Difference between revisions of "Wizard skills"

Latest revision as of 15:28, 2 December 2012

The skill tree, circa 2009. Skills no longer appear in anything like this format. Image by Muldric.

This page lists all the Wizard skills. Follow the links to the individual skill pages for full discussion of every skill, including first hand reports and screenshots.

Useful skill links:

Skills - General skill design and mechanics.
- Skill runes - The huge skill customization and improvement system.
Wizard - a ranged class who's a glass cannon.
- Arcane Power - The Wizard's energy resource.
- Wizard skills - A list of all the Wizard's active skills.
  - Signature spells - Wizard spells that are free to cast. Previously they were called Academic spells.
  - Armor spells - Provide defensive buffs to the Wizard.
- Wizard passives - A list of all the Wizard's passive skills.
Wizard skill archive - Removed Wizard skills.
Wizard traits - Passive skills in Diablo III were called traits for a while before reverting back.

Active Skills[edit | edit source]

Click to the individual skill pages for more details about these skills including numbers, screenshots, skill rune information, blue quotes, and much more.

Primary[edit | edit source]

Name	Level	Description

<skill subcat="Signature spell" class="Wizard">Magic Missile</skill> <skill subcat="Signature spell" class="Wizard">Shock Pulse</skill> <skill subcat="Signature spell" class="Wizard">Spectral Blade</skill> <skill subcat="Signature spell" class="Wizard">Electrocute</skill>

Secondary[edit | edit source]

Name	Level	Description

<skill class="Wizard">Ray of Frost</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Arcane Orb</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Arcane Torrent</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Disintegrate</skill>

Defensive[edit | edit source]

Name	Level	Description

<skill class="Wizard">Frost Nova</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Diamond Skin</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Slow Time</skill> <skill subcat="Movement ability" class="Wizard">Teleport</skill>

Force[edit | edit source]

Name	Level	Description

<skill class="Wizard">Wave of Force</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Energy Twister</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Hydra</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Meteor</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Blizzard</skill>

Conjuration[edit | edit source]

Name	Level	Description

<skill subcat="Armor spell" class="Wizard">Ice Armor</skill> <skill subcat="Armor spell" class="Wizard">Storm Armor</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Magic Weapon</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Familiar</skill> <skill subcat="Armor spell" class="Wizard">Energy Armor</skill>

Mastery[edit | edit source]

Name	Level	Description

<skill class="Wizard">Explosive Blast</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Mirror Image</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Archon</skill>

Passive Skills[edit | edit source]

Passive skills replaced Traits during late game development in 2011. A few Traits were simply changed to passive skills, but most are all new. See the Wizard traits page for a full list of those passives.

Name	Level	Description

<skill class="Wizard">Blur</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Power Hungry</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Evocation</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Glass Cannon</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Prodigy</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Astral Presence</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Illusionist</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Cold Blooded</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Conflagration</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Paralysis</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Galvanizing Ward</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Temporal Flux</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Critical Mass</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Arcane Dynamo</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Unstable Anomaly</skill>

Skill Distribution[edit | edit source]

A useful player-made chart showing when the Wizard gains access to skills, passives, and rune effects.

Wizard skill progression. Stats as of May 5, 2012.

Development[edit | edit source]

See the Wizard skill archive for a full listing of skill changes over time.

July 2011 Press Event[edit | edit source]

The following skills were removed or renamed prior to the July 2011 Press Event:

Charged Bolt - Renamed to Shock Pulse
Energy Shield - Renamed to Energy Armor

References[edit | edit source]

Full Wizard Skill Trees
Zediono's translation of JudgeHype's pre-beta report -- IncGamers 1st Aug 2011
HardRock's Wizard Passive Skills -- IncGamers 6th Sep 2011

Template:Skill navbox Necromancer primary

Template:Skill navbox Necromancer secondary

Template:Skill navbox Necromancer corpses

Template:Skill navbox Necromancer bloodandbone

Template:Skill navbox Necromancer reanimation

Template:Skill navbox Necromancer curses

Fan-made Classes			Fan-made Skills [e]
• Alchemist • Arcane Warrior • Artisan • Aurian Mage • Bard • Channeller • Dragon Warrior	• Flagellant • Giant (U) • Hollow Man • Nomad • Onaga Manji • Phase Knight	• Ranger • Slayer (U) • Techpriest (U) • Telepath • Untainted (U) • Zealot	Dragon Warrior Skills • Bow and Throwing Skill Tree • Dragon Disciplines Skill Tree • Martial Arts Skill Tree	Untainted Skills • Divine Skill Tree	Aurian Mage Skill • Holy Power Skill Tree • Shadow Spells Skill Tree • Nature Forces Skill Tree
(U) = Unfinished				Untainted Skills • Divine Skill Tree

