If you like a class that never seems to stop moving, Monk is one of the more interesting choices in Deskrawl: Idle ARPG. It’s a close-range martial artist that mixes fast attacks, physical damage, Chi abilities, healing, dodging, and even holy lightning.
What makes Monk different is that a lot of its attacks reward you for keeping your rhythm going. Some skills become stronger every few hits, others build Attack Speed, and some even restore your health. So instead of simply throwing out your strongest ability whenever it comes off cooldown, Monk feels much more like a class where your attacks flow into one another.
Monk uses Dexterity as its primary stat and starts with the Leather-Wrapped Quarterstaff. In this guide, I’ll go through all of the Monk’s Basic Attacks, Strong Attacks, and Specials, including when they unlock and what makes each one useful.
Deskrawl Idle ARPG Monk Class Guide – Best Build, Skills
Monk is a fast melee class that combines physical attacks with Chi and Lightning abilities.
Its Basic Attacks automatically attack enemies and restore Mana, while Strong Attacks consume Mana for heavier attacks.
The class also has several defensive tools. You can heal yourself with Spirit Stream, avoid damage with Wind Steps, stun groups with Charge, and even summon a Spirit Twin that copies your attacks.
So while Monk is definitely built for getting close to enemies, it isn’t simply a glass-cannon melee class.
You have plenty of ways to stay in the fight.
Monk Basic Attacks
Monk has four Basic Attacks that unlock throughout progression.
You can equip one at a time, and your chosen attack automatically fires while restoring Mana.
Threefold Strike
Threefold Strike is Monk’s starting Basic Attack, and it immediately introduces the class’s combo-focused playstyle.
It hits a single enemy for 85% weapon damage.
But there’s an important extra effect: every third blow becomes an empowered finisher, dealing 200% weapon damage to the target.
At level 10, the normal strike increases to 108% weapon damage, while the third-hit finisher jumps all the way to 380% weapon damage.
It provides:
- +9 Mana
- 1-second cooldown
So you’re not simply dealing the same damage with every attack.
You’re building toward that third hit, and the payoff is a much heavier strike.
That makes Threefold Strike particularly satisfying against tougher targets where you can keep attacking consistently.
Furious Fist
At level 15, Monk unlocks Furious Fist.
This attack hits one enemy for 75% weapon damage, but every strike also builds momentum.
Each strike grants +5% Attack Speed, stacking up to 20 times for 4 seconds.
At level 10, the initial damage increases to 98% weapon damage, while the momentum effect remains the same.
It provides:
- +5 Mana
- 1-second cooldown
The interesting part is how quickly this can ramp up.
If you keep landing attacks, your Attack Speed keeps increasing. That means Furious Fist isn’t just about the damage of one individual punch — it’s about building momentum and making your character attack faster and faster.
If you enjoy a fast-paced Monk that keeps accelerating during combat, this is one of the skills worth experimenting with.
Seismic Strike
At level 30, Monk gets Seismic Strike, giving the class another combo-based Basic Attack.
It attacks a single target for 85% weapon damage, but every third attack becomes much more interesting.
The third strike deals an additional 100% weapon damage to nearby enemies and creates a shockwave.
At level 10, the main attack increases to 108% weapon damage, while the third strike deals an additional 145% weapon damage to nearby enemies.
It provides:
- +7 Mana
- 1-second cooldown
This is basically Monk’s answer to dealing with groups without giving up your focus on a main target.
You’re still attacking one enemy, but every third hit gives you some extra AOE damage around that target.
Chi Bolt
The final Basic Attack unlocks at level 45.
Chi Bolt lets Monk attack from a little farther away by throwing a bolt of focused Chi at one enemy.
It deals 85% weapon damage.
But just like several other Monk abilities, there’s a rhythm mechanic attached.
Every third bolt restores 5% of your Max Health when it hits.
At level 10, the damage increases to 108% weapon damage, while the healing effect remains 5% of Max Health.
It provides:
- +7 Mana
- 1-second cooldown
This gives Monk another way to sustain itself while dealing damage.
