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{{class_navbox}}An ongoing listing of [[Witch Doctor]] skills, as seen on the Blizzard site and observed in the WWI gameplay movie and from handson experience at Blizzcon and questions to Bashiok.
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[[Image:Skill-tree-blizzcon09-wd-muldric.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The [[Witch Doctor]] Skill Tree as seen in Blizzcon 2009. Skill are no longer presented in this fashion. Image by [http://forums.diii.net/showthread.php?t=739038 Muldric].]]
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This page lists the '''[[Witch Doctor]] skills'''. Follow the links to the individual skill pages for full discussion of every skill, including first hand reports and screenshots.
  
=Plague Tree=
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'''Useful skill links:'''
==Firebomb==
 
  
[[Image:Skill_witchdoctor_firebomb_icon.gif|left|Firebomb Skill Icon]]This skill allows the WD to lob blazing projectiles, like molotov cocktails, at his enemies. They may be thrown varying distances, from most of the way across the screen to nearly at the WD's feet. The burning bottle tumbles end over end in mid-air, and explodes with a burst of flame when it lands, dealing fire damage and knocking back anything in the immediate vicinity. The spell seems to involve some sort of fire spirit, not just a flammable substance, since a flaming figure is briefly visible overhead when the firebomb bursts. 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.
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* [[Skill]]s - General skill design and mechanics.
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** [[Skill rune]]s - The huge skill customization and improvement system.
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* [[Witch Doctor]] - A [[ranged]] class who also relies on [[pet]]s.
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** [[Mana]] - The Witch Doctor's energy [[resource]].
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** [[Witch Doctor skills]] - A list of all the Witch Doctor's active skills.
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*** [[Pet]]s - [[Summon]]ed creatures that aid the Witch Doctor.
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*** [[Physical realm spell]]s - Details to come.
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*** [[Spirit spell]]s - Details to come.
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** [[Witch Doctor passives]] - A list of all the Witch Doctor's passive skills.
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* [[Witch Doctor skill archive]] - Removed Witch Doctor skills.
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* [[Witch Doctor traits]] - Passive skills in Diablo III were called [[traits]] for a while before reverting back.
  
During BlizzCon 2008's Diablo 3 Class Design Panel where shown some ways to improve firebomb through the use of [[skill runes]]. Socketing in a multi strike rune will cause the firebomb to bounce on the ground, casting multiple explosions in the process. In addition to it, the further away you throw the bomb the longer the bounce. Socketing a power rune will instead leave actual burning areas on the ground, wich makes monsters walking through it taking damage.
 
  
Like the locust skill, the firebomb skill may also be cast upon minions, which will add fire damage to their attacks.
 
<br/>
 
  
[[Image:Skill_witchdoctor_firebomb.jpg|frame|center|Sequence of Witch Doctor casting Firebomb]]
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==Active Skills==
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Click to the individual skill pages for more details about these skills including numbers, screenshots, [[skill rune]] information, blue quotes, and much more.
  
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 Firebom skill and how it's one of the skills that best describes what makes the Witch Doctor tick. A partial quote:
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===Primary===
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{{Skill description header}}
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<skill subcat="Physical realm spell" class="WitchDoctor">Poison Dart</skill>
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<skill subcat="Physical realm spell" class="WitchDoctor">Corpse Spiders</skill>
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<skill subcat="Physical realm spell" class="WitchDoctor">Plague of Toads</skill>
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<skill subcat="Physical realm spell" class="WitchDoctor">Firebomb</skill>
  
: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.
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===Secondary===
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{{Skill description header}}
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<skill class="WitchDoctor">Grasp of the Dead</skill>
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<skill subcat="Physical realm spell" class="WitchDoctor">Firebats</skill>
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<skill subcat="Spirit spell" class="WitchDoctor">Haunt</skill>
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<skill subcat="Physical realm spell" class="WitchDoctor">Locust Swarm</skill>
  
: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.
 
