Hands of Lightning (Skill)

Hands of Lightning is a Tier 1 skill, which requires a clvl of 2. This is one of two combo skills available to the monk in the first tier. Combo skills generate spirit.
The Monk charges his strikes with lightning in a three-stage attack.

Background

Diablo III Skill [e]
Hands of Lightning (Skill) Active, 5 ranks
Used by:	Monk
Skill Description:
Charge your attacks with lightning to damage your foes.
Skill Details:
Type:	Direct Damage
Quantity:	NA
Effect:	Single Target/AoE
School:	Lightning/Physical
None cost:	None
Cast time:	Instant
Duration:	None
Cooldown:	None
Synergies:	None
Requires:	N/A
Prereq of:	N/A

The Monk charges his strikes with lightning in a three-stage attack that ends with an area of effect blast.

Skill Design

Welcome to electric avenue.

This skill first appeared at BlizzCon 2010. As it is a first tier spell, it was playable in the demo.

The attack has three phases. Each strike deals X% weapon damage as lightning damage, varying by rank and other factors, which may be valuable for later difficulty settings with enemies who are resistant to physical damage. Each strike also has a chance to interrupt the enemy being struck.

Skill Rank Table

• Rank 1: Unleashes a series of increasingly powerful lightning infused punches that deal X% weapon damage as lightning damage, and has a higher chance than normal to interrupt enemy attacks..

Skill Rune Effects

• None known.

Development

This skill was first shown at BlizzCon 2010. Blascid reports on using the skill at Blizzcon:

In the Monks case, with her actual lightning fist skill (I do not remember the name), the first hit would be a claw sweep with lightning damage, the second one granted more lightning damage with more lightning graphics, and the third hit was a lightning blast that created a nice AOE arc. (The third move’s animation {Monk’s move and spell effect} reminded me of how Ryu and Ken’s Hadouken looked in Street Fighter 2 {Sorry, I have not played any more recent than that) if your opponent was right in front of you.)

Media

You can find pictures in the Diablo 3 screenshot and picture gallery:

• Diablo 3 screenshots and pictures
• Hands of Lightning-specific gallery contents

• 

  Monk using Hands of Lightning.

• 

  Arcing lightning damage.

• 

  The three-hit sequence.