Fury of Fistfire: Get Started in Windwalker PvE
1. Introduction
Greetings, and welcome to your 6.2 guide. My name is Caligraphy, and I am a Windwalker on Windrunner. Basically, I've been playing WoW since Vanilla, raiding from TBC until Dragon Soul as a Resto Shaman (though, I always tanked on the side). In Dragon Soul, I finally embraced my love for tanking, and went Bear Druid. Well, needless to say, I feel in love with Monks right in Mists of Pandaland Beta, and have been a Monk ever since.
While I only dabble in Brewmaster now, I'm quite proud to be the resident Windwalker for Temerity (US#49) on Windrunner. You can reach me on Twitter with @CalliMonk. Without further ado, let's get started!
About This Guide
So, first thing's first. This guide isn't meant as "how to theorycraft for Windwalker." If you want to get into theorycrafting, I recommend that you read the associated thread(s), and also join us in IRC. We have plenty of wonderful resources, fansites, etc.
About The Class
As a class, Windwalkers specialize in 2-3 target fights, though admittedly right now there are a lot of classes that can beat us at that.
Out-Of-Game-Resources
Basically, there are tons of resources out there to become a better Windwalker, and you're looking right at one!
- Simulation Craft - SimC is probably the MAIN go-to as far as work toward bettering the spec.
- Elitist Jerks Windwalker Thread - EJ is where theorycrafting got its stronghold on the community. Windwalker is one of the few specs with a consistently updated guide.
- MMO-Champion Monk Forums - Love it or hate it, but MMO-C is one of the largest readerships as far as Monks go. The stickies here have some wonderful material in them.
- Chi Burst - The length of SoO has made Chi Burst seem like it's dead, but it is an honest-to-heaven, monk-centric forum for your posting pleasure.
- #PeakOfSerenity - IRC is a wonderful way to communicate, share information, and get meaningful things done. The link will take you to the information to connect to #PeakOfSerenity on IRC - great if you want to listen in on much of the theorycrafting for Monks (all specs!) or if you just want to get to know some other people who play Monk.
- Sentry Totem - SentryTotem brings together some of WoW's experts into writing articles aimed at actual gameplay. Windcraft Wednesday in particular is a semi-weekly column aimed at Windwalkers ranging from raid tips, gearing suggestions, general theorycrafting, and more. Plus, the ticket system is wonderful to have someone evaluate your armory and logs!
Energy and Chi
A windwalker's main resources are Energy (e) which is then converted into chi. At level 90, Windwalkers can have up to 4 chi (5 with Ascension). Most damage comes from not just the proper utilization of chi, but also of energy. With a leveling perk from between 90 and 100, Windwalkers will have a baseline of 5 chi (6 with Ascension).
Spells
Multi-Target
Rushing Jade Wind (RJW) - We rarely use this spell anymore, but it historically has been used on fights with 3+ enemies. It may prove more useful in the future, but in 6.0 and 6.1, was rarely used due to energy being a concern and that it did not work well with Chi Explosion (due to only rewarding 1 Chi for nearly the same cost as Jab)
Spinning Crane Kick (SCK) - This is best used on fights with 3 or more targets that need to be quickly AE'd down. It returns 1 chi. RJW replaces it if you select that level 90 talent.
Storm, Earth and Fire (SEF) - This is, more or less, the windwalker's cleave or multi-dot. With a 40-yard range, you can easily cast this on targets that other melee may have issues hitting (NEVER put it on your current target!) A single clone will reduce your damage to 70% (total of 140% damage), and a second clone will cause you and all of your clones to do 55% damage (for a total of 165% damage). You can have up to two clones out at a time on different targets.
Chi Burst - This'll be another talent you'll be choosing for multi-target. This shoots a giant ball of Chi in front of (or behind you, if you're unlucky) that'll smack your enemies in the face while healing your allies.
Single-Target
Jab - Your basic filler, this grants you 2 chi. It doesn't do very much damage, but it does enable you to hit things.
Blackout Kick(BoK) - You'll be spending lots of Chi on this. Hit this button when you don't have anything better to do, or if it's been procced from Combo Breaker.
Fists of Fury (FoF) - Perhaps the most overdramatic of our spells, this key spell will make you rapidly punch your target for lots of damage. Its base channel is 4 seconds, but that's brought down by haste.
Rising Sun Kick (RSK) - While the damage on this is toned down a tad in 6.0, prior to 100 it is still worth using this on cooldown. Now, it is worth using on cooldown when NOT using the Chi Explosion level 100 talent.