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-This page lists all known '''[[Wizard]] skills''', as of August 2011. Follow the links to the individual skill pages for full discussion of every skill, including first hand reports and screenshots.
+[[Image:Skill-tree-blizzcon09-wiz-muldric.jpg|thumb|right|400px|The skill tree, circa 2009. Skills no longer appear in anything like this format. Image by [http://forums.diii.net/showthread.php?t=739038 Muldric].]]
+This page lists all the [[Wizard]] skills. Follow the links to the individual skill pages for full discussion of every skill, including first hand reports and screenshots.
 '''Useful skill links:'''
 * [[Skill]]s - General skill design and mechanics.
-** [[Active skill]]s - Skills where effects are activated by the player.
+** [[Skill rune]]s - The huge skill customization and improvement system.
-** [[Passive skill]]s - Skills where effects are activated automatically, by the computer or by special events.
+* [[Wizard]] - a [[ranged]] class who's a [[glass cannon]].
-** [[Signature skill]]s - Skills that define characters.
+** [[Arcane Power]] - The Wizard's energy [[resource]].
-* [[Arcane Power]] - The Wizard's energy [[resource]].
+** [[Wizard skills]] - A list of all the Wizard's active skills.
-* [[Runestones]] - The huge skill customization and improvement system.
+*** [[Signature spell]]s - Wizard spells that are free to cast. Previously they were called Academic spells.
+*** [[Armor spell]]s - Provide defensive [[buffs]] to the Wizard.
+** [[Wizard passives]] - A list of all the Wizard's passive skills.
 * [[Wizard skill archive]] - Removed Wizard skills.
 * [[Wizard traits]] - Passive skills in Diablo III were called [[traits]] for a while before reverting back.
@@ Line 14: / Line 17: @@
 ==Active Skills==
-[[Image:Skill-tree-blizzcon09-wiz-muldric.jpg|thumb|right|400px|The skill tree, circa 2009. Skills no longer appear in anything like this format. Image by [http://forums.diii.net/showthread.php?t=739038 Muldric].]]
+Click to the individual skill pages for more details about these skills including numbers, screenshots, skill rune information, blue quotes, and much more.
-Click to the individual skill pages for more details about these skills including numbers, screenshots, [[runestone]] information, blue quotes, and much more.
+===Primary===
+{{Skill description header}}
+<skill subcat="Signature spell" class="Wizard">Magic Missile</skill>
+<skill subcat="Signature spell" class="Wizard">Shock Pulse</skill>
+<skill subcat="Signature spell" class="Wizard">Spectral Blade</skill>
+<skill subcat="Signature spell" class="Wizard">Electrocute</skill>
-===Frost Nova===
-[[File:FrostNova.jpg|left]]
-[[Frost Nova]] is available at [[clvl|level]] 1.<br>
-This defensive skill freezes all enemies in a ring around the player, stopping normal monsters and slowing [[bosses]].
-{{clear-left}}
-* '''Description:''' An explosion of ice freezes nearby enemies for X seconds and causes X-X cold damage. Cold damage chills enemies, slowing their movement and attack speed. Damage will break the freeze effect, but not the chill effect.
+===Secondary===
+{{Skill description header}}
+<skill class="Wizard">Ray of Frost</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard">Arcane Orb</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard">Arcane Torrent</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard">Disintegrate</skill>
-===Magic Missile===
-[[File:MagicMissile.jpg|left]]
-[[Magic Missile]] is available at [[clvl|level]] 1.<br>
-Magic missiles are fast-moving, conjured projectiles that deal arcane damage.
-{{clear-left}}
-* '''Description:''' Fires a missile of energy causing arcane damage.
+===Defensive===
+{{Skill description header}}
+<skill class="Wizard">Frost Nova</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard">Diamond Skin</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard">Slow Time</skill>
+<skill subcat="Movement ability" class="Wizard">Teleport</skill>
-===Ice Armor===
-[[File:IceArmor.jpg|left]]
-[[Ice Armor]] is available at [[clvl|level]] 2.<br>
