Diablo Wiki - User contributions [en]

User talk:Valmy

2010-01-10T03:18:13Z

Valmy: /* Instability */

==Welcome Valmy==
Hello, I'm glad to see you coming over to the DiabloWiki! =D Do you have previous Wiki experience from other sites? You start out with a typo fix, and do you think we'll see bigger additions in the future? =) --[[User:Leord|Leord]] 19:02, 13 March 2009 (CET)

:Hi, Leord! Well, I don't have any previous experiences with wiki pages, sorry. And by the way, my English is not good (I'm from Spain), then I prefer read a lot and if I find I can help somewhere, just trying to make minor edits and start to understand how the wiki works :)

:This is really my second minor edit. The first was the [[ghoul]] page, and I did it with my first nickname here: Valmar. Then, I got the problem with the login because of the Spanish preferences and you and the admins told me to make a new user. This is Valmy (same nick as diii.net). I don't have any login problems since I'm using this one.

:It's all. If it were a Spanish wiki I would make dozens of edits per day, lol. But I prefer starting calm in an English one ;) --[[User:Valmy|Valmy]] 00:44, 14 March 2009 (CET)

::Arghhh, I see there is a login problem again... In my wiki-signature, it appears like Valmar, lol :/
::I want we can read "Valmy" when I use my signature ^_^ --[[User:Valmy|Valmy]] 00:45, 14 March 2009 (CET)

:::Aha, I see =) Well, I think DiabloWiki visitors will be happy, regardless if you add big or small articles. Anyway, I'm Swedish, and I write a lot! ;) As for your problem, you need to check your [[Special:Preferences|Preferences]]. Just remove your nickname there and it will show "Valmy" instead. Just know that even if it displays "Valmar", it still links to Valmy =) --[[User:Leord|Leord]] 12:14, 16 March 2009 (CET)

::::Heh. Ok, I manually changed the above, and I also changed the preferences. Thx very much.--[[User:Valmy|Valmy]] 12:45, 16 March 2009 (CET)

:::::Fortunately, this is no major issue! =) Still, I just want to point out that there are many people with good English skills that come to DW and just do updates. If you have enough '''''Diablo knowledge''''' to make real articles, even with a bad English, it's better to do that, since we're more short of "content contributors" than "polish contributors". Even if whatever you write needs editing, you'll just create a great opportunity for people with less time on their hands to make some grammar and typo updates =) --[[User:Leord|Leord]] 15:29, 16 March 2009 (CET)

==Instability==
Nice clarification there. ;) Long time no see. How have you been? --[[User:Leord|Leord]] 13:05, 7 January 2010 (UTC)

:Hi, Leord. Ufff I go to University in the morning, I go to work in the afternoons-evenings, and I go to home at night to just study, rest and sleep, heehee. Not enough time for all the things I'd like :/
:I try to copy web pages from these diii sites to my pendrive and I read some of them about diablo3 info, forums... at work —don't tell my boss, lol—, but other than that and sadly I don't have enough time the most part of the year.
:I hope this will change on vacations or so ;)

User talk:Valmy

2010-01-10T03:17:51Z

Valmy: /* Instability */

==Welcome Valmy==
Hello, I'm glad to see you coming over to the DiabloWiki! =D Do you have previous Wiki experience from other sites? You start out with a typo fix, and do you think we'll see bigger additions in the future? =) --[[User:Leord|Leord]] 19:02, 13 March 2009 (CET)

:Hi, Leord! Well, I don't have any previous experiences with wiki pages, sorry. And by the way, my English is not good (I'm from Spain), then I prefer read a lot and if I find I can help somewhere, just trying to make minor edits and start to understand how the wiki works :)

:This is really my second minor edit. The first was the [[ghoul]] page, and I did it with my first nickname here: Valmar. Then, I got the problem with the login because of the Spanish preferences and you and the admins told me to make a new user. This is Valmy (same nick as diii.net). I don't have any login problems since I'm using this one.

:It's all. If it were a Spanish wiki I would make dozens of edits per day, lol. But I prefer starting calm in an English one ;) --[[User:Valmy|Valmy]] 00:44, 14 March 2009 (CET)

::Arghhh, I see there is a login problem again... In my wiki-signature, it appears like Valmar, lol :/
::I want we can read "Valmy" when I use my signature ^_^ --[[User:Valmy|Valmy]] 00:45, 14 March 2009 (CET)

:::Aha, I see =) Well, I think DiabloWiki visitors will be happy, regardless if you add big or small articles. Anyway, I'm Swedish, and I write a lot! ;) As for your problem, you need to check your [[Special:Preferences|Preferences]]. Just remove your nickname there and it will show "Valmy" instead. Just know that even if it displays "Valmar", it still links to Valmy =) --[[User:Leord|Leord]] 12:14, 16 March 2009 (CET)

::::Heh. Ok, I manually changed the above, and I also changed the preferences. Thx very much.--[[User:Valmy|Valmy]] 12:45, 16 March 2009 (CET)

:::::Fortunately, this is no major issue! =) Still, I just want to point out that there are many people with good English skills that come to DW and just do updates. If you have enough '''''Diablo knowledge''''' to make real articles, even with a bad English, it's better to do that, since we're more short of "content contributors" than "polish contributors". Even if whatever you write needs editing, you'll just create a great opportunity for people with less time on their hands to make some grammar and typo updates =) --[[User:Leord|Leord]] 15:29, 16 March 2009 (CET)

==Instability==
Nice clarification there. ;) Long time no see. How have you been? --[[User:Leord|Leord]] 13:05, 7 January 2010 (UTC)

:Hi, Leord. Ufff I go to University in the morning, I go to work in the afternoons-evenings, and I go to home at night to just study, rest and sleep, heehee. Not enough time for all the things I'd like :/
:I try to copy web pages from these diii sites to my pendrive and I read some of them about diablo3 info, forums... at work —don't tell my boss, lol—, but other than that I got not enough time the most part of the year.
:I hope this will change on vacations or so ;)

User:Valmy

2010-01-10T03:15:28Z

Valmy:

Hello everybody.

I'm 32 years old (too old to play children-games, I know; hee hee, LOL), and I'm from Madrid, Spain.

I'm playing since the Diablo saga started, but only in battlenet since Diablo2-LOD 1.10 came. I played single until then because before I was so poor to got internet myself, huh.

I'm a pure hardcore and ultra-legit player since years ago. I'm a Druid and Necromancer player, specially Druid. I love him (not pretended zoophylia here lol). My favourite character is the Hunter Druid, one of the most underpowered and funny character to complete the game playing alone in hc mode.

I also was a main Contribute-mod in the best legit Spanish web so far, "diablo2latino". I wrote down some strategy guides there, like this old one for Fire Werebear (you can only understans it if you speak Spanish, huh [http://www.diablo2latino.com/PNphpBB2-viewtopic-t-13331.html]

My internet nicknames always were ''Valmar'' or ''NecroMoncer'', but in this forum I couldn't register like Valmar, then I choosed "'''''Valmy'''''"
Everybody calls me just '''Val''' usually.

User talk:Valmy

2010-01-10T03:12:22Z

Valmy: /* Instability */

==Welcome Valmy==
Hello, I'm glad to see you coming over to the DiabloWiki! =D Do you have previous Wiki experience from other sites? You start out with a typo fix, and do you think we'll see bigger additions in the future? =) --[[User:Leord|Leord]] 19:02, 13 March 2009 (CET)

:Hi, Leord! Well, I don't have any previous experiences with wiki pages, sorry. And by the way, my English is not good (I'm from Spain), then I prefer read a lot and if I find I can help somewhere, just trying to make minor edits and start to understand how the wiki works :)

:This is really my second minor edit. The first was the [[ghoul]] page, and I did it with my first nickname here: Valmar. Then, I got the problem with the login because of the Spanish preferences and you and the admins told me to make a new user. This is Valmy (same nick as diii.net). I don't have any login problems since I'm using this one.

:It's all. If it were a Spanish wiki I would make dozens of edits per day, lol. But I prefer starting calm in an English one ;) --[[User:Valmy|Valmy]] 00:44, 14 March 2009 (CET)

::Arghhh, I see there is a login problem again... In my wiki-signature, it appears like Valmar, lol :/
::I want we can read "Valmy" when I use my signature ^_^ --[[User:Valmy|Valmy]] 00:45, 14 March 2009 (CET)

:::Aha, I see =) Well, I think DiabloWiki visitors will be happy, regardless if you add big or small articles. Anyway, I'm Swedish, and I write a lot! ;) As for your problem, you need to check your [[Special:Preferences|Preferences]]. Just remove your nickname there and it will show "Valmy" instead. Just know that even if it displays "Valmar", it still links to Valmy =) --[[User:Leord|Leord]] 12:14, 16 March 2009 (CET)

::::Heh. Ok, I manually changed the above, and I also changed the preferences. Thx very much.--[[User:Valmy|Valmy]] 12:45, 16 March 2009 (CET)

:::::Fortunately, this is no major issue! =) Still, I just want to point out that there are many people with good English skills that come to DW and just do updates. If you have enough '''''Diablo knowledge''''' to make real articles, even with a bad English, it's better to do that, since we're more short of "content contributors" than "polish contributors". Even if whatever you write needs editing, you'll just create a great opportunity for people with less time on their hands to make some grammar and typo updates =) --[[User:Leord|Leord]] 15:29, 16 March 2009 (CET)

==Instability==
Nice clarification there. ;) Long time no see. How have you been? --[[User:Leord|Leord]] 13:05, 7 January 2010 (UTC)

:Hi, Leord. Ufff I go to University in the morning, I go to work in the afternoons-evenings, and I go to home at night to just study, rest and sleep, heehee. Not enough time for all the things I'd like :/
:I try to copy web pages from these sites to my pendrive and I read some of them at work —don't tell my boss, lol—, but other than that I got not enough time the most part of the year.
:I hope this will change on vacations or so ;)

Instability

2010-01-06T17:37:10Z

Valmy: /* Gameplay */

'''Instability''' is the new [[resource pool]] of the [[Wizard]].

==Gameplay==
It's uncertain how this gameplay mechanic will work, but the name hints at the [[Wizard|Wizard's lore]], and also its functionality.

Most likely each spell cast will cause "instability" due to the dangerous and volatile nature of the spells the Wizard wields.

===Hypothesis 1===
Too much instability will hurt her or make her unable to perform certain tasks or perhaps modify how a [[spell]] is cast or what spell is cast (eg: casting [[Disintegrate]] will produce [[Spectral Blades]] instead). It could just be a power gauge inspired by the now defunct [[Mana Burst]], dealing damage based upon how much/little control she has over the instability. Remember [[Mana Burst]] was a passive skill from the previous Arcane Skill Tree, Tier 4. It was listed with a description that supposed to add 25% damage to any spell casted by a Wizzard with a full mana orb. Now, there isn't mana anymore for the Wizzard, and probably they removed this skill too. Perhaps the new system would be something like this spell: just making more damage from spells if you got high Instability, and less if you got and empty orb. Also, it would increase the damage taken if you got tones of Instability.

This theory has merit because most [[resource pool|resource systems]] use one or another way of gaining a resource and using skills by spending it.

===Hypothesis 2===
An alternate form would be that the instability somehow ''helps'' the [[Wizard]] to cast spells better in some way. The more spells cast, the instability will actually help by causing ripples in time or similar effects.

The only problem with this is that it could be quite unbalanced if the Wizard would continuously gain power the more she did, especially in [[PvP]].

==Reference==
* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/monk-resource-system-complete/ Monk Mana Resource System Progressing]

[[Category:Wizard]]
[[Category:Reference]]
[[Category:Interface]]
[[Category:Magic]]
[[Category:Character]]
[[Category:Basics]]

Instability

2010-01-06T17:34:50Z

Valmy: /* Gameplay */

'''Instability''' is the new [[resource pool]] of the [[Wizard]].

==Gameplay==
It's uncertain how this gameplay mechanic will work, but the name hints at the [[Wizard|Wizard's lore]], and also its functionality.

Most likely each spell cast will cause "instability" due to the dangerous and volatile nature of the spells the Wizard wields.

===Hypothesis 1===
Too much instability will hurt her or make her unable to perform certain tasks or perhaps modify how a [[spell]] is cast or what spell is cast (eg: casting [[Disintegrate]] will produce [[Spectral Blades]] instead). It could just be a power gauge inspired by the now defunct [[Mana Burst]], dealing damage based upon how much/little control she has over the instability.

This theory has merit because most [[resource pool|resource systems]] use one or another way of gaining a resource and using skills by spending it.

===Hypothesis 2===
An alternate form would be that the instability somehow ''helps'' the [[Wizard]] to cast spells better in some way. The more spells cast, the instability will actually help by causing ripples in time or similar effects.

The only problem with this is that it could be quite unbalanced if the Wizard would continuously gain power the more she did, especially in [[PvP]].

===Hypothesis 3===
Another possibility would be something similar to the erased Wizzard skill: "Mana Burst". Did you all remember it? It is mentioned in Hyp. 1 above, and it was a passive skill from the previous Arcane Skill Tree, Tier 4. It was listed with a description that supposed to add 25% damage to any spell casted by a Wizzard with a full mana orb.
Now, there isn't mana anymore for the Wizzard, and probably they removed this skill too. I suppose the new system would be something like this spell: just making more damage from spells if you got high Instability, and less if you got and empty orb. Also, it would increase the damage taken if you got tones of Instability.

==Reference==
* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/monk-resource-system-complete/ Monk Mana Resource System Progressing]

[[Category:Wizard]]
[[Category:Reference]]
[[Category:Interface]]
[[Category:Magic]]
[[Category:Character]]
[[Category:Basics]]

Interface

2009-04-03T10:50:23Z

Valmy: /* Control Icons */

The belt interface in Diablo III is an evolutionary improvement on the versions seen in Diablo I and Diablo II. The form and function will be familiar to players experienced in the other games, but there are a few major changes in Diablo III that make the controls easier to use, but also guide players to operate the game as the [[D3 Team]] intends.

==Function==

The appearance and function of the belt interface are two sides of the same coin. The appearance serves the function, and both mesh with the various skill and play style changes made in Diablo III. The [[D3 Team]] is designing Diablo III to be played with 6-8 active skills on each character. There are many more [[skills]] than that, but specializing in a half dozen or so with each character build is the route to success. Therefore, rather than throwing in 16 hotkeys, as in Diablo II, there are just half that many in Diablo III, and skills are being designed to be more useful. The team doesn't want characters to be "one-skill wonders" as so many were in Diablo II, where most skills were either overpowered or useless.

The other main goal of the Diablo III interface is to be easier to use and more visual. Hotkeys were easy to use in Diablo II once a player knew how, but to a new user they were not immediately evident. There was no way to see which custom keys were set as hotkeys without opening a different interface, and only the active skills could be seen on the left and right mouse button icons. The D3 Team wants to open up that function, and it appears that they have, from what we can see of the interface in screenshots.

There's some debate about this approach amongst experienced Diablo II players. Some fans are skeptical, wondering if the D3 Team is going too far to make it easy for beginners, and watering down the controls and over-simplifying things in the process. Play testing during the beta test should answer this question.

==Appearance==

The look of the belt interface is similar to what we saw in Diablo II, with a few changes. Realize that this form is subject to further change during the ongoing development process.

The most recent version of the belt interface was revealed in April 2009.

[[Image:Belt-interface2.jpg|center|frame]]

This screenshot, of a Barbarian's belt interface, shows the key features.

There are 5 hotkey slots, into which skill icons or potions can be dragged. Hitting that button will immediately activate that skill or drink that potion. This is something of a change from Diablo II, where skills were always mapped to the mouse buttons, and could only be activated by clicking the hot key to move them to the mouse click. The 1-5 hotkeys in Diablo III work like the belt slots in Diablo II; for example Identify or Town Portal scrolls could be placed there and cast by clicking the number.

