Nerf sweeping wind, its useless as it is now.

[snowcatcher]

As most of you already know, monk got some pretty hard cut downs on all most every skills. Having only 2 real offensive spirit dump spells, ( here i mean on wave of light and lashing tail kick ) it made me look again and again through his spirit generators. Now, he got some pretty cool stuff here but one thing that caught my eye was the sweeping wind.
Yes this thread is about that skill.

I mean come on, it forms a vortex around you dealing 15% weapon dmg with maximum stack of 45%, that is after three third hits that actually generate the aoe dmg. I think that 45% weapon dmg per second is next to nothing if you are dual wielding some low dps/high attack speed weapons. The only way to increase the dmg for this skill is using the cyclone version rune. But the problem here is it starts becoming active after your vortex is at the maximum stack, so that is after 9 hits you start getting that extra 20% dmg per shock.

Now i know that this is all theory, and we cannot judge for sure weather smth is good or bad, but i rlly think this skill needs some dmg buff, or if not that at least add bonuses in armor increase, say +10% armor increase per stack for maximum of +30% armor while sweeping wind is at full strength, or maybe even a chance to reflect projectiles be it arrows or some arcane bolts.

[Risingred]

I don't think you know quite how it works.

You hit in an AoE for each hit, and the third hit generates a kind of buff around the monk. It operates a lot like Hurricane from the druid in D2X: it's like a swirling armor spell. The dps on that is pretty high if it's at 45%, and we don't know if it is calculating off-hand as well, but obviously it would be better with a 2H diabo or something.

[DexA]

Whats with the title? Anyway its a spirit generator, so its not supposed to do massive damage and 100% + aoe vortex is pretty good for that matter. I think it can be a very nice skill depending on your build/style. Lets at least play the game first before crying out for buffs or nerfs.

[magicrectangle]

You hit in an AoE for each hit

From whence comes this information?

[snowcatcher]

Well if you check the diablo 3 official site you will notice that the (monk only) fist weapons have lowest physical dmg as a compensation for the attack speed they provide. That being the case this skill is forcing you to use 1 hand weapon that got high physical dmg and low attack speed. The problem is that monk is highly dependent on spirit so a fast attack speed weapons is a must ( which usually go with medium to low physical dmg). And again, to get max efficiency of sweeping wind you need to hit 9+ times for the cyclone rune to start taking effect. i rlly think this skills is underpowered as it is in its current state.

[KIIFive]

But those 9 hits would be very fast.

They are definitely shaping the monk into a defensive CQC character, while the barb is an offensive CQC.
I mean Monks can heal like crazy, they can get huge amounts of dodge, and some of their passives are insane for survival (one with everything, near death experience, seize the initiative, resolve). Not to mention his 'invincibility' skills like serenity and inner sanctuary, also he has a summon to tank hits which can also buff life with the right rune.

These characters wont be able to dish out damage very fast, but they will be able to stay in combat for much longer than other characters which will make up for it (more time to deal damage).

The monk would be very OP if his skills were as strong as other characters.
I have a funny feeling that Blizzard actually knows what they are doing? :P

[Threepwood]

You hit in an AoE for each hit

The skill description seems to imply that the only AoE is from the vortex effect, but that the basic attacks themselves just hit one target: "Strike a target for 100% weapon damage..." Have you had a chance to use it in the emulator, and found otherwise?

[HardRock]

But those 9 hits would be very fast.

Especially if you use Fists of Thunder for the first two hits.

The skill description seems to imply that the only AoE is from the vortex effect, but that the basic attacks themselves just hit one target: "Strike a target for 100% weapon damage..."

That's what I think as well. One can always use Crippling Wave as an AoE charge-up for Sweeping Wind though and maybe even use Combination Strike for increased damage.