Monk used to feel like the class you picked when you wanted clean hits, fast movement, and not too much nonsense on the screen. Patch 0.5 changed that in a big way. Return of the Ancients gives the class a stranger, busier identity through the Martial Artist ascendancy, and Hollow Form is the centre of it. You channel, a clone appears, and that clone repeats the attack you've built around. It sounds simple until you start testing timings, sockets, and gear swaps. Even small upgrades to POE 2 Items can change how smooth the whole setup feels, because this isn't just about hitting harder anymore. It's about making the copy hit when you need it to.

Hollow Form changes the rhythm

The first thing you notice is the tax. Hollow Form cuts your damage by 20% and slows attack speed by 30%, so yeah, the tooltip can look rough at first glance. A lot of players will see that and back away. Don't rush it. The point isn't one huge swing. It's pressure from extra bodies, extra angles, and repeated attacks while you reposition. You're almost playing around a delayed echo of yourself. That makes fights feel less like a standard melee trade and more like setting traps with your own movement.

Why socket choice matters more now

This ascendancy really punishes lazy skill setups. If you throw in a clunky attack just because it has big numbers, the clone may copy something that feels awful in real combat. Skills with clear direction, good reach, or strong area coverage tend to feel better. You'll also want to think about recovery windows. Can you dodge after channelling? Can your clone keep pressure on a rare while you step out of a slam? That's where Martial Artist gets interesting. It rewards players who actually watch enemy behaviour instead of face-tanking and hoping leech fixes it.

Building around the awkward parts

The slower attack speed means your gear has to do some quiet work. Attack speed on weapons and gloves matters, but don't tunnel on it. Spirit, defences, and resource comfort are just as important because standing still to channel is never free. You'll get clipped if you're greedy. I'd rather lose a little damage and keep the build stable than turn every boss into a coin flip. Stun avoidance, mobility support, and a weapon with reliable base damage all help the clones feel less like a gimmick and more like part of your rotation.

Who this ascendancy is really for

If you want a simple Monk that dashes in and deletes packs with no thought, Martial Artist might annoy you. It asks for practice. It asks you to mess with timing. But if you like builds that look a bit messy at first and then click after a few maps, it's a great pick. Players trying to tune the setup without wasting currency may look for cheap POE 2 Items while testing weapons, supports, and defensive pieces, since small changes can make Hollow Form feel much more natural. Once it starts working, the class has a style that no other Monk setup really matches.