Monk

Wave of Light Monk Build (No Set)

No set · Monk

  • Tier S in Season 40
  • 3,419 views
  • 3 variants

Legacy gem build Wave of Light for the Monk: tier S, Season 40, with gear, cube powers, gems and 3 variants.

As of Season 40 · by eRnstl · updated

Changes since Season 39

  • Tier: B → S
  • New on the skill bar: Serenity (Ascension)
  • Dropped from the skill bar: Way of the Hundred Fists (Assimilation)
  • The fourth cube slot is gone (Season 39 only).
  • New legendary gems: Bane of the Trapped
  • No longer used: Bane of the Stricken

Active Skills

  1. L Serenity Rune: Ascension
  2. R Wave of Light Rune: Explosive Light Fire
  3. 1 Cyclone Strike Rune: Implosion Holy
  4. 2 Dashing Strike Rune: Blinding Speed Cold
  5. 3 Mystic Ally Rune: Air Ally Physical
  6. 4 Epiphany Rune: Desert Shroud

Passive Skills

  • Seize the Initiative
  • Beacon of Ytar
  • Harmony
  • The Guardian's Path

Equipment

1 set piece · 12 legendary items

  • HelmTzo Krin's GazeLegendaryDiamond
  • ShouldersLefebvre's SoliloquyLegendary
  • AmuletSquirt's NecklaceLegendaryEnforcer
  • ChestCindercoatLegendaryDiamondDiamondDiamond
  • GlovesStone GauntletsLegendary
  • BracersPinto's PrideLegendary
  • BeltThe Witching HourLegendary
  • PantsBlackthorne's Jousting MailSetDiamondDiamond
  • BootsThe Crudest BootsLegendary
  • Ring 1Convention of ElementsLegendaryLegacy of Dreams
  • Ring 2UnityLegendaryBane of the Trapped
  • Main HandKyoshiro's BladeLegendaryEmerald
  • Off HandRabid StrikeSanctifiedLegendaryEmerald

Kanai's Cube

  • WeaponIncense Torch of the Grand TempleLegendaryReduces the Spirit cost of Wave of Light by 50% and increases its damage by 550%.
  • ArmorBindings of the Lesser GodsLegendaryEnemies hit by your Cyclone Strike take 200% increased damage from your Mystic Ally for 5 seconds. Split Fire Allies gain 3 times this bonus.
  • JewelryObsidian Ring of the ZodiacLegendaryReduce the remaining cooldown of one of your skills by 1 second when you hit with a resource-spending attack.

Gear Stats

  • Tzo Krin's Gaze

    Helm

    Diamond
    • +626–750 Dexterity ancient +825–1,000
    • +626–750 Vitality ancient +825–1,000
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 4.5–6%
    • Increases Wave of Light Damage by 125–150%
    • +141–160 Physical Resistance ancient +176–210
    • Socket
    Wave of Light is now cast at your enemy.
  • Lefebvre's Soliloquy

    Shoulders

    • +416–500 Dexterity ancient +550–650
    • +416–500 Vitality ancient +550–650
    • Chance to Deal 10–20% Area Damage on Hit.
    • Reduces cooldown of all skills by 5–8%.
    • +141–160 Physical Resistance ancient +176–210
    Cyclone Strike reduces your damage taken by 40–50% for 5 seconds.
  • Cindercoat

    Chest Armor

    Diamond Diamond Diamond
    • Fire skills deal 15–20% more damage.
    • +416–500 Dexterity ancient +550–650
    • Reduces damage from elites by 10–11%
    • +141–160 Fire Resistance ancient +176–210
    • Socket
    Reduces the resource cost of Fire skills by 23–30%.
  • Stone Gauntlets

    Gloves

    • Critical Hit Damage Increased by 26–50%
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 8–10%
    • Chance to Deal 10–20% Area Damage on Hit.
    • Reduces cooldown of all skills by 5–8%.
    Getting hit increases your armor by 50%, but reduces your movement speed by 15% and attack speed by 20%. This effect stacks up to 5 times.
  • Pinto's Pride

