Hi there buddies
I am Asherdoom (Zangwa in game) Brew master monk in Frostwolf as monk (before and after wipe) and i really loved this class since i tested it in retail MOP.
Just to clarify: I AM NOT THE SUPERWORLD CHAMPION i just write here AS PER my experience what is better or not. AVOID FLAMING OR TROLLING i wanna help newcomers in monk tank to find their place in raid! :D
Things to keep in mind about tank monks:
-Most people may think you are useless
-Most people will ask you respec healer
-If you're not dedicated to the class/spec, then you're useless
-without minimal consumable & bis stuff i listed here, in raid you will be useless
-Once you get 505+ilvl , you will not be useless anymore
so let's start shall we? :)
SUMMARY
1. Why brewmaster monk?
1.1 Races
2. Talents
3. STATS
4. reforge
5. gemming/echanting
6. glyph
7. Passive and active abilities
8. how to tank
9. Gearing up
10. Bugs
11. Videos
12. conclusion
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1) Why Brewmaster monk?
Brewmaster monks are TOTALLY different from the classic ones: unlike paladin and warriors we have no shield and unlike dk we do not have any plate armor. We do not shift in bear like druids and even less, we do not benefit from any super cool down like shield wall.
So you can ask: what are the advantages?
simple!
First of all we got a unique mechanic: STAGGER (explained later)
second we have , thanks to skills and passives, A LOT of absorbs and avoidance /self halings
we do not need to have mana like paladins or afraid to be rage starved like warriors, we use energy! :D
Monk is super funny! you will have also good times in raid thanks to a vast repertory of AOE threat skills and single target skills (explained later)
Remember that you will have a lot of buttons to smash during raid so i will add a keybinding guide! :D
1.1) RACES
Horde:
Troll: passive regeneration and root/snare reduction. 20%atk speed on demand.
Tauren: Warstomp (aoe stun) and 5%increased basic healt. Nature resistance
Orcs: pet dmg increased (lol), Blood fury, increases attack and ranged power. stun resistance.
Blood elf: AOE silence and replenish energy. Arcane resistance. Enchating skill increased.
Goblin: Rocket jump (blink with 2 mins cd), rocket barrage (like WOTLK engineering rocket on gloves, 2 min cd), 1%haste, merchant skill (lel)
Undead: Shadow resistance. Touch of grave and will of the forsaken. Cannibalize.
For horde i play troll because like it. If you are interested in stats only, Tauren is best choice for tanking thanks to health and aoe stun.
Alliance:
Human : pvp trinket and increased spirit. Skill with maces and swords increased.
Dwarfs: stoneform (10%dmg reduction and remove bleeds/ poisons ) rest is garbage
Gnome: Free trinket vs snare /roots and increased intellect. Arcane resistance
Drenei: Heroic presence and Gift of naaru (heal). JC skill increased.
Worgen: 1% crit and racial sprint. Shadow resistance.
Night Elfs: increase dodge chance and shadow meld. Nature resistance.
For alliance i would go dwarf: stone form is very strong. Gnome is just meh!!!! :(
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2)Talents
http://freecode.hu/wowtal2/eng/#lXo
this is the way i like it: remember that unlike other expansions some talents are NOT mandatory over others! I explain why i had chosen this way
Celerity: More rolls allowing my monk to have a extra mobility. it does not cost any chi or energy and is totally passive.
Chi Wave: like previous talent this costs nothing and is like Chain Heal of shammy who damage opponents! when u get more gear it will heal a lot and do nice damage, helping raid wise. (i don't take sphere because heal is too low compared to chi wave and range very shrinker. Chi burst is not working at all in molten)
Chi Brew: free chi for all! ascension not worth for have only 1 chi more and power strikes is not op at all for tanking it gives you no hard bonus. Chi brew can be considered a OH **** button, allowing you to use Guard in case you have not enough chi or use a breath of fire or blackout kick to have shuffle buff more often. Priceless!
Chargin Ox wave: I use that because i cal aoe pull trash and then stun em all all together. unlike Leg sweep it has 15 sec less cd and is ranged. Leg sweep is good if you have all mobs on 5 yards from you (quite hard thug)
Healing elixirs: why not pick this? Free heal passive every 18 seconds means less stress on your healer and if using an elixir at full health it will not consume charge. With this talent the healers will LOVE you. (less mana spent to heal more durability
Rushing Jade wind: Best aoe threat skill (apart taunt). With this you will NEVER worry about mobs running from you. It will also generate CHI (vital for aoe threat) making you do Rushing then jab then breath of fire (explained later)
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3) STATS
The stats priority is as follows: (Thanks to ZodiotheHuman for updating on stats and fixes)
-For DPS tanking, your stat priority will be Agility>Hit/Exp cap>Haste>Crit>Mastery>Dodge=Parry.
