User:Jasminethetender/builds/monk

Monk =Blessed Escaper= This build utilizes the effective support of the Blessed Light monk but adds more self-survivability with Return and Dark Escape.

Equipment

 * A negative energy set for focus swapping will help against energy denial.

Usage

 * Reversal of Fortune and Gift of Health are your two main healing spells.
 * Use Signet of Devotion whenever you can safely do so. This will help keep your energy reserves up.
 * Using Blessed Light to remove a hex and condition and to heal for its full amount is incredibly time- and energy-efficient; try to do this as often as possible.
 * Use Spirit Bond on targets that are likely to be taking large of amounts of damage soon, such as people being converged on by Warriors. Do not use it as a heal as it has a high energy cost.
 * Use Dark Escape when you are being targetted and are suffering lots of damage. The speed boost will help you get out of danger and you'll be taking half damage while doing so.
 * When being spiked by Warriors, use Return to teleport away from danger and leave the Warriors crippled.

Variants

 * Replace Spirit Bond with Guardian, Protective Spirit or Shield of Absorption.
 * Replace Mend Condition with Mend Ailment, Dismiss Condition or Holy Veil.

Template
=Shadow Arts Zealous Healer= This is a monk build to take advantage of the Protection Prayers' damage reducing capabilities and assassin escape skills along with Zealous Benediction in order to conserve energy expenditure.

Equipment

 * A insightful staff of enchanting with a HSR 20% mod such as Kepkhet's Refuge or The Yakslapper
 * A negative energy set for focus swapping will help against energy denial.
 * A one handed weapon with a crippling mod may also be a legitimate choice to increase the cripple duration from Return

Usage

 * Dismiss Condition used upon enchanted allies serves as a good cheap healing spell even if that ally has no conditions on them, but Reversal of Fortune should be used as a primary heal on allies being attacked.
 * Use Signet of Devotion whenever you can safely do so. This will help keep your energy reserves up.
 * Try to only use Zealous Benediction on allies that have health below 50% in order to take advantage of the energy gain bonus from the skill.
 * Protective Spirit should be used on any allies that are taking large amounts of damage per hit.
 * Use Dark Escape when you are being attacked or are being knocked down to reduce damage taken by 50%. Since it is a stance it can be used at any time. The speed bonus will help you get out of the way and prevent being knocked down again.
 * Return is to be used when you expect a spike from warriors in order to cripple them and quickly get out of harms way.
 * If an enemy is using a shutdown hex on you such as Backfire or Mark of Subversion, cast Holy Veil on yourself and leave it on until that hex is cast on you, then cancel Holy Veil to remove the hex without triggering it. Otherwise simply cast Holy Veil  on an ally with a hex on them and remove it immediately afterwards to utilize the skill as a normal hex remover.

Counters

 * Energy denial on this build, just as any monk build, can cause problems. Since it is necessary to have 10 energy in order to cast Zealous Benediction and gain the 10 energy back, having less than 10 energy can be dangerous.  Hiding energy with focus swapping is the best way to protect yourself from this.
 * Mesmer shutdown spells, such as Signet of Humility and Diversion as well as the assassin skill Shadow Shroud can also be dangerous to this build. The best way to combat this is to watch enemies and cast Holy Veil on yourself if you expect to be hexed with something like this and release the enchantment once hexed.

Variants

 * Replace Protective Spirit with Spirit Bond or Shield of Absorption.
 * Replace Return for Shadow of Haste. Once Shadow of Haste has been used, Dark Escape can be activated to cause you to teleport to where Shadow of Haste was initially cast.  Since there are no cast times involved in this process, it holds a bit of an advantage if you expect to suffer from a lot of knockdowns.
 * A minor Protection Prayers rune may be used instead of a major to give the player more health.

