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 6 Spirit per attack.
• Description: Deal a series of extremely fast punches that deal 100% weapon damage as Lightning damage. Each strike has a 15% chance 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.

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.

• Generate: 6 Spirit per attack
  
• Projects lines of pure force over a short distance for 125% weapon damage.

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.

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, but this skill is most likely Retribution Aura with a new name.

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 Monk traits page for a full list of those passives.

Resolve is a Monk passive skill unlocked at Level 10, which reduces damage inflicted by monsters for a short period of time.

Description

Name	Level	Description

<skill class="Monk">Resolve</skill>

Synergies

No synergies with any active skills or other Monk passives are known.

Development

Passive skills have had a long and storied history. When Diablo III debuted at the WWI 2008, skill trees included passive skills, much like in Diablo II. In 2010, it was announced that passive skills had been renamed traits and separated out from active skills. At the July 2011 Press Event, Blizzard announced that passive skills were once again in the game, replacing the traits system.

Beta

Resolve was not seen until it showed up in the Diablo III beta as a level 10 passive. Passives were reorganized for Beta Patch 14, but Resolve stayed where it was.

References

• HardRock's Monk Passive Skills — IncGamers 6th Sep 2011
• Monk Passive Skills — Blizzard's Official Diablo III Site

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The Guardian's Pass

Fleet Footed is a Monk passive skill unlocked at Level 10, which gives the Monk extra speed.

Description

Name	Level	Description

<skill class="Monk">Fleet Footed</skill>

Synergies

No synergies with any active skills or other Monk passives are known.

Development

Passive skills have had a long and storied history. When Diablo III debuted at the WWI 2008, skill trees included passive skills, much like in Diablo II. In 2010, it was announced that passive skills had been renamed traits and separated out from active skills. At the July 2011 Press Event, Blizzard announced that passive skills were once again in the game, replacing the traits system.

Beta

Fleet Footed was not seen until it showed up in the Diablo III beta as a level 12 passive. When passives were reorganized for Beta Patch 14, Fleet Footed was moved to level 10.

References

• HardRock's Monk Passive Skills — IncGamers 6th Sep 2011
• Monk Passive Skills — Blizzard's Official Diablo III Site

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Transcendence is a Monk passive skill unlocked at Level 16, which gives Life when Spirit points are spent.

Description

Name	Level	Description

<skill class="Monk">Transcendence</skill>

Synergies

No synergies with any active skills or other Monk passives are known.

Development

Passive skills have had a long and storied history. When Diablo III debuted at the WWI 2008, skill trees included passive skills, much like in Diablo II. In 2010, it was announced that passive skills had been renamed traits and separated out from active skills. At the July 2011 Press Event, Blizzard announced that passive skills were once again in the game, replacing the traits system.

Beta

Transcendence was not seen until it showed up in the Diablo III beta as a level 13 passive. When passives were reorganized for Beta Patch 14, Transcendence was moved up to level 16 and nerfed a bit, healing 62.0 Life instead of 118.6 Life.

References

• HardRock's Monk Passive Skills — IncGamers 6th Sep 2011
• Monk Passive Skills — Blizzard's Official Diablo III Site

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Chant of Resonance is a Monk passive skill unlocked at Level 20, which improves the duration of all Mantras and grants them Spirit regeneration.

Description

Name	Level	Description

<skill class="Monk">Chant of Resonance</skill>

Synergies

No synergies with any active skills or other Monk passives are known.

Development

Passive skills have had a long and storied history. When Diablo III debuted at the WWI 2008, skill trees included passive skills, much like in Diablo II. In 2010, it was announced that passive skills had been renamed traits and separated out from active skills. At the July 2011 Press Event, Blizzard announced that passive skills were once again in the game, replacing the traits system.

Beta

Chant of Resonance was not seen until it showed up in the Diablo III beta as a level 15 passive. When passives were reorganized for Beta Patch 14, Chant of Resonance was moved up to level 20.

