Introduction
When it comes to gearing up your Brewmaster Monk in Dragonflight, there are several ways to obtain the best gear for your tanking needs. Whether it’s through raiding, Mythic+, or crafting, there are options available at every stage of your journey. This guide will help you navigate through the gear choices and provide recommendations for the best-in-slot items for your Brewmaster Monk.
Gearing Strategy
Initially, your gear progression will come from exploring Zaralak Cavern and The Forbidden Reach. As a Brewmaster Monk, it’s generally recommended to prioritize higher item-level gear while avoiding unnecessary Haste. Rings can be an exception, as they don’t have Agility or Armor, but you can still equip a higher item-level ring regardless of its stats. It’s important to simulate gear upgrades to determine if they are beneficial for offensive or defensive purposes.
Mythic+ and PvP Gear
It’s worth noting that this guide does not include gear obtained from PvP. If you’re interested in recommended crafted gear, please refer to the relevant section below.
Crafting and Upgrading
Dragonflight Season 2 introduces Flightstones and Shadowflame Crests, two new currencies that can be obtained from various content. These can be used to upgrade gear up to Item Level 447, both from Mythic Raid drops and crafted gear. Crafted gear offers the flexibility to customize secondary stats and equip optional embellishments that enhance your character’s performance.
Recommended Crafted Gear
Crafted gear in Dragonflight Season 2 can be tailored to suit your specific needs. Here are some recommendations for gear that is generally useful for all Brewmaster Monks:
- Slimy Expulsion Boots and Toxified Armor Patch: Crafted with Leatherworking, these boots provide bonus Nature damage to your target at the expense of reduced Haste. The Toxified Armor Patch can further enhance this effect. Craft and upgrade these boots as a priority.
- Armor and accessories, such as Life-Bound Chestpiece and Torc of Passed Time: Crafted through Leatherworking and Jewelcrafting respectively, these pieces offer more flexibility in obtaining desired secondary stats.
- Needlessly Complex Wristguards: These bracers, created by Engineers, have a unique tinker socket and provide a single secondary stat. They can be used by any class, even if you’re not an Engineer.
- Weapons, such as Primal Molten Longsword: Crafted by Blacksmithing, these weapons offer a power boost and can be equipped with various embellishments.
- Elemental Lariat: Created through Jewelcrafting, this necklace’s effectiveness depends on the number of socketed gems. It’s best used once you have obtained all possible sockets.
Crafted Gear and Embellishments
Crafted gear can be enhanced with optional embellishments, which provide additional effects. Take note of the following:
- Embellishments can be added manually with extra reagents.
- Crafted gear allows you to specify your secondary stats, providing more options for customization.
- You can have up to two effects from embellishments on your crafted gear at a time.
- Alchemical Flavor Pocket is a unique effect that is not considered an embellishment but adds quality of life.
Tier Sets and Set Bonuses
Aberrus introduces new Tier sets for Brewmaster Monks. Wearing multiple pieces of the set unlocks special bonuses:
- Monk Brewmaster 10.1 Class Set 2pc: Increases Blackout Kick damage by 20% and has a chance to retain Mastery: Elusive Brawler stacks on a successful dodge.
- Monk Brewmaster 10.1 Class Set 4pc: Rising Sun Kick grants a stack of Mastery: Elusive Brawler, and when you dodge, your next Spinning Crane Kick or Rising Sun Kick gains increased damage and Critical Strike chance.
It’s recommended to prioritize acquiring the set bonuses over obtaining the “correct” pieces. However, it’s worth noting that you can ignore the Chest piece in favor of the remaining four slots to achieve both equipment bonuses.
Onyx Annulet and Primordial Gemstones
The Onyx Annulet is a unique ring with three primordial sockets that can be obtained from The Forbidden Reach. It can hold Primordial Gemstones that offer powerful effects. While it remains a viable option, it is eventually outclassed by other rings at higher item levels. However, during your time at The Forbidden Reach, you’ll also acquire catch-up gear that can be valuable if you missed out on previous content.
Weapons
Brewmaster Monks can choose between dual-wielding one-handed weapons or using a two-handed weapon. The choice depends on various factors:
- Dual-wielding increases autoattack damage, while a two-handed weapon enhances ability damage.
- Enchanting dual-wielded weapons compensates for the difference in ability damage.
- Simulating your character is recommended to determine the best offensive option based on your current weapons.
Unique Weapons
Dragonflight Season 2 offers unique weapons with special effects for Brewmaster Monks. Here are some notable options:
- Bile-Stained Crawg Tusks: These fist weapons deal additional Nature damage over time and can stack up to three times. Dual-wielding these weapons provides a significant damage boost.
- Forgestorm: This one-handed mace ignites and deals bonus AoE damage with every attack. It’s an excellent option to pair with Bile-Stained Crawg Tusks.
- Borrowed Time: This two-handed polearm grants Timestrike, giving your attacks a chance to create an echo of their damage. Its effectiveness depends on the number of sockets you have, but it may not be as powerful as the other weapons.
- Djaruun, Pillar of the Elder Flame: This two-handed polearm has an on-use effect that deals damage to nearby enemies and enhances Fire damage for 10 seconds. It can be useful under certain circumstances.
Trinkets
Trinkets offer versatility in terms of offensive and defensive options. It’s essential to keep a variety of trinkets and swap them according to the situation. Here are some notable trinkets for Brewmaster Monks:
- Beacon to the Beyond: This on-use trinket provides a significant damage boost. It’s recommended as your primary damage trinket.
- Dragonfire Bomb Dispenser: This on-use trinket allows you to plant a bomb on your target that detonates after seven seconds. It offers additional AoE damage and can proc extra charges.
- Ward of Faceless Ire: This on-use trinket applies a large absorb shield to an ally, including yourself. It comes with a small DoT effect if the shield is depleted. It’s a useful defensive option.
Prismatic Sockets and Enchantment
Once you obtain gear with prismatic sockets, you can customize them further with gems and enchantments. Visit our dedicated page for more details on gems, enchants, and consumables.
By following these recommendations, you can effectively gear up your Brewmaster Monk for maximum performance in Dragonflight Season 2. Good luck on your adventures!
