Haunt

Haunt is a Witch Doctor Tier 2 skill unlocked at character level 3. Using it the WD fires a ghost at an enemy, dealing arcane damage over time. If the target dies the Haunt will jump to another nearby enemy.

Background

Diablo III Skill [e]
Haunt Active, 5 ranks
Used by:	Witch Doctor
Skill Description:
Haunt an enemy with a spirit dealing X arcane damage over X seconds. If the target dies, the spirit will automatically haunt another nearby target.
Skill Details:
Type:	Summon
Quantity:	Duration
Effect:	Line
School:	Magical
Mana cost:	12
Cast time:	Unknown
Duration:	None
Cooldown:	Unknown
Synergies:	Unknown
Requires:	N/A
Prereq of:	N/A

The Witch Doctor calls forth a malevolent spirit that deals damage to anything it possesses.

Skill Design

This skill seems a pretty standard DoT spell, albeit being weak and working somewhat like a summon spell. However, if combined with other DoT effects, can cause the enemy to die rather quickly, as compared to casting Skull of Flame constantly to take out an enemy. It seems to last for quite a while when it finds an enemy, and multiplication should not be underestimated. Also, this skill doesn't seem to work like other summoning spells, as the spirit will vanish if no enemy is found.

A fan complained about the look of this skill, based on hardly being able to see it in a gameplay movie, and got a reply, in which Bashiok quoted one of the skill designers, Julian Love, in September 2010:[1]

Bashiok: Re: haunt, Julian wanted to pass along that the effect seen for the skill was “the most ridiculously temporary graphic ever.” It was never really intended to be shown in the state it was, so it’s all a bit embarrassing. But never fear as the skill itself is seeing an overhaul (technically and visually) to better deliver the concept of being haunted.

@Diablo: New witch doctor Haunt effect is looking… hauntier.—Diablo

Despite this commentary, we've still never had a good look at the skill. If anyone saw or used it at Blizzcon 2010, where it was available in the First Tier, they didn't make any public comment on the graphics.

Skill Rank Table

• Rank 1: A Spirit invades enemy's bodies dealing 1.0 damage per second, lasting up to 6 seconds. Cost: 12 mana.
• Rank 2: A Spirit invades enemy's bodies dealing 1.5 damage per second, lasting up to 7 seconds. Cost: 12 mana. (A)
• Rank 3: A Spirit invades enemy's bodies dealing 2.0 damage per second, lasting up to 8 seconds. Cost: 12 mana. (A)
• Rank 4: A Spirit invades enemy's bodies dealing 2.5 damage per second, lasting up to 9 seconds. Cost: 12 mana. (A)
• Rank 5: A Spirit invades enemy's bodies dealing 3.0 damage per second, lasting up to 10 seconds. Cost: 12 mana. (A)

(A) = Assumed

Synergies

Though there are Witch Doctor traits that provide various across the board boosts to damage and casting speed, none are specifically aimed at improving Haunt.

Rune Skills Effects

• None known.

Development

Haunt was first seen at BlizzCon 2009, where it was a Tier 1 skill. By 2010, it had been moved to Tier 2, but no known BlizzCon 2010 reports mention using it.

Media

You can find pictures in the Diablo 3 screenshot and picture gallery. Sadly, no images of Haunt have been seen:

• Diablo 3 screenshots and pictures

References

• Full Witch Doctor Skill Trees and Stats