PoE 2 Martial Artist Guide | Return of the Ancients Monk Ascendancy

Of the three Monk ascendancies in PoE 2’s Return of the Ancients, the Martial Artist is the only one that can socket runes into body armor — and it doesn’t require unarmed combat. Here’s why it’s the current top-tier Monk pick.

Introduction to the PoE 2 Martial Artist

Within Path of Exile 2’s Monk class tree, players can choose from three distinct ascendancy paths: Invoker, Acolyte of Chayula, and the Martial Artist. The Martial Artist distinguishes itself by mastering a special set of abilities known as Hollow Techniques, a group of mystical powers exclusive to seasoned Monk practitioners.

A key detail to note is that this ascendancy does not require players to unlock the Hollow Palm Technique keystone on the passive skill tree to perform effectively. You are free to wield quarterstaves and standard melee weapons for damage output, instead of being forced into pure unarmed combat. Beyond Hollow Techniques, the Martial Artist is also the only Monk ascendancy that can embed runes directly onto the body. As GGG keeps expanding the rune system with more options in every major game update, this unique trait will only make the Martial Artist stronger and more versatile in the long run.

Core Gameplay Mechanics

The Martial Artist’s entire combat system revolves around several interlocking mechanics, primarily the three Hollow Techniques, rune inscription, glove transformation, combo stacking and the defensive-offensive buff Mountain’s Teachings. Each mechanic is tied to a dedicated ascendancy node, forming the foundation of all viable builds for this class.

Core loop: Summon bell → hit bell (guaranteed crit) → trigger resonance → spend combo points on finishers.

Hollow Techniques

Hollow Techniques are the Martial Artist’s signature abilities, split into three separate skills unlocked via corresponding ascendancy nodes.Hollow Focus TechniqueOnce allocated, this ability lets you summon ethereal bells across the battlefield. Striking these floating bells creates destructive shockwaves that damage nearby foes. Every hit landed on a ghost bell is a guaranteed critical hit, which works wonderfully with builds running Cast on Critical support setups.

Hollow Resonance Technique: This skill attaches a permanent spectral bell to your character’s back. Any critical strike you land with other skills — including the explosions from broken Hollow Focus bells — will trigger the mounted bell to chime and deal additional area damage to surrounding enemies.

Hollow Form Technique: A channeled skill that conjures fleeting astral copies of yourself. Each illusion will execute one socketed melee skill before fading away. You can also spend Power Charges to spawn extra illusions, greatly boosting your overall damage potential.

Runic Meridians

This unique node unlocks the ability to tattoo runes onto your body, granting five exclusive rune-only equipment sockets: 1 helmet socket, 2 body armor sockets, 1 glove socket and 1 boot socket. These special slots support gear-specific runes that grant powerful passive effects. For example, slotting The Greatwolf’s Rune of Willpower into a body armor socket diverts 15% of incoming damage to your mana pool before your health is affected, drastically improving your survivability. After unlocking this node, a small interactive button will appear at the bottom-left of your inventory panel right next to the flask bar; click it to open and manage your additional rune sockets.

Way of the Stonefist

This gear-focused ascendancy node transforms all equipped gloves into the Fists of Stone base type. All existing prefix and suffix modifiers on your gloves will be upgraded into stronger versions of the same stats, and this effect applies universally to both rare gloves and unique gloves in the game. The Fists of Stone base also provides a permanent stat boost: +3 evasion rating and +1 maximum energy shield per character level, offering steady defensive scaling at all game stages.

Combo System (Martial Adept & Martial Master)

The Martial Artist excels at chaining continuous attacks through Combo Points, a resource used for skills like Tempest Bell and Mantra of Destruction. Two dedicated nodes optimize combo generation and usage. Martial Adept simplifies gathering Combo Points and shortens energy shield recharge delay when spending combos. Martial Master lets you retain Combo Points across different weapon sets and generate combos from every regular attack hit, removing the need for support gems such as Practiced Combo.

Way of the Mountain

This final core node grants the stackable buff Mountain’s Teachings. You gain stacks each time you immobilize an enemy, with a hard cap of 30 stacks total. As long as you hold at least one stack, you gain three major perks: 15% increased attack damage, 40% reduced damage from incoming hits that deal 30% or less of your maximum life after armour and resistance mitigation, and 50% higher stun threshold. You will lose one stack whenever you take damage or use an attack skill empowered by this buff.

PoE 2 Martial Artist Full Ascendancy Nodes

Listed in order of their position from bottom to top on the ascendancy tree, below are the complete effects, locations and practical notes for every node.

