Monk races

Chen Stormstout, a legendary pandaren brewmaster.

“When the pandaren were subjugated by the mogu centuries ago, it was the monks that brought hope to a seemingly dim future. Restricted from using weapons by their slave masters, these pandaren instead focused on harnessing their chi and learning weaponless combat. When the opportunity for revolution struck, they were well-trained to throw off the yoke of oppression.”

— Monk's official description

This article lists the races that are able to become monks, along with the lore behind the teaching of the class.

Nearly 12,000 years ago, long before the War of the Ancients, the continent now known as Pandaria was ruled by a monstrous race of warlords known as the mogu, whose reign was incredibly harsh and brutal. During these dark times, mogu taskmasters forbade their slaves to carry weapons, and many pandaren tried to lift the spirits of their beleaguered brothers and sisters. They were the storytellers, the brewmasters, and the healers who helped knit their oppressed society together in the midst of darkness. As the mogu empire began to fray, the pandaren saw an opportunity for a revolution. Because they had no weapons, they trained common people to fight with their unarmed fists and feet. They mastered the use of positive energy - or 'chi' - to empower themselves. These unarmed resistance fighters would become the first monks.

Background

Over time, the pandaren have taught the ways of the monk to other races, and are apparently quite willing to share this powerful knowledge with their friends and allies.

Long before the emergence of Pandaria from the mists, the pandaren of Tian Monastery were teaching other races including the jinyu and hozen the ways of the monk and would teach anyone who wished to train, regardless of race.

When the pandaren of the Wandering Isle made their way into Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms and joined forces with their respective factions, the monk trainers among them began to teach Alliance and Horde members the ways of the monk. As well as residing in the factions' capital cities, individual monk trainers traveled to areas such as the Valley of Trials and Northshire Abbey to train young members of each race.

When the mists parted, and the Alliance and Horde discovered Pandaria anew, the monk trainers of the land were happy to instruct these newcomers further in their burgeoning training.

Following the destruction of Dalaran, Ji Firepaw and Aysa Cloudsinger accompanied their respective factions when they traveled to the Isle of Dorn to aid in the war against Xal'atath. There they taught the earthen to fight as monks in the Tranquil Strand.

One exception is the pandaren monk trainer Mojo Stormstout. First featured in Warcraft III, Mojo was introduced to World of Warcraft with Mists of Pandaria. According to lore, he was wandering Azuremyst Isle before the Exodar crashed. In response to his offers of help, he was invited to begin teaching fighting skills to some of the draenei.

Other appearances

The humans of the Scarlet Crusade have shown to have monks in their ranks since Classic. These Scarlet Monks used their strength to battle the undead and invaders alike. Their leader, Brother Korloff, apparently learned martial arts from the pandaren. There's a chance that similar monks existed prior to the Scourging of Lordaeron, given the previous existence of Condemned Monks on Purgation Isle.

Several Mag'har orcs have been shown to use unarmed combat in a manner similar to that of the monk. On Draenor, Forgemistress Flamehand fought using both fire and her bare hands to defend her warlord, Blackhand. Ma'ra Grimfang joined the Horde, claiming she used her power as a monk to slay many Lightbound foes. Many of the Laughing Skull Orcs also show skill in fighting unarmed or with fist weapons, though they tend to be classified as rogues.

The draenei Auchenai order in Auchindoun also had monks among their ranks.

Arathi Vitner Monks can be found at the Priory of the Sacred Flame as part of the Church of the Sacred Flame.

Notes

• Monk trainer Pao describes the blood elves as "well-suited" for the ways of the monk, and states that they have taken to it quickly.
• The term 'monk' has been used before in World of Warcraft, long prior to the introduction of the playable monk class. There is some speculation regarding the origin of NPC monks, which has never been fully explained. However, no evidence currently suggests a connection between the pandaren monks and these other types of monks. It seems likely that similar class types could have developed separately, much as hunters, warriors, and rogues have been found in many races with effectively identical abilities, despite presumably separate origins.

Speculation

This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.

Mojo's introduction seems likely to be a retcon. Given the disparate timelines between the different zones by the time of Mists of Pandaria, it would not be possible to have a monk trainer for draenei players without having that trainer exist on Azuremyst Isle immediately following the crash of the Exodar. Since it is necessary to provide new monks with a trainer, it was likely necessary to introduce Mojo retroactively.