Difference between revisions of "Locust Swarm"

Latest revision as of 06:09, 6 June 2012

Locust Swarm swarming.

Locust Swarm is a Secondary Witch Doctor skill unlocked at level 21, which sends forth a torrent of locusts which swarm over and devour anything they meet. The Locusts converge on one target and if they kill it they will chain to another target, potentially spreading their damage over a large number of enemies.

Background[edit | edit source]

The Witch Doctor sends a swarm of locusts to literally devour the flesh of his enemies.

Skill Rune Effects[edit | edit source]

The following is a very quick summary. See the Locust Swarm rune effects page for a more thorough description of rune effects, or any of the individual rune pages for numbers, screenshots, blue quotes, and much more.

Name	Level	Description

<skill subcat="Physical realm spell" class="WitchDoctor">Locust Swarm</skill> <skill class="WitchDoctor" rune="Pestilence">Locust Swarm</skill> <skill class="WitchDoctor" rune="Devouring Swarm">Locust Swarm</skill> <skill class="WitchDoctor" rune="Cloud of Insects">Locust Swarm</skill> <skill class="WitchDoctor" rune="Diseased Swarm">Locust Swarm</skill> <skill class="WitchDoctor" rune="Searing Locusts">Locust Swarm</skill>

Skill Design[edit | edit source]

A really nice skill against packs of monsters, working like a disease that affects one monster and then the rest of the group. It can spread quite fast, so casting this spell just once is enough, and by the time it is done, you would have used a few other skills. Enemies who are killed by Locust Swarm leave behind a skeleton, a most pleasant visual effect.

Video[edit | edit source]

A video of Locus Swarm in use can be seen below, courtesy of the DiabloInc You Tube channel.

Synergies[edit | edit source]

The following Witch Doctor passives provide a benefit to Locus Swarm, runed or not:

Name	Level	Description

<skill class="WitchDoctor">Bad Medicine</skill> <skill class="WitchDoctor">Pierce the Veil</skill> <skill class="WitchDoctor">Fetish Sycophants</skill>

Development[edit | edit source]

Locust Swarm premiered with Diablo III in the WWI 2008 gameplay video as a Tier II skill in the Plague Skill Tree (later renamed the Zombie Skill Tree). The first version of this skill could be cast on Mongrels, enhancing them with poison damage.

By BlizzCon 2009, Locust Swarm had been moved to Tier III in the Voodoo Skill Tree and could no longer be cast on Mongrels (renamed to Zombie Dogs). Flux discussed its utility:[1]

The skill isn’t that damaging, but the way the locusts can spread from target to target makes it fairly amusing to use in large crowds. This one might have long term viability, even if the damage is negligible in the end game, simply as a sort of poisonous AoE attack.

At BlizzCon 2010, Locust Swarm was still in the game (moved up to Tier 4 in the new tree-less system), but wasn't one of the Witch Doctor's starting skills.

Beta[edit | edit source]

Skill tiers were removed shortly before the beta started in September 2011, and Locust Swarm became a level 19 skill, too high to try out. The skill system was once again overhauled for the Beta Patch 13 in February 2012, and Locust Swarm was classified as a Secondary skill and move to level 20. For Beta Patch 14, it was slightly nerfed, but (strangely) for Beta Patch 15, it was considerably buffed, as well as moved to level 21.

Previous Versions[edit | edit source]

See the Witch Doctor skill archive for more details on previous versions of Locust Swarm and other Witch Doctor skills.

Media[edit | edit source]

Locust Swarm can be seen in action on video here:

Video: August 2011 Witch Doctor Skill Animations

You can find pictures in the Diablo III screenshot and picture gallery:

ACHOOO! Uh, I don't feel so good.

References[edit | edit source]

BlizzCon 2008 Witch Doctor Gameplay Report
BlizzCon 2009 Full Witch Doctor Skill Trees and Stats
Zediono's translation of JudgeHype's pre-beta report — IncGamers 1st Aug 2011
Witch Doctor Active Skills — Blizzard's Official Diablo III Site