The left click and right click slots are marked by an appropriate little mouse icon. The "Tab" key (and the mouse wheel) switches between two active skills on the right click. Skills are added to these controls by clicking them in the skill tree, and they can then be cast immediately with a left or right click.

===Control Icons===

The six icons seen to the far right are various game controls, though it's not yet known exactly what function each provides. Comparing them to the mini-panel icons from Diablo II is illustrative.

[[Image:Mini-panel-d2.jpg|frame|D2 Mini-Panel.]]
In order, from left to right:
* Character window
* Inventory
* Skill Tree
* Party Menu
* Message Log
* Quest Log
* Game Menu

[[Image:Belt-interface3.jpg|frame]]
Here are the equivalent icons from Diablo III, enlarged and brightened for easier comparison. These interpretations were confirmed by [[Bashiok]] a few days after the original imgaes went online. [http://www.blizzblues.com/us/blizzcast-8-screenshot-inconsistencies-16102340203.html]
* Character window
* Skilltree menu
* Inventory window
* Quest menu
* Social menu (it's grayed out in the image because it is not implemented yet)
* Options

The Skilltree Menu icon can be seen atop the skill tree in [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=2649 various screenshots]). The Quest icon is a chalice, presumably meant to represent the perpetually quested after mythical Holy Grail. It's not entirely clear what the party menu does, since there is no friendly/neutral/hostile setting in Diablo III, with the removal of non-consensual PvP. Perhaps it exists to show where other players are, or to allow whispering or squelching.

The only functional change from Diablo II appears to be the removal of an icon for the message log in Diablo III. Also note the earlier version of these icons in Diablo III: they were in color and above the belt interface (same location as they had in Diablo II) as of June 2008. (Screenshot below.)

==WWI Interface==

The belt interface was first seen in the WWI gameplay movie, released with the game's announcement in June 2008. It can be seen below.

Changes from this one to the most recent version aren't major, but they are visible. There were initially 1-6 hotkeys, along with right and left mouse click buttons. The game option controls for trading, multiplayer options, and more were previously on top, as they were in Diablo II. In more recent versions they've been moved to a small rectangle on the far right.

[[Image:Belt-interface-wwi1.jpg|frame|center]]

[[category:interface]]

Interface

2009-04-02T22:29:29Z

Valmy: /* Control Icons */

The belt interface in Diablo III is an evolutionary improvement on the versions seen in Diablo I and Diablo II. The form and function will be familiar to players experienced in the other games, but there are a few major changes in Diablo III that make the controls easier to use, but also guide players to operate the game as the [[D3 Team]] intends.

==Function==

The appearance and function of the belt interface are two sides of the same coin. The appearance serves the function, and both mesh with the various skill and play style changes made in Diablo III. The [[D3 Team]] is designing Diablo III to be played with 6-8 active skills on each character. There are many more [[skills]] than that, but specializing in a half dozen or so with each character build is the route to success. Therefore, rather than throwing in 16 hotkeys, as in Diablo II, there are just half that many in Diablo III, and skills are being designed to be more useful. The team doesn't want characters to be "one-skill wonders" as so many were in Diablo II, where most skills were either overpowered or useless.

The other main goal of the Diablo III interface is to be easier to use and more visual. Hotkeys were easy to use in Diablo II once a player knew how, but to a new user they were not immediately evident. There was no way to see which custom keys were set as hotkeys without opening a different interface, and only the active skills could be seen on the left and right mouse button icons. The D3 Team wants to open up that function, and it appears that they have, from what we can see of the interface in screenshots.

There's some debate about this approach amongst experienced Diablo II players. Some fans are skeptical, wondering if the D3 Team is going too far to make it easy for beginners, and watering down the controls and over-simplifying things in the process. Play testing during the beta test should answer this question.

==Appearance==

The look of the belt interface is similar to what we saw in Diablo II, with a few changes. Realize that this form is subject to further change during the ongoing development process.

The most recent version of the belt interface was revealed in April 2009.

[[Image:Belt-interface2.jpg|center|frame]]

This screenshot, of a Barbarian's belt interface, shows the key features.

There are 5 hotkey slots, into which skill icons or potions can be dragged. Hitting that button will immediately activate that skill or drink that potion. This is something of a change from Diablo II, where skills were always mapped to the mouse buttons, and could only be activated by clicking the hot key to move them to the mouse click. The 1-5 hotkeys in Diablo III work like the belt slots in Diablo II; for example Identify or Town Portal scrolls could be placed there and cast by clicking the number.

The left click and right click slots are marked by an appropriate little mouse icon. The "Tab" key (and the mouse wheel) switches between two active skills on the right click. Skills are added to these controls by clicking them in the skill tree, and they can then be cast immediately with a left or right click.

===Control Icons===

The six icons seen to the far right are various game controls, though it's not yet known exactly what function each provides. Comparing them to the mini-panel icons from Diablo II is illustrative.

[[Image:Mini-panel-d2.jpg|frame|D2 Mini-Panel.]]
In order, from left to right:
* Character window
* Inventory
* Skill Tree
* Party Menu
* Message Log
* Quest Log
* Game Menu

[[Image:Belt-interface3.jpg|frame]]
Here are the equivalent icons from Diablo III, enlarged and brightened for easier comparison. Reading them from left to right, starting on the top row, and confirmed by Bashiok in [http://www.blizzblues.com/us/blizzcast-8-screenshot-inconsistencies-16102340203.html]:
* [[Character]] menu seems likely.
* Skilltree menu (this icon is shown atop it in [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=2649 various screenshots]).
* Inventory, with a bag icon for storage.
* The [[Quest]] menu, with the Chalice referencing the Holy Grail quest item.
* A [[Party]] Menu icon, but it's not clear if there is a party window interface in Diablo III, since with the removal of hostility in games, there's no need for parties; all characters in a regular PvM game are automatically in a party. Still, such a window could be useful for squelching or private messaging other players.
* Gears have become a common icon for the Game Options menu.

The only functional change from Diablo II appears to be the removal of an icon for the message log in Diablo III. Also note the earlier version of these icons in Diablo III: they were in color and above the belt interface (same location as they had in Diablo II) as of June 2008. (Screenshot below.)

==WWI Interface==

The belt interface was first seen in the WWI gameplay movie, released with the game's announcement in June 2008. It can be seen below.

Changes from this one to the most recent version aren't major, but they are visible. There were initially 1-6 hotkeys, along with right and left mouse click buttons. The game option controls for trading, multiplayer options, and more were previously on top, as they were in Diablo II. In more recent versions they've been moved to a small rectangle on the far right.

[[Image:Belt-interface-wwi1.jpg|frame|center]]

[[category:interface]]

Berserker Skill Tree

2009-04-02T08:06:01Z

Valmy: /* Terrifying Shout */

{{class_navbox}}The [[Barbarian]]'s skills are divided into three skill trees, each of which has about 18 known skills. Most of these were first seen at Blizzcon 2008, and while they are very much subject to change during the game's continued development, viewing them in this state is still informative and interesting.

Most Barbarian skills require [[Fury]] to cast. Fury is a mana-like bulb that fills up when the Barbarian hits enemies, then drains quickly away when he stops hitting. This means that a Barbarian is unable to use his more powerful abilities at the start of a fight, and must charge up his Fury before he can begin to unleash his more devastating attacks.

* [[Barbarian Skills|Barbarian Skills Master List]]
** [[Battlemaster Skill Tree]]
** [[Berserker Skill Tree]]
** [[Juggernaut Skill Tree]]

=Diablo III Skill Trees=
[[Image:Barb-berserker-tree.jpg|frame|Berserker Skill Tree, Blizzcon, Oct 2008.]]
Unlike the skill trees in Diablo II, the trees in Diablo III are not focused on just one aspect of a character. All known D3 skill trees have a wide variety of skills, with more passive than active, and all allow for a variety of play styles.

All active skills in the BlizzCon build were capped at 1 skill point (or rank, as skill levels are called in D3), while most passives went up to 15 points. This will not be the case in the final game; active skills will allow more than 1 point, and passives may have different maximum ranks, to allow better game balancing. Know that skills will be modified, that some will be removed, that others will be added, and that the numbers are almost certain to change.

=Tier 1 Skills=
These skills are available for use as soon as new Barbarian is created.

==Frenzy==

* '''Active Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' When attacking with Frenzy, the Barbarian's weapon damage and attack speed are increased. Frenzy can be used repeatedly, stacking the speed bonus up to three times.
** Rank 1: Deals 120% weapon damage. In addition, attack speed is increased by 6% for 10 seconds. (Up to 18%, with stacking.)
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

The popular D2 Barbarian skill returns, with much the same function. The particulars are tweaked a bit, in terms of the damage, attack speed bonus, duration, and stacking, but the function is similar. The biggest change is the Clvl: [http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Barbarian_Combat_Skills#Frenzy Frenzy was a level 24 skill in D2], and only worked while dual wielding. It's level 1 in D3, and it apparently works with any type of weapon or weapons.

Higher levels in this skill (which were not enabled at BlizzCon 2008) will presumably increase the bonuses to damage and other properties as well.

==Bad Temper==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 0
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
* '''Description:''' Reduces Fury degeneration by 3%.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

This skill causes the Barbarian's built up [[Fury]] to reduce less slowly, (theoretically) enabling the character to carry enough over from one fight to be able to use skills immediately at the start of the next battle.

==Power of the Berserker==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 0
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
* '''Description:''' Increases damage of all Berserker skills by X%.
** Rank 2: Increases damage of all Berserker skills by 25%.
** Rank 3: Increases damage of all Berserker skills by 30%.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

A nice passive bonus to all skills in this tree. The figures were very hard to read on this one, so take the 25% and 30% with a grain of salt. The damage bonus will definitely increase with each point spent in the skill, though.

Like the other Barbarian passive damage bonuses, this one does nothing for his to/hit. In fact, there aren't any Barbarian skills that boost to/hit, which is one of the mysteries of the game design, at this point.

==Heightened Senses==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 0
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
* '''Description:''' Grants the Barbarian an inherent change to dodge attacks.
** Rank 1: 4% chance to dodge.
** Rank 2: 8% chance to dodge.
** Rank 3: 12% chance to dodge.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

It's unknown if the skill continues to increase by 4% forever, or if diminishing returns set in at some point.

=Tier 2 Skills=
These skills are available for use once a Barbarian reaches level 5. There is no requirement that he invest 5 skill points in this tree before using them, as some early Blizzcon reports erroneously stated.

==Terrifying Shout==

* '''Active Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' Shout with great intensity, enhancing damage done by something ______ something 30% for 12 seconds.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

The name and description of this one couldn't be read clearly, but enough could be made out to be sure that it's a war cry that boosts damage for a short duration.

'''NOTE''':
***Not too clear if there is the same skill or another. But in the BlizzCast, a screenshot showed this skill inside the Berserker Skill Tree:
***'''Threatening Shout'''
**** '''Active Skill'''
**** '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
**** '''Max Rank:''' 5
**** '''Description:'''
***** Rank 2: Shout with great ferocity, reducing damage done by enemies within 24 feet by 60% for 15 seconds.
***** Rank 3: Shout with great ferocity, reducing damage done by enemies within 24 feet by 70% for 18 seconds.

==Onslaught==

* '''Active Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 0
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' Increases attack speed by X%. Drains Fury while in use. Lasts for X seconds.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

This was another description that was very hard to read, so no values are available. The skill's function is clear, though. It increases the Barbarian's attack speed for a few seconds, and drains Fury all the while. It runs for the allowed duration (around 10 seconds per use) or until the Fury runs out. (More Fury can be added while this skill is in use, of course. Hitting things with a super speed Barbarian is a great way to add Fury, after all.)

==Double Strike==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' Grants a dual wielding Barbarian the chance to strike nearby enemies with both weapons.
** Rank 1: Gives a 6% chance of striking with both weapons.
** Rank 2: Gives a 7% chance of striking with both weapons.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

This one was also hard to read in our notes, so the figures are suspect. They were single numbers though, so the odds are clearly pretty low for this skill to trigger.

The Barbarian uses both weapons to attack when dual wielding; the attack just isn't much faster than it would be while holding a single weapon. This skill gives a % chance to hit an individual enemy twice, very quickly, once with each weapon.

==Strong Constitution==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 0
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
* '''Description:''' Enables health regeneration.
** Rank 1: Regenerates 10 health per second.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

A skill that sounds like it will be mandatory for most every Barbarian, unless equipment with health regeneration is common. The amount of regeneration was hard to read in our notes, but it is a low double digit number. Something like 10 or 12.

==Berserker State==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 0
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
* '''Description:''' Increases the duration of Frenzy and Onslaught by 1 second.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

A typical D3 passive skill; boosting one aspect of two other skills from the same skill tree.

=Tier 3 Skills=
These skills are available for use for any Barbarian who is level 10+, and has placed at least 10 points in other skills in the Berserker skill tree.

==Leap Attack==
[[Image:Barb-leap1.jpg|thumb|250px|Leaping over a chasm.]]
* '''Active Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' The Barbarian makes a mighty leap, causing ? damage to enemies when he lands. <br /> Damage of Leap Attack increases with strength.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

Leap Attack is not much changed from D2, and has been demonstrated repeatedly in the gameplay movies. The main difference with the D3 version of this skill is that minor damage is dealt to everything nearby when the Barbarian lands, rather than big damage to one particular monster.

This skill enables the barbarian to leap a considerable distance, and quite quickly too. When landing the barbarian drives her weapons down from overhead, creating a blue shockwave that damages and knocks back any enemies within several yards. It appears to combine the powers of the d2 skills leap and leap attack, and seems to deal quite a bit of damage, as rapidly as it dispatches multiple ghouls with every Leap, in the WWI movie.

==Enrage==

* '''Active Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' Enter a reckless rage, increasing Fury gained but also damage taken.
** '''Rank 1: '''Increases Fury gained by 100% and damage taken by 25%, for 10 seconds.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

An interesting skill, enabling the the Barbarian to generate Rage more quickly, but taking more damage while doing so. This would be a useful skill to power up just before entering battle; the Barbarian would fill up his Rage bulb very quickly against one or two initial attackers, and by the time the main mob was in range his Fury would be full and the increased damage penalty would have worn off.

==Dual Wield Specialization==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
* '''Description:''' Increases physical damage dealt by weapons while dual wielding
** '''Rank 1:''' Increases damage by 12%.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

A skill any dual wielding barbarian will want to invest heavily in.

==Savage==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' Increase all Fury generation for X seconds after scoring a critical hit.
* '''Rank 1: '''Increase Fury generation 30% for 8 seconds.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

This tree has a variety of skills to increase [[fury]] generation. Something barbs who specialize in the other trees will surely be envious of.

==Increase Speed==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' Your Frenzy and Onslaught abilities also increase your movement speed.
** '''Rank 1:''' Movement speed increased 5% while using Frenzy or Onslaught.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

More improvements to other skills in the same tree. Frenzy and Onslaught do not increase movement speed normally, just when this skill is enabled. This seems like a lovely convenience, but perhaps not worth the points, with fast run boots and other speedier movement options. (PvP players will probably find it more useful than PvM players, as is the case in D2.) The increased moving speed will make it easier though to keep your fury bar up, since you take less time to get from one pack of monsters to the next one.

=Tier 4 Skills=
These skills are available for use once a Barbarian reaches level 15+, and has spent at least 15 points in the Berserker skill tree.

==Whirlwind==
[[Image:Barb-ww1.jpg|thumb|250px|Whirling up some goat jerky.]]
* '''Active Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' Become a cyclone, delivering multiple hits to everything in your path.
** '''Rank 1:''' Each hit deals 25% of weapon damage.
** '''Rank 2:''' Each hit deals 30% of weapon damage.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

{|align="right" width="33%" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; clear:both;"
!Whirlwind
|-
|'''Rank:''' 1/20<br>
Swirl in a cyclone, delivering attacks to everything in his path.

