Monk Class Overview
Searching the guide: To make it easier to search this guide, each section is proceeded by a #. If you need to get to a certain section quickly, hit [Crtl]+[f] to open your browser's "find" option, then type the section number you're looking for, preceded by the # sign. For example "#3.1" (without quotes) will take you to Available Races.1. Introduction
2. Lore
3. General Information
3.1 Available Races
3.2 Armor & Weapons
3.3 Stat Preference
3.4 Baseline Abilities
3.5 Glyphs
4. Talent Tree
5. Brewmaster - Tank
5.1 Brewmaster Skills
6. Windwalker - Melee DPS
6.1 Windwalker Skills
7. Mistweaver - Healing
7.1 Mistweaver Skills
8. Version History
#1. Introduction
Feedback is Welcome:
Arguing and trolling is not. If someone asks a question or makes a comment do not flame them, this guide is here to help people keep up to date with what is going on with the class. If you see something you would like me to add please comment. If you know something is wrong or outdated please tell me with something to support it. This will be updated a ton so feedback and mature debate is encouraged.
I'm the author/update the Resto druid/MoP Druid guides and will be upkeeping this until we have enough information from beta to have individual spec guides. Special thanks to Bibi and Elysia/the rest of the MMOC/Curse Team for getting all the info from the press release and to Ragnarocket for helping me get all the info together.
This guide is an accumulation of information from our site, Wowhead, WoWInsider, and the Official MoP site.
#2. Lore
When the Pandaren were subjugated by the Mogu centuries ago, it was the Monks that brought hope to a seemingly dim future. Restricted from using any type of weapon by their slave masters, these Pandaren instead focused on harnessing their chi and learning weaponless combat. When the opportunity for revolution struck, they were well-trained to take control.
Monks are a hybrid class. Masters of bare-handed combat, monks choose to draw their weapons only for devastating finishing moves. Monk healers bring harmony and balance to every group, healing even the most grievous of injuries with ancient remedies and focused spiritual arts. And few can hope to out-last the unquenchable prowess of the Monk Brewmaster, whose empowering beverages and unpredictable combat style allow them to absorb incredible amounts of punishment.
Pandaren masters have chosen to share their ancient martial arts with young fighters in both the Alliance and Horde. Harnessing their inner strength and potent "chi" energy, Monks are extremely capable in every role: damage, defense, and healing.
#3. General Information
- Monks now use energy in Brewmaster and Windwalker specs, and mana in Mistweaver.
- Chi is now simply light energy--Dark Chi has been removed.
- Monks are intended to be a class where abilities are quickly used--instead of saving up Chi, players are encouraged to use abilities that only cost 1 or 2 Chi, unlike a rogue that would save 5 combo points for Eviscerate.
- Monks were given very detailed and unique animations, even in melee. One ability encases the monk in a green bubble with runes, and then levitates them.
- Auto attack has been added back in.
- Any spec Monk brings the Stat Buff: Stats: +5% Strength, Agility, and Intellect
#3.1 Available Races
Alliance Races:
Horde Races:
- Draenei, Dwarves, Gnomes, Humans, Night Elves, Pandaren
- Blood Elves, Forsaken, Orcs, Tauren, Trolls, Pandaren
#3.2 Armor & Weapons
Armor:
- Cloth or Leather Armor
Weapons:
- Fist Weapons, One-Handed Axes, One-Handed Maces, One-Handed Swords, Polearms, Staves
- Can't Use Shields, Can Use Off-Hand Items
#3.3 Stat Preference
DPS & Tanking: Agility
Healing: Intellect
#3.4 Baseline Abilities
- Blackout Kick
- 2 Chi, Melee Range, Instant, 3 sec cooldown
- Kick with a blast of sha energy, causing 471 Physical damage to an enemy target. Only useable on targets at or below 35% health.
- If the target is killed by Blackout Kick, you are refunded 1 Chi.
- Clobber
- 40 Energy, Melee Range, Instant
- You Clobber the target with your staff, dealing 1,548 damage and generating 1 Chi.
