Monk Job Guide for FFXIV - Endwalker 6.55 - Final Fantasy XIV

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Last updated on Jan 30, 2024 at 12:00 by Perfect Balance 14 comments

Monk is a melee DPS job in Final Fantasy XIV that uses fast sequences of combo attacks with their fists and feet to unleash a flurry of attacks against their opponents. They can be only be played at Level 30 or higher, after receiving their job stone as a Pugilist.

Monk Guide

Leveling Melding Gear and Best in Slot DPS Rotation Asphodelos Tips

TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE

What is Monk's playstyle?

Monk is a fast-paced melee DPS that fights with their fists and their feet, following a flexible rotation between a potent 60-second burst window and an even greater 120-second burst window. Our core gameplay loop revolves around GCD manipulation as we build up towards a large burst every two minutes, with smaller burst opportunities interspersed between those windows.

The Monk brings two different forms of utility to the table: a raid buff in Brotherhood Icon Brotherhood and an AoE healing buff in Mantra Icon Mantra. With an innately faster GCD thanks to Greased Lightning Icon Greased Lightning, the job's core is about juggling various buffs and debuffs while using Perfect Balance Icon Perfect Balance to squeeze as much damage as possible into buff windows and executing various AoE nukes in order to generate Nadi - a unique resource that can be spent on an even bigger AoE nuke.

Monk Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

High DPS output.
Effortlessly able to transition between single-target and AoE.
Excellent mobility thanks to Thunderclap.
Useful party mitigation in the form of Mantra.

Weaknesses

Forced double weaves can cause rotational problems if you are unable to do so without clipping your GCD.
Optimal rotations have a somewhat steep learning curve.
Executing the correct rotation requires on knowing your killtime ahead of time.

How do you Unlock Monk?

All fledgling Monks begin their lives as Pugilists at level 1. You can unlock Pugilist by picking up the quest "So You Want to Be a Pugilist" at the Pugilist Guild in Ul'Dah (x9.5, y10.2). Upon reaching completing the level 30 Pugilist class quest "Return of the Holyfist," assuming your MSQ progression is further than the level 20 "Sylph Management" quest, you will be able to pick up the "Brother from Another Mother" quest in Ul'Dah (x9.4, y10.2). Your reward for all of this will be the Monk job stone.

Monk Gauges

The Chakra Gauge is unlocked at level 15. This displays how many Chakra you have accumulated. There are two different skills that Chakra can be spent to use, Steel Peak Icon Steel Peak and Howling Fist Icon Howling Fist. These later upgrade to The Forbidden Chakra Icon The Forbidden Chakra and Enlightenment Icon Enlightenment. Chakra can be generated through both Deep Meditation Icon Deep Meditation and Brotherhood Icon Brotherhood.

The Master's Gauge is attained at level 60 alongside Masterful Blitz Icon Masterful Blitz. Upon using Perfect Balance Icon Perfect Balance, the next three GCDs will grant a Beast Chakra that matches the GCDs form: Bootshine Icon Bootshine will grant an Opo-Opo Chakra, Rockbreaker Icon Rockbreaker will grant a Coeurl Chakra, etc. Upon building three Beast Chakra, depending on the types you have acquired, Masterful Blitz Icon Masterful Blitz will become one of three different GCDs. Executing Blitzes will then fill the Nadi slots on the gauge, enabling Phantom Rush Icon Phantom Rush upon building both a Lunar and a Solar Nadi.

Monk Video Resources

If you would prefer to watch a video that provides an overview of Monk, feel free to give the video below a watch. The video was provided by Julia Care, a member of the community on The Balance Discord server.