'''Current level:''' 1<br>
'''Fury:''' 1<br>
Hits for 25% of weapon damage

'''Next level:''' 2<br>
'''Fury:''' 1<br>
Hits for 30% of weapon damage.
|}Everyone's favorite spinning, multi-hitting tornado of a skill returns in D3. As it did in D2, Whirlwind lands multiple hits to anything in the barbarian's path, and it can strike multiple monsters per use. The whirling graphic is much improved in D3, with the weapon visible tracking around in a circle, leaving a glowing light as it spins and pausing an instant when it makes contact with a hapless enemy.

The damage values listed above were seen in the [[WWI 2008]] gameplay movie. Updated values at [[BlizzCon 2008]] in October were not recorded, so regard these numbers with suspicion.

<div style="clear:both;"></div>

==Slashing Strike==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' Your melee attacks have an X% chance to hit all nearby enemies.
** '''Rank 1:''' 12% chance to hit all nearby enemies.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

Sounds like a very powerful skill, granting a chance to hit all nearby enemies with every attack. This would be hugely valuable when taking on large packs.

==Relentless Attacks==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 0
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
* '''Description:''' Increases the damage of Frenzy and Whirlwind by X%.
** '''Rank 1:''' Increases the damage by 5%.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

==Destroy Armor==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 0
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
* '''Description:''' Reduces enemy armor.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

This skill was marked with the NYI (Not Yet Implemented) tag, and had no values listed for how much it would reduce armor.

=Tier 5 Skills=
There was a space for these in the Blizzcon build, but no skill icons were found on that line. There will surely be some in the final game, or else existing skills will be redistributed so some occupy higher level tiers on the skill tree.

[[category:barbarian]]
[[category:skills]]

Berserker Skill Tree

2009-04-02T08:04:56Z

Valmy:

{{class_navbox}}The [[Barbarian]]'s skills are divided into three skill trees, each of which has about 18 known skills. Most of these were first seen at Blizzcon 2008, and while they are very much subject to change during the game's continued development, viewing them in this state is still informative and interesting.

Most Barbarian skills require [[Fury]] to cast. Fury is a mana-like bulb that fills up when the Barbarian hits enemies, then drains quickly away when he stops hitting. This means that a Barbarian is unable to use his more powerful abilities at the start of a fight, and must charge up his Fury before he can begin to unleash his more devastating attacks.

* [[Barbarian Skills|Barbarian Skills Master List]]
** [[Battlemaster Skill Tree]]
** [[Berserker Skill Tree]]
** [[Juggernaut Skill Tree]]

=Diablo III Skill Trees=
[[Image:Barb-berserker-tree.jpg|frame|Berserker Skill Tree, Blizzcon, Oct 2008.]]
Unlike the skill trees in Diablo II, the trees in Diablo III are not focused on just one aspect of a character. All known D3 skill trees have a wide variety of skills, with more passive than active, and all allow for a variety of play styles.

All active skills in the BlizzCon build were capped at 1 skill point (or rank, as skill levels are called in D3), while most passives went up to 15 points. This will not be the case in the final game; active skills will allow more than 1 point, and passives may have different maximum ranks, to allow better game balancing. Know that skills will be modified, that some will be removed, that others will be added, and that the numbers are almost certain to change.

=Tier 1 Skills=
These skills are available for use as soon as new Barbarian is created.

==Frenzy==

* '''Active Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' When attacking with Frenzy, the Barbarian's weapon damage and attack speed are increased. Frenzy can be used repeatedly, stacking the speed bonus up to three times.
** Rank 1: Deals 120% weapon damage. In addition, attack speed is increased by 6% for 10 seconds. (Up to 18%, with stacking.)
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

The popular D2 Barbarian skill returns, with much the same function. The particulars are tweaked a bit, in terms of the damage, attack speed bonus, duration, and stacking, but the function is similar. The biggest change is the Clvl: [http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Barbarian_Combat_Skills#Frenzy Frenzy was a level 24 skill in D2], and only worked while dual wielding. It's level 1 in D3, and it apparently works with any type of weapon or weapons.

Higher levels in this skill (which were not enabled at BlizzCon 2008) will presumably increase the bonuses to damage and other properties as well.

==Bad Temper==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 0
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
* '''Description:''' Reduces Fury degeneration by 3%.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

This skill causes the Barbarian's built up [[Fury]] to reduce less slowly, (theoretically) enabling the character to carry enough over from one fight to be able to use skills immediately at the start of the next battle.

==Power of the Berserker==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 0
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
* '''Description:''' Increases damage of all Berserker skills by X%.
** Rank 2: Increases damage of all Berserker skills by 25%.
** Rank 3: Increases damage of all Berserker skills by 30%.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

A nice passive bonus to all skills in this tree. The figures were very hard to read on this one, so take the 25% and 30% with a grain of salt. The damage bonus will definitely increase with each point spent in the skill, though.

Like the other Barbarian passive damage bonuses, this one does nothing for his to/hit. In fact, there aren't any Barbarian skills that boost to/hit, which is one of the mysteries of the game design, at this point.

==Heightened Senses==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 0
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
* '''Description:''' Grants the Barbarian an inherent change to dodge attacks.
** Rank 1: 4% chance to dodge.
** Rank 2: 8% chance to dodge.
** Rank 3: 12% chance to dodge.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

It's unknown if the skill continues to increase by 4% forever, or if diminishing returns set in at some point.

=Tier 2 Skills=
These skills are available for use once a Barbarian reaches level 5. There is no requirement that he invest 5 skill points in this tree before using them, as some early Blizzcon reports erroneously stated.

==Terrifying Shout==

* '''Active Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' Shout with great intensity, enhancing damage done by something ______ something 30% for 12 seconds.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

The name and description of this one couldn't be read clearly, but enough could be made out to be sure that it's a war cry that boosts damage for a short duration.

'''NOTE''':
***Not too clear if there is the same skill or another. But in the BlizzaCast, a screenshot showed this skill inside the Berserker Skill Tree:
***'''Threatening Shout'''
**** '''Active Skill'''
**** '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
**** '''Max Rank:''' 5
**** '''Description:'''
***** Rank 1: Shout with great ferocity, reducing damage done by enemies within 24 feet by 60% for 15 seconds.
***** Rank 2: Shout with great ferocity, reducing damage done by enemies within 24 feet by 70% for 18 seconds.

==Onslaught==

* '''Active Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 0
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' Increases attack speed by X%. Drains Fury while in use. Lasts for X seconds.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

This was another description that was very hard to read, so no values are available. The skill's function is clear, though. It increases the Barbarian's attack speed for a few seconds, and drains Fury all the while. It runs for the allowed duration (around 10 seconds per use) or until the Fury runs out. (More Fury can be added while this skill is in use, of course. Hitting things with a super speed Barbarian is a great way to add Fury, after all.)

==Double Strike==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' Grants a dual wielding Barbarian the chance to strike nearby enemies with both weapons.
** Rank 1: Gives a 6% chance of striking with both weapons.
** Rank 2: Gives a 7% chance of striking with both weapons.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

This one was also hard to read in our notes, so the figures are suspect. They were single numbers though, so the odds are clearly pretty low for this skill to trigger.

The Barbarian uses both weapons to attack when dual wielding; the attack just isn't much faster than it would be while holding a single weapon. This skill gives a % chance to hit an individual enemy twice, very quickly, once with each weapon.

==Strong Constitution==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 0
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
* '''Description:''' Enables health regeneration.
** Rank 1: Regenerates 10 health per second.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

A skill that sounds like it will be mandatory for most every Barbarian, unless equipment with health regeneration is common. The amount of regeneration was hard to read in our notes, but it is a low double digit number. Something like 10 or 12.

==Berserker State==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 0
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
* '''Description:''' Increases the duration of Frenzy and Onslaught by 1 second.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

A typical D3 passive skill; boosting one aspect of two other skills from the same skill tree.

=Tier 3 Skills=
These skills are available for use for any Barbarian who is level 10+, and has placed at least 10 points in other skills in the Berserker skill tree.

==Leap Attack==
[[Image:Barb-leap1.jpg|thumb|250px|Leaping over a chasm.]]
* '''Active Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' The Barbarian makes a mighty leap, causing ? damage to enemies when he lands. <br /> Damage of Leap Attack increases with strength.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

Leap Attack is not much changed from D2, and has been demonstrated repeatedly in the gameplay movies. The main difference with the D3 version of this skill is that minor damage is dealt to everything nearby when the Barbarian lands, rather than big damage to one particular monster.

This skill enables the barbarian to leap a considerable distance, and quite quickly too. When landing the barbarian drives her weapons down from overhead, creating a blue shockwave that damages and knocks back any enemies within several yards. It appears to combine the powers of the d2 skills leap and leap attack, and seems to deal quite a bit of damage, as rapidly as it dispatches multiple ghouls with every Leap, in the WWI movie.

==Enrage==

* '''Active Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' Enter a reckless rage, increasing Fury gained but also damage taken.
** '''Rank 1: '''Increases Fury gained by 100% and damage taken by 25%, for 10 seconds.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

An interesting skill, enabling the the Barbarian to generate Rage more quickly, but taking more damage while doing so. This would be a useful skill to power up just before entering battle; the Barbarian would fill up his Rage bulb very quickly against one or two initial attackers, and by the time the main mob was in range his Fury would be full and the increased damage penalty would have worn off.

==Dual Wield Specialization==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
* '''Description:''' Increases physical damage dealt by weapons while dual wielding
** '''Rank 1:''' Increases damage by 12%.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

A skill any dual wielding barbarian will want to invest heavily in.

==Savage==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' Increase all Fury generation for X seconds after scoring a critical hit.
* '''Rank 1: '''Increase Fury generation 30% for 8 seconds.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

This tree has a variety of skills to increase [[fury]] generation. Something barbs who specialize in the other trees will surely be envious of.

==Increase Speed==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' Your Frenzy and Onslaught abilities also increase your movement speed.
** '''Rank 1:''' Movement speed increased 5% while using Frenzy or Onslaught.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

More improvements to other skills in the same tree. Frenzy and Onslaught do not increase movement speed normally, just when this skill is enabled. This seems like a lovely convenience, but perhaps not worth the points, with fast run boots and other speedier movement options. (PvP players will probably find it more useful than PvM players, as is the case in D2.) The increased moving speed will make it easier though to keep your fury bar up, since you take less time to get from one pack of monsters to the next one.

=Tier 4 Skills=
These skills are available for use once a Barbarian reaches level 15+, and has spent at least 15 points in the Berserker skill tree.

==Whirlwind==
[[Image:Barb-ww1.jpg|thumb|250px|Whirling up some goat jerky.]]
* '''Active Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' Become a cyclone, delivering multiple hits to everything in your path.
** '''Rank 1:''' Each hit deals 25% of weapon damage.
** '''Rank 2:''' Each hit deals 30% of weapon damage.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

{|align="right" width="33%" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; clear:both;"
!Whirlwind
|-
|'''Rank:''' 1/20<br>
Swirl in a cyclone, delivering attacks to everything in his path.

'''Current level:''' 1<br>
'''Fury:''' 1<br>
Hits for 25% of weapon damage

'''Next level:''' 2<br>
'''Fury:''' 1<br>
Hits for 30% of weapon damage.
|}Everyone's favorite spinning, multi-hitting tornado of a skill returns in D3. As it did in D2, Whirlwind lands multiple hits to anything in the barbarian's path, and it can strike multiple monsters per use. The whirling graphic is much improved in D3, with the weapon visible tracking around in a circle, leaving a glowing light as it spins and pausing an instant when it makes contact with a hapless enemy.

The damage values listed above were seen in the [[WWI 2008]] gameplay movie. Updated values at [[BlizzCon 2008]] in October were not recorded, so regard these numbers with suspicion.

<div style="clear:both;"></div>

==Slashing Strike==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' Your melee attacks have an X% chance to hit all nearby enemies.
** '''Rank 1:''' 12% chance to hit all nearby enemies.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

Sounds like a very powerful skill, granting a chance to hit all nearby enemies with every attack. This would be hugely valuable when taking on large packs.

==Relentless Attacks==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 0
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
* '''Description:''' Increases the damage of Frenzy and Whirlwind by X%.
** '''Rank 1:''' Increases the damage by 5%.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

==Destroy Armor==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 0
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
* '''Description:''' Reduces enemy armor.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

This skill was marked with the NYI (Not Yet Implemented) tag, and had no values listed for how much it would reduce armor.

=Tier 5 Skills=
There was a space for these in the Blizzcon build, but no skill icons were found on that line. There will surely be some in the final game, or else existing skills will be redistributed so some occupy higher level tiers on the skill tree.

[[category:barbarian]]
[[category:skills]]

Berserker Skill Tree

2009-04-02T08:01:19Z

Valmy: /* Terrifying Shout */

{{class_navbox}}The [[Barbarian]]'s skills are divided into three skill trees, each of which has about 18 known skills. Most of these were first seen at Blizzcon 2008, and while they are very much subject to change during the game's continued development, viewing them in this state is still informative and interesting.

Most Barbarian skills require [[Fury]] to cast. Fury is a mana-like bulb that fills up when the Barbarian hits enemies, then drains quickly away when he stops hitting. This means that a Barbarian is unable to use his more powerful abilities at the start of a fight, and must charge up his Fury before he can begin to unleash his more devastating attacks.

* [[Barbarian Skills|Barbarian Skills Master List]]
** [[Battlemaster Skill Tree]]
** [[Berserker Skill Tree]]
** [[Juggernaut Skill Tree]]

=Diablo III Skill Trees=
[[Image:Barb-berserker-tree.jpg|frame|Berserker Skill Tree, Blizzcon, Oct 2008.]]
Unlike the skill trees in Diablo II, the trees in Diablo III are not focused on just one aspect of a character. All known D3 skill trees have a wide variety of skills, with more passive than active, and all allow for a variety of play styles.

All active skills in the BlizzCon build were capped at 1 skill point (or rank, as skill levels are called in D3), while most passives went up to 15 points. This will not be the case in the final game; active skills will allow more than 1 point, and passives may have different maximum ranks, to allow better game balancing. Know that skills will be modified, that some will be removed, that others will be added, and that the numbers are almost certain to change.

=Tier 1 Skills=
These skills are available for use as soon as new Barbarian is created.

==Frenzy==

* '''Active Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' When attacking with Frenzy, the Barbarian's weapon damage and attack speed are increased. Frenzy can be used repeatedly, stacking the speed bonus up to three times.
** Rank 1: Deals 120% weapon damage. In addition, attack speed is increased by 6% for 10 seconds. (Up to 18%, with stacking.)
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

The popular D2 Barbarian skill returns, with much the same function. The particulars are tweaked a bit, in terms of the damage, attack speed bonus, duration, and stacking, but the function is similar. The biggest change is the Clvl: [http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Barbarian_Combat_Skills#Frenzy Frenzy was a level 24 skill in D2], and only worked while dual wielding. It's level 1 in D3, and it apparently works with any type of weapon or weapons.

Higher levels in this skill (which were not enabled at BlizzCon 2008) will presumably increase the bonuses to damage and other properties as well.

==Bad Temper==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 0
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
* '''Description:''' Reduces Fury degeneration by 3%.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

This skill causes the Barbarian's built up [[Fury]] to reduce less slowly, (theoretically) enabling the character to carry enough over from one fight to be able to use skills immediately at the start of the next battle.

