Windwalker Monk DPS Easy Mode

Table of Contents

• +Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. Patch 7.3 Changes
  • 3. Patch 7.2.5 Changes
  • 4. Patch 7.2 Changes
  • 5. Contents
  • 6. ChangeLog
• ×Easy Mode
  • 1. The Basics
  • 2. Talent Choice
  • 3. Stat Choice
  • 4. Basic Rotation
    • 4.1. Single Target
    • 4.2. Multiple Target
      • 4.2.1. Against 2-3 Enemies
    • 4.3. Against 4+ Enemies
  • 5. Cooldowns
  • 6. ChangeLog
• +Spell Summary
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Main Resource
  • 3. Basic Abilities
    • 3.1. Movement
    • 3.2. Survival
  • 4. Important Procs
  • 5. Cooldowns
  • 6. ChangeLog
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Talent Choices
  • 2. Tier 1 (Level 15) Talents
  • 3. Tier 2 (Level 30) Talents
  • 4. Tier 3 (Level 45) Talents
  • 5. Tier 4 (Level 60) Talents
  • 6. Tier 5 (Level 75) Talents
  • 7. Tier 6 (Level 90) Talents
  • 8. Tier 7 (Level 100) Talents
  • 9. ChangeLog
• +Artifact Traits and Relics
  • 1. Artifact Progression
  • 2. Relic Choice
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Netherlight Crucible Relic Paths
  • 1. General Optimization Advice
  • 2. Tier 2 Upgrade Priority
  • 3. Tier 3 Upgrade Priority
    • 3.1. Single Target
    • 3.2. AoE
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities
  • 1. Single Target Rotation
  • 2. Multiple Target Rotation
    • 2.1. Against 2-3 Enemies
    • 2.2. Against 4+ Enemies
  • 3. Cooldowns
  • 4. Optional Read: Mastering Your Windwalker Monk
    • 4.1. Energy and Chi
      • 4.1.1. Energy
      • 4.1.2. Chi
    • 4.2. Mastery: Combo Strikes
    • 4.3. Artifact Ability
    • 4.4. Afterlife Procs
    • 4.5. Detailed Cooldown Usage
      • 4.5.1. Touch of Karma
      • 4.5.2. Tier 1 Talents
      • 4.5.3. Tier 3 Talents
      • 4.5.4. Tier 7 Talents
    • 4.6. Roll and Transcendence
      • 4.6.1. Roll
      • 4.6.2. Transcendence
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Stat Priority
  • 1. Basics
    • 1.1. Single Target
    • 1.2. Multiple Target
  • 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
    • 1.2. Specific Macros for Windwalker Monks
      • 1.2.1. No Fists of Fury Cancelling Macro
  • 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)
      • 2.1.8. Omen Threat Meter
    • 2.2. Specific Addons for Windwalker Monks
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gear, Legendaries, and Best in Slot
  • 1. Best in Slot List
  • 2. Tier 21 Set Bonuses
  • 3. Legendary Items
  • 4. Loot Competition
  • 5. ChangeLog

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 specialisation without being overwhelmed by the numerous subtleties and active abilities that need to be taken into consideration for optimal play.

1. The Basics

Windwalker Monks are a melee DPS specialisation 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.

2. Talent Choice

The following talent choices result in damage output that is close to that of the most optimal talent choices, although the recommendations here lead to considerable ease-of-play.

• Level 15: Eye of the Tiger
• Level 30: Tiger's Lust
• Level 45: Power Strikes
• Level 60: Leg Sweep
• Level 75: situational / Healing Elixir
• Level 90: Hit Combo
• Level 100: Whirling Dragon Punch

3. Stat Choice

Currently, you will want to prioritise secondary stats as follows:

1. Mastery;
2. Critical Strike;
3. Versatility;
4. Haste.

Against multiple targets, you should prioritise Haste after Mastery.

4. Basic Rotation

4.1. Single Target

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

1. Use Rising Sun Kick.
2. Use Fists of Fury.
3. Use Strike of the Windlord.
4. Use Whirling Dragon Punch.
5. Use Tiger Palm
   • If you have less than 4 Chi AND you are about to reach maximum Energy.
6. Use Blackout Kick.
   • Keep in mind that Tiger Palm has a chance to cause the next Blackout Kick not to cost any Chi.
7. Use Tiger Palm.

4.2. Multiple Target

Against multiple targets, you should make use of Storm, Earth, and Fire by using it once at the start of the fight, and then using its next charge when Fists of Fury becomes available again. From then on, simply reuse it with Fists of Fury, making sure that you never let both of Earth, Storm, and Fire's charges remain available.

Tiger Palm, Blackout Kick, Rising Sun Kick, and Rushing Jade Wind apply a 15-second debuff on their target, called Mark of the Crane. Each instance of this debuff increases the damage of your Spinning Crane Kick (against any target) by 50%. Therefore, your should distribute these spells among your enemies in such a way as to keep the Mark of the Crane debuff up on as many targets as possible.

Against multiple enemies, the rotation is also based on a priority system, and it depends slightly based on how many enemies you are facing.

4.2.1. Against 2-3 Enemies

1. Use Whirling Dragon Punch.
2. Use Fists of Fury.
3. Use Strike of the Windlord.
4. Use Spinning Crane Kick.
5. Use Blackout Kick.
6. Use Tiger Palm.

4.3. Against 4+ Enemies

1. Use Whirling Dragon Punch.
2. Use Fists of Fury.
3. Use Strike of the Windlord.
4. Use Spinning Crane Kick.
5. Use Blackout Kick.
6. Use Tiger Palm.

5. Cooldowns

As a Windwalker Monk, you have 2 DPS cooldowns by default, Touch of Death and Storm, Earth, and Fire.

• Touch of Death should be used as often as possible throughout the fight, essentially on cooldown. Keep in mind that it deals its damage 8 seconds after your cast it, so do not place it on targets that will die before that time.
• Storm, Earth, and Fire should be used as often as possible, while attempting to stack it with other periods of increased damage done. Make sure you always have at least one of its charges on cooldown.

About Our Reviewer

This guide has been reviewed and approved by Babylonius, a prominent Windwalker Monk theorycrafter who maintains the Windwalker sections of Peak of Serenity. You can follow him on Twitter: @BabyloniusMonk.

6. ChangeLog

+ show all entries - show only 10 entries

• 21 Jan. 2018: Fixed an issue with Whirling Dragon Punch being missing from the rotation.
• 27 Nov. 2017: Updated some talent recommendations for ease of play.
• 16 Sep. 2017: Removed mentions of Whirling Dragon Punch, since we do not recommend it.
• 28 Aug. 2017: Updated tier 1 and 7 talent recommendations and rotation.
• 12 Jun. 2017: Page reviewed and deemed updated for 7.2.5.
• 25 Jan. 2017: Added easy mode page.