Monk Top 5 Builds Guide

1st. Patterns of Justice Set  (Tempest Rush)

The Patterns of Justice set was greatly improved way back in Season 28 which made it the top Monk build in these rankings and it's still ranked first place for the current season.​

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Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

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

Taeguk

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

Bane of the Stricken

Enemies receive a stacking damage taken increase and your damage against bosses is increased by 25%.

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Skills & Passives

Skills

Blinding Flash - Faith in the Light

Tempest Rush - Flurry

Epiphany - Desert Shroud

Sweeping Wind - Master of the Wind

Mystic Ally - Fire Ally

Mantra of Salvation - Agility

 

Passives

The Guardian's Path​

Harmony

Momentum

Near Death Experience

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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%.

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Weapon: Won Khim Lau

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

Weapon: Vengeful Wind

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

Bracers: Cesar's Memento

Enemies take 800% increased damage from Tempest Rush for 5 seconds after being blinded, frozen, or stunned.

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

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

Amulet: Hellfire Amulet

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

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Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Leech

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

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Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Diamond

A Flawless Royal Diamond is important on this build for your Epiphany and Blinding Flash cooldowns.

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Powers

Weapon: Balance

Tempest Rush deals 600% increased damage and has a 100% critical hit chance when it hits three or less targets.

Armor: Aquila Cuirass

Gain 50% reduced damage taken when you're above 90% primary resources.

Ring/Amulet: Obsidian Ring of the Zodiac

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

Seasonal: Lefebvre's Soliloqy

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

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Item Stat Priority

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

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 Hit 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

Note: You should raise the priority of defensive stats like Vitality and life recovery if you have low paragons.

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Patterns of Justice Tips​

1. Flurry stacks from Tempest Rush 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 provides less toughness. You should also look for secondary resistances on items when using the defensive Harmony passive because Harmony adds your secondary resistances to your all resistances.​

3. Once you have enough Paragons to improve your survivability as a melee class you should switch your defensive passives to more offensive passives for the final push for Greater Rift rankings.

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2nd. Inna's Mantra Set (Mystic Ally)

Inna's Mantra Monk is still strong despite major changes to the build over time with 10 Mystic Allies to help take the damage for you and access to all four Mantras for group play.

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Legendary Gems

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.

Bane of the Powerful

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

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Skills & Passives

Skills

Fist of Thunder - Quickening

Cyclone Strike - Implosion

Epiphany - Desert Shroud

Mystic Ally - Fire Ally

Mantra of Salvation - Agility​

 

Passives

The Guardian's Path​

Harmony

Beacon of Ytar

Near Death Experience

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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 and reduces your damage taken from elites by 30%.

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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.

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Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Leech

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

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Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Diamond

A Flawless Royal Diamond is important on this build for your Mystic Ally and Epiphany cooldowns.

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Powers

Weapon: The Furnace

Increases damage dealt by 50% against elites.

Armor: Bindings of the Lesser Gods

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

Ring/Amulet: Convention of Elements

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

Seasonal: The Furnace

Increases damage dealt against elites by 50%.

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Item Stat Priority

Helm: Dexterity > Socket > Critical Hit Chance > Vitality

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 when fighting for the 600% increased Fire Ally damage from Bindings of the Lesser Gods and then use your Spirit generator to trigger the Shenlong's Spirit set bonus.

3. 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 on items with a secondary resistance because they can't roll with all resistances too.

4. Once you have enough Paragons to improve your survivability as a melee class you should switch your defensive passives to more offensive passives for the final push for Greater Rift rankings.

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3rd. Monkey King's Garb 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 easily capable of clearing higher tier Greater Rifts in Softcore.

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Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

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

Taeguk

Gives increased damage and increased armor when a skill is channeled stacking up to 10 times.

Bane of the Stricken

Enemies receive a stacking damage taken increase and your damage against bosses is increased by 25%.

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Skills & Passives

Skills

Fist of Thunder - Quickening

Tempest Rush - Flurry

Blinding Flash - Replenishing Light

Sweeping Wind - Inner Storm

Epiphany - Desert Shroud

Mantra of Salvation - Agility​

 

Passives

The Guardian's Path​

Harmony

Exalted Soul

Near Death Experience

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Equipment

Set: Monkey King's Garb (Sunwuko's)

(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 now increased by a percentage of your cooldown reduction and damage taken is now reduced by a percentage of your resource cost reduction.

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Weapon: Won Khim Lau

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

Weapon: Vengeful Wind

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

Shoulders: Mantle of Channeling

When channeling a skill 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 being blinded, frozen, or stunned.

Ring: Ring of Royal Grandeur

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

Ring 2: Convention of Elements

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

Amulet: Sunwuko's Shines

Completes the Sunwuko's set.

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Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Leech

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

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Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Topaz

Provides a large toughness increase when using the Captain Crimson's Trimmings set and has the offensive benefit of giving resource cost reduction.

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Powers

Weapon: Balance

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

Armor: Kyoshiro's Soul

Gain two 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 one second every time you use a resource spending attacks.

Seasonal: Lefebvre's Soliloqy

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

 

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Dexterity > Socket > Critical Hit Chance > Vitality

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. Flurry stacks from Tempest Rush 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.

2. You should look for secondary resistances on items when using the Harmony passive because Harmony adds your secondary resistances to your all resistances.

3. Once you have enough Paragons to easily survive as a melee class you can switch your defensive passives to more offensive passives for the final push for Greater Rift rankings.