Monk

Exploding Palm Monk Build

Uliana's Stratagem · Set build · Monk

  • Tier A in Season 40
  • 1,001 views
  • 2 variants

Uliana's Stratagem Exploding Palm for the Monk: tier A, Season 40, with gear, cube powers, gems and 2 variants.

As of Season 40 · by eRnstl · updated

Changes since Season 39

  • Tier: C → A
  • The fourth cube slot is gone (Season 39 only).

Active Skills

  1. L Way of the Hundred Fists Rune: Assimilation Physical
  2. R Seven-Sided Strike Rune: Sustained Attack Physical
  3. 1 Epiphany Rune: Desert Shroud
  4. 2 Cyclone Strike Rune: Implosion Holy
  5. 3 Dashing Strike Rune: Blinding Speed Cold
  6. 4 Exploding Palm Rune: Impending Doom Cold

Passive Skills

  • Beacon of Ytar
  • Mythic Rhythm
  • Harmony
  • The Guardian's Path

Equipment

11 set pieces · 2 legendary items

  • HelmUliana's SpiritSetDiamond
  • ShouldersUliana's StrengthSet
  • AmuletThe Traveler's PledgeSetBane of the Trapped
  • ChestUliana's HeartSetDiamondDiamondDiamond
  • GlovesUliana's FurySet
  • BracersGungdo GearLegendary
  • BeltCaptain Crimson's Silk GirdleSet
  • PantsCaptain Crimson's ThrustSetDiamondDiamond
  • BootsUliana's DestinySet
  • Ring 1Convention of ElementsLegendaryBane of the Stricken
  • Ring 2The Compass RoseSetGogok of Swiftness
  • Main HandShenlong's Fist of LegendSanctifiedSetEmerald
  • Off HandShenlong's Relentless AssaultSetEmerald

Kanai's Cube

  • WeaponThe Fist of Az'TurrasqLegendaryExploding Palm's on-death explosion damage is increased by 500%.
  • ArmorSpirit GuardsLegendaryYour Spirit Generators reduce your damage taken by 60% for 3 seconds.
  • JewelryRing of Royal GrandeurLegendary

Gear Stats

  • Uliana's Spirit

    Helm

    Diamond
    • +626–750 Dexterity ancient +825–1,000
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 4.5–6%
    • Increases Exploding Palm Damage by 10–15%
    • +2,401–2,880 Thorns Damage ancient +2,881–3,500
    • Socket
  • Uliana's Strength

    Shoulders

    • +416–500 Dexterity ancient +550–650
    • +91–100 Resistance to All Elements ancient +110–130
    • Chance to Deal 10–20% Area Damage on Hit.
    • Reduces cooldown of all skills by 5–8%.
    • +32–35% Extra Gold from Monsters
    • Increases Gold and Health Pickup by 1–2 Yards.
  • Uliana's Heart

    Chest Armor

    Diamond Diamond Diamond
    • +416–500 Dexterity ancient +550–650
    • +91–100 Resistance to All Elements ancient +110–130
    • Reduces damage from elites by 10–11%
    • Reduces damage from ranged attacks by 6–7%.
    • Increases Gold and Health Pickup by 1–2 Yards.
    • Socket
  • Uliana's Fury

    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%.
    • Increases Gold and Health Pickup by 1–2 Yards.
  • Gungdo Gear

    Bracers

    • +416–500 Dexterity ancient +550–650
    • Cold skills deal 15–20% more damage.
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 4.5–6%
    • +416–500 Vitality ancient +550–650
    • +141–160 Physical Resistance ancient +176–210
    Exploding Palm's on-death explosion applies Exploding Palm. Exploding Palm's damage is increased by 75–100%.
  • Captain Crimson's Silk Girdle

    Belt

    • +416–500 Dexterity ancient +550–650
    • +416–500 Vitality ancient +550–650
    • +91–100 Resistance to All Elements ancient +110–130
    • +10–15% Life
    • +5,334–7,696 Thorns Damage ancient +7,697–9,500
    • Increases Gold and Health Pickup by 1–2 Yards.
  • Captain Crimson's Thrust

    Pants

    Diamond Diamond
    • +416–500 Dexterity ancient +550–650
    • +416–500 Vitality ancient +550–650
    • +91–100 Resistance to All Elements ancient +110–130
    • Life per Hit
    • Increases Gold and Health Pickup by 1–2 Yards.
    • Socket
  • Uliana's Destiny

    Boots

    • +416–500 Dexterity ancient +550–650
    • +416–500 Vitality ancient +550–650
    • +91–100 Resistance to All Elements ancient +110–130
    • Increases Exploding Palm Damage by 10–15%
    • Increases Gold and Health Pickup by 1–2 Yards.
    • Health Globes and Potions Grant +20,001–29,713 Life. ancient +32,684–38,625
  • The Traveler's Pledge

    Amulet

    Bane of the Trapped
    • Cold skills deal 15–20% more damage.
    • Critical Hit Damage Increased by 51–100%
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 8–10%
    • +141–160 Poison Resistance ancient +176–210
    • Reduces damage from ranged attacks by 6–7%.
    • Socket
  • Convention of Elements

