Monk · Storm Wave / Glacial Cascade

Breakpoints by level/act. Roles: [C]=clear, [ST]=single-target, [B]=buff/aura/herald, [M]=mobility, [U]=utility/debuff.

Level 2 (Act 1, after Bloated Miller)

• Glacial CascadeS [ST]/[C] — Main early clear & single target. Almost all damage comes from the Large Spike at the end of the fissure — HIT with the large spike.

Clearfell (Act 1)

• Frost BombS [ST] Amplifier — cold exposure / single-target amp.

Mud Burrow (Act 1)

• Frozen LocusS [ST]/[C] — place and detonate with Glacial CascadeS (detonating the Locus with the large spike = 1-shot damage).
• Concentrated Area+ [support] — linked to Glacial CascadeS.

Grelwood (Act 1)

• Rage+ I [support] — linked to Glacial CascadeS (after defeating Areagne).

Level 6 (Act 1)

• PounceS [M] — mobility; requires a Talisman in Weapon Set 2.
• Freezing MarkS [U] — single-target debuff (linked to PounceS later).

Red Vale / Level 3 Uncut (Act 1)

• Wave of FrostS [U] — long-freeze; linked to Deep Freeze+ + Ice Bite+ I at L22.

Freythorn (Act 1, Gembloom Skull)

• Herald of IceS [B] — massively increases clear speed; linked Magnified Area+ I.

Level 10 (Act 1)

• Upgrade to Greater Life/Mana Flask.

Level 13 (Act 1)

• Allocate Hollow Palm TechniqueP — you no longer need a Quarterstaff; gem levels become your main damage scaling.

Level 22 (Act 2)

• Storm WaveS [C]/[ST] MAIN — equips at L22; linked Rage+ I + Elemental Armament+ II. Clear + detonate Frozen LocusS with it.
• Glacial CascadeS becomes the "freeze-burst" single-target finisher: link Concentrated Area+ + Elemental Armament+ II. 250% / 425% More Damage Multiplier when it Consumes a Freeze — always consume freezes with the Large Spike.
• Freezing MarkS linked to PounceS; Wave of FrostS linked to Deep Freeze+ + Ice Bite+ I.

Level 31 (Act 3)

• Hand of ChayulaS [U] — linked to Freezing MarkS + Elemental Weakness+ (boss debuff).

Azak Bog (Act 3, Gemrot Skull)

• Herald of ThunderS [B] — second Herald for even more clear speed.

End of Act 1 link review

• Glacial CascadeS + Concentrated Area+ + Rage+ I
• Frozen LocusS + Ice Bite+ I + Elemental Armament+ I
• Frost BombS | Herald of IceS + Magnified Area+ I | PounceS

• Early clear: place Frozen LocusS, detonate it from range with Glacial CascadeS's large spike. Herald of IceS (L10) massively accelerates pack-to-pack clear.
• L22+ clear: cast Frozen LocusS → detonate with Storm WaveS.
• Early single target: Frost BombS on boss spawn (exposure) → Frozen LocusS + Glacial CascadeS large spike to consume the freeze for 250/425% more damage.
• L22+ single target: Mark with Freezing MarkS / Hand of ChayulaS + Frost BombS → build Freeze with Storm WaveS / Frozen LocusS → cast Wave of FrostS to freeze for a long duration → step back and consume the freeze with Glacial CascadeS's large spike for a massive burst.
• Playstyle: kill-or-be-killed, aggressive; freeze everything before it attacks; avoid dodge-rolling into packs.

• Level 2 Wrapped Quarterstaff (start, not worth crafting).
• Level 4 Long QuarterstaffI — any Magic/Rare with Inc. Physical or Flat Elemental damage; socket 1–2 Lesser Elemental Runes.
• Level 11 Gothic QuarterstaffI (optional) — same mods + runes.
• Level 13+ Hollow Palm TechniqueP — no more Quarterstaff needed; scale damage via Uncut Skill Gem levels instead. Prioritise Evasion gear (more attack speed via Hollow PalmP).
• Flat Elemental Damage to Attacks priority: Quarterstaff > Gloves > Rings.

• Artificer's Orbs & Salvage Bench: unlock Salvage Bench in Act 1 (Renly's Smithing Tools → Renly). Salvage socketed gear → Artificer's Shards → Orbs; salvage Superior (quality) items for Blacksmith's Whetstones.
• Runes: elemental runes early for damage (Lesser/Greater Storm RuneI, Glacial RuneI, Desert RuneI); swap to Iron (physical) runes later as staff base damage rises.
• After Hollow PalmP: gem levels (Uncut Skill Gems) are the #1 damage upgrade; gloves/rings with flat damage second.
• Vendor regex: "ts: S|\d+% i.+mov|d Ph|ds .+Da|ll M|k Sp" (sockets, movement speed, increased physical, flat phys/elem, +melee skills, attack speed).
• Crafting: Regal 1–2-mod magic items (Regal Shards from disenchanting Rares at the Potion Seller); Exalt good Regals or save for trade. Reforging Bench after Mektul (3 Magic → 1 Magic, 3 Rare → 1 Rare).
• Farm a zone for levels + Uncut gems if a boss blocks you (e.g. Dreadnought → L31 for Jamanra).

• Hollow Palm TechniqueP by Level 13 — removes the need to equip a Quarterstaff (unless it clearly increases damage).
• Allocate the most efficient early damage nodes; add Attribute Nodes (STR/DEX/INT) only as rare gear demands.
• Evasion gear priority for more attack speed (Hollow PalmP synergy).

