Hi everyone! I’m a returning player after a 7-year break, and I’m excited to come back into Azeroth with a fresh perspective. After maining a Blood Death Knight since WOTLK, I’ve decided to switch things up and embrace the Monk class and I’m absolutely loving it! The complexity and satisfaction of playing Monk have completely won me over, and I’ve already leveled two Monks to 80: a Blood Elf (Riou on Barthilas, ~635 iLvl) and a Pandaren (Mugen on Frostmourne, ~647 iLvl). You can check them out here:
But I’m not stopping there! I’m planning to level even more Monks, Dwarf, Night Elf, Highmountain Tauren, and Vulpera, to cover all my profession bases. While I still have my old characters (Paladin, Shaman, Priests, etc.) for professions, the Monk’s unique playstyle has completely captured my attention. It’s challenging, rewarding, and just so much fun!
If anyone’s curious about my plans or wants to chat about Monks, professions, or anything else, feel free to reach out. I’m thrilled to be back and can’t wait to see where this journey takes me!
Blood Elf
- Enchanting & Tailoring
Dwarf
- Blacksmithing & Jewelcrafting
Pandaren
- Skinning & Leatherworking
Highmountain Tauren
- Mining & Herbalism
Night Elf
- Alchemy & Inscription
Vulpera
- Engineering & Mining?
I also plan to level Monks of every other race and tank on them, though that might happen later this year or closer to the next expansion or remix event. I’ve found Monks to be far more challenging than any other class, especially with the need to manage Stagger effectively. Having tanked since Burning Crusade, this is my personal take on Brewmaster Monks:
At first glance, Monks might seem lackluster. They don’t bring the flashy utility of other tanks, no Death Grip like Blood DKs, no bubbles and silences like Protection Paladins, and no aerial leaps or AoE silences like Vengeance Demon Hunters. But after diving deep into the Brewmaster toolkit, I’ve come to understand that we don’t need to rely on those crutches. I’ve reached a zen-like state (perhaps it’s the wisdom of being over 30) and transcended the need for “oh-s***” buttons. Brewmasters are built differently.
The core philosophy of Brewmaster revolves around controlling damage before it becomes a threat. Instead of reacting to damage, we prevent it. We stagger damage rather than heal it. We mitigate instead of mend. We take what would be a devastating spike of damage and transform it into a steady, manageable flow. That’s our strength, and that’s what we bring to the group.
Take Ring of Peace, for example. It’s one of the most powerful forms of mob control in the game. That Lowly Moleherd in Darkflame Cleft not stacking with the others? Ring of Peace pushes it right into the pack. That Mech Jockey trying to jump onto the Mechanized Peacekeeper? Denied. That Brew Drop attempting to heal I’pa? Disrupted. While other tanks rely on brute force for crowd control (like Death Grip or Asphyxiate), Brewmasters bring finesse. We create space, control positioning, and dictate the flow of the battlefield.
The issue isn’t that Brewmaster lacks tools, it’s that the general player base has been conditioned to expect tanking to feel a certain way. They want big cooldowns, flashy effects, and abilities that scream, “Look at me, I’m doing something important!” Brewmaster doesn’t offer that kind of instant gratification. Instead, we’re the quiet masters of control, the tanks who never look like they’re struggling, the ones who don’t need to make a spectacle of their strength.
If you’re looking to optimize further, there are even more nuanced details to consider. While race isn’t a huge factor for Brewmaster, understanding the subtle advantages each race offers can give you a meaningful edge. For instance, Vulpera’s Nose for Trouble passively softens the first big hit you take, smoothing out your damage intake. Pandaren’s racial, which boosts random secondary stats through food, synergizes well with Brewmaster’s reliance on stat optimization, mastery, versatility, and critical strike all play a role in managing incoming damage.
Even the smallest details matter. Night Elves can use Shadowmeld to instantly drop combat, reset fights, or cancel dangerous fixates. Blood Elves bring Arcane Torrent, a versatile tool that generates Chi and interrupts enemies, while Dwarves can rely on Stoneform to cleanse debuffs and reduce incoming damage in critical moments. Highmountain Tauren add Bull Rush for mobility and crowd control, and their Rugged Tenacity provides a small but consistent reduction in damage taken.
Brewmaster isn’t about flashy theatrics, it’s about mastery, control, and finesse. It’s for those who understand that true strength lies not in what’s seen, but in what’s controlled.
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