Fists of Thunder

Active Skill · Primary · Monk

5 Runes
From level 1

Effect

Generate: 14 Spirit per attack

Teleport to your target and unleash a series of extremely fast punches that deal 200% weapon damage as Lightning.

Every third hit deals 400% weapon damage as Lightning split between all enemies in front of you.

Runes

5 Runes

Thunderclap

from level 6 · Lightning damage · Proc coefficient 0.427

Release an electric shockwave with every punch that hits all enemies within 6 yards of your primary enemy for 120% weapon damage as Lightning and causes knockback with every third hit.
Wind Blast

from level 14 · Cold damage · Proc coefficient 0.855

Every third hit Freezes enemies for 2 seconds.

Fists of Thunder's damage turns into Cold.
Static Charge

from level 30 · Lightning damage · Proc coefficient 0.427

Fists of Thunder applies Static Charge to enemies hit for 6 seconds. Each time an enemy with Static Charge gets hit by you, there is a chance that every other enemy with Static Charge within 40 yards takes 40% weapon damage as Lightning.
Quickening

from level 42 · Physical damage · Proc coefficient 0.855

Increase Spirit generated to 20.

Fists of Thunder's damage turns into Physical.
Bounding Light

from level 52 · Holy damage · Proc coefficient 0.855

Every third hit also releases arcs of holy power, dealing 240% weapon damage as Holy to up to 3 additional enemies.

The proc coefficient scales the chance of on-hit effects (e.g. legendary powers, gems, Life per Hit) for each hit of the skill. Game files, version 2.8.0.

Fists of Thunder

Fists of Thunder is one of the monk's most versatile spirit generators because it elegantly combines mobility and resource building. With each use you briefly teleport to your target and unleash a lightning-fast flurry, and every third strike splits extra damage across all foes in front of you. That little teleport element makes it the perfect generator for a highly mobile playstyle, since you leap seamlessly from target to target.

For more resource security, players reach for Quickening, which raises the spirit generated and so reliably funds expensive spenders. If you lean toward crowd control instead, Wind Blast freezes enemies on every third strike, offering both protection and synergy with damage-amplifying effects. Thanks to its speed and constant gap-closing to the enemy, Fists of Thunder is the default generator of choice in countless builds.

Thunderclap, Static Charge and Bounding Light

Fists of Thunder is available from level 1:

Thunderclap (level 6): every punch releases a shockwave that hits all enemies within 6 yards of the primary target for 120% weapon damage; every third hit knocks back.
Static Charge (level 30): enemies hit carry a charge for 6 seconds. Whenever you hit a charged enemy, there is a chance that every other charged enemy within 40 yards takes 40% weapon damage.
Bounding Light (level 52): every third hit also arcs to up to 3 additional enemies for 240% Holy damage.

Wind Blast (level 14) Freezes for 2 seconds on every third hit, and Quickening (level 42) raises Spirit per attack from 14 to 20.

The teleport as a tool

The built-in teleport to your target sets Fists of Thunder apart from the other generators. You reach distant enemies without walking and can pick a far target on purpose to reposition. Dashing Strike complements this as a second source of movement.

Fists of Thunder in the generator rotation

Fists of Thunder often shares the bar with Crippling Wave, Way of the Hundred Fists and Deadly Reach. The Combination Strike passive rewards exactly this kind of alternation: each generator you use empowers the others. Fists of Thunder takes the role of the mobile generator that carries you to the next target, while Epiphany rounds out the rotation.

by eRnstl