-For heavy mitigation tanking, Agility>Hit/Exp cap>Mastery>Crit>Haste>Dodge=Parry.
Agility: our main stats, adds Attack power and small dodge increase per point (0.15%).
Hit cap: on molten wow is enough have 4.5% (you will never miss) instead of 7.5% [tested a lot in raid]
Expertise: same as above.
Dodge/parry: In case is better you go for parry instead of dodge, because dodge has diminishing returns higher than parry. You must reforge all excess stats in PARRY then if gear allow (hardly) go for dodge.
Mastery: i put as last because our mastery is not a crit block. stagger is nice but with previous stats capped hardly you will sustain tons of dmg. Still a nice stats to enchant.
WHY NO CRIT???
Simple. Only stacking agility in full 496 tea u got roughly 30%crit. Elusive brews is bugged atm and is proccing from auto attack and skill crit AND some spell usage like rushing jade wind and tiger palm (even if they don't crit). In this situation is not a considered stats because u prefer going haste instead (attack faster=more tps). Once some fix will hit us the stat priority will become the following:
AGILITY>HIT CAP/EXPERTISECAP>Crit>DODGE/PARRY>MASTERY>HASTE
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4. REFORGE
HIT /EXP capped
HASTE avoid it. not scaling yet. When will get fixed up to 4000 points.
mastery
Dodge=parry
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5.GEMMING/ENCHANTING
Shoulder
Greater Tiger Claw Inscription(Scribe's variant)
Cloak
Accuracy
Greater Protection
Superior Critical Strike
Chest
Glorious Stats
Superior Stamina
Bracers
Greater Agility
Major Dodge
Fur Lining - Agility (Leatherworkers Only)
Fur Lining - Stamina (Leatherworkers Only)
Gloves
Superior Expertise
Greater Haste
Superior Mastery
Legs
Shadowleather Leg Armor(Leatherworker's Variant)
Boots
Blurred Speed
Greater Haste
Greater Precision
Weapon
Dancing Steel
Windsong
#3.3: Gemming
Red Socket
Deft Vermilion Onyx
Deadly Vermilion Onyx
Wicked Vermilion Onyx
Crafty Vermilion Onyx
Yellow Socket
Quick Sun's Radiance
Smooth Sun's Radiance
Blue Socket
Forceful Wild Jade
Jagged Wild Jade
Lightning Wild Jade
Piercing Wild Jade
Yellow sockets
ignore bonus and put a red one.
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6. GLYPHS
Leer of the Ox (Avoid is bugged)
Clash (50 yards range are nice instead of 40)
Breath of fire (helps on trash mobs)
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7. PASSIVE AND ACTIVE ABILITIES
Active abilities
Blackout Kick (give shuffle passive buff increasing stagger amount by 20%)
Breath of Fire (aoe dmg fire based leave a dot if before keg smash used on mobs)
Dizzying Haze (ranged slow aoe)
Expel Harm (self heal)
Jab (main CHI generator)
Keg Smash (read above ^_^)
Spinning Crane Kick (replaced by rushing jade wind. Aoe dmg)
Tiger Palm (costs NOTHING. is our filler. gives 30% armor pierce. SPAM IT!)
Touch of Death (FINISH HIM!)
Clash (charge)
Detox (dispel poison/diseases)
Healing Sphere (huge heal for little energy self or raid sustain)
Legacy of the Emperor (passive buff)
Paralysis (incapacitate ranged)
Provoke (our only taunt, actually is AOE)
Roll (our main mobility skill)
Spear Hand Strike (kick)
Summon Black Ox Statue (raid buff shields aoe!)
Transcendence (teleport like warlock one. you must replace it after use)
Transcendence: Transfer
Avert harm (raid dmg reduction)
Elusive Brew (our evasion)
Fortifying Brew (last stand with 20%dmg reduction)
Grapple Weapon (disarm)
Guard (our nice self shield. use whenever off cd)
Nimble Brew (remove cc)
Purifying Brew (our other nice ability. remove staggered dmg)
Zen Meditation (90%dmg reducion. later explained)
PASSIVE:
Brewmaster Training (gives passive to skills mentioned above)
Brewing: Elusive Brew (increses charge of elusive brews each time we attack dmg)
Desperate Measures (expel harm have no cd if under 35% health)
Gift of the Ox (spawn heal sphere when we deal dmg)
Mastery: Elusive Brawler (increase stagger dmg)
Stance of the Sturdy Ox (defensive stance for monks)
Swift Reflexes (increse 5% parry and each parry we counter attack for extra dmg)
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7. HOW TO TANK
Multi target:
use clash or dizzying haze. run to enemy. SUMMON OX STATUE
keg smash>breath of fire>rushing jade wind>chi wave>expel harm(use both in cd)>Guard if available chi.
