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What is the meaning behind the Union Jack’s design?
It blends three older flags to symbolize political union:
St. George’s Cross (England) — red upright cross on white
St. Andrew’s Cross (Scotland) — white diagonal (saltire) on blue
St. Patrick’s Cross (Ireland) — red diagonal saltire on white
A couple of neat details:
The asymmetry isn’t a mistake. The red and white saltires are “counterchanged” (offset) so both Scottish and Irish elements remain visible.
Wales isn’t shown separately because it was incorporated into the English crown long before the composite flag took shape.
The modern arrangement dates to 1801, marking the union with Ireland.
So the red, white, and blue weren’t chosen to mean bravery or loyalty; they’re the inherited colors of the crosses being combined. The result is a single emblem that tells the story of kingdoms becoming one.
— Baldwin Flags
MMOEXP Mastering the Lightning Monk Build in Path of Exile 2
If you're diving into Path of Exile 2 and looking to obliterate bosses while expertly managing mobs of enemies, then you'll want to focus on building a powerful Lightning Monk. This guide will introduce you to synergistic skills, essential passive nodes POE2 Currency, and strategies that maximize your DPS while providing self-healing capabilities. Whether you're in mid to end game, this build will keep you at the top of your game.
Getting Started: Key Skills for Your Lightning Monk
1. Primary Skills Overview
To make the most out of your Lightning Monk, focus on the following skills:
Killing Palm: This melee skill is crucial for healing and managing energy charges. Use it to finish off low-health enemies marked with a blue orb to recover 12% of your health and gain energy charges.
Falling Thunder: An AOE lightning attack that consumes energy charges for increased damage, wider area, and extra range. Ensure you activate this skill when you have energy charges stacked.
Siphoning Strike: This skill generates energy charges when you hit shocked enemies, making it essential for maintaining your damage output, especially against bosses.
Storm Wave: Launches a stream of lightning that deals damage and can apply shock to enemies from a distance, allowing you to attack without getting too close to enemies' melee abilities.
Tempest Spell & Tempest Flurry: Tempest Spell drops a resonating bell that damages enemies and provides stun potential. Tempest Flurry then delivers rapid melee strikes to trigger the bell for more AOE damage quickly.
Charge Staff: Unlock this skill towards the end of Act Two. It allows you to consume energy charges for enhanced lightning-infused attacks, great for clearing out mobs efficiently.
Herald of Thunder: This spirit skill releases lightning bolts in the vicinity, dealing damage to enemies every time you kill a shocked enemy, significantly boosting your AOE potential.
2. Gem Setup and Combinations
To amplify your skills effectively, use the following gem setups:
Killing Palm: Pair with Life Drain (12% health recovery per kill) and Profusion (50% chance for multiple energy charges per kill).
Falling Thunder: Add Perpetual Charge (35% chance not to consume energy charges when casting) and Nate (35% additional lightning damage against shocked enemies).
Tempest Spell: Utilize Ruthless (500% more stun build-up with every fifth use) and Magnified Effect (40% more AOE damage).
Herald of Thunder: Equip Precision (increases accuracy) and Concentrated Effect (40% more damage, reducing AOE by 50%).
Tempest Flurry: Use Conduction (100% chance to shock) and Overpower (50% more stun build-up) alongside Martial Tempo (25% increased attack speed).
Passive Skill Tree Progression
Maximizing your Lightning Monk's efficiency involves strategic passive skill tree choices:
Flow Like Water & Step Like Mist: These nodes cheap Path of Exile 2 Currency boost attack speed, mana regeneration, and movement speed—ideal early game pick-ups.
Taste for Blood: Grants additional life per enemy killed, along with a chance to replenish health instantly.