Way of the Mountain

• Effect​: 100% chance per enemy power to gain one stack of Mountain’s Teachings when immobilizing an enemy, capped at 30 stacks. Lose one stack upon taking damage or using/sustaining attacks boosted by Mountain’s Teachings. While holding any stacks, you deal 15% more damage, take 40% less damage from incoming hits that deal no more than 30% of your maximum life after mitigation, and gain 50% increased stun threshold.​
• Path​: Bottom of the tree.​
• Notes​: This is a staple pick for nearly all Martial Artist builds. The combined offensive and defensive bonuses from stacked Mountain’s Teachings deliver tremendous value across all playstyles with proper build synergy.

Way of the Stonefist

• Effect​: All equipped gloves convert to the Fists of Stone base type, and all existing prefixes and suffixes are upgraded into enhanced related modifiers. Fists of Stone grant +3 evasion rating and +1 maximum energy shield per character level.​
• Path​: Second node from the bottom.​
• Notes​: A reliable quality-of-life upgrade for your glove slot. The transformation works for every glove type, whether rare or unique, bringing free and impactful stat improvements.

Martial Adept

• Effect​: Gain an extra Combo Point each time you earn one. Each Combo Point spent on skills such as Tempest Bell and Mantra of Destruction reduces your energy shield recharge delay by 0.2 seconds.​
• Path​: Third node from the bottom.​
• Notes​: Makes accumulating Combo Points effortless, perfectly suited for builds that rely heavily on Tempest Bell.

Martial Master

• Effect​: Preserve Combo Points regardless of your active weapon set; generate Combo Points from all attack hits.​
• Path​: Adjacent to Martial Adept on the tree.​
• Notes​: Eliminates reliance on combo-focused support gems. Paired with Martial Adept, it creates a self-sustaining combo loop even after spending points on Tempest Bell.

Runic Meridians

Effect​: Unlock body rune tattooing and five exclusive rune sockets:

• 1 Helmet Socket
• 2 Body Armor Sockets
• 1 Gloves Socket
• 1 Boots Socket

A small button appears at the bottom-left of your inventory beside the flask slot to access these rune sockets.​

Path​: Fourth node from the bottom.​

Notes​: With over 60 runes introduced in the Runes of Aldur League, this node offers massive build customization and is a solid choice for long-term character development.

Hollow Focus Technique

• Effect​: Unlock the Hollow Focus skill. Bells spawn within a 4-metre radius, last 5 seconds and spawn every 4.1 seconds. Only one bell can be active at once. Bells do not build enemy stun, and their shockwaves cover a 2-metre radius. One hit destroys a bell and triggers damage; all bell strikes land as critical hits.​
• Path​: Fifth node from the bottom.​
• Notes​: An outstanding node for league starts. Its guaranteed critical hits pair well with Cast on Critical mechanics, and bell shockwaves provide consistent supplementary area damage early on.

Hollow Resonance Technique

• Effect​: Unlock the Hollow Resonance skill. A ghost bell is fixed to your back. Your critical hits trigger the bell to deal area damage. This bell provides 150% increased stun build-up, with a 2-metre shockwave radius.​
• Path​: Directly beside Hollow Focus Technique.​
• Notes​: An ideal complementary ability for Hollow Focus, especially for characters still working toward endgame gear.

Hollow Form Technique

• Effect​: Unlock the Hollow Form channeled skill. Summon astral illusions within 6 metres; each illusion uses one socketed attack skill then disappears. Illusions cannot cast channeled or conditional skills. Summoning one illusion costs 80% of the socketed skill’s mana. Spending one Power Charge spawns two extra illusions. Socketed skills have 30% reduced attack speed and 20% less total damage.​
• Path​: Sixth node from the bottom.​
• Notes​: Great for deploying attacks you cannot safely cast directly. Multiple illusions amplify damage output, especially when combined with steady Power Charge generation.

Recommended Martial Artist Builds

Falling Thunder Martial Artist (League Starter)

Optimized for new league progression, this build centres on Falling Thunder as its main finisher. Use Whirling Assault to generate Combo Points, activate Charged Staff for offensive boosts, and deploy Tempest Bell for sustained area damage. Notably, Tempest Bell summons three bells instead of one, each releasing damaging shockwaves when struck. Once your Combo Points are maxed out, unleash Falling Thunder to defeat tough enemies. Martial Adept and Martial Master maintain your combo flow, while Way of the Stonefist upgrades your gloves for higher overall damage. Prioritize gloves with offensive modifiers for maximum performance.​

Core Mechanics​: Falling Thunder, Combo Points, Tempest Bell, Martial Adept, Martial Master, Way of the Stonefist

Oil Barrage Martial Artist (Mid & Endgame Build)

Oil Barrage is a skill exclusive to the Wyvern form, firing a stream of oil projectiles while you hold Power Charges. Use the Lingering Illusion persistent buff to generate charges: this ability creates clones of yourself that enemies can target. When a clone is destroyed, a Remnant will drop on the ground, and picking up this Remnant will grant you one Power Charge. Start the league with a bow, using Lightning Arrow and Lightning Rod to clear early campaign content. After obtaining a transformation Talisman in Act 3, you turn into a Wyvern and unlock Oil Barrage. This build runs Way of the Stonefist and Way of the Mountain for extra bonuses. Runic Meridians is a viable endgame pick once you have enough PoE 2 currency to purchase high-tier runes.

