PoE 2 Monk - Overview, Skills, and Ascendancies

Path of Exile 2 is releasing the Monk, one of 6 new classes releasing alongside the original 6 classes. With new and orginial classes, the game will open up a lot more in terms of build diversity and character fantasy.

The Monk class is looking to add some separation between the class fantasy of the previous 6 classes.

In this guide, I’ll be covering everything we know about the Monk class and how it works. Let’s jump right in.

The Monk class is a new class with the INT/DEX attribute. This makes them start at the same location as the Shadow class, with proximity towards the Intelligence and Dexterity portions of the passive tree. (Top Right)

The Monk’s signature weapon is the Quarterstave (or Quarterstaff), with Unarmed also being a Monk specialty.

The staff is a caster weapon, with modifiers like Spell Damage, while the Quarterstave rolls attack modifiers. This means the Monk will be a “melee fighter, who specializes in mobility over brute strength.”

If the Passive Tree resembles PoE 1, the Dex area of the tree generally has more Cold Damage nodes, and Lightning Damage near the Int areas.

Defensive layers such as Energy Shield, Evasion, and Spell Suppression will also likely be easy to path toward as well.

Freeze/CC Mechanic Changes

In the video showcasing Monk gameplay, GGG also announced some changes to CC and Freeze mechanics. In Path of Exile 1, CC effects were binary, they either happened or didn’t.

Because of this, many bosses became freeze or CC immune. Otherwise, players would trivialize content with CC.

In Path of Exile 2, CC mechanics now have an internal meter. As you apply Freeze or other CC to a boss, this internal meter will build up until the boss is then CC’d. If you freeze a boss, the threshold will increase, meaning you need to apply more freeze before freezing them again. This increase will slowly decay.

This means that you can now reliably CC bosses in a more balanced way in PoE 2. Builds can now have some form of CC that is applicable even in the later stages of the game like Freeze, Stun, etc.

While the Monk is not limited to Quarterstaff Skills, it will be the generic go-to for most Monk builds.

• Falling Thunder

• Glacial Cascade

• Killing Palm

• Frozen Locus

• Staggering Palm

• Tempest Bell

• Vaulting Impact

• Wind Blast

• Ice Strike

• Tempest Flurry

• Wave of Frost

• Siphoning Strike

• Storm Wave

• Freezing Mark

• Charged Staff

• Mantra of Destruction

• Hand of Chayula

• Whirling Assault

• Shattering Palm

• Flicker Strike

In Path of Exile 2, there is a bigger emphasis on utilizing a variety of skills depending on the situation. If you need to retreat, using skills like Wind Blast or Wave of Frost will help you evade danger while dealing damage.

Other times, you may want to deal as much damage as possible. In these situations, you can use Ice Strike to freeze your target and then use Glacial Cascade to deal a larger chunk of damage.

Using Culling Palm on mobs will grant you Power Charges, buffing up your Falling Thunder or allowing you to use Flicker Strike.

With the new Skill Gem system, you’ll want to use a variety of skills in tandem to make the most out of your character. You may be able to strengthen you character enough to use only one skill to clear packs, but combining skills will help you deal more damage.

This wraps up everything we know about the Monk class in Path of Exile 2.

If you're a fan of Elemental Attacks and don't prefer Spells, the Monk may be for you. Or maybe you want a melee class with high mobility.

The Monk is a master of martial arts that looks to balance offense, defense, and speed. With so many mechanics to explore, the Monk looks to be a very flexible class to match the playstyle you want.