PvE Brewmaster Monk Tank Talents, Builds, & Glyphs

Brewmaster Monks in Mists of Pandaria have many options for their builds, with their Talent Tree offering plenty of versatility depending on the encounter. Their talents are usually split between the Single-Target and AoE categories and powerful self-buff/defensive cooldowns. 

Brewmaster Monk Specialization

Talent Build

Talent Calculator

Level 15 – Tier I

• Celerity ❌ This talent is not viable compared to the other two options since it doesn’t grant any movement speed bonus, even if it allows you to use Roll more often. 
• Tiger’s Lust ✅ This talent is considered the default option from the first tier for most builds, providing a powerful defensive cooldown against movement-impairing effects and a huge movement speed boost. 
• Momentum ✅ This talent is generally considered bad for most PvE environments, but can have its niche uses. Momentum can be especially useful for fast clearing dungeons with big pulls or solo AoE farming in the open world, as it allows you to benefit from a considerable movement speed burst more frequently than Tiger’s Lust.

Level 30 – Tier II

• Chi Wave ✅ This talent is considerably better for raiding environments, providing a great instant-cast AoE spell and a potent pulling tool. It is generally used in all PvE environments, but it is less efficient in dungeons due to the 7-target limit cap.
• Zen Sphere ❌ Sadly, this talent doesn’t compare to the other options from this tier, barely dealing any damage to the affected targets while only functioning as a single-target spell.
• Chi Burst ✅ Considered the default option for any massive AoE pull or dungeons, Chi Burst is a great choice, even if it has a massive drawback. The major issue with this ability is that you must cast it. Thankfully, Haste reduces its cast time, but you will never have enough to make it instant. 

Level 45 – Tier III

• Power Strikes ✅ One of the two viable options from the third tier, Power Strikes, is a Chi generation tool, granting a tool that empowers some of your basic abilities, causing them to generate one additional Chi. If you are capped, the proc instead generates a Chi Sphere that you may pick up anytime. While this talent can be triggered twice back to back, it is considered inferior to Ascension, which is always active and allows for a far smoother Chi generation and an increased Energy Regeneration.
• Ascension ✅ This talent is considered the default choice from the third tier and the easier option since its effect is always active, effectively increasing your Chi pool by one additional Chi. Besides the Chi generation aspect, the 15% increase in Energy Regeneration at all times makes it extremely powerful, making it perfect for both beginners and experienced tanks.
• Chi Brew ❌ While this talent may have potential as a “panic button” for inexperienced tanks, its effectiveness is dwarfed compared to the other options, which are simply way more powerful. You should avoid this talent entirely.

Level 60 – Tier IV

• Ring of Peace ✅ One of the options from the fourth tier, Ring of Peace, is a potent AoE Silence and Disarm, having an incredible effect against groups of caster mobs. This is generally considered a niche talent for specific encounters, meaning you will use it occasionally, depending on the encounter, no matter what build you choose to follow.
• Charging Ox Wave ❌ This talent is far better for PvP, as it requires a very specific positioning in PvE encounters. It is far worse than Leg Sweep, which has a considerably better range and works in a full circular AoE radius. 
• Leg Sweep ✅ By far, considered the best talent for the fourth tier, Leg Sweep is an instant cast ability that stuns all targets in a short circular radius. It is generally used for most raid and dungeon encounters, with only a few exceptions in which Ring of Peace is overall better. 

Level 75 – Tier V

• Healing Elixirs ❌ This talent should be avoided in most PvE environments as the available counterparts are too strong regarding the active mitigation they provide. In contrast, the healing provided by this effect is clunky and generally dependent on either reaching the HP threshold or using your brews, leaving you with one less powerful active mitigation effect.
• Dampen Harm ✅ The default raiding and dungeon option for all heavy Physical Damage encounters, Dampen Harm, is simply too good to pass on. The talent can mitigate even the most powerful blows from raid bosses, no matter their value.
• Diffuse Magic ✅ In contrast, Diffuse Magic is the default option for any encounter featuring high Magical Damage, providing you with a 90% damage reduction buff and even a reflection effect. You will generally alternate between Dampen Harm and Diffuse Magic, depending on both the encounter and the raid composition.

Level 90 – Tier VI

• Rushing Jade Wind ✅ This is the default talent option from the sixth tier for any AoE encounter! It transforms your Spinning Crane Kick into a far better instant-cast version that deals DoT and allows you to cast other abilities while it is active. You will consistently swap between this ability and Invoke Xuen, the White Tiger, between boss fights, for both dungeons & raids. 
• Invoke Xuen, the White Tiger ✅ This is the default talent option for any single-target encounter, providing you with a deadly guardian that deals cleave damage. Xuen will also taunt your target as long as he is active. It is worth noting that Xuen will continue taunting your target, even if you use Provoke to taunt it back! In the same sense, you will continuously swap between this ability and Rushing Jade Wind, for both dungeons and raids. 
• Chi Torpedo ❌ This talent is not viable for PvE, and should only be considered in PvP environments! Considering the alternatives, picking the Chi Torpedo talent can only be viable as an improved mobility tool, which is unnecessary and leaves you without a potent spammable AoE tool or a powerful single-target cooldown. 

Glyphs

Major Glyphs

• Glyph of Fortifying Brew This glyph is considered standard for any PvE environment and should always be equipped as it massively improves one of your best defensive cooldowns.
• Glyph of Zen Meditation Yet another glyph that many consider mandatory, it allows you to utilize Zen Meditation while moving, improving the ability tremendously.
• Glyph of Enduring Healing Sphere An excellent tool for ensuring you make the most of your Healing Spheres! Ideal glyph for raid environments that require a lot of movement.
• Glyph of Breath of Fire A great option for encounters with many adds, allowing you to provide an additional crowd control tool for your group.
• Glyph of Spinning Crane Kick This glyph is great for dungeons or encounters with many adds, as it allows you to move at full speed while channeling the ability, meaning no downtime for repositioning or pulling extra adds.

Minor Glyphs

• Glyph of Water Roll Besides acting as a cool roleplay tool, this is one of the few Minor Glyphs that can improve your performance, depending on the environment.
• Glyph of Spirit Roll This is the second Minor Glyph that has somewhat of a use for Monks besides cosmetic improvements, allowing them to respawn faster by using their mobility tools even while dead.