Legion Monk Class Changes

By Wowhead Updated: 2016/12/01

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Brewmaster:
Chi is no longer a resource for Brewmasters. Instead, energy spenders reduce the cooldowns on our active mitigation.

We no longer have any passive mitigation aside from Stagger. Baseline Stagger has been increased to 35%.

Stagger now works on magic damage at 50% effectiveness.

Healers now have a relatively static mana regen model. There is no longer any Spirit on gear in Legion. This means you will be able to utilize your full toolkit regardless of how much gear you have. There may still be regen increases via trinkets that give mana back or reduce spell costs, but Spirit as a stat is gone.

Chi has been removed from Mistweaver Monks. We no longer have Chi builders and spenders, instead you you have a variety of spells to choose from and it's up to you to choose the most appropriate one for the situation.

Stance of the Spirited Crane and Eminence have been removed from Mistweaver Monks. We can no longer translate damage directly into healing via Eminence. There are some talent builds that allow you to get back a similar playstyle, but we'll get to that in the talents section.

Renewing Mist no longer has charges or stacks. It is now a single HoT, much more powerful than before, and it will jump to a nearby injured target if it overheals its current target.

Vivify removed and split into two abilities: Vivify and . Vivify heals a target and two other targets near it. is your large aoe heal.

Mistweaver Mastery: Gust of Mists no longer spawns Gift of the Serpent orbs. Our new Mastery: Gust of Mists, is a percentage of our spell power applied to our direct healing spells including , Vivify, Enveloping Mist, Renewing Mist.

Thunder Focus Tea now affects more of your spells and is a key part of being effective as a Mistweaver.

Soothing Mist is no longer an active ability, but a passive channel that begins after you've cast , Enveloping Mist, Vivify, or Life Cocoon.

Fists of Fury – Being able to move while channeling (formerly Glyph of the Floating Butterfly) has become baseline. Also requires a 1H weapon, most a non-issue once you get the Artifact, Fists of the Heavens and Fists of the Heavens.

Storm, Earth, and Fire – Formerly Storm, Earth, and Fire and , with some additional modification. This is the other large change going into Legion. They've removed the individual control and summoning of the spirits. You will always be the Storm (blue) spirit. It now has two charges and a 1.5min cooldown, functioning as our large DPS increasing cooldown. Casting it once will summon the Fire and Earth spirits, if there are multiple targets they will jump to the targets and begin attacking them. Their first priority is tagging multiple targets for Spinning Crane Kick stacks, prioritizing the target you're attacking last. However, if there are only 2 or 3 targets, they will attack and stick to their target. Pressing the button a second time will cause them to converge on your current target and remain there until that target dies or the buff runs out.

TalentsLegion Talent CalculatorLegionLegionLegion

Momentum

Zen Sphere

Chi Brew

Charging Ox Wave

Soul Dance

Chi Explosion

Breath of the Serpent

Pool of Mists

Hurricane Strike

PvP TalentsPvP Honor CalculatorAbilitiesNew

Ironskin Brew: Increases the damage you delay with Stagger by an additional 40% for 6 sec.

: A fast and efficient spell, healing the target for (200% of Attack power).

Spear Hand Strike: Now Brewmaster, Windwalker

Fortifying Brew: Now Brewmaster only. 7 min cooldown, up from 3.

Blackout Kick: Changed and renamed. Previously Blackout Kick.

Zen Meditation: Now Brewmaster Only

Changed

Expel Harm

Breath of Fire

Gift of the Ox

Stagger

Keg Smash

Mastery: Elusive Brawler

Purifying Brew

Removed

Summon Black Ox Statue - Talent

Spinning Crane Kick - Windwalker & Mistweaver Only

Craft: Nimble Brew - PvP Honor Talent Only

Elusive Brew - Removed

Desperate Measures - Removed

Dual Wield - Windwalker Only

Dizzying Haze - Removed

Ferment - Removed

Avert Harm - PvP Honor Talent Only

Legacy of the White Tiger - Removed

Stance of the Sturdy Ox - Removed

New

Energizing Elixir: Chug an Energizing Elixir, instantly refilling your Energy and Chi.

Mastery: Combo Strikes: Your abilities deal 10% more damage when they are not a repeat of the previous ability.

: A fast and efficient spell, healing the target for (200% of Attack power).

