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A [[55 Monk]] ''(aka '''Invincible Monk''' or '''Solo Monk''')'' is a special kind of [[monk]] (primary or secondary profession) setup, mainly used for [[farm]]ing purposes, and based on the enchantment {{skill icon|Protective Spirit|small}}, which has the ability to limit incoming [[damage]] at 10% of the ''current'' maximum [[health]]. The number ''55'' is the minimum amount of health obtainable with items (not counting [[death penalty]]), and translates to 5 damage/[[packet]]. This low damage is easily healed or reduced with common skills such as [[Healing Breeze]] or [[Shielding Hands]]. 

The 55 monk is a very flexible build; [[Protective Spirit]] and most health regeneration or damage reduction skills are non-elite and effective even with a low investment in [[Protection Prayers]]. The monk skills also grant excellent energy management skills in the form of [[Balthazar's Spirit]] and [[Essence Bond]], allowing freedom in the way of dealing damage. Many variants of the build do exist depending on the area in which the build will be used. 

== Build basis==

The two following builds are given as example, only Protective Spirit is mandatory. Damage reduction builds are adapted to areas with little to no health degeneration but with a high number of damage packets per second (for example it is really efficient against [[Spectral Vaettir]]s), while the health regeneration build has the ability to counter health degeneration but will have a hard time against a high number of foes.

===Damage reduction build basis===
{{skill bar 2|Protective Spirit|overlay1=Enchantment|Shielding Hands|overlay2=Enchantment|Shield of Absorption|overlay3=Enchantment|Balthazar's Spirit|overlay4=Enchantment|Essence Bond|overlay5=Enchantment}}
===Health regeneration build basis===
{{skill bar 2|Protective Spirit|overlay1=Enchantment|Healing Breeze|overlay2=Enchantment|Mending|overlay3=Enchantment|Balthazar's Spirit|overlay4=Enchantment|Essence Bond|overlay5=Enchantment}}

===Level and equipment===
To use this type of [[build]], the character may be level 20 and must be either a [[monk]] primary or secondary. Primary is more widely used to gain maximum benefit from the superior runes used, and the monk's inherent [[Divine Favor]] healing bonus increases survivability. To reach the 55 health, the character will use 5 superior [[rune]]s, each one giving -75 health, and use the [[Grim Cesta (knife)|Grim Cesta]] obtained from the quest [[Cities of Ascalon]] which is an unreplicable focus item that has a -50 health mod. This should bring the character's health to 55. ([[Melandru's Accord]] players should keep in mind that this quest is only available to [[Prophecies]] characters.)

It is highly advised to use [[Radiant Insignia]] to have a high base energy.  A +5 energy, from the "[[I Have the Power!]]" inscription, and an [[of Enchanting]] mod on the main hand weapon is also desirable, but not essential; a [[Totem Axe]] is usually used as it contains both mods.

==Survival==

The most dangerous threats to 55 monks are the counters to Protective Spirit: enchantment removal, [[interrupts]] (including [[knockdowns]]),[[hex]]es, heavy health [[degeneration]], [[Life stealing]] and to a lesser extent [[Health loss]] (which bypass Protective Spirit's protection). 

===Harmful spells===

Most of those threats come in the form of spells; therefore {{skill icon|Spell Breaker|small}} is often used to avoid them. It is usually used with {{skill icon|Blessed Aura|small}} as it extends the duration of all monk [[enchantment spell]]s, including Protective Spirit. {{skill icon|Shadow Form|small}} is a good alternative to Spell Breaker, especially since it will also give a 5 damage reduction basis (however not for the full duration of the enchantment, see [[Shadow Form]]'s page for more). However this requires a good investment in [[Shadow Arts]] as well as the use of {{skill icon|Deadly Paradox|small}}.