Tiger Palm (TP) - You'll be hitting this almost every 20 seconds, or if you have a Combo Breaker proc (more on that later). This grants a buff that you need to keep up called Tiger Power.
Touch of Death (ToD) - This is your finisher and a pretend execute. You can either use it on mobs that have your health or lower, or are under 10% health. It will do the same amount of damage as your health.
Chi Wave (CW) - This is from one of your talents. You'll basically want to use this on Cooldown - because it's just that nasty of a spell. It'll bounce to hurt your enemies, bounce to heal you, and so on - up to 7 or so times.
Cooldowns
Tigereye Brew (TeB) - this is that stacking buff you get when you hit things. You'll want to use this at either 16+ stacks, or if you get a trinket proc up (or really, ANYTHING that increases your damage). You get 6% more damage for each stack that you use up.
Energizing Brew (EB) - This increases how much energy you get for every second that passes. You should use this any time you can't hit anything (as long as you aren't in the middle of FoF!)
Invoke Xuen, the White Tiger (Xuen)- Otherwise known as Kenny, this summons a white tiger effigy/guardian that will fight with you.
Chi Brew - this is from talents again. I highly recommend this at higher gear levels, because you can use it toget not only enough Chi for at least 1 Blackout Kick or RSK, but also because it grants at least 2 stacks of TeB - increased by mastery.
Getting Around
I figured I'd make a special section for this just because it's what monks are known for.
Roll - Tuck and roll! Has 2 charges, and somewhat of a "signature" spell. It follows many of the same mechanics as a Mage's Blink, except that you can go any direction with it, without glyphing it.
Transcendence - Basically lets you leave a copy of yourself. You use its secondary spell (Transcendence: Transfer) to transfer back to where you were. You can go back and forth between both spots!
Flying Serpent Kick (FSK) - The monk charges forward at 280% speed (you know, approximately the same speed as an epic mount). Hitting the spell again will cause you to land, dealing a small amount of damage and also slowing enemies (or you just land after a time, and don't do anything). This stacks with other movement speed buffs.
Level 15 Talents - I figured I'd throw something in here. Level 15 is much of your movement flavor. I strongly recommend grabbing Tiger's Lust - TONS of people b...complain about "having another button", but the honest truth is that this a highly underrated spell. Not only can you cast it on yourself for a sprint, but you can cast it on other people. That's pretty legit!
The Endgame Game
This section covers what you need to do to prep for endgame. While I can't really discuss PvP (no time for it!), I can certainly give you a few tips for raids.
Weapon Choices
1.1.1 Which to Choose?
Go with the highest item level. They're basically even. Two-handers are slightly ahead, but nothing that a skilled monk can't make up for with duel wield if the 1Hs are higher item level. For an idea of just how important weapon DPS is - it is not unheard of for a monk to take a strength 1-hander if it were an item level increase, if only for the increase in weapon damage.
100 Talents Affect Everything
I'm throwing this section in ahead of the main talents section. Basically, I can't discuss Windwalker stats or rotation without first discussing level 100 talents.
While there are three talents on the tier, you actually really just have the choice between two talents: Serenity and Chi Explosion. Both are very powerful on their own, and fantastic in different situations, but cause the class to basically play differently.
Chi Explosion
Chi Explosion is a finisher which replaces your Blackout Kick.
- If you use it with 1 Chi, it does some damage.
- 2 Chi does additional damage from 1 Chi, and also causes a DoT similar to what Blackout Kick did.
- 3 Chi does additional damage from 2 Chi plus everything from previous points, and also gives you a stack of Tigereye Brew (or more, if your Mastery procs).
- 4 Chi does additional damage from 3 Chi plus everything from previous points, and also meteors - meaning, it does 100% damage to your initial target, and then splits the rest of its damage on other targets.
I recommend using this talent when you are in a situation that has multiple targets.
Other Talents
I don't recommend using Chi Explosion with Chi Brew. I can see that being useful in most burst situations, but - generally speaking - you want to use Ascension because you want as much energy regeneration in order to get more Explosions off. As such, I write the perspective of this talent on using Ascension.
Chi Explosion Rotation
- Enter the fight with at least 4 Chi (preferably with all 5 [6 if specced into Ascension]). This is two Expel Harms, and literally takes thirty seconds.
- Use Xuen if you are specced into him.
- Dump your initial Chi on your first Rising Sun Kick.
- Chi Explosion the rest, pop Tigereye Brew.
---After your Opener--- - At this point, Fists of Fury on Cooldown.
