Hello all,
I tried new set and it is horrable. Now I wanna do some collection of monks state of things regarding gameplay and what is really needed to change. DEVs and NEVs please hear to us, the community and do some changes. Monk has so many builds that are almost fun but there are some horrable restrictions on the gear and gemeplay. We need some slight adjustments and it will be best class ever (ok, for me it is since I only play monk).
Introduction
I will go through builds as they are and what slight changes are needed. We all know that gen build probably deals most dmg (where LoD WoL might gotten that title now but it seems to be close) but all others have less potential and ALL monk builds (SOLO!) are bad in surviving techniques and most builds rely on unity ring which makes them not playable in a group. That is the worst thing ever since I like playing in groups (and as a monk, not as a healer, I want to play MY fav build!). So most important in short: Get rid of unity on any solo build. Remove some silly restrictions on items. Give us more dmg on builds that are worse than others.
Wave of light builds (WoL):
It has three (-4) different variants:
- LoD WoL
- Innas WoL
- Swk WoL (where you can choose if you use CoE / Unity or focus and restraint)
DPS
Right now those builds are strongest, where dps wise LoD > Inna > Swk (even with the new buff this should be true). I personally did a 120 with innas and 122 with LoD, so the difference is round 2-3 levels since my inna gear is pretty good and my LoD is not. Swk even with crimson is way behind. The F & R variant is stronger but has no permanent epi which is pretty crap when you get a lot of knockback enemys.
The gameplay actually is fun (ok, most of the people will say no since we have to play the build since three years now and even with the changes of current ptr patch this will not change), but actually it is fun if you like it (which is the case for me since I played the build even when gen build was superior). From gemeplay there is missing a thing: Remove the restriction on kyo blade with <= 3 enemys hit! Why? You are forced to play fire rune since all the other runes you need to place the bell on enemys heads and since you want to collect enemys there are almost any time more than three! There is one other thing really missing: Damage reduction! Monk is squishiest class ever (although it has some skills but solo noone ever uses them!). We can get a change here if we do a change on epi desert shroud rune: Lift the damage reduction to 80%. Why? Innas has a good amount of defense by pushing your life pool. But it needs the cs shoulders + cs or serenty. Without you die! LoD Version has also shoulders + 52% dmg reduction but you know why any solo monk plays LoD instead of LoN (which should be the better choice)? Its because of unity. What happens when you play in groups? You can not play your solo build. Simple. For F&R variant of swk: Lift the dmg reduction of spirit guards to 80%. This will never effect any other build using ltk or wol or tr but it also helps uliana and the gen monk.
The gen monk:
description / thoughts
I really hate the build since you are forced to do so many things: 4 mandatory passiva (alacrity, soul, sti and harmony - ok, the latter is changable but honestly: nothing else gives you that amont of def). You have to use fire rune on your DS, you have to use 2 gens for the damage, a mantra and cs and BoH with the spirit rune. nothing can be changed. And another important thing: You are absolutely not good against any CC effect of enemys, you are forced to skip those enemys. This yields to a non playable build if you have less than 6k paragon. What is needed: An item that gives you immunity to all CC effects (e.g. a ring that lets you be in permanent epi) and more dmg reduction (spirit guards as stated above). Gameplay wise there is one thing to add: Let the dragon give permanent doubled aps! That is crucial since only if the procc is on you get enough spirit back, life back and dmg. You are way behind other classes dmg (except barb until 2.6.6) so there is nothing wrong with a little buff that would be.
LtK builds
Actually also real fun to play but needds improvements as follows: Dmg is just not enough. One thing is that dragon has a chance of doubled aps: change to permanent. Another thing is the restriction to the first 7 kicked enemys of scarbringer. The build should be a good similar to gen monk playable build but with more aoe and less boss killing power. It indeed has less power. Especially in groups you do not deal enough dmg and also: You simply die since you have no damage reduction. desert shroud rune change as suggested above is key here. Also here LoN or LoD builds are way above swk build since you can use CS. That skill is needed.
uliana
I do not play that build that often but many people asked for more defense (again spirit guards) and more damage (feel free to give more dmg to palm). Gameplay actually is one of the most funniest in game. I played the build in groups on some 120ish grifts and I managed to deal dmg to trash which was really funny - but without the broken mystic rhythm mechanic that would not be possible. Which means: It deals the MR % dmg less than needed + its not as strong as WoL builds. Give us more.