Monk Actions

Action Name	Cast Recast	Range Radius	Effect
Bootshine Lv. 1	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 210. Leaden Fist Potency: 310 Opo-opo Form Bonus: Guarantees a critical hit Damage dealt is increased when under an effect that raises critical hit rate. Additional Effect: Changes form to raptor Duration: 30s
True Strike Lv. 4	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 300. Can only be executed when in raptor form. Additional Effect: Changes form to coeurl Duration: 30s
Snap Punch Lv. 6	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 250. 310 when executed from a target's flank. Can only be executed when in coeurl form. Additional Effect: Changes form to opo-opo Duration: 30s
Meditation Lv. 15	Instant 1.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Opens a chakra. Up to five chakra can be opened at once. Opens all five chakra when used outside of combat. Triggers the cooldown of weaponskills upon execution. Conversely, execution of weaponskills triggers the cooldown of this action. ※Action changes to The Forbidden Chakra when all five chakra are open.
Steel Peak Lv. 15	Instant 1.0s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 180. Can only be executed while in combat and under the effect of the Fifth Chakra. The five chakra close upon execution. Shares a recast timer with Howling Fist. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Twin Snakes Lv. 18	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 280. Can only be executed when in raptor form. Additional Effect: Grants Disciplined Fist Disciplined Fist Effect: Increases damage dealt by 15% Duration: 15s Additional Effect: Changes form to coeurl Duration: 30s
Arm of the Destroyer Lv. 26	Instant 2.5s	↔ 0y 5y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 to all nearby targets. Opo-opo Form Potency: 110 Additional Effect: Changes form to raptor Duration: 30s
Demolish Lv. 30	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 70. 130 when executed from a target's rear. Can only be executed when in coeurl form. Additional Effect: Damage over time Potency: 70 Duration: 18s Additional Effect: Changes form to opo-opo Duration: 30s
Rockbreaker Lv. 30	Instant 2.5s	↔ 0y 5y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 130 to all nearby enemies. Can only be executed when in coeurl form. Additional Effect: Changes form to opo-opo Duration: 30s
Thunderclap Lv. 35	Instant 30.0s	↔ 20y 0y	Rush to a targeted enemy's or party member's location. Maximum Charges: 3 Cannot be executed while bound.
Howling Fist Lv. 40	Instant 1.0s	↔ 10y 10y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 to all enemies in a straight line before you. Can only be executed while in combat and under the effect of the Fifth Chakra. The five chakra close upon execution. Shares a recast timer with The Forbidden Chakra.
Mantra Lv. 42	Instant 90.0s	↔ 0y 30y	Increases HP recovery via healing actions by 10% for self and nearby party members. Duration: 15s
Four-point Fury Lv. 45	Instant 2.5s	↔ 0y 5y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 120 to all nearby enemies. Can only be executed when in raptor form. Additional Effect: Grants Disciplined Fist Disciplined Fist Effect: Increases damage dealt by 15% Duration: 15s Additional Effect: Changes form to coeurl Duration: 30s
Dragon Kick Lv. 50	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 320. Opo-opo Form Bonus: Grants Leaden Fist Duration: 30s Additional Effect: Changes form to raptor Duration: 30s
Perfect Balance Lv. 50	Instant 40.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Grants 3 stacks of Perfect Balance, each stack allowing the execution of a weaponskill that requires a certain form, without being in that form. Duration: 20s Additional Effect: Grants Opo-opo Chakra, Coeurl Chakra, or Raptor Chakra depending on the form required by actions executed Maximum Charges: 2 Can only be executed while in combat and when not under the effect of any Beast Chakra.
Form Shift Lv. 52	Instant 2.5s	↔ 0y 0y	Grants Formless Fist to self, allowing the execution of a weaponskill that requires a certain form, without being in that form. Duration: 30s Any additional effects associated with the executed action will also be applied.
The Forbidden Chakra Lv. 54	Instant 1.0s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 340. Can only be executed while in combat and under the effect of the Fifth Chakra. The five chakra close upon execution. Shares a recast timer with Enlightenment. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Celestial Revolution Lv. 60	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 450. Additional Effect: Opens the Lunar Nadi If the Lunar Nadi is already open, opens the Solar Nadi instead. Additional Effect: Grants Formless Fist, allowing the execution of a weaponskill that requires a certain form, without being in that form Duration: 30s Any additional effects associated with the executed action will also be applied. Can only be executed while under the effect of three Beast Chakra. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Elixir Field Lv. 60	Instant 2.5s	↔ 0y 5y	Delivers an attack to all nearby enemies with a potency of 600 for the first enemy, and 70% less for all remaining enemies. Additional Effect: Opens the Lunar Nadi Additional Effect: Grants Formless Fist, allowing the execution of a weaponskill that requires a certain form, without being in that form Duration: 30s Any additional effects associated with the executed action will also be applied. Can only be executed while under the effect of three of the same Beast Chakra. