The jack-of-all-trades class in Diablo 3 has been the Monk since day one and it hasn't tapered off since. Existing somewhere in between the realm of tank, caster, healer, and utility, the Monk is one of those classes you play when you don't know what you want to play... or when you want to play everything at the same time.
All that said, it's illuminating to look at community stats and see which moves, items, and runes have resulted in higher success rates in the most difficult rifts. The monk does really well in these unforgiving environments, it's just a matter of finding the right build that clicks for you when the controller is in your hands.
Updated on April 23rd, 2021 by Hodey Johns: This guide was released on the heels of patch 2.7.0 and had anticipated the rankings of many end-game builds. Many many performed as expected, others shined brighter or fell flat unexpectedly. After looking at the leaderboards and speaking with the community, this list order has been revised. Also, each build goes into full detail about how they are constructed, so players looking for how to make a complete character will have a single source of information right here.
zMonk Support
- Active Skills: Mantra of Healing (Time of Need), Inner Sanctuary (Temple of Protection), Serenity (Tranquility), Epiphany (Soothing Mist), Crippling Wave (Concussion), Tempest Rush (Flurry)
- Passive Skills: Beacon of Ytar, Near Death Experience, Resolve, Seize the Initiative
- Armor: Inna's Radiance (Flawless Royal Diamond), Born's Privilege, Inna's Vast Expanse (Flawless Royal Diamonds), Inna's Hold, Nemesis Bracers, Captain Crimson's Silk Girdle, Captain Crimson's Thrust (Flawless Royal Diamonds), Illusory Boots
- Jewelry: The Flavor of Time, Oculus Ring, Obsidian Ring of the Zodiac
- Weapons: Born's Furious Wrath (Flawless Royal Amethyst), Stormshield
- Caldesann's Despair Augment: Intelligence
- Legendary Gems: Iceblink, Gogok of Swiftness, Gem of Efficacious Toxin
- Item Stat Priorities: Cooldown Reduction, Attack Speed, Resource Cost Reduction, Health Globe Bonus, All Resist, Life %, Armor, Vitality
- Kanai's Cube: Flying Dragon, Spirit Guards, Ring of Royal Grandeur
Recent times have not been kind to the zMonk (the "z" stands for "zero damage"). After being the staple support class in groups for years, according to the leaderboard, every single three and four-person group that can clear Greater Rift 150 has replaced the zMonk with the Demon Hunter as the Mink lacks the buffs to damage dealing that other classes require for highest rifts.
However, for Rat runs and intermediary experience, there is still a place for the zMonk in groups between levels 120 and 130. There is still no better damage mitigation in the game than the suite of skills the Monk has, so any group that needs immunity for the entire part in the eye of a storm will be sure to grab a zMonk for their runs.
Inna's Mantra Tempest Rush
- Active Skills: Blinding Flash (Faith in the Light), Tempest Rush (Flurry), Mystic Ally (Air Ally), Epiphany (Desert Shroud), Mantra of Salvation (Agility), Serenity (Ascension)
- Passive Skills: The Guardian's Path, Harmony, Beacon of Ytar, Seize the Initiative
- Armor: Inna's Radiance (Flawless Royal Diamond), Mantle of Channeling, Inna's Vast Expanse (Flawless Royal Diamonds), Inna's Hold, Cesar's Momento, Inna's Favor, Inna's Temperance (Flawless Royal Diamonds), Inna's Sandals
- Jewelry: Squirt's Necklace, Convention of Elements, Unity
- Weapons: Won Khim Lau, Pig Sticker
- Caldesann's Despair Augment: Dexterity
- Legendary Gems: Taeguk, Bane of the Trapped, Bane of the Stricken
- Item Stat Priorities: Cooldown Reduction (until 55%), Resource Cost Reduction, Cold Damage, Critical Hit Damage, Critical Hit Chance, Area Damage, Tempest Rush Damage, Resist All
- Kanai's Cube: Balance, The Crudest Boots, Obsidian Ring of the Zodiac
Of the three major Tempest Rush builds, Inna's Mantra ranks the lowest in terms of Greater Rifts, topping off at about 130 when going solo. However, this build is easier to execute, can quickly be turned into a support build, and is used as a support/DPS hybrid role in Greater Rifts 130-140 for group play.