    Bracers

    • Fire skills deal 15–20% more damage.
    • +416–500 Dexterity ancient +550–650
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 4.5–6%
    • +141–160 Cold Resistance ancient +176–210
    Wave of Light also Slows enemies by 80% for 3 seconds and deals 125–150% increased damage.
  • The Witching Hour

    Belt

    • +416–500 Dexterity ancient +550–650
    • +416–500 Vitality ancient +550–650
    • Increases Attack Speed by 5–7%
    • Critical Hit Damage Increased by 26–50% ancient 51–100%
    • +141–160 Physical Resistance ancient +176–210
    • +32–35% Extra Gold from Monsters
  • Blackthorne's Jousting Mail

    Pants

    Diamond Diamond
    • +416–500 Dexterity ancient +550–650
    • Fire skills deal 15–20% more damage.
    • +416–500 Vitality ancient +550–650
    • +91–100 Resistance to All Elements ancient +110–130
    • Life per Hit
    • Socket
  • The Crudest Boots

    Boots

    • +416–500 Dexterity ancient +550–650
    • +416–500 Vitality ancient +550–650
    • +91–100 Resistance to All Elements ancient +110–130
    • Health Globes and Potions Grant +20,001–29,713 Life. ancient +32,684–38,625
    • Increases Wave of Light Damage by 10–15%
    Mystic Ally summons two Mystic Allies that fight by your side. They deal 150–200% increased damage and are able to attack with their active forms longer.
  • Squirt's Necklace

    Amulet

    Enforcer
    • +71–80% Extra Gold from Monsters
    • Critical Hit Damage Increased by 51–100%
    • Fire skills deal 15–20% more damage.
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 8–10%
    • +141–160 Poison Resistance ancient +176–210
    • Socket
    While not taking damage, damage dealt is increased by up to 100% and damage taken is increased by up to 50%.
  • Convention of Elements

    Ring 1

    Legacy of Dreams
    • Critical Hit Damage Increased by 26–50%
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 4.5–6%
    • Chance to Deal 10–20% Area Damage on Hit.
    • +141–160 Arcane Resistance ancient +176–210
    • Socket
    Gain 150–200% increased damage to a single element for 4 seconds. This non-static effect rotates through the elements available to your class in the following order: Arcane, Cold, Fire, Holy, Lightning, Physical, Poison.
  • Unity

    Ring 2

    Bane of the Trapped
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 4.5–6%
    • Damage against Elites
    • +141–160 Physical Resistance ancient +176–210
    • Critical Hit Damage Increased by 26–50%
    • Socket
    All damage taken is split between wearers of this item.
  • Kyoshiro's Blade

    Main Hand

    Emerald
    • +(981–1,199)–(1,175–1,490) Damage ancient +(1,318–1,560)–(1,609–1,940)
    • +6–10% Damage
    • Chance to Deal 16–24% Area Damage on Hit.
    • Reduces cooldown of all skills by 6–10%.
    • +13–15 Maximum Spirit
    • Socket
    When the initial impact of your Wave of Light hits 5 or fewer enemies, the damage is increased by 200–250%.
  • Rabid Strike

    Off Hand

    Emerald
    • Critical Hit Damage Increased by 26–50% ancient 51–100%
    • +(853–1,043)–(1,022–1,296) Damage ancient +(1,318–1,560)–(1,609–1,940)
    • Chance to Deal 16–24% Area Damage on Hit.
    • +13–15 Maximum Spirit
    • Reduces cooldown of all skills by 6–10%.
    • Socket
    Spirit spenders that teleport you while Epiphany is active are also mimicked on a nearby target with 350–450% increased damage for free.
Enchantress

Enchantress

Eirena

Equipment

  • HelmCain's Insight
  • ShouldersHoming Pads
  • Chest ArmorTal Rasha's Relentless Pursuit
  • GlovesGloves of Worship
  • BeltThe Witching Hour
  • PantsCain's Habit
  • BootsIce Climbers
  • AmuletThe Flavor of Time
  • BracersNemesis Bracers
  • Ring 1Unity
  • Ring 2Oculus Ring
  • Main HandThunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker
  • Off HandEmpty
  • Enchantress FocusEmpty

Skills

  1. Level 15
    • Betören
    • Temporaler Impuls (selected)
  2. Level 20
    • Prophetische Harmonie (selected)
    • Verstärkung
  3. Level 25
    • Energieschild (selected)
    • Erosion
  4. Level 30
    • Konzentrierter Geist (selected)
    • Aufschub des Schicksals

Gameplay

The configuration

This setup is stored as a complete build — gear, skills, runes and cube powers work together and are not assembled from individual statistics.