==Power of the Berserker==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 0
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
* '''Description:''' Increases damage of all Berserker skills by X%.
** Rank 2: Increases damage of all Berserker skills by 25%.
** Rank 3: Increases damage of all Berserker skills by 30%.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

A nice passive bonus to all skills in this tree. The figures were very hard to read on this one, so take the 25% and 30% with a grain of salt. The damage bonus will definitely increase with each point spent in the skill, though.

Like the other Barbarian passive damage bonuses, this one does nothing for his to/hit. In fact, there aren't any Barbarian skills that boost to/hit, which is one of the mysteries of the game design, at this point.

==Heightened Senses==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 0
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
* '''Description:''' Grants the Barbarian an inherent change to dodge attacks.
** Rank 1: 4% chance to dodge.
** Rank 2: 8% chance to dodge.
** Rank 3: 12% chance to dodge.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

It's unknown if the skill continues to increase by 4% forever, or if diminishing returns set in at some point.

=Tier 2 Skills=
These skills are available for use once a Barbarian reaches level 5. There is no requirement that he invest 5 skill points in this tree before using them, as some early Blizzcon reports erroneously stated.

==Terrifying Shout==

* '''Active Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' Shout with great intensity, enhancing damage done by something ______ something 30% for 12 seconds.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

The name and description of this one couldn't be read clearly, but enough could be made out to be sure that it's a war cry that boosts damage for a short duration.

Note:
Not too clear if there is the same skill or another. But in the BlizzaCast, a screenshot showed this skill inside the Berserker Skill Tree:
==Threatening Shout==

* '''Active Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 5
* '''Description:'''
** Rank 1: Shout with great ferocity, reducing damage done by enemies within 24 feet by 60% for 15 seconds.
** Rank 2: Shout with great ferocity, reducing damage done by enemies within 24 feet by 70% for 18 seconds.

==Onslaught==

* '''Active Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 0
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' Increases attack speed by X%. Drains Fury while in use. Lasts for X seconds.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

This was another description that was very hard to read, so no values are available. The skill's function is clear, though. It increases the Barbarian's attack speed for a few seconds, and drains Fury all the while. It runs for the allowed duration (around 10 seconds per use) or until the Fury runs out. (More Fury can be added while this skill is in use, of course. Hitting things with a super speed Barbarian is a great way to add Fury, after all.)

==Double Strike==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' Grants a dual wielding Barbarian the chance to strike nearby enemies with both weapons.
** Rank 1: Gives a 6% chance of striking with both weapons.
** Rank 2: Gives a 7% chance of striking with both weapons.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

This one was also hard to read in our notes, so the figures are suspect. They were single numbers though, so the odds are clearly pretty low for this skill to trigger.

The Barbarian uses both weapons to attack when dual wielding; the attack just isn't much faster than it would be while holding a single weapon. This skill gives a % chance to hit an individual enemy twice, very quickly, once with each weapon.

==Strong Constitution==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 0
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
* '''Description:''' Enables health regeneration.
** Rank 1: Regenerates 10 health per second.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

A skill that sounds like it will be mandatory for most every Barbarian, unless equipment with health regeneration is common. The amount of regeneration was hard to read in our notes, but it is a low double digit number. Something like 10 or 12.

==Berserker State==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 0
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
* '''Description:''' Increases the duration of Frenzy and Onslaught by 1 second.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

A typical D3 passive skill; boosting one aspect of two other skills from the same skill tree.

=Tier 3 Skills=
These skills are available for use for any Barbarian who is level 10+, and has placed at least 10 points in other skills in the Berserker skill tree.

==Leap Attack==
[[Image:Barb-leap1.jpg|thumb|250px|Leaping over a chasm.]]
* '''Active Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' The Barbarian makes a mighty leap, causing ? damage to enemies when he lands. <br /> Damage of Leap Attack increases with strength.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

Leap Attack is not much changed from D2, and has been demonstrated repeatedly in the gameplay movies. The main difference with the D3 version of this skill is that minor damage is dealt to everything nearby when the Barbarian lands, rather than big damage to one particular monster.

This skill enables the barbarian to leap a considerable distance, and quite quickly too. When landing the barbarian drives her weapons down from overhead, creating a blue shockwave that damages and knocks back any enemies within several yards. It appears to combine the powers of the d2 skills leap and leap attack, and seems to deal quite a bit of damage, as rapidly as it dispatches multiple ghouls with every Leap, in the WWI movie.

==Enrage==

* '''Active Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' Enter a reckless rage, increasing Fury gained but also damage taken.
** '''Rank 1: '''Increases Fury gained by 100% and damage taken by 25%, for 10 seconds.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

An interesting skill, enabling the the Barbarian to generate Rage more quickly, but taking more damage while doing so. This would be a useful skill to power up just before entering battle; the Barbarian would fill up his Rage bulb very quickly against one or two initial attackers, and by the time the main mob was in range his Fury would be full and the increased damage penalty would have worn off.

==Dual Wield Specialization==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
* '''Description:''' Increases physical damage dealt by weapons while dual wielding
** '''Rank 1:''' Increases damage by 12%.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

A skill any dual wielding barbarian will want to invest heavily in.

==Savage==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' Increase all Fury generation for X seconds after scoring a critical hit.
* '''Rank 1: '''Increase Fury generation 30% for 8 seconds.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

This tree has a variety of skills to increase [[fury]] generation. Something barbs who specialize in the other trees will surely be envious of.

==Increase Speed==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' Your Frenzy and Onslaught abilities also increase your movement speed.
** '''Rank 1:''' Movement speed increased 5% while using Frenzy or Onslaught.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

More improvements to other skills in the same tree. Frenzy and Onslaught do not increase movement speed normally, just when this skill is enabled. This seems like a lovely convenience, but perhaps not worth the points, with fast run boots and other speedier movement options. (PvP players will probably find it more useful than PvM players, as is the case in D2.) The increased moving speed will make it easier though to keep your fury bar up, since you take less time to get from one pack of monsters to the next one.

=Tier 4 Skills=
These skills are available for use once a Barbarian reaches level 15+, and has spent at least 15 points in the Berserker skill tree.

==Whirlwind==
[[Image:Barb-ww1.jpg|thumb|250px|Whirling up some goat jerky.]]
* '''Active Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' Become a cyclone, delivering multiple hits to everything in your path.
** '''Rank 1:''' Each hit deals 25% of weapon damage.
** '''Rank 2:''' Each hit deals 30% of weapon damage.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

{|align="right" width="33%" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; clear:both;"
!Whirlwind
|-
|'''Rank:''' 1/20<br>
Swirl in a cyclone, delivering attacks to everything in his path.

'''Current level:''' 1<br>
'''Fury:''' 1<br>
Hits for 25% of weapon damage

'''Next level:''' 2<br>
'''Fury:''' 1<br>
Hits for 30% of weapon damage.
|}Everyone's favorite spinning, multi-hitting tornado of a skill returns in D3. As it did in D2, Whirlwind lands multiple hits to anything in the barbarian's path, and it can strike multiple monsters per use. The whirling graphic is much improved in D3, with the weapon visible tracking around in a circle, leaving a glowing light as it spins and pausing an instant when it makes contact with a hapless enemy.

The damage values listed above were seen in the [[WWI 2008]] gameplay movie. Updated values at [[BlizzCon 2008]] in October were not recorded, so regard these numbers with suspicion.

<div style="clear:both;"></div>

==Slashing Strike==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 1
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Description:''' Your melee attacks have an X% chance to hit all nearby enemies.
** '''Rank 1:''' 12% chance to hit all nearby enemies.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

Sounds like a very powerful skill, granting a chance to hit all nearby enemies with every attack. This would be hugely valuable when taking on large packs.

==Relentless Attacks==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 0
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
* '''Description:''' Increases the damage of Frenzy and Whirlwind by X%.
** '''Rank 1:''' Increases the damage by 5%.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

==Destroy Armor==

* '''Passive Skill'''
* '''Rune Sockets:''' 0
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
* '''Description:''' Reduces enemy armor.
* '''Fury Cost:''' None

This skill was marked with the NYI (Not Yet Implemented) tag, and had no values listed for how much it would reduce armor.

=Tier 5 Skills=
There was a space for these in the Blizzcon build, but no skill icons were found on that line. There will surely be some in the final game, or else existing skills will be redistributed so some occupy higher level tiers on the skill tree.

[[category:barbarian]]
[[category:skills]]

Interface

2009-04-01T10:32:58Z

Valmy: adding info for interface buttons

The belt interface in Diablo III is an evolutionary improvement on the versions seen in Diablo I and Diablo II. The form and function will be familiar to players experienced in the other games, but there are a few major changes in Diablo III that make the controls easier to use, but also guide players to operate the game as the [[D3 Team]] intends.

==Function==

The appearance and function of the belt interface are two sides of the same coin. The appearance serves the function, and both mesh with the various skill and play style changes made in Diablo III. The [[D3 Team]] is designing Diablo III to be played with 6-8 active skills on each character. There are many more [[skills]] than that, but specializing in a half dozen or so with each character build is the route to success. Therefore, rather than throwing in 16 hotkeys, as in Diablo II, there are just half that many in Diablo III, and skills are being designed to be more useful. The team doesn't want characters to be "one-skill wonders" as so many were in Diablo II, where most skills were either overpowered or useless.

The other main goal of the Diablo III interface is to be easier to use and more visual. Hotkeys were easy to use in Diablo II once a player knew how, but to a new user they were not immediately evident. There was no way to see which custom keys were set as hotkeys without opening a different interface, and only the active skills could be seen on the left and right mouse button icons. The D3 Team wants to open up that function, and it appears that they have, from what we can see of the interface in screenshots.

There's some debate about this approach amongst experienced Diablo II players. Some fans are skeptical, wondering if the D3 Team is going too far to make it easy for beginners, and watering down the controls and over-simplifying things in the process. Play testing during the beta test should answer this question.

==Appearance==

The look of the belt interface is similar to what we saw in Diablo II, with a few changes. Realize that this form is subject to further change during the ongoing development process.

The most recent version of the belt interface was revealed in April 2009.

[[Image:Belt-interface2.jpg|center|frame]]

This screenshot, of a Barbarian's belt interface, shows the key features.

There are 5 hotkey slots, into which skill icons or potions can be dragged. Hitting that button will immediately activate that skill or drink that potion. This is something of a change from Diablo II, where skills were always mapped to the mouse buttons, and could only be activated by clicking the hot key to move them to the mouse click. The 1-5 hotkeys in Diablo III work like the belt slots in Diablo II; for example Identify or Town Portal scrolls could be placed there and cast by clicking the number.

The left click and right click slots are marked by an appropriate little mouse icon. The "Tab" key (and the mouse wheel) switches between two active skills on the right click. Skills are added to these controls by clicking them in the skill tree, and they can then be cast immediately with a left or right click.

===Control Icons===

The six icons seen to the far right are various game controls, though it's not yet known exactly what function each provides. Comparing them to the mini-panel icons from Diablo II is illustrative.

[[Image:Mini-panel-d2.jpg|frame|D2 Mini-Panel.]]
In order, from left to right:
* Character window
* Inventory
* Skill Tree
* Party Menu
* Message Log
* Quest Log
* Game Menu

[[Image:Belt-interface3.jpg|frame]]
Here are the equivalent icons from Diablo III, enlarged and brightened for easier comparison. Reading them from left to right, starting on the top row:
* Character seems likely.
* Seeing the images in Blizzcast, the swords represent the skill tree menu.
* Inventory, with a bag icon for storage.
* A Chalice? Unclear what this one does. Probably a quest menu.
* This looks like a Party Menu icon, but it's not clear if there is a party window interface in Diablo III, since with the removal of hostility in games, there's no need for parties; all characters in a regular PvM game are automatically in a party. Still, such a window could be useful for squelching or private messaging other players.
* Gears have become a common icon for the Game Options menu.

This speculative list does not include icons for the Skill Tree menu, a message log, or a Quest menu. It seems quite likely that at least the Skill Tree and Quest Menu should have icons to allow one-click access; perhaps the Chalice is one of these?

==WWI Interface==

The belt interface was first seen in the WWI gameplay movie, released with the game's announcement in June 2008. It can be seen below.

Changes from this one to the most recent version aren't major, but they are visible. There were initially 1-6 hotkeys, along with right and left mouse click buttons. The game option controls for trading, multiplayer options, and more were previously on top, as they were in Diablo II. In more recent versions they've been moved to a small rectangle on the far right.

[[Image:Belt-interface-wwi1.jpg|frame|center]]

[[category:interface]]

Storm Skill Tree

2009-03-31T10:43:44Z

Valmy: adding BlizzCast information commented by Bashiok (runes)

{{class_navbox}}
The Wizard's skills are divided into three skill trees, each of which has about 18 known spells. These were first seen at Blizzcon 2008, and while they are very much subject to change during the game's continued development, viewing them in this state is still informative. The three trees are:

* [[Storm Skill Tree]]
* [[Arcane Skill Tree]]
* [[Conjuring Skill Tree]]

==Diablo 3 Skill Trees==

Unlike the skill trees in Diablo II, the trees in Diablo III are not focused on just one aspect of a character. All known D3 skill trees have a wide variety of skills, with more passive than active skills, and all allow for a variety of play styles.

All active skills in the BlizzCon build were capped at 1 skill point (or rank, as skill levels are called in D3), while most passives went up to 15 points. This will not be the case in the final game; active skills will allow more than 1 point, and passives may have different maximum ranks, to allow better game balancing. Know that skills will be modified, that some will be removed, that others will be added, and that the numbers are almost certain to change.

[[Skill runes]] could only be socketed in active skills, in the Blizzcon build. This may or may not remain true in the final game.

==Tier 1 Skills==
These skills are available for use as soon as new Wizard is created.

===Charged Bolt===
[[Image:Wiz-charged-bolt1.jpg|thumb|350px|Charged Bolts carpet the dungeon floor.]]
* Active Skill
* '''Description:''' Launch a volley of electric bolts. Critical hits from lightning damage stun targets for 2 sec.
*'''Max Rank:''' 1
* '''Rank 1:''' 3 bolts. Each deals 1-8 damage.
*'''Mana cost''' 8

When tested in the BlizzCon 2008 build, the bolts seemed to come out with a wider spread than they do in Diablo II. They were useful to hit monsters to the sides as well as straight ahead, but were not as good to land multiple hits to a target straight ahead, either very close or a few yards distant. They did not travel very far, and not at all in a wave ahead of the Wizard.

See more screenshots of [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?si=charged+bolt Charged Bolt] in the Image Gallery.

===Thunderstruck===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Increases the critical hit chance of all lightning spells by X%. Critical hits from lightning damage stun targets for 2 seconds.
*'''Max Rank:''' 15
** '''Rank 1:''' Increases critical hit chance of all lightning spells by 5%.
** '''Rank 2:''' Increases critical hit chance of all lightning spells by 10%.
** '''Rank 3:''' Increases critical hit chance of all lightning spells by 15%.

The spells did not display their [[critical hit]] % chance in the BlizzCon build, but it's assumed that they will in the final game. It's not known what else will raise critical hit chance; Clvl? Attributes? Equipment bonuses? They seem very likely to occur on items, as part of the D3 Team's effort to provide a variety of valuable mods on weapons for non-combat characters.

===Empowered Magic===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Increases the effect of willpower on your spell damage by X%.
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
** '''Rank 1:''' Increases the effect of willpower on your spell damage by 10%.
** '''Rank 2:''' Increases the effect of willpower on your spell damage by 20%.
** '''Rank 3:''' Increases the effect of willpower on your spell damage by 30%.

One of the design goals in Diablo III is to make all of the attributes useful to each character class. As this skill makes clear, Willpower will factor in on the Wizard's spell damage.

===Lightning Speed===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:'''Increases casting speed by 3%
*'''Rank:''' 0/15

It's not clear if this skill increases the casting speed for all spells cast by the Wizard, or just ones from this tree. From the wording, it sounds like it affects all of the character's spells, so it seems that most Wizards will put some points into this one, whichever tree they specialize in.