Touch of Death: Now Windwalker Only, 2 min CD up from 1.5. Instantly kills a creature with less health than the Monk's maximum health.
Can also be used on tough targets when they are below 10% health, dealingUse ancient Pandaren knowledge of anatomy to inflict mortal damage on an enemy. After 8 sec, the target will take damage equal to the monk's maximum health (to them.damage reduced against players).

Stance of the Fierce Tiger: Now Windwalker Increases all damage dealt by 10%.
Grants you and your allies within 10 yards 10% increased movement speed, and improves the functionality of Jab, Expel Harm, Tiger Palm, Blackout Kick, and Rising Sun Kick.

Spinning Crane Kick: Now Mistweaver, Windwalker Formula simplified to 15033%% of Attack power)].

Spear Hand Strike: Now Brewmaster, Windwalker

Changed

Combo Breaker

Disable

Fists of Fury

Flying Serpent Kick

Rising Sun Kick

Storm, Earth, and Fire

Removed

Energizing Brew - Removed

Zen Meditation - Brewmaster Only

Legacy of the White Tiger - Removed

Windflurry - Removed

Brewing - Tigereye Brew - Removed

Stance of the Fierce Tiger - Removed

Battle Trance - Removed

New

Mastery: Gust of Mists: Your Effuse, Renewing Mist, Enveloping Mist, and Vivify also cause a gust of healing mists, instantly healing the primary target for (X of Spell power).

: Unleash a rapid twirl of healing bolts at up to 6 allies within 25 yds, every X sec for 3 sec. Will heal affected targets twice.
Each bolt heals the target for (90% of Spell power), plus an additional (60% of Spell power) over 6 sec.

Spinning Crane Kick: Now Mistweaver, Windwalker Formula simplified to 15033%% of Attack power)]. Cost changed from 2.0% of base mana / 1 Chi to 1.0% of base mana / 3 Chi

: A fast and efficient spell, healing the target for (200% of Attack power).

Reawaken: Returns all dead party members to life with 35% of maximum health and mana. Cannot be cast when in combat.

Detox:Now Mistweaver only.

Changed

Enveloping Mist

Life Cocoon

Renewing Mist

Revival

Rising Sun Kick

Teachings of the Monastery

Thunder Focus Tea

Vivify

Removed

Summon Jade Serpent Statue - Talent

Eminence - Removed

Uplift - Removed

Brewing - Mana Tea

Crane Style Techniques - Removed

Detonate Chi - Removed

Focus and Harmony - Removed

Internal Medicine - Removed

Jade Mists - Removed

Legacy of the Emperor - Removed

Meditation - Removed

Mana Tea - Talent

Stance of the Spirited Crane - Removed

Stance of the Wise Serpent - Removed

New

Tiger Palm: Attack with the palm of your hand, dealing to 105% of Attack power) damage
Windwalker: Tiger Palm has an 8% chance to make your next Blackout Kick cost no Chi. Generates 1 Chi.

Brewmaster: Reduces the remaining cooldown on your Brews by 1 sec

Changed

Blackout Kick

Crackling Jade Lightning

Paralysis

Transcendence

Zen Pilgrimage

Removed

Detox - Mistweaver Only

Fortifying Brew - Brewmaster Only

Jab - Removed

Nimble Brew - PvP Honor Talent Only

Spear Hand Strike - Brewmaster & Windwalker Only

Spinning Crane Kick - Windwalker & Mistweaver Only

Stance of the Fierce Tiger - Windwalker Only

Touch of Death - Windwalker Only

Surging Mist - Removed

Tiger Strikes - Removed

Artifact Weapons and Traits

Brewmaster Fu Zan Calculator | Mistweaver Sheilun Calculator | Windwalker Fists of the Heavens Calculator

comprehensive Artifact Weapon guide

All artifacts by spec: any hidden abilities like Gaze of the Val'kyr, and flavor effects like Xal'atath, Blade of the Black Empire whispering you.

Traits: their perks, costs, how to acquire traits, and max level bonus traits.

Relics: how they increase ilvl, how they modify traits, and how to acquire them.

Acquiring artifacts: your first one and later ones for offspecs.

Artifact Knowledge: how this increases the rate at which you acquire Artifact Power, how to increase your AK level, how much extra AK you get at each rank.

Artifact Appearances: Every appearance organized by spec, how to get them, and modelviewer and video links.

Artifact Lore, Wowhead's Art Interview on Artifacts, and FAQ.

Tier SetsLegion Armor GuideCosmetic Abilities

Meditation Manual: Zen Flight: teaches Zen Flight. Sold by Master Hwang in Peak of Serenity for ..

