Monk Class Overview

Monks are strong in Mists of Pandaria due to their high versatility, offering effective options for tanking, healing, and melee DPS, all with fluid and engaging gameplay. Each specialization brings valuable raid and dungeon utility: Brewmasters with stagger-based mitigation, Mistweavers with mobile and smart healing, and Windwalkers with strong burst and cleave damage. Their mobility, self-sustain, and unique class mechanics make them highly desirable in both PvE and PvP content.

The Monk brings a unique and completely new, refreshing play-style to World of Warcraft. The playstlye revolves around using Energy/Mana (Chi builders) to create Chi, which then is consumed by the most powerful Monk abilities (Chi spenders). Some of the core aspects of each spec will be summarized here:

• Three Stances: Each specialization has their own stance. Brewmasters come with Stance of the Sturdy Ox, Mistweavers use Stance of the Wise Serpent, and Windwalkers fight in the Stance of the Fierce Tiger. Each stance has enhances the spec it was made for significantly.
• Three Roles: Monks can serve their raid as a tank, a healer, or a damage dealer, so the chances you will ever be bored of playing a Monk are very slim. Each of the roles can be fulfilled by Monks with outstanding performance.
• Spec-specific Masteries: Each spec got their distinct mastery, being Mastery: Elusive Brawler for Brewmaster, Mastery: Gift of the Serpent for Mistweaver and Mastery: Bottled Fury for Windwalker. Each mastery enhances your abilities according to your specialization.
• Outstanding Mobility: On top of Roll and Chi Torpedo, each specialization offers you creative ways to move fast and break free from movement-impairing effects.
• Talent System: The talent system was completly overhauled and now offers one new talent every 15 levels, making it easier to fill your talent tree. Furthermore, talents can now be flexibly switched to best fit the needs of the current fight.
• Glyph Overhaul: Major and Minor Glyphs were revamped to emphasize utility and flavor, making them significantly less impactful to your overall build than in previous expansions.
• Challenging Gameplay: Monk gameplayis considered challenging due to its fast-paced, resource-driven mechanics that require active decision-making and constant movement. Managing both Energy/Mana and Chi efficiently, while maintaining buffs like Tiger Power or Shuffle (for tanks), demands precise timing and awareness. Each specialization also involves complex rotations and situational abilities, making the class rewarding but difficult to master, especially in high-end content.

Monk are able to choose from three specializations: Brewmaster, Mistweaver, and Windwalker.

Brewmaster Monks are the tanking specialization of Monks. They avoid and Stagger damage and can protect their group with their abilities. Brewmasters are valueable tanks, welcome in any raid composition.

Mistweaver Monks are the healer specialization of the Monk class. They do formidable group healing and can even turn their damage into healing.

Windwalker Monks are a melee DPS specialization of the Monk. Their single-target damage is decent as well, but their true strength lies in their AoE damage.

Monk is absolutely viable in Mists of Pandaria. All three of their specializations perform well in both PvE and PvP, with Brewmaster tanks offering strong survivability, Mistweaver healers bringing powerful and mobile healing, and Windwalker DPS dealing competitive damage with great mobility and utility. Monks are a welcome addition to any group and are considered a strong, well-rounded class throughout the expansion.

First of all, you should play the race that brings you most fun. For any faction, Pandaren are a very good race for Monks due to Epicurean doubling your main primary stat bonus from Well Fed. For PVP, Pandaren are also quite good, as Quaking Palm gives you an instant cast 4-seconds incapitating effect on a 2-minutes cooldown.

Alliance Brewmaster Monks: Night Elves are a viable choice for survivability, because Quickness gives you a 2% increased dodge chance.

Horde Windwalker Monks: Orc. As in most previous expansions, Blood Fury and Axe Specialization are two of the most powerful racial abilities for Melee DPS. Blood Fury provides a strong Attack Power buff for 15 seconds every 2 minutes, while the Axe Specialization comes with 1% extra Expertise for Axes and Fist Weapons.

Monks can wear Cloth and Leather armor. Monks can equip Fist Weapons, One-Handed Axes, One-Handed Maces, One-Handed Swords, Polearms and Staves. Which weapons they prefer use depends on their spec and the Best in Slot itemes available in any phase.

The Brewmaster and Windwalker Monk specializations prioritize Agility as their primary stat, while the Windwalker specialization's primary stat is Intellect. Primary stats are the most important stats for a class and are usually present on any gear piece you are wearing. The secondary stats ranking is different for each specialization and will be talked about in more detail in the respective guides. More information about gearing your Monk can be found here:

Addons and Macros can greatly improve your quality of life during Mists of Pandaria. Listed below are some of our recommendations on Addons and Macros to help get the most out of your time playing the game.