Brewmaster Monk Tank Guide (Legion 7.2)

Table of Contents

• ×Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. Patch 7.2 Changes
  • 3. Patch 7.1.5 Changes
  • 4. Strengths
  • 5. Weaknesses
  • 6. Viability in the Current Patch
  • 7. Contents
  • 8. ChangeLog
• +Easy Mode
  • 1. The Basics
  • 2. Talent Choice
  • 3. Stat Choice
  • 4. Basic Rotation
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Talent Choices
  • 2. Talent Cheat Sheets
    • 2.1. Raid Encounters
    • 2.2. Mythic+
  • 3. Tier 1 (Level 15) Talents
  • 4. Tier 2 (Level 30) Talents
  • 5. Tier 3 (Level 45) Talents
  • 6. Tier 4 (Level 60) Talents
  • 7. Tier 5 (Level 75) Talents
  • 8. Tier 6 (Level 90) Talents
  • 9. Tier 7 (Level 100) Talents
  • 10. ChangeLog
• +Artifact Traits and Relics
  • 1. Artifact Progression — First 35 Points
    • 1.1. Early Point Investment
    • 1.2. Second Golden Trait
    • 1.3. Final Point Investment
  • 2. Patch 7.2: 35+ Trait Path
  • 3. Relic Choice
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities
  • 1. Single Target Rotation
  • 2. Multiple Target Rotation
  • 3. Cooldown Usage
  • 4. Taunting
  • 5. Optional Read: Mastering Your Brewmaster Monk
    • 5.1. Energy
    • 5.2. Mastery: Elusive Brawler
    • 5.3. Stagger and Active Mitigation
      • 5.3.1. Stagger
      • 5.3.2. Purifying Brew Versus Ironskin Brew
    • 5.4. Gift of the Ox
    • 5.5. Celestial Fortune
    • 5.6. Detailed Cooldown Usage
      • 5.6.1. Fortifying Brew
      • 5.6.2. Zen Meditation
      • 5.6.3. Exploding Keg
      • 5.6.4. Tier 1 Talents
      • 5.6.5. Tier 3 Talents
      • 5.6.6. Tier 4 Talents
      • 5.6.7. Tier 5 Talents
      • 5.6.8. Tier 6 Talents
      • 5.6.9. Tier 7 Talents
    • 5.7. Roll and Transcendence
      • 5.7.1. Roll
      • 5.7.2. Transcendence
  • 6. ChangeLog
• +Stat Priority
  • 1. Basics
  • 2. Getting a Better Understanding
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gems, Enchants, and Consumables
  • 1. Gems
  • 2. Enchants
  • 3. Consumables
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Macros and Addons
  • 1. Macros
    • 1.1. Generic Macros for Monks
      • 1.1.1. Detox Mouseover Macro
      • 1.1.2. Tiger's Lust Mouseover Macro
      • 1.1.3. Ring of Peace Mouseover Macro
      • 1.1.4. Chi Wave Macro
    • 1.2. Specific Macros for Brewmaster Monks
      • 1.2.1. Exploding Keg Macros
      • 1.2.2. Blessing of Protection Cancelaura Macro
      • 1.2.3. Mouseover Taunt Macro
      • 1.2.4. Taunt from Statue
  • 2. Addons
    • 2.1. Generic Addons for Monks
      • 2.1.1. ElvUI
      • 2.1.2. Boss Mods: Deadly Boss Mods or Bigwigs
      • 2.1.3. GTFO
      • 2.1.4. Parrot or Mik's Scrolling Battle Text
      • 2.1.5. Weak Auras
      • 2.1.6. Recount / Skada / Details!
      • 2.1.7. Grid and GridClickSets (Optional)
    • 2.2. Specific Addons for Brewmaster Monks
      • 2.2.1. Omen Threat Meter
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gear, Legendaries, and Best in Slot
  • 1. Legendaries
  • 2. Loot Competition
  • 3. ChangeLog

General Information

Welcome to our Brewmaster Monk tank guide for World of Warcraft Legion 7.2. Here, you will learn everything you need to know about playing a Brewmaster Monk in a raid environment and in Mythic+ dungeons.

About Our Author and Reviewer

This guide has been written by Furty, who has an illustrious history in the World of Warcraft raiding scene and race for World First. He has been a member of guilds such as Serenity, Midwinter, and many more, and is currently raiding in Myst. He plays most classes at the highest level. You can follow him on Twitter and watch him play on Twitch.

This guide has been reviewed and approved by Justwait, a top tank who raids in Method. You can also watch his stream on Twitch and follow him on Twitter.

1. Class Overview

The Brewmaster is the tanking specialisation of Monks, and they are a unique tank. Brewmasters do not rely very much on avoiding damage through dodging and parrying attacks. Instead, have an additional way of dealing with incoming damage, an ability called Stagger, which causes part of the damage to be done to the Monk instantly, while the rest is done over the course of 10 seconds (with the possibility for the Monk to remove part of the non-instant damage).

Mainly for these reasons, Brewmasters benefit from a steady and relatively easily-healed damage intake. They make excellent tanks in PvE and will always be a valuable asset to your raid.

2. Patch 7.2 Changes

• New Artifact traits added.

3. Patch 7.1.5 Changes

• Elusive Dance and Gift of the Mists have been buffed.
• Brewmaster no longer has access to Diffuse Magic; the new talent Mystic Vitality has been added in its place.
• Breath of Fire ranged has been increased to 12 yards, up from 8.
• Dampen Harm has been changed to reduce all damage you take by 20%-50%, with larger hits being reduced more.
• Ring of Peace has been redesigned; you can now place it at a targeted location, and enemies who enter will be ejected.

