U4GM POE 2: How to Build Hollow Palm Monk

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If you're starting Patch 0.5.0 with a Monk, the Hollow Palm Whirling Assault setup has a pretty clear appeal: it gets going without asking for much. You're not stuck checking every vendor for a better weapon or burning early Path of Exile 2 Currency on tiny upgrades that'll be replaced ten minutes later. The character wants Dexterity, speed, and enough defence to avoid being deleted. That's simple, but not boring. Once Whirling Assault starts carrying packs, the build feels smooth in a way many early melee characters don't.

Why Hollow Palm feels so good early
Hollow Palm works because it removes one of the worst parts of league-start melee: weapon pressure. Instead of praying for a strong rare staff or fist weapon, you scale unarmed damage through Dexterity. That means every useful Dex roll feels like progress. You'll still care about gear, of course, but the focus changes. Gloves, boots, rings, and body armour become about staying alive, moving faster, and keeping your resistances in shape. It's a nice break from the usual "my weapon is bad, so my build is bad" problem.

Whirling Assault changes the rhythm
Whirling Assault is the part that makes the build click. It lets you attack while moving, and in Path of Exile 2 that matters a lot. Enemies hit hard, bosses punish lazy positioning, and standing still too long usually ends badly. With this skill, you can slide through packs, keep damage rolling, and dodge out before things get ugly. It's not an auto-win button, though. If you spin straight into a boss slam, you'll still get flattened. The skill rewards players who stay active and read the fight.

Leveling priorities that actually matter
During the campaign, don't overthink it. Dexterity comes first for damage, then attack speed and movement speed make the whole thing feel better. After that, get life, evasion, and elemental resistances wherever you can. Movement speed boots are a bigger deal than people sometimes admit. They make questing, dodging, and backtracking feel much less painful. Since the build isn't begging for weapon upgrades, it's smart to spend early resources on defensive pieces. A dead Monk clears nothing, no matter how nice the damage looks on paper.

Early maps and where the build can struggle
Once you reach early mapping, the same idea keeps working. Stack more Dexterity, cap your resistances, push life higher, and look for evasion bases that don't wreck your stat needs. Physical damage, attack speed, and later critical strike chance can help the build scale past the campaign. Dense layouts feel great because Whirling Assault keeps your pace high. Bosses are the real test. You'll need to stop being greedy, move out of danger, and re-engage cleanly. If you plan to min-max later, upgrades can get pricey, and some players may look at Path of Exile 2 Currency for sale while comparing late-game crafting costs, but the starter version is already strong enough to carry a fresh character into maps.