The mystic allies make this role more capable of tanking than its counterparts. There is a definite tradeoff in damage, but this build might very well be the most well-rounded build in the game, not just for Monks. It is without any glaring flaws for enemies to take advantage of.
Patterns Of Justice Tempest Rush
- Active Skills: Mystic Ally (Fire Ally), Tempest Rush (Flurry), Blinding Flash (Faith in the Light), Sweeping Wind (Master of the Wind), Serenity (Ascension), Epiphany (Desert Shroud)
- Passive Skills: Relentless Assault, Seize the Initiative, Beacon of Ytar, Momentum
- Armor: Decree of Justice (Flawless Royal Diamond), Mirrors of Justice, Lamellars of Justice (Flawless Royal Diamonds), Bazubands of Justice, Cesar's Momento, Captain Crimson's Silk Girdle, Mountains of Justice (Flawless Royal Diamonds), Captain Crimson's Waders
- Jewelry: Squirt's Necklace, Convention of Elements, Unity
- Weapons: Won Khim Lau (Flawless Royal Emerald), Pig Sticker (Flawless Royal Emerald)
- Caldesann's Despair Augment: Dexterity
- Legendary Gems: Taeguk, Bane of the Trapped, Bane of the Stricken
- Item Stat Priorities: Cooldown Reduction (until 55%), Cold Damage, Critical Hit Damage, Critical Hit Chance, Area Damage, Tempest Rush Damage, Resist All
- Kanai's Cube: Balance, Mantle of Channeling, Ring of Royal Grandeur
Able to clear Greater Rift 141, this Tempest Rush build is a significant step up from the Inna's Mantra for solo rift clearing. Staying alive is the biggest challenge for the Patterns of Justice Tempest Rush build, so adding Resist All whenever possible will eliminate one of the very few worries the build has to deal with.
The star of the show here is the Convention of Elements. Release your built-up charges when the Cold Damage comes back around and the Monk will burst everything around for a massive chunk of damage. Until then, just gather up enemies in preparation for the big finale.
Sunwuko Tempest Rush
- Active Skills: Mystic Ally (Fire Ally), Tempest Rush (Flurry), Blinding Flash (Faith in the Light), Sweeping Wind (Inner Storm), Mantra of Salvation (Agility), Epiphany (Desert Shroud)
- Passive Skills: Relentless Assault, Seize the Initiative, Beacon of Ytar, Momentum
- Armor: Sunwuko's Crown (Flawless Royal Topaz), Mantle of Channeling, Sunwuko's Soul (Flawless Royal Diamonds), Sunwuko's Paws, Cesar's Momento, Captain Crimson's Silk Girdle, Sunwuko's Leggings (Flawless Royal Diamonds), Captain Crimson's Waders
- Jewelry: Sunwuko's Shines, Convention of Elements, Obsidian Ring of the Zodiac
- Weapons: Won Khim Lau (Flawless Royal Emerald), Vengeful Wind (Flawless Royal Emerald)
- Caldesann's Despair Augment: Dexterity
- Legendary Gems: Tawguk, Bane of the Stricken, Bane of the Trapped
- Item Stat Priorities: Resource Cost Reduction (until 57%), Cooldown Reduction (until 55%), Cold Damage, Critical Hit Damage, Critical Hit Chance, Area Damage, Tempest Rush Damage
- Kanai's Cube: Balance, Stone Gauntlets, Ring of Royal Grandeur
Yes, Tempest Rush is so overpowered that basically every Monk is doing it and the only thing that needs to change is the gear. Once again, crank up cooldown reduction and resource cost reduction until Tempest Rush can be permanently cast.
The reason the Sunwuko Tempest Rush is the best Monk in the game right now, capable of clearing Greater Rift 144 solo, is actually due to some crafty defensive mechanisms. As opponents attack decoys that are automatically spawned by Sweeping Wind, the Monk can survive in the think of combat, stack up the charges, and then release this damage for a fresh pile of dead bodies.