Path of Exile 2: How to Master the Acolyte of Chayula Setup



Path of Exile 2 introduced several major mechanical changes, but few are as creative or Path of Exile 2 Currency game-changing as the Hollow Palm Technique Keystone. This new passive allows players to fight bare-handed while still using Quarterstaff skills, effectively transforming your character into a walking weapon. For fans of martial arts archetypes and fast-paced melee combat, this build delivers the fantasy of becoming an "Iron Fist Monk" within PoE2's brutal world.



While technically any class can access Hollow Palm, the Monk stands out as the perfect choice. With natural synergy around Dexterity scaling, evasion, and quarterstaff mastery, the Monk transforms Hollow Palm into a fluid, lightning-fast powerhouse. In this guide, we'll explore the Hollow Palm Acolyte of Chayula build, covering everything from early leveling and skill setups to passive tree priorities and gear choices for Patch 0.3.0.



Why Hollow Palm Works in Path of Exile 2



At its core, the Hollow Palm Technique redefines melee combat. Instead of relying on weapons, you scale damage through Dexterity, attack speed, and crit chance while using the Monk's innate staff-based attacks. Here's what makes it tick:



1. Bare-Handed Combat with Staff Skills - Hollow Palm lets you use all Quarterstaff abilities without equipping any weapon, freeing you from early gear dependency.

2. Scaling Bonuses from Armor Stats - You gain attack speed per Evasion rating and critical chance per Energy Shield, letting you choose between an Evasion-based speed build or a hybrid ES crit setup.

3. Fluid Mobility and Reactive Combat - The Monk's base kit pairs beautifully with Hollow Palm's agility, rewarding dodging, timing, and positioning.



This synergy makes Hollow Palm not just mechanically efficient, but thematically satisfying-an elegant balance of precision, power, and momentum.



Is Hollow Palm a Viable League Starter?



Yes-with a few important notes.



The Hollow Palm Technique is located around 12 passive points away from the Monk's starting area, which means you can transition into it early. However, the Monk's slow early damage scaling makes the first few acts challenging until you unlock enough Dexterity and crit nodes.



Early-Game Pros:



Cheap to start-no weapon investment required

Excellent scaling through Dexterity

Very fun and visually distinct combat style



Early-Game Cons:



Mana-hungry until supports are unlocked

Needs Dexterity stacking to reach competitive damage

Slower to start compared to caster builds



Once you've secured your support gems, Dexterity gear, and key passives, Hollow Palm transforms into a thrilling campaign and early-mapping build. And if you want to smooth out the early grind, you can always use buy POE 2 Orbs to craft gear faster.