Monk Reborn: Diablo Immortal's New PvP Meta

ECHO Gaming Staff January 24, 2025 Gaming Diablo 29 days ago

  TL;DR: ECHO switches to Monk in Diablo Immortal, a class he hasn’t played in years, because of its increased viability in PvP from new Essences. He explores the Phantom Market cosmetics, noting their value despite high costs. ECHO starts his journey by gathering Essences and planning two build guides (PvE and PvP) for the Monk class.

ECHO has started a new adventure in Diablo Immortal, changing to the Monk class after a long break. This isn't just a simple change; it's a planned move because of the Monk's improved chances in PvP, thanks to recent Essence updates. In this article, we'll check out ECHO's first experiences as a Monk, the exciting Phantom Market cosmetics, and the initial steps towards making a competitive Monk.

Why Choose the Monk?

ECHO hasn't used the Monk class since the game's test stages. Previously thought not very good, the Monk is now showing real potential in PvP. This change is because of new Essences that are making the class more able to compete. ECHO, always keen to explore new possibilities, was inspired to make the change after seeing a friend's account. This action shows ECHO’s dedication to exploring all parts of the game.

Initial Experiences: A Confused Start

Changing to Monk was like beginning all over again. ECHO had no Monk Essences and wasn't familiar with the current skills. This led to a chaotic but interesting first play:

Skills: With no knowledge of the class, skills were picked at random. ECHO selected Deadly Reach, Fist of Thunder, Exploding Palm, and Wave of Light, and then tried Wave Strike before deciding against it!
Gear: The search for new gear and Essences started right away. Shady Stock and gambling at the vendor provided a needed initial lift.
Essence Transfer: All gear obtained was mainly for the purpose of Essence transfer. This is the only way to begin building up the new class’ abilities.

Despite the confusion, the excitement of starting fresh with a class that is not often used is clear. The first gameplay was not great, but it was the start of something new.

Exploring the Phantom Market

Blizzard gifted ECHO with a Phantom Market cosmetic set, and it was time to check it out. Here's a breakdown:

Cost and Benefit: ECHO points out that while it can cost around $700 to get all Phantom Market cosmetics, buying items from the gallery offers a better deal than buying them in the market.
Cosmetic Reveal: ECHO unlocked the full cosmetic set in the video. This included weapon cosmetics, a portal, emotes, armor pieces, an avatar frame, a character background, a nimbus, and the main cosmetic for all classes.
Customization Options: The Phantom Market offers extra ways to change the cosmetics. Tempering and polishing options are there that change the cosmetic's look. These options, though, cost an extra 4,500 orbs and 6,000 orbs, respectively. ECHO thinks this is too expensive.

The Phantom Market cosmetics aren’t cheap, but they can be used on any class, which is great for those who like them. ECHO clearly likes how the cosmetics look, even if he won’t be using the extra customization options.

Building a Monk: The Path Ahead

ECHO is now working on building a Monk that can do well in both PvE and PvP. Here's a look at the steps he's taking:

Open World Farming: Even with a less than perfect setup, open-world farming is a start to testing the Monk's abilities. This also gives a chance to show off the new cosmetics.
Essence Collection: ECHO knows that getting the right Essences is key. He wants to find an Essence that gives a spinning baton for better farming.
Dungeon Runs: ECHO plans to run many dungeons with friends to make progress. The idea is to use his friends to help him while he's not very well equipped and doesn't know the class.
Legendary Gear: With 100 pieces of legendary gear in the inventory, ECHO is not in a hurry. He plans to unlock 20 pieces of gear per day to slowly get the Essences to build his Monk. He aims to avoid turning in Essences when the Mercy is full.

The road won't be easy, but ECHO's dedication to the Monk is clear. He's eager to explore what the class can now do and share what he learns with his followers.

Monk's PvP Potential

The main reason for this class change is the Monk's growing potential in PvP. ECHO knows that not many people are using the class right now, but he believes that this will change with the latest Essence updates. The plan is to use the Monk's PvP abilities and make builds for the community.

ECHO is eager to put together a new Monk build and will be making two videos about it, one for PvE and one for PvP. This is going to be a focus in future videos.

Final Thoughts

ECHO's change to Monk is more than just a change—it's an attempt to find the hidden power of a class that many have ignored. Through this adventure, ECHO will be giving helpful tips and advice for players who want to see what the Monk can do. The Phantom Market cosmetics are a good addition, but the main focus is on the Monk's new place in the game.

Look out for ECHO’s upcoming videos where he'll be going deeper into Monk builds. It seems like the Monk class is, indeed, not “sucking” anymore and is set to return. The adventure is just beginning!

For more about Diablo Immortal, visit the official Diablo Immortal website.