Top 5 Monk Builds Guide | Diablo 3 Guides

Monk Top 5 Builds Guide

1. Patterns of Justice Set (Tempest Rush)

The Patterns of Justice set was greatly improved back in Season 28 which made it the top Monk build and it's still ranked the top Monk build for the new season.

Legendary Gems

Bane of the Powerful

Gain a 20% damage buff after killing an elite and 15% increased damage/reduced damage taken against elites.

Enforcer

Increases the damage of your pets and decreases their damage taken by 90%.

Pain Enhancer

Critical hits make enemies Bleed. Gain 3% increased attack speed for each Bleeding enemy within 20 yards.

Equipment

Set: Inna's Mantra

(2) Set Bonus:

Increases the passive effect of your Mystic Ally and the base effect of your Mantra by 100%.

(4) Set Bonus:

Gain the base effect of all four mantras at all times. You gain a 5% damage taken reduction for each Mystic Ally you have out. Your mystic allies no longer take damage.

(6) Set Bonus:

Gain the passive abilities of five runed Mystic Allies at all times. Attacking enemies creates your chosen Mystic Ally which lasts 15 seconds, up to 10 Mystic Allies. The damage of your Mystic Allies is also increased by 900% for each Mystic Ally you have out.

Set: Aughild's Authority

(2) Set Bonus:

Increases your damage dealt by 30% and reduces your damage taken by 15%.

(3) Set Bonus:

Increases your damage dealt against elites by 30% and reduces your damage taken from elites by 30%.

Weapon: Shenlong's Fist of Legends

When reaching maximum Spirit your damage is increased by 350% and your Spirit is then drained over time.

Weapon: Shenlong's Relentless Assault

When reaching maximum Spirit your damage is increased by 350% and your Spirit is then drained over time.

Feet: The Crudest Boots

Mystic Ally now summons two Mystic Allies and their damage is increased by 200%.

Ring: Ring of Royal Grandeur

You require one less set item to complete sets (minimum of two set items).

Ring 2: The Compass Rose

Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.

Amulet: The Traveler's Pledge

Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Leech

With a very fast attack speed this life on hit potion will help you survive.

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Diamond

A Flawless Royal Diamond is recommended for your Fire Allies and Epiphany cooldowns.

Powers

Weapon: The Furnace

Increases damage dealt against elites by 50%.

Armor: Bindings of the Lesser Gods

Enemies hit by your Cyclone Strike take 200% increased damage from your Mystic Ally for 5 seconds. Split Fire Allies gain 3 times this bonus.

Ring/Amulet: Convention of Elements

Provides an occasional 200% damage increase for 4 seconds.

Season 33: The Furnace

Increases damage dealt against elites by 50%.

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Dexterity > Socket > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance

Body: Sockets > Dexterity > Vitality > % Damage to Mystic Ally

Hands: Dexterity > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance > Critical Hit Damage

Shoulders: Dexterity > Vitality > Cooldown Reduction > % Damage to Mystic Ally

Legs: Sockets > Dexterity > Vitality > Armor

Waist: Dexterity > Vitality > Armor > Life Percent

Bracers: Dexterity > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance > Fire Damage Percent

Feet: Dexterity > Vitality > Armor > Life Regeneration

Amulet: Socket > Dexterity > Critical Hit Damage > Critical Hit Chance

Rings: Socket > Critical Hit Chance > Dexterity > Vitality

Inna's Mantra Tips

1. This set gains all four mantras making it a strong multi-player support option.

2. Use Cyclone Strike every 5 seconds when fighting for the 600% increased Fire Ally damage from the Bindings of the Lesser Gods and use your Spirit generator in between for the Shenlong's Spirit Set bonus.

3. The defensive Harmony passive is more consistent than the Guardian's Path passive but gives less toughness. You should look for secondary resistances on items with the Harmony passive which adds your secondary resistances to your All Resistances. You will then have the option of rolling Armor or Life percent as defensive rolls because items with a secondary resistance cannot roll All Resistance.

