Monk

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“

When the pandaren were subjugated by the mogu centuries ago, it was the monks that brought hope to a seemingly dim future. Restricted from using weapons by their slave masters, these pandaren instead focused on harnessing their chi and learning weaponless combat. When the opportunity for revolution struck, they were well-trained to throw off the yoke of oppression.

- Official site

”

Mists of Pandaria introduced the monk class.^[1] Monks are a hybrid class. Masters of bare-handed combat, monks choose to draw their weapons only for devastating finishing moves. Monk healers bring harmony and balance to every group, healing even the most grievous of injuries with ancient remedies and focused spiritual arts.

Like druids and rogues, monks use leather armor and can't use shields, but can use off-hand items.^[2] Monks can use the following weapons: fist weapons, one-handed axes, one-handed maces, one-handed swords, polearms, and staves.

Background

When the Pandaren were subjugated by the mogu centuries ago, it was the monks that brought hope to a seemingly dim future. Restricted from using any type of weapon by their slave masters, these Pandaren instead focused on harnessing their chi and learning weaponless combat.

Pandaren masters have chosen to share their ancient martial arts with young fighters in both the Alliance and Horde. Harnessing their inner strength and potent "chi" energy, monks are extremely capable in every role: damage, defense, and healing.^[3]

Notable monks

Name	Role	Status	Location
Chen Stormstout	High Brewmaster	Alive	Stormstout Brewery, Pang's Stead, Valley of the Four Winds, Durotar
Aysa Cloudsinger	Leader of the Alliance Pandaren	Killable	Singing Pools, Cathedral District
Ji Firepaw	Leader of the Horde Pandaren	Killable	Dai-Lo Farmstead, Valley of Honor
Taran Zhu	Leader of the Shado-Pan	Alive	Shado-Pan Monastery, Isle of Thunder, Siege of Orgrimmar

Races

Main article: Monk races

As of the Mists of Pandaria Beta, the monk class can be played by the following races:^[2]^[4]

	Strength	Agility	Stamina	Intellect	Spirit	Armor	Health
Human	21	21	21	22	20	37	113
Ironforge dwarf	26	17	22	21	19	37	123
Night elf	17	25	21	22	20	37	113
Gnome	16	23	21	25	20	37	113
Draenei	22	18	21	22	22	37	113
Dark Iron dwarf	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Race (Kul Tiran human) unknown	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Race (Void elf) unknown	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Orc	24	18	22	19	22	37	123
Forsaken	20	19	22	21	22	37	113
Tauren	26	17	22	18	22	37	127
Troll	22	23	21	18	21	37	113
Blood elf	18	23	21	25	18	37	113
Race (Highmountain Tauren) unknown	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Race (Mag'har orc) unknown	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Race (Nightborne) unknown	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Race (Zandalari Troll) unknown	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Pandaren	21	19	22	21	22	37	123

Specializations/stats

“

A sturdy brawler who uses liquid fortification and unpredictable movement to avoid damage and protect allies.

- Official description

”

Stat priority

Haste (30%)
Critical Strike / Mastery
Agility
Versatility

Ability	Min Level
Blackout Strike	10
Keg Smash	10
Stagger	16
Ironskin Brew	20
Purifying Brew	28
Gift of the Ox	32
Spear Hand Strike	35
Breath of Fire	40

Ability	Min Level
Expel Harm	50
Fortifying Brew	55
Zen Meditation	65
Celestial Fortune	70
Mastery: Elusive Brawler	78

“

A healer who mixes traditional herbal medicine with Pandaren martial arts.

- Official description

”

Stat priority

Intellect
Versatility
Critical Strike
Haste / Mastery

Ability	Min Level
Soothing Mist	10
Rising Sun Kick	10
Teachings of the Monastery	12
Enveloping Mist	12
Renewing Mist	20
Vivify	28
Enveloping Mist (2)	32
Life Cocoon	35

Ability	Min Level
Spinning Crane Kick	40
Essence Font	40
Renewing Mist (2)	42
Thunder Focus Tea	50
Essence Font (2)	55
Thunder Focus Tea (2)	63
Reawaken	66
Revival	70
Mastery: Gust of Mists	78

“

A martial artist without peer who pummels foes with hands and fists.

- Official description

”

Stat priority

Agility
Mastery
Versatility / Critical Strike
Haste

Ability	Min Level
Rising Sun Kick	10
Disable	16
Fists of Fury	20
Afterlife	28
Touch of Death	32
Spear Hand Strike	35
Windwalking	38
Spinning Crane Kick	40

Ability	Min Level
Flying Serpent Kick	48
Storm, Earth, and Fire	50
Touch of Karma	55
Storm, Earth, and Fire (2)	70
Mastery: Combo Strikes	78

Skills/Glyphs

Note: Players technically start in Windwalker spec; if a player chooses another specialization at level 10, Brewmaster monks lose Blackout Kick.