Class Fantasy and Gameplay BlogLegion Class Preview Series: MonksThe brewmaster is a quirky character, though dangerous when underestimated. Brewmasters may seem to struggle with balance as they chug their concoctions in the middle of a fight, but this unpredictable behavior is far from foolhardiness. Most opponents barely have time to process the erratic nature of the brewmaster’s fighting tactics before they find themselves laid low—possibly the result of a keg smash to the head. When an opponent actually manages to land an attack, it’s often unclear how much the brewmaster feels it . . . if at all. "The brewmaster is a quirky character, though dangerous when underestimated."GameplayMistweavers are unique among those who heal. The energies they channel are mysterious, oftentimes misunderstood by commoners—who rarely travel beyond the borders of their homelands—as some form of folk medicine. But those who weave the mists wield the power of life’s essence, using a mixture of preventative and restorative spells to mend their allies’ wounds. The inner tranquility that guides mistweavers allows them to sustain their healing for long periods of time, and gives them the strength to care for multiple injured allies. ""GameplayAmong monks, none have mastered the martial arts as the windwalkers have, and few across Azeroth can fight with their grace. Windwalkers possess unparalleled physical finesse, and are capable of overwhelming their enemies with a dizzying flurry of punches and kicks. Their skill comes primarily from a lifetime of intense training and discipline, but the power they exhibit is shrouded in more mysticism than meets the untrained eye. The combination of their peak physical conditioning, state of inner calm, and leveraging of mystical chi makes windwalker monks a true force to be reckoned with. ""GameplayBlue Tweetsactive on TwitterBlue Tweet TrackerBrewmasterMistweaverWindwalkerGeneralBlue Posts

Blizzard

Fistweaving (and Gladiator Stance) will not be joining us in Legion.

We love the fantasy that each of those “subspecs” promise, but leaving them as subspecs has proven to be problematic, making us unable to properly deliver on their fantasy. Trying to support two different playstyles within one spec restricts how much we can focus and bring out the strengths of either of them. We still love both of their concepts, however, and will look for opportunities to bring them back in the future.

Fistweaving in particular ended up being used mostly as a mana management tool to support Serpent Stance, instead of a damage/heal hybrid, which didn’t support its fantasy well. While we recognize that the initial goal for Mistweaver Monk -- combining a ranged healer with a melee healing style -- attracted some people to the class, quite a few things have changed since then. Most importantly, there’s been a huge shift away from smart heals in Warlords, which is continuing in Legion.

Mistweaver gameplay for most players was centered around their ranged healing spells, and our focus for the spec in 7.0 consists of reinforcing their unique array of healing tools and adding talents and artifact powers that support this style.

Celestalon

In the latest Legion Alpha build, tanks and healers will notice significant changes to the tuning on many of their defensive abilities. These may appear to be “nerfs” at first glance, but are actually part of a widespread adjustment to improve overall tank (and tank healer) gameplay, that includes reducing the strength/frequency of defensive cooldowns, and adjusting creature tuning to compensate.

Over the course of Warlords of Draenor, tanks have been mostly self-sufficient, providing the vast majority of their own survival, with only minor direct assistance required from healers. Encounter design has unfortunately reinforced this, focusing tank damage into more and more bursty moments in an attempt to challenge tanks. This has made long-cooldown defensive ability usage more and more important, while also further trivializing direct healing requirements.

For Legion, we want to return the overall tank gameplay to a more stable environment. In that, we have laid out some specific goals that we aim to hit:

Tanks will require more direct healing. This will also improve on healer gameplay, as it’s more engaging when there’s a mixture of the types of healing that need to be used on any single encounter.
Active Mitigation abilities for tanks (such as Shield Block or Death Strike) should feel rewarding, allowing an experienced tank to meaningfully reduce damage taken.
Healers should care about the time and mana required to heal tanks, so that taking less damage as a tank is considered valuable.
Tanks and healers’ long-cooldown defensive abilities (such as Barkskin or Shield Wall) should feel like a valuable resource. These abilities should be strong, but not necessarily available for every danger during a specific encounter.
Tanks should have much more survivability than a non-tank. However, they don’t necessarily need to be extremely more sturdy. If the difference in ‘tankiness’ between tanks and non-tanks becomes too much of a gap, we then risk having situations such that if any one add gets loose, it’s likely to instantly kill any poor healer or damage dealer they hit–as the damage that these creatures deal would need to be exponentially higher to offset the sturdiness of the tank. This also brings a risk that tanks would opt to ignore enemy abilities that are designed to be dangerous to non-tanks, just taking those relatively minor blows rather than trying to avoid them as intended.
In raid encounters, tanks should spend more time tanking, and less time waiting for their turn to tank.
Tanks should be able to handle solo content quite effectively. They need to do less damage than dedicated damage dealers, but that difference can be moderate. It doesn’t have to be a massive difference.