Tempest rush builds
They have a side note simply because they do not do dmg, but I play those for sage t16 runs. Why? Because it is no WoL and it is a nice to play build. There are some really stupid restrictions such as CC on enemys for cesars. Why? Also there needs a buff the defense (epi - DS rune change again!) and offense. The latter one brings me to a new suggestion: Add the sweeping wind dmg to 6p swk set! The set needs wind + its stacks to deal dmg. The new VW weapon property gives more dmg to the set but compared to LoN / LoD (and for WoL and LtK also innas) it is worse dmg wise and also defensive it is just bad. Since TR also has problems with dmg the additional dmg on wind would do a nice not OP buff to monks dmg and I think it might come close to LoN / LoD and Inna but most probably not above especially since wind only affects enemys nearby you. That would mean that LtK build (swk variant) would get a higher buff than wol build whis is fine. Since dmg of swk wol is round halve of lod that should almost close the gap.
Which yields to the new set
IT IS HORRABLE! no dmg reduction, speed that is never needed on a set like this (hey, we probably are the fastest t 16 class, maybe dh can be faster), we do not need more speed. Also the set only pushed wind by a freaking bad gameplay style. You shall take TR with it but dmg and spirit cost items (Eye of storm, hexing pants and mantle of channeling) are three items where the set is. You can only wear one and have one in cube. REMOVE the set. It is not needed. Add the wind dmg to swk set and DONE!.
edit to the new set
ok, now i did some more runs with it. actually it is simlly weak but combined with generators playable (on 100 like innas wol on 118 without being that tough, i died with the set 3 times the try and with innas i die once in ten runs or so - and innas is weaker than lod and this is weaker than all other classes). here are some slight suggestions:
first give dmg reduction - simple
give us eg a shield getting stronger over time that we could use squirts.
make dmg stackable by the number of enemys within the radius
do x2 or x3 the radius without restriction.
give new vw kind of 15 stacks (swk still won’t be stronger than lod for wol then but its up to innas)
if you really want to stick to tr give it all runes and add tr dmg to this set and remove it from wol.
somewhere i also suggested another new set around a weapon type: the daibo. bonusses:
2p when wearing a daibo all inc dmg is reduced by 80%
4p any stat of your primary weapon is doubled
6p all your dmg delt by spenders is lifted by 20000% (or so)
What I want for the monk
A 2 hand set where you get a huge buff if you use daibo (and then TR or WoL builds or even a generator build with a daibo). Give it to us! I’ve done a suggestion in another thread with the following buffs: read here: New monk set Ideas - #10 by Atomfurz-2393
Most important
Let us get rid of unity as ring. There is absolutely nothing good with it since you are not able to play your fav solo build in a group. Get us defense!
For the comm
Feel free to add some thoughts. We really need changes to monk. I have the feeling that no dev ever played monk which is my favourite class (and the only one I play really). And please: a monk is not a healer, a healer is kind of a pet on a team game. This thread is all about monks and solo play and group play with your fav build.
And for the devs
If you wanna see a monk in action have a look on my vid collection: https://eu.forums.blizzard.com/de/d3/t/dem-nuklearfart-seine-vid-sammlung/52 I did a 110 vs 114 vs 118 comparison with innas WoL playstyle. This looks much more fluent than the vid of an 80 grift try posted here: https://us.forums.blizzard.com/en/d3/t/patterns-of-justice-sw-tr-new-set-feed-back/4094/67?u=atomfurz-2393
If you need people helping you with making monk a fun class with a good balance: I’m here.
there it is easy.