You’re still attacking the enemy normally, but every third successful bolt also gives you a small health recovery.
Monk Strong Attacks
Monk’s Strong Attacks give you several different ways to spend your Mana.
Some are focused on single-target damage, while others are designed for AOE, positioning, or Chi-based attacks.
Sacred Judgment
Sacred Judgment is the first Monk Strong Attack and unlocks at level 5.
You whirl and bring down your weapon with holy Lightning, dealing 400% weapon damage as Lightning to the main target.
It also deals 100% weapon damage as Lightning to nearby enemies.
At level 10, the main target takes 508% weapon damage, while nearby enemies take 136%.
It costs:
45 Mana
This is a very strong burst attack, especially against a priority target.
You get a huge single-target hit while still damaging enemies around the target.
And because it’s Lightning damage, it also fits perfectly into Monk’s holy-lightning theme.
Piercing Lunge
At level 20, Monk unlocks Piercing Lunge.
You lunge forward with a powerful thrust, hitting every enemy in a cone for 200% weapon damage.
At level 10, that increases to 290% weapon damage.
It costs:
32 Mana
The relatively low Mana cost makes this a convenient AOE option.
It’s also useful when enemies are positioned in front of you because you can hit several of them with one attack while moving forward.
Whirlwind Staff
Unlocked at level 35, Whirlwind Staff conjures two tornadoes in front of you.
The tornadoes move toward enemies and deal 70% weapon damage to enemies caught inside.
At level 10, this becomes 83% weapon damage.
It costs:
65 Mana
And has a:
1-second cooldown
The wandering tornadoes make this a little different from Monk’s more direct attacks.
Instead of immediately hitting everything in front of you, you’re sending out two moving sources of damage that travel toward enemies.
That can make it useful when you’re dealing with several targets spread around an area.
Golden Palms
At level 50, Monk unlocks Golden Palms.
You thrust both palms forward and summon two golden hands that sweep through a wide arc.
The attack deals 160% weapon damage to every enemy in the area and pushes them backward.
At level 10, the damage increases to 223% weapon damage.
It costs:
40 Mana
And has a:
1-second cooldown
This is a great combination of AOE damage and positioning control.
You’re not just damaging enemies — you’re also pushing them away.
That can be useful when you want to create some space without completely abandoning your offensive position.
Monk Special Abilities
Monk’s Specials add a lot of depth to the class.
This is where you’ll find healing, dodging, summons, crowd control, Lightning damage, and defensive tools.
Sacred Orbs
Sacred Orbs unlocks at level 10.
You summon a sacred orb that circles around you.
Every enemy the orb passes through takes 87% weapon damage as Lightning damage.
At level 10, that increases to 100% weapon damage.
It has an:
18-second cooldown
The orb follows your position, so you don’t have to aim it like a traditional projectile.
That makes it particularly useful when enemies are fighting close to you.
Spirit Stream
At level 15, Monk gets one of its most useful sustain abilities: Spirit Stream.
You channel a stream of Spirit through your body, healing 11% of your Max Health every second for 4 seconds.
That’s a total of 44% of your Max Health if the entire effect runs its full duration.
At level 10, the healing increases to 20% of Max Health per second for 4 seconds.
That means a full channel can restore up to 80% of your Max Health.
It has a:
16-second cooldown
This is a huge survivability tool.
Instead of relying entirely on defensive gear, Monk can actively recover a large amount of health during combat.
Of course, because you’re channeling the ability, timing still matters. You don’t want to casually activate it when you’re about to take a massive hit.
Charge
Unlocked at level 25, Charge gives Monk a powerful engagement tool.
You charge toward your target and then slam every enemy around you for 180% weapon damage.
The enemies are also stunned for 2 seconds.
At level 10, the damage increases to 252% weapon damage, while the stun duration remains 2 seconds.
It has a:
12-second cooldown
This is useful both offensively and defensively.
You can use Charge to quickly reach an enemy and then stun everything around you.
That makes it a natural setup ability before unleashing one of your AOE attacks.
