Leveling Rotations and Tips for Monk — Endwalker 6.55
This page covers the rotation and action usage when leveling Monk to Level 100. This page can also be used to help when doing roulettes with level scaling by using the slider to adjust the information to your desired level.
Gear Options
When leveling up, you should always choose the piece of gear with the highest item level. You can exchange Allagan Tomestone of Poetics for gear in Mor Dhona at level 50, in Idyllshire at level 60, in Rhalgr's Reach at level 70, and in Eulmore at level 80.
Rotation Overview While Leveling Monk
Pugilist starts at level 1, turning into Monk from level 30 onward. Pugilist and Monk are functionally identical up until level 30, so all content is applicable to both Pugilist and Monk leveling, so long as you equip your job stone after level 30.
Move the slider below to make the guide update to your level!
Base GCD Weaponskill Rotation
The basic Monk rotation is a three-step combo, with different choices to make at each step. Initially, the job is quite rigid, but as you gain levels and skills, the rotation begins to change and take form.
Bootshine →
True Strike →
Snap Punch
Bootshine → alternate
Twin Snakes/
True Strike →
Snap Punch
Bootshine → alternate
Twin Snakes/
True Strike → use two
Snap Punches between each
Demolish.
- Alternate
Dragon Kick /
Bootshine → alternate
Twin Snakes /
True Strike → use two
Snap Punches between each
Demolish.
Buffing Actions
Perfect Balance should be used after refreshing
Twin Snakes →
Demolish → Opo GCD. Use it to alternate between
Dragon Kick and
Bootshine, depending on which Opo GCD you started with.
Perfect Balance should only be used following an Opo GCD.
Elixir Field and
Tornado Kick should be generate via three Opo GCDs, following a
Twin Snakes →
Demolish → Opo sequence.
Flint Strike can be generated by using any one GCD from each potential form.
Perfect Balance should only be used following an Opo GCD.
Elixir Field and
Tornado Kick should be generate via three Opo GCDs, following a
Twin Snakes →
Demolish → Opo sequence.
Flint Strike can be generated by using any one GCD from each potential form.
Riddle of Fire should be used before a
Demolish to begin with, and strictly on cooldown following this.
Perfect Balance and
Masterful Blitz should be used inside of
Riddle of Fire, with the goal being for every
Masterful Blitz to be buffed by
Riddle of Fire.
Perfect Balance should only be used following an Opo GCD.
Elixir Field and
Tornado Kick should be generate via three Opo GCDs, following a
Twin Snakes →
Demolish → Opo sequence.
Flint Strike can be generated by using any one GCD from each potential form.
Riddle of Fire should be used before a
Demolish to begin with, and strictly on cooldown following this.
Brotherhood should be used following
Riddle of Fire in your opener, and used strictly on cooldown following this initial use.
Perfect Balance and
Masterful Blitz should be used inside of
Riddle of Fire. You should be aiming for two
Masterful Blitzes to be in each
Riddle of Fire window that aligns with
Brotherhood, and one
Masterful Blitz in every other
Riddle of Fire window.
Perfect Balance should only be used following an Opo GCD.
Elixir Field and
Tornado Kick should be generate via three Opo GCDs, following a
Twin Snakes →
Demolish → Opo sequence.
Flint Strike can be generated by using any one GCD from each potential form.
Riddle of Fire should be used before a
Demolish to begin with, and strictly on cooldown following this.
Brotherhood should be used following
Riddle of Fire in your opener, and used strictly on cooldown following this initial use.
Perfect Balance and
Masterful Blitz should be used inside of
Riddle of Fire. You should be aiming for two
Masterful Blitz actions to be in each
Riddle of Fire window that aligns with
Brotherhood, and one
Masterful Blitz in every other
Riddle of Fire window.
Riddle of Wind should be used initially within
Riddle of Fire and strictly on cooldown from there on.
Chakra
-
Steeled Meditation should only be used if there is no available target to hit.
Steel Peak can be used at any time, provided you have the
Twin Snakes buff.
-
Steeled Meditation should only be used if there is no available target to hit.
