search
delete
search
delete

Path of Exile 2 Monk Class Beginner’s Build Guide

The Monk class in Path of Exile 2 is a dynamic melee fighter combining Dexterity and Intelligence to unleash powerful, fluid attacks and precise tactical maneuvers. This guide will help beginners unlock the full potential of the Monk by covering everything from pros and cons to weapon choices, skill gems, rotations, and ascendancy options. By the end, you'll be ready to dive into PoE2 with confidence and master this agile melee powerhouse.

 

poe2 monk build guide

 

 

 

Monk Overview

 

The Monk in Path of Exile 2 is a highly mobile melee class that leverages its agility, tactical movement, and skill synergies. With a focus on area-of-effect (AoE) abilities and power charge mechanics, the Monk excels in crowd control and burst damage, while staying versatile and reactive in combat. The new dodge roll mechanic in PoE2 also allows for animation-canceling, further enhancing the Monk’s combat fluidity. 

 

To fully unlock the potential of your Monk, you’ll need the right gear and upgrades. Visit LootBar to purchase affordable and reliable PoE2 currency, making your path to mastery much smoother!

 

Secure Your Gaming Top-Up with Smart Savings on Lootbar
poe2 monk overview
  • Enjoy up to 20% Off on Game Top-Ups.
  • 3-Minute in Delivery for Non-Stop Gaming.
  • Trusted 4.9/5 on Trustpilot, 10/10 among Players.
buy poe 2 currency now

 

Key Features:

  • Mobility-Focused Gameplay: Swift movement and repositioning are integral to the Monk’s playstyle.
  • Power Charge Synergy: Skills gain enhancements through power charges, creating dynamic combos.
  • Elemental Versatility: Harnesses Ice, Wind, and Lightning to freeze, stagger, and shock enemies.

 

Monk Pros and Cons

 

Pros Cons
Exceptional Mobility: Skills like Killing Palm and Falling Thunder ensure fluid repositioning during combat. Reliance on Power Charges: Damage output heavily depends on generating and maintaining power charges.
Powerful AoE and Crowd Control: Combines freezing, stuns, and knockbacks to handle large enemy groups effectively. Mobility Skills Lack Raw Damage: Abilities like Whirling Assault prioritize movement over damage.
Flexible Elemental Attacks: Ice for freezing, Wind for crowd control, and Lightning for high AoE damage. Freezing Mechanic Requires Precision: Ice-based skills lose effectiveness against fast or highly mobile enemies.

 

Pro Tip: The Monk thrives on careful positioning, quick reactions, and a tactical mindset. Charging headfirst into mobs without using mobility and crowd control effectively will make the Monk feel underwhelming.

 

Monk Weapons

 


poe2 monk weapons

 

The Monk's primary weapon is the Quarterstaff, which synergizes perfectly with its melee and elemental skillset. However, depending on your build preference, you can also mix in alternative weapons like daggers, crossbows, or staves to suit your desired playstyle.

 

Quarterstaff: The Monk’s Best Weapon

 

The Quarterstaff unlocks three martial art schools that enhance your elemental combat style:

  1. Ice: Focuses on freezing and controlling enemies.
  2. Wind: Prioritizes crowd control and AoE attacks.
  3. Lightning: Excels in burst damage and large AoE attacks.

 

The Quarterstaff’s unique skill set complements the Monk’s emphasis on mobility and AoE, making it the ideal weapon for both early and late-game play.

 

Alternative Weapons

  • Daggers: Balanced between Dexterity and Intelligence, ideal for high-speed single-target damage.
  • Crossbows: Great for early-game range, especially elemental bolt options for elemental stacking.
  • Staves: High Intelligence scaling and ranged auto-attacks, perfect for hybrid melee/ranged play.

 

Early Game Tip: Equip a crossbow during the first Act to handle ranged mobs safely, then switch to the Quarterstaff when you start unlocking elemental abilities.