• Act 1: Glacial CascadeS from L2; Frozen LocusS + Concentrated Area+ after the Devourer; Rage+ I (Areagne); optional Ervig (Grim Tangle) → Uncut Support L1; Rust King → Uncut L3; ancient ruin secret → ring; Asinia + Draven; Lachlann; CrowbellP → 2 Weapon Set points; Una's Lute → 2 points; Renly's Smithing Tools → Salvage Bench + Lesser Storm RuneI + Blank Rune; The Executioner; Leitis → Uncut L5; Freythorn: 3 rituals → King in the Mists, Gembloom Skull → Herald of IceS, Finn → Sapphire or Ruby CharmI; Gallows secret (optional); Candlemass → +20 Max Life; Count Geonor (Sapphire CharmI)!
• Act 2: Mawdun Quarry (optional Faridun War Cache → Artificer's Orb; farm zone optional); Rudja (Ruby CharmI); L16 Grand Flasks; Traitor's Passage: Balbala → Djinn Barya (ascend now or L27+ pre-Dreadnought); L22 Storm WaveS swap (see Skills); Mastodon Badlands: Runes of Aldur → Lesser Jeweller's Orb; Bone Pits: Sun Clan Relic; Keth: Kabala → 2 points + Kabala Clan Relic; Buried Shrines: optional Elemental ring; Valley of the Titans: relics → choice 30% Charm Charges Gained / 30% Charm Effect Duration +1 Charm slot; Titan Grotto: optional Titan's Sword rune; Deshar: Fallen Dekhara → 2 points; Spires of Deshar: Sisters of Garukhan → +10% Lightning Res; Trial of the Sekhemas → first 2 Ascendancy points; Dreadnought: optional farm, Topaz CharmI/Lightning res, Jamanra the Abomination.
• Act 3: Sandswept Marsh: Orok Campfire → Lesser Jeweller's Orb; L30 Colossal Flasks; L31 Hand of ChayulaS; Jungle Ruins: Silverfist → 2 points; Venom Crypts: Corpse-snake Venom → Servi → Artificer's Orb + permanent buff (RECOMMENDED 25% Increased Stun Threshold); Jiquani's Machinarium: Blackjaw → +10% Fire Res; Matlan Waterways: Ravaged Corpse → rare Belt; Azak Bog: Ignagduk → Gemrot Skull → Herald of ThunderS; Molten Vault: Mektul optional (Reforging Bench) — heavy HP, may delay; Utzaal: Viper Napuatzi (farm Utzaal first if needed); Aggorat: Sacrificial Heart → +2 points; Black Chambers: Doryani.
• Act 4: L40 Gargantuan Flasks; Isle of Kin: Delving Site secret → Lesser Jeweller's Orb; Blind Beast → Blank Greater Rune; Journey's End: Omniphobia → 2 points; Abandoned Prison: Chapel → 30% Life or Mana Flask Recovery; Whakapanu Island: Great White One → Shark Fin → Kaom's Lesson (30% armour/evasion/ES) or Rakiata's Lesson (permanent choice); Singing Caverns: Diamora → Eye of Hinekora; Eye of Hinekora: Silent Hall → +5% Max Mana; Halls of the Dead: 3 Tests → Ancestral Tattoo (+5 Attribute or +5% Res; Tawhoa dex/lightning, Tasalio int/cold, Ngamahu str/fire) + Yama the White → Navali → 2 points; Arastas: Morning/Evening Bells → 3 Regal + 3 Exalted; Ngakanu: optional chests.
• Interlude 1: L50 Transcendent Flasks; Holten: Ferryman → Greater Runes; Wolvenhold: Oswin → 2 points.
• Interlude 2: Khari Crossing: Molten One's Gift → +5% Max Life; Akthi & Anundr → 2 points; Sel Khari Sanctuary: Baryas → rare Ring/Amulet/Jewel; Qima: Orbala's Pillar → RECOMMENDED 3% Movement Speed or 15% Global Defences (changeable); Qimah Reservoir: Azmadi (lethal).
• Interlude 3: Kriar Village: Lythara → +40 Spirit; Howling Caves: Yeti → 2 points; Kriar Peaks: Elder Madox → free Unique.
• Endgame: all 3 Interludes complete → 2 Weapon Set Passive points.

• Act 2 Relic: 30% increased Charm Charges Gained
• Act 3 Venom Drought: 25% increased Stun Threshold (Permanent)
• Act 4 Chapel: 30% increased Life Recovery from Flasks
• Act 4 Tattoos: +5% Resistance (Permanent)
• Interlude 2 Orbala's Boon: 3% increased Movement Speed
• Note: reference your endgame build before permanent picks.

• Hollow PalmP is the speed secret: at L13 drop the Quarterstaff, scale gem levels, blade through the campaign with huge effective DPS for zero weapon investment.
• Consume Freezes with Glacial CascadeS's large spike for 250/425% more damage — never waste the freeze.
• Keep movement speed boots maxed; PounceS for mobility; Herald of IceS for pack-to-pack speed.
• Avoid dodge-rolling into packs; clear enemies ahead of you as you move.
• Aggressive + freeze = your defense; if you die more, upgrade Evasion/ES bases and grab the right Charm.

Jeder Eintrag verlinkt auf poe2db.tw (Datenbank) und die offizielle poe2wiki.net. Badges im Fließtext: S=Skill, + =Support, I=Item, U=Unique, P=Passive, A=Ascendancy, B=Buff, C=Charm, R=Rune.

Monk braucht nach Hollow Palm (L13) keine Waffe mehr – perfekt für Twinks ohne passende Stab-UPgrades. Die Explosive/Gas-Grenaden-Route ist klassenübergreifend auch auf dem Monk spielbar (Crossbow-Uniques: Radiant Grief).