Windwalker Monk DPS Easy Mode — The War Within (11.1.5)

Last updated on Apr 21, 2025 at 19:35 by Babylonius 47 comments
General Information

On this page, we explain how to easily play Windwalker Monk in World of Warcraft — The War Within (11.1.5), using the simplest rotation, talent tree, stat priority, gear setup, etc., without sacrificing performance.

1.

Foreword

This page is intended for players who are new to the game or class, have no intentions of raiding Mythic difficulty or simply want a more straightforward way to play their specialization without being overwhelmed by the numerous subtleties and active abilities that need to be taken into consideration for optimal play.

2.

The Basics of Windwalker Monks

Windwalker Monks are a melee DPS specialization that is viable in all situations, providing strong priority and AoE damage, as well as having smooth and relatively easy to execute rotations.

Throughout the fight, you will need to manage Energy and Chi, your two resources in order to get as many uses of your abilities as possible. You will have to make sure not to cap and waste either of these resources while also keeping enough in store to allow immediate use of your abilities, as delaying some can cost you considerable DPS.

If you are completely new to Windwalker and need more information on the abilities available to you, you can check out our Spell Summary page.

3.

Beginner's Guide to Windwalker Monk in The War Within

Single-Target Talents Mythic+/AoE Talents Basic Rotation Defensive Spells
4.

Beginner Single-Target Talents for Windwalker Monk

This build is optimal for pure single-target situations.

  • If you are using two 1H weapons then you should drop Slicing Winds Icon Slicing Winds for Dual Threat Icon Dual Threat.
  • If a fight has adds that spawn, you can drop Fury of Xuen Icon Fury of Xuen and Transfer the Power Icon Transfer the Power for Last Emperor's Capacitor Icon Last Emperor's Capacitor and Power of the Thunder King Icon Power of the Thunder King for more add damage.

Be sure to make use of the 'Export Talents' button to import the best build directly into your game!

4.

Beginner AoE and Mythic+ Talents for Windwalker Monk

This is our recommended build for AoE scenarios. This works well for AoE Fights in Raids, as well as most Mythic+.

NOTES: Shado-pan has a few options that can be changed around depending on your needs and preferences.

  • Dual Threat Icon Dual Threat replaces Xuen's Battlegear Icon Xuen's Battlegear if using two 1H weapons.
  • Brawler's Intensity Icon Brawler's Intensity, Drinking Horn Cover Icon Drinking Horn Cover, and Spiritual Focus Icon Spiritual Focus are both very close to each other, you can use what you are most comfortable with.
  • Martial Mixture Icon Martial Mixture can be used in place of Energy Burst Icon Energy Burst if you'd like to focus a little bit more on priority target damage.

Be sure to make use of the 'Export Talents' button to import the best build directly into your game!

4.

Beginner Windwalker Monk DPS Rotation

The single-target Windwalker Monk rotation is based on a priority system.

  1. Strike of the Windlord Icon Strike of the Windlord without active Heart of the Jade Serpent Icon Heart of the Jade Serpent
  2. Celestial Conduit Icon Celestial Conduit without active Heart of the Jade Serpent Icon Heart of the Jade Serpent
  3. Rising Sun Kick Icon Rising Sun Kick with Xuen's Battlegear Icon Xuen's Battlegear buff
  4. Tiger Palm Icon Tiger Palm if <5 Chi AND about to cap energy
  5. Spinning Crane Kick Icon Spinning Crane Kick with two stacks of Dance of Chi-Ji Icon Dance of Chi-Ji buff
  6. Whirling Dragon Punch Icon Whirling Dragon Punch
  7. Crackling Jade Lightning Icon Crackling Jade Lightning at 20 Last Emperor's Capacitor Icon Last Emperor's Capacitor stacks
  8. Slicing Winds Icon Slicing Winds
  9. Fists of Fury Icon Fists of Fury
  10. Rising Sun Kick Icon Rising Sun Kick
  11. Blackout Kick Icon Blackout Kick try not to overcap Teachings of the Monastery Icon Teachings of the Monastery stacks
  12. Spinning Crane Kick Icon Spinning Crane Kick with Dance of Chi-Ji Icon Dance of Chi-Ji buff
  13. Chi Burst Icon Chi Burst
  14. Crackling Jade Lightning Icon Crackling Jade Lightning try not to overcap Last Emperor's Capacitor Icon Last Emperor's Capacitor stacks
  15. Blackout Kick Icon Blackout Kick
4.

