Hands of Lightning (Skill)

This skill was renamed Fists of Thunder prior to the press event of July 2011. This is archived for future curiosity and reference. This page is not to be updated with current info; see the Monk skills page for current skill information.

Hands of Lightning is a Monk Tier 1 skill unlocked at level 2. The Monk charges his strikes with lightning in a three-stage attack.

This is one of two combo skills available to the Monk in the first tier. Combo skills generate spirit.

Background

Diablo III Active Skill [e]
Hands of Lightning
Used by:	Monk
Enabled at:	Clvl 2
Skill Description
Charge your attacks with lightning to damage your foes.
Type:	AoE Damage/Combo
Resource Use:	Generates Spirit
Skill Rune Effects
Alabaster rune:	Unknown
Crimson rune:	Unknown
Golden rune:	Unknown
Indigo rune:	Unknown
Obsidian rune:	Unknown

The Monk charges his strikes with lightning in a three-stage attack that ends with an area of effect blast.

Skill Design

Welcome to electric avenue.

This skill first appeared at BlizzCon 2010, playable in the demo. It adds lightning damage to the Monk's strikes.

The attack has three phases. Each strike deals X% weapon damage as lightning damage, varying by rank and other factors, which may be valuable for later difficulty settings with enemies who are resistant to physical damage. Each strike also has a chance to interrupt the enemy being struck.

Combo skills are the cornerstone for Monks. Combos do bonus damage, grant special properties (i.e. lightning damage and interrupt attacks on Hands of Lightning), and build up the Spirit needed to cast other skills. All combos have three stages, each progressively more powerful and flashier.

Skill Rank Table

• Rank 1: Deals 100% weapon damage as lightning damage. Higher than normal chance to interrupt enemy attacks. (A)
• Rank 2: Deals 150% weapon damage as lightning damage. Higher than normal chance to interrupt enemy attacks. (A)
• Rank 3: Deals 200% weapon damage as lightning damage. Higher than normal chance to interrupt enemy attacks. (A)
• Rank 4: Deals 250% weapon damage as lightning damage. Higher than normal chance to interrupt enemy attacks. (A)
• Rank 5: Deals 300% weapon damage as lightning damage. Higher than normal chance to interrupt enemy attacks.

(A) = Assumed

Trait Synergies

Various Monk traits augment this skill. (Since most Monk skills depend on base weapon damage and probably attack speed, traits which enhance those, and not the skill specifically, are also listed here.)

• Precision: Increase melee damage for each point in dexterity.
• Intimidation: Increases damage done and reduces vendor costs.
• Cruelty: Increases chance of critical strikes.
• Weak Spot: Increases critical strike damage.
• Rapid Strikes: Increases attack speed.
• Frenzied Attacks: Increases chance of critical strikes as well as their damage.

Note: The current trait list is very out-of-date and will no doubt be overhauled before game release.

Skill Rune Effects

• No rune effects for Hands of Lightning are known.

Development

Hands of Lightning was first shown at BlizzCon 2010. Blascid reported on using the skill at BlizzCon:[1]

In the Monks case, with her actual lightning fist skill (I do not remember the name), the first hit would be a claw sweep with lightning damage, the second one granted more lightning damage with more lightning graphics, and the third hit was a lightning blast that created a nice AOE arc. (The third move’s animation {Monk’s move and spell effect} reminded me of how Ryu and Ken’s Hadouken looked in Street Fighter 2 {Sorry, I have not played any more recent than that) if your opponent was right in front of you.)

Flux also wrote about using this skill at Blizzcon. A small excerpt:[2]

The only drawback of Hands of Lightning was the fun factor. It was a fairly plain attack. It looks pretty with the big lightning blasts, but it’s basically just a straight ahead right, left, right combo. It doesn’t hit multiple enemies, it doesn’t debuff them, it doesn’t let you dash across the screen to start hitting, etc. It’s the lowest level combo skill for a reason; it’s just a damn powerful attack to use against a single or a few enemies, and sure, killing them quickly and efficiently is fun. But if I were playing for real, I’d probably respec it to another combo when I had the chance. (Though it might be handy long term for the huge lightning damage.)

Compilation image showing the three hits of Hands of Lightning, with the big blast on the final hit.

Media

You can find pictures in the Diablo III screenshot and picture gallery:

• Diablo III screenshots and pictures
• Hands of Lightning specific gallery contents

• 

  Monk using Hands of Lightning.

• 

  Arcing lightning damage.

• 

  The three-hit sequence.

References

• BlizzCon 2010 Hands-on Blascid
• BlizzCon 2010 Monk Hands-on Report