Meteor

See The Meteor for details about the flaming meteor that falls on the Tristram Cathedral, opening the story of Diablo III.

Meteor is an Offensive Wizard skill unlocked at Level 27. This skill is among the Wizard's most damaging, calling down a huge flaming stone that deals massive damage, as well as leaving a burning circle that deals AoE damage to anything in the vicinity.

Background

Meteor in action

Calling upon the elements, the Wizard unleashes a fiery meteor from the sky which crushes anything unfortunate enough to be in the way when it hits.

Skill Effects

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

Icon	Skill	Description

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[[{{{name}}}]] Force

25

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[[{{{name}}}]]

58

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Molten Impact

[e] Increase the damage of the meteor impact to 396% weapon damage as Fire and the molten fire to 65% weapon damage as Fire over 3 seconds.

Star Pact

[e] Reduce casting cost to 48 Arcane Power.

Meteor Shower

[e] Unleash a volley of 13 smaller meteors that strike for 122% weapon damage as Fire.

Comet

[e] Transforms the meteor to ice that deals 238% weapon damage as Cold. The impact site is covered in a freezing mist that deals 39% weapon damage as Cold and slows the movement of enemies by 60% over 3 seconds.

Note: Information is based on a level 60 character and rank 4 runestones.

Skill Design

Meteor returns from Diablo II, with its function largely preserved. Once again it's a falling rock from the sky that deals huge fire damage. The skill is mighty, but the delay between the casting and the rock's arrival requires skill and anticipation on the part of the Wizard to hit accurately with it.

Synergies

Meteor benefits from the following Wizard passives:

Skill	Unlocked	Description

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[[{{{name}}}]]

16

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[[{{{name}}}]]

34

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[[{{{name}}}]] See: Signature spell

55

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Development

Meteor descends in the Arena.

Meteor was not in the game during 2008 and 2009, though smaller projectile, wider-area, "death from above" skills like Blizzard and Arcane Torrent were. Presumably the team decided that a larger, single hit, smaller-area death from above skill would be a nice addition to the play balance.

Meteor debuted at BlizzCon 2010, where it was one of the Wizard's skills in the Battle Arena. Flux talked about using it in PvP play:[1]

Meteor packed huge damage; the most of any skill in the Arena demo. It was very hard to hit with, though. There were several seconds between the trigger and the arrival, and no one stood still for that long in the Arena. These were worth firing regularly since the Wizard was never low on Arcane Power, the cast only took an instant, and the reward for one hitting was huge. They seldom did, though. Smart players would have seen the circle showing the drop zone and tried to lead the enemy into it; Mongrels at least. Maybe next time.

Skill tiers were removed for the July 2011 Press Event, and Meteor became a level 24 skill.
Later in the beta, Meteor became a level 27 skill.

In Earlier Games

This skill (unruned) is essentially the same as Diablo II's Sorceress skill Meteor, just with improved visuals and sound effects.

Media

Meteor can be seen in action on video here:

• Gameplay: Blizzcon 2010 (in the Arena)
• Video: Blizzcon 2010 Arena

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

• Diablo III screenshots and pictures
• Meteor specific gallery contents

• 

  Meteors descending over the Battle Arena.

• 

  Blue circle shows where a blue team's Wizard's meteor is about to strike in the Battle Arena.

• 

  The burn zone left by Meteor impact, once the AoE flames have burned out.

References

• BlizzCon 2010 PvP Hands-on Report
• Zediono's translation of JudgeHype's pre-beta report -- IncGamers 1st Aug 2011
• Silva's Wizard Runestone Effects -- IncGamers 5th Sep 2011
• Wizard Active Skills -- Diablo III 12th 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