- Maintain Rising Sun Kick's debuff - don't worry about its cooldown. The cooldown is MUCH shorter than its debuff.
- Use your level 30 talent as much on cooldown as you can, and if it is Chi Burst, ensure it is hitting multiple targets
- Use Chi Explosion at 4 Chi as much as you can, provided there are multiple mobs. I even go so far as to bank Chi if I know that there will be a cleave situation incoming.
- Use any and all Combo Breakers as they become available.
Multi-Target
- Keep RJW up if it's 3+ targets.
- Use SEF on as many targets as you can, without using it on your own target.
- Follow everything from single-target, with a change:
- Use Chi Burst any time you have at least 5+ targets in a clump (enemies, of course).
Chi Explosion and Tiger Power
Someone probably noticed that Tiger Power/Tiger Palm weren't mentioned anywhere in the rotation. Basically, these only grant a buff that ignores ARMOR. Armor is used in factoring out physical damage... Chi Explosion is Nature Damage. Thus, while I do recommend using Combo Breaker: Tiger Palms as they appear (especially if you don't have anything better to do), you're theoretically shooting yourself in the foot if you are delaying a 4-Chi Chi Explosion just to maintain its buff.
Chi Explosion Stats
Again, I won't even go into stats with Chi Brew. This is just for using Ascension.
Prior to 6.2, Haste was head and shoulders above other stats. However, now it is only head above other stats.
Code:
Haste > Multistrike > Vers >= Crit >>>>>>> Mastery
Gems
As of the changes in Warlords of Draenor, all sockets are prismatic and you can only gem for secondary stats.
For Chi Explosion, you can and likely should still use Multistrike Taladites.
Enchants
Similar to gems, the amount of enchants are much smaller. However, they are all now placed on jewelry, making it easier than ever to swap between sets.
Neck - Gift of Multistrike
Rings - Gift of Multistrike
Back - Gift of Multistrike
Weapon - View this post. Basically, for single-target, Mark of the Frostwolf is ahead by just a hair, while for multi-target, Mark of the Warsong is ahead by a hair. What does this translate to? If you are using a 2H, feel free to use Frostwolf for ST, and Warsong for AE (they are honestly so close together that I nearly recommend to just pick the prettiest one).
If you are Dual Wield, Frostwolf can go on your mainhand, with Warsong on your offhand (thunderlord enchant is technically better for single-target, but this setup is basically good for either single or multi-target).
Serenity
Serenity is a 1.5 minute cooldown that causes all of your chi-using abilities to refund that amount of Chi. Keep in mind, you still have to go in with that amount of Chi on you - you can't enter Serenity with 0 Chi, as this talent simply refunds Chi.
Other Talents
Typically, you would take Serenity with Chi Brew. Now, most spreadsheets and even sims will tell you to take Ascension - and generally, that's perfectly fine. However, at a higher level - that is, once you are comfortable with Windwalker as a whole - it is generally stronger to take Chi Brew. It's very difficult to honestly spreadsheet having Chi Brew's burst at the start of an encounter, or throughout a fight. I generally recommend that people newer to monk take Ascension, as it's a much more difficult talent to actually make mistakes with.
Serenity Rotation
- Enter the fight with at least 4 Chi (preferably with all 5 [6 if specced into Ascension]). This is two Expel Harms, and usually does not take very long.
- Use Xuen if you are specced into him!
- Dump your initial Chi on your first Rising Sun Kick and Tiger Palm.
- Use your charges of Chi Brew - you should have 6-10 stacks of Tigereye Brew, depending on luck
- Pop your Tigereye Brew
- Fists of Fury
- Use Serenity and spam the everliving bejaina out of Blackout Kick and Rising Sun Kick
--After your opener-- - Keep up your RSK debuff, and keep it on cooldown!
- Use Tiger Palm to keep up Tiger Power!
- Juggle your two Zen Spheres - I typically place one on myself, and one on a focused' target
-OR- - Keep Chi Wave on cooldown!
- Jab for Chi!
- Use Fists of Fury to hit things super hard!
- Use Blackout Kick to dump the rest of your Chi!
- Keep at least one charge of Chi Brew on Cooldown if you're specced into it! I usually use both at the start of a fight, and then keep one on cooldown, while using the second any time I have a trinket proc.
Multi-Target
- Keep RJW up if it's 3+ targets.
- Use SEF on as many targets as you can, without using it on your own target.
- Follow everything from single-target, with a change:
- Use Chi Burst any time you have at least 5+ targets in a clump (enemies, of course).
