"Combo skills are " or "combos" were a class of [[Monk skills|Monk skill]] that are term Blizzard used during development to build up his designate the melee-hitting, [[Spirit]] resource in order to use his other powerful attack building Monk skills. There were initially 7 combo skills, but the term was phased out during development, and defense the skillswere tweaked as well.
Combos In the final game these skills are powerful skills all found in their own rightthe Primary skill grouping, dealing substantial melee damage plus all sorts of special bonus effects. On top and there are only four of them that, they generate build Spirit with each hit on a set amount valid target: [[Fists of Spirit per useThunder]], [[Deadly Reach]], [[Crippling Wave]], building up a pool that and [[Way of the Monk expends when using his various other offensive and defensive skillsHundred Fists]].
All combo skills have three stagesEarlier in development [[Dashing Strike]], with the third one dealing a big hit with the most damage plus a special effect that's much more powerful than the bonuses delivered by the first two stages. There is no UI component to visually signify which level of charge a Monk is using[[Exploding Palm]],and [[http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/blue-on-spirit-auras-and-shouts-rune-effects/Sweeping Wind]] were also combo skills, though none of these work in that fashion in the first and second levels have distinct graphics, and the third is always a huge explosion or other visually-distinctive effectfinal game.
Combos always count up to three and then reset to one; it's not possible to build up multiple combos to the second or third level at once, as the {{iw|Assassin Assassin}} could do with her charge up attacks in Diablo II. Monks can mix and match their combos; the three stages can come from two or three different combo skills, but they always proceed in order, with the first, second, and third stages in sequence, regardless of which combo skills are used.
==Combo Skill Function==
==Combo Skills==[[File:Exploding-palm2.jpg|thumb|300px|Early "blood supernova" version of Exploding Palm's 3rd hit.]]Though no longer called "combo skills" these skills are powerful attacks and amongst the Monk's best forms of damage output.
[[File:Exploding-palm2.jpg|thumb|300px|Exploding Palm's third stage detonation.]]Combo skills are Monk All such skills that have three stages. The second can only be performed immediately after that work in rapid succession, with each of the firstthree attacks dealing some special effect, and a special bigger effect on the third can only be performed immediately after the secondhit. With most combosThere is no UI component to visually signify which level of charge a Monk is using, [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/blue-on-spirit-auras-and-shouts-rune-effects/] though the first stage or two provide fairly weak bonusesand second levels have distinct graphics, with a much more powerful finishing move type of property attached to and the third/final stageis always a huge explosion or other visually-distinctive effect.
The variety of Combos always count up to three and then reset; it's not possible to build up multiple combos vary widelyto the second or third level at once, as the {{iw|Assassin Assassin}} could do with offensiveher charge up attacks in Diablo 2. Monks can mix and match their combos; the three stages can come from two or three different combo skills, defensivebut they always proceed in order, with the first, second, and other specialized bonuses from the various third stagesin sequence, regardless of which combo skills are used.
===Combine Combos for Multiple Effects=== Combos can be mixed While there was much speculation about mixing and matchedmatching combo sequences pre-game, by players with quick fingers. Any first, any second, and any third stage can be used in sequence, allowing players to vary their attack type and effects. For instance, practice in the first two stages of [[Exploding Palm]] are fairly slowfinal game most characters use just one combo at a time, low damage hits, while the third stage creates a spectacular explosion. A skilled Monk player looking to maximize the damage would want to or else use the first two stages of to gain some buff or deal a combo like [[Way debuff with one of the Hundred Fists]] or [[Sweeping Wind]], then switch them. Hardly anyone bothers to Exploding Palm for mix and match within the ''coupe de grace'' third hit. This method does not create two or same three big -hit bonuses; only the combo used for each stage registers-sequence, and the count resets to zero after the third hitthough. It's not possible The game is too fast-paced to get multiple combos to level 2 at the same time, or to trigger multiple third hits be that specific and technical in sequence. But skilled players at least have the option of combining different combo effects in sequencepractice.
===Combo Visual Indicators===
While players have the option to mix up their combos, most players will likely just use the same one for all three hits, then switch to a different combo next time, if they've even put skill points into more than one combo. Combos go very quickly, with the three hits in very much of a bang-bang-bang sequence, less than by a Monk hitting at 1.5-2.5 attacks per second apart, and a big, very obvious explosion effect on the third hit. Each of the hits is also delivered with a unique animation, as you can see in the sequence of shots showing off [[Hands of Lightning]] below. That's a good thing, since the developers have not included any UI mechanism (like the swirls of light the Assassin got with her charge-up skills in D2X) to visually-indicate the combo level.[http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/blue-on-spirit-auras-and-shouts-rune-effects/]
<blue>We don’t want tracking of combo stages to be so important that there needs to be a UI element to keep track. It should be that if you’re up on your game you’re tracking combo stages and it helps you get a slight edge, but if not you’re kicking ass anyway and will probably do fine.</blue>
==The Early Monk's Spirit SkillsGenerators==Spirit, which during development the game developers often single singled out[http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/blizzcon-2010-interview-jay-wilson-diablo-esp/] as the resource they think is thought was working best, is generated by striking enemies [[combo skills]] and expended using other offensive and defensive skills. The combo skills as of 2010 are listed below. Only the first four retain this function in the final game.
The only known [[Monk Skills]] with any boosting effect on Spirit are the combos. Each of these adds a set amount of Spirit to the pool.
* [[Fists of Thunder]] (formerly [[Hands of Lightning]] ) --Combo that deals 3 punches with substantial bonus lightning damage.* [[Deadly Reach]] (formerly [[Long Reach]] ) -- Combo that strikes multiple enemies with greater than [[melee]] range.
* [[Crippling Wave]] -- Combo that slows and dazes enemies.
* [[Dashing Strike]] -- Combo that allows the Monk to move very quickly across long distances to the enemy. (Under construction.)
* [[Way of the Hundred Fists]] -- Combo that deals many powerful hits to all enemies in the vicinity.
Removed combo skills, now with altered functions:
* [[Dashing Strike]] -- Combo that allows the Monk to move very quickly across long distances to the enemy.
* [[Exploding Palm]] -- Combo that time bombs enemies, triggering them to explode and damage all nearby enemies upon their death.
* [[Sweeping Wind]] -- Combo that hits all nearby enemies multiple times.
==Monk Spirit TraitsBuilding Passives==Only one of the * [[Monk TraitsExalted Soul]] has a -- Increases maximum Spirit by 100 and increases Spirit function at this pointRegeneration by 1 per second.* [[Chant of Resonance]] -- Duration of all Mantras increased by 7 minutes. The Monk's Traits were far from finalized as While one of Blizzcon your Mantras is active you gain 2 Spirit every second. In 2010 thoughwhen passives were still called [[traits]], so changes the Monk had one listed that was devoted to this list are to be expectedspirit regeneration. This ability is no longer in the game.
* [[True Spirit]] -- Increases Spirit regeneration.
