User:Kobastrike

The 55 Monk is monk that uses Superior Runes and a -50 health Grim Cesta to bring it's health down to 55. By using Protective Spirit along with Shielding Hands and/or Shield of Absorption to keep the monk from taking any damage. This, along with most 55 Monks, uses Shield of Judgment as its main damage giver.

Attributes and Skills
[build prof= prof=mo/any smitin=12+3 healin=9+3 protec=12+3 divine=5+3+3][reversal of damage][protective spirit][shielding hands][kirins wrath][shield of judgment][smite hex][healing breeze][balthazar's spirit][/build]

Equipment

 * A set of armor with Radiant Insignias, 5 Superior Monk Runes, one of each attribute and one of your choice (I use a Divine Favor one)
 * Weapons (one of the following)
 * Common--Totem Axe for +5 energy and 20% longer enchantments
 * Uncommon-- Max damage sword with +5 energy inscription 20% longer enchantments mod and zealous sword mod (I have found this works better and if u want you can put in SoA instead of Balthazar's Spirit
 * MUST HAVE -50 health grim cesta off-hand (This is the only way to get your health down to 55 which is needed to be a 55 Monk)

Usage

 * Cast Balthazar's Spirit the second you are in a new area
 * Before aggroing mobs, cast Protective Spirit. You should not need Healing Breeze unless you are farming an area that uses poison or degeneration hexs.
 * The energy gained from Essence Bond and Balthazar's Spirit should be more than enough for all situations.
 * Blessed Aura and your weapon of Enchanting will prolong Shield of Judgment, which is your core offensive spell.
 * The build is most successful against melee attackers and is least successful against spell casters (especially Mesmers). To use it for farming, find an area with a heavy concentration of melee attackers (such as the Blessed Griffons in Snake Dance or the Hydras in Skyward Reach lower levels in Factions can farm Jade Brotherhood inWajjun Bazaar) and take them on. I use this build to farm anything from Jade Brotherhood at lvl 8 (I've done it...It's just a bit different because of shorter lasting enchantments) to farming the Gates of Kryta in HM

Variants
Main article: Invincimonk guide

The standard 55 monk is one of the most customizable builds in all of Guildwars. The most common variants include using Zealot's Fire for additional damage or Balanced Stance/Fleeting Stability for farming areas with knockdown. Areas with interruptions can benefit from Mantra of Resolve. Creating a Mo/D with Mystic Regeneration in place of Healing Breeze allows higher attributes, yet requires pooling into a different attribute. If you are in an area without any hexs, exchange smite hex for Symbol of Wrath or Balthazar's Aura and if you are in an area with conditions you can exchange forCastigation Signet or Smite Condition

Counters

 * Enchantment removal (Not much you can do unless you get lucky and are able to kill the disenchanter before you die)
 * Interrupting
 * The dazed condition (takes longer to cast spells)
 * Life stealing
 * Degeneration (Watch out for Mesmers which are a double threat because they might have interrupts and degeneration)
 * Shroud of Silence
 * Symbiosis (This increases your health which makes it harder to keep your health up due to the increase in damage)