Nothing is yet known about how useful or common spell casting speed boosts will be from items.

==Tier II Skills==
Tier 2 skills do not require any amount of points to be spent in the tree to enable them. (There were rumors that 5 points were required, but that was not the case in the BlizzCon build.

===Storm Armor===
* Active Skill
* '''Description:'''Surround yourself in electrical energy. Electrical bolts are automatically fired at attackers.
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
** '''Rank 1:''' Electrical bolts deal 1-8 damage.
* '''Mana cost:''' 15

This skill does not seem to offer any protection; just a sort of passive offensive attack. It's not known how long it persists for, or how much the damage will scale up.

===Frost Nova===
* Active Skill
* '''Description:''' An explosion of ice pelts nearby enemies. Projectiles have an additional 25% chance of a critical hit. Critical hits from cold damage freeze targets.
*'''Max Rank:''' 1
** '''Rank 1:''' 1-3 damage, 25% chance of critical hit.
*'''Mana cost:''' 25
*'''Cool down:''' 12 seconds

The long cool down on this skill indicates that the D3 Team means it to be used as a sort of "panic button," rather than a killing attack. The boosted % of critical chance is more about potentially freezing enemies than killing them with a lovely explosion of ice. Storm Power and Lethal Energy will both add to this skill's lethality by adding to its critical strike chance and damage.

See more [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?si=frost+nova screenshots of Frost Nova] in the image gallery.

[[Image:Wiz-frost-nova1.jpg|center|thumb|600px|Chill out!]]

===Deep Freeze===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:'''Increases the critical hit chance of all cold spells. Critical hits from cold damage freeze targets.
*'''Max Rank:''' 15
* '''Rank 1:''' Cold spell critical hit damage increased by 5%.

Rather than giving the Wizard a Glacial Spike-like instant freeze spell, the D3 team seems to be granting that possibility with critical hits on a variety of non-freezing cold spells.

===Power Armor===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Increases the damage dealt by your Storm Armor charged bolts.
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
** '''Rank 1:''' Increases damage by 10%.

===Static Charge===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Converts a percentage of all damage taken into mana.
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
** '''Rank 1:''' Convert 5% of all damage taken into mana.

An interesting variation on Mana Shield; this sounds like it's only of use to add mana, without any protective properties.

==Tier III Skills==
A Wizard must be at least Clvl 10, and have spent at least 10 skill points in the Storm skill tree before he/she is able to put points into any of the skills at this tier.

===Electrocute===
[[Image:Wiz-electrocute1.jpg|thumb|250px|Electrocute chaining some skeletons.]]
* Active Skill
* '''Description:''' Lightning arcs from the wizard’s fingertips towards enemies, electrocuting up to two targets. Critical hits from lightning damage stun targets for 2 sec.
*'''Rank 1:''' Deals 4-5 damage to up to 2 targets. Lightning critical hits stun for 2 seconds.
*'''Mana cost:''' 8

This spell works like beam weapons in most FPS games, locking onto a target and bending to keep it in the lightning zone even as the enemy moves around. It can chain to a second target, and during the BlizzCon 2008 demonstration, this spell was seen upgraded with a [[runes|Hydra Rune]] (named Multistrike before), enabling it to strike additional targets at once. A Viper Rune (named Lethality Rune before) was also shown in conjunction with Electrocute, which caused some enemies to explode in an electric Nova upon death, dealing damage to nearby monsters. This is the same sort of death monsters suffer when they perish from a lightning [[critical hit]].

See more screenshots of [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?si=electrocute Electrocute] in the Image Gallery.

===Ray of Frost===
[[Image:Wiz-ray-of-frost.jpg|thumb|Ray of Frost]]
* Active Skill
* '''Description:''' Project a beam of cold energy. Critical hits from cold damage freeze targets.
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
** '''Rank 1:''' Deals 6 cold damage/second.
* '''Mana cost:''' 16 mana per sec.

This spell is a sort of cold inferno, reminiscent of the Druid's Arctic Blast skill from Diablo 2. It deals relatively weak damage, but has the chilling effect of all cold skills, and is therefore useful for slowing down nearby attackers.

See more [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?si=ray+of+frost screenshots of Ray of Frost] in the image gallery.

===Static Residue===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Enemies damaged by your lightning spells discharge additional lightning damage to nearby enemies for 3 seconds.
*'''Max Rank:''' 15
** '''Rank 1:''' Targets discharge 1-3 lightning damage per second to nearby enemies. Lasts for 3 seconds.

An add-on passive, this one does nothing by itself, but adds lightning damage that hits everything nearby, when any other lightning skill is used. With deaths from lightning critical hits and various multi-target lightning skills, the strength of that element in attack seems likely to be the ability to hit many things at once.

===Lethal Energy===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Increases the chance to score critical hits with melee and spell attacks.
*'''Rank:''' 0/15
** '''Rank 1:''' Increases critical hit chance 5%.

As with other skills in the Wizard's tree (and those of the other characters), boosting Critical Hits is a very powerful technique in D3.

===Improved Charged Bolt===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Increase the number of bolts released by your charged bolt spell.
* '''Max Rank:''' 15
** '''Rank 1:''' Increases the number of bolts by 1.

This one was not seen at Blizzcon 2008, but it sounds like an interesting upgrade. It's unclear why anyone would put more than 1 point into regular Charged Bolt though, with this one waiting at a higher level. Also keep in mind that lightning critical hits stun enemies in D3, so imagine how effective this spell could be with a high level of critical adding damage and stunning the monsters as they bathe in the river of Charged Bolts flowing out from the Wizard.

==Tier IV Skills==
A wizard must invest 15 points in the Storm tree before the skills in this tier become available.

===Tornado===
[[Image:Skill_wizard_tornado.jpg|right|thumb|We're not in Kansas anymore...]]
* Active Skill
* '''Description:''' Summon a large tornado that damages everything in its path.
*'''Max Rank:''' 1
*'''Mana cost:''' 15

Akin to the Druid's Twister skill from Diablo II, these tornadoes are formed from pure energy. In the gameplay trailer released at BlizzCon 2008, multiple tornadoes are cast one after another, each lasting for close to 5 seconds. Their path is semi-random, and they bounce off of enemies, heading in another direction when they hit once, instead of passing over targets and dealing multiple hits, as do the Druid's tornadoes in D2.

As in DII with the Druid, the best use of the tornadoes will likely be multiple, concentrated casts in a small area packed with enemies, to ensure the most damage in the shortest period of time. Higher levels of the skill may increase their size or may simply increase raw damage. Epic Storm will increase the number of simultaneous tornadoes you can cast, and Lethal Energy will increase the chance to score critical strikes.

It's not clear what type of damage a tornado deals, so what bonuses the critical hits would deal is not known.

===Blizzard===
* Active Skill
* '''Description:''' Call down shards of ice to pelt an area dealing X damage per second. Critical hits from cold damage freezes targets.
*'''Max Rank:''' 1
** '''Rank 1:''' Deals 6-10 cold damage per second. Lasts 3 seconds.
*'''Mana cost:''' 70

The spell that had to be in the game, this one is visually improved in D3. There is now a cloud shown above the enemies, from which large chunks of ice crash down to earth.

===Storm Power===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Increase damage of all lightning and ice spells.
*''' Max Rank:''' 15

===Epic Storms===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Increases size of Blizzard and number of twisters you can have for your energy twister.
* ''' Max Rank:''' 15

An interesting mastery skill, this one boosts two different spells (but not everything in the tree), though by now much remains to be seen.

===Shattering Ice===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Enemies take 2 extra points of damage while frozen.
* ''' Max Rank:''' 15

==Tier V Skills==
There was a space for these in the Blizzcon build, but no skill icons were found on that line. There will surely be some in the final game, or else existing skills will be redistributed so some occupy higher level tiers on the skill tree.

[[Category:Wizard]]
[[Category:Skills]]
[[Category:Wizard skills]]

Arcane Skill Tree

2009-03-31T10:41:44Z

Valmy: /* Teleport */

{{class_navbox}}
The Wizard's skills are divided into three skill trees, each of which has about 18 known spells. These were first seen at Blizzcon 2008, and while they are very much subject to change during the game's continued development, viewing them in this state is still informative. The three trees are:

* [[Storm Skill Tree]]
* [[Arcane Skill Tree]]
* [[Conjuring Skill Tree]]

==Diablo 3 Skill Trees==

Unlike the skill trees in Diablo II, the trees in Diablo III are not focused on just one aspect of a character. All known D3 skill trees have a wide variety of skills, with more passive than active skills, and all allow for a variety of play styles.

All active skills in the BlizzCon build were capped at 1 skill point (or rank, as skill levels are called in D3), while most passives went up to 15 points. This will not be the case in the final game; active skills will allow more than 1 point, and passives may have different maximum ranks, to allow better game balancing. Know that skills will be modified, that some will be removed, that others will be added, and that the numbers are almost certain to change.

[[Skill Runes]] could only be socketed in active skills, in the Blizzcon build. This may or may not remain true in the final game.

==Tier I Skills==
These skills are available for use as soon as new Wizard is created.

===Magic Missile===
[[Image:Wiz-magic-missile1.jpg|thumb|300px|Magic missiles impact.]]
* Active Skill
* '''Description:''' Fire 1 missile(s) of energy at your enemies causing 7-13 arcane damage to them. Critical hits from arcane damage silence targets for 4 secs.
*'''Rank:''' 0/1
*'''Mana cost:''' 8

In early levels, Magic Missile might be the Wizard's bread and butter. In later levels, it might prove invaluable as a cheap and direct means of silencing a monster for 4 seconds -- plenty of time to dispatch of them before they can cast a nasty spell on you, or raise the fallen to fight again. The difficulty will be in hitting the shaman behind the minions, since Magic Missile will strike another monster if it's between the Wizard and the targeted boss.

Magic Missile's effectiveness is increased by a variety of spells, the most noteworthy of which is Improved Magic Missile, which increases both the damage and number of missiles released on a cast. The range and spread of higher levels of Magic Missile is reminiscent of the DII Necromancer's Teeth. When an enemy dies at the hands of an Arcane spell, a purple glow is left on the corpses.

===Arcane Power===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Increases all arcane damage.
*'''Max Rank:''' 15
** '''Rank 1:''' Increases arcane damage by 12%.
** '''Rank 2:''' Increases arcane damage by 24%.
** '''Rank 3:''' Increases arcane damage by 36%.

This mastery boosts the arcane spell damages by a much higher % than similar masteries for other types of damage, and it's unclear why. Possibilities include: arcane spells generally do less damage, their critical hit bonus might be less useful, or the spell just might be overpowered in this early, still-under-testing build.

===Efficient Magics===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Lowers the mana cost of spells by a %.
*''' Max Rank:''' 15
** '''Rank 1:''' Lowers mana cost by 3%.
** '''Rank 2:''' Lowers mana cost by 6%.
** '''Rank 3:''' Lowers mana cost by by 9%.
** '''Rank 4:''' Lowers mana cost by by 12%.

It looks like a Wizard will be able to greatly customize his or her spells in D3, with passive skills that cut mana cost, increase casting speed, and boost individual damage types. It's not yet known how much equipment will overlap with these abilities; a spell to boost casting speed wouldn't be much good in D2, with so many items that could convey the same bonus.

===Penetrating Spells===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Reduces the resistance of your targets to your spells by x%. Targets with negative resistance take additional damage from spells.
*'''Rank 1:''' Reduces resistance by 8%.

Another of the highly-useful passive skills possessed by the Wizard. Sort of a full time Lower Resistance aura, that seems to work with all types of magic.

==Tier II==
There is no "points in the tree" requirement to start using second tier skills.

===Disintegrate===
[[Image:Wiz-disintegrate1.jpg|thumb|350px|Disintegrating from within Slow Time.]]
* Active Skill
* '''Description:''' Emanate a beam of pure energy dealing 10 arcane damage per second. Damage is modified to 80% each time the beam passes through the target. Critical hits from Arcane damage silence targets for 4 secs.
*'''Rank:''' 1
*'''Mana cost:''' 12 per sec.

A laser beam of molten pwnage, Disintegrate is at its best raking through a line of ranged attackers. It'll cut through targets without mercy; however, each target the beam passes through lowers its power to 80% for the next target. (It's not clear if the description means 20% less per target, in a 100%, 80%, 60%, 40%, 20%, 0% sequence, or if it's 80% of the current amount, which would yield 100%, 80%, 64%, 51%, 41%, 33%, etc.) It would be very difficult to hit more than 4 or 5 monsters at once with this spell anyway, since it's pencil thin, monsters don't stand in neat rows, and monsters die fairly quickly once they're being cooked by the Disintegrate beam.

Damage ticks every second of use, and critical strikes (as with any Arcane Spell) will silence the target for 4 seconds. This might be the best use of this skill late game; even if the damage doesn't scale up to keep it a killer, it could hit anything on the screen, instantly "silencing" enemy mages and summoners.

In the [[Blizzcon]] demo build (October 2008), this spell wasn't very useful against large enemies, but was devastating against smaller enemies, especially ranged attackers such as [[Skeletal Archer]]s. The disintegrate ray hits anything on the screen more or less instantaneously, so nothing is out of reach and there's no delay between clicking the mouse and hitting the enemy with the spell. This one will surely be nerfed somewhat before the final game, since it was just so useful in the Blizzcon build.

===Wave of Force===
[[Image:Wiz-wave-of-force1.jpg|thumb|350px|Wave of Force.]]
* Active Skill
* '''Description:''' Project a wave of force outwards, repelling enemies and projectiles.
* '''Max Rank:''' 1
** '''Rank 1:''' 1-8 damage.
* '''Mana cost:''' 25

This defensive spell casts a nova-like blast of light that deals just minor damage, but that shoves back enemies and projectiles.

Wave of Force is used twice in the Wizard Trailer released at Blizzcon 2008. The first is used in a room of skeletons -- it does little damage to the skeletons, but blasts all the destructibles in the room to glorious pieces. In the second example, the Wizard uses it while slowing down time, waiting for a group of skeletons' projectiles to come close, and then reflecting them back toward them.

It's hard to know how many scenarios in a fast-paced game like this where you could really benefit from using Slow Time and then Wave of Force to repel projectiles -- Out of the 8 projectiles in the above screenshot, only one or two actually came back to strike their targets. It will be interesting to see what practical uses there are for this spell as more gameplay videos unfold.

===Arcane Armor===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' While your Storm Armor, Stone Armor, Stone Skin or Temporal Armor spells are active, your armor is increased by 20%.''
*'''Rank:''' 0/15

Another interesting mastery; this one boosts the wizard's total armor bonus, but only while one (or more) of the other protective spells are active.

===Arcane Weakness===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Enemies damaged by your arcane spells are affected with arcane weakness, increasing damage taken by 10% for 5 sec.
*'''Rank:''' 0/15

This would presumably stack with other passives that increase the damage and critical hit % of individual spell types, or all spells in general.

===Arcane Speed===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Reduces the cooldown of all arcane spells by 5%.
*'''Rank:''' 0/15

Arcane spell damage seems to be limited by a cooldown time on most of the spells, hence this spell.

==Tier III==
The wizard must spend 10 points in the first two tiers of this tree before he may add points to any spells in Tier 3.

===Arcane Orb===
[[Image:Wiz-arcane-orb1.jpg|thumb|250px]]
* Active Skill
* '''Description:''' An orb of pure energy explodes on contact dealing 12-16 arcane damage to all enemies in the blast area. Critical hits from arcane damage silence targets for 4 sec.
*'''Max Rank:''' 1
*'''Mana cost:''' 18

A glowing orb of energy travels about 10 yards, before bursting in a nova of destruction. The spell looks something like the D2 Sorc's Frozen Orb, but without the spray of ice spears as it flies across the room. The spell only allowed one point in the BlizzCon demo, but the final game will surely allow more than 1 level (rank) to be added to it.