- Club
- 40 Energy, Melee Range, Instant
- You Club the target with your two Maces, dealing 1,509 damage and generating 1 Chi.
- Crackling Jade Lightning
- 600 Mana, 40 yard range, Channeled
- Channels Jade Lightning at the target, causing 4,116 Nature damage over 5.50 seconds.
- If the enemy attacks you within melee range while victim to Crackling Jade Lightning, they are knocked back a short distance. This effect has an 8 second cooldown.
- Detox
- 520 Mana, 40 yard range, Instant Cast, 8 sec cooldown
- Eliminates ailments from the friendly target, removing all harmful Poison and Bleed effects.
- Disable
- 15 Energy, Melee Range, Instant
- You attempte to disable the target's movement, reducing their movement speed by 25%. Stacks up to 2 times.
- If you use Disable a third time on a target while they have 2 stacks, all stacks will be consumed and they will be rooted for 8 seconds.
- Expel Harm
- 400 Mana, Melee Range, Instant Cast, 15 sec cooldown
- Instantly heals the target for 14,896, and causes 120% of the amount healed to instantly be dealt to a nearby enemy as damage within 5 yards of the target.
- Fortifying Ale
- Instant, 3 min cooldown
- Increases your health by 100%, but you cannot be healed. Lasts 20 seconds.
- Grapple Weapon
- 40 yard range, Instant, 1 min cooldown
- You fire off a rope spear, grappling the target's weapon and shield, returning them to you. Depending on the quality of the weapon, your damage done, healing done, and damage reduction may be increased.
- Healing Sphere
- 300 Mana, 40 yard range, 1.37 sec cast
- You form a Healing Sphere out of a healing mists at the target location for 30 seconds. If allies walk through it, they consume the sphere, healing themselves for 4,928. Maximum of 3 Healing Spheres can be active by the Monk at any given time.
- Jab
- 40 Energy, Melee Range, Instant
- You Jab the target, dealing 139 damage and generating 1 Chi.
- Legacy of the Emperor
- 40 yard range, Instant
- You extol the words of the last emperor, increasing Strength, Agility, and Intellect by 5%.
- If the target is in your party or raid, all party and raid members will be affected.
- Meditation
- Channeled, 3 min cooldown
- Reduces all damage taken by 99% and redirects to you all harmful spells cast against your allies within 30 yards. Lasts 10 seconds.
- Being the victim of a melee attack will break your Meditation, cancelling the effect.
- Paralysis
- Melee Range, Instant 15 sec cooldown
- You cause the target's muscles to contract, incapacitating them for 30 seconds. If done from behind the target, the duration is doubled. Only one target can be victim to Paralysis at any given time. Any damage taken will cancel the effect.
- Pike
- 40 Energy, Melee Range, Instant
- You Pike the target with your Polearm, dealing 1,549 damage and generating 1 Chi.
- Provoke
- 40 yard range, Instant, 8 sec cooldown
- You mock the target, causing them to rush toward to attack you at an increased 50% movement speed.
- If targeting your Statue of the Black Ox, you provoke all enemies within an 8 yard radius of your statue.
- Quaking Palm
- Melee Range, Instant, 2 min cooldown
- Strikes the target with lightning speed, incapacitating them for 4 seconds, and turns off your attack.
- Resuscitate
- 40 yard range, 9.16 sec cast
- Returns the spirit to the body, restoring a dead target to life with 35% maximum health and mana. Cannot be cast in combat.
- Cast time reduced by 50% if target is within melee range.
- Roll
- 50 Energy, Instant
- Roll a short distance.
- Sever
- 40 Energy, Melee Range, Instant
- You Sever the target with both of your axes in one attack, dealing 1,526 damage and generating 1 Chi.
- Spear Hand
- 30 Energy, Melee Range, Instant, 30 sec cooldown
- Requires Ox Stance, Tiger Stance
- You jab the target in their throat, interrupting their spell cast and preventing any spell in that school from being cast for 5 seconds.
- If the enemy is facing you, when they cast, they are also silenced out of all schools for 5 seconds.
