Monk skills

Old style Monk skill tree, circa Blizzcon 2009. Art by Muldric.

This page lists all Monk skills, as of August 2011. Follow the links to the individual skill pages for full discussion of every skill, including first hand reports and screenshots.

Useful skill links:

• Skills - General skill design and mechanics.
  • Active skills - Skills where effects are activated by the player.
  • Passive skills - Skills where effects are activated automatically, by the computer or by special events.
  • Signature skills - Skills that define characters.
  • Monk Combo Skills - The class specialty; mix and match three hits in a row for big bonuses.
  • Monk Auras - Skills that provide buffs to party members and/or debuffs to enemies.
• Spirit - The Monk's energy resource.
• Runestones - The way to massive skill customization/modification.
• Monk skill archive - Monk skills removed or modified during development.
• Monk traits - Passive skills in Diablo III were called traits for a while before reverting back.

Active Skills

Click to the individual skill pages for more details about these skills including numbers, screenshots, runestone information, blue quotes, and much more.

Blinding Flash

Blinding Flash is available at level 1.
Spirit Skill

• Description: Creates a flash of light that blinds all nearby enemies. Blinded enemies will not attack unless they are attacked first. Lasts for X-X seconds. Blinded enemies have a X% reduced chance to hit.
  • Rank One: Blinds enemies for 3-4 seconds, 20% reduced chance to hit.
  • Rank Two: Blinds enemies for 3-5 seconds, 25% reduced chance to hit.

Fists of Thunder

Fists of Thunder is available at level 1.
One of two low-level combo skills available to the Monk, this punching attack lands three not-very quick hits, dealing increasing amounts of lightning damage with each attack.

• Combo skill: Generates 3 Spirit per hit.
• Description: Unleashes a series of increasingly powerful lightning infused punches that deal X% weapon damage as lightning damage, and has a higher chance than normal to interrupt enemy attacks.

Breath of Heaven

Breath of Heaven is available at level 2.
A curing, cleansing spell that removes debuffs from the Monk and his party.

• Description: The Monk banishes any harmful effects from himself and his allies, including stun, slowing, and effects that reduce defensive or offensive abilities.

Lashing Tail Kick

Lashing Tail Kick is available at level 3.
A roundhouse kick that knocks back enemies.

• Description: The Monk unleashes a deadly roundhouse kick, causing knockback and dealing X-X physical damage.
  • Rank One: 25 Spirit, Deals 10-20 Physical damage.

Mantra of Healing

Mantra of Healing is available at level 4.
No description is available.

Deadly Reach

Deadly Reach is available at level 5.
No description is available.

Dashing Strike

Dashing Strike is available at level 6.
A fast moving, charge-like attack, more useful for the movement than the damage dealt.

• Description: The Monk dashes quickly at the targeted enemy or location, dealing X% weapon damage plus X-X physical damage.

Lethal Decoy

Lethal Decoy is available at level 7.
Spirit Skill

• Description: The Monk creates an illusion of himself composed of pure holy energy. This illusion attracts enemies to it, and then it explodes dealing X-X holy damage.
  • Rank One: Costs 40 Spirit, Explodes for 10-20 holy damage

Crippling Wave

Crippling Wave is available at level 8.
A debuff combo, this one slows enemies, while dealing fairly minor damage. Best mixed in for the first or second hit with another more impactful combo.

• Description: A series of large sweeping attacks that debilitate enemies and cause X% weapon damage.
  • First Hit: Enemies are dazed, reducing movement speed by X% for X seconds.
  • Second and Third Hit: Refreshes the duration of the daze effect.

Mantra of Retribution

Mantra of Retribution is available at level 9.
No description is available.

Inner Sanctuary

Inner Sanctuary is available at level 11.
A defensive skill that creates a small protected circle around the Monk into which no monster can enter. Spells and ranged attacks will still strike the Monk though.

• Description: Creates a protected region on the ground for X seconds that cannot be passed through.

