![[PoE 2] BEST Skill for Martial Artist Build in 0.5? - Monk League Starter Showcase - Path of Exile 2](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zhT9n5XaXls/maxresdefault.jpg)
Overview
The new Martial Artist ascendancy arriving in 0.5 unlocks an unusually wide skill pool for Monk, and this guide walks through the main contenders Ronarray rates for a league start. The core conclusion is that Whirling Assault is the strongest all-round main skill thanks to its huge area coverage and natural synergy with the ascendancy’s bell mechanic, with Fallen Thunder slotted in as a screen-wide finisher. The build leans into hybrid physical and elemental damage, with Trinity scaling planned through Whirling Assault’s mixed-element output.
This page treats the video as a league-start recommendation rather than a single set build: the creator commits to Whirling Assault plus Fallen Thunder for his own launch, then ranks alternatives in order of expected viability. Ice Strike with Shattering Palm is presented as the most direct backup if Whirling Assault disappoints. Niche options like Tempest Flurry with Staggering Palm, dedicated Gathering Storm, Vine Viper-flavored variants, and Facebreaker mace hybrids are flagged as experimental rather than starter material.
At 0.5 launch the Martial Artist’s identity is the bell, and any skill that can hit clusters of summoned bells while also clearing packs gains an outsized advantage. Whirling Assault tops that test, which is why this draft uses it as the headline skill and downstreams everything else into the supporting cast.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Whirling Assault offers very large area coverage and reliably hits the Martial Artist’s bells for free damage amplification.
- Mixed elemental and physical output makes a Trinity-style multi-element scaling pattern realistic on the main skill.
- Fallen Thunder gives a screen-clearing finisher and a strong single-target option without backtracking.
- Wide skill flexibility means the build can pivot to Ice Strike plus Shattering Palm if Whirling Assault underperforms.
- Bell synergy benefits from the ascendancy’s design, so even budget setups feel impactful early.
Cons
- Identity is still tied to a fresh ascendancy, so first-week tuning may shift the optimal skill ranking.
- Fallen Thunder requires steady Power Charge generation, so the rotation has more upkeep than a single-button build.
- Backup skills like Ice Strike are heavily cold biased and lose the multi-element Trinity scaling path.
- Several alternative routes mentioned (Tempest Flurry plus Staggering Palm, Facebreaker mace hybrids) are speculative for 0.5.
Key Skills
- Whirling Assault — main attack; huge AoE that blankets packs and triggers bells for amplified damage.
- Fallen Thunder — screen-wide finisher used after Power Charges build up, doubles as a boss nuke.
- Shattering Palm — gap-closer and freeze-shard generator, the engine behind the Ice Strike backup plan.
- Ice Strike — listed pivot main skill if Whirling Assault fails to deliver, paired with Shattering Palm for freeze chains.
- Killing Palm — utility for generating crits and feeding Power Charges into Fallen Thunder.
Gear & Anointments
The video focuses on skill selection rather than specific item slots, so the gear plan is directional. Expect a Monk-typical evasion and energy-shield hybrid with stat sticks that push attack speed, accuracy, and elemental damage on top of the Whirling Assault base. Trinity-style scaling implies prioritising at least three elemental damage types on weapon and rings to keep the support active.
- Quarterstaff with added elemental damage and attack speed; specific uniques to be confirmed against the source video.
- Hybrid evasion and energy-shield body armour leaning into life and resistances.
- Rings and amulet rolled with attribute coverage to unlock supports and elemental damage for Trinity.
- Belt slot is open; the creator hints at returning to a hyper-speed-style belt only if Tempest Flurry routes prove out.
Endgame Notes
Endgame direction is to keep Whirling Assault as the clear engine and lean harder on Fallen Thunder for tougher rares and bosses. If Trinity scaling lands as expected, the ceiling rises substantially compared to the cold-biased Ice Strike backup. Gathering Storm is flagged as a potential boss-finisher swap depending on how its 0.5 bell interaction settles in practice, and may be worth testing once endgame currency is available.
Credits & Source
Build credited to Ronarray. See the source video for the full build’s gameplay footage + voice commentary: [PoE 2] BEST Skill for Martial Artist Build in 0.5? - Monk League Starter Showcase - Path of Exile 2.