Overview
This build is an endgame refinement of the popular “spin-to-win” Hollow Form Whirling Assault Monk, built around a low-cost defensive item that the creator rates as one of the strongest chest options available in 0.5. The core loop stays the same — channel Hollow Form to spawn clones that mirror your Whirling Assault, generate power charges through Way of the Stonefist and Locronial Caress, and let those charges triple your damage — but the focus here is on stacking defence for almost free.
The centrepiece is the Forgotten Warden “Primal Markings” chest. On a hybrid evasion / energy-shield base it grants up to 100 deflection rating per 50 missing energy shield, so the lower your shield drops in combat, the harder you are to hit. The creator reports a 75% deflect chance at low shield while having spent almost no passive points on deflection, freeing the tree to go all-in on evasion. The chest also grants a free Spirit Vessel companion that applies elemental exposure (a real damage boost since the build gains a large slice of its hits as lightning) and access to Anomalous Tithe’s budget-headhunter modifier rolls.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Enormous, near-free defence from the Forgotten Warden chest — deflection scales as your shield drops
- Lets you skip deflection nodes entirely and pour the tree into pure evasion
- One-button screen-wide clear via Hollow Form clones and Whirling Assault
- Free companion applies exposure and grants budget-headhunter style map mods
- Way of the Mountain provides permanent stun immunity and heavy effective damage reduction
Cons
- The unique chest carries no resistances, so you must cap elemental res elsewhere
- Mana-hungry — needs mana-cost-efficiency nodes or a mana-regen roll to feel smooth
- Movement is sluggish without the Mobility support while channelling
- High-end weapon and support gems get expensive to perfect
Key Skills
- Whirling Assault — the main spin attack, the build’s primary clear and damage
- Hollow Form — channels clones that inherit your stats and triple Whirling Assault damage
- Hollow Focus — spawns bells around you for buffs, power charges and rage generation
- Oil Barrage (via Spirit Vessel) — free companion skill that applies elemental exposure
- Rend (weapon swap) — fast attack to apply the Rend buff for added lightning damage
Gear & Anointments
Weapon is a high-DPS quarterstaff — the creator uses a Duality runemaster staff for its very high flat damage, around 5-10 divine, as a budget alternative to a perfect rare. The mandatory unique is Locronial Caress gloves (enables charge generation for allies/clones) and the new Forgotten Warden Primal Markings chest. Anoint mana-efficiency or regen nodes to solve sustain; Tribal Fury is suggested as a strong but pricier AoE damage anoint. Hybrid evasion/ES bases on the remaining slots.
Endgame Notes
The chest tech is what pushes this from “tanky” to “nearly unkillable” in maps, and the Anomalous Tithe abyssal modifiers make it a strong rarity/farming setup. The creator notes the build clears all map content comfortably and plans a cheaper sub-1-divine starter variant in a follow-up.
Credits & Source
Build credited to NickTew. See the source video for the full build’s gameplay footage and voice commentary: New Chest Tech! Updated Best Spin To Win Martial Artist Build Guide - 0.5 Path of Exile 2.