4. Once you have enough Paragons to easily survive you can switch your defensive passives to more offensive passives for the final push for rankings.

3. Sunwuko's Set with Captain Crimson's Set (Tempest Rush)

The third place spot goes to the Sunwuko's Set Tempest Rush Monk which has an excellent offense and defense and is capable of clearing well above level 100 Greater Rifts in Softcore easily.

Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

Increases damage against enemies under the effect of crowd controlling effects and gives a 30% slow aura.

Bane of the Stricken

Enemies hit by your attacks suffer a stacking damage taken increase. Damage against bosses increases by 25%.

Taeguk

Gain increased damage when using a channeling skill and 2% increased armor stacking up to 10 times.

Equipment

Set: Monkey King's Garb (Sunwuko)

(2) Set Bonus:

Your damage taken is reduced by 50% while Sweeping Wind is active.

(4) Set Bonus:

Every second your Sweeping Wind spawns a decoy that explodes for 1000% weapon damage for each stack of Sweeping Wind you have.

(6) Set Bonus:

Lashing Tail Kick, Tempest Rush, and Wave of Light have their damage increased by 1500% for each stack of Sweeping Wind you have.

Set: Captain Crimson's Trimmings

(2) Set Bonus:

Regenerates 6000 life per second and reduces your cooldowns and resource costs by 20%.

(3) Set Bonus:

Damage dealt is increased by your percentage of cooldown reduction and damage taken is reduced by your percentage of resource cost reduction.

Weapon: Won Khim Lau

Tempest Rush activates Cyclone Strike and both skills deal 600% more damage.

Weapon: Vengeful Wind

Increase the maximum number of Sweeping Wind stacks to 10 and increase Sweeping Wind's damage by 800%.

Shoulders: Mantle of Channeling

When channeling you deal 25% increased damage and take 25% reduced damage.

Bracers: Cesar's Memento

Enemies take 800% increased damage from Tempest Rush for 5 seconds after a blind, freeze, or stun.

Ring: Ring of Royal Grandeur

You require one less set item to complete sets (minimum of two set items).

Ring 2: Convention of Elements

Gives an occasional 200% damage increase for 4 seconds.

Amulet: Sunwuko's Shines

Completes the Sunwuko's set.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Leech

With a very fast attack speed this life on hit potion will help you survive.

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Topaz

Provides a toughness increase when using the Captain Crimson's Trimmings Set and has the offensive benefit of increasing your resource cost reduction.

Powers

Weapon: Balance

Tempest Rush deals 600% increased damage and always critical strikes on 3 or fewer targets.

Armor: Kyoshiro's Soul

Gain 2 stacks of Sweeping Wind every second Sweeping Wind doesn't deal damage.

Ring/Amulet: The Obsidian Ring of the Zodiac

A cooldown is reduced by 1 second every time you use a resource spending attacks.

Season 33: Lefebvre's Soliloqy

Cyclone Strike gives 50% reduced damage taken for 5 seconds.

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Dexterity > Socket > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance

Body: Sockets > Dexterity > Vitality > Life Percent

Hands: Dexterity > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance > Critical Hit Damage

Shoulders: Dexterity > Vitality > Resource Cost Reduction > Life Percent

Legs: Sockets > Dexterity > Vitality > Armor

Waist: Dexterity > Vitality > Life % > Armor

Bracers: Dexterity > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance > Cold Damage Percent

Feet: Dexterity > Vitality > % Tempest Rush Damage > Armor

Amulet: Socket > Critical Hit Damage > Dexterity > Critical Hit Chance

Rings: Socket > Resource Cost Reduction > Critical Hit Chance > Dexterity

Monkey King's Garb (Sunwuko) Tips

1. Tempest Rush Flurry stacks should be released with Blinding Flash. You should also apply Blinding Flash on cooldown when fighting for the 800% damage increase on the Cesar's Memento bracers.

2. The defensive Harmony passive is more consistent than the Guardian's Path passive but gives less toughness. You should look for secondary resistances on items when using the Harmony passive which adds your secondary resistances to your All Resistances. You will then have the option of rolling Armor or Life percent as defensive rolls because items with a secondary resistance cannot roll All Resistance.