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Flint Strike Lv. 60	Instant 2.5s	↔ 0y 5y	Delivers an attack to all nearby enemies with a potency of 600 for the first enemy, and 70% less for all remaining enemies. Additional Effect: Opens the Solar Nadi Additional Effect: Grants Formless Fist, allowing the execution of a weaponskill that requires a certain form, without being in that form Duration: 30s Any additional effects associated with the executed action will also be applied. Can only be executed while under the effect of three distinct Beast Chakra. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Masterful Blitz Lv. 60	Instant 2.5s	↔ 0y 0y	Strike the enemy with a technique fueled by the power of your Beast Chakra. The technique used is determined by the number of different types of Beast Chakra opened. 1 Beast Chakra Type: Elixir Field 2 Beast Chakra Types: Celestial Revolution 3 Beast Chakra Types: Rising Phoenix 3 Beast Chakra and Both Nadi: Phantom Rush
Tornado Kick Lv. 60	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 5y	Delivers an attack to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 850 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies. Additional Effect: Grants Formless Fist, allowing the execution of a weaponskill that requires a certain form, without being in that form Duration: 30s Any additional effects associated with the executed action will also be applied. Can only be executed while under the effect of Lunar Nadi and Solar Nadi, as well as three Beast Chakra. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Riddle of Earth Lv. 64	Instant 120.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Reduces damage taken by 20%. Duration: 10s Additional Effect: Grants Earth's Reply upon taking damage Earth's Reply Effect: Gradually restores HP Cure Potency: 100 Duration: 15s
Riddle of Fire Lv. 68	Instant 60.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Increases damage dealt by 15%. Duration: 20s
Brotherhood Lv. 70	Instant 120.0s	↔ 0y 30y	Grants Brotherhood and Meditative Brotherhood to self and all nearby party members. Brotherhood Effect: Increases damage dealt by 5% Meditative Brotherhood Effect: 20% chance you open a chakra when party members under this effect successfully land a weaponskill or cast a spell Chance is 100% when you successfully land a weaponskill or cast a spell while under the effect of Meditative Brotherhood. Duration: 15s
Riddle of Wind Lv. 72	Instant 90.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Reduces auto-attack delay by 50%. Duration: 15s
Enlightenment Lv. 74	Instant 1.0s	↔ 10y 10y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 170 to all enemies in a straight line before you. Can only be executed while in combat and under the effect of the Fifth Chakra. The five chakra close upon execution. Shares a recast timer with The Forbidden Chakra.
Anatman Lv. 78	Instant 60.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Extends the duration of Disciplined Fist and your present form to maximum and halts their expiration. Duration: 30s Cancels auto-attack upon execution. Effect ends upon using another action or moving (including facing a different direction). Triggers the cooldown of weaponskills upon execution. Cannot be executed during the cooldown of weaponskills.
Six-sided Star Lv. 80	Instant 5.0s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 550. Additional Effect: Increases movement speed Duration: 5s This weaponskill does not share a recast timer with any other actions. Upon execution, the recast timer for this action will be applied to all other weaponskills and magic actions.
Shadow of the Destroyer Lv. 82	Instant 2.5s	↔ 0y 5y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 110 to all nearby enemies. Opo-opo Form Bonus: Guarantees a critical hit Damage dealt is increased when under an effect that raises critical hit rate. Additional Effect: Changes form to raptor Duration: 30s
Rising Phoenix Lv. 86	Instant 2.5s	↔ 0y 5y	Deals physical fire damage to all nearby enemies with a potency of 700 for the first enemy, and 70% less for all remaining enemies. Additional Effect: Opens the Solar Nadi Additional Effect: Grants Formless Fist, allowing the execution of a weaponskill that requires a certain form, without being in that form Duration: 30s Any additional effects associated with the executed action will also be applied. Can only be executed while under the effect of three distinct Beast Chakra. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Phantom Rush Lv. 90	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 5y	Delivers an attack to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 1,150 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies. Additional Effect: Grants Formless Fist, allowing the execution of a weaponskill that requires a certain form, without being in that form Duration: 30s Any additional effects associated with the executed action will also be applied. Can only be executed while under the effect of Lunar Nadi and Solar Nadi, as well as three Beast Chakra. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.

