Leap Attack

Leap Attack is a Tactics Barbarian skill unlocked at level 9, making the Barbarian leap, causing damage and knockback upon landing.

This is the Barbarian's movement ability.

Background

Leap Attack in action

The Barbarian makes a gigantic leap to enemies who think they are safe behind the front lines, crushing anyone caught in the area of his landing.

Skillrune Effects

The following is a very quick summary. See the Leap Attack 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 class="Barbarian">Leap Attack</skill>

Skill Design

Barb SMASH!

Once the player activates the skill, the Barbarian will leap from his current location, to the location of the mouse cursor, damaging and knocking enemies back upon landing. This skill is best used to reach ranged monsters, who are behind enemy lines and to escape tight situations, if such occur.

Leap Attack has not changed much from D2, and has been demonstrated repeatedly in the gameplay movies. The main difference with the D3 version of this skill is that minor damage is dealt to everything nearby when the Barbarian lands, rather than major damage to one particular monster.

Leap Attack Video

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

Synergies

The following Barbarian passives provide a benefit to Leap Attack, runed or not:

• Bloodthirst - The Barbarian gains life based on the amount of damage he deals always.
• Weapons Master - Provides a damage bonus when the Barbarian is wielding a sword or dagger.
• Berserker Rage - Inflicts additional damage while the Barbarian is at maximum Fury.
• Brawler - Increases the Barbarian's damage when he is swarmed.

Development

Leaping at a few Fallen in the Borderlands.

Leap Attack was revealed at WWI 2008 when Diablo III debuted. Originally, it was a Tier III skill in the Berserker Skill Tree. By BlizzCon 2009, Leap Attack was at Tier IV but otherwise unchanged.

At BlizzCon 2010, with just one point in it the Barbarian could leap all the way to the visible edge of the screen, over any number of enemies, and at a very high speed. Flux enjoyed using it in the Battle Arena:[1]

I loved it in the Arena, even though I seldom hit with it, just since the visual is great. The 3D works nicely with it, since your perspective lurches upwards when the Barb jumps, and you feel like you’re flying for a second. There’s a great grunting “RAHHH!” sound too, and you must want to knock something in half with a massive club when you trigger this skill. Ideally that Wizard whose been sniping you with that damn Disintegrate from the far edge of the screen for the entire round. “Hold still and die, maggot!”

Skill tiers were removed for the July 2011 Press Event, and Leap Attack became a level 6 skill. The skill system was once again overhauled for the Beta Patch 13, and Leap Attack was classified as a Tactics skill and moved to level 9.

Previous Versions

See the Barbarian skill archive for more details on previous versions of Leap Attack and other Barbarian skills.

In Other Games

Leap Attack seems to combine Leap and Leap Attack from Diablo II, whilst requiring Fury to use. The main difference with the D3 version of this skill is that minor damage is dealt to everything nearby when the Barbarian lands, rather than major damage to one particular monster.

Media

Leap Attack can be seen in action on video here:

• Gameplay: WWI 2008
• Gameplay: Blizzcon 2010 (in the Arena)
• Video: Blizzcon 2010 Rune Effects

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

• Diablo III screenshots and pictures
• Leap Attack specific gallery contents

• 

  Leaping a chasm in the dungeons below Tristram.

• 

  Leaping at a few Fallen in the Borderlands.

References

• BlizzCon 2009 Full Barbarian Skill Trees and Stats
• BlizzCon 2010 Barb Hands-on Report
• BlizzCon 2010 PvP Hands-on Report
• Zediono's translation of JudgeHype's pre-beta report -- IncGamers 1st Aug 2011
• Silva's Barbarian Runestone Effects -- IncGamers 6th Sep 2011
• Barbarian Active Skills -- Diablo III 13th Sep 2011

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