run using this strategy.
The only thing I don't like about Gangus....the son of a bitch won't die. Makes me look bad when I get all sloppy.
BurningRope#1322 (US~HC) Request an invite to the official (NA) <dfans> Clan
That was straight up ass rapage and hella fun!!
Oh I die Ruk...just not when your around.
One hint;
If you find yourself in party play and there's another Monk......Have him run Overawe and you run MoE with the Backlash rune. There's not so much pressure for double Mantra buff with Evasion, allowing you far more spirit to operate with. Your function with CS is to bundle them packed around you, therefor, the excellent AoE damage of Backlash adds a huge hidden damage buff and doesn't require spending spirit.
Add Guardians Path Passive for extra dodge if you have the slot for it, or find bonus +% to dodge from some other utility (Dodge triggers the Backlash proc~a very effective and constant blast).
BurningRope#1322 (US~HC) Request an invite to the official (NA) <dfans> Clan
Here are my suggestions for your build and reasons why. Ive used Cyclone Strike Extensively and have tried dozens of combinations.
1. Switch Crippling Wave to FoT:Quickening. Its a much better spirit generator and that slight knockback it produces isnt enough to scatter everything but gives you enough room to escape if needed. Remember you will be in control of the fight in group play. Its up to you to move when the Plague/Archane/Desercrate/etc. gets to thick. If you are stuck though you are screwed.
2. Remove Blinding Flash for Way of a Hundred Fists:Blazing Fists. This in conjunction with Combination Strike will make you a spirit regen god. You will be spamming Cyclone Strike non-stop. As I said you are the center of the battle and the other players in your group will position themselves based on where you are.
3. Personally I would use Montra of Conviction:Overawe over any other Mantra in a party. The reason being is that you will have infinate spamming capabilities of your Cyclone Strike and Mantra. I personally find it better to always have that buff available to other parties and always for yourself. Like I said before you are the center of battle and the extra damage will help you to survive. If another monk uses it and has to run and you are surrounded in a shitstorm that loss of damage could screw you.
4. Passives-Switch out Becon of Ytar for Resolve. The 20% reduction in damage is essental for you and your survivability. Remember if you die your party gets broken up as you are no longer using Cyclone Strike and not the center of battle.
Id switch Guiding Light for Combination Strike. Yes the damage bonus is good for the party but you need the damage bonus all the time for your survivability. Also if your group isnt close by and you dont heal its a waste. IMHO.
5. If anyone in the group has a stupid ass echo tell them to ditch it. Echos completely screw this build up by causing everything to run. A major pain in the ass when your trying to suck everything into a small area.
6. I personally dont find a 4 piece Innas set a must. I actually find it a waste. I would just use the pants and a Helm with some Sweeping Wind damage buff. Swap the belt for a Witching hour for the AS and the chest for a Tal-Rashas for the AS. With those your Spirit Regen will be huge and the Life Steal you will get from your weapons will keep you alive longer.
Those are my suggestions. I can assure you that it works freaking wonders. I can run in a party without dying much if a t all and you can faceroll MP10 with average DPS.