- Spinning Crane Kick
- 1 Chi, Instant
- Requires Serpent Stance, Ox Stance, Tiger Stance
- You spin while kicking in the air, dealing 218 Phsyical damage every 1 second to all nearby enemies within 8 yards. Movement speed is reduced by 30%. Lasts 6 seconds.
- Tiger Palm
- 1 Chi, Melee Range, Instant
- Attack with the palm of your hand, dealing 279 Physical damage. Deals 140 additional damage if the target is above 50% health.
- Touch of Death
- 4 Chi, Melee Range, Instant, 1.5 min cooldown
- Requires Ox Stance, Tiger Stance
- You exploit the enemy target's weakest point, instantly killing them.
- Only usable on non-player targets who have equal or less health than you.
#3.5 Glyphs
- Glyph of Enduring Healing Sphere - When attacked, the cast time of your Healing Sphere is reduced by 50%. Stacks up to 2 times.
- Glyph of Expel Harm - Your Expel Harm can now be cast on any friendly target.
- Glyph of Fists of Fury - While channeling Fists of Fury, your chance to dodge melee and ranged attacks is increased by 25%.
- Glyph of Meditation - You can now channel Meditation while moving.
- Glyph of Rapid Healing Sphere - Increases the duration of your Healing Sphere's by 30 sec.
#4. Talent Tree
Talent Level Description Intuition 15 Your roll ability cost no Chi. This effect becomes inactive for 15 seconds after use. Celerity Your roll ability will move you at a slightly longer distance, and at a slightly quicker speed. Momentum Every time you roll, you gain a stacking 10% movement speed buff. Stacks up to 3 times. Mystery Talent 30 Coming soon? Ascendance Increases the amount of maximum Chi by 1. Jiny'u Cider Instantly restores all your Chi.
Instant, 1.5 min cooldownDeadly Reach 45 Deadly Reach Charging Ox Wave A mighty Ox effigy rushes towards the target, stunning all enemies within its path for 3 seconds. When the Ox reaches the enemy, they and all nearby enemies within 0 yards are knocked back a short distance.
1 Chi, 40 yard range, InstantLeg Sweep You knock down all enemies within 5 yards, effectively stunning them for 6 seconds.
1 Chi, Instant, 25 sec cooldownBeguile 60 When attacked, your movement speed is increased by 3% and you cause all nearby enemies to move at 3% reduced speed within 8 yards. This effect can stack up to 6 times. Dematerialize You escape your Physical form, dematerializing into the ether avoiding all damage for 3 seconds.
Channeled, 45 sec cooldownTiger's Lust Instantly clears the target of all immobilizing and movement impairing effects, and increases their movement speed by 70% for 6 seconds.
Melee Range, Instant, 1 min cooldownChi Bind 75 Binds yourself to your targeted statue with a tether of chi energy, causing any friend or foe caught in its path to take x damage or y healing.
Instant, 1 min cooldownChi Serpent You summon a ball of chi energy, dealing damage and healing all targets within its path within 60 yards.
While it's traveling, you can discharge the sphere, dealing x damage/healing to all targets at it's current location and reducing/increasing all targets movement speed by 70% for 3 seconds, but cancelling the sphere.
1 Chi, 60 yard range, Instant, 2 min cooldownChi Torpedo Torpedo a distance in front of you, dealing 1 damage to all enemies and 981 healing all allies in your path.
50 Energy, InstantRing of Peace 90 Forms a sanctuary around you, causing all enemies to be unable to attack or cast harmful spells while within it. Lasts 10 seconds.
Instant, 2 min cooldownRushing Jade Wind You encase the friendly or enemy target in a whirling jade tornado, becoming immune to all damage and healing and traveling at a quick speed in a distance in front of you.
40 yard range, Instant, 2 min cooldownChi Cocoon You encase the friendly or enemy target in a cocoon, shielding them from all outside damage and healing and causing them unable to attack. Deals x damage to enemies and y healing to allies every 1 second for 8 seconds.
Channeled, 2 min cooldown
#5. Brewmaster - Tank
A sturdy brawler who uses liquid fortification and unpredictable movement to avoid damage and protect allies.