    Ring 1

    Bane of the Stricken
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 4.5–6%
    • Chance to Deal 10–20% Area Damage on Hit.
    • Physical Damage (Weapon)
    • 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.
  • The Compass Rose

    Ring 2

    Gogok of Swiftness
    • +416–500 Dexterity ancient +550–650
    • Critical Hit Damage Increased by 26–50%
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 4.5–6%
    • +141–160 Fire Resistance ancient +176–210
    • Chance to Deal 10–20% Area Damage on Hit.
    • Socket
  • Shenlong's Fist of Legend

    Main Hand

    Emerald
    • +6–10% Damage
    • Chance to Deal 16–24% Area Damage on Hit.
    • +13–15 Maximum Spirit
    • Reduces cooldown of all skills by 6–10%.
    • Socket
  • Shenlong's Relentless Assault

    Off Hand

    Emerald
    • +6–10% Damage
    • Chance to Deal 16–24% Area Damage on Hit.
    • +13–15 Maximum Spirit
    • Reduces cooldown of all skills by 6–10%.
    • Socket
Scoundrel

Scoundrel

Lyndon

Equipment

  • HelmCain's Insight
  • ShouldersHoming Pads
  • Chest ArmorGoldskin
  • GlovesGloves of Worship
  • BeltBlackthorne's Notched Belt
  • PantsCain's Habit
  • BootsIce Climbers
  • AmuletThe Flavor of Time
  • BracersNemesis Bracers
  • Ring 1Unity
  • Ring 2Oculus Ring
  • Main HandUnbound Bolt
  • Off HandEmpty
  • Scoundrel TokenEmpty

Skills

  1. Level 5
    • Kraftschuss
    • Verkrüppelnder Schuss
  2. Level 10
    • Anatomie
    • Hysterie
  3. Level 15
    • Mehrfachschuss
    • Durchschlagender Schuss
  4. Level 20
    • Nachtschleier
    • Verschwinden

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: Uliana's Stratagem
  • Rating: tier A across all classes
  • Kanai's Cube: The Fist of Az'Turrasq, Spirit Guards, Ring of Royal Grandeur
  • Skills: Way of the Hundred Fists (Assimilation), Seven-Sided Strike (Sustained Attack), Epiphany (Desert Shroud), Cyclone Strike (Implosion), Dashing Strike (Blinding Speed), Exploding Palm (Impending Doom)
  • Passives: Beacon of Ytar, Mythic Rhythm, Harmony, The Guardian's Path
  • Variants available: Torment 16 / Nephalem rifts, GR push
Use the variant switcher above to move between the versions. What changes between them is spelled out below — read it before you rebuild.

What the set does

This build wears Uliana's Stratagem. These bonuses apply once the matching number of set pieces is equipped — the damage multiplier hangs on them, not on the individual stats of the pieces:

  • 2 pieces: Every third hit of your Spirit Generators applies Exploding Palm.
  • 4 pieces: Your Seven-Sided Strike deals 777% its total damage with each hit. All damage taken is reduced by 77% for 7 seconds after applying Exploding Palm to an enemy.
  • 6 pieces: Increase the damage of your Exploding Palm by 12,500% and your Seven-Sided Strike detonates your Exploding Palm.

How the variants differ

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

  • Torment 16 / Nephalem rifts: swaps in skills Dashing Strike (Quicksilver), Epiphany (Insight), Mantra of Conviction (Annihilation); cube The Flow of Eternity, Leoric's Crown; gems Boon of the Hoarder, Molten Wildebeest's Gizzard.

Sockets and gems

The 3 legendary gems (Bane of the Trapped, Bane of the Stricken, Gogok of Swiftness) 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 Way of the Hundred Fists and Seven-Sided Strike powers apply, because it uses those skills. Which item is sanctified depends on the version: The Fist of Az'Turrasq (Torment 16 / Nephalem rifts) and Shenlong's Fist of Legend (GR push). 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 Exploding Palm Monk build (Uliana's Stratagem) in Season 40?

Good: it is rated tier A across all classes, just behind the top. It ranks #4 of our 7 Monk builds this season.

Which skills does the Exploding Palm Monk build (Uliana's Stratagem) use?

The skill bar holds Way of the Hundred Fists, Seven-Sided Strike, Epiphany, Cyclone Strike, Dashing Strike.

What goes into Kanai's Cube for the Exploding Palm Monk build (Uliana's Stratagem)?

Weapon: The Fist of Az'Turrasq, Armor: Spirit Guards, Jewelry: Ring of Royal Grandeur.

Which legendary gems does the Exploding Palm Monk build (Uliana's Stratagem) use?

The legendary gems are Bane of the Trapped, Bane of the Stricken, Gogok of Swiftness.

Which variants of the Exploding Palm Monk build (Uliana's Stratagem) are there?

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

Which follower suits the Exploding Palm Monk build (Uliana's Stratagem)?

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

Which stats matter for the Exploding Palm Monk build (Uliana's Stratagem)?

Prioritize these stats: Dexterity, Critical Hit Chance, Area Damage, Pickup Radius, All Resistance, Cooldown Reduction.

What are the alternatives for the Monk?