Mantra of Conviction

Mantra of Conviction

Mantra of Conviction is the most offensive of the monk's mantras. Passively it makes nearby enemies take more damage permanently, and with the active component you boost that effect significantly for a short time. Since it's a vulnerability bonus, the whole group benefits, which makes the mantra a popular tool in coordinated teams.

If you want to squeeze out the last bit of damage, Overawe is the obvious rune, because it raises the vulnerability value and so pushes everyone's damage even higher. When defense matters more, Intimidation flips the script and reduces the damage affected enemies deal, a useful buffer in dangerous spots. In builds that carry a mantra anyway and aim for maximum damage output, Conviction is therefore often the first choice.

Runes compared

• Overawe (from level 35): the passive vulnerability rises from 8% to 12%.
• Intimidation (level 44): affected enemies deal 15% less damage.
• Dishearten (level 47): also slows enemies by 80%.
• Annihilation (level 55): killing an affected enemy grants you and your allies 30% movement speed for 3 seconds. In practice this is the most common pick, since it keeps the pace high in dense packs.
• Submission (level 60): affected enemies take 38% weapon damage per second as Holy.

Carry it passively, fire it actively

The passive effect hits every enemy within 30 yards of you without a button press. The active part costs 50 Spirit and raises the bonus to 16% for 3 seconds, the same price as a Cyclone Strike. So you weigh where your Spirit is better spent at that moment. Epiphany eases that choice by supplying Spirit continuously.

Because only one Mantra can be active at a time, Mantra of Conviction pushes every other mantra off your bar.

Partners

Dashing Strike takes you quickly into fresh packs, where Annihilation keeps the speed coming. Seize the Initiative and Beacon of Ytar are common passives alongside it, and Near Death Experience catches fatal hits.

by eRnstl