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We know a fair number of skills from seeing them in demonstrations, and from taking notes of them at BlizzCon in October [[BlizzCon 2008|2008]] and [[BlizzCon 2009|2009]]. More than 30 skills each are known for the [[Barbarian]], [[Wizard]] and [[Witch Doctor]], while fewer of the [[Monk]]'s skills have yet been revealed. Click to the appropriate pages in the links above to learn the names and functions of all known skills.
===How Many Skills?===
There will be around 35 skills per character in Diablo 3, as confirmed by [[Jay Wilson]] in an October 2009 interview: [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/jay-wilson-exclusive-full-transcript/]
::'''''Diii.net: '''We saw 30-35 skills for the Wizard (30), Barbarian (35), and Witch Doctor (34), at Blizzcon. Can you give us an idea how close to the final skill trees those are?
::'''Jay Wilson: '''In terms of the number of skills, that’s about right. In terms of the skill tree we’re um... we’re still playing around with the actual layouts of skill trees and the working of the skill system. The skills for the Wizard and Barbarian their skill trees were very solid. We like their skills, though there are a few still missing. Especially for the Wizard, there are skills we didn’t put into her tree that we’re still defining, especially at the high end. The same for the Barbarian; we’ve got a few skills on the way for him. But for the most part, the content of those trees is more or less correct.
==Skill Trees==
The skill tree format we'll see in Diablo 3 has undergone many design changes, and is still in flux. The form seen at Blizzcon 2009 (represented by images on this page) was thought to be fairly final, but in November 2009 Blizzard let it be known that the UI had been entirely reworked, and was now quite different. No further details have since been revealed.
The first word came on November 21st. [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/skill-trees-gone1 Skill trees gone], via two Twitter posts.
* The skill system revision is in full force. Trees begone! I think it might be a winner.
* We’re implementing and will be testing a new system that changes how skills are acquired. That’s all I’ll say.
Much player speculation ensued, some of it [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/more-no-skill-trees-speculation/ was shot down], and a bit more explanation (without details) was offered on the 25th. [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/non-skill-trees-discussion-evolves/]
:: Can you say why you guys decided to drop the skill tree? What deficiencies did it have that you felt another system could do better? --by JeffKamo
::: Focus. --by @Diablo
:: That is hard, so many games rely on skill trees. My guess would have to be… “skill” items that you find or even create for skills. -by CaptainCasey
::: Sounds like you’re talking about our skill rune system, which is still very much a part of the game. --by @Diablo
===Diablo 2 in Style===
One thing we do know about the skill trees in Diablo 3 is that they'll be fairly similar to those of Diablo 2, in terms of how quickly characters acquire new skills to play with. [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/jay-wilson-exclusive-full-transcript/]
::'''''Diii.net:''' Another follow up on that issue. People are wondering if the skills will be like Diablo 2 or more like World of Warcraft. Will we see more skills forever, or get the top level at level 30ish?
::'''Jay Wilson: '''Diablo 2. We’re following the same model. Here essentially our Nightmare and Hell difficulties are an extension of normal difficulty, not a continuation of more content. So normal difficulty ends our core game, and then nightmare and hell are replays of them on higher skills levels. So we are going to allow you to continue and develop your skills into the higher difficulty levels.
===Skill Tree Changes During Development===
Only Blizzard knows exactly how many versions of the skill tree format they've gone through, but they've alluded to dozens of different major forms, and countless smaller varieties during their development period. At the skill panel during Blizzcon 2008 numerous different skill tree mock-up forms were shown on the powerpoint presentation.
* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?si=&limit=&thumbsonly=0&perpage=18&cat=611&ppuser=&thumbcheck=0&page=1&sortby=&sorttime=&way=&cat=611 Skill trees] in the image gallery.
====2008 Early Form====
The first skill tree shown to fans was revealed in the Blizzcon demo in late 2008. No official screenshots were released, though it was seen in [[:File:Barb-juggernaut-tree08.jpg|many photos and videos]] taken from the event. Only the Barbarian's can be judged, since the Witch Doctor only had 11 skills spread over his three trees. Of the Barbarian's 50+ skills, they were arranged much like Diablo 2's skills, with three distinct skill trees, displayed on tabs in the same interface window. Each row had 3-4 skills, and there were no prerequisite skills linked by columns. To move down a row in the tree, 5 points had to be spent on each row.
The skills were not as discrete as those in Diablo 2, and there was considerable overlap between skills in different trees. It appeared that the D3 team intended players to specialize in one tree per character, and thus included skills with redundant basic functions, such as +damage, +defense, etc.
This style changed entirely by Blizzcon 2009 in August, with the individual skill tree tabs removed. All characters now possessed one big skill tree with all 30+ skills arranged in rows. There were a few column-style prerequisites, but for the most part it was a large skill "menu," with only prerequisites of 5 points per column required to move down to the more powerful skills.
No official images of this were released, but numerous exact recreations were mocked up by talented community artists.
* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3526&cat=611 Barbarian Skills].
* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3528&cat=611 Witch Doctor Skills].
* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3542&cat=611 Wizard Skills].
* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3527&cat=611 Monk Skills].
It's known that the skill trees were largely reworked in late 2009, but no images or further details have yet been revealed.
