Brewmaster Monk Tank Guide — Dragonflight 10.1
Welcome to our Brewmaster Monk guide for World of Warcraft — Dragonflight 10.1. Here, you will learn how to tank as a Brewmaster Monk in both raids and Mythic+ dungeons. We cover everything from the basics all the way to min-maxing techniques to optimize your survivability.
Brewmaster Monk Overview
Brewmaster Monks are tanks that focus on surviving all but the most deadly
amounts of damage, turning the bulk of it into a unique damage-over-time effect
known as Stagger that can be removed with their other abilities.
By smoothing it out or dodging it entirely, this way of taking damage makes
Brewmaster is an incredibly desirable specialization for both progression raiding
and dungeons. On top of this, a Brewmaster offers considerable utility and
is incredibly mobile.
Note: the following guide will detail parts of tanking that are unique to Brewmaster Monks rather than a general tanking strategy. If you are new to the role of tanking in general, it is recommended to look into our tanking guide first.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Guaranteed smooth damage intake from
Stagger and
Shuffle for both Physical and Magic damage.
Access to incredible mobility through the use of
Roll,
Tiger's Lust, and
Transcendence.
Unique abilities to help reposition enemies such as
Clash,
Hasty Provocation, and
Ring of Peace.
Potent crowd control abilities such as
Paralysis and
Leg Sweep.
The ability to remove
Poisons and
Diseases with
Detox.
Can provide unique auras to themselves and allies with
Windwalking,
Generous Pour, and
Close to Heart.
The only source of the
Mystic Touch debuff, shared with the other two Monk specs.
Lowest base Health of every tank specialization; this can result in being more vulnerable to DoT effects.
Large number of keybinds to keep track of.
Low self-sustain outside of
Expel Harm.
Playstyle can sometimes be unintuitive, and mistakes can be punishing.
May need to use Addons or WeakAuras to properly track
Stagger, as the default UI is often insufficient.
In Dragonflight, Brewmaster Monk regains a lot of classic tools
that have been taken away over time while also gaining a few new tricks, all
contained within Dragonflight's extensive rework of the talent system. Among these
returning effects are seven former legendary powers, a handful of Legion artifact
traits, Azerite powers, and even some Anima Powers from Torghast. Not
only that, but Brewmasters have also gained access to the powerful Rising Sun Kick
ability previously limited to only Mistweavers and Windwalkers. There are
more options than ever for tackling content as this incredible versatile tank
specialization.
Brewmaster Monk Changes in Patch 10.1
Overall, Patch 10.1 remains a relatively quiet one for Brewmaster Monks.
Although they have gained access to what was once exclusively a Mistweaver Monk
talent in the form of Song of Chi-Ji, it is located as a choice alongside the
much more useful
Ring of Peace. Beyond that, no significant tuning was
made to Brewmasters as a whole, nor were any talents massively adjusted outside
of the removal of the
Incendiary Breath PvP talent.
For a full breakdown of all Class Changes in Patch 10.1, check out our dedicated page below.
Brewmaster Monk Viability in the Current Patch
While it may not be as exciting to receive relatively few adjustments in a major content patch, Brewmasters are a tank that did not realistically need any large changes, as they remain quite strong against all forms of content for those willing to take the time to understand some of their more confusing interactions. Indeed, the biggest shortcoming of Brewmaster Monks as a whole remains the heavy learning curve of the specialization's many, many keybinds. While you truly have a tool for every occasion in Mythic+ or Aberrus, not everyone may desire having to juggle so many possibilities at once.
Guide Updates for Patch 10.1
Although the Brewmaster Monk specialization received no major changes directed specifically to it, Patch 10.1 is still a major content patch in the Dragonflight expansion, containing plenty of new features to discuss in updated sections of this guide. Listed below are a few of the highlights to look out for:
- New gear recommendations — Embers of Neltharion introduces a brand new suite of gear to chase after in the continuing quest to raise your item level, along with some especially unique items including two new set bonuses and weapons that do more than just "hit hard". Not only that, but there are large shifts in how to upgrade items that you have obtained, discussed on our gearing page.
- A new raid to progress — Aberrus is a new raid waiting for you to explore its depths and uncover the mysteries surrounding Neltharion's strange experiments. Look to our raid tips and learn how to best overcome its challenges as a Brewmaster Monk.