Looking at these goals, we’ve made the following changes for tanking in Legion. We hope that these explanations will help you understand the bigger picture, in that these should be viewed as an overall improvement to the style of tank gameplay, rather than nerfs.

In order to ensure that tanks require direct healing from healers, we’re increasing the amount of damage that makes it past a tank’s mitigation. This will include reducing or removing passive defensive abilities, along with the below changes.
We’re toning down how frequently you’re able to use Active Mitigation abilities. This change will generally affect the length of their cooldowns, and not necessarily the strength of the ability. We believe these abilities are important to tank survival; but, when the uptime on these abilities gets too high, skill in knowing when to use them strategically matters less.
EDIT: Passive healing from healers (such as Beacon of Light) will be toned down, and other tank heals adjusted to compensate.
There are many long-cooldown defensive abilities that will be able to be used less frequently, and, in some cases, these abilities may be weaker. Many of these abilities are currently either too numerous or usable too frequently, resulting in a strong cooldown for almost every threatening moment of every encounter.
Encounter design will be adjusted to account for these changes. Overwhelming burst damage will be toned down, in favor of more steady and consistent damage on tanks.
The damage of creatures that are intended to be tanked in group content will be reduced overall, in order to ensure that tanks can still perform their role just as well as before.
Damage output by tanks will be increased, and their scaling with gear will be improved. This is being done so that tanks can stay in-line with damage dealers as a group gears up together.

Please note that many of these changes are preliminary, and we’ll be tweaking our changes based on testing and feedback. We’ll continue making adjustments as the Alpha moves along, until classes are in a more balanced state, and we look forward to hearing your thoughts throughout this process.

For more info on the latest Legion Alpha changes, see our summary thread: http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/20420212939

A lot of great discussion here, and we share a lot of the concerns (even the cynical ones), and will be doing our best to actually meet the stated goals.

Tanks will indeed have much more health than DPS; apologies if that was unclear. It's just that their total effective health can safely be in the 5-15x of a DPS range, doesn't need to be 50x. 50x is kinda silly. Raid bosses will still 1-shot DPS, and that's fine.

Healers are being adjusted with tank healing in mind.

The comments about tanks spending less time waiting for their turn to tank isn't an indication that they'll be expected to run around more, just that they'll have more engaging encounter gameplay.

We especially look forward to more feedback based on playtesting; thanks for what you've given so far! This is going to be an iterative process, and we'll keep adjusting based on it. It surely isn't perfect yet, but we'll keep reading, responding, and tweaking!

Are encounters going to be tuned to have longer time-to-kill for tanks as well?

I ask because in a world where tanks need to be actively healed, dying so quickly that they must be spammed all of the time (read: less than 3 or 4 seconds for 100-0) just leads to a WotLK situation where one person gets to spam the tank forever and everyone else ignores it and nothing is really any different.

I'd like to note that "use Active Mitigation to avoid X ability" isn't usually engaging gameplay. How about I use AM because it helps me survive a powerful attack, not because I get a debuff if I don't.

In regards to tank healing, I am very much a fan of "Many hits to be killed, many heals to be healed." This adds variety and allows the engaging task of healing prioritization (i.e. what makes healing fun).

Most of the posts on here have pretty much already spelled out the problem which is scaling. Once you start scaling these heals more than you scale the HP pools, you run into near instant top offs. Then this begins the slippery slope of competitive (raids) top offs, and the trivialization of mechanics. Then the mechanics become more bursty to make healing more engaging and the cycles repeat.

More attention needs to be paid to ensuring that the gear scaling doesn't lead to instant topping off, so that encounter design no longer needs to keep ratcheting damage to extremely bursty levels. Exponential gear curves work great for DPS, but terrible for healing and tanking. We are of a symbiotic relationship in this regard.

I echo the sentiments of other tanks in this thread regarding the removal of active mitigation abilities. Being responsible for accurately recognizing and appropriately responding to potential threats is fun, is engaging, and does not need to be changed. Requiring active responses to incoming damage increases the skill cap, and is one of the things that allows good tanks to outshine other more mediocre players.