  • Set: no class set — Legacy gem build
  • Rating: tier S across all classes
  • Kanai's Cube: Incense Torch of the Grand Temple, Bindings of the Lesser Gods, Obsidian Ring of the Zodiac
  • Skills: Serenity (Ascension), Wave of Light (Explosive Light), Cyclone Strike (Implosion), Dashing Strike (Blinding Speed), Mystic Ally (Air Ally), Epiphany (Desert Shroud)
  • Passives: Seize the Initiative, Beacon of Ytar, Harmony, The Guardian's Path
  • Variants available: Speed farming, GR push, Torment 16 / Nephalem rifts
Use the variant switcher above to move between the versions. What changes between them is spelled out below — read it before you rebuild.

How the variants differ

Measured against the push version. Anything not listed here stays the same:

  • Speed farming: swaps in skills Mantra of Healing (Circular Breathing).
  • Torment 16 / Nephalem rifts: swaps in skills Epiphany (Insight), Blinding Flash (Faith in the Light), Dashing Strike (Quicksilver), Mantra of Healing (Circular Breathing); cube Goldwrap; gems Zei's Stone of Vengeance, Boon of the Hoarder.

Sockets and gems

The 3 legendary gems (Enforcer, Legacy of Dreams, Bane of the Trapped) belong in the jewellery slots (rings and amulet). Urshi can upgrade them after a Greater Rift whether they are socketed, in your inventory or in your stash.

The remaining 8 sockets are filled with regular gems: Diamond (6) and Emerald (2).

On the season theme

In Season 40, Angelic Crucibles sanctify a legendary item: perfect Ancient-level stats plus one of three powers of your class at random. You can only wear one Sanctified item at a time. For this build the Wave of Light power applies, because it uses that skill. This build sanctifies Rabid Strike, marked in the gear above. Since the power is rolled at random, a Sanctified item can be sanctified again with another Crucible. All powers are listed on the Season 40 page.

FAQ

How good is the Wave of Light Monk build without a set in Season 40?

Very good: it is rated tier S across all classes and is one of the strongest builds of the season. It ranks #1 of our 7 Monk builds this season.

Which skills does the Wave of Light Monk build without a set use?

The skill bar holds Serenity, Wave of Light, Cyclone Strike, Dashing Strike, Mystic Ally.

What goes into Kanai's Cube for the Wave of Light Monk build without a set?

Weapon: Incense Torch of the Grand Temple, Armor: Bindings of the Lesser Gods, Jewelry: Obsidian Ring of the Zodiac.

Which legendary gems does the Wave of Light Monk build without a set use?

The legendary gems are Enforcer, Legacy of Dreams, Bane of the Trapped.

Which variants of the Wave of Light Monk build without a set are there?

3 variants: GR push, Speed farming, Torment 16 / Nephalem rifts. Switch between them with the variant selector above; the differences are listed in the gameplay section.

Which follower suits the Wave of Light Monk build without a set?

Recommended follower: Enchantress, equipped with Cain's Insight, Gloves of Worship, Homing Pads, Cain's Habit.

Which stats matter for the Wave of Light Monk build without a set?

Prioritize these stats: Dexterity, Critical Hit Chance, Critical Hit Damage, Vitality, Area Damage, Physical Resistance.

What are the alternatives for the Monk?

Other builds of the same class, ranked by tier: Raiment of a Thousand Storms Monk Build: Tier S; Wave of Light Monk Build (Monkey King's Garb): Tier A; Exploding Palm Monk Build: Tier A.