Combos
Combo skills are a class of Monk skill that are used to power up his Spirit in order to use his other, more powerful attack and defense skills.
Combos are powerful skills in their own right, dealing substantial melee damage plus all sorts of special bonus effects. On top of that, they generate a set amount of Spirit per use, building up a pool that the Monk expends when using his various other offensive and defensive skills.
Combo Skills
Combo skills are Monk skills that have three stages. The second can only be performed immediately after the first, and the third can only be performed immediately after the second. With most combos, the first stage or two provide fairly weak bonuses, with a much more powerful finishing move type of property attached to the third/final stage.
The variety of combos vary widely, with offensive, defensive, and other specialized bonuses from the various stages.
Combos can be mixed and matched, 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, the first two stages of Exploding Palm are fairly slow, low damage hits, while the third stage creates a spectacular explosion.
A skilled Monk player looking to maximize the damage would want to use the first two stages of a combo like Way of the Hundred Fists or Sweeping Wind, then switch to Exploding Palm for the coupe de grace third hit.
Monk Spirit Skills
Spirit, which the game developers often single out[1] as the resource they think is working best, is generated by striking enemies combo skills and expended using other offensive and defensive skills.
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.
- Hands of Lightning --Combo that deals 3 punches with substantial bonus lightning damage.
- 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.
- 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 Traits
Only one of the Monk Traits has a Spirit function at this point. The Monk's Traits were far from finalized as of Blizzcon 2010 though, so changes to this list are to be expected.
- True Spirit -- Increases Spirit regeneration.
Spirit Development
Spirit was revealed in August 2010, by Game Director Jay Wilson in an interview from Gamescom 2010. [2]
- Jay Wilson: The Monk has Spirit. That’s the resource we’re happiest with. He came together very quickly. His combo moves generate spirit, and that’s used for signature moves he does. He can’t do them very often. But they’re great attacks, escapes, and some are recovery moves. That one worked out really well.