- How one talent point can make all the difference — as you acquire your new tier set bonuses from Aberrus, you will have the option to change one single point in your talent tree that will make a noticeable impact on your rotation. These adjustments can be found on our customizable rotation page, where you can freely switch between this new talent and the "old ways".
Pending Changes
While many things can be known in advance of a content patch, such as the basic concept of a new raid encounter, gear to go for, and that there will be some changes to an ability rotation, there is a lot that is likely to remain undiscovered until some time after the final patch is in players' hands. Below, there are a couple of sections of this guide in particular to look out for potentially larger changes over time during Embers of Neltharion:
- Tips for Brewmaster Monks in Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible (soon) will receive further updates over time as new strategies are developed and differences between initial testing and the final fights are noted.
- The rotation may receive further tweaks as
smaller optimizations are found once the
Monk Brewmaster 10.1 Class Set 4pc is acquired and a slight talent shift occurs.
Leveling and Getting Started as a Brewmaster Monk
While leveling as a tank specialization can seem a bit inefficient, it comes with its benefits, such as the ability to pull more significant numbers of enemies while questing without being as concerned about survival, thanks to all your defensive skills. It can also give you valuable time to learn your rotation. After all, it can be overwhelming to reach the Level 70 cap and face the potential confusion of getting used to extra elements in your interface. Because of this, it is recommended to browse our list below of some basic Brewmaster addons and macros to make both your learning and leveling experiences easier.
Basics of playing a Brewmaster Monk
Being a tank specialization, your main job is to stay alive at all times
and to ensure that enemies are not attacking your other group members.
Brewmaster Monks accomplish the first task by immediately delaying all damage taken
with the help of their Stagger passive, improving its power with the
help of
Shuffle, and negating some of that delayed damage with
Purifying Brew or other effects. In addition, plenty of potential damage
is dodged entirely with the help of their Mastery,
Mastery: Elusive Brawler.
As for keeping the attention of enemies, a Brewmaster Monk converts their Energy
into abilities such as Keg Smash,
Tiger Palm, and
Spinning Crane Kick that both deal damage and help improve the
power of
Stagger. Woven into this relationship of dealing damage
to reduce damage taken are several abilities with no cost that work with
other parts of the kit, such as
Blackout Kick allowing them to dodge more
attacks,
Breath of Fire setting enemies hit by Keg Smash on fire, or
instantly killing most enemies with
Touch of Death!
If the above sounds interesting and you would like to learn about even more abilities available to a Brewmaster, then please read the Spell List and Glossary, or if you would prefer a faster breakdown of the entire specialization, check out our Beginner Mode for this guide.
Should you instead be familiar with what a Brewmaster Monk can do already, you would benefit more from heading to our breakdown of Talents and the rotation to get a more in-depth look at what to expect.
Gearing up as a Brewmaster Monk
While figuring out what to wear as an upgrade can be a challenging task, several tools are available to assist you with the decisions you face. If, for example, you are interested in a long-term goal of best-in-slot items, please see our gearing page for an idea of what to look for.
Beyond that, there is also the matter of knowing what stats to go for on your way to that best item or what improvements like enchantments, gems, or other consumables to use. Fortunately, there are additional pages dedicated to that information to help you along the way.
End-Game as a Brewmaster Monk
Once you have made it to the highest possible character level, you can begin your real journey in the three major end-game activities of Dragonflight: Raiding, Mythic+, and PvP. For whichever area you would like to focus more on — if not all three — we have guides to assist you with your Brewmaster Monk and make it easier to perform at your very best. However, when it comes to serious PvP, it is far more likely that you will be playing either Windwalker or Mistweaver, so they are shown instead.
How to Improve as a Brewmaster Monk
After you have become familiar with playing as a Brewmaster Monk, you may benefit from checking out our pages on common mistakes or questions asked by people playing this specialization. Not everything will be apparent to everyone, right away, and these pages can hopefully clear up any confusion more quickly and allow you to improve further.
Changelog
- 02 Jun. 2023 (rotation page): Bountiful Brew usage advice adjusted based on a recent hotfix.
- 02 Jun. 2023 (talents page): Slightly adjusted the wording of Weapons of Order to reflect a recent hotfix.