- Use Energy
- Bring the Weakened Blows Buff: Weakened Blows: -10% physical damage done
#5.1 Brewmaster Skills
- Stance of the Drunken Ox (LVL 10)
- Reduces damage taken by 20%, and increases your chance to Stagger damage by 25%.
- Stagger
- You shrug of attacks, causing 50% of the damage to happen instantly and the remaining 50% to happen *3 seconds later. Brewmaster mastery reduces the after-effect Stagger damage taken.
- Breath of Fire (LVL 18)
- 2 Chi, 40 Yard Range, Instant
- Requires Ox Stance
- Breathes fire onto the target, causing 3,573 damage. Damage is multipled by the number of Drunken Haze stacks on the target.
- Drunken Haze (LVL 22)
- 40 Energy, 40 Yard Range, Instant
- Requires Ox Stance
- You hurl a keg of your finest brew, reducing the movement speed of all enemies within 8 yards by 15%. Affected targets have a 3% chance to have their attacks misfire and strike themselves instead for 12,299 damage. Stacks up to 3 times.
- Leer of the Ox (LVL 24)
- Instant, 20 sec cooldown
- Requires Ox Stance
- Your Ox Statue stirs hatred in the target, reducing their movement speed by 50% and causing them to attack the statue for 8 seconds. The statue must be within 40 yards of the target.
- Requires Statue of the Ox to be active.
- Guard (LVL 26)
- 3 Chi, Instant
- Requires Ox Stance
- You guard against future attacks, absorbing 38,478 damage for 8 seconds.
- Any heals you apply to yourself while guarding are increased by 30%.
- Elusive Ale (LVL 34)
- 1 Chi, Instant, 45 sec cooldown
- Requires Ox Stance
- Increases your chance to dodge melee and ranged attacks by 50% for 45 seconds.
- Avert Harm (LVL 48)
- 15 yard range, Instant, 1 min cooldown
- Requires Ox Stance
- You reduce the damage taken by all nearby friendly targets within 10 yards by 20%, and cause half of all remaining damage they take to be re-directed to you. Lasts for 15 seconds.
- Avert Harm is cancelled if you reach 10% or lower health.
- Recoil (LVL 56)
- Whenever you dodge, you gain 5 Energy.
- Summon Black Ox Statue (LVL 70)
- 40 yard range, 5.5 sec cast, 3 min cooldown
- Requires Ox Stance
- Summons a Black Ox Statue at the target location. Lasts for 10 minutes. Only one Black Ox Statue can be summoned at any one time.
- The Black Ox Statue interacts with your Provoke and Leer of the Ox abilities.
- Guard (on-click effect)
- Allies can right-click the Statue to gain the Guard effect, absorbing 12,826 damage. Any healing done by the Monk is increased by 30% while Guard is active. Guard has 10 charges.
- Brewmaster Training (LVL 72)
- You become adept in the ways of the Brewmaster, amplifying two of your spells.
- Tiger Palm
- Increases the effect of your next Guard by 5%. Lasts 30 seconds. Stacks up to 3 times.
- Blackout Kick
- When you parry, your next Blackout Kick will cost no Chi and can be used on targets regardless of their health percentage.
- Mastery: Drunken Brawler (LVL 80)
- Reduces the damage taken by Stagger by 14.5%, and increases the effect of your Guard by 14.5%.
- Each point of Mastery reduces the Stagger damage taken by an additional 1.1% and increases the amount you Guard by an additional 1.1%.
- Shuffle (LVL 82)
- 2 Chi, Channeled
- Requires Ox Stance
- You shuffle around, causing all melee attacks to be staggered. While shuffling, you cannot move, attack, or cast spells.
- Stagger
- Instant
- You shrug off attacks, causing 50% of the damage to happen instantly and the remaining 50% to happen 3 seconds later.
#6. Windwalker - Melee DPS
Windwalkers are the melee dps specialization for Monks, using a potent mix of punches, kicks, and martial arts moves.