Steel Peak should be used immediately upon generating 5 Chakra, provided you have the
Twin Snakes buff. Starting at Level 38 you gain access to the
Deep Meditation trait, which gives an 80% chance to generate a stack of Chakra upon landing a critical hit weaponskill. This means you want to spend your Chakra as soon you have build 5 stacks to ensure you don't overcap. Overcapping refers to generating a Chakra when you are already at 5 stacks, thereby wasting a potential Chakra stack.
Steeled Meditation should only be used if there is no available target to hit.
Steel Peak should be used immediately upon generating 5 Chakra, provided you have the
Twin Snakes buff.
Howling Fist should be used instead if you can hit 2 or more targets. Starting at Level 38 you gain access to the
Deep Meditation trait, which gives an 80% chance to generate a stack of Chakra upon landing a critical hit weaponskill. This means you want to spend your Chakra as soon you have build 5 stacks to ensure you don't overcap. Overcapping refers to generating a Chakra when you are already at 5 stacks, thereby wasting a potential Chakra stack.
Forbidden Meditation should only be used if there is no available target to hit.
The Forbidden Chakra should be used immediately upon generating 5 Chakra, provided you have the
Twin Snakes buff.
Howling Fist should be used instead if you can hit 4 or more targets. Starting at Level 38 you gain access to the
Deep Meditation trait, which gives an 80% chance to generate a stack of Chakra upon landing a critical hit weaponskill. This means you want to spend your Chakra as soon you have build 5 stacks to ensure you don't overcap. Overcapping refers to generating a Chakra when you are already at 5 stacks, thereby wasting a potential Chakra stack.
Forbidden Meditation should only be used if there is no available target to hit.
The Forbidden Chakra should be used immediately upon generating 5 Chakra, provided you have the
Twin Snakes buff.
Enlightenment should be used instead if you can hit 3 or more targets. At Level 74
Deep Meditation upgrades into
Deep Meditation II, giving a 100% chance to generate a Chakra stack on a critical weaponskill. This means you want to spend your Chakra as soon you have build 5 stacks to ensure you don't overcap. Overcapping refers to generating a Chakra when you are already at 5 stacks, thereby wasting a potential Chakra stack.
Multi-Target Rotation
As a Monk, the breakpoint for all of our AoE skills becoming worthwhile is at 3+ targets.
- Identical to the above single-target rotations.
- Identical to the above single-target rotations,
replacing
Bootshine with
Arm of the Destroyer.
- Identical to the above single-target rotations,
replacing
Bootshine with
Arm of the Destroyer and
Snap Punch with
Rockbreaker. Apply
Demolish to targets that will live for 9+ seconds.
Arm of the Destroyer →
Four-point Fury →
Rockbreaker. Apply
Demolish to targets that will live for 9+ seconds.
Arm of the Destroyer →
Four-point Fury →
Rockbreaker. Apply
Demolish to targets that will live for 9+ seconds.
Elixir Field and
Tornado Kick should be generated by using three
Rockbreakers within
Perfect Balance.
Flint Strike requires one GCD from each form in order to be used.
Arm of the Destroyer →
Four-point Fury →
Rockbreaker. Apply
Demolish to targets that will live for 9+ seconds.
Elixir Field and
Tornado Kick should be generated by using three
Shadow of the Destroyers within
Perfect Balance.
Rising Phoenix requires one GCD from each form in order to be used.
Multi-Target Perfect Balance Usage
Elixir Field and
Tornado Kick should be generated by using three
Rockbreaker actions within
Perfect Balance.
Flint Strike requires one GCD from each form in order to be used.
Elixir Field and
Tornado Kick should be generated by using three
Shadow of the Destroyer actions within
Perfect Balance.
Rising Phoenix requires one GCD from each form in order to be used.
Changelog
- 18 Jan. 2024: Updated for patch 6.55.
- 03 Aug. 2023: Added Chakra section.
- 24 May 2023: Updated for 6.4.
- 13 Jan. 2023: Up-to-date for Patch 6.3
- 04 Apr. 2022: Guide added.
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"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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