- 02 Jun. 2023 (spells page): Updated Bountiful Brew and Weapons of Order descriptions based on recent hotfixes.
- 24 May 2023 (gear page): Added mention of Firelands Timewalking trinkets and a recent Weapons of Order hotfix.
- 24 May 2023 (Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible page): Tips updated for most encounters based on recent progression.
- 10 May 2023 (gear page): Updated special weapon discussion due to updated simulations; offensive trinkets slightly revised.
- 03 May 2023 (gear page): Embellishment/crafted gear priority modified; recommended tier slot "offpiece" changed based on recent simulations.
- 03 May 2023 (enchants page): Weapon enchants updated with specific target counts; single-target potion recommendation changed.
- 03 May 2023 (Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible page): Magmorax tips updated to reflect changes the fight has received.
- 03 May 2023 (rotation page): Slight rotation priority adjustment based on the specific talent combination of Charred Passions and Blackout Combo.
- 01 May 2023 (FAQ page): Adjusted Charred Passsions vs Dragonfire Brew question for Patch 10.1.
- 01 May 2023 (how to improve page): Added mention of Time Dilation under healer external cooldowns to consider.
- 01 May 2023 (simulations page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.
- 01 May 2023 (gear page): Adjusted with new recommended Dungeon/Raid gear and Trinkets for Dragonflight Season 2; added sections on unique weapon effects and upgrade priorities.
- 01 May 2023 (enchants page): Added mention of the Draconic Phial Cauldron in Patch 10.1; removed infrequently-used Primordial Stones.
- 01 May 2023 (stats page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.
- 01 May 2023 (Vault of the Incarnates page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.
- 01 May 2023 (mythic+ page): Added Song of Chi-Ji to utility list; discussion of new gear upgrade system.
- 01 May 2023 (rotation page): Added discussion of the Aberrus 4-piece bonus slightly changing talent choices.
- 01 May 2023 (talents page): Added Song of Chi-Ji as a new niche talent; Incendiary Breath honor talent removed.
- 01 May 2023 (spells page): Added new Song of Chi-Ji talent.
- 01 May 2023 (easy mode page): Page reviewed for Patch 10.1. No changes necessary due to no Brewmaster Monk updates.
- 01 May 2023 (this page): Summarized Patch 10.1 changes; updated discussion of viability; added section highlighting most recent guide updates for Patch 10.1.
- 29 Apr. 2023 (Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible page): Guide created.
- 14 Apr. 2023 (mythic+ page): Slightly adjusted recommended default Mythic+ talent build.
- 14 Apr. 2023 (rotation page): Slightly adjusted priority of Breath of Fire for specific talent builds.
- 01 Apr. 2023 (enchants page): Primordial Stone recommendations modified with tuning now finalized.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (Legendaries): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (FAQ page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (how to improve page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (simulations page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (gear page): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (addons page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (enchants page): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (stats page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (Vault of the Incarnates page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (mythic+ page): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (rotation page): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (talents page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (spells page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (easy mode page): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (FAQ page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (how to improve page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (simulations page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (gear page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (addons page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (enchants page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (stats page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (Vault of the Incarnates page): Talent build recommendations adjusted based on 10.0.5 changes.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (mythic+ page): Updated talent trees with new 10.0.5 talents choices.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (rotation page): Expanded notes on Blackout Combo usage to account for greater selection potential in Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (talents page): Talent trees adjusted based on 10.0.5 talent changes; added notes on Blackout Combo as a potential talent decision.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (easy mode page): Talents adjusted to account for changes in Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (this page): Summarized 10.0.5 changes; strengths/weaknesses slightly adjusted.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (FAQ page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (how to improve page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (simulations page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (gear page): Dungeon gear revised and recommended raid gear added; trinkets substantially expanded for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (addons page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (enchants page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (stats page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (Vault of the Incarnates page): Page added.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (mythic+ page): Recommended build slightly adjusted based on recent theorycrafting; added table mentioning when to consider alternate talents.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (rotation page): Added a section regarding the Vault of the Incarnates Tier Set bonuses; general wording adjustments.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (rotation page): Sections describing when to choose certain rotation-altering talents have been adjusted based on recent theorycrafting.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (talents page): Adjusted general build to focus on world content and entry-level Mythic+/Raiding. See their respective guide sections for more tailored builds.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (talents page): Build and talent recommendations slightly adjusted based on recent developments regarding Charred Passions, Dragonfire Brew, Special Delivery, and Rushing Jade Wind.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (spells page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (easy mode page): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (FAQ page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (how to improve page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (simulations page): Reviewed for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (gear page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (addons page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (enchants page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (stats page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (mythic+ page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (rotation page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (talents page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (spells page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (easy mode page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 21 Nov. 2022 (FAQ page): Added a new Answer regarding Rushing Jade Wind and Special Delivery.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (Legendaries): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (Torghast): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (Covenants and Soulbinds): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (FAQ page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (how to improve page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (simulations page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (gear page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (addons page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (enchants page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (stats page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (Castle Nathria page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (Sanctum of Domination page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (Sepulcher of the First Ones page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (mythic+ page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (rotation page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (talents page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (spells page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (easy mode page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 18 Feb. 2022 (Patch 9.2 Analysis): Updated for the launch of Patch 9.2.