[[Image:Skill_wizard_arcaneorbsequence.jpg|frame|center|Sequence of Arcane Orb, cast from within the protective bubble created by a Slow Time spell.]]

===Slow Time===
[[Image:Skill_wizard_slowtime.jpg|thumb|250px|Slow Time]]
* Active Skill
* '''Description:''' Warp space and time, slowing nearby monsters and projectiles. Enemy attack cooldown increase: 1 sec.
*''' Max Rank:''' 1
*'''Mana cost:''' 20

Slow time creates a bubble that surrounds the Wizard. Any enemies or enemy projectiles that enter the bubble are greatly slowed. The wizard, her spell projectiles, and her allies are not affected by the slow time bubble, giving them a huge advantage over the greatly slowed enemies. The bubble remains where it was cast, persisting for several seconds, but the Wizard can move as soon as the spell is cast, though if she moves outside the bubble monsters may again target her without their shots or attacks being slowed.

It's assumed that some boss monsters (and their projectiles?) will be immune to the slowing effect, but this is not yet known, and is subject to further balancing anyway.

[[Image:Wiz-slow-time1.jpg|center|thumb|600px|Slow Time only affects enemies. The Wizard can use her spells from within it without hindrance.]]

===Arcane Distortion===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Enemies damaged by your arcane spells are slowed by 35% for 3 sec.
*'''Rank:''' 0/15

There are a lot of interesting ways to slow or freeze or stun monsters in D3. Types of damage, critical hits, spells, masteries to spells, and more.

===Mana Recovery===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Enemies have a 7% chance to drop a mana globe that return 25% of maximum mana when picked up.
*'''Rank:''' 0/15

No mana globes were dropping during the Blizzcon 2008 demo. It's not clear if they were not enabled, if they don't drop early in the game, or if they never drop at all, unless this spell (or others with a similar effect, or perhaps the bonus comes from equipment as well?) is active.

===Improved Magic Missile===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Increases the number of missiles launched by your magic missile spell by 1 and increases their damage by 8%.
*'''Rank:''' 0/15

Boosts the number and damage of magic missiles. It's not known how this spell interacts with the basic magic missile spell. That one seems to set the base damage, which this one enhances.

==Tier IV==
A wizard must invest 15 points into the Arcane skill tree before he may put points into any skills in this tier.

===Temporal Armor===
* Active Skill
* '''Description:''' Surrounds the wizard in a protective shell that stops all damage from an attack every 6 sec. The shell dissipates after absorbing 12 attacks
*'''Rank:''' 0/1

An interesting variation on spell shields. Rather than absorbing X amount of damage, or some % of damage, this one takes out 100% of the damage, but only works every 6 seconds.

===Teleport===
* Active Skill
* '''Description:''' Teleport to the selected location up to 40 feet away.
*'''Rank:''' 0/1
*'''Mana cost:''' 23

Teleport has been modified somewhat in D3. Rather than blinking instantly between locations, the Wizard leaps several yards straight up into the air, then falls back down when she arrives at her target point. This makes the movement considerably slower, though it's still very fast.

In one of the BlizzCon 2008 panels, Teleport was demonstrated with a striking [[skill rune]] socketed in it, and the spell added damage to all monsters in the area, each time the Wizard teleported. Socketing in a Hydra/multi strike skill rune will instead cause the wizard to split into images of herself when teleporting, making the skill useful to distract monsters.

===Greater Mana===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Increases maximum mana by 12%.
*'''Rank:''' 0/15

A straight forward skill that increases your mana, useful throughout the game, especially at early levels.

===Mana Burst===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Increases the damage of any spell cast from full mana by 25%.
* '''Rank:''' 0/15

Another creative spell. This one basically lets the Wizard deal substantial extra damage, but with just one spell, once in a while. A wizard who invested in this spell would have to modify her play style considerably; trying to use spells sparingly to remain full of mana, in order to score the huge damage hit possible with points in this skill.

===Runic Might===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Increases the effects of all runes.
*'''Rank:''' 0/5

A mysterious, all purpose skill description for this one. It sounds like it exists only in concept at this point, and hasn't been balanced at all, yet.

[[Category:Wizard]]
[[Category:Skills]]
[[Category:Wizard skills]]

Spirit Skill Tree

2009-03-31T10:39:42Z

Valmy: adding BlizzCast information commented by Bashiok (runes)

The Witch Doctor has three skill trees, with a variety of active and passive skills in each. Only 11 WD skills were revealed at Blizzcon, (more than 55 each were shown for the Wizard and Barbarian) so our knowledge of this character's abilities is much less extensive. Furthermore, all 11 skills were active skills, so we know nothing of the WD's passives and masteries.

The Witch Doctor's tree skill trees are:

* [[Plague Skill Tree]]
* [[Spirit Skill Tree]]
* [[Voodoo Skill Tree]]

==Diablo III Skill Trees==

{{class_navbox}}Unlike the skill trees in Diablo II, the trees in Diablo III are not focused on just one aspect of a character. All known D3 skill trees have a wide variety of skills, with more passive than active, and all allow for a variety of play styles.

All active skills in the BlizzCon build were capped at 1 skill point (or rank, as skill levels are called in D3), while most passives went up to 15 points. This will not be the case in the final game; active skills will allow more than 1 point, and passives may have different maximum ranks, to allow better game balancing. Know that skills will be modified, that some will be removed, that others will be added, and that the numbers are almost certain to change.

==Spirit Skill Tree==

===Skull of Flame===

[[Image:Skill_witchdoctor_firebomb_icon.gif|left|Firebomb Skill Icon]]This skill (formerly known as Firebomb) allows the Witch Doctor to lob a sort of fire grenade projectile, like a molotov cocktail, to any spot on the screen. The burning skull tumbles end over end in mid-air, and explodes with a burst of flame when it lands, dealing fire damage to anything in the immediate vicinity. It also sets targets aflame, and they take continued damage from the fire for several seconds. There are fires left burning on the ground after a firebomb detonates, but these do not seem to deal damage to, or set fire to, targets that walk through them.

During BlizzCon 2008's Diablo 3 Class Design Panel where shown some ways to improve firebomb through the use of [[skill rune]]s.
* A Hydra Rune (named multi-strike before) causes the flaming skull to bounce on the ground like a rock on a pond, bounding and creating multiple explosions as it skips.
* A Force Rune (named power before) boosts the damage, and creates a firewall-like effect where patches of flame are left on the ground, scorching all monsters in the vicinity.

Like several other Witch Doctor spells, the flames from this one will spread to the Mongrels, adding fire damage to their attacks.

[[Image:Skill_witchdoctor_firebomb.jpg|frame|center|Sequence of Witch Doctor casting Skull of Flame.]]

During the [[WWI_2008:_Denizens_of_Diablo_Panel#Witch_Doctor:_Firebomb|Denizens of Diablo]] panel at the 2008 WWI event, the D3 team spoke at length about the development of the Firebomb skill and how it's one of the skills that best describes what makes the Witch Doctor tick. A partial quote:

:Originally it was a sort of fireball spell; when cast it traveled in a direct line from the WD to the target and would hit anything in the path. It exploded nicely. Explosions are cool. Everyone likes them.

:Problem was, not really problem, but we've all seen that kind of Fireball spell before. The artists came back said we didn't imagine him that way. We saw Firebomb as more of a physical magic. Like concocting some alchemical recipe in a skull and hurling that, and it explodes.

:Once it was a physical projectile designers liked that. It became a physical thing to throw, could go over walls. Become different tactics and use. Great example of how art and design can work together to iterate to make cool skill.

===Mass Confusion===
This curse-like mind control attack summons a blue spirit wherever the WD targets it. The spirit confuses some of the monsters in range, causing an aqua colored orb to appear over their heads. Confused monsters seem to lose their AI, and they mill around more than usual. They may also attack, or be attacked by, other monsters. They are not the WD's minions though, and are not under his control, so he can kill confused monsters just like any other monster.

===Soul Harvest===
[[Image:Icon-soul-harvest.jpg|left]][[Image:Wd-soul-harvest3.jpg|thumb]]
This skill creates a nova-like ring of blue smoke around the WD. All targets within the ring are damaged, and if the damage is enough to kill them, their souls (white/blue ghosts) swirl into the air, then down into the witch doctor, where they add to his mana. The radius of the skill is not very large, so monsters need to be nearly in melee range to be affected.

This is a useful tool to finish off multiple weak enemies, and to replenish the Witch Doctor's mana in the process. It's not a very cost-effective spell to use as a regular attack, since the damage isn't very high, and the WD has other skills that can hit multiple enemies at once for more damage, and at a lower mana cost.

===Firebats===
[[Image:Wd-firebats1.jpg|thumb|300px|Firebats!]]
This inferno-like spell shoots forth a spray of flaming bats that scorch any monsters in range. The spell keeps firing for as long as the mouse button is depressed, and it can be aimed in any direction by moving the mouse. The screenshot here shows the range; it goes that far, and no further. Click to see [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1989 the full screenshot].

The bat animation is very nice, with a sort of swirling tornado of them appearing above the Witch Doctor, then funneling down and out into combat. The bats are not on fire overhead, and are only ignited as they pass the WD's hands and strike the monsters. The WD in the image to the right has just released the mouse button, since the bats are still flying out and burning, but there aren't any visible flying down from overhead. There's a nice sound effect with this one as well, as the bats screech and chitter, with a burning, crackling sound over the top of their cries.

If you like bats, don't think of them as being incinerated in agony; think of them as eager volunteers to help the Witch Doctor rid Sanctuary of evil.

==Projected Passive Skills==

No passive skills have yet been revealed in this skill tree, but by comparing these skills to the known trees and skills for the Wizard and Barbarian, some educated guesses can be made.

Likely passives will provide boosts to fire damage, boosts to the duration or intensity of the mind control skill(s), and/or a boost to the % of life/mana returned from Soul Harvest. Others will increase skills yet to be revealed in this tree.

[[category:Witch Doctor]]
[[category:Skills]]

Skill Runes

2009-03-31T10:08:13Z

Valmy: adding BlizzCast information commented by Bashiok

'''Runes''' in [[Diablo 3]] are small items that are socketed into [[skill]]s, not [[item]]s. The runes grant special bonuses to the skill. There are many types of runes, all found in various quality levels, and they work across skills; each rune will (in theory) work in every skill, adding something similar to the skills.

==D3 Runes vs. D2 Runes==

Runes in Diablo III are nothing like the Runes found in Diablo II. In D2 there were 33 kinds of {{iw|Runes Runes}}, which were small items that had no use on their own, but that could be placed in item sockets to add various bonuses to the item. Certain combinations of runes could also be used to create {{iw|Runeword RuneWords}}, very powerful items with pre-set stats.

In Diablo III, Runes are still small objects that must be placed in sockets to take effect, but in D3 the sockets are in skills, not items. (Items may also have sockets, but runes won't be used in them if they do.) Active skills have sockets in the skill tree interface, and when a valid rune is placed into the socket, the skill gains an appropriate bonus, depending on the type and quality of rune used. Bonuses vary greatly, depending on the skill and the type of rune used, and include such things as extra hits, extra damage, increased spell duration, and many more.

==Rune Function==
[[Image:runeskill.jpg|thumb|Rune Socket]]Skill Runes in Diablo III improve a character's active skills in various creative ways. Runes don't just add damage; they modify the skill in some way, making it more powerful and fun to use, as well as allowing for character customization. Runes can be used very strategically; different runes in the same spell will do things. For example: the Wizard skill, Blizzard, would gain different benefits from different runes. A few hypothetical Blizzard bonuses: more falling projectiles, longer duration, more damage per projectile, longer chill time, better to/hit, better chance of critical hit, and so forth. Also, each of those types of bonuses would be increased in power by the quality of the rune used, allowing for a huge variety of potential bonuses and play styles.

As of the BlizzCon demo (October 2008), only some Active Skills had sockets for runes; none of the Passive skills did. Furthermore, no skill had more than one socket. It is not known if any of this will remain that way in the final game.

Runes can be removed from sockets at any time and without any penalty. Theoretically, players could juggle their runes around constantly, sticking in a multi-strike rune to deal with big mobs, changing to a power rune to up the single target damage before a boss battle, and so forth. It's likely that Blizzard will take steps to limit this "rune juggling", perhaps forcing players to return to town before they can change the rune socketed in a spell, putting a cool down time on resocketing the same skill, limiting the number of times a particular rune can be socketed, or even causing runes to lose quality when unsocketed.

===Function Examples===
The D3 Team gave several examples of rune functions during a panel at Blizzcon (October 2008) when Skill Runes were first revealed as a game feature. ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouYP1zGfd0s Watch the demonstration] on YouTube.)

====Wizard's Mirror Image====
* '''Mirror Image Skill:''' This skill, from the [[Conjuring Skill Tree]], creates a duplicate of the [[wizard]], which is capable of moving around and using spells to attack monsters. (It's not just a decoy or an illusion.)
** '''Hydra/Multistrike Rune: '''Socketing this rune would increase the number of duplicates. Higher quality levels of the hydra/multi-strike rune would presumably add more duplicates.
** '''Force/Power Rune: '''Socketing this rune would increase the hit points of each duplicate, and increase the spell's duration.

====Wizard's Teleport Skill====
* '''Teleport skill:''' This skill, from the [[Arcane Skill Tree]], teleports the Wizard to the targeted location. The spell isn't quite as quick as it was in Diablo or Diablo 2, since the Wizard leaps up into the air before vanishing, and appears in the air, then falls down to earth.

* With '''Striking Rune:''' Adds damage to targets near where the Wizard appears, functioning something like the Barbarian's Leap Attack skill.

[[Image:teleport_striking.jpg|center]]

* With '''Hydra/Multistrike Rune:''' Creates a temporary duplicate of the Wizard that will attract enemy fire and will fight and deal damage as well. (This seems to be basically a free way to cast Mirror Image when you Teleport.)

[[Image:teleport_multistrike.jpg|center]]

====Witch Doctor's Skull of Flame====
* '''Skull of Flame skill:''' The Witch Doctor lobs a flaming skull, grenade style, which explodes on impact, dealing substantial fire damage to nearby targets.

* With '''Hydra/Multistrike Rune:''' Socketing this rune causes the flaming skull to skip along the ground, like a stone over water, bounding and creating multiple explosions. Higher quality runes would allow additional bounces.

[[Image:skullofflame_multistrike.jpg|center]]

* With '''Force/Power Rune:''' Socketing this rune adds a firefield property to the Skull of Flame, creating a small patch of flame on the ground that persists after the skull's explosion and damages any monsters that cross over it.

[[Image:skullofflame_power.jpg|center]]

====Wizard's Electrocute====
* '''Electrocute skill:''' This skill, from the [[Storm Skill Tree]] creates a strand of lightning that locks onto an enemy like a beam weapon, dealing steady lightning damage. It will chain to a second enemy if one is in range, dealing damage to both.

* With '''Hydra/Multistrike Rune:''' Socketing this rune allows the lightning to chain to multiple targets.

[[Image:electrocute_multistrike.jpg|center]]

* With '''Viper/Lethality Rune:''' Socketing this rune causes some of the monsters killed by Electrocute to explode in a nova, dealing damage to other nearby enemies.

[[Image:electrocute_lethality.jpg|center]]

==Rune Types==
Skill Runes will be found in a variety of types. Known runes:

* Energy Rune
* Viper Rune (named Lethality before)
* Hydra Rune (named Multistrike before)
* Force Rune (named Power before)
* Striking Rune

(Players have spent a lot of time [http://forums.diii.net/showthread.php?p=6871952 thinking up other types of runes], and discussing their potential benefits.)