AoE Rotation for Windwalker Monk

Against multiple enemies, the rotation is also based on a priority system.

  1. Tiger Palm Icon Tiger Palm if <5 Chi AND about to cap energy
  2. Spinning Crane Kick Icon Spinning Crane Kick with 2 stacks of Dance of Chi-Ji Icon Dance of Chi-Ji buff
  3. Rising Sun Kick Icon Rising Sun Kick then Whirling Dragon Punch Icon Whirling Dragon Punch
  4. Strike of the Windlord Icon Strike of the Windlord
  5. Slicing Winds Icon Slicing Winds
  6. Crackling Jade Lightning Icon Crackling Jade Lightning try not to overcap Last Emperor's Capacitor Icon Last Emperor's Capacitor stacks with Power of the Thunder King Icon Power of the Thunder King talented
  7. Fists of Fury Icon Fists of Fury
  8. Spinning Crane Kick Icon Spinning Crane Kick
  9. Rising Sun Kick Icon Rising Sun Kick with Xuen's Battlegear Icon Xuen's Battlegear buff
  10. Jadefire Stomp Icon Jadefire Stomp
  11. Spinning Crane Kick Icon Spinning Crane Kick
  12. Chi Burst Icon Chi Burst
  13. Blackout Kick Icon Blackout Kick
4.

Defensive Spells for Windwalker Monk

Touch of Karma Icon Touch of Karma is the only baseline defensive ability. This is often used as an offensive ability due to the damage being redirected back to your target. However, until you know you can comfortably use this offensively, it is always recommended that you only use it defensively. Very frequently, using it defensively is very similar to using it offensively.

Diffuse Magic Icon Diffuse Magic reduces all Magic-classed damage on yourself while this is active. This also tries to dispel all Magic-classed debuffs on you and place them on the source.

Fortifying Brew Icon Fortifying Brew while active, reduce the damage you take from all sources while also increasing your maximum health.

4.

Best Talents for Windwalker Monk in The War Within

This is the Easy Mode page, which presents things in a simplified manner with simplified builds. For our detailed, fully-fledged Talent and Rotation guides, click below!

5.

Stat Priority for Windwalker Monk in The War Within

The general stat priority for a Windwalker Monk is seen below. This is very much a rough guideline and is designed for players who do not wish to sim their character. If you are simming your character, please disregard this stat priority completely and follow your sim!

  1. Agility
  2. Mastery = Haste
  3. Versatility = Critical Strike

While the stat priority for classes is normally the same for both the Easy Mode page and our full guide, subtle differences can still occur. If you want to see the full explanation of the stat priority, as well as the absolute top choices for the priority, head to our full stats page below.

6.

Changelog

  • 21 Apr. 2025: Updated and reviewed for Patch 11.1.5, added includes for talents.
  • 24 Feb. 2025: Updated for Patch 11.1, Updated stat priority.
  • 15 Dec. 2024: Updated for Patch 11.0.7.
  • 22 Oct. 2024: Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
  • 09 Sep. 2024: Updated for The War Within Season 1.
  • 21 Aug. 2024: Reviewed and updated for The War Within Launch, minor word changes.
  • 23 Jul. 2024: Reviewed and updated for The War Within Prepatch.
  • 07 May 2024: Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 22 Apr. 2024: Reviewed for Season 4, no changes necessary.
  • 28 Mar. 2024: Fixed talent tree link
  • 19 Mar. 2024: Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6, no changes necessary.
  • 15 Jan. 2024: Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
  • 06 Nov. 2023: Updated and Reviewed for Patch 10.2, updated talent string
  • 04 Sep. 2023: Updated and Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7, no changes necessary.
  • 10 Jul. 2023: Updated and Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5, no changes necessary.
  • 01 May 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.1, no changes necessary.
  • 20 Mar. 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 24 Jan. 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 11 Dec. 2022: Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 28 Nov. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight launch.
  • 25 Oct. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
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