- 24 Jan. 2022 (spells page): Added the new Spirit of the Ox Talent, along with other adjustments as part of Patch 10.0.5.
- 15 Jan. 2022 (Patch 9.2 Analysis): Page added with initial thoughts and information.
- 12 Jan. 2022 (gear page): Added additional information on embellishments; adjusted dungeon trinket recommendations.
- 12 Jan. 2022 (enchants page): Slightly adjusted Consumable recommendations; adjusted Chest Enchants.
- 12 Jan. 2022 (Vault of the Incarnates page): Added Raszageth Tips; general strategy updates.
- 01 Nov. 2021 (Patch 9.1 Analysis): Reviewed and approved for Patch 9.1.5.
- 02 Jul. 2021 (Patch 9.1 Analysis): Adjusted page formatting and wording for live release of Patch 9.1.
- 20 May 2021 (Patch 9.1 Analysis): Added new Legendary Powers and a preliminary analysis of them.
- 17 May 2021 (Patch 9.1 Analysis): Page created with initial information.
- 12 Oct. 2020 (Ny'alotha page): Page updated for the Shadowlands pre-patch.
- 14 Jan. 2020 (The Eternal Palace page): This page has been reviewed for Patch 8.3 and no changes are necessary.
- 08 Jul. 2019 (The Eternal Palace page): Page created.
- 25 Jun. 2019 (Uldir page): This page has been reviewed for the release of Patch 8.2 and no changes are necessary.
- 25 Jun. 2019 (Battle of Dazar'alor page): This page has been reviewed for the release of Patch 8.2 and no changes are necessary.
- 25 Jun. 2019 (Crucible of Storms page): This page has been reviewed for the release of Patch 8.2 and no changes are necessary.
- 14 Apr. 2019 (Crucible of Storms page): Page created.
- 11 Mar. 2019 (Battle of Dazar'alor page): Removed mention of stacking damage bug on Jaina.
- 28 Feb. 2019 (Battle of Dazar'alor page): Updated significantly for Mythic.
- 31 Jan. 2019 (Battle of Dazar'alor page): Added some Mythic details.
- 24 Jan. 2019 (Battle of Dazar'alor page): Extensive updates to Mekkatorque, minor updates to other bosses.
- 20 Jan. 2019 (Battle of Dazar'alor page): Page created.
- 10 Dec. 2018 (Uldir page): This page has been reviewed for Patch 8.1 and no changes are necessary.
- 16 Oct. 2018 (Uldir page): Added Mythic strategies for every boss other than G'huun, minor improvements and tips elsewhere.
- 19 Sep. 2018 (Uldir page): Altered Mythic tips.
- 11 Sep. 2018 (Uldir page): Updated after week one, and added early Mythic tips.
- 04 Sep. 2018 (Uldir page): Extensive rework for Uldir launch.
- 03 Sep. 2018 (Uldir page): Added more content.
- 13 Aug. 2018 (Uldir page): Updated for Battle for Azeroth launch.
- 23 Jul. 2018 (Uldir page): Updated some talents and Legendary recommendations.
More Monk Guides
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This guide has been written by Sinzhu, a Mythic raider on US-Kil'jaeden who has passionately played Brewmaster for the past nine years. He also contributes to the Peak of Serenity and is a Moderator of the Monk Class Discord.
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