- Use Energy
- Bring the Mastery buff: Mastery: +5 mastery
#6.1 Windwalker Skills
- Fists of Fury (LVL 10)
- 3 Chi, Melee Range, Channeled, 45 sec cooldown
- Requires Tiger Stance
- Pummel all targets in front of you with rapid hand strikes, stunning them and dealing 1 damage every 1 second for 4 seconds.
- Flying Serpent Kick (LVL 18)
- Instant, 25 sec cooldown
- Soar through the air forwards at an increased speed.
- While traveling, use Flying Serpent Kick again to land yourself, dealing 300 damage to all enemies within 8 yards, and slowing them by 70% for 4 seconds.
- Afterlife (LVL 26)
- When you kill an enemy while gaining experience or honor, you have a 50% chance to summon a healing sphere.
- Healing Sphere
- You form a Healing Sphere out of a healing mists at the target location for 30 seconds. If allies walk through it, they consume the sphere, healing themselves for 4,928. Maximum of 3 Healing Spheres can be active by the Monk at any given time.
- Energizing Wine (LVL 34)
- Instant, 1 min cooldown
- Requires Tiger Stance
- Regenerates 60 Energy over 6 seconds, can only be used while in combat.
- Sparring (LVL 42)
- Requires Ox Stance, Tiger Stance
- When you are attacked by a melee enemy in front of you begin to spar their attacks, increasing your chance to parry by 5% for 10 seconds. This effect has a 30 second cooldown.
- When you attack them back, Sparring is amplified by an additional 5%. Stacks up to 3 times.
- Exploding Jade Blossom (LVL 48)
- 1 Chi, 30 yard range, Instant
- Requires Ox Stance, Tiger Stance
- Deals 13,505 Physical damage to the first enemy target in front of you within 30 yards, rooting them for 2 seconds.
- If Exploding Jade Blossom travels further than 10 yards, the damage is increased by 50%.
- Rising Sun Kick (LVL 56)
- 2 Chi, Melee Range, Instant, 8 sec cooldown
- You kick upwards, attacking the enemy twice for 1,066 weapon damage with a 30% chance to perform a third attack.
- Tigereye Brandy (LVL 64)
- 1 Chi, Instant
- Requires Tiger Stance
- Causes your Tiger Palm and Blackout Kick to also hit 3 additional nearby enemies within 5 yards when they deal damage for 20 seconds.
- Legacy of the White Tiger (LVL 66)
- 40 yard range, Instant
- You honor the White Tiger's legacy, increasing Mastery by 5.
- If target is in your party or raid, all party and raid members will be affected.
- Summon White Tiger Statue (LVL 70)
- 40 yard range, 4.58 sec cast
- Requires Tiger Stance
- Summons a White Tiger Statue at the target location. Lasts for 6 minutes. Limit 1 Statue.
- Conjured Effigy (passive)
- When you consume 3 Chi, your Statue will conjure a White Tiger Effigy which travels towards the last enemy you attacked, dealing 846 damage.
- If the effigy travels for 5 seconds, it becomes lusted, moving at a greater speed and dealing 100% increased damage.
- Tiger's Lust (on-click effect)
- Increases the damage done by the ally and the Monk by 15% for 6 seconds. Limit 2 charges per statue.
- Muscle Memory (LVL 72)
- Your fighting technique improves over time during combat. Anytime you Jab a target from behind, your chance to critically hit with Jab increases by 1% for 30 seconds. This effect can stack up to 100 times.
- Leaving combat or an encounter will clear your Muscle Memory.
- Mastery: Combo Breaker (LVL 80)
- Grants an 11% chance for Jab to cause your next Tiger Palm to cost no Chi, or your next Blackout Kick to cost no Chi and be usable on targets regardless of their health percentage.
- Each point of Mastery increases the chance by an additional 1.4%.
#7. Mistweaver - Healing
A healer who mixes traditional herbal medicine with Pandaren martial arts.
- Use Mana
- Only specific Monk spec not to bring a buff(along with all healing specs)
#7.1 Mistweaver Skills
- Chi Wave (LVL 7)
- 2 Chi, 40 yard range, Instant, 20 sec cooldown
- Requires Serpent Stance
- You cause a wave of Chi energy to flow through friend and foe, dealing 3,843 damage or 3,843 healing. Bounces up to 5 times to targets within 10 yards.