-{{clear-left}}
-* '''Description:''' Surrounds the Wizard in a barrier of ice that increases armor by X%, freezes attackers for X seconds, and causes X-X cold damage. Cold damage chills enemies, slowing their movement and attack speed. You can only be affected by one armor spell at a time.
+===Force===
+{{Skill description header}}
+<skill class="Wizard">Wave of Force</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard">Energy Twister</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard">Hydra</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard">Meteor</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard">Blizzard</skill>
-===Shock Pulse===
-[[File:ShockPulse.jpg|left]]
-[[Shock Pulse]] is available at [[clvl|level]] 3.<br>
-This skill debuted in the beta build; it's thought to be a renamed version of [[Charged Bolt]].
-{{clear-left}}
+===Conjuration===
+{{Skill description header}}
+<skill subcat="Armor spell" class="Wizard">Ice Armor</skill>
+<skill subcat="Armor spell" class="Wizard">Storm Armor</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard">Magic Weapon</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard">Familiar</skill>
+<skill subcat="Armor spell" class="Wizard">Energy Armor</skill>
-===Wave of Force===
-[[File:WaveForce.jpg|left]]
-[[Wave of Force]] is available at [[clvl|level]] 4.<br>
-A defensive skill that pushes back enemies and enemy projectiles. Works well when combined with [[Slow Time]].
-{{clear-left}}
-* '''Description:''' Causes a wave of pure force that causes a knockback to nearby enemies, repels projectiles and deals X-X physical damage.
+===Mastery===
+{{Skill description header}}
+<skill class="Wizard">Explosive Blast</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard">Mirror Image</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard">Archon</skill>
-===Spectral Blade===
-[[File:SpectralBlade.jpg|left]]
-[[Spectral Blade]] is available at [[clvl|level]] 5.<br>
-A magical melee attack, this hits nearby enemies for considerable physical damage.
-{{clear-left}}
-* '''Description:''' Summons a spectral blade that strikes enemies in front of the Wizard X times causing X-X physical damage with each hit.
+==Passive Skills==
-===Electrocute===
+Passive skills replaced [[Traits]] during late game development in 2011. A few Traits were simply changed to passive skills, but most are all new. See the [[Wizard traits]] page for a full list of those passives.
-[[File:Electrocute.jpg|left]]
-[[Electrocute]] is available at [[clvl|level]] 6.<br>
-A beam weapon, the bolt of lightning locks onto an enemy and deals steadily draining damage, as well as stunning and slowing the target. An excellent skill for hitting moving targets that might dodge projectiles.
-{{clear-left}}
-* '''Description:''' Lightning arcs from the Wizard's fingertips towards an enemy dealing X-X lightning damage.
-===Magic Weapon===
+{{Skill description header}}
-[[File:MagicWeapons.jpg|left]]
+<skill class="Wizard">Blur</skill>
-[[Magic Weapon]] is available at [[clvl|level]] 7.<br>
+<skill class="Wizard">Power Hungry</skill>
-A spell for the battle mage, this one imbues huge magical damage into the wizard's weapon.
+<skill class="Wizard">Evocation</skill>
-{{clear-left}}
+<skill class="Wizard">Glass Cannon</skill>
-* '''Description:''' Imbues the Wizard's weapon with magical energy, granting X-X increased damage.
+<skill class="Wizard">Prodigy</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard">Astral Presence</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard">Illusionist</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard">Cold Blooded</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard">Conflagration</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard">Paralysis</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard">Galvanizing Ward</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard">Temporal Flux</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard">Critical Mass</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard">Arcane Dynamo</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard">Unstable Anomaly</skill>