 

Skill Gems for the Monk

 

The Monk has access to powerful skill gems that emphasize mobility, AoE, and elemental synergies. Below are the most effective beginner skill gems for this build:

 


skill gems

 

Core Skill Gems

 

  1. Falling Thunder:

    • Effect: Creates a lightning AoE attack. Enhanced with power charges for massive damage.
    • Use: Best for clearing enemy groups.
  2. Killing Palm:

    • Effect: Dash attack that generates a Power Charge on kill.
    • Use: Essential for mobility and building charges.
  3. Whirling Assault:

    • Effect: Jumps forward, dealing damage and repositioning.
    • Use: Great for opening fights and mobility.
  4. Glacial Cascade:

    • Effect: Slow-moving ice wave that deals maximum damage at the end of its path.
    • Use: Strong single-target and AoE damage, especially against frozen enemies.
  5. Ice Strike:

    • Effect: Freezes enemies on every third attack.
    • Use: Use it to freeze bosses or tougher mobs for added crowd control.
  6. Tempest Bell:

    • Effect: Creates a bell that spreads elemental damage to surrounding enemies when struck.
    • Use: Combine with other elemental skills for devastating AoE combos.

 

Supporting Skill Gems

  • Shattering Palm: Applies an ice bomb to enemies, freezing them upon detonation.
  • Flicker Strike: High-damage finisher that consumes power charges for rapid hits.
  • Wind Blast: Pushes enemies back in a cone, ideal for spacing.

 

Monk Skill Rotation

 

To make the most of the Monk's abilities, use this skill rotation to control enemies and deal consistent damage:

 

  1. Engage:

    • Start with Whirling Assault to close the gap and position yourself.
  2. Generate Power Charges:

    • Use Killing Palm on weaker enemies to quickly gain power charges.
  3. AoE Clear:

    • Use Falling Thunder or Tempest Bell for large groups of enemies.
  4. Single-Target Damage:

    • Use Ice Strike and Glacial Cascade against tougher enemies.
  5. Finisher:

    • Use Flicker Strike to finish off bosses or remaining enemies.

 

Pro Tip: Keep repositioning with Whirling Assault and dodge roll to maintain control of the battlefield.

 

Monk Ascendancies

 

The Monk has access to three Ascendancy classes, though only two are currently available in Path of Exile 2:

 

1. Invoker

 

  • Focus: Elemental synergy and high burst damage.
  • Key Passives:
    • Elemental Expression: Critical hits create waves of Cold or Lightning damage.
    • Faith is a Choice: Doubles energy shield for increased survivability.
    • Specializations: I Am the Blizzard (Cold) and I Am the Thunder (Lightning).
  • Playstyle: Balanced between offense and defense, with a focus on elemental burst damage.

 

2. Acolyte of Chayula

 

  • Focus: Chaos damage and survivability through Darkness.
  • Key Passives:
    • Shroud of Darkness: Grants a protective dark shield.
    • Grasp of the Void: Converts stored Darkness into bonus chaos damage.
    • Dark Pact: Enhances mana leech and energy shield regeneration.
  • Playstyle: Excels in longer fights by sustaining damage and chaos-based AoE attacks.

 

Conclusion

 

The Monk class in Path of Exile 2 offers an agile, tactical playstyle with unparalleled mobility and elemental synergy. By mastering power charge management, combining elements, and dynamic positioning, you’ll unlock the full potential of this melee fighter. Ready to dominate the battlefield? Equip your Monk with the best items by visiting LootBar. Get cheap, reliable PoE2 currency to stay ahead of your enemies and perfect your build!

 

Quick Tips:

  • Use Ice for crowd control, Wind for spacing, and Lightning for high AoE damage.
  • Always keep generating Power Charges with Killing Palm.
  • Equip a Quarterstaff to maximize AoE damage and elemental versatility.

 

With practice, the Monk’s reactive, combo-based combat becomes highly rewarding, making it a great choice for players who enjoy fast-paced melee gameplay.

top up on lootbar

Go To Top