Spirit Twin
At level 30, Monk unlocks one of its most interesting abilities: Spirit Twin.
You summon a spirit version of yourself that stays by your side for 8 seconds.
The Spirit Twin mirrors your Basic and Strong Attacks, striking the enemies you strike.
At level 10, the duration increases to 9.8 seconds.
The cooldown is:
28 seconds
This is a major burst-window ability because your attacks effectively get another source of damage while the Spirit Twin is active.
If you’re planning to use your strongest attacks, having Spirit Twin active can make that window much more valuable.
Wind Steps
At level 40, Monk gets Wind Steps.
You ride the wind for 4 seconds, gaining 30% Dodge Chance.
At level 10, the duration increases to 4.9 seconds.
It has a:
16-second cooldown
This is Monk’s mobility-focused defensive tool.
Rather than absorbing damage, you’re giving yourself a significantly better chance to avoid incoming attacks.
The short cooldown also means you can potentially use it regularly during difficult fights instead of saving it exclusively for one moment.
Divine Thunder
The final listed Monk Special unlocks at level 45.
Divine Thunder calls down holy Lightning around you.
Each pulse strikes nearby enemies for 280% weapon damage and leaves them Dazed for 5 seconds.
At level 10, each pulse increases to 370% weapon damage, while the Dazed duration remains 5 seconds.
It has an:
18-second cooldown
This is one of Monk’s strongest AOE control tools.
You’re dealing a large amount of Lightning damage while also applying Dazed to enemies caught in the effect.
So Divine Thunder isn’t just about damage. It can also help control a group while you continue your attack rotation.
Monk Skill Progression
Here’s a quick look at when the Monk abilities unlock:
| Level | Skill |
|---|---|
| Starting | Threefold Strike |
| 5 | Sacred Judgment |
| 10 | Sacred Orbs |
| 15 | Furious Fist |
| 15 | Spirit Stream |
| 20 | Piercing Lunge |
| 25 | Charge |
| 30 | Seismic Strike |
| 30 | Spirit Twin |
| 35 | Whirlwind Staff |
| 40 | Wind Steps |
| 45 | Chi Bolt |
| 45 | Divine Thunder |
| 50 | Golden Palms |
The progression does a nice job of gradually introducing Monk’s different mechanics.
You start with the basic three-hit rhythm from Threefold Strike, then gain Attack Speed, AOE, healing, summons, dodging, and finally some of the bigger Lightning-based abilities.
How to Play Monk in Deskrawl
Monk is at its best when you keep the momentum going.
A lot of the class’s Basic Attacks have effects tied to every third hit, while Furious Fist rewards you for continuously attacking.
That means you generally don’t want to treat every attack as an isolated event.
Think about the sequence.
With Threefold Strike, you’re working toward the third-hit finisher.
With Seismic Strike, you’re working toward the third attack to trigger the shockwave.
With Chi Bolt, every third successful bolt gives you health back.
And with Furious Fist, continued attacks build your Attack Speed.
This makes Monk feel much more active than a class where you simply press the same strongest ability whenever it’s available.
Monk is a class built around momentum, mobility, and staying in the fight.
You have fast physical attacks, third-hit mechanics, Attack Speed stacking, healing, Dodge Chance, summons, crowd control, and holy Lightning.
The class also gives you plenty of ways to recover from mistakes.
Spirit Stream can restore a huge amount of health, Wind Steps helps you avoid incoming attacks, while Charge and Divine Thunder give you control when enemies start surrounding you.
On the damage side, you’ve got everything from the three-hit finisher of Threefold Strike to the massive Lightning hit from Sacred Judgment, the tornadoes from Whirlwind Staff, and the wide AOE of Golden Palms.
What makes Monk particularly fun is that its abilities feel connected. You’re not just throwing random attacks together — several skills reward you for maintaining a rhythm and continuing to attack.
If you like fast melee combat, stacking momentum, staying mobile, and mixing martial arts with holy Lightning, Monk has a lot of personality and plenty of room to experiment with different setups as you progress through Deskrawl.