3. Once you have enough Paragons to improve your survivability you can switch your defensive passives to more offensive passives for the final push for rankings.

4. Uliana's Stratagem Set with Captain Crimson's Set (Seven-Sided Strike)

Uliana's was buffed back in Season 30 but still remains ranked fourth place for the top Monk builds.

Diablo 3 Patterns of Justice Monk 2 (3).

Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

Increases damage against enemies under the effect of crowd controlling effects and gives a 30% slow aura.

Bane of the Stricken

Enemies hit by your attacks suffer a stacking damage taken increase. Damage against bosses increases by 25%.

Taeguk

Gain increased damage when using a channeling skill and 2% increased armor stacking up to 10 times.

Equipment

Set: Patterns of Justice

(2) Set Bonus:

Sweeping Wind gains the effect of every rune and your movement speed is increased by 5% for each stack of Sweeping Wind that you have.

(4) Set Bonus:

Attacking with Tempest Rush reduces your damage taken by 50% and increases your spirit regeneration by 50.

(6) Set Bonus:

Hitting with Tempest Rush increases the size of your Sweeping Wind and increases its damage by 20,000%.

Weapon: Won Khim Lau

Tempest Rush activates Cyclone Strike and both skills deal 600% more damage.

Weapon: Vengeful Wind

Increase the maximum number of Sweeping Wind stacks to 10 and increase Sweeping Wind's damage by 800%.

Bracers: Cesar's Memento

Enemies take 800% increased damage from Tempest Rush for 5 seconds after a blind, freeze, or stun.

Belt: Kyoshiro's Soul Belt

Gain 2 stacks of Sweeping Wind every second Sweeping Wind doesn't deal damage.

Ring: Ring of Royal Grandeur

You require one less set item to complete sets (minimum of two set items).

Ring 2: Convention of Elements

Provides an occasional 200% damage increase for 4 seconds.

Amulet: Hellfire Amulet

Gives a passive skill from the character class that creates the amulet.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Leech

With a very fast attack speed this life on hit potion will help you survive.

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Diamond

A Flawless Royal Diamond is recommended for shorter Blinding Flash and Epiphany cooldowns.

Powers

Weapon: Balance

Tempest Rush does 600% increased damage and always critical strikes on 3 or less targets.

Armor: Aquila Cuirass

Gain a 50% damage taken reduction when above 90% primary resources.

Ring/Amulet: Obsidian Ring of the Zodiac

Reduces a cooldown by 1 second when you attack with a skill that uses primary resources.

Season 33: Lefebvre's Soliloqy

Cyclone Strike gives 50% reduced damage taken for 5 seconds.

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Dexterity > Socket > Vitality > % Damage to Tempest Rush

Body: Sockets > Dexterity > Vitality > Life Percent

Hands: Dexterity > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance > Critical Hit Damage

Shoulders: Dexterity > Vitality > Area Damage > Cooldown Reduction

Legs: Sockets > Dexterity > Vitality > Armor

Waist: Dexterity > Vitality > Armor > Life Percent

Bracers: Dexterity > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance > Life Per Hit

Feet: Dexterity > Vitality > Movement Speed > % Damage to Tempest Rush

Amulet: Socket > Dexterity > Critical Hit Damage > Critical Hit Chance

Rings: Socket > Critical Hit Chance > Dexterity > Vitality

Patterns of Justice Tips

1. Tempest Rush Flurry stacks should be released with Blinding Flash. You should also apply Blinding Flash on cooldown when fighting for the 800% damage increase from the Cesar's Memento bracers.

3. Once you have enough Paragons to improve your survivability you can switch your defensive passives to more offensive passives for the final push for rankings.

2. Inna's Mantra with Aughild's Set (Mystic Ally)

Inna's Mantra Set is still strong despite major changes to the build in an earlier season and has 10 Mystic Allies to help take the damage and access to all four Mantras for group play.

Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

Increases damage against enemies under the effect of crowd controlling effects and gives a 30% slow aura.

Bane of the Stricken

Enemies hit by your attacks suffer a stacking damage taken increase. Damage against bosses increases by 25%.

Gogok of Swiftness

Increases attack speed and cooldown reduction by 1% and gives dodge for 4 seconds stacking up to 15 times.

Equipment

Set: Uliana's Stratagem

(2) Set Bonus:

The third hit of your Spirit Generators applies Exploding Palm.

(4) Set Bonus:

Your Seven-Sided Strike deals 777% of its total damage with each hit. All damage taken is also reduced by 77% for 7 seconds after applying Exploding Palm.

(6) Set Bonus:

Increases the damage of your Exploding Palm by 12,500% and Seven-Sided Strike detonates Exploding Palm.

Set: Captain Crimson's Trimmings

(2) Set Bonus:

Regenerates 6000 life per second and reduces your cooldowns and resource costs by 20%.

(3) Set Bonus:

Damage dealt is increased by your percentage of cooldown reduction and damage taken is reduced by your percentage of resource cost reduction.

Weapon: The Fist of Az'turrasq

The damage of Exploding Palm's Death Explosion is increased by 500%.

Weapon: Lion's Claw

Seven-Sided Strike performs 7 additional strikes.

Bracers: Gungdo Gear

Exploding Palm's death explosion causes Exploding Palm and Exploding Palm's damage is increased by 100%.

Ring: Ring of Royal Grandeur

You require one less set item to complete sets (minimum of two set items).

Ring 2: The Compass Rose

Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.

Amulet: The Traveler's Pledge

Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Leech

With a very fast attack speed this life on hit potion will help you survive.

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Diamond

A Flawless Royal Diamond is recommended for your Seven-Sided Strike and Epiphany cooldowns and increases your damage with the Captain Crimson's Trimmings set.

Powers

Weapon: The Flow of Eternity

Seven-Sided Strike has a 60% reduced cooldown and deals 100% increased damage.

Armor: Binding of the Lost

Gain 5% damage reduction for every Seven-Sided Strike hit for 7 seconds.

Ring/Amulet: Convention of Elements

Gives an occasional 200% damage increase for 4 seconds.

Season 33: The Furnace

Increases damage dealt against elites by 50%.

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Dexterity > Socket > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance

Body: Sockets > Dexterity > Vitality > % Damage to Seven-Sided Strike

Hands: Critical Hit Chance > Dexterity > Vitality > Critical Hit Damage

Shoulders: Dexterity > Vitality > Cooldown Reduction > % Damage to Seven-Sided Strike

Legs: Sockets > Dexterity > Vitality > Armor

Waist: Dexterity > Vitality > Armor > Life Percent

Bracers: Dexterity > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance > Physical Damage Percent

Feet: Dexterity > Vitality > % Damage to Exploding Palm > Armor

Amulet: Socket > Dexterity > Critical Hit Damage > Critical Hit Chance

Rings: Socket > Critical Hit Chance > Dexterity > Vitality

Uliana's Stratagem Tips

1. Apply Exploding Palm to enemies with the third hit of your Spirit Generator which gives a 40% damage increase for Seven-Sided Strike when using the Mythic Rhythm passive skill.

2. Using the Mythic Rhythm passive and applying Exploding Palm with the third hit of your Spirit Generator makes you deal more damage with this build than using a Madstone helmet for Exploding Palm application.

3. Once you have enough Paragons to improve your survivability you can switch your defensive passives to more offensive passives for the final push for rankings.

5. Monk Legacy of Dreams (Wave of Light)

The Legacy of Dreams Wave of Light Monk is a popular LoD build but after being nerfed it's also somewhat weak offensively and defensively.

Legendary Gems

Legacy of Dreams

Legendaries increase damage and reduce damage taken without sets equipped. Double this effect for Ancients.

Bane of the Trapped

Increases damage against enemies under the effect of crowd controlling effects and gives a 30% slow aura.