-===Arcane Orb===
-[[File:ArcaneOrb.jpg|left]]
-[[Arcane Orb]] is available at [[clvl|level]] 8.<br>
-A projectile that moves slower than most such magical attacks, but that deals considerable arcane [[AoE]] damage upon impact and explosion.
-{{clear-left}}
-* '''Description:''' An orb of pure energy that explodes on contact with enemies dealing X-X arcane damage to all enemies in the blast area.
+==Skill Distribution==
-===Diamond Skin===
+A useful player-made chart showing when the Wizard gains access to skills, passives, and rune effects.
-[[File:DiamondSkin.jpg|left]]
-[[Diamond Skin]] is available at [[clvl|level]] 9.<br>
-A powerful defensive skill, this absorbs considerable points from all types of damage for a short duration.
-{{clear-left}}
-* '''Description:''' Turns the Wizard's skin to diamond for X seconds absorbing up to X damage from incoming attacks.
-===Energy Twister===
-[[File:EnergyTwister.jpg|left]]
-[[Energy Twister]] is available at [[clvl|level]] 11.<br>
-Cast tornadoes of arcane damage that deal substantial damage to all they come into contact with. The tornadoes move semi-randomly, making this better against crowds than individuals.
-{{clear-left}}
-* '''Description:''' Summon an energy twister that deals X arcane damage per second to everything in its path.
-===Disintegrate===
-[[File:Disintegrated.jpg|left]]
-[[Disintegrate]] is available at [[clvl|level]] 12.<br>
-A laser beam of doom, this instantly-hitting, long range attack deals considerable damage to everything in its path.
-{{clear-left}}
-* '''Description:''' Emanate a beam of pure energy dealing X arcane damage per second and disintegrating enemies it kills.
-===Storm Armor===
-[[File:StormArmor.jpg|left]]
-[[Storm Armor]] is available at [[clvl|level]] 13.<br>
-A fire and forget skill, this one shocks enemies with electrical bolts for the duration of effect, without requiring the Wizard to aim or target them.
-{{clear-left}}
-* '''Description:''' Surround yourself in electrical energy. Electric bolts are automatically fired at attackers for X-X lightning damage.
-** The Wizard may only use one of the "armor" spells at a time.
-===Explosive Blast===
-[[File:ExplosiveBlast.jpg|left]]
-[[Explosive Blast]] is available at [[clvl|level]] 14.<br>
-A physical damage attack that turns the Wizard into a time bomb. Click to arm the spell, run into a pack of enemies, and blow up amidst them.
-{{clear-left}}
-* '''Description:''' Builds up energy around the Wizard that explodes after X seconds, causing X-X physical damage in a small radius.
-===Mirror Image===
-[[File:MirrorImage.jpg|left]]
-[[Mirror Image]] is available at [[clvl|level]] 15.<br>
-The Wizard creates multiple images of himself. These duplicates move and attack enemies in convincing fashion.
-{{clear-left}}
-* '''Description:''' Creates an illusionary duplicate of the Wizard that lasts for X seconds and has X% of the caster's health.
-===Slow Time===
-[[File:SlowTime.jpg|left]]
-[[Slow Time]] is available at [[clvl|level]] 16.<br>
-Slow time creates a bubble of protection around the location its cast in, slowing all enemy projectiles and the enemies themselves.
-{{clear-left}}
-* '''Description:''' Warps space and time, slowing nearby monsters and projectiles for X seconds.
-===Teleport===
-[[File:Teleport.jpg|left]]
-[[Teleport]] is available at [[clvl|level]] 18.<br>
-Bamf instantly from one location to another. This skill carries a considerable cool down time in Diablo III, making it something best saved for emergency escapes.
-{{clear-left}}
-* '''Description:''' Teleport instantly to the selected location.
-===Hydra===
-[[File:Hydra.jpg|left]]
-[[Hydra]] is available at [[clvl|level]] 19.<br>
-Summons a fiery, three-headed dragon that appears from the ground and assails enemies with bolts of flame. [[Runestone]] bonuses give great flexibility to this spell.
-{{clear-left}}
-* '''Description:''' Creates a multi-headed hydra that attacks your enemies with bolts of fire, dealing X-X fire damage per attack for X seconds.
