[Top 3] Diablo 3 Best Monk Builds

Updated:

26 Jan 2020

The Monk moves in mysterious ways while packing a great punch.

They use the sheer force of will to channel the divine to slay their enemies as their Spirit is the source of their power While some may mistake them as non-threatening, in Diablo they are a powerful force that devasted the minions of Hell.

The timing and the combination of abilities are what causes the Monk to be a force to be reckoned with, and the movement type makes it different from other melee classes in Diablo 3. Working combinations at the right time to stacked buffs at the right time for powerful combinations.

The builds listed below are considered the best of the Monk’s Builds. The factors considered in this are survivability and their ability to reach the upper levels of Great Rifts and Tier levels. Keep in mind that individual gear specks and player skill level do affect performance, so individual mileage may vary.

Now let us meditate on these builds.

3. Legacy of Nightmares - Wave of Light

He is pondering what Ancient Primal Legendaries he should get.

The Wailing Host Ring and The litany of the Undaunted combine in this set to bring a group of legendary weapons into play. The key part of this build is to make sure that you have the proper items to support the Wave of Light by the use of fire damage. The challenge is that because of the use ancient and primal ancient legendary items, farming is involved. Keep in mind, this is a glass cannon build, so watch your health as durability can be an issue.

What Legacy of Nightmares - Wave of Light Excels In:

If you can get the Legacy of Nightmares ring set early on, you can work to focus on fire damage as you make your way to the preferred pieces.
This is a fast-moving build.
Damage. It is a powerful build dealing excellent area of affects.

Gear Stats: Fire is important to this build, followed by life per hit and resource reduction when selecting gear.

Gear List: Gems in this set are either Diamond for toughness, or Emeralds for damage. The helm should have a diamond as that reduces cool down.

Helm: Tzo Krin's Gaze
Shoulders: Lefebvre's Soliloquy
Gloves: Magefist
Chest: Cindercoat
Belt: The Witching Hour
Pants: Swamp Land Waders
Boots: The Crudest Boots
Bracers: Pinto's Pride or Bindings of the Lesser God*
Amulet: Hellfire Amulet or The Flavor of Time
Ring 1: The Wailing Host
Ring 2: The Litany of the Undaunted
Weapon 1: Kyoshiro's Blade
Offhand: Rabid Strike
Legendary Gems:
- Bane of the Trapped
- Bane of the Powerful (or Bane of the Stricken if you are struggling in higher rifts)
- Legacy of Dreams or Gogok of Swiftness to gain attack speed, dodge, and cooldown.

Gear in Kanai’s Cube:

Incense Torch of the Grand Temple
Bindings of the Lesser God or Pinto's Pride*
Obsidian Ring of the Zodiac

Note: With the bracers - choose the one with the best stats to wear, and place the other in the cube.

Active Skills:

Wave of Light - Explosive Light
Mystic Ally - Air Ally
Cyclone Strike - Implosion
Dashing Strike - Blinding Speed
Epiphany - Desert Shroud
Mantra of Salvation - Agility

Passive Skills: If you have the Hellfire amulet equipped, you are able to select another passive skill. If not, the top two skills are the ones recommended to be kept.

Beacon of Ytar
Harmony
Seize the Initiative
The Guardian’s Path
Near Death Experience

Paragon Priority:

Core

Movement Speed
Maximum Spirit
Dexterity
Vitality

Offense

Cooldown Reduction
Critical Hit Chance
Critical Hit Damage
Attack Speed

Note: Try to maintain a 1 to 10 ratio between Critical Hit Chance and Critical Damage.

Defense

Resist All
Armor
Life
Life Regeneration

Utility

Resource Cost Reduction
Area Damage
Life Per Hit
Gold Find

Build Links:

Quick link to build: https://www.icy-veins.com/d3/monk-wave-of-light-build-with-lod

Video about this build: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIaONa_Pd2M

2. Sunwuko - Wave of Light - Speed Build

The Monkey King Armor - Sunwuko had interesting thoughts on the design of his set.

This build is rank an A-Tier build. A lot of the gear is designed to help improve the damage of Wave of light’s effectiveness by increasing the duration and the power of it. The addition of Tzo Krin Gaze turns Wave of Light into a more ranged attack, which is important since this build is another glass cannon. The build overall is considered one of the fastest builds for Diablo 3 in movement.

What Sunwuko - Wave of Light Excels In:

Resource management
Fun to play and speedy.
You want to be rich - the Goldwrap, Avarice Band, Boon of the Hoarder are fueled by picking up gold to increase power.

Gear Stats: The main ideal stats for gear make sure at least one weapon and one other source have additional life per hit and resource cost reduction. At least two items should have cooldown reduction and area damage.

Gear List: Topaz in the helm, and Emeralds in the gem slots.

Helm: Tzo Krin Gaze
Shoulders: Sunwuko's Balance
Gloves: Sunwuko's Paws
Chest: Sunwuko's Soul
Belt: Goldwrap
Pants: Sunwuko's Leggings
Boots: The Crudest Boots
Bracers: Pinto's Pride
Amulet: Sunwuko's Shines
Ring 1: Stone of Jordan
Ring 2: The Litany of the Undaunted
Weapon 1: Vengeful Wind
Offhand: In-geom
Legendary Gems:
- Boon of the Hoarder
- Zei’s Stone of Vengeance
- Bane of the Trapped

Gear in Kanai’s Cube:

Incense Torch of the Grand Temple
Nemesis Bracers
Ring of Royal Grandeur

Active Skills:

Crippling wave concussion
Wave of Light explosive light
Mantra of Conviction - Annihilation
Mystic Ally - Air Ally
Sweeping Wind - Try to keep the stack up on this.
Dashing Strike - Way of the Falling Star

Passive Skills:

Seize the Initiative
Exalted Soul
Beacon of Ytar
Harmony

Paragon Priority:

Core

Movement Speed
Maximum Spirit
Dexterity
Vitality

Offense

Cooldown Reduction
Critical Hit Damage
Critical Hit Chance
Attack Speed

Defense

Resist All
Armor
Life
Life Regeneration

Utility

Resource Cost Reduction
Area Damage
Life Per Hit
Gold Find

Build Links:

Quick link to the build: https://www.d3planner.com/661896764

Video about this build: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0un_a0XOdI&t=18s

1. Patterns of Justice - Tempest Rush

She moves in mysterious ways and throws a mean punch while at it.

This build is durable, though the quickness of the class is compared to being slower than the two Wave of Light builds listed below. However, it does have the ability to pull enemies closer for attacks, and the skills to freeze the enemy. Best of all, the playstyle is quick to pick up.

What Patterns of Justice - Tempest Rush Excels In:

Resources are not an issue. It manages with the proper rotation to keep the resource full.
Durability. This is not a glass cannon build.
Go farther faster, as this build slays mobs, elites, and bosses easily.

Gear Stats: The ideal status for the gear is critical hit damage, critical hit chance, cooldown reduction, and tempest rush boosting skills. Weapons should have Life on Hit, attack speed, and cooldown reduction.

Gear: Diamonds are the gems for armor, and emeralds should be in the weapons.