To help ya:
Apply Guard when available BUT AFTER USING TIGER PALM (increase guard amount by 20%) and then in case of need use Ox wave to stun adds and give your healers a break from dmg.
LEAVE ONE CHI FOR PURIFYING BREW: removes staggered dmg!
Single Target:
Clash it. SUMMON OX STATUE
Keg smash>jab>tiger palm>jab>blackout kick>Jab>filler(chi wave or expel harm)>guard>second filler (expel harm or chi wave)>repeat
To help you identify the spells:
LEAVE ONE CHI FOR PURIFYING BREW: removes staggered dmg!
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A BRIEF NOTE ON STAGGER :D
Stagger: Whenever you take damage, 80% of damage happen instantly and the remaining will be applied over 10 seconds. MASTERY INCREASE THE DAMAGE STAGGERED
so how it works?
Assume you receive a hit of 100k dmg. 80k is done instantly. 20k are done OVER 10 seconds, like a DOT
IF you use purifying brew, you will NEGATE (not get) the staggered damage.
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CONSUMABLES
Flask: Flask of Spring Blossoms
Elixirs: Elixir of the Rapids, Mad Hozen Elixir, Elixir of Weaponry, or Elixir of Perfection and Mantid Elixir, Monk's Elixir, or Elixir of Mirrors
Cooking
Great Pandaren Banquet, Pandaren Banquet, Chun Tian Spring Rolls, Spicy Vegetable Chips, Spicy Salmon or Sea Mist Rice Noodles.
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9. GEARING UP
FIRST as soon as you get to 90 get Contender set from AH or guild mate.
After that the item list is as follows (PRE RAID BIS):
HEAD: RedSmoke Bandana http://www.wowhead.com/item=89300/red-smoke-bandana
NECK:Amulet of the Hidden Kings http://www.wowhead.com/item=86047/am...e-hidden-kings
SHOULDERS: Imperion Spaulders http://www.wowhead.com/item=89341/imperion-spaulders
BACK: Arrow Breaking Windcloak http://www.wowhead.com/item=86082/ar...king-windcloak
CHEST: Softfoot Silentwrap http://www.wowhead.com/item=89431/softfoot-silentwrap
WRIST: Quillapw family Bracers http://www.wowhead.com/item=88884/qu...family-bracers
HAND: Finger of the Loneliest Monk http://www.wowhead.com/item=88744/fi...loneliest-monk
WAIST: Klaxxi Lash of the Borrower http://www.wowhead.com/item=89060/kl...f-the-borrower
LEGS: Stoneflesh Leggings http://www.wowhead.com/item=85926/stoneflesh-leggings
FEET: Tukka-Tuk's hairy Boots http://www.wowhead.com/item=88868/tu...ks-hairy-boots
RINGS: Anji's Keepsake http://www.wowhead.com/item=89070/anjis-keepsake /// Tyrannical Gladiator's Ring of Accuracy OR cruelty one.
TRINKETS: Darkmoon card (Tiger set or Oxenset are nice) , Lao Chin's Liquid Courage http://www.wowhead.com/item=89079/la...liquid-courage
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10. BUG SECTION
The tanking monk bugs are as follows (will be updated regularly!!!). This list DO NOT cover other specs other than brewmaster monk.
-Monk Brews and Tea - Double Gain Chance here
-Invoke Xuen The White Tiger here
-Healing Elixirs here
Chi Brew - Talent here
Chi Wave - Talent here
Way of the Monk here
Chi - General here
Touch of Death here
T15 Brewmaster 2P Bonus here
Provoke here
Provoke and Leer of the OX here
Breath of Fire here
Nimble Brew here
Gift of the Ox Passive here
Charging Ox Wave here
Glyph of the Leer Ox here
Brewmaster Debuff here
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11. VIDEOS
Spoiler:Show
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CONCLUSION
I hope someone will find this guide helpful. I will keep it updated as soon as molten release content and stuff. Feel free to contact me in game (Zangwa, horde troll) if any doubt. Hope to see ya in game fellow Brewmasters!