Monk

What it looks like

The Monk is a Champion card that is unlocked from the Silent Sanctuary (Arena 18). It spawns a single-target, ground-targeting, melee, ground troop with high hitpoints and moderate damage. The Monk uses a 3-hit combo: the first 2 attacks deal normal damage, while the 3rd strike deals extra damage and knockback, even if the targeted troop is normally immune to knockback. Monk's ability reflects projectiles back to their source, as well as granting himself a large damage reduction for a short time. He appears similar to the Hog Rider, except that he is tan, and his mohawk, beard and eyebrows are white, he has a long horseshoe mustache, and wears a mala on his wrists, a cincture, and a team-colored kilt. A Monk card costs 5 Elixir to deploy and his ability costs an additional 1 Elixir to activate.

Trivia

• The word "Monk" comes from the Greek "μόνος" (mónos), meaning alone. Monks are men who are members of a religious order and lives in a monastery. A monk usually lives his life in prayer and contemplation. The concept is ancient and can be seen in many religions and in philosophy across numerous cultures. In the Arabic, Chinese, Indonesian, and Thai language settings of the game, the Monk's name translates to "Hermit", "Furious Monk", "Ascetic", and "Priest" respectively.
• Along with the Golden Knight, Boss Bandit, Archer Queen, Mighty Miner, and the Terry, the Monk has the cheapest ability, costing 1 Elixir.
• The Monk is 1 of 23 troops that have been featured in the Troop Rush game mode, the others being Skeletons, Skeleton Dragons, Fire Spirit, Bats, Elite Barbarians, Firecracker, Rascal Girls, Royal Hogs, Heal Spirit, Elixir Golem, Guards, Prince, Balloon, Golem, Wall Breakers, Ram Rider, Sparky, Phoenix, Royal Ghost, Bandit, Lumberjack, and Santa Hog Rider. The Monk in the Troop Rush game mode would appear visually larger, had a 2 Elixir ability, and the ability would also apply the damage reduction to any allied troops in a 4-tile radius around him. He had 3,800 hitpoints (instead of 2,000), an attack speed of 1.2 seconds (instead of 0.8 seconds), a first attack speed of 0.4 seconds (instead of 0.2 seconds), and a Slow speed (instead of Medium).
• The Monk is 1 of 23 cards that has had its Elixir cost changed, the others being Bomber, Fire Spirit, Royal Recruits, Cannon, Mortar, Musketeer, Three Musketeers, Heal, Bomb Tower, Goblin Hut, Barbarian Hut, Furnace, Elixir Collector, Skeleton Army, P.E.K.K.A., Wall Breakers, Electro Giant, Bowler, Goblin Barrel, Barbarian Barrel, Rage, and Fisherman. The Monk, the Royal Recruits, the Three Musketeers, and the Elixir Collector are the only cards whose Elixir cost was increased.
• The Monk resembles an elderly Hog Rider character in the Clash Royale Hog Rider's Journey Home animation. It is also suggested that he may be related to the Hog Rider and Ram Rider, due to his appearance in the Fresh Cut, Story Time, and Spa Day decorations.
• The Monk's sprites in-game appear to only have four fingers on both of his hands while his card render normally have five.
• Strangely, if both players had a Monk and used their abilities at the same time when a projectile spell is in-play, the time it goes back to the Monk who reflected it first will cause it to get fully absorbed.
• The Monk is 1 of 15 troops which bring an excited reaction from the audience upon spawning and brings a collective groan from the audience when defeated, as well as a concerning gasp when the opponent plays him, the others include Royal Giant, Giant, P.E.K.K.A, Giant Skeleton, Rune Giant, Goblin Giant, Golem, Bowler, Electro Wizard, Inferno Dragon, Sparky, Lava Hound, Night Witch, and Super Lava Hound.
• The Monk is unavailable in multiple special game modes. More specifically: It is 1 of 20 cards that is unavailable in Mirror mode, the others being Minions, Cannon, Mortar, Tesla, Goblin Hut, Tombstone, Bomb Tower, Inferno Tower, Barbarian Hut, Furnace, Elixir Collector, Freeze, Clone, X-Bow, Golden Knight, Skeleton King, Archer Queen, Mighty Miner, and the Little Prince. It is 1 of 12 cards that is unavailable in Chess Royale, the others being Royal Recruits, Rocket, Earthquake, Lightning, Poison, Goblin Drill, Miner, Golden Knight, Skeleton King, Archer Queen, and the Mighty Miner.
• The Monk is the subject of certain cosmetics in the game. More specifically: The Monk is the subject of 3 Emotes. The Monk is the subject of a Tower Skin.
• If a Monk activates Pensive Protection in the corner of the Arena, then an opposing The Log or Barbarian Barrel will be deflected out of the Arena's bounds. However, in the case of the Barbarian Barrel, the Barbarian will spawn inside the Arena. Thanks to the Monk, it is possible for a Barbarian Barrel to deal damage to Crown Towers by itself. Unlike other spells, it will not deal reduced damage.
• By using Mirror on a Clone and using it on a Monk, it is actually possible to get a Level 16 Monk. A cloned Monk does not fall from the sky when deployed.