Role Actions

Action Name	Cast Recast	Range Radius	Effect
Second Wind Lv. 8	Instant 120.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Instantly restores own HP. Cure Potency: 500
Leg Sweep Lv. 10	Instant 40.0s	↔ 3y 0y	Stuns target. Duration: 3s
Bloodbath Lv. 12	Instant 90.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Converts a portion of physical damage dealt into HP. Duration: 20s
Feint Lv. 22	Instant 90.0s	↔ 10y 0y	Lowers target's physical damage dealt by 10% and magic damage dealt by 5%. Duration: 10s
Arm's Length Lv. 32	Instant 120.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Creates a barrier nullifying most knockback and draw-in effects. Duration: 6s Additional Effect: Slow +20% when barrier is struck Duration: 15s
True North Lv. 50	Instant 45.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Nullifies all action direction requirements. Duration: 10s Maximum Charges: 2

Monk Traits

Action Name	Acquired	Effect
Greased Lightning	Lv. 1	Reduces weaponskill cast time and recast time, spell cast time and recast time, and auto-attack delay by 5%.
Enhanced Greased Lightning	Lv. 20	Reduces weaponskill cast time and recast time, spell cast time and recast time, and auto-attack delay by 10%.
Deep Meditation	Lv. 38	Grants an 80% chance that a chakra will open upon dealing critical damage with a weaponskill.
Enhanced Greased Lightning II	Lv. 40	Reduces weaponskill cast time and recast time, spell cast time and recast time, and auto-attack delay by 15%.
Steel Peak Mastery	Lv. 54	Upgrades Steel Peak to The Forbidden Chakra.
Enhanced Perfect Balance	Lv. 60	When under the effect of Perfect Balance, grants Beast Chakra in accordance with the form normally required to execute weaponskills. Weaponskills requiring opo-opo form grant Opo-opo Chakra. Weaponskills requiring coeurl form grant Coeurl Chakra. Weaponskills requiring raptor form grant Raptor Chakra.
Deep Meditation II	Lv. 74	Guarantees that a chakra will open upon dealing critical damage with a weaponskill.
Howling Fist Mastery	Lv. 74	Upgrades Howling Fist to Enlightenment.
Enhanced Greased Lightning III	Lv. 76	Reduces weaponskill cast time and recast time, spell cast time and recast time, and auto-attack delay by 20%. Also improves Disciplined Fist's damage increase to 15%.
Arm of the Destroyer Mastery	Lv. 82	Upgrades Arm of the Destroyer to Shadow of the Destroyer.
Enhanced Thunderclap	Lv. 84	Allows a third charge of Thunderclap.
Melee Mastery	Lv. 84	Increases the potency of Bootshine to 210, True Strike to 300, Snap Punch to 250, Twin Snakes to 280, Demolish to 70, Dragon Kick to 320, The Forbidden Chakra to 340, and Six-sided Star to 550.
Flint Strike Mastery	Lv. 86	Upgrades Flint Strike to Rising Phoenix.
Enhanced Brotherhood	Lv. 88	Guarantees that a chakra will open when you are under the effect of Meditative Brotherhood and execute a weaponskill or cast a spell.
Tornado Kick Mastery	Lv. 90	Upgrades Tornado Kick to Phantom Rush.

Changelog

30 Jan. 2024 (gear page): Updated BIS for 6.5 Relic.
18 Jan. 2024 (rotation page): Updated for patch 6.55.
18 Jan. 2024 (Leveling page): Updated for patch 6.55.
18 Jan. 2024 (melding page): Updated for patch 6.55.
18 Jan. 2024 (this page): Updated for patch 6.55.
03 Aug. 2023 (Leveling page): Added Chakra section.
19 Jul. 2023 (gear page): Updated TOP and DSR for 6.45 Relic.
24 May 2023 (rotation page): Updated for 6.4.
24 May 2023 (Leveling page): Updated for 6.4.
24 May 2023 (gear page): Updated for 6.4 BiS.
24 May 2023 (melding page): Updated for 6.4.
24 May 2023 (this page): Updated for 6.4.
13 Jan. 2023 (Asphodelos page): Up-to-date for Patch 6.3
13 Jan. 2023 (rotation page): Up-to-date for Patch 6.3
13 Jan. 2023 (Leveling page): Up-to-date for Patch 6.3
13 Jan. 2023 (gear page): Updated for all Ultimate Encounter BiSes.
13 Jan. 2023 (melding page): Up-to-date for Patch 6.3
13 Jan. 2023 (this page): Up-to-date for Patch 6.3
07 Jun. 2022 (gear page): Updated for Dragonsong War (Ultimate) weapons.
20 Apr. 2022 (Asphodelos page): Updated for Patch 6.1
20 Apr. 2022 (rotation page): Updated for Patch 6.1
20 Apr. 2022 (gear page): Updated for Patch 6.1
20 Apr. 2022 (melding page): Updated for Patch 6.1
20 Apr. 2022 (this page): Updated for Patch 6.1
04 Apr. 2022 (Leveling page): Guide added.
24 Mar. 2022 (rotation page): Youtube embeds for dummy rotation videos added, triple blitz added
08 Jan. 2022 (gear page): Added a Samurai Compatible 1.94 GCD option.
07 Jan. 2022 (rotation page): FPS information added.
07 Jan. 2022 (gear page): Added a 1.93 GCD option.
07 Jan. 2022 (this page): Guide added.
05 Jan. 2022 (rotation page): Optimal Drift Even Window description fixed.
05 Jan. 2022 (gear page): Gear updated for Patch 6.05.
31 Dec. 2021 (rotation page): Guide added.
31 Dec. 2021 (gear page): Guide added.
31 Dec. 2021 (melding page): Guide added.
24 Mar. 2021 (Asphodelos page): Guide added.

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Monk Guide

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

"This Monk guide has been brought to you by Perfect Balance, a primordial being who has been playing Monk since the A Realm Reborn beta. A self-described "okay button pusher" recognised by many as being "bearable in small doses", PB is keen to make Monk more accessible to the general playerbase, with the main goal being to convey job nuance and intricacies in a digestible way. He streams raids live on Twitch and has a YouTube channel, where he uploads Monk PoVs and fight specific advice.

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Monk Job Guide for FFXIV — Endwalker 6.55