PvE Brewmaster Monk Tank

Brewmaster Monks in Mists of Pandaria are a complex tanking specialization focused on increased Dodge Chance, Absorption effects, Self-Healing, and even a unique mechanic named Stagger. Compared to other tanking specializations, their gameplay is difficult to master, but highly rewarding if executed correctly.

Changes in Mists of Pandaria

In Mists of Pandaria, Brewmaster Monk is an entirely new tanking specialization that uses Energy and a new resource, Chi, which is required for their special abilities, and is generated with their basic abilities. The specialization is considered the most challenging to master due to its overloaded kit and very specific mechanics, which require players to upkeep a multitude of effects and, at the same time, use different proactive mitigation tools. Unlike other tanking specializations, Brewmaster Monk has no complete mitigation tool that may render them nigh invulnerable for a set amount of time. Instead, they have a few big defensive cooldowns that somewhat reduce the incoming damage, and many spammable abilities that either grant them Dodge Chance, Absorption, or Self-Healing. The unique and most impactful part of their kit is Stagger, displayed below their Chi Bar, which allows them to soak up a percentage of the Physical Damage they receive as a DoT that they can purge whenever with Purifying Brew. They also benefit from extreme mobility due to abilities such as Clash and Roll. 

Their itemization is also very different from other tanking specializations, with Brewmaster Monks favoring stats such as Critical Strike Chance, which is required to trigger one of their key mitigation tools, Elusive Brew. Among the many abilities in their kit, some of the most iconic ones are Invoke Xuen, the White Tiger, Dampen Harm, Spinning Crane Kick, Guard, Keg Smash, Summon Black Ox Statue, and Blackout Kick.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths

• Potent Absorption & Self-Healing Tools
  Brewmaster Monks have access to powerful absorption effects through Summon Black Ox Statue and Guard, and potent self-healing through Healing Spheres, which they can summon both passively and actively! This makes up for their lack of Armor and powerful defensive tools that other tanks possess. Due to how their self-healing is empowered by Attack Power and how Vengeance is especially good for them, Brewmaster Monks have very potent self-healing when fully stacked with Vengeance!

• On-Demand Physical Damage Nullification
  Brewmaster Monks can nullify a decently big chunk of all the Physical Damage they receive through their unique Stagger mechanic! While they may not completely mitigate the damage like the other classes, they may instantly purge all the Stagger they accumulate with Purifying Brew on demand! This is especially useful, considering the ability only has a 1-second cooldown.

• Great Single-Target/AoE Damage Potential
  Since the specialization plays like a DPS/Tank Hybrid, Brewmaster Monks have very hard-hitting abilities! Their spammy nature allows them to have consistent damage output in Single-Target and AoE, especially when fully stacked with Vengeance. This can be further enhanced through the Ascension talent, which massively improves their Energy Regeneration and allows them to use their abilities more frequently.

• Extreme Mobility
  Thanks to Clash and Roll, Brewmaster Monks have extreme mobility that they can use to close large gaps and avoid deadly mechanics in any encounter! Furthermore, they can improve their amazing mobility through their talents, with Tiger’s Lust being one of the best mobility tools they can access.

• Versatile Crowd Control Tools
  Brewmaster Monks have a variety of crowd control tools in their kit, which they can use in PvE encounters to stop dangerous mobs! They can use Paralysis, Grapple Weapon, Clash, Ring of Peace, Disable, and Spear Hand Strike, having access to almost all types of existing CC.

Weaknesses

• Extremely Hard To Master
  The overloaded kit of Brewmaster Monks doesn’t make their life easy! Mostly, the class plays like a DPS/Tank hybrid, having to manage both Energy and Chi simultaneously while proactively upkeeping multiple buffs. On top of that, they must use active mitigation tools consistently to prevent themselves from taking too much damage, and their self-healing comes in the form of Healing Spheres, which they must pick up.

Best Races

While racial effects were extremely important in previous versions of WoW, their importance has been reduced overall in MoP Classic. The effects now act as slight bonuses instead of actual game-changing mechanics.

Horde

Pandaren and Tauren are considered the best races in terms of Stamina stacking for the Horde due to Endurance and Epicurean. In contrast, Orc is considered the best for its Expertise-related passive, Axe Specialization. Troll is also a great mention for Brewmaster Monk due to Berserking, since they benefit from Haste!

• Tauren: Endurance, Cultivation, Nature Resistance, War Stomp.
• Pandaren: Bouncy, Epicurean, Gourmand, Inner Peace, Quaking Palm.
• Orc: Blood Fury, Axe Specialization, Hardiness, Command.
• Troll: Berserking, Da Voodoo Shuffle, Regeneration, Beast Slaying, Dead Eye.
• Blood Elf: Arcane Torrent, Arcane Resistance, Arcane Affinity.
• Goblin: Time is Money, Rocket Barrage, Rocket Jump, Best Deals Anywhere, Better Living Through Chemistry, Pack Hobgoblin.
• Undead: Will of the Forsaken, Cannibalize, Shadow Resistance, Touch of the Grave.

Alliance

Meanwhile, Pandaren is the best for Stamina stacking in the Alliance due to Epicurean. At the same time, Dwarf and Night Elf are considered the best in damage mitigation thanks to Quickness and Stoneform. Alliance races are also better regarding Expertise-related passives, with Human and Dwarf coming on top and offering strong choices.

• Pandaren: Bouncy, Epicurean, Gourmand, Inner Peace, Quaking Palm.
• Dwarf: Stoneform, Explorer, Mace Specialization, Crack Shot, Frost Resistance.
• Night Elf: Elusiveness, Quickness, Shadowmeld, Wisp Spirit, Nature Resistance.
• Human: Sword Specialization, Mace Specialization, Will to Survive, The Human Spirit, Diplomacy.
• Draenei: Gift of the Naaru, Heroic Presence, Shadow Resistance, Gemcutting.
• Gnome: Shortblade Specialization, Engineering Specialization, Escape Artist, Expansive Mind, Arcane Resistance.
• Worgen: Darkflight, Flayer, Viciousness, Aberration.