Exploding Palm

Exploding Palm is available at level 12.
This skill became an instant legend when the Monk debuted at Blizzcon 2009. It's a combo skill that deals two light damage hits, before the third booby traps the target with a beating heart visible above their head. If a monster dies with the heart still there, they explode in a supernova of blood, dealing substantial AoE damage to all nearby enemies.

• Description: A series of lethal strikes target enemy nerve clusters that sets up a deadly chain reaction within the target. Deals X% weapon damage.
  • Third Hit: Target bleeds for X physical damage over X seconds. If the target dies it explodes dealing X-X% of maximum health in physical damage to all enemies nearby.

Mantra of Evasion

Mantra of Evasion is available at level 14.
No description is available.

Tempest Rush

Tempest Rush is available at level 16.
No description is available.

Sweeping Wind

Sweeping Wind is available at level 17.
Combo skill

• Description: The Monk sweeps his weapon in a circle, forming a barrier of force that deals X% weapon damage to every enemy hit. Can hit enemies multiple times.

Serenity

Serenity is available at level 18.
Spirit Skill

• Description: The Monk creates a shield that protects him from all incoming damage. Lasts X seconds.

Way of the Hundred Fists

Way of the Hundred Fists is available at level 21.
One of the most popular combo skills, this attack lands a crushing series of body shots on the enemy. It was shown in modified form in the Monk cinematic; used to pulverize the ribs of a Morlu Caster.

• Description: A series of punches strike enemies in front of the Monk that cause X% weapon damage.

Mantra of Conviction

Mantra of Conviction is available at level 22.
No description is available.

Seven Sided Strike

Seven Sided Strike is available at level 24.
A very powerful attack, when used in Blizzcon 2009 this skill allowed the Monk to teleport to an enemy, to strike it or other nearby enemies five times, and all without ever being hit in return. It was expected to be nerfed, and has not been seen in action since.

• Description: Unleashes a fury of attacks striking nearby enemies X times for X% weapon damage for each hit.

Mystic Ally

Mystic Ally is available at level 27.
No description is available.

Wave of Light

Wave of Light is available at level 29.
Spirit Skill

• Description: The Monk summons a rolling wave of holy fire that scorches everything in its path, dealing X holy damage.

Passive Skills

Passive skills replaced Traits during late game development in 2011. Many Traits were simply changed to passive skills, but some are all new. See the Demon Hunter traits page for a full list of those passives.

Name	Req Level	Description
Exalted Soul	10	Increases maximum Spirit by X%.
Frenzied Attacks	13	When wielding two weapons, the Monk has X% increased critical strike chance and Y% increased critical strike damage.
Aggression	15	Increases attack by X%.
Superior Skill	15	Increases precision by X%.
Expert Defense	17	Increases defense by X%.
Resonance	19	Increases the duration of auras by 120 seconds.
Untouchable	19	After dealing a critical strike, increases dodge chance by X% for 10 seconds.
Counterattack	20	When the Monk dodges an attack, the next skill has its Spirit cost reduced by X%.
Weak Spot	20	Increases critical strike damage by X%.
Strength in Adversity	23	Healing effects are improved by X% if the Monk is under Y% HP.
Near Death Experience	25	When the Monk receives a fatal blow (?), the Monk gains X% HP and Y% Spirit.
Flawless Technique	28	Skills that generate Spirit do X% more damage.
Strength of Spirit	30	Skills that require Spirit do X% more damage.

Development

Removed Skills

The following skills were removed or renamed prior to the July 2011 Press Event:

• Hands of Lightning -- Renamed to Fists of Thunder
• Long Reach
• Circle of Wrath
• Holy Aura
• Dominate Aura
• Retribution Aura
• Resist Aura

Impenetrable Defense, Radiant Visage, and Force Without Thought were removed from the Monk's skill listing between Blizzcon 2009 and Blizzcon 2010.

• See the Monk skill archive for a full listing of skill changes over time.

References

• Full Monk Skill Tree Stats and Discussion
• Monk gameplay report
• BlizzCon 2010 Monk Hands-on report
• JudgeHype.com July 2011 Press Event Coverage - The Witch Doctor (Translated by Zediono)