Bane of the Stricken

Enemies hit by your attacks suffer a stacking damage taken increase. Damage against bosses increases by 25%.

Equipment

Weapon: Kyoshiro's Blade

Increase Wave of Lights damage by 150%. When 5 or fewer enemies are hit its damage is increased by 250%.

Weapon: Rabid Strike

Spirit spenders that teleport you during Epiphany are mimicked on a nearby target.

Helm: Tzo Krin's Gaze

Wave of Light is now cast at your enemy.

Chest: Cindercoat

Gives 30% resource cost reduction for fire skills and fire damage is increased by 20%.

Shoulders: Pauldrons of the Skeleton King

Chance on death to be revived with 25% life and causes nearby enemies to run in fear.

Legs: Blackthorne Jousting Mail

Gives an elemental 20% damage increase.

Bracers: Spirit Guards

Your Spirit Generators reduce your damage taken by 60% for 3 seconds.

Hands: Stone Gauntlets

Getting hit increases your armor by 50% stacking up to 5 times. The negative effects of Stone Gauntlets are negated by the recommended Ice Climbers boots.

Belt: Witching Hour

Gives increased attack speed and high critical hit damage.

Boots: Ice Climbers

Prevents the negative effects of Stone Gauntlets and makes you immune to freeze and immobilize effects.

Ring: Band of the Rue Chambers

Spirit generators generate 50% more Spirit.

Ring 2: Convention of Elements

Rotates through damage types and gives an occasional 200% damage increase for 4 seconds.

Amulet: Hellfire Amulet

Gain a free random passive skill from the character class that creates the amulet.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Leech

With a very fast attack speed this life on hit potion will help you survive.

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Topaz

A Flawless Royal Topaz is recommended to increase your resource cost reduction.

Powers

Weapon: Incense Torch of the Grand Temple

Decreases the spirit cost of Wave of Light by 50% and increases its damage by 550%.

Armor: Pinto's Pride

Wave of Light slows enemies by 80% for three seconds and deals 150% increased damage.

Ring/Amulet: Obsidian Ring of the Zodiac

Reduces the cooldown of one of your skills by 1 second when you hit with a resource spending attack.

Season 33: Unity

Reduce damage taken by 50% when a follower has Unity equipped with a "follower cannot die" relic.

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Dexterity > Socket > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance

Body: Sockets > Dexterity > Vitality > Armor

Hands: Critical Hit Chance > Dexterity > Critical Hit Damage > Vitality

Shoulders: Intellect > Dexterity > Area Damage > Resource Cost Reduction

Legs: Sockets > Dexterity > Vitality > Armor

Waist: Dexterity > Vitality > Life Percent > Armor

Bracers: Dexterity > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance > Fire Damage Percent

Feet: Dexterity > Vitality > % Damage to Wave of Light > Armor

Amulet: Socket > Dexterity > Critical Hit Damage > Critical Hit Chance

Rings: Socket > Critical Hit Chance > Dexterity > Vitality

Legacy of Dreams Wave of Light Tips

1. The Ice Climbers boots negate both of the negative effects on the Stone Gauntlets gloves.

2. Dashing Strike with the Blinding Speed rune increases your dodge by 40% and should be used frequently.

3. The defensive Harmony passive is more consistent than the Guardian's Path passive but gives less toughness. You should look for secondary resistances on items if you are using the Harmony passive which adds your secondary resistances to your All Resistances. You will then have the option of rolling Armor or Life percent as defensive rolls because items with a secondary resistance cannot roll All Resistance.

4. Once you have enough Paragons to improve your survivability you can switch your defensive passives to more offensive passives for the final push for rankings.

Recommended Mercenary

Templar

Weapon: Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker

Slows enemies attacks and movement speed.

Templar Relic: Enchanting Favor

Your follower cannot die.

Shield: Freeze of Deflection

Blocks have a chance to freeze enemies for 1.5 second.

Helm: Blind Faith

Chance to blind enemies on hit.

Shoulders: Homing Pads (Emanates)

Town portal is uninterruptable and while casting town portal you gain a protective life shield.