-===Ray of Frost===
-[[File:RayFrost.jpg|left]]
-[[Ray of Frost]] is available at [[clvl|level]] 21.<br>
-A laser beam of cold damage, this one chills enemies, slowing them while dealing damage.
-{{clear-left}}
-* '''Description:''' Project a beam of cold that deals X cold damage per second. Cold damage chills enemies, slowing their movement and attack speed.
-===Energy Armor===
-[[File:EnergyArmor.jpg|left]]
-[[Energy Armor]] is available at [[clvl|level]] 22.<br>
-The classic protective skill (renamed from [[Energy Shield]]) returns, now trading Arcane Power for damage reduction.
-{{clear-left}}
-* '''Description:''' A protective barrier that absorbs damage, draining arcane power in its place. Absorbs X% of all damage dealt to the Wizard.
-===Arcane Torrent===
-[[File:ArcaneTorrent.jpg|left]]
-[[Arcane Torrent]] is available at [[clvl|level]] 23.<br>
-An arcane style of Meteor Storm, this spell hurls flaming rocks at the targeted spot, dealing AoE damage to anything in the vicinity.
-{{clear-left}}
-* '''Description:''' Arcane meteorites pelt the targeted region dealing X-X arcane damage per second.
-===Meteor===
-[[File:Meteor.jpg|left]]
-[[Meteor]] is available at [[clvl|level]] 24.<br>
-The biggest damage of the death from above skills, this one lands a flaming stone on the targeted location, dealing huge fire damage and leaving a dangerous field of fire in the location for some time.
-{{clear-left}}
-* '''Description:''' Summons a massive meteor from the sky that causes X-X fire damage to all enemies in the affected area. Also leaves a pool of fire that does X fire damage every second for X seconds.
-===Blizzard===
-[[File:Blizzard.jpg|left]]
-[[Blizzard]] is available at [[clvl|level]] 26.<br>
-Another powerful AoE spell, this one drops damaging ice on a large section of the screen, chilling and injuring anything in the area.
-{{clear-left}}
-* '''Description:''' Call down shards of ice to pelt an area dealing X-X cold damage per second for X seconds. Cold damage chills enemies, slowing their movement and attack speed.
-===Familiar===
-[[File:Familiar.jpg|left]]
-[[Familiar]] is available at [[clvl|level]] 27.<br>
-An assisting creature that boosts the Wizard's damage, without serving as a "[[tank]]" to distract their attacks.
-{{clear-left}}
-* '''Description:''' Creates a companion that accompanies the Wizard, attacking enemies for X-X damage. This companion cannot be targeted or damaged by enemies.
-===Archon===
-[[File:Archon.jpg|left]]
-[[Archon]] is available at [[clvl|level]] 29.<br>
-No description available.
-{{clear-left}}
-==Passive Skills==
-Passive skills replaced [[Traits]] during late game development in 2011. Many Traits were simply changed to passive skills, but some are all new. See the [[Wizard traits]] page for a full list of those passives.
-{{Passive skill header}}
-{{:Blur|Wiz}}
-{{:Drain Power|Wiz}}
-{{:Quickening|Wiz}}
-{{:Flight Before Fight|Wiz}}
-{{:Glass Cannon|Wiz}}
-{{:Aggression|Wiz}}
-{{:Superior Skill|Wiz}}
-{{:Expert Defense|Wiz}}
-{{:Astral Presence|Wiz}}
-{{:Black Ice|Wiz}}
-{{:Temporal Flux|Wiz}}
-{{:Piercing Attacks|Wiz}}
-{{:Temporal Shift|Wiz}}
-{{:Unstable Energy|Wiz}}
-{{:Knowledge is Power|Wiz}}
-|}
+[[File:Char-prog-wiz.png|center|frame|Wizard skill progression. Stats as of May 5, 2012.]]
@@ Line 248: / Line 105: @@
 The following skills were removed or renamed prior to the July 2011 Press Event:
-* [[Charged Bolt]]
+* [[Charged Bolt]] - Renamed to [[Shock Pulse]]
 * [[Energy Shield]] - Renamed to [[Energy Armor]]
@@ Line 256: / Line 113: @@
 * [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/full-wizard-skill-trees/ Full Wizard Skill Trees]
 * [http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7960229#post7960229 Zediono's translation of JudgeHype's pre-beta report] -- IncGamers 1st Aug 2011
+* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8008951#post8008951 HardRock's Wizard Passive Skills] -- IncGamers 6th Sep 2011
@@ Line 262: / Line 121: @@
 [[Category:Wizard]]
 [[Category:Wizard skills]]
-[[Category:Active skills]]
 [[Category:Skills]]
 [[Category:Featured articles]]