Attributes and Skills

 * The optional slot should be filled with one of the following
 * Shielding Hands can be used to follow up Shield of Regeneration to reduce most damage to zero.
 * Shield of Absorption is effective against fast-paced spikes, as it builds up damage reduction rapidly.
 * Aegis is a decent choice as well, though its high energy cost may throw the build out of rhythm.
 * Guardian is a good spammable spell, as it will allow you to heal for a small amount and prevent damage. Remember that in HA, both this and Aegis can be rendered useless against BoA sins that bring Expose Defenses.
 * If you have a dual monk team, Spirit Bond may also be acceptable. Otherwise, its' only advantage over Guardian is the quick casting time.

Equipment

 * Armor
 * Energy armor is suggested
 * Protection Scalp Design
 * Weapons
 * Anything that increases enchantment length by 20%
 * Runes
 * Minor Protection Prayers should be used in GvG and HA, but Superior Protection Prayers can be used for +2 regen and a longer duration on SoR at the cost of some health.
 * Superior Vigor
 * Minor Healing Prayers
 * Minor Divine favor

Usage

 * Provide damage reduction and healing on allies with Reversal of Fortune.
 * Gift of Health provides excellent healing on targets.
 * Use Signet of Devotion for an energy-free heal. It is also usable under Backfire or while Dazed.
 * Remove harmful conditions with Dismiss Condition. Remember that an ally is healed as long as they are enchanted.
 * Glyph of Lesser Energy should be used before casting expensive spells.
 * Protect allies with Shield of Regeneration.
 * Holy Veil is used to remove hexes.
 * AB Note: Note where Necromancer and Mesmer Shrines. If you're not under pressure while on your way to them, pre-cast Holy Veil on soft targets. If you do it early enough, you will recover all your energy and have Holy Veil ready for another use upon arrival. If you're under pressure, it is better to use Gift of Health and Signet of Devotion at these shrines rather than depending on Holy Veil. Beware that the Necromancers cast Defile Enchantments and the Mesmers cast Shatter Enchantment. Strip Holy Veil from teammates who are low on health before arriving or they may be killed.

Counters

 * Condition heavy builds, especially those with daze, can cause problems
 * Armor ignoring damage
 * Knockdown
 * Anti-caster mesmer spells such as Diversion
 * Enchantment Removal, especially when followed by Blackout.

Variants

 * Smite Hex can replace Holy Veil to eliminate the awkward double-click removal of Holy Veil.
 * Shield of Absorption.
 * Protective Spirit.
 * Mending Touch can sometimes save you from condition heavy builds, especially those that daze.
 * Shielding Hands. The 40 armor of SoR and the damage reduction of Shielding Hands often makes hits against your shielded ally do very little to no damage.

=Zealous Protector=

This arena build is designed to help mitigate damage in PvP while providing a somewhat steady heal, and doesn't take any points away from Protection Prayers, allowing the player to focus more.

Equipment

 * Weapon: +5e Spear of Fortitude/Enchanting (whichever you prefer). Offhand: +30hp 20% recharge Protective Icon.
 * Weapon: Protective Staff: 20% Recharge/ 20% Cast Time +10 AL
 * Weapon: 15/-5e Spear of Fortitude/Enchanting (whichever you prefer). Offhand: +30/-5 Shield.
 * Weapon: 15/-1 Protective Rod with 20% recharge. Offhand: +27/-1 Protective Offhand with +30hp.

Usage
Start out by using Hex Breaker, it will make the first hex cast upon you fail, and this is invaluable. Your main job is to protect your allies while being able to heal them if necessary with Zealous Benediction. Zealous Benediction is a powerful elite that heals for the same amount as Heal Other or Jamei's Gaze, but the differences are that Zealous Benediction is a free heal if the target is under 50% health, it can be self targeted and it comes out of the protection line. Make use of Protective Spirit to help prevent against spike damage.

Counters

 * Daze/Interruption
 * Knockdown
 * Signet of Humility
 * Energy Denial

Variants

 * Dismiss Condition can be replaced with Mend Condition or Mend Ailment.
 * Shield of Absorption can also fill one of the Optional Slots as it synergizes with Protective Spirit very nicely
 * Inspired Hex or Revealed Hex can replace Holy Veil if you find energy to be a problem.
 * Channeling.