Ability	Min Level
Tiger Palm	Starts with
Blackout Kick	3
Roll (monk)	5
Effuse	8
Effuse (2)	12
Provoke	13
Resuscitate	14

Ability	Min Level
Zen Pilgrimage	14
Crackling Jade Lightning	18
Detox	22
Paralysis (monk)	25
Transcendence	80
Transcendence: Transfer	80

Level	Abilities (choose one)
15	Chi Burst	Eye of the Tiger Zen Pulse	Chi Wave Mistwalk
30	Chi Torpedo	Tiger's Lust	Celerity
45	Light Brewing Lifecycles Energizing Elixir	Black Ox Brew Spirit of the Crane Ascension (monk talent)	Gift of the Mists Mist Wrap Power Strikes
60	Ring of Peace	Summon Black Ox Statue Song of Chi-Ji Dizzying Kicks	Leg Sweep
75	Healing Elixir	Diffuse Magic	Dampen Harm
90	Rushing Jade Wind Refreshing Jade Wnd Lifecycles	Invoke Niuzao, the Black Ox Invoke Chi-Ji, the Red Crane Invoke Xuen, the White Tiger	Special Delivery Summon Jade Serpent Statue Hit Combo
100	Elusive Dance Mana Tea Chi Orbit	Blackout Combo Focused Thunder Whirling Dragon Punch	High Tolerance Rising Thunder Serenity (monk talent)

Name	Specialization
Glyph of Crackling Jade Lightning	All
Glyph of Crackling Tiger Lightning	All
Glyph of Fighting Pose	All
Glyph of Honor	Windwalker
Glyph of Rising Tiger Kick	Mistweaver, Windwalker
Glyph of Yulon's Grace	Brewmaster

Honor Level	Talent
1	Gladiator's Medallion
2	Relentless Assault, Defender of the Weak, Hardiness (honor talent)
4	Yu'lon's Gift
6	Eerie Fermentation, Surge of Mist, Whirling Kicks
8	Guard, Chrysalis, Tiger Style
10	Incendiary Brew, Fortune Turned, Rushing Tiger Palm
13	Adaptation (honor talent)
16	Admonishment, Vim and Vigor, Reinforced Armor
19	Eminence
22	Microbrew, Way of the Crane, Fortifying Elixir
25	Guided Meditation, Counteract Magic, Double Dragon (honor talent)
28	Double Barrel, Refreshing Breeze, Heavy-Handed Strikes
31	Relentless (honor talent)
34	Softened Blows, Zen Focus, Sparring
37	Fast Feet
40	Hot Tub, Ancient Mistweaver Arts, Zen Meditation
43	Craft: Nimble Brew, Dome of Mist, Ride the Wind
46	Mihty Ox Kick, Healing Sphere, Spinning Fire Blossom

Suggested professions

[Leatherworking] and [Skinning] are logical choices for any leather armor-wearing class. This allows crafting decent armor as one levels and various augments.
[Alchemy] and [Herbalism] can be useful for monks with less-healing specializations who need quick potion heals and various buffs from elixirs and flasks. These professions are also good all around for making money and supplying guild runs.
[Cooking] is good for any less-healing specs for non-combat health regeneration and provides good buff foods.
[First Aid] is good for any less-healing specs for in-combat health regeneration and low downtime regeneration.
[Fishing] is good for leveling cooking.

Notes

Initially, the monk did not have an Auto-attack.^[5] After testing and design, however, auto-attack was included.^[6]

Videos

Patch changes

Patch 5.0.4 (28-August-2012): Added.

References

^ The Monk. Official World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria site (US).
The Monk. Official World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria site (EU).
^ ^a ^b "World of Warcraft: Intro to Mists of Pandaria" panel (featuring Tom Chilton, Game Director; Cory Stockton, Lead Content Designer; and Greg Street, Lead Systems Desginer) at BlizzCon 2011
^ Monk Preview. Official World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria site. Retrieved on 2011-10-22.
^ Nethaera 2012-02-29. #19 - Is Blizzard done with race/class combos?. Official General Discussion forum (US). the monk class will be available to all races save for goblin and worgen
^
^ Josh Augustine 2012-03-19. Mists of Pandaria: Everything you need to know, page 3. PC Gamer.