Diablo III is about more than just hacking and slashing. It's a cooperative game that not only recommends that players work together, but requires cooperation on the higher difficulties.
To that end, every character class in the game—from front-line fighters like the Barbarian to the more utility-based Demon Hunter have abilities that allow them to perform supportive roles to any adventuring party in varying ways.
Every character class is provisioned with an array of support skills that revolve around their defining characteristics. For instance, Demon Hunters trap, snare and immobilize; Witch Doctors perform hexes and curses to weaken groups of foes. No class is fully capable of performing each others' duties; as such, good parties rely on a proper assortment of support abilities with contributions from each class.
In this article, we'll be focusing mainly on active and passive buffs, most of which come from the Monk.
Besides being a melee-oriented badass that dishes out loads of pain through his fists, the Monk supports his party with a variety of skills that allow him to perform direct and indirect heals, boost the damage output of his allies, and increase their chances to dodge, evade, and absorb attacks.
Here's everything you need to know about your support skills and the additional skills that affect those skills. Other details are omitted.
Note: All base statistics (unmodded by Skill Runes) are listed as per Beta v0.11.0.9327. All skills are active unless listed otherwise.
Breath of Heaven
A blast of divine energy heals you and all allies within 12 yards for 6201.94 – 7442.33 Life.
Unlocks at Level: 8
Serenity
You are enveloped in a protective shield that absorbs all incoming damage for 3 seconds and grants immunity to all control impairing effects.
Unlocks at Level: 16
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Tranquility
Extends the protective shield to allies within 45 yards for 2 seconds, and makes them immune to control impairing effects like Slow and Frozen.
Unlocks at: 39
Mantra of Evasion
Recite a Mantra that grants you and your allies within 40 yards a 15% chance to dodge attacks for 3 minutes. For 3 seconds after activation, a second effect grants an additional 15% chance to dodge attacks.
Unlocks at Level: 19
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Hard Target
Mantra of Evasion also increases Armor by 20%.
Unlocks at: 24
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Wind through the Reeds
Mantra of Evasion also increases movement speed by 5%.
Unlocks at: 40
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Divine Protection
When you or an ally under the effect of Mantra of Evasion is reduced below 25% Life, a shield of protection forms around that target, reducing damage taken by 80% for 3 seconds. Each target can be protected at most once every 90 seconds by this effect.
Unlocks at: 33
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Perseverance
Mantra of Evasion also reduces the duration of all control impairing effects like Slow or Frozen by 20%.
Unlocks at: 50
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Backlash
Successfully dodging an attack has a chance to create a burst of flame dealing 35% weapon damage as Fire to all nearby enemies.
Unlocks at: 58
Mantra of Retribution
Recite a Mantra that causes you and your allies within 40 yards to reflect melee damage back at enemies, dealing Holy damage equal to 40% of the damage sustained. The effect lasts for 3 minutes. For 3 seconds after activation, the effect on you increases to 80% of the damage sustained.
Unlocks at Level: 21
- Transgression
- Increases attack speed for you and your allies by 8%.
- Unlocks at: 36
Inner Sanctuary
Create a runic circle of protection on the ground for 5 seconds that cannot be passed by enemies.
Unlocks at Level: 22
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Safe Haven
You and your allies standing in the area of effect of Inner Sanctuary regenerate 1550.49 Life per second
Unlocks at: 26
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Circle of Protection
You and your allies standing in the area of effect of Inner Sanctuary take 35% less damage.
Unlocks at: 43
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Forbidden Palace
You and your allies standing in the area of effect of Inner Sanctuary deal 10% additional damage.
Unlocks at: 58
Mantra of Healing
Recite a Mantra that causes you and your allies within 40 yards to gain increased Life regeneration by 310.1 Life per second. The Mantra lasts 3 minutes. For 3 seconds after activation, the effect is increased to 1240.39 Life per second.Unlocks at Level: 26
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Sustenance
Increases the Life regeneration granted by Mantra of Healing to 0 Life per second.
Unlocks at: 31
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Boon of Protection
Mantra of Healing shrouds you and your allies with a mystical shield for 2 seconds that absorbs up to 15% of each target's maximum Life in damage.
Unlocks at: 42
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Heavenly Body
Mantra of Healing also increases Vitality by 10%.
Unlocks at: 48
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Time of Need
Mantra of Healing also increases resistances to all damage types by 20%.
Unlocks at: 53
Guiding Light (Passive)
Whenever you use a direct heal skill on another player you and the other player deal 16% more damage for 15 seconds.
Unlocks at Level: 40
Mantra of Conviction
Recite a Mantra that causes all enemies within 20 yards of you to take 12% additional damage. The Mantra lasts 3 minutes. For 3 seconds after activation, the effect is increased to 24% additional damage.
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Reclamation
You and your allies have a 30% chance to be healed for 279.09 – 341.11 Life when using melee attacks on an enemy under the effects of Mantra of Conviction.
Unlocks at: 55