4. Strengths

• Very strong against single large hits
• Highly mobile
• Strong cooldowns
• Solid damage

5. Weaknesses

• Weak against high sustained damage
• No significant utility, like Stampeding Roar or Gorefiend's Grasp

6. Viability in the Current Patch

Brewmaster is quite strong currently. It is the best tank for dealing with isolated large hits, such as Stormforged Spear on Odyn. It takes (arguably) more skill to play at a competitive level than some of the other tanks, but definitely has a place in any raid if you have achieved a level of comfort playing it. Overall, this is a very "balanced" specialization with a deep tool kit that a skilled player can bring to bear in any situation and absolutely shine.

7. Contents

To make it easy to navigate the guide, we have split it into 8 pages:

• Easy Mode: TL;DR to own without reading much;
• Builds and Talents: learn how to choose your talents;
• Artifact Traits and Relics: discover how to level up your Artifact;
• Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities: master your rotation and your cooldowns;
• Stat Priority: read up on the respective values of your statistics;
• Gems, Enchants, and Consumables: choose the best gems, enchantments, etc.;
• Macros and Addons: step up your game with useful macros and addons;
• Gear, Legendaries, and Best in Slot: find the best gear you can wear.

8. ChangeLog

• 17 May 2017 (gear page): Updated Fundamental Observation tooltip.
• 29 Mar. 2017 (enchants page): Added Lavish Suramar Feast.
• 28 Mar. 2017 (talents page): No changes needed for Patch 7.2.
• 28 Mar. 2017 (artifact page): Added a new path for the 7.2 traits.
• 28 Mar. 2017 (gear page): No changes needed for Patch 7.2.
• 28 Mar. 2017 (stats page): No changes needed for Patch 7.2.
• 28 Mar. 2017 (this page): Added summary of Patch 7.2 changes.
• 28 Mar. 2017 (rotation page): No changes needed for Patch 7.2.
• 13 Feb. 2017 (easy mode page): Updated stat priority.
• 13 Feb. 2017 (stats page): Updated Haste threshold.
• 13 Feb. 2017 (rotation page): Updated Tier 7 talents section.
• 13 Feb. 2017 (talents page): Updated Tier 6 talents.
• 20 Jan. 2017 (gear page): Added Archimonde's Hatred Reborn to legendaries.
• 12 Jan. 2017 (gear page): Added new legendary items.
• 12 Jan. 2017 (stats page): Small update to stat priority.
• 10 Jan. 2017 (easy mode page): Checked and confirmed for Patch 7.1.5.
• 10 Jan. 2017 (enchants page): Checked and confirmed for Patch 7.1.5.
• 10 Jan. 2017 (stats page): Checked and confirmed for Patch 7.1.5.
• 10 Jan. 2017 (talents page): Updated for Patch 7.1.5.
• 10 Jan. 2017 (artifact page): Checked and confirmed for Patch 7.1.5.
• 10 Jan. 2017 (this page): Added Patch 7.1.5 changes, and updated strengths/weaknesses and viability sections.
• 10 Jan. 2017 (rotation page): Checked and confirmed for Patch 7.1.5.
• 22 Dec. 2016 (easy mode page): Added easy mode for Brewmaster Monks.
• 30 Nov. 2016 (artifact page): Fully updated Artifact path in lieu of more recent information. New path is more focused on farming Mythic+ as that is the primary time investment in the current end game.
• 30 Nov. 2016 (enchants page): Updated potion choice and went into more detail about consumables.
• 30 Nov. 2016 (addons page): Added Exploding Keg instant cast macros.
• 30 Nov. 2016 (talents page): Updated Tier 1 Talents to reflect Chi Wave being a stronger single target damage option.
• 25 Oct. 2016 (this page): Extremely minor changes to Brewmaster in Patch 7.1. Guide remains unchanged.
• 22 Oct. 2016 (this page): Updated viability and strengths/weaknesses.
• 29 Aug. 2016 (gear page): Updated for Legion's launch.
• 29 Aug. 2016 (stats page): Updated for Legion's launch.
• 29 Aug. 2016 (rotation page): Updated for Legion's launch.
• 29 Aug. 2016 (artifact page): Added.
• 29 Aug. 2016 (talents page): Updated for Legion's launch.
• 29 Aug. 2016 (this page): Updated for Legion's launch.
• 29 Aug. 2016 (enchants page): Updated for Legion's launch.
• 24 Jul. 2016 (addons page): Removed a Keg Smash macro that is no longer necessary.
• 23 Jul. 2016 (rotation page): Fixed an issue where we were referring to Blackout Strike as Blackout Kick.
• 19 Jul. 2016 (gear page): Updated trinket recommendations.
• 19 Jul. 2016 (talents page): Revamped Level 45, 90, and 100 talent discussions, following a change of opinions.
• 19 Jul. 2016 (stats page): Added a 30% Haste breakpoint and a mention that Agility also increases dodge chance and self-healing.
• 19 Jul. 2016 (rotation page): Completely revamped many talent discussions to account for some changes in opinions.
• 19 Jul. 2016 (enchants page): Changed flask to Agility.
• 19 Jul. 2016 (rotation page): Added a mention of the interaction between your Tier 18 4-Part Set Bonus and your Healing Spheres, and slightly tweaked the single target rotation.
• 18 Jul. 2016 (rotation page): Updated for the Legion pre-patch.
• 18 Jul. 2016 (stats page): Updated for the Legion pre-patch.
• 18 Jul. 2016 (enchants page): Updated for the Legion pre-patch.
• 18 Jul. 2016 (this page): Updated for the Legion pre-patch.
• 18 Jul. 2016 (gear page): Updated for the Legion pre-patch.
• 18 Jul. 2016 (addons page): Updated for the Legion pre-patch.
• 18 Jul. 2016 (talents page): Updated for the Legion pre-patch.