More runes will almost certainly be added during development as the team thinks of useful types to include in the game. The team won't be adding a lot of odd types of runes, though; D3 Lead Designer Jay Wilson has stressed that runes must add a useful function to multiple types of skills. The D3 Team wants all the runes to be useful to all characters, so they won't add runes that just boost one type of skill, or one character's skills. They have to think up rune bonus properties that work across the board, so there are probably not going to be 50 types of runes. (Utility doesn't equal equality, since not every skill can receive exactly the same level of improvement from every rune.)

==Rune Quality Levels==

It's been stated that runes will have various levels of quality, in a fashion somewhat akin to the different quality levels of {{iw|Gem gems}} in Diablo II. At BlizzCon 2008, [[Jay Wilson]] said there were 5 or 6 quality levels of runes, but that the number could go up or down during development. Higher qualities of runes will (of course) be dropped by higher level monsters, and the higher qualities will be much rarer. The function of each type of rune will not change at higher quality; instead the bonuses will be increased.

The D3 team hasn't yet revealed much information about how item crafting will work in D3, other than to say that they won't have any {{iw|Horadric_Cube Horadric Cube-style}} converting items. We therefore know nothing about the potential for runes to be upgraded by type, though it's certainly possible that something along those lines could be implemented.

==Rune Storage==
At the [[BlizzCon 2008]] demo, runes were stored in an inventory grid on the skill tree menu; not in the normal inventory. There were 10 rune slots below the skill trees. It's not known if they will still be stored there in the final game, if there will be ways to increase the number of slots, or if they can be stored in the inventory instead.

==Further Reading==
You can find out more of the essential information about Diablo I and Diablo II runes in the {{iw|Main_Page Diablo 2 Wiki}}.

=== Diablo II Runes ===
* {{iw|Rune Runes}} - The main page for D2 runes.
* {{iw|Rune_FAQ Rune FAQ}} - All your questions about runes are answered here.
* {{iw|Rune_List Rune list}} - All the runes in Diablo II, and how you can create a {{iw|Zod Zod}} rune from a fourteen trillion {{iw|El Els}}.
* {{iw|Runewords Runewords}} - See how runewords work.
* {{iw|Sockets Sockets}} - Get to know more about the socket mechanic.

=== Diablo I Runes ===
[[Diablo I: Hellfire]] had runes, and you can read more about that on the {{iw|D1_Hellfire_Runes Diablo I Runes}} article.

==Trivia (Rune History)==
What do you really know about runes? The ones from our world come from the ancient Vikings, and their "futhark" (equivalence of our 'Alpha Bet(a)'). They allegedly hold magic powers, and the magicks of the 'runa' are still practiced today. These practices, called "Seden", are of course done mostly as a pastime, but some forms of the old runes were used in proper form as late as early 20th century in the 'Dalarna' area of Sweden...

[[Image:Runes.jpg|center]]

In [[Sanctuary]], however, runes are magically inscribed symbols. Though their use has changed slightly in the last 20 years, they used to grant (sufficiently prepared) [[items]] magical properties. For sages of these runes, magical {{iw|Runeword RuneWords}} would be created to remake a mundane item into a Runic Item, with powers competing with magical artifacts.

Besides the fact that these supposedly ancient runes hold great and mystic powers, we know little about them. Who created them or how they are created is unknown. They seem to attract [[demon]]s of different kinds, as they are often found on their corpses. If the runes are of demonic origin is not known either. They could have been the simple writing language of the first inhabitants of Sanctuary, who themselves were more powerful than Demons or [[Angel]]s. Whatever the origin, they are of great use to heroes wishing to dethrone [[Diablo]] or [[Baal]].

[[Category:Runes]]
[[Category:Items]]
[[Category:Featured articles]]
[[Category:Trivia]]

Skill Runes

2009-03-31T10:06:27Z

Valmy: /* Wizard's Mirror Image */

'''Runes''' in [[Diablo 3]] are small items that are socketed into [[skill]]s, not [[item]]s. The runes grant special bonuses to the skill. There are many types of runes, all found in various quality levels, and they work across skills; each rune will (in theory) work in every skill, adding something similar to the skills.

==D3 Runes vs. D2 Runes==

Runes in Diablo III are nothing like the Runes found in Diablo II. In D2 there were 33 kinds of {{iw|Runes Runes}}, which were small items that had no use on their own, but that could be placed in item sockets to add various bonuses to the item. Certain combinations of runes could also be used to create {{iw|Runeword RuneWords}}, very powerful items with pre-set stats.

In Diablo III, Runes are still small objects that must be placed in sockets to take effect, but in D3 the sockets are in skills, not items. (Items may also have sockets, but runes won't be used in them if they do.) Active skills have sockets in the skill tree interface, and when a valid rune is placed into the socket, the skill gains an appropriate bonus, depending on the type and quality of rune used. Bonuses vary greatly, depending on the skill and the type of rune used, and include such things as extra hits, extra damage, increased spell duration, and many more.

==Rune Function==
[[Image:runeskill.jpg|thumb|Rune Socket]]Skill Runes in Diablo III improve a character's active skills in various creative ways. Runes don't just add damage; they modify the skill in some way, making it more powerful and fun to use, as well as allowing for character customization. Runes can be used very strategically; different runes in the same spell will do things. For example: the Wizard skill, Blizzard, would gain different benefits from different runes. A few hypothetical Blizzard bonuses: more falling projectiles, longer duration, more damage per projectile, longer chill time, better to/hit, better chance of critical hit, and so forth. Also, each of those types of bonuses would be increased in power by the quality of the rune used, allowing for a huge variety of potential bonuses and play styles.

As of the BlizzCon demo (October 2008), only some Active Skills had sockets for runes; none of the Passive skills did. Furthermore, no skill had more than one socket. It is not known if any of this will remain that way in the final game.

Runes can be removed from sockets at any time and without any penalty. Theoretically, players could juggle their runes around constantly, sticking in a multi-strike rune to deal with big mobs, changing to a power rune to up the single target damage before a boss battle, and so forth. It's likely that Blizzard will take steps to limit this "rune juggling", perhaps forcing players to return to town before they can change the rune socketed in a spell, putting a cool down time on resocketing the same skill, limiting the number of times a particular rune can be socketed, or even causing runes to lose quality when unsocketed.

===Function Examples===
The D3 Team gave several examples of rune functions during a panel at Blizzcon (October 2008) when Skill Runes were first revealed as a game feature. ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouYP1zGfd0s Watch the demonstration] on YouTube.)

====Wizard's Mirror Image====
* '''Mirror Image Skill:''' This skill, from the [[Conjuring Skill Tree]], creates a duplicate of the [[wizard]], which is capable of moving around and using spells to attack monsters. (It's not just a decoy or an illusion.)
** '''Hydra/Multistrike Rune: '''Socketing this rune would increase the number of duplicates. Higher quality levels of the hydra/multi-strike rune would presumably add more duplicates.
** '''Force/Power Rune: '''Socketing this rune would increase the hit points of each duplicate, and increase the spell's duration.

====Wizard's Teleport Skill====
* '''Teleport skill:''' This skill, from the [[Arcane Skill Tree]], teleports the Wizard to the targeted location. The spell isn't quite as quick as it was in Diablo or Diablo 2, since the Wizard leaps up into the air before vanishing, and appears in the air, then falls down to earth.

* With '''Striking Rune:''' Adds damage to targets near where the Wizard appears, functioning something like the Barbarian's Leap Attack skill.

[[Image:teleport_striking.jpg|center]]

* With '''Multistrike Rune:''' Creates a temporary duplicate of the Wizard that will attract enemy fire and will fight and deal damage as well. (This seems to be basically a free way to cast Mirror Image when you Teleport.)

[[Image:teleport_multistrike.jpg|center]]

====Witch Doctor's Skull of Flame====
* '''Skull of Flame skill:''' The Witch Doctor lobs a flaming skull, grenade style, which explodes on impact, dealing substantial fire damage to nearby targets.

* With '''Multistrike Rune:''' Socketing this rune causes the flaming skull to skip along the ground, like a stone over water, creating multiple explosions. Higher quality runes would allow additional bounces.

[[Image:skullofflame_multistrike.jpg|center]]

* With '''Power Rune:''' Socketing this rune adds a firefield property to the Skull of Flame, creating a small patch of flame on the ground that persists after the skull's explosion and damages any monsters that cross over it.

[[Image:skullofflame_power.jpg|center]]

====Wizard's Electrocute====
* '''Electrocute skill:''' This skill, from the [[Storm Skill Tree]] creates a strand of lightning that locks onto an enemy like a beam weapon, dealing steady lightning damage. It will chain to a second enemy if one is in range, dealing damage to both.

* With '''Multistrike Rune:''' Socketing this rune allows the lightning to chain to multiple targets.

[[Image:electrocute_multistrike.jpg|center]]

* With '''Lethality Rune:''' Socketing this rune causes some of the monsters killed by Electrocute to explode in a nova, dealing damage to other nearby enemies.

[[Image:electrocute_lethality.jpg|center]]

==Rune Types==
Skill Runes will be found in a variety of types. Known runes:

* Energy Rune
* Viper Rune (named Lethality before)
* Hydra Rune (named Multistrike before)
* Force Rune (named Power before)
* Striking Rune

(Players have spent a lot of time [http://forums.diii.net/showthread.php?p=6871952 thinking up other types of runes], and discussing their potential benefits.)

More runes will almost certainly be added during development as the team thinks of useful types to include in the game. The team won't be adding a lot of odd types of runes, though; D3 Lead Designer Jay Wilson has stressed that runes must add a useful function to multiple types of skills. The D3 Team wants all the runes to be useful to all characters, so they won't add runes that just boost one type of skill, or one character's skills. They have to think up rune bonus properties that work across the board, so there are probably not going to be 50 types of runes. (Utility doesn't equal equality, since not every skill can receive exactly the same level of improvement from every rune.)

==Rune Quality Levels==

It's been stated that runes will have various levels of quality, in a fashion somewhat akin to the different quality levels of {{iw|Gem gems}} in Diablo II. At BlizzCon 2008, [[Jay Wilson]] said there were 5 or 6 quality levels of runes, but that the number could go up or down during development. Higher qualities of runes will (of course) be dropped by higher level monsters, and the higher qualities will be much rarer. The function of each type of rune will not change at higher quality; instead the bonuses will be increased.

The D3 team hasn't yet revealed much information about how item crafting will work in D3, other than to say that they won't have any {{iw|Horadric_Cube Horadric Cube-style}} converting items. We therefore know nothing about the potential for runes to be upgraded by type, though it's certainly possible that something along those lines could be implemented.

==Rune Storage==
At the [[BlizzCon 2008]] demo, runes were stored in an inventory grid on the skill tree menu; not in the normal inventory. There were 10 rune slots below the skill trees. It's not known if they will still be stored there in the final game, if there will be ways to increase the number of slots, or if they can be stored in the inventory instead.

==Further Reading==
You can find out more of the essential information about Diablo I and Diablo II runes in the {{iw|Main_Page Diablo 2 Wiki}}.

=== Diablo II Runes ===
* {{iw|Rune Runes}} - The main page for D2 runes.
* {{iw|Rune_FAQ Rune FAQ}} - All your questions about runes are answered here.
* {{iw|Rune_List Rune list}} - All the runes in Diablo II, and how you can create a {{iw|Zod Zod}} rune from a fourteen trillion {{iw|El Els}}.
* {{iw|Runewords Runewords}} - See how runewords work.
* {{iw|Sockets Sockets}} - Get to know more about the socket mechanic.

=== Diablo I Runes ===
[[Diablo I: Hellfire]] had runes, and you can read more about that on the {{iw|D1_Hellfire_Runes Diablo I Runes}} article.

==Trivia (Rune History)==
What do you really know about runes? The ones from our world come from the ancient Vikings, and their "futhark" (equivalence of our 'Alpha Bet(a)'). They allegedly hold magic powers, and the magicks of the 'runa' are still practiced today. These practices, called "Seden", are of course done mostly as a pastime, but some forms of the old runes were used in proper form as late as early 20th century in the 'Dalarna' area of Sweden...

[[Image:Runes.jpg|center]]

In [[Sanctuary]], however, runes are magically inscribed symbols. Though their use has changed slightly in the last 20 years, they used to grant (sufficiently prepared) [[items]] magical properties. For sages of these runes, magical {{iw|Runeword RuneWords}} would be created to remake a mundane item into a Runic Item, with powers competing with magical artifacts.

Besides the fact that these supposedly ancient runes hold great and mystic powers, we know little about them. Who created them or how they are created is unknown. They seem to attract [[demon]]s of different kinds, as they are often found on their corpses. If the runes are of demonic origin is not known either. They could have been the simple writing language of the first inhabitants of Sanctuary, who themselves were more powerful than Demons or [[Angel]]s. Whatever the origin, they are of great use to heroes wishing to dethrone [[Diablo]] or [[Baal]].

[[Category:Runes]]
[[Category:Items]]
[[Category:Featured articles]]
[[Category:Trivia]]

Skill Runes

2009-03-31T10:05:32Z

Valmy: adding BlizzCast information commented by Bashiok

'''Runes''' in [[Diablo 3]] are small items that are socketed into [[skill]]s, not [[item]]s. The runes grant special bonuses to the skill. There are many types of runes, all found in various quality levels, and they work across skills; each rune will (in theory) work in every skill, adding something similar to the skills.

==D3 Runes vs. D2 Runes==

Runes in Diablo III are nothing like the Runes found in Diablo II. In D2 there were 33 kinds of {{iw|Runes Runes}}, which were small items that had no use on their own, but that could be placed in item sockets to add various bonuses to the item. Certain combinations of runes could also be used to create {{iw|Runeword RuneWords}}, very powerful items with pre-set stats.

In Diablo III, Runes are still small objects that must be placed in sockets to take effect, but in D3 the sockets are in skills, not items. (Items may also have sockets, but runes won't be used in them if they do.) Active skills have sockets in the skill tree interface, and when a valid rune is placed into the socket, the skill gains an appropriate bonus, depending on the type and quality of rune used. Bonuses vary greatly, depending on the skill and the type of rune used, and include such things as extra hits, extra damage, increased spell duration, and many more.

==Rune Function==
[[Image:runeskill.jpg|thumb|Rune Socket]]Skill Runes in Diablo III improve a character's active skills in various creative ways. Runes don't just add damage; they modify the skill in some way, making it more powerful and fun to use, as well as allowing for character customization. Runes can be used very strategically; different runes in the same spell will do things. For example: the Wizard skill, Blizzard, would gain different benefits from different runes. A few hypothetical Blizzard bonuses: more falling projectiles, longer duration, more damage per projectile, longer chill time, better to/hit, better chance of critical hit, and so forth. Also, each of those types of bonuses would be increased in power by the quality of the rune used, allowing for a huge variety of potential bonuses and play styles.

As of the BlizzCon demo (October 2008), only some Active Skills had sockets for runes; none of the Passive skills did. Furthermore, no skill had more than one socket. It is not known if any of this will remain that way in the final game.

Runes can be removed from sockets at any time and without any penalty. Theoretically, players could juggle their runes around constantly, sticking in a multi-strike rune to deal with big mobs, changing to a power rune to up the single target damage before a boss battle, and so forth. It's likely that Blizzard will take steps to limit this "rune juggling", perhaps forcing players to return to town before they can change the rune socketed in a spell, putting a cool down time on resocketing the same skill, limiting the number of times a particular rune can be socketed, or even causing runes to lose quality when unsocketed.

===Function Examples===
The D3 Team gave several examples of rune functions during a panel at Blizzcon (October 2008) when Skill Runes were first revealed as a game feature. ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouYP1zGfd0s Watch the demonstration] on YouTube.)