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

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[Plague_Skill_Tree#Locust_Swarm]]
+[[File:IconLocustSwarm.png|left]]
-==Locust Swarm==
+[[File:Wd-locust-swarm1.jpg|thumb|350px|Locust Swarm swarming.]]
-[[Image:Skill_witchdoctor_locustswarm_icon.gif|left]][[Image:Wd-locust-swarm1.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Locust Swarm]] in action.]]
+'''Locust Swarm''' is a Secondary [[Witch Doctor skill]] unlocked at [[clvl|level]] 21, which sends forth a torrent of locusts which swarm over and devour anything they meet. The Locusts converge on one target and if they kill it they will [[chain]] to another target, potentially spreading their damage over a large number of enemies.
-''Locust Swarm'' is an active attack spell in the [[Witch Doctor]]'s [[Plague Skill Tree]]. This projectile emits a spray of green insects which swarm over anything in close range, like flying piranha. The locusts deal poison damage, and have the ability to jump from one infested monster to other nearby targets. (They do this with a green swooshing graphic, [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1520&size=big&cat=&si=locust&what=allfields&mcats=all as seen here].
-Each Locust Swarm seems to last for a set amount of time, but this duration is extended as they swarm to additional targets. It's possible for one swarm to spread to numerous targets, if they are in close proximity.
-The information below is based on the playable demo build at [[BlizzCon 2008]].  It is subject to all kinds of reviews, changes, and balancing before release.
+<br><br>__TOC__
+==Background==
+The Witch Doctor sends a swarm of locusts to literally devour the flesh of his enemies.
-==Prequisites==
-There are no prerequisites to this skill.
-==Spell Base Effects/Costs==
+==Skill Rune Effects==
-The costs and effects of this spell are currently unknown
+The following is a very quick summary. See the [[Locust Swarm rune effects]] page for a more thorough description of rune effects, or any of the individual rune pages for numbers, screenshots, blue quotes, and much more.
+{{skill description header}}
+<skill subcat="Physical realm spell" class="WitchDoctor">Locust Swarm</skill>
+<skill class="WitchDoctor" rune="Pestilence">Locust Swarm</skill>
+<skill class="WitchDoctor" rune="Devouring Swarm">Locust Swarm</skill>
+<skill class="WitchDoctor" rune="Cloud of Insects">Locust Swarm</skill>
+<skill class="WitchDoctor" rune="Diseased Swarm">Locust Swarm</skill>
+<skill class="WitchDoctor" rune="Searing Locusts">Locust Swarm</skill>
-==[[Synergies]]==
-No skills are known to modify this spell.
-==Skill [[Rune]] Effects==
+==Skill Design==
-The Rune effects for this skill are not known at this time.
+A really nice [[skill]] against packs of monsters, working like a disease that affects one monster and then the rest of the group. It can spread quite fast, so casting this spell just once is enough, and by the time it is done, you would have used a few other skills. Enemies who are killed by Locust Swarm leave behind a skeleton, a most pleasant visual effect.
-==Other Notes, and Speculation==
+===Video===
+A video of Locus Swarm in use can be seen below, courtesy of [http://www.youtube.com/Diablo3Inc the DiabloInc You Tube channel].
-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.
+<youtube>ul0TGuHlf0o</youtube>
-Locusts that pass over the Witch Doctor's minions, [[Summon Mongrel|Mongrels]] for instance, will turn the minions green while granting poison damage to all attacks, for as long as the minion persists. (Or until a different skill hits the minion, granting it a different sort of bonus damage.)
+==Synergies==
+The following [[Witch Doctor passives]] provide a benefit to Locus Swarm, runed or not:
+{{skill description header}}
+<skill class="WitchDoctor">Bad Medicine</skill>
+<skill class="WitchDoctor">Pierce the Veil</skill>
+<skill class="WitchDoctor">Fetish Sycophants</skill>
+==Development==
+'''Locust Swarm''' premiered with [[Diablo III]] in the [[WWI 2008]] gameplay video as a Tier II skill in the [[Plague Skill Tree]] (later renamed the [[Zombie Skill Tree]]). The first version of this skill could be cast on [[Mongrel]]s, enhancing them with poison damage.
+By [[BlizzCon 2009]], Locust Swarm had been moved to Tier III in the [[Voodoo Skill Tree]] and could no longer be cast on [[Mongrel]]s (renamed to [[Zombie Dog]]s). [[Flux]] discussed its utility:[http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/full-witch-doctor-skills/]
+<blockquote>''The skill isn’t that damaging, but the way the locusts can spread from target to target makes it fairly amusing to use in large crowds.  This one might have long term viability, even if the damage is negligible in the end game, simply as a sort of poisonous AoE attack.</blockquote>
+At [[BlizzCon 2010]], Locust Swarm was still in the game (moved up to Tier 4 in the new tree-less system), but wasn't one of the Witch Doctor's starting skills.
+===Beta===
+Skill tiers were removed shortly before the [[beta]] started in September 2011, and Locust Swarm became a level 19 skill, too high to try out. The skill system was once again overhauled for the [[Beta Patch 13]] in February 2012, and Locust Swarm was classified as a Secondary skill and move to level 20. For [[Beta Patch 14]], it was slightly [[nerf]]ed, but (strangely) for [[Beta Patch 15]], it was considerably [[buff]]ed, as well as moved to level 21.
+===Previous Versions===
+See the [[Witch Doctor skill archive]] for more details on previous versions of Locust Swarm and other Witch Doctor skills.
+<!--
+==Trivia==
+-->
+==Media==
+Locust Swarm can be seen in action on video here:
+* [[Skill Animations Videos#Witch Doctor Video|Video: August 2011 Witch Doctor Skill Animations]]
+You can find pictures in the Diablo III screenshot and picture gallery:
+* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/ Diablo III screenshots and pictures]
+* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/search.php?keywords=Locust+Swarm&cat=all '''Locust Swarm''' specific gallery contents]
+<gallery>
+Image:Wd-locust-swarm1.jpg|ACHOOO! Uh, I don't feel so good.
+</gallery>
+==References==
+* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/witch-doctor-gameplay-report/ BlizzCon 2008 Witch Doctor Gameplay Report]
+* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/full-witch-doctor-skills/ BlizzCon 2009 Full Witch Doctor Skill Trees and Stats]
+* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7960229#post7960229 Zediono's translation of JudgeHype's pre-beta report] — IncGamers 1st Aug 2011
+* [http://us.battle.net/d3/en/class/witch-doctor/active/ Witch Doctor Active Skills] — Blizzard's Official Diablo III Site
+{{Skill navbox Diablo III|WD|secondary}}
+[[category:Active skills]]
+[[category:Witch Doctor skills]]
+[[category:Witch Doctor active skills]]

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