Serenity Stats
Your stat weights for Serenity tend to vary a little bit, but are overall the same regardless of whether you are spec'd Ascension or Chi Brew.
Code:
MS > Vers >= Crit > Haste >>>>>>> Mastery
Gems
As of the changes in Warlords of Draenor, all sockets are prismatic and you can only gem for secondary stats.
You will be using Multistrike Taladites if you are using Serenity.
Enchants
Similar to gems, the amount of enchants are much smaller. However, they are all now placed on jewelry, making it easier than ever to swap between sets.
Neck - Gift of Multistrike
Rings - Gift of Multistrike
Back - Gift of Multistrike
Weapon - View this post. Basically, for single-target, Mark of the Frostwolf is ahead by just a hair, while for multi-target, Mark of the Warsong is ahead by a hair. What does this translate to? If you are using a 2H, feel free to use Frostwolf for ST, and Warsong for AE (they are honestly so close together that I nearly recommend to just pick the prettiest one).
If you are Dual Wield, Frostwolf can go on your mainhand, with Warsong on your offhand (thunderlord enchant is technically better for single-target, but this setup is basically good for either single or multi-target).
Glyphs
Honestly, the old version of this guide had a HUUUUGE table depicting every glyph known to monk-kind. I don't feel that's necessary, because you'll just end up inundated by glyphs that you can easily find in your spellbook. Instead, let's take a look at what's going to be affecting you between now and Warlords:
Glyph of Blackout Kick - THIS IS MANDATORY. This removes the healing component of Blackout Kick so that you no longer have a positional requirement for its DoT.
Glyph of Zen Meditation - Move while also channeling Zen Meditation. This allows you to use it as a more effective survival cooldown.
Glyph of Touch of Karma - Extends the range on your Touch of Karma spell. Very useful, very recommended.
Glyph of Nimble Brew - I usually classify this more as a PvP glyph, but its actually quite useful in PvE in which where you need to move quickly. It heals you for 15% of your health if you clear an effect.
Glyph of the Floating Butterfly - W E W O N B O Y S. In other words, the glyph we've all been waiting for! This removes the stun from Fists of Fury... while allowing you to continue channeling it while running. Keep in mind, however, that knockbacks will still interrupt the channel. I also recommend NOT using this glyph in challenge modes, as it's very good/strong to have the 25second stun in the first place.
Talents
Again, you can read the tooltips of your own Monk if you need to, so there's no reason to go painfull in-detail about them. Here's the general gist:
- Level 15: While this is more of a choice, I strongly recommend Tiger's Lust. Celerity is a good pickup if you intend to use Chi Torpedo
- Level 30: These are your flavored damage-healers. Use Zen Sphere for single target, and Chi Burst for anything that even remotely has two targets. Chi Wave only does slightly less single-target damage than Zen Sphere, so if you are lazy and don't care about Big D DPS, you can use that.
- Level 45: These are Chi-Energy Management. Ascension is used when using Chi Explosion for longer sustained damage. Chi Brew is useful for controlled burst damage and Serenity. Power Strikes is rarely if ever useful.
- Level 60: Crowd Control talents. Ring of Peace (RoP) is useful for PvP to do an AE disorient. Charging Ox Wave and Leg Sweep are both stuns. Leg Sweep is often preferred due to its range, but Charging Ox Wave can be very useful when done properly.
- Level 75: These are survivability. Use Diffuse Magic for heavy magic-damage encounters. Use Dampen Harm if you need to mitigate physical damage.
- Level 90: Chi Torpedo is good for padding in conjunction with Level 15 talent, Celerity - just be aware that it changes part of our toolkit from being mobile, to burst AE (which frankly, other classes do better, anyway). Xuen is useful on single-target. Rushing Jade Wind (RJW) is useful for 3+ target fights.
- Level 100: Check out the Serenity and Chi Explosion sections for which to choose here. You can ignore Hurricane Strike until it's fixed.
Changelog
- LVL 30 update + stats update
- Because weapons srsly matter guys.
- Happy Turkey Day, pre-raid update.
- I personally welcome our new thread overlords.
Dark Heart PTR Development Notes
Dark Heart PTR Development Notes
The War Within Alpha - Isle of Dorn Main Story Quest Preview
MMO-Champion
Recent Blue Posts
Recent Forum Posts
Originally Posted by Hinalover
Thx!
This guide will persist through WoD with some updates when level 100 is available. I just didn't want people to become confused with lvl 90 in 6.0 vs. 100 in 6.0.
Awe, I hope they make it very very close before WoD.
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