  
==Locust Swarm==
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===Defensive===
[[Image:Skill_witchdoctor_locustswarm.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Locust Swarm]][[Image:Skill_witchdoctor_locustswarm_icon.gif|left|Locust Swarm Skill Icon]]This projectile emits a spray of green insects which swarm over anything in close range, like flying piranha. Each swarm seems to last for a given amount of time, and if they kill one monster and still have some duration remaining, they will spread to others.  They gain time by consuming each target though, and in a mob the locust swarm can act in chain lightning fashion, leaping from one enemy to another, killing a dozen or more targets if they are closely spaced.
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{{Skill description header}}
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<skill subcat="Pet" class="WitchDoctor">Summon Zombie Dogs</skill>
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<skill subcat="Spirit spell" class="WitchDoctor">Horrify</skill>
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<skill subcat="Spirit spell" class="WitchDoctor">Spirit Walk</skill>
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<skill class="WitchDoctor">Hex</skill>
  
The locusts can also be sprayed on the WD's minions, where they will ride along, without hurting the minions, and grant poison damage to the minion's attacks.
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===Terror===
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{{Skill description header}}
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<skill subcat="Spirit spell" class="WitchDoctor">Soul Harvest</skill>
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<skill class="WitchDoctor">Sacrifice</skill>
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<skill subcat="Spirit spell" class="WitchDoctor">Mass Confusion</skill>
  
=Spirit Tree=
 
==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 a aqua light 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==
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===Decay===
[[Image:Wd-soul-harvest3.jpg|thumb]]
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{{Skill description header}}
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 presumably add to his mana or life. The radius of the skill is not very large, so monsters need to be nearly in melee range to be affected.
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<skill subcat="Physical realm spell" class="WitchDoctor">Zombie Charger</skill>
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<skill subcat="Spirit spell" class="WitchDoctor">Spirit Barrage</skill>
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<skill subcat="Physical realm spell" class="WitchDoctor">Acid Cloud</skill>
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<skill subcat="Physical realm spell" class="WitchDoctor">Wall of Zombies</skill>
  
=Voodoo Tree=
 
==Horrify==
 
{| align="right" width="25%"
 
! Horrify
 
|-
 
|
 
'''Rank:''' 3/5<br>
 
A spectral mask that horrifies all enemies in proximity, causing them to run in fear.<br>
 
'''Mana cost:''' 10<br>
 
'''Radius:''' 20<br>
 
'''Fear duration:''' 1-2 seconds.<br>
 
'''Mask duration:''' 5
 
|}
 
[[Image:Skill_witchdoctor_horrify_icon.gif|left|Horrify Skill Icon]]This curse-like spell works like the Terror curse (or the barbarian's grim ward skill), but functions almost like an aura; causing any monster near the WD to flee in fright. Monsters in range are overcome with fright and immediately scatter, running away from the WD. The skill works by summoning a frightening spirit, which appears above the WD and screams and shakes its arms at the monsters. Presumably, any monsters that come into range while the horrify spirit is active are affected by it, essentially making the WD a moving object of terror. This limits the skill as well, since it can't be cast on individual targets, or cast a great distance from the WD.
 
  
There are 2 durations; how long each individual fright lasts on afflicted monsters, and how long the frightening spirit remains over the WD's head, capable of horrifying or re-horrifying anything that comes into range.
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===Voodoo===
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{{Skill description header}}
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<skill subcat="Pet" class="WitchDoctor">Gargantuan</skill>
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<skill class="WitchDoctor">Big Bad Voodoo</skill>
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<skill class="WitchDoctor">Fetish Army</skill>
  
The hover text for this one was seen in the WWI movie, and is reproduced to the right.
 
==Wall of Zombies==
 
{| align="right" width="25%"
 
! Wall of Zombies
 
|-
 
|
 
'''Rank:''' 4/5<br>
 
Zombies erupt from the earth to attack your enemies.<br>
 
'''Current level:''' 4<br>
 
Zombies attack for 15 damage.<br>
 
'''Next level:''' 5<br>
 
Zombies attack for 15 damage.
 
|}
 
[[Image:Wd-zombie-wall1.jpg|thumb|left|The wall shreds goatmen.]]
 