===Interrupts and knockdowns===

*{{skill icon|Balanced Stance|small}} or {{skill icon|"I Am Unstoppable!"|small}} are skills to consider when foes can knock down.
*{{skill icon|Mantra of Resolve|small}} is a good anti-interrupt skill.
*{{skill icon|Sympathetic Visage|small}} and its duplicate {{skill icon|Ancestor's Visage|small}} can protect against both melee interrupts and knockdown skills.

===Health degeneration===

Foes often apply [[health degeneration]], commonly with conditions such as [[Bleeding]] or [[Poison]]. In these situations, [[health regeneration]] skills such as [[Mending]], [[Watchful Spirit]] are very important and should be maintained vigilantly. [[Healing Breeze]] is an effective tool in this sense, with high regeneration, decent length, and with proper energy management, easy enough to maintain. [[Mystic Regeneration]] is another popular regeneration skill because of the number of enchantments.

===Death Penalty===
If it dies, a 55 monk will end up with 1 health when resurrected. Most of the time, people just remove the Grim Cesta so that they end up with 33 health. Using a -20 health focus can then allow to suffer only 1 damage per hit. Note however that spells which resurrect a character with a percentage less than 51% of their health will not work on the 55 due to it having only 1hp.

===Damage reduction===
A vital point is the order of effects. Protective Spirit must take effect first, then incoming damage must be reduced. As such, always cast Shielding Hands and other damage reduction skills ''after'' Protective Spirit, possibly using another protective spell such as Shield of Absorption to alleviate the tiny window during which you can take damage.
 
==Energy management skills==

The use of Balthazar's Spirit (and Essence Bonds if facing physical and elemental damage) will usually guarantee a constant inflow of energy. However a couple of more efficient ways to get energy can be found.
*{{skill icon|Mantra of Earth|small}},{{skill icon|Mantra of Lightning|small}},{{skill icon|Mantra of Flame|small}},{{skill icon|Mantra of Frost|small}},{{skill icon|Storm Chaser|small}} do not require upkeep and provide a higher energy refund but depends on the enemy you'll face. Furthermore beware of stance cancelling if using another stance (Deadly Paradox, for example).
*{{skill icon|Blessed Signet|small}} is a good way of providing yourself energy if you use many [[maintained enchantment]]s like Blessed Aura, Mending.

==Damaging skills==
===Damaging skills already available to monks===

*{{skill icon|Balthazar's Aura|small}} (can cause foes to scatter)
*{{skill icon|Symbol of Wrath|small}} and its duplicate {{skill icon|Kirin's Wrath|small}} (can cause foes to scatter)
*{{skill icon|Shield of Judgment|small}} (causes knockdowns on foes => can generate energy management problems since they will attack less often)
*{{skill icon|Radiation Field|small}}
*{{skill icon|Ear Bite|small}} or {{skill icon|Ebon Vanguard Sniper Support|small}} (+{{skill icon|Signet of Infection|small}}) ~ typically used against bosses when your elite skill is already taken (by a spell prevention skill for example).

===Damaging skills available through the other profession===

*{{skill icon|Spiteful Spirit|small}}
*{{skill icon|Spoil Victor|small}}  ~ very good boss killer as it deals heavy damage, and you will often meet the condition with 55 life.
*{{skill icon|Sliver Armor|small}} (+{{skill icon|Ebon Battle Standard of Honor|small}})
*{{skill icon|Ether Nightmare|small}} (+{{skill icon|Cry of Pain|small}})
*{{skill icon|Arcane Echo|small}} to duplicate slow recharge skills such as [[Shield of Judgement]]

