Leveling as a Monk Before Storm Wave Unlocks

Storm Wave becomes available at Level 22, meaning you'll have to Path of Exile 2 Currency use alternative skills during the early campaign. The Monk has excellent leveling options, and since the build revolves around Quarterstaves, it's best to start training with one right away.

Here's a recommended early-game progression path:

Main Weapon: Quarterstaff (try to buy or craft one with +Skill Gem Level modifiers).
Unique Option: Pillar of the Caged God - great for early physical scaling if you can buy it with your first Exalted Orb.

Early Skill Setup:

Glacial Cascade - Primary ranged attack for freezing and slowing enemies.
Frost Bomb - Explosive finisher for frozen targets.
Tempest Bell - For early boss fights and single-target DPS.
Herald of Ice - Adds AoE damage and crowd control.

Early Gem Links:

Glacial Cascade: Rapid Attacks - Cold Attunement  Frost Bomb: Potent Exposure  Tempest Bell: Overabundance - Rage  Herald of Ice: Magnified Area - Cold Attunement  Ice Strike: Rapid Attacks - Cold Attunement

Use Glacial Cascade to freeze mobs, Frost Bomb to detonate them, and Tempest Bell to handle tougher enemies. This setup will carry you comfortably to level 22, where the build truly comes alive.

Transitioning to Storm Wave (Level 22+)

At level 22, you'll unlock Storm Wave using an Uncut Skill Gem 7. Respec your cold-focused gems into Lightning support gems and start building your endgame loadout.

Storm Wave sends out a lightning fissure that shocks and damages enemies, synergizing perfectly with Herald of Thunder and Charged Staff.

Mid-Game Gem Links:

Storm Wave: Rapid Attacks - Elemental Armament - Rage - Branching Fissures  
Tempest Bell: Overabundance - Close Combat - Elemental Armament  
Tempest Flurry: Rapid Attacks - Elemental Armament - Close Combat - Freeze  
Herald of Thunder: Elemental Armament - Elemental Focus - Deadly Herald  
Charged Staff: Prolonged Duration - Innervate - Elemental Armament  
Profane Ritual: Rapid Casting - Compressed Duration - Unleash

Core Rotation:

For Mobs: Cast Storm Wave to clear groups and generate corpses. Use Profane Ritual to consume corpses and gain Power Charges. Once charged, activate Charged Staff for buffed melee strikes.
For Bosses: Use Tempest Flurry to build up combos, then unleash Tempest Bell while Charged Staff is active for massive single-target bursts.

The gameplay loop rewards timing and poe2 trade site awareness - keeping your Power Charges and Herald buffs active ensures maximum uptime and damage output.