Path of Exile 2 it's all about experimenting with different classes and builds, and the fast-paced Monk is one of the most versatile classes. There are six classes available in the early access version of Path of Exile 2 (with more to come at launch): Mercenary, Sorceress, Witch, Ranger, Warrior and, of course, Monk. PoE 2Monk's approach isn't much different from any other fantasy game: they rely primarily on their incredible speed and powerful melee attacks to deal damage, balanced by their relatively low defense and maximum HP.
However, moving away from the wuxia warrior archetype, PoE2Monks can also use a wide variety of elemental spells to deal all types of damage.. Playing as a Monk in Path of Exile 2 it's all about balance, building up power with risky, short-range attacks, then retreating and blasting them with potent magical attacks. See how to master the Monk class in PoE 2.
Best gear for a Monk built in PoE 2
What to keep and what to sell
When playing as a Monk, you want to keep your gear lightas mobility is one of the most important aspects of the class. With all their points in Dexterity and Intelligence, Monks don't have the Strength to equip heavy metal armor, so they will typically specialize in lighter, more mobile clothing. Look for body parts whose names contain the words “Costume” or “Robe,” along with simple linen wraps for the hands and crowns, masks, or hoods for the heads.
In PoE2Most of the loot you receive is completely random, so I can't recommend a specific piece of armor to equip in each slot. Instead of, look for armor that increases your monk's speed, damage, evasion, or energy shield. Increasing speed and damage will increase your offensive abilities, while evasion and energy shield will help compensate for the Monk's relatively low defense and HP.
As for weapons, Monks are mainly known for their bare-knuckle brawling, but they can also equip Quarterstaves with great effect. Anything that increases your physical damage, elemental damage, and depending on your build, electrical or cold damage is preferable. You'll get a lot of equipment when playing Path of Exile 2, including a lot of things you can't use. You can sell these items, disenchant them, put them in your account-wide inventory to transfer them to other characters, or trade them with other players.
The best skill gems for a monk build in PoE 2
Killing Palma
In Path of Exile 2You gain new skills by transforming raw skill gems into several different skills. One of the first skills you'll want to purchase is Killing Palmwhich is available from level 1. Killing Palm causes you to jump forward, hitting an enemy and, if their HP is low, killing them instantly. Most importantly, finishing off an enemy with Killing Palm grants you a Power Charge, which you can later use to unleash more powerful abilities.
Storm Bell
At level 6, and using a level 3 Uncut Skill Gem, Monks must acquire the Tempest Bell skill. This activates a combo meter which, once full, drops a bell on the battlefield. If you ring the bell with more attacks, it will send out damaging shockwaves.
Impressive palm
Starting at level 6 and with a level 3 Skill Gem, you must acquire the Staggering Palm skill. This works a lot like Killing Palm, but stuns enemies instead of killing them. If you stun an enemy with Staggering Palm, you will receive a buff that allows you to shoot projectiles with your melee attacks, which makes it easier to hit your Tempest Bell and/or Frozen Locus if you use this ability.
Best Passive Skills for a Monk Build in PoE 2
Critical chance, energy charges and damage
Every time you level up Path of Exile 2you'll receive a skill point that you can spend on any number of passives, spread across a massive skill tree. Happily, The Monk's skill tree is flexible and universal enough that you can follow just about any path you want. Be sure to use plenty of skills that increase critical strike chance and damage (like Deadly Force), along with any that increase the number of Power Charges you get from your skills.
Try focus on buffing electrical or cold damage rather than splitting the difference (more on this below). Finally, don't forget to use Overload, which will allow you to ignore enemy resistances to your elemental spells.
Best Spirit Gem for a Monk Build in PoE 2
Persistent Illusion
As you explore the world, you will be able to find items called Spirit Gems, which allow you to improve your skills. If you're having trouble keeping your Monk alive, be sure to pick up the Lingering Illusion Spirit Gem. This creates a sort of spectral version of your character to attract aggression when you dodge the roll. Once the Illusion is destroyed, you can also receive an additional Power Charge.
Charge Infusion
Charge Infusion increases your critical strike chance by 15% whenever you have a charge of energy. Requires level 58. With other items and abilities that increase your power charges and equipped crits, it's a useful ally to have.
Combat Frenzy
If you are using a cool or lightning version, Don't forget to use Combat Frenzy for additional effects when electrocuting or freezing your enemies. This grants you a Frenzy charge when doing so, which has some useful interactions with Charge Infusion, increasing your ability speed by 8%. Requires level 36 and a level 8 gem.
Ascendancies for a monk build in PoE 2
Summoner
Ancestry is what Path of Exile 2 calls subclasses, chosen after completing the Trial of the Sekhemas in Act 2. Each class has two, and the first for Monk is Invoker. Invoker is primarily a subclass focused on elemental damagewith some options to increase its defense, and is generally considered the more powerful of the two. Here are all of Invoker's abilities in PoE2.
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Scatter them to the wind |
Grants Elemental Expression on melee attacks, creating AoEs |
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Faith is a choice |
Meditate to double the energy shield |
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I am the blizzard |
You deal 10% extra cold damage and freezing enemies creates Chilled Ground AoE |
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I am the thunder |
You deal an extra 10% electrical damage and shocking enemies creates Shocked Ground AoE |
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And I will rage |
Whenever you inflict a status effect, you gain Free Fury. With the meter full, you enter an ascended Avatar state |
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And protect me from harm |
Evasion rate has been reduced by 40%, but you get equivalent physical damage reduction |
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Lead me through grace |
Every 6 energy shields and 15 evasions on your armor grants 1 Spirit. Otherwise, you cannot gain Spirit with your equipment |
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Divide my enemies |
Crits ignore most elemental resistances |
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The soul springs eternal |
Meta-skills gain 35% more energy |
Chayula's Acolyte
Acolyte of Chayula is the other Ascended Monk, themed around darkness and chaos. Depends on mana leech and Chayula's Flames ability. Here are the skills you can choose from:
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Chayula's Gift |
Maximum Chaos Resistance increased by 10%. Chaos resistance is doubled |
|---|---|
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Consumer Questions |
You can no longer recharge your energy shield naturally, but the mana leech does it for you |
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Embrace the darkness |
It is not possible to use the Spirit. The base maximum Darkness is set to 100 and you gain 5 more per level. The darkness acts as your energy shield. The darkness reserve lasts 10 seconds. |
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Void Grip |
For every 20 unreserved Darkness, gain 1% extra Chaos damage |
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Inner Silence |
Dark reserve duration has been halved |
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Lucid Dream |
Doubles the duration of Chayula's Flames ability |
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Voracious Doubts |
Mana leech can be cast instantly |
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Surrender of reality |
23% chance to gain 25% extra Chaos damage on hits, 13% chance to gain 50%, 7% chance to gain 100% |
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Daydream |
Grants Into the Breach, an ability that allows you to manifest Flames of Chayula |
And that's all you need to know about how to build a Monk in PoE2. Keep in mind that there is a lot of flexibility here; feel free to experiment with skills and equipment as you see fit, and know that you can always respect the Hooded One if you feel like you messed up. Also be aware that the Monk class is subject to further changes and balance between early access and Path of Exile 2full release.