===Damaging skills available through the other profession===
*{{skill icon|Brawling Headbutt|small}} ~ as your axe gains adrenaline, this skill can finish off foes in case your primary offensive skills run out before they are dead.  It does large flat damage, even at [[Axe Mastery]] of one.  This can replace Arcane Echo, which is easily interrupted and 2 Shield of Judgments are usually overkill
*{{skill icon|Drunken Master|small}} while drunk, 33% increased movement speed will let you farm faster, and 33% increased attack rate will get Brawling Headbutt recharged faster.  Candy may be a better choice
*{{skill icon|Keen Chop|small}} or {{skill icon|Penetrating Blow|small}} or {{skill icon|Penetrating Chop|small}} ~ old fashioned farmers will need to kill foes with their Axe instead of with spells; but than one reduces the effect of the others

===Countering healing skills===

To kill foes with healing skills (and also energy-based or adrenaline-based interrupt skills), {{skill icon|Sympathetic Visage|small}} and its duplicate skill {{skill icon|Ancestor's Visage|small}} can be used as they quickly deny foes of energy and adrenaline. Note however that those skills will only deny energy at melee range, requiring the 55monk to [[Tank|ball]] casters and then position himself adjacent to them to deplete their energy pool.

These two skills may not kill on their own, but several {{skill icon|Mind Wrack|small}}s or a well-placed Spirit of {{skill icon|Famine|small}} used by another team member will cause massive damage.

==Counters==

This build, despite being called invicimonk, can be countered. Touch Skills with Life Stealing (such as Vampiric Bite) or Health loss (such as Enfeebling Touch) will usually kill the 55 monk in one hit. Non-targeted enchantment removal such as [[Well of the Profane]] or [[Disenchantment]] or non-spell enchantment removal such as [[Expunge Enchantments]] can remove Protective Spirit.

==Summary==
;Pros
{{yes}} Low base health means [[Protective Spirit]] reduces damage per non-armor ignoring damage source to a single digit number.
<br>{{yes}} This damage can be completely mitigated by one hit from [[Shield of Absorption]] or by being enchanted with something such as [[Stoneflesh Aura]] and [[Shielding Hands]].
<br>{{yes}} Only 3 (rounded) health regeneration is needed to counter one damage [[packet]].
<br>{{yes}}This is a primarily ''solo'' build, which offers higher drop yield; it can be accompanied by a "finisher", a damage dealer in order to speed up [[farming]].


;Varies
{{any}}In most cases, relies on a foe attacking you rather than targeting you with a spell to deal damage. Though most enemies attack you, some may have such a large pool of energy or spammable spells that they continuously cast spells, making them tough to take down.
<br>{{any}}This is an extremely niche build that is used solely for farming. It is practically useless in general [[PvE]] and [[PvP]].
<br>{{any}}This build is player-controllable only. [[Hero]]es cannot use it due to slight (yet critical) delays between giving an order and it being committed to and inability to properly maintain enchantments in the right order by themselves.


;Cons:
{{no|red}}Though powerful when enchanted, this build collapses in seconds if not coordinated correctly. You can be killed immediately if Protective Spirit is not maintained.
<br>{{no|red}}Without [[Spell Breaker]], areas containing foes which frequently remove enchantments are impossible. Even with [[Spell Breaker]], non-spell skills that remove enchantments, or enchantment removal that doesn't specifically target you, also pose problems; for example, [[Outcast Assassin]]s cannot be farmed with this build due to their [[Dark Apostasy]] skill. [[Life Stealing]] (especially with Touch Skills), heavy [[Health Degeneration]] or [[Health loss]] are not considered damage and therefore bypass Protective Spirit.
<br>{{no|red}}Without the use of damage reduction (aside from Protective Spirit), taking into account the cap of 10 positive health regeneration (meaning 20 health per second), this build will have trouble receiving more than 4 packets of damage per second without losing health (though some health can be refunded through [[Divine Favor]] bonus).

==Related articles==
*[http://www.guildwarsguru.com/content/comprehensive-guide-to-the-solo-monk-id1626.php Comprehensive Guide to the Solo Monk on GW Guru]
*[http://www.guildwiki.org/Invincible_Monk Invincible Monk]

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[[Category:Monk builds]]
[[Category:Solo farming]]
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