Diablo Immortal is bringing the dungeon-crawling series to mobile in a free-to-play fashion later this year. Its announcement in 2018 was largely met with a negative reaction from fans of the series who were hoping for a more traditional entry, but interest has grown in the game as it has entered its closed alpha. While Diablo Immortal brings a lot of new features to the series, like making it an MMORPG, it does feature six classes that have all previously appeared across the series' storied history.
Diablo Immortal's Primary Attributes
Diablo Immortal features five primary attributes that players will put points into as they level up their characters throughout the game. Each point put into any attribute will raise a character's Offense and Defense Rating, so no matter what players will increase in power, but tackling Diablo Immortal's endgame content will require players to smartly allocate their points depending on their class. The benefits of each attribute also vary depending on what class a player has chosen, so players will have to make sure they understand how they affect each class when they start a new character.
- Strength: Strength is of the utmost importance when playing a Monk character, as it directly impacts the character's damage.
- Fortitude: Fortitude is a very important attribute to have raised by the time Monk players reach the endgame modes of Diablo Immortal. Fortitude increases a Monk's Armor and Armor Penetration attributes. These attributes become very important when facing high-level enemies later on in Diablo Immortal as players have to get through their defense to even deal any damage to them.
- Vitality: Vitality raises a Monk's hit points. Players will likely want to invest some points into this primary attribute, but shouldn't do so too heavily. While staying alive is obviously important, Diablo Immortal does not feature a hardcore permadeath mode, so players will not have to make very tanky characters out of fear of losing them forever.
- Willpower: Willpower is not a very useful primary attribute for Monks to invest in. Willpower increases their Potency and Resistance, which increases both the damage done by their inflicted status effects as well as weakening enemy status effects on your character. Monk players may want to invest some points into Willpower to increase their status effect resistance, but it is not worth investing in too heavily.
- Intelligence: Intelligence only provides Monks with an increase to their Offense and Defense Rating, which putting a point in any other primary attribute also provides as a base. Monk players should avoid putting any points into Intelligence completely.
Primary Skills for Monks in Diablo Immortal
Each class in Diablo Immortal can have one Primary Skill equipped at any given time and they each have access to two of them. The Primary Skill is the main attack that players will use as it has no cooldown or mana cost as well as determining what ultimate ability the Monk can use. One of the Primary Skills is available immediately when players start a fresh Monk character while the other has to be unlocked by leveling the character up. Every skill also can be leveled up to a max rank as well as being boosted by equipping different charms.
Fists of Thunder: This Primary Skill is the base attack that every Monk will start with, and can be leveled up to rank 11 or up to 14 with the right charm equipped. Fists of Thunder allows monks to teleport to a nearby enemy before unleashing a flurry of punches that each hit for a range of damage that depends on the Monk's attributes and gear. Monks can only teleport again after performing a three-hit combo. Fists of Thunder also equips the Ultimate Ability Lightning Flux. This Ultimate Ability lasts for 12 seconds and buffs the Monk's Fists of Thunder so that they can teleport on each hit and generate a small thunderstorm when they kill an enemy. It also grants the monk a shield that lasts 3 seconds and blocks 20% of their maximum health in damage.
Deadly Reach: Monks will unlock Deadly Reach after reaching Level 34. It can only reach rank 4 or 7 with charms equipped. Deadly Reach is a more ranged attack option for Monks, as it projects lines of force energy that pierce through enemies and damage enemies behind them as well. Deadly Reach also grants the Diablo Immortal's Release Force Ultimate Ability. Release Force buffs Deadly Reach for 12 seconds so that it also knocks all enemies it hits away from the Monk. It also grants the Monk a shield that works exactly like the one given from using Lightning Flux.
Active Skills for Monks in Diablo Immortal
Classes in Diablo Immortal also unlock 10 different Active Skills as they level up, and can equip up to four of them at any given time. The Active Skills that Monks can choose from range from damaging and controlling enemies to buffing the Monk.
Cyclone Strike: Cyclone Strike is one of two Active Skills Monks have access to at level one. Cyclone Strike generates a vortex that damages enemies while also pulling them into a large group that is easier to attack.
Flying Kick: Flying Kick is also available to Monks at level one. Monks can stack up to three charges of it, which send the Monk flying forward through enemies and knocking them away when used. It also can rebound off walls and damage enemies again if aimed properly. Flying Kick is both great for damaging enemies as well as making the Monk one of Diablo Immortal's most mobile classes.
Wave Strike: Wave Strike will be the first skill that Monks unlock at level three. When used, it sends out a wave of energy that carries enemies with it and explodes at the end of its range to damage all of them. It deals good damage and is also a great way for Monks to control enemy crowds.
Seven-Sided Strike: This skill unlocks at level eight and lets the Monk quickly dash between nearby enemies to deliver seven total strikes. However, repeated hits on an enemy only deal half damage so it is best used on large crowds.
Shield of Zen: This skill is unlocked at level 18, and is the Monk's first buff Active Skill. It can be cast on the Monk or another player to absorb damage for five seconds. When it is cast on an ally the Monk will rush to their position and give the buff to both of them simultaneously.
Exploding Palm: Exploding Palm is unlocked at level 24 and lets the Monk attack enemies in one direction with an attack that deals damage and inflict the Bleeding status effect on them for five seconds. When bleeding enemies are then killed, they explode, dealing yet more damage to nearby enemies.
Wave of Light: Wave of Light is unlocked at level 29 and can have two charges held by the Monk. This skill lets players hit enemies in a specific area with a burst of damage.
Inner Sanctuary: This skill is another buff that is unlocked at level 38. Inner Sanctuary places a circle of protection that reduces the damage taken by the Monk and all allies inside of it by 50% for nine seconds.
Imprisoned Fist: Imprisoned Fist unlocks at level 41 and attacks enemies in a direction while also immobilizing them for five seconds.
Mystic Allies: This is the last skill that Monks unlock and lets them summon to spirits that fight alongside the player for 10 seconds.
Diablo Immortal's Monk is well built to be a damage class that focuses on speed to avoid enemy attacks while also providing some crowd control as well. Its ability to group enemies together and slow them down makes them a good class for playing in groups so that the Monk and other classes can capitalize on the controlled enemies when Diablo Immortal releases later this year.
Diablo Immortal is set to release on mobile later this year.