References

• HardRock's Monk Passive Skills — IncGamers 6th Sep 2011
• Monk Passive Skills — Blizzard's Official Diablo III Site

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Seize the Initiative is a Monk passive skill unlocked at Level 20, which grants more Defense based on the Monk's Attack.

Description

Name	Level	Description

<skill class="Monk">Seize the Initiative</skill>

Synergies

No synergies with any active skills or other Monk passives are known.

Development

Passive skills have had a long and storied history. When Diablo III debuted at the WWI 2008, skill trees included passive skills, much like in Diablo II. In 2010, it was announced that passive skills had been renamed traits and separated out from active skills. At the July 2011 Press Event, Blizzard announced that passive skills were once again in the game, replacing the traits system.

Beta

Seize the Initiative was not seen until it showed up in the Diablo III beta as a level 17 passive. When passives were reorganized for Beta Patch 14, Seize the Initiative was moved up to level 20.

References

• HardRock's Monk Passive Skills — IncGamers 6th Sep 2011
• Monk Passive Skills — Blizzard's Official Diablo III Site

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Exalted Soul is a Monk passive skill unlocked at Level 24, which increases maximum Spirit.

Description

Name	Level	Description

<skill class="Monk">Exalted Soul</skill>

Synergies

No synergies with any active skills or other Monk passives are known.

Development

Passive skills have had a long and storied history. When Diablo III debuted at the WWI 2008, skill trees included passive skills, much like in Diablo II. In 2010, it was announced that passive skills had been renamed traits and separated out from active skills. At the July 2011 Press Event, Blizzard announced that passive skills were once again in the game, replacing the traits system. Exalted Soul was first revealed in the July 2011 Press Event as a level 10 passive.

Beta

When the beta started in September 2011, Exalted Soul was moved to level 19, and later moved to level 18. When passives were reorganized for Beta Patch 14, Exalted Soul was moved up to level 24.

References

• Zediono's translation of JudgeHype's pre-beta report — IncGamers 1st Aug 2011
• HardRock's Monk Passive Skills — IncGamers 6th Sep 2011
• Monk Passive Skills — Blizzard's Official Diablo III Site

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| | Counterattack | When the Monk dodges an attack, the next skill has its Spirit cost reduced by Template:Cyanize. | 20 | Monk |-

| | Weak Spot | Increases critical strike damage by Template:Cyanize. | 20 | Monk |-

| | Strength in Adversity | Healing effects are improved by Template:Cyanize if the Monk is under Template:Cyanize health. | 23 | Monk |-

Near Death Experience is a Monk passive skill unlocked at Level 58, which enables the Monk to cheat death.

Description

Name	Level	Description

<skill class="Monk">Near Death Experience</skill>

Synergies

No synergies with any active skills or other Monk passives are known.

Development

Passive skills have had a long and storied history. When Diablo III debuted at the WWI 2008, skill trees included passive skills, much like in Diablo II. In 2010, it was announced that passive skills had been renamed traits and separated out from active skills. At the July 2011 Press Event, Blizzard announced that passive skills were once again in the game, replacing the traits system. Near Death Experience was first revealed in the July 2011 Press Event as a level 25 passive.

Beta

The beta started in September 2011, but Near Death Experience stayed the same, although it was later dropped to level 22. When passives were reorganized for Beta Patch 14, Near Death Experience was moved up to level 58.

References

• Zediono's translation of JudgeHype's pre-beta report — IncGamers 1st Aug 2011
• HardRock's Monk Passive Skills — IncGamers 6th Sep 2011
• Monk Passive Skills — Blizzard's Official Diablo III Site

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| | Flawless Technique | Skills that generate Spirit (i.e. combos) do Template:Cyanize more damage. | 28 | Monk |-

| | Strength of Spirit | Skills that require Spirit do Template:Cyanize more damage. | 30 | Monk |-

|}

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
• Zediono's translation of JudgeHype's pre-beta report -- IncGamers 1st Aug 2011

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