This skill works much like the Necromancer's bone wall; causing a straight line of obstacles to erupt from the earth. Not merely obstacles though, this wall is made of zombified creatures who claw at and deal damage to any monsters who come into range. Monsters attack the wall, so this isn't hard to do.
 
  
The wall zombies seem to be very powerful in the WWI gameplay movie, ripping dozens of Moon Clan goatmen to shreds in just seconds. The skill is level 4 though, as revealed by the hover text, so likely it would be much less powerful at level 1.
 
  
The wall will theoretically serve a defensive purpose as well; blocking shots from ranged attackers. It's not known if it can stop the advance of larger monsters, who might just step over it or crush it.
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==Passive Skills==
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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 [[Witch Doctor traits]] page for a full list of those passives.
  
==Summon Mongrel==
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{{Skill description header}}
[[Image:Wd-mongrel1.jpg|thumb|150px|Mongrels.]]
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<skill class="WitchDoctor">Circle of Life</skill>
The Witch Doctor summons a mangy zombie dog which attacks the target like one of the D2 Druid's wolves. While they are still alive, the Witch Doctor can detonated the mongrels, dealing substantial damage to nearby targets.  Mongrels may also be enchanted with poison or fire bonus damage, if the Witch Doctor uses his attack spells on them. This does not harm the mongrel, but grants it the appropriate elemental power.
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<skill class="WitchDoctor">Jungle Fortitude</skill>
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<skill class="WitchDoctor">Spiritual Attunement</skill>
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<skill class="WitchDoctor">Gruesome Feast</skill>
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<skill class="WitchDoctor">Bad Medicine</skill>
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<skill class="WitchDoctor">Blood Ritual</skill>
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<skill class="WitchDoctor">Zombie Handler</skill>
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<skill class="WitchDoctor">Pierce the Veil</skill>
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<skill class="WitchDoctor">Fetish Sycophants</skill>
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<skill class="WitchDoctor">Spirit Vessel</skill>
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<skill class="WitchDoctor">Rush of Essence</skill>
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<skill class="WitchDoctor">Vision Quest</skill>
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<skill class="WitchDoctor">Fierce Loyalty</skill>
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<skill class="WitchDoctor">Grave Injustice</skill>
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<skill class="WitchDoctor">Tribal Rites</skill>
  
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==Skill Distribution==
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A useful player-made chart showing when the Witch Doctor gains access to skills, passives, and rune effects.
  
[[category:Witch Doctor]]
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[[File:Char-prog-wd.png|center|frame|Witch Doctor skill progression. Stats as of May 5, 2012.]]
[[category:Skills]]
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==Development==
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The Witch Doctor's skills and skill trees were first seen at [[BlizzCon 2008]], with only a few skills enabled and many showing nothing more than vague descriptions in the skill tree. The listing was fleshed out at Blizzcon 2009, but most of his skills, especially the summoning ones, remained [[NYI]]. The current information was revealed at Blizzcon 2010, with the passive skills removed (see the [[Witch Doctor traits]] and a near-final skill listing.
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A large number of the higher level WD spells have still never been shown publicly, in contrast to the skills of the Wizard and Barbarian, almost all of which have been shown off.
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===Removed Skills===
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* [[Pit of Fire]]<br>
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* [[Parasite]]<br>
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==References==
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* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/full-witch-doctor-skills/ Full Witch Doctor Skills]
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* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7960229#post7960229 Zediono's translation of JudgeHype's pre-beta report] -- IncGamers 1st Aug 2011
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* [http://us.battle.net/d3/en/class/witch-doctor/ Witch Doctor Overview] -- Diablo III 13th Sep 2011
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{{Skill_navbox_Diablo_III|WD}}
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[[Category:Witch Doctor]]
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[[Category:Witch Doctor skills]]
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[[Category:Skills]]
 
[[category:Featured articles]]
 
[[category:Featured articles]]

Latest revision as of 02:49, 6 March 2016

The Witch Doctor Skill Tree as seen in Blizzcon 2009. Skill are no longer presented in this fashion. Image by Muldric.

