Leveling Rotations and Tips for Monk — Endwalker 6.55

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.

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.

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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.

• 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.

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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.

• 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.