​Core Mechanics​: Oil Barrage (Requires Wyvern Talisman), Power Charges, Way of the Stonefist, Runic Meridians

Stonebound Executioner Martial Artist

This cold-damage focused build uses Shattering Palm and Herald of Ice to perma-freeze enemies. Consistent crowd control lets you maintain permanent Mountain’s Teachings stacks for boosted damage and defence. Both Hollow Focus and Hollow Resonance are included to add extra bell shockwave damage. Way of the Stonefist further amplifies damage, so craft gloves with additional cold damage to maximise your build’s power.​Core Mechanics​: Shattering Palm, Herald of Ice, Hollow Focus Technique, Hollow Resonance Technique, Way of the Mountain, Way of the Stonefist.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths

• Powerful ascendancy nodes deliver reliable performance for both league start and endgame content.
• Unique bonuses from extra rune sockets and Fists of Stone glove transformation offer unmissable advantages.
• Exceptionally high endgame potential that scales dramatically with upgraded gloves, weapons and rare runes.

Weaknesses

• Among all Hollow Techniques, only Hollow Focus and Hollow Resonance remain fully viable for late-game content on paper.
• Because the Martial Artist overperforms at both early and late game, future patches could target its bell crit mechanics or Runic Meridians slot efficiency.

Martial Artist vs. Other Monk Ascendancies

Compared with the Invoker and Acolyte of Chayula, the Martial Artist stands as the strongest Monk ascendancy in the current meta. According to rankings from RPGStash, it claims the top spot, as its nodes provide well-rounded offence, defence and utility that grow stronger with endgame gear. You can read our PoE 2 best class tier list to learn more detailed ranking information.

The Acolyte of Chayula has decent league-start nodes like Lucid Dreaming, Sap of Nightmares and Waking Dream, yet its bonuses feel far less immediate than the Martial Artist’s bell mechanics and stacking buffs. It has received few meaningful updates recently, leaving its offensive capabilities lacking.

The Invoker relies on the Meditate skill to boost energy shield recharge speed. In contrast, Way of the Mountain gives the Martial Artist stacked damage boosts, damage reduction and higher stun resistance. When using identical gear, the overlapping shockwave damage from ghost bells easily outpaces the Invoker’s cold and lightning builds. The Invoker ranks second, while the Acolyte of Chayula sits firmly in third place.

FAQ About Path of Exile 2 Monk Ascendancy Guide

Q: Is the Martial Artist a good league start pick?

A: Yes. It performs excellently for new leagues and has a high power ceiling, growing stronger continuously as you progress into endgame content.

Q: Do I have to fight unarmed with this class?

A: No. Unarmed combat is only optional if you take the Hollow Palm Technique keystone. The Martial Artist works perfectly with quarterstaves and regular melee weapons, and Way of the Stonefist still benefits unarmed builds.

Q: What is the Martial Artist best suited for?

A: GGG designed this ascendancy to synergize with Combo Point spending skills such as Tempest Bell. Its value will keep rising as more combo-based skills are added to PoE 2 in future patches.

Q: Which nodes should I pick for different game stages?

A: For early and mid-game campaign content, choose Hollow Focus and Hollow Resonance for reliable clear speed. Once you reach Atlas content and collect quality gear, add Runic Meridians for rune customization and Way of the Stonefist to maximize glove potential.

Q: What are the best overall ascendancy nodes?

A: Runic Meridians and Way of the Stonefist are the two most impactful choices. Extra rune slots fix resistance shortages early in leagues, while the Fists of Stone transformation becomes extremely powerful with top-tier crafted gloves in the endgame.

If you plan to craft gear and collect rare runes for your build, you can stock up on PoE 2 Currency to make your progression smoother.

All in all, the Martial Artist emerges as an incredibly well-rounded Monk ascendancy in Path of Exile 2’s Return of the Ancients update. Boasting flexible combat mechanics, practical ascendancy nodes and multiple viable build paths, it works wonderfully for players starting a fresh league while retaining immense scaling potential for endgame farming and boss fights. Whether you favour combo-driven melee strikes, spectral bell damage or rune-enhanced defensive setups, this class delivers a fun and rewarding play experience worthy of your investment.