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

Useful skill links:


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="Physical realm spell" class="WitchDoctor">Poison Dart</skill> <skill subcat="Physical realm spell" class="WitchDoctor">Corpse Spiders</skill> <skill subcat="Physical realm spell" class="WitchDoctor">Plague of Toads</skill> <skill subcat="Physical realm spell" class="WitchDoctor">Firebomb</skill>


Secondary[edit | edit source]

Name Level Description

<skill class="WitchDoctor">Grasp of the Dead</skill> <skill subcat="Physical realm spell" class="WitchDoctor">Firebats</skill> <skill subcat="Spirit spell" class="WitchDoctor">Haunt</skill> <skill subcat="Physical realm spell" class="WitchDoctor">Locust Swarm</skill>


Defensive[edit | edit source]

Name Level Description

<skill subcat="Pet" class="WitchDoctor">Summon Zombie Dogs</skill> <skill subcat="Spirit spell" class="WitchDoctor">Horrify</skill> <skill subcat="Spirit spell" class="WitchDoctor">Spirit Walk</skill> <skill class="WitchDoctor">Hex</skill>

Terror[edit | edit source]

Name Level Description

<skill subcat="Spirit spell" class="WitchDoctor">Soul Harvest</skill> <skill class="WitchDoctor">Sacrifice</skill> <skill subcat="Spirit spell" class="WitchDoctor">Mass Confusion</skill>


Decay[edit | edit source]

Name Level Description

<skill subcat="Physical realm spell" class="WitchDoctor">Zombie Charger</skill> <skill subcat="Spirit spell" class="WitchDoctor">Spirit Barrage</skill> <skill subcat="Physical realm spell" class="WitchDoctor">Acid Cloud</skill> <skill subcat="Physical realm spell" class="WitchDoctor">Wall of Zombies</skill>


Voodoo[edit | edit source]

Name Level Description

<skill subcat="Pet" class="WitchDoctor">Gargantuan</skill> <skill class="WitchDoctor">Big Bad Voodoo</skill> <skill class="WitchDoctor">Fetish Army</skill>


Passive Skills[edit | edit source]

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 Witch Doctor traits page for a full list of those passives.

Name Level Description

<skill class="WitchDoctor">Circle of Life</skill> <skill class="WitchDoctor">Jungle Fortitude</skill> <skill class="WitchDoctor">Spiritual Attunement</skill> <skill class="WitchDoctor">Gruesome Feast</skill> <skill class="WitchDoctor">Bad Medicine</skill> <skill class="WitchDoctor">Blood Ritual</skill> <skill class="WitchDoctor">Zombie Handler</skill> <skill class="WitchDoctor">Pierce the Veil</skill> <skill class="WitchDoctor">Fetish Sycophants</skill> <skill class="WitchDoctor">Spirit Vessel</skill> <skill class="WitchDoctor">Rush of Essence</skill> <skill class="WitchDoctor">Vision Quest</skill> <skill class="WitchDoctor">Fierce Loyalty</skill> <skill class="WitchDoctor">Grave Injustice</skill> <skill class="WitchDoctor">Tribal Rites</skill>

Skill Distribution[edit | edit source]

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

Witch Doctor skill progression. Stats as of May 5, 2012.


Development[edit | edit source]

The Witch Doctor's skills and skill trees were first seen at BlizzCon 2008, with only a few skills enabled and many showing nothing more than vague descriptions in the skill tree. The listing was fleshed out at Blizzcon 2009, but most of his skills, especially the summoning ones, remained NYI. The current information was revealed at Blizzcon 2010, with the passive skills removed (see the Witch Doctor traits and a near-final skill listing.

A large number of the higher level WD spells have still never been shown publicly, in contrast to the skills of the Wizard and Barbarian, almost all of which have been shown off.

Removed Skills[edit | edit source]


References[edit | edit source]