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Path of Exile 2 continues to push the boundaries of what an action RPG can be, not only through its revamped campaign and systems, but also through how radically it reimagines class identity and build freedom. Few examples highlight this design philosophy better than the Monk class and one of its most intriguing options: the Hollow Palm Technique. While the Monk begins their journey wielding a traditional Quarterstaff, Path of Exile 2 eventually invites players to do something far more unconventional—put the weapon down entirely and fight with nothing but their fists.
At first glance, abandoning a weapon in a game as stat-heavy as Path of Exile may seem counterintuitive. However, the Hollow Palm Technique passive transforms unarmed combat from a novelty into a fully viable, and often surprisingly tanky, late-game strategy. By allowing Quarterstaff skills to function while unarmed and tying offensive scaling to defensive stats, Hollow Palm Monk builds offer a unique playstyle that blends survivability, flexibility, and raw efficiency.
This article explores how the Hollow Palm Technique works, why it fits so naturally with the Monk class, and what makes unarmed combat one of the most interesting build paths emerging in Path of Exile 2.
The Monk’s Identity in Path of Exile 2
The Monk in Path of Exile 2 occupies a fascinating space between agility, control, and resilience. Traditionally associated with martial prowess rather than heavy armor or spellcasting, the Monk excels at fluid movement, precise strikes, and crowd control. The Quarterstaff serves as the class’s default weapon, reinforcing themes of reach, balance, and rhythmic combat.
Unlike brute-force melee classes, the Monk’s power often comes from skill interactions rather than raw weapon damage. Many Quarterstaff abilities emphasize sweeping arcs, rapid strikes, and positional play, rewarding players who understand spacing and timing. This design foundation is exactly what makes the Hollow Palm Technique feel so natural within the Monk’s toolkit.
By allowing Quarterstaff skills to function while unarmed, POE 2 Currency blurs the line between weapon-based and unarmed combat, enabling players to preserve the Monk’s core playstyle even after discarding their staff entirely.
Understanding the Hollow Palm Technique
The Hollow Palm Technique is a keystone-style passive located deep within Path of Exile 2’s sprawling passive skill forest. Unlocking it is a deliberate choice rather than an incidental bonus, often requiring players to commit several points to reach it. This investment signals that Hollow Palm is not meant as a gimmick, but as a build-defining mechanic.
At its core, Hollow Palm does two critical things:
It allows Quarterstaff skills to be used while unarmed.
This means players can retain access to their familiar Monk abilities even after removing their weapon entirely.
It changes how damage scales, tying offense to defensive stats.
Instead of relying on weapon damage, attack power scales with attributes and defensive layers, such as evasion, energy shield, or other mitigation-focused stats.
This dual function is what makes Hollow Palm so compelling. It preserves gameplay continuity while fundamentally redefining how character progression works.
Why Go Unarmed in a Weapon-Centric ARPG?
Path of Exile has always been a game where weapons play a central role in character power. High-end gear, intricate crafting systems, and weapon affixes traditionally determine a build’s ceiling. Choosing to fight unarmed seems, at first, like self-imposed difficulty.
However, Path of Exile 2 challenges this assumption by offering alternative scaling paths. Hollow Palm removes the dependency on weapon upgrades, replacing it with a stat-driven model that rewards smart passive allocation and defensive investment. This approach offers several key advantages:
Gear Simplification: Without a weapon slot to optimize, players can focus on armor, accessories, and jewels.
Consistency: Damage becomes less reliant on finding or crafting a perfect weapon.
Survivability: Defensive stats no longer feel like a tradeoff; they directly contribute to damage output.
In practice, this often results in a Monk that feels sturdier than traditional melee builds, especially in prolonged encounters or high-density endgame content.
Scaling Damage Through Defense
One of the most innovative aspects of Hollow Palm Monk builds is how they blur the traditional line between offense and defense. In most ARPGs, players must constantly balance survivability against damage. Invest too heavily in defense, and fights drag on. Focus too much on offense, and a single mistake can be fatal.
Hollow Palm flips this equation. Because offensive scaling is tied to defensive stats, every point invested into survivability also boosts damage. This creates a virtuous cycle where building tankier directly improves kill speed.
Common defensive layers that synergize well with Hollow Palm include:
Evasion: Fits naturally with the Monk’s agile identity and rewards mobility-focused gameplay.
Energy Shield: Provides a regenerating buffer that pairs well with hit-and-run tactics.
Attribute Stacking: Dexterity and other attributes often contribute both defensively and offensively in Hollow Palm setups.
The result is a character that can stand toe-to-toe with enemies far longer than expected, without sacrificing clear speed or boss damage.
Skill Synergies and Combat Flow
Because Hollow Palm allows Quarterstaff skills to function unarmed, players retain access to the Monk’s core combat rhythm. Sweeping attacks, multi-hit combos, and area-of-effect abilities remain central to gameplay, ensuring that unarmed combat never feels stripped-down or incomplete.
In fact, many players report that Hollow Palm builds feel smoother than traditional weapon-based setups. Without the need to constantly evaluate weapon upgrades, the focus shifts toward skill execution, positioning, and passive optimization.
This makes Hollow Palm particularly appealing to players who enjoy mastering mechanics rather than chasing gear upgrades.
Late-Game Viability and Endgame Performance
One of the biggest questions surrounding unconventional builds is whether they can survive the brutal demands of endgame content. In Path of Exile 2, Hollow Palm Monk builds have shown strong late-game potential precisely because of their defensive scaling.
High-tier maps, boss encounters, and league mechanics often punish glass-cannon builds that rely on burst damage alone. Hollow Palm Monks, by contrast, excel in sustained combat. Their layered defenses allow them to absorb mistakes, recover quickly, and maintain pressure throughout extended fights.
This makes them particularly well-suited for players who prefer consistency over volatility, or who want a build that feels forgiving without being weak.
Build Flexibility and Customization
Another major strength of the Hollow Palm Technique is its flexibility. While the keystone defines the build’s core identity, it leaves ample room for customization. Players can lean into evasion-heavy dodge builds, hybrid energy shield setups, or even attribute-stacking strategies that push scaling to extremes.
This adaptability aligns perfectly with Path of Exile 2’s philosophy of player-driven experimentation. Two Hollow Palm Monks may share the same keystone but feel entirely different depending on passive choices, support gems, and gear priorities.
Thematic Appeal: Mastery Through Discipline
Beyond mechanics, Hollow Palm resonates on a thematic level. The idea of a Monk abandoning their weapon and relying solely on their body feels like the culmination of martial mastery. It reinforces the fantasy of discipline, inner strength, and self-reliance.
Path of Exile 2 often excels when mechanics and narrative themes align, and Hollow Palm is a prime example. It doesn’t just offer a powerful build option—it tells a story through gameplay.
Final Thoughts
The Hollow Palm Technique exemplifies what makes POE 2 Currency for sale such an exciting evolution of the ARPG genre. By enabling unarmed combat that scales through defensive investment, it challenges long-held assumptions about power progression and build design.
For Monk players, Hollow Palm offers a unique opportunity to embrace a playstyle that is both mechanically robust and thematically satisfying. It rewards thoughtful planning, encourages survivability without sacrificing damage, and delivers a combat experience that feels distinct from traditional melee archetypes.
As Path of Exile 2 continues to evolve, builds like the Hollow Palm Monk stand as a testament to the game’s depth and creativity—proof that sometimes, the strongest weapon is no weapon at all.
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