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Diablo 3 Patch 1.0.3 Implications for the Monk

Some HUGE changes for Diablo 3 in patch 1.0.3! This post highlights the key issues effecting the Monk class. You can read the full patch notes over at http://www.diablofans.com/

Class changes

Monk

  • General
    • Monks can now use spears, two-handed weapons, and two-handed swords
  • Active Skills
    • Serenity
      • Skill Rune – Instant Karma
        • The amount of damage reflected will now cap at the player’s maximum Life
    • Seven-Sided Strike
      • Skill Rune – Sustained Attack
        • Tooltip has been updated for clarity: “Reduces the cooldown of Seven-Sided Strike to 23 seconds.” (The functionality of the skill has not changed.)
    • Mantra of Retribution
      • Damage will now cap based on the maximum Life of the target
  • Bug Fixes
    • Near Death Experience
      • Fatal damage absorbed by Serenity will no longer trigger Near Death Experience

Nothing here really effects us that much. Being able to use more weapons will be nice, although I’ve found two handers to be absolutely terrible for Inferno due to their slow attack speed.

Items

General

  • + Attack Speed bonus values on weapons and armor have been reduced by 50%
    • This change does not apply to quivers
If you’ve been relying on IAS(increased attack speed) to increase your DPS this change could cut your DPS by as much as 25%. It may be good to start stacking other stats like +crit and +crit damage in addition to IAS.
  • High-end items (items level 61-63) will now drop in all Acts of Inferno and Acts III and IV of Hell difficulty
    • The new approximate drop rates are as follows:
      • Hell – Act III and Act IV
        • iLvl 61: 9%
        • iLvl 62: 1.9%
        • iLvl 63: 0%
      • Inferno – Act I
        • iLvl 61: 17.7%
        • iLvl 62: 7.9%
        • iLvl 63: 2.0%
      • Inferno – Act II
        • iLvl 61: 18.6%
        • iLvl 62: 12.4%
        • iLvl 63: 4.1%
      • Inferno – Act III and Act IV
        • iLvl 61: 24.1%
        • iLvl 62: 16.1%
        • iLvl 63: 8.0%

The loot changes is great news for everyone! If you’ve been struggling in Act 2/3 these loot adjustments mean now you can have better chances at great iLvl62 and iLvl63 drops. And for the monks that can farm Act 2/3 it means even more high quality drops.

Bosses

Several bosses have had enrage timers added and abilities added. For example the Warden now gains the affix fast, molten, and desecrator in Inferno. Overall this shouldn’t impact your gameplay too terribly much. If you’re geared enough to clear the elite packs up to a boss you should still be able to take down the boss. It appears this is mainly intended as a gear check for those who skip trash packs and just through the bosses.

Monsters

General

  • Champions, Rares, and Uniques have had their pathing improved
  • Elite packs (Champion/Rare) now drop an additional item for players with 5 stacks of Nephalem Valor, which is guaranteed to be of Rare quality
This change should lead to overall more drops and may make it worthwhile to start your farming runs 1-2 quests back from the actual boss you’re intending to kill.
  • Damage from monsters in Acts II, III, and IV in Inferno difficulty has been reduced
I’m really excited to see how this change effects Monks. It might open up a whole world of possible build options if the reduction is enough so that we don’t have to focus as heavily on stacking defense.
  • Colossal Golgor base damage has been reduced
  • Herald of Pestilence tentacle attack damage has been reduced
  • Soul Ripper and Soul Lasher damage has been reduced and both monsters will now run away less often
  • Wasps in Act II, Mage Constructs in Act II, and Winged Mollocks in Acts III and IV will now run away less
  • Succubus monsters will now run away less and for a shorter distance
THANK YOU LORD. It’s great that Blizzard is listening to the player base and getting rid of some of these annoying mechanics. Chasing these runner mobs around was the most tedious part of Diablo 3 by far.
  • The health pools of Woodwraiths in the Highlands now match the health pools of Woodwraiths in the Fields of Misery
  • Lacuni and Scavenger Rares and and Champions will now un-burrow when called by their allies
  • Bloodclan Warriors no longer knockback when buffed and attack slightly slower
  • Morlu no longer have the Invulnerable Minions, Health Link, or Fire Chains affixes
  • Plagued, Arcane Enchanted, and Electrified monsters no longer have resistance to Poison, Arcane, and Lightning damage (respectively)
  • Leaders of Invulnerable Minions packs have had their health pools reduced
  • Mortar monsters can now hurl projectiles farther, but their minimum range has also been increased by 100%
This change should make Mortar mobs MUCH easier for melee to handle. Again a great change for monks.

Conclusion

This patch should be a HUGE boost to Monks. Monsters will be doing less damage to use in Acts 2/3/4, we’ll be able to effectively farm Act 1 for good drops in preparation for Act 2/3/4, and some of the most annoying mobs(FUCKING WASPS) should be much less annoying. You can find all my monk builds here. My youtube channel with tons of Diablo 3 guides here.

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