- Stance of the Wise Serpent (LVL 10)
- Increases healing done by 20%, and replaces your Energy resource to Mana.
- Any ability which costs Energy will now cost Mana instead.
- Soothing Mists (LVL 18)
- 200 Mana plus 200 per second, 40 yard range, Channeled
- Heals the target for 5,144 over 7.33 seconds.
- If your healing done by Soothing Mists is completely effective, you have a 25% chance to generate 1 Chi.
- Internal Medicine (LVL 20)
- Your detox spell now also clears all Magical effects when used.
- Jasmine Force Tea (LVL 24)
- 0 Mana plus 1200 per second, Channeled
- Requires Serpent Stance
- You regenerate 1 Chi every 2 seconds for 3 seconds.
- Surging Mist (LVL 34)
- 1000 Mana, 40 yard range, Instant Cast
- Requires Serpent Stance
- Heals the lowest health friendly target within 40 yards for 12,865.
- If cast while channeling Soothing Mists, Surging Mist will be instant cast and heal that target over all others.
- Renewing Mist (LVL 42)
- 400 Mana, 40 yard range, Instant Cast
- Requires Serpent Stance
- You surround the target with healing mists, restoring 1,406 health every 0.92 for 10.08 seconds to up to 3 friendly targets within 8 yards.
- Renewing Mist travels from friendly target to target when it heals, up to $n times.
- Cherry Mana Tea (LVL 56)
- Channeled
- Requires Serpent Stance
- For each 3 Chi you consume, you gain a charge of Mana Tea.
- Use Mana Tea to consume the charges. Each charge restores 5% of you maximum mana. Mana Tea must be channeled, lasting 1 second per stack. Mana Tea can stack up to 50 times.
- Cancelling the channel will not waste stacks.
- Uplift (LVL 62)
- 2 Chi, Instant
- Requires Serpent Stance
- Instantly refreshes the duration of all of your Renewing Mist periodic effects on allies, and heals them for 3,304.
- Thunder Focus Tea (LVL 66)
- 1 Chi, Instant
- Requires Serpent Stance
- You receive a jolt of energy, doubling the healing done by your next Surging Mist or Uplift within 10 seconds.
- Summon Jade Serpent Statue (LVL 70)
- 1200 Mana, 40 yard range, 4.58 sec cast
- Requires Serpent Stance
- Summons a Jade Serpent Statue at the target location. Lasts for 15 minutes. Limit 2 Statues. Only two Statues can be active or summoned within a combat session.
- Eminence (passive)
- When the Monk deals damage, the summoned Jade Serpent Statues will heal the lowest health nearby target within 20 yards equal to 50% of the damage done.
- Serpent's Salve (on-click effect)
- Allies can right-click on the Statue to instantly be healed for 3,786. 10 charges.
- Teachings of the Monastery (LVL 72)
- You become adept in the ways of the Mistweaver, amplifying three of your abilities.
- Surging Mist
- When you Jab or Expel Harm, the cast time of your next Surging Mist is reduced by 50%. Stacks up to 2 times. Lasts 12 seconds.
- Expel Harm
- Expel Harm no longer has a cooldown.
- Spinning Crane Kick
- When you deal damage with Spinning Crane Kick while in Stance of the Wise Serpent, you heal nearby allies equal to 100% of the damage done.
- Revival <NYI> (LVL 78)
- 1400 Mana, 40 yard range, Instant Cast, 3 min cooldown
- Requires Serpent Stance
- You revive the target's spirit, temporarily resurrecting them for until cancelled with 50% health and mana.
- Revival does not count towards the combat resurrection limit.
- Mastery: Gift of the Serpent (LVL 80)
- You have a 25.5% chance when you heal to summon a Solace Sphere nearby an injured ally.
- Each point of Mastery increases the chance to summon a Solace Sphere by an additional 3%.
#8. Version History
3/21/12
3/22/12
- Posted
- Added Glyphs