====Wizard's Mirror Image====
* '''Mirror Image Skill:''' This skill, from the [[Conjuring Skill Tree]], creates a duplicate of the [[wizard]], which is capable of moving around and using spells to attack monsters. (It's not just a decoy or an illusion.)
** '''Multistrike Rune: '''Socketing this rune would increase the number of duplicates. Higher quality levels of the multi-strike rune would presumably add more duplicates.
** '''Power Rune: '''Socketing this rune would increase the hit points of each duplicate, and increase the spell's duration.

====Wizard's Teleport Skill====
* '''Teleport skill:''' This skill, from the [[Arcane Skill Tree]], teleports the Wizard to the targeted location. The spell isn't quite as quick as it was in Diablo or Diablo 2, since the Wizard leaps up into the air before vanishing, and appears in the air, then falls down to earth.

* With '''Striking Rune:''' Adds damage to targets near where the Wizard appears, functioning something like the Barbarian's Leap Attack skill.

[[Image:teleport_striking.jpg|center]]

* With '''Multistrike Rune:''' Creates a temporary duplicate of the Wizard that will attract enemy fire and will fight and deal damage as well. (This seems to be basically a free way to cast Mirror Image when you Teleport.)

[[Image:teleport_multistrike.jpg|center]]

====Witch Doctor's Skull of Flame====
* '''Skull of Flame skill:''' The Witch Doctor lobs a flaming skull, grenade style, which explodes on impact, dealing substantial fire damage to nearby targets.

* With '''Multistrike Rune:''' Socketing this rune causes the flaming skull to skip along the ground, like a stone over water, creating multiple explosions. Higher quality runes would allow additional bounces.

[[Image:skullofflame_multistrike.jpg|center]]

* With '''Power Rune:''' Socketing this rune adds a firefield property to the Skull of Flame, creating a small patch of flame on the ground that persists after the skull's explosion and damages any monsters that cross over it.

[[Image:skullofflame_power.jpg|center]]

====Wizard's Electrocute====
* '''Electrocute skill:''' This skill, from the [[Storm Skill Tree]] creates a strand of lightning that locks onto an enemy like a beam weapon, dealing steady lightning damage. It will chain to a second enemy if one is in range, dealing damage to both.

* With '''Multistrike Rune:''' Socketing this rune allows the lightning to chain to multiple targets.

[[Image:electrocute_multistrike.jpg|center]]

* With '''Lethality Rune:''' Socketing this rune causes some of the monsters killed by Electrocute to explode in a nova, dealing damage to other nearby enemies.

[[Image:electrocute_lethality.jpg|center]]

==Rune Types==
Skill Runes will be found in a variety of types. Known runes:

* Energy Rune
* Viper Rune (named Lethality before)
* Hydra Rune (named Multistrike before)
* Force Rune (named Power before)
* Striking Rune

(Players have spent a lot of time [http://forums.diii.net/showthread.php?p=6871952 thinking up other types of runes], and discussing their potential benefits.)

More runes will almost certainly be added during development as the team thinks of useful types to include in the game. The team won't be adding a lot of odd types of runes, though; D3 Lead Designer Jay Wilson has stressed that runes must add a useful function to multiple types of skills. The D3 Team wants all the runes to be useful to all characters, so they won't add runes that just boost one type of skill, or one character's skills. They have to think up rune bonus properties that work across the board, so there are probably not going to be 50 types of runes. (Utility doesn't equal equality, since not every skill can receive exactly the same level of improvement from every rune.)

==Rune Quality Levels==

It's been stated that runes will have various levels of quality, in a fashion somewhat akin to the different quality levels of {{iw|Gem gems}} in Diablo II. At BlizzCon 2008, [[Jay Wilson]] said there were 5 or 6 quality levels of runes, but that the number could go up or down during development. Higher qualities of runes will (of course) be dropped by higher level monsters, and the higher qualities will be much rarer. The function of each type of rune will not change at higher quality; instead the bonuses will be increased.

The D3 team hasn't yet revealed much information about how item crafting will work in D3, other than to say that they won't have any {{iw|Horadric_Cube Horadric Cube-style}} converting items. We therefore know nothing about the potential for runes to be upgraded by type, though it's certainly possible that something along those lines could be implemented.

==Rune Storage==
At the [[BlizzCon 2008]] demo, runes were stored in an inventory grid on the skill tree menu; not in the normal inventory. There were 10 rune slots below the skill trees. It's not known if they will still be stored there in the final game, if there will be ways to increase the number of slots, or if they can be stored in the inventory instead.

==Further Reading==
You can find out more of the essential information about Diablo I and Diablo II runes in the {{iw|Main_Page Diablo 2 Wiki}}.

=== Diablo II Runes ===
* {{iw|Rune Runes}} - The main page for D2 runes.
* {{iw|Rune_FAQ Rune FAQ}} - All your questions about runes are answered here.
* {{iw|Rune_List Rune list}} - All the runes in Diablo II, and how you can create a {{iw|Zod Zod}} rune from a fourteen trillion {{iw|El Els}}.
* {{iw|Runewords Runewords}} - See how runewords work.
* {{iw|Sockets Sockets}} - Get to know more about the socket mechanic.

=== Diablo I Runes ===
[[Diablo I: Hellfire]] had runes, and you can read more about that on the {{iw|D1_Hellfire_Runes Diablo I Runes}} article.

==Trivia (Rune History)==
What do you really know about runes? The ones from our world come from the ancient Vikings, and their "futhark" (equivalence of our 'Alpha Bet(a)'). They allegedly hold magic powers, and the magicks of the 'runa' are still practiced today. These practices, called "Seden", are of course done mostly as a pastime, but some forms of the old runes were used in proper form as late as early 20th century in the 'Dalarna' area of Sweden...

[[Image:Runes.jpg|center]]

In [[Sanctuary]], however, runes are magically inscribed symbols. Though their use has changed slightly in the last 20 years, they used to grant (sufficiently prepared) [[items]] magical properties. For sages of these runes, magical {{iw|Runeword RuneWords}} would be created to remake a mundane item into a Runic Item, with powers competing with magical artifacts.

Besides the fact that these supposedly ancient runes hold great and mystic powers, we know little about them. Who created them or how they are created is unknown. They seem to attract [[demon]]s of different kinds, as they are often found on their corpses. If the runes are of demonic origin is not known either. They could have been the simple writing language of the first inhabitants of Sanctuary, who themselves were more powerful than Demons or [[Angel]]s. Whatever the origin, they are of great use to heroes wishing to dethrone [[Diablo]] or [[Baal]].

[[Category:Runes]]
[[Category:Items]]
[[Category:Featured articles]]
[[Category:Trivia]]

User talk:Valmy

2009-03-16T11:45:25Z

Valmy: /* Welcome Valmy */

User talk:Valmy

2009-03-16T11:44:38Z

Valmy: /* Welcome Valmy */

User:Valmy

2009-03-14T00:37:11Z

2009-03-08T14:17:14Z

Valmy: /* Types of damage and effects */

'''Critical hits''' are special types of hits dealt to [[monster]]s (and other players in [[PVP]]). Critical hits can happen from any type of damage (weapon or spell), they deal bonus damage, and may trigger other special effects as well. Monsters that die from critical hits usually explode in an especially gruesome [[death animation]], adding visual fun to the killing bonuses.

==Critical Hits in Diablo III==
[[Image:Critical-hit1.jpg|frame|Critical hit reduces a monster to a puddle.]]
Exactly how critical hits work and how much damage they deal isn't yet entirely understood. This is partially due to the fact that the game remains under development and that the features are in flux, but it's also due to critical hits doing a lot of different things in [[Diablo 3]]. In previous games in the series critical hits were simple; they doubled physical damage. In D3, the biggest change is that critical hits work on all types of damage. Not just physical, or [[melee]], but various types of spell damage as well, and apparently they can trigger from elemental damage on weapons as well.

The basic critical hit bonus is still +100% damage, but various skills increase the damage of critical hits, while others increase the odds of critical hits scoring, or cause other effects to trigger when a critical hit is scored. How these will all interact remains to be seen.

The calculation of the bonuses is going to be interesting as well. In D1 and D2, critical hits were a huge bonus, since doubled the total physical damage dealt; a value that was often in the 1000s for a powerful combat character. In D3 critical hits will still (apparently) be that powerful for the [[Barbarian]], but critical hits on spell damage would seem to be far less potent, since spells generally deal their damage over time, rather than in huge chunks per hit. Occasionally adding 10% to the critical hit damage of a 1-6 damage spell isn't very impressive, even if the spell is hitting 20x a second. A wizard would seem better off boosting the % chance of scoring a critical hit.

===Critical Deaths===
[[Monster]]s that die to a critical hit get a special "critical death" animation, which is extra gory. A few examples can be seen in screenshots on this page. The monsters literally explode, leaving chunks of themselves scattered across the ground. These animations are customized for whatever type of damage killed them; the chunks have flames licking across them from fire damage, sparks and arcs from lightning, etc. Physical damage critical deaths tend to leave huge slicks of blood, and give a battlefield a lovely post-massacre patina.

[[Image:Critical-hit2.jpg|frame|Cold critical hit, with highlighted gore..]]
These were demonstrated during a panel at [[BlizzCon 2008]], an excerpt from which [http://www.gametrailers.com/player/41498.html can be seen here].

==Types of damage and effects==
Critical hits are a major part of the game in [[Diablo III]], dealing double damage with every type of damage, inflicting bonus effects, boosting and being boosted by a wide variety of skills, and triggering special (extra gruesome) death animations.

* '''Physical Damage: '''Deals double damage. Might also knockback, but not confirmed.
* '''Arcane Damage:''' Critical hits from arcane damage silence targets for 4 secs. (Silenced targets can not cast some spells, such as a [[Skeletal Summoner]] or [[Goatman Shaman]] resurrecting fallen minions.)
* '''Cold Damage: '''Critical hits from cold damage freeze targets for 2 seconds.
* '''Fire Damage:''' Critical hits from fire damage set targets ablaze, dealing additional damage per second.
* '''Lightning Damage: '''Critical hits from lightning damage stun targets for 2 seconds.
* '''Toxic Damage:''' Critical hits from toxic (poison) damage have an unknown bonus. Extra damage over time?

==Critical Hit Skills==
This is a partial list, since the game is still under development and skill descriptions and functions are bound to evolve over time. Looking at what sorts of skills add or otherwise interact with critical hits can be illustrative, though.

===Barbarian===
The [[Barbarian]] has a number of skills that increase the % damage of his critical hit, and a few interesting skills that boost other properties (such as fury generation rate and defense) when he scores critical hits. There aren't any known skills (yet) that increase his chances to score critical hits, though.

====Juggernaut Skills====
* [[Juggernaut_Skill_Tree#Inspiration|Inspiration]] "increases critical hit damage by 3% and increases the damage of added hits by 5% for 15 seconds." It's not known what this description means by "added hits." The bonus to critical hit damage seems very small too. Just 3%? Would that make the total bonus +103% damage? Or do Barbarians have some value other than +100% for critical hit?

====Battlemaster Skills====
* [[Battlemaster_Skill_Tree#Battle_Rage|Battle Rage]] is a buff that temporarily (15 seconds) increases damage by 100% and critical hit damage by 30%.

* [[Battlemaster_Skill_Tree#Hammer_of_the_Ancients|Hammer of the Ancients]] boosts critical hit damage when using this active skill.

* [[Battlemaster_Skill_Tree#Critical_Attacks|Critical Attacks]] this passive skill boosts critical hit damage by 20%. This skill apparently boosts all critical hit damage for the Barbarian, even that inflicted by non-special attacks, and skills from other skill trees.

* [[Battlemaster_Skill_Tree#Deliberate_Defense|Deliberate Defense]]. "On a critical hit, +10% armor for 15 seconds." This skill is a sign of how integral Blizzard wants to make critical hits to the game. This one boosts the defense when a critical hit is scored. It would seem to directly incentivize standing toe to toe with enemies and smacking them in the face; the more critical hits you score, the less likely they are to hit you back.

====Berserker Skills====
* [[Berserker_Skill_Tree#Savage|Savage]]: This passive skill "Increases [[Fury]] generation 30% for 8 seconds after scoring a critical hit."

===Witch Doctor===
No critical hit bonuses from [[Witch Doctor]] skills are yet known. This isn't a sign that there aren't any, though. It's just due to the WD only having 11 skills on display at [[BlizzCon 2008]], while the [[Wizard]] and [[Barbarian]] had more than 50 each.

===Wizard===
Most [[Wizard]] skills seen at [[BlizzCon 2008]] displayed the bonus provided by a critical hit of that type of damage (cold, lightning, etc), but there were fewer skills that actually boosted or affected the frequency of his critical hits.

====Arcane Skill====
No skills in this tree listed bonuses related to critical hits as of October 2008.

====Conjuring Skill====
No skills in this tree listed bonuses related to critical hits as of October 2008.

====Storm Skills====
* [[Storm_Skill_Tree#Thunderstruck|Thunderstruck]]: Increases the critical hit chance of all lightning spells by X%. The bonuses listed on this passive skill as of BlizzCon (October 2008) started at 5% and increased 5% per skill rank. It's not known what the base bonus to critical hit is, for the [[Wizard]]. This skill might increase it from 0%, or Wizards might have an inherent bonus based on their [[Clvl]], or attributes, or there might be bonuses to be had from equipment.

* [[Storm_Skill_Tree#Frost_Nova|Frost Nova]]. Projectiles have an additional 25% chance of a critical hit. Frost Nova doesn't deal very high damage, and it has a very long 12 second cool down time, so the attraction of critical hits here is clearly from the cold. (Critical hits from cold damage freeze targets.)

* [[Storm_Skill_Tree#Deep_Freeze|Deep Freeze]]: Increases the critical hit chance of all cold spells. This passive spell adds 5% chance at Rank 1, and more at higher ranks.

* [[Storm_Skill_Tree#Lethal_Energy|Lethal Energy]]: Increases the chance to score critical hits with [[melee]] and [[spell]] attacks. Grants a 5% bonus at rank 1. This seems like a very powerful skill, if it indeed works for all spells, including those in other trees. It's a fairly high level skill though, and would require a substantial investment into the Storm skill tree to enable it, but it might still be worth it.

==Diablo III Critical Hit Items==
Nothing is yet known about this. It seems likely that bonuses to the damage and/or likelihood of critical hits will be found on equipment, but how common or rare such bonuses will be remains totally unknown. It's certainly something the D3 Team will work on during development and balancing.

==Diablo I and II Critical Hits==
Critical hits in [[Diablo II]] were a major factor in the game, but only worked with physical damage. Critical strike was called "[http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Special_Modifiers#Deadly_Strike Deadly Strike]" on weapons, where it occurred on quite a few unique items, set items, and {{iw|Runewords runewords}}. (But not magical or rare.) A number of character skills boosted critical strike as well. All of the [[Barbarian]]'s [http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Barbarian_Combat_Masteries weapon masteries] conveyed critical strike bonuses, as did the [[Amazon]]'s [http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Amazon_Passive_and_Magic_Skills#Critical_Strike Critical Strike], and the [[Assassin]]'s [http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Assassin_Shadow_Disciplines#Claw_Mastery Claw Mastery].

In [[Diablo I]] critical hits are a hidden bonus for the [http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Warrior#Stats_and_Attributes Warrior] and [http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Barbarian_(Diablo_I)#Stats_and_Attributes Barbarian] characters. They gain a 1% chance to deal double damage with each Clvl they gain. At level 20 they deal double damage 20% of the time, at level 30 they do it 30% of the time, etc.

[[Category:Statistics]]
[[category:game terms]]
[[category:basics]]