The Monk in Path of Exile 2 is a class that embodies speed, precision, and devastating elemental power. Whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned player, this build offers a smooth leveling experience and the tools to transition into the endgame effortlessly. With high mobility and excellent clear speed, the Monk is the perfect choice for those who enjoy dynamic combat. Let’s dive into this lightning-focused build that will make your campaign journey a breeze.

Build Overview

Advantages

• Outstanding damage output.
• Exceptional mob-clearing abilities.
• High mobility for smooth gameplay.

Disadvantages

• Limited to melee range, making positioning crucial.
• Reliant on consistent weapon upgrades.
• Requires careful Power Charge management.

This build focuses on leveraging lightning-based attacks for massive AoE and single-target damage. Early-game progress is powered by Glacial Cascade, transitioning into a potent combination of Tempest Flurry, Siphoning Strike, and Falling Thunder. The addition of Tempest Bell ensures you can handle tough bosses and rares effectively.

Leveling Skills and Support Gems

Your gem progression is critical to this build's success. Below is a detailed path to follow during the campaign:

Gem Setup Levels 1–9:

Level 1-4:

• Falling Thunder (Main Damage Skill) + Controlled Destruction and Perpetual Charge (Supports).
• Killing Palm (Execute enemies) + Profusion and Life Drain (Supports).
• Glacial Cascade (AoE Clear Skill) + Cold Infusion and Glaciation (Supports).
• Tempest Bell (Boss DPS) + Concentrated Effect and Rage (Supports).

Spirit Gem Level 4:

• Herald of Thunder for lightning damage and passive effects.
• Add Innervate and Magnified Effect for stronger lightning procs.

Level 5:

• Transition to Tempest Flurry + Conduction and Martial Tempo for shock application.

Level 7:

• Swap Glacial Cascade for Storm Wave to enhance lightning-focused gameplay.
• Supports: Lightning Infusion and Longshot.
• Replace Killing Palm with Siphoning Strike for better Power Charge generation.

Level 9:

• Add Charged Staff to your rotation with supports like Persistence and Primal Armament. This significantly boosts single-target DPS.

Playstyle and Skill Usage

• Early Acts: Your bread-and-butter skills are Glacial Cascade and Falling Thunder. Use Glacial Cascade to clear packs of enemies with its freezing and shattering effects. For tougher foes, weaken them with Glacial Cascade, execute with Killing Palm, and finish off with a high-damage Falling Thunder.
• Boss Fights: Tempest Bell is your go-to skill for bosses and rare monsters. Throw Glacial Cascade or Storm Wave into the bell to echo the damage, staggering bosses and opening safe windows for DPS.
• Mid-Game Transition: Replace Glacial Cascade with Storm Wave as you unlock better lightning supports. This transition maximizes shock uptime, allowing Herald of Thunder to unleash devastating lightning blasts.
• Power Charge Management:Switch to Siphoning Strike in one-on-one situations. This skill siphons shock debuffs to generate Power Charges, enabling devastating Falling Thunder slams during boss fights.

Passive Tree Progression

Early game, focus on survivability and mana sustain while preparing for mid-game damage scaling:

• Dreamer: Solves early mana issues by granting mana restoration on kills.
• Blinding Strike: Increases your survivability with a 10% chance to Blind enemies on hit, reducing their accuracy.
• Evasion/Energy Shield Nodes: Enhance your defenses.
• Power Charge Nodes: Boost Falling Thunder's damage by scaling Power Charges.
• Subterfuge Mask Cluster: Provides elemental damage and lightning penetration for a smoother campaign.

By mid-game, allocate points into quarterstaff-related nodes and Evasion/Herald clusters near the eastern side of the tree to scale both offense and defense.

Ascendancy: Invoker

The Invoker ascendancy is the best choice for leveling and transitioning to the endgame:

• I am the Thunder...: Grants access to shocked ground, improving shock uptime for Siphoning Strike and Falling Thunder.
• ...And I am the Storm: Boosts damage significantly during boss fights.
• Lead me through Grace...: Increases your Spirit pool, synergizing well with endgame gear.

Equipment Recommendations

Weapons

Your priority is a strong quarterstaff with the following stats:

• High % Physical Damage.
• Flat Physical Damage.

These stats scale your damage exponentially, carrying you through multiple Acts.

Armor

Focus on items with Evasion and Energy Shield bases. Look for gear with:

• Flat Life.
• Resistances (Fire, Cold, Lightning).

Avoid min-maxing until you've finished the campaign. Simply aim for items that increase survivability and utility.

Build Tips

• Use Tempest Bell during boss fights for massive DPS increases.
• Keep Glacial Cascade or Storm Wave in your rotation to deal with ranged threats.
• Upgrade your quarterstaff regularly; weapon damage is key to maintaining consistent clear speed.
• Don't forget to generate Power Charges for tougher fights, as they significantly amplify your damage.